Date	Event
Sat 16^th Oct 04	Complete Runner cross country: - Bradford Grammar School. Details below. See Chris if you want to run.
Sun 17^th Oct 04	Bridlington Half marathon, 12 Noon. Points race.
Sun 17^th Oct 04	Bramham 5km and 10k, 10.30am. Braham Park (Nr Boston Spa). Roads, paths and farm tracks through the park All proceeds to breast cancer awareness month.
Sat 30^th Oct 04	Complete Runner cross country: - Hosted by Pudsey & Bramley. Details below. See Chris if you want to run.
Sun 31^st Oct 04	Holmfirth 15mile. 10.30am. Points race.
Sun 7^th Nov 04	Guy Fawkes10mile10.30am. See below.
Sun 14 Nov 04	1^st West Yorks Winter League cross country, 11am, Dewsbury. See below. All club required. Can you marshal?
Sat 20^th Nov 04	Complete Runner cross country: - Hosted by Ilkley Harriers. Details below. See Chris if you want to run.
Sun 21^st Nov 04	Roundhay Park 5k and 5 mile races. 10am.
Sun 28^th Nov 04	Leeds Abbey Dash. 9.30am. See below. Final points race
Sun 5^th Dec 04	2nd West Yorks Winter League cross country, 11am, Idle AC home event. See below. All club required to run plus friends and relatives needed to marshal.
Fri 10^th Dec 04 at 8pm	Idle AC Christmas Do, a night not to be missed! Disco, buffet, raffle, and London marathon club entry draw.
Sun 19^th Dec 04	3^rd Annual Sewage Works Surprise 4 mile club Handicap race, 10am, Stansfield Arms. Afternoon Presentation in the Symposium.
Sun 26^th Dec 04	Chevin Chase, 7mile off road race on Otley Chevin. Awaiting race details.
Tues 28^th Dec 04	Jolly Holly Jog, 10k, Ripon. One lap scenic multi terrain course. No entries on day.

Attendance Scheme/ Club races – 2004 details:

Top twenty Club Races for 2004: Handicap/ Attendance Scheme - 8 out of 20 possible races to count. Please don’t forget to sign in the book each time you attend a club session (but only pay once per week) as each attendance at a club training session is worth 1 point and to be eligible for a trophy members must accumulate at least 30 attendance points during the year. Each attendance at a “Club” designated race earns you 5 points (see below). 50% of the required points must be achieved by attendance at training sessions. Details of the Attendance Scheme up to the end of September are below.

Name	Sept									Sept	Sept
	2	7	9	14	16	21	23	28	30	Races	Totals
Adrian Trevelyan								1			1
Alison Garlick										5	5
Amnuay Scott		1	1		1		1		1		5
Archie Devesher										5	5
Chris Booker		1				1					2
Chris Smith	1	1		1	1	1	1	1	1		8
Chris Stubbs					1	1		1			3
Dave Currie		1		1		1					3
David Dewhirst			1		1				1		3
David Lewis	1	1	1	1		1				5	10
Davina Smith			1								1
Dominic Hopson		1	1	1		1		1		5	10
Donna Edmonson		1				1		1			3
Douglas Briggs					1						1
Edward East		1							1	5	7
Gary Naylor	1		1	1			1		1	5	10
Ian Fisher						1		1			2
Joanne Belcher	1			1							2
Joseph Marjoram	1	1	1		1						4
Kay Gambles	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		9
Lisa Flesher	1		1		1	1					4
Lisa Hall								1			1
Martin Burnside		1					1	1	1		4
Matthew Coles		1						1			2
Peter Vickers		1	1	1	1	1		1	1	5	12
Phil Routh	1		1		1						3
Richard Lyons		1			1		1	1	1	5	10
Simon Bellwood		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	5	13
Stephen Edwards			1	1	1	1	1	1	1		7
Steve Little		1			1	1	1		1		5
Suzanne Bairstow		1									1
Tony Blythe	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1			8
Trevor Hooley										5	5
Vicki Hawker								1	1		2
	9	18	14	11	15	15	10	16	13	50	171

