With a 47th place and 1st FV40 finish at the Warwick Half-Marathon on 2nd February 2025 Natasha White secured yet another Northbrook club record. She finished with a time of 1h 19m 45s to beat the previous record set by Dawn O’Shea in 1996 by 47 seconds.
Natasha now has a trio of club records, already holding the records for 20m (Ashby 2023) and Marathon (Boston UK 2023).
See Northbrook Warwick Half-Marathonn results.
Club Person of the Year
Most Improved Runners
As the Club’s Annual Awards Night approaches it’s time for members to cast their votes for the Northbrook Voted Awards – awards for club members voted for by the membership.
We’ll be presenting these and the usual club competition awards at the Club’s Annual Awards event on 22 March 2025.
Club Person of the Year – The person whom members think has contributed the most to the club over the year by giving up time to organise events, support other members, support club events, raise funds, publicise the club, or generally look after the club’s best interests.
Most Improved Male Runner – The male club member who has most improved his running ability or race performances during the year.
Most Improved Female Runner – The female club member who has most improved her running ability or race performances during the year.
For the Most Improved Runner category the Committee is offering some suggestions, informed by an analysis of race results that shows the improvement by members over the full range of distances included in the Race Championship competitions for 2023 and 2024.
The committee is also making some suggestions for the Club Person of the Year award, but please think about the people you would like to nominate.
Remember that these are only suggestions – not recommendations. Members can vote for anyone who is a member of the club.
Members can view the list of suggestions on the Announcements page of the Northbrook connectMyClub app.
Voting is online and Club members will receive an email containing a link to the online voting form. The link will also be displayed in the connectMyClub app.
Votes must be cast by
11pm on Saturday 15 March 2025
for votes to be included and members may nominate up to 3 people in each category.
So, get your thinking caps on and consider whom you might nominate in each of these categories.
You could even vote for the same person in both categories if you think that person is pretty special.
Don’t forget that the Equilibrium Cup competition runs in the background throughout the year. Inaugurated in 2020 it is now an annual event, the winner receiving a handsome trophy.
This is an individuals competition with a built-in gradient equalising factor. For 2025 the distance is 10km.
To be included in the competition you must submit your 10k race result data on the Virtual Events Upload Form, irrespective of any other submission to the results pages.
You can submit as many 10k race results as you like between now and 31 December.
The competition winner will be the member with the highest score as at 31 December.
You will be able to follow progress of the competition on the Equilibrium Cup results chart when results start to accumulate.
Go to the Equilibrium Cup page to see how it works.
January is typically a RED month (Run Every Day) so here’s your first challenge for 2025. But instead of expecting you to run every day we’re setting you a distance target.
Look back over your race results and training diary and tot up your total distance for 2024. The first challenge is to divide it by twelve, and then the real challenge is to see if you can equal that distance in the month of January.
You won’t be running against anyone else, just against your own individual target.
No distance for 2024? Just set a distance you think is feasible for you to run in a month.
Log your runs on the Training Series Upload form and we’ll keep a tally for you.
You can see how you and everyone else are doing with this event on the chart below, and in detail by going to the RED scoREboarD.
The Club draw for its allocation of two guaranteed entries to the 2025 TCS London Marathon made on 11 December included 19 eligible club members.
Only members who have not run previously in the London Marathon (11 members) were included in the draw for the first place. The remaining 8 members and the 10 unlucky members from the first draw were then eligible for the draw for second place.
The winners were Michelle Edwards (first draw) and Tony Bowe (second draw).
The reserve is Adrian Powell.
Unlucky were: David Hartopp, Kirstie Murray, Lee Newark, Adrian McBride, Greg Wallam, Simon Aldridge, Anthony Grace, Dave Mills, Louise Slater, Joanna Grace, Tim Hughes, Spencer Davies, Pete Stafford, Alan Smith, Collette O’Keefe and Claire King.
The event is scheduled to take place on 27 April 2025.
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 22 January 2025, after the normal Wednesday training sessions.
The Club committee is elected by the membership each year at the AGM.
Go to the Meeting Notice page to view the formal Notice and Agenda, details of committee posts and how to submit a proposal for consideration at the meeting.
The 21st staging of the annual Northbrook 10k road will take place on Sunday 13 July 2025.
Details of entry fees are still being worked out and will be made public in due course, along with the names of our 2025 charity partners.
Entries will open in Spring 2025.
Full details and results of the 2024 event are posted on our 10k website.
After storming his way into the Club’s record books with an astonishing 2h:36m:35s finish at the Manchester Marathon on 14 April, taking more than 2 minutes off the previous club record set eighteen years ago in London by Ian Burgoyne, Adrian McBride has done it again by knocking another six and a half minutes off his previous time with a 2nd placed 2h:30m:05s finish at the Abingdon Marathon on 20 October.
See Northbrook Abingdon Marathon results
The final handicap race of the year is just around the corner, and for sure you’ve all had a look at the standings to see how you are doing. However, with only your best 5 races counting, it isn’t always that obvious what the standings actually mean. Given that most runners will use their race 6 score, it’s almost better to look at the standings with just 4 of the first 5 races counting, then you can see who you have to beat, and by how much to gain those crucial places.
To save everyone from doing the work themselves, those standings have been calculated for you.
| Pos | Name | Total | Race 5 | Best 4 |
| 1 | Sally-Anne Tully | 970 | 174 | 796 |
| =2 | Lara Kog | 954 | 170 | 784 |
| =2 | Angela Hands | 952 | 168 | 784 |
| 4 | Claire Messenger | 960 | 185 | 775 |
| 5 | Joanna Hughes | 933 | 168 | 765 |
| 6 | Karen Brewster | 933 | 178 | 755 |
| 7 | Ruth Hallett | 753 | 0 | 753 |
| 8 | Laura Parsons | 752 | 0 | 752 |
| 9 | Christie Hall | 925 | 175 | 750 |
| 10 | Bethany McCluskey | 739 | 0 | 739 |
| 11 | Allison Smith | 915 | 177 | 738 |
| =12 | Collette O’Keefe | 901 | 171 | 730 |
| =12 | Tori Boyle | 897 | 167 | 730 |
| 14 | Janet Gilmore | 729 | 0 | 729 |
| 15 | Sarah Batson | 901 | 174 | 727 |
| 16 | Jane Ward | 895 | 170 | 725 |
| 17 | Joanne Evans | 724 | 0 | 724 |
| =18 | Tracey Williams | 885 | 168 | 717 |
| =18 | Nicola Glaze | 717 | 0 | 717 |
| 20 | Yvonne Boyle | 710 | 0 | 710 |
| 21 | Jan Watson | 709 | 0 | 709 |
| Pos | Name | Total | Race 5 | Best 4 |
| 1 | Chris Smith | 752 | 0 | 752 |
| 2 | Andy Barratt | 750 | 0 | 750 |
| 3 | Matt Hathrell | 907 | 159 | 748 |
| 4 | Anthony Grace | 745 | 0 | 745 |
| =5 | Dave Halford | 903 | 159 | 744 |
| =5 | Austin Wade | 744 | 0 | 744 |
| 7 | Rob Halford | 910 | 171 | 739 |
| 8 | Pete Stafford | 734 | 0 | 734 |
| =9 | Mark Jennings | 728 | 0 | 728 |
| =9 | Tim Devenport | 728 | 0 | 728 |
| =11 | Dave Hartopp | 885 | 160 | 725 |
| =11 | Ainsley Wileman | 725 | 0 | 725 |
| 13 | Mark Baker | 890 | 169 | 721 |
| 14 | Greg Wallam | 877 | 157 | 720 |
| 15 | Martin Wakenshaw | 718 | 0 | 718 |
| 16 | Peter Fellows | 713 | 0 | 713 |
| 17 | Lee Newark | 862 | 157 | 705 |
| 18 | Rob Richardson | 704 | 0 | 704 |
| 19 | Spencer Davies | 840 | 153 | 687 |
| 20 | Tim Hughes | 678 | 0 | 678 |
| 21 | Rhys Robbins | 820 | 154 | 666 |
So, how is it all looking? Who is still in with a chance at hearing their name called on awards night? Let’s break down the runners and riders, starting with the women’s competition.
The top 9 women still mathematically have a chance of a top 3 finish. Anything can happen, but, in all likelihood, the fight for the medals will come down to just 4.
Sally-Anne Tully has been in the lead ever since race 1. 3 PBs along the way, and the bonus points that come with them, mean that she still has a solid gap at the top. However, a more average performance in race 5 means that that lead is not insurmountable, and another lower score in race 6 could even see her drop off the podium.
Currently tied for 2nd place are Lara Kog and Angela Hands. Lara started the year poorly, but has had a brilliant last 3 races, finishing as first female in all 3, and a PB in the most recent race for a perfect score. On the other hand, Angela has been the model of consistency for the last 4 races, finishing in the top 10 women in each of them.
Whilst you might think that tie makes it a straight race for the silver, Claire Messenger, in 4th in these standings, has been even more consistent than Angela, and already has a good 5th score. Her PB in race 5 leaves her in a great position, even if she doesn’t improve. If Lara and Angela fail to score enough, then their race to the line could see the winner finish in 3rd overall behind Claire.
That might all sounds quite similar to the published standings, because, well, it is. Sometimes things do work out that way. The men’s side, however, is a lot different from what we see on the current leaderboard.
The first thing to note on the men’s standings, is that nobody has had a particularly good year. 8 women currently have more points than any of the men. (It’s a good thing this is split by gender, eh boys? Although the, er, administrative errors in race 3 may have hurt some of those involved in the discussion today.) As such, the race for the top spot is still wide open, with 17 men still mathematically able to claim gold. As with the women, let’s just focus on those likely to be there at the end, the top 7, but it genuinely wouldn’t be a surprise if someone further down the list caused an upset.
With 4 marginal PBs from his 4 appearances so far, the current leader on the men’s table is Chris Smith. However, the gap below is very tight, with 5 other runners within just 8 points.
Currently in 2nd, 2 points behind Chris, is probably the most consistent performer of the year so far, Andy Barrett. With so many involved in the battle, will consistency be enough in the final race?
A further 2 points back in 3rd with 2 sets of bonus points and solid scoring is Matt Hathrell. Can he fight his way through all the way from the back to claim the win?
Anthony Grace started the year out in fantastic fashion, with a perfect score in race 1 and more bonus points in race 2. However, missing race 3 and a low score in race 5 leaves him right in the dogfight in 4th.
In equal 5th, 8 points off the lead, we have Dave Halford and Austin Wade. Dave has scored well in every race since the first, steadily improving his times, without a really high finish, whereas Austin made a big improvement to be first male in race 4, but has been further down the finishers in the rest of the races. Will Dave be able to make that big improvement in the final race? Will that improved handicap make it hard for Austin to get the points he needs?
Those paying the closest attention will probably notice that mention has yet to be made of the current overall leader in the men’s competition. That’s because, when only considering 4 scores, Rob Halford slips all the way down to 7th place, 13 points off the lead. Unlike Claire on the women’s side, his 5th score is unlikely to be good enough to hold his position, so we’ll have to see if Rob can muster up another strong race to keep his hands on that top spot.
While that is it for the handicap medals, remember there is a lot more to run for on Wednesday. It’s the last chance of the year to grab some points in this category for the race championships, and for anyone who hasn’t done a handicap race at all this year, it is also the last chance to set your time that will be used in the winter handicap during the cross-country season. Most of all though, we’re all just out to have a good run and enjoy ourselves, and burn off a few calories so we can add them back in the bar afterwards. See you all there.
Contributed by A N Onymous
Update 19 July 2024
On a lovely Summer evening sixty Club members took the train from Tile Hill to Hampton-in-Arden where they were met by another dozen who had arrived there by running the route in reverse. With several participants having only recently joined the Club, and others who were also unfamiliar with the route some of our more experienced club members volunteered to act as guides at various paces, or as sweepers.
With this in place everyone got back without getting lost as has happened in previous years.
Although billed as a race the event is viewed by most as a very pleasant alternative to the normal Wednesday night routine training sessions, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the beautiful Warwickshire countryside.
With everyone accounted for the evening concluded with a re-hydration stop at the nearby Auction House pub.
“Results” are posted on the Latest Results page.
The Club’s annual nature outing along the 9k off-road route between Hampton-in-Arden and Tile Hill is a popular event that adds a bit of interest to a Wednesday night’s summer running. You also get to ride on a train.
This is a predominantly off-road event through the beautifully scenic Warwickshire countryside. Treat it as a race or as a (not too) leisurely trot along well-trodden public footpaths.
Those who haven’t run this event for a couple of years need to be aware that part of the route between Hampton-in-Arden and Berkswell has been modified due to HS2 construction.
Full details are on the Race the Train page.
A Club night event with a difference.
A relay race for teams of 3 people of different standards, eg a level 1, a level 3 and a level 4 runner can make up a team.
Update 20 June
Sixty-nine Northbrook members, expertly assembled into 23 teams of three, enjoyed the 3-lap relay race around the local lanes on a warm, sunny June evening. Just one minute separated the first three teams finishing, and all teams were finished within 8 minutes.
Full results are on the June results page.
This event is open to members and guests.
You have to let the teams organiser know in advance if you want to take part. The teams organiser will compile the teams using your estimated 5k time so please be realistic. If you have said you will take part then find you can’t let the teams organiser know so that the teams can be adjusted.
Don’t just turn up on the night and expect to take part – you’re likely to be disappointed.
You enter by filling out the website form on this link.
The teams organiser will create the teams from the list of names. Teams themselves decide the order in which their runners run.
Park at the Jag Club in Browns Lane and warm up by jogging to the start/finish which is opposite the green triangle at the junction of Hawkes Mill Lane and Browns Lane. The distance per leg is approx. 3.2 miles.
Be at the start by 7pm.
Don’t park your car at the White Lion as the car park is reserved for pub customers.
There are prizes for the winners and runners-up.
Full details are on the GBU page.
You can download a map of the route from here.
Northbrook’s Adrian McBride stormed his way into the Club’s record books with an astonishing 2h:36m:35s finish at the Manchester Marathon on 14 April, taking more than 2 minutes off the previous club record set eighteen years ago in London by Ian Burgoyne. With a 37th place finish Adrian exceeded all of his own expectations and also beat all of the elite women runners to the finish line.
Commenting on the race, Adrian claimed that the training was all down to Northbrook colleague Damian Pharoah who also encouraged him to take part. Amanda Deavy and Pete Stafford also played a part in helping Adrian overcome his Marathon anxieties.
Adrian went on to say “Race day was really tough as all the emotions of taking on the biggest challenge I have faced since I started running in 2020 began to emerge. My anxiety level was at a high at the start, but I felt I had to face it, and I’m so glad I did.
I am still shocked that I have done this and to achieve the time I did. I woke up the next day thinking surely this isn’t real”.
Eschewing the celebratory champagne toasts Adrian celebrated his achievement by carbo re-loading with a Domino’s pizza at home with his family.
See Northbrook Manchester Marathon results
The 20th staging of the annual Northbrook 10k road race took place on Sunday 7 July 2024.
The race was won by Ian Allen of Spa Striders. The first woman was Zara Hadfield of Leamington C&AC.
The men’s and women’s team prizes were both won by Kenilworth Runners.
Full details and results are posted on our 10k website.
It’s that time of year again when membership renewal falls due. Continue your enjoyment of being a member of the Northbrook running community by renewing your club membership now. You’ll get the benefits of UKA affiliation, structured training sessions led by qualified leaders, reduced entry fees to races, Northbrook-sponsored team entries, and so on.
Having migrated our membership list to connectMyClub a few months ago we have now moved our membership renewal procedure to this platform. To renew your membership go to the Membership Renewal Page and follow the instructions. It’s dead easy.
Renewal fees are £34 full rate, £25 concessions, £20 Second Claim, £15 non-competing.
Renew now please so we don’t have to chase you.
Membership Renewal Page
Update September 5
The 2024 Summer handicap series has run its final race with a bumper turnout, some incredible performances and wonderful volunteers who make the event happen.
First home was Angela Hands with a season’s best time followed in by Tony French, recently back to running and finishing his second race of this series.
In the series overall both tables are incredibly tight with tied scores and victories taken by countback.
Race 6 brought about no changes to the top of the men’s table; the Halford brothers Robert and Dave still occupying 1st and 3rd positions with Matt Hathrell separating the two, with 12 points between 1st and 3rd places. Noteworthy is that all three ran PB’s and scored bonus points in Race 6.
Quite a change at the top of the women’s table though, Angela’s winning position in Race 6 propelling her to the top of the table. Lara Kog won more bonus points for her Race 6 PB moving her up into second place. Sally-Anne Tully lost some ground in the final race and dropped back to third place in the final standings.
Congratulations to all our winners.
View the complete series results
Update 8 August
Once again a sizeable field, 76 members and guests, vied for points in the 5th race of the 2024 Summer Handicap series.
Anthony O’Shea was first home scoring the maximum 200 points for the men, followed in by Lara Kog and guest runner Mollie Williams.
After 5 races Sally-Anne Tully maintains her position at the top of the women’s table but her lead is now reduced to only 10 points, being closely chased by Claire Messenger and Lara Kog, both benefiting from bonus points in this race.
In the men’s table the Halford brothers Robert and Dave occupy 1st and 3rd positions with Matt Hathrell separating the two, with just 7 points between 1st and 3rd places.
Race 6 on 4 September could be the decider when the results of the best 5 races are counted.
Update 4 July
Lara Kog was again first home in the 4th handicap race on 3 July, gaining another 200 points moving her up to 6th place in the women’s table. However, Sally-Anne Tully is still comfortably ahead at the top of the table, benefiting from some earlier bonus points.
Austin Wade was second finisher and so won the maximum 200 points for the men. After 4 races Robert Halford has a 14 point lead at the top of the men’s table. Two more races to go and with the best 5 races to count there is still all to play for.
Update 14 June
A bumper field of 90 members and guests took part in the 3rd handicap race of the series on 12 June. Lara Kog substantially improved her standing in the table by coming first, followed by Timothy Devenport and Suky Dhindsa making her 3rd handicap appearance but her first as a point-scoring Northbrook member.
