Archive for May 2009
Congratulations
16/05/2009 by Ivan.
Congratulations to Paul Murrin & his wife on the arrival of their baby girl Rowan born on the 2nd of May.
Sunday’s Fell Race
13/05/2009 by Dick.
The Sarn Helen race at Lampeter is the second race in our series of six. Don’t worry if you missed the first one at Mynydd Troed, you only have to run four to get amongst the prizes.
The Sarn Helen Hill Race classed as a Long race but with only! 3000ft of climb is only a B, so no need to carry kit. It seems to have everything and quoting from the entry form
“A race that combines the speed of road racing with the rigours of cross country and fell running over a challenging picturesque 16.5 miles. The terrain is a mixture of road, path and fell.“ So road shoes will do.
The organisers seems very friendly and assure us it is well marked with four drink stations.Start 11am at Lampeter Rugby Club. enter on the day ( GR 578487). We reckon an 8 o’c start from the Leis Ctre.
Club Champs Race - The Ridgeway 40 MT (Optional)
12/05/2009 by Ivan.
As preparation for this tuesdays Rose Inn a few harriers decided to put in a long run on the weekend……….
Report by Colin
This Club Champ Bonus Race was run by Andy Creber, Dick Finch, Rob Brown, James Blore and Colin Prosser and yes 2 whole bonus points for each runner - who wouldnt run 40 miles for that!
4 intrepid Chepstow Harriers set out from base camp (Chepstow Leisure Centre) driven by Head Coach Dick at 6.30am, taking a circuitous route to Overton Hill at the start of the Wessex Ridgeway. One even more intrepid harrier - Andy Creber (AC) - had headed directly for Streatley Youth Hostel - to get the coach back to the start so that we wouldn’t have to all run 80 miles there and back - thanks Andy!
Around 8.30am AC arrived at Overton Hill and following a photo opportunity we all set off at 8.30am which was more a clocking in card than Ready, Steady, Go!
The gentlemen’s agreement about running as a group slid a bit in the car and disappeared at the off and to be fair you really have to do your own pace on this run.
James sprinted off into the distance, and Dick and Andy stayed about equal to about two or three miles with me following fairly closely to begin with and Rob deciding to walk the first hill - which had been the initial plan just before we set off.
So, not wanting to spoil the story we all held our places to the end - the point of this is we all ran (and all walked) 40 miles!
The race includes competitive walkers who even if stoned or tripped up persist in running and runners, such as us, who despite outrageous support from some, persist in walking and the walkers did take some shaking off.
Including the finish there were 10 check points where you recorded a section time and also had the chance to refuel on all sorts of goodies from cake through fruit to mars bars and all just for seven and a half quid. The marshalls - or feeders - or confidential advisors - were so nice and supportive - when I laughed they laughed and when I wept they laughed - no really they were fantastic and we couldn’t have done it without them.
The scenery was nice and I will shortly upload some pics of mile 32 (Garmin based) although I would argue the ability of the rest of CH competitors to swear which mile this was - got a bit samey after 10!
I think most of us agree post 26.2 was where we had to start to dig in and 29-32 was for me so very hard and after that the last two (which lasted forever) was tarmac and fairly flat but with a road junction 100yds from the finish and I got held up by the lights and bikers and only just managed to scrape 8 hours dead up the steep ramp to the checkpoint finish - dragging half a potting shed I had hooked with my back pack.
At the finish the organisers were so attentive - telling you to sit down and bringing tea, cake, squash or anything else you wanted - Anne Goulding and her team met all our expectations! 
All of us were fairly amusing to watch moving round afterwards and the Landlady at the Catherine Wheel PH where Dick and Rob got a free pint of beer (an over 60 prize) initially thought we were a bit tipsy. AC and I had forgotten our wallets and waited in the beer garden, (James having received a better offer and moved on) considered ringing Childline, but eventually our elders blinked back into the sunlight and we headed for home.
This was a two stage journey from the end of the run back to the start and on to Chepstow and the enormity of our achievement hit home when AC delivered us back at Overton Hill start some 45 minutes later for the second leg back to the LC.
So we did it and lived to tell the tale.
Would we do another ultra - I would have to say yes - no one said they wouldn’t!!!!
Some pictures and other snippets about the event can be found on the bulletin board:
http://chepstowharriers.org.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&p=5319#p5319
The Week Ahead - 11 May
11/05/2009 by Dick.
This week starts with the first of the season’s Rose Inn series on Tuesday 7.30. Good luck if you’re running, thank you if you’re helping, and a lot of both if you’re helping and running. And don’t forget that you won’t go into the London Marathon place draw unless you’ve helped out in at least two races this year.
And on Thursday it’s the first Sea Wall run this season. Enjoy the experience of running under the Severn Bridge and views across to Bristol and Somerset - all for £25 pa: what fantastic value eh? But there’s more dear reader. Yes it’s Curry Night down at the old Bellhanger. Bargain prices and sparkling company. Be there … or be somewhere else. That £25 gives you such freedom of choice.
Hang on dear member, there’s yet more. The opportunity to win more points in Sue’s Fell Race series comes round on Sunday if you make the scenic trip down to Lampeter for the classic Sarn Helen race. At a mere 16.5 miles it’s a bit short for some of us who’ve grown to love the odd 40 miler, but definitely worth the journey. Watch this space for time and travel details from Sue.
Sorbrook 10k - Sunday 10th May
10/05/2009 by Ivan.
