HEADLINES

• Leisure centre to be closed “for a number of months”.
• Wendy Nicholls wins Bridge Inn & Pilot Inn 5km plus Frampton 10km races.
• Jane Wassell runner up in all three races and wins Bridge Inn 5km summer series overall title.
• Chris Illman wins Frampton 10km.
• Club dominates individual and team prizes at Frampton.
• Tony Shelbourn smashes club 5km & 10km V60 records by four minutes each.

ROAD / MULTI-TERRAIN / TRACK RESULTS

29 July, Swanage ½ Marathon .

1 Jamie Atkinson (Blackheath) 1.12.51

66 Trudy Compton (Cirencester) 1.42.05. 280 finished. www.swanagecarnival.com

31 July, Bridge Inn 5km, nr Bristol . As an alternative to the following night’s cancelled Bugatti race, a handful of runners trekked down to this competitive out and back course on cycle paths alongside the delights of the A4174 Bristol ring road. Bill Leggate was particularly pleased with a big personal best and held off a fast finishing Wendy Nicholls, who won the ladies race. Jane Wassell, although a bit below par on the evening, did enough to win the ladies overall series over four races through the summer.

1 Rich Williams ( Bristol Univ) 15.16

9 Bill Leggate (Cirencester) 16.54

10 Wendy Nicholls (1st lady / FV35) 16.56

12 David Wright (2nd V50) 17.36

18 Jane Wassell (2nd lady / FV35) 18.23. 67 finished. www.bristolandwestac.org.uk

5 August, Borrowdale Fell Race 17 miles (6,500ft). Stephen Elverd took on one of the classic fell races and has filed a superbly gripping & illuminating illustration on competing in the toughest element of our sport:

“After getting a taste for the hills at the Sugar Loaf Fell Race in April, I decided it was time for the big one. Borrowdale is a Category ‘A’ fell race over 17 miles with 6500 feet of climbing in the most mountainous terrain in England .  

As Cumbria is too far from Gloucestershire for a day trip, Nep (my wife) and I decided to make a long weekend of it in Keswick. We left a Cheltenham that was bathed in sunshine and arrived at a wet and windy Lake District . Heavy rain continued throughout the night and race day presented us with cloud shrouded peaks and waterlogged fields.  Conditions were so bad that Mountain Rescue had advised the organisers to remove Scafell Pike from the race. A lot of runners expressed disappointment at this, but I confess I was not one of them. As I looked around the registration tent I noticed that, not only was I the only Ciren runner, but it looked like I was the only southerner. I was surrounded by gnarled blokes wearing vests saying “Ambleside Fell Runners”, “Settle Harriers” and “Mountain Eckythumpers”.

I started at the tail end of the pack and very soon was held up as bottlenecks formed at stiles and bridges. Once the climbing started, the field began to spread and I realised that this was going to be a lot tougher than I’d ever imagined. My race memories dissolve into a painful blur of craggy rocks, knee deep marshes, back breaking ascents and terrifying descents. One thing that kept me going was the communal spirit amongst the runners. If anyone slipped, you would hear a chorus of “you OK?”. Conditions underfoot formed the biggest hazard and I noticed that one slippery piece of rock was covered in blood where someone had come a cropper. Back at the race centre in Rosthwaite, Nep witnessed a steady stream of retired runners sporting nasty cuts and looking crestfallen.

The other danger was poor visibility, which made navigation difficult. Race rules stipulated that you had to be proficient with map and compass, but everyone seemed to trust that the runner in front knew the way to the next checkpoint. After Bessy Boot, Esk Hause, Great Gable and Honister Pass , I climbed the last hill to the final checkpoint at Dale Head. Inevitably, with the end in sight and only a mile of downhill to go, my legs decided to give up on me. I hobbled into Rosthwaite and crossed the finish line ecstatic, but vowing never to run it again.

“I’ve found a lovely B&B we can stay at when you do it next year” said Nep. ”

Despite his fairly lowly position, this was an impressive performance from Elverd having only competed in one previous fell race (see newsletter 40). The race entry form states that it is not suitable for novice fell runners and goes on to state: “all competitors must carry windproof whole body cover (waterproof equipment may be required subject to the weather on race day), a map of the course, a compass, a whistle and emergency food.”

