HEADLINES

Wendy Jones finished a magnificent third in her international debut in Dublin on 12 November. Running for England in the home countries veterans xc international she was only beaten by two Irish ladies and was the first English finisher by some margin. The Athletics Weekly article in October featuring Wendy has now been posted onto the club website www.cirencester-ac.org.uk

The 2005/2006 Oxford League is only two races old yet it is rapidly becoming one of those never to be forgotten seasons. The first race featured a downpour and glorious mud; today's second edition spared the runners (and team manager David Edelsten) any precipitation from above but made up for it in terms of underfoot conditions. It was a quagmire! Team wise the club struggled, inevitably after the first race heroics, but those that turned up produced some fantastic performances which leave all to play for in the final three fixtures both for the men and the women. There is even an incentive to run the next (1st January) fixture. Intrigued? See below.

Don't forget the annual club Christmas bash at the Corinium Court Hotel this Friday (9 December) at 7.30pm . Full report of all the salacious goings on in the next newsletter!

HOME COUNTRIES VETERANS INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY, DUBLIN

This popular annual fixture has been going for many years with the venue moving around each of the home countries, Ireland , Northern Ireland , England , Scotland & Wales . On 12 November Dublin was the venue as teams of four men and women in five year age groups from 35 to 70 from each country raced around a parkland course in perfect conditions.

Wendy Jones takes up the story of her weekend: "I put my first international appearance down to Wrighty. Cheers Dave! It was he who suggested I should put my application in for the Vets England team. So, I filled in the application form, which consisted of my results since turning a V35 and BINGO, a few weeks later a letter arrived saying I had been selected to represent England in the Vets Home Countries Cross Country International in Dublin.

I was very excited to be picked and proud that I would finally get a chance to wear an England vest. So, with an entourage of Justin, both my parents, auntie Sandra and Stu we flew to Dublin . After a very bumpy flight we checked into the Crown Plaza Hotel, where most of the England and Scotland team were also staying. The hotel was conveniently located right next to Santry Park , where the event was to he held. There was a fantastic team atmosphere right from the start and on the Friday night there was a delicious pasta party to get everyone in the mood. I sat next to the team manager who warned me that the Irish, being the hosts, would put out a strong team.

The women's race was the first event at 12 noon . It was 6km, consisting of 3 x 2km laps around fairly flat parkland and slightly wet underfoot but not too demanding. Leading up to the race I was more excited than nervous and confident that I would run well. It was when I stripped down to my vest and shorts that the nerves kicked in and I felt a lump in my throat, plus having my family there watching added to the pressure. The teams first lined up in pens and I made sure I got to the front, then each nation in turn were called forward to the start line. The gun fired and my race plan kicked in. I started slower than usual and made no attempt to lead, just ran on the leaders shoulders to see what the opposition were like. By the end of the first lap three Irish girls and myself had pulled away and then it quickly became a three horse race. I felt very comfortable and thought hey, I could win this race but going into the third lap the pace increased and the winner from last year opened up a gap. I battled on for second place but my finish let me down and I had to be satisfied with a fine third place.

One of the highlights of the weekend was my dad cheering so loudly that I could hear him all over the course, easily drowning out the Irish supporters who, of course, were out in force.

After all that excitement we were looking forward to the presentation evening that was held at a posh country club hotel on the outskirts of Dublin . A tasty three course meal was served, along with an endless supply of wine. Catherina McKiernan ( 1998 London marathon winner) presented the medals and I proudly, or rather drunkenly, went up and got mine. After that the fun started on the dance floor. I have never seen so many young looking old people strutting their stuff!

The main highlight from the weekend was not my pleasing third place but Justin being asked how he had got on in the men's race - ha, ha, he's got another 10 years until he's a V40!"

Per Athletics Weekly's report of the race: 'Niamh O'Sullivan led the green vests of Ireland . to W40 team gold and overall victory. Annette Kiely was second overall, but first W35, for the hosts as Wendy Jones marked her international debut for England with third overall and W35 silver. The Cirencester runner added "The Irish put out a strong team and my plan was to stay off the pace and on the first lap there were three Irish girls and I felt really comfortable on their shoulders. On the last lap they were just a bit stronger but I gave it my all. I really enjoyed it but the course was easier than I anticipated".' The report was accompanied by a photograph of Wendy - her third in six issues of AW! - battling out the lead with the eventual winner.

