Archive for April 2008
Results of Griffithstown LCL race
30/04/2008 by Andy.
Now available - well done (and thanks) to all who turned out - we won both team events, so sit proudly at the top of the early season table, the women are also leading the combined XC/road championship.
LCL Griffithstown 2008
Next up - Cwmbran Stadium, 6th May, 7:30pm start. All runners needed!
Race the Train Club Trip & Championship August 15th - 17th
29/04/2008 by Andy.
If there is anyone else who would like to camp could you please give a £10 deposit to Lou tonight please!
Offa’s Orror 2008
27/04/2008 by Gerry.
The weather was better than I expected, the race went without a hitch and a good time was had by all. Well done to Martin Pengilly as the race director and to all his team.
The website has been updated with the results but you can also find them here:
Results
Links to Pictures -
Start
First Steep Descent
Lemmings Leap
Finish
Presentations
Club Handicap 24th April
21/04/2008 by Andy.
The second event in the Handicap series will take place at 6:45pm on Thursday 24th April.
Your best three results from the four events will go towards your overall score - though as usual prizes are also awarded on the night.
See Handicap 24Apr08 for the start times.
Leisure Centre League - Tuesday 22nd April
20/04/2008 by Andy.
The first event in the annual Leisure Centre League Road Race series will take place this Tuesday, 22nd April, starting at the Glan Yr Afon (formerly Oasis Club) on Edlogan Way in Cwmbran (http://www.griffithstownharriers.co.uk/racesleisureleague.htm).
EDIT: this link http://www.goodrunguide.co.uk/RaceDetails.asp?RaceID=152 might help too!
According to the Griffithstown page, it would appear that guest runners are, sadly, not allowed to take part - so it is First Claim Chepstow runners only. 
Meet at Chepstow Leisure Centre ready to leave at 6:30pm, or go straight to the venue - race starts at 7pm.
All runners must take their Leisure Centre League number (same one as for the recent Cross Country season) - if you don’t have a number get there early and ask Syd to allocate you one. If you’ve lost your number, Syd may have a spare, otherwise scrawl it on a piece of paper and pin that to your vest.
If you’ve got one, club vests are a good idea!
See you there…
Club Handicap
11/04/2008 by Gerry.
Thanks to Vanessa and the other helpers. Results posted. Handicap Page
Post Handicap Pint / Curry
09/04/2008 by Gerry.
Once you’ve done the Handicap on 10th April all are welcome at The Bell Hanger for a celebration, commiseration, feedback drink and / or curry.
Lou.
Edit: actually, you don’t have to have run the Handicap to come along to the Bellhanger - friends, Romans and countrymen are all invited. People ought to start arriving from 8:30pm, with food apparently available until 11pm there’s plenty of time to get the protein/carbs re-loading started…
Chedworth 10 - Club Champs
06/04/2008 by Gerry.
From Ivan
For all of us lucky enough to make the April edition of the club champs it all began by waking up to snow in Chepstow – as we all know that doesn’t happen very often and normally means there must be a ‘shed load’ of snow everywhere else! However for once this wasn’t the case, and what there was melted quickly… aaah.
On a personal front I wasn’t running but was happy to dish out advice along the lines of ‘you won’t need many layers, you’ll heat up running!! – no thermals required. Although after walking over to the hall and back to the car – I along with many others were changing thier opinions on this. Except as ever for Lou who stripped off to the customary crop top ready for the start.
Meanwhile – I got my bike out of the car ready for a nice easy cycle to strategic locations to spectate and take photos.
Race started at 11.00 – pretty promptly I believe, first vantage point was at the end of the first road section (after ~1k), by which point the field was spread enough so that cornering appeared pretty accident free. No surprises that Martin came through at this point as the leading harrier – closely followed by ‘Satnav Mark’ and all of the usual suspects thereafter, Sam and Lou had already begun what would become a battle of downhill vs. uphill speed which would change frequently throughout the 10 miles.
