BA Athletics Club News Digest 1st January 2024
Club Event Map:
[Clickable link to Google Maps]
[parkrun run by club members updated 4th October 2023]
For future weeks: inclusions, with photos, please to Roderick Hoffman at news@barunner.org.uk.
Results for Next Week
Please help me by sending in your results, for instance by filling in the tables below and
forwarding to
News@barunner.org.uk. Some events will have "Prompts" set up in
Facebook.
These allow the posting of a single image and some text and make it easy to flip
through everyone's entries.
Your Athletic Achievement of the Week (or use the prompt in the BAAC Facebook
group):
| Participant |
Event |
Distance |
Location |
Day/Start |
Time or Duration |
Details or comment, and other achievements |
|
e.g. Running |
|
|
|
|
|
Happy New Year!
- Have A Particularly Productive Year
- Never Ever Without
- Your Exercise Achievement Reports
from the editor
|
# This
week's Round Heathrow Event - Thursday 28th
Stephen Taylor ran round and Melanie Miller and Harjit Jhooti braved the poor
weather and walked round. Both Melanie and Harjit have posted pictures on
Facebook.
Stephen writes "I set off slightly later than the planned 12:00 start to
allow the worst of the rain to blow through. A few cancellations due to colds
and Christmas busyness meant that I was the only runner, Harjit and Melanie
walked the course, they set off earlier and I met them just before Sipson. It
was muddy and slippery in quite a few places but never totally flooded so while
my feet got wet and muddy I didn't have to resort to total paddling anywhere. 12
miles in 2:14:22 with only one minor off route navigational detour."
Melanie writes on Facebook "So early today I partook in my first club
Round-the-Airport-run with good friend and fellow club buddy
Harjit Jhooti except we walked it…there wos no way I wos gonna
run in mud…after all this wasn’t tough mudder tho at times it felt like just
that. We were blighted by the wet stuff for most of the morning and I had to
hail
John Wright out to bring my waterproofs and it was tempting to
‘cave in’ but not one for easily quitting we soldered on military match style
and saw fellow runner Stephen Taylor overtake us but we made it in the end…as my
pics illustrate"
Harjit is briefer: "Club annual walk round Heathrow airport. It was wet
and windy and character building and I lost over 1000 calories."
  
{Ed: I had checked the course the previous week and it was nowhere near that
muddy - 'honest gov.'}
# Final Round-the-Block Table
For the Round Heathrow event the last three points have been awarded in this year's Round-the-Block club
participation competition and one of those points made a significant difference
- raising Stephen Taylor to joint fourth place matching Chris Kelly's total. The
top three were, as ever in recent years, Steve Hillier, Steve Newell and
Roderick Hoffman and just two points separated these three club members but we
do have a outright winner who will be announced later this year at our awards'
evening and presented with the Tom Rowley Plate.
Since the last report Paul Watt has scored several points and has become the
fifteenth club member to reach ten points this year. The full list of fifteen
is:
- Amanda Coombs
- Benita SCAIFE
- Chris Kelly
- Graham Taylor
- Jasvir Singh-Modaher
- John SCAIFE
- Julie Barclay
- Mark Taylor
- Paul Brandon
- Paul Watt
- Roderick Hoffman
- Simon Turton
- Stephen Taylor
- Steve Hillier
- Steve Newell
Thank you to all of these for helping the club to exist over the last twelve
months. Next year's competition is in doubt since no one has yet offered to do
the admin for this, and I am standing down.
Roderick Hoffman
December Mile Results
Nine runners in the club Xmas mile plus David's best mile of the month. Very
close between Harjit and Steve H, Stephen T and Fiona, and Chris and Julie.
Roderick Hoffman
Best Activity Achievements of 2023
15 members' achievements were communicated to me before this week's
publication deadline.
| Colleague |
Top 2023 Achievement |
| Barry Walters |
My 2023 target of a 25minute finish at a parkrun was never
really challenged (best 26:46 at Edenbrook Country in April), so
next year I'm just planning to avoid injuries and stay healthy.
