Results for January to June 2019
7th Jack Fitzgerald Walks, 22 June 2019, Tilgate Park, Crawley RH10 5EU Category B Permit No: RWA9077-1
REPORT Veterans AC were pleased to host the seventh running of this event on a lakeside course once used as the test bed for Britain's water speed record round popular beauty spot Campbell's lake in what can only be described as perfect June weather. On the start line ages ranged from 9 year old Charlie Perry (Lewes AC), to prolific veterans record breaker Arthur Thomson (Enfield AC) recently turned 83. Charlie was mentored round the circuit by Ollie Hopkins (Lewes AC) who is presently recovering from an injury and regularly supports VAC fixtures; all at VAC wish him well on his road to full fitness In the headline race over 10.325 km VAC were pleased to welcome back Trevor Jones from Steyning AC on his first win at this event; all the ladies achieved good results, in particular Emily Ghose (Tonbridge AC) with her first win on this event, from the same club new signing Grazia Manzotti will be a name to watch out for in the future. The race was held to raise funds for Blind Veterans UK, as a tribute to RAF fighter pilot Jack Fitzgerald. Acknowledgements This event is dedicated to the memory of Jack Fitzgerald 1923-2013 Veterans AC 5M Road Race and Race Walk Championships, 11 June 2019, Battersea Park
5M Road race It was an evening of fine racing and new records. Clare Elms set a W55 British 5M record. Her time of 29:05 also shattered Marilyn Clarke’s VAC Women’s course record of 30:37 which has stood since 1997. Clare’s awesome run placed her fifth in the race and scored a remarkable 99.48% age grading. Penny Elliott also rewrote a VAC course record. Her top-ranked time of 41:32 set a new mark for the W75 age group, bettering Pam Jones’s time of 43:03 achieved in 2012. Gold medals were won by Lynn Wilson (W60) and Jane Georghiou (W65). For the men, Richard Tomlinson pulled away from defending champion, Stuart Beaney, to win the race in a time of 27:29 which is a new M50 course record, beating Ben Reynolds’s previous 2015 record by one second. In sixth place overall, David Ogden won the M60 Gold medal, with a sub 30-minute time of 29:48. Peter Giles, new to the M70 age group, won a close-fought contest with fellow top-ranked M70, Richard Piotrowski. Peter’s time of 34:19 was three seconds faster than Richard’s. Michael Johnson won the M75 Gold medal in a time which was only three seconds short of Joe Aspinall’s course record of 40:38 set in 2014. Other Gold medallists were Martin Daoud (M55), Terry O’Neill (M65), Cliff Collins (M80) and Richard Pitcairn-Knowles (M85). Here are the Age-Graded results, with Clare Elms topping the table. This was the second qualifying race for the Battersea Park Grand Prix for VAC members. To be eligible, members must register times in at least three of the five road races. The person with the highest average of his or her three best age-graded performances will be awarded the Snow Cup. Top of the table is Penny Elliott (W75) whose average over the two matches is 91.65%. Stuart Beaney (M45) is in second place with 84.12%, fractionally ahead of Terry O’Neill (M65) with 83.73%.
