HEADLINES
- Wendy Nicholls selected to run for Great Britain in World ½ Marathon Championships
- Corinne Clark, Elaine Wilson & Martin Pitts compete in World Age Group Triathlon Champs
- Chris Illman & Jane Wassell win Beacon 10km and lead teams to victory
- Illman also wins Witney ‘10’ with dominating performance
- Race results from Germany , France & USA
- Cirencester 10k this Sunday / club AGM next Tuesday
NEWS
After a tremendous run at Bristol in the UK National Championships (see below) and following on from her fine form in the spring, Wendy Nicholls has been selected to represent Great Britain in the World ½ Marathon Championships to be held in Udine, Italy on 14 October. The full GB team is Louise Damen, Wendy Nicholls, Jo Pavey and Michelle Ross-Cope. Pavey, who will lead the team, was 4th in the 10,000m at the recent World Athletics Championships in Osaka , Japan . There will not be a GB men’s team as nobody achieved the qualifying times, which shows what a magnificent achievement it is to be picked. Sometimes this race is shown on the BBC so keep an eye out on the schedules. Otherwise full details can be found on www.wrrc.com and www.iaaf.org
ROAD / MULTI-TERRAIN / TRACK RESULTS
19 August, Boddington 5km. Alice Thomas and her mother Barbara have been busy racing regularly and with some success.
Alice Thomas (Cirencester, 1st FU17) 22.21
Barbara Thomas (1st FV45) 24.57
28 August, Foxtrot ‘5’, Broughton Gifford
1 Adrian Whitwan (Tonbridge) 25.33
78 Alice Thomas (Cirencester) 37.24 – club FU20 record
119 Barbara Thomas 43.01. 194 finished. www.avonvalleyrunners.org.uk
2 September, Beacon 10km . Club championship event. Another excellent turnout from the club resulting, once again, in team victories for both men and women. As with Frampton last month, Cirencester also provided both individual winners: Chris Illman repeating his win and Jane Wassell clocking another impressive outright win to continue her highly successful season. Nicola Denning was rewarded for some recent consistent racing by winning the first veteran award as well as being part of the winning ladies team.
1 Chris Illman (Cirencester) 33.26
8 Adrian Williams 36.40
9 Bill Leggate 37.00
13 David Wright (1st V50) 37.25
19 Jane Wassell (1st lady / FV40) 38.33
25 Martin Croucher 39.16
26 Tony Shelbourn (2nd V60) 39.20
39 Nicola Denning (5th lady / 1st FV35) 41.20
43 Jon Young 41.40
46 Dorian Matts 42.20
80 Alice Thomas 47.37
118 Barbara Thomas 56.04
121 David Edelsten 58.37
127 Clive Hook 65.07. 128 finished. www.angelsrunningclub.co.uk
Teams: Men (4 to score), 1 Cirencester 31pts (Illman, Williams, Leggate, Wright), 2 Cheltenham 36pts
Women (3 to score), 1 Cirencester 138pts (Wassell, Denning, A Thomas), 2 Stroud 185pts.
9 September, Cotswold Classic Witney ‘10’ . Club championship event. Not satisfied by regularly winning races in his home county, Chris Illman crossed into Oxfordshire and showed his potential cross country opponents that he will mean business in the Oxford League this winter, by winning this decent quality race over undulating terrain. Although not knowing the course, he decided to take off with two miles to go and took over a minute out of the second place runner, multiple league winner Steve Kimber. There were a number of other fine performances by Cirencester runners resulting in a plethora of bonus points in the club championship. Illman, Bill Leggate, Stephen Elverd and Chris Brough all garnered maximum bonus points to help their causes. Despite only fielding two ladies, Cirencester were declared winners of the three to score team race. The race organisers had Nicola Denning, Trudy Compton and Mary Gluning as the team members and presented the winning bottles of wine to a slightly bemused Compton . Sadly, of course, Mary is actually Mark! When quizzed about his inclusion in the ladies team, Gluning responded thus: “I'm delighted that I have finally got recognition for the combination of my average running and poor handwriting. However, I am rather disappointed that Bill's handwriting is obviously better than the average doctor or he would have made the team too.” Compton had assumed that a third Cirencester lady had, indeed, run and only found out afterwards about the gender error. She rang the organisers who very magnanimously told her to keep the prizes as Cirencester had travelled so far to the race. Whether she has given a bottle to Mary is not known!
