AAA Mem. No:

M2402AWA

Race Results - for August 2002

Thursday 8th August Summer League Race 7, Burton Bruiser
Saturday 17th August Race The Train
Thursday 22nd August Rogers Railway Handicap

08/08/02 - Summer League Race 7, Burton Bruiser.

35 runners took part in the penultimate road race on Thursday evening last. The evening was cloudy and ideal for fast running. It has been some time since this popular road race series has been so close after seven races. With only one race remaining in the series there are six runners who can win the overall prize. A mere 50 points separate them and with so many to play their Jokers (this doubles the points gained at the race) it is impossible to predict the eventual winner of the series. Matthew Dyer leads the pack at this time with 280 points but a good run from any of the others in the eighth and last race could alter the position. The seventh race is known in the Club as ’The Burton Bruiser’ because it starts just outside the Peeping Tom Public House in Burton Green and is one of the hardest of the clubs runs . The course proceeds from the Peeping Tom along Cromwell Lane over the railway bridge and then turns left into Red Lane. It passes along Red Lane to the Kenilworth Road and after a short distance turns left up Beehive Hill to the Hollis Lane. After passing along Hollis Lane the course then turns into Crackley Lane and so to turn left into Westwood Heath Road and back to the finish in Cromwell Lane. Jayne Gillard, a new member of the club, showed what a force she will be in future with a sparkling run to gain the maximum points on the night.

The group positions are as follows:-

Group A Jane McNally 253; Alex Preston 237; Mick Morris 230

Group B: Julian Tombs 229; Roger Wilkes 216; Martin Carter 215.

Group C: Roger Homes 253; Richard Steel 248; Mick Williams 222.

The final race will take place on the Sunday 8th September starting at 11.00 am near the Berkswell Bear Public House, Berkswell. It is a six mile road race.

 

17/08/02 - Race the Train.

   
Kerry & John striding out purposefully before the start....before they knew..   Pam & Roger are glad it's all over, John isn't so sure   Roger manages a smile
         
     
Whilst Pam aims for the line   Annette battles it out over the final few metres    

Race the Train made a welcome return to the fields after last years foot and mouth outbreak. On a baking hot day and a changed course - now 14.7 miles - meant it was not going to be all plain sailing for those taking part. However, prior to the main race there was the small matter of the 10K to look forward to. Roger and Pam Wilkes together with Annette Robinson were taking part. This too had to be lengthened to 10.59K due to the fact that one of the farms on the course had changed hands and the new owners didn't want a thousand or so runners using their fields. With the temperatures starting to climb as the race started, it was apparent that this too would not be a race for fast times. Roger struggling with a niggling calf injury was the first back in a time of 63:15 for 93rd overall in the mens category and 3rd in the over 60 age group. Pam was next back in 75:46 for 76th in the ladies category and 4th in the over 55 age group. Following shortly behind her was Annette in a time of 77:38 finishing in 79th position.(Overall positions were not available on the Saturday night)

By the time the main race started shortly before 2 o'clock, the temperature had risen still further and with the wind going up the valley, it was to make for a very warm 7 miles. This first half of the race is the easiest, being along the valley floor. There are a few steep inclines, but nothing compared to the return half when the route takes you up onto the sheep track, where an extra couple of minutes per mile can be added onto your pace. The course eventually brings you back onto the fields where you first came in off the road. It is at these points where the train runs very close to the runners and so family and friends are able to shout encouragement as they pass by.

Mick Williams, hoping for his 12th straight win against the train wasn't put off by the conditions and led Pat Noonan at the turn. Martin Dorrill was next with Lou Frondella close behind. Making his debut in the race was Richard Steel, who had been looking forward to the race with a certain amount of trepidation - not normally one for this length of race you see. At this point all five were with a chance of beating the train. However, when Roland Smythe went through half way in 54 minutes, his chances were all but gone. Now it was a case of trying to beat 2 hours! The weather thankfully changed on the inbound route with clouds obscuring the sun, making the temperature drop considerably. By now though the conditions were taking their toll and it looked as if it was only going to be Pat, Mick & Martin who would beat the train. In fact it was Mick who led the way only to be overtaken by Pat in the last mile or so.

Further down the field, Mary Joyce and Jane McNally were finding the going difficult as they too tackled the race for the first time. Stan Alexander thought he had died and gone to heaven - he'd never seen so many tracks before!. Mike Cahill was thankful for the change in the weather on the return as was Kerry Waine, whilst John Jones in his own inimitable style played the role of sweeper!

Overall, not a good day for running - and as it happened it poured with rain in the evening, all through the night and all morning on Sunday!

Results:
Main Race - 14.7 Miles Place Time
Pat Noonan
19
 1:40:17
Mick Williams
21
 1:40:32
Martin Dorrill
42
 1:44:28
Lou Frondella
95
 1:51:44
Richard Steel
125
 1:54:24
Roland Smythe
178
 1:58:16
Stan Alexander
205
 2:04:23
Mike Cahill
2:09:00
Kerry Waine
2:23:00
Mary Joyce
2:23:00
Jane McNally   2:42:00
John Jones
2:50:00
 
 
10K Race
Roger Wilkes
63:15
Pam Wilkes
75:46
Annette Robinson
78:38

 

22/08/02 - Roger's Railway Handicap.

On a cool but extremely pleasant Thursday evening 21 members of Kenilworth Runners took part in one of the most popular of the annual club races ’Roger's Railway Race’ named after Roger Wilkes who first proposed this race. The event now in its third year makes use of one of the many pleasant parts of Kenilworth, the disused railway line to Berkswell. Frequented by walkers who are attracted by its quietness and calm the course has the added advantage that it is entirely away from motor vehicles and so is very safe. The race is 5 miles long and starts at the bridge by Crackley Wood and proceeds towards Berkswell until just after the Cromwell Lane Bridge Roger and his Bike mark the half way point and a return to Crackley Bridge. To the casual walker the course might appear flat but to the runner who is racing against a set handicap the first half is steadily uphill but is relieved by the return which is mainly downhill. The ever youthful Robin Groves was the first one back whilst the first male was Sean Lonergan, whilst first lady was Celia Mills. First one off was also last one back - but that didn't bother Roy Manuel - the views were too good to hurry!

 

 
 
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