After three races Sally-Anne Tully has a 26 point lead at the top of the women’s table, helped by three consecutive bonus point additions.
Adrian McBride has a slimmer 9 point lead at the top of the men’s table.
Update 2 May
Making her Summer Handicap debut Sarah Rotheram was first home in Race 2 on 1 May, with Pete Duffy following in 2nd place.
After two races Anthony Grace and Sally-Anne Tully head the tables.
Update 4 April
The 2024 Summer Handicap Series kicked off on Wednesday 3 April with the first race in a series of 6 races, one each month from April to September.
A good field of 83 members and seven guests inaugurated the 2024 series, and the finish marshals had their work cut out keeping the finish funnel moving, the handicapper having done another brilliant job in getting most runners to reach the finish in a compact bunch.
Guest runner Amy Burrows was first home followed closely by Claire Messenger and Kirstie Murray.
The men were led home by Anthony Grace, Rob Cox and Rob Halford.
With the benefit of bonus points Sally-Anne Tully sits at the top of the women’s table. Anthony Grace occupies the lead at the top of the men’s table. He didn’t need his bonus points to get there but they may come in handy as the series progresses.
Established members will know what this is all about but for the more recently joined members here’s your chance to engage in some friendly rivalry on a levelled playing field.
Important: We will again be using the parkrun system for recording results. You MUST therefore bring your parkrun barcode with you. No barcode = no result.
If you don’t yet have a parkrun barcode sign up at https://www.parkrun.org.uk/
You also have to tell us that you want to take part – it’s no good just turning up on the night. You won’t have an allocated start time.
Fill in the form on the website to let us know that you want to be included. If you ran in the 2023 series the handicapper will use your times from last season to allocate you with a start time. Otherwise give us an estimated finishing time and explain the basis for that time. For example, it could be a recent parkrun or other 5k time.
Remember to bring your parkrun ID barcode with you.
(This can be the parkrun barcode on your phone)
Note these dates:
All races start at 7pm
You must be a paid up member to take part and score points, although we can accommodate a small number of guests. Guests must also sign up.
We will again be using the start/finish just off Coundon Wedge Drive as this is a safe location that avoids crossing a busy roundabout.
You can help those involved in organising the Summer Handicap by:
You can find out all about it on the Summer Handicap page.
January is typically a RED month (Run Every Day) so here’s your first challenge for 2024. But instead of expecting you to run every day we’re setting you a distance target.
Look back over your race results and training diary and tot up your total distance for 2023. The first challenge is to divide it by twelve, and then the real challenge is to see if you can equal that distance in the month of January.
You won’t be running against anyone else, just against your own individual target.
No distance for 2023? Just set a distance you think is feasible for you to run in a month.
Log your runs on the Training Series Upload form and we’ll keep a tally for you.
You can see how you and everyone else are doing with this event on the chart below, and in detail by going to the RED scoREboarD.
Back in 1988, I’d planned only to run one marathon. All I wanted was to be able to say I’d run the entire distance – no walking, earn a medal, with a t-shirt and a photograph as a memento. I chose the Isle of Wight, as I could visit my sister, then living on the island. I finished in 3 hours 38 minutes, but unfortunately, I had to walk up the last of the 17 hills! No photograph, no medal (to gain a medal you had to run a sub 3.10 time), and no t-shirt. My family chose to watch the England v Scotland football game, as they believed I just wouldn’t make it. “Ye of little faith!”
A month later, now wearing a proper pair of running shoes (New Balance 420s), and better trained, I ran the Potteries marathon in 3.25 on a very hot June Sunday. I still failed to get a medal. The Potteries provided finishers with a plate. Wow! The photo was ruined by some runner ahead of me crossing the line with a toddler. It looked like they were coming off the beach. Of note though, I met a runner in the car park who told me he had completed his 100th marathon. A trifle excessive I thought at the time.
Well, that was it for me, and I gave up running for a year. Then in 1989 I ran the Northbrook 10km race and did quite well. A club runner, Ian Ladbrooke, transferred his number to me for the St Albans marathon, and I had another bash at this distance. This time I ran a PB 3.23. Everyone told me I was capable of going under 3 hours if I trained properly.
In 1991, after a couple of years running virtually constantly over a variety of distance, I ran 3 hours and 36 seconds in the Stratford Shakespeare marathon, just missing out on sub 3 hours. From then on I was well and truly hooked. Two more marathons followed, where I was a few seconds out. Then a further two marathons, where I was just under 2 minutes. My main problem was that I was basically a 7 minute miler, and it was quite easy to lose concentration of my pace during the race. I finally cracked the 3 hour barrier in London. Not the premier event, but a very small marathon held in Battersea Park with 26 laps. Having caught the National Express coach at 3am, with no sleep, my time was 2 hours 58 minutes, and a trophy for 3rd place overall.
FASTEST TIME: I broke 3 hours five times, my best being in a very hot Blackpool marathon finishing in 2.56.36 in 2006.
In 2006, I also returned to compete in the Isle of Wight marathon. It was still on the same course, but now held in October, and on a Sunday rather than a Saturday. This was the 50th continuous running of this historic event. I ran 3.09 and was 10th. Medals were also provided – a horrible chunk of painted metal about the size and shape of a table tennis bat.
In 2011, I entered the Isle of Wight marathon again, to finish 8th in 3.22, and to pick up a trophy for the first over 50, and £20. The big time! I repeated this the following year finishing in 3.20. I was on a roll.
Unfortunately, subsequent years have seen a slow collapse of form. The course has now shifted to the town of Cowes, as traffic problems were making the race very dangerous. But the hills continue to dominate. Last year I came home in 4.12.34 to win the over 60s prize. I was hoping to do the same this year on my 100th marathon. I’m now 65, but sadly the over 65s trophy has been discontinued. But I did run the entire distance in a time of 4.31.28. My style over the last mammoth hill must have resembled manic baby steps.
The 100 marathons in this count were all held on the road. I discounted those that run across parkland and cross-country tracks. I must have run 15 of these races, enjoying them all, even winning two races – the Canal CanterMarathon in Birmingham and the Needles Marathon held on the Isle of Wight as well. I was also 3rd in the Belvoir Marathon.
MOST DIFFICULT MARATHON: The Langdale marathon – two stupendous climbs, to be repeated on a second lap. I finished 3rd and never went back. Snowdon was similarly difficult with a huge climb at 23 miles; the road changed to rough track as it headed into the clouds.
BEST NAMED MARATHON: Bungay Black Dog – I’d always wanted the t-shirt featuring (you guessed it) a black dog which looked like it had just had 300 volts blasted through it.
MOST DIFFICULT CONDITIONS: The Fleetwood marathon heading out to Blackpool and back. On the return the gale force wind, loaded with sand from the beach, hit me like a sledgehammer. I had to squint and keep my head down. I don’t think anyone broke three hours that day.
HOTTEST: The Isle of Man marathon held on the hottest day of the year in the hottest place in England, with the hottest temperature ever recorded in this country, starting at 3pm. 95% of the runners failed to show up. I came 2nd, but I’m sure I was 1st, as I can’t remember anyone passing me, and the winner’s times got faster and faster on each of the four laps.
BAD IDEAS: Walking to Leicester through the night along the Ashby canal. Too dark to read the map, but somehow, I made it, after sleeping in a field not far from the start. Unbelievably I was going quite well in the marathon, until my legs seized up with a mile to go. Similarly, cycling through the night to Trentham Gardens to compete in a Potteries marathon (1996). The bike pedals came off at Stone, and I had to walk to the start. I still ran 3.41 and managed to catch a lift home with a Massey Ferguson runner.
MOST MEMORABLE: The Sheffield marathon – I loved finishing in the recently built athletic stadium on a proper running track. I was on top form on a very hilly course, sprinting the last 400 yards to catch another runner on the finish line. A great time of 2.58 and a superb finishing photograph. The Millennium marathon was another key race. It was another 2.58 marathon, hitting top form after a lull, following a broken collarbone.
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED: After the Snowdon marathon my tent was trashed by a herd of sheep, when the collie dogs lost control of them while rounding them up. On another occasion, before another Snowdon marathon I spent the night holding the tent down during a force 8 gale. One hand and foot on every corner of the tent and totally soaked.
MOST BORING MARATHON: The Luton marathon has got to be the one that takes this prize. A maze of underpasses, subways, industrial sites, half a mile along an ‘A’ road and the clincher – 3 laps accompanied by a relay.
THE FLATTEST: Boston, that’s the UK Boston Marathon – totally featureless, no hills, no trees, no hedges and very few houses along this route.
LONDON MARATHON: The biggest and best. The first time I did it, the route encompassed a large number of building sites, and the crowds were down. But later years fulfilled my expectations. A continuous buzz of cheering crowds, bands and famous buildings, accompanied every runner. A must for all runners.
THE PIERREPONT MARATHON: Set on the outskirts of Nottingham and consisting of seven and three quarter laps of an Olympic boating lake. When I did it, the morning fog meant that visibility was down to only a few yards. This was the only race I was never to finish. I got confused by the number of laps, and ended one lap short. I collected my Christmas hat and Christmas stocking containing a medal and chocolate bar. I didn’t realise my mistake until I got home and looked at the results. I thought I was back on form, whereas sadly it was all a delusion!
OTHER BAD DECISIONS: Usually whenever I attempted the Wolverhampton marathon, I caught the Saturday tram, and spent the night camped out in West Park near the start of the race. I have since been told that this is a criminal hotspot for muggings, rapes and knife crimes. So, I was living dangerously. The Wolverhampton marathon also featured one of the craziest finishing commentators I have ever witnessed. He was going completely over the top, especially when encouraging the lady finishers; “Here comes delicious pouting Pamela”, “luscious, lovely Lucinda from Leeds”, “come on give us a smile, are you really a supermodel or what?” The women seemed to love it. Later I tried to buy a beer from the marquee, only to be told that they’d run out. Yeah, the commentator had drank most of the barrel.
Well, it’s been a long hard road to complete these 100 marathons, but I’ve met some extraordinary people along the way. The more extreme the events, the more extreme the people involved; runners who have tossed pancakes for the whole duration, blind runners attached by cords to buddy runners, runners pushing their offspring in prams, one legged runners on crutches, and all kinds of costumes, My sister was especially amused, when someone competing in the Isle of Wight marathon as a starship trooper, was left in his underwear after his costume fell to pieces. I did also dress up as well though, running as Dracula in the Rocky Horror marathon this year.
I’m glad I didn’t wait until next year’s Milton Keynes marathon when Steve Edwards will complete his 1,000th marathon. Talk about being upstaged.
Luckily, I’ve been fairly injury free. My main problem was always getting to the start of the race. A challenge in itself, for someone who doesn’t drive. But no race has ever broken my spirit, or forced me to throw in the towel.
Will I do another marathon? Well, possibly. If I’m still fit when I’m 70, I might consider my 101st, and of course it will be the Isle of Wight.
The Club draw for its allocation of two guaranteed entries to the 2024 TCS London Marathon included 19 eligible club members.
Following changes agreed at the last AGM, only members who have not run previously in the London Marathon (10 members) were included in the draw for the first place. The remaining 9 members and the 9 unlucky members from the first draw were then eligible for the draw for second place.
The winners were Julie Liggett (first draw) and Caroline Hughes (second draw).
The reserve is Damian Pharoah.
Unlucky in the first draw were: Simon Aldridge, Malc Copeland, Caroline Hughes, Tom Hughes, Tracy Jefferson, Lee McKervey, DavidvMills, Lee Newark and Allison Smith.
Unlucky in the second draw were: Simon Aldridge, Malc Copeland, Tom Hughes, Tracy Jefferson, Lee McKervey, David Mills, Lee Newark, Allison Smith, Kevin Coughlan, Spencer Davies, David Giles, Tim Hughes, Fern Kenney, Sarah McNaney, Collette O’Keefe, Damian Pharoah and Alan Smith.
The event is scheduled to take place on 21 April 2024.
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held by video conference on Thursday 11 January 2024 at 7.30pm.
Login details have been sent to members by email. Check your email inbox.
The Club committee is elected by the membership each year at the AGM. Details of committee and non-committee posts, how to vote, the meeting agenda, and how to submit a proposal for consideration at the meeting are in the formal Meeting Notice.
Wednesday 19 July
Update 20 July
In our biggest ever turnout a 67-strong field assembled at the start on Fenton Road for the 9.5km off-road run/jog/slog back to Tile Hill station. Adrian McBride was the first to make it home with Damien Dear assisted by Biscuit hot on his heels. Many thanks to Tony French and Claudie Combelas for volunteering as guides to ensure no-one got lost.
The Club’s annual nature outing along the 9k off-road route between Hampton-in-Arden and Tile Hill is a popular event that adds a bit of interest to a Wednesday night’s summer running. You also get to ride on a train.
This is a predominantly off-road event through the beautifully scenic Warwickshire countryside. Treat it as a race or as a (not too) leisurely trot along well-trodden public footpaths.
Those who haven’t run this event for a couple of years need to be aware that part of the route between Hampton-in-Arden and Berkswell has been modified due to HS2 construction.
Full details are on the Race the Train page.
Coolish, for the time of year, overcast and with no wind, conditions were near perfect for the 19th edition of Northbrook AC’s 10k race. The earlier start time of 9am meant that all 509 finishers were over the line before the normally high July temperatures were peaking.
The race was won by Coventry Godiva Harrier Jamie Hnatushka in 33:53, with Jamie Hall 2nd and Matt Burdus-Cook (both of Stratford AC) in 3rd.
Kelly Edwards (Leamington C&A C) took the 1st women’s prize in 36:52.
Adrian McBride
Kelly Edwards
Jamie Hnatushka
Ned Campbell took home the MU20 prize for his 36:47 finish, and Tori Boyle (Northbrook) the FU20 prize in 57:33.
Sam Robbins (Leamington Athletics Academy) won the MU17 prize in 41:19 and Harriet Garnett (Coventry Godiva Harriers) the FU17 prize in 48:09.
For Northbrook first home was fifth-placed Adrian McBride. Amanda Deavy won the 1st FV45 prize and Tori Boyle the prize for 1st FU20. Debbie Campbell was 3rd FV55 and Tony Hughes came home 3rd in the MV65 category.
Stratford’s quartet of Jamie Hall, Matt Burdus-Cook, Richard Leggatt and Richard Shephard won the men’s team prize, and
Leamington’s trio of Kelly Edwards, Natalie Bhangal and Jade Holt won the team prize for the women.
Full results are available to view on the results page of our 10k website.
Having a keen eye on the Northbrook Race Champs table is a strong driver for some members in choosing their races and striving for good results.
The Race Champs tables are compiled from Summer Handicap results, and from results of qualifying races sent in to the web site.
Results so far can be seen at:
Northbrook Race Champs Tables – 2024
You can see the final standings for 2023 on the link below:-
Northbrook Race Champs Tables – 2023
See tables for previous years
A Club night event with a difference.
A relay race for teams of 3 people of different standards, eg a level 1, a level 3 and a level 4 runner can make up a team.
This event is open to members and guests.
You have to let the teams organiser know in advance if you want to take part. The teams organiser will compile the teams using your estimated 5k time so please be realistic. If you have said you will take part then find you can’t let the teams organiser know so that the teams can be adjusted.
Don’t just turn up on the night and expect to take part – you’re likely to be disappointed.
You enter by filling out the website form on this link.
The teams organiser will create the teams from the list of names. Teams themselves decide the order in which their runners run.
Park at the Jag Club in Browns Lane and warm up by jogging to the start/finish which is opposite the green triangle at the junction of Hawkes Mill Lane and Browns Lane. The distance per leg is approx. 3.2 miles.
Be at the start by 7pm.
Don’t park your car at the White Lion as the car park is reserved for pub customers.
There are prizes for the winners and runners-up.
Full details are on the GBU page.
You can download a map of the route from here.
Update 8 September
In the sixth and final race of the 2023 series we saw another good turnout of 57, including a few taking part for the first time this season. Tommy Dempsey was one of these and put in a very good effort and, with the assistance of a first-time handicap, came in first well-ahead of second home Katie Mottram.
It’s the best 5 races that count and the season’s winner’s are Collete O’Keefe and Paul Robbins. In the runners-up positions are Jan Watson and Angela Hands and Pete Stafford and Chris Smith, both of whom ran all six races.
The season’s best times were Amanda Deavy’s 20:46 in race Race 2, and the 17:55 run by Matthew Hathrell in Race 6 and by Adrian McBride in Race 4.
Update 3 August
A bumper turnout of 68 were on the start list for Race 5 on 1 August, staged under threateningly dark clouds. It was 1-2-3 finish for the women with Rebecca Lewis first home, making her series debut, followed by Angela Hands and Daisy Evans, also in her series debut race. First home for the men was Stuart Clements in 6th place.
After 5 races Pete Stafford has a comfortable 21-point lead at the top of the men’s table, helped by a run of Bonus Points earned through PB’s in the past four races. Chris Smith and Chris Goodman occupy the 2nd and 3rd places.
Yvonne Boyle is maintaining her no 1 spot, With Nicola Glaze and Joanna Hughes not far behind, all three well clear at the moment of the chasing pack. The situation could easily change though after the next race as the current three front runners are the only ones to have run 5 races and it’ll be best 5 after Race 6.
Update 6 July June
A lower turnout than usual with only 43 members and guest vying for points in Race 4.
Guest runner Judith Haley crossed the line just ahead of Northbrook’s Angela Hands who took the women’s 200 points.
Fist man to finish was Dave Halford, pipping Tracey Williams on the line.
After 4 races, Yvonne Boyle is in pole at the top of the women’s table with Nicola Glaze in second place and Tracey Williams in third.
In the men’s table Pete Stafford has picked up bonus points in the last three races to lead Chris Smith and Spencer Davies.
Update 16 June
Delayed by a week due to the Club’s strong participation in the Sphinx Summer 5, the third handicap race of the series attracted 59 members and one guest and was won by Albert McCosker, followed home by Becci Barber in second place and Kevin Coughlan in third.
After 3 races the top three men are Paul Robbins, Mike Cherrington and Pete Stafford who has collected two sets of bonus points to help him on his way. In the women’s table, the top three places are occupied by Allison Smith, Yvonne Boyle and Nicola Glaze.
