HEADLINES

• Ellen Leggate second in Cambridgeshire Cross Country Championships.
• Jane Wassell overall ladies champion in Gloucestershire XC League.
• Bronze medal for Wendy Jones in Midlands Cross Country Championships, followed up by 5th in World XC Trial leading to another international call-up.
• Men win home Oxford League fixture to set up fantastic climax to season
• Women still lead Oxford League and remain on course for fourth consecutive title.

CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS

6 January, Cambridgeshire County XC Champs, St Neots. Although running for her local club, it is worth recording that Cirencester’s very own Ellen Leggate finished a fine second, narrowly losing out to a clubmate, to qualify for the Inter Counties Championships in February where she will be up against Gloucestershire’s (and Cirencester’s) best.

1 H Tobin (Cambridge & Coleridge) 21.33

2 Ellen Leggate (Cambridge & Coleridge) 21.36

20 January, Glos League, Droitwich . Jane Wassell achieved the rare distinction and considerable achievement of a veteran athlete winning an overall title as she achieved her best performance of the season to date. She picks up the story: “there was a good atmosphere at Droitwich this afternoon, I think it was probably the fact that the sun was actually shining for a change and no rain!  It was a good cross country course, two small laps around the playing fields and then on to the start of two bigger laps which included a hilly, very muddy circuit through the woods. I wanted to win today, but unfortunately for me Rachel Felton turned up for this one!  Rachel had a comfortable victory, I finished second but had to work hard for it, pulling away on the last lap. I think I may have finished first overall lady but will have to wait for the final results to confirm.” That confirmation did come through and Jane was pronounced overall ladies champion.

U11 Boys: 7 Cameron Wassell 6.36, 13 Lewis Wassell 6.53

Ladies:

1 Rachel Felton (Stroud) 24.14

2 Jane Wassell (Cirencester, 1st FV40) 25.44. 77 finished.

Overall ladies:

1 Jane Wassell (Cirencester) 11pts (FV40 champion also)

2= Laura Kent ( Cheltenham ) & Jessica Whitmore ( Bath ) 16pts www.glosaaa.org.uk

27 January, Midlands Cross Country Champs, Stafford Common . A first Midland Counties medal for Wendy Jones but not the colour she was after. On the first of two laps of a sticky but fair course, Jones pulled out a 10 metre lead over eventual winner Michelle Ross-Cope and three top Charnwood runners. She never felt comfortable, however, and Ross-Cope, currently third in the UK Cross Challenge series, took the lead entering the second lap into a cool wind. From there it was a case of trying to hang on to a medal which Jones managed reasonably comfortably. Meanwhile Jane Wassell was having a storming run; starting steadily she was 21st after the first lap then gradually reeled in the faster starters and with a strong finish, overtook another runner to finish 15th, her best run of the winter by far.

1 Michelle Ross-Cope (City of Stoke) 26.04

3 Wendy Jones (Cirencester) 26.30

15 Jane Wassell 28.36. 148 finished. www.midlandathletics.org.uk

3 February, British Universities Champs incorporating World XC Trials, Bath . What a difference a week makes! Just seven days earlier Wendy Jones had struggled to bronze in the Midlands . After taking out her frustrations midweek over 5k (see road races below), she lined up against the best in the country for the trial race for the World XC Championships to be held in Mombasa , Kenya in March. The race was held with the BUSA Championships so that those selected for Kenya could fly out to South Africa for some warm weather acclimatisation. With two athletes pre-selected there were four places available for the Great Britain team. Understandably, competition was tough. Favourite Kate Reed was soon clear, followed by current GB steeplechase international Hatti Dean. This left Jones racing it out with the winter’s new sensation Felicity Milton, and Elle Baker from Brunel Uni who was in the GB scoring team at last year’s World XC in Japan . The two students had just a little too much pace for Jones in the last 800 of the 6½km race. This was a little frustrating as the World Champs will be run over 8km, a distance clearly more suited to Jones. As a consequence she missed selection for Kenya by just 10 seconds, but nonetheless this was a stupendous performance by 37 year old Jones. The selectors decided not to pick a travelling reserve because of difficulties associated with innoculations and acclimatisation. Instead, as a result of Saturday’s run, Jones has been selected to lead the Great Britain team at the Yokohama Marathon Ekiden Relay in Japan on 25 February where she will run a 10km stage.

