The following are extracts from the Club's quarterly magazine, which was published in Sept 2002:
NB: The club's race results are covered by weekly updates on the NEWS page
This year’s Awards Evening and Social is on 26th Oct at 7-30pm at East Barnet Valley United Services Club, 23 East Barnet Road. All medals from the Club Champs, and all club trophies will be awarded on this occasion. We must know numbers of members and guests who plan to attend, in order to arrange the evening. So please contact any of the committee to obtain your tickets in advance. PLEASE RETURN ALL TROPHIES IN ADVANCE - To either Peter Rice or Steve Harris
CHRISTMAS BALL
Handbags, Gladrags & Outrageous Ties
That’s the theme this year to win a prize. So step out in your best attire And
on the dance floor light your fire When:- 21st December 2002 Time:- 7pm for
7.30 sit down until midnight Where:- Bridgedown Golf Club, St Albans Road, Barnet,
Herts. Price:- £25 (Includes Christmas dinner & Disco) Tickets from:- Tiffany
Stephens, 51 Brunswick Park Road, New Southgate, London, N11 1JH Tel: 0208 368
3737 / 07855 986818 Email: primrose@flowerofscotland.freeserve.co.uk
LONDON MARATHON 2003
You need to get your entry in for the next London Marathon. Some of you will
be disappointed when you are rejected, but the club will (probably) have a few
guaranteed places on offer. We will apply for our usual quota which will be
two or three, and we will be given another two or three for the exploits of
our baggage-handling team (if we continue to do it next year). If you would
like to apply for one of these entries hand in your rejected entry form to me
or to a member of the committee as soon as you receive it. If there are more
requests than places available the committee will decide on how they should
be allocated, either to especially deserving cases or by ballot. The usual time
for distribution of the guaranteed entry forms is at the Boxing Day Handicaps.
GOOD LUCK! Ted Kimber
COACHING NEWS
A couple of people are booked on level 1 Coaching Courses, and we still have
funding put aside for the purpose, are there any more club members interested
in attending. One course is on Sun 29th Sept at New River, Haringey. Contact
me on 0208 368 6754 if interested.
STRENGTH TRAINING THU 3rd OCT AT THE CLUBHOUSE After training, starting
at 8pm and finishing about 9-30pm, there will be a seminar on Strength Training
during the winter months. It will be suitable for beginners, experienced athletes
of all disciplines, spints, middle distance, jumps, throws, even those just
interested in keeping fit - both male and female. It will be headed by Mike
Bennett, assisted by Steve Harris and Chi Kin Tsang. A second seminar can be
arranged for any of those attending who require more information. Steve Harris
NEW MEMBERS
The following new members have been elected at Committee since the last magazine:
Douglas Andrews, Behnam Banieqbal, Shelley Barnes, Olga Batichtcheva, James
Bradford, Robert BradfordJill Dinsmore, Richard Dunn, Anike Edwards, Caroline
Kent, Matthew Kos, Pauline Michael, Costas Michael, Bernard Minsky, Francis
O’Toole, James O’Toole, Dina Pitman, Natasha Sparks. May you all have a
good time with the Club, both athletically and socially.
RECYCLE YOUR X/C SPIKES & KIT
Do you have old cross country spikes that you no longer use? Could they be re-cycled
to someone else. If you do, don’t bin them - pass them back to the club and
we will ensure that they are put to good use. We especially need sizes suitable
to young athletes as they grow out of these so fast. What about old vests. Do
you have an old club running vest that is either too small or you no longer
use? Don’t let them go to waste. Pass them back and we will make good use of
them.
SECOND HAND KIT SALES - We have decided to formalise the recycling of
second hand athletic kit. Up till now the coaches and team managers have been
carrying around spare kit and using it as appropriate for newer/younger members
and guests at events. So, if you have any spare kit that still has life in it
for someone else - vests, sweat tops, track suits, trainers, spikes, etc - then
please give it to any of the team managers or coaches who will pass it on to
the recycle team. They will put it into the pool and try to find a new home
for it. There will be a stall at as many club events as possible. The next such
stall is likely to be at the Road Handicaps at the Clubhouse on Sun 13th Sept.
