HEADLINES

• Wendy Jones competes for Great Britain again, and wins prestigious Gloucestershire athletics achievement award for 2006.
• Race reports from Ethiopia , Japan and USA .
• Sensational victories in Oxford League for men and women.
• Annual trophies handed out at Christmas party, including inaugural Tony Curry special award.
• Review of a magnificent year for Cirencester AC.

CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS

18 November, Glos League at Pittville Park , Cheltenham .

U11 Boys: 5 Lewis Wassell 6.50, 7 Cameron Wassell 6.54. 44 finished.

Ladies: 1 Sian Lewis ( Severn ) 24.27

52 Carol Clarke (Cirencester, 2nd FV55) 30.29

72 Joanna Green 32.20. 95 finished. www.glosaaa.org.uk

25 November, UK Cross Challenge, Sefton Park , Liverpool (incorporating European XC Trials). Chris Illman made the long journey north to tackle the best juniors in the country and found the going tough in the deep mud.

U20: 1 Tom Minshull (Trafford) 21.51

84 Chris Illman (Cirencester) 25.07. 105 finished.

3 December, Oxford League at Culham Park , nr Abingdon . What a magnificent day for Cirencester AC! Outright victory for the men with all seven scorers in the top 26, the ‘B’ team won division two and now lead that table and against all the odds the ladies also won to maintain the club’s grip on the title.

On a switchback course designed for motor bike scramblers rather than finely tuned athletes, particularly following some recent heavy rains, red & black vests dominated proceedings in the men’s race. The regular top two were superbly supported by five Ciren runners placing between 20th and 26th to secure victory from a startled Headington outfit. Regular second claimer Andy Bickerstaff had his finest run to date for the club; Robbie Brown made a storming cross country debut confirming what many have been saying all summer about his potential, and Marc Fallows produced a fantastic run off little training, showing that his great promise as a junior – he once finished second in the Oxford League senior race as an U20 – may still yet develop into a successful senior career. The club has now developed such good depth that another five runners secured top 50 places thus resulting in victory also for the second team. If these results are sustained there is just a chance that the ‘B’ team could get promotion to the top league for next season but new clubs to the league, Newbury & Swindon Harriers, both in the third division, are marginally ahead at present so all to play for.

With Jane Wassell sidelined again, this time with a heavy cold following a knee injury, expectation wasn’t great for the ladies team. However another debutante, Claire Conway who was a regular Tuesday nighter throughout last year, ran a superb tactical race betraying her youth. With the tough undulations all in the first half of the race, she bided her time and then on the flat second half she scythed through the field for an excellent result. Caroline Bolam, still recovering fitness after spending most of the year based in Egypt , also paced herself well to complete the scoring and support Wendy Jones’ dominant run at the head of the field. A narrow win resulted and there is now every chance of the club winning the league for a fourth straight year. It was good to see some new members running (men & women) and hopefully enjoying their introductions to cross country leagues – despite the brutal course! – where in an individual sport it is great to build team spirit.

U11 Boys: 8 Scott Reynolds 3.56.

U11 Girls: 21 Jenny Eales 4.18, 36 Jodie Hatton 4.58.

U13 Boys: 25 Zands Rausch 10.14.

U13/U15 Girls (U13 unless stated): Charlotte Somers (U15) 8.44, 26 Lucy Vass 8.49, 28 Alice Thomas (U15) 8.53, 42 Laura Eales 9.34, 43 Daisy Savage 9.36, 46 Tiphanie Hatton (U15) 9.58.

U15/U17 Boys: 42 Dominic Clark (U15) 26.25. Note: Paula Vass gives full reports of the younger age group results in separate junior section publications.

Ladies:

1 Wendy Jones (Cirencester) 19.34

11 Claire-Louise Conway (2nd U20) 23.20

32 Caroline Bolam 25.00

37 Diane Moore 25.10

47 Carol Clarke (2nd FV55) 25.58

50 Sheryl Evans 26.09

51 Trudy Compton 26.10

52 Sue Brown 26.17

79 Chloe Cox 28.19

111 Claire-Louise Blampied 32.20

112 Barbara Thomas 32.23

116 Lynn Ferris 29.35. 129 finished.

Teams (3 to score): Div One (of 8): 1 Cirencester 44pts, 2 Witney 47pts, 3 Oxford City 48pts. Div Two (of 35): 1 Newbury ‘A’ 32pts, 6 Cirencester ‘B’ 134pts, 11 Cirencester ‘C’ 182pts, 33 Cirencester ‘D’ 341pts.

