Distance League Newsletter 152 December 2010

WAKEFIELD DISTANCE RUNNING LEAGUE

NEWSLETTER 17th December 2010

Ron Needham 01924 829495 email: rodillianrunners@yahoo.co.uk

A Very Merry Christmas Handicaps

We had one of the best Christmas Handicaps events in memory last night, with 13 runners, most in fancy dress, a wonderful cake competition, our usual sumptuous buffet, and a good night of fun and frivolity in the bar afterwards.

In the running, the handicap system produced a new winner in Claire Peckett, although Rodillian Runners’ 2010 Champion Steven Pilling nearly made up Claire’s 5 and a half minutes start, being only 5 seconds behind at the close. Steven actually took nearly 2 minutes off the time her did in finishing 6^th last year. Tony White was the fastest man after handicap allowances have been removed, completing the course in 20-31, whilst a very in-form Helen Mann took maximum league points in the ladies’ event with 26-13.

The fancy dress competition produced some very imaginative outfits, with a ghost, a vicar, a Cadbury’s Milk Tray man, an elf and assorted Santas and angels running around Stanley. Richard deserves a special mention, if only because he clutched a rather large box of Milk Tray around the entire course (not easy in the sub-zero temperatures), but it was Darren’s vicar that took the judges’ eyes for originality and fun, even if he was initially mistakenly identified as Hitler (it was the moustache that did it Darren).

The cake competition was very exciting as well as being scrumptious, with seven entries from ladies and 3 from men. Points were awarded by our judging panel for taste and presentation and Alan tells me it was one of the hardest jobs I have ever talked him into doing - he said it was sheer hell having to eat so much cake in such a short space of time, especially with such a lot of chocolate being used, even harder than sorting out finish positions for the hundreds of excitable under 11s that finished within 4 or 5 minutes of each other at one of the Jane Tomlinson races last year, harder even than getting to Roundhay Park at 4-30 on a frozen February morning to start working on the National Cross Country Championships. We feel very sorry for putting you through such an arduous task Alan. Our other judge was Tony’s lady wife Wendy - it was a very close thing in the end, but they both performed admirably in sorting out the final winners from such a very high standard, with Louise taking the ladies’ prize for her chocolate and butter cream bonfire (complete with sparkler) and Richard taking the men’s for his mint and chocolate Rodillian Runners’ vest. It was great to meet Wendy, by the way and we hope she’ll become a regular visitor to cheer on Tony (my first words to her were actually “pleased to meet you, you’re judging the cake competition”). It was also good to see one of our founder members Val Anderson making a visit to the event.

The food was plentiful and sumptuous, as it always is (helped, of course, by the wonderful cake baking). Our thanks, as always to Sue and to Dot for the preparations.

League positions are now starting to sort themselves out as we’re 40% through the year, with Tony adding to his perfect season to take him 6 points ahead of Steven, whilst Louise is now 9 points in the lead in the Ladies’ event.

VETS

Please let me know if you are a vet and haven’t been included in the Vets tables. As in the last few 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 be on 13^th January and will be from the Bay Horse PH on the old Bradford Road about a mile from Newton Bar (you may remember we went there in March last year, had an excellent, well lit run, were made very welcome and they have Old Peculiar on tap). It will be two laps on road from Wrenthorpe Park, approximately 2.75 miles.

Result of 4th Meeting

Approximately 3 miles, Christmas Handicaps on road from Stanley Rodillian Rugby Club.

Men

		Actual Time	H/cap Time	2009	2008	2007	2006
1	Tony White	20-31	28-31	19-25	20-02	19-17	19-14
2	Steven Pilling	21-32	27-02	23-23
3	John McCarthy	21-44	29-14
4	Gerard Coyle	22-41	27-41	23-36
5	Richard Mann	23-31	28-01	22-30	24-19
6	Darren Duckworth	27-09	27-39
7	Stuart Anderson	29-20	29-20	27-32