December running challenge completed with 148k - almost twice
November distance. |
| David Cowell |
The ten-mile race in York on the 16th April, finished in
1:01:12, was probably the best of an injury blighted year! |
| Emma Moreton |
7 parkrun PBs this year. Starting in January 2023, I worked
my way through Black Park, Bushy, Homewood, Hazelwood,
Brooklands, Bedfont and Medina! |
| Jain Read |
Without doubt finishing the Comrades ultra in South Africa
after years of watching others finish it and never believing I
could. I got a sub 11 hour finish which was beyond my wildest
dreams and honestly loved every minute of it. |
| Janet Smith |
My biggest achievement was winning 3 medals at the European
Masters Championships in Pescara. I had never won an
International medal at the Weight Pentathlon before so a bronze
was a big first . |
| Julie Barclay |
I have several achievements that I am proud of over 2023.
Firstly taking 4 age category records in the VW55 category and 5
in the VW60 category at parkrun. The one I am most proud of is
Llanishen on 4th March in 22.10, with an age grade percentage of
85.11%. I was also delighted to win my age group in the 5k and
the 10k at WARR. I suffered a calf injury at the end of March
which resulted in missing training sessions, races and track
meetings. I had to find other ways of training to keep fit and
motivated. I embarked on an alternative training regime which
includes, spinning, weight training and Pilates and only running
4 days a week. I have continued with these activities and feel
much stronger and better conditioned and hope that I am also
reducing the risk of injury. I would encourage all ‘senior’
runners to take strength and conditioning seriously if they want
to continue running in later life. The great Tom Rowley always
stressed the importance of it but like most busy, working
runners, thought it better to run than exercise… and I am sure
that most injuries I have suffered is because I did not heed his
advice! I am hoping for an injury free year and thereby able to
compete for the club in cross country, track and WARR. Happy New
Year to you all….’keep on running’! |
| Keith Johnson |
Green Belt Relay without doubt, both for the achievement and
for the event as a whole. |
| Mike Dennison |
Mine would be reaching the 500 parkruns milestone, back in
April, and completing 54 parkruns this year (as well as 47
volunteer sessions, mostly at junior parkrun). |
| Neil Frediani |
Best achievements were the High Cup Nick 9mile fell race
early in the year and another one in Ullswater in the Lake
District in October and getting into double figures for the
first time this year with 10miles on the 29th Dec. Oh and going
below 28mins for a parkrun for the first time in a couple of
years. |
| Paul Watt |
In 2023 I wanted to improve my longer distance performances
and I am pleased that in my three target distances, I did
achieve personal-bests. (Half Marathon - 93:50 at Hampton Court
Half, Ten miles - 68:23 at Great South Run and Five miles -
32:15 at the Victory 5 in Portsmouth.) I am very proud of my
best WARR result of 19:51 and finishing sixth overall and
winning the age category. Both Julie and I have had a fabulous
parkrun year comprising of 61 events at 61 venues in 9 countries
plus 69 volunteer credits and ‘Londone’. I achieved my first
ever first finish and Julie took away nine W55/W60 records and
not to mention the fun and enjoyment of the events and
locations. |
| Petra Otto |
Without a doubt - completing the Virtual London Marathon. |
| Piers Keenleyside |
My biggest achievement of 2023 was running the Edinburgh
Marathon in May to complete my 200th lifetime marathon. |
| Roderick Hoffman |
My 2023 achievement was the set-up and operation of the
Stockley Country parkrun. This included giving up over 30
parkruns over the year but I consider that an advantage - I am
no longer paranoid about staying in the top 25 on the "Most
Events" list. My contribution also included the course design -
the one we've used for all runs other than the first two was the
last of about four course designs. I know that it is long -
because it was originally planned as a bad weather alternative
course. But it has a very convenient marker at both the start
and finish. |
| Stephen Taylor |
My best achievement of the year was the London classics
medal, although this was my third classics medal it was the
first with all three events in the same year. I had set out to
do that back in 2020 but Covid stopped that and the queen's
funeral saw the swim cancelled in 2022..The ride has moved
forward to May which makes training for it harder as you have to
get some long rides in right through the marathon event period
which isn't ideal. |
| Trish McCabe |
My best achievements of 2023 were: Firstly, completing
RideLondon 100 having not ridden in years. I used this event to
fundraise and raised over £1,300 for Prostate Cancer research, a
charity very close to my heart. Secondly, lowering my UK Parkrun
time at Osterley to 25:26 ♀️. |
|
Several members contributed week achievements this week (some instead of 2023
achievements, some as well as). I will try to roll these into next week's
digest.