1 Chris Illman (Cirencester) 54.29
12 Bill Leggate 1.00.49
13 Adrian Williams 1.01.17
17 Marc Fallows 1.01.51
46 Martin Croucher 1.07.32
48 Stephen Elverd 1.07.59
52 Chris Brough 1.08.17
53 Tony Shelbourn (2nd V60) 1.08.18 – club V60 record
62 Dorian Matts 1.09.23
68 Nicola Denning (3rd FV35) 1.10.37
72 Mark Gluning 1.10.59
116 Trudy Compton 1.16.14
125 Will Moffatt 1.17.22
133 Tim Willson 1.18.48
171 Dick Waldron 1.24.05 – inaugural club V65 record
235 David Edelsten 1.43.41. 241 finished. www.witneyroadrunners.org.uk
9 September, Bristol ½ Marathon . With the race incorporating the UK National ½ Marathon Championships as well as being the trial for selection of the Great Britain team to run in the World Championships, the standard was very high. Bud Baldaro, the highly respected GB coach and race commentator, went as far as to say that the UK field for the ladies race was the best in depth that he had ever known. A total of 15 ladies beat 1hr 18mins and Jane Wassell’s fine FV40 winning run was only good enough for 29th place. Wendy Nicholls knew that she had the UK :athletics stated qualifying time for selection from earlier in the year, but also knew that she had to beat most of her main rivals to claim a spot on the team. She started sensibly and was just inside the top 10 after 10 minutes of running. She soon locked into 5½ minute miling, passing through five miles in 27.30 and eight in 44.00 by which time she had moved up into fifth place just ahead of top Irish international Rosemary Ryan. On an awkward course full of twists & turns, short sharp climbs up onto bridges and lots of cobbles, Nicholls, like many others, struggled to maintain rhythm in the last few miles but held onto her position and finished strongly to outpace Ryan. It was a nervous two days before confirmation of her 4th GB senior vest in a year came through (see news above).
1 Tewodros Shiferaw ( Ethiopia ) 1.03.01
26 Jane Muia ( Kenya , 1st lady) 1.10.26
40 Wendy Nicholls (Cirencester, 5th lady, 2nd FV35) 1.14.16 – 4th in UK Championship
148 Jane Wassell (1st FV40) 1.23.57 – club FV40 record
1201 Sarah Cooper 1.39.41
3739 Leon Horton 2.03.26 (chip time 1.53.23). 8,433 finished. www.bristolhalfmarathon.com and www.marathon-photos.com for pictures (Cirencester athletes race numbers: 103, 2406, 3036)
9 September, Avignon 10km, France . Andy Bradley reports on his trip away in France : “A running weekend away in sunny Provence included an optional 10k in Avignon , called the 10k De La Cite des Papes. The course was flat and looked good for a decent time. However the build up wasn’t ideal. Runs on Thursday, Friday (2) & Saturday through the vineyards of Vacqueyras, plus a long bike ride on Saturday afternoon, meant less than perfect preparation. Approx 450 runners lined up in the centre of Avignon, surrounded by beautiful buildings of Roman architecture. The course was similar to the Bourton 10k, a couple of laps through a picturesque town, then out over the Rhone into the country, turn around & back into the town for another lap along the cobbled streets and a finish by the town hall. All pretty flat, but quite hot & breezy. The race was won by a couple of Kenyans. Two of the group from the running camp got prizes, one for 7th female & one for 1st FV40. I ran home in 42:22 but it took 5 secs for the man with a scanner to apply his gadget to my chest, as the race chip was a wire stuck to the back of the race number. Certainly one of the most scenic races I’ve every run. If anyone is interested in a running weekend away have a look at www.fullpotential.co.uk. Next day’s paper had the first 150 finishers in, so I had my name in the regional paper “135 Bradley, British, 42:27”. No mention of Cirencester. I guess I’m an international runner now too!”
