Sunday XC League - Race 4 2011/12: 15th Jan Digswell / Tewin

This could be the last one for anyone trying for an individual position - but we still need everyone for the team prize as all 5 will count.

Current standings:

3rd combined (Men and women's) team, 3rd overall women's team, 3rd overall men's A team, 2nd overall men's B team and 1st Men's masters.

1) 10:30am at Disgwell / Tewin - this is a farmland course

2) Meet at 9am at Amble Inn for a 9:15am departure.

3) Let's remember to bring

    - dustbin liners or tarpaulin to protect the gear - just in case.  

    - For SarahD - flasks of tea.........

    - good cheer and humour as always

Suday League Cross Country Sunday 15^th January 2012, Start 10:30am

Race #4 of 5 - Tewin (Garden City Runners)

** Please take particular note of PARKING LOCATIONS. **

Race HQ: Tewin Memorial Hall, Lower Green, Tewin, AL6 0JX http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=527155&Y=214695&A=Y&Z=3

 

Facilities: There are limited toilet & changing facilities at the hall but no showers.  Absolutely no muddy shoes/boots in the hall, please.

Refreshments: There will be some refreshments at Tewin Memorial Hall after the race. As well as the normal tea & coffee there will be some bread and soup and cake so you are all welcome to join us in the hall after the race.

Parking:

Parking is a real problem at this venue and is limited to around 100 spaces. Please share cars as much as possible. See map for car park locations:

1)    Tewin Bowls Club (c. 40 spaces) This is just 300m from race start.

2)    Tewin Pavillion (c. 25 spaces). This is half a mile walk from race start, so leave time !

3)    The Rose and Crown pub car park (30 – 40 spaces)

The pub is open from 12 noon and will have the Sunday lunch menu on which may be of use to some of our runners wanting a pint or Sunday lunch. Please find attached the link to the pub web site.

www.roseandcrowntewin.co.uk/

We politely ask anyone using the pub car park to vacate it by 12 unless they are staying on for lunch.

The start/finish:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=526755&y=214690&z=120&sv=526755,214690&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=516&ax=526755&ay=214690&lm=0

The start and finish will be at a junction of paths close to Tewin Bowling club (grid ref 267147).

The race will start by heading SW on a wide track until it meets the concrete path and turns right. There are then nearly two complete laps of the main circuit, but near the end of the second lap, the route will turn left for a short run in to the finish, with a final right turn just into the funnel.

There is not a large grassed field/area at the start so please be considerate when leaving bags and belongings.

(NB The old (2007 and earlier) start and finish area in the bottom field by Tewin Water School  is out of bounds.)

Race start: 10.30am: Men & ladies will run together and the same distance; 2 laps plus a short run in and out along the bridleway

Race distance: Approximately 6 miles. Men & ladies run same distance.

Access to the start and course: 

From Tewin it is approx 0.3M walk along footpaths across open fields.  Take the footpath that starts by the Bowls club, 50m south of Lower Green and the Memorial Hall.

The course: Stone/mud bridleway to start and the main laps are clockwise loops on farmland over footpaths and farm fields using public rights of way across private land.  Therefore competitors are asked not to stray from these and to pay due regard to underfoot conditions at all times. Please keep off the crops!  There are stiles and gates to negotiate on the course so please take care.  Studs or trail shoes are the most suitable footwear for this course. Spikes OK but beware the short, steep downhill section on the concrete path.

Hope to see you all Sunday 15^th January.

Sean Bowen on behalf of Garden City Runners

Attendees

Speirsy
Paul Griffiths

Ian Long

Richard Bruce

Phil Jacobs

Joanne Richards

Simon Kitchener

John Millen (Guest) - injured and doing Admin

Andrew Neal Skyrme

Dan Day

Jamie Nathan

Andrew Hill

James Bentall
Lloyd Watson- injured

Viddy Green
Jim "Renee" Charlton (New member)
David Moritz (New member)
Graham Harper

Lee Scott
Mark Nelso
Richard Johnstone

Jamie Fisher?

Camilla Davidson

Laura Nathan

Joolz Scott

Karen Watkins

Sarah Dumbrill
Sarah England

Louise Crosby
Hannah Turner

Geogie?

