Cross Country 2012 / 2013

As we did so well last year, we are aiming to do the Sunday League again for the 2012/13 season to try and repeat or improve the great performances from last season.

RESULTS FROM 2011/12

Full results are at http://www.runherts.com/xc.htm but we in this last season we achieved the following:

Teams:
Ladies A     4th
Ladies B     n/a
Ladies Vets 7th

Mens A       3rd
Mens B       3rd
Mens Vets   1st

Individual Ladies:

• Seniors:  
• Camilla was 1st across the 5 races
• Sarah Dumbrill just out of the medals in 6th and Hannah in 10th with only 3 races!!!!
• Vets:  
• Jen Finlay and Louise could have been up in the Top 5-10 in their categories, but were unable to do the full 4 races in their categories.  
• Georgie was 2nd in her category!

Individual Men:

• Seniors:  
• John Millen and Richard Johnstone were the only Senior men to score on 3 races
• Vets:  
• Richard Bruce was unable to complete a 5th and improve his 6th position whilst Speirsy got 3rd
• Viddy got 3rd in his cateogory with a close battle between Graham and Simon Kitchener lower down the field
• Norman and Brian managed 11th and 15th respectively in the MV60 - with only doing 3 of the 5 races required! 

 
We relied on a good turnout to be able to count towards the team prizes and achieved this on most of the races - with a top turnout on a couple of the races.  The ladies, however, did not manage to get a full B team out on one occasion and so did not have enough to compete later in the season - despite the improved turnout later in the season.

THE 2012/2013 FIXTURES

The fixtures for the coming season are:-

Oct 28th:    Broxbourne (parkland course)
Nov 25th:   Grovelands (parkland course) NB.  Same day as FLORENCE so need a lot of help for this one
Dec 9th:      St Albans Striders (parkland course)
Jan 13th:     Royston (lovely rolling chalkland)
Feb 17th:    Watford Joggers (woodland New Clubhouse)

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.

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 is no entry - it is FREE (well the £50 club fee is paid by Arrows)
• 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.

WHY DO IT?

Apart from the point of view that it IS A LOT OF FUN.....

• They are small intimate and friendly (but competitive) 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

THE RULES

All the full rules for Sunday Cross Country League from RunHerts: http://www.runherts.com/index.htm

But some in summary:

• 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.)

Herts County VETS Championships 18th March 2012

BTW........ we won - comfortably.....  :-)
 Champions of Herts.

http://www.hertscaaa.org.uk/results.htm



Here are the teams (named appropriately I think?)

Ladies:  The One and Only....
Louise Crosby: FV45 well done her for giving it a go!

MV60:  Still going....
Brian, Clive and Norman

MV40-59:  Spring Chickens
Viddy, Jim, Andrew, Steve & me
OK so Viddy is MV50, but eligible for MV40 and he runs like a teenager so can be on our team.  Also, I have promised Andrew he can go and get the prize if we win....

1st three in categories and teams will get prizes

Routes:  I believe these, not what is in the competitors info.

• Ladies and MV60 will do 3.6 miles (one loop)
• MV40-59 will do 6 miles (was 5.6 on the Sunday League XC)

Competitors info:
 http://www.hertscaaa.org.uk/Herts%20County%20Vets%20XC%20Champs%202012%20Tewin%20-%20Competitor%20information.pdf Some more details here:  http://www.hertscaaa.org.uk/2012%20xc%20veterans%20prospectus.pdf
Location here:  http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=527155&Y=214695&A=Y&Z=3

I will be taking Viddy, Lou and Jim (can't remember now if agreed to take Steve / Andrew - please advise).  Certainly will have room on way back as V & L are running back to Harpenden....!!!

I will be aiming to leave at 9am to give plenty of time to assess the course.  Normal shoes last time were OK but a bit slippy, so off road if possible.  I am going to see if I can use my spikes again this season....  even though it is not recommended...

Questions: 

1)  Has everyone got an Arrows Vest?  We may need to get one borrowed if needed for anyone missing one.  Will be good for the photo if nothing else
2)  Anyone got a decent camera that can be operated by a numpty (that's all we may get to take the photo)

Speirsy

PS I won't be hanging around long as have been given an ear basing for being out on Mother's day already and have to get back to cook a roast!


Mens's results 2011:  http://www.hertscaaa.org.uk/2011%20Veterans%20xc%20results%20M40%20and%20M50.pdf
http://www.hertscaaa.org.uk/2011%20Veterans%20xc%20results%20M60.pdf

Women's results 2011:  http://www.hertscaaa.org.uk/2011%20Veterans%20xc%20results%20Women.pdf

More to follow.....