Update 6 May
The second race saw 57 members and one guest taking their turn to tackle the lumpy 5km circular course and beat their handicap times. It was a one two for the women with Women’s Club Captain Sally Eason getting home first and recently joined member Ruth Hallet following in 2nd place, both making their season’s debut. First man home was 3rd placed Lee Newark, also making his first appearance this season, and winning some valuable PB bonus points.
After two races Colette O’Keefe heads the women’s table, and Craig Webb is leading the men with only 3 points separating the top three.
Update – 21 April
We are now inviting guests to join us for the remainder of the series. Please visit the Summer Handicap page for info.
Update – 8 April
Despite dismal weather conditions the first race attracted 57 runners hoping to score maximum points for a head start on the season. Returning member and holder of several club records Dawn O’Shea proved she has not lost the competitive spirit by coming home first, just ahead of 2nd placed Damian Pharoah.
Results of race 1 will be posted here shortly.
The 2023 Summer Handicap Series kicks off on Wednesday 5 April with a full complement of 6 races, one each month from April to September.
Established members will know what this is all about but for the more recently joined members here’s your chance to engage in some friendly rivalry on a levelled playing field.
New for 2023
Important: This year we will be using the parkrun system for recording results. You MUST therefore bring your parkrun barcode with you. No barcode = no result. If you don’t yet have a parkrun barcode sign up at https://www.parkrun.org.uk/
You also have to tell us that you want to take part – it’s no good just turning up on the night. You won’t have an allocated start time.
Fill in the form on the website to let us know that you want to be included. If you ran in the 2022 series the handicapper will use your times from last season to allocate you with a start time. Otherwise give us an estimated finishing time and explain the basis for that time. For example, it could be a recent parkrun or other 5k time.
Remember to bring your parkrun ID barcode with you.
Note these dates:
All races start at 7pm
You must be a paid up member to take part, and we are not able to accommodate guests at this time.
We will again be using the start/finish just off Coundon Wedge Drive as this is a safe location that avoids crossing a busy roundabout. You can find out all about it on the Summer Handicap page.
Sarah Duffy and Kelly Parker set up a Northbrook-themed backdrop at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club for the prize presentation on Saturday 18 February where former Club President Tony French presented awards to the winners and runners up in the various road running and cross-country competitions.
Mark Baker presented Tony with a splendid award to recognise his many years of service to the Club, which included roles of membership Secretary, 10k Race Director and more recently Club President.
The top raffle prize went to Tony Mackness, who will have his club membership subscription paid for a year.
Congratulations to all of the many award winners.
It’s that time of year again when membership renewal falls due. Continue your enjoyment of being a member of the Northbrook running community by renewing your club membership now. You’ll get the benefits of UKA affiliation, structured training sessions led by qualified leaders, reduced entry fees to races, Northbrook-sponsored team entries, and so on.
Renewal is easy – go to the online Renewal Form, fill in your details and we’ll email you with payment instructions. Membership is renewed when payment is received.
Renewal fees are £32 full rate, £23 concessions, £15 non-competing.
Alternatively, you can send a Renewal Form with your payment to the Membership Secretary. If renewing in person on a Club night you must complete a Renewal Form to hand in with your payment (cheque only – no cash).
Renew now please so we don’t have to chase you.
Club Person of the Year
Most Improved Runners
We are asking members to cast their votes for the Northbrook Voted Awards – awards for club members voted for by the membership.
We’ll be presenting these and the usual club competition awards at the Club’s Annual Awards event on 18 February 2023.
Club Person of the Year – The person who you think has contributed the most to the club over the year by giving up time to organise events, support other members, support club events, raise funds, publicise the club, or generally look after the club’s best interests.
Most Improved Male Runner – The male club member who has most improved his running ability or race performances during the year.
Most Improved Female Runner – The female club member who has most improved her running ability or race performances during the year.
The committee is offering some suggestions for likely candidates for these awards but members can vote for anyone who is a member of the club. Think about the people you would like to nominate.
Committee suggestions (suggestions – not recommendations)
Most Improved Male Runner
Most Improved Female Runner
Club Person of the Year
Voting is online. Club members will receive an email containing a link to the online voting form. You must cast your votes by
6pm on Sunday 12 February 2023
for your votes to be included. You may nominate up to 3 people in each category, enter their names in order of preference. All votes are kept confidential. Your email address is required when voting for authentication purposes. Email addresses will be removed before the votes are collated for counting.
So, get your thinking caps on and consider whom you might nominate in each of these categories.
Remember, you can vote for up to three members in each category. You could even vote for the same person in both categories if you think that person is pretty special.
Check your email Inbox for the link to the voting form.
Any member who has difficulty in accessing the voting form should contact the club via the Contact page.
You must take out Associate Membership of the Social Club if you use any of the facilities, eg
– parking in the Social Club car park to join a training session or to go on a run,
– use a leisure centre facility (eg showers/changing rooms)
– eat cake in the bar once on a month on a Wednesday night in the summer.
You can find a Membership Renewal form on the Membership page of Jaguar Sports and Social Club website.
Make your own arrangements to renew and pay for this membership by returning your completed form with payment (cheque made payable to Jaguar Sports & Social Club) to the bar staff during opening hours or directly to the Sports Club Administration office.
January is typically a RED month (Run Every Day) so here’s your first challenge for 2023. But instead of expecting you to run every day we’re setting you a distance target.
Look back over your race results and training diary and tot up your total distance for 2022. The first challenge is to divide it by twelve, and then the real challenge is to see if you can equal that distance in the month of January.
You won’t be running against anyone else, just against your own individual target.
No distance for 2022? Just set a distance you think is feasible for you to run in a month.
Log your runs on the Training Series Upload form and we’ll keep a tally for you.
You can see how you and everyone else are doing with this event by going to the RED scoREboarD.
Well, 2022 proved to be just as competitive as the previous year with some crafty members seeking out last-minute races to sneak in those last few points to try to gain some advantage in the category placings.
The Race Champs tables are compiled from Summer Handicap results, and from results of qualifying races sent in to the web site.
You can view the 2022 standings by selecting the link below:-
Northbrook Race Champs 2022
See tables for previous years
The Club draw for its allocation of two guaranteed entries to the 2023 TCS London Marathon included 16 eligible club members, and the winners were Cliff Evans and Megan Miller. The reserve is Ben Isaac.
Unlucky were – Kyle Beddoe, Kevin Coughlan, Sarah Duffy, Sean Duffy, DebbievCampbell, Alan Smith, Tim Hughes, Sarah McNaney, Spencer Davies, Caroline Hughes, Tommy Dempsey, Lisa Abbott and Tracy Jefferson.
The event is scheduled to take place on 23 April 2023.
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held by video conference on Thursday 12 January 2023 at 7.30pm.
Further details of how to attend and vote will be made available before the meeting.
The Club committee is elected by the membership each year at the AGM. Details of committee and non-committee posts, how to vote, the meeting agenda, and how to submit a proposal for consideration at the meeting are in the formal Meeting Notice.
The cross-country season is well underway but there is still plenty of opportunity to don your spikes and support the club. The club has a fine history at cross-country, participating in up to 10 events a year, and you can easily be part of it.
The 2022/23 season began in October and there is more information and details of dates on our Cross-Country page.
Look out for the Club Captains’ messages for news of individual events.
Update 16 September
Another strong run, and 5 bonus points, moved Sarah Batson to the top of the women’s table to clinch the series by just 2 points from runner-up Jan Watson. Debbie Campbell also had the benefit of 5 bonus points from the final race to put her into 3rd place just 3 points behind.
In the men’s table, just 9 points separate the top three places, with Ben Isaac finishing ahead of Spencer Davies in 2nd and Rob&mbsp;Cox and Matthew Hathrell tying for 3rd.
Over the series, 114 members and 11 guests took part with 10 members completing all six races.
Matthew Hathrell ran the season’s best time, 18m:0s, in Race 5. Multiple club record holder Natasha White echoed that for the women by running 18m:03s, also in Race 5.
Update 16 August
A good turnout for Race 5 and a good run by Jan Watson moved her up to the top of the women’s table, with Sarah Batson and Angela Hands tying for second place. Over five races Jan has cut her course time by nearly 5 minutes.
It’s a similar story with Ben Isaac, lopping over a minute from his time over the five races. The added benfit of August bonus points puts him at the top of the men’s table.
Both are in a good position going into the final race on 7 September.
Update 11 May
Fifteen members joined the handicap list and made their first entrance to this years series. Another strong run by Megan Miller put her in the lead at the top of the women’s table, and a similar performance by David Giles puts him ahead in the men’s table. It’s still all to play for of course and everything could change at the next race on 1 June, where there will be the posibility of scoring some bonus points for running six consecutive races.
Update 20 April
Sixty-two members turned out for the first race of the 2022 series on a cold and blustery April evening with the light already beginning to fade as they set off on the 5k loop.
It was good to see Corinna O’Connor back racing as she came home ahead of the field, followed in by Pete Stafford. Angela Hands and Megan Miller took second and third women’s places; David Giles and Dan Stevens the men’s.
The Summer Handicap Series is back with a full complement of 6 races, one each month from April to September.
Established members will know what this is all about but for the more recently joined members here’s your chance to engage in some friendly rivalry on a levelled playing field.
Note these dates:
All races start at 7pm
You must be a paid up member to take part, and we are not able to accommodate guests at this time.
We will be using the start/finish just off Coundon Wedge Drive as this proved to be a good location last year. You can find out all about it on the Summer Handicap page.
On what was one of the hottest days of the year so far 393 athletes lined up for the start of the 18th edition of Northbrook AC’s 10k race, taking in the countryside lanes around Allesley and Corley.
After the forced cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 races due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race organisers were looking forward to welcoming back club and non-affiliated runners to this popular, quality event.
Ben Kruze
Olivia Harris
The race was won by Stratford’s Ben Kruze in 32:46,with Luke Morgan (Kenilworth Runners) 2nd and Matt Burdus-Cook (Stratford AC) in 3rd.
Olivia Harris (Sutton Coldfield) took the 1st women’s prize in 40:11.
For Northbrook Tori Boyle was 1st FU20, and Debbie Campbell 3rd FV55.
Stratford’s quartet of Ben Kruze, Matt Burdus-Cook, Jamie Hall and Alex Hill won the men’s team prize, and Spa Striders’ trio of Jo Fleming, Laura Peake and Elaine Sherwin won the team prize for the women.
Full results are available to view on the results page of our 10k website.
A Club night event with a difference.
A relay race for teams of 3 people of different standards, eg a level 1, a level 3 and a level 4 make up a team.
The infamous Northbrook GBU has been run another year. According to chairman Bob it has been going for 10 years and he is still quick to remind everybody that Steve got lost on the first event. This year 14 brave teams lined up to battle the Hawkes Mill Lane hill. Some runners are seasoned veterans, for others this was their first attempt and some have just joined the club.
The teams went off in small groups as a handicap had been apllied to try and get everybody round in a magic 1 hour 15 minutes and 30 seconds.
In the first Leg for ‘The Golden Guys’ team Albert McCosker had a cracking first run of the GBU course hotly followed by The Good Hawks with Mark Parker and Sarah Mac finished in 3rd for The Spirit Express. All the teams had differing strategies which was fantastic to see.
The top 3 quickly changed for the 2nd leg as Kyle Beddoe came home first for iRobots, followed by Spencer and Mark Dalton as the Good Hawks and Spirit Express swapped places.
The final leg saw Mark Parker out for his second leg as he overtook Spirit express’s Kevin Erne to finish in 3rd place. Glen Guyver-Fletcher blitzed his own expectations as he beat his 5km time by a massive 3 minutes to bring home iRobots into 2nd place. Meanwhile, out of nowhere the Smoking Secret Agents blitzed the field with Chris Archer putting in a huge season’s best 5km time in the 1st leg and Pete Stafford putting a monstrous performance to finish in under 18 minutes around this notorously tough GBU course.
Congratulations to Glen Guyver-Fletcher, Albert McCosker, Jan Watson, Tom Cox and Amy Peters all completing the GBU course for the very first time.
View the complete results …
A Club night event with a difference.
A relay race for teams of 3 people of different standards, eg a level 1, a level 3 and a level 4 runner can make up a team.
This event is open only to members.
You have to let the teams organiser know in advance if you want to take part. The teams organiser will compile the teams using handicap results or other recent race results for a similar distance. If you have said you will take part then find you can’t let the teams organiser know so that the teams can be adjusted.
Don’t just turn up on the night and expect to take part – you’re likely to be disappointed.
You enter by following this link.
The teams organiser will create the teams from the list of names. Teams themselves decide the order in which their runners run.
The start and finish is the junction of Bridle Brook Lane and Pikers Lane.
The distance per leg is approx. 3.2 miles.
Park at the Jag Club in Browns Lane and warm up by jogging to the start which is opposite the green triangle at the junction of Hawkes Mill Lane and Browns Lane. Be at the start by 7.15pm.
Don’t park your car at the White Lion as the car park is reserved for pub customers.
There are prizes for the winners and runners-up.
Full details are on the GBU page.
You can download a map of the route from here.
Wednesday 20 July
The Club’s annual tussle with the brambles and nettles that may lie in wait along the 9k off-road route between Hampton-in-Arden and Tile Hill is a popular event that adds a bit of interest to a Wednesday night’s summer running.
This is a predominantly off-road event through the beautifully scenic Warwickshire countryside. Treat it as a race or as a (not too) leisurely trot along well-trodden public footpaths.
Those who have run this event in previous years need to be aware that part of the route between Hampton-in-Arden and Berkswell has been modified due to HS2 construction.
Full details are on the Race the Train page.
Entries are now open for the 18th staging of the annual Northbrook 10k road race set to take place on Sunday 10 July 2022.
After the forced cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 races due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race organisers are looking forward to welcoming club and non-affiliated runners to this popular, quality event.
Full details and up-to-date information are posted on our 10k website.
Enter online via the Northbrook 10k website.
Training for the Ashby 20
Northbrook’s Natasha White raced her way into the Club’s record books with a superb 2h:16m:28s finish at the Ashby 20 mile race on 20 March, taking more than 4 minutes off her previous appearance there and nearly 3 minutes off the women’s previous record for the distance set twelve years previously by Becky Smith.
Commenting on the race, Natasha said “It was a cold start to the day on race morning but having done the race before I was looking forward to it. I spoke briefly to a couple of other Northbrookers beforehand and then headed up to the start.
The first mile is a quick one as it’s downhill, so I had to remind myself to chill out and not go off too fast, which you really shouldn’t do in a 20-miler. Then it’s up and down the rolling hills, nothing too severe but you do notice them. Get to the end of the first 10-mile lap and start it over again.
The second lap definitely feels hillier, especially the final big climb at mile 19. The support is really good, and the locals and marshalls are really supportive and friendly.
It’s a strange distance to ‘race’ as its just a marathon training run but by the time you finish you’re grateful not to have to run another 6.2 miles.
I was 4th female on the day and pleased to beat my previous effort there by 4 minutes. You get a pretty decent goodie bag and a handmade cheese batch (they call it a cob but it’s definitely a batch).”
See Northbrook Ashby 20 results
Not content with this performance Natasha then went on to smash the women’s club Marathon record with a 2h:59m:07s finish in the Boston Marathon in Lincolnshire on 18 April, beating the previous record set by Amanda Deavy in 2015 by over 2 minutes.
See Northbrook Boston Marathon results
What a great night we had at the Celebration of Running and Awards Night on Saturday – Sarah and Kelly did a great job preparing the venue in club colours.
Congratulations to all of the many award winners.
The big winners in the raffle were Chris Archer, who will have his club membership subscription paid for a year, and Tommy Dempsey who gained a free entry to the Northbrook 10k race on Sunday 10th July.
Entertainment was provided by live band Gdańsk and once they started playing ‘birthday boy’ Tom Miller was able to demonstrate his moves on the dance floor.
Club Person of the Year
Most Improved Runners
We are asking members to cast their votes for the Northbrook Voted Awards – awards for club members voted for by the membership.
We’ll be presenting these and the usual club competition awards at the Club’s Celebration of Running and Annual Awards event on 5 March 2022.
Club Person of the Year – The person who you think has contributed the most to the club over the year by giving up time to organise events, support other members, support club events, raise funds, publicise the club, or generally look after the club’s best interests.
Most Improved Male Runner – The male club member who has most improved his running ability or race performances during the year.
Most Improved Female Runner – The female club member who has most improved her running ability or race performances during the year.
The committee is offering some suggestions for likely candidates for these awards but members can vote for anyone who is a member of the club. Think about the people you would like to nominate.
Committee suggestions (suggestions – not recommendations)
Most Improved Male Runner
Most Improved Female Runner
Voting is online. Club members will receive an email containing a link to the online voting form. You must cast your votes by
6pm on Sunday 27 February 2022
for your votes to be included. You may nominate up to 3 people in each category, enter their names in order of preference. All votes are kept confidential.Your email address is required when voting for authentication purposes. Email addresses will be removed before the votes are collated for counting.
So, get your thinking caps on and consider whom you might nominate in each of these categories.
Remember, you can vote for up to three members in each category. You could even vote for the same person in both categories if you think that person is pretty special.
Check your email Inbox for the link to the voting form.
Any member who has difficulty in accessing the voting form should contact the club via the Contact page.
It’s that time of year again when membership renewal falls due. Continue your enjoyment of being a member of the Northbrook running community by renewing your club membership now. You’ll get the benefits of UKA affiliation, structured training sessions led by qualified leaders, reduced entry fees to races, Northbrook-sponsored team entries, and so on.
Renewal is easy – go to the online Renewal Form, fill in your details and we’ll email you with payment instructions. Membership is renewed when payment is received.
Renewal fees are £31 full rate, £22 concessions.
Alternatively, you can send a Renewal Form with your payment to the Membership Secretary.
Renew now please so we don’t have to chase you.
A new year and a new set of tables accumulating results.
Will 2022 prove to be as competitve as the previous year with some last-minute races being entered to squeeze those last few points out of the results?
The Race Champs tables are compiled from Summer Handicap results, and from results of qualifying races sent in to the web site.
