DRC Juniors Weekly Round Up

This week’s activities

Athletics on Wednesday and Thursday were good sessions with warm evening weather making them very enjoyable. It is rapidly getting very dark towards the end of those sessions though, so please note the last two Thursday athletics sessions have been moved to an earlier time of 6-7pm.

Saturday’s cross country training was also good fun, with an extended obstacle course to run around, all good for endurance and agility.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The club AGM was on Friday. It was a great opportunity for me to share some of our successes with the rest of the club, and I felt very proud to do so. I also spoke about all the hard work that goes into delivering the programmes and activities we put on, and importantly thanked all those that help. I highlighted that without this help we just cannot deliver the programmes and events that our Juniors love so much.

I talked about our plans for 2018-19: to continue delivering the excellent programmes and events that we delivered this year, train two new coaching assistants and our aspiration to buy a high jump mat to enable us to include high jump training at the club. In order to do these things we proposed to increase the annual fee to £20 this was accepted. (My slides here, formal AGM notes to follow)

We also desperately need more help with the organising and admin of the section. So please if you can spare any time at all, we need your help.

Planning Ahead

So I will apologise for the constant pinging today if you have your phone etc. set to alert with every junior section Facebook entry because I have been busy setting up our future programmes. For those not on Facebook the junior section Google calendar, viewable on our website pages, has also been updated.

You will see that I have set up events for the AAA Cross Country Series (more info here), and I have also set up the Indoor Athletics Programme (more info here).

Subs Due

So as mentioned above the annual subscription fee is now due. Please could all juniors (parents/carers) complete the registration/renewal form (available here), this contains details of how to pay. We agreed that our subscription year would run from 1st September – 31st August, but we acknowledge that there are always a lot of payment pressure on parents at this time of year, so if you are at all concerned please contact us and we can work out how to best help you. Our overriding aim is to provide accessible, enjoyable, safe sporting opportunities for our children.

All the best,

Caroline

DRC Juniors Weekly Round Up

Javelin training for the year 7+ juniors on Wednesday, some rather windy sprints and hurdles on Thursday and more Cross Country training on Saturday. Great sessions everyone!

And then this weekend 10 pin bowling. Competition that didn’t involve running, throwing or jumping (bowling not throwing right?). Well done to the winning team; Mike, Ted, Billy, Ella, Sophie, Harriet and well done too to the very close runners up; Oscar, Luke, Charlie, Olive and Richard (and me).

Just a quick reminder the club AGM is this Friday, this applies to the Juniors too, so all welcome to attend. Also very quickly regarding fees – these are due in September normally but there are some discussions about changes to the club fees (adults and juniors) so requests for payment have not yet gone out. I am expecting that we will put some messages out about fees shortly after the AGM.

Great achievements across incredible challenges – Weekly Round Up

The last couple of weeks have been incredibly busy for the club with some impressive performances across a wide range of events.

Sunday the 16th of September had seen DRC’s Neil Parry and Dave Durden in Berlin for the 2018 version of the race. Eliud Kipchoge was there hoping to break the world record. The DRC runners objectives were more focused on getting round. Neil Parry was running his 23rd marathon, at his best

had run under three hours, back in 2013. Dave Durden was running his first. Kipchoge pulverised the marathon record just 99 seconds away from a sub two hour marathon. Parry ran a controlled race to finish in 03:24:00. Durden struggled over the last three miles coming home in 03:31:17.

This effort paled in to insignificance with DRC’s Matt Read and Dave Wood looking to complete the Cotswold Century Ultra run and three DRC Triathletes, Charley Palmer, Paul Breen and Damian Lai in Weymouth to attempt the Ironman 70.3.

A few DRC runners have completed the Cotswold Century challenge over the years, this year Wood and Read decided to complete the 100 odd miles from Chipping Campden to Bath Abbey. The organisers description is ‘Start in Chipping Campden at the Village Hall, stop in Bath at Bath Abbey, follow the signs marked “Cotswold Way”. The only route markings being the existing Cotswold Way markers THIS MEANS YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ A MAP!” Participants have 30 hours to complete the event, with intermediate cut-offs along the way. Starting on Saturday at Midday they were faced with miserable weather with incessant rain for most of the day and night. Dave Durden caught up with both of them at Painswick Rugby Club checkpoint 4 both were remarkably chipper although the tiredness was clearly already taking its toll. Running in the dark, mist and rain both had tripped on roots with Wood hitting the deck.Despite previous reconnaissance Read found himself of course in the mist around Coopers Edge, but was able to get back on track. Early Sunday morning both were passing through Dursley and trying not to think of their dry and warm beds that were so close by. Wood led the DRC duo throughout the event eventually getting to Bath in 26 hours and 49 minutes. His pace was under 14 minutes per mile over the first half slipping to 17 minutes for the second, illustrating what a gruelling challenge this was. Read came home in 28 hours and 38 minutes .

More DRC athletes were off road at the weekend, Rachel Brown, Ellen Efford and Sam Hill took part in the Walcot Whopper, offroad 10K. Brown placed 3rd FV40. Results: Rachel Brown 36th (3rd F40),01:02:58; Ellen Efford, 60th, (9th F40) 01:17:52; Sam Hill 63rd (11th F40) 01:31:04. Andrew and Michele Shapland completed their first ever trail marathon the Cotswold Challenge, which started and finished in Birdlip

On the Road six DRC athletes ran Bristol Half Marathon, Mike Brown,Tony Wooldridge, Ian Cole, Julie Gowing, Andrew Eades, Annette Helyings with unaffiliated Jon Morgan along for the ride. It was pretty damp for the early part of the race, but it eased to a light drizzle. The organization was very slick, with runners treated to a tour of central Bristol with sections of cobbles to add interest for tired muscles. Brown set a blistering pace to finish 152nd in 1:23:38. Gowing ran a massive course best of 13 minutes and a Half Marathon PB of two minutes. Brown’s run was a PB and is just 14 seconds quicker than Severn Bridge, consistency being a good sign, his position of 152nd in a huge field signalling a strong performance, as was Tony Wooldridge’s run.

