Cross Country

Mabac 15th April Winterfold
Marshal Mass/Mess! If you have never been heart broken then try run a XC meeting and get misdirected and then called back after ½ mile along the wrong track. In fact the whole field had gone by the marshal that wasn’t there (Including the juniors and walkers). On my way out to the course after 300/400m all the runners were heading towards me! like a stampede with poor Gilbert and Jason who were leading from the gun now back in almost last position. But their patience and character kept them going and they did manage to get to the front again after nearly a lap. For those that know the mile long CLIFF at Winterfold plus the ¼ mile HILL stuck on the top of it to run up it twice is suicidal BUT to have another 800m added to the course is worse. But there were very good efforts from all our members even on the second lap. Gilbert Grundy in excellent form just didn’t notice there was a hill and is really gliding along nice and smoothly and full of talent. Jason Harris running equally at ease owing to London zooming up 7 days latter almost making it just a casual morning out for a run. No effort just plain running and so impressive. Ken Saunders the Magic team captain who has been running Mabac events since the first one and no stranger to any one of the courses. He admits they get harder every year but still manages them with confidence and enjoys each one. Claire Phipps is a master (ess) of ascending any hill and really attacks them with enthusiasm from the bottom to the top. A very competitive runner. Susanne Barnes ran a blinder today and loves XC events not only for the challenge but also for being able to run around the country side feeling free. A regular at every league club fixture whatever the conditions. Christine Flynn a very experienced XC runner who trains regular with Susanne and has definitely run every XC course in Surrey and in many more counties too. I think today’s two laps that included the monster hill twice plus an extra loop was worth a Gold medal for their 100% effort. A truly great performance from every one. Also running was ex-member Mark Coxhead who has had a tough 7/8 years battle-in his serious illness and still runs well. And among those running the junior and joggers course that is over one lap was Bill Lovesly and son. Fred Golding and 10year old son Ben and Runneymede chairman Peter Collins. Even one lap is a tough experience. Full Result: Gilbert Grundy 1st in 40.43; Jason Harris 2nd in 43.40; Ken Saunders 29th in 52.10; Claire Phipps 34th in 53.33; Susanne Barnes 54th in 56.12; Brian Bennett 61st in 57.26; Mark Coxhead 66th in 58.40; Christine Flynn 67th in 60.04. Juniors/Joggers: Bill Lovesly and son equal 1st in 18.58; Fred Golding and Ben equal 4th in 19.11; Peter Collins 20th in 50.06.
Stoke Park 28th April
It was also drizzling with rain at Stoke Park too but only 84 got soaked. Clayton Payne was outright winner and missing his best time over this very undulating course by 6 seconds today ran 17.57. Jo Rodriguez also outside her best over the course by 11 seconds. And Susanna Harrison missed her best by 42 seconds. This is not a big surprise because from the start you immediately climb for 500m on a slippery grass surface before reaching the up-down tarmac path for 1 mile but then start another 500m steep slippery grassy ascent just before running down still on the grass to start another lap. I would estimate surface conditions accounted for 20 seconds over the course today. Jo finished 1st lady 9th o/a in 20.35; Susanna was 2nd lady 20th o/a in 21.51. Today 84 finished.
Bushy Park 28th April
Miserable drizzling rain but still 755 finished (Soaked). Ashraf Ould-Dada just 5 seconds outside his best was 12th in 18.23. Followed by Matthew Calder who ran 20.04.2 in a 5,000 PB on the track at parliament Hill last week and to show it was no fluke ran another PB of 19.18 to finish 25th. Well done Matt. Richard Baggott having his first run over the course for three weeks and with no training was a little slower today than 21.15 by running 22.29 to finish 168th. His job and injuries prevent him training regularly. Malcolm Vaughan 0/68 keeping sub 26.00 with ease over all the different 5K courses that he competes in and today ran 25.49 to finish 381st. Today 755 Finished.
Frimley Lodge 5k 21st April
Malcolm Vaughan running his local 5k run as a change of venue and today finished 122nd in 26.10. Also running after a lay off was John Rowland who was 240th in 33.39. Johns PB is 21.10. Work/Injury or accompanying a friend? that is the question. Hoping not an injury. Well done John.