You can see the 2021 final leading positions and all the results on the Road Race Champs 2021 page.
View the 2022 tables by selecting the link below:-
Northbrook Race Champs 2022
See tables for previous years
1st September 2020 to 3rd December 2021
Fifteen months ago, in the middle of the Covid pandemic, Mark Baker was asked to join a group to virtually run around the world.
The headline was … ‘The run of a lifetime awaits you. A run that will completely circumnavigate the Earth’.
Then the nitty gritty … ‘We have divided the planet into 12 Regions, so that you can complete an entire section in a relatively short time, with a medal for each regions. When you have completed your journey, there will be a world puzzle into which your pieces will fit to show your complete journey around the earth. We begin the trek at the US/Mexico border, and take on Latin America first, traveling down through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, before taking a Ferry to Colombia to complete the first Region. From Colombia we cross the mountains to travel down the Pacific coast through Ecuador and Peru into Chile to complete the Andes Region. Crossing the mountains back to Argentina we travel all the way to the tip of South America finishing the Pampas region by taking the Dornier to Antarctica. Antarctica is our longest continental region, crossing the South Pole on the way to boarding the Dornier for the flight to Tasmania. Antarctica was, unfortunately, the only continent where we were unable to use existing roads, however, we spared no expense in cutting a narrow track all the way across for you and your accompanying support team in tracked vehicles. After running the length of Tasmania, we take the short hop to Australia, and run straight across the centre of the ancient land to finish the Down Under Region with a flight to Timor.
This initiates the Pacific Islands Region, as we run the length of one island after another, taking ferries in between: East Nusa Tengarra, Komodo, West Nusa Tengarra, Lombok, Bali, Java, and Sumatra, before completing our Pacific Island Journey with a ferry ride to Singapore. From there we journey up the Malay Peninsula and across Southeast Asia across Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar (Burma). After Southeast Asia you will travel all the way across India (and the inclusion of Bangladesh) to reach the Pakistan border. Due to tensions in the area, we have arranged for human traffickers to spirit you across the border into Pakistan during the dead of night, after which you will have high adventure crossing Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan (we call this region the Stans) to reach Eastern Europe in Russia. Your Eastern European tour will also include the Ukraine, Belarus, and Estonia, before finishing with a trip across Finland and Sweden to reach the Northernmost tip of Norway, ending in a remarkably short trip on the Dornier over the North Pole to reach the tip of Point Barrow, Alaska. We tried to arrange a “land” route across the North Pole, but sea ice being sea ice, we were unable to build a road that would stay in place. Once in Alaska, you begin the long and arduous trip across the Great North region of Alaska and Canada. Trust me, it is far, and the most sparsely populated part of the voyage excepting Antarctica! The circuit is completed with a straight shot across the Lower 48 back to your starting point on the Mexico border.’
| Region | Description | Mark | Amy | Claudie | Total Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico to Panama | 308 | 328 | 159 | 2,512 |
| 2 | Colombia, Ecuador, Peru | 432 | 320 | 3,094 | |
| 3 | Chile, Argentina | 378 | 340 | 3,173 | |
| 4 | Antarctica | 500 | 367 | 3,296 | |
| 5 | Australia | 362 | 272 | 2,638 | |
| 6 | Indonesia | 257 | 195 | 2,088 | |
| 7 | Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar | 200 | 162 | 1,989 | |
| 8 | India, Bangladesh | 163 | 140 | 1,661 | |
| 9 | Pakistan to Kazhakstan | 288 | 193 | 2,319 | |
| 10 | Russia to Norway | 341 | 295 | 2,696 | |
| 11 | Alaska, Canada | 294 | 356 | 2,685 | |
| 12 | USA | 188 | 120 | 2,057 | |
| 3711 | 3088 | 159 | 30,208 |
CRAW, a virtual Circumpolar Race Around the World, started as a team of 10 including 3 Northbrookers – Mark Baker, Amy Burdis and Claudie Combelas. We had 12 regions of varying distances to complete. There were a few changes along the way, and most of our regions had only 9 runners.
The runners were located far apart – Mark and Claudie were in Coventry. Amy was in the Netherlands, Ben, Louise, Alistair and Lisa were all near the Wales/England border. Phil and Susie were from Kent. Claire was from Lancashire. Tom was from Germany. Moy was from Canada.
We all kept our spirits up on a CRAW Whatsapp group, with encouraging messages and progress updates. After each leg we received a medal in the shape of the map, and a large wall chart display.
It was great to have a focus when there were no real races happening. Chatting to new people was also great. As time went on, the determination to finish took over, with the Silver Buckle award being presented for teams finishing within 16 months!
It’s a great achievement to finish. The longest event I’ve ever done. Great team work. It will always be a positive memory from difficult times.
Northbrook CRAW 2021 team members
l-r Mark Baker, Amy Burdis, Claudie Combelas
Here are a few thoughts from Facebook and Whatsapp along the way …
The CRAW team are now over a quarter of the way through the first virtual region from the US/Mexico border to Panama. Amy has just reached 100 miles, and leads the way in the team of 10. Mark is adding regular daily mileage and Claudie is adding very long runs of 20 and 40 miles.
Claudie: My legs are still sore from Sunday on Coventry Way 40 miles.
Louise: I’m pretty pleased. I’ve never done a sub 30-hour hundred miler before.
Lisa: We’re in El Salvador.
Phil: 11 miles today. Managed to break the key in the lock of the front door. Managed to break in.
Louise: Amy, just seen your mileage for the 24 hour race. Wow! Well done!
CRAW virtual relay region 1 completed with 2500 miles from Mexico to Panama in just over a month. Amy leading the way with most miles done. Region 2 is underway with 3000 miles from Colombia to Peru.
Amy: Can’t believe how fast it’s gone.
Alastair: Can’t run today. In quarantine.
CRAW virtual ultrarace region 2 is now completed, with 3000 miles through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Just me (432 miles) and Amy (320 miles) now representing Northbrook in the team of 10. There’s a space for a new runner in region 3. So let me know if anyone wants to join up for another 3000 miles through Chile and Argentina.
Phil: I’ve got a 100 mile track race next weekend.
Amy: Running in Colombia and Lapland at the same time messes with my head too much.
CRAW virtual ultrarace region 3 is now completed, with 3000 miles through Chile and Argentina. Myself (378 miles) and Amy (340 miles) are representing Northbrook in the team of 10. Region 4 is a really exciting virtual challenge, with another 3000 miles through Antarctica, passing the South Pole. Our weather here is already helping to make it feel like Antarctica. There are 12 regions in total so we should be busy most of this year.
Lisa: We’re at the South Pole!
Susan: Thought I was cold.
CRAW virtual ultrarace region 4 is now completed, with 3200 miles through Antarctica. Myself (500 miles) and Amy (367 miles) are representing Northbrook in the team. The last 3 regions were the longest, all over 3000 miles. Region 5 is another 2600 miles through Australia, but will take us to about halfway in distance completed. The remaining 7 regions are shorter distances, but still at least 1600 miles each. We can do it!
Louise: Australia seems to be passing very quickly.
CRAW virtual ultrarace region 5 is now completed, with 2600 miles through Australia. Myself (362 miles) and Amy (272 miles) are representing Northbrook in the team. We are nearly halfway in distance completed, and the next 3 regions are shorter mileages. In Region 6, we will be running 2000 miles through Indonesia. We will keep going all the way to the end of the 12 regions.
Phil: Firehills in Hastings are amazing.
Mark: I ran a virtual half marathon today for the club.
Phil: I did a 50km race yesterday, and was dragged out today for 11 miles today.
CRAW virtual ultrarace region 6 is now completed, with nearly 2100 miles through Indonesia. Myself (257 miles) and Amy (195 miles) are representing Northbrook in the team. We are now well over halfway in distance completed, and the next few regions are shorter mileages. In Region 7, we will be running over1900 miles through Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar. We will keep going until we finish all the 12 regions.
Moy: Pushing to wrap up my second 100 miler this month.
Mark: Just completed the Peterborough Marathon.
CRAW virtual ultrarace region 7 is now completed, with nearly 2000 miles through Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar. Myself (200 miles) and Amy (162 miles) are representing Northbrook in the team. Amy is based in Netherlands where ‘real’ races are still not permitted, so it’s been all virtual runs. Hopefully that will change soon. Fortunately, I’ve managed to do a few ‘real’ events at marathon, half-marathon and 10km.We also have a team member in Canada. A few more are based on the mid Wales/England border, and others are based around England. Region 8 is the shortest region, but we will still be running over 1600 miles through India and Bangladesh. Some of the team are doing a ‘real’ ultra race called The Spine, along the Pennine Way, so we should be making quick progress. We’ll soon be finishing all the 12 regions, as everyone keeps the momentum going.
Lisa: Did my long run from Winchcombe to Cheltenham on the Cotswold Way.
CRAW virtual ultrarace region 8 is now completed, with 1600 miles through India and Bangladesh in just 3 weeks. This was the shortest region, with myself (163 miles) and Amy (140 miles) representing Northbrook in the team. In total, the team have now run over 20,000 miles towards the 30,000 miles required to complete all 12 regions. Next it’s ‘The Stans’. That will be 2,300 miles through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan. Some of the team are logging high miles from ‘The Spine’ ultra race at the moment, so we are well on our way.
Susan: Well done Louise. Summer Spine race completed.
Ben: Just finished my Pennine 39 race.
Alistair: KACR starting tomorrow so that will be 145 miles to add by Saturday night.
CRAW virtual ultrarace region 9 is now completed, with 2,300 miles through ‘The Stans’, with myself (288 miles) and Amy (193 miles) representing Northbrook in the team. In total, the team are now over three-quarters of the way to completing all 12 regions. Next it’s Europe. That will be nearly 2,700 miles through Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and Norway. We’ve been going for 11 months now, and if we finish before the end of the year we get the ‘Silver Buckle’ award. It’s looking good at the moment, but consistency will be the key to a great achievement!
Louise: North Downs Way 100 miles. Weather was hideous and mud was terrible.
Phil: Me and Susie have 40 mile race on Saturday.
CRAW virtual ultrarace region 10 is now completed, with nearly 2,700 miles through Eastern Europe with myself (341 miles) and Amy (295 miles) representing Northbrook in the team. The team are now very close to completing all twelve regions. Next it’s Alaska and Canada, to complete another 2,600 miles in region 11. We’ve ran for over a year now, accumulating more than 25,000 miles. We started in September 2020, and if we finish before the end of the year we get the ‘Silver Buckle’ award. The end is in sight!
Moy: About to crawl on to my treadmill to complete the virtual Boston Marathon.
Mark: The Yorkshire Marathon for me on Sunday. Lisa is running it as well.
Louise: Amy finished the A100 miles.
We’re nearly there! One region to go! CRAW virtual ultrarace region 11 is now completed, with nearly 2,700 miles through Alaska and Canada, with Amy (356 miles) and myself (294 miles) representing Northbrook in the team. The final region is 2000 miles through USA finishing back at the Mexico border. We’re looking forward to big celebrations in about a month’s time!
Phil: I ‘only’ made 233 laps (60 miles).
Alistair: I’ve got a 24 hour race from midnight on Friday!
We’re nearly there on our CRAW round the world virtual adventure! Almost 30,000 miles done. Only 500 miles to go! Hopefully finishing next week.
The final region was 2,000 miles through the USA to the Mexico border, with myself (188 miles) and Amy (120 miles) representing Northbrook in the team.
We’ve finished !!!
Louise: It’s done.
Mark: Well done everyone. A fantastic team effort!
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held by video conference on Thursday 13 January 2022 at 7.30pm.
Further details of how to attend and vote will be made available before the meeting.
The Club committee is elected by the membership each year at the AGM. Details of committee and non-committee posts, how to vote, the meeting agenda, and how to submit a proposal for consideration at the meeting are in the formal Meeting Notice.
England Athletics Regional Volunteer Awards recognise and celebrate the unsung heroes of volunteers in the athletics and running community.
Winners of the West Midlands Regional Volunteer Awards were announced on 22 November, streamed live on the England Athletics YouTube channel – watch it here.
Northbrook Men’s Team Captain Spencer Davies won the award for Innovation in Athletics and Running, the citation reading:
The development of a set of twelve virtual challenges, that then became actual, in-person activities as restrictions eased, are just part of how Spencer Davies has helped his club and fellow athletes survive lockdown in good physical and mental health. At first, he provided Strava segments and relay challenges with regular updates on social media, moving on to paired competitions and a virtual alternative to the club’s road race league. All this helped keep people connected and promoted a sense of competition when physical competitions could not be held.
Alongside this Spencer has been a calming influence when many have felt stressed and has continued to create a vital sense of camaraderie despite the need to maintain social distancing.
Regional Award winners will be put forward to an external panel for the chance to win one of the England Athletics prestigious National Volunteer Awards.
You must take out Associate Membership of the Social Club if you use any of the facilities, eg
– parking in the Social Club car park to join a training session or to go on a run,
– use a leisure centre facility (eg showers/changing rooms)
– eat cake in the bar once on a month on a Wednesday night in the summer.
You can find a Membership Renewal form on the Membership page of Jaguar Sports and Social Club website.
Make your own arrangements to renew and pay for this membership by returning your completed form with payment (cheque made payable to Jaguar Sports & Social Club) to the Leisure Centre or bar staff during opening hours or directly to the Sports Club Administration office.
Salvaging what we could from the 2021 season we staged three Summer Handicap races in August and September, on
The format was a little different this year and the start/finish was re-located to a more convenient position, which the purists added ca 0.1 mile to the course length.
The first of the three races on 18 August attracted 32 men and 13 women. Results were fairly evenly grouped around the scratch time of 37 minutes showing that runners were fairly accurate in predicting their finishing times for the starting list, much appreciated by the handicapper.
Angela Hands came in 1st and David Giles finished 1st for the men
In race 2, 32 men and 11 women took part, Angela Hands again coming in 1st and Andrew Ralph 1st for the men.
In the 3rd and final race on 15 September, 40 men and 20 women showed up, maximum points being won by Tracey Cox and Andrew Ralph again winning the men’s race.
In the series overall, winning trophies go to Angela Hands and Andrew Ralph.
See Series results
You can find out all about the Summer Handcap on the Summer Handicap page.
The Club draw for its allocation of two guaranteed entries to the October 2021 Virgin London Marathon included 21 eligible club members, and the winners were Mark Parker and Pia Singh. The reserve is Joe Kelly.
Unlucky were Richard Arnold, Kevin Coughlan, Megan Miller, Tom Mitchell, Liam Mills, Tim Hughes, Will Carr, Fern Kenny, David Giles, Caroline Parkinson, Julie Liggett, Kelly Parker, Lee Miller, Pete Marshall, Tracey Cox, Dave Mills,Emma Vardy and Elle Townsend.
The event is scheduled to take place on 3 October 2021.
The club will not have any places for the 2022 event, as the 2020 club draw winners deferred their entries to 2022 due to Covid (Richard Hands and Catherine Shepherd).
Salvaging what we can from the 2021 season we are staging three Summer Handicap races over the next two months.
For established members this is an opportunity to show your clubmates how you have kept in shape over the lockdown periods, or not as the case may be. For the more recently joined members here’s your chance to engage in some friendly rivalry on a levelled playing field.
Note these dates:
All races start at 7pm
You must be a paid up member to take part, and unfortunately we are not able to accommodate guests this year.
The format is a little different this year and the start/finish has been re-located. You can find out all about it on the Summer Handicap page.
Update: 20 August 2021
The first of the three races on 18 August attracted 32 men and 13 women. Results were fairly evenly grouped around the scratch time of 37 minutes showing that runners were fairly accurate in predicting their finishing times for the starting list, much appreciated by the handicapper.
For the purists, the change of starting/finishing points added ca 0.1 mile to the course length.
The next race on 1 September will be interesting as the handicaps will have been adjusted according to Race 1 results.
A Club night event with a difference.
A relay race for teams of 3 people of different standards, eg a level 1, a level 3 and a level 4 runner can make up a team.
This event is open only to members.
Park at the Jag Club in Browns Lane. Allow time to get to the start. Warm up by jogging the 1 mile to the start which is the junction of Bridle Brook Lane and Pikers Lane. Be at the start and ready to run by 7.15pm.
You have to let the teams organiser know in advance if you want to take part. The teams organiser will compile the teams using handicap results or other recent race results for a similar distance. If you have said you will take part then find you can’t let the teams organiser know so that the teams can be adjusted.
Don’t just turn up on the night and expect to take part – you’re likely to be disappointed.
The teams organiser will create the teams from the list of names. Teams themselves decide the order in which their runners run.
The start and finish is the junction of Bridle Brook Lane and Pikers Lane. The route is from Pikers along Bridle Brook Lane, straight on-ish into Washbrook Lane, left into Hawkes Mill Lane, left at the White Lion pub, up Wall Hill Road, then left into Bridle Brook Lane and finish where you started at the end of Pikers Lane.
The distance per leg is approx. 3.2 miles.
You can download a map of the route from here.
There are prizes for the winners and runners-up.
A timely reminder to members about the Equilibrium Cup competition that runs in the background throughout the year. Inaugurated in 2020 it is now an annual event, the winner receiving a handsome trophy.
This is an individuals competition with a built-in gradient equalising factor. For 2021 the distance is 10km.
To be included in the competition you must submit your 10k race result data on the Virtual Events Upload Form, irrespective of any other submission to the results pages.
You can submit as many 10k race results as you like between now and 31 December.
The competition winner will be the member with the highest score as at 31 December.
You will be able to follow progress of the competition on the Equilibrium Cup results chart when results start to accumulate.
Go to the Equilibrium Cup page to see how it works.
With a complete lack of real-world racing results since the beginning of the year due to COVID-19 restrictions the empty race tables were a distressing sight for the competitively minded. Now, with the relaxation of restrictions and the opening up of the race calendar we are we are seeing the results come in and the points accumulating.
As well as the more usual mix of 5-mile and 10Km races, results are coming in for half-marathon, full marathon and even 50k ultra races. Members have obviously been missing the distance and are intent on making up the miles.
