*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 298 16 January 2009 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Ranelagh 3rd in the women's Surrey League and 4th in the men's with one race to go * Jo Ronaldson and Sam Perkins lead our teams on freezing Farthing Downs * MABAC League in Windsor Great Park * Parkrun second places for Jerym Brunton and Wiebke Kortum * Nick Harrison 8th in Middlesex Under 20s * Last mob match of the season away to Blackheath on 31st January SEE HERE ******** BLACKHEATH MOB MATCH Saturday 31st January at Hayes (Kent) Marc Snaith writes: "Having won our home mob matches we go into the final mob match with a 2-1 record. I keep getting told that a winning mob match season is a rarer sight than the former captain visiting the barbers so we have an excellent opportunity to make some club history. We had 34 runners out at Orion and 31 ran at Blackheath two years ago so if we can take similar numbers we'll give ourselves a chance of victory. Thames reminded us that it is all about numbers in mob matches as only Ralph mixed it with their fast guys in the top ten yet we still beat them by over 100 points! It will be my first time out at Blackheath and I am really looking forward to getting out on an old fashioned XC course complete with stiles. Just check out some of the photos on our website from 2005 and 2007 to get a taste of what is in store for us. And if you need even more incentive the race will be preceded by a battle of the chants competition as our very own 'hobble gobble' will go up against Blackheath's 'black black black black black' chant. This really is a sight worth seeing! Mike's Peace bus will be used again, spaces are limited to 16 so please let me know in advance if you would like a place. If you want to drive and have room for others then please meet at the clubhouse so that we can get as many people out to Hayes as possible. I'll confirm the meeting time later". SOUTH OF ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 24th January at Hillingdon Map of location and transport links here: SUSSEX BEACON HALF MARATHON Sunday 22nd February at Brighton A number of Ranelagh Harriers have already entered this popular event which takes place on a fast and flat course. The entry limit has nearly been reached already so if you're thinking of running don't delay: here: LONDON MARATHON Peter Saw writes: "I have received the following from the PSP Association which may be of interest to Ranelagh members, particularly those who were unsuccessful in the draw at the recent Christmas social. WANTED! Flora London Marathon runners and flag wavers - Sunday 26th April 2009. For more details see here: WHAT'S COMING ************* More details of the following from Marc Snaith (07717 213035 mailto ( mdsnaith5@hotmail.com ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07956 431319 / mailto nandmwells@aol.com ) Saturday 24th January South of England Cross-Country Championships at Hillingdon Saturday 31st January Pelling-Ratcliff Cup Mob Match v Blackheath & Bromley HAC at Hayes, Kent. 2.30pm start. Saturday 7th February Surrey League final races - men at Ham, women at Lloyd Park, Croydon Parkruns every Saturday at 9am Bushy Park Diana Fountain car park Richmond Park Richmond Gate 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 *************** SWEATSHOP SURREY LEAGUE DIVISION ONE and SURREY LADIES' LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Saturday 10th January at Coulsdon Temperatures had not climbed much above freezing for the past three weeks, but the coldest day of all was reserved for the third Surrey League fixtures at Coulsdon. It was bitter up on Farthing Downs, the trees and bushes heavy with frost and hard packed frozen snow still lying on parts of the course. All credit to the marshals and officials - including our own Alan Hedger and Ken Powley - who stood out in the cold for several hours while the various age group races took place. First up were the senior women. A couple of our team were ready to run in crop tops before they were persuaded that, well, yes, it really was quite cold. Thus saved from hypothermia they set off in a massive crowd of well over 300 runners. Incidentally, such is the growing popularity of the women's league that consideration is being given to having Division 1 and Division 2 running separately next season rather than all together as at present. We had a pretty strong team out - no Estelle Damant but including Clare King in her first cross-country race of the season. As is usual now it was Jo Ronaldson who led the Ranelagh crew from the off, not quite able to match the pace of the leaders but well placed in the top ten throughout and finally finishing an excellent 6th. Skipper Marie Synnott-Wells filled second place in the team in 12th and it was encouraging to see the rest of the five forming the 'A' team all home within three-quarters