Women

1	Helen Mann	26-13	27-43	26-11	26-59
2	Claire Peckett	26-57	26-57	26-52
3	Sharon Richman	27-57	27-57
4	Charlotte Sommerville	28-18	28-18
5	Louise Walker	28-21	28-51	25-56	29-21	27-20
6	Debbie Mann	37-01	37-01	39-25

Tables

LADIES’ LEAGUE TABLE

1	Louise Walker	34
2	Sharon Richman	25
3	Claire Peckett	23
4	Helen Mann	22
5	Charlotte Sommerville	21
6=	Dot Hand	18
6=	Gill Day	18
8	Sue Needham	15
9	Debbie Mann	13
10	Jo Hodgson	06

MEN’S LEAGUE TABLE

1	Tony White	40
2	Steven Pilling	34
3	Gerard Coyle	28
4	John McCarthy	26
5	Richard Mann	20
6	Dave Shaw	17
7	Darren Duckworth	16
8	Stuart Anderson	11
9	Mark Hannett	10
10	Alan Stainer	04

VET’S LEAGUE TABLE

1	Tony White	40
2	Louise Walker	34
3	Steven Pilling	34
4	Gerard Coyle	28
5	John McCarthy	26
6	Sharon Richman	25
7	Claire Peckett	23
8	Helen Mann	22
9	Charlotte Sommerville	21
10	Richard Mann	20
11=	Dot Hand	18
11=	Gill Day	18
13	Dave Shaw	17
14	Sue Needham	15
15	Stuart Anderson	13
16	Mark Hannett	10
17=	Jo Hodgson	06
17=	Alan Stainer	06

Christmas Cheer for fell runners

Seeing as it’s Christmas, a couple of fell-runner jokey-things doing the rounds:

“Fell runners are unarguably the fittest people in the world. They survive on a diet of sharp stones and dew. But should they happen to land on a sheep while abseiling without a rope down the north face of Scafell Pike, they will usually eat it. The brain is considered a rare delicacy - understandably, for brains are indeed rare among fell runners.”

Two 90 year old men, Mike and Joe, have been friends all of their lives.

When it's clear that Joe is dying, Mike visits him every day. One day Mike says, "Joe, we both loved fell running all our lives, and we ran in fell races together for so many years. Please do me one favour, when you get to Heaven, somehow you must let me know if there's fell running there."

Joe looks up at Mike from his death bed," Mike, you've been my best friend for many years. If it's at all possible, I'll do this favour for you.

Shortly after that, Joe passes on.

At midnight a couple of nights later, Mike is awakened from a sound sleep by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calling out to him, "Mike--Mike."

"Who is it? asks Mike sitting up suddenly. "Who is it?"

"Mike--it's me, Joe."

"You're not Joe. Joe is dead." (Note - if you’re Mark Hannett, that would be “Joe is did”)

"I'm telling you, it's me, Joe," insists the voice."

"Joe! Where are you?"

"In heaven", replies Joe. "I have some really good news and a little bad news."

"Tell me the good news first," says Mike.

"The good news," Joe says," is that there's fell running in heaven. Better yet, all of our old friends who died before us are here, too. Better than that, we're all young again and running at our best. Better still, it's always spring time and it never rains or snows. The mountains are all glorious, the tracks are wide but challenging, it’s never misty and you never get lost, the water in the streams is delicious, the officials don’t wear blazers, there’s lots of prizes, there’s always a ceilidh after the race, with good pies and free beer. There’s always hot showers. And best of all, we can run in a fell race every Saturday and we never get tired or injured."

That's fantastic," says Mike. "It's beyond my wildest dreams! So what's the bad news?

"There’s a race this Saturday and I’ve seen the start list. You're in it."

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
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.

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

Next Event

13th January

Approximately 2.75 miles, two laps on road

Bay Horse, Bradford Road

7-30 Start

Entry - £2

Future Events

To give everyone the opportunity to plan, we’ve set the dates for the next few events.

These will be: 13^th January, 10^th February, 10^th March.

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.

