wrc

Bramhall Park TT - Wilmslow RC League

BRTT Wilmslow League - OVERALL
1		Michael Halman	16.03		SM30-34	81.00%
2		Malcolm FOWLER	16.44		VM45-49	84.76%
3		Rob Downs	16.55		VM40-44	83.15%
4		Stuart David Parrott	17.24		VM45-49	81.51%
5		Jim Pendrill	17.26		SM35-39	76.14%
6		Andrew Penney	17.39		VM40-44	77.34%
7		Bill Heaton	17.51		VM40-44	78.80%
8		Nick Bishop	18.34		VM45-49	78.82%
9		Raymond Eagle	18.34		VM50-54	82.05%
10		Mark Bale	18.39		SM30-34	69.71%
11		Mike Cooper	18.45		VM40-44	75.02%
12		Sue Hool	19.27		SW30-34	76.61%
13		Ian Smallwood	19.30		VM45-49	72.74%
14		Vicky Mckinnon	20.07		SW30-34	73.90%
15		Sharon Johnstone	20.19		VW35-39	73.58%
16		Geoff Gilbert	20.22		VM55-59	76.10%
17		Neil Mcaleece	20.50		SM30-34	62.96%
18		Sally Maddock	20.54		SW25-29	70.81%
19		Kate SUTTON	21.52		VW45-49	73.78%
20		Catriona MARSHALL	22.17		VW40-44	69.26%
21		Penny Hinke	22.19		VW45-49	74.91%
22		Ian Ashcroft	23.15		VM60-64	70.18%
23		Roy Pownall	23.30		VM55-59	67.66%
24		Louisa Gilbert	24.35		SW25-29	60.20%
25		Ellen Downs	25.25		JW14	65.44%
26		Trevor Faulkner	26.09		VM65-69	64.75%
27		Martin Wheeldon	26.46		VM55-59	57.91%
BRTT Wilmslow League - AGE GRADED
1		Malcolm FOWLER	16.44		VM45-49	84.76%
2		Rob Downs	16.55		VM40-44	83.15%
3		Raymond Eagle	18.34		VM50-54	82.05%
4		Stuart David Parrott	17.24		VM45-49	81.51%
5		Michael Halman	16.03		SM30-34	81.00%
6		Nick Bishop	18.34		VM45-49	78.82%
7		Bill Heaton	17.51		VM40-44	78.80%
8		Andrew Penney	17.39		VM40-44	77.34%
9		Sue Hool	19.27		SW30-34	76.61%
10		Jim Pendrill	17.26		SM35-39	76.14%
11		Geoff Gilbert	20.22		VM55-59	76.10%
12		Mike Cooper	18.45		VM40-44	75.02%
13		Penny Hinke	22.19		VW45-49	74.91%
14		Vicky Mckinnon	20.07		SW30-34	73.90%
15		Kate SUTTON	21.52		VW45-49	73.78%
16		Sharon Johnstone	20.19		VW35-39	73.58%
17		Ian Smallwood	19.30		VM45-49	72.74%
18		Sally Maddock	20.54		SW25-29	70.81%
19		Ian Ashcroft	23.15		VM60-64	70.18%
20		Mark Bale	18.39		SM30-34	69.71%
21		Catriona MARSHALL	22.17		VW40-44	69.26%
22		Roy Pownall	23.30		VM55-59	67.66%
23		Ellen Downs	25.25		JW14	65.44%
24		Trevor Faulkner	26.09		VM65-69	64.75%
25		Neil Mcaleece	20.50		SM30-34	62.96%
26		Louisa Gilbert	24.35		SW25-29	60.20%
27		Martin Wheeldon	26.46		VM55-59	57.91%

Bramhall Park TT 5k

26 July 2008

A sunny morning and and influx of club runners produced probably our best race to date.  The only problem was that it was so hectic that I didn't get to run myself!

 

Malcolm gets faster and faster and the only surprise was that he didn't quite manage to catch 2^nd place in an exciting sprint finish.  Bill was first V40.  Catriona and Penny were both well inside Ian's course PB.