I'm out of the country this week therefore limited in the number of pictures
I can include. Some pictures are available in Facebook (>
Club Facebook Group 2023 Achievements Post).
parkrun Results for Christmas Day 25th December 2023
33 activities are recorded below. Please get in touch if your activity is
missing.
| Club parkrunner |
parkrun |
Run# |
Pos |
Time |
Age Grade |
Comment |
| Sarah
GORDON |
Braunstone |
615 |
404 |
0:37:19 |
56.01% |
| Mike
DENNISON |
Bushy Park |
963 |
133 |
0:20:09 |
83.21% |
2447 finishers - 2nd highest ever at Bushy. |
| Maria
JOVANI |
Bushy Park |
963 |
160 |
0:20:32 |
78.90% |
| Ian
CUNNINGHAM |
Bushy Park |
963 |
2067 |
0:36:11 |
44.73% |
BINGO! '01, '21, '31, '41, '51 and now '11 seconds this year. |
| Diana
Smith |
Bushy Park |
963 |
2358 |
0:47:37 |
50.02% |
run #51 |
| Frankie
HOGGE |
California Country |
180 |
10 |
0:19:45 |
74.94% |
F1, 9 second PB on 13th run at CC. Fastest run this year. Improves
own BA ladies record. |
| Murray
Hogge |
California Country |
180 |
20 |
0:20:54 |
78.79% |
| Ben
CHAYTOW |
Crane Park |
538 |
21 |
0:22:12 |
64.86% |
| Bob
BANNISTER |
Crane Park |
538 |
60 |
0:25:58 |
65.79% |
run #490, 14th at Crane Park |
| Scott
DAVISON |
Crane Park |
538 |
67 |
0:26:36 |
56.33% |
| Trish
MCCABE |
Crane Park |
538 |
78 |
0:27:19 |
58.69% |
| Anne
Bannister |
Crane Park |
538 |
128 |
0:32:07 |
65.08% |
| David
DUGGAN |
Crane Park |
538 |
190 |
0:46:33 |
35.37% |
run #494, 17th at Crane Park |
| Ben
Kelly |
Dinton Pastures |
218 |
33 |
0:22:48 |
56.65% |
4 second PB on 5th run at DP. |
|
Christopher T KELLY |
Dinton Pastures |
218 |
63 |
0:24:23 |
64.66% |
run #589, 16th at Dinton Pastures |
| David
Cowell |
Forest Rec |
459 |
|
|
|
Timekeeper at Forest Rec (where he was also a marshal on Saturday
23rd). |
| PAUL KNECHTL |
Frimley Lodge |
653 |
8 |
0:18:43 |
80.05% |
run #29, 4th at Frimley |
| Piers
KEENLEYSIDE |
Gunnersbury |
553 |
203 |
0:27:26 |
61.73% |
| Alan
ANDERSON |
Gunnersbury |
553 |
470 |
0:46:17 |
58.88% |
run #690 |
| Julie
BARCLAY |
Hackney Marshes |
633 |
59 |
0:24:57 |
76.69% |
60th run this year. Park #178 |
| Paul
WATT |
Hackney Marshes |
633 |
60 |
0:24:58 |
63.15% |
60th run this year. Park #176 |
| Alice
BANKS |
Higginson, Marlow |
173 |
153 |
0:28:20 |
74.88% |
run #248, river level at Marlow allowing a run, first since 2nd
December |
| Emma
Moreton |
Homewood |
308 |
146 |
0:33:13 |
47.01% |
250 record attendance. |
| Benita
SCAIFE |
Maidenhead |
388 |
363 |
0:35:33 |
60.62% |
| John
SCAIFE |
Maidenhead |
388 |
364 |
0:35:34 |
49.02% |
| Joe NOLAN |
Maidenhead |
388 |
369 |
0:35:38 |
48.41% |
First run at Maidenhead…since last Christmas. |
| Elise
LAWRENSON |
Nonsuch |
564 |
257 |
0:29:14 |
55.99% |
run #248, 209th at Nonsuch |
| Roderick
HOFFMAN |
Northala Fields |
425 |
|
|
|
Timekeeper at Northala Fields. 363 finishers is a post Covid record,
but we used to get nearly 600 on Christmas Day. |
| Harjit
Jhooti |
Panshanger |
421 |
415 |
0:42:14 |
42.86% |
run #228, first at Panshanger, park #112 |
| Melanie
Miller |
Panshanger |
421 |
416 |
0:42:18 |
42.79% |
run #175, first at Panshanger, park #149 |
| Denis
FOXLEY |
Rickmansworth |
284 |
408 |
0:30:44 |
60.63% |
30:30 on own watch, in the queue to finish! 647 finishers. |
| Joan
FOXLEY |
Rickmansworth |
284 |
601 |
0:39:56 |
60.73% |
| Paul
TIMMS |
Tetbury Goods Shed |
164 |
56 |
0:23:40 |
67.75% |
256 record attendance. |
parkrun Review Christmas Day
Last week’s digest (circulated on Sunday evening) was very light on
individual details for the parkrun results from Saturday 23rd December.
