Archive for the Uncategorized Category
The Week Ahead - 1 Dec
01/12/2008 by Dick.
Speed is the essence of running, and speed is the theme of this month’s training schedule laid down by Coach of the Month, Chris Rees.
Tuesday’s speed session is a Pyramid on the Link Road, ranging from 400 to 1600 metres. Thankfully the 1600 is dowhill! Or you can jog over to Tutshill for the ever popular Elm Road with it’s effective combination of down and up hill.
After training John Wright will be displaying the new fleeces and hoodies and will be taking orders.
Thursday is the Hayesgate 7 based on our LCL course.
Finally the increasingly popular Gwent League cross country on Saturday. All welcome especially newcomers. Meet 11am to share cars. Blaise in NW Bristol is only just across the Bridge and is our nearest venue. Right alongside the course is a marvellous swingpark and adventure playground, and a cafe, so you can bring the family. Best of all are the cakes we share. Oh yes, there are also some races I believe.
Elan Valley 10 by Dave Andrews
26/11/2008 by Lou.
On Saturday 22 November 6 Harriers travelled to the Elan Valley, near Rhayader in Mid Wales, for the 10 mile road race. Me and Colin Prosser ran it last year and enjoyed it although it rained continually then. This year the weather was much better; it just rained for about 5 minutes in the middle of the race. I described the race to the others as “undulating” although I think the consensus was afterwards that is should be called “hilly”. The start is quite spectacular next to the first Elan Valley reservoir with water pouring over the dam. I got a bit carried away and did the first mile (downhill) in 7 minutes being ahead of Mike, Andy and Coiln for a while.
At the first long hill in the second mile Colin was dieing and I passed him, and I was with him at 4 miles although he pulled away from me in the second half of the race. Everyone seemed to enjoy the race ran in scenic country lanes, definitely one to recommend to Harriers in the future, Results were:
Mike Smith 1:15:54 27th
Andy Meek Welsh 1:19:30 42nd
Colin Prosser 1:23:30 53rd
Dave Andrews 1:26:34 (first M60) 59th
Syd Wheeler 1:27:37 (first M70) 61st
Bill Bewg 1:30:19 (second M60) 69th
104 finishers
Gwent League Cross Country at Bath, by Matt & Dick
10/11/2008 by Lou.
After the sun of Bridgend the Gwent league reached round 2 in wet and windy Bath. Despite being a World Heritage City the course designer had selected a field close to the University for us to run around and around, not the most interesting of courses. Still, it did provide the opportunity for a bit of celebrity athlete spotting at the Uni. Olympian Craig Pickering was the best I saw. These sprinters must be cleverer than they look, as he was indoors doing some stretching while we were out in the wind and rain.
Polly and Georgie ran well in the novice girls. Next off for Chepstow were the Wright twins, continuing to sport the Harriers colour coordinated socks. Can we get them on the club kit page? Paige unfortunatley injured her ankle, which left Darcy to lead home the harriers junior section. However, this injury didn’t stop both girls joining their mum in cheering on the rest of the harriers in the subsequent races.
Next up were the women who, despite missing injured Mrs Excuses, put in a strong team performance to please Captain Lou. Leading them home was Marianne, followed in quick succession by Lorna, Lou, Helen, Sian, Jane and Natasha. All the ladies had good runs, and seemed to enjoy themselves.
Just as the rain decided to really get going it was time for the men.
And the men’s positions were Calum 67, Mark 88, Stuart P 101, Ivan 104, Paul 117, Matt 157, John 160, Stuart A 215, Kevin 229, James 240, Mike 253, Dick 265, Geoff 276. Syd - first 70A strong line-up of 13 harrier men, which should mean good scores for both an A and B team. Perhaps most notable was the outstanding cheering from Marianne, Sian and Lou - which the announcer liked so much, he joined in and started supporting Chepstow. Kevin was particularly suprised to find himself being cheered on over the mic.
Most important of all was the post race cake challenge. Despite a strong showing at Bridgend Sians Tesco Finest Muffins were pushed into third place. Grizzled veteran Stuart Penny took the silver medal with Welsh cakes. But winner was new boy Stuart with Jaffa Cakes, always a favourite.