 

1 Liam THOMPSON  16:29 SM30-34 78.46% M Warrington AC 
3 Malcolm FOWLER  16:44 VM45-49 84.76%  1 VM45
7 Stuart David PARROTT  17:44 VM45-49 79.98%   2 VM45
8 Louisa WOOD  17:54 SW25-29 82.68% F Warrington AC
9 Bill HEATON  17:58 VM40-44 78.29%  1 VM40
38 Kate SUTTON  21:52 VW45-49 73.78%  3 VW45
45 Catriona MARSHALL  22:17 VW40-44 69.26%
53 Penny HINKE  22:55 VW45-49 72.95%

123 finished 5k

Full results and more great photos at www.bramhall.parkrun.com

 

Rob

 

 

 

"She's behiiiind you!"  Bill surges round the duck pond.

Moonraker 10K - Middleton

27th July

1			Ian Grime (Newham & Essex Beagles)	M35		32:29
2			Damian Nicholls	M		32:41
3			Michael Halman	M		33:34

(188 runners)

Good for Age - London

Old Bags and Old F***s please note - the procedure for claiming a 'good for age' place in the 2009 London Marathon is to write a letter to the organisers before 22 August.  You need to provide 'proof of performance'!  Enough said. See the London Marathon web-page.

Andy

Alderley Edge 5

Do you want the tough part of a race at the beginning or the end? My understanding is that Wednesday’s start is flat/downhill but Malcolm does not design boring courses and the sting is in the tail – please correct me Malcolm.

 

I have two answers to the opening question but they contradict one another. I think the answer from the body would be that, in a short race, the tough part is better at the end when the body is fully ‘warmed-up’. ‘Warmed-up’ isn’t really about getting warm, it is about getting the body into running mode and finding rhythm and co-ordination. At the Gun Run, Group 1/2 ran well but 4/5, as a group, performed poorly by their own standards. A possible reason is the tough first k, that the first 3k was uphill and that Group 1/2 warmed-up better. This is supported by the fact that those who did run well from 4/5 were the younger ones. One of the many negatives of getting older is that finding rhythm and co-ordination takes significantly longer (and often proves to be totally elusive).

 

The hill race I enjoy most is the Langley 7. You have a mile or so to get warmed-up, the climb starts slowly then you turn left, grit your teeth and pray. But, with close to 4 miles to go, you know the climbing is over, you can relax and belt for home. The body might want maximum time to prepare but the mind wants to get the tough part over early, so it can enjoy the race.

 

This my second theory for the Gun Run, it was the mind not the body that inhibited 4/5. Group 1/2 do much more hill running. The final mile for them was less daunting. On the fast middle section 4/5 underperformed, holding themselves back, frightened of dying in that last mile

 

Ian Ashcroft  

.

Tuesday Training, July 29

Alderley Edge, Festival Hall 7pm.

Ian

Tony's Thursday Tesco Run

More information:-

 

Last time we had runners from all five groups. The first mile is flat but the first half is predominantly uphill. For a poor climber, like me, it is hard but largely runnable, I think there was a steep part near the top where we walked. The field gets fairly spread-out but Tony had some maps and

Paul

was there – no-one had problems with navigation. The finish is a long two mile steady descent on the road. Group 4 time for the run, 73 minutes. It’s a very good training run.

 

Ian

Training Thursday July 24

Tony’s Tesco Run

 

From Tesco’s Car Park, The Silk Rd., Macclesfield at 7pm

 

For those who did it, it is same run as a few weeks ago. For those who didn’t; some hills, some off-road, just over 8 miles.

 

For those who would prefer their normal Thursday from the Rugby Club, there will are people going down for a Thursday 7pm run.

 

Ian

Summer Series 2008 - Update

The tables have been updated above.  

 

A new RECORD turnout, 39+1(Andy), at the Gun Run resulted, unfortunately for

Charlotte,

in a new record

LOW

number of points being scored – but at least she turned out and enjoyed herself which is what really counts!  

The order book for the coveted mug and T-shirt increases with every race, with each table gradually taking shape as more people complete the minimum seven races.  There’s still time for everyone to qualify.

 

Damian has now achieved maximum points, but will need to win a few more races to prevent anyone else from gaining a share of the top spot.

 

Only Tony and Mike maintain a 100% record, Penny losing ground by opting out of Rudyard.

 

Welcome to debutants, Charlotte, Huma and Sarah W, who have added some further spice to the series, particularly in the ladies league.  Also, to Stephen Feber, making a late foray into the world of summer series racing – clearly in need of a new shirt!

 

Kate now heads the ladies – for the time-being!  This may be short-lived looking at the quality of the chasing pack.  And, great to see so many figuring in the race results nowadays.