1 Ben Bardsley (Borrowdale Fell Runners) 2.18.29

334 Stephen Elverd (Cirencester) 4.09.20. 410 finished. Full details, results and photos (nos 2354 & 2355 show Cirencester’s finest) on a very entertaining website www.borrowdalefellrunners.co.uk

5 August, Standish Woodland ‘10’ m/t. Impressive performance from new member and mother of five Sarah Cooper on this tough course on woodland trails along the scenic Cotswold escarpment.

1 Lee Christmas (Stroud) 1.00.41

44 Sarah Cooper (Cirencester, 4th lady) 1.18.20. 127 finished. www.stroudac.co.uk

5 August, Brecon ‘10’ .

1 Martin Rees (Neath) 54.41

30 Martin Croucher (Cirencester) 1.07.27. 304 finished. www.brecon10.com

11 August, Cranham Boundary Chase 5.8m.

1 Tom Randles ( Gloucester ) 35.27

54 Alice Thomas (Cirencester) 47.10

70 Barbara Thomas 58.07. 74 finished. www.gloucesterac.co.uk

12 August, Forth Road Bridge 10k.

1 Simon Plummer (Carnegie Harriers) 30.53

15 Bill Leggate (Cirencester) 37.12. 304 finished. www.pitreavie-aac.co.uk

16 August, Pilot Inn 5km (incorporating County 5km Championship). This race was scheduled to take place from the White Horse Chinese Restaurant, the home for most of Severn AC’s many race promotions. Unfortunately another heavy storm, typical of this crazy meteorological summer, rendered the course impassable and the restaurant flooded to a level of seven feet from the next door River Severn. At very short notice the race was shifted to Hardwick on the other side of Gloucester where an out and back course was used. The main highlight from the club’s perspective, other than the welcome and impressive comeback from former club cross country champion Justin Nicholls, was undoubtedly Tony Shelbourn’s run. Although beaten narrowly by the redoubtable veteran Les Davis, Shelbourn’s time not only smashed the club V60 5km record by nearly four minutes but also ranked 18th best in the country year to date. With county medals at stake as well as the usual Severn fayre of chocolate biscuits, Cirencester athletes went away from a lovely evening by the canal laden with prizes. Most surprising recipient of a prize was 51 year old Andy Bradley who won a bronze medal in the V60 category. He quickly returned the medal when realising the mistake!

1 Tim Dalton ( Severn ) 14.51

15 Marc Fallows (Cirencester) 16.51 – 3 rd senior man County Champs

17 Wendy Nicholls (1st lady / FV35) 16.54 – won lady / FV35 County Champs, course record

22 David Wright (2nd V50) 17.32 – won V50 County Champs

26 Jane Wassell (2nd lady / FV35) 18.05 – 2nd lady / V35 County Champs

37 Stephen Elverd 18.39

42 Tony Shelbourn (2nd V60) 18.49 – 2nd V60 County Champs, club V60 record

44 Justin Nicholls 18.59

50 Andy Bradley 19.20

79 Alice Thomas 21.58 – 2nd FU17 County Champs

104 Barbara Thomas 25.31

107 David Edelsten 26.38. 111 finished. www.severnac.co.uk

Teams: Men, 1 Bourton 111pts, 3 Cirencester 211pts

Women, 1 Cirencester 15pts (Nicholls, Wassell, A Thomas), 2 Bourton 19pts.

18 August, Gloucester Open 3000m track, Blackbridge

1 Chris Illman (Cirencester) 9.36

21 August, Frampton-on-Severn 10km . Club championship event. What a superb evening for Cirencester AC! This race has always been popular with club members and a large contingent flocked to the revised date following initial postponement due to July’s floods. The prize giving was an embarrassment as virtually every top award went to Cirencester. Leading the way, literally & metaphorically, was Chris Illman who despite still being only 20 years old is now winning races virtually at will. Three days after almost lapping the entire field in a 3000m track race, he pulled away from some quality opposition just after halfway and won the race very comfortably in another personal best time. Of the others, the double act of Wendy Nicholls & Jane Wassell achieved their third one/two of the month, both with strong performances; Tony Shelbourn took over four minutes from Dick Waldron’s club V60 record with another nationally ranked time; Waldron made up for the loss by beating his own club V65 record and Bob Ferris ran his slowest time ever by a number of minutes. He mentioned some lame excuse about cracked ribs but who is he kidding!

