Not the Johnson’s after all.

Posted on 10th December 2017 by Alf Tupper

Weather not quite as bad as predicted. Main roads and LC carpark clear enough to get in which made a huge difference. Somewhere to dump the kit – although the LC was open. Even so, zero degrees C and steady sleet made it white enough! Strength was required for this one, and preferably youth too if one could possibly manage it. Those who have missed training due to injury (me) certainly felt the lack of both the above qualities. Much talk of risk and danger beforehand and some of us did hit the deck fairly hard (me). This is the third year in a row that I have fallen but this one certainly knocked the stuffing out of me just as I was working up to a very fast last mile (my story and I’m sticking to it).

However, pursuing the theme of youth and strength, note that Tony W and Shaun ran it together slightly faster than Tony W did in the perfect conditions of last year. These two are certainly improving – as they should given all the input that Fred and I have given them as to how they should be running at their age (a.k.a. “almost as good as we were”!).  Never mind, you two, just think what you can say in 40 years time when we are safely out of the way…..

It should be noted that Menai and David jogged their way to the start from their house in the wilderness which amounted to the last half of the course plus a bit beforehand. They arrived at the start spot on 10am which seems excessively punctual. Pretty energy sapping too!

Congratulations to Hywel who made his debut with the club just in time to fall victim to Tony B’s killer sprint finish. Don’t worry, Hywel, he is getting quite ancient now and won’t keep those fast-twitch fibres for much longer. Hope to see you at the January Cross Country races in an official Denbigh vest.

And so to the results:

1st Tony B………….54m28

2nd Hywel………..57m20

3rd Ceri B………….55m40

4th Shaun………….43m56

5th Tony W……….44m23

6th Fred……………..61m41

7th Duncan…………55m55

8th Ian……………….63m21

9th Vic………………..52m06

10th David B………..52m36

11th Chris…………….65m04

12th Bob………………67m -ish

13th Anwen…………..71m44

14th Menai……………71m16

15th Vicky……………..92m31 including huge detour!

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Johnson’s Handicap Start List 2018 (postponed from 2017)

Posted on 8th November 2017 by Alf Tupper

Sunday 11th March 2018 – Revised date after previous arrangements in December 2017 were wiped out by blizzard.

Compiling this list is an evolving programme, there being so many new runners that there will be a lot of changes over the next few weeks in order to get a fair arrangement in which all have an even chance of winning (except Duncan, who has won it too many times before). Obviously there are a lot of new members who might want to run but about whom I have no track record to work from – and some older members with recent injuries or whom I have inadvertently forgotten. Please respond on the club facebook site with recent performance and I can add to this skeleton. This race is over a hilly multi-terrain course of 6 miles starting and finishing at the Leisure Centre.

We do need somebody to be timekeeper and one other person, please, to give out the finishing discs. Hopefully we will also have the club’s digital clock.

09.55am Rachel

10.02 Bronwen, Moe

10.03 Diane, Joanne, Kellie, Angharad

10.05 Ron, Wendy

10.06 Vicky, Ruth

10.10 Kath S, Sharon, Dawn

10.12 Tracey, Jeff, Lisa

10.13 Hannah M, Claire Sp, Nicola

10.14 Rhian WJ, Ffion

10.15 Colin, Helen

10.16 Andy M, LittleKath, Adam

10.17 Ruari, Rob P, Caroline

10.19 Gwenan, Bethan, Anwen, Sarah

10.20 David Sp, Roger, Martin J

10.21 Menai, Kate W, Abigail, Paul J

10.22 Mei, Peter E, Gareth E

10.23 Iain, Chris (guest)

10.25 Llyr, Katherine E, Jon W

10.26 Shaun J, Elen, Mel, Bob, Arwyn, David S, Sioned, Sali

10.27 Ian J, Gerwyn, Chris, Mike H, Rob G, Fred

10.28 Katy B, Alaw

10.29 Dan S

10.30 Ceri D, Ceri B, Tony B, David J, Hywel, Victoria, Emma

10.31  Mike Hb

10.32 Mat, David D, Jon F, Duncan

10.33 Phil, Outfit Joe, Martin C, David B

10.34 Owen, Tom J

10.35 Vic, Craig

10.36 Dan J, Glen, Brett

10.38 Tony W, Joe W

10.40 Shaun H

 

 

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Llandudno Cross Country results

