Events Round-up

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July 2008

Nicki picked up Gold in the Marathon in tremendous heat finishing in 3.00.30 just over 3 mins clear of Italian favouite whose last marathon was 2,51 compared to nickis London in 3.04. A very controled run going through half way bang on 1.30. Was on for a sub 3 until last 2.2 km when just finishing was in doubt. Cut of for race was 6 hours by which temp. was 37 degrees! Loads of drop out and people stopped outside of time limits around the course. Also picked up team bronze to make a superb 4 medal tally.

Posted by Nick Nealon

July 2008

Great Series this year;

Nicki Nealon - Overall Ladies Champion
Andrea Sommer - 3rd Senior Lady
Deb Hulbert - 4th W40 Lady

Carl Sommer - 7th Senior Man
Graeme Slight - 2nd M45 Man

Neil Coates & Paul Nealon both completed the required 5 out of 8 to register a final placing for the series; positions not yet to hand.

Posted by Nick Nealon

29th June, 2008

Just to update re today's race the event incorporated;

The British Masters Championship,  The Midland Masters Championship, The Leicestershire & Rutland County Championship, The Leicestershire Summer League and a Masters Inter Area Match.

Nicki managed to win the top four of above (this was a big event in terms of titles), Still awaiting results of Inter Area Match.

This was Nicki's 3rd British Masters Title along with the Cross Country and the Track 10,000 metre; on all occasions She has when the events outright.

Gemma went from the front line at the Gun and went though the first mile in approx. 5.15, Nicki followed in 5.30. Pace then settled with Nicki running between 5.45 and 5.50 whilst Gemma was still moving away. At half way Sarah Haines (Harborough) was sitting in 3rd and Liz Hartney (Reading Road Runners and 1st over 40 at this years London Marathon -2.49.24 ) following closely in 4th. From then on the gap between Gemma and Nicki started to close , with Nicki catching Her at approx. 7.5km, Liz had moved into 3rd around the 6km point.

Nicki and Gemma ran side by side until the last 100 metres when Nicki finally broke the spirited effort of Gemma. Not a bad effort for an oldie!

Posted by Nick Nealon

May 08

Posted By Nick Nealon

Jan 08

BARROW 6 LADIES ROUND-UP
Well done to all of you who braved the wind and ran yesterday at Barrow in the first Winter League Race at Barrow Whilst we were missing our top two ladies from last year due to other commitments a creditable Team performance was led by Kate Ruffell and Julia Sandford with able support from Sue and Bev who were followed in by Debbie Weeks, Sarah,Marie and Laura I was really pleased that we fielded 8 Ladies as in the past we have at times struggled to field enough for a team ! I hope you all enjoyed the event and would encourage you all to turn out at the next race on
Sunday January 27th @ Markfield
I would also remind you that the number issued is yours for the whole series and should be kept safe for the remaining Winter League Races I should also take this opportunity to remind you that the entry fee is £2.50 each race (we failed to collect this from 1 runner but do not know who please let me know if it was you so I can balance the books !!) For those of you who didn't run (for whatever reason) you missed a good event which really was worth braving the winter weather for I look forward to seeing more of you as the season progresses
Also don't forget training nights at Enderby Leisure Centre on Tuesday @ 7pm and on Thursday @ 7pm also for those who wish to run earlier on a Thursday John and Viv's Absolute beginners run at 6pm. Two or three ability groups have developed with some of our 'beginneers' now tackling 6-7 mile runs at a reasonable pace !
Posted by Andy Wilford

