Results round-up
25th Lanzarote International Marathon (Saturday 12th December)
The race route goes along the island’s coastal promenade, passing through the towns of Costa Teguise, Arrecife, San Barlotomé and Puerto del Carmen. Average temperatures in December are normally around 19o C – but they were much warmer on the day, as Phil reports: “a tough finish to a relaxing holiday! Wonderful sunbathing weather, but slightly too hot for marathon running…”
30th Philip HOGG 03:23:14
258 finishers
NW London Young Athletes' Cross Country League (Saturday 12th December)
Dan McKeown reports: “On Saturday we hosted the NW London Young Athletes' Cross Country League in Finsbury Park, with a great turnout from volunteers, parents and (most importantly!) our next generation of all-conquering cross country aces. Well done to all the people who made it possible (coaches, volunteers, etc.) and all the youngsters who made it round the course. It was probably a bit remiss of me not to get any photos, but at least it spares everyone graphic images of child suffering…”
U17 Men (4.7Km)
2 David Keto 17:55
6 Antanas Weston 19:09
7 Luke Gray 19:21
9 Isaac Costley 19:39
U15 Men (3.8Km)
9 Adam Bessadi 15:45
10 Gabriel Bazzarelli 16:15
17 Liam Garrett 17:45
U13 Men (2.9Km)
15 K Naylor 12:57
22 Number 116 13:25
23 T Mastrogiacomo 13:30
25 O O’Connor 13:55
U17 Women (3.8Km)
5 Naomi Conlon 22:00
U15 Girlsmen (2.9Km)
7 Meg Naylor 12:55
19 H Dearden Hellawell 14:10
20 Phoebe Crockford 14:16
21 E Coulon 14:43
22 Louise Gilbert 14:47
U13 Women (2.1Km)
4 E Dumbleton 09:24
12 M Heath 09:40
16 Rose Garrett 09:51
19 Annie Walker 10:14
28 K Nyarko 11:06
U11 Girls (1.5Km)
8 Lorna Dumbleton 06:43
13 E Smith 07:04
16 P Oliveira 07:12
19 M Lucas 07:18
20 A Metcalf 07:20
22 L Knight 07:28
28 I Nyarko 07:33
29 M Steel 07:34
31 Hattie Munday 07:35
36 E Steel 07:49
37 Fabienne Weston 08:02
U11 Boys (1.5Km)
15 Arthur Reed 09:25
34 S Harrir 10:08
37 N Chauhan 10:19
40 C Keaty 10:44
42 A Dietrich 10:54
46 L Rendell 11:19
47 D Lyczba 11:25
48 C Budden 11:30
50 H Harris 11:53
SEAA Southern Counties Masters Cross-Country Championships (Shuttleworth Park, Biggleswade, Saturday 12th December)
Chris Hartley reports: “Scrutinising the magnificent Jacobean-style Shuttleworth Mansion, in the grounds of which Saturday’s SEAA Southern Vets X/C Champs took place, Heathside’s resident Trivia Master, Tony Killilea, speculated that the ancient-looking pile might be nothing more than a Victorian facsimile. Confounding my guess that the house was authentic 17th-century, Tony proved once again that he’s the go-to man for useless information! Built in 1875-76 Shuttleworth House is barely older than many of the competitors who raced around its beautiful grounds on Saturday…What the setting lacked in authenticity, however, the weather made up for, with a cold wind and spots of rain making for a proper day’s cross-country running, on an open, firm, and generally flat course.
First off in the morning were the V50+ Men, who raced over 10km. Heathside fielded a squad of six, in a field of 97. Having finished second in the three-to-score team competition last season, hopes were high that we might go one better this time and win the race. John Flahive set off with the front-runners, and looked for all the world as if he might challenge for individual victory - for at least a kilometer or so. The cold that affected John’s preparations soon caught up with him, however, and it became clear that Herne Hill’s three runners were not going to relinquish the title they won in Oxford last year without a fight. After a tough 10km race, Chris Hartley eventually led Heathside home with a 16th place finish. Behind him were John Flahive (20th), Paul Jarman (22nd), Tony Killilea (26th), Dom Jackson (29th), Gavin Evans (an injury-affected 55th and 17th V55), and Hassan Nahal (77th and 25th V55). In the team event, Herne Hill completed their second consecutive victory, and local club Bedford snuck in ahead of us too, leaving Heathside to settle for 3rd spot this time. Next year, gentlemen, next year!
It was then the turn of the evergreen V40+ and V50+ Women both over a 6km course. In the V40+ Women’s field (46 finishers), Ourida Sid had a strong run, leading Heathside home with a 17th place finish. Ourida was impressively backed up by Angela Howe, who ran strongly to finish 18th, and Satu Hietanen (22nd). In the V40 team competition, Heathside finished 5th, with Bedford, Winchester, and Barnet & District taking the top three spots.
In the V50+ Women’s race (93 finishers), Jackie Wastell finally rediscovered her cross-country mojo, storming to a 12th place finish in a 47-strong field. Jackie was ably supported by excellent runs from Louise Le Ray (17th), Caroline White (20th and 5th V55), and Ruth Miller (21st and 6th V55). Jackie, Louise, and Caroline took Heathside to a fantastic team victory, ahead of St Albans Striders, and Arena 80 AC. Congratulations to the Southern Counties V50 Masters Champions of 2015! Heathside Women V50s are the Golden Oldies!
