HERNE HILL HARRIERS

This page is dedicated to the exploits of club members in road races across the world! It offers a snapshot of the performances of all Herne Hill Harriers, wherever they have run and regardless of how fast or slow.

NOVEMBER 2008

James Jarvis went to the seaside on 16 November, but left his bucket and spade at home and instead competed in the Brighton 10K held over one of the fastest 10K courses in the country. On a overcast November morning he placed 12th in 32:21. Another eschewing the fairground attractions on the promenade pier was Simon Phillips who came away with another PB, lowering his mark to 37:00 to place 92nd despite a 6 second wait to cross the start line. Second claim member Bob Harrison placed 80th in 36:50 and a little further down the field Michael Rodgers recorded 50:45 for 1,144th place.

Elsewhere, Ben Whitby powered to victory in the Epsom 10 in 53:18 on a gloomy Sunday morning over the Epsom Downs.

Tales became trails in the most intriguing event of the day as 11 Herne Hill Harriers became Herne Hill Hellrunners in the Hell Down South race at the Longmoor Military Training Camp. Pride of place amongst this group must go to Andy Ward who tackled the course, advertised as between "10 and 12 miles of challening off-road running over tough and twisting trails", in 67:25 to finish in a fantastic 6th position overall. Getting caked in mud and soaking wet behind him were Ed Barrow who bruised his way round in 1:31:35 and Ben Hallifax in 1:33:23.

Next Herne Hill Hellrunner home was Virginia Grant, who recorded an very impressive 1:33.38 while Lex Rees finished a minute behind her in 1:34:45. Paul Enright recorded the next fastest HHH time in 1:35:20 followed by Phil Henwood - 1:37:17, Toby Clarke - 1:39:46, Rebecca Barrow - 1:45:13, Debbie Jackson - 1:46:44 and Spencer Mason - 1:51:55

Ben Hallifax reports, "It was great fun and very challenging. The years of cross country racing were a benefit of having no fear to hurl ones-self down steep slopes whilst most people hesitated. Wading (or swimming) through the infamous Bog of Doom and meeting Satin himself whilst wading through a deep muddy pond, after sliding down a steep bank and facing a near vertical climb back up the other side".

Francis Marsh was an early-riser on 15 November and comfortably coasted to victory in the Wimbledon Common Time Trial in 16:50.

It may be late autumn, but that didn't stop Simon Coombes and Ian Tivey hitting the tarmac in the Fairland Valley Spartans Mid-week 5K on 12 November. Simon showed taht he is returning to form after an indifferent start to the winter in clocking 16:09 for 9th place while Ian, unlike in the previous weekend's Surrey League XC race, denied the field a head-start to finish 18th in 16:50.

Fresh from Frankfurt and showing no signs of any after effects, Mike Ashby finished 9th in the Lancaster Half Marathon in 1:17:53 on 9 November, a couple of minutes quicker than his mark in the recent Great North Run.

Another week, another marathon, this time in New York on 2 November in what were certainly more favourable conditions than might have been on offer this side of the Atlanic. Second-claimers Clare Martin and Fiona Love ensured club representation in Paula Radcliffe's most recent marathon triumph. Clare clocked 2:55.39 to finish as 49th woman while Fiona had a great run to finish in 3:17.28.

Despite his trip to Reigate for the XC relays, Andy Lea-Gerrard rolled up at the Barns Green Half Marathon at 11.00am the following day and promptly beat well over half of the field, many of whom were younger than he, recording a very credible 1:52.20.

Brian Wilder enjoys the Regents Park Grand Prix races and, fresh from his exploits in Chicago, comfortably won the second race of the winter series by over 2 minutes to propel himself to second position in the overall senior men's standings, recording 32:22 as his latest mark over this course.

Tim Elsey won the second race in the Ronhill Surrey Classic 10K series in Nonsuch Park in 33:51 and now looks a strong bet to win the series.  Roland Woodbridge was 133rd in 49.33 to set a new PB. Roland comments, "I’m amazed to have done well under the 50 minute mark and over a minute faster that the Dysart Dash! About time, perhaps it is all down to the Tuesday sessions and a quality curry last night!"

