June Newsletter
Chairman’s Report
This is always a busy time of year with Midweek League fixtures and many local races being held. The turnout we have had for the Midweek League so far has been fantastic, especially considering some of the traveling involved. To be in fourth place in the main competition and second in the ladies team event is a great effort and I would like to thank everyone who has represented our club so far.
Congratulations go to Erika Johnson who as well as being the lady to beat in the Midweek League has been first lady in the Fountains, Yorkshire and Melmerby 10ks over the past month, not bad for a veteran. If we could get a few more of our lady runners out to support Erika I am sure we would be taking home some team prizes as well.
Thank you to everyone for getting their subs in promptly this year as this has made Jo and Richard’s jobs a lot easier.
Have a successful months running.
Pete Richardson
The DBS Derby 10K
This is a relatively new race in the calendar this being only its 4th year. It was held on Sunday May 22nd and an almost entirely flat and very fast course coupled with perfect running conditions made the potential of a P.B. a very real possibility. The start was at 9.30am directly outside Pride Park Stadium, home of Derby County FC. With the entry limit of 2000 having been reached the obligatory mass warm-up got under way (which is fine if doing aerobics extremely badly is your kinda thing!). I declined their kind offer and did my own warm-up! The course made its way into and through the city centre with a lot of loop-backs so making for a very close course with a lot of runner camaraderie. Then it was out of the city centre and back along the River Derwent to the halfway point and the only water point on the course. At this point I was feeling very comfortable and passed this at 18.55 confident of the P.B. or at least the 38.30 I had set as my target. The second half made its way back to Pride Park and through the business park. Then it was one lap on the outside of the stadium finally finishing inside the stadium with a one lap circuit to finish. The spectator support around the course was magnificent and DCFC had also kindly allowed spectators inside so the final 400m were a real treat with what must have been a couple of thousand cheering everyone home. Typically, after a very promising start I fell away at the end and finished 73rd in a time of 38.53. I’m determined that I will achieve a P.B. this year so perhaps maybe a distance not raced before, like a 7 or 20 miler could be the answer! Watch this space.
Rob Dawkins
Yorkshire 10km
The Cystic Fibrosis trust organised a great little race at nearby Newby Hall, on the 22nd May.
It turned out to be quite a popular run, there were just under 300 runners in the main race, and around 200 in the family fun run.
The race was started by a professional footballer, Gareth Southgate. Billed as a scenic off road race it didn’t disappoint. The race was started by a professional footballer, Gareth Southgate.
Billed as a scenic off road race it didn’t disappoint. You took in all the views around Newby Hall, it proved a tough course, we dispensed of the cyclist leading us at 2 miles, muttering oaths as we flew past, the sheep in the park proved troublesome not knowing what to do with hundreds of runners bearing down on them, and it was inspirational to follow a recently buried pipe with all the associated piles of soil which hadn’t settled and JCB tracks which were murder on the ankles. The finishing 300m followed a dumped pile of Sugar beet feed for the sheep. I finished third in 35.10 with Erika 40.12, Martin Luxton 44.42 and Kate Staines 64.03.
Richard Johnson
Raby Castle 10k
The main subject of conversation afterwards wasn’t about a challenging but scenic course, nor times or positions, or even about the bright sunshine that accompanied the run. No, the talking point was the t-shirts, the bright pink t-shirts that everyone was given, if you haven’t seen these garments yet just ask Paul Emson or John Smith to model them for you!
Paul Emson was first home for the club in 38.54, with Liz Sowter (second lady over 45) in 44.57. Martin Luxton finished in 45.25 followed by me in 47.56 and John Hunter in 49.23. At the grand old age of 60 John Smith finally made his race debut with a creditable 51.46, ahead of more seasoned racers Claire Stewart 53.06 and Barbara Jones 54.40. Neil Stevenson must think all races contain big hills and finished in 59.22. Helen Smith completed the course in 62.28, Jo Richardson 64.55 and Sue Smith 68.34.
Two of the friends we made at Club La Santa, Peter and Fiona Buckingham travelled up from Kent and thoroughly enjoyed the race and meeting a few more Swaledale characters. Peter could not quite keep up with Paul Emson and finished in 39.36 while Fiona breezed past me on the first lap to finish in 47.23.
