Archive for the Club News Category
Club Handicap Series 2010
28/02/2010 by Ivan.
The format for the 2010 series will be very similar to last year. There will be three events (please note, not four), all on Thursday evenings starting at 7.15pm. The dates for your diaries are 22 April, 6 May and 20 May.
The course will be the usual one in Chepstow Park Woods, a hilly circuit of just under 5 miles that will be marked.
The slowest runner starts first, the next slowest second, and so on, until the fastest runner who starts last. The idea is that everyone finishes together at exactly the same time! This never happens so there is always a winner who gets a trophy on the night. There are also trophies for the three runners who do best in the series, with each runner’s best two results counting.
If you have done the handicap before then you know how exciting the races can be, trying to chase the runner in front without being caught by the one behind! If you have never done a handicap then come and have a go! They are great fun – no denying that they are a bit tough, but great fun nonetheless!
I will need helpers so if you are not planning to run and are willing to help then I should be grateful for your assistance.
Any questions let me know. I look forward to seeing all of you on 22 April at Chepstow Park Woods!!
Vanessa
Piercefield Park LCL Cross Country
21/02/2010 by Lou.
The sun was shining on Piercefield Park this morning and the warmth was a nice contrast to last year.
Thanks Rich for a great course – lots of good feedback. Thanks to Syd, Jane Rymer, Geoff Cram, Andy Ost, Geoff Bayliss, Stuart, Andy Meek-Welsh, Bram, and Anthea, for the finish and fantastically supportive marshalling. Thanks to our photographer Paul Lidgett and your family’s support.
Thank you to everyone who brought cakes today, we had a fabulous spread – quite a feast.
The Race
I really liked the start – downhill and nice and wide. Journalistically I like to start on the line, enough to ignore Mark and Steve telling me to get back, anyway they didn’t have to pass me. But I did get to see Ivan, Matthew, Marianne, Kath and Sam go by. Then I had a little battle with Nick B. which he soon won.
Our women’s team had 1st 2nd and 3rd thanks to Marianne, Kath and Sam. Julie Davies of Griffithstown was 4th.
It was good to see so many women doing the cross country today – congratulations to all – I hope you enjoyed it ( at least now that the race is a few hours ago?).
Thanks Vanessa for doing the club champs times so quickly - see bulletin board for times.
The course allowed you to see the front runners in the first lap, I watched James leading the way. First was Giffithstown’s relatively new cross country runner Stefan Simms, followed by Daryll Barnby of Fairwater. Our men did well today – a great sprint finish from Paul Murrin bought him in 3rd, Mark was 5th, next in were Stevie C., James, Steve H. and Laurie. We had 21 men running today – great turnout. Full list of times and positions are on the bulletin board. Our men’s team are provisionally first. Commiserations to Andy C who was flying on his first lap but succumbed to his flu virus and had to retire.
So the next LCL cross country is next Sunday at Bryn Bach Park – a scenic route through the country park. Meet at the leisure centre at 9 am. Sorry for the late notice – just announced today. Please come and run if you can make it as many will have other commitments.
Thanks for the great photos Paul http://www.flickr.com/photos/26482713@N … 7802/show/
February Club Champs & LCL XC (piercefield park)
20/02/2010 by Ivan.
Following the clubs international success last weekend, it’s now time for February’s club champs race. Chepstow’s Leisure Centre League cross country on 21st Feb at 11am in Piercefield Park.
This is a great opportunity for everyone – even those who don’t often venture off road – to enjoy the open fields, to run for the club and to get points in the Club Champs.
No entry fee, just turn up about 30 mins before the start and give your name to Syd, he will issue you with a number if you do not already have one.
Everyone starts at 11 am, the women get to stop after 3 laps whereas the men get to do 4 laps. About 4 and 6 miles respectively.
Afterwards Dick has arranged for the leisure centre bar and the showers to be open . So a get together in the bar afterwards for cake and beverages.
The Week Ahead 15 Feb 2010
14/02/2010 by Dick.
Tuesday’s sessions continue the theme of faster-paced work with longer recovery periods.
1. Our monthly visit to Thornwell for four loops with drills and speedplay down the Link Road.
2. Or 4 X 4 minutes on the S Bridge with a long recovery between each. The faster members of each group should turn back during the jog recovery to regroup with the back-markers.
On Thursday we’re extending the Tour of the Town to include a detour into Tutshill across the old Wye Bridge. Or there’s the usual 20 mins out/20 mins back along the Link Rd and the S Bridge. And I daresay the off-roaders will be ready with torches and grippy shoes.
All hands to the pumps (whatever that may mean) on Sunday when the LCL cross-country in Piercefield Park is also the second Club Championships race. Starts at 11 in the middle of the park so allow plenty of time to get there from the LC. Make sure you wear your number – see Syd if you don’t have one. Rich and Stuart are setting up the course (more help welcome), but all Harriers are needed to take down the tape afterwards.Then we need to get changed and into the bar to host our home-made cake party. Please get baking on Saturday - there’ll be lots of hungry mouths to feed!piercefield-xc-course-210210.pdf
Poster Competition!