Veterans AC 5m Race Walk
Championships,11 June
2019, Battersea Park, London The second fixture of the season had a lower than expected attendance due to proximity of other events, on a cloudy evening where rain had been forecast but scarcely appeared, giving an ideal temperature for racing. VAC were pleased to report a new men's winner, Belgrave’s Stefano Zennaro and also a new VAC championship winner, Dan Maskell from Surrey Walking Club. In addition, Stefano chopped over two minutes off his PB. Maureen Noel also from Belgrave and Mark Culshaw did their usual respectable times. Officials:
Eight VAC members went to the lesser-run of the Richmond Parkruns, at the riverside Old Deer Park, for our quarterly mob meet-up. The course is just over 3 flat laps on short grass, open enough for the whole lap to be visible at all points but also exposed to strong winds when we visited. We were welcomed at the start and set off into the wind at first, recovering on the way back in a long straight section by a hedge. By the third lap we had adjusted to the conditions but were grateful to reach the finish funnel. We were interviewed and photographed for their parkrun Facebook post. 23.02 22/3w/1w50 Patricia Thomas (Ealing Southall Middlesex) age grade 76.56%
VAC 10 MILE CHAMPIONSHIPS, DORKING, SUNDAY 2 JUNE 2019 The Dorking 10 mile race was chosen for the VAC championships again this year. This time the event also incorporated the BMAF and SCVAC championships, so the number of masters athletes was probably larger than normal. It was also the Surrey 10 mile championships. The race is made up of 2 different sized loops of undulating country roads in the well-named Surrey Hills. The race headquarters is Dorking Rugby club, with their grass used as the finish area. The race is well organised by Dorking Mole Valley AC with a lead car, accurate mile markers and enough drinks stations. It was a very hot and humid morning, and conditions were tough even though the race started at 9.00. VAC had at least 22 members running, which is an increase on last year. Several VAC members also won BMAF medals. Matthew Jones (M35), Paul Cheetham (M45), Alice Riddell-Webster (W50), and Jane Georghiou (W65) were BMAF gold medallists. VAC awards the Ron White Shield to the member who gains the highest age graded score in the race. This year the winner was Alice Riddell-Webster whose age graded score was 88.4%. VAC results are shown below. Masters results will be on the BMAF website:www.bmaf.org.uk. Full race results are on power of 10: www.thepowerof10.info
Vitality Westminster Mile, BMAF I MILE Championships, 26 MAY 2019 27-05-19
For the second year VAC used the Vitality Westminster Mile as the 1 mile championships for the club. The course is pretty flat, with a slight downhill start around 3 sides of St. James Park, finishing in front of Buckingham Palace. The day is a London Olympic Heritage event: a day of mile running in different waves. These include club runners, families, parkrun, football mascots, and ex-Olympians. This year there was also a huge wave of people running and walking for a cancer charity in memory of Rose Strauss (wife of Andrew Strauss) . These waves were followed by serious championships: BMAF and then national seniors and age groups. This year masters men and women ran in separate races, started by Donna Fraser, ex Olympian and UKA vice president. There were 153 finishers in the men’s race and 45in the women’s, including at least 60 VAC members in the two races combined. VAC medallists are listed below. Several of them also won BMAF medals. In addition to age group medals there were salvers awarded to the first 3 men and women on age grading. The women’s silver and bronze salvers were awarded to VAC members – Clare Elms (103.3 %) and Ros Tabor (94.8%). Clare Elms also broke the W55 world and British best for a road mile with her time of 5:09. Full results will be available on the BMAF website www.bmaf.org.uk and power of 10 www.thepowerof10.info
Veterans AC 5M Road Race and Race Walk, 16 April 2019, Battersea Park
Above photos from Cliff Hide. Cliff has more photos and is happy to supply J-Peg copies to competitors. Email him at cliffhide10@aol.com 5M Road race The new 3.5 lap course on Wandsworth Council’s “approved route”, coupled with favourable, cool, weather conditions, inspired fine performances in the first race of the 2019 series. Stuart Beaney (M45) won in a fast time of 27:10, relentlessly pursued by Robin Jones, 18 seconds behind. Sue McDonald was the first woman, following up her recent medal winning performances in the World Masters Indoor Championships in Poland, by shattering the W50 Battersea Park 5M record of 32:49 set by Carol Bowker in 2011. Sue’s time of 30:45 was only eight seconds short of the all-time fastest 5M women’s time set at Battersea by Marilyn Clarke as a W40 in 1997. Bob Bradbury of SCVAC was also in record-breaking form. His time of 29:31 set an M65 Battersea Park 5M all-comers record, ahead of the 29:58 mark set by Ron Higgs way back in 1998. Bob’s remarkable time also places him at the top of runbritain’s list of All Time M65 5M performances. Other notable performances were from Tony Tuohy (M55) and Penny Elliott (W75) whose times were not far off matching the 5M records set by Gary Ironmonger in 2018 and Pam Jones in 2012. This was the first qualifying race for the Battersea Park Grand Prix for VAC members. To be eligible, members must register times in at least three of the five road races. The person with the highest average of his or her three best age-graded performances will be awarded the Snow Cup. Top of the table is Tony Tuohy (M55) whose time equated to a 90.25% age grading. Sue McDonald (W50, 89.70%) is in second place, followed by Penny Elliott (W75, 89.51%) in third. Here are the Age-Graded results.