Jan 08

CANNOCK CHASE TRIG POINT
Nicki won this event in relatively comfortable style and in doing so finished 7th overall, the highest recorded position by a female athlete in the 22 year history of the event in a time of 1.49.16. Conditions were tough with strong winds and drizzle; the ground underneath was saturated with surplus water and mud in abundance. After a steady start Nicki followed pace setters Anna Bartlett (Mercia Fell Runners) and Zoe Flemming (Bowline Climbing Club / Birstall), through the first 2 checkpoints, then on the big climb upto Castle Ring Nicki forged a slight gap, which she maintained until the next checkpoint. Then comes the big decision with this navigational course; do you go through the woods on the shortest route or double back and take a stony but solid track. Nicki opted for the track hoping her road running experience would benefit, whilst the other girls went through the woods. As runners came through the road crossing it was evident Nicki had made the right decision as the gap had increased considerable to nearly 2 minutes. The 2 mile climb back up onto the moor just helped Nicki increase the gap and along with some good navigation allowed her to move ahead of the group of men in front. A relaxing run down to the finish secured a very pleasing result. The effect of increasing the mileage after the arm break seems to be paying off and after having treated this event as a training run things are looking good for the World Masters Half Marathon in March.
Ladies; 1st (7th) Nicki Nealon 1.49.16 2nd (20) Anna Bartlett 1.52.17 3rd (23rd) Zoe Fleming 1.53.31
Men 1st Tim Werrett - Mercia FR 1.33.20 2nd Tom Owens - Mercia FR 1.33.38 3rd Pete Vale - Mercia FR 1.37.32 10th (9th) Mark White - Team Pedaltech 1.50.55 28th (24th) Mark Wittering - Huncote 1.58.02 74th (65th) Martin White - Huncote 2.13.17
158 finishers Mark Wittering also had one of his best results for a while in winning the Vet 50 category albeit by only 7 secs. Martin White was the other Huncote member out on the fells, finishing in a time of 2.13.17. His son Mark White representing a tri club finished a very good 10th in 1.50.55.
Full results are on Mercia Fell Runners Web Site.
Posted by Nick Nealon

Nov 07

Results of the fell race, great day weather pretty good after a wet journey to the event.

Severe downhill start followed by 2 miles along the lathkil river bed. Then up 200 metres of stone steps which made your thighs feel like they were burning up to the plateau.  Across numerous open fields with dry wall stiles, one of which was 6 foot high and a bit of a balancing trick on the top.

Back down a steep descent into the valley, a mile alongside the river, then back out and steep uphill to the finish. 7.1 miles of enjoyable scenery, followed by some great beer and good food.

Results

NOTICE

The Derwent Dambuster Trail Race, Fun Run and Challenge Walk is a 10 mile event held in one of the most beautiful parts of the Peak District. It takes place next year on 26 April 2008. 

All proceeds go to Challenge Cancer through Adventure, a charity which aims to support adventurous activities for anyone diagnosed with cancer or a terminal illness living in or around the Peak District.

 http://www.challengecancer.org.uk/dambusterdetails08.html

Nov 07

Due to a freak training accident, Nicki has managed to chip a piece of bone off her left elbow, which will put her out for 5 - 8 weeks. She was out on a training run within the village and taking a tight corner hit her elbow on a sreet sign. Due to the break being right on the elbow joint she is having to wear a sling, as it cannot be plastered. Nicki was obviously hoping to retain her Title as winner of last years British and Irish Masters International at Falkirk, Scotland, when she led home Kate Ramsey making a Leicestershire 1-2. As you can imagine Nicki is very disappointed and making my life difficult at home, as I have to get everybody dressed and fed at present. After the Shepshed race in which Nicki took 20 secs of the course record but was only a disappointing third, confidence was high, as she had had a cold for the previous 10 days, feeling a tightness in the chest in the latter stages after having set a fast early pace. Some good news that has lifted the gloom in that Nicki has been awarded the title of Hinckley & Bosworth Sporting Alliance Sportswomen of the Year. At a presentation last night at the Marston Stadium, Hinckley, Nicki took the inaugaral title on a night when the local sporting talent was being recognised. Groby also provided the Disabled Sportswomen of the Year, Rachel Jarvis who has just returned from the Special Olympics in the far east representing her Country playing basketball. [posted by Nick Nealon]

Nov 07

Nicki (1.20.43) was runner up at the Lady Godiva Coventry Half Marathon, losing by 17 secs to Tanzania's Banuelia Katesigwa (1.20.26), these 2 were a class apart on what was a significantly difficult course. 3rd was Carol Adams 1.25.36 from Coventry Godiva and 4th was Linda Mcdonald (1.33.00) also from Coventry.