Distance League Newsletter 151 November 2010

WAKEFIELD DISTANCE RUNNING LEAGUE

NEWSLETTER 12^th November 2010

Ron Needham 01924 829495 email: rodillianrunners@yahoo.co.uk

Good turn-out of runners continues and continues

Normally, about this stage of the “season,” with the dark nights and the cold wet horrible weather setting in, the numbers attending the events declines rapidly. This year, our turn outs are improving; last night 16 members braved the gale force winds (that blew a tree down onto a car only a couple of miles away), and rain, and a good night was had by all. Alan Stainer came up with a superb 3 lap route almost from Wakefield town centre and we were made most welcome by a pub that had well kept real ale. What more can anyone ask?

In the event itself, Tony White saw off a serious challenge from the fast improving John McCarthy, to record his third successive win in the men’s results, whilst Gill Day (her New York street name has the “G” is pronounced the hard way, rather than the soft “J”) was nearly two minutes ahead of her nearest rival Helen. Tony’s perfect season continues and he has now amassed 30 points, with Steve Pilling in second place in the table on 25, whilst in the Ladies table, Dot’s absence through illness meant that Louise has now built up a 10 point lead. The position in the Vets table is also building up nicely, with Steve Pilling occupying the default leading position if Tony and Louise go on to take their respective titles.

VETS

Please let me know if you are a vet and haven’t been included in the Vets tables. As in the last few 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 16^th December, and is our Christmas Handicaps. The route will be our traditional road route, from Rodillian Runners’ HQ at 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 brings a prize (unisex please), to value of no more than £4, suitably wrapped - best if the wrapping can disguise the nature of the prize (please try to be a bit more original than the safe bottles of wine and 4 packs of beer). First home takes first choice of prizes from the table and so on. Just as examples, interesting prizes in the past have included a bow and arrow, a fire companion set, a box of cornflakes and a cassette tape of seasonal songs by Guy (pronounced “Gee”) Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. This latter prize went on to make three appearances as a handicap prize in consecutive years before someone obviously found a suitable use for it (the rumour was that it became a Christmas present for a disliked friend or relation).

There will be our usual Christmas grub at the presentation and the bar and showers will be operating. Charge for food will be £4 (guests and non-runners are welcome – non-runners to also pay for food, please, unless helping in marshalling, time keeping, etc.). There will also be the usual fancy dress competition (prize for best fancy dress amongst runners - and yes, you must wear the fancy dress in the event).

Cake Championship

We are to have a cake baking championship at the Christmas Handicap event, with a small prize for the best baked by a woman and also by a man. The rules are:

1. Submissions can be plain cake, fancy cake, whatever. As long as it can be described as a cake (i.e. not buns, biscuits etc) and is edible.
2. Cakes to be submitted on the night of the Christmas handicaps
3. There will be a judging panel of three, consisting of people attending on the night who have not submitted an entry. No member of the judging panel may have an interest in, or even knowledge of, any competitor’s entry. Entries will be judged anonymously (no names on the cakes)
4. Marks out of 5 will be given for both presentation and taste, total out of 10 points for each entry per judge
5. Marks will be averaged, so the total score will be out of 10 - if there is a draw, the results will be recalculated based on the taste only.
6. Judging panel decision is final!
   
   Cakes will be sampled on the night by the judges, and then polished off by the vultures, so entrants should not expect to be taking cake home! The cakes will form the “pudding” in the grub.
   
   

Result of 3rd Meeting

Approximately 3 miles, 3 laps on road from The College PH, Northgate, Wakefield.

Men

		Lap 1	Lap 2	Final Time
1	Tony White	6-18	12-59	19-25
2	John McCarthy	6-19	12-55	19-38
3	Steve Pilling	6-30	13-35	20-44
4	Gerard Coyle	6-56	14-28	22-00
5	Richard Mann	7-08	14-50	22-40
6	Dave Shaw	7-40	15-58	24-07
7	Darren Duckworth	8-11	17-17	26-28
8	Stuart Anderson	8-53	17-55	27-07
9	Alan Stainer	10-03	21-05	32-28

Women

		Lap 1	Lap 2	Final Time
1	Gill Day	8-17	16-58	24-05
2	Helen Mann	8-09	17-00	25-50
3	Louise Walker	8-16	17-14	26-14
4	Charlotte Somerville	8-46	14-48	26-32
5	Sharon Richman	8-36	17-39	26-48
6	Sue Needham	8-54	18-10	29-05
7	Debbie Mann	10-41	22-40	34-33

