Text Box: Winter newsletter January 2008  

Text Box: Sandbach Striders  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               Articles and photos to submit?    If so then email jill.young6@btinternet.com

                                                   100 Club’ Sweatshirts

Text Box:   Race the (t)rain ! Sandbach Super Six General News Members achievements Future events          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Text Box: Handicap Race Text Box: Those striders who complete 100 runs on CLUBNIGHTS will automatically be awarded a super sweatshirt. Danny McLaughlin was the 1st to achieve this award and not for the first time sets us a standard to aspire to. Congratulations, Danny.  20 members in total have since been presented with a 100-club sweatshirt. Keep on running for your shirts
 

Text Box: Many thanks to Tom Mayell for organising the handicap race for us in summer. Tom worked out the handicaps from our race times, and we were all given different times to start. Of course, Chris Coppenhall who was last to start sped past us all – to finish first!

  Text Box: Sandbach Super Six  

Text Box: Beautiful weather elicited an excellent turnout (in excess of 90) for this annual event, now in its 2nd year. The Race Committee worked very hard to make this event a huge success. The BBQ and children’s fun run were also a great success. The fastest male to complete the course was Richard Burch in 34:24, and the fastest female was Deborah Thomas in 40:28. A big thanks to all that helped out on the day with marshalling and organisation, it couldn’t have been done without you! The club members ran the race on the evening of 12th September, with Chris Coppenhall coming in as the first male in 38:46, and Jo Waddilove was the first female to cross the finish line in 43:52. Excellent times – well done.  

 

 

          

 

 

        

Text Box: Some of the ‘Sandbach Super Six’ runners in September 2007.   What a glorious day’s weather they had for the race. Text Box: Individual Highlights: Race the Train 2 Dates for calendar 4 Future new members? 3 Track sessions 4  

Text Box: Race the Train 2007

 

                                                                                                                                                                           

Text Box: ‘Race the train’ by Tom Mayell  

 

Text Box: Race the Train is usually a wet affair. However, this year it was accompanied by gale force winds! The defining moment of the weekend occurred at about 3am on Sunday morning. Sue’s gazebo took off and demolished Danny’s tent. Bryan, asleep in his car, stirred, grunted and carried on dreaming about sweetcorn. or the uninitiated, Race the Train primarily involves sitting in a field watching it rain, feeling thankful that Jason remembered to bring his big gazebos. There are also a series of races, over various distances, across ‘undulating’ terrain. The particular gimmick at this event is that you are notionally racing a steam train that chuffs along the Talyllyn railway adjacent to the course. Only a select few runners ever get near it. The rest of us manage to keep up for about the first 100 yards, when the train disappears into the distance while the runners hobble up a mountain. I am painting a very bleak picture – actually most of us thoroughly enjoy the race. The scenery is fantastic and it is a uniquely challenging event. The main race is a 14¾ mile epic. Most of us are too unfit/cowardly to attempt this (*), so we run the 10k version. It starts on a farmer’s field, on a steep crossfall and then traverses up the side of a mountain. After a steep descent the course runs through a forest, with some extremely muddy sections. After this, the course pretty much follows the railway line. The last five miles are along country roads into Tywyn. * Danny claims to have run the main race. Yes it is hard to believe, isn’t it?! There is huge prestige associated with beating the train. Chris Coppenhall and Giles Hodges steamed home ahead of the train in 45mins and 50 mins respectively. As has become traditional, Jason Bulley pulled in just as the train was arriving. It should also be noted that Rachel Collett completed the course having only been training for a few months after the birth of her second child. Saturday evening was devoted to a thoroughly entertaining quiz that had been devised by Jason. And finally the runners managed to find enough energy after the day’s exertions to chase Danny around the campsite. Many thanks to Danny for organizing the campsite; Quizmaster Jason for keeping us dry and Jackie, Amy, Kim, Brian, his banjo, Phil, Fred and Audrey for standing in a cold, wet field to cheer us home.  Good to see Race the Train happening again for us Striders.   Tom Mayell            

Text Box: ‘Actually most of us thoroughly enjoy it." Text Box: Chris & Giles view of the Train: Yes, They beat it!
 

Text Box: What most of us see of the Train!
 


