Run To You

Unbelievably, the club is about to move into its 29th year, so here's an early note for your diary, the AGM on the 30th April 2002.

As the years go by things don't really change. Rob Wilson is still in the limelight, with his 200th Marathon on the horizon. He even made his annual run on the country and like last year he ran at Oxshott Common. This time though, he didn't get lost on the warm up (Bernard Johnson kept well away from him this year) or in the race. Hopefully Rob will be able to arrange his 200th at Battersea Park, the local council allowing, otherwise it will be at Kingston a few weeks later. If it has to be Kingston the good news is that Rob will be having two parties one for his Marathon success and one for his Ruby Wedding Anniversary. Every cloud has a silver lining, so they say.

The cross-country league season ended with us maintaining our position in Division III of the league. Something we have not done for a number of years. On a slightly disappointing note the last league match did not quite reach the heights of the previous one when we were second on the day. But, I'm sure we can take some pleasure in the performances on our newer members like Dan Gillett, who has been a real revelation. Of the old guard, Andy Flett continues to impress as he has done in previous years, this year making joint 1st individual in the league. There were many other notable performances, that have been highlighted in Andy's Cross Country Review.

The Surrey Road League will soon be upon us and we should fare a lot better than last year if all our best runners stay fit and represent the club. Here's hoping.

Finally, I would like to mention one of our oldest members (not by age, I hasten to add), John Allen. He has been suffering over the last years or so from an irregular heartbeat, which despite a couple of operations has not been corrected. This has severely curtailed his running. A little while ago he had a third operation, which seems to have been more successful. I was surprised to see him at the recent 26.2 RRC 10K, but very pleased to see him run a very creditable time. Lets hope John is on the way to recovery. The Tour of Epsom and Ewell may well be a possibility this year?

Glasses lost once more

There I was The Wilson of Monte Carlo. A visit of 5 days to the playground of the wealthy, no doubting the glamorous reputation. Unique atmosphere and colourful lifestyles of its visitors and inhabitants.

Out of 30,000 residents 6,000 are Monegasque, the rest are made up of Boris Becker and other wealthy sportsmen and sportswomen. Why you begin to wonder, does this small part of the French coast attract a major part of the world's wealth. The answer is a lack of taxes. It's extremely clean and manicured, road sweepers have even been seen kneeling down on pavements to remove the smallest piece of litter.

The Prince's Palace perched on top of the Rock of Monaco has more than a touch of Hollywood about it. The Casino's ornate and lavish gaming rooms are reminiscent of countless movie scenes. As a matter of interest I was there for my marathon through three countries starting at the Grand Prix course, as you may remember from TV pictures, it's a really hilly start, up and down and round and round. Prince Rainier started the race with a ringing bell.

Soon out of hilly Monaco, into France and with a swift stamping of the passport, another country visited. Into the Cote d'Azur, Roquebrune-Cap Martin famed for its glitz and glamour, film stars and millionaires. The road through is only open to the public once a year, that's for the spitting and piddling runners, not including me of course. What a wonderful mansion to the right, garden full of cats, Bridget Bardot, there she was watching the runners through her security gates, tits now on her knee caps, grey hair, and three cats on her head just like a Davy Crocket hat.

We swept into Menton, an upmarket seaside resort. Right on to the Italian border, with another stamping of the passports, and an offer of sausage and Italian wine, just what you need on the turn, and the same to do again in reverse.

The picturesque coast, but no Bridget on the way back, she must have been feeding the cats. At last into the Grand Prix - Monte Carlo, up and down and finally a grand entry into the Louis II Stadium, home of Monaco F.C., with a Temps Champion chip time of 4:22:53, passable on a hilly course.

Time for sightseeing, Prince Rainier's Palace, Princess Grace Rose Garden, Monte Carlo Grand Prix course, all there on gleaming white pavements, not a piece of paper, but who was this, looking like a great bear, with a little rat on a lead. A crapping rat at that, dog crap everywhere in Monte Carlo. The great bear was some rich old girl in a great big fur coat, with a tiny dog on a diamond-studded lead.

The Monte Carlo white pavements were a minefield of slip and slide. Better put my glasses on to detect the s & s, one pocket, two pockets, all pockets. No, I had lost them again on the white slip and slide pavements, still I haven't lost my glasses for almost a year now, last lost on the frosty pavements of Florence.

Robbie "Red Hat" Wilson

Ed's Note, Just to bring a bit of authenticity to the story, Robbie actually lost his glasses on the outward flight to Florence, so my sources tell me.