Positions after two races: Div 1: 1 Cirencester 81pts, 2 Oxford City 93pts, 3 Witney 112pts. Div 2: 1 Newbury 77pts, 7 Cirencester ‘B’ 188pts, 15 Cirencester ‘C’ 408pts, 29 Cirencester ‘D’ 696pts.

Men:

1 Steve Kimber (Headington) 32.17

4 Chris Illman (Cirencester, 2nd U20) 33.12

5 Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz 33.22

20 Andy Bickerstaff 35.10

21 Jon Norris (3rd U20) 35.13

22 Robbie Brown 35.15

25 Marc Fallows 35.29

26 Bill Leggate 35.33

30 Adrian Williams 35.55

31 Mark Norris 36.00

38 Paul Barlow 36.47

42 Mark Middleton 37.02

50 David Wright 37.39

79 Dorian Matts 39.58

82 Ben Cox 40.08

107 Bryan Reid 41.37

127 Stephen Elverd 43.06

130 Bob Ferris 43.18

141 Chris Sherrington 44.23

148 Colin Tapley 44.48

152 Dave Cook 45.00

172 Mike Humphries 46.04

176 Chris Riches 46.30

181 Tim Willson 46.59

225 Dick Waldron 51.51

245 Brian Barrowclough 57.39

250 David Edelsten 59.29

251 Mike Thomas 60.48. 257 finished.

Teams (7 to score): Div One (of 8); 1 Cirencester 123pts, 2 Headington 157pts, 3 Witney 287pts. Div Two (of 8); 1 Cirencester ‘B’ 352pts, 2 Team Kennet 686pts. Div Three (of 23); 1 Swindon Harriers 492pts, 4 Cirencester ‘C’ 977pts, 18 Cirencester ‘D’ 1,589pts.

Positions after two races: Div One: 1 Headington 255pts, 2 Cirencester 284pts, 3 Witney 513pts. Div Two: 1 Cirencester ‘B’ 1,079pts, 2 Team Kennet 1,334pts. Div Three: 1 Newbury 1,032pts, 9 Cirencester ‘C’ 2,427pts. Full results can be found on the league’s website www.oxonxc.org

9 December, Glos League at Plock Court , Gloucester . Excellent first race back after injury & illness for newly crowned club member of the year Jane Wassell. Also good to see other ladies running in the Glos league, sufficient for team placings. What about the men?

U11 Boys: 6 Cameron Wassell (Cirencester) 4.38, 8 Lewis Wassell 4.40.

Women: 1 Gill Browning (City of Bath ) 23.53

4 Jane Wassell (Cirencester, 2nd FV) 24.09

52 Carol Clarke (2nd FV55) 29.06

57 Sue Brown 29.28

71 Jo Green 31.52. 87 finished.

Teams: 1 City of Bath 19pts, 10 Cirencester 113pts (3rd vets team). 23 closed in. www.glosaaa.org.uk

CROSS COUNTRY FIXTURES (Sunday unless stated)

31 December, Oxford League at Radley College . Following on from the fabulous success at Culham Park , it is vital that the club sustains its pressure on all opposition with another big turnout on the last day of the year. The course at Radley is a lot fairer than experienced so far this season with some gentle undulations and a few muddy sections. Directions: from Swindon/Faringdon direction (A415) go under A34, at second roundabout turn left into Abingdon perimeter road, continue straight across four roundabouts bringing you onto Twelve Acre Drive, at next roundabout turn left (signposted Radley), after 0.3 miles on outskirts of Radley Village turn left (signposted Radley College), college is on left after double bend. For those with satnav, postcode to punch in is OX14 2HR. Alternatively meet at the leisure centre at 09:00 for a convoy to the race. The women start at 11:10 and the men at 11:40 . www.oxonxc.org

6 January 2007 (Sat), Glos County Championships , Blackbridge, Gloucester . Full details will shortly be published on www.glosaaa.org.uk . With the success that the club has achieved in recent times in the Oxford League, the County XC Champs should be an event at which individuals & the club excel. Thus a good turnout should ensure that runners taking part are fighting for places on the county team for the inter-counties race in February.

