Dumfries Running Club Monthly Bulletin Feb 2014

Club Kit

If you need any kit, contact Sue remember to qualify for club events e.g. Grand Prix/Cross Country etc, you need to wear club colours either vest/tee-shirt/crop top (if you are lady at least!). Once again there is a £5 discount of the first item of kit you buy in the year.

Membership Renewal

It’s that time of year again and the fees are due! It appears a good few of you have renewed already, with many choosing the quick and easy on-line option. Copythis link into your browser to link through for online membership On the other hand, if you prefer the traditional paper entry system, then that is no problem. Please complete a form and hand the form onto Gemma Leadbetter or Kerry Walker. Alternatively you can pass onto to any committee member who will get them onto Gemma/Kerry.

To avoid any embarrassing situations, can you aim to do this by the end of March. As most of you know, we need to be fully paid up members to qualify for club events such as the Grand Prix. There is no panic for Saturdays run at Stranraer, however at the end of March there will be a cut-off so if you run Stranraer and don’t re-join before the end of March then you will have points deducted from Stranraer.

Thanks for your cooperation on this one

Half Marathon Organiser

In the absence of a stampede to succeed Danny; Mark Johnston and I are teaming up to carryon the excellent work done by Danny. We will be trying to find time amongst work/family etc so will need help!

Dates for the diary

Saturday 1st March – 1st Grand Prix Race – Stranraer Half

After last year’s poor entry leading to this race being cancelled, DG Council have moved the date from June to March in a bid to boost entries. In true DRC spirit we are keen to support this local (ok it’s a bit of a drive) race and see it remain for the future. Having experienced the melting tarmac a couple of times in June it may well be a more pleasant experience in cooler weather.

There are still some spaces on the bus, so please let Mike know ASAP if you would like a space. ()

The bus is free and entries on the day are available so even as a last minute decision this is a good choice.

Saturday 1st March – DRC Quiz Night

Nunholm Sport club/Bar @ 7:30pm.

It will be teams of 4; however if you don’t have enough for a team, just head along and teams can be sorted on the night. Bring friends and family and help make it a good night for DRC.

Entry costs £5 per head with proceeds going to the charities of members running the London Marathon.

Please bring a raffle prize with you.

Sunday 16th March – DRC’s Criffel Hill Race

Now in its 2nd year under the DRC banner, this race promises to go from strength to strength as Ranjit Thomas holds the reigns. Ranjit will be keen to see as many DRC members as possible on the day either running ok plodding up the hill and if not helping with marshalling etc.

More details and pleas for help will follow so please put the date in your diary just now and if you can spare time to help or to run, then Ranjit will be delighted to see you there!!

Sunday 30th March – Scottish Athletics National Road Relays

This is an annual event which appears to be staged at Livingstone most year’s including 2014. It’s been a strong favourite with club runners in the past with some pretty good performances down the years. DRC haven’t been in attendance in recent times, however if we have sufficient interest then we could make a come-back?

It is teams of 6 for men’s and teams of 4 for ladies. The ladies are in good shape and could be contenders if we field a strong team; and judging by early season form the men could field a decent team as-well

I can’t find too much detail on this event, but I think there are different distances to be run with a choice of between 4 and 6 miles or thereabouts.

You have to be a club member and also a member of Scottish Athletics. If you are interested, please email me at or let me know directly.

Saturday 5th April – 2nd Grand Prix Race - Longtown 10

Now in its 2nd year, the Longtown 10 has been chosen as the 2nd DRC GP race for 2014. Entry on-line is recommended as the Carlisle 10k in January which had the same organisers sold-out.

It’s not a flat route, however it’s on quiet rural roads and the last few miles are fairly flat/downhill.

Charity

Carrying on from last year initiative, the club will be donating money to charity throughout the year. This is a great way for us to help others who are needier than ourselves. The committee have agreed to spend 5 lots of £200 throughout 2014. This initiative will be reviewed throughout the year and if the club financial situation changes then may be reviewed.