of a minute of Marie. Clare King - after her usual cautious start - was charging through in the closing stages and looked as if she might have caught Marie if the race had gone on much longer. Sara Grosvenor was as tenacious as ever and the fast-improving Kath Phillips ran by far her best league race to date to close the team in 31st place. The team was placed third on the day and moved up one place to third overall, well clear of fourth place and with an outside chance of knocking Belgrave out of the runners-up spot in the final league race in February. The league champion's trophy - currently in our hands - is almost certainly destined to go to South London Harriers. Sandra Prosser led the 'B' team into 17th place - second 'B' team - and they stand in 18th overall, third 'B' team but only ten points behind Herne Hill 'B' - their target for the final race! Marie Synnott-Wells adds: "They were the most challenging of weather conditions that I have experienced in my XC career (which is relatively lightweight compared to some). I am glad that I wore my blunt size 12 spikes, they kept me upright throughout the course. There also comes a time when the crop top has to go and the Hellys becomes a must, and yesterday was the day!" The men's race was the last to go, as the sun and the temperature slipped in tandem. There was a fast start (to get warm?) and after a mile or so, as the field started the long descent to Happy Valley, there was no Ranelagh vest to be seen in the top thirty. But working together our top six began to make inroads with Sam Perkins, Richard Gregory and Phil Killingley in the van and Peter Haarer, Darryl McDonald and Ralph Street following. On the second circuit Sam really changed gear and surged through to 11th place at the finish. Richard Gregory, who had just pipped Sam in the county championships the week before, couldn't find the extra pace but held on well for 22nd. Peter Haarer, just back from a hamstring injury, protested before the race that he was unfit but ran very impressively to move through to 26th ahead of Phil Killingley 29th. Tracking Phil all the way was 18 year-old Ralph Street who finished a great 33rd in his first league race. The cold dry air brought on an attack of asthma for Darryl McDonald but he held on for 42nd. There was a small gap after that before the last four team scorers Ed Barker, Marc Snaith, Howard Gleave and Mick Lane. There were surprises and upsets in the team results. Last season the race for the title went to the wire, with Herne Hill prevailing over Thames Hare and Hounds by just six points. This season seemed to be going the same way, Thames holding a seven point advantage going into today's race. But they struggled today, conceding 112 points - and most probably the League title - to Herne Hill. Reigate Priory had been down in 8th place after the first two races and looking set for relegation but today they pulled out all the stops to finish 3rd. This carried them up to 7th overall and probably ensured them a Division One spot next season at the expense of Stragglers who joined Dorking in the relegation zone. Hercules Wimbledon continued to perform well, 4th today establishing them in a solid 3rd overall. Their nearest challengers are Ranelagh...114 points behind which makes it unlikely but not impossible that we might catch them in the final race next month. Our 5th place on the day proved sufficient for us to jump two places in the table to 4th - thanks in some measure to poor performances by South London - surprisingly, on their own patch - and Belgrave, who were hardly at the races at all. They reportedly had to press a spectator into action simply to make up the minimum ten man team! So with a local final race to come on February 7th - a new flat course from the Hawker Centre in Ham, taking in Ham Fields and the towpath - we have every chance of filling 4th place for the third consecutive year. Captain Marc Snaith adds: "Fantastic effort by everyone who turned up and especially to those of you who would have had good reasons to miss it. Your efforts are hugely appreciated and it is that passion and sacrifice that makes Ranelagh such a great club to be a part of. Also very encouraging to note that four of our first five scorers are under 30 and two of those are under 21. It is exciting for the future to see such young blood scoring the points". RON WHEELER QUARTERLY 5km Thursday 8th January at Wapping 1 M Crook (Springfield) 16.57 11 Andy Bickerstaff 19.46 12 Chris Read 20.18 13 Andy Hayward 20.34 MIDDLESEX CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 10th January at Trent Park In his first year in the age group, 17 year-old Nick Harrison finished 8th in the Under 20 event, which might well prove sufficient to earn him a county vest. Under 20 1 M Sharpe (Enf & Har) 27.18 8 Nick Harrison 31.20 BUSHY PARKRUN 5km Saturday 10th January 1 E O'Connor (unatt) 17.18 8 Iain Wilson 18.19 27 Sean Paynter 19.16 29 David Rowe 19.19 99 Adam Wright 21.57 108 David Ready 22.16 216 Chris Wright 24.39 238 Roger Wilson 25.08 305 Wally Garrod 26.52 367 Daniel Hobbs 29.03 401 John Hanscomb 30.37 408 Holly Wilson 31.04 418 Gill Wilson 31.36 RICHMOND PARKRUN 5km Saturday 10th January Second places for Jerym Brunton and Wiebke Kortum. 