Results: Michael Brown 152nd 01:23:38; Tony Wooldridge 680th 01:34:04; Jon Morgan, 1235th 01:40:30; Ian Cole 1881st, 01:45:53; Julie Gowing 4586th 02:06:06 Andrew Eades 4586th 02:07:05; Ian Roberts 5303rd 02:14:14; Annette Heylings 5733rd 02:20:42

At the Angels 10K there was another DRC team of six, David Durden, Kris Rymer, Andrea Sexton, Elieen Hieron, Steve Barnes and Pete Dunn. Just over half the 168 entrants made it to the start line the, the foul weather no doubt putting many off. Dave Durden led the DRC team home in just over 43 minutes, with Kris Rymer in shortly after him looking strong, as did the remaining DRC athletes. Sexton running a personal best and Hieron putting an impressive surge to the line in an attempt to get under 68 minutes, Hieron walked away with Silver medal for 2nd in category on the day. Results: Dave Durden 30th (5th M50) 43:40; Kris Rymer 45:26 40th (10th M40); Pete Dunn, 62nd (14th M40) 51:25; Andrea Sexton; Steve Barnes 58:05, 79th (6th M60); Eileen Hieron, 67th (2nd F70) 01:08:03

Saturday saw a celebration of Pete Dunn’s 50th parkrun at Wotton despite the wet conditions Wotton was the place to be for PBs with Kris Rymer, running another PB leading  DRC home at Wotton in 20:34, with Stuart Watts, Huw Poppy and Terry Cother also running course bests, whilst at Chipping Sodbury Sarah Newall ran one. The DRC Tri Trio of Zoe Lammerton, Fran Amigoni and Jennie Marshall warmed up with a bike ride to Stonehouse and then produced some blistering runs, respectively 20:34, 21:50 and 22:58. Marshall posted the best AG of the weekend of 75.83% with Kris Rymer highest grading for the men at 66%.

 

Tuesday the 11th was the fourth and last DRC “club handicap” event at Hamfield Leisure, a light breeze serving to cool the runners down on overcast but warm night. First home was Caz Harper-Easthope with Emily Harding coming in just behind her, it was then long wait for the 3rd finisher and first male home, Stuart Watts with Jo Lewis cruising home in fourth. Over another successful series the series Derek Jackson was first male on 40 points, leaving the women’s victor Diana Gore to place 1st overall in the series.

DRC Grand Prix 2018 Update – Finally!

After a busy summer, we’re long overdue (sorry!) a DRC Grand Prix series update. In this update are points from Wotton parkrun in June, 10k races at Thornbury and Westonbirt House, plus the Woodchester Park race earler this month.

Click here for the latest league tables >>

Congratulations to Alice Lewis who has successfully defended her title with another maximum points total! Alice is followed by Annette Heylings who is the 2nd of the ladies to complete all the required races this year and looks a sure bet for 2nd place.  Eileen Hieron and Julie Froggatt look like they will be contesting the 3rd place on the podium.

Tony Woolridge is getting ever closer to defending his title but still needs one more race result to ensure top spot. Andrew Probert is lurking in a solid 2nd place if Tony slips up. Matt Read and Pete Chaffer have only 1 point separating 3rd and 4th  place, but with Matt only needing one more result to qualify and Pete needing 3, Matt is in the driving seat to secure some silverware.

There are just 2 more qualifying races left in this series, both Half Marathons at Bristol (Road) and the Forest of Dean (Trail) later this month. As this year series approaches the final straight, a couple of reminders…

Marathon results must be submitted using this form for this years series. You have until the end of September to fill in a result for it to count towards the series.

Due to the inclusion of the Forest of Dean Autumn Half when the Spring Half was rearranged, the awards for this year will not be presented at the AGM, instead they will be presented at a Tuesday social night, or the Christmas Party. More details to follow…

As always, please feel free to get in touch with Mike Crompton or Tony Freer if you have any questions on the Grand Prix, either individually or using the email address grandprix@durslingrunningclub.org.uk

Finally, look out for an announcement on here soon regarding the race list for the 2019 series.

2018 ‘Try Out Tri’ Junior Triathlon Event Success

The first ever DRC Junior Triathlon event was a huge success, wow, just wow! Over 50 athletes competed, giving their best and showing us their swimming, cycling and running skills. Well done to each and every athlete who completed the race. Full results here >>

Winners of the 8-10 years category were:

  • 1st Benjamin Howse
  • 2nd Stanley White
  • 3rd Billy Smith

Winners of the 11-13 years category were:

  • 1st Lucy Holdsworth
  • 2nd Luke Davies
  • 3rd Jacob Brounger

Winners of the 14+ years category were:

  • 1st Aneurin Earle
  • 2nd James Durden

This event could not have happened without the huge support of all those who  planned, organised and delivered the event, so a huge thank you to everyone who helped. A few specific call outs to Martin Bragg, Tara Truman and Annette Keevil (our area leads) and our sponsors; The Pulse (thanks to Ange and team for the swimming, pool, spin room and help on the day), Emsea (our amazing medals and trophies supplier) and Sainsbury’s (the snacks).

This event was so successful we may even do it again next year!

Caroline Jones