Archive for July 2009
Islwyn’s 20th Scenic 7
17/07/2009 by Lou.
Wednesday evening 11 Harriers headed to Cwmcarn for Islwyn’s 20th Scenic 7. Thanks to Islwyn RC for organising a great race – encouraging marshals, water brought to you at the finish and a free polo shirt. Thank you.
The race start felt more crowded than I had expected with 160 runners starting the race but the gradient soon spread us out! The setting made the three mile climb from the start line almost ok!
After that the race was fantastic - undulating for about 2 miles with some steep ups and downs and stunning views around Twmbarlwm Tump. The last 2 miles were largely downhill which is how all races should finish; after the slog some fast, exciting, uplifting, free miles. Thanks for that.
Commiserations to Ivan who had to pull out due to a knee injury – hope it’s better soon Iv.
As usual Mark had a fantastic run and came 7th in 44:27, Marianne flies on as first female (22nd overall ) in 48:15, and Matt Creed was 35th in 50:49, respect.
There were also some great runs from the mortals:
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22
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0:48:15
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GITTOES, Marianne
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Fancy something different…
16/07/2009 by Ivan.
all you harriers out there - we know you are all adventurous in many ways, fancy trying something different for charity…. how about abeiling off the transporter bridge in newport in aid of the St David’s foundation hospice care…….
abseil_-_transporter_bridge.pdf
MAGOR MARSH PARKING
14/07/2009 by Ivan.
To ALL runners in the Magor Marsh. If the weather forcast is to be believed there is a good chance we will not be able to park on the grass at the football club. Therefore in order to make things easier for everyone - marshalls,local community & runners (so you don’t have as far to walk!) please do your best to share transport to the event.
CHEPSTOW HARRIERS members - please where at all possible meet at the leisure centre at 9.00am and travel in as few cars as possible.
Thank you for your help.
The Week Ahead - 13 July
13/07/2009 by Dick.
Away from home all this week folks. Rose Inn Tuesday: not too late to offer Andy M-W your services. Good Club members will want to help at one of the races especially if they’d like to run one or more of them.
Wed eve is the next East Wales Championship race, the Scenic 7. An unusual race on closed roads in the Cwmcarn Country Park, the first half goes up and the second half comes down. £7 on the night and a race polo shirt thrown in. Meet at Leis Ctre 5.30, race starts at 7.
Following Stottie’s marvellous evening on the Brockweir trails, Colin is now offering a jaunt around Wentwood on Thursday. Taking in a gentle ascent of Gray Hill and some ancient ruins (yes the Committee will be there) the run ends with liquid refreshments courtesy of Mr Prosser. Bring some eats to help the drink down. Meet at Leis Ctre 7pm to share cars.
Best of luck to all running or helping at Magor Marsh Sunday. Don’t forget parking will be very restricted, so walk, cycle, roller skate, skateboard, landyacht, hitch a lift, anything but drive alone…
What a Wonderful Weekend!
12/07/2009 by Dick.
Got back from the first Club Training Weekend this afternoon tired, happy and dry!. Despite a Saturday late afternoon/evening/night of rain, a goodly bunch of Harriers and families had a whale of a time at a marvellous camp site just a jog through the flower-covered dunes from the sea.
Andy C, aided by his glamourous assistant - daughter Charlie - put on a beautifully planned and executed programme that was much enjoyed and appreciated by all. Three cheers for the Crebers!
Yes there were some excellent training runs and workshops for the serious runner, but all the youngsters from under 12 months onwards were included in the fun, sport and games. From giant paddling pool to junior orienteering courses to campfire-toasted marshmallows to party games to an all-inclusive quiz etc etc there was no time or opportunity for kids (or adults) to get bored.
Even a slight drizzle on Friday night couldn’t put a damper on the campfire BBQ. And though we were driven under cover on Saturday night the all-age teams contested the games with such enthusiasm and competitiveness that Mr C had a job keeping some of the keenest players from settling the contested points by force of arms!
People we thought we knew well displayed some surprising talents. Even Jane R’s Dave was forced to say “I never knew you could do that Jane” when she demonstrated her event-winning body-flexing in the picking-up-the-cut-down-cornflake-packet-with-your-teeth contest. And daughter Beth was nearly as good. Charlie C also showed great body control at the climax of this game but overbalanced at the crucial moment due to being, as she herself said, “top-heavy!”- something I hadn’t noticed before (ahem).
Other hidden talents included off-road skills from Caroline, Jane and Suzie, who however was reluctant to try her stream-crossing technique for fear of wetting her marathon shoes because she needed them dry for Abingdon in October… She later had a small whinge when she had to wet her second dry pair in crossing the stepping stones by Ogmore castle. Perhaps she needed them for a race in 2010?
We started with a small select band on Friday but the Saturday arrivals swelled numbers to a nice size. Credit to all who still came despite leaving home in the rain.
So good to have a hot, drying sun on Sunday morn. A run round the Xmas pud course including the Big Dipper sand dune rounded off a great weekend. When my chauffeur Savage Bill & I drove away Mr C and daughter were still putting the last few things away. I think all who went will join me in saying thanks Andy & Charlie for a brilliant effort. So much planning, preparation and sheer hard work were really appreciated by everyone.
