CHRISTMAS RACES.......
Notable individual performances were County Champs victories from OWAIN BRISTOW (U17), JOSEPHINE RHODES (U17) and PETE WILSON (Vet40). HENRY PENFOLD finished a creditable 5th U13 Boy and ALICE LORD was 6th U13 Girl, in her first race!
Pete Wilson has sent me the following report for the festive
races; full results can be found at
"Despite being separated by a mere seven days, the two competitive cross-country fixtures staged over the festive period were held in contrasting weather conditions: mud and persistent rain at Enslow (Oxon League 29/12), hard frost at Banbury (County Champs 5/1).
Rumour has it that the Team Manager writes down the Senior Men's names in their anticipated finishing order prior to the start of the race. Naturally enough, Tom Penfold was the first name on the list but, despite a reasonable start, he was second harrier home in what, for him, was a disappointing seventh place. Everyone has dips in form, and it's better to have them in league races rather than Championship events. Steve McGuigan had been unable to make this race, so Tom's presence was a major boost to the team
result, restricting Woodstock's overall lead to just three points.
This leaves the competition wide open with everything to play for over the last two matches.
The Senior Men's county championship was held over a relatively short course, approximately 10K rather than 7.5 miles. The runaway winner was Kevin Sheppard, from Tipton Harriers. It's always difficult to work out what's going on in the Men's county championship: race positions can't be combined as a running total because (a) junior athletes are deleted from the results before the officials compute the team scores and (b) it's not always possible to distinguish between seniors and veterans. This year's race was the first since the 1983/4 season not to feature Pete Wilson in the senior men's team, but his absence was scarcely noticed as good packing (by Steve McGuigan, Paul Jegou and Paddy McCourt) and an improving Chris James secured second team spot behind Woodstock. The Club fielded a Veteran's team this year and, anchored by the ever reliable Cliff Jones, they also finished in second place, behind Oxford City."
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THURSDAY HANDICAP RUN, WANTAGE, 12/12/02..........
The second winter handicap saw at exciting finish as Jason Cooke established a new course record, just failing to catch Peter Casey on the line. Peter's handicap had initially been set at 5 minutes, but he bamboozled the handicapper into reducing it to four on the basis that he wasn't fit. Jeremy Smeddle's punishing handicap was caused by his late arrival. The five participants in the November handicap all improved their times.
The next handicap run will be on 9th January 2003.
Peter C
+4:0046:5942:59
+4:0046:5942:59Jason +14:0047:0133:01
+14:0047:0133:01Peter W +15:3048:5433:24
+15:3048:5433:24Paul +14:0049:0235:02
+14:0049:0235:02Nick +11:05 49:5038:45
+11:05 49:5038:45Roz +6:30 50:1443:44
+6:30 50:1443:44 Sheila +6:30 50:1543:45
+6:30 50:1543:45Pat +0:00 51:5151:51
+0:00 51:5151:51Heather +0:00 51:5151:51
+0:00 51:5151:51Jeremy +13:20 57:4844:28
+13:20 57:4844:28------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OXFORD MAIL LEAGUE, LAMBOURN, Sunday 1/12/02.......
Our event, and a great success from my humble vantage point (Point A on the course). A real cross country runner's course, and we've got plenty of those in our ranks. Big thanks to the hard work put in by Paul Jegou and Jason Cooke to set the course, organise the day, and still find time to run well. And great support from Club members turning out to help on the day...I'm still recovering from a hilarious ride in Jason's trailer.
Lots of sterling individual performances to applaud; ROBERT
BOWLES made a fine debut in the U13 Boys race, winning with a clear margin. OWAIN and CHRIS dominated the U17 race again, the latter winning and both of them miles ahead of the third placer. JOSEPHINE showed that she had recovered from a recent virus, with a strong 3rd place in the Women's race, and just 4 seconds down on her rival Hannah England.
Pete Wilson takes up the story in the Men's race......
The senior men's team finished fourth in the Oxfordshire League fixture at Lambourn, and slipped to second place overall. Sunday's fixture - hosted by White Horse - was on a new course. It marked the first occasion that a league fixture had been held in Berkshire. The course was much more interesting and demanding than the one used in previous years at Ardington. It was muddy, "undulating" and well marshalled. The senior men's team was somewhat below full strength, but all the chaps ran pretty well for their current state of fitness. (Pete modestly fails to mention that he came 3rd overall, and looks to be running away with the Vets title this year)
Full results at the Oxford Mail webpage
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BERKS BUCKS & OXON CHAMPS, Sunday 17/11/02.....