Dirt Half Race Report

Dirt Half 2011 Race report

Scrambling around to get any support for this was a little difficult with St Neots and the XC on the same weekend (plus the 1st ARO wedding to provide excuses.)

Both Speirsy and UltraJohn momentarily diverted attention from the XC to this event in Leighton Buzzard.  With UJ romping in in 2nd place in 2010 there was every possibility of a potential team prize for the 1st 5 runners past the finishing flag.

A few swapping of numbers to annoy the race organisers meant that we had the full requirement (with the correct Club name spelling) plus a few spare just in case consisting of:

> Speirsy

> UltraJohn

> Bruce(y) the Moose

> BenK

> GreekMark

> Big Neil

> Kate Speirsy

> Dawn Burr

So a very flat and picturesque canal run on cement / tarmac for 6 miles until hitting a long rise up into woods and then farmland put paid to any thoughts of a pb on this challenging, but enjoyable course.  Last 3 miles along the canal again to finish.

For the team prize, the lowest score was going to the team trophy. It was announced as a close run thing between Leighton Fun Runners, Bedford Harriers and Harpenden ARO Runners - respectively 568, 388 and 65.  Not quite so close then.  UltraJ maintained the course record for the club - saving himself for the XC at Trent Park the next day - as did Speirsy, Mark and Brucey.

> Full results:  http://www.dirtrunning.co.uk/index.php?p=custom6

> Photos:  http://www.dirtrunning.co.uk/index.php?p=gallery&folder=1236751

Sad though to hear that BenK is moving back up to Scotland and with John Millen moving away, this doesn't leave any ultra runners in the club any longer........

Not knowing what's below.....

Dicking around at the finish

Why do the Sunday XC League????

There has been some interest in trying something a little different this winter doing short races, local to Harpenden in Hertfordshire but with a little twist.... there might be mud (there is certainly grass!)
We are looking to get people along to the Sunday Cross Country League from RunHerts: http://www.runherts.com/index.htm
Having looked at a number of the Cross Country leagues that are available, a number of us felt that the Sunday Cross Country League was best for us as it is local, appears relaxed, inexpensive and we would be relatively competitive – but we need at least 13 runners as the top 8 men and 5 women count to Team A, with another 5 men & 3 women counting in Team B.
The fixtures for the coming season are:-

23 October Cheshunt (parkland course)
20 November Trent Park (parkland)
11 December Cassiobury Park, Watford (mainly through woodland)
15 January Digswell/Tewin, nr. Welwyn Garden City (agricultural)
19 February Royston (chalk down land)

There are currently 16 clubs in the League. Most are Hertfordshire based, with a few coming from North London. There is just one race per match with the men and women running together. On average, 90 women and 180 men run and there’s a real mix in both abilities and ages. Past results are in the cross country section of www.runherts.com

ALL the races start at 10.30am. Race distances vary between 5 and 6 miles.

HOW TO ENTER
All entries are taken on the day – but we will be hoping for people to show a commitment to run when they’ve expressed an interest
What happens is that immediately after the race, someone from each of the clubs fills out a Declaration/Results Form giving the names, age groups and finishing positions of the runners from their club (each finisher is given a disc when they cross the finish line showing their place). The discs and declaration forms are returned to the race administrator then they use this information to compile the results.

There’s just a one-off league affiliation fee of £50.00, which covers all the runners and all the races. The club will pay this so there are no individual entry fees – SO IT IS FREE to ARO Runners! ?
So please let Simon Speirs or John Millen know if you are interested in doing any of the races, then nearer to the time, we’ll set up a web-page on either the Facebook group or ARO’s website to keep a track of who is interested and entered.
THE COMPETITION
There are individual and TEAM prizes as follows:
Men The first eight men will count as your “A” team with the following five counting as a “B” team. The first four Masters will count as the Masters team.
Women The first five women will count as your “A” team with the following three counting as a “B” team. The first three Masters will count as the Masters team.
Masters Individual age groups: -

Women 35 / 45 / 55 / 65
Men 40 / 50 / 60 / 70
In the individual competition, the best four results will count.
Trophies will be awarded to the first three male and female open teams and the corresponding Masters teams. Masters will score for their open teams as well in their Masters team.
Individual trophies are awarded as follows:
Senior Men: M40, and M50 - first five places. M60 – first three; M70 - winner.
Senior Women: W35, and W45 - first five places. W55 – first three; W65 – winner.
Runners can only win individual trophies in their own age group. (In other words, Masters Competitors will only be able to win age-group trophies and not additional trophies as Senior Women or Senior Men. The thinking is that this will give more people an opportunity to win a trophy.)

