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February 2010
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English Cross-Country Championship
Well done to everyone who competed at Roundhay Park in the English Nationals XC (Results). If the toughness of a course can be measured by the number of young competitors crying at the end of a race, this wins for sure. The Nationals are just that, the best of the best, the competition was fierce. Great performances from the entire C&C squad. James Cochrane (45th), Hollie Parker (218th), Charlotte Murphy (129th), Nathalie Richards (69th), Mary Holmes (518th), Diana Braverman (309th), Thomas Heylen (117th), John Baslington (108th), Gerald Meah (1343rd), Will Clarke (23rd), George Schwiening (18th). Anyone who managed to run up that slope, even once at the end of a race, deserves a medal - or at least a large packet of Cadbury's mini-eggs! John Moores photos here. More below.
Leeds Roundhay Park is deceptive. When we arrived at the start of the course George and I joked about how flat it was and how nicely set-out for spectators. The course looped the Competitors' Village, what we hadn't seen was that the course dropped sharply out of view down a steep ridge. Luckily the downward slope already had a nice friction reducing coating applied to ensure that it was at least as fast as anything Whistler had to offer, unfortunately no one seem to have brought mud-skis with them. No matter how long the spike, nothing was going to penetrate 3 inches of fluid mud. George attempted to slide down the slope in a clear attempt to emmulate our recent skeleton success, and by the look of Will Clarke's back he must have tried something similar! Apparently it works quite well if you can get back on you feet in time to avoid being spiked. Great sliding guys!
400m before the end the course reappeared up a grassy 1 in 2 slope (short and sweet as George said) with a relatively flat finish. The upward slope was heaven for photographers - even with the fastest runners there was plenty of time to focus, adjust the film speed, compose the shot and even discuss the running form. Real live slow motion stuff!
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Syndiah's Trans-Manche Adventure
Another C&C member doing something extreme for a good cause is Syndiah Culit, who is cycling from London to Paris this September in aid of prostate cancer research. You can read about the challenge at http://www.mycharitypage.com/Syndiah and sponsor her there too. I really hope there's a ferry involved for the middle bit!
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Caz and Al's London Marathon for the NSPCC
Caz and Al Pritchard make their marathon debuts in (appropriately) the Virgin London Marathon in April, and they're marking the occasion by raising money for the NSPCC's work helping kids at risk of abuse. If you can spare some money for this excellent cause, please visit their fundraising page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/gocazandal. Go Caz and Al!
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Great Larks at the Great East Run
How do you like your horizontal sleet? On your back? Or in your face? Me too.
It was particularly miserable around the country lanes of Bungay for the Adnams Great East Run 20K and 10K, but whilst core temperatures plummeted (there was documented post-race cuddling beneath silver foil), determination increased, and we even came away with a couple of prizes. Star performer of the day was the ever-quicker John Oakes, whose run in the 10K was not just worth his usual first MV50, but also second place overall. Congratulations, John! Congratulations too to in-form Carmel McEniery for her third place in the V35s over the 20K distance. And *cough* I was first C&C home in the 20K, so well done me too. :-)
Read Alex's report here.
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ANNOUNCING 'THE RIVER CAM RUN'
The inaugural 'River Cam Run' will be a beautifully scenic 4.67 mile race on a very popular route which loops clockwise from Fen Ditton. The race is 99% off road but road shoes are recommended.The date is May 9th. Entries will 'go live' on Runners World next weekend. There will be a 300 entry limit so early entry is advised. More information in due course. Any questions to raceorganiserb@googlemail.com
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CUHH Selywn Relays
I'd like to put some teams together for the below relays, so if anyone is interested, please let me know. I will also be contacting people individually to ask.
Message from CUHH -
This Sunday we host the Selwyn relays - starting and finishing on the track at Wilberforce Road (http://tinyurl.com/wforcetrack).
The men's race is 4 x 4km, and the ladies race is 3 x 4km - both starting at 2pm. I should emphasise that any runner who wants to race can turn up!
Each leg is identical and follows a scenic route along part of our Freshers' Fun Run course around Madingley Road and the Cavendish Laboratories, before finishing around the Wilberforce Road sports grounds.
You can register online at http://www.cuhh.org.uk/registration/. Number collection and late registration will take place on Sunday from 1.15pm, and close at 1.50pm. There will be guides leaving St John's plodge on foot and by bike at 1.15pm.