Well done to Simon who is September’s attendance winner. The Club races for 2004, where points can be earned, are as follows:

Date	Race Details	Comments.
January- Sun 25^th	Brass Monkey Half marathon, 10am.	18 Idle AC runners, many PB’s. Donna set a new Female club record with 1.35.14.
February - Sun 16^th	Liversedge Half Marathon, 12.00 noon.	10 Idle AC runners including 2 pbs.
March- Sun 7^th	Baildon Boundary Way Half, 10.30am.	15 Idle AC members for this tough off road half marathon.
March – Sun 14^th	Spen 20mile, 10am.	We had 8 members for this tough 20 mile road race, including Simon Bellwood who broke the club’s M40 record and Davina Smith who broke the F35 record.
April- Sun4^th	Wakefield 10k, 10am. Fast, flat course.	14 runners at this event including pb’s from the Wednesday group trio- Elaine, Jane, and Suzanne.
April- Tues 6^th	Bunny Run 1, 3 mile ‘Fell’ race, 7.00 pm.	11 Idle AC on this muddy course runners enticed to run by the chance of a free cream egg including birthday boy Dave Lewis.
April – Sun 11^th	Guiseley Gallop 10k, 10.30am.	We had 8 runners for this Easter Sunday run.
May - Wed –5^th	John Carr 5k, Esholt, 7.30pm. Fast, flat course. Good local event.	29 runners for this fast flat course. Ian set a new Male club record and finished in 2^nd place. Dave Lewis, Lisa Flesher and Laura Brook all set age club records.
May- Sun 9^th	Fountains Abbey 10mile. Part of Black sheep series.	11 Idle AC vests lined up for this race, the start of the Black Sheep Series. Chris Stubbs was close to the club record in 6^th position. There were pb’s from Amnuay and Pete V and from Lisa and Gary in their first 10mile races. Kay set a new F45 club record.
May- Sun 16th	Leeds Half Marathon, 10am.	We had 12 runners for this local event held in hot conditions. However there were still a few pb’s including Doug. Lisa and Gary ran well in their first half marathon.
June – Thurs 10^th June	Bronte 5, 7.30pm. Hilly two lap course.	19 runners, 3 club records broken and a Yorkshire vets trophy for Lisa Flesher who was 2^nd F35 in the Yorks Vets Championships.
June - Sun 20^th	Blackpool Half or Full Marathon, 9am. 2004 club race/weekend away.	We had 6 in the marathon which included Jo Belcher who set a new female club record in 3.44 and Vicki Hawker who ran her debut marathon. In the half three club records were broken: Doug Briggs 1.22 (male), Lisa Flesher 1.43 (F35) and Kay Gambles 1.44 (F45). 2^nd F35 team in BMAF championships – Lisa, Archie and Janet.
July18 – Sun	Pudsey 10k, 10.45am.	14 runners and two team prizes. 3^rd male team and 3^rd female team.
Sept 26– Sun	Kirkstall Abbey 10k. 10am.	14 runners at this race.
Oct – Sun 3^rd	Horsforth 10k, 10am.	14 runners including Kay who set a new F45 club record, Davina who was 3^rd F35 in the Yorkshire Vets Championships and Clare Sweeney who ran her first ever 10k race.
Oct- Sun 17^th	Bridlington Half marathon, 12 Noon.	2 clubs records: Jo broke the female club record with her pb time of 1.34 whilst Simon set a new M40 record when he ran 1.26.
Oct–Sun 31st	Holmfirth 15mile. 10.30am.	Hilly 2 lap course.
Nov- Sun 7^th	Guy Fawkes10mile10.30am.	Give completed entries to Martin.
Nov- Sun 28^th	Abbey Dash 10k, 9.30am.	Entry forms now available or enter online. See below.

Race results: Various races

Arncliffe Fete 4 8^th Aug 04 9 (it took a while to get the results!)

