The Isle of Man Veteran Athletes' Club Newsletter
reports that (there was in the Boundary Stroll )
"a slightly disappointing field for the run
after some good sized entries in the last couple
of years"
2003 (slightly disappointing field) = 19
2002 (good sized entry) = 17
2001 (good sized entry) = 10
and I thought you were mad to run the
Road Running Grand Prix......(30-10-03)
Also from the vets newsletter. Maggie Watkins
not only completed the Road Running Grand Prix in
August but during the day she kept her cycling and
swimming training up in readiness for her triathlons.
Wet weather training (29-10-03)
As I splashed thorough the puddles on the promenade
tonight (we'd planned to run at the NSC but the
roadway was waterlogged behind the grandstand) I
thought back to the debate I started last year about
whether athletes would be better off sitting out
the worst of the weather and concentrate on quality
training was the weather improved.
I've always been an all weather person myself
but I'm sure I would have failed a sanity test tonight.
There were a surprising number of runners on the
promenade tonight and I apologise to those that
I failed to acknowledge with the usual courtesies
as I had a job to see where I was going in the rain.
Phl Riley adopts (29-10-03)
I've 'adopted' a new coach, Mike Stayman, who
is regarded as one of the best jumps coaches in
the north of England and who has recently been appointed
head jumps coach for Leeds Met, where i train. I've
not left Wilf Paish, but i'm doing conditioning
and speed with him and technical work with Mike.
Have been doing some great plyometric sessions of
a Friday night, and also some work with springboards
and trampettes to get my technique sorted. Have
had a few bizarre niggles here and there but am
slowly getting into a routine. My first indoor event
will probably be at Sheffield in mid-November (the
first at the new indoor track there) which will
give me a good indicator as to how my training has
been progressing.
Still very confident of 7 metres this season,
to jump it indoors is probably asking a bit too
much but you never know. Ideally i'd like to achieve
the Commonwealth qualifying standard this forthcoming
season which would give me a big boost in terms
of my chances of selection.
I'll try and keep you updated when i can, the
work load at uni has skyrocketed so its less beer
and more work for me!!!
Holidays (28-10-03)
It seems that there are a record number of Manx
people off the Island for the half term holidays
or is it just the people I mix with? There are too
many to list but one person who remembered the website
prior to departure was Richie Stevenson who emailed
me at 5.30 am on Sunday.
I'm still here with Robbie although Marie and
Ben are enjoying a three night trip to Paris leaving
me free to spend some of my free time on my addictions.
Strangely, I've actually spent less time on
the website than normal.
Timetable for middle distance day on Saturday confirmed
Chris Quine reports (27-10-03)
Preparations are virtually complete for the Saturday's
Middle Distance Training Day. Here is some information
for those attending:
Timetable for the day is:
10.30 - Introduction
10.50 - Planning your
racing and training
11.30 - Training run
12.30 - Lunch
13.15- What makes a
great runner? including Seb Coe video
14.30 Stretching
15.00 - Fitness testing
16.00 - Question and
answer session with Colin Moore (former GB
international)
16.30 Conclusion/next
steps
Instructions for those attending:
Remember we based are in the Indoor Area of the
NSC. We are going to be based in the Conference
Room near to the café. If you go to the café area,
I will ensure that you are directed to the Conference
Room from there. We are aiming for a 10.30 start
so please try to be prompt.
Refreshments will be available during the day
from the café. If you would rather, please feel
free to bring a packed lunch and/or drinks as well.
As part of the morning will be spent outdoors,
I suggest that you bring some spare kit as it is
likely that you will be wet or sweaty (!) depending
on the weather. The training run will be split into
two group depending on age and ability - and these
will run for different amounts of time/distance.
After lunch all activity will be based indoors.
Thanks are due in advance to Manx Sport and Recreation
for help and support in promoting this initiative.
If anyone is intending to turn up but has not
yet notified me, can they please do so on 670521
immediately.
Douglas Steam Saw Mill Syd Quirk Half Marathon (27-10-03)
Setting a record for the number of finishers,
amazingly 71 for each of the past three years, is
still a possibility.
On Saturday the total entry level stood at 56.
Entries close on Friday although late entries will
be taken on the day with a £1 premium. It makes
it easier for everyone if you enter in advance however
so please do so today.