20 January (Sat), Glos League, Droitwich. www.glosaaa.org.uk

27 January (Sat), Midlands Cross Country Champs, Stafford Common

4 February, Oxford League at Cirencester Park

4 March, Oxford League at Drayton School , Banbury

ROAD / MULTI-TERRAIN RESULTS

11 November, Venetian 5k, Florida , USA David Edelsten reports on his latest pot hunting exploits:

“Only a short distance from our home so not too early a start (8am). About 130 runners assembled in a beachside parking/picnic area in warm early morning sunshine - but not too hot. After the inevitable prayer and God Bless Our Troops (it was Veterans Day) and thanks to the usual long list of sponsors, we were off. I decided on a slowish start (nothing new there) and saw my most likely V60 adversary disappear up the road. The course was out and back along a flat road between the beach and a golf course up to a restaurant we regularly use, for the turnround. I had an uneventful race just inside the top 50 after the first few hundred yards.  I was pleased to get under 25 minutes for the first time this year, finishing 45th and second V60 (two mins. behind winner) in 24:51. No tables to be won this time - just a medal.”

19 November, Brighton 10k Chris Illman completed his hugely successful road season with another personal best and therefore another club U20 record. He is clearly determined that any youngsters following in years to come will have to work hard to break his records. A slight aberration allowed the first U20 to sneak past on the line, all part of the learning curve towards racing education.

1 Jason Ward (Altrincham) 30.01 (chip time 29.59)

26 Chris Illman (Cirencester, 2nd U20) 33.30 (33.28) – club U20 record. 2,283 finished.

19 November, Cirencester Park Duathlon (2m run, 10m bike, 2m run). Paula Vass, who competed in the novice/youth event of this rugged off road course in typical mucky conditions, states: “a big thank you to all the Cirencester AC members who marshalled at the duathlon - I really enjoyed taking part and I don't think I've ever been cheered on so much.  The woman in front of me commented on how much support I had.”

1 Philip Marland (Army) (13.59, 43.07, 14.55) 1.12.01

67 Robert Barry (Cirencester) (16.48, 58.29, 17.28) 1.32.45

71 Mark Evans (17.31, 56.04, 19.16) 1.32.51

103 Diane Moore (17.48, 1.02.58, 18.49) 1.39.35

158 Terry Barry (19.32, 1.07.33, 23.17) 1.50.22. 187 finished

Novice/youth event: (1m run, 5m bike, 1m run)

1 William Penn (Interbike) (8.10, 23.36, 9.53) 41.39

8 Ben Cox (Cirencester) (8.00, 30.54, 8.36) 47.30

23 Chloe Cox (10.48, 32.39, 10.40) 54.07

30 Paula Vass (10.40, 33.46, 11.58) 56.24

56 Clive Hook (13.04, 41.40, 13.32) 1.08.16. 64 finished. www.triferris.com

23 November, Chiba Ekiden Marathon Relay , Japan Ekiden relays are massively popular in Japan and Chiba is the most famous. The organisers invite international teams from all over the world to compete. The format is to run variable distance stages over the classic marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195km). Although only about 14 countries compete - there are separate men’s & women’s races – the relays attract massive interest with official statistics revealing 630,000 spectators and live TV coverage attracting 11.6% of Japan’s viewing public (including Mika Barlow, back in Japan visiting her family)! Wendy Jones picks up the story of her second experience as a Great Britain international:

“To get selected for the Ekiden International Relay in Chiba , Japan was a bit of a surprise. The race had always been one of my targets for the year but when I was only 9th fastest in the National Road Relays, the selection race, I thought I’d blown it. So, when I received the call to say that I would be running one of the 10km legs I was a little shocked for a second or two.

Being part of the GB team felt brilliant and when I read that Liz McColgan was team coach it just added to my excitement. The team manager was Mike Johnston, Scottish endurance coach and there was also a team physio. The ladies team and the order in which we ran consisted of Sian Edwards (5km), Wendy Jones (10km), Laura Kenney (5km), Jo Wilkinson (10km), Helen Clitheroe (5km) and Jenny Blizzard (7km).