And thanks Eric for looking after entries and results tags.
And well done everyone with putting up the tent (and taking it down with me still inside - no change there).
Next up, Blaise Castle (Bristol) on Dec 6th, thanks Matt and Dick.
Sugar Loaf Fell Race - 1st November, 2008, by Dick
03/11/2008 by Lou.
Well I was very proud of all the Chepstow members who turned out on a cold windy afternoon to face the rigours of a mountain that some of them hadn’t tackled before.
Some good performances at the front (I hear) with an especially good run from Steve (go-fast haircut) Caldwell, and by second lady, Liz Francis. SatNav showed he can navigate by getting to the race on his own (more than Kevin could manage) and then getting round without going astray for 2nd Chepstow.
And yah boo to those cynics who reckoned Pop Lawson couldn’t get up a hill without a buggy in front of him. I heard that Ivan loped round as cool as the snow on the summit, and Sian told me that she laughed all the way.
I missed ExEx in his cardy - he must have been way ahead of me. Sue and Gerry sailed past me on the way down to the hairpin (congrats to Sue for the prize). Good run from Syd despite his doubts on the recce that he wouldn’t be able to run any of the ups. And well done Geoff and Jane who were too busy with weddings to attend the recce, but still braved the unknown.
I was particularly impressed by Esther who was so determined to get 2nd lady Harrier that she literally flew by me like one of the celebrated three witches only to crash to the ground upon remembering that she’d left her broomstick behind at the start.
Also impressed by the keenness of Jan, Colin, Jenni, Dave, Berna and others who enjoyed the climb to the summit so much the first time that they attempted to repeat it only to be redirected back down by some spoilsport. And a promising first fell race for young James who soared past me on the steepest bit of the lane start. And I didn’t see much of Savage Bill who eased himself round in his calm lmilitary manner. Likewise Nick B who no longer has to follow me round and pip me at the finish.
My only complaint - Lou and Gill didn’t have the common decency to resist overtaking an old man in the run in to the finish!
Yes, one other minor cavil - Andy’s Stott and Blackmore allowed that old warrior of the fells, Andy Creber, to employ one of his cunning overtaking ploys to get past them. I expect Grubby or Aunty Mary will make something of that, don’t you readers?
And may I pass on the thanks of the Organiser to Gareth Jenkins for having the courtesy to get round before the pub shut.
Apologies to anyone I’ve missed. Pleased to hear Chepstow voices afterwards planning to have a go at the Blorenge on 29 November. Another value 2 quids worth. And another mountain for Syd to gallop up!
Link to results http://www.chepstowharriers.org.uk/pdf/081101_Sloafresults.pdf
Link to Gareth’s photos. Thanks for taking them Gareth.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chepstow_friend/
East Wales Awards
31/10/2008 by Dick.
Eric and his team from East Wales have just sent out the results from the Cross Country Champs, held at the Gwent League on 11 October, and the road race series that ended with the Tour of Torfaen last Sunday.
Chepstow’s women’s team at Bridgend were First and the men’s team were Third. Individual medallists were Mark Harvey, 2nd U23, and Liz Francis, 3rd 35-45.
In the road race series Mark was First Senior Man in the 4 race series, and Lorna Shaw was First 45+.
Congrats to all who contributed to these successes. The Road Series medals (and hopefully the XC ones) will be awarded at the combined Leisure Ctre Lg/East Wales Presentation Evening on Friday 14 November, 7.30, at the RAFA Club in Cwmbran. All Club members are invited to this free informal bash, where trophies will be picked up by our LCL Team Captains and individual age group award winners - Martin Pengilly, Brenda Avery and Dick Finch (firsts); Bill Savage and Syd Wheeler (seconds); and Steve Caldwell (third).
Chepstow Harriers - The Next Generation!
29/10/2008 by Lou.
Congratulatons to Vanessa and Matthew on the birth of their second son – Seth – born afternoon of 28th October – Mother and baby doing well.
Two Chepstow Harrier M U/24hrs on one day!!
Also, Seth is the second Harrier baby to arrive in Tutshill this month. Congratulations to Jane and Dom Hall on the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Rosemary Megan, on Tuesday 7th.
