NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 00 ISSUE 271
Refreshments for the Combe Gibbet March 26th from LizCan I remind everybody that we shall be providing tea and Home Made Cakes for sale after the race and would ask you all to make a special effort and provide as much cake as you can, suitably portioned. Last year your efforts made for a great party atmosphere after the race, plus we raised £170 towards club funds and completely sold out.
I will coordinate and chase you up nearer the time.
FINAL HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE – BOURNEMOUTH – 5.02.00 from Paul
Well done everybody- a fantastic season probably our best overall ever!
The ladies team FINISHED TOP OF THE LEAGUE for the first time ever. Cath and Ruth finished 3rd and 4th individually and Cath finished 2nd vet. The mens vets team FINISHED TOP OF THE LEAGUEfor third year running with Mike and Ian finishing 1st and 2nd overall. The mens team finished 4th in a very competitive league beaten only by the much bigger clubs of Aldershot, Basingstoke and Winchester. Bournemouth was the venue for the final fixture of the season. The course was flat and fast apart from a couple of small climbs and a man made ‘hump’ on each lap. In the ladies race we had a 3 point lead going into this race so the pressure was on the girls to perform and this they did with Cath and Ruth running very strongly finishing 4th and 5th and Audra completing the team as she has done all season in 17th position. This team proved too strong for their rivals winning the team race on the day by 17 points from Basingstoke. Our two other runners in this race both had really good runs and gaining their highest places of the season were Nicky and Liz who finished 31st and 40th respectively.
The mens team were a bit below strength with Mike missing through illness, Mark stuck in traffic, Chris Try unavailable and Bob Taylor and Martin Crawshaw – who knows?!! So it was left to Ian to lead the team home in 17th position and 1st vet. Next home in his last Hants league race as a senior was Paul with his highest finish of the season in 30th. Keith Clark also had his highest place of the season in 47th improving by over 100 places from the first race in October. Dave also in his last race as a senior produced a real club captains performance finishing 56th. Not bad on once a week jogging and a mile swim 5 dinner times a week. The scoring team which finished 6th on the day was completed by Gavin in 93rd position just holding on to win a fine scrap between himself, Dave Mills who finished 95th and Simione who was 97th. The club contingent was completed by the four old gits; Eric 125th, Geoff 128th, Dave Henery 163rd and JT 196th.Eric in fact was 3rd counter for the vets team, a feat he hasn’t matched for years.
One more pleasing point for the club was the fact that we had youngsters in four of the age group races. In the U/15 boys John finished 24th but will have to practice his sprint finish after losing 3 places in the last 100m. Aarron Harris (Ronnies younger brother – remember him!) produced another good performance finishing 35th in the U/13 boys race and he will still be in this age group next season. We also had 4 girls running; three of them making their debut for the club. One of which was Fiona Reynolds who shows promise finishing 36th and Alison Boyle (Caths daughter) finishing 38th in her second race of the season. Caths other daughter Claire decided she wanted to run and persuaded her friend Erin Graham to join her. I think both girls were surprised how fit the other competitors in this age group are, but they ran round together and will still be in this age group next season and if they stick to their training during the summer should both be much more competitive next year.
The club committee are going to suggest that there are 5 scorers in the vet mens and separate competitions within the main race for over 50’s and over 60’s next season and also increase the number of scorers in the ladies race to 4 or 5. If you have any comments or other suggestions please let us know.
Ladies
Cath Wheeler 4th 17.39 (2nd vet)
Ruth Kingsborough 5th 17.46
Audra Dennison 17th 19.06
Nicky Clark 31st 20.18
Liz Sandall-Ball 40th 20.48 1st team
U/15 girls
Claire Boyle 30th 18.38
Erin Graham 31st 18.38
U/13 girls
Fiona Reynolds 36th 9.53
Alison Boyle 38th 11.20
Senior Men
Ian Ford 17th 25.48 (1st vet)
Paul Wheeler 30th 26.37
Keith Clark 47th 27.21
Dave Vosser 56th 27.40
Gavin Duncan 93rd 28.40 ______6th team
Dave Mills 95th 28.44
Simione Poulton 97th 28.48
Eric Tilbury 125th 30.21
Geoff Cloke 128th 30.35
Dave Hemery 163rd 31.48
JT 196th 34.59
U/15 boys
John Ruffell 24th 9.43
U/13 boys
Aarron Harris 35th 9.47
Well done everyone!!
MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETING 14th February
- Mark and Paul to attend ORC – AGM Monday 6th March
- Xmas party at the Red Lion cost the club £28.
- Gwyneth is preparing a welcome pack for new members from Steve’s originals.
- Twinning event to be either the weekends around June 12th and April 1st . Will consult members
- AGM will be Thursday 20th April after training in the Rec Centre.
