Race Results - for July 2009

Thursday 2nd July	Picnic Race
Saturday 4th July	Black Country - Half Marathon
Saturday 4th July	Stratford - Summer 6
Saturday 11th July	Pilot Inn 10 mile- Hardwicke
Sunday 12th July	Evesham Vale 10k
Sunday 12th July	Wyre Forest - Half Marathon
Thursday 16th July	Wedgnock Series - Race 3
Saturday 18th	Horton 6 Mile Race
Thursday 23rd	Berkswell Bear - Summer League
Saturday 25th	Fierce - 10 Mile
Sunday 26th	Conkwell Killer 8ish miles
Thursday 30th	Roger's Railway Handicap

02/07/2009 Picnic Race

31 club members with none running guests enjoyed an evening at Draycote Water Country Park, on a very sultry evening members were sent off predicting thier finish time over the one lap 4.71 mile course, even the ideal surroundings with the many birds and landscape to view some very close times were recorded, winner by just 2 seconds Joan Mason predicted her time within 8 seconds, Ivan Holdsworth recording a 10 second difference, and with a difference of 17 seconds Tina Butler finished 3rd Sam Curry received the last runner prize but all those that competed on such a warm evening did well

The evening was rounded off by a Picnic with a selection of sandwiches, pork pie, sausage rolls, quiche and crisps with cakes and fruit to follow, tea, coffee, orange juice and water washed it all down, such was the evening that it was after 9.30 before all members had departed.

Results

04/07/2009 Black Country - Half Marathon

Two members of Kenilworth Runners made the journey to Wolverhampton to take part in the third running of the Birmingham & Black Country Half Marathon. Run entirely on canal paths the race format is unusual in that, with the exception of the elite runners, it is held as a time trial, with runners heading out one-by-one - the final competitors heading out nearly two hours after the first runners headed out. Although the course from Wolverhampton train station to the Birmingham NIA is predominantly flat, the route contains numerous energy sapping small bridges and a mixture of surfaces underfoot. The stand out feature of a scenic route is a barely lit 400 metre long narrow tunnel paved with wet cobble stones!

In warm sunny conditions, Matthew Kingston-Lee was the first Kenilworth Runner home, finishing fourth in the non-elite race with 1:25:04. Dave Ramus ran well to finish 154th in 1:47:49. There were over 630 finishers in the race that could establish itself as a Midlands classic.

04/07/2009 Stratford - Summer 6

The Stratford Summer 6 starts from the farm of Mary Arden in Wilmcote and takes in the village of Aston Cantlow. With a mile long climb at three and a half miles and a nasty hill in the closing stages, the race is a tough challenge, especially when coupled with the very warm evening conditions. Roger Homes was the first of our nine competitors to finish, coming home fourteenth in a fine 37:57. John Dagnan ran superbly to finish first V60 in 39:57 and Pauline Dable was our only female finisher in 53:51.

11/07/2009 Pilot Inn 10 mile- Hardwicke

Heavy rain on the way down gave way to sunshine by the time we arrived at start. The humidity proved extremely gruesome around this scenic, heavily undulating course. The high hedges in many places were not helpful. 53rd Colin Bricher 95.45

12/07/2009 Evesham Vale 10k

This was a promising and picturesque course, mainly flat along the river-side, which luckily hadn't broken its banks from the recent wet spell! The weather was kind and 'runner-friendly', starting in light drizzly rain with a slight head-wind, which disappeared over the course of the race and glorious sunshine shone down on the Finish line which was on the green parkland next to the river! The marshalling effort was faultless, and the home-made cakes and free coffee at the end went down a treat! The goody bag (which itself was a 'Jute' environmentally friendly shopping bag) consisted of a very useful 500ml runners dohnut bottle printed with the race details (and a granola bar and haribo star mix).

Phil Gould and Pete Matthews had fine runs both to record PB'S for the distance.

12/07/2009 Wyre Forest Half Marathon

A tough course through the forest made even worse with overnight rain giving very muddy conditions

Stan Alexander was the star for Kenilworth Runners winning the Male Vet 55 category.