Ian Fisher 2^nd 20.20

Adrian Trevelyan 26^th 28.10

Kay Gambles 31^st 30.03

Harrogate Theatre 10k 19^th September 04

Chris Booker 18^th 39.25

Donna Edmondson 43.53

Gary Naylor 121^st 48.47

Mileta 10 (Cleckheaton) 19^th September 04

Chris Smith 44^th 69.07

Dominic Hopson 46^th 69.41

Kirkstall 10k 26^th September 04

Still awaiting results.

Selby Half Marathon 2^nd October 04:

71 Dominic Hopson 1.29.04

118 Edward East 1.33.47

242 Gary Naylor 1.47.32

There were 413 runners.

Horsforth 10k 2^nd October 04:

47 Chris Stubbs 38.38

86 Simon Bellwood 40.32

105 Dave Lewis 41.18

123 Pete Helliwell 42.18

AdrianTrevelyan 45:30.
161 Richard Lyons 43.50 pb

243 Kay Gambles 47.11 New F45 club record

251 Davina Smith 47.27 3^rd F35 in Yorks Vets Championships.

351 David Dewhirst 50.49 pb

377 Alison Garlick 51.48

388 Clare Sweeney 52.13 pb

403 Amnuay Scott 52.46

463 Archie Devesher 55.35

Katy Ostick. 56:12

Bronte Way 8 2^nd Oct 04:

105 Tony Blythe 1.19.25

Harewood 10 mile Trail 10th Oct:

129 Pete Helliwell 73.54 pb

237 Dexter Wright 79.30

343 Lisa Flesher 84.57

364 Laura Brook 86.09

447 Clare Sweeney 91.21 pb

473 Alison Garlick 93.15

477 Lisa Hall 93.28 pb

Scarborough 10mile Trail Race 10^th Oct 04:

37 Steve Little 1.10.27

62 Kay Gambles 1.16.50 pb. 1st F45 and new F45 club record.

72 Gary Naylor 1.10.15 pb.

Great South Run. 10 mile race. 10^th Oct 04:

140 Joe Marjoram 1.01.22 pb. New Male club record.

Brid Half 17^th October 04:

Men:

28	Chris	Stubbs		Idle AC	82:53
49	Simon	Bellwood	M40	Idle AC	86:52	M40 club record
93	Edward	East		Idle AC	93:05
95	Peter	Helliwell LE	40	Idle A.C.	93:18
139	Richard	Lyons	M45	Idle AC	98:21
231	Gary	Naylor		Idle AC	108:40
234	Michael	Masleczko	M40	Idle AC	109:08

Women:

13	Joanne	Belcher	L	Idle AC	94:20	Female club record
78	Katy	Ostick	L	Idle AC	122:46
80	Archie	Devesher	W35	Idle AC	123:17
86	Wilma	Saville	L	Idle AC	126:44
103	Suzanne	Bairstow	W40	Idle AC	135:22
122	Pauline	Athwal LE	L	Idle A.C.	175:13

Please continue to make Davina/Chris/Martin aware if you have raced so we can record the results in the Gossip and on the website. If you have no official results please write the race details in the signing in book and we will try to obtain results.

Great North Run – The results:

We had 9 runners at the Great North Run on 25^th September, three of whom ran their first half marathon- Suzanne, Wilma and Elaine.

The results were:

Steve Little 1.35.05

Jo Belcher 1.39.08 pb

Adrian Trevelyan 1.49.00

Dave Currie TBA

Martin Burnside 1.58.55

Sue Little 2.08.00

Pete Helliwell (Scooby Do) 2.09.57 (see story below)

Elaine Trevelyan 2.13.00 pb 1^st half marathon.

Wilma Saville 2.14.00 pb 1^st half marathon

Suzanne Bairstow 2.14.00 pb 1^st half marathon

Janet Burnside 2.17.31

In addition to everyone having a great day out Idle AC was seen by the nation as Sue, Elaine, Martin and Scooby were also clearly visible to the cameras!