 

Ian is now the clear leader of the Group 4/5 table and looks destined to be self-booted out at the end of the series.

 

Please feel free to add your own observations/comments, pointed or otherwise – use the link below

 

Don

 

Next race : Pie & Peas – Wed 6th August, start

7.30pm

Limit on numbers suggest you should enter in advance, entry form at

http://www.valeroyalathleticclub.co.uk/PiePeas2008EntryForm08.pdf

Gravy 6

20th July 2008

Damian takes the Gravy and another big scalp
Well organised race from the Northern Boys Love Gravy six'ish miles down the longdendale valley round the resser and back flat apart from one small climb back over the dam.Real Royston Vasey "you will never leave" the sign in post race pub said.

1 Damian Nichols 30.31
2 Gaz Raven 30.58 Sale Harriers
6 Stuart Parrott 33.48

Full results at http://www.northernboyslovegravy.co.uk/gravy62008.htm

Stuart

Bramhall Park TT 5k

19th July 2008

It really poured down yet again but amazingly over a hundred people were there to start the race.

Stuart's main course this weekend was Gravy and he didn't hang around with the starter, splashing through the puddles to win comfortably from a chasing horde of Stockport Harriers.  His new course PB just pushes him above Jim in the all time list.  Ray shaved another few seconds from the V50 course record that he has been polishing since April.  Ian was the sole entry in the bike-run-bike category but managed 9th despite getting even wetter than usual.

1 Stuart Parrot 17:24 (81.51%)
5 Ray Eagle 18:34 (82.05%)
9 Ian Smallwood 19:39 (72.18%)

93 finished 5k

Full results, photos etc. at www.bramhall.parkrun.com

Join us every Saturday 9:00am - just register (once ever) - run fast, run free.

 

Rob

Pie & Peas

Entry for Pie & Peas

Limit on numbers suggest you should enter in advance, web address for entry form

http://www.valeroyalathleticclub.co.uk/PiePeas2008EntryForm08.pdf

Summer Series Race 9 - The Gun Run

Tuesday 15th July

Pos	Name	Cat	Time
1	Simon Bailey	M	34.28
2	Damien Nicholls	M	34.42
3	Malcolm Fowler	MV (1st)	36.10
7	Tom McGaff	MV	38.05
8	Jim Pendrill	MV	38.23
9	Stuart Parrott	MV	38.41
11	Bill Heaton	MV	39.20
17	Mike Cooper	MV	40.57
18	Ray Eagle	MV	41.08
24	Nick Bishop	MV	42.34
25	Rob Gilbert	M	42.39
27	Vicki  McKinnon	F (1st)	42.56
28	Mick Fairs	MV	43.07
29	Mark Bale	M	43.10
36	Tony Hulme	MV	44.14
37	Rick Air	M	44.32
38	Steve Smith	MV	44.39
43	Don Bullough	MV	45.16
51	Gavin Mendham	MV	46.14
54	Geoff Gilbert	MV	46.45
56	Nicky Mowat	FV (1st)	47.07
59	Kate Sutton	FV	47.43
67	Gareth Trimble	MV	48.45
70	Clare Hawkes	FV	49.02
87	Ian Ashcroft	MV	50.48
88	Sarah Waite	F	50.51
92	John Porteous	MV	51.02
95	Owen Ashcroft	MV	51.30
97	Chris Watts	M	51.41
100	Huma Rahman	F	51.45
102	Penny Hinke	FV	52.16
109	Anne Brindley	FV	53.31
114	Julie Lucas	FV	54.43
118	Angela Maziere	FV	55.25
121	Roy Pownall	MV	56.16
124	Stephen Feber	MV	57.22
127	Kasey Lynch	F	57.38
128	Nina Birch	F	57.48
129	Sarah Miles	F	58.24
133	Charlotte Godfrey	FV	59.57
(143 runners)

An excellent (record) turnout last night, and I get the impression that everyone enjoyed the race, if not the burgers afterwards??

I shall be doing a double update of the tables asap.

So, was it tougher than Shady Oak and/or the Roaches?  Don't sit back, place those comments!

Next race - Pie & Peas on Wed 6th Aug.  For the newcomers, another pleasant (easier) 5-mile trail race in mid-Cheshire with food afterwards, but no prizes for guessing what is on offer.  Note: This is a Cheshire Grand Prix event this year with a limit of 250 runners so pre-entry is recommended.

Don

GUN RUN

Tuesday July 15th.