Posted on 21st October 2017 by Alf Tupper

‘Storm Brian’ landed properly ten minutes before the men’s start and the 40+mph squalls hit hard on those of us worrying about when to take a layer or two off and warm up. Obviously the course was churned up by the junior races in the morning – but much more so by the last lap of the men’s race. Although the women didn’t have quite the same breeze to contend with, they provided early warning of the dangers of over-doing the start. Of our three complete newcomers to cross country (Kath, Mel, and Gwenan), Kath gave it a good go for the first 2 miles and was closing up on Emma at one point before gravity took hold. Emma was not quite herself but pulled through later on while Victoria and Ceri B mixed it up front with a big group of their peers. Sioned dropped out last year but was 4th counter here and guided Mel through the tough bits with Sali in pursuit. Menai made up a lot of ground to gain another victory over Anwen and it was not surprising that Gwenan couldn’t stay with them just 2 weeks after her 4h38 marathon (on very little training). In another month it might be different! Vicky played it safe with a steady start and effective progress, probably her best run in this League for years.

Similarly handicapped by the marathon in his legs was Shaun H – but you wouldn’t have known it by this performance. Joe W confirmed that his good Wrexham run was no one-off, and Tony W was close again. Dan J is another one with lots of potential – and Glen is hanging on to the youngsters despite his big effort in the Fell relays last week. Lots of respect for Vic and Owen in almost identical positions to two years ago when they were our best two runners. Martin C showed why he is a Masters’ World Championship Bronze medallist at Cross Country (in very different conditions) as he set the pace for another slightly less elderly person. Some of their magic is needed for the rest, though my impression (biased by personal decline) is that this League is a lot stronger than in previous years – particularly at the back!!

Women (after taking out the men over 70 and male youths)

31st Victoria

38th Ceri B

43rd Emma

56th Sioned

57th Mel

63rd Kath E

68th Sali

77th Menai

81st Anwen

92nd Gwenan

108th Vicky

115 women finishers. Team position 5th (provisionally) which wipes out the deficit between us and Shrewsbury AC and Telford. Unfortunately I suspect that they can put out much better teams for the last two fixtures (in their backyard) but we need to make the most of their reluctance to travel next month at Bangor to avoid relegation.

Men

20th Shaun H

29th Joe W

39th Tony W

49th Glen

54th Dan J

56th Vic

64th Owen

82nd Martin C

84th David B

121st David D

123rd Tony B

127th Duncan

131st Gerwyn

139th Chris

159 finishers.

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October Results

Posted on 3rd October 2017 by Alf Tupper

It stayed dry! Cold, though (12C), and a bit soggy, so as expected it wasn’t possible to threaten the records. Welcome to new member Mel, and potential new member, Ian. The series competition was wrapped up by Katy last month with an unassailable 20 points from her best 5 races. Tony W injured himself finishing the September race on a dodgy ankle but hopefully his Silver award for 40 points will compensate a bit. It was very close for Bronze because Gerwyn’s 47 points were there to be shot at by Tony B, Craig, Glen, and Rob G. On the day only Glen and Rob turned up – despite the fact that Rob has the Chester Marathon to run this weekend. Rob ran a very creditable time in the conditions but just missed out by 3 places which would have been achieved if he had been 12 seconds faster here (just in front of Shaun H)! Glen needed to be 16 seconds faster to finish 4th in this race, so with 7th he was very, very close – but Gerwyn takes Bronze after all. Shaun remains fastest man with 17m57 in July (September course was short) and the trophy for fastest woman goes to Ceri B for 21m23 in May.

………………………..Finishing time………..Actual time…….Points for best 5 races

1st Katherine………..6.34.31pm…………….25m31

2nd Sali…………………..34.46………………..25m16…………………….59

3rd Victoria……………..34.48………………..22m48……………………53

4th Bob……………………34.57………………..24m57

5th Sioned……………….35.01…………………25m01

6th Vic…………………….35.10…………………19m40

7th Glen…………………..35.12…………………19m42……………………49

8th Shaun H…………….35.21…………………18m21

9th Mel…………………….35.24………………..25m24

10th David B……………..35.28……………….21m28…………………….77

11th Rob G………………..35.32……………….23m32…………………….50

12th Emma………………..35.34………………22m34

13th Menai…………………35.47………………27m17……………………..87

Ian (guest)………………….36.04……………..26m04

14th Mat…………………….36.15………………22m45

15th Katy B…………………36.31………………23m31……………………..20

16th Bethan………………..36.47………………26m47

Not competing tonight but with 5 races in the bag – Tony W 40 points; Gerwyn 47 points; Craig 54 points; Mei 66 points; Anwen 81 points.