Scooby goes North:

Off to the fancy dress shop I tootled on Friday 24^th September to collect my “uniform” to run the Great North Run in. Was all the training with 4 and 5 layers on going to pay off!

I had Mike Masleczko (with his camera) as a witness as to who I was as I ran around Idle park in the Scooby outfit.

When it was race day, a nice “full” breakfast, with black pudding, to start me off.

I started the race at the very back, in excess of 49,000 ran/walked the race. It took me 21.04 to start the race”intentionally slow”!

I stopped at least 15 times for various “fun run” reasons (longest fun run I’ve ever done).

I had my photo taken with Scooby 2 at 4 mile then again with Charity Dingle (from Emmerdale) at 10 mile, I joined in with the band at 5 mile, then with 1 mile to go I couldn’t resist it, in I went, to the “Marsden Inn” to wet my palate.

“one bottle of mineral water please and some Scooby snacks”, I said to the barmaid who had the biggest smile I’d seen for a long time. I had my drink and snacks then off I went to finish the race in 2.31.01. Five minutes after the finish line the BBC crew interviewed me. – Pete H.

Thanks…..

We managed to raise over £500 towards Cancer Care from our Silver Wedding Anniversary party, and would like to thank every one for their kind donations.

Thanks again –Mary & Tony.

Good News…..

The following is part of an email sent from Ian Fisher:

I have been selected to run for Great Britain in one of four marathons over the next few months. I had my 'golfing pal' UK Athletics Bud Baldaro ring me up last Wednesday asking if I could run in one of the four races.

Nairobi, Kenya around 23rd Oct (brother's getting married - obv. turned it down) Singapore, Malaysia around 5th Dec?. I'm reserved for this one if someone drops out.

Bombay, India and Hong Kong towards end of January are the last two. Which are most likely.

This might mean I might have to miss one of the WYWL races, which I'm really sad about.

I've also been given the option to do some warm weather training. It will be all expenses paid trip.

I'm quite surprised by this news. I told my dad and all he could say was "Oh right.............. By the way, I've got some wood grain restorer".

....Charming.

My main running priority now is being dressed up-to-the-nines in fleeces for warm weather conditioning, and getting some running shoe's for my nephew who is one year old on the 19th. He's a big lad.

I mean he's going to be a six footer.

See you soon -Ian

Fell Races: Oct-End December 04.

If you like the idea of fell running and would like to have a go please speak to Chris. All fell races are given a grade indicating length and difficulty. Difficulty is indicated by:

A, no less than 250 feet climb per mile, not more than 20% on roads, at least 1 mile in length (NASTY);

B, not less than 125 feet climb per mile, not more than 30% on roads (FAIRLY NASTY);

C, not less than 100 feet of climb per mile, not more than 40% on roads and contain genuine fell terrain (NOT VERY NASTY).

Length is indicated by: L, 12 miles or more; M, 6 miles and over but less than 12 miles; S, under 6 miles.

SUN OCT 31^ST RACE YOU TO THE SUMMIT. CS. 11.30am. 4m/800’ from the Summit Inn on the A6033 Todmorden Road, Summit, Near Littleborough. £3 on day. Local knowledge an advantage. Course partially marked. Website: www.ogdenwater.freeserve.co.uk

SAT NOV 6^TH SHEPHERDS SKYLINE. BM. 2pm.6.25m/1150’ from the Shepherds Rest Inn, Lumbutts Road, Todmorden. £3 on day. Website: www.todharriers.co.uk

SAT NOV 13^th 1^st GREAT WHERNSIDE FELL RACE. AS. 11am. 4m/1555’ from the Kettlewell campsite. £4 on day. Local knowledge an advantage.

SUN NOV 14^th KELBROOK FELL RACE. BS. 12noon. 3.5m/800’ from Kelbrook Village Hall. £3 on day. All proceeds to Candlelighters children’s cancer charity. Tea and coffee from 9.30am. Pie & peas lunch for £1. Website: www.kellbrookfellrace.ukgo.com.