This data is now present via the online version.
Christmas day parkruns were widely available across UK and a good number of
our regular parkrunning members were involved. Occasional (but speedy)
parkrunner Paul Knechtl (18:43, 80.05%) completed a hat trick of Christmas runs
at Frimley Lodge to go with his trio of runs at Bushy Park 2017-2019 (pre-Covid).
There was a huge turnout of 2447 at Bushy Park, a number only exceeded in the
past by the 2503 at the last Christmas Day before the Covid interruption in 2019
when Paul Knechtl was 32nd in 17:38. Mike Dennison (20:09) and Maria
Jovani (20:32) were our fastest this time. Frankie Hogge (19:45) is
finishing the year in style with her fastest run of 2023 at California Country.
A big turnout was expected at Greenwich where Christmas/New Year runs have
been regular feature for at least a decade. Run #666 attracted 230 runners,
above the recent average but not a patch on the 467 who were there for the last
pre-Covid New Year in 2020. There were some record attendances this time
round – Paul Timms (23:40) was one of the 256 at Tetbury Goods Shed while Emma
Moreton (33:18) was part of the 250 runners at Homewood. Denis Foxley
(30:44) and Joan Foxley (39:56) were part of a crowded parkrun at Rickmansworth
with 647 finishers – again a post-Covid record. Maybe we are finally
getting over the plague (although there are still people down with it, certainly
in London).
Julie Barclay (24:57) and Paul Watt (24:58) both ran their 60th parkruns of
2023 at Hackney Marshes and became very close to being “Londone” (see below).
parkrun Results for Saturday 30th December 2023
32 activities are recorded below. Please get in touch if your activity is
missing.
| Club parkrunner |
parkrun |
Run# |
Pos |
Time |
Age Grade |
Comment |
| Julie
BARCLAY |
Ally Pally |
527 |
49 |
0:25:11 |
75.98% |
"Londone". BA new ladies record (from Trish) and age grade (from
Olivia M). |
| Paul
WATT |
Ally Pally |
527 |
48 |
0:25:11 |
62.61% |
"Londone". BA new men's record (from Roderick). |
| Melanie
Miller |
Amsterdamse Bos |
115 |
77 |
0:39:01 |
46.39% |
New BA parkrun #784, park #150 |
| Emma
Moreton |
Bedfont Lakes |
673 |
49 |
0:28:21 |
55.09% |
| Joe NOLAN |
Black Park |
692 |
350 |
0:32:19 |
53.38% |
run #447 |
| Mike
DENNISON |
Bracknell |
376 |
12 |
0:21:25 |
78.29% |
First run at Bracknell, park #78 |
| Sarah
GORDON |
Braunstone |
426 |
|
|
|
Marshal at Braunstone |
| Piers
KEENLEYSIDE |
Buckingham |
435 |
126 |
0:27:16 |
62.10% |
First run at Buckingham, park #73 |
| Benita
SCAIFE |
Buckingham |
435 |
211 |
0:32:34 |
66.17% |
First run at Buckingham, park #113, BA fastest lady (from Sarah) |
| John
SCAIFE |
Buckingham |
435 |
212 |
0:32:35 |
53.50% |
First run at Buckingham, run #121 |
| Ian Haylock |
Bushy Park |
964 |
103 |
0:20:23 |
74.16% |
Run #388, 379 of them at Bushy |
| Ian
CUNNINGHAM |
Bushy Park |
964 |
1103 |
0:33:30 |
48.31% |
run #535, 10th in a row at Bushy |
| Murray
Hogge |
California Country |
181 |
28 |
0:23:01 |
71.54% |
| Frankie
HOGGE |