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October Start List

Posted on 13th September 2017 by Alf Tupper

Previous experience shows that there is just enough light to get round the course providing we start at SIX (6pm). Nobody can beat Katy to win the series championship but 2nd and 3rd are very much up for grabs. Trophies are presented at the Club Dinner in January. Those for fastest man and fastest woman will be hard to prise out of the hands of Shaun H and Ceri B respectively because the course in October is likely to be relatively muddier and slower. However, don’t let that stop you trying!

5.57pm Rachel, Vicky

6.00 Joanne

6.00.30 Diane

6.01 Ron

6.o2 Angharad, Sarah, Kath S, Ruth

6.o3 Kelley, Wendy, Nicola

6.05  Jeff, John W

6.06 Helen D, Colin, Jill

6.07 Ed

6.07.30 Dawn, Andy M, Gwenan, Rhian WJ

6.08 Littlekath, Sian P, Llinos

6.08.30 Menai, Rob P

6.09 Anwen, Wayne, Peter E, Roger, Katherine E

6.09.30 David Sp, Sali, Mei

6.10 Bethan, Bob, Sioned, Jon, Ruari, Kate W, Tracey

6.10.30 Elen, Llyr, Ian

6.11 David S, Adam, Shaun J

6.11.30 Chris, Mike Hb, Dan S, Rhian P,  Mike Hu, Rich, Arwel

6.12 Paul G, Gerwyn, Fred, Rob G, Victoria

6.12.30 David D

6.13 Duncan, Emma, Rhian GJ, Tony B, Katy B

6.13.30 Ceri B, Jon F, Mat, Phil, Martin, Craig, Ceri D

6.14 Joe C, David B

6.14.30 Owen

6.15 Tom, Dan J

6.15.30 Vic, Glen

6.16 Joe W

6.16.30 Tony W

6.17 Shaun H

As usual, if I have missed you out or you are new to all this – yell on the club facebook page.

Posted in Summer Handicap Series | Comments Off on October Start List

September Results

Posted on 12th September 2017 by Alf Tupper

A remarkable number of people ran this one considering the heavy rain and the fact that many are in the middle of heavy races and training at present. A distinctly autumnal evening and an unscheduled course change due to an escaped bullock meant that this one was more memorable than most races in this series – which tend to blur into impressions of endless sun-dappled landscapes backed by deep blue skies (!) – and Tony B took advantage of the shortened course (by about 400 metres, I think) to stay ahead of a fast-finishing Craig. Katy was very fast indeed and her 3rd place must have sealed her series victory. It will probably make her very complacent for the big grudge race at King John’s on Saturday (!!). So the times for this one don’t count but the position very definitely does.

………………………..Finishing time……Actual time……Points

1st Tony B…………….7.02.35………….21m05…………….24/4

2nd Craig………………..02.39………….19m39…………….54/5

3rd Katy………………….03.30………….21m00……………20/5*

4th Gerwyn……………..03.39………….21m39…………….47/5*

5th Victoria……………..03.44………….22m14…………….50/4

6th Mei……………………03.47………….24m47……………66/5

7th Mike Hb……………03.53……………22m23…………….7/1

8th Sioned……………….03.54…………..23m54……………37/3

9th Elen…………………..03.54…………..23m24…………..40/3

10th Menai……………….03.56………….25m26……………74/4

11th Ceri B………………..03.57………….20m27……………24/3

12th Rob G……………….04.01…………..22m01……………51/5*

13th Shaun H…………….04.07…………..17m07…………..47/3

14th Emma……………….04.09………….21m09…………..14/1

15th David Sp……………04.14…………..24m44………….64/4

16th Anwen………………04.18……………25m18…………..81/5

17th Owen…………………04.20…………..19m50………….17/1

18th Sali……………………04.21……………24m51………….75/5*

19th Arwel…………………05.01……………23m01…………55/3

20th Tony W……………..05.18……………18m18…………40/5

21st Kath E………………..05.22……………25m52…………21/1

22nd Ian……………………06.10……………25m10…………41/2

23rd Ruth………………….06.12…………….33m12…………58/3

24th David B……………..07.54…………….23m24………..67/4

*Best of 5 positions

With only October to go there are already quite a few with 5 races completed and able to drop their worst positions. Katy leads with 20 points; Gerwyn has 47; Rob G 51; Craig 54; Mei 66; Shaun 71; Sali 75; Anwen 81. Tony B got a generous start this time but will go back to start with Katy next time – which still gives him a chance even though Katy herself goes back another 30 seconds, as do Gerwyn and Craig who might just be able to hang on to a podium position but it will be tight against Rob G. And I forgot Tony W (easily done) who can’t quite challenge Katy even though he goes forward 30 seconds. If he wins the October race he will have 21 points.