WHY DO IT?
Apart from the point of view that it looks quite a lot of fun.....
- They are small intimate and friendly events
- Not too long races, not too far away
- Everyone could have the chance to contribute (remember that you don’t score if you don’t have a full team)
- Cross country is proven to approve your ability on smoother road surfaces
- It’s free
- It’s fun (did we mention that)
There are also a few in the club who have a passion for trails, scenery and the occasional bit of mud. Harpenden has some great countryside to explore and planned cross-country running should, with luck, give you the confidence to go out discovering if you aren’t doing it already

Trent Park XC Race Report - November 20th

Race report for Trent Park

The word challenging was removed secretly from the race description distributed to all those not tempted by St Neots in order to tempt them into running at this little course near Cockfosters. There had been talk of rebellion from some quarters as it was rumoured to be nearer 6 miles and (god forbid) not all off road as it "wouldn't take a spike!"
Having scrambled around for a full team a hardy few turned up at the Amble which then swelled to a full compliment on arrival at the race - a few notable faces not having been seen since the race at Broxbourne.

Conditions were misty with the course 50% on tarmac and the rest on trails or grass. It was a 2 lap race of 5 miles, so you knew what to expect on the 2nd time around - which included a few ups and downs as usual.

A few tired legs from the Dirt Half the day before, some untrained legs and hangovers meant potentially slow times - but the whole team started flooding in from 25th position onwards.

In all, 23 runners completed which meant we managed to maintain or improve our lofty positions in nearly all team categories! It should be noted that the Men’s A Team (with only 2 Seniors) could have achieved 2nd place with 7 extra places over the team of 7! That is just one extra place each!

	Team	Broxbourne	Trent Park	Current Standing
Men	A Team	4th	4th	4th
	B Team	3rd	4th	3rd
	Masters	1st	1st	1st
Ladies	A Team	5th	4th	4th
	B Team	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Masters	9th	5th	8th

Full race results here: http://runherts.com/xc.htm

Pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/berniebarnaby/sets/72157628064416847/
Onwards and upwards to Dec 11th at Watford. Please contact Speirsy on simon_speirs@hotmail.com or UltraJ at johnmillen@hotmail.com to get on the entry list and details held here: http://speirsysrunningblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/sunday-xc-league-race-3-watford.html

Remember it is free and everyone is (apparently) enjoying it.

Great team event - everyone counts as we now have points for at least 5 teams plus the club! Any no shows for any team means 1000 places added to those who have turned up - demoting them to the bottom of the list!

Sunday XC League - Race 3 Watford December 11th

Details received from Watfrod Joggers.  Potential entry list at the bottom of the blurb.

Location Watford Joggers - Cassiobury Park
Time:  10:30am

Start and finish near the Langley Way entrance. WD17 3BA

Route as previous years, a loop in the park, then up the Lime Walk, before dropping down into the woods for 2 laps, returning back up the hill and retracing the route back, and the loop in the park.

The only running on the tarmac path will be to cross the river and canal bridges. We will keep out of the way of those seeking a more gentle experience in the park.

Please remind your runners that there are other people using the park and woods. We have permission, but not exclusive rights to run.

Please also advise your runners that we have no club house facilities. There are limited toilets in the park.

Parking is plentiful, with consideration, near to the park. There is a car park on the opposite side of the park, app half a mile from the start/fininsh. Watford Metropolitan Line station is the closest. Watford Junction is further, just a short warm up jog away.

There will be hills, there will be trees, there will be tree roots and low branches, there will be mud.