Oct 07

Club Membership Renewal 2007/2008

·       Membership Renewal is due from the 1^st October 2007.

·        All members will receive a letter inviting them to renew.

·      Yet again the membership fee has been held at £10.

·      However at the recent AGM it was decided that a late payment levy of £5 would be applied to all members that do not renew before the 30^th November 2007.

·      The reasons for applying this levy are that it costs the club money to chase up overdue membership fees. It can be up to 6 months into a membership year before we get sufficient membership fees collected to cover our affiliation costs with England Athletics etc. The club can no longer continue in this way hence the levy.

·      No members will be registered with affiliated bodies until their membership renewal has been received.

·      Do not delay; send your membership renewal back to the membership Secretary as soon as you can.

·      If you do not receive a letter then please contact the Membership Secretary as soon as possible at: Stephen.wright1@baesystems.com  or click here

Sept 07

The Grizzly, Seaton, Devon.  September 9^th 2007

This run is not for the faint-hearted!  It’s a 20ish miles multi terrain course, starting and finishing on the Esplanade at Seaton.  Within a few hundred yards of the start we were running along the pebble beach, looping back through the start again before climbing the first of many hills (the only one I was able to run up all the way up).   What goes up must come down so we were soon hurtling downhill to Beer, and then the Grizzly bit really began.  Another steep climb to the Beer cliff top caravan park then the running surface varied between paths across open fields, hills, cliff top coastal paths, downhills, more shingle beach, streams, bogs with mud up to the knees, hills, woodland paths, a hill with a near vertical peak where you had to crawl up on all fours, more shingle beach, a killer climb up the stairway from Branscombe Beach to the cliff top caravan park in Beer, more uphills, downhills and one last stretch of pebble beach before staggering over the finishing line back at Seaton. (Did I mention the hills?).

This was probably the hardest run I have ever done but it was also the most fun. Time wasn’t important, just crossing the finishing line was the aim.  The organisation was second to none, with plenty of friendly, encouraging marshals, enthusiastic crowd support, bagpipers, drummers, and even a man playing a didgeridoo! The Fire Brigade were at the finish to hose down our mud covered shoes and legs with sea water. And to cap it all – a tee-shirt that fits!!

The race is usually held in March but this year had to be postponed because of the Napoli disaster and the salvage operation on Branscombe Beach.  Entries are open now for the 2008 Grizzly on March 9^th.  Details can be found on the Axe Valley Runners website.

Sept 07

Men's Vet - Winners (Kingsley, Wlodziu, Graeme, Andy Ball, Keith Chambers)

Men's 4th position; Ladies 6th Position; 100% Award (Andy Ball, Keith Chambers, Tom Corr, Paul Geddes, Paul Nealon, Jason Tomkins). Well done to all.

NEWS

The event is on Sunday November 11th at 11:30am. Venue is Over Haddon, Nr Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Distance is 7.1 miles with ascent of 950 feet (this is less than the Charnwood Hills Race at 1,200 over 13 miles). Cost is £3.50 and you pay on the day.

There is a 1.8 mile fun run and other games for the family incorporated in the 'Lathkil Hotel Fun Day'.

Please contact Nick Nealon for further info

NEWS

All races start at 11am with a kids race preceding each. Entry fee is £2 main race, 50p for kids race.

Race run and sponsored by Dave Mann / Derby Runner.

Sun 2nd Dec : Newbold Heath, Bagworth

Sun 20th Jan : Grace Dieu Manor, Shepshed

Sun 17th Feb : Foremark Reservoir, Milton

Sun 2nd March : Castle Park, Beaumont Leys

Sun 6th April : Ampthill, Bedford

1/09/07

In the 10.6 mile event Andy Ball had a solid run to finish runner up in 1:05:44 behind an outstanding performance from Gareth Briggs (59:59), who had travelled down from the Staffordshire Moorlands Club to Participate.

