The starts of the first and last races of the night at Wednesday’s Track Hour. The junior U11/U13’s and our élite runners.
We start off this week with a report on Wednesday’s February Shakespeare Race – The Track mile. A hugely enjoyable night.
We then have a couple of reports on the Warwick Half Marathon, where we had 15 members competing.
It seems to be a week for club notices, the first of which concerns Clare Goodwin’s very generous offer to become our press correspondent. Many thanks Clare.
There’s then a notice concerning a change of management for our Vet’s T&F team, and an appeal for our over 35’s to join in the fun, with an interesting piece on Kathryn Woodcock’s attendance at a Regional Hammer Day at Alexander Stadium.
Pete Sugden has sent in the fixture list for this year’s Warwickshire Road Race League (WRRL) together with an appeal for senior members to take part.
One of our up and coming endurance runners, Rafe White, has been enjoying a successful week, with a couple of races on Wednesday.
Finally, there’s mention of ex member Alex Adams, currently at Washburn University in Kansas, where he ran a PB time of 4:12 in the mile last weekend. Super running Alex.
Good luck to both juniors and seniors who will be competing in XC races at the weekend.
Seb Wolsoncroft-Dodds just managing to hold off Will Hovell in the night’s final race.
February Shakespeare Race
The Track Mile
Report – David Jones
Wednesday night at the track was one of those rare times when Senior’s and Junior’s compete together. These are always special occasions in my opinion.
It was the February Shakespeare Race – The Track Mile, with 72 completing the distance, a 3rd of who ran 6 minutes or less
This year Paul Hawkins had invited some of our junior endurance runners to take part and my goodness didn’t they do well, with 3 of them finishing in the top 6.
While it was not the oft quoted 8 to 80 age range, it was indeed an U11 to M80 age range.
With 9 races in total, starting with many of the juniors running at 6:50 and the élite runners at 8:15, the whole event ran like clockwork, with, I think, the final race starting at 8:14. Not bad. Many thanks to Sarah Bland, James Lake, Nathan Darby, Kathryn Woodcock, Susan Hunt and Mike Hayward for making it run so smoothly.
The conditions were pretty much perfect. It was a dry night, not an expression you have heard much this year and also not as windy as it often is at the track.
The night kicked off with 8 U11/13s, all of who ran 6:30 or below. U13 Charlie Jay-Cassells’ ran a storming race, finishing with a time of 5:40, to finish 11th quickest on the night.
The final race of the night, featuring the élite runners, saw a fascinating duel between senior runner Seb Wolsoncroft-Dodds and U17 multi eventer Will Hovell. With hardly any daylight between them for the majority of the race, Seb kicked with 250/300 metres to go, opening up a meaningful gap as they came off the final bend, however Will somehow found an extra gear, storming down the final straight but he could’t quite close the gap. Seb finished in 4:51 with Will a couple of seconds behind in 4:53.
There was an equally interesting battle for 3rd and 4th place, with Ned Campbell (5:03) managing to hold off U17 Arthur Williamson (5:06). Arthur’s tough training session 24 hours previous possibly taking its toll. Richard Ligggatt (5:14) was 5th. I’m running out of superlatives for U17 Marijke Tear-Verweij’s form this year. Competing in the final race of the night, she ran a time of 5:26, to finish in 6th place overall on the night and was 1st female finisher. The other top 3 lady finishers were Sarie Weaving (13th – 5:45) and Bronwen Mansel (20th – 5:51).
The most predictable time of the night for me was Richard Dobedoe’s. He told me before the race that he was going to run a metronomic 6:00 and, Richard being Richard, he ran……..a metronomic 6 minutes dead.
At the top of the age range, octogenarian John Butler showed his trademark grit and determination to finish in 10:16.
In a report like this it is impossible to name everyone who competed and I’m conscious of the fact that I have only mentioned a handful of those taking part in my report above. However, my experience of the night was that everyone put maximum effort into their races, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and everyone truly entered into the spirit of the occasion.
It was one of those truly memorable SuAAC occasions, one where you leave the event somehow.
For the full set of results please follow the link below:
Girls Just Want to Have Fun!