Report from Pete Wilson......
The club fielded a scratch team in this year's BBO championships, which were held over two laps of muddy terrain at Horspath. There was a lot of surface water on the start field, and the section at the foot of the hill was very muddy.
Pete Wilson lost four places when one of his shoes came loose in the mud at the end of lap one, regained the places going up the hill, but then lost them all going back down. More training (in tying on shoes) is surely required. Dave and Jason swapped places from the first Oxon League race, Dave Murfin made a welcome return to racing.
Senior Men
9 P Wilson42:51(1st O/40)
42:51(1st O/40)13 D Wright43:16(2nd O/40)
43:16(2nd O/40)16 J Cooke43:35
43:3539 C James47:03
47:0358 N Ponting50:19
50:1963 D Murfin 51:03
51:03Team result: 1st Reading Road Runners (96),
2nd Oxford City (110),
3rd Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow (145),
4th White Horse Harriers (195).
Eleven clubs fielded a team.
U/13 boy - 10th Henry Penfold 14:27
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MONTHLY HANDICAP #1 (14th November)..............
The results of the first winter handicap (5.94 miles according to the Club Treasurer, measured on a bike) were as follows:
ActualPeter36:27+ 11 min
36:27+ 11 minRos44:29+ 5 min
44:29+ 5 minSheila44:35+ 5 min
44:35+ 5 minPat54:49scratch
54:49scratchCarol55:01scratch
55:01scratchThe next handicap will be take place on 12th December.
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OXON XC LEAGUE, RACE 1, ASCOTT, 3/11/02........
This report from Pete Wilson........
Highlight of the day for WHH at the first Oxon League fixture of the season at Ascott-under-Wychwood on 3 November was Owain Bristow's win in the U/15 & U/17 boys race.
The last race of the day saw thirteen harriers toe the line for the start of the senior men's race. Conditions were good: no rain during the race, not much mud on the ground. There were notable appearances from Trevor Taylor (who was obviously convinced that Dave Wright would only accept his resignation as a first claim member if it was delivered in person) and Cliff Jones (making his debut as a veteran following his birthday the previous Thursday). Hopefully this won't be Trevor's last appearance in the red shorts and green vest, as he's promised to turnout for the club whenever he's within reasonable distance of an event.
WHH rarely start the season with a bang, so it was a shock result to win the match (123 points), followed by Headington (144) and Woodstock (149). This was all due to good packing - four in the top ten, last scorer (with his highest finishing place in this competition for three years) being Chris James in 38th place. The B team finished 14th in Division Two with a score of 1021.
Senior men's result 1st D Leggate (Cirencester 30:22), 6th P Wilson (32:24), 7th S McGuigan (32:44), 8th P McCourt (32:45), 10th P Jegou (32:56), 25th J Cooke (34:27), 29th D Wright (34:56), 38th C James (35:42), 62 T Taylor (37:04), 117 N Ponting (40:28), 132 H Grundy (41:46), 146 G Smith (42:53), 169 S Wysocki-Jones (45:47), 191 C Jones (48:51). There were 203 finishers.
Other results:
U/11 boys - 31 Chris Ponting
U/11 girls - 20 Rachael Ponting, 24 Erin Wysocki-Jones
U/13 boys - 5 H Penfold, 15 J Harding
U15 & U17 boys - 1 O Bristow
Senior women - 32 R Knopp, 53 M Roberts
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NEW HANDICAP ROAD RUN, 2nd THURSDAY, EVERY MONTH....
The brainchild of Pete Wilson, this is a new idea to invigorate the weekly training session at Wantage Leisure Centre. On the 2nd Thursday of every month through this coming winter, a handicap run will take place, based on the usual route. First runner will set off at 6.45, the idea being that everybody finishes together! Dates for your diary are 14th Nov, 12th Dec, 9th Jan, 13th Feb and 13th Mar.
