*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 342 1 December 2010 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Thames Hare & Hounds win our mob match * Our leading finishers are Nathan Mills and Lee Coole * Club men's veterans championships winners: Trevor Maguire, Chris Owens and Mike Peace * Gordon Whitson wins the sealed handicap * Marc Snaith and Marie Synnott-Wells lead our South of the Thames teams to 15th and 7th places * Estelle Damant runs 36.06 in the Leeds 10km * Richard Gregory records 73.44 in the Delhi Half Marathon * parkrun placings for Mark Herbert, Sean Paynter, Duncan Mallison, Jo & Paul Sinton-Hewitt, Gill Wilson, Wiebke Kortum and Iain Wilson * Still time to book for the Christmas Party on December 11th * Dysart Cup (including club women's championships) and Ellis Cup races this Saturday SEE HERE ******** DYSART CUP 4 miles Saturday 4th December in Richmond Park Calling all women!! This is your club championship race, so please come and support it. The first Ranelagh woman to finish will receive the Hugh Jones Salver and the leading over 40 will win Trish's Trophy. Currently Marie Synnott-Wells is the holder of both. There is also a sealed handicap. We'll be hosting a few other clubs and the Dysart Cup will go to the winning team (five to score). It's 4 miles, starting at 1.45pm. Register on the day - collect your number at the clubhouse or at the start. More details, including the course map, can be found on our website here: ELLIS CUP 5.5 miles Saturday 4th December in Richmond Park The men's race over 5.5 miles follows the Dysart Cup race, starting at 2.30pm. The Ellis Cup goes to the winning team (ten to score). All are welcome to run - more details as above. LEE CUP MOB MATCH v ORION HARRIERS Saturday 11th December in Epping Forest Our third mob match this season is away to Orion Harriers on Saturday 11th December on their course at Chingford, Epping Forest. Their course will come as a quite different prospect to our comparatively tame affair in Richmond Park. It's a true multi-terrain course in the picturesque surroundings of Epping Forest. The first half of the single 7.5 miles lap is mostly on well-runnable forest tracks, featuring plenty of ups and downs. The second half is more "country" and, unless the current freeze continues, there will be some mud! Throughout there are short stretches of road to negotiate, so spikes are probably not suitable: trail shoes or studs are the thing, if you have them. The biggest hill comes just before the end - but you have the consolation of knowing that once you reach the crest all you have to survive is an easy run along the top and a downhill dash to the finish. Orion have been obliged to leave their old clubhouse, and until the funding has been found for a new home they are ensconced at the Chingford Cricket Club, off Forest Side, E4 6DE. Further details and maps can be found on the Orion website here:. Start time is 2.30pm. We'll be running a minibus from our clubhouse at 12 noon, leaving fairly promptly after the race and tea (it's our Christmas Party in the evening). Please let me know if you plan to use the bus. CHRISTMAS PARTY Date:- Saturday 11th December Time:- from 7.00pm Location:- Strawberry Hill Banqueting, St Mary's University College, Waldegrave Road, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, TW1 4SX - Tel 0208 240 4044. There is secure parking on the premises. Dress:- To Impress!! Dancing from 9 - 12.30 DJ £40 per person, £44 non members Cheques payable to Ranelagh Harriers - Please give cash/ cheques to Michele or leave in an envelope addressed to Michele Gibson at the club with your name and the number of people. Pay at door facility limited!! To reserve your place... Email:- micheleagibson@hotmail.com or text Michele 07703 518 956 or grab me at the club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays!! CLUB LONDON MARATHON PLACES We have five guaranteed places assigned to us this year, which we usually allocate through a draw at the Christmas Party. Some of you will remember that we conducted the draw for our five places last year, only for the places not to materialise