Tables

LADIES’ LEAGUE TABLE

1	Louise Walker	28
2	Dot Hand	18
3	Gill Day	18
4	Sharon Richman	17
5	Sue Needham	15
6=	Claire Peckett	14
6=	Charlotte Sommerville	14
8	Helen Mann	12
9	Debbie Mann	08
10	Jo Hodgson	06

MEN’S LEAGUE TABLE

1	Tony White	30
2	Steven Pilling	25
3	Gerard Coyle	21
4	John McCarthy	18
5	Dave Shaw	17
6	Richard Mann	14
7	Darren Duckworth	11
8	Mark Hannett	10
9	Stuart Anderson	07
10	Alan Stainer	04

VET’S LEAGUE TABLE

1	Tony White	30
2	Louise Walker	28
3	Steven Pilling	25
4	Gerard Coyle	21
5=	Dot Hand	18
5=	John McCarthy	18
5=	Gill Day	18
8=	Dave Shaw	17
8=	Sharon Richman	17
10	Sue Needham	15
11=	Claire Peckett	14
11=	Richard Mann	14
11=	Charlotte Sommerville	14
14	Helen Mann	12
15	Mark Hannett	10
16	Stuart Anderson	08
17=	Jo Hodgson	06
17=	Alan Stainer	06

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.

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

Next Event

16^th 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 no more than £4

Buffet food – cost £4

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: 16^th December (Christmas Handicaps), 13^th January, 10^th February, 10^th March.

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.

Distance League Newsletter 150 October 2010

WAKEFIELD DISTANCE RUNNING LEAGUE

NEWSLETTER 15^th October 2010

Ron Needham 01924 829495 email: rodillianrunners@yahoo.co.uk

Good turn-out of runners continues

The good start to the new season continued last night at Carlton, with 15 runners taking to the streets. Last year, the numbers dropped very significantly for the first of the dark nights, but this year the fall-off of only one is very “encouraging.” Significantly, the number of ladies running was more than the number of men. Also encouraging was the atmosphere in the Unicorn afterwards, with everyone crowding into the little room, with plenty of chat and a good time had by all.

What we hadn’t realised last night is that the run was actually the 150^th Distance League event - and we’re still going strong.

The event itself produced some good times and welcome return to form for some of our members. The men’s event was won by reigning champion Tony White, but newcomer John McCarthy had an excellent run and was only 21 seconds behind, whilst Steve Pilling demonstrated how fit he really is becoming by taking nearly 2 and a half minutes of his last time on this course. In the ladies, Louise also took nearly 2 and a half minutes of her last time on the course to finish 3 seconds ahead of Dot in second place.

In the leagues, Louise’s first place over Dot meant her lead in the Ladies table opened up by another single point to 2, whilst Tony is hedging into an early lead in the men’s.

VETS

Please let me know if you are a vet and haven’t been included in the Vets tables. As in the last few 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 11^th November, from The College on Northgate, Wakefield. It will be a 3 lap affair, getting close to a total of 3 miles on road. This is John Wotton’s local (since we put our curse on the Vine), and we hope John will be back from Oz in time to join us.

Cake Championship

We are to have a cake baking championship at the Christmas Handicap event, with prizes for the best baked by a woman and also by a man. Louise is thinking of the rules, the judging criteria and how judging will take place (Alan and Pete Hand have already volunteered to be on the panel), but now is the time aspiring cake champions to get thinking about what they will bake. Cakes will, of course, be eaten on the night.

Result of 2nd Meeting

Approxmiately 3.3 miles on road from the Unicorn, Carlton.