Bushy Park 21st April
With London the following day our entries were down slightly BUT! our first home running a PB time was Ashraf Ould-Dada who finished 21st in 18.18. That is Ashraf’s 6th PB over this course in 5 months. Well done Ashraf. Ramona Thevenet running London tomorrow really jogging around in 27.31 to finish 516th, John Coffey 0/70 keeping in his 23.21 time zone to finish 240th. Today 844 finished.
Stoke Park 14th April
The rain fell all night/morning very heavily until 8.59am then it turned out very nice for the 85 runners. Martin Cousins home from UNI went along with dad Paul. Martin having his debut over the course finished in 12th place in 19.51. Dad Paul was two places back in 14th with a PB time of 19.57. Paul did not want to be 13th as it is UNLUCKY. Susanna Harrison also ran a PB for the course in 21.09 and finished 1st lady (17th o/a). Both Paul and Susanna achieved the club standard. The event is becoming quite popular with all standards taking part around this very undulating and beautifully maintained park with parking so easy it is encouraging for the runners. Today 85 finished.
Bedfont Lake 14th April
Jason Harris wouldn’t dream of driving past Bedfont Lake on his way to work at Heathrow without stopping and having a run. And if late he runs faster although he was early today so had a casual run to finish first in 18.15 tapering for London too. Also Julie Barclay having run a PB time of 23.11 while on holiday in the I-of-W last week came home and ran another PB of 22.58 to finish 1st lady too. Julie’s first time under 23.00 minutes. Well done Julie Today 110 finished.
Bushy Park 14th April
Another big field of 830 in favourable running weather. Our first home was London bound 0/40 Laura Hales 2nd lady in 47th o/a position and an excellent time of 19.32 clearing the club standard of 20.50 with ease. Ramona Thevenet 0/50 also running London finished 119th in 21.20 and also easily ducking under the standard of 22.50. Then 0/69 Fred Bell keeping his eye on his London squad had a good run being only 24 seconds outside his best to finish 361st in 24.48. Sarah Vaughan running 25.26 continuing to knock seconds of weekly with over 10 minutes since December. Sarah finished 396th leaving Dad Malcolm trailing 32 places behind in a time of 25.26 but 20 seconds faster than when on holiday in the I-of-W last week. Also running having a good run was 0/70 John Coffey who finished 281st in 23.35. Fred/Malcolm/John all achieved the club standard. Today 830 finished.
Frimley Lodge 5K April 7th
Nice to see our younger members taking advantage of these events and using them as training runs. U/15 twins Matthew and Adam Tolefree were competing. Matthew having run here before ran a PB time of 19.38 to finish 15th while Adam running his debut over the course finished 50th in 21.49. Well done lads. Today 244 finished.
Poole Park 5k April 7th
Malcolm Vaughan a regular visitor to the Poole area and this time for a long Easter break previously set his PB 5K on this course. But today had to settle for 25.12 and finished 124th. Today 238 finished.
Stoke Park 5k April 7th
The winner today was in the elite bracket by running 15.30 over this undulating course was equal to Sub.15 on flat Bushy. A lovely flowing style. Susanna Harrison 0/45 lowered her course record in a PB time of 21.12 and Duncan Irvine feeling so confident turned up 10 seconds after the runners had started and gradually caught up and slowly weaved his way past 51 to finish in 36th place with a time of 22.29. This was Duncan’s first time over the course and he recommended it as a great training session. Today 87 finished.
Bushy Park 5k April 7th
All our members tapering down for London were sharpening up today and there were some very impressive times recorded. In 7th place Justin Mitchell was only 4 seconds outside his best by running 16.14. In 17th spot and running a PB time of 17.10 was Paul Dennis. Almost closer to Paul than his shadow was Jason Harris in 18th place in 17.16, then also in a PB time was Phil Cross who was 21st in 17.39. Ramona Thevenet finished 116th (3rd lady) in 21.02, followed by Richard Baggott having his first race for a month was 124th in 21.15. John Coffey ran 23.40 his second race since a lay off and was 1 minute faster than his previous race two weeks ago. Today 741 finished.
Medina 31st Mar. 5k Park Run I-of-W
Malcolm Vaughan on holiday found 25.45 spare minutes to run around this very undulating course before breakfast. And a very respectable time too. Malcolm finished 55th. He said he enjoyed both the run and his breakfast that wife Maureen cooked. Also on a week’s holiday with her two sisters and their families was Julie Barclay who ran a PB time of 23.11 and finished 34th/2nd 0/45. Julie enjoyed her run and breakfast too. But she had to cook it herself.