Chris Illman turned out for his university in the men’s race but was a bit off the pace in a disappointing run (no doubt saving himself for the following day’s Oxford League!).

Ladies:

1 Kate Reed (Bristol & West) 21.25

2 Hatti Dean (Hallamshire) 21.46

3 Felicity Milton ( Durham Uni) 21.54

4 Elle Baker (Brunel Uni) 21.55

5 Wendy Jones (Cirencester) 22.04. 288 finished.

Men short course (BUSA Champs):

1 Sam Perkins ( Birmingham Uni) 23.16

90 Chris Illman ( Brighton Uni) 27.06. 134 finished. www.joelee.co.uk

4 February, Oxford League at Cirencester Park . Is the impossible possible? With a second team win of the season on a beautiful sunny winter’s morning in Cirencester Park , the men have put the club in with a chance of an unthinkable overall victory in the league. With one fixture to go, Headington now only lead Cirencester by 38 points after a handsome 56 point victory on home soil. Behind ultra consistent Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz in fifth place the club packed all seven scorers into the top 30 finishers. This was despite one of the finds of the season, Robbie Brown, pulling out midway through the race with an injury. Compensation for this came as newcomer Andrew Mosley surprised everyone with a stunning debut. Mosley joined Cirencester at the end of last summer but this is the first time the accomplished triathlete was able to turn out for the club. Just behind him, Adrian Williams continued his march up through the ranks, with his best performance of the winter despite struggling all week with a leg injury. It was left to the first team’s final scorer, Marc Fallows, to illustrate the commitment and dedication currently prevailing at the club. Just a few weeks ago he had a major operation on his leg but he defied doctor’s orders to get out and race, and what a performance after so many weeks inactive. Such is the club’s depth at present that the second team of seven comfortably retained top position in Division Two, a place that should easily be maintained at Banbury.

Another to show dedication to the cause was Ellen Leggate. On her birthday she ran despite recent illness and although beaten comfortably by Frances Briscoe of White Horse, held on for second place from a fast finishing Jane Wassell (one of four Wassells competing on the day). There was a monumental battle for third scorer: young Jenny Manners and experienced Sue McKeeman ran together the whole way and had to put up with supporters screaming at them to close the team in. McKeeman prevailed narrowly but both Manners and the even younger Jane Thomas, who finished a few seconds further back, had their best runs of the winter by far, which augurs extremely well for the future. The result of these fine individual performances was second team place on the day but a still healthy 24 point lead to take into the last fixture.

To set the seal on a great day, the league website commented (unusually) thus when producing the detailed results within hours of the race finish: “Thanks to Cirencester AC for hosting a great event (several comments about a great course).” This sentiment was echoed on Headington’s website: “great course at Cirencester Park ”. There is no doubt that the course set-up was superb to which thanks must go to Bob Ferris, David Edelsten, Tony Curry & Colin O’Hare in particular. They were out on the course Saturday and early Sunday. Thanks also to all the volunteers on the day – particularly, in the editor’s view, Jenny Hill with her chirpy, some would say risqué (!) comments at the top of the hill she was marshalling! See also Fred Robson’s comments under Miscellany below.

Roll on Banbury!

U11 Boys: 4 Lewis Wassell 4.55, 5 Cameron Wassell 5.02, 6 Scott Reynolds 5.09, 9 Gareth Sheldon 5.15, 12 Alex Vass 5.21, 21 Alex Chantler 5.49, 28 Thomas Svenson 6.25, 34 James Fletcher 7.17.

U11 Girls: 9 Jenny Eales 5.42, 12 Zoe Wassell 5.46, 18 Hannah Tapley 6.02, 36 Jodie Hatton 8.07.

U13 Boys: 14 Daniel Cation 9.32.