Men

		Time	Jan 2010	Jan 2008	Oct 2005
1	Tony White	19-25	20-27	19-39	18-20
2	John McCarthy	19-46
3	Steve Pilling	20-38	23-07
4	Gerard Coyle	21-56	22-41
5	Dave Shaw	23-36	23-11
6	Mark Hannett	24-57
7	Darren Duckworth	28-31

Women

		Time	Jan 2010	Jan 2008	Oct 2005
1	Louise Walker	25-01	27-21	26-16
2	Dot Hand	25-04
3	Gill Day	26-00		27-03	26-54
4	Charlotte Sommerville	26-05
5	Claire Peckett	26-26	26-55
6	Sue Needham	27-00	27-02	26-45	25-47
7	Sharon Richman	27-12
8	Helen Mann	27-35

Tables

LADIES’ LEAGUE TABLE

1	Louise Walker	20
2	Dot Hand	18
3	Claire Peckett	14
4	Sharon Richman	11
5	Sue Needham	10
6	Gill Day	08
7	Charlotte Sommerville	07
8	Jo Hodgson	06
9	Debbie Mann	04
10	Helen Mann	03

MEN’S LEAGUE TABLE

1	Tony White	20
2	Steven Pilling	17
3	Gerard Coyle	14
4	Dave Shaw	12
5	Mark Hannett	10
6	John McCarthy	09
7	Richard Mann	08
8	Darren Duckworth	07
9	Stuart Anderson	04
10	Alan Stainer	02

VET’S LEAGUE TABLE

1=	Louise Walker	20
1=	Tony White	20
3=	Dot Hand	18
4	Steven Pilling	17
5=	Claire Peckett	14
5=	Gerard Coyle	14
7	Dave Shaw	12
8	Sharon Richman	11
10=	Sue Needham	10
10=	Mark Hannett	10
12	John McCarthy	09
13=	Gill Day	08
13=	Richard Mann	08
15	Charlotte Sommerville	07
16	Jo Hodgson	06
17	Stuart Anderson	04
18=	Helen Mann	03
18=	Alan Stainer	03

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.

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

11^th November

The College, Northgate, Wakefield

Approximately 3 miles on road

Entry - £2 (no food)

Directions

From centre of Wakefield, take A61 (Leeds/Wakefield Road), Just past Charlie Brown round-a-bout, the College is on the right hand side, almost next door to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. Alternatively, from the north of the city, go to the Newton Bar round-a-bout (where the Vine is), take the Doncaster sign down Northgate, the pub is on the right just past QEGS.

For those with Satnav, the postcode is WF1 3QT

Future Events

To give everyone the opportunity to plan, we’ve set the dates for the next few events.

These will be: 16^th December (Christmas Handicaps)

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.

Distance League Newsletter 149 September 2010

WAKEFIELD DISTANCE RUNNING LEAGUE

NEWSLETTER 24^th September 2010

Ron Needham 01924 829495 email: rodillianrunners@yahoo.co.uk

Good turn-out welcomes first event of the new “season”

Sixteen athletes turned out for the first event of the new season at Stanley Rodillian Rugby Club. The relay format seemed popular and there were some interesting times put up. For those not there, the course was a circuit of about 0.9 of a mile, with teams of two put together on the basis of previous “form,” each runner in a team doing two laps, alternating with his/her partner. Adding together the lap times of each runners gives the positions for league points, whilst on the night prizes were awarded to teams. Putting together the fastest runner with the slowest meant that prizes could be won by some members not usually taking a prize (it must be the first time for a log while hat Tony has gone home without a bottle of wine). Some individual times are very telling – Darren’s first lap time of 6-56, for example, shows quite a bit of potential when he becomes fully fit, whilst Louise’s fairly consistent times, just above the 7 minute mark, show a welcome return to fitness. In fact a number of runners (Steve, Richard, Gerard, Dave, Dot, Claire) put up quite credible times.

A good run was followed by a good hour or so in the clubhouse, with the bar open and plenty to talk about. A lovely surprise was provided by Richard and Helen, in supplying sandwiches, and by Sharon’s rather wonderful home baked cake - our very grateful thanks to them for their kindness. We made a delayed presentation of the trophies for last year to Tony (men’s league) Dot (ladies’ league) and Stuart (vet’s league). The trophies are engraved crystal glasses and come all the way from Truro. At least the delay meant we could have the name of the vets winner engraved on the traditional whiskey glass - the league went right down to the last event before we found the winner. As last year, the veteran’s table will be based upon points awarded for finishing places within the male/female vets’ categories (see below for a better explanation), but with three new vets joining the fray for the first time this year (Gerard, Jo and Louise), and with competitors only able to take one league prize(so if Tony heads the Vets and the Male tables, he will take the Men’s prize and the Vet’s will default to the second in he table), we could have an interesting situation towards the end of the season.

