All the weekend races : 27-30 May [Press Report]

A long and busy weekend for Exmouth Harriers started on Friday night when a team of seven took part in the Women's 20 mile track relay at Exeter Arena, an annual charity event in support of cancer care in Exeter. Running legs of 400 metres each, Exmouth finished second behind the Women's Running Network in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 19 seconds. The 80 laps were shared between Hannah Dupain, Nicky Crook, Sasha Newman, Dawn Teed, Mandy Marvin, Hannah Jones and Jo Darwood, with the whole team running together on a celebratory final lap.

On Sunday, six Harriers were amongh the 2,183 runners taking part in the Plymouth Half Marathon. The benefits of a cool, but humid day with little wind were offset by climbs at half way, through Saltram Park and the final miles, which include cobbles on the Barbican and a final climb to the finish on The Hoe - although this does present a final 200 flat metres for those ready for a sprint finish.

Hugh Marsden finished 22nd overall, and 2nd Vet 45, in 1:17:07, followed by Anthony Yates (64th, 1:23:07), who outsprinted Roger Rowe along The Hoe. Rowe, however, picked up first in the Vet 60 category (1:23:12). Hannah Dupain recovered from her Friday night efforts to finish 10th Senior Lady in 1:33:45. The other Harriers who took part were Shaun Lock (1:27:43) and David Woodley (1:55:08).

Finally, on Bank Holiday Monday, the 175 runners who took part in the Chagford 2 Hills race included Anthony Hatchard, who finished second in 26:19. As the name suggests, this is a very hilly event, with a bog between the two hills. Jim Pyne of Exmouth was 10 in 29:23, followed later by Dawn Teed (81st, 43:13) and Dave Eveleigh (83rd, 43:21).

Finally, Journal readers are reminded that it is possible to enter next Sunday's Graham Sykes 10K on the morning of the race. The race headquarters is the Deer Leep and the event starts at 9:30am from behind Elizabeth Hall.

(Andrew Johnson)
Andy's final report (thanks Andy)... Jon Bamsey takes over from 1st June.

Plymouth Half Marathon - Anthony in the 3rd mile [results below]

(Like the Union Jack shorts)... 

Hannah in the last mile [results below]

 

Hugh in the 3rd mile [results below]

(being tracked by Steve Groombridge)  

Roger in the 1st mile [results below]

Plymouth Half Marathon - 10am 29th May '05
22nd Hugh Marsden 01:17:07 2nd V45
64th Anthony Yates 01:23:07
66th Roger Rowe 01:23:12 1st V55 & 60
125th Shaun Lock 01:27:43
293rd Hannah Dupain 01:33:45 10th Senior Lady
1,089th David Woodley 01:55:08

Cool, but humid day with little wind. Delayed start due to 'an incident' whatever that means. Very fast first 5 miles through the town and out over Laira Bridge into Saltram Park. The long drag from 5 to 6 is always tough -- it took me an extra minute to the pace. But once up the second hill at Elburton there is very fast downhill running back to the Plym and the turn into Cattedown. For some reason most find the Cattedown loop difficult. Odd really, not exactly hilly or particularly twisty, but chatting to the finishers at the end, most say they felt 'flat' in that 1.5 mile loop.

The last two miles in Plymouth are of course notorious, including the cobbles on the Barbican and the final climbs back up to the Hoe. As always most found maintaining any sort of pace very difficult. The Hoe Promenade comes as something of a relief after such a struggle, but with a 200 metre final straight much can happen there. I was overtaken by Anthony Yates after I thought I had left him for dead -- the hills again! Youth wins over experience (or is that age?)!

There were 2,183 finishers. Sorry Mary did not get Shaun and Dave during the race. Pot luck I'm afraid!

Roger R.
 

Women's 20 mile track relay

(Hannah D, Nicky, Sasha, Dawn, Mandy, Hannah J & Jo)

The Exmouth Harriers team were 2nd in the 20 mile relays at the track in Exeter last evening. Running legs of 400 metres each, the seven members of the team ran brilliantly well. It was just great watching, but as Dawn said, "After an hour or so you can dread your next leg, sort of interval training". The winners (again) were one of the Womens Running Network's many teams, the 'quick one' with it seemed, their best runners including Jaine Swift. Sustenance (i.e. sweeties), by the club Chairman!

