18/11/06 Cheltenham - Gloucester League

Saturday saw a contingent of 15 members, 1 lady and 14 men, of Kenilworth Runners make the journey to Cheltenham for the second race of this very competitive series of four races.

This time the venue was the pleasant surroundings of Pittville Park, Cheltenham.

This excellent series of cross country races is very popular in Midlands running and is growing in both numbers taking part and strength of the competition.

The days athletics commenced with a race for 11 year old boys and girls and continued with older age groups to finish with the men’s race where the oldest runner was over 70.

The organisers used the full potential of the park to produce an interesting and challenging course. Dodging in and around different natural obstacles it took the competitors around the perimeter of the Park and the course whilst not hilly had its inclines as well as a difficult a water obstacle on each of the three laps.

In bright but cold conditions, Kenilworth ladies only representative, Pauline Dable, completed the two lap 6100 metre course in a superb 34 minutes and 44 seconds to finish in 84th overall position and in 2nd position in her category.

Richard Elliott lead Kenilworth Runner’s men in with an excellent run to finish in 36 minutes and 39 seconds in 54th position overall and 2nd in his age category.

Ladies
Name	Time	Position
Pauline Dable	34.44	84

Men
Name	Time	Position
Richard Elliott	36.39	54
Rob Thompson	36.36	57
Wayne Oakes	37.39	73
Mike Cruickshank	40.13	116
John Dagnan	41.22	128
Martin Smith	41.42	134
Richard Greenhalf	44.35	162
Stef Shillington	48.06	180
John Woodrow	48.48	182
Anton Raath	49.30	184
Tom Dable	50.03	188
Roger Wilkes	50.06	189
Mick Morris	53.38	194
Colin Bricher	55.09	197

Senior Men's Teams
A 13th out of 22
B 22nd out of 22

Veteran Men's Teams
A 12th out of 22
B 21st out of 22
C 22nd out of 22

On a cool but bright Saturday afternoon a huge contingent of 25 Kenilworth Runners travelled to Newbold Comyn, Leamington Spa, to take part in the second event in this four men’s race series.

The followed the ‘traditional’ clockwise route around Newbold Comyn starting in the playing field just above the changing rooms and heading around the footpaths to join the narrow track that lies just above the River Leam, having first negotiated the stream which was quite easy this year.

A loop by the river and then the hard work begins with a steady climb to the foot of the Beacon where the runners climb to the top and back down to complete one circuit which was repeated twice more to eventually finish by the changing rooms within easy access of a cup of tea.

Mike Johnson lead the Kenilworth Runners in with a superb performance to finish in 7th position in the excellent time of 34 minutes and 28 seconds.

Name	Time	Position
Mike Johnson	34.28	7
Wayne Oakes	37.47	46
Stuart Hopkins	37.52	47
Pat Noonan	39.12	64
Martin Dorrill	39.25	69
Mick Williams	39.31	71
Rob Thompson	39.39	73
Roger Holmes	39.57	76
Richard Elliott	40.18	79
Richard Steele	42.41	107
Matthew Keale	43.38	120
Ivan Holdsworth	43.50	122
Mike Cruickshank	44.50	133
Stan Alexander	45.52	139
Martin Lambert	46.16	143
Clive Pearce	48.01	149
Steve Jackson	48.52	158
Stef Shillington	51.51	166
Mike Falaise	53.27	168
John Woodrow	53.27	169
Tom Dable	54.55	172
Roger Wilkes	55.17	174
Bob Griffith	56.36	176
Mick Morris	61.32	147
Collin Bricher	61.48	148

With good runs from their first 6 runners Kenilworth Runners are in a comfortable 8th position out of 13 clubs in the ‘A’ group whilst the ‘B’ team is 5th out of 7 clubs. It is the ‘A’ group results that dictate promotion and relegation after the 4 races

09/12/06 Plock Court - Gloucester League

On a cool but pleasant Saturday afternoon 8 members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Plock Court, Gloucester, to take part in the third of four events that make up this excellent series of cross country runs.

On the day events are held for all age groups, ladies and men with Kenilworth Runners being represented in the Under 15 boys, senior ladies and senior men’s events.

The course was largely flat and fairly dry with a few soggy patches and followed a route around the perimeter of this very pleasant park.

The Distances depend upon the ages, with the under 15 boys completing one lap of about 3,000 metres, the senior ladies two laps of about 6,000 metres and the senior men three laps of 9,200 metres (approximately 5.75 miles).