- Club Dinner and Presentations will be Friday 28th April at the Golf Club. Geoff to book and get sample menus. Cath to organise.
- Vets Track League already has 8 teams so we cannot enter as a club. Paul to see if we can work something out with Basingstoke.
- Xmas party at the Red Lion cost the club £28. Xmas Lunch at the Golf Club cost the club £37. In future we shall have to collect the money before the event to prevent further losses.
- Income £240; Expenditure £582; Race Fees outstanding £135; Current Account £186; Reserves £1421
- Next meeting 13th March
Village Handicap 10th February from Franny
Another PB (89 secs.) gave John Ruffell his 4th straight victory and only a major disaster can stop him taking the title if he turns up for the final run. Audra is the only runner who can stop him now, with the improving Keith who was third on the night fighting it out with myself and Blissy for third in the league. 2nd finisher on the night was another of our juniors. Richard Spreadbury had a much improved run as he took a minute off his PB.Mark Simcox’s abscence relieved the pressure on Mike in the time league with Paul moving into 2nd. Both these two have missed a race so another miss could let in third placed Keith. Fastest on the night was newcomer Daniel Hyde who was 4 seconds clear of Jamie with Mike third.
| pos. |
name |
time |
h’cap |
act.time |
pos. |
| 1 |
J.RUFFELL |
29.17 |
6.15 |
23.02 |
5 |
| 2 |
R.SPREADBURY |
29.48 |
3.33 |
26.15 |
9 |
| 3 |
K.CLARK |
30.44 |
8.29 |
22.15 |
3 |
| — |
M.WOODS |
30.49 |
5.44 |
25.05 |
— |
| — |
D.HYDE |
30.51 |
11.35 |
19.16 |
— |
| 4 |
R.FRANCIS |
30.52 |
5.27 |
25.25 |
6 |
| 5 |
P.WHEELER |
30.52 |
9.06 |
21.46 |
2 |
| — |
J.JONES |
30.55 |
11.35 |
19.20 |
— |
| 6 |
N.DALTON |
31.08 |
8.08 |
23.00 |
4 |
| 7 |
J.THOMAS |
31.27 |
3.04 |
28.23 |
13 |
| 8 |
M.BLISS |
31.33 |
11.00 |
20.33 |
1 |
| 9 |
E.TILBURY |
31.43 |
5.59 |
25.44 |
8 |
| 10 |
J.HODGE |
32.12 |
6.30 |
25.42 |
7 |
| 11 |
E.SANDALL-BALL |
32.21 |
4.28 |
27.53 |
10 |
| 12 |
A.DENNISON |
34.34 |
6.30 |
28.04 |
11 |
| 13 |
G.CLOKE |
35.19 |
7.03 |
28.16 |
12 |
Current Position League
| NAME | OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
JAN |
FEB |
TOTAL |
POS |
| J.RUFFELL |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1st |
| A.DENNISON |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
10 |
2nd |
| R.FRANCIS |
11 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
24 |
3rd |
| K.CLARK |
15 |
7 |
11 |
4 |
3 |
25 |
4th |
| M.BLISS |
4 |
0 |
10 |
6 |
8 |
28 |
5th |
| E.TILBURY |
5 |
12 |
18 |
5 |
9 |
31 |
6th |
| P.WHEELER |
9 |
0 |
6 |
12 |
5 |
32 |
7th |
| D.MILLS |
13 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
34 |
8th |
| N.DALTON |
10 |
11 |
12 |
9 |
6 |
36 |
9th |
| G.DUNCAN |
6 |
6 |
13 |
18 |
0 |
43 |
10th |
| J.THOMAS |
18 |
14 |
17 |
15 |
7 |
53 |
11th |
| G.CLOKE |
12 |
0 |
15 |
16 |
13 |
56 |
12th |
| E.SANDALL-BALL |
0 |
16 |
19 |
10 |
11 |
56 |
13th |
| M.SOPER-DYER |
16 |
15 |
14 |
17 |
0 |
62 |
14th |
Current Time League
| NAME | OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
JAN |
FEB |
TOTAL |
POS |
| M.BLISS |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1st |
| P.WHEELER |
3 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
2nd |
| K.CLARK |
6 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
13 |
3rd |
| N.DALTON |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
19 |
4th |
| D.MILLS |
8 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
0 |
25 |
5th |
| G.DUNCAN |
4 |
4 |
6 |
14 |
0 |
28 |
6th |
| J.RUFFELL |
0 |
9 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
30 |
7th |
| A.DENNISON |
12 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
11 |
39 |
8th |
| R.FRANCIS |
13 |
7 |
13 |
0 |
6 |
39 |
9th |
| E.TILBURY |
11 |
10 |
15 |
11 |
8 |
40 |
10th |
| G.CLOKE |
9 |
0 |
11 |
9 |
12 |
41 |
11th |
| E.SANDALL-BALL |
0 |
14 |
17 |
15 |
10 |
56 |
12th |
| J.THOMAS |
17 |
15 |
18 |
16 |
13 |
61 |
13th |
| M.SOPER-DYER |
18 |
16 |
19 |
18 |
0 |
71 |
14th |
Congratulations to Steve who organised another, highly successful training week-end amongst the “local people” of Cornwall. Eric picked a new venue for our outward bound lunch and found superb beer at the Jack on the Green at Rocksbeare. We arrived at St. Merryn to find the Clark family ensconced in the pool and after a quick unpack the first group of runners set out on the traditional first run up to the lighthouse and back. The wind was almost blowing a gale and the waves were crashing on the rocks. A short burst of hailstones on the cliff top helped to clear the lunchtime pint from the system though Blissy had already achieved this a mile or so earlier.