Race Walk 1 David Annetts M50 (N Herts
RR)
38:47 DNS Peter Hannell M75 (Surrey WC) The first fixture of the season had a reasonable start in higher temperatures than of late on a slightly humid overcast evening. Dave Annetts from N Herts RR achieved another good win with a new pb in the times we have come to expect from him, and Melanie Peddle, Loughton AC continued her good form to win for the ladies in only a second outside her pb. Belgrave’s Stefano Zennaro who was the newest walker on the start line also achieved a new pb with plenty to look forward to in the future. The remainder of the field achieved reasonable times on the new course of three and a half laps of the Carriage Drives, which appeared to have been well accepted. Officials:
Veterans AC, Surrey, Herts and Middlesex 10k Track Championships, Battersea Park,
London SW11 10 April 2019
Above photos from Cliff Hide. Cliff has more photos and is happy to supply J-Peg copies to competitors. Email him at cliffhide10@aol.com . The annual VAC and Counties championships took place in good racing conditions on a cold and breezy
bright evening.
World Masters Athletics Championships Indoors, Torun, Poland, 24-30 March 2019
Nearly 60 VAC members entered the championships held in Torun as part of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team. Track races were held at the very well-appointed arena, used for an indoor grand prix meet each year and about 2k from the Unesco world heritage-recognised walled old town centre. Races were able to be well supported by spectating athletes and were very entertaining, featuring world-class performances and a few tumbles and disqualifications. Jumps were mainly in the arena, with field events held at an adjacent outdoor track and throwing hall. A few VAC members ran Torun Parkrun on the first or 2nd Saturday, on a forest trail in the eastern outskirts. Day 1 (sun 24) saw the 3,000m finals, where VAC members Ros Tabor (w65), Clare Elms (w55) and Zoe Doyle (w40) won golds. Day 2 featured cross country over a tricky 2k circuit (3 laps for over 70’s, 4 for the rest) with several short hills and turns in a sandy pine wood next to the track. An early winner was Richard Pitcairn-Knowles (m85), and later races featured wins by Ben Reynolds (m55) and Clare Elms. Michael Johnson (m75), Sue McDonald (w50), Lucy Woolhouse and Clare Elms (w55) were in winning GB age-group teams. Meanwhile, Ian Richards was winning the M70 3k indoor track walk with a world record. Day 3 featured 400m finals, day 4 the 60m’s, where Allan Long won the m75’s race, and a road 10k. Aaron Brown won at m35 800m on day 5. Finals for 60m hurdles and 200m plus 10k road walks were on day 6. Day 7 started with a half marathon, out and back initially on a dual carriageway but later featuring a road and cycle path through woods; Simon Baines and Paul Cheetham were in the winning GB team in the m45 age group. Indoors, GB won 9 of the 1500m races, including Clare Elms’ 4th w45 gold of the championships and Zoe Doyle’s second w45 win. Sue Yeomans won the w65 pole vault. 4x 200m relays and a handover to Edmonton, Canada for the worlds in 2021 completed the championships. As well as the above gold medal performances, there were many good efforts by VAC members, often winning silver and bronze medals, including 3 individual silvers featuring two pb’s by Sue McDonald in outdoor distance events. The full championship results, including medal table with GB fourth, are available at https://wmaci2019.domtel-sport.pl Future European and World masters championship latest details are on the BMAF website. VAC members have BMAF affiliation and are generally able to enter these championships.
