Southern Counties Masters, Delhi Half Marathon and some parkruns
It was a quiet weekend for Heathsiders racewise ( a different story at the Raglan knees up ) with the Southern Counties Masters cross country the main event. There was a half marathon in Delhi from Tom Bedwell and closer to home a PB for Phil Wright in a floodlit 10k in Gravesend.
Firstly from Captain Chris we have a report from Biggleswade:
Southern Counties Masters X/C: Saturday 14th December, Shuttleworth Park, Biggleswade.
Six good old men and true made the trip up to Biggleswade to take part in this season's opportunity for the club's Vets to pit themselves against the best in the South of England. Having made the journey by train, Dan Madams, Steve Monaghan, John Flahive and I found ourselves running along main roads in search of Shuttleworth Park, with a slightly anxious George Stewart and Howard Gold waiting at the start as the clock wound down to race time. Safely there (if a little over warmed up), we toed the line in what was a very competitive V40+ 10km race of 110 competitors, run over a firm, open and undulating park course.
Steve Monaghan took the club honours on the day, moving ahead of George in the last couple of kilometers to finish 15th overall, with George having to settle for the second Heathside scorer in 16th place (5th V45). Dan Madams, making his debut as a new V40, and his maiden outing at cross-country this season, had a strong run to finish 24th.
With only three to score, Heathside's B team comprised the ever-improving Howard Gold, who came in 36th overall, Chris Hartley (44th and 21st V45), and John Flahive (46th and 22nd V45).
Make no mistake: these Masters races are very competitive. Even with the mighty trio of Steve, George, and Dan, Heathside finished 4th in the Team competition (with a combined 55 points), behind Kent AC (25), Colchester Harriers (49), and Aldershot (54). On another day, second place might have been possible, but Kent AC won fair and square. Hats off to them. Even if we'd have put a flat cap on Tom Aldred, I don't think we'd have won.
However, as always, it is the depth of our talent that marks Heathside out as a great club. Had this competition been six to score, we'd probably have knocked it into a cocked hat. Although there was officially only one scoring team per club, Heathside's B team, with 126 points would have most likely have finished in 6th place overall.
Be that as it may, it was great for us oldies to race against each other without sharp-elbowed youths getting in the way, and there was some great running all round. With all six of us scoring comfortably in the top half of the field, Heathside can feel rightly proud of its grey-templed wise men.
15th Steve Monaghan 36.37
16th George Stewart 36.44 (5th V45)
24th Dan Madams 37.23
36th Howard Gold 38.41
44th Chris Hartley 39.18 (21st V45)
46th John Flahive 39.32 (22nd V45)
12/12/2013 Gravesend Floodlit 10k Series
2nd Phil Wright 37min41sec PB
15/12/2013 Airtel Delhi Half MarathonTom Bedwell 1hr50min25sec
Results for Ally Pally parkrun
1 Liam PROUDLOCK 00:19:13
3 Rob SHULMAN 00:20:34
5 William GRIFFITHS 00:20:43
14 Raymond YAU 00:23:36
21 Jesper LYCKE 00:24:41
42 Lyn EVANS 00:28:36
Results for Finsbury parkrun
4 Andrew DUNDERDALE 00:19:18
5 Dominic JACKSON 00:19:22
14 Gina HEISS 00:20:10 first lady
19 Carl HEAP 00:20:47
39 James PARKER 00:23:02
40 Brian BOYLE 00:23:03
89 Victoria PHILLIPS 00:29:30
Results for Gladstone parkrun
8 Nick DE SAUSMAREZ 00:20:27
Results for Hackney Marshes parkrun
9 Rhodri GABE 00:19:37
Results for Hampstead Heath parkrun
82 Bob GOULD 00:26:07
116 Laura BOOTHMAN 00:29:00
Results for Highbury Fields parkrun
1 Chris BURN 00:18:14
12 Tim MARSHALL 00:19:56
Results for Preston Park parkrun
13 Mark DERRY 00:19:43
Results for Richmond Park parkrun
14 Rebecca BUNTING 00:19:19 first lady
Results for Southwark parkrun14 Leo PEMBERTON 00:20:12
Results for Walthamstow parkrun
1 Andrew OSAMU BROOKER 00:17:44