 

This was the best Group 4 race of the Series, the lead changed more than a dozen times over the course and three times in the last 100m. 
 

There were so many of Group 4/5, I lost track of who finished where. Nina had her best run, even beating the improving Sarah, who’s missing having Trevor to set her pace. Julie was happy with her run. Charlotte had enjoyed herself. Chris was much more competitive than at Bowdon. Huma in her first run of the Series was well placed. The new skinny Stephen was also having his first outing. Anne had another steady run, nursing herself back after her long lay-off. Angela was there again, twice in a week. Someone ought to tell Kasey that you don’t do Roaches and Gun Run as your first two races.  I’m not sure about Roy. It is his least favourite race, I didn’t see him at the end but even before the start he was trying to come to psychological terms with the bevy of female talent all likely to embarrass him.

 

The first kilometre is hard, I could see Simon Bailey, already some distance ahead, unbelievably taking it as a sprint. In our group Sarah Waite, Penny, Huma, Owen and John were ahead of me. As the gradient eased I was able to move up and by the ‘gun’ only Sarah was ahead. I was a bit disappointed by the ‘gun’, I was expecting something out of the Guns of Navarone but all I could see was a trig. point.

 

This first sector had been damage limitation, I was better placed than expected, I now had to catch Sarah and build myself a cushion before the dreaded final mile. I past Sarah halfway down and pushed-on. I was a bit surprised when Owen overtook me and even more so, half-a-minute later, as John raced in front of the two of us. At the lake at the bottom it was four Wilmslow vests in succession; Owen, John, Ian, Sarah.

 

Now climbing a little on a proper track, Sarah went to the front. Then Owen moved through, then John, then Sarah again. I had no feel for how strong the others were, nor for how well I was going to cope with the final mile. I suspect the uphill finish, as Andy said like the end of a stage in the Tour de France, was playing on all our minds. I was now in front of Owen and Sarah was stretching out the gaps between us although we were still in consecutive places.

 

Finally I thought I recognised where I had finished my warm-up, 1k to go. I picked-up the pace but was mistaken. The same thing happened a second time but then at last we were in the end-game. There was initially a steep section and I had decided in advance it would take too much out of me to push for home until we were up it. I need to talk to someone who understands the physiology of running but I decided to walk this part on the basis that I would not be using the same muscles that I would need for the remaining 500m. John stretched his 3m lead to 6m, Sarah was a further 10m ahead. As the gradient eased I started running again, quickly regaining the lost metres and gaining a momentum to take me past John. I had also closed on Sarah, so I pushed myself to keep going. 100m to go and I caught her, she instantly responded, accelerated and moved 3m ahead. But then she seemed to slow, one last effort and as we turned left and right on the grass I got in front of her.

 

My first visit to the Gun Run, it’s excellent course, the variety in terrain encourages interchanges in position and our four-way battle, which we all enjoyed, was probably the tightest race in my years with the club. I suspect, however, with the tough first kilometre and the permanent fear of the final mile (it worked for me today but on another occasion I could just as easily ‘die’), it will never be a personal favourite.

 

Ian Ashcroft

Sprint or Stamina

 

 

Are you better at long races or short ones?  Those at the top of the table below have performed much better in the shorter races, those at the bottom much better in the longer races.

 

It is unsurprising to see Nicky heading the long-race specialists. In an analysis Nick did a couple of years ago, he pointed out that Nicky was the only club member whose best 10k time was less than double her best 5k time.

 

Sally Price

Gareth  Trimble

Paul Nichols

Mark Bale

Peter Watson

Tony Hulme

Mike Cooper

Don Bullough

Peter Carne

Ian Ashcroft

Catriona Marshall

Rod Coombs

Ian Smallwood

Louisa Gilbert

David Wheable

Geoff Gilbert

Sean Barry

Stuart Parrott

Amanda  Bradbury

Steve Dempsey

Penny Hinke

Jim Pendrill

Tom McGaff

Rob Downs

Jane Saunders

John Porteous

Malcolm Fowler

Steve Smith

Andy Watts

Trevor Faulkner

Ray Noble

Mick Fairs

Kate Sutton

Sally Maddock

Paul Ayres

Gavin Mendham

Mike Halman

Nicky Mowat

Based upon the 49 races in which 20 or more Wilmslow members have run since January 2006 (for those who asked for your individual race charts it is the same races).