A MAP OF THE ROUTE SHOULD APPEAR HERE SHORTLY, AND I IMAGINE PETE WILL POST ONE ON THE SPORTS CENTRE NOTICEBOARD. Basically it's as follows ; Rec Centre, turn right
into Portway, Ormond Rd, right into Charlton Rd, left into Charlton
Village Rd, Harcourt Rd, right into Grove Rd, fork left into Main
Street, Oxford Lane, right into Mayfield Ave, left into Main Street,
back to Grove Street, right into Ormond Rd, Portway, left into
Rec Centre.
OPEN TRACK MEETING, ABINGDON, Sunday 15/09/02........
WHHAC are helping to run the Southern Counties Vets Pentathlon Championships, on Sunday 15th September, at Tilsley Park Abingdon. Incorporated into the event will be three Open Graded Events, 200 metres at 13:20, 800 metres at 15:00, and 3000 metres at 16:00. Entry on the day only, £2.00 for Seniors, £1.50 for students.
Help or competitors gratefully received!
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RIDGEWAY RELAY, Sunday 16th June 2002...................
SHEILA BAILEY did a great job getting reticent Harriers to turn out for this one, which is a great shame as it's a fun race and runs literally past our doorstep.
We finished 18th out of about 27 teams this year...we were 9th in 1999, but injuries and unavailability meant that this year's team consisted of a few Harriers who had never been in a White Horse Relay team before.
CHRIS POWELL, an ex-Treasurer (and therefore top-notch bloke!) got us off to a good start on his local stomping ground, finishing 14th with 87.55 for about 12 miles. SHEILA couldn't find anyone for leg2, so ended up doing it herself, running (and falling over) 5 miles in 54.30. EVY BRONENBERG was up next, 8 miles in 71.12, followed by KIM NEWARK with 66.54 for 7 miles. PAUL JEGOU ran next, revisiting Grim's Ditch, and presumably not falling over this time, Paul?! He did 72.11 for 10 miles, which was the 9th fastest on his stage, and moved us up from 19th to 12th.
ROS KNOPP maintained our momentum, with 89.13 for a hilly 10.5 miles. SIMON WILLIAMSON was next, running 9 miles in 69.50, and thinking he had moved up 3 places...he was wrong, he'd just overtaken runners from the Mass Start on Leg6! He then had around 10 mins to wait before MEL ROBERTS arrived...she'd convinced herself she only needed to be there for 4.15 pm! Sheila escaped having to run another leg (the one she was originally down for)but copped for giving a very stiff-legged SW a lift home. MEL handed over to JEREMY SMEDDLE 79 and a half mins later. JEREMY was out for 96.05, but I don't know the distance...if it was Jeremy running it was probably short!! And as far as I know, our team was completed by ANN CUMMINGS, who ran 76.43.
Full results can be had at the Marlboro AC website
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SOUTHERN COUNTIES SUCCESS, 26th MAY 2002.......
TOM PENFOLD ran a great race at Watford on Sunday, gaining the Bronze medal in the U20 Championship race, with a superb 3:55.9; the winner ran 3:53.3. FRANCES BRISCOE matched this in the Women's U20, with a third place 4:33.25 (winner did 4.32.3). Definitely U20 Club records, Senior as well?
CHRIS GILLESPIE made the U17 Final, and finished 9th in 4:12.6
OWAIN BRISTOW went out in the heats in 4:23.4, but was obviously saving himself for the Club XC Handicap! (see below)
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CLUB XC HANDICAP, RIDGEWAY, 26th MAY 2002...........
SHEILA MORRISON worked her charms on the Honorary Handicapper (The Club Chairman) to secure an emphatic win on a rainy and windswept Club Handicap course. A fitting send off, as Sheila is returning to Scotland in the next few weeks, and we wish her the best of luck. Of course if Murfin had been there, things might have turned out differently! Sheila was followed in by MEL ROBERTS and ROS KNOPP for a Ladies 1-2-3.
Me? I came last!
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GOLD MEDAL SUCCESS AT THE OXON T&F CHAMPS.......
Pride of place at the Oxon Champs held this weekend (11th/12th May) at Tilsley Park is shared by CHRIS GILLESPIE, TOM PENFOLD and FRANCES BRISCOE, who all achieved the 800/1500 metres double in their respective age groups. Chris must have run pbs, and Tom broke the County Record with 1:55, which was faster than Kevin Sheppard in the Senior 800.
Nice to see NICK ALTMANN back in the fold, and winning the Senior 3000 metres by a convincing margin. And a big cheer for OWAIN BRISTOW, County Champion at last! (in the U17 3000 metres) JOSSEPHINE RHODES came away with two Silvers and good times in the 800/1500 to improve on later in the season.