because our application was lost somewhere. It was agreed that those whose names were drawn out last time should be given first refusal for the 2011 race. Three of the five have confirmed that they want to take up their places and the other two have declined. This means that we will have two places available for a ballot. So, if your application for the 2011 marathon has been rejected AND if you meet the qualifying criteria (see clublmplaces.html) give your name to Hon Sec Jo Sinton-Hewitt (josintonhewitt@gmail.com) by December 10th. RAGHNALLACH HARRIERS? Did you ever wonder where the name "Ranelagh" came from? The short-term derivation is well enough documented - the source was the district of Dublin now called Ranelagh, where the Earls of Ranelagh owned land. But before that? It appears that we owe our name to one Raghnall O'Byrne who lived in the 14th or 15th century. He established a branch of the O'Byrne clan, members of which were known as Raghnallach. The name was later applied to the territory occupied by the clan near Rathdrum, south of Dublin. The O'Byrnes' land was confisticated in the late 16th century and the name was anglicised to Ranelagh. For a fuller story, see this letter in the Irish Times:. Thanks to Niall O'Connor for unearthing this. BRITISH PATHE British Pathe have made available on their website a series of newsreel clips of old cross-country races, including a women's race from 1931, Surrey and South of the Thames championships from the 1930s and Southern and National championships from 1960. Ranelagh runners finished prominently in several of these, but while some other familiar vests can be spotted, the Ranelagh kit at the time was a rather anonymous plain blue which unfortunately makes our men difficult to pick out. Here's a link to the 1933 Surrey championship on Epsom Downs, in which Ranelagh finished four in the top eight: www.britishpathe.com/. Marc Snaith has put a full list of the links on our Ranelagh Talk forum - look at Clubhouse / Videos. You will need to register for the forum, but it only takes a moment. Go to ranelagh-talk.com or use the link on our home page. ROOM NEEDED Vaughan Ramsay writes: "I am looking for a room from December short term. Can anybody help? Contact me on 07761 430791." WHAT'S COMING ************* More details of the following from Marc Snaith (07717 213035 mailto ( mdsnaith5@hotmail.com ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07956 431319 (After 5pm Weekdays) / mailto nandmwells@aol.com ) Saturday 4th December Dysart Cup women's 4 miles race including Hugh Jones Salver club women's championship. 1.45pm start in Richmond Park Ellis Cup men's 5.5 miles race. 2.30pm start in Richmond Park Saturday 11th December Lee Cup mob match v Orion Harriers at Chingford, Epping Forest Saturday 18th December South of the Thames 7.5 miles championship at Coulsdon. 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 Bedfont Lakes Bedfont Lakes Country Park, Ashford, Middlesex Kingston The Hawker Centre Old Deer Park Pools in the Park on the A316 Other venues, more details and registration at www.parkrun.com The 2km junior parkrun for under 15s takes place at 11am on the first Sunday of each month from Bushy Park's Teddington Gate. WHAT'S HAPPENED *************** MOB MATCH v THAMES HARE & HOUNDS Saturday 20th November in Richmond Park Thames's last mob match visit to Richmond Park in 2008 was a perfect example of the importance of numbers in mob matches. On that occasion there were twelve Thames saltires in the first thirteen home - but they had brought only forty-two runners in all, some twenty fewer than we fielded. Against the odds we pulled back the early deficit and scored a notable victory by just over a hundred points. Last year we visited them on Wimbledon Common and our sixty runners surprisingly well outnumbered their muster of only thirty-four. They were not quite so dominant at the front either, and we registered an easier win by over 250 points. It was clear that Thames would not happily face the prospect of a third consecutive loss! Fifty-one of them assembled at the start, including a very strong fast pack. Our turnout