A short race is defined as less than 30 minutes for group 1 (40 minutes for Group 4). A long race more than 45 minutes Group 1 (an hour Group 4).

Only included are runners who have done at least 3 short and 3 long races during the period.

Appreciate any comments.

Ian 

 

 

Summer Series Race 8 - Rudyard Lake

10th July 08
Position	Name	No	Age Cat		Time
1	Ian Yates (Trentham AC)	394	M		28.01
3	Rob Downs	451	M40		28.44
5	Mike Pendrill	617	M		29.13
8	Stuart Parrott	234	M40		29.45
23	Bill Heaton	567	M40		31.09
26	Ray Eagle	454	M50		31.32
34	Mike Cooper	450	M40		32.21
37	Rob Gilbert	623	M		32.30
40	Vicky McKinnon	629	F		32.54
44	Paul Nichols	538	M		33.03
48	Steve Smith	479	M45		33.15
51	Mick Fairs	461	M55		33.25
57	Tony Hulme	446	M60		33.59
63	Geoff Gilbert	649	M55		34.42
68	Rick Air	452	M		35.09
75	Don Bullough	478	M50		35.25
83	Kate Sutton	449	F45		35.53
85	Gareth Trimble	642	M		36.00
86	Jamie Smith	621	M60		36.01
88	Clare Hawkes	625	F45		36.09
102	David Wheable	624	M40		37.03
112	Ian Ashcroft	448	M60		37.47
133	John Porteous	500	M55		38.31
143	Owen Ashcroft	619	M		39.03
144	Sarah Waite		F		39.03
145	Steve Russell	537	M45		39.03
150	Catriona Mar shall	571	F40		39.16
174	Roy Pownall	455	M55		41.15
186	Louisa Gilbert	650	F		42.02
187	Angela Maziere	648	F45		42.03
203	Sarah Miles	502	F		43.18
216	Charlotte Godfrey	635	F50		44.13
(251 runners)

Full Results are available at Staff Moorlands website - see previous

Don

Tour de Rudyard et Bollington

Not content with a mile warm up before that big race? Try the Colin Fray approach to racing which includes at least an hour warm up over the Col de Kettleshulme before replacing cycle cleats for running flats. Colin tried out this approach to the full before Rudyard where he raced a mere 21 miles to the start. Mike 'Range Rover' Cooper offered Lance a lift but Colin didn't want to mess up the back seat.

All of which inspired me to try a similar tack before the best fell/trail race this side of the Peaks at Bollington Nostalgia. I wasn't alone either. Joined by Colin Cadel Fray and Ian Indurain Smallwood we made quite a trio as we cycled into the village in some rare Summer sunshine. And who should pass us in the Range Rover...

The warm up certainly did me good and I took over a minute off my best Nostalgia time (although it might have been the Bear's new Zoom explosion), although a certain Mr Fray still managed to beat us by 30 yards - clearly my cycle warm up wasn't far enough. And there was no way I was going to try and pass him on the crazy downhill cobbles which end the race.

PS. Please Tony put Nostalgia in the summer series. It's a travesty.

Bramhall Park TT 5k

12 July 2008

Not having any prizes means that we can have a large number of categories and records at BRTT.  After Ian Smallwood's performance last week I was thinking of adding "Cycled in from Wilmslow (cold and wet in pissing rain), ran 5k, cycled back to Wilmslow (cold and wet in pissing rain)".  There were two game entries in the new category this week from Jim and Geoff and both managed to excel in all three sections.  Jim even managed to take a turn at the results desk to add a mental agility discipline.

In the torrential rain and muddy puddles it was no surprise that Malcolm came to the fore although I hadn't previously appreciated that he actually runs faster in bad weather.  His time of 16:48 stands second only to Mike Halman on the all time list.

Sue won the ladies race as usual and Mark had a good run for 6th.

The fact that 92 runners finished the 5k despite the downpour is partly down to the enthusiasm and support of the marshals - none more so than Kate and Penny on the bridge and Ray who seemed to be inseveral places at once.

1 Malcolm Fowler 16:48 (84.42%)
2 Rob Downs 17:09 (82.02%)
3 Jim Pendrill 17:26 (76.58%)
6 Mark Bale 19:05 (68.12%)
9 Sue Hool 19:52 (75.00%)
15 Geoff Gilbert 21:05 (73.52%)

92 finished 5k

Full results, report and photos at www.bramhall.parkrun.com

Every Saturday - it's fun to run or help or both!

