On a cold and wet evening seven members of Kenilworth Runners, 2 ladies and 5 men, travelled to the Silverstone Motor Race Stadium in Northamptonshire to compete in the Silverstone 10 kilometre race which is the first of 8 races that make up the excellent East Midlands Grand Prix series.
This race always attracts a good turnout and on the evening there were 1007 finishers.
The race started on the grid where normally only high speed motors are to be found but on Tuesday evening it was to be human effort that covered the two complete circuits taking in all the same twists and turns top drivers experience.
Whilst the course appeared to be flat there were two steady inclines near the end of each lap, fortunately with the wind blowing the runners uphill, which provided a stimulating view as the pit stop was reached. The sign for a 'pit stop' beckoned the end of the race which finished in the area normally associated with the hectic changing of wheels etc.!
On this flat(ish) course it was Pauline Dable who took ‘poll position’ with an excellent run to finish in 5 minutes and 46 seconds to take the 4th ladies over 55 position. Matthew Kingston Lee lead Kenilworth Runners in with a blistering run to finish in 36 minutes and 33 seconds in 43 position overall. With four runners to count Kenilworth Runners finished in 19th position out of 37 clubs involved. Mick Morris was one of an impressive turnout of no less than 7 runners over the age of 70 a category that gets more and more competitive every year.
The other Kenilworth Runners results were as follows:-
| Name |
Position |
Category Position |
Time |
| Matthew Kingston Lee |
43 |
29 |
36.33 |
| Andrew Holbrook |
76 |
48 |
37.52 |
| Richard Greenhalf |
248 |
15 |
42.35 |
| Tom Dable |
452 |
16 |
46.32 |
| Pauline Dable |
673 |
4 |
51.46 |
| Mick Morris |
796 |
5 |
54.48 |
| Kristy Dable |
973 |
330 |
65.22 |
05/05/06
20th Anniversary - Cellebration Evening
Over 60 present members of Kenilworth Runners were joined by 20 former members at the Wardens Cricket Club, Glasshouse Lane,
to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the founding of Kenilworth Runners and also to present prizes to members for running achievements over the last twelve months.
They enjoyed an evening that commenced with line dancing, an energetic evenings activity suited to the athletic audience.
This was lead by The Silver Dollar Line Dancing Team after which a superb buffet was enjoyed and then the awards were made by Ted Hatwood and Robin Groves, both previous chairmen of the Club.
Many prizes were given the principal ones were:
Summer League overall winner Ruth Barnes
Winter League overall winner Nick Bradbury
Cross Country Lady of the year Pauline Dable
Cross Country man of the year Martin Dorrill
Club Member of the year Roger Wilkes
Club members voted for the last three awards.
This most enjoyable evening was organised by our chairman Roger Wilkes and his wife Pam.
07/05/06
Stratford - Half Marathon
Eight members of Kenilworth Runners took part in the Half Marathon which proved to be a memorable event for the Club as star runner Mick Johnson took first place in a large field containing some of the best runners in the Midlands.
The weather during the race was cool and slightly damp providing ideal conditions for running. Anybody who has been around the route of the race will appreciate that it is not an easy course. The race starts outside the Shakespeare Theatre in Waterside and makes a full circuit of the Town Centre before heading out along the Evesham Road to Stratford race course where it turns into the road to Luddington and after going through the village turns up the sharp hill to come out onto the Evesham Road again. Two left turns brings the race to the start of the long two mile drag through Welford on Avon, where a slight change to previous events was introduced by turning left into the Millers Close Loop from whence it continues on the old route up the long hill and sharply down to turn left into the lane leading to Milcote Crossing and so onto the Greenway. At the end of the Greenway the race passes up the by-pass and back to enter the Park and so to the finish.
Kenilworth Runners were delighted that Mick Johnson had won the race in the remarkable time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 24 seconds a truly historic win for Kenilworth Runners, and one that bodes well for next seasons cross country races. Brennan Lively and Mick Williams had a titanic battle over the tough 13.1 mile course with Brennan just getting in 17 seconds ahead of Mick in 1.23.40. Mick was followed by Laurence Copeland who had a splendid run to finish in 1.56.52. Julie Bevan showed her best form to finish in a sparking 1.57.47. Mick Morris at 72 finished in an unconvincing 2.04.17. Gill Tugman impressed with an excellent run to finish in 2.13.39. Sam Curry also had a good run to finish in 2.34.45.