U13/U15 Girls (U15 unless stated): 19 Alice Thomas 9.43, 23 Lucy Vass (U13) 9.50, 38 Laura Eales (U13) 11.19. Team 8th.

U15/U17 Boys: 35 Dominic Clark (U15) 27.36.

Ladies:

1 Frances Briscoe (White Horse) 23.32

2 Ellen Leggate (Cirencester) 24.31

3 Jane Wassell (1st FV35) 24.34

35 Sue McKeeman 30.07

36 Jenny Manners 30.09

43 Jane Thomas 30.22

46 Carol Clarke (1st FV55) 30.43

81 Chloe Cox 34.18

99 Barbara Thomas 36.52. 114 finished.

Teams (3 to score): Div One (of 8): 1 Headington 25pts, 2 Cirencester 40pts 3 Banbury 42pts. Div Two (of 32): 1 Newbury 56pts, 5 Cirencester ‘B’ 125pts, 27 Cirencester ‘C’ 295pts.

Positions after four races: Div 1: 1 Cirencester 130pts, 2 Headington 154pts, 3 Witney 245pts. Div 2: 1 Newbury 202pts, 6 Cirencester ‘B’ 548pts, 16 Cirencester ‘C’ 869pts.

Men:

1 Chris Riley (Headington) 32.17

5 Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz (Cirencester) 33.25

15 Andrew Mosley 35.05

18 Chris Illman 35.15

19 Adrian Williams 35.18

21 Bill Leggate 35.26

27 Andy Bickerstaff 35.48

30 Marc Fallows 35.55

51 Mark Middleton 37.18

69 David Wright 38.16

90 Dorian Matts 39.24

91 Mark Gluning 39.25

114 Chris Brough 41.11

120 Bryan Reid 41.28

124 Niel Dunnage 41.42

132 Bob Ferris 42.11

133 Steven Elverd 42.15

136 Colin Tapley 42.31

154 Jonathan Knight 43.58

162 Chris Riches 44.28

219 Brian Barrowclough 53.54

221 Darren Sheppard 54.35

222 Mike Thomas 54.55. 230 finished.

Teams (7 to score): Div One (of 8); 1 Cirencester 135pts, 2 Headington 191pts, 3 Witney 215pts. Div Two (of 8); 1 Banbury 630pts, 3 Cirencester ‘B’ 659pts. Div Three (of 19); 1 Oxford City 503pts, 8 Cirencester ‘C’ 1,157pts.

Positions after four races: Div One: 1 Headington 565pts, 2 Cirencester 603pts, 3 Witney 953pts. Div Two: 1 Cirencester ‘B’ 2,464pts, 2 Team Kennet 2,695pts. Div Three: 1 Newbury 2,091pts, 9 Cirencester ‘C’ 4,833pts.

Selected Cirencester overall individual positions after four races (best three count):

5th U11 boy: Lewis Wassell

3rd U20 women: Jenny Manners

1st overall women & FV35: Wendy Jones

1st senior women: Ellen Leggate

5th FV45 women: Sue McKeeman

1st FV55 women: Carol Clarke

2nd U20 men: Chris Illman

3rd senior men: Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz

4th V40 men: Andy Bickerstaff

Full results can be found on the league’s website www.oxonxc.org

CROSS COUNTRY FIXTURES

4 March, Oxford League at Drayton School , Banbury. The final league race of the season promises to be very exciting. The club’s ladies team is on the verge of winning a fourth consecutive title but it’s not guaranteed and a big turnout will help to ensure victory. The men are currently second, just 38 points behind Headington. It will take a big effort to snatch overall victory but it is possible and would be a wonderful way to send off captain Pancho who is shortly moving to Spain . With the B team leading Division Two, it’s not just the first team that are needed in force. There are overall individual prizes on offer for some athletes as well. Run if you can; if not go to Banbury to watch and support the club.

Directions: from the centre of Banbury take the A422 Banbury to Stratford Road . Drayton school is about 1½ miles to the northwest of Banbury – turn left at the traffic lights after the Banbury Cross roundabout. Alternatively, meet at 09:00 at the leisure centre for club convoy. There is a map of the race location on www.oxonxc.org Remember that to facilitate the prize giving the timings are different to normal for the senior races. The men start at 11:10 and the women at 12:00 .