1 John Kyui ( Kenya ) 29.37
135 Andy Bradley (Cirencester/GB) 42.27. 439 finished. www.kms.fr
15 September, White Horse ‘5’ . Chocolate biscuits for the winning ladies team and two excellent comeback races from Paul Barlow and Justin Nicholls, with the latter being a true gentleman in allowing his wife and pacemaker to cross the line just ahead of him! Chris Illman was ill during the race but still managed a personal best time.
1 Martin Rees (Neath) 25.43
2 Chris Illman (Cirencester) 26.52
9 Paul Barlow 28.26
13 Wendy Nicholls (1st lady) 30.03
14 Justin Nicholls 30.03
31 Alice Thomas 36.57
32 Jane Thomas 37.03
38 Barbara Thomas 43.26. 42 finished.
Teams – Women: 1 Cirencester (Nicholls, A Thomas, J Thomas) 76pts.
16 September, Gloucester ½ Marathon .
1 Clive Baker ( Tewkesbury ) 1.18.20
4 David Wright (Cirencester, 1st V50) 1.22.16. 122 finished. www.gloucesterac.co.uk
16 September, Philadelphia ½ Marathon , USA
1 Julius Kibet ( Kenya ) 1.02.02
1918 Bob Ferris (Cirencester) 1.42.40 (chip time 1.41.52)
6012 Lynn Ferris 2.03.48 (2.00.38). 11,629 finished. www.runphilly.com
ROAD / MULTI-TERRAIN FIXTURES (Sunday unless stated)
With no immediate likelihood of a club noticeboard due to the closure of the leisure centre, entry forms can usually be accessed via websites shown.
22 September, Midland six stage road relays, Sutton Park , nr Birmingham . Adrian Williams has organised a crack squad to try to qualify for the prestigious National relays in October.
23 September, Cirencester Park 10km at 10:30. The race limit of 500 was reached a few weeks ago and entries have closed with 544 accepted. With so many runners it is imperative that the race goes without a hitch and as many members as possible help to ensure that this is the case. David Edelsten reports that all is more or less organised but that he will be gathering more marshalls at club training tomorrow (Tuesday) night. All helpers are advised to report to Bob Ferris or Tony Curry at the College rectory by 09:30 on Sunday ready for the 10:30 start. Rupert Chesmore will be the official race timekeeper. www.cirencester-ac.org.uk
29 September, Glos County XC Relays, Plock Court . Contact Adrian Williams if interested in running this 4 x 2 miles relay for which the club may enter some teams.
7 October, Cricklade 10km at 10:30 . Club championship event. No entries on the day. www.crickladefunrun.co.uk
7 October, Cricklade ½ Marathon at 10:30 . No entries on the day. www.crickladefunrun.co.uk
21 October, Stroud ½ Marathon at 10:00 . Club championship event. Enter soon to avoid disappointment. www.stroudac.co.uk
RANKINGS
The next race in the club championship is the Cricklade 10km so herewith an update on club records at that distance:
FU20: 42.11 Becky Stagg, 1989; U20: 33.30 Chris Illman, Brighton 2006.
