2008 Harrier Notices & Breaking News
Last updated: Friday, 4 July, 2008
Below are important notices about up–and–coming club events, requests for team members and other general information.
- Club Athletics Championship Update (4 July 2008)
- Summer Barbecue Update (4 July 2008)
- Olympic Selection For Club Member (1 July 2008)
- Summer Barbecue (18 June 2008)
- Club Athletics Championship (13 June 2008)
- Ridgeway Relay Team Update (21 May 2008)
- Summer Cross Country Handicap (3 May 2008)
- Oxfordshire Athletics Champs – Request for Help (2 May 2008)
- Vets’s Track & Field League (29 April 2008)
- Mota–Vation race at Charlton–on–Otmoor – Transport (28 April 2008)
- Hornton Classic – Change of Date (25 April 2008)
- Cholsey Chase Cancelled (24 April 2008)
- New Year’s Day Handicap (5 December 2007)
- December Club Cross Country Time Trial (1 December 2007)
- Oxford Mail Cross Country League – Ascott–under–Wychwood (20 October 2007)
- Autumn Social (15 October 2007)
- New Subscription Rates (15 October 2007)
- Cross Country Fixtures Update (1 October 2007)
- Forthcoming 2007 Club AGM (30 September 2007)
- Club Social Run (15 September 2007)
- Saturday Morning Training Sessions (1 September 2007)
- Helen & Douglas House Donation
- Level 1 Assistant Athletics Coach Course
- New Club Kit Prices
- Request For Volunteers
- Wantage Park Training – Wednesdays
top <Club Athletics Championship Update (4 July 2008)
Date & Time: Thursday, 17th July 2008 at 6:15pm
Venue: King Alfred’s Field (usual Thursday training venue)
This year the club championships evening will be held on the grass track behind Wantage Leisure Centre on Thursday, 17th July with registration opening at 6:15pm ahead of the scheduled start of the field events at 6:40pm and the track events at 7:00pm.
The events planned for the evening are as follows: Over 11’s – 100m, 800m and Shot Putt; Under 11’s – 80m, 600m and Cricket Ball. Younger brothers and sisters who are under 8 are welcome to participate as long as they are happy doing so. The event schedule will be arranged nearer the time and will be posted in the Notices section of the News area of the club website.
The main emphasis on the evening is having fun and everyone is expected to have a go at all the events. Club champions are determined by performance in all 3 events. The Family Competition is scored from the combined total of 3 family members from at least 2 generations (if more than 3 family members compete the top 3 family member scores will be used).
If you are unable to participate but would like to help us in any way on the evening please could you let Angela Briscoe know on 01235 769214 or by email ( email » ). Afterwards the adults are invited to join us for a social drink at the Royal Oak pub which is close by.
We look forward to seeing you all on the evening.
Simon Atkin
top <Summer Barbecue Update (4 July 2008)
Date & Time: Saturday, 19th July 2008 at 6:30pm
Venue: The Kerswell’s, Rowstock
Once again the White Horse Harriers are invited to a barbecue hosted by Elaine and Mike Kerswell in the garden of their house at Rowstock (The Timbers, Rowstock Corner). The barbecue is to be held on Saturday, 19th July from 6:00pm onwards. There is a charge of £5.00 for adults or £2.50 for Under 18’s for the barbecue which goes towards covering the expenses of holding the event.
All our members are welcome to come along and enjoy a relaxed evening in very attractive surroundings. Unlike some of our other events we don’t ask for you to bring any drinks or food to this event – all is provided for in the cost. In order for us to be able to give Mike a good idea of numbers, please can you let us know by Sunday, 13th July if you are coming.
Please inform Dave Martin on 01235 766200 if you would like to attend. Cheques can be sent to him at 9, Hardwell Close, Grove OX12 0BN and made payable to White Horse Harriers AC.
Dene Stringfellow
top <Olympic Selection For Club Member (1 July 2008)
Congratulations to Jessica Harrison, a member of White Horse Harriers AC, who has secured a place at the Beijing Olympic Games in August. Jess competes in the triathlon, and was 19th at last month’s world championships in Vancouver and ninth at the European championships in Lisbon in May. These finishes were enough to ensure her selection to the French Triathlon Team.
Jess, 30, was born in Sheffield, and has been a member of White Horse Harriers for several years. She moved to France a couple of years ago where she now competes. We wish her well in the Games, and will follow her event with interest.
For more information you can read a profile of Jess, or check out her web site for the latest info.
Simon Atkin
top <Summer Barbecue (18 June 2008)
Date & Time: Saturday, 19th July 2008
Venue: The Kerswell’s, Rowstock
We have again been invited to a barbecue at the home of Elaine & Mike Kerswell in Rowstock on Saturday 19th July 2008. Out thanks again to them for agreeing to host this.
More details to follow.
Simon Atkin
top <Club Athletics Championship (13 June 2008)
Date & Time: Thursday, 17th July 2008 at 6:30pm
Venue: King Alfred’s Field (usual Thursday training venue)
Following the success of last year’s Club Athtletics championship, we will be holding the event again this year. The venue will be as last year, at King Alfred’s Centre Site athletics field, where the usual Thursday night training takes place. Note the earlier start time this year, which should help the evening run more smoothly.