CLUB CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP 2006/2007

Scores after four of the five Oxford League fixtures (scoring 30 down to one point for men and 15 down to one for women):

Men: P Gonzalez-Diaz 118pts, C Illman 110, A Bickerstaff 105, B Leggate 104, A Williams 102, D Matts 79, M Fallows 72, M Middleton 70, P Barlow 69, S Elverd 65, D Wright 64, B Ferris 60, J Norris 55, R Brown 54, B Reid & C Brough 53, N Dunnage 52, C Riches 45, J Rumsey 43, C Tapley 42, C Sherrington 40, B Barrowclough 34, T Willson 32, D Sheppard 30, A Mosley 29, M Thomas 28, M Norris 22, K Firkin 21, M Gluning 20, B Cox 17, A Bradley 15, J Knight 13, D Cook 11, D Long, M Humphreys & T Curry 10, C Hook, D Waldron 7, D Edelsten 5.

Women: W Jones 45pts, E Leggate 43, S McKeeman 36, J Manners 31, Carol Clarke 30, J Wassell 27, J Thomas 25, S Brown, C Bolam & D Moore 24, C Cox 23, B Thomas 18, C Conway 14, L Ferris 13, K Withycombe 12, Corinne Clark & S Evans 10, T Compton 9, P Vass & C Blampied 6.

ROAD / MULTI-TERRAIN RESULTS

21 January, Highworth Team ½ Marathon Despite a tough course, this low key event has always been popular with club members. Highworth invite local clubs to bring up to 12 runners to the race, for which no entry fee is levied, and to add spice to what is really just an excuse for a long Sunday run in a different location, have a team race comprising five to score of whom at least one must be a lady. The nature of the event didn’t stop a number of Cirencester runners posting personal best times (Gonzalez-Diaz, Leggate, Ranger and Brown x 2), more a reflection of the general improvement as a whole of the club in recent times than any intent for this race, the inference being that if a pb can be set in Highworth in January on a cold windy morning, then there will be some big pb’s later in the year. In spite of fielding only a partial first team, Cirencester were only just beaten for the team prize by a full strength Bourton outfit who gloated somewhat in the following week’s local paper. There should be some interesting team races as the year progresses! The race organiser advised that some kit was left behind so if anyone is missing a pair of lady’s black gloves, a lady’s black top or a Lanzarote Ironman towel please get in touch with Peter O’Brien at Highworth Running Club.

1 Trevor Hunter (Handy Cross) 1.13.16

3 Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz (Cirencester) 1.14.08

7 Bill Leggate 1.17.12

13 Robbie Brown 1.21.53

36 Jane Wassell (2nd lady / 1st FV40) 1.28.15

43 Mark Gluning 1.29.11

68 Terry Ranger 1.34.13

89 Trudy Compton 1.39.38

103 Caroline Bolam 1.43.24

111 Sue Brown 1.44.51. 143 finished.

Teams: 1 Bourton 96pts, 2 Cirencester 102pts. www.highworthrunningclub.com

21 January, May Hill Massacre ‘8’ m/t, Huntley, nr Gloucester

1 Lee Rankin (Stroud) 57.03

292 David Edelsten (Cirencester) 1.38.08. 356 finished. www.glosaaa.org.uk

28 January, Slaughterford 9m m/t

1 Lee Rankin (Stroud) 55.32

72 Nicola Denning (Cirencester, 6th lady) 1.10.21

321 David Edelsten 1.41.05. 355 finished. www.chippenhamharriers.co.uk (incl photos)

28 January, Tough Guy 7m m/t, nr Wolverhampton This race has the reputation of being the craziest multi-terrain in the country, hence the name. A quick look on the race website confirms this as do some of the photographs of a bedraggled Pancho. The captain, who just felt that he had to try this famous race before departing these shores, tells the story under the heading:

"CirenAC is getting tougher.

