Race Reports

Vets League Final Ashford 2 September 2012

Well that was a pretty good day wasn't it. !!
 
7.30 on a Sunday morning, some tied looking faces , some even went to sleep on the coach. What was the day going to hold !
 
Anyway once we got there we all woke up.
 
Results enclosed, and as you will see, a very close match. Ok Blackheath won but what a storming finish by us to snatch 2nd place. Could we have found those extra 11.5 points - next time we will. Men and Ladies
 
We did start off slowly, but much to the surprise of Alastair Aitken in the announcer's box, Yes Alastair you did get it right that time, we were second when it came to the final score.
 
The support from our section in the stands when we we dong our bit was great.
I know the women had a very depleted team, but they too were inspired by the day, it was so good to cheer them on.
And we were all able to collect our Area trophy's as a united Club.
 
Every point counted so a big thanks to you all for making it happen. We did cover all events and most of us doubled or tripled up. OK we were out of our comfort zone but you made it happen. Some had even thought they had finished, had a shower and sat relaxing, only to be called on again, thanks Mel.
 
Our M50 section were particularly strong , with Alfredo and Neville clearing up in their events. Not only that, but Neville was making the field judges work hard too, running out to measure those extra few meters, amazing. Des , Ty , Andy some storming running.
 
Our officials checked in at the wrong time and got the pole vault to look after, but at least they were kept entertained by the competition and Steve.
I did see them over at the javelin in the afternoon, with out you were would we be. Big thanks.
 
And of cause Peter,thanks for getting us there and back in a very relaxed manner, I,m sure this helped in all our performances and made it a very special day for the Club.
John and Brenda thanks for your support and getting the scores for me, I hope we entertained you.
 
Trust the champagne helped to relax those aching limbs. Sorry it was not on ice, Mark used it for his muscles, that was a big ask Mark, just one too many events.
I know the season is not over but take a rest, you all deserve it.
David
 

Middlesex Vets XC 4 February 2012

This years Middlesex Masters XC Championships were again hosted by Hillingdon AC, who made a great job of marking the course (three times round Mad Bess Woods for a total distance of just under five miles), excellent marshalling on a very cold day, with a very warm welcome back at their clubhouse. The ground was very hard and most chose to run in racing flats.
There was one combined race for all age categories, men and women together. Eight Barnet athletes made the trip (one, Mick Woods, unable to run due to injury, came anyway to give his support). There were two runners in the M40 - Michael Martin and Chris Violet (who lives close to the course), two in the M60 - John Clarke and John Fuller (returning after injury) and a complete team of three in the M50 (Dave Wilcock, Pete Ellis and Mel Davies). Unfortunately there were no Barnet women.
Our M50 team retained their third place from last year, with Harrow again dominating, and the host club again second, and John Clarke got an individual bronze in the M60.
Full results on Power of 10 and Middlesex County AA. John Clarke

London Indoor Games - Lea Valley - 29th January 2012

I made the cut for a very hot 'A' race which was truly international being made up of 3 Lithuanians, 4 UK athletes and one each from Poland, Australia and Portugal. The Australian was Stuart Kollmorgen who is reigning World masters M40 champion at 10k and 20k and he could only manage a fairly distant 3rd behind 2 of the Lithuanians who both got under 13 minutes. I was very disapponted with my start to a busy indoor season leading up to the World Masters Indoor Champs in Finland in early April, expecting to be around 15:15.

3000m walk 8 Steve Allen (M55) 15:45.63

South of England Cross Country Championships, Stanmer Park Brighton 28th January 2012.

