*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 282 15 May 2008 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Successful Richmond Half Marathon * County medals for Paul Doyle, Howard Gleave, Marie Synnott-Wells, Kath Phillips and Mandy Harris * RPTT wins for Jonathan Stacey and Bonnie Webster * Return to racing for Jo Ronaldson * Green Belt Relay this weekend SEE HERE ******** DORKING 10 miles The next fixture in both our own Grand Prix and the Surrey Road League is the Dorking 10 miles on Sunday 1st June. DYSART DASH 10km Our second race promotion - and the next Grand Prix and League event after Dorking - takes place on Sunday 29th June. Entries for this one are limited to 500, of which some 200 have already been taken. So if you're planning to run, be sure to get your entry in soon to avoid disappointment: ROAD GRAND PRIX Leaders after four events are Trevor Maguire (open and men over 40), Martin Clark (men over 50), Kath Phillips (women), Heather Martingell (women over 40) and Janet Turnes (women over 50). 83 names now appear on the scoreboard. SURREY ROAD LEAGUE After two League fixtures, our men's team is lying in 3rd place and our women in 4th. In the individual competitions, Paul Doyle is leading the over 40 category with Trevor Maguire in 3rd place; Jonathan Robinson is leading the over 50s; Martin Clark is 3rd in the over 60s; Kath Phillips is 2nd in the senior women's class; and Janet Turnes is 2nd in the over 45s. GREEN BELT RELAY The GBR takes place this weekend, and we have three teams of eleven runners entered. The race starts on Saturday morning at 8.30am in front of Hampton Court Palace: early arrivals for the Bushy Park Time Trial might like to send our runners on their way. After a two-day circumnavigation of London the race finishes at the Hawker Centre in Ham, the final stage being along the Thames towpath from Walton Bridge. The first finisher should arrive at just before 6pm on Sunday afternoon. All are welcome to come along and join our teams for a well-earned pint. For lots of info about the race, see the website www.greenbeltrelay.org.uk/ *************** WHAT'S COMING... *************** More details of the following from Andy Bickerstaff ( 07772 111491 / mailto: andy.bickerstaff@goodrunguide.co.uk ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07956 431319 / mailto: nandmwells@aol.com ). Sat 17th / Sun 18th May Green Belt Relay. See above. Sunday 1st June Dorking 10 miles. Sunday 29th June Dysart Dash 10km at Ham. Time Trials, every Saturday at 9am Bushy Park Diana Fountain car park Richmond Park Pembroke Lodge car park Wimbledon Common Windmill car park Banstead Woods Car park off B2219 Park Lane, Chipstead More details and registration at www.parkrun.com WHAT'S HAPPENED ***************** RANELAGH RICHMOND HALF-MARATHON Sunday 11th May 2008 We had to close entries a couple of weeks before the race date, with almost 1200 runners accepted. About three-quarters of these turned up on the day, some of the no-shows probably put off by the forecast of high temperatures. Conditions were fairly comfortable at the 8.30am start but it very soon warmed up and even the leaders were struggling at the finish - hence largely slow times. Pre-race favourite was Bedford's James Lawler, who has a 67 minutes half marathon and a 2.23 marathon to his credit and had been putting in some heavy mileage for the Edinburgh Marathon in two weeks. He was content to let South London's Francis Staunton set the early pace but by two miles Lawler was clear and on his way to a comfortable winning margin of 85 seconds. The margin might have been comfortable but Lawler himself wasn't: "I was pleased to have the run on what would be a fast and good course but I felt absolutely awful with the mileage in my legs and the hot weather," he told Alastair Aitken at the finish. Stragglers' Graham Brook passed a tiring Staunton for second place, but the South London Harrier had the consolation of taking the Surrey Championship gold medal. There was a tight finish for 4th and 5th, with Paul Doyle's late charge just failing to catch Tadworth's David Freeman. The two 41 year-olds were also fighting out the county over 40 championship, which went to Freeman. He also took the senior silver medal and Paul took the bronze. Ed Barker was the second Ranelagh man in the early stages but he later became one of a relatively large number of drop-outs. This left Trevor Maguire leading the pack and he ran well for 21st in a time half a minute faster than last year. On his shoulder was Howard Gleave who for the second consecutive year was the leading Over 50 and took the county gold medal for that age group. Ranelagh actually provided a clean sweep amongst the over 50s, with Jonathan Robinson and Iain Wilson second and third. Niall O'Connor split the over 50 pack and he was our only other finisher in the top seventy. Chris Brook was 72nd, just a few seconds ahead of our leading woman Marie Synnott-Wells. Marie was the 4th woman home but all those ahead of her were not Surrey qualified so the county senior and Over 35 titles both went to her. Winner of the women's race was American Melissa Lyne who recorded 85.25 in her first race for some 14 months. There was a third gold medal for Marie in the team event as she, Kath Phillips and Mandy Harris combined to win both the open and county team titles. There were plenty of good runs further back too, including an outstanding over 70s mark of 100.10 set by Martin Clark. Some, like Sandra Prosser, actually managed to set PBs. Tim Sizeland gallantly missed the start sorting out a problem on the course and charged past some 700 runners during the race. Ivan Boggis completed his first half marathon for 22 years! It was pleasing to see over forty Ranelagh Harriers finishing the race and many more helping on the day as officials, marshals and water station attendants. Thanks go to