December 2013 Newsletter

I proudly present at least seven good reasons to consider whether that fourth mince pie really is a good idea.. and one good reason to let your hair down at the club Christmas party.

 

This Saturday 14^th December - Ware Cup – 11am start (seniors only)

We currently hold the men's Ware Cup and surely have enough strong women to reclaim the women's trophy. Let's see as many turnout for this one as possible.  All the details are on this post on the noticeboard.

Saturday 21^st December - Met League Race #3 – Alexandra Palace- (Seniors from 2pm)

The tough Met League rumbles on slowly.  After two races:

• Senior Women are 6th in Division 2 
• Vet women are 5th in Division 2
• Senior Men are 9th in Division 1- in the relegation zone!
• Senior Men B team are in mid Division 3
• Vet Men are 8th in Vets b league - close to the relegation zone!

Race #3 is bound to have some festive cheer to get you up that hill at Alexandra Palace, which is always a great venue for XC.  Remember, the approach to the course is often very wet so make sure you have suitable footwear.  Loads more details about the fixture and the league on the Met League website.  Perhaps there may be a hostelry visit afterwards...

Saturday 21^st December - Christmas Party at the Clubhouse - from 8pm

Tickets available for just £10 - available in the bar on Thursday nights.  Those who've been before will know how great the food, drink and celebrations are at the annual knees up. Rob P still needs one or two people to help.  Maybe those of you who've not helped out at the club before might like to get involved. Please see the noticeboard for details.

 

Saturday 28^th December - Chingford League Race #4 - Alexandra Palace PM

Just seven days to recover from Ally Pally and we're back there. There's been a bit of a gap but our second visit of the season will be for the Chingford League. Again, we did very well in the Chingford League last season but have lost a lot of ground this season.  It's essential you make every effort to spend your post-Christmas saturday running around in the mud. A reminder of the positions in the league  After race three:

• Men's A team - 3rd position
• Men's B team - 2nd position
• Women's Senior and Women's Vet team - 2nd position
• Men's vets - 6th position

Tuesday 7^th January 2014 - Mob Match with Eton Manor - 7:45pm start

Start the year in speed and style!  This race against local club and great rivals Eton Manor AC has been taking place for many many years and is always a great start to the new year, if occasionally a shock to the system so soon after Christmas.  Just like the monthly handicap it's three laps of Well Street Common, but run as an all-starter race rather than a handicap.  Come along in good time to register, warm up and get to the start.  The bar should be open afterwards for the awards. No coaching session on the Tuesday due to the race.

New Year Cross-country races – IMPORTANT – Pre-entry required

A call for entries for three special cross-country races in the new year.

• Saturday 4th January - Middlesex County XC Champs - Wormwood Scrubs - PM
• Saturday 25th January South of England Cross Country Champs – Parliament Hill Fields - PM
• Saturday 22nd February - English National XC Champs - Wollaton Pk, Nottingham - PM (Note club 10mile is also on this day)

As per last year I've set up a simple form  to register your interest. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE FORM

• Deadline for the Southerns and Middlesex is 19th December
• Deadline for the Nationals is 29th December

Warming Down

And finally there's just time to welcome Laura Morgan to the role of Women's Road and XC captain.  Laura has been involved with the club for a number of years and is a committed attendee at many of the road and XC races.  Laura is also, of course, our most improved female Road & XC athlete and proudly Welsh. She's now kindly stepped up to take on this challenging role so please take time to welcome and congratulate her. The board offers her every support as gets used to it and thanks Tori Poole for her time in the role.

So, enjoy your winter training, stay safe and get yourselves to at least one of the races before the end of 2013.  Best wishes for Christmas and the new year.

Simeon

Men's Road & XC Director

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Remember, there are many ways to keep in touch with your club:

• Find out what your clubmates are up to on the Club Facebook page
• Get the latest news and updates, follow @VPHTHAC on Twitter
• Get news, updates and race results on the club noticeboard
• Keep an eye out for forthcoming fixtures on the club website

November 2013 - Part 2

Bonus newsletter this month, you lucky people...

This Weekend 23rd/24th November - 12-4 Sat / 11-1 Sun - Spare an hour or two?

As part of our plan to get better use of the clubhouse for members and the community, we've had interest from local Yoga and Pilates groups who wish to use the old gym space for classes.  In preparation for this Dave Robinson, who has led this work, is hosting some working parties this weekend.  Please see his post on the noticeboard for more details.  If you could spare a few hours it would certainly be appreciated.

Improved Gym and More Sessions at the Club

Regular users of the club house will notice the dramatic changes to the gym space at the club house.  We're really excited about these developments and hope members will get involved and make even better use. Please have a read about it here.  In addition to the already highly regarded and popular Monday night session with Tony Bunbury, Victor has designed some programmes to make better use of the new gym. Please check out Victor's website here: http://victoriaparkfitness.com/.  For gym users at Mile End you have not been neglected, look out for announcement in the next newsletter!

Thursday November 28th - Club Marathon Places Ballot - 9pm Clubhouse

Each year the club is awarded guaranteed places to the Virgin London Marathon. I'm pleased to announce 2014 is no different, three places have been allocated (it used to be four).  As previous years, we'll hold a ballot for the places. Please read the requirements first to ensure you qualify for the ballot and come to the bar by 9pm for the ballot. Contact me in advance if you cannot make it on the night.  Remember, this is also a handicap night, the ballot won't start until that is complete.

Saturday 30th November - Club 5 mile XC - Woodford Gold Course 10:30am start

Race #3 in the club's Winter Championships, the annual trip to Woodford Golf Course, a pretty 2* 2.5 mile course. It's free to enter, just turn up on the day. Club members and their guests may run. Always a great event, for runners and spectators alike. I'm still look for assistance from members to put this event on, specifically:
- course marking/clearing (before and after)
- photography (before, during, after)

Thanks to those who have already offered to help with the timekeeping. Others please get in touch. More details nearer the time on the noticeboard and Facebook.

Running Safely in the Winter

As a club, we take the safety of our members seriously.  Remember on the dark winter nights, the officials and sessions leaders can't be in all places at all times and so all members have a duty to look out for one another as well.  Please see this post from Chairman David Robinson, see the notes posted up at the clubhouse and listen carefully to the announcement at the start of the Thursday clubhouse session.

Director of Women's Road & XC Running - Vacancy on the board

A vacancy on the board is available as Tori has stepped down.  The board would love to hear from any women in the club who would like to step up to take responsibility for, represent and generally encourage new and existing female members of the club on the road and xc side. If you'd like to get involved without being a director we'd still love to hear from you.  2013 has been a great year for the women with some notable successes - want to be part of that in 2014?  Please contact me or any of the other board members for a chat.

Subscriptions now due

Another reminder, 1st November is the start of our new membership year.  For those who pay annually, your fees are now due via bank transfer.  For those who pay monthly, there is no change to the fees this year so you needn't do anything.  Please check Neil's post on the noticeboard for more details. Thanks to all of those who have already paid and to those who pay monthly - your valuable funds keep the lights on and the showers [mostly] warm.

Don't forget - Christmas Party is on Saturday 21st December. And a reminder to Click here to see the winter fixtures card

Look out for the December newsletter, coming soon, maybe even in December!

Simeon

Road & XC Captain