Full results at the Oxon AA Website.
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GRANT AID SUCCESS......
The Club recently applied for some funding from ukAthletics, to meet the costs of sending our hugely talented Young Athletes' squad on British Milers Club Training weekends....and I'm pleased to report that our application was approved....I can give you the full details if you email me
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OXFORDSHIRE AA ROAD RACE GRAND PRIX SERIES
Standings after Round 1 - Banbury 15
These results show White Horse women well in contention...I don't have any individual results to hand
MEN'S TEAMS1Banbury Harriers A 264
Banbury Harriers A 2642Cherwell Runners & Joggers A264
Cherwell Runners & Joggers A2643Woodstock Harriers A 238
Woodstock Harriers A 2384Abingdon Amblers A 226
Abingdon Amblers A 2265Cherwell Runners & Joggers B202
Cherwell Runners & Joggers B2026Hook Norton Harriers A 192
Hook Norton Harriers A 1927Oxford City AC 163
Oxford City AC 1638Headington Road Runners 162
Headington Road Runners 1629Alchester A 157
Alchester A 15710 Abingdon Amblers B 105
10511 Kidlington 93
9312 Banbury Harriers B 82
8213 Witney Road Runners 81
8114 Woodstock Harriers B 75
7515 Alchester B 74
7416 White Horse Harriers 71
7117 Hook Norton Harriers B 58
5818 Bicester AC 15
1519 Eynsham 13
13WOMEN'S TEAMS1Headington Road Runners61
Headington Road Runners612White Horse Harriers 59
White Horse Harriers 593Hook Norton Harriers A 57
Hook Norton Harriers A 574Abingdon Amblers A 39
Abingdon Amblers A 395Cherwell Runners & Joggers A 32
Cherwell Runners & Joggers A 326Hook Norton Harriers B 28
Hook Norton Harriers B 287Alchester 24
Alchester 248Radley Ladies 12
Radley Ladies 129Cherwell Runners & Joggers B 6
Cherwell Runners & Joggers B 610 Abingdon Amblers B 3
3------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OXFORD MAIL LEAGUE final race, BANBURY, 3rd MARCH 2002.......
With all our scorers in 22 this time out, victory was assured. What a great send-off for retiring Team Manager, DICK JEGOU, who very fittingly went up to receive the Senior Men's Team shield. Dick is a very hard act to follow, but will no doubt be popping out from behind bushes in future winters to grab some very professional photos of Harriers in action.
Individual success came to TOM PENFOLD in the Junior Men, but Tom also walked away with the overall male best performance. And DAVE WRIGHT showed that he is most definitely not "wrinkly" with victory in the V40 Vet category. Other good performances were SHEILA BAILEY, 2nd in V45 Women, CHRIS GILLESPIE 2nd U17 and OWAIN BRISTOW 3rd U17.
Full results at the Oxford Mail page
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NATIONAL XC, BRISTOL, 23rd FEBRUARY..........
Best result on a 'orrible day (so I'm told) came from JOSEPHINE RHODES, with a fine 8th place, and just a minute down on the leaders. Nice to see the Men's Team figure in the 9 to score category...according to senior anorac P.WILSON this was a first.
Results at the SportSoft Website
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WESSEX LEAGUE, 10th FEBRUARY, this report from Pete Wilson..
WHH were well represented at the penultimate Wessex League fixture which was held over a four lap course at Swindon's Croft Centre on 10th February. The club remains on course to win the league's Division Two section.
Jason Cooke, who had made his county debut over the country at Nottingham the previous day, was amongst the early leaders, soon settling into third place. Towards the end of the first lap, Jason was perhaps 100 yards up on Paul Jegou, with Derek Green and Pete Wilson a substantial distance further adrift. As the race unwound, however, Jason drifted back to the chasing pack, before rallying to secure sixth place. Derek cannily stalked Paul for much of the race, before accelerating past on the final hill.
Finishing positions - Pete Wilson (3), Jason Cooke (6), Derek Green (9), Paul Jegou (10), Cliff Jones (84)
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OXFORD MAIL LEAGUE IV, Cirencester Park, 3rd February 2002.....
