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November 2010
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Eastern Athletics Association Cross Country Championships
Hilly Fields, Colchester was reasonably clear of snow for the Eastern Cross Country Championships on Sunday afternoon. Going was firm underfoot making it slightly faster than last year. Our turn out, and results, were better than the official results suggest (can anyone provide the actual placings we acheived?). Finn Barnes won the U13 Boys and Claire Wilson came second (only 1s down on the winner) in the U15 Girls. Mike Salt looked like the clear winner in the Senior Men each time I saw him as we looped around the course - but, ended up being declared second with the same time as the winner.
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Closed XC time trial
The second of the closed XC takes place on Saturday 4th December at the Gogs. The junior event (2 miles) starts at 9:30am while the senior event (5 miles) starts at 10:15am. Unfortunately, there are no toilet facilities and if you do attend, please be considerate of other users in the park.
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HellRunner
The HellRunner goes over 10-12 miles of filth, freezing water and exhausting obstacles, so no, thank you very much, not in a cold snap in November. But Andy Whittle and Lisa Stango care not, and both placed very highly over the weekend's two events in Hampshire, Andy finishing 28th on Saturday and Lisa sixth female on Sunday, both in a field of around 2000. Well done, and may your extremities forgive you.
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Hereward Relay
We had a couple of teams out at the Hereward Relay on Sunday - 37 miles from Peterborough to Ely in four legs - and doubtless eight cases of hypothermia. We managed 13th and 51st overall - well done chaps. Looking forward to the stories.
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Sunday League - Chicksands
Our local cross-country league, the Herts Sunday League tends to be a bit far away for many, but we had our biggest squad yet for the Chicksands event, despite competing attractions. Regular Sunday Leaguer Mike Salt produced another spectacular run to finish second, but John Kazer (25th), Al Pritchard (28th) and Steve Penny (38th) were right up there too, as were Carol Stanier and Diana Braverman, the former pipping the latter for 38th in the female race. Not yet a big enough turnout to make an impact in the team standings, but watch this space...
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Chelmsford 10K
Hats off to our small but select team at the Chelmsford 10K. Matthew Applegate blasted a PB of 38:39 to edge out John Evans (39:13), and I'm highly impressed by both.
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Ryston XC
I've finally dug up the results from last week's Ryston Cross-Country races, and it's good job I did too. Amongst other good performances, there was a very impressive win in the very competitive Vet 45s for David Pettitt, and second places in their respective age groups for two Charlottes - Gillard and Murphy.
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St Neots Half Marathon
We fielded a veritable army at the St Neots Riverside Half Marathon with no less than 17 C&C finishers and an almost bewildering number of trips to the trophy table. Caroline Pritchard (Caz) claimed 3rd in the women's race with Katie Sherwood less than a minute behind in 4th. Meanwhile Charlie Wartnaby and John Oakes (of course) bagged the V40 and V50 prizes respectively in 4th and 8th places overall; together with John Uff, who had a storming HM debut in 1:20:32, that gave us the men's team prize. Finally there was a Frostbite mixed team trophy including Caz in the line-up. If we had won any more bling, we'd have needed a wheelbarrow to get it home... well done to all 17.
Edit: yikes, I forgot the women's team prize, with Emma Kreetzer zooming in with 1:37:11 (chip) to complete the three (thanks Caz). Told you it was bewildering...!
Simon Brightwell's photos are now up in the gallery.
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Cross Country events
If anyone is interested in entering the following XC events, please let me know -
Cambridgeshire XC Championships, St Neots - Sunday 9th January (closing date for entries 20/12)
South of England XC Championships - January 29th (closing date for entries 25/11)
English National XC Championships - February 19th (closing date for entries 5/1)
C & C will pay the entries for these events. However, if you are unable to attend after the entry has gone through and there aren't genuine reasons, C & C reserve the right to charge you the entry fee.
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Closed C & C cross country
The next C & C closed cross country event will take place on Saturday 4th December at the Gogs. The junior event (2 miles) will start at 09:30am and the senior event (5 miles) will start at 10:15am. The aim here is to give people the chance to get much needed XC training. Unfortunately, there are no toilet facilities at the Gogs.
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Frostbite - Hinchingbrooke Park
The next Frostbite will be along before realised. It's on Sunday 12th December at Hinchingbrooke Park, near Huntingdon. The junior race (1.5 miles) starts at 10:15 and is open to all juniors below 16. The senior race (5 miles approx) starts at 11am. I hope in both cases we can maintain the outstanding results, both team and individuals in the next four races. If anyone needs a lift or can offer a lift, then I suggest meeting at the track at 09:30am. Once again full details can be found on frostbiteleague.org.uk
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Druid Challenge
How about this one then? Eighty-two miles of muck, hills and headwind along the Ridgeway from Ivinghoe Beacon to Banbury Castle in Wiltshire, over three days, roughing it overnight. That's the Druid Challenge, and our two chief druids Simon Brightwell and John Ferguson took on that challenge. It was nip and tuck, Simon edging the first day, whilst John pipped him on the second two, but Simon's advantage held at three minutes. Thirteenth overall of Simon, fifteenth for John. Hopefully now spending the week asleep. Well done, chaps.