Please help the club by participating in this worthwhile scheme. Contact: Mrs
Prati on 020 8440 9884 or Mrs Smith on 020 8449 4995
CHRISTMAS
Another event which is a long way away is the end of the year itself, but even
this can be prepared for soon. For the last couple of years the Editor of the
magazine has given space for seasonal greetings from club members, who save
themselves the bother and expense of writing cards to their friends in the club
by putting a small ad in the December edition for the bargain price of £5. It
helps to keep us all together and raises a little money for the production and
distribution of the magazine. It tends to be limited to those who train on Thursday
evenings, simply because they are the ones I see and can encourage to take part.
It would be good to see a wider selection from the track runners, jumpers and
throwers who do not use the Clubhouse often and from those who would like to
show their support for the club at the start of the new century. So, if you
see me, just give me a fiver and the text of your greeting, or send me a cheque
in the post and appear in print at the end of the year. Ted Kimber
REPLACEMENT FOR BRUGGE FOR 2003
The 8th European Veterans 10K and Half Marathon Championships takes place at
Upice, Czech Republic on 24th/25th May 2003. There will also be other Vets races
held during the following week. I have entry forms should anyone be interested.
John A.
15th WORLD VETERANS’ ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
These Track & Field Championships (including Cross Country and Marathon) will
take place July 2003 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. There will be all the usual events
and according to the brochure, some not so usual. These latter include, 80m
Obstacles (Hurdles?), Bullet (Shot?) and Jump with Pole!
FIRST AIDERS Could any qualified first aiders please contact Steve Harris on 0208 368 6754? We are trying to establish a list of such people so that we can minimise our expenditure (where appropriate) on St Johns and Red Cross at our smaller club events.
COUNTY SELECTION The following club members have been selected for Herts or Middlesex County teams this summer: Abigail Watts-Cherry, Denise Gayle, Louise White, Joan Amaa, Eileen Griffiths, Kath Woods and Sean Dixon. Congratulations to them all.
A special meeting of about 40 members was held at the Clubhouse on 29 June to discuss future fixtures priorities. A note of that meeting has since been discussed by the General Committtee. This note summarises the conclusions reached at the two meetings and seeks members’ views on the value of retaining the senior T&F Club Championships.
At the members’ meeting, Steve Harris summarised the results of a questionnaire completed by 8 Committee members, which rated the Chingford League, North West London League, County Championships and the Track and Field Leagues as the highest priority. Club events were rated lower, particularly the 10K. Penny Wylie reminded the meeting of the results of a Members’ Survey in 1998, to which she had received 118 replies. The majority of members belonged primarily for competition, but a significant minority were more concerned with general fitness. Under 16’s were mainly interested in track and field and Sportshall athletics, while the 31-40 age group were mainly interested in road running. Members were very happy with the Club; and the social side was considered very important. The Chairman then drew attention to an email from Adrian Mason, copies of which were circulated to the meeting; and read out one from Mike Bennett, before opening the meeting to general discussion, going through the fixtures chronologically, starting with the winter.
Priorities: There was a general consensus supporting the following priorities (as expanded by the General Committee where appropriate):
1. Winter:
The Chingford League was the top priority. There was agreement that the
Club did not yet have sufficient depth to join the Met League.
Although it was not specifically discussed at the members’ meeting, the Committee
agreed that the North West London League should take similar priority
for the Young Athletes.
The County, Southern and National Cross Country Championships were also
a high priority and should be supported with full teams wherever possible, despite
the difficulties cause by the boundary split between Middlesex and Hertfordshire.
This would require a greater team management effort by the Club. It was also
recognised that conflict of priorities sometimes arose when fixtures were close
together.
Other traditional events, eg the North London, the North of Thames and the
Liddiard Trophy were at busy times of the season and had been poorly attended,
but some members attached priority to them. It was agreed to enter teams when
sufficient members were interested.