07/05/06
The Halehowen Hillock - Cross Country Race
In ideal conditions for running, cool, cloudy with occasional sunny breaks two members of Kenilworth Runners, Celia Mills and Stan Alexander, tackled the daunting Halesowen Hillock cross country race. This is a ten mile race which takes in part of the ridge which includes the Clent Hills following field footpaths and woodland rides through swathes of bluebells in this scenic part of Worcestershire with panoramic views and good running conditions underfoot. Both had great runs with Stan finishing in 38th position in the time of 78 min 53s and Celia in 68th position (7th Female) in 85 min 23 sec out of a field of 143 finishers.
10/05/06
Rugby 6 - East Mids Grand Prix
Four members of Kenilworth Runners took part in the second race of this superb series of road races, The Rugby 6 Mile Road Race.
The course could not have been more different from that used for the first race on Silverstone Motor Race Track a week earlier.
Gone were the stands and pit stops to be replaced by pleasant country lanes and steep climbs.
The race started on the road just outside St Andrews Rugby Club in Ashlawn Road, Rugby. It headed along Ashlawn Road to turn left into Onley Lane when after a long downhill and crossing over the M45 the lane reached Cart Horse Hill to turn left part way up the Hill into Barby Lane.
This lane took the race back over the M45 to the Hillmorton Road and so back into Ashlawn Road and to the finish which was on the field at the Rugby Club.
Andrew Holbrook had a superb run to finish in 37 minutes and 15 seconds in 39th position.
Tom Dable followed him in with a good run in 44.45, 13th over 55 to finish, whilst Pauline Dable was not far behind in 50.30, 3rd lady over 55 to finish.
Mick Morris came in 3rd over 70 in 53.59. There were 341 finishers.
10/05/06
Kingsbury Classic - Multi Terrain
Chairman of Kenilworth Runners, Roger Wilkes, took time off from the hectic preparations for next Sunday’s Hilly Challenge Race to relax in the beautiful surroundings of Kingsbury Water Park, where he competed in an old classic but on a new and attractive course. Despite the warm conditions on the evening he had a superb run to finish the 6 mile course in 55 minutes and 10 seconds. Coming in 62nd overall position Roger ran so well that he took the prestigious first over 65 year old prize.
17/05/06
Bedford 6 - East Mids Grand Prix
The six mile course started in a very pleasant park near the race headquarters at The Mark Rutherford School, Bedford.
After a mile through the suburbs of Bedford the race entered a nice quite, but undulating lane which it followed for two miles before turning left to present the runners with a long hill which was quite steep in places.
The effort of climbing the hill was rewarded by a lovely long downhill back to the Park and after a small detour in the Park to the finish line.
Tom Dable lead the runners in but it was Kristy Dable who was the Kenilworth star on the night as she improved her time against that she achieved at the first race at Silverstone by a massive five minutes which was an excellent performance on a much tougher course.
The full results are as follows:-
| Name |
Position |
Time |
| Tom Dable |
167 |
45.46 |
| Pauline Dable |
224 |
50.49 |
| Mick Morris |
257 |
54.31 |
| Kristy Dable |
271 |
61.49 |
18/05/06
Catchems Corner - Summer League
Wind and rain, with occasional glimpses of the sun, were the conditions that greeted 39 members of Kenilworth Runners on Thursday evening.
But with the prospects of yet another series of Summer Races ahead their spirits were high and they were eager to tackle the first of the eight races, the 4.5 mile race to Catchem’s Corner and back.
Starting outside the Peeping Tom, Public House on Cromwell Lane, the course took the runners along Cromwell Lane to turn into Hodgett’s Lane and so along to the cross roads with Waste Lane which they followed to Catchem’s Corner.
Turning left into Windmill Lane they ran the short distance to Hob Lane which is flat for a mile or so but dips to come up the sharp climb by the School (remembered with horror by those who ran the Coventry Marathon many years ago) and then along Cromwell Lane to the finish outside the Peeping Tom.
When the dust had settled the runners relaxed in the Peeping Tom to enjoy an excellent after race buffet.
After the first race it was Kenilworth Runners star junior member, Philip McCorquodale, who took the overall lead with an imposing run to finish in 31 min 22 sec.
| A Group |
Points |
| Laurence Copland |
48 |
| Julie Bevan |
47 |
| Ian Simpson |
45 |
| B Group |
|
| Chris Jordan |
49 |
| Kerry Waine |
45 |
| Richard Greenhalf |
45 |
| C Group |
|
| Richard Steel |
46 |
| Roland Smythe |
42 |
| Andrew Holbrook |
35 |
21/05/06
Cotswold - Hilly 100
In atrocious conditions 33 members of Kenilworth Runners took part in Sunday's Hilly 100, a 100 mile race for teams of 10 runners each running a continuous 10 mile road section.