I'm a bit late posting this (no change there then!), but stars of Sunday's race must have been the Senior Men's team, who stormed to victory with just 77 points and everyone inside 20. So congrats to PETE, PADDY, JASON, DAVE, TIM, DEREK and PAUL.
Full details as usual at the Ox Mail page.
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SOUTHERN X-C CHAMPS, Parliament Hill, 26th January............
JOSEPHINE RHODES again showed great peaking in nabbing 3rd place at the Southern Championships on Saturday; she must again be in contention for a top five position in the National, and all this as a first year U17. TOM PENFOLD was 15th in the Junior race, which was a sterling run for someone who's just moved up a category.
Full results at the SportSoft website
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HIGHWORTH 1/2 MARATHON, Sunday 20th January, 2002.........
SHEILA BAILEY reports..........
We had a good turnout for Highworth this year although we confused the officials by having one man & six ladies. They ask for at least one lady in a team.
The weather was a bit damp and rather windy but the team rose to the challenge, despite being slightly accident prone (Lisa had been thrown off her horse the previous week & Sheila had been knocked off her bike just before Christmas).
Lisa was 12th overall and 1st lady in 1:27:04. Then came Ann Cummings 43rd in 1:39:30 pb, Peter Casey our only man 48th in 1:43:08, Ros Knopp 52nd in 1:44:45 pb, Sheila Bailey 53rd in 1:45:09 pw, Karen Miles 57th in1:45:36.Unfortunately our fifth lady had to withdraw half way with hamstring problems. Our third accident? We hope she is fit again soon.
Overall results: Handy Cross A won comfortably with a total of 48points
White Horse were 7th with 208points.
We all enjoyed the morning and hope to return next year with a few more men.
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OXON XC CHAMPS, Shotover, 6th January 2002..........
Wins for DAVE WRIGHT (V40 Men), TOM PENFOLD (Junior Men), FRANCES BRISCOE (U20 Women) and JOSEPHINE RHODES (U17 Women)......and this report from PETE WILSON.......
Five harriers finished well up in the senior men's county championship at Shotover on 6th January. The Oxfordshire League match last March was held within the confines of the playing fields, due to restrictions imposed by the foot and mouth epidemic. The county championships was able to revert to the traditional course, which was excellently marshalled and comprised two laps, each featuring a long steady climb. The milder weather ensured that the course included stretches of mud, something that always adds to the enjoyment of the spectators if not the competitors themselves.
The casual observer might have thought that White Horse were heading for an easy team victory - but they would have been mistaken. The county rules mean that junior and veteran athletes cannot score for a senior men's team - even if their club is unable to field a team in the relevant age group - so neither Tom Penfold nor Dave Wright featured in the team results. The Byzantine rules also meant that junior results (but not veterans) were extracted from the results before the team scores are computed.
Tom and Dave did enjoy individual success. Tom finished the race in second place, becoming the club's first junior champion since Nick Altmann's success nine years ago. Dave secured yet another shield as he won the wrinklies' title.
Jason Cooke, who last raced in the championships ten years ago, was struck down by a mystery virus a few days before the race. Nevertheless, the senior team was sufficiently strong to finish second, close behind Banbury, with good packing from Peter Wilson, Paddy McCourt and Paul Jegou. This maintains the club's excellent record of finishing in the top three teams every year since it was founded, with the sole exception of the 'locust season' of 1999/200. Dave Murfin, participating in his final cross country championship as a senior athlete, completed the scoring four.
Results can be viewed at the Oxon AA Website
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HIGHWORTH HALF MARATHON...........
The club has been given 10 places for the Highworth 1/2 marathon on Sunday 20th January at 11.00 am. It is a team race, the first 5 score and they must include one lady. The course is rural and "undulating". It is a friendly race with some excellent refreshments!
For the last few years we haven't managed to get enough men. If anyone would like to put things right this year please would they contact Sheila Bailey: phone 01235 769194 or email mike@bailey.swinternet.co.uk
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OXON LEAGUE 3, Ardington, 30th December 2001...........
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The Girls are shaking things up in quality races..........
JOSEPHINE RHODES finished a very useful 9th in an International event in Belgium (she was representing the South of England, and got a rave review in AW!).
Meanwhile FRANCES BRISCOE proved that university life is not all fish n' chips and lie-ins, with a brilliant win in the Southern Intercounties. Now JoJo versus Frances, that will be an interesting race......!
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PETE WILSON reports from the 3rd Wessex League event........