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Ryston Runners Cross-Country
Well done the C&C girls at the latest Ryston meeting. Our all-female junior team dominated proceedings at Shouldham Warren, with top-three positions going to Lucy Parker (first U11) and to Hollie Parker, Amy Pettitt and Charlotte Murphy, who took 1-2-3 respectively in the U13s. Good effort by the whole squad, including those either not female or not junior!
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Stamford St Valentine's 30K
A bit too chilly and damp for romance, so seven C&C boys and seven C&C girls kept warm by taking on 30K's-worth of the endless hills of Stamford. Andrew Shields and Simon Brightwell were quickest, and although they finished together we think it was strictly platonic. Excellent runs all down the field; many were training for marathon season, though first female C&C Ultra Katie's 2:21 was just quick anyway.
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Cambridge parkrun through a blizzard
The snow came down as the finishers came through in today's parkrun at Milton. A thrilling neck to neck finish saw Tom Vickery (Cambridge Tri) take the honours from Ben B at the line, but C&C filled the field once more with excellent running and much fun!
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Coe Fen Relay, Boundary Run and The Roman Road Race
Cambridge University Hare and Hounds will be hosting the Coe Fen Relays on Sunday 14th February. Further details can be found through this website - http://www.cuhh.org.uk/registration/
The male relay requires 4 runners whereas the female relay requires 3 runners. Both races start at 2pm with registration at 1.15pm. There is the possibility of joining with other runners, should C & C not have enough. However, this will not be known until the actual day. If anyone does run, good luck.
Two other Hare and Hounds events worth doing are the Boundary Run (Sunday 7/3) and the Roman Road Race (Saturday 13/3).
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Anglian Schools Cross Country
I have posted some of the results from the Anglian Schools Cross Country - I have pulled out names I recognize, maybe someone else could look through and pull out the rest?
The day was misty and cold (again!). Hinchingbrooke was suitably wet and muddy - almost the perfect set-up for a cross country event. It was a team event with the best runners from Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Suffolk and Norfolk competing against each other. It was a very strong field of runners, taking from a large portion of the East of England. We had lots of very high quality performances amongst our athletes. John Moores from NVH took an excellent set of pictures.
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Bourne Frostbite Pics
Marcus's excellent pics from the Frostbite at Bourne are now up in the Gallery. Enjoy!
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Great Bentley Half
Half marathon news from Essex - top running by John Oakes (1:18 and second Vet 50), David Edwards (a PB in 1:27) and Diana Braverman (1:42 and second Vet 55) at Great Bentley. Good going!
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Frostbite League - Bourne
Well done everyone who made the long trip to Bourne for the fifth Frostbite, one which was even muckier than last year's mudbath. I think the turnout was impressive in the circumstances. The juniors were excellent again, finishing fifth on the day but unluckily slipping a place to fifth overall. In the seniors, well, I don't think any club could have beaten the awesomely strong Nene Valley Harriers squad today, and we didn't, but third place on the day consolidates our second place overall, and we still have an outside chance of taking the title next month at BRJ. Well done Werrington for an impressive (and annoying) second place today.
Individually we had some outstanding performances, and Steve Watterson's first place is well worth celebrating. Not far behind, Mike Salt took third place and Noel Carroll made it three C&Cs in the first four, easily the best set of results at the sharp end I can remember. Congratulations, chaps. Alan Pritchard (17th) and John Ferguson (22nd) also featured prominently. First C&C female was Jemma Clarry, 16th-placed female.
In the junior event, Hollie Parker was in fine form again, replicating her result from Ramsey and finishing ninth overall and second girl. Matt Rogen was close behind in 16th, just ahead of a fine battle between Lucy Parker and Charlotte Murphy for 18th. Follow the link for full results.
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Cambridge parkrun
Another good showing at the Cambridge parkrun in Milton today, with three C&C runners in the top five finishers, Jonathan Escalante-Phillips running the fastest junior time, and Johanna Jones coming in as first lady.
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SEAA Cross-Country Championships
Results are up (thanks, Christof!) from the SEAA Championships at Parliament Hill. This is a seriously high-class event, but despite that we had a fair few prominent finishers amongst our strong squad. Here's Christof's report...
The day started bright and cold, with plenty of car drivers who could have done with spikes on their tyres. By the start of the first race Parliament Hill had warmed-up just enough to turn the puddles of ice to a rather nice, slippy cold paste. There were some excellent performances on what is one of the toughest of cross country courses. Will Clarke got a respectable 11th place, George 12th and James Cochrane and Nathalie Richards came in 24th and 27th place respectively. Frankly, on that course, anyone who finished was a winner. Great event with some of the toughest competition in England.
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