Female senior: 34.18 Wendy Jones, 2000; Male senior: 32.12 Mike Smith, 1998;
FV35: 33.38 Wendy Jones, Gloucester 2007;
FV40: 37.11 Jane Wassell, Gloucester 2007; V40: 33.57 David Wright, Bourton 1997;
FV45: 43.22 Molly Fisher, 1994; V45: 35.28 Brian Wither, 1993;
FV50: 45.41 Elaine Wilson, Bourton 2007; V50: 36.15 David Wright, Bourton 2007;
FV55: 44.51 Mary Campbell, 2001; V55: 42.38 Tony Curry, Bourton 2004;
FV60: 52.38 Mary Campbell, Westonbirt 2005; V60: 38.58 Tony Shelbourn, Frampton 2007;
V65: 47.25 Dick Waldron, Frampton 2007;
V70: 53.32 Fred Robson, Fairford 2005.
CLUB ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIP 2007
As stated last month, with the cancellation of the Bugatti 10km the championship will now be best 7 out of 11 events in 2007 (see detail below).
Stephen Elverd has maintained a very narrow lead from Adrian Williams with just two races to go but multiple race winner Chris Illman is closing fast. Jane Wassell can safely be crowned ladies champion once again. Unofficial scores after the Witney ‘10’ are as follows:
Men: S Elverd (run in 7 events) 145pts, A Williams (7) 144, C Illman (5) 122, B Leggate (6) 120, M Fallows (6) 118, M Croucher (7) 104, D Wright (6) 102, D Matts (7) 93, C Brough (4) 92, J Young 67, A Bradley 63, P Gonzalez-Diaz 57, T Shelbourn & D Waldron 56, T Willson 51, B Ferris 50, B Reid 43, T Ranger & M Gluning 42, D Edelsten 39, D Dent 34, P Barlow 28, N Dunnage & T Kingston 26, C Hook 25, C Riches 24, C Tapley 23, R Brown 21, B Barrowclough 19, K Firkin 17, J Fallon 16, J Barrowclough 15, A Harborow & J Nicholls 14, J Knight 13, G Grafton 11, E Sinton & A McKeeman 6, J Burgess 4, J Bennett 2.
Women: J Wassell (run in 7 events) 145pts, Corinne Clark (4) 85, A Thomas (4) 71, B Thomas (4) 63, T Compton (3) 59, N Denning (3) 57, W Nicholls (2) 52, S Brown 45, L Ferris 44, Carol Clarke 43, S Elphick & S Cooper 41, C Blampied 29, C Bolam 27, J Manners 25, K Withycombe 22, K Kroulikova 19, C Cox 18, R Brown 16, E Wilson 15, S McKeeman 13, J Hill 12, J Green 9, N Hunt 7.
The final fixtures are as follows:
7 October, Cricklade 10km (see above)
21 October, Stroud ½ Marathon (see above)
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 11 races, plus marathon, best seven 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.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ROAD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP 2007
Just three races remain and a number of Cirencester athletes are in the frame for prizes. Jane Wassell (Ladies Open and FV40) and David Wright (V45, based on age as at 1 January) both lead in their categories and Andy Bradley (V50) is a close second. Scores and rules can be viewed on the official website although scores haven’t yet been updated from the Beacon 10km in September www.runnerduck.co.uk/running. The final fixtures are as follows:
23 September, Cirencester Park 10km (see above)
21 October, Stroud ½ Marathon (see above)
4 November (provisional), Tewkesbury ‘5’ www.tewkesburyac.blogspot.com
TRIATHLON RESULTS & FIXTURES
27 August, Malmesbury Triathlon (400m swim, 22km bike, 5km run).
1 Mike Milstead (6.04, 38.19, 19.13) 1.03.36
41 Mark Evans (Cirencester) (6.13, 41.07, 21.29) 1.12.49. 178 finished.
2 September, World Age Group Championships, Hamburg , Germany . The club had three representatives at this event but unfortunately only two finished. Corinne Clark had a puncture on her bike and had to retire. All three thoroughly enjoyed the experience. A report has been promised and will hopefully be published next month.