After a long and sleepless 12 hour flight we landed in Tokyo and were taken to the first hotel, the Nihon Aerobics Centre which was about one hour away. It was 6:30pm when we arrived and the GB guys went straight out for a run. I looked at my swollen ankles and thought better of it – all I wanted was some food and my bed. Set in a beautiful and wooded area the accommodation consisted of wooden chalets. I shared with Jo Wilkinson from Bedford who ran for England in the 2002 10,000m Commonwealth Games final. She shares the same coach as Paula Radcliffe, Alex Stanton, so she had a few interesting stories to share. I grabbed the opportunity to have a couple of lunchtime chats with Liz, which I found totally inspiring and very useful. She was more than happy to share her experiences of past races and training methods. This was the highlight of my trip!

After two relaxing days we travelled to our next hotel in Chiba . Here we had a room each on the 16th floor of a 55 floor skyscraper. The views across Tokyo Bay were amazing, especially at night when buildings were lit in neon lights. Everything was very high-tec, especially the toilets that played music, had warm seats and had other buttons which I was too afraid to press!

On race day each stage had a roll call, where numbers and kit were checked. It was then onto a bus and taken to the start of our stage. I was running the second stage, along with Peter Riley (GB marathonrunner). All runners had a Japanese schoolgirl to look after them and they did not leave your side – even escorted you to the toilet and jogged behind during warm-up!

The men’s race started 10 minutes before the ladies, so I had a bit of time to soak up the atmosphere and take a few photos. The streets were lined with local supporters all waving the same orange flags. I recognised several runners from my Hungarian trip and also spotted the European 10,000m champion, Abitova. As I checked out the opposition I soon realised that most teams had put their fastest runners on this stage. We were called to the start line and after a couple of minutes the Kenyan runner came sprinting in, nine seconds clear from Japan and closely followed by Russia . Then all of a sudden young Sian Edwards sprinted in eyeballs out to hand over the sash in 4th place. Hard on her heels were Australia , China and the Japanese university teams.

The race itself was very tough. The first six runners all ran a sub 33:00, with the very fast Kenyan running an amazing 31:20!! I found it hard to pace myself as there were no km markers and long, long mind-numbing straights – one stretch of road was 3km long! The atmosphere made up for the boring course and air was constantly filled with screaming Japanese voices. I felt I was running a good pace and I didn’t once check my watch, although I wish I had now because I missed my PB by a mere 4 seconds, running 34.03. I sprinted in to hand over to Laura Kenney in 8th place, she had a superb run to make up a couple of places to 6th. Jo Wilkinson had the race of her life to make up another place to 5th, which was sustained by the vastly experienced Helen Clitheroe. Jenny Blizzard ran the glory leg and stormed into the Chiba stadium to bring team GB home in 5th place. We finished in 2:20:49 which was GB’s second fastest time in the 17 year history of the race and best position since 1993!

After the race there were lots of team photos taken and then it was back to the hotel for the final farewell banquet and presentations. Compared to the farewell party in Hungary this was very low key and quiet, with no Barlow, Bradley or Wrighty drinking the place dry or showing themselves up on the dance floor. By 9pm it was all over but Pete Riley insisted the night was young, so it was off to a nearby bar with some very loud Aussies and Americans for a few drinks.

We left early the following morning and I was looking forward to getting home and back to Justin and Poppy. I had a window seat and the views of Tokyo and Mount Fuji were spectacular. The flight took us across Northern China , Russia and ice-covered Siberia .

The trip is one I will never forget. It was fantastic to be part of such a well organised and fun race, with great company, fantastic team atmosphere and I almost ran a PB. When I eventually got home Justin was waiting for me with a bottle of pink Champagne and sporting a new haircut – the perfect way to round it off!”