The luxury coach left at 8.10am with 30 people aboard. En route, Mark Cunningham and Tom Butler organised a sweep to see who could correctly guess the distance from Barnet Odeon to the coach park at Brighton’s Amex Football Stadium in kilometres. Mary guessed 153, Kirsty 155 and Will 154. The exact distance was 154.3, so Will won the kitty after having been second on the trip to Alton Towers last year.
Tim Butler set a good example to his son by eating cold chicken legs on the way there, whilst Tom had to look on as his was the first race at 11am. “How’d you get on Tom” l said, “not bad, but l did achieve my lifetime’s ambition” he replied. “What was that?”-“l beat this boy from Enfield & Haringey”.
Next, Rufus and Luke were in the large field of U/13 boys. Rufus had a comfortable race in midfield, but Luke found the pace tough.
Ben ran his usual competent race and told me that although it was not a great run , he’d enjoyed the course which was not muddy but it was pretty hilly.
In Race 8, the U/20s, Dominic from Middlesex University who trains with us on Tuesdays had a similar race to Ben, representing West Suffolk. But the star of the afternoon was Niall Fleming who for once judged his downhill finish perfectly to have just enough to stay ahead of his rival over the fast, flat 180m finish. Some of us cheered him on over the last 250m which we hope helped although we didn’t get a mention in his winner’s interview.
So a special “well done” to the young competitors and to Mark C who supported them as their bagman.
Our women put on a creditable show led by Jo Kent; all said that they’d “enjoyed “ their 8000m hilly run which is a great example to those who didn’t make it.
After having been to hand in unused numbers when l missed seeing the women, I had time to watch the Senior Men’s race (race 10) which started at 2.50pm. I made for the hill and into the woods where l heard somebody shouting “come on Barnet” behind me. Turning round, l was face to face with Richard Gamble and wife Lydia who now live in the area and run for Arena 80. Richard cheered on John Pepper (E &H) because John’s partner runs for Brighton Pheonix and so does he as a 2nd claim runner and he thrashes Richard in the Sussex League races. We ducked back and forth cheering on our lads during their three long, hilly laps. Cath Perry was staying with them after the race; so its good to see old friendships continue.

The finish of the men’s race provided Sandra and I with much excitement with nearly ALL our lads putting in great storming finishes the best of which was James Taylor who was baulked at the tight corner at the foot of the hill before the flat run in. James body-checked his blue-vested opponent away from the barrier and with our encouragement (Sandra screaming), used his 400m speed which the other guy matched for about 100m then he died – lovely. Brought cheer to a coach’s heart! John Atkinson would have been pleased to see us finish a good 12 to score team.

A good day enhanced by Peter Rice bringing us home in warm, safe comfort by 6.30pm. Steve Harris

It is now official - I can walk faster than I can run. On 08-October 2011, I walked 5 miles in 42:53 in the Enfield League. On Saturday my time for the slightly shorter 8k at the Met League was 43:14, although this did involve some hills and quite a lot of mud. I would additionally point out that I had actually competed in the morning at Horsham as follows:
Alf Palmer Memorial race - 5000m - Horsham - 17th December
3 Steve Allen M55 26:28.1 80.98% (best as M55 athough I have recorded 25:48 for a road 5k)
I had hoped to improve on my club record of 26:09 but the cold didn't help (an hour before the race the track was still covered by a sheet of ice) and I got involved in a real battle for 3rd place (behind leading Junior Jonathan Hobbs and the ex-Olympian Ian Richards) with the GB international of not so long ago, and 8 years my junior, Jimmy Ball of Steyning, who I managed to outsprint and beat for the first time.
It was great to see such a good turnout for the Met League - I think that is probably the biggest team that we have ever had out in the league. Congratulations to everyone who made it there and competed so enthusiastically.
STEVE ALLEN
 