Let’s hope we do it again next year. We just had to turn up with a tent and some food (though Postman Pat managed to get away with neither) and enjoy!
Fell Series - how it’s looking so far in July
08/07/2009 by Ivan.
Gerry & Sue, have put together the results so far as the standings are currently looking for July - following the Charmouth Race……..
Fell Series - July So Far
Don’t forget to try and fit a fell race in this month and make sure you let Gerry or Sue know.
The Week Ahead - 6 July
06/07/2009 by Dick.
Ivan is Coach of the Month, and following the inventive pyramid of last Thurs, he’s offering a track session on Tuesday - 4X1200 metres.
The alternative is a timed recce of the Magor Marsh 10k. Your chance to try the new course under Suzie’s watchful eye. Meet at Leis Ctre 7pm to drive to Undy for 7.30 start.
A special treat for Thursday. Gill Stott will take us round her favourite course in Brockweir, with birthday cake to follow. Bring along some eats and a drink to celebrate Stottie’s day. Meet at Leis Ctre 7pm to share cars.
Then the big weekend! Our first ever training weekend at the camping site at Merthyr Mawr, near Bridgend. You’ve all had Andy C’s letter by post and email, so I’ll just say that it promises to be a fun and incident-packed couple of days and nights with good weather ‘promised’ by Mr C. Absolutely free. Come for as long as you like, but come!
Bev and Claire’s Ironman + Saunders Mountain Marathon by James
06/07/2009 by Lou.
Massive well done to Bev and Claire today for finishing an ironman. Claire was 44th in her category and Bev 10th. Fantastic effort guys. I hope you aren’t feeling too sore. I think it’s an amazing achievement (you wouldn’t get me on a bike for 6 hours!)
AND
Well done to Matthew and Steve in the Saunders this weekend, looks like they had a cracking 2nd day. Matthew and Steve (as a pair) finished second in the Kirkfell Class in a total time of 9.29.58, 7 minutes behind the winners
AND
Esther with her friend Bill finished second in the Carrock Fell class in a time of 8.16.58, 8 minutes behind the winners. Es and Bill were also the first mixed team.
For more info see http://www.slmm.org.uk
All I can say is we’ve got some pretty fit people in our club 
Charmouth Trip
04/07/2009 by Lou.
A huge thank you to Niki and Ian for organising a fantastic trip today – the coach, food, drink and race entries for us all. Thank you also to Colin for the cooking – wonderful. And to Bram and Syd for their help and support.
Well done to all our Juniors who ran today it was a very tough ‘Fun Run (!)’ With a fell race climb to start. It was great to see you all setting off. Rhys Penny was first Harrier boy ( 9th ) and Paige Wright first Harrier girl. I heard the descent was the best part of the day – know the feeling!
Then our race started, congratulations to those who ran, I think everyone had a really good run. It was a tough hot 8.5 miles but I loved it!
Stuart Penny was first Harrier home (12th ) – we knew you’d do it Stuart ! Followed by James, Dick,
Andy Creber, Niki, Ian, Me and Andy Bray. The juniors and us all loved the fire engine hose down at the end.
The BBQ and drinks were waiting for us, the sky was blue the sea was warm - wonderful after a good , hard, fun race.
I was just saying to Jake ‘didn’t we have a lovely time the day we went to Charmouth’.
LCL Risca - Race3 - Tuesday 30th June
04/07/2009 by Ivan.
Report by Matt Creed
A first for running LCL races but I’m fairly sure won’t be the last, circumstances had meant I wasn’t able to run the previous ones this year and as the Risca run is 5 minutes from my house I didn’t think there would any real valid excuse for not turning up. As a local to the area I suppose I could say I should have the upper hand in knowing the route as I run it several times a week, but the hill back up from under the motorway to fourteen locks doesn’t get any easier no matter how many times you run it, especially when it is hot! A really enjoyable race, with a bit of everything thrown in , a nice bit of uphill at the start and then a good long section downhill before onto the canal, taking care not to swallow to many flies.. Short but steepish climb back up the canal to fourteen locks and then a last mile or so of flat to the finish. As far as scenery goes, you can’t really fault this one. Nice bit of support at fourteen locks on the way down and back from Lliswerry runners who weren’t running in this and nice to put some other harrier names to faces before and after the race and some good banter with some of the other club’s. Great organisation from Islwyn running club and credit to Mike for another great race, (they only seem to do races with hills… still looking for calves after the Sirhowy challenge a few weeks ago.)
Looking forward to Caerleon which Dick assures me is flat, but this is Wales, land of Hills and Valleys,….
Thanks for a great report Matt, well done to everyone who ran, especially the ladies …. again. Come on boy’s this is getting embarrassing - but at least everyone made the start on time… that’s an improvement.
Provisional results can be found on the Fairwater Runners website
Next Race is Caerleon - 28th July - pop it in your diary now. Keep your eye on the blog nearer the time for a meeting time, at the website should hopefully be updated soon with the location http://www.chepstowharriers.org.uk/events.htm