Rounded off by a kids fun run, village BBQ with Music and merriment, another great day out highly recommended.

27/08/07

Nicki Nealon winner in 2006 had also set a new course record (38:31). The organisers had put up a challenge to repeat the feat in 2007. Even though the ground was in poor state due to the amount of rain and the numerous horses that traverse the area the competition was accepted. On the start line Nicola Clay of Stilton had sneaked up ready to do battle. Nicki though had prepared well and was fully focused on the very fast downhill start. Away and in the top 10, Nicki never looked back and at one point was threatening to move into 3rd overall. The men around were working hard; fighting to get in front whilst Nicola Clay had Nicki in sight was adrift of the pace. On the final climb up the steep grass bank it was clear Nicki would smash the record, duly doing so in 37:52 (9th overall) leaving Nicola Clay (12th overall) back in 38:24 (also inside the previous record).

The men's winner was Peter Tallents of Retford AC in 35:06, well clear of John Pike from Newham & Essex Beagles in 35:53. There were 354 finishers with another local athlete Ian Paramore of Barrow finishing 13th in 38:32.

26/06/07

May 07

Carl Sommer Grand Union Canal Success

19th place; Finish time 38 hrs 7 mins

Photos

GUCR website

22nd April

Ben Nevis Marathon – 22^nd April, 2007

Carl  Sommer 2:53

Brian Driver 4:11 (first marathon)

David Kirby 4:12

Posted by David Kirby

1st April

James Swann takes first place sub 20 year old with a 1:36 run.

Jason Scrimshire - 1:42:40

Mar 06

Feb 06

Jan 06

Narrative

Male Harrier of the Year

1.  Jeff Wickham

2.  Mike Tansey

3.  Andy Ball

Female Harrier of the Year

1.  Nicki Nealon

2.  Andrea Sommer

3.  Bev Parry

Chairman's Award

Mike Tansey

10 year award

Leslie Tansey

20 year award

Irene Forty

Jim Diaper

Bernard Cherry

Jim Bates

2006 Standard

Gold

Nicki Nealon

Andy Ball

Silver

Bev Parry (correction, after incorrectly awarding Bronze)

Nick Nealon

David Hollingshead

Andy Wilford

Bronze

Barry Hibbard

Copper

Marie Wilford

Tom Corr

Oct 06

Oct 06

Sept 06

Andy Ball at the Nottingham Marathon - VERY WELL DONE ANDY

I finished in 12^th place time 2:50:19 a PB. I was gobsmacked when I finished, was not expecting anything near that time at all. I was on for a sub 2:49 till 23 miles, then had my old problems back with my right leg giving up on me, so had to stop a few times to stretch it!

 I felt great when I finished, just very hot, as the weather was great for supporting but not running.

May 06

Click for Race Report from Graeme Slight

May 06

Deb Hulbert F40 48:09
Marie Wilford F35 53:37
Andy Wilford M45 42:10

May 06

NEW READ BEV'S REPORT

2nd April 06

26-miler (93 finishers) - Men: 1 Mark Wittering (Huncote) 3.38, 2 Robert Hall-McNair (Hinckley) 3.56, 3 Michael Stiff (Owls) 3.57, 4 Dave Masser (Hinckley) 4.05, 5 Carl Sommer (Huncote) 4.20,
15-miler (177 finishers) - Men: 1 Dave Shepherd (Owls) 1.53, 2 Mark Stock (Shepshed) 1.56, 3 Rob Salt (Charnwood) 2.05, 4 Nick Nealon (Huncote) 2.09, 5 Shailesh Parmar (Beaumont) 2.15, 6 Michael Davis (Shepshed) 2.17, 7 Philip Higgs (Shepshed) 2.17. Others (selected): 12 Rob Gregory (Owls) 2.25, 13 Steve Hammond 2.25, 14 Les Chesterton (Owls) 2.26, 15 Anthony Waterfield (Owls) 2.26, 16 Tony Illston (Bowline) 2.30, 17 Andrew Johnson (Owls) 2.30, 18 Michael Tansey (Huncote) 2.30. Women: 1 Jackie Davisworth (Beaumont) 2.15, 2 Sandra Grimes (Owls) 2.26, 3 Sara Wells (Owls) 2.26, 4 Adele McGreevy 2.30, 5 Kirsty Ainscough (Charnwood) 2.31, 6 Louise Pymm (Bowline) 2.31, 7 Sally Newman (Wreake) 2.32.
(results Leicester Mercury)