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Neil's EA Award
I'm not sure how this escaped me, but many belated congratulations to our chairman Neil Costello, who picked up an award for Services to Volunteering at the England Athletics Award night for the huge amount of good work he does for the club. We all appreciate his coaching every Tuesday night, but the award is also in recognition of Neil's tremendous work behind the scenes which we usually don't see, but we all benefit greatly from. Richly deserved, I'm sure we all agree!
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Remembrance Day Racing
For once, the excellent Stowmarket Striders Scenic 7 didn't clash with a Frostbite, so a five-strong C&C squad made it down to Suffolk. Quickest was John Oakes, taking another V50 win and sixth place overall in 40:22, and some very impressive times were clocked behind him. Giacomo Capetti was 14th (and third V40), Matthew Applegate's fine form continued with 27th place, and Giulio Cinque and Dave Edwards both made the top 50. Not one duff run there. Impressive stuff, chaps!
Moving south-west into Essex, Diana Braverman flew the flag for us ably at the Stebbing Remembrance Day 10.
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Dovedale Dash
There was no organised C&C trip to the Dovedale Dash this year, but we had a good representation anyway. Mike Salt finished the hilly/mountainous and mucky/swampy 4¾-mile course in 28:37 for fifth place overall - congratulations, Mike! Stephen Penny had a good one too - finishing 84th in a 1400+ field. If anyone else ran, let me know (the Dash never publishes results past tenth).
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Beer Festival
It's time for a social so as there's a beer festival at The Tivoli, Mitcham's Corner, I thought why not take the opportunity to sample some beer and for non-beer drinkers, they sell wine, cider, etc. Anyway, if you can come along, then we'll be there from 7:30pm on Friday 12th November.
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Bushfield Frostbite Results
Thank you and well done to everyone who turned out for C & C at Bushfield today. So far the team results are juniors, 41 points, first overall, which is a very good result as that's the second time in two races. The senior results are finally complete and (imagine a drum roll!) we're first for both the junior and senior team events so well done and thank you to everyone for outstanding results. I hope we can maintain such excellent results for the next four races. The next Frostbite is Sunday 12th December at Hinchingbrooke Park.
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European Marathoning
A small and select C&C band travelled to the lakes and mountains of stunning Lucerne for the Marathon and Half. Tim Long (1:43) and Mandy Lasseter (1:50) took on the Half with aplomb, whilst I did the extra lap (3:50) and Carmel put her feet up saying something about a post-viral respiratory infection. Meanwhile, over in Frankfurt, C&C old boy Olivier Seger's sub-3 attempt didn't quite succeed, but no doubt will next time. Unlucky, Olivier.
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The Stickler
In its 10.1 miles, The Dorset 3 Peaks Challenge, better known as the Stickler, has a load of mud and, unsurprisingly, three killer hills, so Simon Brightwell's 1:16 for 18th place is pretty impressive. Maria Brightwell's 1:36 was very satisying too, in what can't be an ideal race for injury rehab! Well done both.
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Fenland 10
The Fenland 10 is the principal 10-miler of the year for C&C runners, and we had a suitably high-class squad out this year. Once again, it was John Oakes leading the way, with a PB in 57:32, first place in the M50s, and eighth overall. It was also a WAVA best for John, just six seconds off that magic 90%. Not to be outdone, John Uff (1:00:14, 20th), the fast-improving Matthew Applegate (1:06:12) and Caz Pritchard (1:08:10, sixth place) all registered personal best times. Simon Bowen, Jalanie D'Alessandro and Fiona Downie all picked up category fourth places, and there were good runs from Glyn Smith, Alex Downie and Iona Graham Hagg. A brilliant day - well done all.
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Bushfield Frostbite
The second Frostbite takes place on Sunday 7th November at Bushfield, just outside of Peterborough. The junior race, 1.5 miles, starts at 10:15am and the senior race, 5 miles, starts at 11am. I hope we can maintain our brillant start. If you can offer a lift or need a lift, then I suggest meeting at the track at 09:15am. Full details, including directions can be found on this website - http://www.frostbiteleague.org.uk/
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C & C Christmas Party
The C & C Christmas Party will take place on Saturday 11th December at Jesus College. Tickets are £16 per person and partners are more than welcome. If you'd like to come, then please contact Chris Brown, c.brown@jesus.cam.ac.uk
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Market Bosworth 'No Frills' duathlon
Just back from the Market Bosworth 'No Frills' duathlon. As usual the weather was great and the event was exceedingly well organized. The 1485 Tri-club hold a duathlon in March and October each year - at £10 entry (+£3 for a day licence) it has to be one of the cheapest - and most friendly - duathlons around. I managed 1:25:12 for the 5K run /21K bike/5K run course (having just recovered from a most dreadful case of 'man-flu'!) whilst George did a cracking 1:20:04 and finished first lady. Well done George!
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