Splish Splash! Heathsiders make waves!

London was deserted (by Heathsiders that is) as members took part in events all over the Country, as well as Ireland (a Parkrun) and France (a cycling event). There was a strong club contingent in the St Alban’s Half, Adam Kirk-Smith stormed the City of London Mile in 4½ minutes (and that after a 3rd place the previous day in the SEAA 5000m final), Andy Barnes was cheated out of a probable top 5 finish in the Rock’n’Roll Liverpool Marathon by a treacherous attack of cramps, and Sarah Swinhoe marked a return to form, following a lengthy run of injuries, with a 3rd Female placing in the Southend Half. David Hellard and Rebecca Bunting also achieved 1st places in their Parkruns. Congratulations to all who took part in events, including the SEAA Championships in Lee Valley.

Where available, Chip Times and Chip positions are given.

LATE RESULT: Royal Windsor Swim (Sunday 7th June)

Simon Bailey writes: “Great swim in the Thames – an 0715 start for 3.8km, over two and a half loops. Starting close to the Windsor Tri start, upstream to the road bridge and back. Warm water and a picturesque view of the castle when sighting on the downstream leg. I swam it in 1hr 17mins 37secs for 30th out of 54. A well organised event and not too big a field, so no crazy “washing machine” over the first few 100m's!

St. Albans Half (Sunday 14th June):

Gavin Evans writes: “Luke Wynne sprinted home in the very hilly St Albans Half Marathon on Sunday in a PB time of 1:21.56. Conditions were near-perfect (cool for this time of the year and a light drizzle) and Luke took advantage in what was only his second half marathon ever – which augurs very well for the future, including the Abingdon marathon later this year.

I trailed 36 places behind Luke in a PW (for this course) of 1:26.54 – more than five minutes slower than four years ago, which doesn’t augur well for the future! Alan Smith was a couple of seconds behind me in 1:26.56, followed by Will Whitaker (1:28.36) and Jake Spencer (1:29.38 – who ran after only arriving back in the UK from Tel Aviv a few hours earlier). Also there was Jerry Odlin’s son, Nick Odlin, in 1:31.14 – not bad for a non-club jogger. He was followed by Rob Bowler in a PB time of 1:38.04 and Nigel Tonks (1:39.06). Our first (and only) woman was Sarah Illingworth (1:53.57).

12th              Luke Wynne                     1:21.56 (PB)

48th              Gavin Evans                     1:26.54

49th              Alan Smith                       1:26.56

71st              Will Whitaker                    1:28.36

89th              Jake Spencer                   1:29.38

111th            Nick Odlin                         1:31.14

287th            Robert Bowler                   1:38:04 (PB)

326th            Nigel Tonks                      1:39.06

1082nd          Steven Betts                    1:53:36

1107th          Sarah Illingworth                1:53.57

2480 finishers

City of London Mile (Sunday 14th June):

Daniel McKeown writes: “A mile through the City of London on a grisly, drizzly Sunday morning. In keeping with the altruistic and socially responsible philosophy of the City, as soon as the gun went, it was push, shove, and devil take the hindmost.

I had a pretty good view of the first mishap of the day in Wave 1, as a bloke from Fulham got kicked over and trampled at the start by a horde of rabid financiers. What I didn't get much of a view of was Mr AKS, as he bounded off into the distance to record the day's 18th fastest time (of 2,000+)”

18th              Adam KIRK-SMITH             00:04:30

75th              Jose SILVA                        00:05:02

86th              Daniel MCKEOWN             00:05:06

146th            Joseph MCKEOWN            00:05:23

183th           Benjamin JENKS                00:05:30

187th            Jonathan LITCHFIELD         00:05:31

299th            Rachel NEWSTEAD           00:05:50

332th            Alun NASH                        00:05:55

342th            Gavin PARISH                    00:05:56

349th            James CONNELL               00:05:57

558th            Tom HOSKING                   00:06:30

564th            Jessica VINLUAN               00:06:31

757th            Alice LIGHTON                   00:07:00

2470 finishers

Rock n Roll Liverpool Marathon (Sunday 14th June):

Andy Barnes writes: “Sunday saw me, the only Heathsider I think, attempting to run the Liverpool 'Rock n Roll' Marathon - which I highly recommend by the way! Fantastic route (if a bit hilly), atmosphere and scouse support. I rocked up (no pun intended…) to the line on Sunday morning feeling high - probably due to all the Fisherman's Friends I'd scoffed in the preceding days, and off I went, like a schoolboy, leaving behind any sort of sensible race strategy.  I love a run/walk strategy but in future I'll be looking to avoid the one I was forced to deploy here: run 23m / walk and cramp-induced-hobble 3m. In the end I was happy just to finish in 2:58, those last flat 3 miles taking a painful 33mins! Still, good character building - I'm in again for next year.”