I Friday I reported that I'd just re-started a project that Steve Taylor
assisted with last year, to compile a database of
finishers in the Peel to Douglas Walk.
It was first held in 1961 and I've added the
remaining years from 1981.
Last weekend Anthony Brand sent me some good
pictures of the sand dune training which I published
almost as soon as I received them. There was
some joking that evening at the Paul Clarke birthday
party that things were going too far when we were
even publishing pictures of training sessions.
Well its happened again.
Yesterday afternoon I was enjoying (?) a hard
14 mile training run with Paul Curphey, Mike Garrett
and Neville Jewell. As we approached the Braaid
Crossroads there was a man standing in the middle
of the road with a camera. It was Graham Davies
who took this
picture.
Making the line up for the Flora London Marathon
on 18 April 2004 has been my objective since I missed
out this year through injury while Paul, whose slowest
time in London is 2.48, is intending to run
for the 11th year in a row.
Meanwhile Mike is planning to make his debut
after two years of preparation. He has gained some
experience of distances of 10 miles to half marathon
and stretched this distance to 25km in the Boundary
Stroll last month. He is generally the fastest
of our training group but the long runs on a Saturday
afternoon and the 20 mile race in March will be
the determining factors as to whether he can convert
this form to the marathon. Unlike Paul and I who
have entries for London via the "good for (old)
age" category, Mike is currently waiting patiently
to see if his entry is accepted.
Neville ran London this year as part of his triathlon
preparations and he too must wait to see if his
entry is accepted. With a little more specialist
training, I'm expecting him to improve on his 3.18
clocking of this year.
Cross Country Venues (26-10-03)
There seems to be some uncertainly amongst people
regarding the cross country venues for the remainder
of the Manx Gas League. The second and fourth
rounds were scheduled for Ramsey with the third
at Nobles Park. It has already been announced
via this website (but not personally to everyone
who entered the league) that the second and third
rounds had been switched so Nobles Park is round
two and Ramsey rounds 3 & 4.
I've now heard (unofficially) that the Western
AC round (that was scheduled as round 5) will be
switched to round 3 or 4 using a course at Starvey
(on the back roads between Poortown and Cronk-y-Voddy).
Hopefully all will be confirmed soon.
IOM: athletics (26-10-03)
THROWERS COURSE
In the absence of a
recognised throwing coach on the Island, and the fact that we have so many good
throwers both young and old the Isle of Man Athletic Association have asked for
help from UK Athletics.
Consequently Bob Welfare UKA
level 4 throwers coach will be coming to the Island to deliver a throwing
workshop over the weekend 1st & 2nd November, the
workshop will include both practical and theoretical elements and is open to
both coaches, athletes and parents.
Saturday 1st
November
Meet at the NSC outdoor
social area at 9.30 am the day
should conclude around 5 p.m.
Topics covered will be Shot
and Discus.
Sunday 2nd
November
Same time and venue
Topics covered will be
Hammer & Javelin.
Due to costs involved there
will be an attendance charge of £10 per person per day for athletes. Coaches
are free.
_____________________________________
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting
of the Isle of Man Athletic Association will be held on Thursday, 20th
November 2003 at 7.30pm. Venue to be named shortly.
Graham Davies
Hon.
Secretary
IOM X-C CHAMPIONSHIPS
The IOM Athletic Association
has postponed the Isle of Man Cross Country Championships on Sunday 25th
January 2004.
The reasons and further
details of the new date will be given shortly.
Isle
of Man Athletic Association
Thistledo,
Ballafesson Road, Port Erin, Isle of Man
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE WALKER BROTHERS HILL
LEAGUE
Thanks to Phil Cain & Richie Stevenson 29-10-02
updated by Murray Lambden 23-10-03
1995
Overall Phil
Cain
Lady
Rose Hooton
Vet
Ian Callister
1996
Paul Clarke
Brenda Walker
Phil Cain
1997
Phil Cain
Rose Hooton
Phil Cain
1998
Paul Clarke
Jackie Ashman
Phil Cain
1999
Paul Clarke
Rose Hooton
Keith Callister
2000
Tony Okell
Brenda Walker
Brian Osbourne
2001
Tony Okell
Rose Hooton
Tony Okell
2002
Tony Okell
Rose Hooton
Tony Okell
"IF YOU WANT TO GO YOU HAD BETTER LET ME KNOW SOON" WARNS
CHRIS QUINE (22-10-03)
There has been a very positive response to the
forthcoming Middle Distance Training Day. A number
of "new names" have shown an interest
and I am particularly pleased that a number of young
runners from QE2 school in Peel are hoping to be
there.
