Author Archives: Elaine Chapman

Hi all,

With the end of August nearly here, it won’t be long until the start of this year’s cross country season.

Gloucestershire AAA run a series of 4 races. All are close by, and very reasonably priced, £12 for 4 races. Men race a distance of around 9km and Ladies run around 6km. There are categories for each age group. There are also team prizes, with the top 4 runners scoring points. To count, each team member must complete each race in the series.

It would be fantastic if we could get some runners to take part this year. In fact it would be brilliant if we could get a men’s and ladies team together.

Here is a link with more information (the same link is also under the championship section)

https://www.athletics4u.co.uk/cross-country/

Dates of races:

Sat 13th October 2018 – Old Down Country Park

Sat 3rd November 2018 – Charlton Park

Sun 9th December 2018 – Wotton Park

Sun 17th February 2019 – Pittville Park

To enter, you can either send a paper form which can be downloaded from the Glos AAA website, or you can enter online at www.entrycentral.com/festival/1544 (again details are available on the AAA website)

I shall print some forms and bring them down to club also.

For more information, please ask me or have a look on the AAA website.

Elaine, Club Co-captain.

Hi all,

As in other years, each championship will have a handicap race. This year it will be at the Cricklade 10km for the Short Stuff Specialist championship, and the Cricklade Half marathon for the Endurance Expert Championship.

What is the Handicap Race?

It is basically a chance for anyone to pick up the 10 points, and mix things up a little. Instead of the usual format of the first home picking up the 10 points, each runner will have a handicap time. The one who improves on their handicap time the most will receive the most points.

How is the Handicap Time calculated?

We will be calculating your handicap time in the same format as last year. Every 10km race/half marathon race you have run this year will be taken into account and an average time will be taken, this will be your handicap time. In this way good results and bad results should in theory cancel themselves out and give a fair time for you to aim for.

What if I haven’t run a 10km or Half marathon this year?

Your handicap time will be the time you receive for that day. If you finish in 48:00 mins, this will be your given handicap time. This may seem strange, but people will improve on their handicap time, but also people will be slower than their handicap time, this should put people who haven’t run in the middle.

How do you assign the points?

Here is a hypothetical example.

There are 3 runners competing in the 10km handicap. A has a handicap time of 52:53, B hasn’t run a 10km this year. C has a handicap time of 61:40.

A finishes the race in 53:58, B finishes in 50:45, C finishes in 60:20

Calculations –

Handicap for A is 52:53, therefore difference is + 01:05 mins

Handicap for B will therefore be 50:45, therefore difference is + 00:00 mins

Handicap for C is 61:40, therefore difference is – 01:20 mins

C has shown the greatest improvement, C would get 10, B would get 9, and A would get 8 points.

Any Questions?

Please feel free to speak to myself or Tom about any questions.

Thanks All,

Elaine, Club Co-Captain

Endurance Expert

The last endurance expert race was the Two Tunnels half marathon, another new race to the RSE championships. On a hot day in July, 6 men and 5 ladies braved the heat to run.

Men’s race

Tom Cooper was first home to pick up the 10 points, followed by Ollie Hazel in his first endurance expert race of the year for the 9 points. Andy Masser picked up the 8 points.

How has this affected the Endurance expert Men’s competition? Tom has built on his strong lead, and Andy has moved into 2nd. With 3 more races and the marathon ongoing, Tom is looking in a strong position.

1. Tom Cooper – 40 points
2. Andy Masser – 22 points
3. Dave Daniels – 15 points

Ladies Race

Proving herself to be a real endurance expert, Nadine Brown was first lady home for another 10 points, followed by Sharon Smith for the 9, Ellie Taylor picking up the 8 points.

Nadine is in a very strong position to become the endurance expert, with a fantastic marathon under her belt. Sharon and Ellie are running well and looking to catch up Elaine for the 2nd place.

