November has been surprisingly quiet. Good news for me as I have less words to type, but it is a signal that formal running events take a bit of a back seat in the cold dark nights! November is an odd month. Christmas adverts begin to blare their jingles on the tele, Mariah Carey is warbling All I want for Christmas, Windos is moaning – yet for me Christmas only begins when the first advent calendar chocolate pops out! Instead November should really be for celebrating the hanging drawing and quartering of a few catholics (I don’t think Fawkes liked November too much either) and also to commemorate the millions killed during many conflicts. So all in all November is a miserable month, made only better that it only lasts for 30 days! Good news is that I did emerge as only 39 on a Facebook post so I’ll take that! Skip over the rest! Mind you it seemed to know I was of an older sophisticated age as it added at the bottom of the post if I want matures – hopefully it is referring to a classic cheddar cheese!
Nevertheless November hasn’t been completely bereft of witnessing some great running, so to get cracking (yep a firework pun!) it’s an opportune moment to start with the first event of the month – The Richard Burton 10k, which took place on the 5th.
Ross Purchase was first Strider back with a grueling time of 00:39:27, whilst Paula Wilfort was first female Strider to cross the line grabbing a brilliant time of 00:53:17. Well done both of you. Overall 35 Striders ran this event, so an amazing turn out! By all accounts it was wet and windy (bit like me after a session the night before), and according to Vince’s roving report, a few hills were added to the course for this year! So glad I took the easy option and stayed at home.
10th November witnessed 18 Striders run across the old Severn Bridge (5 Miler I think). Dave Cascarina was first Strider to complete with a time of 00:33:20. Paula Wilfort was again first female Strider to return to God’s country (Wales just in case you’re from the other place), and some cracking times were witnessed from the rest of you!
12th November saw 7 Striders don dodgy moustaches (for Movember, as the ladies were also donning one – mind you I apologise in advance if you do actually have a moustache!) Anyway they ran a 10k around Bute Park in the centre of Cardiff. Cheryl Gibbins was first Strider back with a time of 00:55:13. First male Strider was Steve Gibbins with the same time of 00:55:13, but it’s ladies first so Cheryl is on top!
26th November saw us again hosting the West Glamorgan Cross Country League using our favourite course – Kenfig Nature Reserve. It was 4.1 miles worth of cake, but there was a little bit of running as well. Georgina Fraser took over the mantle of race organiser from James Marks who chose to pop off on holiday to Luxembourg. Seriously James you do not have to go those lengths to avoid sand (is there sand in Luxembourg?)
Anyway to the run itself – Ross Purchase was first Strider to finish (desperate for cake I’d guess) in a time of 00:27:24. The other runners in the top 5 were Steve Hogan (00:29:07); Gareth Danter-Hill (00:31:00); Kieth Powell (00:31:02); and Carl Feiven (00:31:51).
Top 5 female Striders were Lucy Edwards (00:33:27); Jennet James (00:34:42); Nikki Dowie (00:35:08); Paula Wilfort (00:35:29); Rachel Bayona (00:36:22) – well done everyone. Also a big thumbs up to all the Strider volunteers and cake makers!
19th November was the annual Strider presentation evening at the Prince of Wales Public House. Quite a few categories listed so bare with me:-
WEST GLAMORGAN CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE
1st Male: Keith Powell
2nd Male: Daniel Nicholas
3rd Male: Steve Hogan
1st Female: Vicki Jeffrey
2nd Female: Joanne Edwards
3rd Female: Nikki Dowie
MOST IMPROVED STRIDER
1st Male: Gavin Fraser
2nd Male: Paul Bayona
3rd Male: Dave Cascarina
1st Female: Rita Collins
2nd Female: Sophie Wallis
3rd Female: Jennet James
BRIDGEND COUNTY RUNNING LEAGUE
1st Male: Keith Powell
2nd Male: Dave Cascarina
3rd Male: Daniel Nicholas
1st Female: Jennet James
2nd Female: Carolyn Windos
3rd Female: Rita Collins
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James Marks
Kevin Walford
CLUBPERSON OF THE YEAR
David Hesketh
OVERALL MALE
Dave Cascarina
OVERALL FEMALE
Joanne Edwards
BEST NEWCOMER
1st: Ian Lamont
2nd: Andrew Evans
3rd: Sarah Heffron
PEOPLES CHOICE
Joanne Edwards
Well done to all the winners, we are all proud of you. If you did not get an award or recognition, remember all of you have done fabulous this year, and for many of you it was a ‘first time’ doing something, whether it was a parkrun, 10k, half marathon, or full marathon! Next year you could be in this newsletter with me insulting you!
Our London marathon draw was undertaken under the new rules. Ashleigh Muir was first ticket to be pulled from the bucket, followed by Gav Fraser and Mark Pedler. Unfortunately London changed at the last minute the number of places being offered to clubs, so instead of an expected two, we ended up with one! Congratulations Ashleigh, but commiserations as well to Gav! We did though enjoy a fantastic video of our achievements from 2017, thanks to the talents of Mark Bankhead.
Big thank you as well to the organising committee including Delia Domachowski, Jennet James, Alison Marks, Carolyn Windos and Georgina Fraser – great job everyone!
Parkrun roundup
Porthcawl 4th November: – Jack Couch was first Strider back with a time of 00:20:11. Lorraine Colton was first Strider female to finish with a time of 00:24:11. A PB was gained by Laura Jenkins (00:35:53) who’s only been running with the club for a few weeks. Well done all!
On the 11th November at Porthcawl, Jack Couch was again first Strider to finish with a time of 00:19:48. Lorraine was again first Strider female back with a time of 00:24:10. Two PB’s – Debra Perry (00:30:01 – very close to the sub 30!!!!) and Jeff Collier (00:31:18).
18th November once again witnessed Jack Couch as the first Strider to cross the line (getting repetitive now Jack, bit like watching programmes on BBC2!), and first female Strider was Lorr…..no it was Fleur Jones with a time of 00:23:08. It was also Dave Cascarina’s 50th parkrun so another milestone reached! Couple of PB’s – Richard Fortt (00:23:13); Mia Allen (00:24:20); & Cheryl Gibbins (00:26:25). Anthony James ran his first parkrun with a time of 00:34:42 – welcome to the parkrun family! Oh and Vince Lawlor ran all the way without walking! I think Laura Jenkins basically nagged him all along the course, so he picked up some speed!
Carl Feiven travelled to the Swansea parkrun, and completed with a time of 00:20:51 – Well done Carl.
25th November saw the last parkrun of the month – this time Ross Purchase was first Strider back and also second overall with a fantastic time of 00:18:34! Mind you Ross has been injured since so the lesson really is to stay slow….only kidding, hopefully Ross will be back up there soon. Fleur Jones was first female Strider to finish with a time of 00:22:39! A few PB’s – Ben Meil (00:23:28); Andrew Dylan Llewellyn (00:25:18); Debra Perry who is now sub 30 with a time of 00:29:03; Ian Lamont (good grief the list seems to be getting bigger!!!!) with a time of 00:31:54; Emily Fraser (00:31:56); and in only his second run Anthony James (00:34:13) – Fabulous effort from you all!
On the social side Louise Hogan organised a Striders trip to Kaspers (a dessert restaurant (not the Saharan kind of dessert either). The puddings looked absolutely humongous on the Facebook pics, but it seemed the Striders did us all proud by devouring the whole lot!
That’s it for November – hopefully December will be a bit more fun! Until then Happy Striding! Oh and a Mariah Mariah Christmas to everyone!!!!
Striders Monthly Newsround! 