A happy night....
(Roger R)
 

From Birmingham to Bideford

From Birmingham to Bideford, Exmouth Harriers were performing with great success last weekend against the best of Britain and Devon. In the Devon County Ross Shield, which took place as part of Sunday's rain-drenched Bideford 10K, Exmouth were the first women's veteran team - with Cathy Newman, Dawn Teed and Denise Kennedy taking the honours - and second senior women's team (Cathy, Hannah Dupain and Stef French). Cathy Newman, returning after a long period out with injury, won the women's race in 37:04. There were only 29 men who finished in front of her and it was another 2 minutes before the next woman finished. Newman was also first in the Women's Vet 40 category.

Bideford Athletic Club showed their strength in their home race, taking the first two places and providing seven of the first 13 finishers. John Ward won the race convincingly, by nearly a minute in 32:07. Exmouth's Anthony Hatchard continued his run of good form with 8th place in 34:03. Hugh Marsden was 21st overall, and second Male Vet 45, in 35:28. Roger Cowd's 46:37 won him second prize in the Male Vet 60 ategory.

The other Harriers who braved the foul weather were Andrew Kennedy (38:57), Hannah Dupain (43:19), Nigel Dupain (44:21), Stef French (45:42), Dawn Teed (47:50), Hannah Jones (49:13) and Denise Kennedy (54:36).

The previous day, another group of Exmouth veterans took part in the British Masters' Road Relays in Sutton Park, Birmingham. This event attracted over 40 teams from all over Great Britain in the men's veteran 60 event, which comprised three legs of an undulating 3 mile loop on tarmac paths around the park. Roger Rowe ran the first leg in 17:22, handing over in first place to Ray Elston. Elston's second leg time of 20:01 kept the Harriers in 5th place and John Perratt ran the final leg in 18:56, to capture 4th place overall.

Exmouth may have finished out of the medals, behind Clydesdale Harriers (Gold), Bingley Harriers (Silver) and Trentham Running Club (Bronze), but this was an excellent achievement, particularly since two members of the team are closer to 70 than 60! The youngest member of the trio, Roger Rowe, won a silver medal, with former Olympian Jeff Norman of Altrincham, for the joint second fastest leg.

(Andrew Johnson)

Bideford 10k - 22nd May, 2005 [click for full results]

Eleven Harriers ran at the Bideford 10k on Sunday, which incorporated the Ross Shield.

Overall results
Anthony Hatchard finished 8th in 34.03
Hugh 21st in 35.28 and was also 2nd V45
Cathy Newman coming back from an injury which has kept her out of running for some while, was 1st Lady and finished in 37.04
Andrew Kennedy 50th in 38.57
Hannah Dupain 43.19
Nigel Dupain 44.21
Stef French 45.42
Roger Cowd 46.37
Dawn Teed 47.50
Hannah Jones 49.13
Denise Kennedy 54.36

Ross Shield results
Hugh 2nd V45
Roger Cowd 2nd V60
Cathy Newman 1st V40
Vet Ladies Team 1st (Cathy, Dawn & Denise). This was wonderful for Denise as this was the first running prize she has ever won.

Ladies team (which can be a mix of senior and vets) 2nd (Cathy, Hannah Dupain, Stef)

As a side note, it started raining just after the start and then rained heavily throughout the race. By the time we finished we were all like drowned rats and weighed a few extra pounds in wet clothing!
(Dawn Teed)

Ray at Sutton Park

Here it is. Ray steaming up the final hill on leg two of the Relays... 

18th National Open Masters Road Relay - 21st May 2005

Ray, John and Roger at the National Vets Relays in Sutton Park, Birmingham. The Vet/60 Harriers Team were 4th overall, with Roger taking the individual Silver.

Sutton Park lies six miles to the north of Birmingham City Centre and covers over 970 hectares (2,400 acres). Its landscape is a mix of open heathland , wetlands, marshes, seven lakes and woodlands, all with their own rich variety of plants and wildlife rarely seen in the region. Imagine Woodbury Common with a few more tarmac paths and you have a reasonable idea of what it looks like.