Next race is THE FIRST TUESDAY in October (3rd) at 6pm NOT 6.30pm due to the fading light.

Posted in Summer Handicap Series | Comments Off on September Results

September Start List

Posted on 10th August 2017 by Alf Tupper

Only two races to go to complete the 2017 series. Some readjustments to the starting times for those struggling with long-term injuries, hoping they might want to try to come back soon. The rules for those in contention are that the first 25% in the previous race get an extra 30 seconds on their handicaps, and the bottom 25% have 30 seconds taken off.

6.27pm Rachel, Vicky

6.29 Joanne

6.30.30 Diane

6.31 Ron

6.32 Angharad, Sarah, Kath S

6.33 Ruth, Kelley, Wendy, Nicola

6.35 Jeff, John W

6.36 Helen D, Colin, Jill

6.37 Ed

6.37.30 Dawn, Andy M, Gwenan, Rhian WJ

6.38 Littlekath, Sian P, Llinos

6.38.30 Menai, Rob P

6.39 Mei, Anwen, Wayne, Peter E, Roger

6.39.30 David Sp, Sali, Katherine E

6.40 Bethan, Bob, Sioned, Jon, Ruari, Kate W, Tracey

6.40.30 Elen, Llyr

6.41 David S, Ian, Adam, Shaun J

6.41.30 Chris, Mike Hb, Dan S, Rhian P, Victoria, Mike Hu, Rich

6.42 Paul G, Arwel, Gerwyn, Fred, Rob G, Tony B

6.42.30 David D, Katy B

6.43 Craig, Duncan, Emma, Rhian GJ

6.43.30 Ceri B, Jon F, Mat, Phil, Martin

6.44 Ceri D, Joe C

6.44.30 David B, Owen

6.45 Tom, Dan J

6.45.30 Vic, Glen

6.46 Joe W

6.47 Tony W, Shaun H

As usual, if I have missed you out – yell.

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August Results

Posted on 8th August 2017 by Alf Tupper

 

Overcast and 15C after several days of heavy showers, but no wind and the rain held off. Ruari’s tremendous improvement over the past few weeks revealed a massive flaw in the handicapping. So he won. Naturally, I take full credit…………… and will make appropriate adjustments to his start time for next month. As predicted, Katy powered through and gets rid of her worst position to confirm her series lead. Rob G is not far behind but most of the other contenders missed tonight. Many thanks to Dawn and Tony B for officiating. And to Rob P for marking the trickier turns with his mini-cones.

………………………Finishing time………Actual time……..Points

1st Ruari……………7.02.16pm……………24m46…………..16/2

2nd Phil……………7.04.03pm…………….21m03………….10/2

3rd David Sp…………4.29………………….25m29………….26/2

4th Bob………………..4.41……………………24m41…………22/3

5th Vic…………………4.42……………………19m12………….27/3

6th Glen……………….4.48……………………19m18…………42/4

7th Katy……………….4.49……………………22m19…………33/5*

8th Mei………………..4.50……………………25m50…………60/4

9th Gerwyn…………..4.50…………………..22m50…………64/5

10th David B…………4.58…………………..20m28………..43/3

11th Sian P……………5.09…………………..27m09………….71/3

12th Rob G……………5.11……………………23m11………….54/5*

13th Duncan………….5.11…………………….22m11…………46/4

14th Kate W…………..5.27…………………..24m57………….38/4

15th Ron……………….5.30…………………..33m30…………53/3

16th Martin…………..5.36…………………..21m36………….16/1

17th Victoria………….5.55…………………..25m25…………45/3

18th Sali………………..6.29………………….25m59…………75/5

19th Shaun J…………7.34…………………..26m04………..58/4

* denotes ‘best of 5’ races

Let me know if there are any errors but currently Katy is 1st, Rob G 2nd, and Gerwyn 3rd. There are two races to go and Katy still has a 16th position to drop, so I don’t advise betting against her. Tony W has 20 points from 4 races so he may have a chance if Katy doesn’t do any more. Gerwyn does have two 21st places which he can improve if he does September and October’s events – putting him up with Rob G as a podium possibility.