Pete Richardson
Portsmouth D-Day 10K
This is an extremely popular race in the South coast calendar, attracting nearly 600 entries, and is now in its 16th year. It was held on the evening of Wednesday June 8th and an entirely flat and very fast course coupled with perfect running conditions made the potential of a P.B. (where have I heard that before!) a very real possibility, (again!). The start was at 7.30pm and comprised of a 2 lap “out and back” course starting and finishing in the Mountbatten Centre’s Athletic Stadium. The start was one of the strangest that I’ve ever done due to the fact that 600 competitors lined up on lanes 1 – 4 and then completed 2 ¾ laps, using laps 5 – 8 for the second lap and then the outside cycle track for the final ¾ lap! Anyway, despite my misgivings it worked extremely well, even though I found it bizarre that on a 10k course I was lapping people after 400m! Then it was out onto the course proper which consisted of a pedestrian only pathway accurately measured at each km. It was a warm evening with the temperature still recording nearly 20 degrees Celsius, but I was still determined that this wouldn’t pose a problem and I felt really good for the first half completing the first 5 in 19.05. All I needed to do now was maintain this with a sprint finish and I would get that flippin P.B.! However best laid plans and all that conspired against me, and yet again it wasn’t to be. I passed 8km in 31.50 and felt awful. My legs were feeling really heavy, I was too dehydrated and to be honest, I couldn’t wait to finish. As I said the finish was in the stadium and consisted of a one lap finish. The support for a midweek race was really good with a smattering of people around the course, but a good few hundred in the stadium made for a nice touch to finish with. For the record I came home in 39.23 and 54th place, not what I had wanted but relatively pleased with my performance. Clearly, as stated in my last report I need to find a race
with one of the more unusual distances to get my P.B. this year!
Rob Dawkins
This is a charity event, consisting of a short course of 3.5 miles and a longer course of 5 miles, starting at 11.00 am from Leyburn market place. If you feel a bit daunted by the more serious races this event might suit you: the emphasis is on fun and on raising money for three charities: Yorkshire Cancer Research, Leyburn Fire Station and Amala (see below).
Runners/joggers/walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome. The cost is £8 if you enter before July 1st or an extra pound on the day. Entry forms are available at the clubhouse.
Liz Sowter
London Marathon sponsorship
Many thanks to all those who sponsored me for the London marathon. The last
few contributions are still trickling in, but I have just about reached my
target of £200. The money will be used to buy teaching materials for Amala, a
school and orphanage in the Tamil Nadu province of India.
Liz Sowter
Midweek League Dates:
Tues 21st June Skipton 7.45pm
Tues 5th July Harrogate 7.45pm
Wed 20th July Ripon - Handicap 7.30pm
The club is covering the cost of entry this year. Club vests must be worn.
Race Diary
The race folder is bursting with entry forms and here is a selection of forthcoming races within easy access of Richmond and Northallerton. Early entry is advised as all races seem to be filling up fast nowadays.
June 19th Newton Aycliffe 10k
June 26th Rainton 10k
July 2nd Burn Valley Half Marathon (Masham)
July 3rd Skipton AC Tough 10
July 6th Croft Pitstop 10k
July 10th Kilburn 7m
July 10th Leyburn Fun Run
July 17th Eccup 10m Y.V.A.A. Championship
July 24th Burton Leonard 10k
July 31st James Herriot Trail Run
July 31st Harrogate 10k
Aug 14th Darlington 10k
Aug 21st Auckland Castle 10k
Newsletter
Please don’t forget this is your newsletter and it is only as good as the reports I get to fill it with. Many thanks to my regular contributors, but it would great to have some new names at the end of some of the reports. You can e-mail reports to me at: j.richardson@breathemail.net or use ‘snail mail’ and post them to me at 7 Mastil Close, Little Crakehall, Bedale, North Yorkshire, DL8 1HL.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Jo Richardson
Minute Secretary
For the past two years Sue Smith has taken the minutes at our club meetings. She would now like
to step down from this job so we are looking for someone to take her place. The club meetings are for a trial period going to go back to being held monthly, so it will need to be someone who can attend on a regular basis. If you are interested in this position please contact either Peter Richardson or any committee member.
