HXCL Reading, HRRL Stubbington Green, TRXCL Hart and 2007 Awards Dinner
Also:
- HRRL – Stubbington Green
- TRXCL – Hart Road Runners – Lord Wandsworth College
- Farnham Runners Annual Awards Dinner 2007
HXCL – Prospect Park, Reading
Farnham Runners had a busy start to the year with a packed programme of league races as well as the club’s annual dinner.
The club turned out minimum but full teams for the penultimate round of the Hampshire League cross country series at Prospect Park in Reading on 13th January and gained season’s best results.
Dan Smith conscious of wanting to save a little in the tank for the morrow’s race started near the back but couldn’t help moving through the field to finish 73rd in a time of 35.45. Mark Taylor made a welcome contribution to the team, crossing the line in 36.13 (86th). Ian Carley (93rd, 36.30) made an impressive debut in this league finishing with a spectacular sprint in which he overtook six surprised competitors. Andy Tweed (132nd, 39.10) despite a tumble in the mud, stayed just ahead of Terry Steadman (135th, 39.29) who completed the team that placed 6th in Division Two. They now lie 7th out of the ten teams.
The ladies were pleased with 8th slot out of all the Hampshire League teams and their cumulative position is also now 8th. All three are veterans and they gained a creditable 4th place in this section. Jane Georghiou led in the team (28th, 25.22) while Jo Edson (43rd, 27.06) won the battle for 2nd team slot over Angela Epps (46th, 27.17).
HRRL – Stubbington Green
Facing tough opposition the men’s “A” team fought hard for 8th in Division One of the Hampshire Road League 10km at Stubbington Green on 14th January and they lie 6th after six races.
Leading them in Mike Anderson took 40 seconds from his time last year. His excellent time of 36.53 placed him 51st of 686 men and 4th in the M50 category. Dan Smith was close to his personal best in a fine time of 37.09 (118th). Bob Brimicombe punched a hole in the 40 minute barrier for the first time with a fine 39.06 (85th) while Colin Addison completed the first team with 41.35 (153rd).
Terry Steadman (42.17), Andy Tweed (42.25), Don Melvin (44.44) and Steve Payne (46.41, PB) made up the B team with Howard Inns (47.17 PB) and Richard Sheppard (51.29 PB) providing valuable back-up.
The ladies team topped Division Two for the third time and they are now 3rd in this Division with strong hopes for promotion to Division One next year.
Jane Georghiou crossed the line 19th of 377 ladies in 42.00. Sam Pelham (45.11, 43rd lady) and Angela Epps (45.52, 49th) both produced impressive personal bests with Caroline Freeman (51.10) in support.
TRXCL – Lord Wandsworth College
The morning after the club dinner (see below) all thoughts of an easy jog around playing fields at Lord Wandsworth College were dispelled by the reports of those who had inspected the course. This was the fourth round of the Today’s Runner Winter League organised by Hart Road Runners on 21st January. Along extremely muddy woodland tracks the runners found taking a chance through the puddles of unknown depth often proved a safer bet than negotiating the slippery sides. The very steep hill that many had to walk up made an unwelcome appearance on a second lap and added to the challenge of this new course.
Dan Smith led in his team with an excellent 6th place followed by Mark Taylor in 12th. Ian Carley experienced the delights of a Today’s Runner cross country for the first time with an impressive 20th. Terry Steadman (50th) and Colin Addison (55th) were pleased to make the team that came 3rd.
The ladies placed 7th of the 19 clubs and Farnham Runners took 5th slot overall. Jane Georghiou came 5th with Lindsay Bamford 27th and Gabi Hitchcock, who ran strongly to make the scoring team for the first time, 29th.
Other positions, Men: Nick Hitchcock 62, Dave Armstrong 71, Matt Burns 81, Richard Cieslik 144 John Applebee 162 Ladies: Gemma Mitchell 35, Sue Creasy 36, Caroline Freeman 66, Jo Staples 63.
Annual Awards Dinner 2007
At the Club’s annual awards dinner Club chairman Malcolm Fitzsimmons thanked the organisers of the event, Charlie Gray, Frances Britain, Jo Staples and John Applebee and presented the awards.
Michael Rix collected the Paul Charlton Memorial trophy for the best marathon time of 2006 for his run in the Paris Marathon, where his time of 2.43.06 will give him a place on the elite start in the London marathon in 2007.
Benita Mayhead is now the proud owner of the Club Handicap trophy, while the unsuspecting Steve Payne and Gemma Mitchell were awarded the Herbie and Prince memorial trophies respectively for improvement in the Alice Holt 10km race.
Vouchers for the Club’s Grand Prix went to (men) Dan Smith, Charles Ashby, Don Melvin, Andy Tweed, and Michael Rix and (ladies) Jane Georghiou, Jo Edson, Lindsay Bamford, Sam Pelham and Julie Russ.
The new Steve Parker trophy for the person voted as contributing most to the club over the year went this year to Jane Georghiou.