I am also pleased to confirm that we will have
two former international athletes - Maurice Herriott
and Colin Moore - in attendance during day to pass
on advice and tell us how they made it to the top
of the sport.
I am still waiting to hear from a number of people
to confirm whether they are attending or not. Space
in the room we are using at the NSC is limited.
So that we can make sure that everyone fits in comfortably
it would be very helpful if all those intending
to come along could let me know as soon as possible.
Thank you to those who have advised that they
will be unable to attend due to the clash with the
end of the half term holiday. I was aware of this
when we selected the date but was restricted by
fixtures, availability of the NSC and the need to
organise something sooner rather than later.
There details have been noted and I will make sure
that they are included in future squad events.
Please phone me on 670521 in the event of any
questions.
TRAINING PARTNERS REQUIRED (22-10-03)
Former Commonwealth Games cyclist and a useful
runner in his time, Steve Porter, is looking for
"moderate speed" pack runs in Douglas.
RICHIE STEVENSON PREVIEWS THE WALKER BROTHERS HILL LEAGUE (21-10-03)
The opening round of this years Walker Brothers
Winter Hill League is nearly upon us and there is the prospect of some tight and
exciting racing over the Winter months leading up to Xmas.
Glen Ruy Farm is the venue for the first of three
races this coming Saturday and it will be run at a very fierce pace. I had a
run over the course this afternoon ( Tuesday ) in the sleet showers and it is in
fine condition. It is still firm underfoot and unless we have a couple of days
of non-stop rain I can`t see this changing. The rain we have had has made the
surface a little slippery in places but with modern day shoes being so grippy I
can`t see this being any problem.
The course is probably slightly shorter this
year because of the different start and finish section. This fact along with
the good underfoot conditions and the extra competition should virtually
guarentee a new course record which I predict will be near 15
minutes.
Last years race winner and league champion was Tony
Okell. He has kept a low profile for the past couple of months so what state of
fitness he is in is open to speculation but I dare say if he starts he will be
there or thereabouts. The man to beat though will be Septembers Creg Ny Baa
winner Paul Sheard if his work commitments allow him to run. He seems to have
settled well to life in Ramsey and has been puttting in some good sessions with
Manx Harriers and of course finished runner-up to Keith Gerrard in the opening
round of the cross- country league. It will be a challenge to make the top six
this year as apart from the two favourites we have runners like last years
second place man Brian Osbourne, Ian Gale, Simon Skillicorn, who is
reportedly flying at the moment, Steve Partington and Tony Rowley to name a
few who could challenge for the top places.
Last year we only had a couple of juniors and four
females racing. It would be nice to see these numbers improve and hopefully the
new team competition may well encourage some to have a go.
Please arrive at Glen Ruy Farm in good time so as
we can get the entries down in time for a 1.30pm prompt start.
The kettle will beready at the finish.
Isle of Man Veteran Athletes Club Newsletter (20-10-03)
I received a copy of the above today even though
I am not a member of the club (thanks guys). Under
Alan Poslethwaite's editorship there is an amazing
level of detail in the results page.
The most interesting couple of pages (for me)
however was Sue Furner's report of her Jogle (John
O'Groats to Land's End Walk) which I hadn't read
elsewhere but I would love to publish online of
possible.
The veterans dinner is being held at the Ascot
Hotel on 8 November and the club is appealing to
their members to send their booking forms to Moira
Hall as soon as possible.
More from the newsletter during the week.
Don't forget that the IOMVAC have their own website
which can be accessed from this site from the sidebar
on most pages or click
here.
Douglas Steam Saw Mill Syd Quirk Half Marathon (19-10-03)
Mike Gelliom reports that to date the IOMVAC
have received 32 entries for the run, and 13 for
the walk. This compares with 49/22 last year. "With
a couple of weeks to go I'm still hopeful we can
beat that" said Mike last night. He added "Slower
runners, i.e. those who anticipate taking more than
2hrs 15mins, are invited to start at 9.15am with
the walkers - but only if they wish."