The race starts and finishes in Stratford upon Avon heading out through Chipping Campden, Snowshill, Brockhampton, Chedworth, Broadway, Morton in Marsh and so back to Stratford upon Avon,
and as it does it encounters some very tough climbs.
Some sections are harder than others non more than that from Brockhampton to Chedworth which has a wicked climb in the last mile.
With almost continuous rain, very heavy at times, Kenilworth Runners fielded 3 teams who successfully completed the course.
B1 Team reigning superior and taking the B challenge shield. Note members of the B2 team split some of the 10 mile section into 2 by 5 mile.
| A Team |
|
B1 Team |
|
B2 Team |
|
| Name |
Time |
Name |
Time |
Name |
Time |
| Sam Kincaid |
61.44 |
Gwyn Davies |
69.48 |
Gus davidson |
80.30 |
| Martin Dorrill |
63.30 |
Rob Thompson |
70.20 |
Stewart Fenton |
88.55 |
| Roger Homes |
63.37 |
Andrew Holbrook |
63.09 |
Keith Blake
Jane McNally |
37.50
44.55 |
| Andy Siggers |
60.09 |
Sean Mitchell |
70.39 |
Colin Dooling |
78.18 |
| Pat Noonan |
65.55 |
Emily Beacham |
75.47 |
Zoe Greenhalf |
85.03 |
| Stuart Hopkins |
88.30 |
Steve Jackson |
69.28 |
Sam Curry
Carol Dowdeswell |
52.44
46.48 |
| Mark Cummings |
59.37 |
Roland Smythe |
68.03 |
Roger Wilkes
John Woodrow |
41.55
40.59 |
| Brennan Lively |
61.14 |
Stan Alexander |
69.03 |
Kerry Waine |
72.56 |
| Mick Williams |
62.04 |
Matthew Keal |
66.26 |
Tom Dable |
74.05 |
| Richard Steel |
66.55 |
Ruth Barnes |
66.16 |
Kristy Dable
Pauline Dable |
50.50
45.09 |
A Team - 4th Time 10.43.57
B1 Team 1st Time 11.59.54
B2 Team 9th Time 13.57.54
WELL DONE EVERY ONE INCLUDING THE SUPPORTERS
24/05/06
TCorby 5 - East Midlands Grand Prix
With a race nearly every
week four members of Kenilworth Runners travelled
to the picturesque village of East Carlton in
Leicestershire to take part in the 4th event of
this competitive competition, a 5 mile road race.
Lying in some of the finest countryside to be
found in this country the race headquarters were
located in the East Carlton Countryside Park which
stands on the slopes of a wooded hill with a French
style manor house nearby. The race started in
the lane adjacent to the Park and at the start
runners were treated to a superb view of the village,
manor house and church all built from local stone.
However this was probably a secondary consideration
for they faced a long climb from the start, passing
through East Carlton, to reach the main Corby
road. A short distance along this and the first
long downhill took them through the village of
Middleton and along a flat pleasant country lane
to the three mile mark. The last two miles to
the finish in front of the manor house in the
park presented the runners with another stunning
view across the fields and park with the manor
house and church obvious. However even more obvious
was the fact that ‘what goes down must go up’
and so after three miles of descent they were
aware that to get back to the finish involved
two miles of ascent up two steady climbs. Tom
Dable lead the runners in with a good run to finish
in 38 minutes and 51 seconds. Pauline Dable followed
in 43.07 with Mick Morris, having had a steady
‘sight seeing’ run in 45.24 and Kristy Dable had
yet another good run to finish in an excellent
50.18.
29/05/06
Boddington - 10Km Road Race
Three members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Upper Boddington in Gloucestershire to take part in the annual 10 kilometre road race. The course is picturesque by reasonably flat with a descent at the start. There were 177 finishers on the day.
John Dagnan lead Kenilworth Runners trio finishing in an excellent 41 minutes and 34 seconds which put him in 34th place overall. He was followed by Nick Bradbury who finished in 44.12 minutes in 49th position with Kenilworth lady veteran, Pauline Dable, finishing in 52.45 minutes in 120th place.
Wednesday 3rd May