Result: 1 Niamh O'Sullivan ( Ireland FV40) 20.46, 2 Annette Kiely ( Ireland FV35) 21.00, 3 Wendy Jones ( England FV35) 21.10.

OXFORD LEAGUE

4 December at Enslow Quarry, Bletchingdon. A wonderful run from 15 year old Jenny Manners helped the senior ladies team remain in close contact with the leading teams. After two fixtures only six points separate the first three teams so Cirencester still have a real chance of completing a hat trick of championships. On a treacherous course where the perception was daunting and the reality terrifying, Wendy Jones and Jane Wassell soon headed the race although both looked a little unsteady on their feet on a course that included numerous twists and turns in glutinous mud. Wendy soon pulled clear for yet another comfortable victory and Jane dug really deep to move up from fourth to third on the second lap. Jane is certainly consistent: in two Oxford League fixtures this winter she has finished third and in two Glos League fixtures she has finished fifth! The big question then became who would close the team in as third scorer. Jenny was always leading the chasing Cirencester pack but never very far ahead of a group of four other red & blacks. Poor Diane Moore twice lost a shoe in the dreadful conditions but still managed to close on Jenny and produce a better result than at Ascott. Jenny though, despite having raced the day before in the schools county championships, held her own and actually improved two places on the second lap for a fantastic 26th position. This could prove vital at the end of the season in what clearly is going to be a tight championship. With White Horse performing strongly on the day they and Banbury now lead the league on 49 points with Cirencester lurking six points behind. We have the runners - do we have the desire and power to claw back those points and go on to a historic third league win? Thanks to the race to be third scorer being very competitive the club 'B' team performed magnificently to be the first 'B' team home, even beating Headington who are in the first division. There is a real chance that the 'B' team could achieve promotion to the top elite division, in which case we would be the only club in that position. That would be a really positive result for the club. In summary the ladies fought apparent calamity with real resilience and are in with a fighting chance of making this a fantastic season for the club. Well run to all who performed today!

The men were in a similar position with numerous absentees from the first fixture - all for good reasons. Thus this was a test for the reserves and resolve of the club. Thanks to Pancho's cajoling, anybody who could possibly make it to the start line was there and the captain led from the front. Pancho surpassed his brilliant run at Ascott with second place today, an absolutely fantastic effort. This was running of the highest order and reflects the work that our Uruguayan friend has put in in recent weeks and months. Justin Nicholls proved that his fine run last time out was not a one off as he improved yet again; his training regime of steady running every other day, albeit with some speed sessions with Wendy, is really starting to pay off and his improvement is wonderful to watch. Messrs Wright, Ferris, K and Ferris, R all decided to take a dive into the seemingly innocuous water filled ditch and Wrighty, having enjoyed the experience so much first time round, decided to dive in head first again on the second circuit. Apart from an expletive uttered by this normally extremely mild mannered man, it has to be reported that he was happy to drag two opponents down with him on this second excursion. Needless to say this therefore allowed him to miss this evening's club swimming session (no change there then) so that the newsletter could be completed and issued for all to read with their cornflakes on Monday morning. It should also be said that Mr Wright intends distancing himself from any photographs that may subsequently appear on the internet. His rather dark face was purely a way of saving on expensive mud treatment facials! In terms of damage limitation the club did a good job and although dropping from third to fifth overall there is real hope that further progress can be made with the return of our top men for the rest of the season. Further down the field Tony Curry, despite his protestations that this is the worst course ever devised by man, not only beat Dick Waldron for the first time in a while but ended up as first V60 finisher overall. The battle between Tony & Dick promises to be a very exciting one through the rest of the season.

U11 Girls: 6 Lucy Vass 3.53, 19 Lauren Eales 4.02, 23 Jenny Eales 4.23, 36 Lauren Smith 5.04.

U11 Boys: 14 Alex Vass 4.15.

U13/15 Girls: 33 Charlotte Somers (U13) 11.22.