of sixty-two wasn't bad, though perhaps a little disappointing after the eighty we fielded against South London Harriers last month. To make matters worse, several of our faster runners were unable to attend. The result was that Thames vests dominated the head of the race even more spectacularly than in 2008. Fifteen Thames men - plus one guest - crossed the line before our leading runner Nathan Mills. Individual winner was Matt Shore, a few seconds ahead of Stuart Major who in SLH colours had won our mob match with them four weeks before. Thames's strength at the front naturally gave them a massive early lead in the team scoring, but we duly began to chip away at it. Two places and just over a minute behind Nathan came Trevor Maguire, leading home fourteen Ranelagh in the next twenty. Gareth Craft continued his improvement in 20th place just ahead of the Vice-Captain and Captain. Ed Barker, Chris Bundhun, Ted Mockett and Andrew Forth were the others to beat fifty minutes. In the second half of the field we packed in even more, pushing their 48th and last scorer down to 105th position. Our last scorer was Jim Forrest in 93rd place. We made the final score respectable, but overhauling them was a forlorn hope and the final result was a win for Thames by almost 600 points. Congratulations to them, but watch out next year! The race incorporated our club men's veterans championships. In Peter Haarer's absence the Hastings Cup for the over 40s went most deservedly to Trevor Maguire who at the age of forty-five is running faster than ever. Our leading over 50 in most races this year, John Shaw, was also missing, so the race for the McDowell Salver turned into a fight between Chris Owens and Simon Hedger, with Chris coming out on top by nine seconds. The Maslin Mug for the over 60s was comfortably retained by Mike Peace. The veterans' sealed handicap was won by Gordon Whitson from Sally Bamford and Clive Naish. This race also features the Richard Clay-Jones Pint for the first over 50 to finish, and this was won by Chris Owens. The evening's supper in the clubhouse was well attended by both clubs and we were royally entertained as usual by John Bryant, this time assisted by a squeeze box. Thanks to Andy Hayward and Michele Gibson for organising things and to Mike White for the beer. SOUTH OF THE THAMES 5 miles CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday 27th November on Wimbledon Common We had scratch teams out for the South of the Thames race, not troubling the medallists too much. Leading them home was Marc Snaith who just got the better of Niall O'Connor again, while a minute behind there was a similar battle between Ted Mockett and Peter Faull. They formed the four-to score men's team which finished in 15th place. Marie Synnott-Wells, Sandra Prosser, Heather Martingell and Tamsin Burland were our quartet in the women's race and they finished 7th. MABAC LEAGUE 5 miles Sunday 7th November at Puttenham Common 1 J Barry (Pyrford) 30.49 54 James Barber 39.58 105 Lynne Barber 48.41 120 Christine Goodsell 55.10 126 Penny Merrett 57.14 131 Bev Ali 62.04 BRIDGES 2.3 miles handicap Wednesday 10th November at Westminster 1 P Morgan 20.28 (actual time 16.43) 4 Alan Davidson 21.02 (16.47) 8 John Hanscomb 21.11 (23.41) LONDON YOUTH GAMES Saturday 20th November at Parliament Hill Luke Wilson and Alex Fordham represented Richmond, who won the overall trophy. Under 17 men 1 M Callegari (Barnet) 15.47 40 Luke Wilson 18.20 75 Alex Fordham 20.13 LEEDS ABBEY DASH 10km Sunday 21st November It was a damp morning in Leeds but a high-quality race. Estelle Damant continued her great form in 2010 and hacked exactly one minute off her personal best, finishing in 12th place in the women's race. Estelle's 36.06 promotes her to 4th place in Ranelagh's rankings, and but for being well back in the pack at the start she might have officially cracked the 36 minutes barrier - her chip time being 35.51. 1 N Hall (Bedford) 29.17 (chip time 29.17) 148 Estelle Damant 36.06 (35.51) DELHI HALF MARATHON Sunday 21st November Richard Gregory writes: "I ran the Delhi Half on Sunday - had a brilliant weekend. Run was another step in right direction, though not quite there yet." Race Director Hugh Jones must have been surprised to see a Ranelagh vest there! 1 G Mutai (Kenya) 59.38 (chip time 59.37) 66 Richard Gregory 73.44 (73.42) EPSOM 10 miles Sunday 21st November Mark Herbert completed a busy weekend, having finished the Bedfont Lakes parkrun and the mob match on Saturday! 1 B Evans (G&G) 56.17 49 Mark Herbert 67.21 103 Lee Davies 73.35 120 Michelle Davies 75.17 BRIGHTON 10km Sunday 21st November 1 S Connelly (Ireland) 29.19 (chip time 29.19) 127 David Bell 38.01 (37.44) 817 Heather Martingell 48.30 (47.16) 892 Kirsty Bangham 49.36 (48.22) LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 26th November in Hyde Park 1 J Shane (N&EB) 14.59 31 Mick Lane 18.31 188 John Hanscomb 31.55 FLORENCE MARATHON Sunday 28th November Another good run from Martin Halvey in cold and wet conditions. 1 T Tolesa (Ethiopia) 2:12.41 (chip time 2:12:40) 138 Martin Halvey 2:49.54 (2:49.45) RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 20th November 1 A Villard (Strag) 18.19 12 Bill Neely 19.48 19 Jerym Brunton 20.19 28 Steven Jack 20.49 53 Bronwen Fisher 22.33 69 Jennie McGrath 23.33 100 Philippa Shaw 25.13 111 Tony Clark 26.14 119 Rob Kitchen 26.58 168 Pat Hewlett 31.46 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 20th November 1 B Whitby (WSEH) 14.24 77 Hugh Brasher 20.49 182 Chris Wright 23.07 306 Danny Hobbs 25.43 393 Wally Garrod 27.40 496 Mary Hickson 30.43 KINGSTON parkrun 5km Saturday 20th November 1 O Garner (WSEH) 18.03 6 Chris Camacho 20.46 11 Alan Davidson 22.14 22 Janet Turnes 28.23 FOREST OF DEAN parkrun 5km Saturday 20th November Jo Sinton-Hewitt was the first woman. 1 M Mathews (unatt) 20.40 10 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 23.29 17 Jo Sinton-Hewitt 25.29 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 20th November A victory for Mark Herbert. 1 Mark Herbert 19.23 9 Lee Davies 22.37 25 Sharon Dooley 25.37 28 Mike White 26.11 56 Tanya Allen 34.04 FRIMLEY LODGE parkrun 5km Saturday 20th November 1 D Symes (unatt) 17.51 6 Darren Wood 19.16 BRUETON parkrun 5km Saturday 20th November 1 D Tolhurst (Strat) 17.11 16 Andrew Brown 22.04 OLD DEER PARK parkrun 5km Saturday 20th November Gill Wilson was the leading woman. 1 J Barry (Pyrford) 17.51 6 William Griffin 20.39 12 Gill Wilson 25.57 16 Deborah Blakemore 32.25 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 27th November 1 E Wilson (unatt) 17.20 15 Bill Neely 19.38 42 Chris Read 21.40 44 Michael Beverly 21.48 51 Andrew Brown 22.13 66 Jennie McGrath 22.58 102 Rob Kitchen 24.46 126 Philippa Shaw 26.24 127 Sue Camp 26.31 128 Tony Clark 26.35 161 Val Lowman 29.02 195 Pat Hewlett 34.02 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 27th November 1 M Corcoran (unatt) 17.08 16 David Rowe 18.32 173 Heather Martingell 23.33 188 Jo Scheuer 23.53 248 Roger Wilson 25.31 260 Kirsty Bangham 25.51 263 Vicci Randle 25.53 323 Wally Garrod 27.04 469 Sharon Rowe 35.09 KINGSTON parkrun 5km Saturday 27th November Iain Wilson was the third man in and Wiebke Kortum was second woman. 1 D Higgins (unatt) 18.09 3 Iain Wilson 18.37 6 Chris Camacho 21.02 12 Wiebke Kortum 23.14 CANNON HILL parkrun 5km Saturday 27th November After several near-misses, Sean Paynter recorded his first win at Cannon Hill. 1 Sean Paynter 17.56 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 27th November 1 I Charlton (unatt) 19.48 6 Neil Dickens 21.27 44 Deirdre Inman 30.48 49 Cindy Croucher 32.33 FRIMLEY LODGE parkrun 5km Saturday 27th November 1 R Brookling (unatt) 16.55 10 Darren Wood 19.20 MILTON KEYNES parkrun 5km Saturday 27th November 1 P Tew (unatt) 18.50 53 Lynne Barber 27.07 64 Christine Goodsell 31.02 BANSTEAD WOODS parkrun 5km Saturday 27th November 1 N Torry (Serp) 16.28 92 Tom Reay 28.08 OLD DEER PARK parkrun 5km Saturday 27th November First and second places for Duncan Mallison and Paul Sinton-Hewitt. 1 Duncan Mallison 19.21 2 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 21.37 4 Stewart Anderson 22.34 14 Lorna Smith 29.47 18 Deborah Blakemore 32.15 FINALLY... "If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." John Bingham .