The Wessex League fixture at Hurn Bridge (9th December)
saw Derek Green make a welcome return to competitive action.
This was Derek's first race since last season's final Oxfordshire
League fixture at Shotover. The meeting itself was advertised as
a combined event with the Avalon League, but there were precious
few competitors from the Avalon League in the senior men's race
and the overall size of the field was a little disappointing.
Ten years ago, the Wessex League was thriving and attracted 200+ competitors to the senior men's race; some of last season's races had barely 80 finishers. Two factors which may have contributed to the decline in the league's popularity are the courses (some of which are short, flat and multi-lapped) and the scoring system which requires a mere three per team. This is less than many other leagues - the Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey leagues, for example, require 5, 7 and 10 scorers per men's team respectively.
The Hurn Bridge course, however, is excellent - one small lap, followed by three larger ones - for a cumulative distance of 5-6 miles. Each lap features a substantial hill, and the course is wide enough for over-taking most of the way round. Last year, there were several stretches of the course under-water, but the going was firmer under foot on this occasion.
The Harriers finished second team behind Swindon. The scorers were Peter Wilson (4th), Jason Cooke (11th) and Derek Green (13th). Jason was just squeezed out of the top ten towards the end of the race. Derek had just returned from Nepal and surely benefited from spending a month at altitude, moving through the field on the hills and finishing just 18 seconds adrift of Jason. The other harriers were Paul Jegou (22), Dave Murfin (who suffered a hamstring strain on the way to 62nd), Nick Ponting (63) and Cliff Jones (93).
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OXON LEAGUE 2, Enslow, 2nd December 2001..............
TOM PENFOLD became the youngest ever winner of the Oxford Mail League in an exciting duel with PETE WILSON, Gary Harris from Headington and Steve Kimber from Oxford City.
In the U17s, CHRIS GILLESPIE took a notable scalp in defeating Matt Ashton of Witney, with OWAIN BRISTOW chasing them home.
JOSEPHINE RHODES attacked hard from the gun, but eventually was overhauled for 3rd in the Senior Women's race.
Results at the Oxford League page
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OXON LEAGUE 1, Ascott, 4th November 2001.........
Some great performances in the first outing this season. CHRIS GILLESPIE and OWAIN BRISTOW look set to continue the White Horse domination of the U17 Race. TOM PENFOLD has moved on and up, and produced a cracking 2nd place in his debut Senior Men's race, and led us to a solid team win....no Pete Wilson, but great backup from STEVE McGUIGAN and DAVE WRIGHT, and was that NICK PONTING closing in the team?
But perhaps the most amazing run of the day was JOSEPHINE RHODES, still an U17, winning the Senior Women's race.
All in all, a very encouraging start to the season.
Results at the Oxon Mail page.
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September Road races.......report from Pete Wilson
There was an excellent turnout of Harriers at this year's Newbury Kerridge Ten Mile race (9th September). Both senior men (Jason Cooke, Dave Murfin and Peter Wilson) and veteran men (Richard Frame, Tim Hughes, Nick Ponting and Dave Wright) were well represented. Perhaps wisdom (or common sense) is acquired with age: two of the senior men missed the start and chased the broom wagon rather than the lead vehicle for the first mile and a half, whilst the other (in preparation for a triathlon debut?) cycled from Wantage to the start line. Individual results to follow. Team Result: White Horse 2nd.
Three Harriers participated in this year's undulating Witney 10 mile road race on 16 September. Peter Wilson led from the start and eventually won by just over a minute (54:16). Marathon man Jason Cooke was closing down Banbury's Simon Pritchard over the last couple of miles, but lost valuable seconds by turning into the car park rather than the finishing field towards the end of the race. He still clocked 58:24 to finish in sixth place. Nick Ponting (50th 1:09:09) ran significantly faster than he had over the same distance at Newbury the previous week.
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16th September Lambourne Road Race, Josephine's report.........
Lambourne was yet again a very successful morning's work for the people in green. I have never run the race before but last year Jason Cooke was the victor and the year before Tom Penfold came second. Tom was determined to put that right today though and conditions were perfect for the 6 km run around Lambourne village.