Kenilworth Runner’s star on the day was Philip McCorquodale who finished in 4th position, just behind the winner, in the excellent time of 11 minutes and 1 second. Pauline Dable was the only representative in the ladies race finishing in 4th position in her category. Richard Elliott lead the men home with a splendid run to finish 2nd over 55 in 35.46, Roger Wilkes was 3rd over 65 and Mick Morris was 1st over 70. The team finished in 16th position out of 18 teams.

Name	Time	Category	Cat Pos	Position
Boys 15
Philip McCorquodale	11.01	Under 15	4	4
Ladies
Pauline Dable	33.17	LV55	4	81
Men
Richard Elliott	35.46	MV55	2	48
Rob Thompson	36.20	Senior	26	54
Mike Cruickshank	40.07	MV55	6	105
Stef Shillington	45.31	MV60	6	151
Roger Wilkes	50.22	MV65	3	168
Mick Morris	53.41	MV70	1	170

06/01/07 Newbold Comyn, Leamington Spa - Warwickshire Championships

On Saturday nearly 30% of Kenilworth Runners present membership congregated on Newbold Comyn to take part in this annual competition that brings together top athletes from clubs all over the County. Kenilworth fielded 28 men, 5 ladies and 1 under 15 boy, a total of 34 runners with age ranges from 15 to 74 and returned in triumph with 2 first prizes, 1 second prize and with 6 runners finishing amongst the top 20 in their category.

After several days of wet but warm weather conditions were not expected to be other than, in racing terms, heavy. This proved to be the case with large sections of the course resembling well mixed gravy with the tail end runners fighting through the mud churned up by many hundreds of feet that had recently passed that way. The route started and finished by the Pavilion and went through the Three Fields to emerge by the River bank and the water obstacle which proved deeper and stickier than normal. Following the banks of the Leam it reached the long and difficult climb to the foot of the Beacon and then the steep climb to the top followed by a rapid downhill into the Three Fields and another lap. Under 15 boys completed 1 lap (about 1,000 metres), Ladies 2 laps (about 2,000 metres) and the men three laps totalling 9,500 metres.

With conditions difficult it was not surprising that times were slower than the Birmingham Cross Country race in December when conditions were generally firm and dry. This seemed to suit Kenilworth for Graham Gristwood finished 2nd senior man and 2nd overall with a blistering run to finish in 36 minutes and 46 seconds. Five positions behind the England team member, Mike Johnson finished in 38.07 to take 1st veteran man prize and 7th overall. The ladies also had excellent runs with Celia Mills finishing in 10th ladies veteran position with the superb time of 33.26 and Philip McCorquadale showed his undoubted potential by finishing in 12th position in the time of 17.33.

The team positions demonstrated the strength of Kenilworth Runners with the men’s veteran team taking the 1st prize and senior men’s team taking the 3rd position. Such was the turnout that Kenilworth fielded no less than 6 teams in the men’s competition.

Men

Name	Position	Cat Position	Time	Category
Graham Gristwood	2	2	36.46	Senior
Mike Johnson	7	1	38.07	Vet
Pat Noonan	20	3	39.54	Vet
Stuart Hopkins	24	19	40.18	Senior
Rob Thompson	36	27	42.12	Senior
Wayne Oakes	47	32	43.37	Senior
Roger Homes	52	19	44.05	Vet
Sebastion Marten	67	40	45.08	Senior
Richard Steele	73	30	45.46	Vet
Richard Green	88	37	46.54	Vet
Ivan Holdsworth	92	52	47.18	Senior
Mike Cruickshank	93	41	47.20	Vet
Matthew Keale	94	42	47.23	Vet
Stan Alexander	96	43	47.25	Vet
Barry Elkington	110	50	48.25	Vet
John Dagnan	116	56	49.28	Vet
Martin Lambert	125	64	50.57	Senior
Stephen Jackson	126	65	51.18	Senior
Richard Greenhalf	135	67	52.56	Vet
Stef Shillington	142	73	55.28	Vet
Tom Dable	144	75	56.28	Vet
John Woodrow	145	76	58.10	Vet
Roger Wilkes	150	81	61.14	Vet
Aiden Keher	151	82	62.23	Vet
Bob Griffith	152	83	63.19	Vet
Mick Morris	155	86	65.09	Vet
Collin Bricher	157	88	69.12	Vet