Hot BMAF 10k!
In record October temperatures, 228 runners finished this inaugural Exmouth 10k (2nd October 2011) on a fast, mainly flat 2 lap course. It took us twice along the Esplanade and up a gentle hill into the Town Centre. With double world M60 champ, David Oxland in the field, my best target was a silver and a respectable performance for the selectors to take note of, for the forthcoming Home Countries, Cross Country International. My main opponents set (for me) a blistering pace from the start, with three of them vying for 2nd place, behind the fast disappearing Oxland, closing the first mile in 5:45 with me some 10 seconds behind. And this came after an extremely conjested slow start, with a sharp left turn after 100mts that reduced us all to a walk for a few seconds. At 5k I was still stalking the three, 2nd placed, pace-setters, by now fearing that if any of them could keep up the pace, I wouldn't stay with it. By 6k, two of them dropped away without me increasing tempo and at 6.5k I made my move for the "last-man-standing" in 2nd place. Having opened up a gap of 30mts by 7k, I just hoped none of them were saving a bit for a final push. By 9k I was running on almost empty and without daring to look back, desperately seeking the finish. Most pleasing in the final results was that those who had run a faster M60 relay leg than me at Aldershot the week before, were all behind in this one. Not much in it though, with the next 4 M60's, plus the 1st M65, within 42 seconds behind me. Oh! and Oxland 1min 23secs ahead. Des

Exalted company!
 
A 420 mile round trip wasn't going to stop me taking up an invitation to take part in the inaugural "Golden K" mile at the University Campus track in Keighley (West Yorkshire) on Friday evening (9th September 2011). I fear that the records set may not be ratified as although there was a full complement of walking judges of sufficient grade present the timekeeping may not pass the neccessary checks and balances (and it is unlikely that Jo Jackson's British "record" will be considered valid in a mixed race). However, it was a privilege to race in the fastest 1 mile race walk ever in the UK, of that there is no doubt, and to chase home Britain's fastest ever woman racewalker.
I spoilt my chances of a really fast time by getting dragged throught the first lap much too fast - the 1m50 clocking would have been technically impossible only 6 months ago so there was some consolation there - and I lost out in a battle with the other veteran in the field, Richard Spencerley who I had beaten at Leicester at 10k only a week earlier, and the second woman Rebecca Collins, on the last lap.
The full result of the "A" race (yes- there was a "B" race!):
1 Inaki Gomez SM Canada 5.49.6 (UK Allcomers best)
2 Evan Dunfee SM Canada 5.53.2
3 Brendan Boyce SM Coventry Godiva/Ireland 5.58.7
4 Tom Bosworth U23 Tonbridge AC 6.12.4
5 Jamie Higgins U20 Leeds City AC 6.28.1
6 Jo Jackson SW Middlesborough & Cleveland 6.41.2 (UK best)
7 Richard Spenceley V45 Yorkshire RWC 7.59.4
8 Rebecca Collins W U23 Medway & Maidstone AC 8.00.1
9 Steve Allen V55 Barnet & District AC 8.01.7
10 Ellie Dooley W U17 Leeds City AC 8.42.1

Leek Half Marathon - 21/8/2011

The ideal weather conditions did not mask the fact that this is a true monster of a course. Climbing some 650 feet to mile 7, where it loops around one side of “The Roaches”, it then decsends 450 feet within 1 mile from 7¾ to 8¾; far too steep to maintain any controlled running. Martin Ford, 1st M65 told me he had to ‘zig-zag’ down this stretch, to avoid falling. The organisers course description gave ample warning, describing it as “a challenging course where you can expect to run 5-6 mins slower that your current times. Acting on that advice, I started very cautiously, saving enough energy for a reasonably strong finish, even managing a “sprint” up the (again steep) final 400 metres. My first ever over 90 minute time did not disappoint, given the nature of the course – even the overall winner clocked a moderate 1:15:36. The scenery from high over the North Staffordshire Peak District provided ample compensation. It says a lot for me to have noticed this aspect when I’m usually too focused on the race to take in the surroundings. Oh! I was 38th of 367 finishers and 1st M60, retaining my BMAF title in 1:31:32. And a footnote for those who know our former member, Grant Ramsay Now of Fairlands Valley Spartans) – he finished 9th and 3rd M35 in 1:22:49.
http://www.ukresults.net/2011/leekhalf.html  
Des

“The National”

In 1964 when Joan and I lived in a top floor flat in Muswell Hill Road, my Dad and I went for a walk Westwards across Hampstead Heath from Highgate ponds; as we reached the bottom of the dip, thousands of runners charged towards us from a Southerly direction. We beatled up the hill towards the woods on the West side of the Heath in time to see Andy Holden (the eventual winner) in the leading pack. How could you not be hooked on the National.

