Archive for the Cross Country Category
Sunday’s Cross Country - Correct Directions!
12/03/2010 by Dick.
Please note that we’ve been giving wrong directions for Sunday’s LCL Cross Country.
It’s at HIGH CROSS JUNIOR SCHOOL, NOT Rogerstone Primary.
Postcode NP10 9AB. M4 J27 third exit towards Risca. Take first left by petrol station into High Cross Lane. After about 600 metres, take 2nd right into Ebenezer Drive. School is at end of the road. We ran the final xc there last season.
Ivan is correcting map on LCL XC page.
Apologies for confusion. Not webmaster’s fault.
Bryn Bach Beckons!!!
24/02/2010 by Dick.
All Harriers who turned out for the Club at Piercefield last Sunday are called to arms again for this Sunday’s race at Bryn Bach Country Park, just off the Heads of the Valley road near Tredegar.
Our women’s team needs a good turnout to consolidate the lead, while our men have climbed from bottom at the first race to equal second after three races.
And we have individual category leaders in Berta, Lou and Sue, and top three-ers in Nikki, Vanessa, Marianne, Rob, Laurie & Dick.Meet at our Leis Ctre at 9 to drive up country in force.
It’s a good course round the Park with hot showers and hot food afterwards … and before if your name’s Kevin !
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.
Fancy a cross-country race this Wednesday afternoon?
16/02/2010 by Dick.
We posted these details a couple of weeks ago. Local club members are invited to join in the race and the buffet afterwards. It’s mainly the Oasis LCL course, but starts/finishes halfway round in the school field by the roundabout opposite County Hall/Police HQ. We’ll need to be leaving Chepstow at about 12.30. Please post a message below if you’re planning to come.
“The 21st ‘Adrian Ellis Memorial Cross-country Run’ will be held at Police Headquarters, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran on Wednesday 17th February 2010 commencing at 2pm.This race will incorporate the meeting of the Midlands Police crosscountry league together with the Welsh Police cross-country championships.
The men’s race will be approximately six miles, consisting of four laps and the women’s approximately three miles, a two-lap race.For the Midlands Police League both men and women are required to run the four laps. As in previous years, for the memorial run, females can score in the team event if they so wish by completing the full distance (4 laps).For the Welsh championships and the police league, females are only required to complete two laps.
The course is run over parkland and is suitable for spikes. Scoring for the memorial run will be the first six runners’ home to count.
Limited parking will be available within the car parks of County Hall, which is adjacent to Gwent Police Headquarters.NB – Having located a parking place within the County Hall car parks you will need to attend at County Hall reception to obtain a token for the exit barrier.
There will be light refreshments and a presentation at the Croesyceiliog Cricket Club, The Highway, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran after the race. “
Chepstow’s Leisure Centre League Cross Country
15/02/2010 by Lou.
Chepstow Harriers’ LCL XC is on Sunday 21st Feb. in Piercefield Park - 10 mins jog from the leisure centre - starting at 11 am. Course map and info go to piercefield-xc-course-210210.pdf
After the race there are showers in the leisure centre, the bar will be open, runners from all clubs are welcome to join us for a drink and some free homemade cakes.
Brecon GL XC by James + Dick
13/02/2010 by Lou.
Thanks Gerry, some really good photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerryashton/sets/72157623427895746/ That’s a great one of Marianne with the mountains behind. But…you should have run!
I think everyone had an enjoyable (and tiring) day out at Brecon. Conditions were good, a bit cold, and it wasn’t particularly muddy underfoot - although I didn’t see the colour of Dick’s feet at the end 
We all got there at about 12.20, leaving loads/not very much time for the girls to get warmed up for their race. I’d guess that Maz got there with Matt a good few hours earlier so she could get in a long run beforehand to warm up! Was fantastic to see Sam back running, and Steve looking like death - but hilarious as usual (at least you’ve got a week off now! lucky child out of wedlock 
). And everybody helped put up the imaginary tent. To the race…
Unfortunately I didn’t get to see most of the women’s race because I was with child (not pregnant obviously 
) walking round and feeding Seth; but from what I did see they were all fantastic. 