OCTOBER 2008

The autumn marathon season continued in Germany as Mike Ashby and Paul Burton raced the Frankfurt Marathon on 26 October. Das Erzahlung vom Teer records that Mike finished 390th in 2:56.46 and Paul in 3:05.31 for 717th place.

Closer to home, Paul Shiel recorded a new PB in the Lake Dorney 10K, completing the course in 40:24.

It maybe more a Tale of the Trail than Tarmac, but Phillip Henwood completed the Beachy Head Marathon in 4:36:15, commenting,  "It’s a toughie, but great fun. 3,500 feet of ascent, all run on trails through beautiful countryside. We were lucky with the weather; whereas the OMM got cancelled due to rain, we got sunshine… The start and the end have to be seen to be believed - an almost vertical hill. Fortunately straight down to the finish, proving a great place to cast aside personal safety and rush past the meek…"

In Nonsuch Park Epsom, Tim Elsey won the first stage of the Ronhill Surrey Classic 10K series in 33:18 with Roland Woodbridge a little further behind in 51:53.

Ben Paviour was the first Herne Hill Harrier to finish in the Cabbage Patch 10 in Twickenham on 19 October, one of London's premier and most popular road races, crossing the line in 53:53 to claim 8th place, the club 10 mile road race title and the honour of being presented with one of the cabbages awarded to the first 10 finishers in the men's and women's races. In a closely fought club contest, Jeff Cunningham completed a busy weekend's work following his effort in the National 6 stage relay the previous day by finishing just under a minute behind Ben, recording a time of 54:51 for 12th place. Simon Phillips produced another fine performance to set a new PB of 61:43 as he finished 78th overall. These efforts ensured the club closed a team in this race for the first time since 2002, placing second in the men's team race.

Another Ben, Ben Hallifax travelled to France to compete in the Marathon de Reims and came away with a new PB of 3:27.54. Justin Rabbett was another running in "rouge et noir" and he finished in 3:40.12. Ben reports that the course was "very fast and flat" at the start "but near the end there were long slight uphill runs in the city that were murder on tired legs. Really good course in all."

After qualifying for the event by the skin of its teeth, the men's team contested the National 6 road relays in Sutton Park, Birmingham, finishing in 45th place. Alan Barnes was our fastest man, recording 18:50 in the first leg, while Tim Elsey overtook no fewer than 9 runners on the last leg to ensure a top 50 placing. The other team members - Simon Coombes, Jonathan Stead, Jeff Cunningham and Sam Knight - all produced solid performances to complete the team. Click here to view the full results (hyperlink to www.race-results.co.uk).

Tim Ridley took part in the Herts 10K, a race in its third year and which is designed to raise money for a local hospice. Tim ran with his brother over an interesting course, a mix of track, footpath, former railway and road. Two and a half thousand people took part in the race started by the legendary football commentator and local celebrity John Motson. He and his brother enjoyed a leisurely stroll to finish in 52:23 and make short work of Motty who finished some 11 minutes later.  

Brian Wilder finished a very credible 39th in the Chicago Marathon in 2:31:24 on 12 October despite the temperature topping 70 degrees. In the Chichester 10K, which incorporated the AAA 10K Road Race Championship, Jeff Cunningham followed up his excellent 18th place in the Surrey XC League the previous day to record 33:24 (33:22 chip time) to claim 49th place. Jeff comments, "It actually went ok today - 33.24 with a bit of a hangover so I was pleased."

Jane Hersey took park in the Royal Parks Half Marathon on the same day and reports, "Just to let you know I did my half marathon on Sunday in 1:45:16. I was aiming for 1:50 so I was really pleased! It was the Royal Parks one and it was a lovely course and good weather so I enjoyed it as well." Paul Shiel also took part, recording a mark of 1:33.53.