Ladies

Name	Position	Cat Position	Time	Category
Celia Mills	32	10	33.26	Vet
Emily Beacham	43	15	34.16	Vet
Sally Hicks	68	27	39.27	Vet
Helen Herniman	72	42	39.57	Senior
Pauline Dable	74	32	41.0	Vet

Junior

Name	Position	Cat Position	Time	Category
Philip McCorquadale	12	12	17.33	Under 15

Mens Team	Ladies Team

13/01/07 Wyken Croft Park - Birmingham League

After the excitement and mud of Newbold Comyn, Kenilworth Runners returned to the business of fighting for league positions in Division 2 of this very competitive series. Again showing their commitment to this tough form of running 23 members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Wyken Croft, Nature Park, Walsgrave, Coventry, on a cold, overcast, but dry afternoon, to run amongst other top local athletes in the 3rd event of this 4 race series.

The course chosen for the day took in all parts of the pleasant area and comprised one small lap followed by three longer ones making a total distance of 9,000 kilometres (56 mile). Twisting and turning with only short distances that were straight the route took the runners up deceptively sharp climbs and through woodland. Overall underfoot conditions were reasonably good with only a few patches of deeper mud.

Kenilworth were lead in by Mike Johnson who finished in 9th position overall in the superb time of 31 minutes and 52 seconds. League positions are based upon the best 6 runners of the 13 teams in their division and Kenilworth Runner’s first 6 runners put in a sterling performance to put the club in 9th overall after coming 6th on the day.

			Photographs courtesy of Mark Cummings

20/01/07 Droitwich Spa - Gloucester League

On a cold, but not unpleasant, winter Saturday afternoon, nine members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Droitwich Spa to take part in the final event in this four race series. A long standing favourite of Midlands running clubs this excellent series of cross country races continues to be popular, as evidenced by the attendance of nearly 300 runners. The final race also included the final reckoning of the series when the destinations of a number of age related prizes are decided so the Kenilworth contingent knew that this would be a tough and competitive race. With races for boys and girls, of all ages the day was a festival of open air enjoyment for both runners and spectators.

The event was held in the parklands that lie about Droitwich School and Leisure Centre. The course twisted and turned through pleasant woodlands and passing by the side of both a stream and a canal. The recent wet weather produced some very difficult sections, particularly in the woodlands, where the main obstacle on the course, a steep muddy bank of 45 degree angle, which was extremely hard to climb and very taxing on the final lap.

Philip McCorquodale had a most impressive run in the under 15 age group where he finished in 3rd position overall out of 17 finishers in a time of 13.49 minutes. Pauline Dable was the only Kenilworth Lady to compete on the day and had an excellent run to finish in 37.15 in 68th position overall out of 77 finishers. Rob Thompson lead the senior men with a great run to finish in 44.01 and in 30th position overall out of 163 finishers.

Name	Time	Position
Boys under 15
Philip McCorquodale	13.49	3
Ladies
Pauline Dable	37.15	68
Men
Robert Thompson	44.01	30
Richard Steel	48.22	67
Mike Cruikshank	49.39	80
John Dagnan	52.53	98
Tom Dable	57.51	120
Roger Wilkes	61.30	128
Mick Morris	66.52	132

Kenilworth Runners senior men’s team finished 14th out of 15 teams and the men’s veterans team 10th out of 12 teams.

27/01/07 Stafford Common - Midland Championships

On a warm(ish) but cloudy afternoon 11 members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Stafford Common to take part in this annual race that has events for everybody from 11 to 74 years old.

The Common lies to the north of the town of Stafford and comprises a large flat area of heath land where the organisers, Midlands Athletics, constructed an excellent course which generally followed the boundaries of the Common to make an interesting challenge for the runners. Unlike previous years the area was reasonably dry with only one muddy area, called “The Ditch”, which was very difficult to navigate. With the juniors running one lap, the ladies two laps of 6 kilometres, (3.7 mile) and the men 12 kilometres (7.42 mile) each had to run an extra loop at the end to bring them into the finish area.

Pauline Dable was Kenilworth’s only lady competitor and she had an excellent run to finish in 41.46 minutes and in 136th position out of 148 finishers. Robert Thompson lead the Kenilworth Men home with an impressive run to finish in 49.34 minutes in 109th position out of 349 finishers.