As part of my Marathon training I decided that I also have to train my spirit, it needed a little bit of toughening up because the winter has been too mild. What a better idea than the Tough Guy. What is the Tough Guy? I read about it in Runners’ World because it was selected among the best races of the UK . But according with the organisers website: ‘It is the original survival ordeal, a test of physical and mental endurance designed to take you beyond your limits on torture rack obstacles known as The Killing Fields, following a wild terrain warm up.’ After this was no way back. Just in case, I didn’t mention to anyone my intentions, even my lovely wife found out after she came back (just in case she decided to postpone her arrival), and I also didn’t mention it to Bob, but in this case because my survival instinct was afraid of what Lynn could do to me if Bob decided to do it.

To make it short, it was seven miles of cross country running including some deep ditches and impenetrable woodlands (I have the scars on my body to prove it), followed by two miles of very weird obstacles, something between 20 and 30 obstacles. Among the obstacles were some electric wires, fire, lots and lots of ropes and very very cold water and mud. It is impossible to describe, so you will have to go to www.snapfish.co.uk and see the pictures. My final comments are that it is true, it is tough, it is hard, the running was the easy bit, my problem with the obstacles were that I did not have a clue how to pass them, so I lost some time deciding what to do. But by far, by country miles the worst part was the very very cold water. Unfortunately I had to cross three or four lakes and a couple of rivers, and these situations are where you find out how useful it could’ve been to be six foot tall. The cold water up to the waist is not that bad, up to your neck it is cold, but when you have to put your head into it, for the 10th time, it hurts a lot, and the muscles start to cramp. Mmmmmmmmjrjrjrjrjrjrjjrjrrjj. But I am still alive, it only took me one hour after finishing to get warm, and despite making all the mistakes that a rookie can make during the race I managed to finish sixth. I think it worked for me, but I have to become even more mad to do it again, so I will have to find something else, I am open to suggestions……not of those kind pervs”

1 Vito Graffagnino (Clevedon) 1.12.35

6 Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz (Cirencester) 1.19.26. 3,817 finished. www.toughguy.co.uk

30 January, Bridge Inn 5k, nr Bristol A last minute decision to race following a disappointing Midland XC Champs worked a treat for Wendy Jones as she ran the fastest time in the country so far for this fledgling year.

1 Alex Donald ( Cardiff ) 15.27

14 Wendy Jones (Cirencester, 1st lady / FV35) 16.24 – course record, club ladies & FV35 record. 107 finished. www.bristolandwestac.org.uk

ROAD / MULTI-TERRAIN FIXTURES (Sunday unless stated)

Space precludes the ability to flag up anything other than local races but for a good list of events around the country log on to www.runningdiary.co.uk

10 February (Sat), White Horse Inn, Gloucester Winter 5m at 15:00 . One of Severn AC’s numerous races held throughout the year. Full details of this & other races, including directions to the venue, on www.severnac.co.uk

11 February, Dursley Dozen m/t at 10:30 . www.g4cio.demon.co.uk/ddozen/ddozen.htm

18 February, Cirencester Park off road duathlon at 10:00 . This twice a year event organised by Lorraine & Kevin Ferris always seems to attract muddy conditions. Format is 2mile run, 10mile bike, 2mile run or novice/youngsters event of 1-5-1 . See www.triferris.com

25 February, Bourton 10k at 10:30 . Club championship event. Entries have already closed for this popular event. www.bourtonroadrunners.co.uk

4 March, Gloucester ‘20’, Frampton-on-Severn at 10:00 . www.gloucester-athletic-club.fsnet.co.uk

25 March, Forest of Dean Trails ½ Marathon at 10:00 . Club championship event. Another race that fills up weeks ahead. www.rotary-rfod.org.uk/rfod-half-marathon.htm

17 March (Sat), 32nd Grocery 4m, White Horse Inn, Gloucester at 14:45 . www.severnac.co.uk

1 April, Chedworth Roman Trail ‘10’ m/t, at 10:30 . Cirencester’s spring race promotion organised by David Edelsten. As ever helpers will be needed for marshalling, recording, car parking & teas.