Posted in Summer Handicap Series | Comments Off on August Results

August 8th Start List

Posted on 24th July 2017 by Alf Tupper

The championship series will be much more interesting after this one. Only Katy and Rob G have completed five so far and I suspect they will both beat their worst positions comfortably to be able to improve their overall scores. Obviously Tony W is the big favourite to win it outright, and he still has a chance for the fastest man trophy given his continued progress.

6.27pm Rachel, Vicky

6.29 Joanne

6.30.30 Diane

6.32 Ron, Angharad, Sarah, Kath S

6.33 Ruth, Kelley, Wendy, Nicola

6.35 Jeff, John W

6.36 Helen D, Colin, Jill

6.37 Ed

6.37.30 Dawn, Andy M, Ruari, Gwenan, Rhian WJ

6.38 Littlekath, Sian P, Llinos

6.38.30 Menai, Rob P

6.39 Mei, Anwen, Wayne, Peter E, David Sp

6.40 Bethan, Bob, Sioned, Jon, Roger

6.40.30 Katherine E, Elen, Sali, Kate W, Llyr

6.41 David S, Ian, Adam, Mike Hu

6.41.30 Chris, Mike Hb, Dan S, Rhian P, Shaun J

6.42 Paul G, Arwel, Victoria, Gerwyn, Fred, Rob G

6.42.30 David D, Rich, Katy B

6.43 Craig, Duncan, Emma, Phil, Tony B

6.43.30 Ceri B, Jon F, Mat

6.44 Ceri D, Martin, Joe C, Rhian GJ

6.44.30 David B, Owen

6.45 Tom, Dan J

6.45.30 Vic, Glen

6.46 Joe W

6.47 Tony W, Shaun H

As usual, if I have missed you out – yell.

Posted in Summer Handicap Series | Comments Off on August 8th Start List

July Results

Posted on 11th July 2017 by Alf Tupper

It must have been the rain, but fewer than half of the recent number took part in this month’s race. Glad to see Ed making a reappearance, looking very trim, and his devastating final kick to hold off Rob G in the sprint for last place. Those of us watching the runners come back through the fields were surprised to see that Shaun J put in an impressive last half mile to leave Katy who must have gone very well to almost catch him before that. The real question was whether his namesake, Shaun H, could take the record from the man off scratch – Tony W. Both have done a lot of tough races recently but Tony chased hard enough to break his own record – just not quite quick enough! Congrats to Shaun for breaking the 18 minute barrier, and thereby averaging 6 minutes per mile. For those who ran it the bonus is that they achieved good scores for the series championships – fewer people always means generally lower scores which aids their overall points position.

……………………………….Finishing time….Actual time………Points

1st Shaun H…………………7.03.57pm………..17m57……………34/2

2nd Shaun J…………………7.04.11……………..23m11……………39/3

3rd Katy B………………………04.23…………….22m23…………..53/5

4th Mat………………………….04.28……………..21m28…………..38/3

5th Craig…………………………….35………………21m35…………..52/4

6th Tony W…………………………39………………18m09………….20/4

7th Mei……………………………….40………………25m40…………52/3

8th Phil……………………………….47………………21m47…………..8/1

9th Bob……………………………….48………………24m48………….9/1

10th Kate W…………………………54……………….24m24…………24/3

11th Sali…………………………….05.08…………….24m38………….57/4

12th David Sp………………………..27………………25m27………….35/2

13th Fred………………………………46………………23m16………….79/4

14th Ed……………………………..06.05……………..28m35…………14/1

15th Rob G……………………………..08………………23m38……….62/5

Actually the above results reveal that it was a very fast race, quite apart from Shaun H’s record. Shaun J knocked over a minute off his best and Katy almost repeated her remarkable 22m20 in May. Fred said he felt slow as Katy left him, but actually he wasn’t by previous standards. Sali and Kate W knocked another 10 seconds off their bests (proof of the effect of their participation in Tuesday speed sessions), while Mat and Craig impressed by chopping off over 30 seconds. All very encouraging for the cross country season, except that it is a bit worrying that so few women are doing this sort of short, fast, tough stuff. Without Rhian P and Tracey this winter we are really going to struggle to stay in the 1st Division especially if one of our remaining counters (Ceri D, Ceri B, Katy, and Victoria – or Emma) gets injured or ill. Sali and Kate are at present the only ones within striking distance of the equivalent of sub 23 minutes on this course which will be required to make the top 30 in the League cross country races which begin in October. Now is the time to think about how you can get there! Your club needs YOU.

 

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