It seems a number of the road running contingent enjoy being a glutton for punishment as a dozen or so braved the heavy rain which provided soggy and slippery conditions underfoot for the Wimbledon 10 on 5 October. Given the race covered a 3 lap route around the tennis courts of the All-England Club, should one really be surprised the weather was so bad?

Star performance of the day came from Laura Nurse who finished 2nd overall in the women's race in 67:17. Rebecca Barrow - 77:56 and Sarah Allen - 78:16 enjoyed a close battle which lasted most of the race to ensure the women closed a winning team, beating local club Wimbledon Windmilers into 2nd place in the women's team standings.

Tim Elsey finished 6th overall in 55:56, Simon Phillips had a good run for 25th spot in 64:45 while James Ward enjoyed getting soaked as he trotted round in 66:26 to close the men's team which finished 4th overall.  Roland Woodbridge this time wore the right attire for the weather conditions and knocked 4 minutes off his 10 mile PB to set a new mark of 87:16. Other members of the HHH possee included Robin Sanderson - 67:12, Paul Shiel - 71:26, Ed Barrow - 72:56, Rupert Mainwaring - 74:45, Phillip Henwood - 84:23, Amanda Du Rand - 88:52, Penelope Fixter - 89:08 and Sonia Williams - 92:21.

While all that was going on, across town in Dulwich James Jarvis finished 2nd in the Dulwich Runners Charity 10K in 33:53, a fine performance given the conditions. Alan Wray was 4th in 34:39 and Jonathan Cheshire 13th in 37:23. Clare Martin finished 2nd in the women's race in 38:41.

Two members of the club's northern contingent, Iain Yates and Mike Ashby travelled to the North East to compete in the Great North Run. Iain finished in 69th in an excellent 1:15:34 while Mike was just outside the top 100 in 107th in 1:19:05 as he prepares for the Frankfurt marathon later this month.

Mike reports, "Was a beautiful day up there. I managed to bump into Iain Yates on the start line actually (incredible in 52,000 runners). He was hoping for 1:15 and I for around 1:20 as a 3 week warm-up to the Frankfurt marathon. The first mile was hellish with overcrowding - quite how there were people in front of us in our pen wearing fancydress I don't know. It meant we both got a very slow start. Still, for Iain to run 1:15:34 for 69th and me 1:19:05 for 107th, I think we have to be pleased."

Helena Laczko travelled even further, to the Scottish Highlands to be precise. She comments, "I went up to Inverness to work at the Loch Ness Marathon last weekend. Not to run it! But I did end up running the Baxter River Ness 10k as part of the running festival. It was great fun. Everyone was saying this is the best course to set PBs bla bla as the 1st 1/2 of the course is down hill. Well, I didn't set it. But I didn't try either. Anyway, the course it's very scenic for either of the runs so worth checking out www.lochnessmarathon.com." She still finished in a very respectable 38:42 to be the 4th woman to finish.

In the Bushy Park Time Trial on 4 October, Paul Burton returned to racing after concentrating on triathlons over the summer to finish 11th in 17:49, removing 28 seconds from his PB. Fiona Love was the first woman home in the same race in 19:39.

On the same day, Ben Hallifax demonstrated the effect of his training for a forthcoming marathon in France by smashing his 10K PB in the Self Transcendence 10K in Battersea Park.  Finishing 13th overall, Ben recorded a new mark of 39:18 to beat the 40-minute barrier for the first time.

Meanwhile, Brian Wilder used brain and brawn to win the early morning outing in 32:14, just 5 seconds slower than the course record. Despite tapering for the Chicago marathon next week, Brian confessed afterwards that had he known the record was there for the taking, he would have gone for it! Elekwa Kanu Onwuchekwa also finished in 43:27.

SEPTEMBER 2008

On 28 September Matt Norminton finished 17th in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2.22:28 to lead home the England team. Meanwhile, in Berlin, Ben Whitby finished 23rd in the Berlin Marathon 2:22:37 despite stopping for 90 seconds in mid-race, thereby finishing within 20 mins of Haile Gebrselassie's latest world record of 2:03:59.

