WAKEFIELD DISTANCE RUNNING LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER 13th November 2009
Ron Needham 01924 829495 email: rodillianrunners@yahoo.co.uk
Return to The Fleece at Ossett
Despite the foul forecast and the inevitable rain, we had a very good turn out for the return to The Fleece and a 2.85 run around Ossett. 16 runners turned out, and this in the time of year when our numbers have traditionally taken a dip. The landlord and rather bemused locals made us most welcome, both before the event, when everyone kept dry and warm inside the tap room, and after. We’ll have to go back there again before too long, perhaps to have a relay type of event. The hilly course provided a good challenge to everyone – and, thanks to Gill’s and Jane’s marshalling, no one got lost (not even Mark).
Alan Slack, making his first appearance of “the season,” led the men home in 17-13 with a fast improving Tom Wainwright not that far behind. Tom finished a good 36 seconds ahead of that well known lurcher, Tony White, despite Tony taking over a minute and half off his last time at this venue. In the ladies, Louise Walker showed a wonderful return to form as she powered home up the hill 11 seconds ahead of Dot Hand, nearly 2 minutes faster than last time we ran here. A good run too from newcomer Clare Peckett, to whom we extend our warmest welcome. Hope you enjoyed the entire evening Clare and that you’ll be at many more distance league events over the next few years.
In the leagues, it’s neck and neck at the head of the Vet’s table, with Dot and Tony both on 28 points, but only a few points ahead of reigning champion Dave Marsh and Christine Hall. Things could have become very interesting in the Men’s table as only one point separates champion Tony White and Tom Wainwright, but as Tom is heading off to snower climes for a few months, sadly, we’ll never know how that fight would have turned out. It’s been a while since Dot won the ladies’ title, but she’s establishing quite a strong lead at the moment.
VETS
Please let me know if you are a vet and haven’t been included in the Vets tables. It’s the start of a new season and it’s now the time to let me know so you can be included next year, otherwise, the “speak now or forever hold your peace (at least till next season)” rule will apply. As in the last 2 or 3 years, we shall be running a combined vets league - ladies will also be given vets points but depending on where they finish amongst other lady vets, as will men, and the tables combined (so, if you finish first lady vet, you get 10 points, and if you finish first man vet, you get 10 points - all go in same table and winner will be one with most points, male or female). For our purposes, male vets start at 40, female at 35.
Next Event
The next event will take place on 15th December (NOTE – this is a Tuesday), and will be our Christmas Handicaps on the traditional road route, from Stanley Rodillian Rugby Club. This is a handicap with athletes starting at various times (first start at 7-25). There is no entry fee, as such - instead, every runner to bring a prize (unisex please), to value of £3 or £4, suitably wrapped - best if the wrapping can disguise the nature of the prize. First home takes first choice of prizes from the table and so on. There will be our usual Christmas grub at the presentation and the bar and showers will be operating. Charge for food will be £3 (guests and non-runners welcome – non-runners to also pay for food, please, unless helping in marshalling, time keeping, etc.).