About 20yrs years later, I ran against Andy Holden in the Vets National Cross Country Champs in Graves Park Sheffield. Richard Bevan’s brother had fixed us up with some good accommodation so we drove up on the Saturday, stopped en route for a pint and some lunch at the Haycock at Warnsford on the A1., before settling in there and going for an Italian meal in the evening.

Next day whilst changing, a bloke from Liverpool Pembroke joked “ I’ll be effing lucky to come last today”. We toed the line together and sure enough as the gun went off, we were left in the vast field with Andy Holden (local lad) leading the charge into the distance. I managed to pick off a few over the course and ended about 10th from last; my first sortie into big time running. I’d not done any running when in Sheffield as a student choosing to try new sports; Boxing and Rugby.

This piece is simply to reassure Darryl who was concerned about being last in the National at Alton Towers.” No worries” as Kiwis say, I counted at least 30 men behind him until I got fed up and as I told him, there was probably twice that number who dropped out as I’d seen four do so where I was standing!

The National 2011, Alton Towers, Staffs.19th February.

This year, the Committee had agreed to pay for a coach to take us which Peter Rice had given up a day with his family to drive in order to keep down the cost. Despite having to start from Barnet Odeon in the dark and rain at 7am, what a treat it was to be transported in a luxury coach! En route, we had £1 bets on the distance of the journey; Laurence won with 142 miles which was nearest to the actual 140.6miles so he scooped the £8.00 prize, the rest going to help towards the cost of the coach. We arrived in good time surrounded by fields covered in white hailstones which had changed to persistent rain. Thanks to Richard Mc C, we had a large family-size tent as a base which proved a Godsend in the cold, damp conditions.

Ben Boxer was first up and ran well in his U/17 category, then it was Tom Butler. Tom’s feet were so cold in the ankle deep mud which covered the area that I had to remove his socks, rub his feet and then put my gloves on them in an effort to warm them up. He manfully chose to run without socks and did well. Two great quotes from these tough youngsters exemplify their spirit. When I met them at the end and asked if they were ok, Ben said” well, I’m looking forward to the track season” and Tom said” I enjoyed that, pity it wasn’t a bit further”. They handled the exceptionally bad conditions, the call up and hanging about in the pen as confident ,mature young men, it’s a pity that others in their age groups hadn’t the guts to enter too.

The course was changed for the women’s race for health and safety reasons. The hilly route was treacherous and with there having been two broken legs, the St Johns Ambulance people were finding it hard to cope. Uttoxeter Races had had to be cancelled because of the adverse conditions, so the first aid contingent from there came over to assist. Our women had a good number swelled by Sandra who arrived by car and you can see by the results who ran particularly well especially since the majority were first timers all of whom finished without complaint.

Our men aquitted themselves well too having complete teams in both categories. Well done all!

Sandra and I spent some time administering first aid to a poor lad from Sedgefield,Co Durham who had trodden on a pencil which had entered his foot through his trainer. We managed to sit him down on one of Richard’s camping chairs to relieve his pain, but because of the horrendous mud, the St Johns people took a while to get him onto a stretcher and back for hopefully some germ-free treatment.+++++see article below++++++++

An added bonus was that John and Brenda Atkinson came to see us having travelled from Hertford where they’d been to Jenny Evan’s birthday party. Luckily, they only had 8 miles to travel home to Ashbourne.

After numerous photos, we packed up to walk wearily back to our warm, luxury coach, stripping off our filthy gear before climbing in. En route back we had the crackly radio on; l spoilt the first hour of Des’s journey by telling him that the score was 1-0 at Old Trafford (to Crawley) then spoilt John Owen’s day completely by confessing the truth. It should have been a draw! Still, Everton won although Barnet only managed a draw.