Hannah Osborne, Emma Davis and Pip Bell
Warwick Half Marathon
1st February
Report – Hannah Osborne
This is a local race that starts and finishes at the racecourse in Warwick and heads out on a scenic, closed road route through the undulating Warwickshire countryside.
A sold out race with 2686 finishers, this is an ideal race to use in the build up to marathon season as well as get some good mileage in at the start of the year.
Working at Warwick Sports Shop, who were working with the main sponsor, I thought why not run this local race I had never done. Good motivation to get my running back into double figures. A long run the week before gave me the confidence for the distance.
Race day was about enjoying it!
I don’t race much as I get myself worked up but I wanted to run long and relax.
In the start area I saw a few fellow SAC vests to say hello to and then Pip Bell and Emma Davis came and stood in the crowds with me and chatted about a steady run as part of Pip’s training for London.
It was the perfect ‘meet’! Steady run, keeping each other in check, sticking to the marathon pace, chatting, supporting and seeing the miles tick by and finishing together.
I finished feeling great and buzzing!
Great to see other Stratford AC vests on the day. 1st Stratford AC athlete home was David Mancini Lowe (1:23:38) followed by Adam Evans (01:24:09) with Drew Sambridge in hot pursuit (01:24:34).
Other results:
Rob Gisbourne, 1:32:18, a new PB for Chris Bloomfield 1:43:58, Ian Stevens 1:40:50, Graham Hill 1:45:24, Clare Weatherhead 1:47:31, Bogdan Ene (1:49:07), Kimberley Lee (1:47:21) , Paul Forshaw (1:55:05) , Pip Bell (2:05:52), Hannah Osborne (2:05:54), Emma Davis (2:05:54), Lisa Stevens (2:13:37), Karen Gisbourne (2:17:24) and Liz Whitehead (2:25:40)
Local runner Ian Allen of Spa Striders was the 1st finisher in a time of 1:09:23, 1st female was Rachel Gilworth of Leamington C&AC in 1:16:50.
Conditions were cloudy, 6 to 7 Celsius and a light southerly wind, practically ideal!
It was my first time taking part in the Warwick Half Marathon and because the racecourse parking would be closed until late in the day I ended up arriving later than planned after parking in St Nicholas park carpark instead.
I got to the bag drop but ‘missed’ my wave being called to the start line.
It was great to have a chat on the course with some fellow SAC members early into the race and while I had familiarity with the route where it follows the Two Castles 10k race to the outskirts of Leek Wootton, after that it was all roads I hadn’t experienced as a runner, so I allowed my pace to fall back on the ups and take advantage of the downs.
I was still feeling strong as I came through Hatton but getting up into Hampton On The Hill was starting to become a challenge, until near the top where Susan Hunt had a mic and PA system to shout encouragement, then Ade Mason spotted me… I almost missed him on that final downhill mile!
Although I knew what pace I had to aim for to get under 1h45m over the distance, my splits went up and down with the terrain, so after the final push to the line, stopping the watch, taking the finishers medal and post race goodies, I was chuffed to see 1:44:02 (official time 1:43:58).
Press Correspondent
I am delighted to announce that Clare Goodwin has very generously offered to take on the role of our press correspondent and she will be submitting reports to The Stratford upon Avon Herald for possible publication in both their physical and online editions.
This is an important role that makes the wider community aware of what we are up to and also brings pleasure to those of you who are featured, be that parents of juniors, juniors themselves, or seniors, a fact that was very recently illustrated when a senior member who was featured told me what a lift it had given him, bringing a smile to his face at a time when he was feeling a bit down.
Many many thanks to Clare
If you have any reports that you think might be suitable, please send them to Clare at:
Clare’s first submission to The Herald is prominently featured in this week’s edition.
Vets T&F
Important news below on changes within the team management of our Vet’s T&F team
They’re not as scary as they look!
Members of our Vets at last Monday’s training session at the track
Vets T&F
A message from Nathan Darby
Hannah Osborne has decided to step down as team manager of our Vets T&F team after several years in charge.
Hannah has done an amazing job with the team having enjoyed significant success with her at the helm.
We really can’t thank her enough for the support, effort and sheer enthusiasm that she put into the role.
Our club has consistently punched above its weight in the Vet’s league and this is in no small part down to Hannah’s efforts.