Attendees - and yes I know I am childish

MEN
Speirsy
UltraJ?
Tall Paul
Andrew Hill
Brucey
Graham Harper
Jamie Fisher
Lee Duscherer (nee Scott)
Lloyd Watson
Phil Jacobs
Mark Nelson
Dazerelli
Jamie Nathan
Andy Skyrme
James Bennett



LADIES
Laura Nathan
Joanne Richards
Annette Godfrey?
Jillian Russell?
Karen Wilkins
Jenny Birch
Georgie
Johjo maman bebe
Sarah Dumbrill
Dawn Burr
Joolz Scott (nee Duscherer)
Camilla Davison
Laura Nathan
Sarah England
Kate Speirsy?

Trent Park XC - 20th November

Event starts at 10:30am at Trent Park which is parkland right next to Cockfosters Tube station just north of Southgate.

Please see all the details below

Lift shares to be arranged, but probably meet at Amble Inn at 9:15am for a 9.20am departure?

Current attendees as follows:

MEN:

Speirsy

UltraJ

Richard Johnstone

Richard Bruce

Simon Kichener

Phil Jacobs

David Green

Jamie Fisher

Brian Yates

Tall Paul
Mark Nelson?
Steve Snaith
Lloyd Watson

Clive Borthwick?

LADIES:

Miranda

Camilla Davidson

Jen Finlay

Katherine Caris-Harris

Joanne Richards
Sarah Dumbrill
Jenny Birch?

Dawn Burr?

Trent Park Running Club

Sunday League Race, 10:30am start.

20^th November 2011

At Trent Park

Race Permit UKA Number 80/11

Trent Park Running Club is pleased to host the 2nd Sunday League Race.

Date:                           Sunday 20^th November 2011

Start time                    10:30am

Course                         A hilly, 2 lap course over the fields and paths of Trent Park, cross country or standard shoes should be fine; spikes are not suitable due to a section of concrete road. This is almost the same as 2 laps of the Trent Park Handicap course.

Distance                      Approximately 9k

Location                      Trent Park (see below for directions)

Changing                     None available please, come ready to run. Toilets situated in main Car Park near the Café. There will be no access to Southgate Hockey Club for runners.

Parking                        Please use the Trent Park car park off

Cockfosters Road

near the Underground Station. Parking is limited so please share cars if possible.

Start and Finish           About 5 mins from the car park adjacent to the tarmac road known as The Pineapple. Please aim to be there in plenty of time so that the start is not delayed

Refreshments              It is hoped that the Café will be open

By public transport Trent Park is situated at the end of the Piccadilly Line. Alight at Cockfosters Station. The park entrance is about a 10 minute walk away.

By car, if you are coming from north London, the car park entrance to Trent Park is on the right, approx a third of a mile from Cockfosters Station. Approaching from the M25, take Junction 24 and head towards Southgate on the A111. It is about 2.5 miles from the motorway. Please be aware there is a speed camera in the built up area after you have descended the steep hill known as Stagg Hill. The nearest Post Code is (Cockfosters Tube station) is EN4 0DZ Grid Ref TQ280966

 www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=528108&y=196945&z=110&sv=528108,196945&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=558&ax=528108&ay=196945&lm=0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