The Race Champs tables are compiled from (normally) Summer Handicap results, and from results of qualifying races sent in to the web site.
View the latest tables at Northbrook Race Champs 2021
See tables for previous years
We’ve created a Strava segment to use for a 5-mile challenge for the month of April.
Run it as many times as you like, or, improve on it over the month. Strava will give us a leader board over the month which will complement the results you upload via the virtual results upload form.
A great introduction for new members and anyone thinking about joining.
Get the segment
The big event this month is a real life 2 mile handicap – the Northbrook Wacky Races.
The format is simple. It requires groups of 6 (rule of 6 is in play), and the finish is at Swans Pet Food Supplies out in the lanes. At a distance of 2 miles away we have 4 different start locations. Participants will be handicapped based on either a recent 5k or 2 mile time that will be verified.
Each group has a nominated starter who is running, they release the runners at a handicap time. The 4 starts converge with either 1.5 or 1 mile to go. The race is to the finish.
Depending on number of people interested the plan is for races to start in week beginning 19 April and to run it on consecutive days for play-offs until we get to a final 24 who get to run again a week later.
This is a handicapped event so this will be your effort against your effort, with the added bonus of a free real life race theme involved
Participants will be able to submit their results using the form on the Virtual Events page.
To enter we will need a 2 mile time for the handicap to unfold.
Last date for entries is Saturday 17 April.
A 40-minute hare and tortoise virtual relay suitable for all abilities.
You have to let us know in advance that you want to take part in this event. Teams of 4 runners will be randomly drawn, 1 runner from each ability associated with our normal training groups, and the challenge is to see how far each team can run in 40 minutes.
Starting from day 1 the first team member has 5 days to report their result, with 2 submissions being allowed.
At the end of the first 5 days the next team member then has 5 days to record their leg result, again 2 submissions are allowed. This continues until all four team members have completed their legs. Teams can decide the order in which they run and each leg
Teams will be ranked accorded to the total distance run by all four legs.
The competition will run from the 12th to the 31st March.
Leg 1 – 12th to 16th March
Leg 2 – 17th to 21st March
Leg 3 – 22nd to 26th March
Leg 4 – 27th to 31st March
Participants will be able to submit their results using the form on the Virtual Events page.
Taking inspiration from a well-known event, the Seven Sins, that is usually staged around this time of year and involves 7 hills in 7 miles, the first virtual challenge for March involves some climbing as well as running.
The challenge is to run a route that is no longer than 7.5 miles and to include a maximum of 7 hills. You devise your own torturous routes to complete the challenge and, as no hill is to be repeated, routes have to be submitted to qualify.
You have to report your time for the run, the run distance and the elevation gain. The winning performance will be calculated firstly by largest elevation gained, then on shortest distance, then on the run time. Extra kudos is gained for naming each hill as one of the original sins on your route. Selfies at summits are encouraged.
The competition runs from 1st to 7 March.
Submit your response using the form on the Virtual Events page.
The 2020 racing calendar and consequently the Northbrook race championship were badly affected by COVID restrictions but many members still managed to find races to run and the club is making main trophy awards for the overall winners in each category in the race championships.
In the Voted Awards – awards voted for by the club membership – the winners are:
For the complete list of award winners go to the Awards 2020 page.
It’s that time of year again when membership renewal falls due. Continue your enjoyment of being a member of the Northbrook running community by renewing your club membership now. You’ll get the benefits of UKA affiliation, structured training sessions led by qualified leaders, reduced entry fees to races, Northbrook-sponsored team entries, and so on.
Renewal is easy – go to the online Renewal Form, fill in your details and we’ll email you with payment instructions. Membership is renewed when payment is received.
Renewal fees are £30 full rate, £21 concessions.
Alternatively, you can send a Renewal Form with your payment to the Membership Secretary.
Renew now please so we don’t have to chase you.
This month we keep the distance theme going and also introduce a bit of fun with a play on numbers and dates. The expectation is pure participation and challenge is whatever you make it with the option of running miles or kms.
Speed here isn’t the challenge but remember all the virtual running distances from 1 mile to half-marathon are still there for you to run and generate pace-based points on the board throughout the month.
Submit your response using the form on the Virtual Events page.
Here’s how it works:
and in detail:
| km | miles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 1 Feb to Sun 7 Feb | Week 1 | 1/2/21 | 6* | 6* |
| 2/2/21 | 7 | 7 | ||
| Week 1 total | 13 | 13 | ||
|
|
||||
| Mon 8 Feb to Sat 13 Feb | Week 2 | 10/2/21 | 6 | 6 |
| 11/2/21 | 7 | 7 | ||
| 12/2/21 | 8* | 8* | ||
| Week 2 total | 21 | 21 | ||
|
|
||||
| Sun 14 Feb1 | Week 3 | 14/2/21 | 10 | 10 |
|
|
||||
| Sat 20 Feb to Sun 28 Feb | Week 4 | 20/2/21 | 7 | 7 |
| 21/2/21 | 8 | 8 | ||
| 22/2/21 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Week 4 total | 24 | 24 | ||
|
|
||||
| Optional memory day | ??/??/21 | ? | ? | |
* palindrome day – option to double the distance
1 Valentine’s Day special
Club Person of the Year
Most Improved Runner
We can’t hold our annual Awards Night right now but we are still asking members to cast their votes for the Northbrook Voted Awards – awards for club members voted for by the membership.
Arrangements for presenting these and the usual club competition awards will be announced at a later date.
Club Person of the Year – The person who you think has contributed the most to the club over the year by giving up time to organise events, support other members, support club events, raise funds, publicise the club, or generally look after the club’s best interests.
Most Improved Male Runner – The male club member who has most improved his running ability or race performances during the year.
Most Improved Female Runner – The female club member who has most improved her running ability or race performances during the year.
This year the committee is not offering suggestions for likely candidates for these awards, come up with your own suggestions. Members can vote for anyone who is a member of the club.
Voting is online. Club members will receive an email containing a link to the online voting form. You must cast your votes by
6pm on Sunday 31 January 2021
for your votes to be included. You may nominate up to 3 people in each category, enter their names in order of preference. All votes are kept confidential.Your email address is required when voting for authentication purposes. Email addresses will be removed before the votes are collated for counting.
So, get your thinking caps on and consider whom you might nominate in each of these categories.
Remember, you can vote for up to three members in each category. You could even vote for the same person in both categories if you think that person is pretty special.
Check your email Inbox for the link to the voting form.
Any member who has difficulty in accessing the voting form should contact the club via the Contact page.
Updated 22 March 2021 – Event cancelled
With huge disappointment Northbrook AC took the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 event.
The race committee looked at various possibilities, but were unable to forecast with confidence what the Covid situation might be when the race was to be staged. We had hoped to see a return to organised events, but the safety of participants, their supporters, the race officials and marshals were considered a priority.
Plans are afoot to stage a virtual 10k – look out for news of that on our web sites.
The 18th staging of the annual Northbrook 10k road race is planned to take place on Sunday 11 July 2021.
After the forced cancellation of the 2020 race due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race organisers are looking forward to welcoming club and non-affiliated runners to this popular, quality event.
Full details and up-to-date information are posted on our 10k website.
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held by video conference on Wednesday 20 January 2021 at 8pm.
Further details of how to attend and vote will be made available before the meeting.
The Club committee is elected by the membership each year at the AGM. Details of committee and non-committee posts, how to vote, the meeting agenda, and how to submit a proposal for consideration at the meeting are in the formal Meeting Notice.
January is typically a RED month (Run Every Day) so here’s your first challenge for 2021. But instead of expecting you to run every day we’re setting you a distance target.
Look back over your race results and training diary and tot up your total distance for 2020. The first challenge is to divide it by twelve, and then the real challenge is to see if you can equal that distance in the month of January.
You won’t be running against anyone else, just against your own individual target.
No distance for 2020? Just set a distance you think is feasible for you to run in a month.
Log your runs on the Virtual Upload page and we’ll keep a tally for you.
You can see how you and everyone else are doing with this event by going to the RED scoREboarD.
It may not be possible to run in a race, and it may not be permitted to train in a group but that need not stop you continuing to join in the Northbrook virtual racing season.
Keep following the COVID running guidelines when running but at the same time get some points on the Virtual Series 2021 table. Go out for your run and then fill out and submit the form on the Virtual Events page.
The simple approach is to run from your doorstep and complete one of the set distances listed. Take the data from your wearable tech or app such as Strava®, running as close to the actual distance you can.
Send in your results and we’ll add them to the Virtual Series 2021 table. The table will be updated at roughly weekly intervals.
View the table on the Virtual Events page.
Here’s a festive virtual event, again with a bit of a twist. We have put together 12 activities, and to attract a wide participation we are running a paced challenge and a social/fun challenge for each activity.
The paced challenge is to maintain the same pace over all 12 runs, whereas the fun challenges are more like social challenges. The challenges can only be completed as they are revealed, but once revealed can be completed in any order.
If pace is your thing and you want to do the paced challenge, then we challenge you to make every run you “post” to be the same pace, this will get progressively harder even though the distances may be different. Set yourself the challenge of matching your pace on each run.
For each of the social/fun challenges we will set a task to achieve that is linked (sometimes very tenuously) to the theme of the run. Complete the task and send in proof to get your inclusion for that task. Make the photos as festive as you can to show the club’s festive spirit.
You can mix and match the 12 runs as suits you.
The first activity has been revealed and started on 1 December. Each activity runs for 2 days before the next one is released. Subsequent challenges will follow at two-day intervals. The paced distance decreases stepwise to allow for the normal Christmas activities associated with home life.
You are expected to plan your own routes, to only run if you are well, to respect other road/pavement users and are recommended to run in at least pairs (after Wednesday, non club organised social runs revert back to the rule of 6).
All runs are to be submitted through Virtual Results upload form.
Photographic evidence can be posted on facebook, or let us know via the Contact Us page that you completed it.
Participation in this event will be rewarded with a small thank you gesture from the club.
Keep a track of everyone’s attempts on the event live report.
Activities are:
1 Northbrooker in a field
23-24 December
Run challenge is paced distance of is 1 mile
Fun challenge is to get a photo of yourself in full Northbrook kit.
Do not try to approach livestock, it’s their field not yours.
2 Turtle Doves
21-22nd December
Run challenge is paced distance of 2 miles
Fun challenge is dove related (dovecote at Allesley Park?). Could also be the the soap type.
3 French hens
19-20 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 3 miles
Fun challenge is wave to 3 fellow Northbrookers on doorstep visits
4 Calling Northbrookers
17-18 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 4 miles
Fun challenge is to find 4 telephone boxes or “call in” on a fellow Northbrooker to join you on your run
5 Gold Things
15-16 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 5 miles
Fun challenge is to visit 5 gold things. eg houses decorated with “gold things” or just use you imagination
6 Northbrookers a-laying
13-14 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 6 miles
Fun challenge is get a picture of a Christmas dinner related food item
7 swimming Northbrookers
11-12 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 7km
Fun challenge is get a swan-related photo (fancy dress is OK), could be at Swanswell Park or Swan Lane say or of something swim related.
8 Maids a-milking
9-10 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 8km
Fun challenge is get a picture of a dairy related item
9 Ladies a-dancing
7-8 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 9km
Fun challenge is get a picture of a dancing location
10 Northbrookers a-leaping
5-6 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 10km
Fun challenge is find a sign of something leaping
11 Pipers a-piping
3-4 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 11km.
Fun challenge is get a picture of a local plumbers or a “JLN” van/sign.
12 Drummers-to-post
1-2 December
Run challenge is paced distance of 12km.
Fun challenge is to find 12 postboxes and submit photo proof.
Jaguar Sports & Social Club Membership runs from October to September and renewal is now due. You must take out Associate Membership of the Social Club if you use any of the facilities, eg
– parking in the Social Club car park to join a training session or to go on a run,
– use a leisure centre facility (eg showers/changing rooms)
– eat cake in the bar once on a month on a Wednesday night in the summer.
You can find a Membership Renewal form on the Membership page of Jaguar Sports and Social Club website.
Make your own arrangements to renew and pay for this membership by returning your completed form with payment (cheque made payable to Jaguar Sports & Social Club) to the Leisure Centre or bar staff during opening hours or directly to the Sports Club Administration office.
Since the Leisure Centre will remain closed until January, and the bar is closed because of Tier 3 restictions, membership can be renewed in the new year.
A virtual knockout competition, similar to our parkrun cup, but run over 5 miles and with a built-in gradient equalising factor.
This is an individuals competition; entrants were invited to respond to a facebook post or to an email message sent to the club mailing list.
Competition start date: Monday 5 October.
Competition winner: Mike Duggan
Mike DugganIn the Quarter-finals the last 8 served up a real treat with each giving their all.
Quarter-final 1: Mike Duggan v Megan Miller
Megan ran a 5 mile PB improving her WAVA score by 1.5% to 66.87% as Mike took almost a 4% dip on R3 but maintained an 80% + WAVA to take the tie. Mike and Megan met up at the Memorial Park and both ran the same course!
Quarter-final 2: Lisa Bragg v Mark Baker
After a busy and very successful “2020 NOT Series” Lisa ran a slower time as her fitness dipped this week while Mark improved by 1.5% to 75.6% to take QF2. In any other week, this would have been the closest match – Lisa will be back!
Quarter-final 3: Matthew Hathrell v Steven Turvey
This was the closest match with both taking a WAVA dip on Round 3. However Matt’s much improved recent form took the tie 70.9% to 66.21%.
Quarter-final 4: Tony Hughes v Jean Noonan
Tony improved by over 3% to 76.64% (birthday boost included!) while Jeannie reflected on a highly successful Equilibrium (65.98%) and bowed out to Tony’s good form.
See who made the first cut
See who made the second cut
See the results of Round 3
In the Finals it was a race off between evergreen Mike Duggan and not quite so evergreen Tony Hughes.
Read what the finalists thought of this event
It works like this:
This is a knockout competition over 5/6 rounds, depending on the initial level of interest.
And these are the rules:
An example of how the GAP is calculated
| Male aged 57 | An elevation loss | Looped run net zero | An elevation gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 00:40:00 | 00:40:00 | 00:40:00 |
| Pace | 00:08:00 | 00:08:00 | 00:08:00 |
| Net elevation | -200 | 0 | 200 |
| Elevation change/mile | -40 | 0 | 40 |
| GAP adjust (secs) | -9:09 | 0:00 | 9:09 |
| GAP pace | 00:08:09 | 00:08:00 | 00:07:51 |
| New time | 00:40:45 | 00:40:00 | 00:39:15 |
| WAVA (male aged 57) | 65.48% | 66.16% | 67.42% |
Comments about the event from the two finalists
Tony Hughes
I’ve really enjoyed the Equilibrium 5, nice to have an innovative good-for-age event that anyone has a chance to win. I liked having the opportunity to run twice as this makes for interesting tactics regarding when to run. I tried to run once each round but never on Saturday night so as to give my opponents a chance to run again! The website and score chart were excellent, someone’s got some great IT skills. My only gripe was the change of rules from 2 weeks to 1 week between rounds. Overall though, a brilliant event, many thanks to all involved. Just considering having another ‘final’ run before Sunday.
Best wishes to everyone and their families
Tony
Mick Duggan
Hi all you Northbrook team members. I hope that you and all your loved ones are staying fit, safe and healthy. As a finalist in the Equilibrium 5 Miler, Kevin has asked me to submit a few tactics used, in reaching this stage. The achievement, in my case, is predominantly due to the very well organised group training runs. These sessions contribute well to establishing social interaction and camaraderie opportunities, which help in some way to alleviate the fatigue endured, following the energy sapping reps. Regarding these sessions, and the virtual quizzes a huge vote of thanks is due to Spencer, Cath, Rob, Rich, Corinna, Jill, Dawn, Sally, Tom, Kevin and Roger, for their enterprising input, in helping us all to stay in touch, albeit in most instances, virtually, during these unprecedented times.
All of the above events, are of course meticulously and conscientiously overseen by club chairman, Bob, whose weekly newsletter consistently reflect the family and supportive culture embedded in the club.
I understand that the Equilibrium 5 may be an annual event; that’s good, as it suits the more senior athletes (none as senior/old as me) by arranging a more ‘level playing field’ ie. similar to the Parkrun age related time grading. It was pleasing to see so many of the club’s ‘master’ athletes reaching the closing stages of the competition, and and a special word of praise to those who achieved PBs, eg. Megan.
Regarding tactics, these are mine; enjoy the long ‘effortless’ runs, ensure appropriate recovery following efforts and endeavour to implement our coaches’ instructions during group training.
Kind regards & magic training.
Mick
The results had been steadily coming in and the tables were getting well-populated when the race season was abruptly halted in March. Now, after a pause of several months the race calendar is starting to open up again and the points are slowly starting to add up again.
The Race Champs tables are compiled from Summer Handicap results, and from results of qualifying races sent in to the web site.
View the latest tables at Northbrook Race Champs 2020
Here’s a 5k knockout competition with a twist.
Pairs are automatically generated by the Northbrook random bingo machine on a Facebook live draw.
Each couple in a pair has to run a 5K distance.
The 5k does not have to be run together or on the same course or the same day.
A week will be given for the pair to complete their runs, and each pair can make 2 attempts in the week to clock a time.
5k times are submitted through the Virtual Results upload form on the club website.
Pairs are drawn randomly against other pairs using the same Northbrook bingo machine on the same Facebook live draw to form a series of knockout matches.
For each pair in a match an aggregate time difference is established by comparing their submitted times with the times recorded on the virtual profiles board.
The winning pair in each match will be the pair that achieves the best time difference, and that pair will go through to the next round.
The competition proceeds until there is one winning pair.
Example:
| Board time | Run time | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred | 20:00 | 20:10 | +00:10 |
| Susie | 33:00 | 32:30 | -00:30 |
| Pair A net difference | -00:20 | ||
|
|
|||
| Mick | 18:00 | 18:05 | +00:05 |
| Phil | 23:00 | 22:45 | -00:15 |
| Pair B net difference | –00:10 | ||
Pair A goes through to the next round, knocking out Pair B.
In each succeeding round the time on the board for each runner is the time taken to complete the previous round.