SUN NOV 28^th RIVOCK EDGE FELL RACE. BM. 11am. 10m/1500’ from Silsden Park, Sildsen Nr Keighley. £4 on day.

SUN DEC 19^th THE STOOP. BS. 11.30 am. 5 miles/800’ from Penistone Hill Country Park, Haworth. £3 on day. All finishers receive a Cadbury’s Chocolate Chunk. Free coffee & biscuits. All prizes are “Christmas Related”.

FRI DEC 31^st THE 11^th BRISCOE’S BREWERY AULD LANG SYNE RACE. BM. 11.30 am. 6miles/900’ from Penistone Hill Country Park, Haworth. £3 on day. All finishers receive a bottle of beer. Free coffee & biscuits. All prizes are beers, ales, ciders etc.

IT IS VITAL THAT IF YOU BEGIN A FELL RACE AND THEN PULL OUT, YOU MUST INFORM THE ORGANISER AT ONCE. OTHERWISE EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL BE DEPLOYED TO FIND YOU ON THE FELL.

EVEN IN SUMMER BRING FULL WATERPROOF BODY COVER – YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO CARRY IT.

Note: A full list of local fell races for 2004 is available at the club or via the website. Chris also has a copy of the FRA calendar.

Leeds Abbey Dash: Sun 28^th November 04.

In 2004 The Leeds Abbey Dash is going to be bigger and better than ever before! To meet demands the organisers, Help the Aged, we have increased the number of runners to 4,000 and this year a chip timing system will be used so runners can find out their precise time.

This is an ideal course for those pursuing a personal best or doing their first run at this distance.

How to Enter:

Entry forms are available at the club.

To save costs on postage you can apply online. You can also download an application form (pdf) on the website.
If you prefer, a form is available from the events team by post – please call Anita Connolly on 020 7239 1922 or email us at events@helptheaged.org.uk.
The entry fee is £10 for affiliated club runners and £11 for unaffiliated runners. Cheques should be made payable to Help the Aged and entry forms posted to: Help the Aged Leeds Abbey Dash, Ground Floor East, Clarkson House, Rhodaus Town, Canterbury CT1 2RD.

The closing date for entries is Monday 1^st November or earlier if the entry limit is reached. Sign up quick – places go fast and last year we were hugely over-subscribed!

Funds raised from the Leeds Abbey Dash will contribute towards projects in the more deprived areas of Leeds that work with older people. One million UK citizens over 65 feel acutely isolated in their own homes. Help the Aged Senior Mobility campaign helps to combat this by providing vehicles and equipment to local groups; enabling older people to get out and about within their community; to go to the shops, enjoy day trips and meet up with friends. This race is the final race in the 2004 Attendance Scheme and we hope for a large Idle AC turnout.

West Yorkshire Winter League 2004/5 season

The League meeting took place on for Friday 3^rd September. At this meeting the dates and venues of the 5 West Yorkshire Winter League cross country events were arranged. This is the main league that we encourage members of Idle AC to run. Last year, our second year in the League, was a huge success with 23-32 members at each race. Last year we were able to show that despite our small size we are capable of achieving a great deal. Indeed we finished as overall runners up in the League. In addition the women’s team had a late surge at the final event at Skipton to take the women’s team trophy ahead of bigger more established clubs. In addition we had the following individual trophy winners:

Ian Fisher – 1^st man, Doug Briggs –5^th man.

Donna Edmondson –2^nd woman, Jo Belcher – 4^th Woman, Amnuay Scott-1^st F35 and Kay Gambles – 1^st F45.

In addition the League has two very special trophies, which are presented to the most improved male and female runner who has completed all 5 events. The most improved male runner receives the Dave Turpin Memorial Trophy and the most improved female runner receives the Paul Dowson Memorial Trophy. Through these trophies we remember two well known league competitors who both died suddenly, indeed within days of each other, during the 1999 -2000 season. Last season Kay Gambles collected the Paul Dowson trophy whilst Edward East won the Dave Turpin memorial trophy.