I've done a couple of hours work tonight on the
Syd Quirk Half Marathon statistics and quite by
chance I noticed some amazing consitentcy from Robbie
Lambie.
During his first three years in the event he
ran as follows:
01:17:11
1980
01:17:10
1981
01:17:19
1984
He only ran once after that. In 1985 he was timed
at 1.20.28 so he must have decided that after his
consistent record was lost it wasn't worth competing
again. Go on Robbie, have another go!
POSTMAN DELIVERS SECRETS (19-10-03)
A few weeks ago I received an invitation for
Marie and I to attend a surprise 40th birthday party
for Paul Clarke. Very pleasant I thought then I
asked Marie who had delivered it. "The postman
of course" she said. The significance
was that Paul is actually our postman (and Andy
Fox's who was also invited) which meant that Paul
had delivered the invitation to his own surprise
party!
I've been dying to tell that story every since
but of course I couldn't until now! There will be
more pictures published in the course of the next
few days so, if you were there, you haven't escaped!
COURSE READY FOR HILL LEAGUE (18-10-03)
The course has been marked out for next weeks race
and anyone who wishes to go over it for a look can do so but please give James
Coulson a ring at Glen Ruy Farm 862034 before you go. Many thanks to Tony Rowley
for putting the flags out. The course follows more or less the same route as
last year, the only difference is the route will descend a grassy field by James
house at the start that is a lot smoother than the previous route. This section
will also be used in reverse on the return leg. Race distance is the same at
just under 3 miles.
" I see you baby, shakin that ass!"
(17-10-03)
The above is an alternative caption to the photo
with the link below:
Chris Quine tells us more about the coaching day (16-10-03)
As part of the recently unveiled Middle Distance
plan, a Middle Distance training day is to be held
on Saturday 1st November. We will be covering a
range of topics during the day and this is an excellent
chance for all prospective middle distance runners
to find out a little more about what it is all about.
Coaches and parents are welcome too.
The main purpose of the day is to launch the
Isle of Man Middle Distance squad. I hope to use
this squad as the launch pad to develop our athletes
towards the Island Games in 2007. Hopefully what
we cover during the day will inspire them towards
wanting to be part of this effort.
Letters have been sent to a number of prospective
members. However, it is impossible to cover everyone.
Therefore, anyone who is interested is welcome to
attend. I would appreciate it if I could be advised
in advance of the day so we have an idea on numbers.
A number of coaches will be in attendance. Part
of the day will be used as an opportunity to feed
athletes who have no coaching support into existing
training groups if they require assistance.
When I started out in athletics........
we would head to the Foresters after club runs
on Monday and Wednesday evenings. We had and still
do have the Beer Drinking Festival with a little
bit of running on the side and of course the infamous
Millennium Way relay coach trip on Boxing Day. Some
might say that athletics is centred around running
and you may well be right so try this test to see
how you fare.
Richie Stevenson would like to hear from teams for the Walker Bros
Hill League
If any runners who are competing in this years
league have sorted themselves into teams I would appreciate them contacting me
to make the paper work a little easier and quicker next Saturday. Phone number
is 629267.
World Championships: (16-10-03)
Does anyone have a video recordings of any of
the middle distance finals from this year's World
Champioships in Paris. If so, I wonder if it would
be possible to borrow any of them for use at the
Middle Distance Training Day on 1st November. They
would be returned after the event.
If anyone can help can they please contact Chris
Quine on 670521 or 432546 (mobile).
RUGBY WORLD CUP (nothing to do with athletics returns to this
page) (15-10-03)
Following complaints made to the IRB about the
All Blacks being allowed to motivate themselves
by performing the 'Haka' before their games, other
nations were asked to suggest pre-match rituals
of their own. The IRB Rugby World Cup 2003
Organising Committee has now agreed to the following
pre-match displays: 1. The England team
will chat about the weather, wave hankies in the
air and attach bells to their ankles before
moaning about how they invented the game and
gave it to the world, and how it's not fair that
everyone still thinks New Zealand are the
best team in the world. 2. The Scotland team
will chant "You lookin' at me Jimmy?"
before smashing an Irn Bru bottle over their
opponents' heads. 3. The Ireland team will
split into two, with the Southern half performing
a Riverdance, while the Northerners march
the Traditional route from their dressing room to
the pitch, via their opponents dressing room. 4.