15 April, Highworth 5m at 11:00 . Club championship event. www.highworthrunningclub.com

13 May, Tewkesbury ½ Marathon at 09:30 . www.209.events.com

CLUB RECORDS

With the new road race season about to commence with the traditional opener at Bourton, existing age group club records will be published at the appropriate distance prior to Club Championship events. Therefore herewith existing club 10k records:

FU20: 42.11 Becky Stagg, 1989; U20: 33.30 Chris Illman, Bexhill 2006.

Female senior: 34.18 Wendy Jones, Bourton 1998; Male senior: 32.12 Mike Smith, 1998.

FV35: 34.00 Wendy Jones, Oxford 2006;

FV40: 38.44 Jane Wassell, Frampton 2006; V40: 33.57 David Wright, Bourton, 1997.

FV45: 43.22 Molly Fisher, 1994; V45: 35.28 Brian Wither, 1993.

FV50: 46.53 Ruth Fulford, 1999; V50: 38.40 Tony Curry, 1997.

FV55: 44.51 Mary Campbell, 2001; V55: 42.38 Tony Curry, Bourton 2004.

FV60: 52.38 Mary Campbell, Westonbirt 2005; V60: 43.10 Dick Waldron, 2002.

V70: 53.32 Fred Robson, Fairford 2005.

CLUB ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIP 2007

25 February, Bourton 10k (details above)

25 March, Forest of Dean Trails ½ Marathon (details above)

15 April, Highworth 5m (details above)

17 May (Thu), Globe Inn 5k, Sandhurst , nr Gloucester www.severnac.co.uk

3 June, Fairford Festival 10k www.fairford.org

9 July (Mon), Frampton-on-Severn 10k www.stroudathleticclub.org.uk

21 July (Sat), Bourton 1m www.bourtonroadrunners.co.uk

1 Aug (Wed), Bugatti 10k, nr Winchcombe www.cheltenhamharriers.co.uk

9 Sep, Beacon 10k, nr Gloucester www.angelsrunningclub.co.uk

16 September, Witney 10m www.witneyroadrunners.org.uk

7 October, Cricklade 10k www.crickladefunrun.co.uk

21 Oct, Stroud ½ Marathon www.stroudathleticclub.org.uk

In addition, times recorded at any marathon between the dates of February 25 and October 21 will score points in the same format as the races above i.e. as though all competed in one race. Of the 12 races, plus marathon, best eight scores to count. 20 points will be awarded to the first Cirencester finisher in each race down to one point for the 20th and any subsequent finishers. Male & female championships will be scored separately. Bonus points will be awarded for any personal bests achieved against times published in the newsletter for 2005 and 2006. One bonus point will be awarded for every 15 seconds improvement up to a maximum of two minutes (8pts) for races of up to & including 10k and three minutes (12pts) for longer races. To qualify for points, runners must be fully paid-up members, be entered under Cirencester AC and be wearing a club vest. This rule will be strictly enforced in 2007.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE ROAD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP 2007

This championship is run along similar lines, and shares some fixtures with, our own club championship. As well as an overall championship, points are scored for male and female veteran categories (age as at 1 January) in five year age groups and there are also team categories. Of the 12 races, best eight count with a minimum requirement of five races to qualify for prizes. There is no need to specify that you are entering this series when racing, a list of club members has been sent to the organisers. Look up the bizarrely named www.runnerduck.co.uk/running for full details, including results of the 2006 championship. It would be good to see some Cirencester names usurping Bourton’s dominance in 2007.

The first race in the series was the Gloucester ‘10’ held on 7 January as flagged up in the last newsletter. The rest of the races, with dates where known, are as follows (Sunday unless stated):