California Country |
181 |
29 |
0:23:02 |
64.25% |
| Steve
NEWELL |
Catford |
224 |
130 |
0:49:03 |
41.86% |
Tenth run at Catford, P-Index up to 10. Muddy in places this
week! |
| Neil
FREDIANI |
Chopwell Wood |
99 |
67 |
0:32:26 |
52.21% |
Seventh run at Chopwell Wood, P-index is 5 |
| Ben
CHAYTOW |
Crane Park |
539 |
18 |
0:22:01 |
65.40% |
| Scott
DAVISON |
Crane Park |
539 |
71 |
0:27:58 |
53.58% |
BINGO: '08, '18, '28, '38, '48 and now '58 this year. |
| David
DUGGAN |
Dover Waterfront |
16 |
133 |
0:33:45 |
48.79% |
First run at Dover Waterfront, park #135. |
| Harjit
Jhooti |
Dulwich |
552 |
429 |
0:32:33 |
55.61% |
First run at Dulwich, park #113 |
| Fiona
Bishop |
East Coast Park |
378 |
62 |
0:25:47 |
78.60% |
First run at East Coast Park (Singapore). BA ladies record
(from Daniela M) and Age Grade record (from Ian C) and volunteer
report writer - have a look. |
| Trish
MCCABE |
Frimley Lodge |
654 |
181 |
0:28:32 |
56.19% |
First run at Frimley Lodge, park #135. |
| Alastair
HESLOP |
Guildford |
499 |
|
|
|
Finish Tokens at Guildford. Event #500 next week with Alastair as RD |
| Denis
FOXLEY |
Harrow |
380 |
135 |
0:30:49 |
60.47% |
| Joan
FOXLEY |
Harrow |
380 |
221 |
0:57:59 |
41.82% |
tailwalker (v) |
| Adrian
HAINES |
Ifield Mill Pond |
147 |
1 |
0:18:48 |
82.45% |
M1, fifth time as first finisher at Ifield Mill Pond |
| Jakob
STENHAM |
Lymington Woodside |
296 |
31 |
0:26:33 |
54.61% |
80th parkrun, 5th at Lymingtom |
| Maarten
STENHAM |
Lymington Woodside |
296 |
39 |
0:27:00 |
52.90% |
Recovery run after six months out. |
| Janet
Smith |
Newbury |
547 |
351 |
0:34:33 |
54.61% |
First run at Newbury, park #69. Janet joins the ranks of the
Complete Berks! |
| Alan
ANDERSON |
Osterley |
456 |
226 |
0:48:28 |
56.22% |
| Paul
TIMMS |
Peel |
113 |
44 |
0:24:38 |
65.09% |
First run at Peel Park (Salford), park #26, New BA parkrun #785 |
| Melanie
HOLMAN |
Prospect |
213 |
64 |
0:30:55 |
53.58% |
First parkrun since January 2015 (almost nine years!), 12th in
total. |
|
Christopher T KELLY |
Reading |
622 |
19 |
0:25:05 |
62.86% |
| Bob
BANNISTER |
Rickmansworth |
285 |
169 |
0:25:53 |
66.00% |
50th run this year. |
| Anne
Bannister |
Rickmansworth |
285 |
396 |
0:32:28 |
64.37% |
Third run at Rickmansworth |
| Stephen K
TAYLOR |
Southall |
99 |
33 |
0:28:02 |
57.19% |
Third run at Southall |
| Roderick
HOFFMAN |
Warringal Parklands |
134 |
118 |
0:29:46 |
55.32% |
19th different Australian parkrun. 15th in Victoria. New BA parkrun
(#783). |
|
Jacqueline MUSSELWHITE |
Woking |
398 |
167 |
0:29:16 |
61.05% |
| David
Cowell |
Wollaton Hall |
123 |
|
|
|
Timekeeper at Wollaton Hall |
| Maria
JOVANI |
Wycombe Rye |
517 |
26 |
0:21:17 |
76.12% |
F1. BA ladies record (from Frankie H). 50th run this year. First run
at Wycombe Rye, park #74 |
parkrun Review 30th December 2023
Bad weather caused 100 UK parkruns to be cancelled this weekend. For
those still dithering between choosing the Carlisle or Carlisle Park parkruns I
mentioned last week, rest easy – they were both called off.