A 3-person 5k relay for teams made up of runners with differing abilities, the idea being that the teams are evenly matched.
The virtual event is being staged over 3 days from Tuesday 14 July to Thursday 16 July with each team member running on a day different from the other team members.
It doesn’t matter who runs on which day, the organiser will order the teams alphabetically by first name but each team is free to negotiate its own running order.
The event organiser will create the teams from the list of people who have put their names. forward. Summer handicap times will be used to assess standards where possible. Teams themselves decide the order in which their runners run.
There are 21 teams taking part. Participants have been advised of their team name and team partners.
There is no set course, runners can choose any 5km course that is local to them.
The target is to run 24,901 miles in 80 days.
This is a charity virtual event involving Northbrook AC and four other local clubs to raise funds for the UHCW Charity.
The first club to accumulate the total distance will be crowned winners. If no club completes the distance in the time then the club with the highest aggregate miles will be declared the winner
Distances will be tracked through Strava – non-Strava users can upload their distances via this link.
Update
Kenilworth Runners were the first to complete the distance, achieving the target in 38 days, followed 3 days later by Spa Striders. Northbrook AC completed the distance in 54 days.
See more info about this initiative.
Even if the race season remains largely closed, don’t despair – members can join in the Northbrook virtual racing season.
Follow the COVID running guidelines when running and get some points on the Not Series 2020! table. Go out for your run and then fill out and submit the form on the Virtual Events page.
The simple approach is to run from your doorstep and complete one of the set distances listed. Take the data from your wearable tech or app such as Strava®, running as close to the actual distance you can.
Send in your results and we’ll add them to the NOT Series 2020! table. The table will be updated at roughly weekly intervals.
View the table on the Virtual Events page.
Due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) epidemic the 2020 event was cancelled.
Due to the uncertain situation prevailing in the spring of 2020 and into the foreseeable future the decision was taken to cancel the 2020 edition of the Northbrook 10k race.
We looked into re-scheduling the race for later in the year but a number of logistical problems prevented this option.
We are planning to stage the next Northbrook 10k in July 2021, and we look forward to your participation and support.
More info on the Northbrook 10k website.
The 2020 season has been disrupted by races being cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and will not be contested this season. As a temporary measure a number of monthly Virtual Races are being organised to allow athletes the opportunity to run in a solo Time Trial capacity. More details are available via the WRRL web page.
At the 2019 series close the highest placed Northbrook competitor was Stuart Lumsden in 12th place. The highest placed Northbrook woman was Sally Eason in 24th place. In the category placings Sally Eason was 1st FV55 and Darren Taplin was 3rd MV45.
In the team placings Northbrook women were 5th, Northbrook men were also 5th. In the masters team placings Northbrook women were 3rd and Northbrook men were 4th.
Northbrook results 2019
Visit the WRRL web page
The Standard Triumph Club was the venue for the annual awards presentation on Saturday 15 February, where more than 100 members and guests enjoyed a splendid evening.
A total of 45 awards were presented by Club Chairman Bob Adams to members who had competed well in the various road running and cross-country competitions, and these were followed by 7 fun awards that were handed out in connection with amusing things that had happened to our members throughout the last 12 months.
The awards presentation concluded with announcement of the results of the votes cast by the membership for:
Most Improved Female Runner – Gemma Ross
Most Improved Male Runner – Sean Duffy
Club Person of the Year – Spencer Davies
See all the award winners..
The cross-country season is reached its climax with the fourth and final fixtures in the Birmingham Invitation Cross-Country League and Midland Women’s League that started on 9 November, with Northbrook co-hosting both the men’s and women’s 1st fixtures at Coundon Hall Park in Coventry.
For the final races this season on 8 February the men ran at Gloucester and the women at Aldridge Airport. Northbrook women were very happy to come away from the season with 3rd place medals in the Masters and a strong 5th place team overall. In the men’s race Northbrook B team were first on the day and came away with first B team prize overall. Northbrook A team finished sixth on the day and sixth overall.
The 2020/21 season should start in October provided restrictions on athletics events have been lifted. There will be more information on our Cross-Country page
The Club draw for its allocation of two guaranteed entries to the 2020 Virgin London Marathon took place at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club on 20 November and the winners were Richard Hands and Catherine Shepherd. The reserve is James Lacey.
There were 17 in the draw who met the eligibility criteria and unlucky were Tony Bowe, Spencer Davies, Sarah Duffy, Sean Duffy, David Giles, Julie Liggett, Andy McConville, Charlotte Mills, Liam Mills, Mark Parker, Sara Phipps, Adrian Powell, Jonathan Seed and Pia Singh.
The event is scheduled to take place on 4 October 2020.
After getting the bug and taking up triathlon only 5 years ago Anita Howe has competed for the GB team in her age group since 2015. Although a Northbrook member, work commitments and a heavy training schedule with the DO3 squad means she’s not often seen at the Wednesday session but she runs in the club colours when she can.
In May Anita won her age group and became National English Champion, finishing 3rd overall. Competing in Weert, Netherlands in June Anita won in her age group and became European Champion.
It’s that time of year again when membership renewal falls due. Continue your enjoyment of being a member of the Northbrook running community by renewing your club membership now. You’ll get the benefits of UKA affiliation, structured training sessions led by qualified leaders, reduced entry fees to races, Northbrook-sponsored team entries, and so on.
Renewal is easy – go to the online Renewal Form, fill in your details and we’ll email you with payment instructions. Membership is renewed when payment is received.
Renewal fees are £30 full rate, £21 concessions.
Alternatively, you can send a Renewal Form with your payment to the Membership Secretary. If renewing in person on Club nights you must complete a Renewal Form to hand in with your payment.
Renew now to avoid embarrassment at upcoming races.
Update 26 August 2020
The deadline for the club to renew your registration with England Athletics is 31 August. Renew your club membership by 28 August to make sure you are not removed from the EA registered athletes list.
Just 9 racing days left to secure points on the NRRC tables.
View the latest tables at Northbrook Road Race Champs 2019
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 29 January 2020 at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club. The meeting will start at 8.30pm after the normal training session.
The Club committee is elected by the membership each year at the AGM. Details of committee and non-committee posts, how to vote, the meeting agenda, and how to submit a proposal for consideration at the meeting are in the formal Meeting Notice.
Six weeks of racing left to add points to the table and Stuart Lumsden has kept his lead with perfect scores from all six of the race distances completed, followed closely by Liam Mills just four points behind. Steve Turvey, Mike Wheeler and Mike Duggan continue to head the MV35, MV45 and MV65 categories but Rob Cox has moved up to head the MV55 section.
Natasha White has maximum points from all her seven race distances to keep her lead at the top of the women’s table. Gemma Ross, Lisa Bragg, Sally Eason, and Ros Myers lead the other women’s categories.
View the tables at Northbrook Road Race Champs 2019
The Club draw for its allocation of two guaranteed entries to the 2020 Virgin London Marathon will take place at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club on Wednesday 20 November after the training sessions.
Anyone wishing to be included in the draw should contact a committee mmember. You will need to have an official rejection notification to qualify. Other eligibility criteria apply.
Two Northbrook members received recognition of their WRRL 2019 category placings when the awards were presented at the WRRL AGM on 6 November.
Sally Eason, the highest placed Northbrook woman, was first in her FV55 category; Darren Taplin took the 3rd MV45 award.
For Northbrook the 2019/20 cross-country season started with the club fielding seven teams at the Midland Cross-Country Relays on 19 October. Attention now switches to the Birmingham Invitation Cross-Country League and Midland Women’s League that starts on 9 November, with Northbrook co-hosting both the men’s and women’s 1st races at Coundon Hall Park in Coventry.
The women’s race starts at 1.30pm, followed by the men’s race at 2.30pm. Information for runners and officials, including directions to the venue, can be downloaded by following the link below:
With loads of results coming in every week the tables are looking very populated. In the Men’s table Stuart Lumsden has kept his lead with perfect scores from all seven of the eight race distances completed. Steve Turvey, Mike Wheeler, Pete Fellows and Mike Duggan continue to head the other men’s categories.
Natasha White has maximum points from all her seven race distances to keep her lead at the top of the women’s table. Gemma Ross, Lisa Bragg, Sally Eason, and Ros Myers lead the other women’s categories.
View the tables at Northbrook Road Race Champs 2019
The 2019 series featured 11 races starting with the Massey-Ferguson Tractor 10k in April and finishing with the Rugby 10 mile in October.
At the series close the highest placed Northbrook competitor was Stuart Lumsden in 12th place. The highest placed Northbrook woman was Sally Eason in 24th place. In the category placings Sally Eason wss 1st FV55 and Darren Taplin was 3rd MV45.
In the team placings Northbrook women were 5th, Northbrook men were also 5th. In the masters team placings Northbrook women were 3rd and Northbrook men were 4th.
Jaguar Sports & Social Club Membership renewal is due now. You must take out Associate Membership of the Social Club if you:
come to training on a Wednesday night and park in the club car park,
come to Sunday long runs and park in the club car park,
eat cake in the bar once on a month on a Wednesday night in the summer.
You can download a Membership Renewal form by clicking on the link below. Make your own arrangements to renew and pay for this membership by returning your completed form with payment (cheque made payable to Jaguar Sports & Social Club) to the Jaguar Club bar on a Wednesday night, to the Leisure Centre or bar staff during opening hours or directly to the Sports Club Administration office.
Membership/Renewal Form (pdf format)
Membership/Renewal Form (MS-Word format)
Wrapping up the 2019 season eighty members and guests turned out for the final handicap race on 4 September.
First home was Becky Colbourne in her second race win of the season, adding 30 points to her series total. Rick Wise in 3rd place gained the maiximum 50 points by being first Northbrook man to cross the line.
With 134 points from 5 races Lottie Graham ended the season with a 21-point lead at the top of the women’s table, ahead of Pia Singh and Martina McConville tying on 113 points.
In the men’s table Alan Hewitt with two race wins overhauled Tom Dempsey’s earlier bonus point assisted lead to take the top spot with 194 points from just 4 races. Tom Dempsey finished 2nd and Martin Gavin took 3rd place.
Participation this season has been at an all-time high, with 145 members and 43 guests taking part across the six races, with a total of 107 in Race 1. Nine men and three women took part in all six races.
Chris Sharp from Knowle & Dorridge RC won the 2019 10k race in 33:54, with Ian Allen (Spa Striders) 2nd and Dominic Priest (Leamington C & AC) in 3rd.
Kelly Edwards (Leamington C & AC) took the 1st women’s prize in 37:14.
For Northbrook Liam Mills was first counter in 38:05.
In the Junior Run, Doug Garnett won the event in 6:02, the first girl was Mel Gould who finished 6th in 6:42.
Members of the Northbrook 10k organising committee visited Oakfield House to present a cheque for £1,700 to Coventry Cyrenians the major charity beneficiary of the 2019 race.
Sponsors included Bruker, Coventry Runner, Deeley Construction, JPL Heating and Plumbing and Curtain Call.
For full results visit our Northbrook 10k website.
Not quite a record but a big turnout nevertheless for Race 5 on Wednesday 7 August, boosted by 8 new club members and 19 guests from Sphinx keen to honour their clubmate Vicky who will soon be swapping club handicaps for a probably more exciting Antipodian running experience.
New member Francis Mason came home first for Northbrook and so won maximum points in the men’s race. Megan Miller, also making her club and handicap debut, was top scorer for the women.
After 5 races Pia Singh has an 11-point lead at the top of the women’s table, ahead of Lottie Graham in 2nd place and Kelly Parker and Martina McConville in joint 3rd.
In the men’s table Tom Dempsey has established a 13-point lead over David Mills in 2nd place.
With a good season of racing and plenty of results from the various distances the tables are looking very interesting. In the Men’s table Stuart Lumsden has taken over the lead with five of the eight race distances completed. Steve Turvey, Mike Wheeler, Pete Fellows and Mike Duggan head the other men’s categories.
Natasha White has maximum points from all her seven race distances to keep her lead at the top of the women’s table. Gemma Ross, Lisa Bragg, Sarah McNaney, and Ros Myers maintain their positions to lead the other women’s categories.
View the tables at Northbrook Road Race Champs 2019
Continuing high level of interest in the Summer Handicap series led to 97 members and guests taking part in Race 4 on Wednesday 3 July.
Steve Simpson was first home for Northbrook and so won maximum points in the men’s race. Becky Colbourne finished next to become top scorer for the women.
After four races Lottie Graham has a 3-point lead at the top of the women’s table, in the men’s table Tommy Dempsey is six points ahead.
The Club’s annual GBU relay race 19 June saw another big turnout with 93 members and guests taking part in a relay race for teams of 3 people of differing running abilities. Due to last-minute drop-outs the Northbrook super-computer was tasked with making some just-in-time adjustments to the make up of the thirty-one 3-person teams.
The winning team was presented with a bottle of wine each, and there were prizes for the 2nd and 3rd teams.
Full results are on the June 2019 Results page.
The Two Castles 10k race the following Sunday may have given reason to think numbers for Race 3 of the 2019 Club Summer Handicap series on Wednesday 5 June would be reduced. Not so, 98 members and guests took part in an increasingly competitive event.
Katherine Plunkett was first home to win maximum points in the women’s race, and Alan Hewitt in 2nd place was again top scorer for the men. Lottie Graham now moves to the top of the women’s table, and Tommy Dempsey, benefitting from a clutch of bonus points, has established a good lead in the men’s table.
Club Secretary and Welsh international Mark Baker was invited to represent the Celtic team v England in the Birmingham 10km on 26 May 2019, running in the MV50 age group. He also has invitations to represent the Celtic team V50 at two further events, the Maidenhead half-marathon on 1 September and the York marathon on 20 October.
The Celtic team includes Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so Mark will be proudly wearing his Wales vest.
Mark last represented Wales ten years ago in the 100km Anglo-Celtic-Plate event held in Galway in 2009, where he was 4th Welsh finisher in a time of 10h:38m.
John Pollard was invited by Welsh triathlon to represent them at the British Championships in Nottingham on 15 June in the 60 to 64 age group.Getting on for half-way through the year and there has been plenty of activity in all of the distances. In the Men’s table Liam Mills has taken the lead with six of the eight race distances completed. Steve Turvey, Mike Wheeler, Ian Paterson and Pete Fellows (tying for the MV55 spot) and Charles Jones head the other men’s categories.
Natasha White has maximum points from all her five race distances to keep her lead at the top of the women’s table. Gemma Ross, Lisa Bragg, Sarah McNaney, and Ros Myers are the other women’s category leaders.
View the tables at Northbrook Road Race Champs 2019
The Club’s annual tussle with the brambles and nettles that may lie in wait along the 9k off-road route between Hampton-in-Arden and Tile Hill is a popular event that adds a bit of interest to a Wednesday night’s summer training.
This years staging held on 17 July saw a record 79 members and guests attempting the challenge, and so far there are no reports of anyone still out there.
Popular distance races the previous weekend impacted the numbers taking part in Race 2 of the 2019 Club Summer Handicap series on Wednesday 1 May. Nevertheless, 90 members and guests competed for a place on the points table, with some newer members running the course for the first time.
Lottie Graham was first home to win maximum points in the women’s race, and Alan Hewitt in 2nd place scored was top scorer for the men.
With points from two races, including valuable bonus points from Race 2, Julie Liggett moves to the top of the women’s table. Tommy Dempsey, on a roll with bonus points from both races, has established a lead at the top of the men’s table.
A new posse of runners started the New Year on the right foot by signing up to our 5k improvement programme. Hugely successful last year, this 10-week programme will help improve their 5k performance to get more out of their running.
The programme started on 21 January with sessions held twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays. Those who complete the programme will be invited to enter our Summer Handicap series starting on 3 April where they will be able to put their new-found running ability into practice.
One third of the way through the year and the tables have results form all of the distances. In the Men’s table Steve Turvey has taken the lead with five of the eight race distances completed. David Giles, Mike Wheeler, Ian Paterson and Charles Jones head the other men’s categories.
Natasha White dropped just one point from her five race distances to keep her lead at the top of the women’s table. Eleanor Townsend, Lisa Bragg, Claudie Combelas and Ros Myers are the other women’s category leaders.
View the tables at Northbrook Road Race Champs 2019
Only a few weeks into the year and the tables are already starting to fill up.
In the Men’s table Rich Cawley has taken an early lead by accumulating points for 4 of the required distances.
In the women’s table only three race distances have been recorded and Natasha White has made a good start to her season by getting maximum points from her 3 races.
View the tables at Northbrook Road Race Champs 2019
The 2019 Club Summer Handicap series kicked off in fine style on Wednesday 3 April. On an evening more like Winter than Spring a record 107 members and guests took off round the familiar circular course starting and finishing in Butt Lane to score their opening points for the season.
Phil Slater was first home to win maximum points, and Dawn Webb in 3rd place was first woman.
More info about the series …
At the National Cross-Country Championships at Harewood House on 23 February Northbrook fielded male and female teams, plus an enthusiastic and vocal support crew. On a tough, undulating 8km course Northbrook women finished 110th out of 274 teams. On a longer but equally tough 12km course Northbrook men finished 102nd out 360 teams. In the first 9 to score placings Northbrook men finished 65th.
Baker’s Dozen in the League Landmark List
Having completed 108 races, with 2, 3 or 4 races completed in every season since 1987/88, Mark Baker has made it to the Birmingham Cross-Country League’s Landmark List and is currently in 13th place. His best performance was in Division 3 at Leamington Spa in 2012 where he finished 22nd overall and 2nd ‘A’ team counter.
The final races of the 2018/19 Birmingham Invitation Cross-Country League and Midland Women’s League took place on 2 February, both teams running at Gloucester.
In the men’s race Northbrook’s somewhat depleted A Team finished 7th on the day, the men’s B team finishing 5th.
After a promising start in the first two races, the team’s strength was diminished by absences for various reasons in races 3 and 4, resulting in a disappointing overall 6th place at the series end. The men’s B team ended the season 4th overall.
The 2018/19 Northbrook parkrun cup competition kicked off with the first round draw on 8 September. The draw comprised 28 ties, 4 lucky people getting first round byes. The competition progressed through the knockout stages, culminating in a thrilling final on 12 January with Tracey Williams (29:20) competing against Martin Gavin (26:20) and winning the tournament by 2 seconds. The cup will be awarded at the Club’s Annual Awards Night on 16 February.
