We won!

 

Yes, we won the Abbey Valley challenge.  We had 54 runners to Abbey’s 56, but won by the convincing margin of 5860 to 5140 due to competing well at the front and then packing the middle placings. The full results are at the end of this email, you’ll see what I mean.

 

Well done everyone, and this was probably the most Striders ever out for a race.  And thanks to the Striders supporters too.

 

Tracy Stewart has the cup on her mantelpiece for the next two weeks; she was the final Strider to finish but finished ahead of 8 Abbeys!

 

The wimmin recorded some notable performances in the race, with Vicky 2nd overall, Erica 2nd W40, Mary 2nd W50, Carmel 3rd W45, and the women’s team of Vicky, Laura, and Elika or Erica were overall 1st W team.  (Elika was not listed as a Strider so I’m guessing Erica was 3rd counter).  For the men, Drew was 2nd M45.

 

In the Abbey Valley challenge my three Striders vests were well placed, I lent one to Panos and one to Rik Mather.  Panos was first Strider and scored 149 AV points. Rik sprinted past me with 400 metres to go.  If only I’d chosen a different vest from my wardrobe that morning.

 

There were several PBs, including John Wallace, “fresh” from his 35 miles only 8 days previously.  If you didn’t get a PB then John can give you training tips.  Erica also recorded a PB.

 

Christine Bradbourne and Nicola Storey were both representing Striders for the first time.

 

Apologies, I should have said, the race was chip timed but not as you know it, the chips only recorded times through the finish.  But the Abbey Valley was scored on position at the finish so there was no excuse for not being well placed at the start.  (i.e. not like Jonathan, chatting up young ladies at the back of the field as the gun went).

 

There are some pictures on the Abbey website www.abbeyrunners.co.uk including a panoramic pic of about 40 Abbeys and 40 Striders before the start.

 

Liz Wood and Caz (a friend of Elika) took some photos for us and I hope to have them on the website next weekend.

 

In the pub afterwards (the bacon cheese and tomato baguette was very nice) we talked about some future Abbey Valley meetings before the scheduled rematch in 2009. 

 

One suggestion was a 5 mile run round Eccup Res (to Emmerdale) with a barbecue afterwards (so probably in June being the lightest nights)

 

Another suggestion was that the Abbey Valley challenge should be twice yearly so we could have a rematch in September or October.

 

Comments please

 

Calendar

 

Summer routes have started, we managed 3 by 10 mins by the Res tonight and it wasn’t too muddy, a few ran back across the fields (it was a bit murky by the time they got back)

 

Friday 4 April – am I going to have to pick up all 7 Striders trophies for the PECO cross country league?  The presentation night is 8pm at the Faversham.  Email me if you are going!

 

Sunday 6 April – Baildon Boundary Way – race full but I have access to a number – first come first served

 

Sunday 6 April – good luck to Carmel running Paris Marathon

 

Tuesday 8 April – training at Beckett Park track

 

Sunday 13 April – London marathon – good luck to Louise, Eric and David with the club places and all the other Striders running

 

Tuesday 15 April – training 5 by 6 mins by the Res

 

Sunday 20 April – Rothwell 10k – entries closed.  If you have a number and aren’t running, there is a

 

Monday 21 April – good luck to Dan Harman running Chicago marathon

 

Tuesday 22 April – training hills by the Res

 

TUESDAY 29 APRIL – CLUB HANDICAP 10k, FOLLOWED BY PIE AND PEAS – put date in your diary  (the last 10k handicap in Sept had 53 runners, can we beat this?)

 

SATURDAY 17 MAY – MEANWOOD VALLEY TRAIL, all Striders are asked to help, please let me know as soon as possible whether you are available to help.

 

Race Reports

 

Wilmslow half marathon

 

Lou Gilchrist recorded 1:51:39.  This was nearly 5 minutes faster than when she ran 2 weeks ago at Ackworth, in what we believed then was a world record for W75.

 

This new time scores 100.7% on the age graded scale, i.e. beats the theoretical world record.  If she beats this by any more they will need to rewrite (literally) the AG tables.