Next point was the first road crossing of the race, by which point Satnav had pulled something out of the bag and snuck past Martin (suffering from a chest infection I believe) with Matthew Stott chasing them down, Steve.H with Matthew.L closely in pursuit. Lou had pulled ahead of Sam, Pete.H chasing Becky.M, Gerry.A pushing hard to stay in front of Sue.A (carrying an injury I believe – sorry Gerry) with further battles still going in the field, Dave.A closely pursuing Geoff.B with I believe Jenni & Vanessa close behind. (Sorry Jenni for one reason or another totally failed to get any pictures). Oh and of course Grubby and Aunty Mary were having a great battle of wills!
Another road crossing – just after the first (I think) proper hill, steep (and long as I have been told – didn’t look very long to me on the OS map!) – Grubby & Matthew I know you’ll be saying they weren’t hills – mere inclines! Everyone was looking a bit slower at this point but looking forward (if they were aware) to a long downhill section through woodland. Titanic battle … – Sam had forged her way past Lou on the uphill section and reached the road just in front, this must have changed once again in the following downhill.
Then they had a good long downhill section – which must have been pretty quick as I didn’t quite have time to get to the next point to see the leading Chepstow runners passing through the ‘river’ crossing (ok it’s not what we’d normally call a river – living by the Severn & the Wye). I guess the photo’s will speak for themselves at this stage. I believe this was probably at about the 6/7 mile mark with a few more hills en route back towards the finish.
All in all a great day and good performances all over and enjoyed by most (I think), as ever the women out performed the men picking up prizes in SL 2nd (Sam.M), FV35 1st (Becky.M), FV40 1st (Louisa.S), FV50 2nd (Sue.A), FV55 2nd (Jane.B) and the Women’s team prize. The Mens team were as ever well represented by Syd picking up MV70 1st, and despite the lack of other individual placings managed to secure the team prize as well.
Link to Results
Link to Ivan’s Pictures
Training: 3rd April 2008
03/04/2008 by Andy.
Tonight’s run is a practice loop of the Handicap course, ahead of next week’s race.
There will be a group leaving the leisure centre at 6:15pm to run to the start (about 3 and a half miles on the road, shorter if you go cross-country).
Alternatively, meet at Chepstow Park Woods car park at 7pm for the run.
Hope you can make it!
Sustrans lower Wye Valley path - consultation open
01/04/2008 by Andy.
Planning applications for the proposed Sustrans’ shared use path from Tidenham - Tintern - Brockweir have recently been resubmitted to the Forest of Dean District and Monmouthshire County Councils.
The proposed route will provide an improved surface path for walkers, runners and cyclists from Tidenham along the disused Wye Valley railway line through Tidenham tunnel and along the eastern bank of the Wye to Tintern, where a new pedestrian bridge will link to the Monmouthshire bank of the river where the path will continue to Brockweir.
The path will provide a safe and direct link between the Chepstow area and the lower Wye valley villages in the Tintern area. Chepstow Harriers already regularly ‘run the tunnel’ in summer months and it is anticipated that the route will provide improved off-road access to and from the valley for members, their families and other local residents.
If you wish to write in support of the application, contact the Forest of Dean District Council at planning@fdean.gov.uk quoting ‘Sustrans Planning Application P1597/07/FUL’ and referring to the application in Tidenham Parish.
Alternatively, you may use the FODDC website to submit comments directly via the following link:
http://www.fdean.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_ID=200&ID=13332&RefVal=63721&state=nocache
I have been informed that the consultation period ends on 16th April 2008, however I would encourage any comments to be submitted at the earliest possible opportunity.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Note: A parallel application was filed with Monmouthshire County Council on 26th March. We are awaiting details of their consultation period, however once known, corresponding comments may be submitted to planning@monmouthshire.gov.uk quoting ‘Sustrans Planning Application 2008/00367. I shall endeavour to provide an update once this is known. The very curious may wish to keep an eye on the MCC registered application lists at:
http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/Monmouth/English/Environment_and_Planning/Planning_Building_Moving/Planning_Applications
Click on Weekly Lists, consultation deadline will be ‘Valid Date’ + 3 weeks)