Standard distance (1,500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run):
1 Ben Collins ( USA ) (18.57, 58.41, 34.20) 1.57.16
1498 Elaine Wilson (Cirencester/GB, 41st FV50-55) (31.13, 1.21.52, 53.04) 2.55.43. 1,690 finished.
Sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run):
1 Brian Duffy ( USA ) (9.27, 32.52, 16.33) 1.04.28
166 Martin Pitts (Cirencester/GB, 14th V45-50) (11.42, 36.31, 19.45) 1.14.37. 633 finished. www.tri247.com
9 September, Cotswold Sprint Triathlon, Keynes Country Park . (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run). Good club turnout for this ever popular race organised by Lorraine and Kevin Ferris. It was particularly pleasing to see Niel Dunnage get a race in before the end of the season after being out injured for most of the summer.
1 Mark Threlfall (Total Fitness, Bath ) (9.48, 28.45, 16.02) 54.37
35 Martin Pitts (Cirencester) (13.09, 31.52, 19.04) 1.04.07
44 Niel Dunnage (14.19, 30.52, 20.21) 1.05.35
81 Mark Evans (13.38, 33.31, 21.44) 1.08.54
107 Bob Ferris (14.11, 34.55, 21.53) 1.11.00
117 Jonathan Knight (15.49, 36.17, 19.26) 1.11.33
141 Terry Ranger (14.16, 37.12, 21.11) 1.12.40
196 Elaine Wilson (1st FV50) (14.25, 38.29, 23.53) 1.16.49
199 Diane Moore (16.54, 38.29, 21.45) 1.17.09
240 Chloe Cox (18.49, 37.55, 23.44) 1.20.29
293 Sandra Elphick (14.04, 45.07, 25.07) 1.24.19. 370 finished. www.triferris.com
9 September, Cotswold Novice Triathlon, Keynes Country Park . (400m swim, 20km bike, 2.5km run).
1 Gregory Prout (Pencoed) (6.46, 32.42, 9.44) 49.13
5 Ben Cox (Cirencester) (7.53, 25.25, 20.58) 54.18. 68 finished. www.triferris.com
CROSS COUNTRY
League cross country fixtures 2007/2008:
13 October 2007 , Glos League at Black Bridge , Gloucester
4 November, Oxford League at Ascott-u-Wychwood
17 November, Glos League at Leamington
2 December, Oxford League at Culham Park
15 December, Glos League at Pittville Park, Cheltenham
30 December, Oxford League at Drayton School , Banbury
2 February 2008 , Glos League at Gloucester (exact venue to be advised)
3 February, Oxford League at Cirencester Park
2 March, Oxford League at Horspath, Oxford
Note that Oxford League races are on Sundays and Gloucestershire League on Saturdays. Respective websites are www.oxonxc.org and www.glosaaa.org.uk
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
With the leisure centre likely to be closed until well into 2008, the club has made arrangements to use the changing rooms at Deer Park school on Tuesday evenings. As stated by Bob Ferris at last week’s training, please make every effort to leave the changing rooms tidy as the school is doing us a great favour by allowing the club to use its facilities.
It is rumoured that the club AGM will be taking place next Tuesday, September 25th after club training, in the atrium at Deer Park . For more information, to give apologies for absence or to raise any issues for the agenda, contact club secretary Dick Waldron on richard.waldron5@btopenworld.com
NEW MEMBER
Welcome this month to David Freer.
MISCELLANY
… it has been a while but back by popular demand is another self-proclaimed “Report from the Lunatic Asylum” otherwise known as Rupert Chesmore’s experiences in rather long races: “The 2007 Ultra programmehas been plagued by the extremes of the British weather. The spring time calendar was frustrated by the postponement of the Grizzly (someone parked a container ship on the course) and the cancellation of the Compton 40 (committee problems). Therefore the first outing for your correspondent was the Marlborough 35, a really kind event held in ideal conditions, cloudy and cool. The Boddington 50k was due to be held on the 'Flood weekend' and was inevitably cancelled, but yours truly participated as the only competitor, negotiating the flooded sections on the back of my son's bicycle.
