January 2010

 

For a complete results
listing view the
Results Index

Featured events in January 2010:

MCAA Cross Country Champs - Stafford Common - 30 January

Senior Men's Race - approx 12km

117 Mick O'Shea 49:29
351 Tony French 1:17:07

Ladies' Race - approx 8km

20 Rebecca Smith 35:34

Wedgnock Hills & Spills - 23 January

2 Nathan Holmes 40:13  
8 Mike Wheeler 47:10  
17 Becky Smith 49:46 2nd lady
30 John Elliot 53:11  

As there was a gap in the cross-country schedule this weekend I thought it would be a good idea to do a small, local off-road race instead. Wrong! This was as close to being a fell race as I will ever do. I can't say that I wasn't warned but it is a very hard course indeed mitigated by a lovely location and a lovely venue. - Becky

Not The Roman IX - 17 January

11 Martyn Brunt 45:34  
51 James Joyce 50:11 PB
61 Alix Critchley 50:57 PB, 4th lady
121 Jack Langman 54:30 1st MV70
145 Charles Jones 55:32  
163 Tony Hughes 56:25 PB
166 Allan Walsh 56:33 PB
201 Paul Costain 57:51  
223 Corinna O'Connor 58:47  
327 Keith Burdett 1:03:11  
379 Jo-Anne Hancock 1:05:15  
388 Claudie Combelas 1:05:56  
392 Anne Hughes 1:06:05  
451 Brian Hewetson 1:08:50  

Lovely weather for a run - a great undulating 12k course with some friendly and supportive marshalls. Good turn out of Northbrook runners today. Jack turned 72 yesterday - a superb performance by him.
Alix Critchley

Birmingham Cross-Country League Race 3 at Wyken Croft, Coventry - 16 January

26 Nathan Holmes 32:57
29 Paul Andrew 33:10
41 Mick O'Shea 33:55
47 John Hosie 34:17
99 Martyn Brunt 36:51
104 Howard Andersen 36:59
114 Paul Stead 37:35
115 Pete Austin 37:38
119 Mike Wheeler 37:52
123 Tony Hoy 38:01
139 Richard French 39:27
216 Tony French 53:59

 

A strong Northbrook men's performance saw us move up 3 places in the overall table to 10th, and 8th on the day. Pre race I was trying to convince everyone that we could catch Centurion and Tamworth, which we promptly did easily putting over 200 points on them. Early morning phone calls from Jason and "Cinderella" Hodgie were starting to worry me slightly, no truth that Mr Hodge couldn't find his wellies.

Some good packing ahead of me saw Nathan, Paul and Mick running strongly, although I suspect that Mick regretted this later on. Nathan clearly showing the benefit of Becky's training as he led us home. Further down the field, I'm told that Brunty, Howard, Wheeler, Steady, Pete and Tony Hoy were also close together, before Brunty got scared by Howard's heavy breathing and managed to get away. Great support from the Ladies team and a number of injured Northrookers was really appreciated.

The highlight of the day though was the cake that Becky made and handed out afterwards, a massive incentive to run X-C. Who knows, perhaps it will even entice Mr Hodge to find his elusive spikes for Worcester on 13 February. - John Hosie

Northbrook A Team (first 6 to count) finished in 8th position on the day, moving up to 10th place overall after Race 3.

Midland Women's Cross-Country League Race 3 at Wyken Croft, Coventry - 16 January

23 Rebecca Smith 24:09
43 Alix Critchley 25:29
98 Lyn McDonald 28:34
117 Lisa Bragg 29:59
125 Corinna O'Connor 30:33

It was good to be back running on grass rather than snow, and nice and muddy although cold feet thanks to all of the icy water!

Thanks for all of the support on the way round from the blokes and supporters - great course for getting to see everybody lots on!. - Alix Critchley


Northbrook Senior Ladies (first 3 to count) finished in 11th position out of 26 on the day.
Northbrook "Masters" Ladies (first 3 to count) finished in 6th position on the day.

Warwickshire County AA XC Champs - 9 January

33 Mick O'Shea 36:02
39 John Hosie 36:25
44 Nathan Holmes 37:03
68 Howard Andersen 39:17
72 Richard Hodge 39:32
82 Mike Wheeler 40:21
84 Pete Aston 40:28
88 Tony Hoy 40:49
95 Richard French 42:08
145 Tony French 54:46

 

10 Rebecca Smith 28:43 2nd F35
21 Alix Critchley 29:48  
35 Cath Fenn 32:53  
37 Lyn McDonald 33:14  
46 Lisa Cook 35:26  
47 Corinna O'Connor 35:54  

Northbrook men finished as 7th Team
in the Men's Masters competition.

Northbrook ladies finished as 2nd Team
in the Ladies' Masters competition.

Firstly before I forget many congratulations to Becky on being second in the old woman category, and the ladies Masters? team for also securing second in the team event. Top effort on a difficult day.

For those who wimped out, yes it was cold and yes there was snow on the ground. The slightly revised course took out the hill, either because of the 3 most hated words in the English language (Health, And, Safety) or because the sledgers sledged them and refused to leave. It also took out the presumably frozen water crossing. (I wasn't even going to look at it after past bitter experiences).

Discussions before the men's race centred on 2 subjects:
1. spikes or studs,
2. if the women only wore vests and shorts, how were we going to explain our hats, long sleeves and gloves, - answers to Mick O'Shea!!
The spike/stud debate was resolved by Nathan who had already run the course in both and declared it was studs, then promptly raced in spikes. Many thanks to the ladies who stayed around to support the mens race, and also to the many others who made the trip to Leamington to shout abuse at us.

The week leading upto the race, my phone/e-mail had been almost constantly ringing/bleeping from Northbrookers to try and find out if the race was on. Those who decided it was too cold shall remain nameless, and answerable only if you use the names Paul Andrew, Martyn Brunt, Mark Baker, (this may or may not be true). It was good to see so many decided to embrace the cold and use this as an opportunity to show off their X-mas gifts that they clearly hated. So, on display we had Hodgie's wellies (but no spikes), Becky's arm warmers, Nathan's pink coat, my hat, and a very fetching, (used only once in a Natwest bank) balaclava from Jerry. - John Hosie

Centurion 5 mile - 3 January

28 Rebecca Smith 33:41 1st lady

Godiva New Year 5 mile - 3 January

24 Martyn Brunt   30:00  
26 Howard Andersen   30:12  
37 Tony Hoy   31:57  
48 Richard French   33:28  
50 Nigel Bassnett   33:47  
67 Adrian Powell   35:47  
73 Lyn McDonald   36:10  
78 Cath Fenn   36:46  
80 Sarah McNaney   36:54 1st F50
83 Allan Walsh   37:20  
92 Corinna O'Connor   38:16  
121 Tony French   42:18  
124 Jo Moyse   42:25  
126 Sylvia Guthrie   42:55  
131 Claudie Combelas   43:20  

Complete results listing at www.coventry-godiva-harriers.org.uk