Wasdale Warriors - Shorts go North to meet Twitter friends

Thursday 2nd Feb

Quick ride over to John's (nice enough - but needs a lick of paint to be sorted out by Mark later in the week). Swap cars, argue with a refuse lorry then on way to M40. Stop just above Manchester ship canal then last slog to Wasdale. School run coaches in the way hinders progress but we arrive at the Joss Naylor pilgrimage location. Very nice!  No signal for anything - tv, radio or phone.  So kit on and out before light fails.  Straight up YewBarrow to back of cottage.  Cut through a cleft in the initial peak to get to false ridges getting into the snow line.  1st cairn - but only at 617m. so progress to the one ahead at 650m.  Drop down slowly now as getting dark.  No head torch for Mark so #1fail.  No spikes for Speirs #1fail and Mark #2fail.  John has both but major slips on ice #2fail.  All get wet feet from stepping through ice into boggy ground - later to be known as splungen.  All home safe.

Yewbarrow

Hot cross buns (hot), biscuits and tea.  Off to Wasdale Head Inn for dinner. John spoils #fishuary with steak pie (he's allowed it is a leap year and anyway he'd accidentally eaten pastrami earlier in the day). Speirsy overdoses on YewBarrow beer (a whole 3 pints) and gets a telling off for putting more logs on the fire, Mark waxes lyrical on trials of getting a Greek doctor to sign the right paperwork to get a dog into the country....  Northern contingent were a no show at the pub #lotsoffails

Friday 3rd Feb
Very dark and very quiet night's sleep.  @Pylon and @DingDingBell arrived during evening.  Hearty breakfast and packed to go out.  Speirsy the only one in shorts.

Up YewBarrow to Red Crag and then Scoat Fell.  A little ridge walk in 6" snow to Steeple to bag another close Wainwright.  Over to Pillar where Speirsy had to hide behind the trig point from the wind while the guys chatted to a few other walkers in the full gear and crampons.

Speirsy, Paul, Davie and Mark

Over to Kirk Fell then dropping down the snow covered scree to the valley that separates Kirk Fell from the Gables.  A quick descent down to Wasdale Head through the snow covered scree and the yelps from @Pyllon.  Navigating through fields and farms proved problematic and so 1st time to be lost in a field.  Bronze award Mark quick to point out he had not been in charge.  Speirsy had eaten nearly all his food and needed more so ran home in front of the others.

Descent into Wasdale Head

#fails of day included 1 tumble by @Dingdongbell and a couple by @Pyllon. All else seemed to go to plan.  Lots of technology up on fells including navigation machines, Blackberries, iPhones and cameras.  More faffing than expected for fell running..  Wasdale Inn again in the evening.  @Dingdongbell not hungry so he just had fish and chips.  @runner786 turns up at 9ish.  Apparently tonight the fire can be fed by anyone, but Speirsy stays shy and leaves to Mark.  The Fell walkers from earlier in the day on Pillar go back to their tents a lot earlier than we would have expected.

Saturday 4th Feb
Woke up to grey skies, wind and white caps on Wast Water.  A lot of milling around as our next door neighbours had a leisurely lie in until after 9am.  Some hint of snow in the air and expecting wind chill to minus 10 degrees (according to John).  Shorter route with 3 Wainwrights expected with potential to add more if it cleared up.

@Pyllon no good as a wind break

Jog down road west away from Wasdale Head.  Pass one craggy outcrop without a name, then up the valley to the side of the brook. A slow but methodical ascent, with the occasional debate to where the hell we were and what the hills were called around us.  For once, @johnnny_M was right and the hill to our right was not YewBarrow.  But he did make us turn too early (one gill to early) straight up alongside a frozen stream.  Quite vertical but still with grass and no snow yet.  Into the clouds with a need for compass bearings and machines to get us to the top of the dome of Seatallon.  See here for conditions and iPhone juggling by Marko.  Some debate whether we really made it all all anyway.  Snow was about 4" deep at worst - but now horizontal as well.  We dropped off the dome down a steep but smooth, snow covered side down to the left of the tarn picking up a larger path eventually that led to the many summits of Middlefell (many as we kept discovering new ones).

Chilling out at the top of Seatallon

Some debate what to do next, but we agreed to go down the pass towards the valley between us and Buckbarrow and then skirt around to Buckbarrow for our last Wainwright of the day.  The snow had lifted a little, but we could see that the ascent to Whinrig then to Illfell would have been a little treacherous with the ridge under snow and the wind carrying more in it. A quick couple of hot cross buns (not hot) and a quick descent to the road.  Having been reminded that we were "ultra runners" by @runner786, we plodded back some along the slush and what now became rain.  Only a total of 10.5m for the day but had extracted the best out of the time we'd had on the hills.  Mr Bronze (Mark) had broken his compass, @Dingdongbell had tried to tell him his map was upside down, @pyllon took another tumble but no-one noticed and Speirsy kept his shorts on (all three pairs) keeping up his "wearing shorts all year" challenge for 2012.

