Results for July 2018 on

• VAC 5k Race Walk Championship, 8 December 2018, Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, West Sussex 10-12-18
• VAC 7 Miles Race Walk Championship, 10 November 2018, Lee Valley Athletics Centre 12-11-18
• Men’s Surrey League Cross Country, Epsom Downs, 10 November 2018 12-11-18
• Men’s Surrey League Cross Country, Roundshaw Downs, 13 October 2018 17-10-18
• East Surrey League, Lloyd Park, 29 September 2018 3-10-18
• England Masters Cross Country Inter-Area Challenge, Bury St Edmunds, 29 September 2018 3-10-18 
• Gunnersbury Parkrun 22 September 2018 22-09-18 
• VAC 10,000 Championships, Millennium Arena, Battersea Park, 19 September 2018 13-11-18 
• BMAF T&F Championships, Birmingham 25-26 August 2018 30-08-18 
• VAC Battersea Park Snow Cup Grand Prix 2018 15-08-18 
• VAC 5M Road Race and 5M Race Walk, 7 August 2018, Battersea Park12-08-18 
• Sri Chinmoy Battersea Relays, 30 July 2018 5-08-18 
• VAC Battersea Park Road Races Grand Prix 2018 22-07-18 
• VAC 5km Road Race Championships and 5M Race Walk, 10 July 2018, Battersea Park 22-07-18 

Results for January to June 2018  here...

VAC 5k Race Walk Championship, 8 December 2018, Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, West Sussex

The event was held in conjunction with Steyning AC’s 5k open track race, in mild cloudy conditions.

New signing David Kemp (Arena 80) finished in a creditable time once again in a well-attended field in the open race which also included many juniors.

Thanks to Steyning AC for hosting this event and agreeing to incoporate VAC championships within it.

Results:
M55
1 David Kemp (Arena 80) 30.48
M65
1 David Hoben (Surrey WC) 37.01
M70
1 Chris Flint (Surrey WC) 34.24
M75
1 Ron Penfold (Steyning AC) 32.43
2 Shaun Lightman (Surrey WC) 35.39
M80
1 Arthur Thomson (Enfield HAC) 34.23

Men’s Surrey League Cross Country, Epsom Downs, 10 November 2018

The VAC team. Top row: Richard Batchelor, Tony Harran, Ian Strong, Martin Garrett, Joe Aspinall, Paddy Clark, Alan Lane, Barry Attwell . Bottom row: Ian Kitching,Gary Budinger, Liam O'Hare

 
Barry Attwell                                                                          Tony Harran

 
Carey Gray                                                                         Liam O'Hare and Martin Garrett
Above photos from Cate Berry

The second match of the Surrey Men's League took place on a wet Epsom Downs. The skies grew darker as more heavy rain approached, although it just about held off until after the race. Every VAC man was a scorer in the team of ten finishers. Alan Lane wisely withdrew after one lap of the 5 mile course as he felt slow on the day and was concerned about the worsening conditions. The M80 mantle was however picked up admirably by Joe Aspinall who finished strongly to complete the team.

Once again, Richard Batchelor was VAC's first finisher, in 20th position out of the 163 in Division Four. Ian Kitching was the second man, and again the first Over 60 runner in the combined Div3/4 race of 331 finishers. He was followed by Barry Attwell and Tony Harran, making welcome returns to the VAC team. Barry was second in the Over 60 category. Carey Gray, Gary Budinger and Liam O'Hare made good contributions, as did Martin Garrett and Ian Strong who ran for VAC for the first time in the Surrey League.

VAC's team were 10th out of the 12 clubs in Division 4. The scores were very close and having ten men certainly helped VAC to remain competitive. Overall, after two matches, we are in 11th position. To move up the table, we need a good turnout at Oxshott Woods on 12 January.

Full results of the Division 3/4 match and team placings are here

Men’s Surrey League Cross Country, Roundshaw Downs, 13 October 2018

The VAC team: Richard Batchelor, Ian Kitching, Alan Lane, Andy Murray, Paul Browning, Tony Austin, Carey Gray, Gary Budinger, Gary Ironmonger, Paddy Clark  (photo by Maggie Statham)

 
1st VAC, Richard Batchelor                                             Ian Kitching, M65 leader

 
Alan Lane, M80                                                        Andy Murray
Above photos from Cliff Hide

The Surrey League cross country series opened with the Division 3/4 match at Roundshaw Downs, using playing fields and grassland which once was Croydon Airport. It was warm and sunny, but the wind was strong. Seven men completed the 4.85m course for VAC, after our eighth man, Tony Austin, wisely withdrew after one lap. Richard Batchelor led the team home and was 7th in the M40-49 category. Next was Ian Kitching, high up in the race and emphatically taking top place in the M60-69 category for Division Four. Ever-present, Carey Gray, followed in third, backed up by Gary Budinger, Andy Murray, Paul Browning and Alan Lane, M80, who was the only runner over the age of 69 in the race.