The next generation of Harriers is well on its way!! Come on Kath, try to keep up!!!
Ost Junior Arrives!
28/10/2008 by Dick.
Congrats to Sue and Andy - a boy Oliver, 7lbs 15 oz, born at 5.08 this morning. All doing well.
Waiting for you now Vanessa (and Kath a bit later).
Tour of Torfaen Half Marathon 26.10.08, by Niki
26/10/2008 by Lou.
Lucky for us, the unseemly business of getting up at 6.30 on a Sunday morning was relieved by the clocks going back one hour – and quite stunningly no Harriers had forgotten about it.
Having been given a new, freshly valeted company car last week, I was keen to invite Harriers to share a ride with me to Torfaen in the knowledge that it would be the only time I would not be too embarrassed to have anyone in it. Also, driving means I don’t have to navigate – that’s what SatNav was brought along for.
Half an hour after setting off from Cheppers, we arrived at the Cwmbran car park in plenty of time to have those all important dashes to the loo before boarding the bus to Blaenavon. More loo dashes were had on arrival. Those who weren’t ultra efficient and had not pre-registered, could do so easily on the day – although this did involve joining a rather large queue. Race Administration was in front of an enormous stage, and Dick was asking for offers for fellow Harriers to put on a quick show to entertain those in the queue. I suggested doing a strip tease in order to thin out the queue as speedily and comprehensively as possible.
The weather conditions were a little inclement (i.e. light drizzle and overcast), but in fact turned out to be perfect running temperature. The first 5 miles or so were pretty much downhill so you could completely burn yourself out at the beginning if you weren’t prudent. However, all Harriers present (and there were plenty of them) put on good performances and all seemed pleased with their times. There were some undulations so the chant from half marathon purists in the vain of “it’s all downhill – and a PB at Torfaen doesn’t count” didn’t ring entirely true. Naturally though, I’m just saying that cos I got a PB. Other known PBs were from SatNav (by about 16 minutes – obviously not trying hard enough before then Mark), Ivan (although he claims his didn’t count re. The Torfaen principle), Colin (by about 7 minutes), and Lou’s Rob (beat his Cardiff time from last week by 6 minutes). There may well have been others – do shout about them if you did one!
Niki M
Times of Harriers (official results are not out yet) – sorry some times I’m not sure of:
SatNav – 1.16.50
Ivan – 1.17.05
Stuart – 1.17.40
Ben ?
Lou – 1.33.03
Lorna S – 1.33.10
Niki – 1.34.42
Colin – 1.38
Dick – 1.39
Royston T - ?
Rob Summers – 1.45
Geoff Bayliss – 1.46
Bill Bewg – 1.48
Syd – 1.49
Gareth Hoare - ?
Maurice Langford - ?
Steve Hoare - ?
Thanks Niki, do you think we will are be recovered for Thursday’s Severn Bridge 5k? I think I may not be!
Sugar Loaf Stroll Saturday
24/10/2008 by Dick.
Just a week away from the next Club Championship race on 1 November - the Sugar Loaf Race, a 5 mile jaunt up, round and back down the hill just north-west of Abergavenny.
This Saturday morning 25 October we will taking a walk (with maybe a jog down the slopes) round the course to familiarise ourselves with the course. On the day the course will be marked with tape, but most people prefer to do it in advance so that they know the way for sure, and they can make a judgement on what shoes and kit to wear.
We’ll be meeting at Lou’s house, 45 Laurel Park, St Arvans, ready to leave at 10. Call her on 625073 if you’re coming.
Don’t forget Thursday’s special
22/10/2008 by Dick.
Just one more reminder of the attraction we’ve lined up after training tonight. Welsh Athletic Director of Development and double Olympic marathoner, Steve Brace, will be giving us the benefit of his experience and knowledge down in the Community Room at 8.30.
Steve will be joined by Satu Haikala, East Wales Coaching Coordinator and Brecon AC cross-country star, and Chris Moss, WA Development Manager and sub 20 minute Rose Inn British International for a Q&A session.
So get your questions ready on any aspect of endurance running and Welsh Athletics topics. And get stuck into a tasty buffet too.