14/02/2010 by Ivan.
We are looking for great posters to advertise our open races, the first being the Offa’s Orror.
They need to be eye catching; encouraging and provide the essential details of the event.
You can find all the relevant details of the Offa’s Orror Event on the web page http://www.chepstowharriers.org.uk/offa.htm
We hope to print a number to put up at the leisure centre in Chepstow & Monmouth and at any other suitable places in the area.
Whilst it would be good to have them in digital form (scanned or similar) paper cut and paste is fine.
A suitable Easter themed prize will be awarded so come on all you budding artists and get busy.
Feel free to use any of the pictures from previous events – again see the above web page.
Send the submissions to communications@chepstowharriers.org.uk or give them to a committee member on club nights.
With Offa’s Orror coming quite soon please get the entries in by the end of February.
Competition is open to all, so get the family involved!
Bonus prizes for a poster for the Rose Inn series!
The Week Ahead 1 Feb 2010
01/02/2010 by Dick.
Lou starts her stint as Coach of the Month on Tuesday with 1) the Beachley Loop session., which is three each of the 900 metre loop and the 700 metre straight at your 5k race pace with a jog recovery. The Beachley Loop is about the only flat course around Chepstow but it is a fair way to get there, so a couple of the coaches will be offering lifts there and/or back.Choice 2) is the Danes Park Loop, with a smaller loop for Groups E and F. Runners are being asked to increase their pace in February sessions from the 10k that we did in January to 5k this month. The coaches will explain in more detail before the sessions.Please note that announcements and session choice now take place at 6.55, with runners leaving the Leis Ctre at 7 sharp. Please don’t amble in at 7 or later and wonder why everyone is going the other way!On Thursday the Boughspring runs offer you three distances. See the maps on the Training & Coaching page.I expect the off-road gang with their headtorches and off-road shoes will also be finding an interesting route on Thurs.Have a good time at the Dinner/Dance Sat night, but go easy on the alcohol because… you need to be ready to race in the Leisure Ctre League cross-country in Pontypool Park at 11 on Sunday morning. Meet at our LC at 9.30 or follow the directions on the Club Only/Cross Country LCL page.
Next LCL Cross Country Sunday 7th Feb
27/01/2010 by Lou.
Fairwater’s LCL Cross Country Race at Pontypool Park is confirmed for
Sunday7th Feb.
The course is approx. 1.25 miles per lap.
So, the race will be run over 3 laps for women, 4 laps for men.
The race start time is 11:00 am.
It is approx. 10 mins. walk from the Leisure Centre car park to the
race start, which is just past the ski slope reception building.
Changing facilities will be available from 10 am to 1 pm.
Changing facilities are the Pontypool RFC facilities (underneath the
grandstand) and not the Leisure Centre facilities.
We are advised to wear suitable off road shoes.
This is the day after the dinner dance so points for turning up and extra points for being able to run well!
Adrian Ellis Memorial XC race - Wed 17th Feb
26/01/2010 by Ivan.
Adrian Ellis Memorial XC race on Wed 17th Feb at 2pm Police Headquarters Cwmbran. This is a race we are invited to each year together with other local clubs. It’s the Gwent Police event but they like to have others runners too. Entry is free and so are the refreshments afterwards. The course is similar to the LCL XC from the Oasis Club. We usually support it and no doubt there will be some Harriers heading along. Feel free to ask me any questions.
Additional info
Syd
The Week Ahead 25 January 2010
25/01/2010 by Lou.
Tuesday’s choice is 6 or 8 sets of 2mins fast with 30 secs recovery on the Severn Bridge after drills/speed bursts down the Link Road, or 4/5 Danes Loop figure-of-eights.
Important Reminder – we’ve been getting slack and should be arriving in the Leis Ctre bar by 6.55 at the latest for sorting out who’s doing which session and for any announcements. We’re aiming to be out on the road at 7!
Back to the Bridge on Thursday for the monthly 5k Time Trial. Always worth doing for its great training effect and for helping with pace judgement and race technique. Leave the Leis Ctre dead on 7 or be ready and warmed up on the Bridge for 7.30 start.
The Saturday morning Piercefield Park sessions are getting very popular under our Saturday coach, Rich Matthews. Meet at Leis Ctre ready to jog over to the Park at 9.30 for a very sociable and stimulating hour.
…and the shortlist is:
21/01/2010 by Andy.
(in alphabetical order):
Kath Matthews
Laurie Carter
Marianne Gittoes
Matt Leathard
Niki Morgan
Vanessa Lawson
I have asked each candidate to produce a summary of their improvement through 2009 to help your decision (which will be posted on the Bulletin Board and distributed in a club email when they become available).
Voting is open NOW - one vote per person (full club members only).
Cast your votes by email, bulletin board private message, phone/text or in person to me (Andy Ost) only (contact details on the bulletin board).
Voting finishes at 23:59 on Tuesday 2nd February.