The London Championships were also a priority.
The Southern Road Relays at Aldershot were a high priority for the Vets,
but lower for the Seniors.
The St Albans Cross Country Relays also caused fixture congestion, but
were a useful starter to the season.
Club Cross Country Champs should be combined with another race; eg 5
mile with a Chingford League and Young Athletes with a NWLL fixture; Club 7
with North of Thames (November). A suitable race needed to be found for the
Ladies Championship and consideration given to whether it should be over 5 or
3 miles. The Committee propose that the Ladies’ Championships should be over
5 miles, combined with a Chingford League fixture.
The Road and Boxing Day Handicaps should be retained as ‘fun’ events.
The Club should continue to promote the Fraternity Cup.
The necessary changes will be implemented in the fixtures for the 2002/3 winter
season.
2. Summer:
The Midweek Road League was a high priority for road runners.
The Southern League and Southern Women’s League were high priority. Efforts
needed to be made to fill the mens’ middle distance slots, which had proved
difficult, partly because of the Club’s shortage of younger senior athletes
and partly because of the clash for veterans with the Vets League and the Midweek
Road League fixtures.
The Eastern Young Athletes League is a priority for Young Athletes.
The Vets League was also high priority and the Club were doing well.
County Track and Field Championships are also a priority. The split between
Herts and Middlesex should be less of a problem, because competition is mostly
individual rather than needing to get full teams together in each age group.
Club Champs: The 10K should be combined with another race. The Clubhouse
Mile should be dropped for seniors, but retained for Young Athletes (coaches
to arrange).
There was no specific discussion of the Track and Field Championships,
which were subsequently poorly attended by seniors on 29 June. The Committee
propose that the championships should be retained for Young Athletes,
but there are reservations on whether they are worthwhile for seniors.
Views please to the Editor, the Secretary, the Clerk or any Committee member, so that decisions can be taken for 2003. The changes will be implemented in the fixtures for summer 2003. Brian Strong
“No. He’s got it wrong. A marathon’s 26 miles”. This was a comment that came back to me after I entered the Comrades Marathon this year. I get some things wrong, but I’m not in the habit of getting the distance wrong by nearly 30 miles! The Comrades Marathon is run, every year, between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The direction alternates each year. This year was the “up run” from Durban, on the coast, to Pietermaritzburg. The distance is about 55 miles. It varies from year to year as road changes affect the route. The race was first run in 1921. 38 comrades who had served together in the first world war took part. They ran to remember those who had fallen, and to recall the camaraderie, and the challenge of ordinary people triumphing over adversity, which had been such features of their harrowing experiences.
There is an eleven hour cut off. A man stands with his back to the finish and fires a gun. If you are a foot from the line you didn’t finish – no medal, no name in the list of finishers. At home I ran over all sorts of calculations to judge what time I might aim for, and what sort of pace to set off at. In the end none of this was helpful. First, I got injured. I did my last long training run 2 weeks before the race. My knee gradually seized up and in the end I had to walk home. Next day I couldn’t get up and down stairs without great trouble. I was very worried. The thought of not going was terrible. The thought of 55 miles with an injury was terrible. I consulted John Shirley and he gave me excellent advice. Thanks again John. John’s diagnosis was that I had “jerked” a muscle but it was not serious. Return to a little more light training and carry on. So, I went to South Africa, still very worried.
Next, there were some shocks over the course. I knew this was the “up run”. I had the notion that this meant an ascent of 800 feet. It was 800 metres. The highest point on the course is 824 metres. Course notes advised “1,778 metres of ascent and 1,150 metres of descent”. Also, it was hotter than I expected. July is winter in the southern hemisphere, but the sun is hot. Latitudes are equivalent to Tunisia and Cairo. The start is at 6.00am. It’s still dark. Before 6.00am there is the usual rock music and ballyhoo, also African choral singing, Chariots of Fire, and just before the start, always a recording of a cock crow. With a marathon qualifying time of 3.24 I was in the middle section of the grid. Your number has a letter, A to E, which admits you to the appropriate enclosure behind the elite runners. The cannon boomed and I set off with all the others, running very slowly - more slowly than ever before I think. People poured past me without end. Were they getting it wrong or was I? You are climbing steadily. You reach the altitude of Pietermaritzburg about a third of the way into the race. After that it’s up and down for the rest of the way.