Argentina will unexpectedly invade a small part
of opposition territory, claim it as their
own "Las In-Goals-Areas" and then be forcibly
removed by the match stewards. 5. Two
members of the South African team will claim to
be more important than the other 13 whom they
will imprison between the posts whilst they claim
the rest of the pitch for themselves. 6. The
Americans will not attend until almost full time.
In future years they will amend the records
to show that they were in fact the most important
team in the tournament, won it single handedly and
Hollywood will make a film called 'Saving
No.8 Lyle'. 7. Five of the Canadian team will
sing La Marseillaise and hold the rest of the
team to ransom. 8. The Italian team will arrive
in Armani gear, sexually harass the female stewards
and then run away. 9. The Spanish will sneak
into the other half of the pitch, mow it and then
claim that it was all in line with European
"grass quotas". They will then curl
up under the posts and have a kip until half time,
when their appeal for compensation against
the UK government will be heard. 10. The Japanese
will attempt to strengthen their team by offering
good salaries to the key opposition players
and then run around the pitch at high speed
in a highly efficient manner before buying the ground
(with a subsidy from the UK Government). 11..
The French will declare they have new scientific
evidence that the opposition are in fact all
mad. They will then park lorries across the halfway
line, let sheep loose in the opposition half and
burn the officials. 12. The Australians will
have a barbie before negotiating lucrative singing
and TV contracts in the UK. They will then
invite all their mates to come and live with
them in Earls Court. 13. Unfortunately the
Committee were unable to accept the Welsh suggestion
following complaints from the RSPCA.
Middle Distance Training Day: (15-10-03)
The IOM Athletics Association, supported by Manx
Sport and Recreation, are holding a Middle Distance
Training Day at the NSC on Saturday 1st November.
The day is being organised by Chris Quine and
Gianni Epifani, two of the Island's leading middle
distance exponents in recent years, and will be
used to launch the Isle of Man Middle Distance squad.
It is envisaged that this squad will form the basis
for future Island Games teams. The IOM AA are now
focusing their middle distance efforts on developing
a team for the 2007 games in Rhodes.
The day is open to all aged 13 year and over
as at 1st September and will cover a range and range
of topics including a practical training session,
stretching and planning your training and racing.
There will also be the opportunity to meet former
international athletes.
Further information from Chris Quine on 670521.
MMMO AGM
by Richie Stevenson (15-10-03)
The Annual General Meeting of the Manx Mountain
Marathon Organisation will be held on Wednesday 12th November at the Manx
Harriers Club House. Many thanks to the Harriers for allowing us to use it.
Start time is 8.00pm.
In any attempt to make use of many of the useful contributions submitted
by Steve Partington recently, I've decided to make
him the guest news page writer tonight. All the
following are attributable to Steve. (14-10-03)
Diane Lawrence will be missed
Diane Lawrence is leaving the Island in the next
couple of weeks - heading back to Guernsey and then
onto a three month voluntary stint in Cambodia...
Paul Jackson on his bike at Port St Mary
Paul Jackson (who sounds uncannily like PFA chairman
Gordon Taylor) is out of action having stubbed his
big toe on the lifeboat trailer on Ramsey Prom during
last week's Ramsey Fireman's.
Any local veterans fancy a
trip down under and need an excuse to go?
World Masters Non Stadia Champs, Auckland, 18-24
April 2004
The website http://www.wma2004.org has some very
helpful information, but not all of it is up-to-date.
In particular the days for the walks have been rearranged,
and also there is some confusion over the distances.
- The website still refers to a 20km Walk for Men
- there is no such race being held. The correct
information is: Monday 19th April. 20km Road
Walk for Women; 30km Road Walk for Men Wednesday
21 April. 10km Road Walk. (Both Men &
Women)
Friday 23 April. 50km Road
Walk. (Both Men & Women)
Alas, I'm two years too young!
NO REPLY (13-10-03)
Following even more demands on my time than ever,
I've failed to respond to virtually all the emails
I've received in recent weeks. Thanks for all your
contributions. I will get back to you all personally
- eventually!