XC Sunday 23rd October at Cheshunt Park 10:30am

Following on from our previous notes and the information on the AROs website, we now want to see how much real interest there is for some fun club Cross Country racing in October. A full intro to what is involved is on the website http://www.harpendenarorunners.co.uk/SunXC.asp The 1st event is on Sunday 23rd October 2011.  It is a 5 mile route, everyone is invited and more people we have the higher the potential ranking that we get for the men’s, women’s and club prizes.  We have to have a minimum number of people to be eligible to win.  EVERYONE can contribute! First fixture 2011 – 2012 Season Sunday 23rd October at Cheshunt Park 10:30am. Broxbourne Runners welcomes you to the first fixture of the 2011 – 2012 season on Sunday 23rd October AT THE NEW STARTING TIME OF 10:30AM as agreed at the AGM. The venue: Cheshunt Park, Park Lane, Cheshunt, Herts, EN7 6QD www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=534921&y=203816&z=0&sv=EN7+6QD&st=2&pc=EN7+6QD&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf There are no changing facilities but toilets and refreshments are available in the Golf Centre nearby. The course is the same as previous years, circa 5ml three circuits of the Park with the finish where kit is usually left (unsupervised). The start is in the adjacent field and is signed. Please let Simon_speirs@hotmail.com or johnmillen@hotmail.com know if you are interested in joining the growing number of men, women, of all ages and abilities who are going to have a go at least one of these events during the winter season. Please look out for further announcements, chat and an invitation to the event on the ARO Runners page on FACEBOOK.  Nearer the time we can also look at lift shares and the like..... Just a reminder of WHY DO IT? Apart from the point of view that it looks quite a lot of fun..... They are small intimate and friendly events Not too long races, not too far away Everyone could have the chance to contribute (remember that you don’t score if you don’t have a full team) Cross country is proven to approve your ability on smoother road surfaces It’s free It’s fun (did we mention that) WE ARE LOOKING TO MEET AT THE AMBLE INN, ON STATION ROAD AT 8:50AM TO LEAVE AT 9:00AM ON SUNDAY.  Email John or Simon if you want / need lifts. Speirsy and UltraJ

Sunday League Rules

1.                  TITLE

The name of the League shall be the “Sunday Cross Country League.”

2.                  DEFINITION

The words “Executive Committee” (hereinafter referred to as the Executive) relates to the management committee of the Sunday Cross Country League as elected at the Annual General Meeting.

3.                  OBJECTS

The objects of the League shall be: -

A)  The promotion of cross country running in accordance with the Laws of the Governing Bodies of British Athletics.

4.                  MEMBERSHIP

The League shall consist of:-

Any club acceptable to the League and the governing bodies of British Athletics and that conforms to object 3(a) above, on payment of the annual affiliation fee.

5.                  OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Officers of the League shall be the General Secretary, Treasurer and Results Secretary.  All Officers shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

6.                  ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

An Annual General meeting shall be held in April or May and written notice shall be given, by the General Secretary, to all members clubs at least 21 days before the meeting

The business of the meeting shall be;-

A)  To receive and approve the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and those of any Extraordinary General Meeting not already approved.

B)    To receive and approve the General Secretary’s annual report.

C)    To receive and approve the Accounts, Balance Sheet and Auditors’ Report.

D)    To elect the General Secretary, Treasurer and Results Secretary as proposed by the members.

E)     To agree dates and venues for the coming season.

F)     To consider properly places motions as stated in the agenda.

7.                  LEAGUE RULES

A)    All races shall be held within the laws and rules of the governing bodies of British Athletics and such local rules as the Executive shall determine.

B)    Each hosting club shall be responsible for the course, marshals and officials.

C)    There will be a combined race for men and women starting at 11.00am.  From the 2008/9 season, women and men will run in same distance in one combined race.

D)    The team scoring shall be the first eight men from each club and the first four women.  Masters/Veteran athletes will have their own team scoring, four for men and three for women, but they are also included in the senior competition.

8.                  ANNUAL AFFILIATION FEE

A)    The affiliation fee shall be an amount determined by a General Meeting of the League.

B)    No representative of a club whose fees are in arrears shall be entitled to vote at any General meeting of the League.

C)    The Executive shall have the power to suspend membership of, or expel from the League, any club whose affiliation fee is in arrears.

D)    Affiliation fees shall become due before the start of the first fixture.

9.                  RESIGNATION

Resignation for the League shall be in writing to the General Secretary.  Any club not having sent such notice on or before the start of the new cross country season shall be liable for the ensuing annual subscription applicable.

10.              ALTERATION TO THE RULES

No rule of the League shall be altered nor new rule passed except when TWO THIRDS of the persons attending and entitled to vote at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose vote in favour of the action.

11.              INTERPRETATION

A)    The Executive shall be responsible for any matter not directly covered by this Constitution and Rules and have the power to take appropriate action.

B)    The General Secretary shall send a copy of these Rules to every new club and subsequently any amendment to the Rules.  Every club shall be deemed to have received these Rules and shall be bound by them.