 

Haworth Hobble from Mick Loftus

 

“33 miles traversing gritstone moors around Haworth, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge 4,400 ft of ascent/descent maximum time allowed 12 hours”

 

Over 2 miles longer that last year... The weather was good if you got back before the rain.  There was lots of mud and loads of miles.

 

 51    05:19:45   Mick Loftus

155    06:31:04   Madeleine Watson

 

Dentdale Run from John Wallace

Another result for you - my efforts in the 14 mile 379 yards Dentdale Run, a splendid 1.54.58 in quite the most atrocious conditions I have ever run in. The first half of the course was cancelled due to flooding so they ran 2 laps of the second (hillier) half (making the course slightly longer) - this also was flooded in many places, the highlight being 20 yards of ankle deep water around mile 11 (it was only 10 yards on the first lap which indicates how much rain was descending). The rain was largely horizontal on account of the wind, which naturally we were running into (twice) on the way back to Dent village. Very cold and wet by the finish, but still enjoyed it - must be mad

 

Editor’s note - this was before John ran Two Oceans

Edale Skyline from Caz Farrow

 

Did my bit for VS on the fells anyway sort off yesterday at the Edale Skyline - 21miles, 4800ft of climbing, gales and some sun. Came 2nd woman. Bit tired. Ate 4 cakes aftrewards.

 

Editor’s note - Caz and I both evaluate long distance off-road races by the quality of the cakes. This sounds a good race, but Rombalds Stride has the advantage of 3 refreshment stations with cakes ON THE WAY ROUND!

 

Messages

 

from Annemi Van Zyl

 

It was great to have 2 Valley Striders at the Two Oceans Marathon, so we are really hoping for more of you next year! The wind does not always blow like it did this weekend, but despite all of that, it is a great time to visit Cape Town! For those who still want to walk the day after the race, there is a half marathon as well - great race too.

 

Editor’s note – Annemi was a Striders member about 4 years ago but then returned to South Africa where she helps with organisation of the Two Oceans.  She met John and Jonathan and gave them a tour of the area.

 

from Leggo (Chris Leggatt)

 

Bob, I have a guaranteed entry to the Great North Run from Martin House.  Cost £40 to MH and £250 in sponsorship.  Limited places on a first come basis.  Anybody want it?

 

Editor’s note – this is the same day as the Harewood Trail Race, but I won’t be offended if you take up Chris’s offer

 

from Andrew St John (son of Valley Striders founder Stuart St John)

 

I would like to drop you a line after reading the stories on your website. I need to introduce myself as Stuart St John’s son, Andrew. I remember being about being 12 or 13 when the Striders began. Dad breathed, slept, ate and drank running, well before the beginnings of the club. I even remember on one particular Christmas morning, after Santa had been, Dad stretching and warming up on the back of our couch ready for a run, that’s how committed he was. Three kids and he still bloody went running on the biggest day of the year. Thanks for the website it's the first time I have been on it and it brought back memories, the likes of Leggo, Steve O and Martyn were I suppose part of my late childhood. I even showed an interest myself in running, but it bored me. In hindsight I wish I had taken it up as a serious sport as, like my Dad, I was slim and naturally fit. It's great to keep the history of the club alive. You should contact Dad to send you some more pictures and stories. As I’m sure you know his story telling is, was as good as is running.

 

Wakefield 10k Results showing Abbey Valley points

 