My GUCR support crew had scattered all over the world so my eldest son Daniel drew the short straw as my one man/boy support crew on his mountain bike. The run up for the Ridgeway 85 was characterised by the inevitable wet British summer and all our plans were geared up for a damp event. Two days before the weather forecast flagged up a scorcher.....
This event is the UK Ultra Trail Running Championships, with the 'also rans' starting at 10am on the Saturday and the 'elites' at midday . This was designed to reduce the time needed for the marshals to keep the last few controls open on the Sunday morning. There were 24 of us assembled for the earlier start and typically I met up with a number of familiar faces (whose names I still don't remember) but inevitably in whose company I have spent long hours on the trail. Training schedules and recent race exploits were exchanged, and then we were off.
The first half of the route heads from Ivinghoe Beacon south west along the Chilterns via a sequence of footpaths requiring constant attention to the maps. Dan had to keep looping round on the roads to meet up with me as he was not permitted on the footpaths. Within two hours the sun was wilting our efforts. Ever mindful of the task ahead I altered my rhythm to a 'walk in the sunlight/run in the shade’ schedule. This proved successful for me as 15 runners never even reached half way. Despite carrying four litres of water on the bike and one litre myself we ran out before Princes Risborough. Dan then scrounged more off other support crews and generous marshals.
At the 25 mile control at Chinnor I rewarded myself with a change of shoes to a ½ size bigger and the inevitable clean socks. At this point thinking I was going quite well, the first of the elites came past as if I was standing still. But then he was an international athlete and half my age, and he went on to smash the course record by an hour. The long section to Goring was the worst both mentally and physically, I even resorted to entering a church yard to get water from a tap used for grave side flowers, it was that hot. Grims Ditch offered some relief, three miles of tree-lined Neolithic earthworks. Along the river to Goring I made my only navigational error and added ½ mile to the journey. Getting to halfway as dusk fell I just made it as all my night attire, including a head torch, was on the bike and the waiting Dan.
Beans, a pastie, numerous cups of tea and a change of clothing and we headed out of Goring by 10.30. The second part heading west is all on bridleways so Dan was able to ride the whole route. Having climbed up from the valley onto the Ridgeway proper I realised that I was in the 'zone' and started running at the unbelievable pace. In the cool darkness my legs felt rejuvenated and we covered the 3rd¼ in the quickest time. Inevitably we passed a rave where the un-washed of Swindon gave us a welcome similar to the London Marathon . At one point in the middle of absolutely nowhere Dan gave out a sudden yell as a dog started barking. An itinerant traveller was crashed out under a black thorn bush and his bull mastiff was guarding him. Fortunately man and dog were chained together.
As dawn emerged above Ogbourne, the quality of the tracks deteriorated. The 4WD brigade demand access and the wet summer had enabled them to churn up the deepest of ruts. Dan struggled on his bike and I lost my pace and the sparkle was lost from the final ¼. The long drag up to Barbury Castle was mind numbing and I could not get back into my stride for several miles afterwards. However with Avebury in the distance the zone was revisited and we finished on a high note.
My original plan was to finish in under 24 hours, which for 85 miles and 9000ft of climb I thought feasible. However the heat of the Saturday afternoon altered my plans by half way. Crossing the line in 23hrs 11mins highlighted the ability of achieving the zone, forcing the pace and exceeded all expectations. Irrespective of the time it was a wonderful weekend for a father and son partnership. Dan did admit at the end that he needed no encouragement to pass his driving test and support me in a car next time.”
Results: 1 Matt Giles (Stourport AC) 14.34.09, 5 Ramona Thevenet-Smith ( Woking , 1st Lady) 19.09.40, 22 Rupert Chesmore (Cirencester) 23.11.48. 55 started, 40 finished. www.gucr.co.uk
… Czech born Kveta Kroulikova is sadly moving on to pastures new after a few years with Cirencester. She is relocating to Windsor . We wish her all the best and hope that she’ll travel down the M4 occasionally to run with her old team mates.
David Wright: wrights@tesco.net or 01285 641224
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