Results of 3rd Meeting (approx 2.85 miles road, The Fleece, Ossett)
| Pos | Men | Time | Last time |
| 1 | Alan Slack | 17-18 | |
| 2 | Tom Wainwright | 17-49 | |
| 3 | Tony White | 18-25 | 20-00 |
| 4 | Dave Marsh | 19-03 | 25-10 |
| 5 | Steven Pilling | 22-06 | |
| 6 | Martin Hopkins | 23-22 | |
| 7 | Stuart Anderson | 24-05 | 29-53 |
| 8 | Mark Hannett | 26-16 | 30-09 |
| 9 | Alan Stainer | 26-48 | |
| 10 | Alan Scholey | 27-57 | |
| 11 | Ken Bingley | 29-13 | |
Results Continued:
| Pos | Ladies | Time | Last Time |
| 1 | Louise Walker | 24-09 | 25-42 |
| 2 | Dot Hand | 24-20 | 24-23 |
| 3 | Clare Peckett | 24-55 | |
| 4 | Sue Needham | 25-02 | 25-03 |
| 5 | Christine Hall | 25-37 | |
Tables
VET’S LEAGUE TABLE
| 1= | Tony White | 28 |
| 1= | Dot Hand | 28 |
| 3 | Dave Marsh | 25 |
| 4= | Christine Hall | 22 |
| 4= | Sue Needham | 22 |
| 6 | Steve Pilling | 21 |
| 7 | Stuart Anderson | 17 |
| 8 | Mark Hannett | 13 |
| 9= | Adam Cooper | 10 |
| 9= | Emma Smith | 10 |
| 9= | Alan Stainer | 10 |
| 9= | Alan Slack | 10 |
| 13= | Jane Senior | 09 |
| 13= | Clare Peckett | 09 |
| 15 | Gill Day | 08 |
| 16= | Richard Mann | 07 |
| 16= | Stuart Haigh | 07 |
| 18 | Ken Bingley | 06 |
| 19= | Ron Dyson | 04 |
| 19= | Alan Scholey | 04 |
MEN’S LEAGUE TABLE
| 1 | Tony White | 27 |
| 2 | Tom Wainwright | 26 |
| 3 | Dave Marsh | 19 |
| 4 | Steve Pilling | 15 |
| 5 | Mark Vollans | 14 |
| 6= | Adam Cooper | 10 |
| 6= | Stuart Anderson | 10 |
| 6= | Alan Slack | 10 |
| 9= | Andy Opie | 07 |
| 9= | Mark Hannett | 07 |
| 11= | Stuart Haigh | 05 |
| 11= | Alan Stainer | 05 |
| 11= | Martin Hopkins | 05 |
| 14 | Richard Mann | 04 |
| 15 | Ken Bingley | 03 |
| 16 | Alan Scholey | 02 |
| 17 | Ron Dyson | 01 |
LADIES’ LEAGUE TABLE
| 1 | Dot Hand | 27 |
| 2 | Sue Needham | 21 |
| 3 | Christine Hall | 20 |
| 4 | Louise Walker | 16 |
| 5 | Emma Smith | 10 |
| 6 | Jane Senior | 09 |
| 7= | Gill Day | 08 |
| 7= | Clare Peckett | 08 |
| 9 | Debbie Mann | 04 |
Rodillian Runners and the Distance League
Rodillian Runners is a running club affiliated to NoEAA and UK Athletics. Our headquarters are Stanley Rodillian Rugby Club and we meet there on Tuesday nights for training runs. Most everyone is very welcome to run with us on a Tuesday night but we have to be aware that we are using the rugby club premises and facilities and to be fair to our hosts. For that reason, we ask that all who use the facility on Tuesday training nights either join us as first or second claim members (which in effect means joining the rugby club and gaining all the benefits of membership) or pay a £1-50 per session training fee (this is still 50p cheaper than other clubs in the area). First or second claim membership costs £32 per year. For this, members get full membership of the rugby club and are able to use the facilities free and also to book the clubhouse for private parties for free. First claim members are also able to vote at Rodillian Runners’ meetings and to compete in open events under the banner of “Rodillian Runners.” First and second claim members will also be able to have other advantages such as making use of club places in the London Marathon (which we’ve hitherto never bothered to claim).
The distance league was started to provide a fun and not too serious monthly run out for members and friends of Rodillian Runners and a social occasion afterwards. There is a general open invitation for anyone in the area to take part – the more the merrier. The Committee of Rodillian runners, however, reserves the right at any time to decide who may and may not participate.
Next Event
15th December
Approximately 3 miles on road
Stanley Rodillian Rugby Club
Christmas Handicaps – handicap start times
First runner away at 7-25
Entry - bring a unisex prize to value of £3-£4
Buffet food – cost £3
Showers and bar open
Future Events
To give everyone the opportunity to plan, we’ve set the dates for the next few events.
These will be:
15th December (Tuesday) Christmas Handicaps, Stanley Rodillian Rugby Club
21st January - venue to be decided
11th February - venue to be decided
If anyone is in touch with anyone else planning an event please let them know our dates, to avoid clashes.
Getting the newsletter
Newsletters are distributed by email (they seem to get round everyone). However, if you aren’t on email and would like me to print one for you, please just let me know. Each month, by the way, one or two emails are returned because of address problems - please remember to let me know, if you change your email address. If you don’t want to receive the newsletter, please let me know and I’ll remove you from the list.