Women: 1 Wendy Jones (Cirencester, 1st FV35) 23.07, 3 Jane Wassell (2nd FV35) 24.48, 26 Jenny Manners (4th U17), 29 Diane Moore 30.49, 34 Kim Withycombe 31.00, 39 Carol Clarke (3rd FV55) 31.20, 45 Corinne Clark 32.28, 60 Lorraine Ferris 35.39. 86 finished.

Teams: Div One, 1 White Horse 14pts, 2 Banbury 22pts, 3 Cirencester 30pts. Div Two, 1 Radley 89pts, 2 Cirencester 'B' 102pts, 13 Cirencester 'C' 192 pts.

Team scores after two races: Div One. 1= White Horse & Banbury 49pts, 3 Cirencester 55pts. Div Two. 1. Oxford City 178pts, 2 Radley 199pts, 3 Cirencester 'B' 225pts, 15 Cirencester 'C' 411pts.

Men: 1 Steve Kimber (Headington) 34.24, 2 Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz (Cirencester) 35.28, 21 Justin Nicholls 39.13, 31 David Wright 39.58, 62 Kevin Ferris 42.44, 88 Bill Leggate 44.11, 91 Martin Pitts 44.20, 95 Duncan Atkinson 44.43, 102 Bob Ferris 45.14, 114 Dorian Matts 46.25, 119 Chris Brough 46.54, 134 Colin O'Hare 48.21, 138 Colin Tapley 49.05, 152 Steven Elverd 50.28, 170 Tony Curry (1st V60) 53.19, 178 Dick Waldron 54.31 (3rd V60), 197 Mike Thomas 65.14. 199 finished.

Teams: Div One, 1 Headington 79pts, 6 Cirencester 390pts. Div Three, 1 Abingdon 'B' 548pts, 5 Cirencester 'B' 929pts.

Team scores after two races: Div One. 1 Headington 233pts, 2 Woodstock 389pts, 3 Abingdon 418pts, 4 Witney 426pts, 5 Cirencester 598pts. Div Three. 1 Abingdon 'B' 1,236pts, 2 Witney 'B' 1,315pts, 3 Banbury 1,358pts, 4 Cirencester 'B' 1,643pts.

Full results can be found on www.geocities.com/oxmailxc

The next race is on 1 January 2006 at Lambourn. Clearly not the ideal time to race but no doubt all members will be tucked up in bed by 11pm on New Year's Eve to ensure a healthy eight hours before embarking on the next leg of the club's winter quest - glory in the Oxford League. As usual there will be a group meeting at the leisure centre at 9:30 (no later please). If going direct head down towards Swindon on the A419, then take the A420 Oxford road at Stratton St Margaret before turning right at Shrivenham onto the B4000, which takes you all the way to Lambourn crossing the Ridgeway footpath on its way. The ladies start at 11:10 and men at 11:40 . If there early remember to cheer the Cirencester girls and boys in the junior races. Woodstock Harriers' website states: "this course has some steep climbs and muddy wooded sections, with a very fast descent to the finish."

As an added incentive to those dedicated athletes willing to make the effort and race on New Year's day, Wendy Jones and Justin Nicholls are rewarding such dedication with an invitation to their home in Fairford for a party (bring a bottle) commencing in the early evening of January 1st. Further details to follow but put it in your diary and make the effort to run! This is an offer not to be missed!

The remaining fixtures are as follows:

5 February at Cirencester Park

5 March at Drayton School , Banbury

RANKINGS

After two rounds of the Oxford League the winter's cross country rankings are shaping up thus:

Men: P Gonzalez-Diaz 50, J Nicholls 45, B Leggate 41, K Ferris 40, M Pitts 39, B Ferris 32, C Brough & D Matts 28, C Illman & C Tapley 24, J Barrowclogh & D Wright 23, P Barlow 22, S Elverd 20, C O'Hare & D Atkinson 19, A Harborow 17, M Gluning 16, N Barrowclough 15, J Young 13, D Waldron & T Curry 12, M Thomas 11, P Langsam 9, T Willson 8, C Sherrington 6, I Fletcher 5, W Moffatt 3, C Riches 2.

Women: W Jones 30, J Wassell 28, D Moore 24, K Withycombe 22, Carol Clarke 20, Corrine Clark 18, Lorraine Ferris 15, H Langsam & J Manners 13, P Vass 8, Lynn Ferris 6.