The course follows the “old main road” from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. You run out of Durban into the countryside, through the veldt and the hills, through small towns and communities. Spectators stake their plots days before and sit out with barbecues, making a day of it. You are heading north, into the sun all day so I had some clip-on shades on my glasses (possibly looking quite stylish). There are 50 refreshment stations providing water, Poweraid (an isotonic drink, I think) bananas and other things. Of course you pour fluid down your throat non stop, and still you need more.
I found I was running at about 10 hour pace. Then I found I was starting to get inside 10 hour pace. Around the twenty mile mark I actually felt quite good. For the first time in two weeks I felt a little confident. The course, the race, the atmosphere were magic. The thought of speeding up a fraction entered my head. I slapped it down. I kept running very slowly, worried that the jerked muscle might ruin everything at any moment. It didn’t. Different aches and pains came and went. The legs simply got heavier and heavier, slowly, as the day wore on. I finished in 9.40.35. This was better that I had hoped at the start, just thankful to finish in one piece.
Vladimir Kotov won the men’s race in 5.30.59. As a youngster he was fourth in the marathon in the Moscow Olympics. He is a veterinary surgeon from Belarusia but finds he can earn more money running in road races. Willie Mtolo of South Africa was second. Maria Bak of Germany won the women’s event. The Comrades Marathon Association, a non-profit making Trust, works hard to make the race great. It would be an exaggeration to say that it has a status in South Africa similar to that of the Tour de France in France, but there is something in common. The numerous “Comrades heroes” are promoted at every opportunity. These are athletes who have featured prominently in the history of the race. Bruce Fordyce won the race 9 times in the 1980s. Arthur Newton won the race 5 times in the 1920s and had a habit of passing on winnings to others with greater needs. He started the tradition of the Comrades Greathearts, athletes distinguished by their generous character. Wally Hayward won the race in 1930 then returned in the 1950s to win it four more times. A team from Tipton Harriers won the team prize in 1972. Now the top teams are trade assemblies. Harmony Gold, Liberty Nike, and New Balance were the first three teams this year.
A tradition is that the runners carry a message of goodwill between the mayors of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The message, inside a baton, is generally handed to the winner as he comes into the finish. This is why, if you see a picture of the finish, the athlete might look as though he’s finishing a relay race. Some people run year after year. When you have collected 10 finisher’s medals you receive your own green number, yours for ever, and this is presented to you personally at the finish by a past winner. 20 finishes earns a “double green” number. I don’t know what this looks like. For first timers there is a bus trip along the route a couple of days before the race, with a helpful commentary and lots of information provided by one of the CMA trustees. It includes tea and sandwiches and a visit to the Comrades Museum. This is a pleasant house in Pietermaritburg where there’s a scale model of the course, lots of exhibits, pictures and press cuttings.
How do you train for a 55 mile race? I have always regarded 60 miles a week as a maximum, but something that can be done, and should be done, for four weeks in preparation for a standard marathon. So do you run 120 miles a week to prepare for a race that’s twice as long? I judged that I would certainly break down if I attempted anything like 120 miles a week. In any case I’m not a full time athlete (no lottery funding, never bothered to apply). As ever, if you stick at it, you can do a bit more than you think. I ran 70 miles a week for five weeks and I did some things that I hadn’t done before. I trained more slowly than my normal pace. I decided I had to break the mindset which says everything stops at 26.2. I entered the Shakespeare marathon on the day of the race without any particular preparation and treated it as an ordinary training run. I ran in a 50k race - the step up from 50k to 87k seems less daunting than the gap from 42k to 87k. I did three further runs of over 30 miles. The longest was 38 miles. If you do half your week’s miles on one day the training is relatively light for the rest of the week. On these long runs I stopped regularly to eat and drink. It’s difficult to learn to stop. I would take some money and stop at a number of garages on my route, buy a small chocolate bar and a bottle of water, eat and drink, and then run on. I think on a long run the important thing is to stay in control as long as you possibly can - running at a pace of your choice, able to speed up or slow down if you want to, choosing your line on the road, choosing to overtake or not. I’d say most competitors, with training, can run slowly and smoothly for about 35 miles, not more. After that you are not controlling anything, just hanging on and trying to get to the next kilometre post as best you can.