16/07/2009 Wedgnock Series - Race 3

Six members experience very heavy rain and muddy conditions in this the 3rd race of the series which made competeing very difficult.

This did not stop Richard Simkiss 36.41 who ran his heart out only to finish second to Ian Mansell both recording the same time. Well done Richard. Also keeping up his good form John Dagnan 43:09 the 1st Male Vet category winner.

18/07/2009 Horton - 6 Mile Road Race

The inaugural race 15years ago which was the brainchild of Leamington C & AC veteran runner Pete Hart in which 36 runners took part. The organisation has now been taken on by Cherwell Runners and attracted a much larger field despite the pouring rain.

A tough circular course climbing for the first mile out of Hornton tested even the fittest runner. After levelling off for nearly two miles the course climbed through Horley and beyond to 5 miles. Finishing with a refreshing half mile downhill section back into Hornton there was a sting in the tail with an incline to the finish line. The rain ceased enough for runners to enjoy a BBQ after the race.

Both Tom and Pauline Dable won prizes 2nd Male Vet 60 and 1st Female Vet 55 respectively

23/07/2009 Berkswell Bear - Summer League

41 members relished the fine evening ideal for running at Berkswell for this the 5th race in the league, after a steady climb for the first mile the course leveled out on what is to be considered one of our easier courses.

Tom Dable continuing his fine form remains at the top of the league some 50 points ahead of his next rival, things could change from now on as the results are taken from the best 5 races in the league.

Mike Johnson recorded the best time of the night to set a new course record 33.41

25/07/2009 Fierce - 10 Mile

Four members took on the Fierce 10 from Moreton Morrell College in Warwickshire, a new mixed terrain 10 mile race comprising running and tackling various different obstacles including horse jumps, large logs, pits, very high scrambles over brambles, a tire obstacle course, mud pools, cargo netting crawl, steep woodland declines and muddy tunnel crawls.... as well as the running through woodland, up harsh hills, through long grass and 'some' hard-core. A very tiring challenge for the typical road racer... a bit more fun for a fan of cross-country.

The course was really enjoyable - small friendly field (71) - excellent marshalling encouragement and direction (although this did get confusing in places where the tape criss-crossed - with runners doubling back on each other.) There were a lot of amusing signs, which kept the race entertaining, like the 'Lazy' sign on a marshall's seat in the woodland with a newspaper on a little table... and the 'oops' sign at the bottom of a steep hill.

Richard Simkiss 1:02:33 was 3rd running the race in fancy dress as a Smurf, Ros Matthews who also ran in fancy dress won a spot prize, the trio of Richard Simkiss, Ros and Pete Matthews also won the team prize.

Name	Time
Richard Simkiss	1:02:33
Pete Matthews	1:15:57
Steve Wright	1:17:14
Ros Matthews	1:31:24

26/07/2009 Conkwell Killer 8ish miles

Four members made the trip to Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire for this multi terrain race.

A small field of 100 started from the local rugby club along some 2 .5 miles of undulating country lane passing Conkwell Grange home of a racing stud. The course descended steeply for 3/4 mile into the River Avon valley. A mile stretch along the Kennet and Avon canal brought the runners to the infamous Dundas Aquaduct from where the course climbed a muddy bank of some 160feet up through Conkwell Wood where they were greeted by enthusiatic marshalls playing reggae music.

The last three miles again on undulating lane took in the hamlets of Little and Great Ashley.The race was won in 49mins 05 secs. Pauline Dable was victorious in the Lady Vet 60 category.

30/07/2009 Roger's Railway Handicap

Because of the recent heavey rain it was considered to wet and muddy to run the usual course through safety

The course was therfore changed to the Crackley Cracker route in reverse, this meant a 2 lap route using Hollis Lane and Crackley Lane, even though all the runners were told to keep turning left some decided to increase the distance and go straight on at the first turning, this has of course resulted in those runners recording a longer time for the distance.

Steve Sidaway was the winner recording 33.22 to beat his predicted time by 3mins 7 secs, a battle ensued in second and third places with Richard Simkiss holding off Phil Gould by just 2 seconds.

Results