Click here for Results from Race 11 - Barford Super Belter

Click here for League Standings After Race 11

The penultimate race in the 2011 season saw a return to the Sunday morning timeslot, owing to the depressingly decreasing number of daylight hours ruling out the Thursday Evening option. In years gone by the Sunday morning ‘Winter League’ fixtures have seen a substantial reduction in number of attendees versus the more popular ‘Summer League’ fixtures held on a Thursday evening – something the new format single club league had hoped to address, and with a turnout of 26 club runners, 5 marshals and 8 guests it seems to have been somewhat of a success! Whilst obviously a reduction in numbers from the Thursday evening fixtures, it’s a substantial increase in numbers versus previous years where numbers have reportedly been as low as only 2 members taking part.

The Barford Super Belter is a course enjoyed by some, and less so by others – the nature of the course means a long steady climb to around the halfway mark, with the second half of the race generally being a fast and gradual descent (other than a further climb around 4-4.5mi), the trick being to start off steady, and then really letting rip over the second half of the course.

No course records were broken, which is a testament to how well the club has performed in the past on this course rather than a lack of good performances this time round.

Top spot for the race goes to ‘the runner formerly known as Butler’. Tina Crow obviously paced herself well round the course to knock a very impressive 16 seconds per mile off her predicted time to finish 3.31% ahead of prediction and scoop 50 points in the process. Husband Rob Crow continues to improve and took second place for the day with a 3.22% improvement, which begs the question of what exactly was in their wedding cake... and more importantly, is there any left? Sally Hicks completes the podium with a very strong run to finish over a minute ahead of her predicted time.

Several members opted to play their joker for this race, Colin Underhill being the top scorer of the Jokers in his efforts to catch the league leader, an impressive performance from Colin scores him a healthy 92 points – ththough not enough to put him in overall top spot, Colin now heads up the B group whilst Clive Pearce still leads the league as a whole.

I feel a mention must also goto guest runner Alex Atkinson, currently an unattached runner, Alex was the second fastest runner of the day – so a plea to Alex to further consider joining the ranks of Kenilworth Runners – Cross Country season is almost upon us!

My sincerest of thanks to the team of Marshals – I hear sausage rolls & choccy rice crispy cakes were consumed courtesey of the days chief marshal – Martin Lambert, kindly aided by his team of Jon Mettyear, Martin Belcher, Rich Steel and Rich Whiting.

Overall Series Leader:
Clive Pearce - 386 points (Joker)

A Group Standings:
1st - Arthur Smith - 340points (Joker)
2nd - Lisa Sears - 328 points (Joker)
3rd - Pauline Dable - 323 points (Joker)

B Group Standings:
1st - Colin Underhill - 368 points (Joker)
2nd - Sally Hicks - 339 points (Joker)
3rd - Tom Dable - 323 points (Joker)

C Group Standings:
1st - Rich Simkiss - 339 points (Joker)
2nd - Andy Holbrook - 302 points (Joker)
3rd - Rich Green - 288 points

Should you notice any errors in the results, either your own result, or that of someone else, please click here to contact me so that the error can be corrected. It is much easier to rectify any problems sooner rather than later on in the league.

Click here for Results from Race 10 - Leeky Dash

Click here for League Standings After Race 10

Another strong turnout for the 10th race in the 2011 Club Race League saw 43 runners, and over 10 marshalls descend upon the Leek Wooton Sports Centre and its surrounding area to complete a fast 4.75mi course before indulging in a selection of sandwiches and chips. The out and back course gave those of a competitive nature a chance to see their gap to other runners and act accordingly - whilst not pancake flat, the lack of hills on the course enabled runners to settle into a good rythym and make a worthy attack on their predicted times.

The course was measured at marginally longer than originally expected, and combined with 3 errors in the original predicted times, all predicted times have been recalculated for the new race distance (4.75mi) and scores apportioned accordingly.

Several members opted to play their joker for this race, though the high standard of running from all present at the race prevented those playing their jokers from finishing amidst the top scorers and capitalising on double points. Though I feel a special mention must be made to Vicky Putt, who made the bold decision to run with the B group (having previously run with the A group), Vicky ran well with the B's to finish as the highest scoring Joker player of the evening.