VAC's depleted team were 10th out of the 12 clubs in Division 4. Hopefully, more runners will be available for the second match at Epsom Downs on 10 November.

Full results of the Division 3/4 match and team placings are here

East Surrey League, Lloyd Park, 29 September 2018

Terry Booth, first VAC man

VAC is a member of this small friendly league of nine local clubs.The first of the three matches was a 5 mile cross country race in Croydon's Lloyd Park. The course was very dry and the weather warm and sunny, which made this a pleasant opener for the cross country season. Vets AC fielded a team of five men, led home by Terry Booth in 25th position followed by Ian Kitching (first M65). Steve Plested, Gary Budinger and Ian Strong added to the scores. The VAC team finished sixth. The second match is on 1 December as part of the Hercules Wimbledon Inter-Club 5 Mile CC on Wimbledon Common. All VAC members are invited to take part.

VAC Results
25th Terry Booth, M50, 32:17
32nd Ian Kitching, M65, 33:00
65th Steve Plested, M65, 38:31
74th Gary Budinger, M55, 40:03
85th Ian Strong, M55, 48:47

88 finishers

England Masters Cross Country Inter-Area Challenge, Bury St Edmunds, 29 September 2018

Race One, a group of the finishers
Race One, another group of finishers
Race Two: Simon Baines, Don Lawless, Gavin Mackay, Darren Franks

Vets AC achieved a fine second place overall in a highly competitive match of two races hosted by Eastern Masters and contested by seven BMAF area clubs. The course at a warm and sunny Nowton Park was dry and firm, with a mix of woodland trails and grassland.

The scores were calculated on race times converted to age-graded percentages, with ten men and ten women forming scoring teams. VAC’s 13 women were dominant and won the women’s section convincingly. Clare Elms (W50), Lynda Hembury (W60) and Anna Garnier (W60) achieved over 85% and placed 3^rd, 4^th and 6^th in the women’s age-graded race rankings.

VAC’s 12 men were second behind a strong team from Eastern Masters who made their home advantage count. Simon Baines (M45) and Dave Cox (M65) achieved age-graded performances of around 85% and were 4th and 6th in the men’s rankings.

In the outright races, Jess Franklin (W35), Clare Elms (W50), Dave Cox (M65) and Richard Pitcairn-Knowles (M85) won their respective age groups. Simon Baines (M45), Sue McDonald (W50), Ange Norris (W55), Lynda Hembury (W60) and Michael Johnson (M75) provided fierce competition and achieved fine second placings.

The results of both races, together with age-graded results and the Club scores are on the BMAF website.

Gunnersbury was the most recent venue for the VAC parkrun get-together, and 6 members enjoyed the cool and still conditions. The rain started soon after we had finished. The course is 2 flattish laps of Gunnersbury park, all on tarmac paths. It is the local parkrun for both Patricia and Francis.

Results:
111 Patricia Thomas 2 W50 76.56% 23.02
149 Martin Garrett 5 M60 68.38% 24.18
161 Andy Murray 1 M65 67.70% 24.46
162 Ros Tabor 1 W65 88.43% 24.46
215 William Fordham 3 M65 63.50% 26.40
355 Francis Thomason 4 M65 56.63% 56.63

Race One: Jamie Giles (28), Steve Oliver (26) and chasers

Start of Race One

 
Helen Pool, 1st Woman, and Sean Smith (38), winner of race Two Race Two: Ian Strong

 
Race Two: Rhiannon Needham                                                        Richard McDowell, VAC Champion
Above photos from Cliff Hide

There was a record entry for the two races, run in cool, breezy, conditions. Richard McDowell won the first race in a time of 31:54.74, setting a new VAC M35 Championship Best Performance. He was awarded the appropriately named McDowell Cup.

Sean Smith (M50) won the second race convincingly in a time of 40:58.17. The first woman was Helen Pool (W40) in a time of 43:12.29. Margaret Moody's time of 47:31.85 will be recorded as a new VAC W65 Championship Best Performance, bettering the long standing mark of 48:57.7, set by Joyce M Smith way back in 1993.