1 Kenya 2.13.35, 2 Russia 2.14.51, 3 Japan 2.17.00, 5 Great Britain 2.20.49. www.chiba-ekiden.jp

26 November, Great Ethiopian Run10k, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia . This race is renowned for its crazy start – the considered feeling is that of the 25,000 runners, 24,000 think that they can win! Of course at the front the race is littered with famous names, mostly Ethiopian or Kenyan, but numerous foreigners take part, including many diplomatic staff and even ambassadors from other countries. This year they were joined by Cirencester’s very own VSO visitor, Liza Darroch and this is her story:

“The NOISE from the start onwards was unbelievable. The chanting and cheering - or was it jeering? - was so loud it almost drowned the booming drums. Addis Ababa was in party mood and all 25,000 runners were having fun. Somewhere – at the other end of the massive, soviet style square some elite runners, wearing race numbers, started at the gun. Most of us were clad in race tee shirts in Ethiopian colours (you might know them better as the Rastafarian, red, green and yellow) without numbers let alone chips, bar codes or race clocks. I was one of a team of some 30 VSO volunteers and staff, all ages and fitness levels - a bit like a typical Cirencester Athletics group with a load of walkers added at the back. We didn’t even try to stay together and it took Sara and I over five minutes to cross the start line so we had plenty of time to wave to Haile Gebrselassie and Carolina Kluft who were perched on a balcony high above us.

We had to walk at least the first kilometre and only managed to jog by weaving and diving into all available spaces. For the first half of the course we kept pace with a large and vocal group who, in common with many others, were using the event as a way to make a political protest. Every time we passed a government building the chanting reached a new crescendo, arms raised, they expressed their views. Needless to say we couldn’t understand the words but the feeling was clear enough. Many of the spectators lining the route seemed to share the same views. The route was kind, it avoided most of the major hills in the city and stuck to dual carriage ways and broad streets. In turn, we avoided the open drains and potholes by sticking to the middle of the road. It seemed a waste of energy to even jog up the three hilly bits – everybody was walking. So it took us 40 minutes to do the first 5k – mostly jogging, a lot of walking and nothing that I would describe as running. It didn’t matter, we were having fun, the runners and the spectators were in great spirits and there were enough white skins scattered amongst the black and brown for us not to feel too conspicuous. Also mixed with the runners were a rag tag assortment of street children, not in race tee shirts but wearing flip flops or plastic sandals. They were having fun too.

We started at 9am and by 9.30 it was hot and my face was burning. This was not the kind of event to have water stations and if they had we probably would not have dared drink the water. No problem, the pre-race pack included a water bottle – shaped like a squashed donut in thick white plastic. Meanwhile the water jets around 7k provided a welcome soaking. By this time we were able to jog most of the time but Sara was struggling to get her breath and getting increasingly pink in the face. We spotted a fellow volunteer ahead, walking, and once we managed to catch him up, I decided it was time make an effort and RUN. For the last 3k – some of which was wonderfully downhill, I ran. It was great. By now the crowds were less dense but I still had to weave in and out passing hundreds as I went. The shouting became even more deafening as we passed the Ministry of Justice and I kept my head down. Just one final hill back into the square where we started and I was sprinting to the finish – 68 minutes after I started. Not a great time by any standard but given that the second half took 28 minutes I was quite pleased with my negative split and high as a kite as I queued up for my medal (Bob, please can I use it when working out target lap times on the track?).

Best not to think of it as a race – more of an occasion - and a wonderful experience. Next year it will be held on September 9th in order to coincide with the Ethiopian millennium (they have a different calendar) and I have promised myself I will arrive early, start near the front, apply plenty to sun protection and do the thing properly. Anyone care to join me?”

1 Deriba Merga ( Ethiopia ) 28.18

? Liza Darroch (Cirencester) c 68.00. 25,000 ran. www.ethiopianrun.org

26 November, Eynsham 10k.

1 Daniel Merckel ( Oxford City ) 32.58

167 Bob Ferris (Cirencester) 43.46

210 Sue McKeeman 44.57

416 Lynn Ferris 53.04. 588 finished. www.eynshamroadrunners.org.uk

ROAD / MULTI-TERRAIN FIXTURES (Sunday unless stated)

26 December (Tue), Pilot Inn ‘4’, nr Gloucester at 11.30. Be careful because the Glos AAA website states that the race may take place on 27 December (as does Athletics Weekly)! www.severnac.co.uk