1 Chris Illman (Cirencester) 32.44

6 Wendy Nicholls (1st lady / FV35) 34.37

13 Marc Fallows 35.46

20 David Wright (2nd V50) 36.44

27 Jane Wassell (2nd lady / FV35) 37.42

37 Robbie Brown 38.20

52 Tony Shelbourn (1st V60) 38.58 – club V60 record

60 Stephen Elverd 39.50

61 Justin Nicholls 39.53

68 Nicola Denning (9th lady) 40.30

85 Dorian Matts 41.58

103 Trudy Compton 42.53

104 Sarah Cooper 42.54

127 Corinne Clark 44.12

154 Darren Dent 45.18

187 Tim Willson 47.07

191 Dick Waldron 47.25 – club V65 record

199 Carol Clarke 47.50

202 Alice Thomas 48.15

228 Bob Ferris 49.40

253 Sandra Elphick 51.20

265 Lynn Ferris 51.49

299 Barbara Thomas 55.46

366 Clive Hook 68.06. 380 finished. www.stroudac.co.uk plus pictures on www.dk10k.co.uk

Teams: Men, 1 Cirencester 34pts (Illman, Fallows, Wright), 2 Stroud 41pts

Women, 1 Cirencester 101pts (Nicholls, Wassell, Denning), 2 Stroud 263pts.

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.

2 September, Beacon 10km, nr Gloucester at 10:30. Club championship event.www.angelsrunningclub.co.uk

9 September, Cotswold Classic Witney 10m at 10:30 . Club championship event. Entries on the day usually accepted. www.witneyroadrunners.org.uk

15 September (Sat), White Horse 5m at 18:00 . Enter on day. www.severnac.co.uk

16 September, Gloucester ½ Marathon , Newent at 10.30. Rearranged date following cancellation due to flooding in July. Note new website for Gloucester AC: www.gloucesterac.co.uk

16 September, Woodchester Park ‘8’ m/t at 10:30 . A challenging off road event in lovely surroundings. www.stroudac.co.uk

23 September, Cirencester Park 10km. Another of our own race promotions. As ever members are encouraged to run but helpers will also be required. According to David Edelsten, entries are likely to close by the end of August so if planning to run enter soon. www.cirencester-ac.org.uk

7 October, Cricklade 10km. Club championship event.www.crickladefunrun.co.uk

7 October, Cricklade ½ Marathon . www.crickladefunrun.co.uk

21 October, Stroud ½ Marathon . Club championship event. Enter soon to avoid disappointment. www.stroudac.co.uk

RANKINGS

The Beacon 10km and Witney ‘10’ form the next legs of the club championship so herewith an update on club 10 mile records:

U20: 1.01.24 Chris Illman, Oldbury 2006;

Senior: 53.23 Mike Smith, 2000; Senior lady: 1.01.44 Cathy Bourke (Cook), 1993.

FV35: 1.06.14 Jane Wassell, Witney 2005.

V40: 58.58 Brian Wither, 1990; FV40: 1.04.35 Cathy Cook, Bramley 2007.

V45: 58.32 Brian Wither, 1992; FV45: 1.15.38 Molly Fisher, 1990.

V50: 1.05.49 Tony Curry, 1994; FV50: 1.24.35 Carol Clarke, Witney 2004.

V55: 1.18.08 John Jameson, 1999; FV55: 1.19.55 Carol Clarke, Witney 2005.

V60: 1.18.16 Dick Waldron, Witney 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 now taken over the lead in the men’s championship which still looks wide open, particularly when taking into account the number of events each of the leading protagonists has competed in and the need to drop races later in the season, resulting in a concertina effect on the scores. Marathons could yet have a part to play in the final results. Jane Wassell appears to be literally running away with the ladies championship. Unofficial scores after the Frampton 10km are as follows:

Men: S Elverd (run in 7 events) 131pts, A Williams (6) 125, M Fallows (5) 96, D Wright (5) 85, M Croucher (5) & B Leggate (4) 72, C Illman (3) 70, D Matts (5) 68, C Brough (3) 66, A Bradley (5) 63, P Gonzalez-Diaz 57, J Young 53, B Ferris 50, D Waldron 47, B Reid 43, T Ranger 42, T Willson 41, D Dent 34, M Gluning 31, P Barlow & T Shelbourn 28, N Dunnage & T Kingston 26, C Riches 24, C Tapley 23, R Brown 21, B Barrowclough & D Edelsten 19, K Firkin 17, J Fallon 16, J Barrowclough 15, A Harborow & J Nicholls 14, J Knight 13, G Grafton 11, C Hook 8, E Sinton & A McKeeman 6, J Burgess 4, J Bennett 2.