OTHER CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS & FIXTURES

19 November, Gloucestershire XC League, Dursley. The Wassell family out in force again. Lewis got the better of brother Cameron for the first time in the U11 race whilst Jane, consistent as ever, finished in the same position as in the first fixture and once again was first veteran.

U11 Boys: 1 J Wilson (Westbury) 6.02, 12 Lewis Wassell 6.48, 17 Cameron Wassell 6.58. 50 finished.

Women: 1 Caroline Kloiber (Bristol & West) 22.55, 5 Jane Wassell (Cirencester, 1st FV35) 24.30. 85 finished.

Fixtures (all Saturdays):

10 December, Gloucester League, Leamington .

14 January 2006 , Gloucestershire County XC Championships, Plock Court , Gloucester .

21 January, Gloucester League, Forest of Dean .

28 January, Midland XC Championships, Leamington

25 February, National XC Championships, Parliament Hill, London .

ROAD & MULTI-TERRAIN RESULTS

13 November, Sodbury Slog '8½' m/t, Chipping Sodbury.

1 William Levett (Bedford) 59.42, 234 Chris Sherrington (Cirencester) 1.26.03, 870 David Edelsten 2.12.36. 969 finished. Full results & photos on www.bittonrr.co.uk

20 November, Cirencester Park Off Road Duathlon.

Many club members helped organisers Lorraine & Kevin Ferris to marshall this run/bike/run off roader held in freezing but sunny conditions in the park. Only two souls braved the elements and underfoot/wheel conditions and actually wore a number.

1 Liam Killeen 1.02.15, 58 Duncan Atkinson (Cirencester) 1.18.40, 104 Diane Moore 1.26.55. 165 finished. www.triferris.com

27 November, Eynsham 10k

Justin Nicholls continued his improved form with a good run (a personal best) and Sue McKeeman ran her fastest 10k of the year.

1 Stephen Male ( Oxford City ) 31.57, 59 Justin Nicholls (Cirencester) 38.03, 245 Sue McKeeman 46.09. 524 finished. Results & report on www.eynshamroadrunners.org.uk

FORTHCOMING ROAD / MULTI-TERRAIN RACES & CONTACT DETAILS:

22 January, Slaughterford '9' m/t, nr Corsham. Popular off roader (323 ran in the snow in 2005) but enter early as strict race limit of 350. See www.chippenhamharriers.c o .uk

26 February, Bourton-on-the-Water 10k at 10:30 . This will be the first race of the club's 2006 road race championship. Despite the time of year the course is fast and lots of personal bests are achieved. It is therefore always a very popular race with entries closing a few weeks before the event. Entry forms at the club or from www.bourtonroadrunners.co.uk

19 March, Forest of Dean Trails ½ Marathon at 10:00 . Some way off but another very popular race so worth entering early, albeit at the exorbitant cost of £11. Entry forms on club noticeboard or via www.rotary-royalforestofdean.org.uk/trails.html

LONDON MARATHON

Elaine Wilson advises that the club has been allocated three discretionary places for next year's London Marathon. As usual a ballot will take place to determine the lucky recipients of a place. Elaine asks that all unsuccessful applicants for the marathon via the main ballot contact her either at the club or by e-mail on ElaineW@elearnity.com by 16 December 2005 . The names will thereafter go into a hat to determine the three successful applicants.

2005 RANKINGS

Herewith the annual club 10k rankings. 44 names appear this year compared to 33 in 2004, with an encouraging 12 under 40mins (seven last year). Despite some pressure from the new wave of young male blood in the club, Wendy Jones retains top position from 2004. Can she make it a hat trick in 2006? Senior man unless stated, last year's rankings in brackets:

1 (1). Wendy Jones (FV35) 34.55, 2 (2). Chris Illman (U20) 35.08, 3 (10). Paul Barlow 36.17, 4. Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz 36.35, 5. Joe Barrowclough 36.47, 6 (8). Bill Leggate 37.03, 7 (6). David Wright (V45) 37.43, 8 (7). Jane Wassell (FV35) 37.44, 9. Justin Nicholls 38.03, 10 (4). Keith Firkin (V40) 38.19, 11. Cathy Cook (FV35) 38.34, 12 (13). Duncan Atkinson (V45) 38.51, 13. Mark Gluning (V40) 39.56, 14. Niel Dunnage 40.03, 15. Dave Cook 40.29, 16 (11). Chris Riches (V50) 40.40, 17 (27). Jon Young 41.42, 18. Jamie Cameron 41.46, 19. Terry Ranger (V40) 43.30, 20 (12). Bob Ferris (V50) 44.10, 21 (18). Dick Waldron (V60) 44.42, 22 (21). Kveta Kroulikova (F) 44.57, 23 (20). Kim Ingleby (F) 45.07, 24 (22). Elaine Wilson (FV45) 45.39, 25 (23). Carol Clarke (FV55) 45.40, 26. Dorian Matts (V45) 45.52, 27 (19). Sue McKeeman (FV40) 46.09, 28. Trudi Compton (FV35) 46.10, 29 (15). Tony Curry (V60) 46.18, 30 (29). Sue Brown (FV50) 46.43, 31. Diane Moore (FV45) 47.12, 32. Corinne Clark (F) 47.41, 33. Jim Fallon 48.53, 34. Fiona Collings (FV35) 49.24, 35 (25). David Edelsten (V60) 49.48, 36 (24). Kim Withycombe 51.02, 37 Andrew Fraser 51.27, 38. Brian Barrowclough (V55) 51.28, 39. Mary Campbell (FV60) 52.38, 40. Fred Robson (V70) 53.32, 41. Ken McAnespie (V50) 54.39, 42 (26). Lynn Ferris (FV50) 55.08, 43. Ian Pople (V50) 57.53, 44 (30). John Prout (V50) 62.39.

SOCIAL

The Christmas party is fully booked as befits a club like Cirencester having had such a buoyant year in 2005. If, for any reason, monies are still owed (@ £25 per person) please contact Jenny Hill as soon as possible. Also for any last minute requests, cancellations or enquiries about late places available Jenny is the person to speak to on 01285 653733. To avoid the usual amusement of watching people swapping dishes because they can't remember what they have ordered, Jenny has spoiled the fun this year by issuing notes to all attendees reminding them of just that! She further advises that the gathering will commence in the Merchants Restaurant of the Corinium Hotel, Gloucester Street , any time from 7pm to eat at 8pm . Furthermore she states : "Black tie is optional / smart / posh / frocks / glam!!!!" For those who feel that a midnight closure is a bit early, there are now pubs in town open until 1.30am (Somewhere Else for example) so the evening can go on into the night if so required!

NEW MEMBERS

With so many people joining the club recently Chris Riches suggested that their names be listed. So herewith joiners in the last three months: Kate Alexander, Caroline Bolam, Andy Bradley, Cathie Cowell, Stephen Elverd, Katrina Ellor, Simon Glover, Adam Harborow, Vincent Mackie, Dave Newport, Kieran Somers, Claire Stephens, Colin Tapley and Michael Thomas. Welcome to you all and enjoy the club!

MISCELLANY

. nobody encapsulates the pleasures to be gained from running better than Fred Robson. What a wonderful advert for the sport of running he is. To celebrate Fred's 75th birthday, herewith an article on how he spent the month in which he attained this great age (no apologies for the length of the article - it just wasn't possible to précis it down further): " Fit after the fine summer, I felt it could not go to waste so something special was called for. What about four runs in a month. Lets try an Autumn Marathon. Well I settled for three runs, the 10k in the park, Cricklade Half and Abingdon Marathon.

I was pleased with Cirencester. A warm up for the next week's Cricklade, instead of just going out early and watching the race, a beautiful morning and very enjoyable. Cricklade, I did different from usual. Partly because of the cramped first 80 meters, and partly to plan. I started as fast as I could (which isn't that fast). After the first mile in eight minutes, it got better. Not the pace, I hasten to add, but the feeling, except that I had dumped one of my two drinks on the old course, so did not get it, and had a job hunting around to find my other one, just after the turn on the Spine Road (about eight miles). I normally don't stop at all. But lost a bit of time stopping here. I slowed between nine and 10 (too much). Between 10 and 11, going up what feels like a slope, but it's only a slight incline, it felt hard work. For 12 and 13, I kept steady (meaning I ran as hard as my ancient legs would go). A nice finish, (nearly everyone had gone home), 2hrs 2mins, and still really fresh, for the next one in two weeks.