Rob

Bollington Nostalgia

13th July 2008

A good turnout for one of nearest and most entertaining hill races.

The Mayor of Bollington started the race with a few fine words, along the lines of the "orf you go".
We proceeded up hill out of the town, Jim and Colin disappeared into the distance. Joe, Mike and me swopped places several times. (The shorter legs being stronger on the ups and longer ones are better suited to the downs). The canal provided a bit of light relief, with Joe and Mike steaming ahead, I awaited the next uphill. The uphill through the woods was lovely, all flowers and ferns, although the final descent is quite punishing on the knees I was pleased to have made it.

The presentation was very low key, but plenty of tea and cakes made up for the lack of Wilmslow winners.

Ian

Pos	Name	Cat	Time
1	Colin Gell (Sale)		43.44
4	Colin Fray	MV40	45.39
5	Jim Pendrill		45.46
9	Joe Nuttall		49.21
11	Mike Cooper	MV40	49.54
13	Ian Smallwood	MV40	50.40
24	Don Bullough	MV50	55.52
30	Nicky Mowat	LV50	58.48	1st LV (2)
(56 finishers)

 Rob / Don

Rob was deprived of his Bollington by a wedding.

Rudyard Lake

Thursday June 5^th.

 

Summer Series - race 8 of 15

Charlotte, having had a rehearsal at Bowdon made her second coming official. Sarah is debutant of the year already having quickly reeled off seven races. She has been frightening Trevor over the fells recently, today she was inhibited by a stitch but has made the mug and the t-shirt.

Louisa didn’t quite match Bowdon but did enough to make it worth getting covered in mud. Angela, like Charlotte, proved she doesn’t just do BBQs with her second race of the Series.

Roy is my early warning system. The new runners putting his past glories into perspective a couple a months before showing that my decades of running nous counts for nothing against the vitality of youth. Today he kept enough ladies behind him to preserve some dignity although he couldn’t hold a Cat inspired by the pipes.

Catriona does not do miserable, which is fortunate, because there’s a fair amount of misery in her running in recent months. Bowdon suggested she was coming out of it and today she was overjoyed at her best run of the year. I know Mike comes for Cat but he always finds the right place to encourage when you need it and after working from start to finish at the BBQ he deserved an evening out in the pouring rain. As I left the Royal Oak, Catriona was tucking into a significant dinner.

Our disposition at the pub; 1 & 2 around one table and 3, 4, 5 on another reminded me of the army cadets in my youth when we were seated by rank.

 

Sarah Waite, on her debut, had Steve Russell pacing her round. Steve’s a good coach with the knack of making people run faster than they thought they could without pushing them too far. He continued his protest, I can’t now remember what it was about, by not running in his Wilmslow vest. They tussled with Owen but in the end he edged-it. With no Amanda or Penny it is difficult judge how well he ran.

It was important for John to beat Owen and it keeps in contention for the 4/5 title.

 

This was also an important race for me, I’m told the Gun Run starts with 3k uphill and finishes with another 2k climb, so I’ve already kissed good-bye to Penny. Thereafter all the races are at least 6 miles and a number have hills, Rudyard could well be my last 4/5 points of the Series. I planned to take advantage of the flat 2 miles, hang-on up to the keep and then push it to the finish. My plan had been aimed at Penny but she was apparently suffering from a mixture of cut knees and altitude sickness. The threat would come from John, who had beaten me over a not dissimilar course at Cholmondeley.

 

After a sensible start I was immediately in trouble. It is eighteen months since my heart was a problem in a race but it started to ‘flutter’. I slowed trying to regain control of my heart-rate, knowing that if it surged I would have to drop-out. I was waiting for the rest of 4 to come passed but did not seem to be losing too much ground to Jamie and David. The downpour provided a welcome distraction and as we rounded the end of the lake not only did the rain slow but my heart-rate stabilised. I dug-in for the climb which was less testing than I had remembered; it was good to hear the piper still playing.

 

However, my pre-race ambition had evaporated and I was content to simply hold my place. The keep to the café seemed three times as long as I remembered and  with a lot more uphill, but finally, after two false dawns, we dropped down to the dam. Back by the rail-track I ran with more vigour which suggested, at least in the second half, the problems had been in my head not my legs.

 

The stats said my wonderful run at Roaches was not so wonderful, so what will they make of this somewhat anaemic performance. I warmed-down with Kate, she like me had achieved a satisfactory result but her run had also brought her little joy. 