By Marianne
An excellent local race organised by Griffithstown in memory of Richard Davis.
This annual race seems to have its own weather system. Following a heatwave last year, this year’s race was again held in lovely (for those not running) sunshine. The hills are tough, even for those of us that live and run regularly in Chepstow and it is difficult to find any flat parts to the course. It is definitely not a 10k to do for PB hunters or new runners. Following the race’s inclusion in the club championship last year, the motivation to it again this year was about confirming whether it really was as tough as I remembered! Lets just say that it lived up to its expectation.
Seven Harriers and three supportes made the journey over to Croesiceiliog. I was a little shocked to see Dick at the race headquarters following yesterdays 40 miler but was thankful to hear he was supporter for the morning (well done to all of the 40 milers - a brilliant achievement).
Mark H, who was struggling with the over indulgence of a night out was the first Harrier home in an impressive 5th place, followed by myself (now too old to drink the night before a race….), Bill S, Brenda, Geoff B, Syd and Jane B. Matt has been reminding me all day that I was beaten by a 16 year old girl, but she was very quick….!
It was good to see the Harriers bringing home a collection of prizes due to the race doubling up as an East Wales championship. Eric - thanks for the organisation of this.
Well done everyone and thanks also to Dick, Bob and Matt for the support. It was an enjoyable ‘Harriers’ morning out. Official race results aren’t available yet.
Trophies For Harriers
10/05/2009 by Dick.
Led by our Club Captains, Chepstow brought home a variety of trophies and medals today.
Women’s Skipper Lou won the Female Vet prize in the notoriously tough Blaenavon Triathlon, while Skippy Mark took the Senior Men’s gold in the first East Wales Championships at the Sorbrook 10k.
In the same race Marianne was 2nd overall and silver medallist in the EW Champs. Brenda, Jane B, Geoff B and Syd also came away with East Wales medals. Well done all!
LCL Series Road Race - Chepstow May 5th
07/05/2009 by Ivan.
Race Report by Leo Cohen
I got to the start line healthily dreading what was to come. I was glad to see that no one else in the know seemed too pleased either. The weather was fine – a little cool, but well suited to hard work ahead.
There was a good crowd at the start. It was a relief to start and the first mile flew by. Then there was Ticken Hill. Predictably, a stream of people surged past me. The joy at reaching the top end was short-lived as the pace picked up again. The cheering marshals helped keep my spirits up on the way round – thanks to the Wrights, Mark English and all the others.
Things slowed a little on the A48, but turning back into the lanes, cheering marshals geed me up again and I managed a good pace back to Mounton. When I got to the bottom of the hill, I employed a Runner’s World strategy – look down and pretend it’s flat – this was fine until I realised I’d almost slowed to a standstill.
At the bottom of Hospital Hill, I recalled numerous sprints and decided to have a go, but there was nothing left – I desperately needed to walk. Literally 2 steps into it, I got a teacherly shouting at from Dave so managed to start running again and found the last bit of energy to get up the hill and across the finish line.
I’m glad that the next race on this course isn’t for another year!
Well done to all those who ran, there were far to many for me to remember. We just wait now with baited breath for the results. When they become available they will appear on the events page of the website : http://www.chepstowharriers.org.uk/events.htm
The Week Ahead - 4 May
04/05/2009 by Dick.
It’s all races this week, starting with the first Summer Leis Ctre League race on Tuesday at home in Chepstow. All Club members are invited to take part. Don’t forget your race number, or if it’s your first ever LCL race get one from Syd who’ll be at the Leisure Ctre at 7. Allow at least 10 minutes to jog to the 7.30 start in the lane leading down to Mounton (what we call Hospital Hill).
The 3rd Handicap is on Thursday. Meet at the Leis Ctre at 7 to share cars to ease parking difficulties at Chep Pk Wd. First off at 7.15.
And on Sunday it’s the first of the East Wales Championship series, the Sorbrook 10k near Cwmbran. Enter on the day at the old Oasis Club (renamed Glan yr Afon) Edlogan Way Cwmbran. NP44 2JJ. Race starts at 11, but it’s a good mile away from the entry HQ. Further details on Griffithstown Harriers web site.
First Meet for C H Juniors at Newport Stadium - by Izzy and Arran
02/05/2009 by Lou.
On Saturday 25th April the junior harriers aged 9 - 14 took their first trip to a competition, which was held in Spytty stadium,
Newport. Luckily it didn’t rain during the day, but was very cold and windy. Other clubs went, ranging from Newport themselves to all the way from
Hereford! Chepstow Harriers entered the stadium with an impressive team of 13 star athletes; these were Izzy,
Arran, Manni, Luke, Ben, Rob James, Beth, Clara, Scott, Will and Rob George, Polly and Georgie.
Some spectacular achievements go to Izzy Godfrey for a second in the girls under 15s 300m and for her 1st in the girls 800m, Arran Cambell for his amazing third in his first experience ever in the boys under 15s hammer, Beth Rymer for bravely competing in the girls under 13s gigantic hurdles, Ben Bonsor for coming 3rd in the boys under 15s 1500m and lastly, but by no means least Clara Zorab for her 4th place in the girls under 13s 100m.
We have now been to a big event and know what to expect, so we can start thinking about trying to win even more events. A big thank you to Lou, Dick, Ivan and James for their time and effort put into this event and also a big thank you to Newport Harriers for hosting this exciting event.