 

Text Box: Unfortunately for the club, due to other commitments, Danny has decided to resign as chairman, and from the committee. Danny is a founder member of the club, and has been chairman since it’s beginning, 5 years ago. It is going to be a very hard act to follow, but we are now looking for a volunteer who would like to put something back into the club, and act as our chairman. If you are interested, please let a committee member know. The new chairman and committee will be decided at the AGM on Wednesday 12th March at 7pm. Text Box: Thanks again, Danny

Text Box: LLondon Marathon / Track sessions / achievements / Babies / Dates essions / achievements / Babies / Dates Page 3 of 4

Text Box: If you enter a race at the reduced ‘attached’ fee, many organisations will request that club shirts be worn. Last year, a lot of work went into the design and ordering of our dashing new shirts. These sport the club logo, and are available in both vests (£14) and T-shirts (£17). Also, you are more likely to be spotted, and receive a big cheer from our loyal supporters during your race! If you would like to purchase a kit, you can do so by contacting Elaine Tatham via the club website, or on club nights. Alternatively, you could approach any committee member who will sort this for you.             Text Box: Club Kits Text Box: As we now have over 50 members, Sandbach Striders are entitled to 2 club places in the London marathon. To apply for a club place, Striders must first apply to the London marathon. If refused, you are then eligible to apply for a Club Place. Priority will go to the longest serving active club members who have not yet ran on a club place. In 2007, Sue Roberts took the club place, with an excellent time 5:55 on a scorching hot day. 2008 sees Bob Kettle and Carloline Brockbank gain the 2 club places. Well done and we wish you good luck with the race.                       Text Box: London marathon  

Text Box: Many members are keen to try out the running track in Crewe for speed sessions. It has been agreed that on the 3rd Monday each month, members may meet up to join in the sessions. Danny is a qualified coach, and Tom will also soon be qualified to supervise these sessions. The idea at the moment is to all start on a beginners session with the same warm ups, but then to eventually divide into two groups of differing abilities. The cost is £2 each, and we hope to start these early in 2008. Further notice will be given on club nights. Text Box: Track Sessions     Text Box: Future Events / Dates for your Diary 2008 Text Box: Future Striders? Text Box:   Two bouncing baby boys have been born to proud club members this winter. Baby Jack Tatham, for Elaine and Jon, and more recently Amy and Tom are the proud parents of baby Adam. Congratulations to you all. You’ll be buying running shoes for them before you know it     !       Text Box: Future Striders? Text Box: As the club grows from strength to strength, more members are running marathons, and special races of their own accord – without even gaining any club championship points! These runners have been extremely disciplined and put in many hours of training, so I think huge congratulations are deserved to all. Some of the achievements in 2007 are: Marathon times Sue Roberts London 5:55 Jo Waddilove London 3:47 Jason Bulley Disney 3:48 Belfast 3:44 Giles Hodges Dublin 3:38 John Lawton Snowdonia 4:20 Cynthia Shackleton New York 4:23     Text Box: Achievements Text Box:

·        Text Box: AftAfter the success of last year’s dinner dance, we have decided to hold the awards dinner at Chimney House Hotel again. Last year there was good feed back of the venue and food. In addition this year, we have booked a live jazz band as the entertainment in place of the disco. This event gives us the chance to get dressed up and let your hair down… also many awards will be presented… so don’t miss it. TheThe room will only hold 60, so the tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. The cost is £35 per person. Please contact Chris Harding as soon as possible to reserve your tickets.

   

Text Box: Social Events Unfortunately, due to lack of interest, the Christmas party had to be cancelled. The annual quiz in October, although a great success, was poorly attended. These events are always great fun, but we do need the numbers to cover our costs. It is understandable that certain types of events don’t suit everyone, but it is a great chance to meet up and to meet partners and non- runners. We do need feedback, so if you do have any ideas for future social events, please do let us know… we like to keep you all happy. Wedn  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                      Committee Members

                                Danny McLaughlin                     Chairman

                                Trevor Jones                               Secretary

                                Tom Mayel                                  Treasurer, championship points and race calendar

                                Fred Davies                                  Website

                                Chris Harding                              Social Secretary

                                Elaine Tatham                              Club Kits

                                Jill Young                                    Assistant to Secretary

      

 

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