Adrian Haines (18:48, 82.45%) finished the year in style coming in first at
Ifield Mill Pond for the fifth time. Although he missed a course pb by 9
seconds his age grade% was the best he has achieved at IMP.
Although some members chose to stay close to home several members travelled
some distance to appear at parkruns “not yet done”. Furthest away and
taking advantage of an early sunrise, Roderick Hoffman (29:46) went to Warringal
Parklands parkrun which starts and finishes at the Possum Hollow Playgrounds to
the North East of Melbourne. Fiona Bishop (25:47) got as far at East Coast
Park in Singapore. The much-travelled Melanie Miller (39:01) went to
Amsterdamse Bos to clock her 150th different parkrun at one of the 20 parkruns
now available in Netherlands. Paul Timms (24:38) was our first runner at Peel
Park in Salford which started post Covid-19. The year end club total edged up to
785. Maria Jovani (21:17) bettered the female club record on her first
visit to Wycombe Rye.
Paul Watt and Julie Barclay were both timed at 25:11 as they finished at Ally
Pally parkrun to complete their 62nd and last London parkruns to join the “Londone”
club. They join Steve Newell, Roderick Hoffman and Trish McCabe. All
the outer boroughs now have a parkrun but it may not be long before another
parkrun starts up.
This is the last parkrun review for 2023. I think it is safe to say
that more members have run more parkruns than ever before with an unprecedented
number appearing in the results more than 50, 55 and even 60 times (made
possible by travelling to other countries who celebrate special days with an
extra parkrun). A full summary will appear in a later edition.
Best Wishes to all readers for 2024.
Steve Newell
New Year's Day parkruns...
Will be reported on in next Monday's digest.
Matters Arising
I prepared to report on those BAAC club runners who over the year had managed
just one parkrun. I had to hastily edit the list when I spotted that Paul
Knechtl had run his second parkrun of the year on Christmas Day and Maarten
Stenham on the 30th. That leaves Tim
BELLARS, Colin HAYLOCK, Alastair HESLOP, Janice JONES,
Paul KNECHTL, Maarten STENHAM, Judy
TURTON and Simon TURTON (plus Melanie HOLMAN) having done just the one 2023 parkrun. But that is one
more than many club members (and in the case of Alastair, a break from a
non-running volunteer role). Note that the Turton's ran the same parkrun
(Woodley) but on different dates.
We are now up to 785 parkruns. The first new parkrun of 2023 had been
Stockley Country - the club's 697th. So that is 89 parkruns added in a single
year. In the same time period 148 parkruns have been added to the global list so
we are not likely to run out of new parkrun opportunities for many years.
LonDone - it could be a while until the next club member becomes LonDone -
apart from the five listed, the next most done is Harjit with 28 and then Mike
Dennison with 26.
Full club parkrun database -
{read access to
club parkrun database} - Download or save a copy, and explore at your
leisure.
Club Event Map:
[Clickable link to Google Maps]
Roderick Hoffman
Letters to the Editor
‘I had to find a way to survive’: ultrarunner Sabrina Pace-Humphreys on
racing, racism and learning to love the outdoors:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/dec/24/i-had-to-find-a-way-to-survive-sabrina-pace-humphreys-on-race-and-trail-running?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Dave Barnard
Next Digest - Results, news, pictures, feedback, jokes,
stories - send them to the editor, Roderick Hoffman, at
news@barunner.org.uk.
Not for you, no longer interested? remove me please.
Difficulty viewing this? Read it from the website:- http://www.barunner.org.uk/News Latest.shtml. Club website: www.barunner.org.uk.
|