PETER KANEEN SETS MANX VETERANS RECORD (13-10-03)
and has learnt the art of pace judgment says
Steve Taylor
There was a fine display of athletic talent of
the past? in attendance for the Veterans Union Mills
Garage 20km race walk held at the Bowl on Sunday.
Murray Lambden and the three Steve's, Partington,
Brennan and Taylor were all there but no to compete
only to watch. And what they witnessed was the Islands
number one Peter Kaneen see off young pretender
Neil Bates with a display of sound race walking
technique and metronomic pace judgement.
Settling in behind Neil for the first few laps,
the pace was a little erratic with there being over
10 seconds difference between the fastest and slowest
laps in the early stages so Peter took control of
the race just before 5km and settled into a rhythm
that took him through 10km in 49 minutes and then
seemingly effortlessly taking a little over 48 minutes
to complete the second half. Looking very relaxed
Peter always looked as if he could up a gear as
he knocked out laps of 3.51/3.52 to pull away from
his nearest rival with every step. Indeed he lapped
the entire field by the end of the race finishing
with yet another sub 100 minutes performance this
year.
His record this year is
March 1, 95.49, Steam Packet walks, Bowl
April 26, 96.50, Leamington Grand Prix,
May 8, 95.24, Manx Champs, Bowl
July 12, 103.01, Dublin Grand Prix, 3 weeks after
Parish Walk October 12, 97.04, Bowl
A very consistent set of results claiming a Manx
Veterans record in the process. There can be no
doubt that his performance in Dublin was greatly
effected by his efforts around the Islands churches
which saw him come within minutes of the record
set by the great Derek Harrison.
We have been critical on this site of Peters
pace judgment over 50km in the past but witnessing
his performance on Sunday we can only hope that
he puts what he has learned and proved successful
here into practice over the longer distance to good
effect next year.
OOPS (13-10-03)
I slip of the fingers resulted in my reporting
a picture of Phil Motley instead of Phil Mackie.
I've now corrected. The other person in the
picture was Richard Cooil, reports Phil Mackie.
CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED (13-10-03)
Steve Partington reports that Eric Kelly (under
9's XC winner) ran in his football boots and shin
pads.
WHILE NEIL BATES WAS RACING IN THE ISLE OF MAN, DAD TERRY WAS BEATEN
IN HIS DEBUT AS A GUERNSEYMAN
Rob Elliott reports
At last I get the better of Terry! We will
count him as a Guernseyman after one year in Guernsey.
Dave Dorey had the better of Mick Le Sauvage in the opening
race in the Sarnia Walking Club Handicap series for the Bob Wright Memorial
Trophy, winning by 24 seconds. Fastest time of the day was by Rob Elliott in
third who pipped Terry Bates by only two seconds on actual time. Starting 15
seconds ahead Elliott opened up the gap even further over the opening 4
kilometres before Bates clawed time back in the final stages. Consolation for
Bates came in the form of a new allcomers age best time for 5
kilometres.
Sarnia Walking Club, Guernsey
Handicap 1
5 kilometres road walk at Les Amarreurs
1 Dave Dorey (M/55) 34:30 (Watch time) 31:45
(Actual)
2 Mick Le Sauvage (M/60) 34:54 / 32:09
3 Rob Elliott (M/40) 35:07 / 26:07
4 Rose Drückes (W/55) 35:17 / 35:17
5 Terry Bates (M/50) 35:24 / 26:09
6 Kevin Le Noury (M/45) 35:40 / 31:55
7 Stuart Le Noury (U/20) 35:52 / 32:22
8 John Dedman 38:09 / 34:24
Jason Le Noury (U/17) retired
Rob Elliott for Sarnia WC
STEVE TAYLOR PROVIDES SOME HUMOUR (10-10-03)
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people
with your troubles, If you can eat the same food
everyday and be grateful for it, If you can understand
when loved ones are too busy to give you time, If
you can overlook when people take things out on
you when through no fault of yours, something goes
wrong, If you can take criticism and blame without
resentment, If you can face the world without lies
and deceit, If you can conquer tension without medical
help, If you can relax without liquor or If you
can sleep without the aid of drugs.
You Must Be A Dog!
MIKE GELLION ADDRESSES HIS FANS! (10-10-03)
Just a quick note to thank all those readers of the
website who have had the excellent taste and discernment to make my photo in
yesterday's End to End race the most accessed.