all those who volunteered and congratulations for another successful event go to main organiser Carol Barnshaw and marshalling co-ordinator Niall O'Connor. There seem to have been very few problems, though we did run out of water at the finish; however, a local householder came to our rescue. The race reviews on the Runner's World website are very positive, particularly praising the marshalling, and almost the only criticisms were a lack of "atmosphere" - i.e. spectator support - and some uncertainty about the route back to the clubhouse from the finish. Here's a representative example from Serpentine's Andy McGuire: "The pre-race pack was very good and contained all the info required. Ranelagh Harriers must have one of the most scenic settings of any running club so it's always nice to visit. The organisation at the start was good with plenty of information, however with 860 runners trying to run on the same patch of road it's always going to be a bit chaotic! Starting near to the back I found I was held up for the first couple of miles but in general it wasn't really a major issue. I found the course great, the roads were not closed to traffic but I didn't have any problems. The section around Hampton Court and the river path were really very scenic. The course was well marked and I thought the marshals were brilliant and a credit to their club! I had no problem with the water stations, in fact every water station became a new best friend! It was really hot, however that didn't come as a shock as it was well forecast so I think it's down to the individual to sort out their own hydration for the race! You know how many water stations there are going to be, if you think that's not enough then bring your own drink! I do however feel sorry for the folks at the back if the water stations ran out then that would make the run really tough. The finish was great, nice medal, fruit and water...happy enough with that and I also thought the race offers very good value. I would definitely run at this event next year, it must be London's best half marathon...I just hope that the event doesn't get too big as more than 800 entries may spoil the magic!" There is a selection of Ken's photos on the website, and further photos can be viewed on David Rowe's website: rowephoto.co.uk/photos/ BARRY JONES 5 miles Monday 5th May at Wimbledon Jo Ronaldson was in the form of her life early in 2007 when she fell off a kerb and damaged her ankle. Since then she has endured a frustrating 14 months trying to regain fitness and finally made a very welcome low-key return to racing on the hilly Wimbledon circuit. She finished 11th overall, taking second place in the women's section. 1 M Halman (Wilmslow) 26.37 11 Jo Ronaldson 32.08 BRISTOL 10km Monday 5th May Second-claimer Wendy Nicholls won the women's race in a dramatic sprint finish in 34.08, and her Cirencester and Ranelagh club mate Chris Illman was 17th in 32.56. 1 J Ndayasenga (Birch) 29.09 (chip time 29.09) 17 Chris Illman (Cir) 32.56 (32.56) 23 Wendy Nicholls (Cir) 34.08 (34.08) 228 Emma Tomlinson 43.52 (43.35) 414 Finn Hughes 46.48 (46.32) RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 10th May Jonathan Stacey and Bonnie Webster both recorded their second RPTT victories and Stephen Instone, inside 20 minutes for the first time, stretched his lead in the annual points competition to nearly 1000. 1 Jonathan Stacey 17.08 14 Stephen Instone 19.52 17 Chris Read 20.08 22 Bonnie Webster 21.29 40 Phil Aiken 24.12 51 Lorna Smith 26.23 69 Hannah Ebelthite 29.43 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 10th May 1 M Shepherd (Kennet) 16.38 18 Nick Wright 18.49 29 Darren Wood 19.18 65 David Rowe 21.02 70 Chris Camacho 21.10 93 Paul Bisping 21.56 108 Adam Wright 22.16 118 Michelle Beaumont 22.26 130 Roger Wilson 22.36 167 Martin Harrison 23.12 218 Michael White 24.15 322 John Hanscomb 27.43 366 Wally Garrod 29.56 WIMBLEDON COMMON TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 10th May A PB and 3rd place in the women's section for Emma Tomlinson. 1 A Vandenberg (Unatt) 17.41 23 Emma Tomlinson 20.48 34 Finn Hughes 21.30 111 George Coates 28.15 OXFORDSHIRE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 10th May Peter Haarer was probably as surprised as anyone to find 4.25 fast enough to win the M40 vets 1500 metres title. BLACKPOOL 10km Sunday 11th May Celia Beverly reports: "I have never been to Blackpool before but a medical conference Mike wanted to attend coincided with a 10k along the prom so we went for it. It was extremely hot and sticky with not a jot of shade to dodge into as we slogged up and down the prom, in the north - south sense. It was a nearly flat, there-and-back course and so I can only excuse my 68 mins (the time from over the line) on being several years older! Mike did a good 45 minute run but we were both outdone, in every sense, by a retired orthopaedic surgeon friend who came in in 1 hour 27, at the age of 80!" 1 J Prowse (Blackpool) 31.05 219 Michael Beverly 45.15 2194 Celia Beverly 70.15 COOMBE HILL 5 miles Sunday 11th May at Kingston An impressive performance from 71 year-old Alan Howard. 1 J Trapmore (Shaft B) 25.05 54 Alan Howard 37.53 MARLOW 5 miles Sunday 11th May 1 O Jones (Chiltern) 25.56 (chip time 25.56) 1319 Marina Quayle 55.25 (52.21) FINALLY... The Sunday Times reports on a forthcoming exhibition at the Tate Britain on Millbank: "He exhibited a flickering light to win the Turner Prize. Now Martin Creed is to send a group of athletes running around Tate Britain Gallery in his latest effort to stretch the definition of art. Hundreds of runners will be recruited from athletics clubs across Britain for the show at the gallery in central London. Creed's athletes will run continuous circuits of the Tate's 270ft Duveen Gallery in relays of about 15 minutes". The exhibition is due to run from the end of June until the autumn.