Here are the Results.

 
Ian Kitching, Snow Cup winner Carol Jones, top placed woman

VAC 5M Road Race and 5M Race Walk, 7 August 2018, Battersea Park

Robbie Cox (152), race winner, and Matt Woodman, 2nd place
Above photo from Jeremy Hemming

Hannah Roberts, 1st woman, Thomas Martini

 
Bob Bradbury, top ranked M65  Ed Bartlett, ever-present

Peter Wootton, Terry O'Neill, Davyd Michell

Race walkers: Paul King, Tom Casserley, David Hoben

 
Dan Maskell  Fiona Bishop
Above photos from Cate Berry

The last day of the heatwave did not deter the 34 finishers in the final fixture of the summer series, and also the final race on this measured five-mile course. A temperature of around 30 degrees, and high humidity, sapped the energy, but not the commitment and determination. Robbie Cox (M35) and Matt Woodman (M40) had a great head-to-head race with Robbie taking the win by just six seconds. Age-group winners followed with Robin Jones (1st M45) in third, Jonathan Ratcliffe (1st M50) in fourth and Bob Bradbury, new to the M65 age group, in fifth, posting an eye-catching top of the rankings time of 30:24.

Hannah Roberts repeated her VAC 5km win with a fine time of 32:37, the fastest women’s mark of this summer’s series. Jacqui Reid and Lynn Wilson followed.

The age graded results are here. Ian Kitching, M65, topped the table with a percentage age-graded performance of 85.57%.

Well done to Joe Aspinall, Ed Bartlett and Terry O’Neill who completed all five races of the series. Here is the League Table of VAC members’ results. Seventy-four individual members took part in at least one of the races. We also welcomed many guests. Thank you all for your support.

Race Walk
Category B
Race Permit No: RWA8039-5

1 Ian Richards M70 (Steyning) 39:36
2 Melanie Peddle W45 (EMAC/Loughton) 49:03
3 Dave Chalk M50 (Open BMAF) 50:48
4 Maureen Noel W50 (Belgrave) 52:32
5 Dan Maskell M70 (Surrey WC) 55:33
6 Fiona Bishop W55 (Woking) 56:39
7 Paul King M65 (Belgrave) 57:21
8 Tom Casserley M75 (Enfield) 57:30
9 Mick Harran M80 (Surrey WC) 57:42
10 David Hoben M65 (Surrey WC) 57:43

DNF Peter Hannell M75 (Surrey WC) (retired after 2nd lap)

The fifth and final fixture of the season had reasonable numbers given clash with an international in Paris and very high temperatures, which abated slightly during the evening leading to close humid conditions.

Melanie Peddle from Loughton AFD achieved a good time to win for the ladies and second place overall in 49:03, not far off her personal best.

Dave Chalk achieved a creditable 50:48 in 3rd place which is even more remarkable as he does not come from a running or walking background and certainly demonstrates that there must be others out there who could follow that example; six miles in the hour must surely be not far away.

The remainder of the field achieved respectable times in the abnormally high temperatures.

Officials:
Clerk of Course: Dennis Williams
Starter: Dennis Williams
Timekeepers/Recorders: David Harris, Carl Lawton, Kevin Burnett, Ian Isherwood
Walk Judges: Shaun Lightman, Sean Pender
Entries: David Hoben, Maggie Statham, Cate Berry
Marshals: Martin Berry
Drinks station: Alison Jones, Dennis Williams
Results: David Hoben, Maggie Statham
Photography: Jeremy Hemming
First Aid: Alison Jones

Sri Chinmoy Battersea Relays, 30 July 2018

Joe Aspinall and Cliff Collins, collecting medals for VAC's victorious M80 relay team

VAC members got together and formed three winning teams in the popular Sri Chinmoy relays, which attracted 183 teams of three, each running one mile in Battersea Park. In a Vets AC V55 team, Tony Austin, Gary Budinger and Ian Strong combined to run the three miles in 22:21, finishing in 171st position. Appropriately named as "Funlovers 3", VAC's Ed Bartlett, Dan Maskell and Peter Torre were the first Over 70s team, posting a combined time of 26:22. VAC also fielded a much-admired Over 80s team. Joe Aspinall, Cliff Collins and Richard Pitcairn-Knowles linked up to run the three miles in 26:58. Congratulations and thanks to the three teams for promoting Vets AC so magnificently.