1 January, 2007 (Mon), Pilot Inn ‘5’, nr Gloucester at 11.30. www.severnac.co.uk

7 January, Gloucester ‘10’ at 10.30. This is the first race in the 2007 County Road race series. www.severnac.co.uk

21 January, Highworth Team ½ Marathon – to be confirmed

11 February, Dursley Dozen m/t at 10.30. www.g4cio.demon.co.uk/ddozen/ddozen.htm

25 February, Bourton 10k at 10.30. Entries always close very early for this race, which is likely to be the first in the club’s 2007 road race championship. Latest news from Bourton is that the entry limit may be reached before Christmas so ENTER NOW. Entry forms on noticeboard or from www.bourtonroadrunners.co.uk

25 March, Forest of Dean Trails ½ Marathon at 10.00. A long way off but another race that fills up weeks ahead of the race. www.rotary-rfod.org.uk/rfod-half-marathon.htm

LONDON MARATHON

Applicants for next April’s race will now know whether they have been successful in gaining entry to the world’s biggest marathon. The club has three places available for those who were unsuccessful in the ballot for entries. Please let club secretary Dick Waldron know as soon as possible if you want to be considered for one of these places. He can be contacted at the club or by e-mail on richard.waldron5@btopenworld.com If more than three apply then Dick will conduct a ballot at the club on Tuesday 19 December.

CHRISTMAS PARTY & AWARDS EVENING

In excess of 60 members packed into the Corinium Court Hotel for the club’s annual Christmas bash. After a three course meal Chairman Bob Ferris managed to announce all the awards for the year, either won on points or decided by the committee, despite much derogatory and, it has to be said, very humorous banter emanating mainly from the rowdy Tetbury Royals table (it must be the blue blood). The trophies, which were presented by John Burgess, the President of the club, went to:

Athlete of the year: Wendy Jones for her two Great Britain international vests.

Club member of the year: Jane Wassell for consistently turning out and performing well in road plus Oxford & Gloucester cross country league races.

Cross Country champion, female: Jane Wassell. Runner-up: Wendy Jones

Cross Country champion, male: Justin Nicholls. Runner-up: Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz

Road race champion, female: Jane Wassell. Runner-up: Kveta Kroulikova

Road race champion, male: Chris Illman. Runner-up: Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz

Veteran of the year: Carol Clarke for winning her age group in the Great North Run.

Triathlete of the year: Corinne Clark for numerous age group placings.

Team of the year: the ladies team that performed so well at the Midlands/National relays – Cathy Cook, Nicola Denning, Wendy Jones, Ellen Leggate & Jane Wassell.

Cleanliness award: David Edelsten for running sufficiently cannily to avoid getting muddy in the Culham Park quagmire.

The most emotional part of the evening came when Tony Curry was introduced by David Edelsten to announce a new club award. As many people know, Tony has been fighting cancer throughout 2006. The success of the club and one individual in particular has given him great strength and pride which has greatly helped him overcome his illness – to such an extent that he has decided to make this award, fully endorsed and sanctioned by the committee. This is not an annual award but one that is made only for exceptional achievement when the committee feel that it merits bestowing. Essentially Tony has financed a Trust Fund to be invested separately from any other funds held by the club. When it is decided to make the award a portion of the fund (approximately 25%) will be presented to the individual concerned along with a framed certificate. The first recipient of this magnificent and generous award is Wendy Jones. By representing Great Britain and England on three occasions and running superbly in many high profile national events, she has not only become one of the country’s leading runners but put the name of Cirencester AC firmly on the map and been an inspiration to many within the club. The wording on the certificate sums up the essential aim of the award: (for) “Outstanding Achievement and the Enhancement of Cirencester Athletics Club”. There was hardly a dry eye in the house and certainly not from Tony or Wendy, when the presentation was made.

Thereafter much talking, drinking and dancing took place into the night (see www.snapfish.co.uk for photos).

GLOUCESTERSHIRE AAA COUNTY NEWS

The night before the Christmas party another awards ceremony took place. At the Gloucester Civic Hall, Wendy Jones won another major honour, the Gloucestershire County AAA athletic achievement award for 2006. The citation to Wendy stated: “this award is to recognise special achievement by a particular athlete, coach, official or other involved in athletics within the county during the previous 12 months. In view of your exceptional achievements during the period in question it was decided we would like to present you with the award this year.”

