This newsletter has been published earlier than usual to remind members that the club's major race promotion takes place next Sunday (3 April). A lot of hard work goes into organising a smooth running race and help from as many as possible is necessary to ensure that this happens. The administrative and marshalling disasters of the Bourton 10k show how easy it is to mess up.
March has been half marathon month and in keeping with the year to date, results have been very good for the club with two new club records along with lots of big PB's.
CHEDWORTH ROMAN TRAIL
This 10 mile multi-terrain race on 3 April at 10.30 is the club's spring race promotion. David Edelsten, the organiser, with help from Rupert Chesmore, is soliciting help for marshalling, car parking, teas etc from as many members as possible. All are asked to bring cakes for sale at the village hall. For those reading this newsletter in time, there is a run over the course tomorrow (Sunday) morning. Meet at Chedworth Village Hall at 09:30 (don't forget that the clocks go forward tonight). David asks that all marshalls arrive by 09:30 next Sunday and those on car park or late entry duty by 08:45 please. There will still be room for club members to race as well.
Details on the club's website www.cirencester-ac.org.uk RESULTS
27.02.2005 Goring 10km: Paul Barlow finished 56th out of 837 in 40.17.
13.03.2005 Forest of Dean ½ Marathon
Bill Leggate tore a chunk off his best ever time as he sped around the cycle trails of the Forest of Dean nine minutes faster than a few months earlier at Stroud. With Bill being one of only a few Cirencester runners who entered the race before it filled up very early, he has taken a big early lead in the club championship pursued by Dave Cook, who just got the better of a rapidly improving Niel Dunnage.
1 Paul Griffin ( Leamington ) 1.17.08
15 Bill Leggate 1.22.50
114 Dave Cook 1.35.51
116 Niel Dunnage 1.35.57
158 Chris Sherrington 1.38.34
463 David Edelsten 1.59.31
698 finished
13.03.2005 Silverstone ½ Marathon
On a day for big PB's, Paul Barlow knocked eight minutes off his previous best in this massive pre-London race.
1 Matt Smith (Tipton) 1.05.23
195 Paul Barlow 1.27.29
5,874 finished.
20.03.2005 Bath ½ Marathon
Two club records were broken in this top class race. Chris Illman beat Marc Fallows' U20 record quite comfortably with the fine time of 1.17.58. The way Chris is improving this will be the first of many records for the 18 year old student. Wendy Jones, a little under the weather and somewhat disappointed not to run a faster time that her training and racing had indicated, still managed a personal best and improved her own FV35 club record.
1 Simon Tanui ( Kenya ) 1.02.53
81 Chris Illman 1.17.58
116 (12th lady / 2nd FV35) Wendy Jones 1.20.10
1193 Nigel Baylis 1.42.40
5,538 finished.
RANKINGS
Two races into the 2005 club road race championship and the early leaders are Bill Leggate and Wendy Jones. Sadly no ladies managed to get an entry into the Forest of Dean ½ so all points shown for the fairer sex were as scored at Bourton. Scores to date:
1 Bill Leggate 33pts, 2 Dave Cook 24, 3 Chris Illman 19, 4 Wendy Jones (1st lady) 18, 5 Jane Wassell (L) 17, 6 Duncan Atkinson 16, 7= David Edelsten, Jonathan Young, Niel Dunnage 13, 10= Chris Riches, Chris Sherrington 12, 12 Carol Clarke (L) 10, 13= Elaine Wilson (L), Sue Brown (L) 9, 15 Dick Waldron 7, 16 Diane Moore (L) 3.
The next club race is the Highworth '5' on 24 April. Therefore herewith club age group records to date for 5 miles:
Women:
Sen 29.38 Wendy Jones 2003
O35 31.39 Jane Wassell 2004
O45 38.48 Carol Clarke 2004
O50 38.09 Ruth Fulford 1999
O55 36.35 Mary Campbell 2000
Men:
Sen 25.59 Mike Smith 2000
O40 27.35 David Wright 1997
O45 29.59 David Wright 2002
O50 32.32 Adam Bede 1999
O55 35.04 Tony Curry 2004
O60 37.24 Dick Waldron 2004
With London imminent club marathon records are also listed:
Women:
Sen 3.06.19 Trudy Evans 1999
O40 3.30.-- Molly Fisher 1989
O45 3.34.-- Molly Fisher 1992
O50 3.49.10 Ruth Fulford 1999
Men:
Sen 2.26.23 Mike Smith 2000
O40 2.59.-- John Jameson 1988
O45 2.51.-- John Jameson 1989
O50 3.33.58 David Edelsten 1997
O70 4.36.18 Fred Robson 2002
FORTHCOMING RACES & CONTACT DETAILS: 17 April at various times London Marathon. Good luck to all Cirencester participants in the 25th edition of this great race, as well as to Kim Withycombe who is apparently running the Paris Marathon a week earlier ( ed: a report would be welcome, Kim ). Amongst those running are Yvonne Binks, Sue Brown, Rupert Chesmore, Wendy Jones, Bill Leggate, Terry Ranger and Fred Robson. Wendy has procured an entry to the AAA championship start for the ladies so will feature with the elite few starting some time before the main race. Hopefully she will be concentrating on her race and not waving to the BBC cameras! To find out how everyone got on and to celebrate / commiserate over a drink, turn up at the leisure centre on that evening at 7pm after the club swimming session.