At the start as usual all the men/tiny boys sprinted off leaving me and Tracey Galbraith to work our way steadily through the pack. After about 1 km the course climbs steadily uphill for about 700 m. Then you find yourself on an off-road trail. At this point I was left stranded as Tracey speeded off into the distance but I chugged on and waited for someone to pass. Then I tagged onto the back of him and passed him when we reached the next hill.( Very fun tactics!-you should try them some time!)
Tom won in style, obliterating the field by some 2 minutes or so. His time of 20:23 was just 20 seconds off the course record. Owain was the next Harrier to finish in a time of 22:18. This was good enough for 4th place and was a very confident run by him. I came in 8th, just behind a bloke with a dog wearing a vest advertising worming tablets in 25:08 (Who? the dog or the bloke-oh, sorry both.) Tom King also had a very fine run in 21st place with a time of 27:10.
Tom received a very nice shield for his efforts and Owain and I received trophies for 1st U/16 male and female. Apart from anything this race proved we are all fighting fit and ready to tackle the x-countries.
Finally I would just like to say GOOD LUCK! to Frances who is leaving on Monday for Bath University which means she misses the BMC Course-always count on Frances for perfect timing!!
Well done everybody and good luck for the coming season.
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Sunday 2nd September 2001....Oxon Road Relays
Thanks to the persistent efforts of Dave Wright, a team was knocked together and finished 2nd, behind Woodstock.
Leg times as follows :
1) Paul Jegou 18:22
2) Pete Wilson 16:40 (2nd fastest)
3) Dave Murfin 18:42
4) Jason Cooke 17:26
5) Dave Wright 17:38
6) Derek Green 17:55
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Some solid runs in the latest Motavation race at Combe on 5th July, with PETE WILSON & STEVE McGUIGAN returning to form.
Results available at the Oxon AA website
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The Club Cross Country Handicap, which had been scuppered from it's original date by Foot & Mouth, took place on Sunday 2nd July.
PAUL JEGOU had skillfully negotiated access to the new woodland that's being cultivated by the Lockinge Estate, and devised an interesting 4 mile / 2 lap course. A hot day and a good turnout ensured a successful event, with handicap "specialist" Dave Murfin securing his third victory in the event. Thanks to Paul for organising, Richard & Tim for timing, and Chris's mum & Tom's partner for course marking.
Results if you click here
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The US Company Homestead that provide this web site have decided that it's no longer commercially viable to run a completely free service. They have already ditched the email service (whhac@homestead.com) and further changes are imminent.
I've since found out that we can have the next year's membership for around 20 US Dollars, which sounds like a reasonable deal to me, and I will recommend to the Committee that we stick with Homestead. Any views on this, please get in touch.
Mail me at simonw@operamail.com
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Good runs from PETE WILSON and TIM HUGHES in the most recent Moto-Vation Road race on 7th June.
Results on the Oxon AA Site, click here.
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Just heard that TOM PENFOLD has now smashed through the four minute barrier for 1500m, with 3:57 and a tremendous 8th place in the SEAA U20 Championships at Watford on Saturday (26th May).
A great run and springboard for the rest of the season. Detailed result when I have it.
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"Old" news now I'm afraid, but there were the expected crop of victories in the Oxon Track and Field Champs over the weekend of 12th/13th May. Hopefully a full report in the next newsletter, due out in early June. Similarly, there was a good team result and some fine fine individual results in the first Southern League fixture at Tooting Bec. Paul Jegou was particularly keen that I should mention the fact that TOM PENFOLD had run 1.59.1 for 800 metres! Again full details in the Harrier, if I get the results from Trevor.
County Champs link click here
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The Club Cross Country Handicap, scheduled for Sunday 6th May 2001, has had to be postponed because of Foot & Mouth.
Keep out signs and blue tape bar entry to the Ridgeway at the Sparsholt Car Park (but, predictably for this fiasco, you see nothing to stop you joining the Ridgeway at other nearby entry points).
The Committee will meet shortly and discuss a new date, possibly on a summer evening, which could tie in nicely with a pub visit.
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Good early season form from TOM PENFOLD....4.03 in his first 1500 metres of the year, at an Open Meeting in Watford. It slashed 7 seconds off his own U20 Club Record. And some pleasing runs from CHRIS GILLESPIE (2.51.6) and JOSEPHINE RHODES (3.11.6) in an open 1000 metres at Swindon.
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PAUL JEGOU has sent me the Cross Country Ranking lists for the 2000/2001 season.
They can be found at WHHAC XC Champs .