Another sterling performance came from the ever improving Arthur Smith, who as the league's only V70 was still able to improve on his predicted time by over 3%, finishing one minute and seventeen seconds ahead of prediction, earning a worthy 50points in the process. Second and third spots for the evening were closely contested by Sam Calder and Laura Gould, who improved upon their predicted times by 58 and 57 seconds respectively, highlighting that every second really does count when you make that final dash for the finish line.

Being a new course, records were set (but no points awarded) across the board by Rich Simkiss (SM), Mike Johnson (MV), Tina Butler (SL), and Rebecca Smith (LV).

Clive Pearce remains aloft at the top of the club league table, looking ever more difficult to catch, though some interesting movements and battles are forming in the individual group standings. Colin Underhill has a good opportunity to move to the top of the B group when he decides to play his joker in one of the final two races. Likewise there is a similar situation in the C group as Mick WIlliams continues to return to form and still has a joker up his sleeve.

Overall Series Leader:
Clive Pearce - 367 points (Joker)

A Group Standings:
1st - Arthur Smith - 333 points (Joker)
2nd - Lisa Sears - 314 points (Joker)
3rd - Liz Hegan - 307 points (Joker)

B Group Standings:
1st - Sally Hicks - 309 points (Joker)
2nd - Tom Dable - 307 points (Joker)
3rd - Colin Underhill - 303 points

C Group Standings:
1st - Rich Simkiss - 339 points (Joker)
2nd - Andy Holbrook - 302 points (Joker)
=3rd - Pete Bryan - 281 points (Joker)
=3rd - Mick Williams - 281 points

The utmost of thanks must go to Sean Mitchell and Gwyn Davies for organising the course and venue for the evening, together with the whole team of marshalls who ensured the safe running of the final Thursday evening race of the year (the final two races will be Sunday morning races).

Should you notice any errors in the results, either your own result, or that of someone else, please click here to contact me so that the error can be corrected. It is much easier to rectify any problems sooner rather than later on in the league.

Click here for Results from Race 9 - Ryton Proper Five

Click here for League Standings After Race 9

A fantastic turnout of 48 runners and numerous marshalls (I lost count!) for this new club league course at Ryton Pools, Bubbenhall. Rich Whiting kindly took on the task of organizing this event, planning the course and arranging food afterwards - I'd like to start with a huge thanks to him, and the team he assembled to ensure the smooth running of the event on the night.

The warm & sweat inducing temperatures were counteracted by what is a reasonably flat course (though not without it's undulations) comparative to other club league race routes. The multi-lap format meant marshalls were located at regular intervals, and served to give runners a good gauge of how far they still had to push themselves for.

A plethora of runners decided to play their 'Joker' for this race, meaning competition was tough at the top for the greatest improvement over predicted time. Top of the list however was Rob Crow, who put in a great performance to improve over his predicted time by 5.17%, and using his joker with great effect to score a whopping 100 points. Close behind was Aidan Keher, pushing himself hard whilst playing his joker to improve by 5.11%, scoring 98 points. Andy Holbrook completes the podium and represents the C-groupers, with a mightily impressive 4.41% improvement, a figure rarely achieved by the C-group runners.

Being a new course, records were set (but no points awarded) across the board by Rich Simkiss (SM), Martin Dorrill (MV), Tina Butler (SL), and Imogen Peace (LV).

Whilst Clive Pearce maintains his place as league leader (and looking ever more difficult to catch), the 9th race sees more runners having completed 7 races in total - making quite a difference in the rest of the league.

Overall Series Leader:
Clive Pearce - 358 points (Joker)

A Group Standings:
1st - Lisa Sears - 314 points (Joker)
2nd - Arthur Smith - 283 points (Joker)
3rd - Liz Hegan - 271 points (Joker)

B Group Standings:
1st - Tom Dable - 302 points (Joker)
2nd - Colin Underhill - 284 points
3rd - Sally Hicks - 278 points (Joker)

C Group Standings:
1st - Rich Simkiss - 332 points (Joker)
2nd - Andy Holbrook - 279 points (Joker)
3rd - Pete Bryan - 259 points

Should you notice any errors in the results, either your own result, or that of someone else, please click here to contact me so that the error can be corrected. It is much easier to rectify any problems sooner rather than later on in the league.