34th              Andy Barnes                     02:58:48                 2487 finishers

Southend Half-Marathon  (Sunday 14th June):

Gavin Evans writes: “Sarah was the third woman in the South End Half marathon in a time of about 1:27 (chip times are not up yet) - an excellent time considering that it was her first race in 16 months following successive serious Achilles injuries. She began at a leisurely pace but her competitive juices flowed after the halfway mark and she started cutting through the field.”

65th              Sarah  Swinhoe                 01:29:07                  2053 finishers

Potters ‘Arf (Stoke-on-Trent Sunday 14th June):

92nd             Alex Sweet                       01:30:29                   1363 finishers     

Great North Swim 1-mile (Windermere, Cumbria - Sunday 14th June):

Steve Woolf writes: “On the previous day, Barbara and I had done the Fell Foot Parkrun (in 26:27 and 28:11 respectively) at the south end of Windermere - an undulating, but scenic course, with a very friendly atmosphere, like all Parkruns

2847th          Steve Woolf                      00:53:15                        3566 finishers

Blenheim Palace Triathlon – Sprint (Woodstock, Oxfordshire - Sunday 14th June)

John Driscoll writes: “Zorika Adams took part in her maiden Triathlon doing the Sprint distance at Blenheim. Out of a wave of 200 she did the first 750m swim in 14.38 and entered transition in 2nd  place. As she'd only bought her roadbike 3 months ago she then slipped a little in the rankings on the 19.8km ride, and with a solid run over the 5.4km distance, still ended the day as 23rd/207 in her age group, totally buzzing and wanting to do more!

1653rd          Zorika Adams                  01:39:32

(Swim: 00:14:38  Bike: 00:45:42  Run: 00:30:52)

Wiggle French Revolution Sportif (Calais, France – Sunday 14th June)

John Driscoll writes: “Jane Higgins and I took part in the Wiggle French Revolution Sportif along with around 700 others. A 05:30am meet at Dover Ferry Port was followed by a mass embarkation with coffee and croissants on board. On arrival in Calais, there was a handy bag-drop and then we set off on the 75 mile Epic route. First 10 miles into a headwind along the coast then undulating inland with total climbing of 1600m before the final coastal run in, with that initial headwind now a tailwind and blowing us along at an ego-boosting 35kmph! Weather conditions started as 'dry but looking ominous' - but became progressively sunnier throughout the day. Foodies will be delighted to know brioches were available at the two food stops, together with the more normal array of flapjacks and energy bars. Other points to note were: 1. Organisers - have more than 3 toilet cubicles for 700 bib short wearing cyclists at the first food stop!  2. Don't forget you’re in France and so avoid swinging sharp left out of a junction, as it will give you and oncoming cars a shock 3. Trying to take a gilet off whilst cycling uphill may result in public embarrassment!  4. Jane won 'Nutty Heathsider of the Day' award for jumping off her bike in the Calais Ferry Port and ending the day with laps of the car park as part of her brick training…

John Driscoll                    06:18:03                Jane Higgins           06:18:07 

South of England AA U20/Senior Championships (Lee Valley, 13th-14th June)

Under 20 Women 3,000 Metres (B) Final

3rd                Rachel Seckl                     11.00.62

Senior Women 200 Metres (B) Heat 1    

6th                Helene Kehoe                    30.62

Heat 2         

5th                Noelle O'Regan                  28.41

Senior Women Shot (B) Final      

6th                Noelle O'Regan                  8.38m

Under 20 Men 400 Metres Heat 1

6th                Filmon Russom                 54.04

Under 20 Men 800 Metres Heat 3

5th                James Wooldridge             2.04.72

Senior Men 100 Metres Heat 6    

6th                Jordan Glaze                    11.31

   Semi Final 3

4th                Jordan Glaze                    11.32

Senior Men 800 Metres Heat 3    

7th                Tom Fancett                     2.02.06

Senior Men 5,000 Metres Final    

3rd                Adam Kirk-Smith               15.18.21

11th              Andrew Brooker                 15.41.99

Senior Men Shot Final      

11th              Izaiah Turner                      9.42m

Senior Men Discus Final    

12th              Izaiah Turner                     31.29m

Full results available from: http://seaa.org.uk/events/track-and-field.html

PARKRUN: Apart from the usual London parks, members took part in Parkruns as far afield as Dublin, Shropshire and the Lake District. All LH Parkrun results for 13th June can be found at:

“http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2015-06-13”