2nd April 06  

Midland Vets - Chasewater

HARRIERS VETERAN STRENGTH STARTS TO SHOW

A good quality Huncote turnout proved successful as all our runners won prizes. A mild but very blustery day, produced relatively slow times for this 5km relay around the lake.

A new age category was introduced for the first time Men 35 – 49, in which we had 2 teams, effectively competing in the A and the B team races.

Tipton Harriers won comfortable, after taking the lead on leg 2, after Charnwood had led home the opening leg with Derek Guess.

 1^st Tipton Harriers Total Time 65.49;  2^nd Birmingham Rowheath 69.35;  3^rd Huncote Harriers 70.13

Kingsley Cook 17.01; Joe O’Flynn 18.04; Steve Copeland 18.07; Craig Sabin 17.01

7^th Charnwood 74.35: Derek Guess 16.22; Mark Whitmore 19.19; Peter Mensky 19.13; John Barker 19.41

Huncote was also 1^st B Team Total Time 75.17

Graeme Slight 18.02;  Andy Ball 18.14;  John Heywood 20.31;  Mike Bradford 18.30

Fastest man on the Day was Aaaron Keene of Tipton in 16.03

The Ladies took the W35 Team Title in a Total Time of 63.54: Nicki Nealon 19.28; Sandra Stevens 22.47; Jo Copeland 21.39;  Nicki was also fastest Lady on the day, even though She is struggling with a back injury.

 Our final runner was Andrew Stevens who made up a Composite Team finishing 1^st in that category in total time of 59.11.

Andrew Wadman  - Unattached 17.13;  Andrew Stevens – Huncote 22.04;  Nicki Thompson – Lady - Charnwood 19.54

We will follow this up with the Livingstone Relays at Loughborough on 16^th April and the big one, The British Masters Road Relays at Sutton Park on 20^th May. The Men V40 will have an 8 leg event, V50’s – 6 stage and Ladies W35 – 4 stage, W45’s – 3 stage.  We hope to put a Team in all these age categories.

Nick Nealon

March 06

March 06

Congratulations to the following Harriers returning from World Masters in Linz, Austria.

Craig Sabin (V40) 3^RD Counter - Team silver in Half Marathon.

Nicki Nealon (FV35), 5^th Individual and John Haywood (V60), both 2^nd Counters and Team bronzes for Half.

Mike Bradford (V45) 4^th Counter.

Craig, Nicki and John also competed in 3000 metres and Cross Country.

March 06

Dronfield 10k results: 

 622 ran.  http://www.7thdronfield10k.org.uk/index.htm

25^th Feb. 2006

The Belvoir Challenge 15 and 26 miles

These events were definitely a ‘challenge’, difficult terrain, extreme cold and that added element of navigation.  The Harriers fell running and distance boys split up to take on the challenge of the 2 events.  Starting at Harby Village the course takes into account the undulations on and around the Belvoir escarpment in the Vale of Belvoir.  Beautiful scenery, but not so good underfoot especially after the recent heavy rain.

Jan 06

November 2005

7th Jan. '06

18th Jan 06

Nicki Nealon Achieves Runner-up position the final of the Leicestershire Sportswoman of the year Awards.

The evening is based upon the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, in which the order of finish is selected by a panel of judges.

Nicki was up against GB International Hockey player Kirsty Cullen and Loughborough Swimmer Kate McLatcher.  Nicki has previously been runner up in this prestigious event back in 1999 when she was selected for having obtained 2 English Senior vests for Cross Country.

August 2005