Also in Berlin, Anthony Phinn defied a knee injury to complete the course in 5:17:28 - proudly wearing a kilt!

On the same day, an early autumnal morning across the trails of Lloyd Park, Croydon provided the setting for the club's early season cavalry charge in local open events as HHH dominated the placings an team races in this low-key, but friendly warm up for the forthcoming cross-country season.

Despite missing the SEAA M40 relay triumph the previous day, effervescent Vic Maughn was in fine form. An accomplished performer in races of this kind, Vic lead from the front for almost the entire race only to be denied victory after his opponent who had tracked him over the trail paths narrowly outsprinted him with 300m to go. In Vic's own words: "The battle is over. People are battered and brusied after the race. Mayhem and carnage took its toll on the field. Maughn denied victory by 1 second. God bless us all." Quite!

Ensuring HHH claimed the men's team prize were Mike Cummings, weary after his exertions at Aldershot the day before, but still strong enough to secure a high placing and be the second man in red and black hoops home, and newcomer Kieran Allen in his first ever race for the club.

In the women's race Helena Laczko 2nd place and Laura Nurse's 3rd paved the way for further success in the women's team competition. Too many people ran to enable mention of them all, but it was a jolly nice race on a lovely sunny day and everybody who did run is pictured in the photo below. The tea and cake was splendid too! Click here to view the full results (courtesy of Striders of Croydon).

Meanwhile, Louisa Harrold finished the Windsor Half Marathon in 1:48 despite having a hudge blister while Vicky Wolfe recorded 1:56. Simon Phillips recorded his first-ever sub 18 minute time, recording 17:55 in the Bushy Park Time Trial the same weekend.

HHH veteran men again won the South of England M40 Road Relay Championship on 27 September for the 6th year in a row.  Our team was a model of consistency as only 26 seconds separated the times of the fastest and slowest of our four man team and all four were among the fastest nine individuals overall in the race. Well done to Kofi Agei, Mike Boyle, David Robinson and Keith Newton on a superb team victory. Click here to read Geoff Jerwood's full report and view the results.

A refreshingly youthful senior men’s battled its way to 26th position. Click here to read James Ward's full report and view the results.

The men's distance running squad brought an end to 6 years of under-achievement in the Surrey Road Relay Championships at Wimbledon Park on 13 September by claiming bronze medals in the senior men's race and a return to the podium for the first time since 2002. Despite a number of would-be team members being required for the UK Women's League qualifier at Abingdon, the women's team still managed to finish 8th. Click here to read James Ward's full report and view the full results.

Gaby Carnforth competed in the Budpest Half Marathon in 37 degrees heat and finished in 1:30:40 despite a lack of training and injuring herself during the race.

Brian Wilder won the final race in the Regents Park 10K series in 33:22 to clich the overall series title after winning 3 of the 6 races. Over in Victoria Park, Basil Wallace finished 23rd in a 10K race in 36:02 while Simon Phillips set a new PB of 38:03 in finishing 43rd.

The autumn opened in damp blustery conditions in Brockwell Park on 6 September for the curtain-raising race of the new winter season, the 4 mile Yacht handicap.

Mike Cummings consolidated his recent form to claim victory in the men's race in 22:38 over the new 4 mile course, while Ben Hallifax demonstrated the benefit of his recent marathon training to finish in 24:49 to win the men's handicap race.

New members Lizzie Kirby and Amelia Hickman keenly contested the women's race which was won by Lizzie in 28:55 with Amelia not too far behind. Sonia Williams triumphed in the women's handicap with a time of 33:14.

Other finishers included Mark White - 25:02, Tim Ridley - 25:40, Nathan Stone 28:53, Sarah Allen - 29:48, Jane Hersey - 29:49 and Penelope Fixter - 32:54. Click here to view the full results. A selection of photos can be viewed in the Photo Gallery.