Somewhat further down the scale of athletic achievements, county medals were presented to David Wright (1st V45) and David Edelsten (3rd V60) for their placings in the county road race series 2006. The Glos AAA website www.glosaaa.org.uk is always worth keeping an eye on for up to date fixtures, results & news. Look up www.runnerduck.co.uk/running for announcements relating to the 2007 county road race championship (more details in the next newsletter).

REVIEW OF 2006

Space precludes an in depth review but 2006 has seen a year of unprecedented success for Cirencester AC on all fronts: great individual achievements, numerous team prizes and a massive influx of new members. Individually, a lot has already been written about Wendy Jones achieving her first Great Britain international vests; Jane Wassell was reserve for the England Veterans team, thus just missing out on international honours, and Chris Illman broke all existing club U20 records. All three achieved outright race victories during the year, as did Cathy Cook, Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz and Bill Leggate. A total of 26 club age group road race records were broken by Carol Clarke, Cook, Jones, Wassell, Illman, Fred Robson, Dick Waldron & David Wright (who also won the Glos County V45 title). Add to the mix captain Pancho’s infectious enthusiasm and it is easy to see why things have gone so well.

On the team front, the ladies once again led the way with victory in the Oxford League, for the third year in succession, plus a magnificent 4th place in the high quality Midlands Road Relay (agonisingly close to a medal), an equally impressive 15th in the National Road Relay and team victories in the Westonbirt & Beacon 10k’s. The men are rapidly closing on the success front as they walked away with no less than five team victories (Highworth ‘5’, Fairford 10k, Westonbirt 10k, Oldbury ‘10’ & Beacon 10k) and a best ever Oxford League season finish of 3rd. To top all of this the men not only won the latest Oxford League fixture just last week, the first time this has ever been achieved, but also the ‘B’ team were first in division two and have a real chance of promotion to the top division. Two years ago the men were getting just one or two in the top 50 finishers but at Culham Park 12 men made it within that number.

A total of 61 members turned out in the road race championship during the year and in excess of 50 are turning out each month in the Oxford XC League. Bring on 2007!

NEW MEMBERS

Clare Blampied, Liz Brown, Ed Sinton and Barbara Thomas have all joined the swelling ranks of Cirencester AC in the last month. Thanks to this regular influx of new members, attendances for training on Tuesday nights are now regularly between 50-60, unprecedented numbers for the club and all very welcome.

CLUB TRAINING

Planned venues for Tuesday night training venues (note that these are subject to change): Dec 12 School astroturf; Dec 19 Abbey grounds; Dec 26 No club session; Jan 2 College roads; Jan 9 School astroturf; Jan 16 Tetbury hill circuit; Jan 23 School astroturf. Always meet at leisure centre at 18:30 . Those in need of refreshment afterwards – if not then you’ve not trained hard enough – are reminded that all are welcome to stroll down to local hostelry Somewhere Else for a drink and some lively chat (plus Pancho’s cheesy chips)!

See Dick Waldron’s highly entertaining article below if you want to have a convivial club pack run on a Monday ( 8.45am , 1 hour run) or Thursday ( 9am , 1½ hour run) from the leisure centre.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Dick Waldron has penned this mighty piece, the point of which should become apparent near the end:

“The Gospel according to Dick - The Eleventh Commandment

And so it came to pass, that God laboured for six days on worldly matters, he then took a day off.
On day eight feeling at a loss, thought deeply about what to do next in his master plan.
He tempted Adam and Eve with an apple, but he soon tired of this and decided to chuck them out.
So he gave them the heave ho, and sent them to a far distant land. Watching them move away towards the far distant land, he wondered what a strange gait they had developed.
God thought about this, since he had invented everything else on earth, he thought he had better create a name for this new way of moving.
He pondered for a while, then declared, I will call this “Rapidus Urbanus Naturali” or “RUN” for short.

In the absence of the Internet, God called up a friend named Moses.
Moses! When you carve out the other commandments, I want you to add another one “Thou shalt Run”
And so it came to pass that the decree was spread far and wide.
As time passed however, it became obvious to the Elders that a problem existed with this “Running”. Village populations were getting smaller, and they realised that if they obeyed this last commandment the village would soon be empty.
Faced with this dilemma, the Elders approached God.