I expect lovely Lou will write a more detailed and better account than myself of the women’s race! I’m not sure of placings, but Maz was first in for Chepstow and 8th overall - brilliant. She even had to have a long warm-down run - to get in the extra mileage? - That Rich Matthews is a hard task master! Next in was Lou, (17th possibly?) and hopefully very pleased. Should have worn shorts, although I do like the pink stripes down the side. Then Sam, taking it easy for the first lap , wearing ridiculous pink fluffy gloves (and giving me stick for my attire!) was next. Covered in sweat - anyone would think you’d been for a run. Sue was fourth for us, running well and running tomorrow in the Rhayader Rant - good luck. Next up was Vanessa, who said she found it tough, but did great to run considering the ‘lack of running’ last weekend. Berta was next in and completed our strong women’s line up - I’ll look forward to seeing where the team finished overall when the results come out. All the women ran amazingly well
So the men had a hard task ahead of them if they were to live up to the women… personally I started off too fast and realised this after 1/2 a lap - mainly because I was knackered. It was all downhill (metaphorically speaking!) from there for me, trying to hold on for another 2 1/2 laps. Tom Cruise I ain’t (and if you’re too lazy to work that out…mission impossible). Luckily the support from the women was fantastic. They’ve all got a good set of lungs on them. And if I inadvertently mentioned I hated anyone, what I meant was that I loved them. And Marianne still seemed to be running around. By lap two, I was just waiting to be overtaken by Matt, Mark, Steve etc… I should mention the course here, but there’s not much to say other than it’s pretty flat with a few mole hills and one embankment you run up twice. Slightly undulating you could say, with a few tight turns to slip up round. Back to the running and at the start of the last lap Matt had finally caught up with me, told me to ‘keep at it’, which I may have done for all of five yards before remembering how tired I was. Matt stormed off catching up loads of people in front of me. So I waited to be overtaken again by the next Harrier, only no one did and thankfully the finish loomed. Do a sort of sprint even though no one is there and try to not have a heart attack. I didn’t get to see Steve finish but he ran really well holding his position all the way - good pacing session for the marathon! Then Mark came in I think struggling with his knee, with a nice sprint finish, good man for not quitting, thanks Lou for getting him to keep going. John was next up with a great sprint at the end (I also think he might have done one at the beginning, but that’s neither her or there!). Then barefoot Dick running well, possibly with cold feet? Chris, who you couldn’t possibly miss with the colours he was wearing, finished with a cracking sprint overtaking three guys. And finally last but not least was Andy, who maybe even enjoyed himself a bit?! Cracking run guys. Not quite as good as the girls, but getting there… 
I know I found it tough today, so everyone who ran did fantastically well. Hopefully we can get a really strong team for Blaise next month
And from Dick:
Good running from our girls including two top twenties: Mar 8, Lou 19, Sam just behind, Sue, Vanessa and Berta (who scored at Ponty and helped give us 1st team).
Top 50 for Matt (48), then James 61, Steve 72, Skippy 114, John 143, Zola 159, Chris 172, Mr Bray 191.
And another good run from Kayley (10th ) our only junior today . She got her invitation to run in the nationals at Birmingham as have Issie and Will Leney - great honour for them and the Club. I hear that some of the seniors who ran today will also be selected.
Thanks Eric for team registration, and Syd for finish duties - a first for the Club I believe and kudos for us.
Fairwater’s LCL cross country (AS) 7th Feb.
10/02/2010 by Lou.
Thanks to Fairwater for a great cross country course and a friendly welcome – just the cure we needed.
Being the morning after our dinner dance it was to be expected - early Sunday morning I found out that many of our fab female runners were done in by the evil booze and other ailments and would NOT be running. By the time we reached the leisure centre team was down to three – two hardy stalwarts – Berta, Sue and me.
Arrived at Pontypool park and we were thrilled to see a suffering but none the less there – Niki – thanks for coming Niki despite a few hours sleep, head cold and sore throat. So things were looking up
.
Then we recced the course – no way – it was like a mini fell race. As Gerry put it:‘’It seems the instructions were that we could use all of the park except for anything that could be mowed. What this meant was nothing on the course that wasn’t steep, rough, muddy or all three.’’
Andy and Dick were obviously thrilled the rest of under a cloud of doom awaiting our slog round the vertical climbs, stream crossings and already hard to stand up on seriously slippery very muddy descents. Ho hum .
Then the race. Dick passed me telling me to’ get a move on gal’ so I did ( thanks Dick ). I’m still amazed by runners like Dick who can race their own race while coaching others – I was shouted encouragement and instruction from Dick for the whole course There was also plenty of support from Fairwater organiser Mark – thanks for that.
Laurie flew past in pursuit of Andy Creber where I gather there was an uphill downhill struggle with our latest man of speed taking the lead on the ascents and gnarly fearless AC winning the descents.
I struggled to keep close to Neil and tried not to hear the female breathing advancing from behind. But Julie Davies of Griff was very kind when she overtook and even encouraged me by saying I would get her back on the down – I tried and failed.
Shame it was over really but not enough to do another lap of the course with Julie. Anyway I wanted to see our teams finish.
Sue (4th) just lost 3rd place and was followed by Niki (5th). Then Berta came in to complete the team. And we scraped a win.
So now what a fantastic xc course – so interesting and fun. A huge thanks to Sue, Niki and Berta for your brave running. I must have looked pretty done in myself as race organiser Mark bought me coat, some sweets and tea – which was nice.
The men did good too. Even on the day after the night before our men’s team have provisionally come first.
Our fast bad lads regained some credibility by running so well even after excessive amounts of alcohol and ladish behaviour, as Gerry said:
‘’Mark, with eyes like the proverbial pxxx holes in the snow proved that he still has amazing powers of recovery from a skinful at the club dinner’’
James (2nd)
Matt Stott (5th)
Mark Harvey (14th)
Laurie (22nd)
Hot on the heels of these four came the mysteriously converted ( and rebuilt? ) xc runner Andy C ( She has the power, she had the technology? ).
Well done Andy (27th) ahead of 10 times club champion Luke(33rd)
Next was Neil, Dick, Gerry, John Thomas, My Rob, Kev, Nick Davies, Andy George and Phil Scrivins.
Well done to all those who ran and thanks again to Fairwater for putting on a fab course being great hosts.
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!
Thursday night and Saturday morning sessions
07/01/2010 by Lou.
Cross country at Bryn Bach is now definitely cancelled but Dick has organised an off road speed session at Piercefield Park on Saturday 9th Jan. Meet at the Leisure Centre at 9.30 a.m.
Saturday afternoon the Kymin Fell Race will be on – starts Monmouth Boys School ( by Lidl ) 2p.m.
There will be a session tonight (Thursday 7th Jan ) – Dick is checking some of the route – it will undoubtedly be slippery and we may have to adapt the route as we go. The leisure centre is currently open.
Happy sledging in the sunshine.