1 T O'Neill (Belgrave) 18.33 2 Jerym Brunton 18.57 7 Stephen Instone 20.04 11 Chris Read 20.26 32 Wiebke Kortum 22.15 62 Martin Clark 25.45 83 Sharon Dooley 27.54 96 Janet Turnes 29.28 MABAC LEAGUE 8 miles Sunday 11th January in Windsor Great Park Bev Ali reports: "We had a great turnout for the MABAC 8 miles run in scenic Windsor Great Park on Sunday 11th January. The conditions were ideal - warmer than it had been, but not too warm, sunny, a little windy and dry. The route was all on hard surface, mostly tarmac paths, and although the course is undulating, the leading times were fast - the top seven were all under six minute miles. As usual, the marshalling was excellent, friendly and helpful, the atmosphere was encouraging to all and there were separate events for walkers, joggers and juniors incorporated into the race. One of the awards for this race is a certificate for finishing in a time in minutes that is less than your age in years (women are given a 15% allowance). I would have to live to be 105 to achieve this...72 year-old Pat Hewlett, on the other hand, did it with a few years to spare. Some runners even extended the eight miles to fit in a longer run for marathon preparations. This was the inaugural race for the University of Surrey Running Club which has joined MABAC - the more the merrier! Just to prove that MABAC isn't just about running, the committee decided, and it was ratified at the AGM in December, that there was no need to retain over a certain level of funds in the bank, and that the rest would be donated to local charities: £700 to the Surrey branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association, £700 to Hurtwood Control - St John's Ambulance, and £700 to Help for Heroes which supports Headley Court, a rehabilitation centre for injured servicemen and women. More details about future MABAC races can be seen at www.mabac.org.uk or by using the link on the Ranelagh website that is buried way at the back... Ranelagh will be hosting the MABAC race on Sunday 1st of March in Richmond Park. Please mark it in your diary, and if you choose not to run, we can always use help with marshalling, timekeeping and setting up". 1 D Cairnie (Runnymede) 46.57 71 Alan Davidson 58.19 82 Simon Burrell 59.17 145 James Barber 67.54 169 Lynne Barber 73.30 191 Sally Irvine 79.53 194 Christine Goodsell 82.10 195 Penny Merrett 82.11 196 Deborah Blakemore 82.19 197 Pat Hewlett 82.46 205 Deirdre Inman 86.22 207 Cindy Croucher 86.58 209 Annemarie Goodridge 87.50 210 Bev Ali 94.09 212 Bev Walsh 95.13 BEAVER CREEK SNOWSHOE RACES Sunday 11th January at Beaver Creek, Colorado Andrew Forth writes: "Kerrie and I did a snowshoe race in Beaver Creek in Colorado while on holiday. I came 14th in the Men's 10k and Kerrie came 26th in the Women's 5k. Suffice to say snowshoeing proved to be a bit harder than road running or cross country - as indicated by the times and the profile of the courses". Men's 10km 1 S Wealing 54.38 14 Andrew Forth 68.48 Women's 5km 1 H Vosbeck 33.59 26 Kerrie O'Connor 45.58 SAN SILVESTRE NEW YEAR'S EVE 10km Wednesday 31st December in Madrid "One Lap" Wally reports: Running the Henty Relay seemed to me to be an inauspicious way to end 2008 especially as I had the dubious honour of being not only the oldest runner but also the slowest! A double whammy as they say. So for this international runner the San Silvestre 10km in Madrid on New Year's Eve seemed to be a better idea. This year there were 30,000 runners, all provided with an excellent quality and design long-sleeved sweatshirt beforehand and the nowadays statutory chip. The course is undulating but passed many grand buildings and fountains all floodlit. It also passed the famous Prado Museum. Madrileños really go to town with their Christmas street decorations. They were quite spectacular and made the Oxford Street decorations look very second-rate. There were bands playing at strategic points and the crowds were very enthusiastic, the like of which I have not experienced before. To cap it all and to encourage weary runners the last kilometre was run to the accompaniment of a truly astonishing firework display. This is a well organised event from start to finish and well worth a visit. Finally, when in Madrid you must visit the Bar /Restaurant Casandra, Nuñez de Balboa 76. Go midday and have the 'menue del dia', I promise you will not be disappointed" 1 P Torres (Spain) 30.39 12785 Wally Garrod 58.52. FINALLY... Running with your dog? Jeff Bull sends the following link from The Guardian: