NEWSLETTERAPRIL 2002 ISSUE 297
EVENTS DIARY:
| MAY 4th |
SOUTHERN TRACK & FIELD FIXTURE : MILTON KEYNES |
| 5th |
FORDINGBRIDGE 10km TEST VALLEY 10km at ANDOVER |
| 9th |
HOME MOB MATCH at NUTLEY BOTTOM |
| 12th |
ALTON 10mile |
| 18th |
SOUTHERN TRACK & FIELD FIXTURE:TOOTING BEC |
| 19th |
NETLEY 10km HOOK 10miles |
| 26th |
MARWELL 10km |
| JUNE 2nd |
POOLE 10km |
| 5th |
PORTSMOUTH “D” Day 10km YATELEY 10km |
| 8th |
SOUTHERN TRACK & FIELD FIXTURE: HASTINGS |
| 9th |
GOODWOOD TRAIL 10km WARGRAVE 10km |
| 13th |
AWAY MOB MATCH at BASINGSTOKE |
| 16th |
BRAISHFIELD 10km |
| 22nd |
SOUTHERN TRACK & FIELD FIXTURE: GUILDFORD |
| 23rd |
BISHOPS WALTHAM 5 mile |
| 26th |
WOMENS’ RACE FOR LIFE at BASINGSTOKE |
| 29th |
BOURTON ON THE WATER 15mile KINTBURY 5 mile |
| 30th |
LORDSHILL 10km |
| 34th |
E.TILBURY |
32m 45sec |
3rd VET5O |
| 73rd |
J.THOMAS |
37m 45sec |
5th VET60 |
99 Finishers.
LAVERSTOKE PARK RUNS.
13th APRILThe annual De La Rue runs returned after last years event was cancelled due to the foot and mouth outbreak. Once again club members helped out with the course marking, marshalling and time keeping and many thanks to all of them. Geoff had managed to cobble together a junior team and they took the first four places in the shorter race. The winner was Neil Douglas from Freefolk who had a clear margin over Alex who is three years younger. Adam took time off from his football to finish 3rd ahead of Claire who was the first female by almost 5 minutes.
Mark Simcox decided not to defend his title in the main 4-mile event because he had something on the following day. Max Brear, from Bathford, had a comfortable win but the big race of the day was for first Portals finisher. Paul tracked Cath through the early stages before moving clear for a crushing victory. Eric ran well to finish 5th to help the mould office take the Portals mill team title.
| 1st | N.DOUGLAS | 13m 26sec | 2nd | P.WHEELER | 24m 08sec |
| 2nd | A.BRIGHT | 13m 01sec | 3rd | C.WHEELER | 24m 47sec |
| 3rd | A.FRANCIS | 14m 39sec | 5th | E.TILBURY | 26m 38sec |
| 4th | C.BOYLE | 15m 38sec | |||
| 38 FINISHED | |||||
| 22 FINISHED |
Open Track Meeting Basingstoke Saturday 13th April from Liz
I thought I would be very brave ( help from Eric ) to compete in an early season 1500m.
I collected my number in the rain with the wind blowing thinking what am I doing here! But thank goodness the sun came out in time for my race.
Because of a low turnout we ran with the senior men. I think I was the oldest but I was not lapped!
Time: 5mins 49secs
LONDON MARATHON. 14th APRIL.
A perfect day for distance running meant worlds best performances from Khalid Kannouchi and Paula Radcliffe plus a fastest ever men’s debut from Haile Gebresellassie. A real feast for the large TV audience as well as the large crowds on the course that turned the day into one long carnival. For the club runners this was the culmination of many long weeks of training with the club represented by it’s best turnout for several years despite the unfortunate absentees of Jill and Jamie.
First Overton vest home was Mark Simcox who was hoping for a sub 3-hour time. He made a great start and was up on schedule in the early stages and passed halfway in 85 minutes. At 17 miles he was on 2:50 pace but the fast early pace took its toll and he slowed over the closing miles to sadly miss his target. However he had the pleasing knowledge of recording a PB by 14 minutes and knows that his target is in sight, possibly, later in the year.
Following my super run last year the aim was to beat that 3:24 clocking and if possible break 3:20. Several clubmates, notably Geoff, Nick and Jill had questioned whether my target should be faster and probably because of them I did go off at a faster pace than I had planned. Thanks to them I was on sub 3:15 pace at the Cutty Sark (6 miles) and proceeded to push the pace until around the 20-mile mark. From here it was a case of digging in and was delighted to record my fastest ever-official London time and my third fastest marathon ever. Not bad after 22 years.
Dave Bright was making his marathon debut and was hoping to clock 3:30. Starting farther back in the pack he ran a superb race until the closing miles. I understand that he found the last few miles a struggle but showed real determination to easily break his target time and be the only one of us to make it on the TV. Dave was running to raise funds for the Scouts at Whitchurch and if you still feel like making a contribution to his sponsorship I’m sure he would be grateful
Karen Burton was another making her debut and was looking to break 4:30. A good build up to the race included some long runs, including the Bramley 20, and on the day she was another who had a fantastic run to narrowly beat her target time.
Nick was running the marathon with his wife who was making her debut following a challenge thrown down at last year’s presentation dinner by Dave Henery. I’m sure that all the club members wish to congratulate Laura on her fantastic achievement in completing the course in just over 4 hours 30 minutes, especially as she once again managed to out dip Nick on the line.
Track runner Adam Gold must have been one of the youngest runners in the race and though we saw little of him in the build up to the race and no one seems to have seen him since, the only information I have is on the official results which saw him completing the club interest in a time well under 4:45. It will be interesting to see how it will affect his track times this summer.
| 1487th |
M.SIMCOX |
3hrs 04mins 15sec |
| 2418th |
R.FRANCIS |
3hrs 12mins 55sec |
| 4461st |
D.BRIGHT |
3hrs 27mins 46sec |
| 19000ish |
K.BURTON |
4hrs 29mins 13sec |
| 20042nd |
L.DALTON |
4hrs 31mins 56sec |
| 20044th |
N.DALTON |
4hrs 31mins 57sec |
| 22426th |
A.GOLD |
4hrs 41mins 26sec |
| 3rd |
M.BLISS |
26m 37sec |
1st VET |
| 36th |
E.TILBURY |
32m 55sec |
1st VET 55 |
| 62nd |
S.McNAIR |
34m 29sec |
|
| 78th |
E.SANDALL-BALL |
37m 01sec |
2nd VET 50 |
| 93rd |
J.THOMAS |
38m 05sec |
2nd VET60 |
Wessex Junior League Track Meeting at Poole on Sunday 21st April from Geoff
Aaron Harris, took part in this Track Meeting, competing in the under 15 Boys category, as second claim for the Newbury based Club, Team Kennet. The weather was warm and sunny, but a stiff headwind between the 100 and 200metre track points provided unwelcome opposition to athletes competing in 400metre races and above.
Aaron warmed up with a second placed run in the B string 200metres clocking 29.1secs, a new personal best. In his next event the 800metres, Aaron was up against tough opposition and found himself trailing the leader by 4 seconds after 400metres. Undaunted, he had the strength to keep going at his set pace, overtaking the leader with 150metres remaining, and found that extra bit to pull away and win by just over 2 seconds. This was an impressive run by Aaron against quality opponents, making it a very exciting race to watch. He was rewarded with another personal best of 2mins 16secs smashing his previous best by 3 seconds. His last individual event was the 400metres, a distance he has never raced before, but which he completed in a very satisfying 64 seconds in fourth place. In the 400metres relay, Team Kennet had a slender lead over Southampton after the first leg, but were left trailing by 10 seconds after legs two and three. Aaron ran the final leg with no chance of catching the leader, but did not give up, and completed his leg in 62.3 seconds, another personal best.
Bournemouth Half Marathon Sunday 28th April from Geoff
This race attracted over 1000 competitors, eager to compete over a fairly flat course, with just one tough hill about one mile out. Conditions were characteristically spring like, with blustery showers intermingled with lengthy warm sunny periods. The last five miles were run against a stiff headwind negating any thoughts of that elusive personal best time.
Mike Bliss, now well into full training after a long layoff, was dispirited with his lack lustre performance, and felt that he was involved in hard run, instead of a race. However he did manage to finish 3rd overall, and second in the over 40s category in a time of 73mins 57secs.
Andy Hartley running in the event for the first time competed well to finish 102nd, in 88mins 21secs.
Committee Meeting 15/4/02
Present G. Cloke, M. Dennison, P. Wheeler, C. Wheeler, R. Francis, G. Mclaughlin.
Matters Arising:
- Consistency First races have been decided, Mob Match 9/5/02, Netley 10km, 2nd Mob Match and Brashfield 5 plus Bourton-on-Water 15.
- Club Dinner. Representative from Barker son &Isherwood coming as club guest.
- AGM. This will be held in the centre bar.
- Club Pentathlon. Need to change date due to lack of helpers available. Franny to make further inquiries.
- Coombe Gibbet. Race went well club made a profit of £400.
Treasurers Report.
Income £658.92
Expenditure £75.70
Current £1066.64
Reserve £3176.01
AOB
- ORC. Changing rooms need redecorating, Ken Hogan wants various groups to paint etc.
- Suggestion was made to give a bottle to the barman who is leaving, to thank him.
- Sports development planning meeting Geoff and Richard will attend on behalf of the club.
- Donkey derby on Tuesday 4th June. This will be held at Town Meadow, club to have a stall.
- New member Dorothy Wicke.
Date of next meeting 13/5/02
Meeting closed at 9.40 p.m.
POETS, PHILOSOPHERS AND COMEDY SCRIPTWRITERS.
The newsletter is rapidly approaching its 300th edition and Franny is looking for club members to contribute articles to maybe spice things up a bit. The newsletter can be extremely boring when the same members do all the race reports etc. so can you please help out by making a contribution occasionally.
CLUB PRESENTATION DINNER.
This was once again a great success and was enjoyed by everyone who attended. A big thank you to Cath for organising the event and congratulations to all the prize winners who received their awards in what could best be described as a jovial atmosphere.
For those who could not attend Moira received the most improved award, Chris Jones was voted best track athlete and Liz was voted the club person of the year and became the first recipient of the new, and very impressive, trophy kindly donated by Barker, Sons and Isherwood.
BIONIC
Our Winner this month has a very good winter in preparation for the London marathon. His initial aim was to better 3:20 which he did by over 7 minutes making this his fastest London for 22 years when he just a mere slip of a lad and several stones lighter. Congratulations
Franny. Could this be the shape of things to come?
In the Mini Marathon, run over the final 2.6 miles of the course, Aaron Harris was selected to represent Hampshire in the 13/14 year old age category, and was treated to overnight accommodation in preparation for the 9:30am start. He finished 37th out of 70 county finishers in a time of 15mins 13secs and was 5th counter for the team.
Thanks to JT again for the following report.
HIGHWORTH 5 mile 21st APRIL.
A small group of us headed for the wilds of Wiltshire for this well organised event in the village of Highworth, just north of Swindon. The course was basically downhill for 4 miles, half a mile uphill and then flat to the finish in a school playing field. There was a brisk breeze which seemed to affect most of us, particularly in the first couple of miles and then again towards the finish.
Mike continued his good form finishing in third place behind two Swindon Harriers (not AC) in 26:37; he also took the first veteran trophy. Eric again blazed away to finish in 32:55, only 10 seconds slower than Milton Keynes which was an excellent run considering the severity of the hill at the end. Inexplicably Eric acquired the name E.Butler on the result list and last weeks’ AW.
Steve made an infrequent turn out for the club and finished in a creditable 34:29, well ahead of Liz who was surprisingly beaten into second place in the ladies over 50 catorgary. JT completed the club interest well beaten into second place in the over 60 catorgary but still enjoyed the day out.
PLEASE CHECK NOTICE BOARD OR RUNNING MAGAZINES FOR FURTHER INFO.
FRANNYS BITS.
Sorry, missing from last month’s newsletter was the result of the Eastleigh 10km handicap. 1st place went to Eric whose run was good enough to get him a gold in the club standards. Liz took silver ahead of Blissy who may need to put up a new shelf before the presentation evening.
By the time this edition hits the changing rooms the men’s team should have contested their first track fixture of the season. Lets hope for a successful summer and hopefully look for promotion at the end of it.
A reminder that the home mob match against Basingstoke will take place over the Nutley Bottom course on May 9th. Please try and get to training slightly earlier so you can collect your number and allow time to jog out to the start. Further details will be on the notice board. This will also be the first consistency event of the new season so lets have a good turnout and see if we can retain the trophy.
Further consistency events earmarked are the Netley 10k, Away mob match, Braishfield 5 miles and Bourton on the Water 15 miles. Once again, further details are on the notice board.
Finally, commiseration’s to poor old Jamie who, following his injury and navigational problems was the victim of an unprovoked attack whilst running the southern road relay for Southampton Running Club. Lets hope for a quick recovery and hope he doesn’t run under any more ladders.
Many thanks to JT for the following item.
VERLEA A.C 5 miles at WELWYN GARDEN CITY. 1st APRIL.
Eric was aware that he needed some competition and persuaded JT that he needed some as well. So, we decided to make the fairly long journey to Welwyn for Verlea’s 5-mile race on Easter Monday.
The event had the air of how races used to be, cardboard numbers with no sponsor mentioned no T-shirts or medals and no drinking stations. Verlea only received an ok for the race to proceed at a very late date and, not surprisingly, the entry was low with only 100 finishers!
The two-lap course was very flat apart from one steady drag and was considered by locals to be rather fast. We were both somewhat disappointed with our times so perhaps we would dispute the “fast” bit. The ladies race was won by Sharon Morris of Bedford & County in an exciting time of 27:14. This lady is an established international who has since crept inside the qualifying time for 10,000m for the commonwealth games. Good luck to her!