The Comrades Marathon was an unforgettable experience. The long training runs
and the anxieties were all worth it. I raised some money for the charity GUCH,
which helps people with defective hearts. A number of people in the club gave
me contributions. This has, of course, all gone off to GUCH. Thanks to all of
you. The bottle of wine for the nearest guess at my finishing time was won by
Liz Egan, a colleague at work.
John Owen
A group of 34 members of the Club took part in the last Veterans’ Grand Prix Brugge. We travelled separately and met up in Bruges on 21-24 June. Some of the party took the opportunity to arrive earlier or stay an extra day. The trip was organised by Jim Neville, with whom I travelled and shared a room in the Kaisershof. Others stayed in the Leopold or on The Barge. Our activities varied over the four days. Maureen dragged John to a Van Eyck Exhibition, while Steve Harris and I both visited an exhibition about the commercial role of Bruges in the 14th and 15th centuries, when it was a link between the Hanse of northern Europe and Venice. Did you know that the term “Bourse” came from the first exchange set up by the de Beurse family in 14th century Bruges? There were trips to the market - particularly for incredible bargains in chocolates; and, of course, to bars, cafés and restaurants. We tended to meet in smaller groups for drinks and meals, except for the last evening when we all ate together in the traditional venue of Maximilian’s. Unfortunately they were heavily booked and the party was split between the ground floor and upstairs. The race day went well. It was sunny and slightly humid early on, but much hotter for those who ran the 25K, which did not start until 11 am. The results are printed elsewhere in the Magazine. Needless to say, there were loud cheers from the Barnet contingent at the awards ceremony, a little marred by the fact that when Des went to collect Con’s medal, he was told someone else we could not trace had already done so. He did get it some days after returning to the UK. While a little disappointed with my own time, there was compensation in discovering I had actually beaten Ron Hill! Brian Strong
Once again I team managed the Borough team for the Primary Schools Sportshall event in the Youth Games at Crystal Palace, ably assisted by Jim Neville. Barnet were 20th team out of 33. Best event for us was the Seated Ball Throw, where Ben Kentish and Lauren O’Donnell came 3rd. Next was the speed bounce where Niall Fleming and Lauren O’Donnell were 5th, followed by javelin where Tim Luckitt and Emily Prati were 6th. Best of the track events was the obstacle relay, where Niall Fleming, Sam Clarke, Emily Prati and Victoria Dixon were 9th. The selected team was severely reduced when we found out that the primary schools athletics champs had been set for the same day - how could this be? Who was responsible? Despite this, all the athletes had a great day out, and it was topped off by “meeting” the Queen at the end of the afternoon. In actual fact the last event was held up for over 20 mins in order that the Royal party had something exciting to watch. Steve Chilton
“Well greetings from the sunny North East!! Thought it was time to say hi to you all and let you know how I am getting on! Life has been busy, settling in to my new post with the Civil Service Sports Council, looking after the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside, so there has been a lot of travelling but it beats getting on the tube every morning. Driving across County Durham and Yorkshire in mornings is more preferable than sitting on the Piccadilly line avoiding the people with colds! Feel quite detached from the rat race up here! I am living just outside Newcastle, in a place called Birtley at the moment but looking for somewhere to base myself permanently, but its handy for getting into the Toon and the quayside for a nightout. I have joined Chester Le Street & District AC and been made very welcome. My new coach is a guy called Barry Forster who himself was a very good runner and a contemporary of Brendan Foster. We are based at the track at Chester Le Street next door to the County Cricket ground and with Lumley Castle as a back drop! On Saturdays we team up with Lindsey Dunn’s group, which a couple of weeks ago included Rob Denmark, the Hudspith Brothers and Tom Mayo, all of whom went to the Commonwealth Games!! I would like to say that I was on their shoulders through out the session but I will let you make your own minds up!! The group is fairly large on Saturdays and it attracts a lot of runners from all over the North East. However I do miss sitting the in cafe at Trent Park on a Saturday Morning so may have to get down to see you all soon. I have only raced a few times since I got up here, taking it slowly to get to full fitness and I am now targeting the XC season. Have a feeling that it may be quite hard up here, but then if you can run over at Parliament Hill over nine miles then I guess you can run anywhere! Hope you are all well and running well and I hope to see you all soon." Simon Wells