My slight disappointment at not achieving a top 10
place in the event this year has been more than compensated for by the proper
(if rather belated) recognition of my aesthetic appeal.
However, I promise not to let my newly-acquired
status as the "Port St Mary Becks" go to my head!
But five minutes
later I received this:
Please ignore my previous message - I've been
overtaken in the photogenic stakes!
Yesterday's man already!!
and another note
from Murray:
I've just checked
tonight and you are down to fourth now Mike. Another
fiver please if you want to go back to the top!
END TO END 50KM TIMES WELL UP TO NATIONAL STANDARD writes Steve Taylor
(10-10-03)
2003 UKA championships held at the Bowl
in March
1st 5.09.16 Steve
Arnold
2nd 5.25.17 Mark
Byrne
3rd 5.55.52 Simon
Cox
2003 RWA championships held in Aug, Stockport
1st 5.00.41 Mike
Smith
2nd 5.05.46 Chris
Berwick
3rd 5.32.00 Steve
Arnold
I think that Robbie Callister and Seam Hands
can certainly be proud of there times (5.23.36,
5.26.24)which would have put them on the podium
at both of these championships. I know you don't
like the comparisons but the end to end is surely
one of the toughest 50km courses in the country.
TEAM ISLE OF MAN FOR THE FELLS IN 2004 (10-10-03)
Richie Stevenson reports
I have just received great news from Alan Barlow of
the Fell Runners Association who has been negotiating on our behalf to enter a
composite team or Team Isle of Man in the British Fell Championships in 2004.
Although composite teams are not allowed normally for obvious rreasons the PST
of UKA have agreed to allow us entry. The championship is run over six different
races with a runners best four to count which must include a short, medium and
long race. The opening round is next April in Northern Ireland.
MANX GAS CROSS CHALLENGE
ROUND ONE: - National Cross
Country Course at Port St Mary Golf Course
Date: - Sunday 12th
October 2003
TIMETABLE & AGE GROUP COURSES
All athletes are advised to
look over the course before they race.
1.00 PMReport and sign on (early as its the first
round)
Course open for inspection
2.00 PMUnder
9 Boys & Girls Run to point A, follow short lap route to finish.(1 lap Short course)
2.05 PMUnder
11 Boys & Girls Run to point A, follow short lap route to finish.(2 laps short course)
2.15 PMUnder 13Boys/Girls and under 15 Girls 1
Large lap
2.20 PMUnder 15 Boys & under 17 Girls 2
Large laps
Junior
Ladies 1 small lap & 2 Large laps
Under 17 Boys 1 small lap & 2 Large Laps
2.30 PMShort Course Race 2 large laps
2.30 PMVeteran Ladies & Senior Ladies 3
Large laps
Veteran, Senior & Junior Men 5 Large laps
These times are subject to change at the
request of the referee.
RAMSEY FIREMANS (06-10-03)
Would someone like to write a little piece for
the website about the attractions of the above?
I've never received any pre-race publicity
and although I've tried to explain the enjoyment
of handicap races, it would be nice if someone could
really sell the series to the first time runner.
Thanks. Front page coverage guaranteed!
KEIRON MURRAY LOOKS FORWARD TO THE FRUITS OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
and looks forward to the next two Island Games!
(06-10-03)
Congratulations to Chris Quine and the IoMAA
for putting together the MD performance plan.
It's good to see that there's already some progress
being made with the inter-club co-ordination of
training in the Douglas area. Let's hope there are
plenty of runners from clubs other than the Fell
Runners and Harriers who take up this opportunity
to do some structured training.
It would appear that the main reason for the
decline in standards is that my local contemporaries
(i.e. born in the 1970's) have - but for myself
and Julie Harrison - largely been lost to the sport
from their mid-teens onwards. The drop off in standards
is down to that fact. If you haven't got competitors
in their 20's, you're going to struggle. Look also
at the nucleus of the past few Games teams (in particular
the medal winners) and you'll see that it is made
up of a disproportionate number of competitors who
didn't spend their formative years here. Again I
think this is a pretty important point to recognise.