Some time passed before he returned. “I have pondered the problem and solved it” he said.
You will devise a “ROUTE”
A route shall cause you to cross terrains of differing natures, you will rise hills and descend into the valleys, thou shall run in the sun, rain, snow and wind, but most important, you shall at some point turn around and return from whence you came.
If you abide by this guidance, the problem shall be solved.

One further thing you must do on completion of this run is to say
“I really enjoyed that”
This must be said, despite all feelings of tiredness pain and abject sickness.
And so the masses did run. They ran fast, they ran slow, they ran short and they ran long. But most importantly they returned and chanted as God commanded.

However, in the early days God did espy that “runners” appeared to be enjoying running, and this puzzled him for did it not begin as a punishment.
“I know” he said to himself. Just as the tribes of old had disease, famine, plague and pestilence, I will create a new set for runners.

“Stitch” “Cramp” “Shin splints” “Damaged limbs” “Falling over” and the worst one of all “Chaffing” did plague the runners. To complete the suite he created one final gesture the “Pit stop”
This requires the runner to leave the group, depart into the undergrowth, perform bodily functions and return smiling to the group. On their return they were required to declare “I really needed that!”

And so it came to pass that the urge to run, became an inherent part of being, and through the ages of time, groups did gather together in order to follow the eleventh commandment “Thou shalt Run”

Thus a group did form, a mighty group called “Cirencester Athletics Club”
And from within this mighty group, a subset did form, this group being open to all members of the mighty group.
On Mondays and Thursdays of every week they continue to meet at about 0900hrs within a temple of fitness called the “Cotswold Leisure Centre”
Then after completing a starting ritual they do embark upon a “route”

On a Monday, they do test themselves for a period of about one hour. Thursdays they do run for periods in excess of one and a half hours. During this time they subject themselves to great torture, running faster than a winged arrow, ascending hills one of such size, that it is called “Big Bertha”
If indeed this is representative of a real person she was surely of formidable dimensions, possibly silicone enhanced.
After the “RUN” they do hold with tradition and say “I really enjoyed that”
Although on many occasions the sincerity of some individuals may be brought to question.

But most importantly, they do suffer the afflictions created by God.
“Stitch” “Cramp” “Shin splints” “Damaged limbs” “Falling over” most are suffered in silence.
However, despite the sensitive areas on which “Chaffing” doth take place one runner takes great pride in declaring exactly where it has occurred, and on occasion has exposed the part to both the elements and her fellow runners.

The “pit stop” is surely a plague on female runners, for along the routes there are secret signs which attract the females into the undergrowth to perform the task.
One such route became famous with the chariot drivers passing “Perrots Brook” for they did queue on the Bypass to see the event take place on Thursday mornings.

Within the world of Runners there is a guidance which states “Run, Rest and Recuperation” this shall be thy mandate.

We the subset, have devised our own mandate, and it is against this we run, “Fun, Friendship and Ferapy (sorry)”
If you want to find out about: Stretch Marks, Waxing, Brazilians, GMT, or is it PMT, the best wines, the best hangover cures, free sports injury consultations and much more then join us.
We take our running seriously, we use all of the available routes around Cirencester, you run in company, never are you left on your own, you will visit areas in which you may feel uncomfortable running alone.
But of utmost importance we have “Fun, Friendship and Ferapy (sorry)”
Day off? Bored? Want to escape? Then join us, you will be welcome.”

MISCELLANY

… As previously reported, Jane Wassell was selected as first reserve for the England Veterans FV40 team to take part in the Home Countries International in Falkirk , Scotland on 25 November. Unfortunately for Jane, nobody dropped out so she missed her chance of an international vest. It was actually just as well because she hurt her knee and would almost certainly have had to pull out anyway. Hopefully Jane will get another chance in 2007.

… many congratulations to Helen & Peter Langsam on the birth of Miles Oliver weighing in at 5lb 12oz. Helen’s 50 hour labour should stand her in good stead when the going gets tough in future races!

… Happy Christmas and a fit & healthy New Year to all readers. Editor’s resolution is to keep future newsletters to manageable proportions!

David Wright: wrights@tesco.net or 01285 641224