It was a lovely sunny day. There were loads of class athletes there. The pacemaker had been given their target lap time. My stopwatch was primed, and I looked across at the slight figure of the Barnet runner waiting nervously on the start line. Then the tension was shattered by my mobile phone - it was Cath Perry asking desperately the way to Watford track.
This year several new female athletes have joined the club and there is a new enthusiasm in the Senior womens track and field team. Vicky Hyland has been coming back from long-term injury, and feeling her way back into competition. Jill Dinsmore has returned to athletics after a long (family) break and put her toe in the water in one event at St Albans. Subsequently, with some training sessions behind, her the synapses are remembering their previous role and she has been keenly competing in high jump, long jump, javelin and over the hurdles again. Cath Perry has been trying events out that range from 3000m to 100m - and has found her metier somewhere in the middle, whilst Carmel O’Brien has been racing towards the Vets sprint Club Records, only to be frustrated by a middle distance runner sneaking the 200m record before her (at the same Vets meeting).
But the athlete to have raised the performance profile of the Senior Ladies in the Club the most has been Kath Woods. She joined us in November, and seeing her train I realised that here was an athlete who would probably take our middle distance records forward big time. Being the summer team manager, and somewhat of a net anorak, I looked up her performances on her previous club’s website (Havant AC). Here was an athlete with PBs of 2-24.5 for 800m and 5-04.7 for 1500m, but who could also long jump 4-41, triple jump 9-20 and run 400mH in 68.5. I kept this knowledge to myself, and watched her performing outstandingly well over the cross country season. I saw was a keen club runner, who trained hard, and who thought cross country was appropriate to do for a committed middle distance track athlete. She joined my training group at Copthall on Tuesdays, and was soon giving some of the guys a hard time with her approach to sessions. For ages I had been saying to newcomers to the group - “that’s Dave Wilcock, he’s World Vets Champion, and still running sub-2 min 800s at the age of 49. Now I have a role model for the females - ”There’s Kath Woods, she’s run sub-2.25 for 800m". To the younger (and older) females joining in I’m sure she is a fine example of how dedicated training leads to improved performances.
The summer season opened for Kath with a 1500m PB (and under 5 mins) at the Verlea Open. For the first womens league match at Crawley Kath did a 400/800 double and set her first Club record in the 800m with a battling 2nd placed 2-23.9. It is worth noting here that the previous Club Record of 2-27.0 had stood to Cathy Alexander for 6 years. She achieved this as a 14 year old, and on reflection I feel that Cathy has not had the recognition that she deserved for this feat.
In May Kath gained a bronze in a good quality Herts Champs 1500m with a Club Record time of 4-55.8, and followed this a week later with a silver in the Herts Champs 800m - knocking another 0.1 secs from her recent Club Record in the process. In the second womens league match at St Albans there were no Club records, but double firsts in the 800/1500m. In the third womens match, our home match at New River, there were again no individual Club Records, but once again a 800/1500m double first, and also a leg of 65.7 in the 4x400m team that knocked 3.1 secs off the Club record. Kath set off in first place on leg 2 after Denise Gayle’s brilliant 59.2 leg. In the fourth womens match at Tonbridge Kath came 2nd in the 1500m and strode down the finish straight to clip another 0.4 secs off the Club record (now 2-23.4), before anchoring the 4x400m team to another convincing win. In the Clubhouse Mile race she finished in the same time as Zac, but he used his superior physique (!) to outlean her for victory. The fifth womens league match at Dartford was a tough one and there were no victories or Club records to be had.