VAC Battersea Park Road Races Grand Prix 2018

The five road races of VAC’s summer series in Battersea Park count towards a Grand Prix for VAC members. To be eligible, members must compete in at least three of the five races. The person with the highest average of his or her three best age-graded performances will be awarded the Snow Cup, a prestigious trophy which dates back to 1950.

After four fixtures, a league table of age-graded results is here. Thirteen members have posted times in three or more races. Ian Kitching (M65) tops the table with a magnificent average of 86.21%. Fellow M65, Terry O'Neill, is in second position with 82.92%, followed by Carol Jones (W60) on 80.08%.

There is still one fixture remaining, on Tuesday 7 August, in which members can improve their scores. Also, nearly twenty members need only one more race to register the required three performances and be eligible for the competition.

VAC 5km Road Race Championships and 5M Race Walk, 10 July 2018, Battersea Park

 
Martin Daoud, Wilton Grey  Bill O'Connor
Above photos from Jeremy Hemming

 
Lynn Wilson leads Trevor Solomon and Carol Jones  Tony Austin (114), Edmond Simpson, M80 Gold

 
Julie Gillender  Ian Richards, Race Walk winner

 
Race Walkers, John Hall, Stefano Zennaro Liam O'Hare, M70 Gold
Above photos from Cate Berry

Near-perfect conditions produced fast times including a sub-16 minute All-Comers’ record for the 5km course. Chris Bird, a guest from Chichester AC, blazed round in 15:56, well inside the previous record of 16:17 set by Richard Tomlinson in 2014. There was an epic battle for second place between the two top M50s. Andy Weir held off relentless pressure from Ian Johnston to post 17:01, finishing two seconds ahead of Ian. Pick of the Gold medallists were Ian Kitching, M65, in a time of 19:14 and Edmond Simpson, M80, who now tops the RunBritain rankings with a time of 24:51. The other age-group Gold medallists were Jamie Giles (M35), Jamie McLoughlin (M40), Robin Jones (M45), Martin Daoud (M55), Peter Hall (M60), Liam O’Hare (M70), Michael Johnson (M75) and Richard Pitcairn-Knowles (M85).

For the women, Hannah Roberts (W35), a guest from SCVAC, won convincingly in 19:15. Lucy Woolhouse was the first VAC woman, taking W55 Gold in 20:26, only 20 seconds off Ange Norris’s W55 course record. Jacqui Reid was second for VAC and won W50 Gold. An intriguing contest for W60 Gold was won by Lynn Wilson in 24:01, closely tracked by Carol Jones in 24:07. Pam Jones once again claimed W80 Gold.

Age graded performances for VAC members are here. Ian Kitching (M65) headed the table with an impressive 87.35%, followed by Stephen Philcox (M50) with 86.78%, then Andy Weir (M50) with 86.68%. The first woman was Lucy Woolhouse (W55), fourth placed overall with 86.54%.

Race Walk
Category B
Race Permit No: RWA8039-4

1 Ian Richards M70 (Steyning) 43:09
2 Penelope Cummings W40 (AFD) 49:01
3 Stefano Zennaro M45 (Belgrave) (G) 49:46
4 John Hall M65 (Belgrave) 50:13
5 Maureen Noel W50 (Belgrave) 52:40
6 Dan Maskell M70 (Surrey WC) 54:48
7 Fiona Bishop W55 (Woking) 55:12
8 Mick Harran M80 (Surrey WC) 58:09
9 David Hoben M65 (Surrey WC) 58:17
10 Peter Hannell M75 (Surrey WC) 59:42

Not surprisingly the fourth fixture of the season, held on a sunny evening in more typical summer weather, was won by Ian Richards of Steyning AC in 43:09.

Penelope Cummings from AFD achieved a good time to win for the ladies and second place overall in 49:01, but the most newsworthy item was the arrival of new Belgrave signing Stefano Zennaro in 3rd place overall in an excellent 49:06.

And this is only the beginning.

The remainder of the field achieved times slightly better than recent events maybe the more temperate conditions assisted.

Officials:
Clerk of Course: Dennis Williams
Starter: Dennis Williams
Timekeepers/Recorders: David Harris, Carl Lawton, Tom Richards, Ian Isherwood
Walk Judge: Shaun Lightman
Entries: David Hoben, Maggie Statham, Anna Garnier
Marshals: Martin Berry, Cate Berry, Peter Torre
Drinks station: Alison Jones, Anna Garnier
Results: David Hoben, Maggie Statham, Dennis Williams
Photography: Jeremy Hemming
First Aid: Alison Jones