24 April Highworth 5 mile www.swindonweb.com/hrc . This is the third of the year's road race championship events and Cirencester are defending team winners - David Wright, Martin Pitts and Jane Wassell producing the winning combination in 2004. Given the increasing strength of the club this should be yet another trophy retained. Unlike most races these days there are usually entries available on the day. As always, though, it is best to enter in advance. Entry forms can be found at the leisure centre. Race HQ is Warneford School , in the middle of Highworth. The course is gently downhill for most of the first four miles with an inevitable - for those that know Highworth - climb back up to the town in the last mile.
25 June Cotswold Way Relay. Following the last newsletter there has been quite a lot of interest in this event. Although not quite sure what to make of Bob Ferris' comment that "there is interest in the relay. Rupert [Chesmore] will do nine of the ten stages and ten of us will do a mile each for the last stage". This is a ten stage relay: Chipping Campden - Stanway - Cleeve Common - Seven Springs - Cranham - Stroud - Dursley - Wotton-u-Edge - Old Sodbury - Cold Ashton - Bath . Total distance is 107 miles and stages range from 8-12 miles, most with a fair amount of climbing. There are various team categories and Cirencester seems best suited to the mixed team race, which must include at least three ladies. Each stage is run as a separate race rather than a continuous relay. Interest seems such that it may be that the club enters two teams. Please let Chris Sherrington or David Wright know if interested in competing.
2005 CLUB ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIP
The remaining races and entry details for this year's championship are as follows:
24 April Highworth 5 mile www.swindonweb.com/hrc
19 May (Thursday) Globe Inn ( Gloucester ) 5km www.severnac.co.uk
5 June Fairford Festival 10km www.fairfo r d.org/10k/index.html
11 July (Monday) tbc Frampton-on-Severn 10km www.stroudathleticclub.org.uk
3 August (Wednesday) Bugatti 10km (nr Winchcombe) www.cheltenhamharriers.co.uk
11 September Witney 10 mile www.witneyroadrunners.org.uk
23 October Stroud ½ Marathon www.stroudathleticclub.org.uk
There are nine races, one each month from February to October, with best six scores to count towards the separate men and women championships. As oft stated a lot of these races reach their limits very quickly so plan ahead, get the entry forms from the above web sites or the club noticeboard and enter early. Points awarded to the first 15 finishers on a reducing basis from 15 down to 1. Based on 10k times achieved in 2004, as published in newsletter no. 9, bonus points will be awarded for improvements: 1 minute or more = 5pts, 45 seconds = 4pts, 30 seconds = 3pts, 15 seconds = 2pts and up to 15 seconds = 1pt. The Globe Inn, Fairford, Bugatti & Stroud races form part of the Gloucestershire County road race series.
MISCELLANY
. Westonbirt Arboretum 10km. The Tetbury Royals, sister club of Cirencester, are promoting their inaugural open race on Monday 20 June. The course will be run on the footpaths through the famous Westonbirt Arboretum. The Royals will be looking for lots of assistance from club members in making sure that this first race goes smoothly. There will also be entries available with some very interesting prizes, including baby trees for all finishers and meals at the local pub plus expensive wood based trophies for prizewinners. Talk to Chris Riches or visit www.tetburyroyals.org for more information.
. Whilst on the subject of Westonbirt, the lighter evenings mean that the Tetbury Royals will soon be able to restart their Thursday evening training runs through the arboretum. They commence at 7pm , cater for all standards, are extremely sociable (especially afterwards in the Hare & Hounds) and all Cirencester members are welcome to join in. Just meet at the arboretum car park at around 7 - the Royals are notoriously bad time keepers so are unlikely to start running much before 7:15 !
. Snickets & Ginnels: now that the clocks have sprung forward the club Thursday evening runs will recommence this week (7 April) with a run through the footpaths & alleyways of Cirencester. Meet at 6:30 at the leisure centre for a one hour run at a gentle pace. Anyone wishing to organise a themed run in or near Cirencester should contact either Colin O'Hare or Liza Darroch. These runs will take place on the first Thursday of each month from the leisure centre unless venue stated as being elsewhere.
. Liza Darroch has submitted an interesting little conundrum entitled " The Birds and the Vs": "Question 1: Who had the best first day of Spring - The birds or the Vs?
Some clues: The birds starting singing at four (I know 'cos I heard them), the Vs left at six to battle along the M4 in the fog. The birds flew around like birds do. The Vs ran up and down hill, through wood, field and village, along broad tracks and winding paths- like Vs do .
Birds and Vs enjoyed gorgeous views and warm breezes.
The birds hid in the shade as the day got hotter - the Vs kept on running and got sun burned.
One V ran 20 miles in 3 hours 45 minutes - the other one ran 40 miles, putting on a spectacular sprint for the last half mile to come in seconds under 8 hours.
The Vs finished the day feeling smug and eating guilt free chips - the birds? - they were already asleep!
The Vs had a great day and would recommend the Compton Downland Challenge to any one who loves trail running.
Question 2: Which two veterans were they?"
No doubt Liza will reveal all in the next edition.
. finally Bob Ferris has confirmed that tickets have been purchased for the Crystal Palace Grand Prix meeting on 22 July. Either through his charm or, more likely, a mistake on Bob's part, tickets are actually slightly cheaper than anticipated. Bob asks that all going please reimburse the club at £22 per head for the tickets purchased. Obviously coach travel is on top of this and the cost thereof will be billed in due course. Cheques payable to Cirencester AC please.
More information and news, including past newsletters, can be found on the club's website www.cirencester - ac.org.uk .
David Wright: wrights@tesco.net or 01285 641224
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