Finally, Kath was invited to the BMC Nike Grand Prix at Watford, because the times she had been posting had been noticed. As alluded to in the introduction she was in a paced 800m, where she raced through behind the pacemaker (in a suicidal split - for a 2-14 finish) and hung on magnificently for a new Club Record of 2-22.1, knocking another 1.3 secs off the record. Kath partnered Sean Mitchell to the Shirley Cup in the Parlauf, setting the fastest aggregate time for a female, and beating her partner’s time by 6 secs, to his chauvinistic chagrin, and completed the season by being the only athlete to compete in all 6 womens league matches. She was also selected for the Herts team for the Inter-County match at Ashford, where she performed exceptionally well for 5th place in the B race in 2-25. She is the 5th Senior Lady to gain County selection this summer, which shows how our standards are rising.
Overall it has been a pleasure to watch Kath raising the standards of performance in the middle distance events this summer, and to see her representing the club at league meetings, opens, County events, and of course the BMC meet at Watford. If only you’d got there in time Cath (Perry) - it really was a race to savour. Steve Chilton
Postscript: as Ladies summer track team manager I am already looking forward to Kath and the above mentioned athletes raising the standards even higher, and finally bringing us promotion in the womens league after several near misses. This situation will be enhanced by the two excellent junior athletes - Hanna Gul and Claudia Pensa - who are joining the club, from Enfield and Haringey, and Shaftesbury Barnet respectively.
Tue 1 Oct Eastway 5km road race Includes 5000m Club Champs. Contact Steve Chilton on 0208 482 3381/0781 747 5434 for more details.
Sat 5 Oct 1st NW London League Race, Horsendon Hill, Perivale First young athletes cross country race. Includes races for Boys U11/U13/U15/U17 and Girls U11/U13/U15/U17. Details from Jim Neville (020-8449-6487).
Thu 10 Oct AGM, Clubhouse The Club’s Annual General Meeting. To be held at the Clubhouse, starting at 8-15pm. Your chance to influence the future of the club, or offer to fill one of the vacant positions.
Sun 13 Oct Road Handicaps, Clubhouse All age groups (inc U11s). 5.5 miles Seniors, 1 mile YAs. Meet at Clubhouse at 10am. First race 10-30am.
Sat 23 Nov London Cross Country Champs, Parliament Hill Details from team managers.
Sat 7 Dec Fraternity Cup, Trent Park Our home fixture, which requires course marking, marshalling and officiating. Contact committee members.
Sat 7 Dec North West London League, Copthall (Inc YAs Club Champs) Club Champs for all young athletes age groups. Contact Jim Neville on 0208 449 6487 for more details.
Sat 7 Dec Xmas Ladies Night At Kirsty Johnstone’s home: 25 Greenhill Park, New Barnet, Herts, EN5 1HQ, starting at 19:30. Bring food & drink. Further details from Kirsty on 020-8447 0457.
Sat 16 Dec North if Thames Champs, Southend (inc Club 7m X/C Country Champs) The traditional long cross country champs race - Senior and Vet Men and Women only. Includes sealed handicap.
Boxing Day Boxing Day Handicaps, Clubhouse 3.4 miles Seniors, 1.7 miles YAs. Meet at Clubhouse at 10am. First race 10-30am.
Sat 28 Dec Chingford League, Trent Park (Inc Senior Club Champs) Our home fixture, which also hosts the Senior Mens and Womens Club Champs.
This list of forthcoming events is not exhaustive, and just includes the MAJOR club events. There are many more, whose details are on the winter fixture card.