Women: J Wassell (run in 6 events) 125pts, Corinne Clark (4) 85, W Nicholls (2) 52, A Thomas (3) 51, B Thomas (3) 46, S Brown (3) 45, L Ferris (3) 28, Carol Clarke (3) 43, T Compton (2) 42, S Elphick (3) 41, S Cooper 33, C Blampied 29, C Bolam 27, J Manners 25, K Withycombe 22, K Kroulikova 19, C Cox & N Denning 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:

2 September, Beacon 10km (see above)

9 September, Witney 10m (see above)

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. To qualify for points, runners must be fully paid-up members, be entered under Cirencester AC and be wearing a club vest. This rule is being strictly enforced in 2007.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE ROAD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP 2007

With four races left, the championship is now beginning to take some shape. Jane Wassell (Ladies Open and FV40), David Wright (V45, based on age as at 1 January) and Andy Bradley (V50) all lead in their categories. Scores and rules can be viewed on the official website although scores haven’t yet been updated from the Pilot Inn 5km in August www.runnerduck.co.uk/running. The rest of the fixtures are as follows:

2 September, Beacon 10km (see above)

23 September, Cirencester Park 10k (see above)

21 October, Stroud ½ Marathon (see above)

4 November (provisional), Tewkesbury ‘5’ www.tewkesburyac.blogspot.com

TRIATHLON RESULTS & FIXTURES

5 August, Michelob Ultra London Triathlon (1,500m swim, 38km bike, 9.8km run).

Jonathan Knight reports from docklands: “The biggest triathlon in the world takes place around the huge Excel center in Docklands. Seeing thousands and thousands of bikes racked in transition is an amazing sight. The noise is intense with cheers and a very loud PA system coming from the finish at the other end of the hall.
Before the start we get to see the elite men in action, exiting transition for the run. Tim Don is in the lead and gets a great cheer. Because it is so hot, the elites have not worn wetsuits in the water.
The start of the swim is quite intimidating as the course seems to recede into infinity down the dock. The water is cloudy and very brackish and smells strongly of seaweed. With 407 competitors in my
wave, even the 100 meter width of the swim start is very crowded and it takes a while to get everyone in place. It remains crowded all the way round and I am still getting tangled up 200m from the end as many of the leaders stop for a rest. I am thrilled when I get out of the water as I think I have had a great swim, only to realise that in all the bumping my watch has been stopped!
The bike course is pretty fast, but narrows sharply in places so can be quite challenging, particularly as there are a lot of novice riders out. There are some very fast sections down into tunnels, which are also a welcome relief from the sun. The course is crowded with the tail end of the women’s race mixing in with the men but I have a good race with two others from my wave and one of the women on her second lap. Learning to get off the bike without my shoes on makes a big difference as transition is so big I have to run 200m to get to my racking point.
Out onto the run and the hottest day of the year is starting to cause serious problems. Casualties litter the side of the road, with many others reduced to a walk. I feel like I am the only one running as I am
completely on my own at this point and I can't see any one else from my wave. There are hoses and sprinklers out to try and cool people down, but they provide only a momentary relief. All my training in cloud and rain have not prepared me for this. My usual stride is reduced to a shuffle as I dodge around other competitors and try and get into some sort of rhythm. The final turn into the finish is a huge relief as I get into the shade and noise of the hall. I am very pleased with my time, but I wish the day had felt like more of a race and less an individual time trial.”

Results published by age group only :

F17-24 : 1 Jenny Shorrocks (Hillingdon) (21.02, 1.06.11, 45.17) 2.17.13

3 Corrine Clark (Cirencester) (26.14, 1.06.41, 48.41) 2.26.01. 18 finished.

F35-39 : 1 Michelle O’Dea (Hillingdon) (25.01, 1.03.14, 44.32) 2.17.52

16 Nicola Denning (Cirencester) (31.55, 1.09.41, 43.02) 2.30.29. 92 finished.

M40-44 : 1 Mark Hardie ( London Tri) (24.21, 56.46, 38.02) 2.02.32

25 Jonathan Knight (Cirencester) (29.03, 1.03.10, 41.59) 2.20.12. 337 finished.

5 August, Worcester Wychavon Triathlon, Droitwich (400m swim, 20km bike, 5km run).

1 James Gillfilian (Primera Bournemouth) (5.27, 30.20, 19.47) 55.34

79 Diane Moore (Cirencester, 1st FV40) (9.07, 43.16, 27.07) 1.19.30. 160 finished. www.worcestertriclub.co.uk

Fixtures:

9 September, Cotswold Sprint Triathlon, Keynes Country Park , nr. Cirencester. (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run or 400m swim, 20k bike, 2½k run). Entries are now closed. www.triferris.com

CROSS COUNTRY

Early notification of 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

LEISURE CENTRE

Unfortunately the recent flooding has caused more damage than at first thought at the leisure centre. As a result an official press release has been issued stating that it will be closed for “a number of months”. Clearly this has an impact on the club and the committee are looking into the best ways to address this problem. For more details and to keep up to date on developments see www.cotswold.gov.uk. In the meantime, running sessions will continue as usual on Tuesdays and Sundays albeit without changing rooms. Just meet in the leisure centre car park at the usual times. Bob Ferris is maintaining contact with the swimmers re Sunday evening sessions.

MISCELLANY

… not everybody will know Paula Vass but she has been an important member of the club for a number of years and has led the junior section of the club in recent times. Injuries have curbed her racing but she has more than made up for that by attending Oxford League races with the youngsters and, of course, taking the Wednesday night club junior training sessions. Unfortunately Paula and her family are moving to New Zealand in September. We all wish the Vass family best of luck in their new venture – no doubt they’ll enjoy keeping up to date with Cirencester AC via the newsletter!

… as many will know, Tony Shelbourn joined the club recently having returned to the UK after 10 years working in the USA . He has already frightened the best V60 runners in the County with some fine performances, not least the Pilot Inn & Frampton races detailed above. He has kept in touch with his former club, Toledo Road Runners in Ohio , by sending out reports of his progress back in dear old Blighty. Herewith an extract from his latest missive: “ I’m beginning to feel like a Jonah, or perhaps more appropriately a Noah because a constant deluge started with our return to the UK and seems to have continued ever since. I’m getting used to running in the rain and wearing shoes that are permanently wet. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thoroughly enjoying running and particularly a pint or two of real beer after our grueling Tuesday speed work sessions, but the races have proved to be the real challenge.

Aerospace Five Mile: at the last minute the distance was reduced as part of the course had become a soupy quagmire. It was posted as a “flat” fast course but there were hills, several hills, that the local runners didn’t seem to notice but for a TRRC flatlander they looked mountainous. Added to this it was windy and cold with more rain threatened. The last minute changes threw the course marshals into some disarray, made one of them late and the undirected front runners took the wrong course. Then, to compound a chaotic evening, the Emcee incorrectly announced a number of the awards. I was reassured by my Cirencester clubmates that this was most unusual and that I should not to judge British running by what had happened. A fun evening capped off with a pint.

Malmesbury 5k: this race was run around, literally, the town of Malmesbury in Wiltshire and it proved to be enjoyable, even though it was hilly. Malmesbury is the “Queen of Hilltop Towns” and was originally an Iron Age fort, had a monastery founded there in the 7th Century and it became England ’s oldest borough when King Alfred gave it the title in the 9th Century. It has a 500 year old Market Cross that enabled “poore market folkes to stand dry when the rayne cometh.” The town is famed for Elmer, an Eleventh Century monk who broke both legs when he flew off of the Abbey tower; he did, though, manage to swoop about two hundred yards with his homemade wings.

The race was more cross country than road and had stiles to climb, gates to swing and weave through and there were both muddy wallows and cow pats to avoid; add to this nettles, stony tracks and a number of short but savage inclines and you get the picture of a Medieval assault course. The race was won by a Cirencester AC runner – but it wasn’t me. A fun run capped off with a pint.

Bourton on the Water 1 mile: on Saturday July 21st we woke to the worst floods “since records began” and the race was postponed until the following Wednesday. Bourton on the Water is one of the most beautiful villages in Britain and the three mile warm up and the jog to the start line were a pleasure. The starter gave us a stern warning of disqualification if we didn’t stay on the left hand side of the road and we were off. I had spotted the chap in my age group whom I must beat and I tracked him over the first quarter mile, settling at his shoulder and muttering Harry Potter like incantations. Then a couple of hundred yards side by side and by sheer stubbornness and stupidity I finally got into the lead. At three quarters of a mile I was just a few feet ahead, within inches of death but managed to finish five seconds ahead of him with a time of 5:41 . A good evening capped off with a pint.

As you will see from the above there are few similarities in British racing when compared to Toledo but a couple of things remain constant over here, rain and beer. The former fails to dampen the enthusiasm and commitment of the runners and the latter lifts the spirits, making the wet shoes and the training under the ever cloudy skies more than worthwhile.”

David Wright: wrights@tesco.net or 01285 641224