4 March, Gloucester ‘20’ (see fixtures above)

7 April (Sat), Easter 10k, Gloucester www.severnac.co.uk

17 May (Thu), Globe Inn 5k, Sandhurst , nr Gloucester www.severnac.co.uk

30 June, Bourton Hilly ½ Marathon www.bourtonroadrunners.co.uk

5 July (Thu), Aerospace ‘5’, nr Cheltenham www.cheltenhamharriers.co.uk

21 July (Sat), Bourton ‘1’ www.bourtonroadrunners.co.uk

1 Aug (Wed), Bugatti 10k, nr Winchcombe www.cheltenhamharriers.co.uk

9 Sep, Beacon 10k, nr Gloucester www.angelsrunningclub.co.uk

? Sep, Cirencester Park 10k www.cirencester-ac.org.uk

21 Oct, Stroud ½ Marathon www.stroudathleticclub.org.uk

4 Nov, Tewkesbury ‘5’ www.tewkesburyac.blogspot.com

JUNIORS

Paula Vass has filed one of her updates on the progress of the club junior section:

“Three boys and five girls from Cirencester AC were selected to represent Gloucestershire in the South-West Regional Sportshall Athletics Competition. They competed in the under 11 age group in Torbay on 20th January. Gloucestershire finished fifth overall against 10 counties.  Some notable performances came from Georgia Wing who was the overall winner in the standing triple jump and came third in the chest push, and from Bethan Lewis who was third in the soft javelin.  Andrew Aiken also scored well achieving seventh place (out of 30) in both his field events, including an impressive 1.88m in the standing long jump.  The boys team also won the obstacle relay.

In cross country, Alice Thomas and Lucy Vass represented Gloucestershire Schools in Cardiff on Sunday 21 st January.  The event incorporated the National UK Cross Challenge as well as the schools inter counties. Both girls performed well, coming about half way down the field and enjoying the occasion.  The Gloucestershire school teams dominated the event, winning most of the age groups.”

NEW MEMBERS

John Bennett, Rick Kiessler, Marc Fallows, Jonathan Knight and Glen Day have all recently joined the rapidly increasing members of the club. Many, of course, will know Marc from a few years ago when he was a very successful junior athlete.

MISCELLANY

… Niel Dunnage and his partner Anisa started 2007 with the best possible news: the birth of a 7lb 4oz boy, decision still to be made on a name despite pressure from the editor to decide in time for publication of this newsletter!

… Helen & Peter Langsam visited Cirencester at the weekend to watch the Oxford XC League and to unveil their new arrival Miles (see newsletter 34), who seemed oblivious to the club’s great performance as he slept throughout proceedings.

… Rupert Chesmore has sent the following report from his visit to Ethiopia to see how Liza Darroch is getting on in her VSO role. It is entitled “Altitude or attitude?”

“The absence of classical snowy mountains around Addis Ababa lulls you into a false sense of security about this height business, but at 8,500ft the capital of Ethiopia is already as high as the passes on the Tour de Mont Blanc. Strong bright sunshine and what more incentive do you need to go running after leaving dreary Gloucestershire?

Liza walked me through a slum area before facing a 1,500ft hillside on the NE side of the city. As the ground steepened we left the last few houses behind and I recognized suitable running trails which the adjacent villagers used to access the capital. Suddenly two local runners crossed our path “floating” over the ground which could best be described as ankle breaking. Half an hour later and stopping to look at the view (I tried every excuse), the perspiring “ferenji” (foreigners) reached a small plateau and started to run – and then stopped! My reliable ultra shuffle lasted only a few hundred yards before I had to stop and get my breath back. Hang on, I left home able to run at this pace for a good hour andstill hold a conversation. Altitude means NO breath…. none at all, and it did not get any better. The further on we went, the worse the oxygen debt became. Four months of acclimatization and Liza patiently waited for me, her prior warnings were reality.

Joined by a local 10 km. runner he sympathetically meandered in front of us as he practiced his English and the universal language of running brought us together. Turning for home I thought that I could float downhill. Some chance, having to stop and catch your breath when running downhill is unheard of in the UK but it was happening to me.

I understand a little more why and how the Ethiopians have been so successful in our sport. Obviously the oxygen carrying thing when returning to sea level is a credit but two other features come to mind. Learning to run over uneven ground, not just ankle twisting tracks but also constantly changing profiles develops their super fit joints that allow them to run in such a relaxed style but also maintain the metronome rhythm that we all crave. Switch onto a track and the results are obvious.