Social Committee
We are also looking for people to join the social committee. We have an informal meeting about once a month, you can do as much or as little as suits you with social events, but we do need some fresh ideas. If you just have an idea for a social event, please also let us know and we will see if we can organise it.
Jo Richardson
Club Birthday
In April next year the club will be 20 years old. We would like to hold some events to mark the occasion, if you have any ideas please let any committee member or social committee member know.
Dales Diary
Liz Sowter is to be this years club T.V. star. She is being film by Dales Diary for a program to be shown in August about the Swaledale Marathon. She will be filmed taking part in the marathon. I hope the camera man has been doing some training if he hopes to keep up with Liz!!
New members
A warm welcome to new member Jan Bolam.
G.N.R. Bus
We have had some enquires about our usual bus to the Great North Run. As most club members are boycotting the race due to the exorbitant rise in entry fee we were not going to run the trip. But if we get enough numbers for a trip to be financially viable we will run one. If you or any one you know (don’t have to be club members) would be interest in a trip please let Norman Bell know a.s.a.p. on 01748 823536 (home) or 01748 824898 (Roots & Shoots). Cost will be £8.00 p/p
You could win up to £40
All you have to do is attend the next monthly meeting of the Swaledale Road Runners on 8th July at The George and Dragon in Hudswell
Meeting starts at 8pm
What happens there?
1 You get to know what the club is all about and what is happening.
2 You can air your views. Goods points and Bad.
3 FREE Excellent Buffet
4 A Raffle (Usual a big box of fruit)
5 The 60 Club - you pay just £1.00 for a number, all the numbers bought go into a bag. The winning number is then pick out, and depending
upon the amount of numbers sold , you could win up to £40.00.
SEE YOU THERE - 8th JULY - GEORGE & DRAGON - HUDSWELL - 8PM
Sue Smith
Newsletter
Please don’t forget this is your newsletter and it is only as good as the reports I get to fill it with. Many thanks to my regular contributors, but it would great to have some new names at the end of some of the reports. You can e-mail reports to the club website.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Jo Richardson
Minute Secretary
For the past two years Sue Smith has taken the minutes at our club meetings. She would now like
to step down from this job so we are looking for someone to take her place. The club meetings are for a trial period going to go back to being held monthly, so it will need to be someone who can attend on a regular basis. If you are interested in this position please contact either Pete Richardson or any committee member.
Social Committee
We are also looking for people to join the social committee. We have an informal meeting about once a month, you can do as much or as little as suits you with social events, but we do need some fresh ideas. If you just have an idea for a social event, please also let us know and we will see if we can organise it.
Jo Richardson
Club Birthday
In April next year the club will be 20 years old. We would like to hold some events to mark the occasion, if you have any ideas please let any committee member or social committee member know.
Dales Diary
Liz Sowter is to be this years club T.V. star. She is being filmed by Dales Diary for a programme to be shown in August about the Swaledale Marathon. She will be filmed taking part in the marathon. I hope the camera man has been doing some training if he hopes to keep up with Liz!!
New members
A warm welcome to new members Jan Bolam, Damien Murphy and William Simms.
G.N.R. Bus
We have had some enquires about our usual bus to the Great North Run. As most club members are boycotting the race due to the exorbitant rise in entry fee we were not going to run the trip. But due to demand (from mainly outside the club) Norman has organised a coach. If you or any one you know (don’t have to be club members) would be interest in a trip please let Norman Bell know a.s.a.p. Cost will be £8.00 p/p
In Brief
Well done to Graham Turnbull who completed the Wigginton 10k in a time of 67.44.
Congratulations to Erika Johnson for being first lady at the Melmerby 10k in a time of 39.26. Husband Richard had a fine run to finish fourth overall in 34.55. Jackie Keavney ran well to finish in 43.27 followed by Pat Neeson in 45.22. Sharon Morrison finished in 50.19 and David Crapper completed the course in 57.39.
Five club members completed the Thirsk 10m, Martin Luxton finished in 72.46, Pete Devlin 77.05, Claire Stewart 83.12, Jenn Smith 92.18, and Neil Stevenson in 92.42.
DATE OF NEXT CLUB MEETING :
Monday 4th July 8pm George and Dragon, HUDSWELL