This is a popular Club competition introducing a sense of fun and friendly rivalry to the Coventry parkrun event.
Race 3 of the 2018/19 Birmingham Invitation Cross-Country League and Midland Women’s League took place on 12 January, both teams running at Droitwich.
In the men’s race Northbrook’s A Team finished 8th on the day, and are placed 6th overall after 3 races. The men’s B team were 4th on the day and are also 4th overall. The final race is at Gloucester on 9 February where the men will have a lot of work to do to get into the promotion zone.
The last couple of weeks of the year some last minute desperate attempts to get a few more points on the Road Race Championships table, but the competition is now done and dusted and the results are finalised.
In the Men’s table Stuart Lumsden claims first place, 3 points ahead of second-placed Steve Turvey who heads MV35 category. A further 4 points behind sees Liam Mills tying with Damien Dear for third place, also tying for the MSEN category title.
Terry Moynihan and Tom Miller lead the MV45 and MV55 categories, and Mike Duggan has a clear lead at the top of the MV65 category.
By winning maximum points in her best 5 distances Natasha White’s perfect score leaves her with a 3-point lead at the top of the women’s table with Amanda Deavy in second place and Cath Fenn in third. Amanda Deavy, Cath Fenn, Sarah McNaney and Ros Myers lead the other women’s categories.
View the tables at Northbrook Road Race Champs 2018
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 23 January 2019 at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club. The meeting will start at 8.30pm after the normal training session.
The Club committee is elected by the membership each year at the AGM. Details of committee and non-committee posts, how to vote, the meeting agenda, and how to submit a proposal for consideration at the meeting are in the formal Meeting Notice.
Race 2 of the 2018/19 Birmingham Invitation Cross-Country League and Midland Women’s League took place on 1 December, the men running at Plock Court, Gloucester, the women at Stratford.
In the men’s race Northbrook’s A Team finished 6th on the day, and are placed 5th overall after 2 races. The men’s B team were 4th on the day and were also 4th overall.
With just six weeks left of the Road Race Championships year some frenzied attempts at squeezing out a few more points are clearly evident in the choices of weekend races. As a result first place in the men’s table is now tied between Steve Turvey and Liam Mills, both just one point ahead of third placed Damien Dear.
Andrew McConville and Terry Moynihan still head their categories who are now tying for fourth place overall. Tom Miller has kept his place and leads in the MV55 category. Mike Duggan has a clear lead at the top of the MV65 category.
Natasha White’s perfect score across her best five races means she keeps her 3-point lead at the top of the women’s table with Louise Myers, Amanda Deavy, Cath Fenn, Sarah McNaney and Ros Myers still leading the other women’s categories.
The Club draw for its allocation of two guaranteed entries to the 2019 Virgin London Marathon took place at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club on 21 November and the winners were Ian Paterson and Kevin Coughlan. The reserve is Linda Richards.
There were 17 in the draw and unlucky were Rory Anderson, Spencer Davies, Damien Dear, Richard Hands, Tony Hughes, Joe Kelly, Liam Mills, Louise Myers, Mark Parker, Christopher Perkins, Adrian Powell, Jonathan Seed, Craig Slyde and Allison Smith.
Baker’s Dozen in the League Landmark List
Having completed 108 races, with 2, 3 or 4 races completed in every season since 1987/88, Mark Baker made it to the Birmingham Cross-Country League’s Landmark List. After the 1st race of the 2018/19 season Mark was in 13th place. His best performance was in Division 3 at Leamington Spa in 2012 where he finished 22nd overall and 2nd ‘A’ team counter.
After kicking off the cross-country season with the Midland Cross-Country Relays on 20 October, the Club’s focus switched to the 2018/19 Birmingham Invitation Cross-Country League and Midland Women’s League that started on 10 November. Northbrook were looking to improve on last year’s outcome, the Captains encouraging everyone, new members and old hands, to get involved.
There was a good Club turnout for both events despite the blustery wind and rainstorms. In the women’s race Northbrook women finished 10th. In the women’s masters ranking Northbrook women were 7th.
After kicking off the cross-country season with the Midland Cross-Country Relays on 20 October, the Club’s focus switched to the 2018/19 Birmingham Invitation Cross-Country League and Midland Women’s League that started on 10 November. Northbrook were looking to improve on last year’s outcome, the Captains encouraging everyone, new members and old hands, to get involved.
There was a good Club turnout for both events despite the blustery wind and rainstorms. In the women’s race Northbrook finished 10th. Northbrook men’s A team finished 5th, the B team finishing 3rd.
Ten months of the year gone and with loads of results recorded the tables are promising an interesting final two months. Steve Turvey is keeping his place at the top of the men’s table with Liam Mills, Andrew McConville and Terry Moynihan still heading their categories. With a few recent, strategically planned races Tom Miller has moved up to take the lead in the MV55 category. Mike Duggan has a clear lead at the top of the MV65 category. There are now only 11 points separating the top five table positions, with a tie for 3rd place.
Natasha White’s perfect score across her best five races means she keeps her 3-point lead at the top of the women’s table with Louise Myers, Amanda Deavy, Cath Fenn, Sarah McNaney and Ros Myers leading the other women’s categories.
At the series close Natasha White was 2nd overall in the women’s competition and won the Senior Female category. The other highest placed Northbrook competitors were Allison Smith (7th FV45), Julie Cozens (5th FV55), Terry Moynihan (4th MV45), Tom Miller (9th MV55) and Tony French (4th MV65).
In the team results Northbrook men were placed 7th, and Northbrook women were 5th.
In the masters team standings Northbrook men were 5th and Northbrook women were 5th.
Three quarters of the year gone and with loads of results recorded the tables are shaping up for an interesting final three months. Steve Turvey is keeping his place at the top of the men’s table with Liam Mills, Andrew McConville, Terry Moynihan, and Tony Hughes now heading their categories. There are only 13 points separating the top five table positions.
Natasha White’s perfect score across her best five races means she keeps her 3-point lead at the top of the women’s table with Louise Myers, Amanda Deavy, Cath Fenn, Sarah McNaney and Ros Myers leading the other women’s categories.
Jaguar Sports & Social Club Membership renewal is due now. You must take out Associate Membership of the Social Club if you:
come to training on a Wednesday night and park in the club car park,
come to Sunday long runs and park in the club car park,
eat cake in the bar once on a month on a Wednesday night in the summer.
You can download a Membership Renewal form by clicking on the link below. Make your own arrangements to renew and pay for this membership by returning your completed form with payment (cheque made payable to Jaguar Sports & Social Club) to the Jaguar Club bar on a Wednesday night, to the Leisure Centre or bar staff during opening hours or directly to the Sports Club Administration office.
Membership/Renewal Form
The 2018/19 Northbrook parkrun cup competition kicked off with the first round draw on 8 September. The draw comprised 28 ties, 4 lucky people getting first round byes. First round ties are to be completed at Coventry parkrun within 3 weeks.
This is a popular Club competition introducing a sense of fun and friendly rivalry to the Coventry parkrun event.
After eight races the highest placed Northbrook competitors are Allison Smith (5th FV45), Julie Cozens (5th FV55) and Tony French (5th MV65). In the team results Northbrook men are placed 7th, Northbrook women are 5th.
In the masters team standings Northbrook men are 5th and Northbrook women are 5th.
The volunteers manning the finish at the final race in the Club’s summer handicap series on Wednesday 5 September really had their work cut out in handling the bumper field of 101 members and guests.
First home was Tony Hughes followed in second place by Jane Stephens. With only two or three outings over the season the maximum points earned for these two in Race 6 didn’t materially affect the placings at the top of the table where the Smiths claim the series titles.
At the season’s close Allison Smith led the women’s table with a 3-point lead over namesake Leisha Smith, who earned 2nd place with the bonus points from a Race 6 PB. Louise Myers and Gemma Ross were in joint 3rd place. Mark Smith topped the men’s table with a 22-point lead over 2nd placed Craig Slyde who was 5 points ahead of Martin Seeley-Davies in 3rd.
The 2018 handicap series proved to be the most popular ever with a total of 182 (131 members and 51 guests) taking part. Of these, 17 were ever present, managing an appearance at all 6 races. Bonus points for personal best handicap times were awarded on 29 occasions, including 10 in Race 6.
Northbrook AC teamed up with Coventry Cyrenians as the major charity beneficiary of the 2018 Northbrook 10k race which took place on 8 July. At a presentation on 3 September, Club President Tony French presented a cheque for £1200 to Coventry Cyrenians’ fund raising officer Jack Swinburn to support their work with the homeless.
Two-thirds of the year gone and the tables are looking interesting with plenty of results coming in for all of the qualifying distances. Steve Turvey is keeping his place at the top of the men’s table with Terry Moynihan, Liam Mills, Tom Miller and Charles Jones heading their categories.
Natasha White has a slender lead at the top of the women’s table with Amanda Deavy, Sally Eason and Sarah McNaney and Ros Myers leading the other women’s categories.
Northbrook AC celebrated 40 years of running in 2018, and as part of our ruby anniversary celebrations we staged a special one-off event on Wednesday 15 August. Twenty three teams of 3 runners from various training groups ran as many laps as possible of the Allesley Park 1000m loop in 40 minutes in repetitive relay order.
The team with the most laps completed in the shortest time over 40 minutes was declared the winner. Winners were Tom McNamara, Louise Slater and Raghbir Sangha and each received a prize of a bottle of wine. There were prizes too for the second and third teams.
The penultimate race in the Club’s summer handicap series on Wednesday 1 August attracted 73 members and guests. Louise Slater was first home for Northbrook and recently joined Raghbir Sangha was first Northbrook man to cross the line.
After Race 5 Helen Morris has moved to the top of the women’s table with Kirstie Murray and Gemma Ross close on her heels. In the men’s table Tony Forde has moved to joint pole position with Mark Smith who has a race in hand.
The Club’s summer handicap series maintains its popularity with Race 4 on Wednesday 4 July attracting 86 members and guests. First home and scoring maximum points in the women’s table was Karen Brewster, the men’s top points scorer was third home Dennis Gokayden.
After 4 races Karen Brewster shares the lead of the women’s table with Leisha Smith, just 3 points ahead of Helen Morris and Kirstie Murray who are tying for 3rd place. In the men’s table Martin Seeley-Davis is in pole position with a 6-point margin over 2nd placed Tony Forde.
The lack of rainfall over the previous few weeks hadn’t halted the growth of the nettles, brambles and other foot-grabbing undergrowth lining the route of the annual Race the Train event. Sixty members and guests took the delayed 7.18pm train from Tile Hill station to Hampton-in-Arden and then took the short walk to the start in Fentham Road.
The first mile or so was easy running on a downhill and then flat mainly paved roadway. After crossing the A452 the route then started to get interesting, with a couple of stubble fields, a stile, a root-strewn path the through the wood, more stubble and then the bouncy boardwalk along to the the church in Berkswell.
The second section from Berkswell to Tile Hill was an altogether trickier affair. Here the overgrown, concrete-hard, ankle-turning paths, combined with an abundance of juicy nettles, appeared to present something of a challenge those not very used to off-road running, and at times the peloton was reduced to walking. Some navigational head-scratching at the infamous four-way junction provided an additional intellectual challenge.
With many first-timers who were unsure of the route, and using the excuse that he would be running as part of a 5-person team at the Thunder Run the following weekend, Spencer very gallantly dropped to the back to make sure everyone got back home safely. There were a couple of minor mishaps further up the field but none that required more than self-administered first aid.
The delay to the train on the way out meant that after starting the race Bob had to dash to catch the train back to Tile Hill (no speech then) ready to welcome the runners home and record the results, although the times are probably pretty meaningless to most.
On one of the hottest days of the year Chris Sharp from Knowle & Dorridge RC won the 2018 10k race in 33:50, with Scott Hazel (Massey Ferguson RC) 2nd and Ben Taylor (Kenilworth RC) in 3rd.
Kelly Edwards (Leamington C & AC) took the 1st women’s prize in 38:44.
For Northbrook Natasha White was first counter in 40:34.
Leamington C & AC took both the men’s and women’s Club team prizes.The winning men’s team was Paul Andrew, Philip Gould, Vassilis Andreoulakis & Dean Mawby and the winning women’s team was Kelly Edwards, Wendy Daniels & Sue Harrison.
In the Junior Run, Adam Taylor won the event in 6:26, the first girl was Ellen Taylor who finished 2nd in 6:43.
The Club’s annual GBU relay race held on 27 June attracted a record number of members and guests, meaning there were 31 teams of 3 people competing over the 3-mile undulating course. The winning team of Cath Fenn, Amanda Deavy and Katy Davies took home three bottles wine.
Full results are on the June 2018 Results page.
Looking to move up from 5k to 10k? Then take a look at our 5k-10k Training Programme – a 10-week training plan designed and delivered by our own coaches and leaders to get you into shape for the 10k distance. It’s open to anyone aged 18 or over and includes an entry to our Northbrook 10k. Weekly sessions started on Thursday 3 May.
It was another chilly night for Race 2 of the 2018 Club Summer Handicap series on Wednesday 3 May which saw another record field of 88 members and guests. Good work by the handicapper meant the timekeepers were kept on their toes recording the finely separated times at the bunched finish.
Gemma Darby was the first Northbrook member to finish, winning the women’s prize. Steve Bottomley, with a 3rd place finish, was first man. After 2 races Leisha Smith has a narrow lead at the top of the women’s table, whilst David Mills and Chris Goodman tying for first place in the men’s table are just one point ahead of Jamie Gould and Rory Anderson tying for second place.
Five months into the year and the tables are filling up nicely with results for all of the qualifying distances. With six of those distances completed Steve Turvey has kept his place at the top of the men’s table with Ben Smith, Terry Moynihan, Chris Archer and Mike Duggan holding on to their category leads.
With the best five from seven distances Sally Eason has kept her lead at the top of the women’s table with Natasha White, Amy Burdis, Claudie Combelas and Ros Myers still leading the other women’s categories.
Flushed with his recent success in the Northbrook 2018 parkrun cup competition Mark Parker ran 18 miles in the rain from home to the Bedworth parkrun on Saturday 28 April where Northbrook took on most of the officiating roles. Not satisfied with that effort he then ran the course pushing his two children in their double buggy. Before the race Bob Adams introduced the Club to the assembled runners in what was for him an unusually short speech. The race was won by Andy Green of Team East Haddon. Northbrook’s Damian Dear was second. Northbrook’s Natasha White was the first woman to finish.
The 2018 Northbrook parkrun cup competition reached its conclusion with the final knockout rounds taking place in April. The 50 runners in the starting group were gradually eliminated to get down to the final two. In the final, Mark Parker’s 22m 19s was a 2-second improvement on his best whilst Damian Pharoah’s 19m 03s time was 9 seconds away from his, giving Mark an 11-second advantage and with it the parkrun cup.
Club President Tony French presented the cup at the Club’s Wednesday night training session on 25 April. Rich Cawley the competition organiser remarked on the popularity of the competition and the sense of fun and friendly rivalry it has introduced to the Coventry parkrun event.
Nearly a quarter of the way through the year and all of the qualifying distances now have at least one result. With results from six of those distances Steve Turvey has kept his place at the top of the men’s table with Ben Smith, Terry Moynihan, Chris Archer and Mike Duggan now leading their categories.
Also with results from six distances, Sally Eason has kept her comfortable lead at the top of the women’s table with Natasha White taking over the Senior Women’s lead and Amy Burdis, Claudie Combelas and Ros Myers leading the other women’s categories.
With the results of the first two races published Cath Fenn is the highest placed Northbrook competitor with a 1st place in the FV45 category. Spencer Davies is 4th MV45.
In the team results Northbrook men are placed 3rd, Northbrook women are 5th. In the masters team standings Northbrook men are 5th, Northbrook women are 4th.
After establishling who ran as members and who ran as guests corrected results for the 2018 Club Summer Handicap on Wednesday 4 April are published.
Ros Myers was first Northbrook member home, winning the women’s prize. Rory Anderson in 4th place was first Northbrook man.
With a few more races counted Steve Turvey has regained his place at the top of the men’s table with Ben Smith, Terry Moynihan, Chris Archer and Mike Duggan now leading their categories.
Sally Eason has kept her comfortable lead at the top of the women’s table with Emily Hughes, Amy Burdis, Claudie Combelas and Ros Myers leading the other women’s categories.
The 2018 Club Summer Handicap series kicked off on Wednesday 4 April. On a chilly night the circular anti-clockwise course starting and finishing in Butt Lane, familiar to Club regulars, provided an interesting challenge to some of the newer members and guests. In all 83 registered runners took part.
Ros Myers was first Northbrook member home, winning the women’s prize. Chris Perkins in 12th place was first Northbrook man. (These results are provisional).
To add some exicitement, and to give the handicapper a bit more work in working out the results, an unrecognised rogue runner ran through the finish funnel and was given a time. Anyone with a finishing position between 10th and 30th who thinks their reported time is incorrect can contact the handicapper via the Contact Form.
More info about the series …
With a strategic move and a lone 100 point result from a less popular distance Mark Baker has put himself at the top of the men’s table with Steve Turvey, Liam Mills, Chris Archer and Mike Duggan leading their categories.
With a similar strategic move, but at the half-marathon distance, Sally Eason has moved into a comfortable lead at the top of the women’s table with Natasha White, Claudie Combelas, Emily Hughes and Katy Davies leading the other women’s categories.
The 2018 Club Summer Handicap series kicks off on Wednesday 4 April using the familiar, circular anti-clockwise course starting and finishing in Butt Lane. Whatever your pace the handicap system gives you a chance to reach the top of the table. Don’t miss out – be at the start by 7pm ready for a 7.15pm getaway.
To see how it all works visit the Summer Handicap page.
A quarter of the year gone and the Road Race Championship tables are beginning to take on more shape.
With results from just three of the distances Steve Turvey has taken over the lead at the top of the men’s table with Liam Mills, Spencer Davies, Chris Archer and Mike Duggan leading their categories.