This turned out to be the only damp run of the weekend and we got back to our digs to greet the late arrivals. Mountain bikes were unpacked for the non-running group members and Dave Vosser was seen mending a puncture. A large party headed off to the “local pub” to give Jamie and the other newcomers their first glimpse of the “local people”. After a good evening meal the opening shots were fired in the darts/ pool tournaments.
An earlyish start for the Saturday hill session found Voss mending another puncture. After Blissy had donated to the local top-soil industry we discovered the uphill reps. were all into a blustery wind. Everyone agreed this was a good session though both Dave Henery and Sabrina picked up injuries. Voss went back to fix another puncture.
Several groups travelled the few miles into Padstow where their was a mass purchase of fudge, beer and pasties. We soon realised an easy way to reconise the locals, they were the ones not eating pasties. The afternoon run was an out and back effort over the cliff tops before the treat of the day. Dave Henery’s Indian meal was a great success though the ozone layer took a bit of a battering the following morning.
Paul kindly dropped Nick and myself off at Padstow before 8am on Sunday. We were joined by the injured Dave Mills on his bike as we set out on our long run along the Camel Trail. The plan was to join the main group at Bodmin and then continue the run with them. Unfortunatly we missed a turning and end up in the wrong car park. After some back-tracking we caught up with the group who enjoyed their long run on the upper stretch of the trail.
Sunday lunch at the local pub is one of the highlights of the trip where the award for staying power was unanimously awarded to Steve “FIVE BELLIES” Mcnair who put the club gluttons to shame. Most people passed on the afternoon run though a hardy few did manage a few miles. Scandal rocked the entire party that evening when I witnessed something beyond the realms of comprehension……ERIC POURED A PINT OF BEER DOWN THE DRAIN.
Sunday night saw a mass boys night out back to the pub where a group were playing. After last years aggro caused by Dave Vosser we decided to let our club hardmen Mark Simcox, Jamie and Dave Mills sort out any bovver with the locals. But whilst the hard core party animals mixed in with the locals to the music of the SEX SLAVES FROM HELSTON the aforementioned tough guys could be found hiding in the far corner of the lounge. At least we continued the club tradition of drinking the pub out of real ale.
Monday morning was glorious and shorts replaced tracksters for the final run around Trevose Head. Shouts of “are you local” had by now been superceded by that fine catchphrase of Bob Fleming from the Fast Show….”ARSE” . Over the opening beach to a strangled theme from chariots of fire, we climbed up to the lighthouse and followed the coastal path.Numerous stiles and gates helped keep the group together before the racing machines picked up the pace over the last mile of road.
Leaving Steve, Sabrina, Paul,Cath and the kids to continue their break we headed for home via the customary stop at the Red Cow at Honiton for lunch where the early arrivals finshed their lunch before trying to help Jamie with his. The weekend was a great success and the memories will linger for some time. MANY THANKS to Steve for organising everything and also thanks to those who cooked all the wonderful meals, ROLL ON NEXT YEAR.
Training Weekend 19th/20th February from Franny
Southern Boys Inter-Counties XC at Down Grange 26th February from GeoffThis was a good quality race on a very fast course in near ideal cross country weather. John Ruffell got off to a good start settling in at about halfway down the field, but the ferocious pace over this 4K5m course left him little chance to improve and he finished in 52nd place and 14th counter for Hampshire U15 Boys.
BIONIC
Our winner this month has seen the fruition of a well executed plan to lead our Senior Ladies Cross Country Team to a resounding victory in the Hampshire League. This was no easy feat, the pressure was on in every race. Added to that she finished 3rd in the individual Senior Ladies League and 2nd in the Vet Ladies League. Congratulations
Cathy Wheeler, your commitment to the club and to the sport is an example to us all.
Present – Paul, Cath, Gwyneth, Mark, Geoff