Return by 2:30pm to polish off remaining food (carried but not eaten), drink copious amounts of tea, fall asleep and await the visit to the pub.  All eat at the pub and talk copious amounts of blarney about shoes, races and other sh*te.

For @thespeirsies, up early on Sunday morning for a leisurely trot around to the end of the lake only to suffer a twisted ankle on the roots by the YHA.   Ibruprofen for the snowy journey home. 

In the words of Joss Naylor "Happy days"

Photo by @Pyllon from Bowerdale Cottage

Sunday XC League - Race 5 2011/12: 19th Feb Royston

We hope that you can make it!

There is going to be prize giving after the race for teams and individuals.  We are definitely in the running for 2-3 team prizes and potential awards for Camilla, Sarah, Jen, David, Richard Bruce and perhaps Norman (who sadly can't make it).

Let's try and get some great team photos - we are hoping to get a mention of this in the local rag (with luck) - so bring your best smiley faces

Based on the postcode below will take 50 mins to get there.  Looks like an earlier start to normal - suggest 8:45am for a 9.00am departure from the Amble Inn at the bottom of Station Road.

1) Sarah - flasks for everyone this time please

2) Tarpaulins for kit - just in case of rain

3) Anything else????

Keep an eye on the facebook page for Arrows for futher spot announcements.

Message on here or email me:  simon_speirs@hotmail.com

NOTICE FROM SUNDAY LEAGUE ORGANISERS

This is the final Sunday League race for this season.  The event will be hosted by Royston Runners and will be held on Therfield Heath, Royston.  The Race HQ will be The Heath Sports Centre, Baldock Road, Royston, SG8 5BG.  The Centre has good changing and showering facilities.  It also has a licensed bar that serves food. 

Following the race, we'll have the presentation of the trophies to the leading individuals and clubs. Inevitably, it takes a while to work out 
who's won what, but I hope that as many of you as possible will stay on for the Presentations.

This is a joint race, starting at 10.30am

Both women and men will run about 5.5 miles.  There will be one small lap and two large laps.  The course is mostly across open downland and is very hilly.  It is suitable for spikes, studs or trail shoes.

Please note that all muddy footwear must be removed before entering the sports centre, especially spikes.

The centre management would appreciate it if runners would use the rear entrance, nearest the tennis courts, to access the changing areas. This will enable the reception area to remain clear.

End of season presentation of trophies to the winning clubs and individuals will take place after the race.

Travel: Car – parking is available at the Heath, but is limited due to other sporting activities taking place most weekends; car sharing is recommended.  Train – from King’s Cross to Royston station. The Heath is 15 minutes walk from the station – please check Sunday service before leaving.    

• Baldock Rd, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 5BG
• Park at leisure centre.
• Approx 5.5 miles. 2 laps of grassland. Not normally muddy. Some hills both long and short. May be frosty.
• Showers and café at leisure centre. 10.30 start for men and ladies in one race.

Race Report: Sunday XC League 15th Jan

A great turnout.....

The Wrong Shoes.....

An amazing turn out by everyone - must have been the promise of a 6 mile run, the prospect of hard ground because of low rainfall and frost and a potential flat course.  So false expectations all around then..  There was a short killer hill - I defy anyone not to have walked at least a couple of steps and very slippy and slidy where the sun had melted just the surface mud.  At least the race was SHORTER than forecast!  Definitely, however, a case for trail shoes.  Apologies for calling it wrong and a few following my lead!

A great effort by everyone in the sun!  Hannah made her return and there were a new number of faces including Steph, Jim, David Mo, Tim Munchkin and John with BenK potentially doing his testimonial race in an Aro's vest before leaving to Scotland's hills...(well not quite a testimonial nor in an Aro's vest.)  UltraJ also came to support back from Tring RC to keep score and offer calf amd achilles healing advice.  Sorry to anyone if I miss them out.

Full results will be added to this in due course, but it was a strong show by the men and more ladies than expected meant they could have turned in at least 3 teams - A, B and ladies Vets.  Pity low numbers for them for earlier races in the season mean the ladies B won't score this time - all to play for next season.

One point of note:  a small jibe from the organisers that there was a contingent of people not wearing Harpenden Arrows kit.  (They were put right in terms of us renaming the club, etc. meaning a recent lack of investment in new kit).  So, although not compulsory, probably great if we can make a big show of getting the kit sorted for next season (if not before).

Next stop?  Fred's Huge 10m on Jan 22nd and then the 5th and final XC for the series in Royston on Feb 19th.  Get a longer pass on the 19th - I hear awards are made that day for individuals and clubs.

Photos here
Results here

But a summary for us:

Ladies'
Welwyn Results: 3rd Ladies A and 5th Ladies Masters
Overall results: 3rd Ladies A and 7th ladies vets.

Men's 
Welwyn results: Won A Team, 2nd B team and won Masters
Overall results: Men's A 3rd, Men's B 2nd and Winning Masters

Combined teams: 3rd

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