The consensus was not to stop at Watford Gap on the way home (there being a WC on the coach) so we were back at just before 8pm; a long day with Sunday morning cleaning our gear to look forward to.

We must do this again, great atmosphere and a “bonding” opportunity.

Thank you Peter for a professional drive and for your support. Thanks to Steve Hewitt and Phillipa for managing and getting our teams out and to Richard for bringing his tent which is probably now ruined and who we forgot to thank on the bus.

Anyone who entered the National and didn’t turn up, if they don’t have a good reason, should at least pay the Club their entry fee as is the norm with other Hertfordshire clubs.

Steve Harris

+++++++++++The following letter was subsequently received from Sedgefield Harriers++++++++++++

Hi Steve
First of all can i thank both you and Sandra for the help you provided for the athlete concerned.
I was running in the senior men's race at the time of the incident. Just as i was crossing the finish line and i thought all my troubles were over i was greeted by one of our U20's who explained the situation.
Fortunately it turned out to be nothing more than a minor inconvenience, albeit a painful one for Joe, the athlete concerned. Joe was accompanied in the ambulance to North Staffs University Hospital by one of our coaches. On arrival he was taken to A&E where upon much head scratching Joe was sedated and his shoe was removed. Fortunately for Joe, the pencil that had penetrated his foot by around 3cm came out cleanly. The wound was then cleaned, which as i'm sure you can imagine took some time, and then dressed.
Whilst this was going on Joe's parents were called and made their way down to the hospital. This allowed the rest of the group to return home on the team bus as planned after the final race. Jo,e his family and the coach, Diane Baines, that supported him throughout the incident left the hospital at around 8:30pm and arrived back in Sedgefield at around 11:30 (in time for last orders in these parts!).
Once again i would like to thanks you and Sandra for your support and help with this, i always find it heartening and faith restoring when someone like yourself offers help like this and takes the time to check as to the welfare of the Indvidual concerned.
Thanks Steve,
Regards
Scott Hydon - Sedgefield Harriers Head Coach

Boxing Day 2010
Sadly the icy conditions make it too dangerous on the roads and paths for us to hold the usual handicap races for YAs and seniors. So some of us went for a walk round Hadley Woods while others went for a gentle run wherever they could find less slippery surfaces.Afterwards a goodly number of club members, friends and family gathered in the club house for tea and snacks. We were honoured by a visit from film star Minnie Mouse.
Thanks to Steve Nunn for his efforts in working out the handicaps even though they could not be used.
Thanks also to our caterers, people who provided food and raffle prizes and to everyone who turned up.
Chris Stott
Further to this we also made £66 on the raffle & the usual social atmosphere prevailed, despite the weather.
Maureen Shirley

Enfield Walking League. Half Marathon. Hayes, Middlesex 18th Sept.
4 Steve Allen V50 2,04.17 34 Finished
I had a bit of a breakthrough in the longer distances at the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit; very similar to Eastway. 1500m round and plenty of gradient. Just a shame there was no clocking at 20K as I’d have knocked a couple of minutes off my best at that distance-another day! Kept a nice rhythm going throughout and no more than 10 seconds between fastest and slowest laps. Steve Allen

UKA National 10K Racewalk Championship. Coventry 11th Sept.
9 Steve Allen 2ndV50 4thV 55.22
1st Alex Wright Bels 42.38, 2nd Brendan Boyce Coventry G/Ireland45.55, 3rd Daniel King Colchester 46.25

My lofty position was helped by 2 disqualifications and 2 non-finishers in front of me including 2 of our 3 Commonwealth Games representatives. I was a little slower than last week but had gone out hard (27.04 at 5K) in an effort to burn off the usual rivals around 54-56 minute mark and succeeded in doing so to hold a cushion in the second half. Old rival Graham Chapman emerged as the principal danger in the last 2 laps but I held him off quite comfortably. Steve Allen