1. Nadine Brown – 39 points
2. Elaine Chapman – 26 points
3. Sharon Smith – 17 points

Short Stuff Specialist

The 6th race in the Short Stuff Specialist Championship was the Bugatti 10km. 5 Men and 6 ladies competed.

Men’s Race

Tom Cooper was first home to pick up the 10 points, returning from injury, Dave Witnall ran well to pick up 9 ahead of Steve Phelps for the 8 points.

All change again in the Men’s rankings, Mark Manley keeps his lead but Tom and Dave are back chasing. In the battle for 4th, Steve Phelps has pulled ahead of Ben Chapman. But with Mark and Steve the only men completing 5 races, and 2 races left, there is still time for change.

1. Mark Manley – 43 points
2. Tom Cooper – 39 points
3. Dave Witnall – 38 points
4. Steve Phelps – 36 points
5. Ben Chapman – 31 points

Ladies Race

Teresa continues to run strong and was first lady home for the 10. Sharon Smith picked up the 9 and Ellie Taylor picked up the 8.

Things are getting very exciting in the Ladies competition. With 3 wins each now, it looks like the battle for short stuff specialist will be between Elaine Chapman and Teresa Hazelwood. But Sharon, Nadine and Ellie are all running well close behind, so 3rd place is going to be a good competition! It looks like it may go to the last race with only 2 races to go. Each of these ladies have run 5 races, so will be looking to improve on their points now.

1. Elaine Chapman – 46 points
2. Teresa Hazelwood – 44 points
3. Sharon Smith – 40 points
4. Nadine Brown – 39 points
5. Ellie Taylor – 35 points

Next races

The next race in the Endurance expert is the rescheduled Chedworth 10 mile, 2nd September, followed by the Swindon Half marathon 9th September. The next race in the Short Stuff specialist is the Cricklade 10km which will be the handicap race.

Running Somewhere Else is doing very well in this year’s Gloucestershire AAA Road Race series.

For those who don’t know what this is, like our club championship, Gloucestershire runs its own championship of 12 races, best 8 races counting. There are prizes in each age group, for each gender, with the top runner in each race getting 10 points, 2nd 9, and so on. Details of the races and the link to the Gloucestershire AAA are under our championship section.

This year, 4 of our runners have been racing in the Gloucestershire AAA races, and are in the top 3 for their age groups.

Men’s Veteran 50 Age Group

Mark Manley is currently in 3rd place. He also picked up county championship medals, Bronze for the 5km and 1 mile event.

Ladies Veteran 35 Age Group

Elaine Chapman is currently in 3rd place. She also picked up a bronze medal in the 5km event.

Ladies Veteran 55 Age Group

Sandie Wood is currently in 2nd place, (only 2 points behind the leader!!). She is the County Champion in the 5km and the 1 mile event. Fantastic work Sandie.

Ladies Veteran 65 Age Group

Sharon Smith is storming her age group in 1st place. She is the county champion for the 5km and 1 mile event. Well done Sharon.

As you can see, some great results. There are 3 races left in the series, Angels 10km, which is the 10km county championship, Stroud Half Marathon, Tewekesbury 5 miler.

Out of interest, I looked at the results, and so far a lot of our runners have picked up points in AAA races throughout the series. There were some 7,8, and 9’s amongst there! Something for some of you to consider for next year!

Men – Tom Cooper, Dave Witnall, Graham Aitcheson, Gareth Roberts, Russell Young, Dave Daniels, Dave Whitlow, Vic Trykush, Paul Coates, and Ted Pitts all collected points in AAA races

Ladies – Nadine Brown, Cheri Edwards, Ellie Taylor, Becky Heal, Sarah Reynolds, Janet Daniels, Linzi Gregory, Emma Hine, Vanessa Poole, Kirsty Pitts, Amanda Tyler, Becca Wilson, Sarah Grey, and Cathy Steer all picked up AAA points throughout the series.