2012 Race Series including the Club Championships
The club committee is pleased to announce the six races that will comprise this year's race series. We've chosen 10Ks over a variety of surfaces spread out through the year that we think members will find enjoyable and rewarding to do. They all take place on Sunday mornings, with the exception of our club championship race, the Reigate Summer 10K, which is held on a Wednesday evening. The races are:
11 March - Knole Park 10KPopular trail race in lovely Knole Park, Sevenoaks. A favourite with our members. Afterwards you can enjoy the park or view Knole House, the famous 16th century National Trust property that was once the home of Vita Sackville-West.
15 April - Hartfield 10KA small, friendly village cross-country starting and finishing in Hartfield, on the edge of Ashdown Forest. Raises funds for their sports pavilion.
13 May - Hillcrest 10KA pleasant low key cross-country run across the North Downs towards Riddlesdown starting and finishing at the Hillcrest netball club, Warlingham. Easy to get to from Oxted or Caterham.
4 July - Reigate Summer 10K — CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RACEOur club championship 10K starting and finishing in Priory Park, Reigate. 9K on the road then 1K across the park to finish. Note Wednesday evening start at 7.30pm.
23 September - East Grinstead 10KThird edition of a multi-terrain trail race that's become very popular. A large part of the course follows the Worth Way, a flat cycle trail.
25 November - Crowborough 10KThe region's traditional end-of-season 10k road race. Oxted Runners has won team prizes in previous years. Can we do the same this year?
Perch XIII
Sunday 29 January 2012
On a cold January morning Christine and Karen Farnham, along with David Millen, took part in the Perch X111 around Nonsuch Park in Ewell. A Perch may be a tasty fish that's good with chips, but it's also a traditional length of five and a half yards. In this Perch there was a shoal of 2000 of them end to end making the running distance of 6.25 miles.
On a difficult cross country course, not particularly hilly, but slippery in places, Christine and Karen crossed the line together in 164th and 165th position, 9th and 10th in their age category, and a time of 50:32, with an age grading of 67.75%. David finished not far behind in 180th position, fourth in his old age category, and a time of 51:12 with an age grading of 67.66%. Any age grading of between 60 and 69% is recognised as good club standard.
There were 381 finishers.
Winter Handicap
Tuesday 24 January 2012
Click here for the latest handicap table (PDF document). Highlights of January's run, in which 22 runners took part, were good performances from Matt Collins, who completely fooled the handicapper, and continuing improvement from Bernt Hillman. Handicaps have now been revised and the provisional new handicaps are shown on the overall results-to-date table. Leading the handicap table after three runs in the series is Lynn Hills, with the leading man, Robert Elliott not far behind. With only two events left the race to be Men's and Ladies' Handicap Champions, and to receive the magnificent Handicap Shields, is hotting up. The next run is scheduled for Tuesday 28th February.
Surrey League Cross-Country Races
14 January 20012
Reports on the January cross-country races along with detailed results are on the Holland website. For team photos from the ladies' race at Farthing Down, click here, and click here for photos from the men's race at Lloyd Park.
Tadworth 10
2 January 2012
After very little training except one 9 mile jog about six weeks before and two weeks off running due to family illness. I spent the Christmas week putting on weight and having an internal battle as to whether or not to duck out of running the Tadworth 10 or only doing one lap. The gang, Glynis, Cathy, Wendy, Sarah, Jane and Val, had all thought about entering but it seemed on the day I was the only one who actually entered.
I finally decided to use it as a training run as I have also entered the Brighton Half Marathon on 19th February. I arrived on a chilly but sunny Epsom Downs thinking I will see how I go. There were a couple of other Oxted Runners entered, Ian and Paul, and I bumped into Ian at the start.
We set off and soon hit the long accent of Ebbisham Lane. Huffing and puffing I had to walk the steepest bit thinking OH MY GOD that's only the first three miles! I then settled into my stride on the now flat and downhill section. As I completed the second hill and first lap I convinced myself that I could easily do the six miles to the bottom of Ebbisham Lane and if I had to I would walk again on the steepest bit. This I did and made it to the last hill near to the finish. Dragged myself up that with a little walk then saw Ian who ran along next to me for the last half mile encouraging me all the way. Finished in 1 hour 38, previously completed in less than 1 hour 30.
It was so good to have another Oxted Runner helping me along and I am so glad I completed the hardest race of my running career due to lack of training. New Year's Resolution, to train consistently ready for the Brighton Half.
Well done to the other Oxted Runners who ran at Tadworth including Greg Sherriff, who finished with a time of 71:04, and Ian Morton, who crossed the line in 81:30.