 

So on to the Gun Run.

Ian Ashcroft.

 

Best Race Performance

Calculating equivalent times for different races (email July 7) also shows where each of us performed best. I can only include races where there were 20 or more Wilmslow runners but a plus is that effectively allowance is made for conditions on the day. So, even though I was 24 seconds faster at Roaches this year, the stats say last year's performance, through the wind and mist, was better.

Your best over the last year or so:- 

Amanda  Bradbury	Wilmslow Half
Andy Watts	Sandstone Trail
Bill Heaton	Leek Half
Catriona Marshall	Bowdon 5k
Damian Nicholls	Roaches
David Wheable	Hollins Green 5k
Don Bullough	Roaches
Gareth  Trimble	Buxton Hilly
Gavin Mendham	Sandstone Trail
Geoff Gilbert	Stockport 10
Graham Taylor	Roaches 2007
Ian Ashcroft	Alsager 5
Ian Smallwood	Sandstone Trail
Jane Saunders	Alsager 5
Jeffrey Capper	Roaches 2007
Jim Pendrill	Hollins Green 5k
John Porteous	Cholmondeley
Julie Lucas	Whitley 10k
Kate Sutton	Stockport 10
Louisa Gilbert	Wilmslow Half
Malcolm Fowler	Leek Half
Mark Bale	Hollins Green 5k
Mick Fairs	Wilmslow Half
Mike Cooper	Sandstone Trail
Mike Halman	Wilmslow Half
Nicky Mowat	Four Villages Half
Owen Ashcroft	Mobberley 2007
Paul Ayres	Sutton 10k
Paul Nichols	Bowdon 5k
Penny Hinke	Shady Oak
Peter Carne	Roaches 2007
Peter Watson	Mobberley 2007
Ray Eagle	Roaches
Rick Air	Roaches
Rob Downs	Four Villages Half
Rod Coombs	Gawsworth
Roy Pownall	Lymm 5k
Sally Gilliver	Roaches 2007
Sally Maddock	Moonraker 10k
Sally Price	Stockport 10
Sarah Miles	Bowdon 5k
Sean Barry	Bowdon 2007
Simon Fenton	Wilmslow Half
Steve Dempsey	Sandstone Trail
Steve Smith	Whitley 10k
Stuart McIntosh	Shady Oak
Stuart Parrott	Leek Half
Sue Hool	Wilmslow Half
Tom McGaff	Wilmslow Half
Tony Hulme	Bowdon 5k
Trevor Faulkner	Stockport 10
Trevor Morris	Mobberley 5
Vicky McKinnon	Shady Oak

Buxton Hilly

Thursday 3rd July

 

1        Jason Burgess SMAC  M       26:47

8        Stuart Parrott          M40    28:22

9        Bill Heaton               M40    28:45

128     Sarah Miles              F       40:54

137     Trevor Faulkner        M65    42:14

(176 runners)

 

Race 5 of Staffordshire Moorland's AC Summer Series.

Full results of all races can be found at : http://www.staffsmoorlands-ac.co.uk/

City Of Manchester 10k

6th July 2008

1 Ezekeil Cherop 30:44
11 Malcolm Fowler 34:36 1MV45
13 Rob Downs 34:46 1MV40
83 Paul Nichols 40:36
97 Steve Smith 41:14

1321 ran

Full results at http://www.tdl.ltd.uk/

Report to follow.

Rob

Bramhall Park TT 5k

Saturday 5th July

1 Gavin Astin (Stockport Harriers) 18:11 (78.0%)
3 Nick Bishop 18:34 (78.82%)
4 Mike Cooper 19:05 (73.71%)
6 Sue Hool 19:27 (76.61%)
7 Ian Smallwood 19:30 (72.74%)
14 Sharon Johnstone 20:19 (73.58%)
49 Neil McAleece 25:11 (52.08%)
54 Trevor Faulkner 26:09 (64.75%)

88 finished 5k

Full results, photos etc. at www.bramhall.parkrun.com

Great running by Sue extended her course record and took her past the previous best "unofficial" time set by Vicky in the trial event.  Nick roared back into action after a few more niggling injuries.  At halfway he was challenging for the lead and in the end took 3rd ahead of Mike Cooper.  Would be Yorkshireman Ian Smallwood got very wet cycling in from Wilmslow, got wetter on the run and wet again on the way home but was still there to pace Sue to the finish.

