Stephen Hartley

County XC Champs @ Wing -Saturday 7 January

Hopefully someone will provide a more extensive report on this event.  A good turn out of all ages resulting in the men taking the team championship.  This, despite being without Phil Holland who, through residency, was required to run in the Bucks championship.  They also picked up the MV40 team championship and Dave Sedgley successfully retained his MV70 title against stiff opposition! "Now where did I put my shoe?" - Courtesy of Brian Graves MMKAC

Happy New Year & All that End of Season Stuff

Yes!  It's that time of year again. Don't the years roll by and it is time to tidy up the few remaining events.  The Marathon Championship is contested over the calendar year and awarded for the best performances over the distance.  Over the year, 77 marathons were completed by Club members and I am sure there are a few more that Paul Barton has sneaked in and a few over distance.

Me and my big mouth - Paul has just reported another 25 marathons for 2011.  The final results are:-

The Grand Prix Leagues also are concluded at the end of the year.  The tables have now been finalised, pending any late results, and are available here.    Well done to the 5 winners:- Paul Farmer, James Handley, George Arbuckle, Shaun Kirtley & Nicky Cronin.  It's good to see some of the newer members making their presence felt.  Generally speaking all the leagues were closely contested, despite George's final surge, picking up large numbers of bonus points after the bumping process hade ceased. Kingfishers was particularly close with Nicky just edging out Sarah Johnson on the head-to-head count back.

I have now produced the new leagues for the 2012 season.  The reordering process involved taking into account certain results that did not contribute to last year's position such as our 3 events and any events new members may have participated in before joining the club.  Hopefully this has produced a balanced and competitive set of leagues reflecting previous performances.  Any major anomalies show sort themselves out using the bumping rules.  If fact this has already moved Theresa Jackson up 2 leagues due to her performance in County XC Champs.  So the current state is far from final.

I will continue to display them on this page in the same format until the end of January, by which time we should have a better idea regarding people not renewing their membership and hence not taking part in the GP series.  It will also give you time to look at last year's leagues in more detail, should you wish to.  I will not sort the individual leagues into point order until they become more stable.  I have tried to accommodate everyone who has recorded a result over the last 12 months.  If your name does not appear, fear not, you haven't been forgotten and will be placed in a league when you first complete a GP event.

I have also been updating my annual Age Related calculations and the updated table can be found here.

Phil Bierton

Stansted Stagger - Monday 2 January

We had superb weather for this 25 mile jaunt around nothern Essex - so a great start to 2012.

The route went from Stansted Mountfitchet to the edge of Saffron Walden & back - with some wide open views.  And not too much of the famous Essex mud!

I was very happy with my time of 5 hours 41 mins.

David Sedgley

Wymondham 10K - Sunday 1 January

Visiting my mum up in Norfolk at this time of year means either running Ely New Years Eve 10k on the way up or the Wymondham 10k on New years day itself  - once we did both.

This year though we settled for just the later race. Two very, very late nights not to mention a few celebratory drinks - oh and only just returning to running didn¹t put us in our prime!

The race starts in a narrow lane and if your after a time you need to be up the front to avoid the jam of people. An open country run, undulating and subject to any passing howling gale. In places you could probably see the runners spread out in front for the better part of a kilometer.

We had decide to run together and started towards the back of the field. We chatted as we ran and enjoyed slowly catching and passing those runners that took off too fast. Loads of marshalls, at least 2 at every junction and all very much still in the festive spirit. It being a holiday it also attracted many friends and supporters, the few houses we passed also had their owners out to cheers us on.

A very pleasant way to start the New Year and back in time for a massive lunch. Time was slower than the last time we ran this (about 3 years ago) but 2 races in a week and after such a long time not running its still encouraging. First road race in a very long time (2 years for me!).

Rick & Karen Hollingsworth

Taupo Harrier January 2012 - Sunday 1 January

As at the start of 2011 the Taupo Harrier Club, with Sport Waikato, planned their first meeting of the New Year to take place mid-morning on the 1st January with a run in Spa Thermal Park measuring 2012 metres. In 2011 the weather gods really were in a good mood and ensured a beautiful morning however for this year someone, somewhere must have upset the said “Weather Gods” and the day broke with torrential rain. Despite the dreadful conditions at 9am Club President and Captain, Noel Bennett and Austin Hutcheon respectively, set off wearing all the wet weather protection they could muster and set out the course – the gear must have been good as only their feet got wet.

The course was ready by 9:45am but no one appeared in the car park so Noel and Austin reckoned that they would have to run round the course all on their own just to prove that exercise can be taken in what could have passed for a paddi field. However minutes later cars appeared and by the appointed start time about 25 people had gathered; these included Rebecca from Bedford in the UK, one very young runner dressed for the occasion in his wet-suit, a mini fire-man on his bike plus several other people of all ages with several of them totally unknown to the Harriers – hopefully the start of a good relationship. Rebecca felt right at home with the wet start to the day but did lament the lack of mud usually found on UK cross country courses. Rebecca described the event as a good-fun event that demonstrated the Taupo Harriers commitment to family running – great to see so many youngsters and runners of all abilities taking part.

As normal the kids shot off whilst the ancients grunted into gear and gave chase and all were astounded that the rain had stopped, in fact as the race progressed the weather got better and better and by the time the event was over the sun was almost shining. There were no official times taken but Noel, third placed, reckoned he was close to his time last year of a bit over 9 minutes, Isabel was only 30 seconds slower and Austin 40 seconds slower – in the conditions, where bow-waves were actually seen on some sections of the course, these times were pretty good. Runners soon picked up the course markers and all retired to continue other activities feeling really good with themselves for making the effort. Hopefully all those that ran will keep up the effort and get back out again soon – the Harrier programme can be found on www.taupoharriers.com and it will not be long till the Harriers’ Starlight 5k series starts. All runners and walkers are welcome to come along to join the Harriers and finally our UK visitor offered thanks to all running volunteers throughout the world who take the time and effort to make things happen.

Austin Hutcheon

Anyway a cracking little informal gathering of Taupo Harriers on new years day for a 2012 metre cross country run - only 25 of us turned out due to the torrential rain that has engulfed most of the north island these last few days....... a challenging route with plenty of hills and water but hey no mud! didn't disgrace the flyers too much, came in the top ten and I think I was 2nd lady! my only official event in about 3 weeks so you can guarantee i'll be making up for lost time when I get back

oh and time.... hardly worth starting the watch for - 10.14

Rebecca Fleckney

Ely 10K - Saturday 31 December

For me this has been an important and busy year in Triathlon Highlighting in last months World Champoinships in Las Vegas, but i have dipped my toe in a few standalone running races as training runs.

As my triathlon season ended in November the plan was to rest until new year in readiness for training for 2012 season in Triathlon. As i am a greedy bar steward i could not resist the opportunity of running the bedford half and got a PB sub 1.30,. then a week ago my mate Craig Halsey offered me a race number for Ely 10k, how could i refuse, this was a stocking filler for me.

I crossed the line in 40.05 i was gutted 5 seconds from that golden sub 40, however it was a PB for me, the 2nd PB in a month.  A good way to end what has been a good year for me, iam also delighted to say all injury free for the 4th year in a row.  I enter the 2012 season in my 50th year and new age category so exciting times ahead.

Further more i am happy and delighted to re join the AFF for the 2012 season to assist my running within Triathlon and to spend more time with the best bunch of friends i call my second family.

Martin Beare

Waterside 5 Miles, Buckden  - Saturday 31 December

Last Updated: Tuesday, 24 January 2012 14:24