BMAF Indoor Track & Field Championships, Lee Valley 9 & 10 March 2019
A large number of VAC members competed at these championships and we had many medallists, including lots of
golds. Full results can be found on Power of 10 www.thepowerof10.info/results
Cecil Gittins Memorial Walks, Cyclopark, Gravesend, 9 March 2019 Veterans AC 2.5k/5k/10k/15k road race incorporating Enfield League Permit No: RWA9024-1 Category B
Veterans AC were pleased to host the fourth running of this event on a dedicated cycle circuit with many loops and gradients. In all there were 34 paid entries with 28 on the line, a little down on 2018, with ages ranging from 13 to 80. The conditions although bright, sunny and not too cold were hampered by unrelenting high winds on this very exposed course which was testing for athletes, officials and judges. Given the conditions the biggest success of the day was the ever-improving Jacqueline Benson (Ashford AC) who chopped 5 minutes off her 2018 time to win the ladies’ 10k in 1:00:07; it was also her first win. George Wilkinson (EHAC) convincingly won the men’s 10k race in 50:58, with a margin of nearly 9 minutes ahead of the next walker, and added the win to his growing list of achievements. The men’s 15k was won in 1:24:31 by SWC’s Francisco Reis with a commanding lead of nearly 13 minutes over the second finisher, Stuart Bennett. For the ladies’ 15k only entry VAC were pleased to welcome Cath Duhig (Ryston Runners) who is normally resident in Spain and was in the UK on a flying visit, finishing in 1:45:00. Centurions Stuart Bennett and Cath Duhig also competed at the busy veterans 3k indoor race at Lee Valley the next day. The supporting races included the only other athlete to improve their 2018 time, Charlotte Wallis (AFD) in the 2.5k, where Jonny Ellerton (Blackheath) completed his furthest distance. Meanwhile in the ladies’ 5k race, won by Isabelle Bridge (Blackheath), it was also her club colleague Abi Smith’s first attempt at that distance. Other first timers were Belgrave’s Stefano Zennaro with his first 10k in 1:03:23; going under the hour is now a very real prospect, while Centurion aspirant Don Arthurs (Ashford) finished in his first road race in the sport over any distance with a baptism of fire in the 15k. VAC are grateful to Ron Wallwork for allowing this race to be incorporated in the Enfield League series. Thank you all for supporting the event whether as competitor, official or judge.
East Surrey League Cross Country, Lloyd Park, 2 March 2019
Four VAC members formed a team for the second match of the East Surrey League on a firm 5 mile course in Lloyd Park. Lucy Woolhouse led the team home in an excellent time of 35:16. She was the first, and only, woman in the race. The other eligible women had run for their clubs in the earlier Surrey League races at the same venue. The results and team scores are here.
VAC Indoor Track and Field Championships.Lee Valley, 17 February 2019
VAC held its indoor track and field championships in conjunction with EMAC. This meant a better number of entries, but still most events, apart from sprints, were made up of athletes from more than 1 age group. Runners do not have any age-identification so it can be hard to know who is in which age group. Some events also mixed male and female athletes. This meant there was usually good competition. About 60 VAC members took part in the championships, many of whom took part in more than 1 event. Full results are available
here and also on:
www.thepowerof10.info/
Hackney Marshes parkrun, 16 February 2019
Hackney Marshes was the venue for the VAC parkrun get-together but fixture clashes meant that the regular VAC parkrun tourists could not attend. Mark Jefford and Richard Pitcairn-Knowles competed for VAC, supported by Road Running Secretary, Dennis Williams. The course is noted for quick times and both runners posted their fastest parkrun times of the year. Results: 359 Finishers
Southern Counties Veterans AC Indoor Championships (incorporating VAC Championships 3k walk), Lee Valley 10 February 2019 3k indoor track Women Men Square brackets denote position in combined race Both Penelope Cummings and Arthur Thomson achieved championship best performance.