The 3 mile course car hardly be described as ‘easy’, but clubs flock to the venue because of the long (very) history of relays in the park.

The start is downhill for 250 yards, but this is more than compensated for by the stiffest climb of the course lasting around a third of a mile. Just past the brow of the hill we turn right with the running being very fast along the flattest part of the course. At one mile the course rises again... perhaps not at severe, but it is longer (about 700 yards) past the Jamboree Stone to the turn around 400 yards further on.

Then you turn for home, back past the Jamboree Stone and an half-a-mile downhill plunge to the Keepers Pool, the fastest running on the course. From there the course is undulating but mainly uphill with a final sharp right-hand turn with the finish just 150 yards away at the top. Not many notice, but the final few yards are actually downhill!

The first leg is always fast and furious with the whole field fighting for position for their team-mates. The hill sorts out the wheat from the chaff however, but even at the top the first 15 were very close indeed. Every bend saw elbows locked in a struggle for the fastest line before the turn. The downhill saw the field string out rather, but the final undulations and hill to changeover were tough.

Perhaps sufficient to say that the first 47 runners (Vet/50, lady Vets and Vet/60 & 70) were inside 18 minutes (6-minute-miles).

Roger finished in 21st place, 1st Vet/60 in 17:22 handing over to Ray. Now Ray is always really self-depreciating, but ran a real solid 2nd leg in 20:01 (6:40 pace). The sight of him steaming up the final hill (photo to follow) will stay with us for a long time. Ray handed over to John in 49th overall, but 5th Vet/60.

We all know how strong John can be when the chips are down. The Perratt set off around 30 seconds in arrears of Martin Duff (whose Aldershot and Farnham team were the holders), but we had every expectation of a storming leg from our anchor man. So it proved, John working to catch Martin over the tough first half, and pulling well away from him on the downhill section. Racing in to finish in 18:56 (6:19 pace), for 4th place overall, behind Clydesdale Harriers (Gold), Bingley Harriers (Silver) and Trentham RC (Bronze).

It’s always a bit of a disappointment to finish just out of the medals, but our (vain we thought) hope was to finish in the top 5; after all Ray is 67 and John 68. Fourth we consider a moral victory over the medallists who fielded entire teams of ‘young’ Vet/60 athletes.

The gilt-on-the-gingerbread was Roger’s individual Silver. After what seemed an interminable wait, it was announced that behind Robbie Young, Clydesdale’s anchor man, Roger and Jeff Norman from Altringham could not be separated and so were both awarded Silver medals. Nice to come away with something after so much effort from the team.

Roger was really more pleased with his victory (by 4 seconds) over Dave Waywell (Wesham RR) on the first leg. Dave beat him in the Great West Run earlier in the month, and Roger did not expect to turn the tables so soon after that reverse.

 

It's the legs wot did it.... 

Richmond Half Marathon

We do get around....

Sunday 15th May 2005 was the day of the Richmond half marathon. An early start of 8:30 didn't deter the record 791 entrants who finished the race. Weather conditions and a scenic flat course made it ideal for fast times. The race starts at Ranelagh Harriers club house at Richmond Common, heading down to the town centre and over Richmond bridge before proceeding down the Thames through Twickenham and around Hampton court then over Kingston bridge and up to the finish at Ham House near Richmond.

I enjoyed the first 10 miles but the last three miles were tough as quite a few runners passed me as the early quick pace caught up with me. That said happy with my time of 1:24:27 in 49th place overall.

Adrian Kearns

Ivybridge 10k [click for full results]

The damp and windy conditions at last Saturday's 10K race in Ivybridge may have been very inclement for May, but on this occasion they worked in the competitors' favour. The first two kilometres were run into the wind, from Ivybridge 'Park and Ride' to Bittaford. The course then swung up into a lane, past the old Moorhaven Hospital and Wrangaton, which climbed for two very steep kilometres but was sheltered from the wind. It then dropped steeply to half-way and turned back towards Bittaford and the finish at Ivybridge Rugby Club. With the worst of the climbs behind them and the wind at their backs, many runners were able to record a faster split in the second 5K of the race than the first half.