                                                 Cat    Finish      POINTS   

 Pos  FirstName   LastName        Team      Cat  Pos     Time     Abbey Valley

  14  Jeremy      Rogers          Abbey     M     14   00:35:04   150.0      

  18  Panos       Aristotelous    Valley    M     18   00:35:27          149.1

  20  Andy        May             Abbey     M     19   00:35:34   148.2      

  23  Victoria    Whitehead       Valley    F      2   00:35:49          147.2

  41  Gwilym      Thomas          Valley    M     34   00:36:43          146.3

  49  Drew        Taylor          Valley    M45    2   00:37:15          145.4

  52  Andrew      Wormald         Abbey     M50    4   00:37:25   144.5      

  55  Robert      Bumstead        Valley    M     38   00:37:36          143.6

  69  Richard     Vandermark      Abbey     M     45   00:38:07   142.7      

  73  Mark        Greaves         Valley    M40   10   00:38:13          141.7

  74  John        Brooksbank      Abbey     M50    6   00:38:20   140.8      

  75  Gareth      Moules          Valley    M     48   00:38:28          139.9

  76  Dusan       Svoboda         Abbey     M     49   00:38:31   139.0      

  79  Mark        Hetherington    Abbey     M40   11   00:38:41   138.1       

  93  Ian         Sanderson       Valley    M     57   00:39:16          137.2

  94  Dan         Wilton          Abbey     M     58   00:39:17   136.2      

  96  Jeremy      Ladyman         Valley    M     59   00:39:20          135.3

  97  Ian         Rosser          Valley    M     60   00:39:21          134.4

 101  Dan         Murray          Valley    M     62   00:39:28          133.5

 117  Barry       McDermott       Abbey     M45   13   00:39:52   132.6      

 123  Andrew      Webster         Abbey     M40   16   00:40:04   131.7      

 131  Iain        Manfield        Abbey     M40   19   00:40:17   130.7      

 135  Eric        Green           Valley    M50   10   00:40:22          129.8

 137  Howard      Cohen           Abbey     M45   17   00:40:23   128.9      

 143  John        Halliwell       Abbey     M40   20   00:40:33   128.0      

 154  Laura       Clark           Valley    F      9   00:40:48          127.1

 160  Alan        Hutchinson      Valley    M50   14   00:40:58          126.1

 161  Elika       Tasker          Valley    F     10   00:41:01          125.2

 166  Paul        Hunter          Valley    M45   19   00:41:09          124.3

 187  Mike        Ayers           Abbey     M50   17   00:41:42   123.4      

 191  James       Tarran          Valley    M40   29   00:41:50          122.5

 199  Richard     Mather          Valley    M    105   00:41:58          121.6

 202  Peter       Scaife          Abbey     M45   22   00:42:05   120.6      

 204  Bob         Jackson         Valley    M55    7   00:42:09          119.7

 213  Dave        Beston          Abbey     M50   21   00:42:25   118.8      

 217  Erica       Hiorns          Valley    F40    2   00:42:29          117.9

 220  Carmel      Barker          Valley    F45    3   00:42:34          117.0

 223  John        Wallace         Valley    M40   32   00:42:39          116.1

 227  Sarah       Grant           Abbey     F35    5   00:42:48   115.1      

 228  Andrew      Davidson        Abbey     M40   33   00:42:48   114.2      

 240  Jonathan    Brownbill       Valley    M40   34   00:43:03          113.3

 242  Greg        Skerrett        Valley    M    117   00:43:14          112.4

 247  Adam        Parton          Valley    M    119   00:43:19          111.5

 251  Paul        White           Valley    M60    4   00:43:32          110.6

 254  Gary        Mann            Valley    M    121   00:43:36          109.6

 256  Carole      Schofield       Valley    F45    6   00:43:40          108.7

 270  David       Cusack          Valley    M    131   00:43:54          107.8

 279  Sandra      Sutton          Valley    F45    7   00:44:10          106.9

 280  Paul        Sanderson       Valley    M40   42   00:44:11          106.0

 288  Louise      Oldridge        Abbey     F35    7   00:44:21   105.0      

 289  Hayley      Nancolas        Valley    F     15   00:44:23          104.1

 290  Rebecca     Clapham         Abbey     F     16   00:44:25   103.2      

 300  Lisa        Rudkin          Abbey     F35    8   00:44:44   102.3      

 304  Mary        Egan            Valley    F50    2   00:44:48          101.4

 305  Eran        Gal-or          Valley    M    141   00:44:51          100.5

 310  Xanthe      Hannah          Valley    F     18   00:45:02           99.5

 325  Tony        Haygarth        Valley    M60    8   00:45:18           98.6