Men’s Surrey League Cross Country, Lloyd Park, 9 February 2019
Eleven VAC men lined up at Lloyd Park for the final match of the series. The rain held off but the course was tough, featuring the usual long muddy stretches and slippery hills. Barry Attwell led the team home and was the first M60 in the combined Division 3/4 race. He was followed by Ian Kitching, the first M65 and winner of the overall M60 trophy. Next was Carey Gray who extended his attendance to seven complete seasons without missing a match. His times have been remarkably consistent too. Gary Budinger also competed in every match this season. The remaining VAC runners dug deep and held their places. Unluckily, Dan Maskell tripped and fell full-length on the second lap but finished strongly and undeterred, covered in mud. Despite having a full team, VAC finished 11th out of the 12 teams in the Division. This position was also our overall standing after the four matches. Thanks go to Paddy Clark, the VAC team manager, for his organisation and encouragement as well as being a reliable marshal at each race.
Full results of the Division 3/4 match and team placings are here.
VAC Cross Country Championships and Masters Open race, Wimbledon Common 19 January 2019
Fifty nine VAC members and guests competed on Wimbledon Common on a cold, overcast, afternoon. Earlier in the day, marking the course had been thwarted by tree felling alongside the Beverley Brook forcing the closure of the track and a rerouting of the course into the playing fields on the other side of the brook. The new route probably added a couple of hundred metres to the 7.5km (around 4.5 miles) course, but some said that the grassland was preferable to the alternative tree roots and mud. Richard McDowell (M35) held off the persistent challenge of Paul Cheetham (M45) to become the Men’s Champion by a margin of 13 seconds. Robin Jones (M45) was less than 30 seconds behind in third, followed by the M55 Guest Gold medallist, Robert McHarg from SCVAC. Other Gold medallists were Dan Hallam (M40), Terry Booth (M50), Mark Tennyson (VAC M55), Steve Smythe (M60), Gerry Smith (M65), Peter Giles (M70), Doug Milsom (M75), Joe Aspinall (M80) and Richard Pitcairn-Knowles (M85). Sue McDonald was the Women’s Champion and W50 Gold medallist in a very fast time of 30:14. Nikki Sturzaker (W45 Gold) was thirty seconds behind, followed by Lucy Woolhouse (W55 Gold). Other Gold medallists were Sue Belcher (W40), Anna Garnier (W60), Margaret Moody (W65) and Lesley Bowcott (W70). Times were not counted for course records because of the course diversion, which is disappointing for Joe Aspinall and Sue McDonald whose times would have set new VAC M80 and W50 course records. Race results are here. Race results, age category positions and medallists are here.
Men’s Surrey League Cross Country, Oxshott Woods, 12 January 2019
Above photos from Martin Berry
The third match of the Men's Surrey League took place on a tough course in Oxshott Woods with three repetitions of
a steep hill which was long enough to hurt each time. Some regular runners were absent but newcomers scored well to
give VAC a respectable presence. Twelve men started but bad luck and wise decisions made a final tally of eight
finishers. First home for VAC was newcomer, Edward Lambert, followed by Richard Batchelor, both well up in the
field.
Regulars, Carey Gray and Gary Budinger were next, closely followed by Lloyd Bevan, making his VAC Surrey League
debut. Dan Maskell, usually seen race-walking, made a welcome return to the team. Ian Strong brought VAC home with
his usual determination and great enthusiasm. VAC's team were 11th out of the 12 clubs in Division 4. Overall, after three matches, we are also in 11th position. To move up the table, we need a good turnout at Lloyd Park, Croydon, on 9 February.
Full results of the Division 3/4 match and team placings are here.
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