VETS

Please let me know if you are a vet and haven’t been included in the Vets tables. As in the last few 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 14^th October, from The Unicorn in Carlton. Route will be on road, about 3 miles. The landlord and landlady make us very welcome at this venue. Beer is good and good value bar meals are available.

Result of 1st Meeting

Relay format, 2 laps each runners of approximately 0.9 mile, road with a short off-road element.

Teams

1	Steven Pilling & Darren Duckworth	27-05
2	Gerard Coyle & Stuart Anderson	27-24
3	Claire Peckett & Dave Shaw	27-54
4	Dot Hand & Sharon Richman	29-30
5	Jo Hodgson & Louise Walker	29-38
6	Mark Hannett & Sue Needham	30-07
7	Richard Mann & Alan Stainer	30-24
8	Tony White & Debbie Mann	33-01

Individual Times

Ladies

		1st stage	2nd stage	aggregate
1	Louise Walker	7-02	7-08	14-10
2	Dot Hand	7-08	7-05	14-13
3	Claire Peckett	7-03	7-17	14-20
4	Sharon Richman	7-41	7-36	15-17
5	Jo Hodgson	7-39	7-49	15-28
6	Sue Needham	7-47	8-10	15-57
7	Debbie Mann	11-05	10-36	21-41

Individual Times

Men

		1st stage	2nd stage	aggregate
1	Tony White	5-32	5-48	11-20
2	Steven Pilling	5-51	6-00	11-51
3	Richard Mann	5-58	6-18	12-16
4	Gerard Coyle	6-10	6-21	12-31
5	Dave Shaw	6-44	6-50	13-34
6	Mark Hannett	7-03	7-07	14-10
7	Stuart Anderson	7-28	7-25	14-53
8	Darren Duckworth	6-56	8-18	15-14
9	Alan Stainer	9-13	8-55	18-08

Tables

LADIES’ LEAGUE TABLE

1	Louise Walker	10
2	Dot Hand	09
3	Claire Peckett	08
4	Sharon Richman	07
5	Jo Hodgson	06
6	Sue Needham	05
7	Debbie Mann	04

MEN’S LEAGUE TABLE

1	Tony White	10
2	Steven Pilling	09
3	Richard Mann	08
4	Gerard Coyle	07
5	Dave Shaw	06
6	Mark Hannett	05
7	Stuart Anderson	04
8	Darren Duckworth	03
9	Alan Stainer	02

VET’S LEAGUE TABLE

1=	Louise Walker	10
1=	Tony White	10
3=	Dot Hand	09
3=	Steven Pilling	09
5=	Claire Peckett	08
5=	Richard Mann	08
7=	Sharon Richman	07
7=	Gerard Coyle	07
9=	Jo Hodgson	06
9=	Dave Shaw	06
10=	Sue Needham	05
10=	Mark Hannett	05
11	Stuart Anderson	04
12	Alan Stainer	03

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.

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

14^th October

The Unicorn, Carlton

Approximately 3 miles on road

Entry - £2 (no food)

Directions

Take A61 (Leeds/Wakefield Road)

At traffic lights at The Half Way House (pub) at Robin Hood, turn right if heading towards Leeds, or turn left if heading towards Wakefield. In about 500 metres, turn right (first road right you come to) and follow this road to its very end. Turn left at T junction at end of road. Unicorn PH is in about 3 metres on left. Park on the waste ground on the right, opposite the pub. For those with Satnav, the postcode is WF3 3RW

Future Events

To give everyone the opportunity to plan, we’ve set the dates for the next few events.

These will be: 11^th November, 16^th December (Christmas Handicaps)

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.