Road & Cross Country Handicap Cups - 2001/02

The Road Handicap 2001/02 is now well underway. The positions after just over ten months are shown below:

The 2001/02 cross country season is nearly finished with just one race left at time of going to press. The positions are as follows:

ROAD HANDICAP				CROSS COUNTRY HANDICAP
Thomas Wilkie	336.5 Points	1st	Jess Strong	136 Points	1st
Jess Strong	276 Points	2nd	Keith Dunning	133 Points	2nd
Chris Brooke	227.5 Points	3rd	Martin Lloyd	128 Points	3rd
Terry Fogarty	207 Points	4th	Rob Mothersole	114 Points	4th
Martin Lloyd	204 Points	5th	Malcolm Whelan	113 Points	5th
Adam Strong	189 Points	6th	Dan Gillett	107 Points	6th
Keith Dunning	183 Points	7th	Terry Fogarty	92 Points	7th
Malcolm Whelan	152 Points	8th	Ben Cady	89 Points	8th
Colin Wilkie	138 Points	9th	Andy Flett	85 Points	9th
Paul Brooke	109 Points	10th=	Paul Brooke	46 Points	10th
Steph Limond	109 Points	10th=	Adam Strong	45 Points	11th
Robbie Wilson	108 Points	12th	Bernard Johnson	38 Points	12th
Sue Adebanjo	104.5 Points	13th	Chris Brooke	37 Points	13th
Andy Flett	104 Points	14th	Terry Bridger	18 Points	14th
Ben Cady	90 Points	14th	Tim Anderson	10 Points	15th
Rob Ling	84 Points	15th
Terry Bridger	79.5 Points	16th	
Tim Anderson	69 Points	17th	
Ann Mothersole	39 Points	18th	
Bernard Johnson	38 Points	19th	
Rob Mothersole	37 Points	20th	

Road:

Jess has now moved to the front ahead of Keith in the closest handicap cup competition in years. Unfortunately, it looks like Martin will not retain his title this season. Illness has robbed him of the chance as he missed the last league match with flu. Early leader Malcolm has slipped away after sustaining a calf injury in the County Championships, which has forced him to miss the rest of the season, and that after such a promising start. Maybe next year?

Cross-country:

It seems inevitable that Tom will retain the road handicap cup despite a dip in form, and even though Jess has begun to claw back the large points difference. It looks like Chris will have to be happy with 3rd place after 2nd last time round. Although there is a chance that Terry (if he can return from injury) or Martin might pip Chris for third place. There seems to be a little bit of competition between the ladies with Steph now heading both Sue and Ann.

A View from the Chair

Time flies and its newsletter time again.

I have to start by mentioning the competitors who have taken part in the Cross Country League competition this season. It is especially gratifying that we were able to retain our position in Division 3, when we were actually close to promotion places until the last event. I must thank our members for participating in these events, especially the new members who came into the squad ensuring that the team scored well in every event. Notable additions to our Cross Country fold were Dan Gillett, Ben Cady, Chris Fitzgerald, Terry Fogarty & Adam Strong. Returns to form and competition of Tim Anderson, Terry Bridger, Chris Brooke, Paul Brooke, Jess Strong, Paul Stevens & Malcolm Whelan. With the consistency of Andy Flett, Keith Dunning, Martin Lloyd, Rob Mothersole & Jess Strong ensuring that the final outcome of the Club's Cross Country Handicap will not be determined until the final event of the season. I hope that I have remembered everyone, who has competed for the Club this season, if not I apologise.

Also in Cross Country the team in the South of the Thames Senior' race was awarded Special Medals, which is reward for the Clubs continued support of the event. Congratulations to Andy Flett, Keith Dunning, Martin Lloyd, Jess Strong, Rob Mothersole & Ben Cady. Commiserations to our other competitor in the event, Chris Brooke, who was our 7th runner in the 7-man club entry and didn't get a medal.

I have heard that Keith Dunning has won the Club Championship and is in the top 2 of the Cross Country Handicap, full results after the National Championships, which is a remarkable result whatever the outcome at Bristol. This deserves everyone's fullest praise as it shows that Keith has had a remarkable 12 months of competition.

I hope that 2002-3's Club championships are as exciting for competitors and supporters, and I hope that in the near future that I am able to compete (and possibly regain one of the Handicaps I previously won)

I also have to mention "Old Red Hat" who is determined to complete his 200th Marathon in September 2002, but I am sure that "ORH" will have plenty to say on this matter.

John "Mad-Jock" Ivers

Club Championship 2002

The first race in this year's championship is nearly upon us (Hastings Half Marathon -17/03/02), with the second race (Sutton 10K) on 05/05/02. Since the Richmond Half Marathon is not a popular event with members and has now lost its status as the County Championships to Camberley (which was run on 03/03/02), it's been decided to drop it from the Club Championships. This leaves a place for one more race, so this is your chance to have your say. There are a number of races that could be included, for instance the Harry Hawkes 8 Miles in July or the Sam Seven Miles in September. What do you think? The choice will be printed in the next newsletter in June.

The remaining races are:

Dorking 10 Miles - 02/06/02
Dysart Dash 10K - 23/06102
Elmbridge 10K - 20/07/02
Wimbledon 5K - 11/08/02
Henfield 1/2 Marathon - 25/08/02
Any Marathon in September
Cabbage Patch 10 Miles - 30/09/02
Caterham Half Marathon - 06/10/02