The competitive environment on the island when
I began racing in the mid 1980's was very parochial
and has hindered athletics right through to the
more recent efforts of clubs, particularly Manx
Harriers to bring teenagers through into the senior
ranks. As an example of the parochial atmosphere,
I can still clearly remember the big fuss made by
Manx AC at the 1986 IoMAA track championships when
I ran first claim for Western AC despite (or in
the face of) the fact) that I contested the Manx
AC track league every week in the summer. The simple
reason for this was that my first ever league cross-country
race was at Peel and so Western got me first claim
but that was how it was back then. If I recall correctly
you also had to join a club (second-claim) to run
a cross-country league as well.
The main reason I stuck with Western at that
time was because Dave Phillips made such great efforts
forging links with Sale Harriers and organising
trips away. They were the races I looked forward
to more than any others. Unfortunately after under
13's there was nothing in the way of off-Island
competition to keep that development going. I'd
be racing and getting beaten by the same runners
week in week out.
13 through to 18 is the key age for development
as the Plan has identified and the squad system
/mentoring can get rid of the stagnation that often
resulted in our best teenage runners not retaining
interest.
The Plan has also identified that the efforts
need to be Island wide. This will of necessity involve
shedding the parochial approach particularly as
it is being driven - as is often the case with these
initiatives - by someone from Manx Harriers / Manx
AC.
Lets have all the clubs contributing to this
and trying to make it work, so that it feels like
a proper IoMAA initiative.
On a more personal level...
Training has at last resumed with a bit more
seriousness after the disappointments and injuries
of the summer and some recent holidays. I'll hopefully
be back on the track to do some faster work for
the first time in a few months this evening and
I'll be contesting the long course cross-country
league and Ramsey Firemen's series later this week.
I'm presently training twice a week with the IoMAA
/ Harriers squads and learning how to really hurt
myself again, so that running flat out 300m reps
seems easy.
One positive point is that it's been so long
since I ran really well (i.e. 2000 and 2001) that
I've come round to the viewpoint that its not worth
beating myself up that I'm not running as fast as
I was then or even looking at my training diaries
and getting depressed. I'm now measuring my performances
week-by-week as I did when I first came back in
1998 and it has given me lots more enthusiasm. Heres
hopefully everything stays in one piece and that
my back doesn't give me too much bother.... roll
on the Shetlands and Rhodes
JASON COCHRANE DIDN'T HIT THE WALL IN BERLIN (05-10-03)
Just returned from
Berlin were I ran
the marathon in a PB of 4.09.35. A great race with 35,000
runners on a flat course with lots of support all along the route. A lot
easier to get going than London as it
starts on wide roads & flows well all the way round. Drinks stations are a
bit different with tea being available as well as banana & apple but did not
try the tea. The race went well on a warm sunny day & felt OK until 22 miles
when I hit the wall but managed to get a second wind & push on to the
finish. The highlight of the race is that you get free German beer at the
finish. I would recommend the race to anyone who wants
to do a big overseas marathon.
On another point I raced in a 10k in
Kidderminster the week
before & paid £8 to enter. There were no drinks stations on route & they
had run out of drinks at the finish. It made me think how lucky we are with our
races were we pay £4, get food afterwards & can also pick up a trophy.
The year started with Keith Callister winning
the New Year's Day Supercards St Johns Fell Race
from Chris Quine and Phil Cain.
Andy Fox was the Lancashire Cross Country veterans
champion (8th overall) with John Halligan the runner
up in the under 17s.
Paul Jempson won the first of the Halifax International
winter leagues with Kevin Walmsley the fastest in
46.59.
Paul Craine was the national sports personality
of the year.
Andy Fox won the Island Cross Country Championships
from Chris Quine while Keith Gerrard could only
manage 5th in the under 13s race.
Alistair Audsley announced his retirement from
the sport after rupturing his achilles tendon in
his left heal in the AAA Indoor Championships. A
feature on Alistair's career and his view that standards
had increased dramatically in Manx sprinting was
strongly refuted by Martin Bullock in the following
week's papers.
Paul Freary ran the fastest ever 10km on the
Island when he won the Manx Airlines 10km in February
in 30.37. In those days he ran for Bolton United
Harriers beating Bashir Hussain of Stockport Harriers
in 30.39.
The winner of the Manx Airlines 10km walk for
woman was Gillian O'Sullivan who went on to win
the silver medal at this year's WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
She was just 21 at the time and I r