Last race of the day was the V40+ Men’s race, where a Heathside squad of five took on a field of 76 other mid-life crisis-types (shurely “contented in their burgeoning maturity and with their beard-growing ease”? –ed.). As a spectator, I was extremely impressed by the quality at the front of the field, where the pace was fierce. In the teeth of gale force winds, Jonathan Hopkin continued the impressive season he is having this year, leading Heathside home in 30th place (Jonathan was 16th V45). The other Heathsiders were all packed in close behind, with Howard Gold in 34th place, Jonathan Litchfield in 47th, Nick Haward in 50th, and Rob Shulman in 53rd. In the three-to-score team event, Jonathan H., Howard, and Jonathan L. finished ninth, with Kent AC, Herne Hill, and Brighton & Hove AC taking the medals. Full results below.
On behalf of the Club, I would like to thank everyone who represented Heathside in a great day’s racing on Saturday. This is one of the very rare occasions when the Veterans get to have their own cross-country event, and it’s a pleasure not to have mud kicked in our faces by the young whippersnappers for once! Next season I hope we can encourage even more of the club’s wise old heads to get involved.
On a more general note, many thanks to all who have taken part in the 2015-2016 cross-country season for Heathside this autumn, whether it be in the Met League, Sunday League, or Championship races. You have made your team captains very proud indeed. We can all enjoy swapping X/C for Xmas now, recharge our batteries, and ready ourselves for when the season resumes on 9th January, with the Middlesex Champs at Wormwood Scrubs! Hurrah!”
Women’s V40+ (6km, 46 finishers)
Ourida Sid 25.57
Angela Howe 26.38
Satu Hietanen 26.53
Women’s V50+ (6km, 47 finishers)
Jackie Wastell 27.17
Louise Le Ray 28.18
Caroline White 28.29 (5th V55)
Ruth Miller 28.45 (6th V55)
Men’s V40+ (10km, 81 finishers)
Jonathan Hopkin 38.08 (16th V45)
Howard Gold 38.34 (18th V45)
40. Jonathan Litchfield 39.05
Nick Haward 39.50
53. Rob Shulman 40.24 (28th V45)
Men’s V50+ (10km, 97 finishers)
Chris Hartley 38.16
John Flahive 38.49
Paul Jarman 38.56
Tony Killilea 39.34
Dom Jackson 39.47
Gavin Evans 42.34 (15th V55)
Hassan Nahal 45.08 (25th V55)
Royal Parks Winter 10K Series (Regents Park Sunday 13th December)
Dan McKeown reports: “At least one person had been at the Club’s Xmas party the night before and showed up late to the start - but I'm not in the habit of naming names…”
120th Louise Dobbyn 45:05
176th Jennifer Wing 45:34 (PB)
198 Rebecca Sweet 48:53
700 finishers
OLYMPIC PARK 10K – Race 2 (Sunday 13th December)
238th Victoria Phillips 55:29
763 finishers
Telford 10K (Shropshire, Sunday 13th December)
39th Adam Kirk-Smith 31:40 (PB)
937 finishers
Milton Keynes Winter Half Marathon (Sunday 13th December)
51st Rob Walker 86:49
262nd Robert Bowler 99:47
1500 finishers
PARKRUN: Heathsiders took part in several London runs (Ally Pally, Beckton, Dulwich, Finsbury Park, Fulham Palace, Highbury Fields, Hilly Fields and Oak Hill – but, unusually, none at Hampstead Heath). All LH Parkrun results for Saturday can be found at: “http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2015-12-12”
London Heathside Xmas Party (Saturday 12th December)
NB. Initials will be used instead of full names, so’s to protect the innocent (Surely you mean “the guilty as hell”??? – ed.). Starting off at a sedate pace with the Dinner, and followed by the prize-giving - the pace then hotted up when the tables were cleared and the DJ appeared (yes, I know that rhymes! – ed.), allowing the front-runners to storm ahead of those who were still struggling with the effects of too many mince-pies and custard. A group of some 10-12 of those front-runners, led by RP, got so keen that they were unable to come to a stop at the event’s Finish line, but carried on (and on!) at a local night-spot – such ultra-endurance competitiveness deserves a special mention…
Other outstanding performances of note were PH’s beautifully crafted and highly entertaining discourse, before the Raffle and Awards, on the History of London Heathside and its predecessors – enabling team members to set a cracking pace in the emptying of sundry bottles before they became too warm at room temperature. The Vet Mens’ 40+ and 50+ teams gave stirling performances to easily come tops in the “Dodgy Dad Dancing” competition, whilst the Vet Ladies busted countless good moves to give a good account of themselves, as always… There was a lot of competition to take the “If I want another bottle of Sh-sh-Chardonnay, I’ll have another bottle of Sh-sh-Chardonnay – YOU’RE NOT MY MUM!” run, with possibly RB’s late lunge for the line taking the honours, or rather losing them as two of her awards were mislaid (seriously, if anyone has found them please let Jerry or another Committee member know so they can be reunited with their owner). Finally, an honourable mention must go to the Sunday 9 o’clock Run group, who not only stayed the distance on Saturday night, but then made the Herculean effort to crawl out from under their fetid, foul-smelling, but warm, duvets early – too early! – the following morning to take to the streets for a long run. Such dedication really brings a tear to the eye…
Seriously though, it was a great night by all accounts – and many thanks on behalf of all members to MSH for organising it all. Hope she recovers from the effort soon because she’s got to start work on the London Marathon Party!