This will be Idle AC’s third year in the WYWL and it’s important that as a club we all try to commit to running in all 5 fixtures if at all possible as these are TEAM events. Last year we proved that we could field a fairly strong team when the whole club runs. This year we have many more members who will be a real asset in these events. Please all take the opportunity to ask the Committee (and other members) any questions about the WYWL, particularly if you are new to cross country running. The League, whilst competitive, is friendly and encouraging to all levels.

To count for individual awards you must complete all five events, and your scores will be added together. At the end of each race each individual is given a tag which denotes their points scored in the race. This works as follows: The first male runner gets 200 points, second gets 199, third gets 198 and so on. The first female runner gets 100 points, second gets 99, third gets 98 and so on. So in addition to the team positions, individual results are available after each event and individual and category winners are presented with individual trophies at the Presentation Evening held at the end of the season (11^th March 05 at Idle Working Men’s Club).

There are 8 clubs that form the WYWL: Idle A.C, Pudsey Pacers, Skipton A.C., Leeds & Bradford Tri, Dewsbury Road Runners, Baildon Runners, Stainland Lions and St.Bede’s. The fixtures for 2004/5 are confirmed as follows:

1 14^th Nov 04 hosted by Dewsbury Road Runners. 11.00 am

2 5^th Dec 04 hosted by Idle AC- Festive event with optional fancy dress and silly hat competition. 11 am.

3 16^th Jan 05 hosted by St.Bede’s, 11 am.

4 30^th Jan 05 hosted by Pudsey Pacers, 11am.

5 27^th Feb 05 hosted by Skipton AC, 11am.

Whilst the League does offer individual trophy positions, its primary objective is team competition. The five team scores are added together to decide the following team trophies:

1^st Combined Team, 2^nd Combined Team, 3^rd Combined Team.

1^st Male Team.

1^st Female team.

1^st Vets Team (combination of male/females).

A club team is the first seven men to cross the line (which must include 2 vets), and the first three women (including 1 vet), in each event.

The vets team is the 2 male and the one female counting vets added together.

Different runners may score in different races - it’s just first past the post on the day.

The first Combined Team can enter the National Cross Country Final and the 2^nd Combined Team can enter the Plate Race at the National Final which will take place at Nottingham on 20^th March 05. Further details will be circulated prior to each event.

Any questions please speak to Chris as he is not only Secretary of the WYWL but he is the only runner to have run all 60 consecutive races in the past 12 years (Davina has only run 58 - skiver!).

Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross Country League.

Whilst we would encourage ALL members to run the West Yorkshire Winter League, those who prefer off road running might like to take part in the Complete Runner as additional races.

The club has been invited to take part in this league and as the dates (4 Saturdays) won’t clash with our main West York’s Winter League dates it was decided that we would enter the league so that members had the opportunity to race. We had 8 men and 2 women at the first fixture on 16^th Oct hosted by Bradford Grammar School. The remaining dates are: 30^th Oct – Pudsey & Bramley, 20^th November-Ilkley Harriers, 4^th December – Wakefield Harriers.

The women’s race is 5-5.5km at approx 1.45pm and the men’s race is 9-9.5km at approx 2.15pm. Chris will enter teams and members will be able to run by collecting a number from Chris and paying £2 per runner per race. Please let Chris know if you are interested in running any/all of the races.

3^rd Annual Sewage Works Surprise Club Handicap Race: Sunday 19^th December at 10am.

As members may be aware December 02 saw the start of a yearly tradition for Idle AC – the annual Sewage Works Surprise club handicap race! The race is open to all members and will be run as a 4 mile Handicap race from the Stansfield Arms Pub at Apperley Bridge, starting at 10am on Sunday 19^th December 04. There is a special annual trophy for the winner, which was won last year by Michael Masleczko.

Congratulations…….

Many members who were around at the start of Idle AC will remember Claire and Stefan Macina. Our congratulations go to them on the birth of their first baby, Isabel who was born on 8^th October weighing 8 lb 2oz.