 346  Sue         Sunderland      Valley    F45    9   00:45:55           97.7

 352  Tom         Ridgway         Valley    M    159   00:46:00           96.8

 354  Ian         Place           Valley    M55   17   00:46:01           95.9

 360  Cat         Purdy           Abbey     F     20   00:46:07    95.0      

 370  Andrew      Wilson          Abbey     M40   55   00:46:17    94.0      

 378  Eric        Cusack          Valley    M60    9   00:46:30           93.1

 379  Michael     Tinker          Valley    M50   39   00:46:31           92.2

 384  Sharon      Tansley         Valley    F     23   00:46:36           91.3

 392  Karis       Dalton          Abbey     F35   12   00:46:44    90.4      

 427  Rachel      Mackie          Abbey     F35   14   00:47:34    89.4      

 464  Christine   Bradbourne      Valley    F35   15   00:48:19           88.5

 495  Karen       Hill            Abbey     F35   20   00:48:52    87.6      

 500  Chloe       Hudson          Valley    F     29   00:48:56           86.7

 517  John        Bucktrout       Valley    M50   48   00:49:11           85.8

 520  Paul        Greene          Abbey     M45   57   00:49:14    84.9       

 528  Peter       Stevenson       Valley    M60   16   00:49:25           83.9

 532  Maureen     Coffey          Valley    F55    7   00:49:28           83.0

 538  David       Rayson          Abbey     M40   81   00:49:36    82.1      

 546  Mike        Brown           Valley    M55   27   00:49:43           81.2

 548  Katie       Bretherick      Abbey     F     32   00:49:44    80.3      

 562  Gayle       Jackson         Abbey     F     33   00:49:57    79.4      

 614  Jasmine     Salih           Abbey     F35   30   00:50:55    78.4      

 630  Polly       Wilding         Abbey     F     38   00:51:21    77.5      

 647  Sarah       Gunn            Abbey     F     41   00:51:40    76.6      

 689  Peter       Leach           Abbey     M60   23   00:52:30    75.7      

 690  Eleanor     Horsman         Abbey     F     48   00:52:30    74.8      

 691  Peter       Khoo            Abbey     M40  105   00:52:30    73.9      

 694  David       Pike            Abbey     M55   32   00:52:35    72.9       

 696  Kay         Duggleby        Valley    F40   12   00:52:39           72.0

 698  Kates       Ford            Valley    F     51   00:52:44           71.1

 714  Liz         Casey           Abbey     F45   18   00:52:58    70.2      

 718  Catherine   Ladd            Abbey     F50   11   00:53:01    69.3      

 726  Elizabeth   Willis          Abbey     F40   13   00:53:05    68.3      

 727  Jane        Hallam          Abbey     F40   14   00:53:05    67.4      

 753  Lucy        Carey           Valley    F40   17   00:53:37           66.5

 770  Eric        Cserna          Abbey     M40  109   00:54:01    65.6      

 828  Isaac       Dell            Abbey     M50   68   00:55:35    64.7      

 832  Anne        Worrall         Valley    F35   45   00:55:37           63.8

 836  Fran        Robson          Abbey     F40   25   00:55:42    62.8      

 855  Bernard     Foster          Abbey     M60   26   00:56:00    61.9      

 864  Nicola      Storey          Valley    F     72   00:56:09           61.0

 868  Bruce       Hetherington    Abbey     M45   97   00:56:15    60.1      

 870  Shona       Holding         Abbey     F40   29   00:56:15    59.2      

 872  Andrea      Hofmair         Abbey     F45   22   00:56:18    58.3       

 889  Tracy       Stewart         Valley    F40   32   00:56:36           57.3

 929  Isabel      Proctor         Abbey     F35   52   00:57:22    56.4      

 936  Maureen     Taylor          Abbey     F45   25   00:57:29    55.5      

 995  Gill        Barber          Abbey     F50   18   00:59:07    54.6      

1019  Clare       Peckett         Abbey     F35   63   00:59:35    53.7      

1024  Geoff       Mills           Abbey     M55   45   00:59:44    52.8      

1061  Jane        Oughton         Abbey     F45   41   01:00:57    51.8      

1115  Caroline    Shingles        Abbey     F45   44   01:03:09    50.9      

1135  Lucinda     Summers         Abbey     F40   57   01:03:44    50.0      

                                                                 ====== ======

                                                                 5140.4 5859.6

 

Rubbish at the end of last week’s email

 

Did anyone get to the end of last week’s email?  I’d left a few paragraphs that were my preliminary notes for the email and forgot to delete them.  Oops!

 

And if you didn’t get to the end of last week’s email, you probably won’t have got to the end of this one either!