4-5 days in and an early morning run before sunrise along the ubiquitous ‘ Haile Gebrselassie Road ’ and I fared better. Plenty of runners using the roads before the smog/pollution made it impossible. The most amazing sight was the elite runners using the outside lanes of the dual carriageway AGAINST the flow of the traffic. (Hey Bob, what about using this idea on a Tuesday night?). They do this to avoid the exposed manholes and drains on the unlit pavements. Perhaps Cirencester does have its good points?” To catch up on Liza’s BLOG log on to www.liza2vso.org.uk

… Dorian Matts has unearthed a video of the start and finish of last October’s Stroud ½ Marathon on YouTube. There is a particularly good clip of Pancho milking the applause at the finish. Look up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6tHGE1R8iE

… at Sunday’s Oxford League fixture in Cirencester Park , one athlete got into difficulties. Fred Robson, who was marshalling on the course gives his personal view of what he then witnessed: “ I thought it was worth mentioning the incident of the young man from Woodstock Harriers who collapsed during the senior men’s race. We are extremely fortunate to have some very capable people in the club. The prompt action of Jenny Hill and Sandra Elphick was wonderful and their behaviour exemplary. It was getting towards the end of the race when there was a shout from a runner that someone has collapsed, which was passed on by others, and Sandra also shouted. Both Sandra and Jenny responded immediately, and as she ran down to the incident Sandra began to phone the number on the marshalls map for first aid. Two other runners were helping the man up (in his thirties and quite heavy) and trying to walk him along, he could not use his legs, other runners were helping. He was still out on his feet. The girls response was within a minute of hearing the call for help. They got their coats and sweaters off and around the young man, as he was freezing and stiff, and the runners had done right to try to get him moving as on the ground or standing still he would lose more heat. The two runners getting him up joined the race again while the girls attended to him. Supporting him and keeping his legs going, he was breathing very fast and shallow. Jenny took his pulse which was faint and very rapid (his breathing was very very rapid and they checked there were no other serious injuries from his fall). He had a bit of a bruise on his shoulder. They were supporting him and trying to get him warm as he regained consciousness and his breathing started to slow. Jenny took his pulse again and it was stronger, and as he came round kept talking calmly to him to stop him from panicking. Sandra had also asked someone to get in touch with Rupert, and rang again. They were then within sight of the hill and in a patch of sunlight and sat him down. He was beginning to sweat and respond more and then shiver. One of his friends arrived and got a word out of him. It was about 20 minutes, and Rupert's truck appeared then the ambulance people. He was much calmer by this time. Soon after that Rupert arrived and he was brought back to HQ recovering in a space blanket.

There are a number of points of note. Bob Ferris and David Edelsten had done a brilliant job with the map. It gave relevant telephone numbers, and the situation could be pinpointed by the map letters. The action of the girls was so rapid and correct it was superb. The normal good and helpful reaction of the other runners in helping was, as usual in such a situation, wonderful, and all thanks are due to the unidentified runners who helped their colleague in distress and got him on his feet. Rupert also deserves credit for reacting so quickly with transport.

It is also worth a word about the ambulance people. I think they were both inexperienced and maybe had not dealt with a real situation before. While it is important and essential to have the medics in attendance, that is not where it should end. They need to be capable and able to act, even if not to do physical things but to have the correct advice to deal with serious cases, and have some urgency, it could save lives. At least one of them should have had some experience. It may even be possible to have prior knowledge of who they are going to be beforehand (I realise they are only volunteers and difficult to find). (* see below)

I guess I have gone on too long, but I think the reputation of the club and its meetings is important and that on Sunday it was enhanced by the thorough way in which the club was prepared and responded to this incident.

Finally it would be nice if someone could e-mail the Woodstock club, to ask how the man is. A worthwhile and human thing to do and again makes the club worthy of its reputation, as first class in every way. Well done the girls, well done Bob & David.” * Ed: it appears that the club’s only obligation in these situations is to hire first aid rather than medical cover. The latter, which is employed at major road races, for example, is clearly far costlier but perhaps needs to be considered for future events. It would be interesting to hear members views on this matter.

David Wright: wrights@tesco.net or 01285 641224