New Members

This month we welcome 2 new members – Simon Blackburn and Warren Fletcher. Both Simon and Warren live locally and both are keen to improve their fitness via road, cross country, fell and trail running. Warren ran for Idle in the first Complete Runner X Country race on 16^th October.

Christmas Do 2004

Come and celebrate on Friday 10^th December as Idle AC celebrates its third Christmas party. As we’ve now outgrown the Symposium we have booked a room at Idle Working Men’s Club. This year it will be a buffet, disco and another bumper raffle – please start saving any suitable (or unsuitable!) raffle prizes to give to Kay nearer the time. The fun starts at 8 pm and all members, family and friends are welcome. The price is likely to be in the region of £7.50 per person.

A year on……..

-----Original Message-----
From: ChrisnDavina@aol.com [mailto:ChrisnDavina@aol.com]
Sent: 20 October 2003 18:44
To: webmaster@idleac.co.uk
Subject: Birth Announcement!

Martin,

An item for the updates:

Chris and Davina are delighted to announce a new personal best! Joe and Katie (Joseph and Katherine) Smith arrived in record time in the early hours of 20th October, with racing weights of 3lb 15oz (Joe) and 4lb 6oz (Katie). Although still at the first aid station, the F35 and the two junior athletes should be fine after a few rest and easy training days.

Chris.

It’s Twins!

SMITH: Davina and Chris are delighted to announce the birth of Joseph (Joe –3:46am, 3lb 15oz) and Katherine (Katie, 3:48 am, 4lb 6oz) on Monday 20^th October 2003. Special thanks to all staff at BRI Maternity Unit.

(Telegraph and Argus, 22.10.03)

I’ve kept a training diary since I started running in 1989, sad I know, but true. It’s been a huge benefit to me over the years as it’s not just helped me to focus my training towards a certain aim, such as a marathon, but it’s also enabled me to keep a record of what I’ve done with my life over a long period of time.

It’s wonderful to be able to pick up a diary and to relive the achievements that I’ve had. Not that I’ve had many real successes such as winning races (except if you count the time when I won the Baildon Fell race and Kay came second)…….a thin field.

However, I have had some great times - I’ve travelled to many far flung places such as Paris, Benidorm and New Zealand. I’ve also taken part in a variety of different running experiences such as running 10 consecutive cross country races over an 11 week period when Chris entered us into two leagues, I’ve run in relay across Ireland spending 14 hours in a mini bus full of sweaty kit and I’ve run the final ‘glory’ leg in a winning canal relay team.

So although I’ve only ever been an ‘average’ runner in terms of my pace and race positions I’ve spent many years loving the buzz that you get on a good club night, enjoying the sense of achievement after a great many hill and speed work sessions, and the sheer enjoyment of just running and racing whenever the mood took me.

This last year has been very different for me and I’d be lying if I said that a tiny bit of me didn’t miss the old running life that I had.

However when I looked back through my training diary for the past 12 months I realise that I may have lost some things (my speed mainly due to lack of speed sessions!) but what I’ve gained is immeasurable.

The piece above is taken ‘From the Coach’ section of Idle Gossip from October 2003. As Chris and I celebrated Joe and Katie’s first birthday this month I reflected on the amazing year that I’ve had. I may not have achieved a great deal in running terms yet I wouldn’t change a thing!

A year on I wanted to thank everyone for their invaluable help over the past year – To all those who fed babies, pushed the buggy, changed the nappies (thanks Amnuay), gave us such a huge amount of baby stuff, but most of all those who offered me a wealth of experience and advice. Thank you. - Davina

Guy Fawkes 10: Sunday 7^th November. 10.30am.

We now have entry forms for this popular 10 mile hilly course which has the first and last miles on forest trail bridleways from the historic village of Ripley. Please return all completed forms to Martin as he works for CODA Financial intelligence who are one of the sponsors.