Plymouth-based Tipton Harrier, Stuart Hall was the first to finish, winning by nearly half a minute in 32:30. Leading woman Revis Crowle, of East Cornwall Harriers, enjoyed a 20 second winning margin with her time of 37:24. Among the 8 Exmouth Harriers who took part, once again, it was Exmouth's veteran runners who stole the show with both Roger Rowe and John Perratt picking up Gold medals in the Devon 10K county championships, which was incorporated into this year's race. Rowe was first in the Vet 60 category in an 37:58 while Perratt won the Vet 65 event in 41:45. This inclusion of the county championships led to a massive field - there were 486 finishers - and a very competitive race: Rowe was only 44th and 70 runners finished inside 40 minutes.

Exmouth's Shaun Lock ran a well disciplined race to record a time of 39:35, followed by Andrew Johnson (40:21). Hannah Dupain was the leading Exmouth female once again, with a time of 41:55. The other Harriers were Lee Russell (42:40), Nigel Dupain (45:25) and Hannah Jones (47:56).

Journal readers are reminded that Exmouth's own 10K race will take place on Sunday 5 June at 9:30am. This year the race headquarters will be the Deer Leap and it will be possible to enter there on the day. However, runners can save £2 by entering in advance: entry forms are available from the Exmouth Harriers website at www.exmouth-harriers.co.uk/sykes_05/Sykes_05.pdf. The race starts and finishes in Bath Road behind Elizabeth Hall and takes in two laps of the sea front and town centre.

Finally, the final results of the Great West Run have confirmed that another Harrier picked up a medal in the British Masters Half Marathon Championship. Les Turner, who is relatively new to the sport, was awarded the Vet/60 Silver Medal which is an excellent achievement.

(Andrew Johnson)

A Silver for Les...

(Les in action in the First Chance 10k)

Just heard that Les Turner has been awarded the BMAF Silver Medal in the Vet/60 class following the Half Marathon Championships run in conjunction with the Great West Run.

A Silver Medal... and not any one either. The UK Championship Vet/60 Silver!

Well done Les! 

Great West Run Team Prize

Just heard that the 2nd Senior men's team in the Great West Run were:

Anthony Hatchard
Steve Hocking-Thompson
Hugh Marsden
Roger Rowe

Not seen the complete stackup as yet, but nice to see the Harriers flag flying high! 

Great West Run - 1st May 2005

It may not have been May Day weather, but the 2,026 runners who took part in last Sunday's Great West Run half marathon in Exeter were not complaining about the cool, damp and overcast conditions. Although the two lap, undulating course makes this a hard race, the large crowds, excellent organisation and track finish more than compensate.

John Ward of Bristol took full advantage to win in 1:08:50 - nearly 90 seconds ahead of second placed Barry Reynolds. Exmouth's leading runner was Anthony Hatchard - but his excellent time of 1:15:16 was only good enough for 14th place in a high quality race.

This year the Great West Run incorporated the British Masters Half Marathon Championships - a national event for veteran athletes - and there were some excellent performances among the older runners. Fresh from his performances in the Falklands marathon and half marathon, Hugh Marsden was the second Harrier to finish, for 26th overall in 1:18:43 - but this was only good enough for the Silver Medal in the Vet/45 category behind Richard Drage of Tavistock, who ran 1:15:44. Roger Rowe went one better to win Gold in the Vet/60 race in 1:22:46. This was later confirmed as a record time for the South West region - as well as compensation for Roger, who was forced out of last month's London Marathon because of injury.

In between Marsden and Rowe, Steve Hockings-Thompson finished 28th in an excellent 1:19:00. Exmouth's leading woman was Hannah Dupain who recorded a very creditable 1:35:18. Hockings-Thompson, Hannah Dupain, and Chris Dupain (1:39:19) had all taken part in the London Marathon just a fortnight earlier, so their performances in Exeter were a considerable achievement.