Name	Position	Time
Ladies
Pauline Dable	136	41.46
Men
Robert Thompson	109	49.34
Roger Homes	150	51.46
Richard Green	230	55.43
Richard Greenhalf	314	62.57
Tom Dable	322	64.17
Stef Shillington	327	65.51
Roger Wilkes	337	69.51
Mick Morris	348	77.50
Colin Bricher	349	84.42

12/02/07 Awards - Glocester League

The awards for this four race series have now been announced and Kenilworth Runners have taken some of the top prizes. With 60 years separating the youngest from the oldest this year has seen Kenilworth members entering these excellent races in large numbers.

Philip McCorquodale 3rd in the Under 15 boys

Pauline Dable 2nd in the Ladies over 55 category

Roger Wilkes 2nd in the Men’s over 65 category

Mick Morris 1st in the Men’s over 70 category

17/02/07 Coventry - Birmingham League

The last race of this four race series attracted no less than 24 members, and supporters, of Kenilworth Runners who joined 148 finishers, in what many would call a “traditional cross country course”. The day was cold, cloudy and overcast but with no wind to mention. The course offered every variant of underfoot conditions from very soggy, to very sticky, very bumpy through tussock grass to dry fast sections with a “real water crossing”, which in many hardened cross country runners views, are ideal for this tough sport.

Northbrooke Athletic Club, who arranged the race, chose a superb course at Rookery Farm that left no possibility out. Starting and finishing in the field adjacent to Coundon Social Club, the 4 lap (6.5 mile) course started through a difficult, wet and in places boggy field to turn into the adjacent field where it was dry and fast underfoot but the cunningly designed route took the runners up sharp climbs along hedgerows and included an obstacle formed by an ancient tree root, not to mention two steep banks. Near the end of each lap runners entered the water obstacle which was followed by a very muddy section before the lap completed with yet another fast section. This was a course to suit all tastes.

Kenilworth Runners huge turnout measured their intention to finish as high up Division 2 of the league as possible and their ’A’ team did not fail them and came 4th on the day leaving the club in a final 6th position out of 13 clubs in all. The ’B’ team did exceptionally well coming first on the day and 2nd overall.

Name	Time	Position
Graham Gristwood	40.05	6
Pat Noonan	43.19	24
Graham Birch	43.44	26
Stauart Hopkins	44.32	33
Martin Dorrill	46.10	45
Rob Thompson	46.30	50
Mick Williams	46.44	54
Wayne Oakes	46.55	57
Roger Homes	47.26	60
Brennan Lively	50.25	80
Richard Elliot	51.11	87
Matthew Keal	52.11	93
John Dagnan	52.25	97
Stan Alexander	52.42	99
Barry Elkington	53.45	107
Steve Jackson	54.38	114
Tom Dable	58.22	132
Richard Green	59.02	133
Richard Greenhalf	61.01	135
Stef Shillington	61.55	137
John Woodrow	64.37	141
Aiden Keher	65.43	142
Stuart Fenton	73.10	147
Mick Morris	74.28	148

24/02/07 Inter County Cross Country Championships

Graham Gristwood represented Warwickshire in these events and completed the course in 43 minutes and 28 seconds. No other details are available at this time.

17/02/07 Sunderland - National Cross Country Championships

Signalling the end of the Winter cross country season the national Cross Country Championships were held at Herrington Park, Sunderland, where eight members of Kenilworth Runners, travelled to join over 1,500 other competitors, ladies and men, from clubs all over England.

Herrington Park is a truly lovely place to hold such an event. Laying in beautiful countryside it is overshadowed by a 19th century monument in the form of a ruined Greek or Roman temple. The course chosen by the organisers selected all the right terrain to make a challenging course, of 8.2 kilometres (5.09 miles) for the ladies and 12 kilometres (7.45 miles) for the men. After the exciting start where all the competitors line up behind marker stakes that take a short lap to enter the main laps of which the ladies complete 2 and the men 3. With plenty of inclines to test the runners and section around a lake where the runners felt the full force of a north westerly wind the race was completed by a stiff uphill climb to the finish.

Pauline Dable represented the club in the ladies race and finished in a superb time of 47 minutes and 52 seconds in 279th position out of 297 finishers. Wayne Oakes, Kenilworth Men’s Captain, appropriately lead them in with a great run to finish in 48.36 minutes in 430th position out of 916 finishers of whom the leading pack in each race were the best in these Islands.