From the Coach…

It came to me on the start line of the first West Yorkshire Cross Country League race. On a definitively autumnal afternoon at Shipley’s Northcliffe Park, punctuated by light showers and falling sycamore leaves in a freshening breeze, we had seen Donna and Lisa complete a brisk 5k race, before we gathered for the senior men’s start.

I gave my usual speech to Warren, on my right lining up for his first cross country race. “Forget the first 10 minutes,” I said. It’s easy to get sucked into a fast start in a cross country race. In road races team competition seems almost an irrelevance – someone wins the cans of beer but no-one really cares. Individual positions are far more important. In cross country, though, the clubs compete against each other, and team competition is central. There are individual stars – Ian, our second claim member, was a country mile ahead of the main field in our race – but the club vest is of paramount importance. So there’s that extra incentive – you may not just quietly let yourself down with a bad performance, but you may also let down your club, your training partners, your friends.

One reason then that some people may shy away from a cross country league event, is that there is little chance of individual glory, yet there is a requirement to give of one’s best for others – for the team. But at Northcliffe I realised that there is something much more basic at issue here. Cross country is a conspiracy. A conspiracy to deny you, the runner, the ability to run. The whole business is designed to prevent you from doing what you want to do most – to establish a good steady running rhythm and to go as fast as your own talent and fitness level will allow you. We started with a stiff curving climb on grass worn to a sloppy mess by the junior races, where Lisa slipped all over in flat training shoes. On most courses camber, terrain and slope change rapidly and often, with the effect that you have to work very hard just to keep moving along the course. In these circumstances a fast start can be disastrous, unless you train for it specifically. It can leave you in oxygen debt, struggling to replace depleted oxygen reserves throughout a race which you must run at your optimum pace – that is with a complete balance of oxygen income over expenditure.

Hence my words to Warren, advice which I have followed myself to good effect. Running a steady first 10 minutes gives your body the chance to indicate what it can do in the conditions, and the possibility of oxygen debt, which will just not go away unless you slow down to a jog or stop, is removed.

On two levels then we are challenged by this conspiracy, as we approach the first of the events in our league – The West Yorkshire Winter League – on 14^th November at Dewsbury. We must overcome conditions and terrain, and this year probably weather, to perform at our best. And we need to be able to stand alongside our team-mates, and know that we did our best.

So the conspiracy of cross-country is unmasked and reveals its true purpose. You are put in the position where you must overcome significant physical barriers for the benefit of your team. You are invited to demonstrate that you are the best kind of club member – that when you pull on your Idle vest you become something more than just yourself, that you become interconnected and therefore capable of more than just the sum of each individual’s capabilities. That you become part of a team.

-Chris.

Current Men’s Club Records

Distance	Category	Name	Time
5 Km	Open	Joe Marjoram	17.08
	M40	Dexter Wright	19.22
	M45	David Lewis	18:46
5 Miles	Open	Chris Stubbs	31:02
	M40	Simon Bellwood	35.06
	M45	Richard Lyons	36.19
10 Km	Open	Douglas Briggs	36.48
	M40	David Lewis	40:41
	M45	Steve Little	39:45
10 Miles	Open	Joe Marjoram	1:01:22
	M40	Chris Smith	1:09:07
	M45	Steve Little	1:08:54
Half Marathon	Open	Douglas Briggs	1:21:01
	M40	Simon Bellwood	1:26:52
	M45	Steve Little	1:28:38
15 Miles	Open	Chris Stubbs	1:40:10
	M40	Peter Helliwell	2:00:02
	M45	Trevor Hooley	2:03:18
20 Miles	Open	Chris Smith	2:24:00
20 Miles	M40	Simon Bellwood	2:32:57
Marathon	Open	Chris Smith	3:04:12
Marathon	M40	Simon Bellwood	3:27:25

Current Women’s Club Records

Distance	Category	Name	Time
5 Km	Open	Donna Edmondson	19:33
	F35	Lisa Flesher

Leeds Abbey Dash: Sun 28th November 04.

West Yorkshire Winter League 2004/5 season

Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross Country League.

Leeds Abbey Dash: Sun 28^th November 04.