(Results updated 09:00 12/08/11)
Click here for Results from Race 8 - Inter Club Race 2011

Click here for League Standings After Race 8

The annual inter club race where Kenilworth Runners compete against local clubs Spa Striders and Stratford AC saw 49 of Kenilworth's finest travel to Shenington, Banbury for a 5mile multi-terrain (and obstacle!) race, hosted by Stratford AC.

The course showed promising start on a perfectly flat runway, before the terrain underfoot changed to dried and cracked singletrack through crop fields (not before runners were greeted with their first of several fence/gate climbs/crossings). A steep descent, a few navigational question marks, a ditch crossing and a sharp ascent, which wouldn't have been out of place in a fell race, all made for an interesting, challenging and somewhat different race.

The difficult nature of the course put paid to any chances of runners hitting their 5mile predicted time - in fact not one runner managed to achieve their predicted time. Connor Carson was the first Kenilworth Runner home, doing the hard work at the front for most of the race to finish as overall race winner, and running his socks off to be the person closest to his predicted time, finishing only 2.7% behind the prediction, and scoring 50points in the process. Nick Benbow put in a strong performance to come in 4.6% behind his predicted time to take home 49points, and Pete Matthews showed his strength on the hills and wisely played his joker, taking third spot for the evening and doubling his race points to 96.

With 8 races having now been completed, the series scores are likely to start changing as more runners collect their 7th race to ensure a full round of scores. Clive Pearce maintains his place sitting at the top of the league, with a healthy collection of points, Clive looks set to be a tough one to catch by the end of the year.

Overall Series Leader:
Clive Pearce - 353 points (Joker)

A Group Standings:
1st - Lisa Sears - 258 points
2nd - Arthur Smith - 244 points (Joker)
3rd - Pauline Dable - 229 points

B Group Standings:
1st - Tom Dable - 302 points (Joker)
2nd - Dave Ramus - 260 points (Joker)
3rd - Sally Hicks - 255 points (Joker)

C Group Standings:
1st - Rich Simkiss - 324 points (Joker)
2nd - Pete Bryan - 235 points
3rd - Mick Williams - 229 points

No Course Records have been set/awarded due to the course being both new, and a 'one-off'.

The next league race is a multi-lap race at Ryton Pools on Thursday 1st September with food supplied afterwards in the Malt Shovel Pub in Bubbenhall. This new race is being organised by Rich Whiting, so my thanks in advance go to him.

Should you notice any errors in the results, either your own result, or that of someone else, please click here to contact me so that the error can be corrected. It is much easier to rectify any problems sooner rather than later on in the league.

The annual inter club race where Kenilworth Runners compete against local clubs Spa Striders and Stratford AC saw 49 of Kenilworth's finest travel to Shellidon, Banbury for a 5mile multi-terrain (and obstacle!) race, hosted by Stratford AC.

The course showed promising start on a perfectly flat runway, before the terrain underfoot changed to dried and cracked singletrack through crop fields (not before runners were greeted with their first of several fence/gate climbs/crossings). A steep descent, a few navigational question marks, a ditch crossing and a sharp ascent which wouldn't have been out of place in a fell race all made for an interesting and somewhat different race.

The difficult nature of the course put paid to any chances of runners hitting their 5mile predicted time - in fact not one runner managed to achieve their predicted time. Connor Carson was the first Kenilworth Runner home, doing the hard work at the front for much of the race and running his socks off to be the person closest to his predicted time, finishing only 2.7% behind the prediction, and in the process bagging himself top spot for the night and scoring 50points. Nick Benbow put in a strong performance to come in 4.6% behind his predicted time to take home 49points, and Pete Matthews showed his strength on the hills and wisely played his joker, taking third spot for the evening and doubling his race points to 96.

With 8 races having now been completed, the series scores are likely to start changing as more runners collect their 7th race to ensure a full round of scores. Clive Pearce maintains his place sitting at the top of the league, with a healthy collection of points, Clive looks set to be a tough one to catch by the end of the league.