Sharon set a new category best by some margin as did Trevor.  It was good to see Neil up and running again after his calf injuries.

See you next Saturday 9am!

Rob

Alexandra Park 5k

Sunday 6th July
Heavy rain and quite a few puddles for the three laps of the park.

1 Liam Thompson 16:00
3 Trevor Morris 17:34

53 finishers

Summer Series - Group 4/5

Seven races gone but with eight to go, and the best seven to count, anyone can still be this year’s winner.

 

In previous years, the 4/5 table has always gone to the wire, being settled only in the final race of the Series. 2008 was shaping-up in the same way. We were looking for Sally, having won the first two races, but then having missed the next five, to come storming back in the second half. But Sally is pregnant and we need to look elsewhere.

 

Penny gabbed first place in the league with her win at Shady Oak and has held it ever since but Ian has been catching her over recent races and could move to the top this month. Two things, however, are working Penny’s favour; the races in the second half are more to her liking and ever since her track training in China she has been improving month by month. The last two races are Congleton and Langley where Ian is unlikely to do well, do not be surprised to see Penny back at the top in the Autumn.

 

John is the other race winner, having taken the 50-points at Cholmondeley. John’s inconsistency makes him more difficult to predict but could 2008 be his year?

 

Currently 3^rd. is Amanda and the road rankings in this month’s newsletter show her to be the best 4/5 runner after Sally. She and Catriona were strongly fancied at the start of the Series and a win at Rudyard or the Gun Run would transform the season for either of them. However, both are low on form and confidence and a steady building-back to where they were a few months ago is a more realistic ambition.

 

Julie has piled-in the races since her success at London and is moving back towards her best for the second half. Sarah is also a follower of the Trevor ‘race a day’ school of running and now has the mileage in her legs to start moving-up the pecking order. Trevor is one place below Julie at 5^th.

 

Owen has improved from 6^th. at Sandstone to 2^nd. at Bowdon and has a real chance of his first 4/5 race win in one of the remaining races. Louisa is also improving; 9^th. at Whitley, 7^th. at Shady Oak and then 5^th. at Bowdon.

 

Stuart in his debut season reeled-off four races in quick succession but now has a stress fracture, hopefully he can get back in time to complete the three more he needs. Rob has now done three races on the trot and is enjoying the individual battles in a crowded field. Provided he does not allow past glories to denigrate his current successes he is going to be back on the t-shirt in 2008.

 

For Nina, Anne, Angela, Jo, Kasey and Chris the Series has only just begun and they are going to need more races in the second half to get their names in lights, or at least on the mug and t-shirt. Chris, Jo and Anne have the potential to be the year’s dark horses.

 

Rod and Peter have had the first six months of 2008 blighted by injury. They are both seasoned campaigners, it may take them until the end of the Series to get back to their true form but they will make their 7 races. This was going to be Simon’s year, so far it amounts to 3k at Whitley but watch-out for Congleton. Febes is doing most of his working and running in Cornwall but is looking very fit, get ready for when he decides it’s time to move into the spotlight. Roy, meanwhile, is having a strange Series, having emerged late in his career as a hill whippet he could have his best placing for some years.

.

Platt Fields 10k

Platt Fields 10k - Sunday 29th June

1 Andy Norman 32:18
2 Damian Nicholls 32:42
5 Malcolm Fowler 33:55
10 Trevor Morris 35:28
112 finishers

3.5 laps of the park - a flat, fast course despite a number of turns and we finished before the heavy rain came.
Malcolm has commented before on prize allocation, but a Maths degree was required to work this one out - sixth V45 won the first V40 prize and I was fourth V45 and 10th overall so naturally won the fifth senior men's prize.
see www.bbresults.com - Manchester Parks GP series

Trevor Morris.

Shutlingsloe Hill Race - 19th June

Pos	Name	Cat	Time
1	Simon Harding (Congleton)	M	24.44
8	Stuart Parrott	M40	26.15
40	Paul Nicholls	M	30.09
47	Don Bullough	M50	30.38
50	Jane Saunders	F35	30.48
77	Steve Russell	M45	33.29
94	Penny Hinke	F45	34.58
121	Trevor Faulkner	M65	37.44
169	Sarah Miles	F	42.27
(192 runners)

This was Race 3 of Staffordshire Moorland's AC Summer Series. Full results of all races can be found at : http://www.staffsmoorlands-ac.co.uk/

Don