Among the men, Adrian Kearns (85th, 1:26:00) and Phil Hatchard (91st, 1:26:47) also finished in the top 100. Andrew Kennedy's 1:27:44 left him in 101st place - last year this would have put him in the top 75, which is an indication of how standards and competition have risen in this event.

In all, 19 Harriers took part in this year's event. The other performances recorded by Exmouth runners were: Andrew Johnson (1:29:52), Shaun Lock (1:30:34), Tim Gent (1:35:10), Adrian Taylor (1:41:02), Nigel Dupain (1:43:57), Hannah Jones (1:52:24), David Woodley (1:55:56), Les Turner (2:00:21), Sasha Newman (2:03:55) and Denise Kennedy (2:08:48).

(Andrew Johnson)
 

The triumph of a persistent tortoise

Great West Run - 1st May 2005 (Inc. BMAF Championships)

All week I had been feeling good, with both Osteopath and Doctor giving me no excuses; both agreed that they had not seen me fitter. Dropping out of the London Marathon with the calf strain certainly was wise; it healed in around 3 days. I stood in the start pen with every confidence of a decent run, it was warm (16°) but quite humid. As we walked down to the starting line, I noticed Dave Waywell from Wesham RR just in front of me. Dave (DW) headed the V/60 ranking for 2004 for 10 miles, so I knew that I was in for a real tussle.

Off on time, and Dave shot away like a hare, with me trying not to go too quickly. Even so I ran the first mile in 5:40, with DW a good 20 metres ahead. Up the long hill his lead had grown to 30 metres, and by the 2 mile marker he was around 40 metres to the good. I was concentrating SO hard on not letting him get too far ahead that I had no thought to check my watch or indeed take split times at each mile as I do normally.

I sought to work my way gradually back to him, and once into the town centre (and 5) he did seem to be 'coming back'. Up Blackboy Hill I certainly felt him faltering a bit, and I redoubled my concentration -- a metre here, metre there -- and by 6 he was just 20 metres up. The calves were hanging together well, but the tension in my right hamstring was palpable.

As we passed the Arena to start the second lap, I had him in my sights. Just around 15 metres now and I relaxed a bit, planning in my mind just where on the course I would make my effort to pass. Out to the Exeter By Pass, smiling inwardly and feeling 'in control'. As we turned up the long hill I felt a long cramp spasm in my right hamstring, and to bring it under some control I had to 'chop' my stride up the hill. Rats... at the top he was again 40 metres up, and I was not too sure that I could even finish the race at that pace.

I fought the pain and my doubts all the way through Beacon Heath, but he was slowly gaining on me. I did get a 10 mile time... 62:08 (although I could not see it at the time) DW must have been around 25 seconds ahead of that - to put that into context, those times would have been 7th and 8th in the 10-mile rankings for 2004 (again, I had no inkling of that at the time, I was absolutely flat out, straining all I had to close the dratted gap)!

The rest? The gap slowly grew and I could do nothing about it at all. I was still running 10/10ths, but not making any impact. On the track to finish DW was rounding the final bend, but I sought to raise a sprint to at least see a decent time.

Finished in 1:22:49 (Gun time), but 1:22:46 chip time (86.79%) for, I thought, the silver medal. In the finish funnel a SW-Vets Official told me I had won the gold. But I pointed to DW and said, " 'fraid not... he did".

Two hours later and the (rather ill attended) BMAF Championships prize giving. Hugh, we knew, had the silver in the Vet/45 in 1:18:43 (Gun time). Great to see another Harrier winning an award. I had for some while been talking to DW, comparing notes as one does. Then it came to the Vet/60 awards. Dave might have won the GWR Vet/60 category, but for some reason I still do not understand, I was awarded the BMAF Gold. Someone said that all BMAF entrants had to be a member of their regional Vet Club (in our case SW Vets), and that he was not a member of Northern Vets (Wesham is near Blackpool, Lancs).

I did not quite know how to react, particularly when I was told that my time was a new record, beating Peter Watson's previous SW-Vets Championship Record performance of 1:23:42; apparently such records can only be set in International, National or Regional Championship races.

So I was bemused, disappointed and elated all at the same time.

How does one feel in such circumstances. The tortoise won!?

Still, the medal is wonderful to own!

Roger R.