Abingdon Marathon 2005 or The Green Goddess (the devil herself) appears. Way back in the 1950's there was a film called 'Damn Yankees'. The hero a small, fat, no hoper NY Yankee supporter, a daydreamer, imagined himself a handsome star baseball player. Year after year, his team did badly. One day, on his way to the game, he was day dreaming as usual, of being the big star baseball player, pulling all the beautiful women, and winning the big game for his team. When in a flash before him, this gorgeous redhead, all in bright green (without the devils tail) appeared, to grant him his wishes.... But lets start at the beginning.

That same devil was casting her spells at Abingdon on 16 October. As it seems for almost every marathon these days, it ended up a sunny, nice day although early morning was anything but! Foggy all the way there and a cold six degrees was a bit too much to start with. It was crowded, and I mean crowded. Fifteen minutes to nine, and the exquisite clubhouse was filled with the exciting aroma of embrocation and diverse rubbing bottles stifling the corridors where every square inch (or cm) of floor was crammed with people changing. It was still dull and cold outside at an uneventful almost lethargic start. When I looked at my watch I found I had taken almost 12 minutes over the first mile (taking too much of my own advice to start slowly). I did not worry as I had intended taking things easy early on. The course was nice and level and the sun soon got out (many wished it hadn't). Past the nice houses with trees and lawns (Marilyn questioned the fact that there were such things as 'nice' houses, in either Abingdon or Didcot). Then it was through the gravel pits on into the town and alongside the river. A very calm peaceful scene, chugging along at a regular nine, to nine and a half minute miles near the tale end of the field. Engrossed in the people and their fascinating conversations, about last night's intimate scandal, the week before's updates on all the 'TV soaps' and 'Come Dancing'. It was nearly eight miles when I snapped out of it and was just picking up a more urgent pace after a drink out of one of the five sachets of energy drink I was carrying, when Ouch!! I knew straight away, I had forgotten to tape my toe ends, which I always do for marathons.... my big toe nail had gone. Well, I try never to stop whatever happens, working on the premise that a newer sharper pain drowns all the other little niggles. The pain will go off, I thought. But it didn't. I passed two pairs of runners on the gentle hill away from the river. Soon my foot began to feel wet and looking down I saw a damp patch spreading through my left trainer. I had to stop. After wrapping my toe end with toilet paper (I always tuck a bit into my shorts), it didn't feel so bad and gradually any pain faded and numbness took its place. A drink before setting off again and it wasn't so bad, I was on my way.

A couple in front were having an argument and finally stopped as it got heated (all kinds of things happen on marathons, business deals, engagements and probably divorces). There was a lot of noise from a digger or something near the river and the horses and riding school groupies littered the road. By now it was getting very, very hot, and it must just have been about 11 miles when an attraction ahead seemed to be getting a lot of attention. Yes, the 'green goddess's' first appearance, in the form of two young ladies giving massages in the drive of a big house on the right. The table, at which a very shapely girl in shorts was working. had just been vacated. Who could have asked for more? I stood on one leg taking a swig of drink and drooled. The temptation was there, but I had to go, the half way mark was beckoning. I am still wondering how much faster one could be having a five minute massage mid race. It's a thought!

Although pleased that I had made 2:13 at the half, my drinks were getting heavy and my foot was very hot. I had intended leaving two drinks at nine miles and three at 17, but there wasn't time before the start to do that so I slung two small bags with them in around my waist. I don't like running with things to carry, but I knew I would need them later in the run. All went well through Sutton Courtney, then I think there was a bit of a downhill and this hammered my toe. Over the river past Culham, then things took a turn for the worse. After another change of direction, the course went across a busy road and onto a raised path. All the smoothness went and the next mile took 12 minutes. Once off the high level, pace picked up again and entering Abingdon between 16 and 17 miles I caught up with a group from Liverpool . Managing to stay with them till 19 miles (running behind people sometimes helps, if they are not going too fast) the chat seemed to speed things up. We passed 17 and some heavier mortals. It was nice to have plenty of lovely level tarmac, and not having to dodge in and out like in the London .