Cath Fenn and Sally Eason are tying for top place in the women’s table with Claudie Combelas, Natasha White, Amy Burdis and Emily Hughes leading the other women’s categories.
Nearly two months in and a few more have managed to make an appearance on the Road Race Championship tables.
With results from three of the distances Spencer Davies has kept his early lead with Liam Mills, Tony Mackness and Mike Duggan still leading their categories and Simon Jones taking over the MV35 lead.
Sally Eason has a very narrow lead at the top of the women’s table with fellow FV45 Cath Fenn hot on her heels at this point. Claudie Combelas and Katy Davies lead the women’s categories.
In their final Divison 1 race of the Midland Women’s Cross-Country League at Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton on 10 February Northbrook women finished in 15th position out of 15 teams so they, like their men counterparts in the Birmingham Cross-Country League, are headed down, to Division 2 next season. In the Masters rankings Northbrook women finished well up in 9th place.
Overall then, not the best end to the league season but, as Arnie might have said “We’ll be back”.
Race 4 on 10 February at Ullwood Park, Cheltenham marked a disappointing end to the 2017/2018 Birmingham League season for Northbrook men. Finishing in 16th place on the day and with an overall 16th place, just one place from the bottom, means it’s down to Division 3 next season. The men’s B team finished well up the rankings with an 8th place on the day and an 8th place overall.
Turnout from Northbrook throughout the season has been good and consistent, due in no small part to the efforts of motivational Team Captain Spencer.
Overall then, not the best end to the league season but, as Arnie might have said “We’ll be back”.
Just a month into the championship year but long enough for some to gain sufficent points to make an appearance on the Road Race Championship tables.
Spencer Davies has taken an early lead with Liam Mills, Richard Hands, Tony Mackness, Steve Turvey and Mike Duggan leading their categories.
Sally Eason sits atop the women’s table with Katy Davies, Anne Hughes and Emily Hughes as category leaders.
It’s that time of year again when membership renewal falls due. Continue your enjoyment of being a member of the Northbrook running community by renewing your club membership now. You’ll get the benefits of UKA affiliation, structured training sessions led by qualified leaders, reduced entry fees to races, Northbrook-sponsored team entries, and so on.
Renewal is easy – see Renewal Form for details.
Renewal fees have been frozen again at £28 full rate, £20 concessions.
Renew in person on Club nights, or send the Renewal Form to the Membership Secretary.
Renew now to avoid embarrassment at upcoming races.
In race 3 of the 2017/2018 season on 13 January at Cofton Park Northbrook women competed in the third Division 1 race of the Midland Women’s Cross-Country League to finish in 14th place. The women were 7th in the Masters race.
The final race in the series is on 10 February when the women at Aldersley Stadium in Wolverhampton.
In race 3 of the 2017/2018 season on 13 January at Cofton Park Northbrook men’s ‘A’ team scored a season’s best 507 points to finish 14th on the day. With an overall score of 1738 points from three races Northbrook’s ‘A’ team is lying in 15th position out of 17 teams.
The men’s ‘B’ team scored 987 points to finish 9th on the day, moving up to 8th overall after three races with an overall score of 3151 points.
The final race in the series is on 10 February when the men run at Cheltenham.
Hearsall Golf Club was the venue for the annual awards presentation on Saturday 13 January, attended by 100 or so members and guests.
Mark Holmes, Finance Director of Bruker, the main sponsor of the club’s 10k race, was guest of honour and presented the prizes. Club member Chris Archer’s band Re:offenders provided live music.
Introducing the awards presentation Club Chairman Bob Adams congratulated the 52 awards winners on their achievements, mentioning some of the very impressive performances that had been recorded during the year.
In the voted awards, Spencer Davies (Club Person of the Year) and Damian Pharoah (Most Improved Runner) attracted most votes.
With the points all counted at the end of the year Stuart Lumsden and Amanda Deavy are the 2017 Northbrook Road Race Champions.
Ben Smith, Steve Turvey, Terry Moynihan, Tony Hughes, and Mick Duggan win the top places in the men’s categories.
In the women’s categories the winners are Amy Burdis, Jill Pittard, Cath Fenn, Sarah McNaney and Ros Myers.
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 24 January 2018 at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club. The meeting will start at 8.30pm after the normal training session.
The Club committee is elected by the membership each year at the AGM. Details of committee and non-committee posts, how to vote, the meeting agenda, and how to submit a proposal for consideration at the meeting are in the formal Meeting Notice.
In race 2 of the 2017/2018 season on 2 December at Welcombe Hills, Stratford Northbrook women competed in the Midlands Women’s Cross-Country League, achieving a 14th place finish. Northbrook Women Masters finished 7th.
There are two more races this season, race 3 is on 13 January.
In race 2 of the 2017/2018 season on 2 December at Welcombe Hills, Stratford Northbrook men’s ‘A’ team scored 607 points and finished 15th on the day. With and overall score of 1230 points from two races Northbook’s ‘A’ team is lying in 14th position out of 17 teams.
The men’s ‘B’ team scored 1111 points to finish 9th on the day and 9th overall after two races with an overall score of 2164 points.
There are two more races this season, race 3 is on 13 January.
The Club draw for its allocation of two guaranteed entries to the 2018 Virgin London Marathon took place at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club on 6 December and the winners were Tommy Dempsey and Damian Pharoah. The reserve is Christopher Perkins. There were 12 in the draw and unlucky were Mark Parker, David Giles, Linda Richards, Julie Liggett, Richard Hands, Liam Mills, Craig McNaney, Spencer Davies and Ian Paterson.
Five weeks of racing time left to accrue a few more points and Stuart Lumsden is keeping his place at the top of the men’s table with a still slender 5-point lead. Amanda Deavy has maintained her 13-point lead at the top of the women’s table.
Steve Turvey, Terry Moynihan, Tony Hughes, and Mick Duggan continue to occupy the leaders’ places of the other men’s categories.
In the women’s categories the leaders are Amy Burdis, Cath Fenn and Sarah McNaney.
Just a month to go and Stuart Lumsden still leads the men by 4 points, whilst Amanda Deavy has an increased 13 point lead for the women.
Steve Turvey, Terry Moynihan, Tony Hughes, and Mick Duggan occupy the leaders’ places of the other men’s categories.
In the women’s categories the leaders are Amy Burdis, Cath Fenn and Sarah McNaney.
There’s keen local competition in Division 2 of the Birmingham Cross-Country League and Northbrook men will be wanting to consolidate their position there.
In race 1 of the 2017/2018 season on 11 November at Lilleshall, Northbrook men’s ‘A’ team scored 694 points and finished in 14th position out of 17 teams. The ‘B’ team scored 1053 points to finish in 9th place. There are three more races so there is still everything to play for.
Just two months to go and Stuart Lumsden is leading the men by 4 points, whilst Amanda Deavy leads the women by an even narrower margin of just 2 points.
Steve Turvey, Terry Moynihan, Dave Halford, and Mick Duggan keep their places as leaders of the other men’s categories.
In the women’s categories the leaders are Amy Burdis, Cath Fenn and Sarah McNaney.
Renewal is due now. You must take out Associate Membership of the Social Club to use the changing room and/or bar or car parking facilities.
Membership Renewal forms are available from Rich Cawley. You can also download a form by clicking on the link below. Return your completed form with payment (cheque made payable to Jaguar Sports & Social Club) to Rich on a Wednesday night or to the Leisure Centre or bar staff.
Membership/Renewal Form
The tables at 1 October show Stuart Lumsden leading the men and Amanda Deavy still in front for the women.
Steve Turvey, Terry Moynihan, Dave Halford, and Mick Duggan are other men’s category leaders.
Women’s category leaders are Amy Burdis, Cath Fenn and Sarah McNaney.
With all 11 races completed Steve Turvey was the highest placed Northbrook runner with a 7th place in the MV35 category. Highest placed Northbrook woman was Louise Myers with a 10th position in the FSEN category.
In the team results Northbrook women were placed 5th, Northbrook men were also 5th.
Continuing the celebrations a quiz was organised to take place at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club at 7.30pm on Friday 29 September. Hosted by our Sphinx AC friends Mitch and Pete entry was just £2 per person. Memebrs were invited to rgister a team of up to six people or register as an individual to join an ad hoc team.
A distinctly Autumnal evening greeted the runners gathered for the sixth and final Club Handicap on 6 September and, despite the fading light that accompanied the backmarkers, all 80 members and guests made it safely to the finish.
Craig Murray was the first Northbrook finisher, taking maximum points in the men’s race, and recently-joinedmember Jackie Dooley was first Northbrook woman to cross the line.
Having run all six races it was the best five scores that counted for the three leaders of the men’s table, with Andrew Ralph at the top of the men’s finishing table and PaulMcGurk in second place separating the leader from his father JohnRalph in third.
Emma Boyle made sure of her place at the top of the women’s table, with Rachel Clancy in second place and Jo Arden pushed down into third, with just 5 points separating the top three.
Members and guests helped long-standing Club Chairman and Life Member Bob Adams celebrate his recent 60th birthday with a dinner party at Cosmo’s, Coventry, and many others sent their best wishes.
Reflecting Bob’s passion and commitment to Northbrook AC, and to his great surprise, a specially-commissioned cake decorated in the style of the club badge made a fitting appearance.
For once, Bob was speechless, apart from thanking everyone for their kindness, before leading them off for further bibulation in the City Centre.
Race 5 on 2 August set off in light rain, but the later starters had more persistent rain to deal with. Nevertheless 72 members and guests took part and newcomer Sarah Boot was first home for Northbrook with Denis Gokaydin close behind and scoring maximum points for the men.
Jo Arden has consolidated her lead at the top of the women’s table and Andrew Ralph has established a narrow lead to head the men’s table.
After 9 races Steve Turvey is the highest placed Northbrook runner with a 5th place in the MV35 category. Highest placed Northbrook woman is Jo Arden with a 9th position in the LV45 category.
In the team results Northbrook women are placed 7th, Northbrook men are also 7th.
After 8 races Tony French is the highest placed Northbrook runner with a 6th place in the MV65 category. Highest placed Northbrook woman is Louise Myers with a 9th position in the Senior Women category.
In the team results Northbrook women are placed 5th, Northbrook men are 6th.
Escaping what had earlier threatened to be a damp evening three dozen or so members and guests ventured over to Hampton in Arden for the Club’s annual off-road outing. Taking trails and footpaths interspersed with some sections of road they made their way from Hampton in Arden station over stiles and through nettles and some brambles back to Tile Hill station.
Turnout reached record numbers when 83 members and guests ran the fourth race of the series on 5 July. Richard Hands was first home and scored maximum points for the men, whilst Gemma Ross scored maximum points in the women’s table by being first Northbrook woman home and 3rd in the race.
After Race 4 there are two new table leaders; Paul McGurk has moved to to the top of the men’s table with a 4-point lead over a tied 2nd place, and Jo Arden has nudged ahead with the narrowest 1-point lead in the women’s table.
After 7 races Tommy Dempsey is 1st in the MV35 category. Highest placed Northbrook woman is Louise Myers with a 7th position in the Senior Women category.
In the team results Northbrook women are placed 5th, Northbrook men are 6th.
The tables at 15 July show Steve Turvey leading the men and Amanda Deavy in front for the women.
Terry Moynihan, Ben Smith, Tony Hughes and Mick Duggan are other men’s category leaders.
Women’s category leaders are Sally Eason, Amy Burdis, Sarah McNaney and Ros Myers.
With a record 620 finishers the 15th edition of the Club’s annual 10k road race on Sunday 9 July was the most popular yet. The race was won by Coventry Godiva Harriers’ Alistair Smith in a time of 32m 49s and with a clear lead over second-placed Leamington member Paul Andrew (33m 17s). First woman was Jane Evans (Knowle & Dorridge) in 37m 53s, with Northbrook’s Amanda Deavy and Anita Howe taking 2nd and 3rd prizes.
The 2km junior run was won by Ellen Taylor in an impressive time of 6m 1s. Second-placed Ryan Hill won the boys’ prize.
Despite the cool conditions and threatening skies there was an enthusiastic turnout of 23 teams for this relay race for teams of 3 people of different standards held on 28 June. Superb team organisation by Rich Cawley resulted in a close finish for the first few teams to complete the 3-mile undulating course.
A series of short and middle-distance road races starting with the Massey Tractor 10k in April and finishing with the Rugby 10 mile in September.
After 6 races Tommy Dempsey is 1st in the MV35 category with Rich Cawley in 3rd.
In the team results Northbrook men and Northbrook women are both placed 5th.
Turnout continued to be strong for the third race of the series on 7 June, where first home Gemma Ross scored maximum points on her first appearance this season. In the men’s race Fraser Barrett gained maximum points for his 3rd race position.
Emma Boyle keeps her place at the top of the women’s table, meanwhile Michael Cherrington moves to the top of the men’s table.
After 5 races Louise Myers is placed 6th in the Senior Women’s table. Tommy Dempsey and Rich Cawley are 3rd and 4th respectively in the MV35 category.
In the team results Northbrook men and Northbrook women are both placed 5th.
There was another big turnout for the second race of the series on 3 May with 78 members and guests taking part.
In his debut handicap appearance Rory McPheators stormed round the 5km course in 16m29s, but first home was Emma Boyle who gained maximum points and has now moved to the the top of the women’s table.
Now firmly on the comeback trail, super Vet and Club President Tony French was second home, but Nigel McCann in 17th place on the night has taken over at the top of the mens’ table.
Amanda Deavy maintains good form, finishing just 3 seconds off her record time for this course set in April.
The first race of the 2017 series on 5 April saw a record turnout of 83 members and guests competing over the 5km course.
First home in the opening race was Katherine Plunkett followed by Nigel McCann, finishing in 2nd place. Both were beaten to the tops of their tables by Amanda Deavy and Paul Robbins who each gained an extra 5 PB bonus points.
More info about the series …
The Club’s Summer Handicap Series comprises six races, staged on the first Wednesday of each month from April through to September. It it a hugely popular fixture both for Club regulars and for guests.
The first race in the 2017 series is on Wednesday 5 April.
Continue your enjoyment of being a member of the Northbrook running community by renewing your club membership. Renewal is due now. You’ll get the benefits of UKA affiliation, structured training sessions led by qualified leaders, reduced entry fees to races, Northbrook-sponsored team entries, and so on. Renewal is easy – see Renewal Form for details.
Fees are: £28 full rate, £20 concessions.
Renew on Club nights, or send Renewal Form to the Membership Secretary.
Spurred on no doubt by the Club’s support along the course Northbrook’s Amanda Deavy raced her way to a 2nd place in the FV40 category at Coventry’s Half-Marathon on 19 March in a time of 1:25:50. Rory McPheators was Northbrook’s highest placed finisher coming in 7th in 1:16:29, followed by Stuart Lumsden in 9th in 1:17:49. The event looked to be in doubt when the original organisers pulled out, but it turned out to be another success with nearly 3000 runners taking part.
The Northbrook colours were much in evidence in the club zone stretching between miles 5 and 9, and 38 Northbrook runners took part.
In the women’s race, another great performance was put in by the team at Warwick University. Amanda Deavy returned for her first race in over three months and put in a storming performance. The combined effort led to the masters’ team finishing first on the day and second in the season. An astounding performance by every runner across the four league games resulted in the ladies finishing in 4th position overall, cruelly missing out on promotion by just 11 points.
Northbrook Stay Up In Birmingham League Division 2
Going into the final race of the series on 11 February with a home fixture at Coundon Hall Park, the men were 884 points and 4 teams away from the relegation zone so were looking to keep their place in Division 2 going into the next series.
The club’s course setter Tony French had designed a new course for Race 4 that includes some new features as well as retaining the old favourites.
Despite the snow wind and rain, Northbrook Men came in 14th on the day to finish 12th overall in the series. The Men’s B Team finished 7th on the day for an overall 7th series place.
In the women’s race, another great performance was put in by the team at Warwick Univerisity. Amanda Deavy returned for her first race in over three months and put in a storming performance. The combined effort led to the masters’ team finishing first on the day and second in the season. An astounding performance by every runner across the four league games resulted in the ladies finishing in 4th position overall, cruelly missing out on promotion by just 11 points.
The annual awards presentation on Saturday 28 January, attended by nearly 100 members and guests, was the opportunity for Club members to applaud their running colleagues as they collected their well-earned trophies.
Guest of honour Tony Miller from Bruker, main sponsor of the club’s 10k race, presented the prizes, and club member Chris Archer’s band Re:offenders provided live music.
Thunderous applause greeted the winners of the voted awards, Spencer Davies as Club Person of the Year and Rich Cawley as Most Improved Runner both proving to be popular choices.
Club President Tony French presented a framed certificate to Bob Adams to mark his recent grant of Life Membership in honour of 32 years as a club member and a long-standing Club Chairman.
The cross-country season now well underway having seen the completion of the Midland cross-country relays at Wolverhampton and the English cross-country relays at Mansfield. The season’s first two Birmingham League races are also in the bag where Northbrook is looking to maintain its position in Division 2.
In race 2 of the men’s race, Northbrook’s A team finished in 12th position, and the B team finished 10th. Overall, Northbrook Men’s A team have maintained their 11th position whilst the B team has moved up one place to 9th.
In race 2 of the Midland Women’s Cross-Country League Northbrook women moved up one place to come in 9th overall, and shot up 3 places to finish 3rd in the Masters placings.
The Warwickshire Road Race League is a series of short and middle-distance road races running from Spring through to Autumn.
In the 2016 series Stuart Lumsden and Peter Fellows were top-placed Northbrook competitors, each with 3rd positions in the SM and MV55 tables. Terry Moynihan was 10th MV45 and Jo Arden was 9th FV45.
In the team placings, Northbrook Men finished 7th; Northbrook Women were placed 7th.
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Once again the series proved to be a hugely popular fixture, with a total of 110 Club members and 23 guests taking part.
In the sixth and final race on 7 September Gemma Darby was first Northbrooker home, scoring maximum points for the women, followed by Jonathan Seed the first Northbrook man. With an 18-point lead overall Louise Myers is the women’s series winner for 2016. Mark Parker maintained his lead to win the series for the men.
Series results