HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our Electronic readers! And if you know someone not yet connected, please print a copy for them!

STRIDERS GRAND PRIX AND OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NB I have entry forms for most of these, so does John Schofield's website www.ukresults.net

 
Sun 9 Jan 1100 - New Year Handicap by Eccup Res (VSGP race 2 of 28).  No entry form, just
                 turn up!  Back at Leo's afterwards for a shower and a drink or two.

Sat 15 Jan - Yorks cross-country at Skipton - women at 1330, men at 1410,  Entries closed

Sun 23 Jan 1000 - Brass Monkey half marathon (VSGP 3) - Entries closed

Sat 29 Jan - Northern cross-country at Consett, Entries closed

Sun 30 Jan 0730 - Las Vegas Marathon.  Ian Place will be running, therefore when he finishes, 
                  will be leading in VSGP 28 "any other marathon" category.  He has made
                  a good choice, the route has a net 800 feet drop from start to finish. 
                  On the other hand, the first 20.9 miles are on a straight road...

Sun 30 Jan both at 1100 - Woodkirk 10k and Ferriby 10 mile

Sat 5 Feb 0900 - Rombalds Stride (VSGP 4)
 
Sun 6 Feb 0930 - Dewsbury 10k (VSGP 5)
 
Sun 6 Feb - Yorkshire vets cross-country at Thirsk
 
Sun 13 Feb 1200 - Liversedge half marathon - nb half a mile of off-road
 
Sat 19 Feb - National cross-country at Birmingham - details from Martin Horbury or Sam Harris.
 
Sun 20 Feb 1100 - Snake Lane 10 mile at Pocklington - race nearly full
 
Sun 27 Feb - Pace Run at Harewood House supported by Valley Striders.  2 laps of 8 miles (extra
             half lap optional).  Come and pace or come and run or come and run just one lap.
 
Fri-Sun 4-6 Mar - Eric Cusack writes:  Anyone interested in a weekend away up in Northumberland?
                  Friday & Saturday 4th & 5th - 6th March.  Bed, breakfast &  5 course dinner
                  at The Riverdale Hall Hotel, Bellingham. A reduced rate for Striders, family & 
                  friends - £50 per person per night.  Lots of Running trails, Walks, Swimming, 
                  Golf, Fishing etc.  To book or for more details phone me 01943 878154 or email 
                  [email protected] or look on the hotel website 
                  www.riverdalehall.demon.co.uk
 
Sat 5 Mar - Trollers Trot from Threshfield
 
Sun 13 Mar both at 1000 - Spen 20 and East Hull 20 (both VSGP 6)
 
Sat 19 Mar 1100 - Coniston 14
 
Sun 20 Mar 1030 - Ackworth half marathon (VSGP 7)
 
Sun 20 Mar 1115 - South Leeds 5 miles (also 5km at 1000)
 
Sun 27 Mar 1030 - Guiseley Gallop
 
Sun 3 Apr 1000 - Baildon Boundary Way (VSGP 8) - race nearly full
 
Sat 9 Apr 1030 - Meanwood Trail Race (also junior races at 1000) organised by Valley Striders.  
                 Please keep this date free in your diaries, we will need as many Striders as
                 possible to help.  Last year this race raised over £1000 for Lineham Farm 
                 Children's Centre at Eccup.
 
Sun 17 Apr - London marathon (VSGP 9) - Entries closed
 
Sun 24 Apr 1100 - Rothwell 10k (VSGP 10)  Also Yorks vets 10k championship.
 
Sun 24 Apr - Shakespeare marathon (Stratford) and Lochaber marathon (Fort William) (both VSGP
                 any other marathon)

Here are the results of the Chevin Chase (including one or two 2nd claim Striders and hangers-on)

   39 Jerry Watson        45.15
   41 Chris Booker        45.17
   52 Mick Loftus         46.00
   58 Andrew Cutts        46.32
   71 Steve Webb          47.31
   83 Martin Horbury      48.26
   93 Paul Hunter         48.50
   99 Simon Vallance      49.06
  127 Mick Tinker         50.38
  135 Bob Jackson         50.55
  138 Alistair Fale       51.03
  159 Mary Harris         52.07
  210 Steve Dixon         53.56
  269 Gary Sutherland     55.55
  374 Steve O'Callaghan   59.38
  380 Steve Wilde         59.51
  381 Tony Haygarth       59.56
  498 Ross Anderson       64.01
  509 Brendan Kitson      64.23
  568 MitchScott-Baxendale66.25
  597 Sara Dyer           67.28
  623 Martin Cockerham    68.50
  710 Debbi Wagman        73.22

At the Harrogate Ringway Relay yesterday, Striders finished 8th, 17th and 29th out of 30 teams. Chapel Allerton R R in the guise of Striders finished 20th and 21st. More details to follow.

GRAND PRIX 2005

The Chevin Chase was the first race of the 2005 Grand Prix. Full details of the structure of this competition are now on the website.

The purpose of the Grand Prix is

• to encourage club members to participate in a variety of local and key events during the year.
• to encourage club members to participate in different types of running - road, cross-country, trail, fell
• to create friendly rivalry through the award of points which accumulate over events to produce a performance score at the end of the year.
• to encourage a good turn out of club members at these events raising prospects for improving club team placings.
• to create a sense of comradeship at events.
• to encourage improvement in personal performances.

The format for this year is slightly different from last. There are 28 races in 6 categories (previously 7 categories)

• 5 Short road races – 5k, 5 mile and 10k
• 5 Medium road races – 10 mile and half marathon
• 5 Long on and off road races – 15 mile, 20 mile and marathon
• 5 Trail & Fell
• 4 Cross-Country
• 4 V S Handicap races

• 100 points are awarded to the fastest runner in an event followed by 99 for the second and so on.
• Prizes at end of year are awarded according to the best 8 scores, but these must come from at least 5 of the 6 categories. Runners competing in fewer than 5 categories are deducted 5 points (previously 10 points) per category "missed"
• Prizes are awarded to best man, woman, MV40-49, MV50+, LV35+ and also in 5 "groups" A to E
• Runners are allocated to a group at the start of the year according to their speed. (the group prizes are sometimes more competitive than the main ones!)

Bob