What we need are nominations and suggestions for who should receive these donations. Ideally we would like to see ideas for charities that are in some way connected to the club and/or our events or members. For example the Sea Cadets who assist with the Marshalling of the Half Marathon.

Other Expenditure Initiatives

Please have a wee think and send through any ideas you have for this year so as we can give it consideration.

Awards Dinner

Special thanks to Maggie, Stephen and Sandy as organiser, promoter and behind the scenes get the job done people who brought the night together. The night was a chance to reflect on the year’s performance and to bring members old and new together for a good chin-wag and a drink or 2. The various awards were dished out in good time and it was great to see so many people smiling when receiving the various trophies and awards for their running and contribution to the club. In terms of performance, the night really belonged to Jo with a clean sweep of GP/Championship/Hill/Park-run trophies with just the cross country escaping her grasp. To top a marvellous year Jo was also awarded the Female performance of the year award for her fantastic Marathon time of 2:39:15 which puts her in contention for a Commonwealth place! The not so average time of 2:52 at Loch Ness Marathon meant the Des Park Trophy was awarded to Lisa who also had a record breaking year!Doug B pick up the contribution to club award and this was in recognition for the track/hill sessions he does (not fun sometimes but pay-off), and also the tireless work he does maintaining the clubs website. Danny stepped forward to receive the David McNaught award after a hugely successful 3 years as Dumfries Half Marathon organiser. Not to be out-done, daughter Sarah picked up the Most Improved Runner award after a year that has seen her set new pb’s across the board and move into Silver standard territory Jim B was awarded the Male Performance Award for his record breaking race victory at the Drumlanrig 10k in November. The highlight of the awards was when Val raced forward to receive her award from Mark for the Monday Night Award. Val works away quietly and is always a cheery face around the club welcoming new members and helping guide people round the various runs on a Monday evening. The Male champion was Steven S for his pb run at Brampton to Carlisle with David P Cross Country and Hill Champion. Sian F who piped sister Lisa in the GP picked up the Cross Country title for 2013. As always, Peter was a great host with help in highlighting some great moments for 2013 by Stephen M.For Next year we are looking at a Sat night to try and avoid the mad rush from work etc and to allow Saturday workers the chance to let their hair down a bit

Notable Performances/Highlights from this month:

After a flying start to 2014, DRC may have been forgiven for a quiet February; however that was far from the case. On the 1st day of Feb, Jim B headed through to Hawick to test his strength and speed in the National Cross Country Masters Championship. His dedicated training is paying off with a fine performance in the mud finishing 17th and 4th vet 45. The awards night was preceded by the Devil Take the Hindmost on Feb 6th at DKAC. The fun and games of the warm-up soon started to dissipate as the numbers dropped and pace intensified!! In the end the youngsters just managed to pip a youthful Graemeto fight it out on the last lap, with Terry edging ahead of Richard to win the much coveted title. Onto to the 23rd and Les tested himself against the UK masters at Netherhall and finished a very credible 3rd in his category of vet 55. On the same day Jo ran an amazing 2:41 in the Seville marathon and this was after a terrifying start when she fell and was trampled on…broken bones/cuts and bruises and still an outstanding time….well done Jo!! Back at home a dozen hardy souls made the short trip to Annan (not quite as glamorous), the non-stop rain meant there was mud a plenty and coupled with a reasonable wind, conditions were tricky in the DRC Cross Country Championship. Despite this, runners were determined to get the year off to a good start and the men’s champion was Jim B building towards the British Masters Cross Country in March, Steven was a close second on the unfamiliar mud with yours truly having to watch him pass with 50m to go. The ladies title was retained by Sianwith Sue and Ali making up the top 3.

Last but Not Least

Congratulations to Vicky and Paul Hart (and Annabel) on the birth of their son/brother Daniel, wishing you all the very best for the future!!

Enough for now, see you tomorrow for Stranraer!!

Happy running