It was always going to be a difficult job to replace her, but as the main participants in the league, it only felt right that members of the sprint training group stepped up.
Kathryn Woodcock and I will be managing the team moving forwards (expertly assisted by Hannah for the first year).
The Vet’s league is a brilliant event which takes part over 4 Wednesday evenings in the summer, with a grand final on 6th September this year.
It is very inclusive, with events from over 35s all the way up to over 70s.
We have always had great engagement and we hope that this will continue in the future.
Where we traditionally struggle to fill spots is in the middle and long distance races and also event officials.
Both Kathryn and I would like to get more people involved and we will be looking to engage with more club members than before, particularly because Hannah was so good at reaching all parts of the club.
So, if you are interested in taking part, we will welcome you with open arms. You can either message us on Spond or contact me at nathan_darby@hotmail.com
or
07595 467 909
Failing that why not wander over at the track on Monday and have a chat. You wont regret it
I joined the club as an endurance runner and got tempted across and haven’t (yet) looked back.
If you haven’t run a sprint, or chucked a javelin since school it doesn’t matter. We have great coaches and trust me you won’t be the least experienced person competing!
In the coming weeks we will be reaching out further, we really hope to get more people involved to achieve more for the club but also to have lots of fun on the way!
And talking of Vets!
A Regional Hammer Day
Report – Kathryn Woodcock
On Sunday February 1, I attended a Regional Hammer Day run by England Athletics at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
It was a brilliant course led by Tom and Paul Head (former Olympian and Commonwealth athlete).
I was 12 years older than the next oldest participant and probably 35 years older than the rest. I was also the only one who had never thrown without a turn but I was welcomed and included throughout.
As a development day there were lots of coaches there to pick up training tips and at only £15 for 6 hours it was an absolute bargain.
I enjoyed the fact that we were throwing at such a famous stadium and, as is my wont, I had a jog around the track just so that I can say I have.
I was also very grateful for Paul Bearman and Paula Williams’ hurdles training sessions this winter as I could hold my own in the fitness and mobility session at the end of the day.
I have now thrown with a turn too, so I will have to keep up the training to make sure that I can still remember what to do once the evenings are light again and we start throws training, ready for the Vets league.
I can’t wait.
Rafe White has been busy:
He won the Cotswold qualifying race at Farmor’s Secondary School on Wednesday. He will now represent the North Cotswolds at the Primary Schools Cross Country Championships in Newent in March.
Rafe was representing Blockley and came first, competing against around 50 year 6 boys from other Cotswolds schools.
Not content with that, later the same day he competed in the Track Mile, running a very impressive time of 6:04.
The Warwickshire Road Race League (WRRL)
A message from Pete Sugden.
Hello Senior Members,
The events forming our Senior Runners’ Grand Prix are currently being selected.
The Grand Prix will certainly comprise Warwickshire Road Race League (WRRL) races, listed below. Please note, entries for this year’s Two Castles race, which is on 14th June, are already open.
We’re supporting the WRRL for numerous reasons, not least that when we made a concerted effort in 2023 our men’s team won!!!
It’s time we made a claim on the trophy again!
Also, organising road races is becoming ever more difficult with onerous but necessary safety requirements. This year’s Arden 9 is currently not happening because of prohibitively expensive traffic management requirements.
Let’s show our support for these grass roots races by taking part.
They’re for runners of every ability and from my experience a great way to generate some of that super SuAAC team spirit!
2026 WRRL Races:
April 12 – Massey Ferguson 5k – Coventry
May 21 – Ryton 5M
June 3 – Sphinx 5M – Coventry
June 14 – Two Castles
July 10 – Northbrook 10k – Allesley
August 14 – Stratford Summer 6 – Wilmcote
August 19 – COBS Summerfield 5k
September 6 – Kenilworth Half Marathon
September 13 – Balsall Common 10k
September 27 – Rugby 9 – Barby
News from across the pond
Alex Adams, late of this parish, certainly hit the road running (pun intended) on his return to the USA, where he is studying at Washburn University.
During his Christmas break he could be seen training at our track in the most appalling weather conditions, thus showing his trademark commitment. This certainly paid dividends with him running a 4:12.75 mile, a PB, last Saturday in Topeka. Kansas.
That’s quick!
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