An exchange of sarcasm, with some squadies at the Abingdon Barracks gate was the next excitement. Bet you couldn't run 26 miles a scouse accent screeched out. This brought the expected torrent of abuse not normally exhibited on Sunday lunchtimes. Then for the second time the 'Green Goddess' of temptation appeared. First to the 52 year old Liverpudlian alongside me, then when we all grasped the significance of the situation, to the whole group. We had been passing twos and threes of slowing but very fit looking runners all along the straight stretch and were now being directed to the right among them by a race marshal. It had dawned on us together they were entering the last mile of the race having done the five and a half-mile old loop, around the airfield! It was only the thought that excited us. We had only past our 18th mile. We did not take advantage of the marshal's generosity and peeled off to the left. Mind you, we wished we hadn't, for the next awful ten minutes. The next bit of the course was the worst. Speeding cars seemed to be flashing past us in all directions, with a continuous swooshing noise that can only be compared with running along the Cirencester by-pass at a busy rush hour period. Finally it was the quiet roads again. The group was splitting up. Speed had dropped to 11 minute miles. Thank goodness for the drinks I had carried around, I finished the second last of my sachets. It didn't half feel good. Then I joined a Frenchman who was cursing.... in French. I think his town was twinned with Abingdon. It was at this point, just after 23 miles the 'Green Goddess' appeared again. The beer garden on the left was full of happy drinkers, pints in front of them. The notice read 'Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pud', £6-50. It smelt good - patrons' drinks half way to their mouths chortled phrases of encouragement like come on, and have a pint. I shouted a pint of Guinness please. It must have been about 25C. It was a difficult period. I dragged myself around the corner and stopped to drink long and thirst-quenchingly from my last drink. The minutes were ticking by relentlessly, the pain in my toe, and in my knees, felt bad. It seemed to go on forever, then it was 25 miles. I tried to speed up, nothing happened, in fact I seemed to be slowing more with the effort. The usual mêlée of people rushing past at the finish. The jury is still out on the time.

I almost sprinted up the grandstand for a cup of tea, two sugars and a lot of milk. It was divine, and a good run in spite of my toenail. The showers were bliss, accompanied by hilarious conversation. It's the same everywhere after a marathon, people can't stop talking and laughing. And for me, it completed my running year. Very satisfied with a 10k, a half marathon and a marathon in the space of four weeks. No, I did not attempt the Stroud Half, although as an afterthought maybe I should have and it would have been four in a month. Anything to compete with Rupert (except carrying dead or make believe fish around for 26miles). And now London to look forward to in April!"

When this is published Fred will be many miles away in South America . He sent in his article with the following comment : "We go off [to Argentina ] Sunday, and will miss the Christmas party, should be in the Andes about then. We expect to be quite cold as the southern summer temperatures in Tierra del Fuego get quite near to freezing. Problem is having to take clothes as well for 30 degrees in Buenos Aires , and the estansias over the border from Pancho's part of the world."

. talking of South America , Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz appeared in the local paper recently. Despite all his recent running successes, the reason was purely non-athletic. As well as making a major impression with Cirencester AC he is leaving a mark on the Royal Agricultural College , where he is studying for a PhD. He has won the prestigious Dent Silver Trophy for making the greatest contribution to the life of the college.

. as has always been suspected, the little teaser posed in the last newsletter proved that no-one reads to the end of the club's mighty monthly tome. Readers were asked to guess the nearest club to Cirencester and the response was non-existent! In case anyone is remotely interested it appears to be Swindon Striders who are based, dependant on the exact postcode used, 17.6km from Cirencester. They are followed by Stroud & District, Highworth Running Club, Swindon Harriers, Severn AC and Dursley & District. Bourton are only 8th, with Gloucester AC & Cheltenham Harriers 10th and 11th. Anyone sad enough to want to delve deeper can do so by logging on to www.ukathletics.net then following the links to club zone and club search. Tetbury Royals members may be a bit miffed to note that the club, although now affiliated, doesn't get a mention.

. as this will be the last newsletter of 2005, Happy Christmas and a fit and healthy New Year to all.

David Wright wrights@tesco.net 01285 641224