The format will be similar to last year, with events for under 11s, and separate races for over 11s, seniors and vets. For U11 there will be an 80m, 600m and throwing the cricket ball; for everyone else the events are 100m, 800m and shot.
Members are encouraged to bring along their families to participate as well, siblings and parents are welcome. There is a family competition for the best combined results, so all family members are welcome!
We hope to see lots of you there.
Simon Atkin
top <2008 Ridgeway Relay Team Update
Below is the 2008 team for the White Horse Harriers’ assault on this year’s Ridgeway Relay:
- Leg 01 – Mark Trott
- Leg 02 – Frances Briscoe
- Leg 03 – Roger Turnbull
- Leg 04 – Nick Portsmouth
- Leg 05 – Terry Coakley
- Leg 06 – Nick Ponting
- Leg 07 – Michele Jackson
- Leg 08 – Ros Knopp
- Leg 09 – Matthew Hart
- Leg 10 – Neil Chapman
- 1st Reserve Lady – Helen Brackenbury
- 1st Reserve Man – Chris Powell
- 2nd Reserve Man – Dene Stringfellow
If you have any queries regarding this selection in terms of race leg order or are no longer able to take part please contact Dene Stringfellow either by telephone on 01235 868111 or by email » and let him know as soon as possible.
If anyone is interested in doing some route reconnaissance prior to the event please contact Dene Stringfellow. Legs 1 (in particular) and 2 have been known to cause problems in the past. An abbreviated document covering the relay route is available for download here » for your reference. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Dene.
An email will be sent to all team members providing a link to this information.
Dene Stringfellow
top <Summer Cross Country Handicap (3 May 2008)
Date & Time: Thursday, 22nd May 2008 at 7:00pm
Venue: Sparsholt Firs
This year’s Cross Country Handicap will take place on Thursday 22nd May at the usual venue by Sparsholt Firs. The undulating course is between five and six miles long. The start, and meeting point, is just where a minor road leaves the main B4001 (road to Lambourn) at an angle some 500 yards to the south of Sparsholt Firs (map reference: 341845). Some details of this event can be found on our web site.
We will again be competing for the “Pieces Trophy” which will be awarded to the first to finish. The usual rules about bribing the handicapper and lying through your teeth about being unfit and/or having some unspecified injury apply...
For more details please contact Gareth Smith (01235 767538 or by email).
For those that are interested, I’ve included links to a .jpg image of the overall route and also a Google Earth link file (for those that have Google Earth) so you can follow the route in more detail as well as play the tour from the program’s Tools Menu.
So, no excuses for getting lost this year then!
Dene Stringfellow
top <Oxfordshire Athletics Champs – Request for Help (2 May 2008)
White Horse Harriers have been asked to provide assistance with the Shot Putt at the County Athletics Championships at Horspath Stadium, Oxford on Saturday, 10th May. We should provide at least two people for this. No experience is necessary as there should be another qualified official present.
If you are able to help out with this please could you let me know by email?
The County Athletics Championships takes place on both Saturday and Sunday 10/11 May. However, the Shot Putt is only on the Saturday. There are a number of competitions for the various age groups in both the morning and the afternoon. However, I do not yet have a full timetable. This should be posted on the Oxfordshire AA website from Monday, 5th May.
Having done this myself in past years I can say that helping with the Shot Putt is quite a pleasant task. In previous years a small lunch (sandwich etc.) has been provided for helpers.
Many thanks
Gareth Smith
top <Vets’s Track & Field League (29 April 2008)
Following conversations with some of the “older” members in WHH and with the Secretary of the local Southern Counties Vets League, White Horse Harrier members have been granted the opportunity of attending, as guests, the four league meetings that are held over the summer.
The Vets league is a very friendly, relaxed league that competes in track and field events. Points are awarded to clubs based on individuals performance and at the end of the season the winning club represents the area at another meeting. As guests WHH competitors will not be scoring points this year.
Both Women’s and Men’s league meetings take place at the same place and time. The meetings are on Monday evenings with two being held at Tilsley Park (May 5th and June 16th), one at Horspath (May 19th) and one at Bracknell (July 14th).
To be eligible to participate you will have to be a member of WHH and also be 35 years old or more. The age categories are 35+, 50+ and 60+.
The idea for attending as guests this year is for us to gauge properly the level of interest within the club for this competition with a view to possibly entering a team in 2009. This also a good way of you trying it out without making a hard commitment to the club.
For those that are interested, you will need to arrive early at the events and find Barrie Strange, who runs this competition, to register and obtain a number. If you are thinking of competing it would be helpful if you could send me details of which events you would like to do so that I can keep a record and help gauge the level of interest. Even if you can not make the first meeting, but are interested please feel free to let me know. My e-mail address is neil@druceaccountants.co.uk.
A copy of the timetable for all four meetings of this year’s competition is available. For more information please contact me, or Dick Jégou who already competes in the Vets League so has much more hands-on experience.
Neil Druce
top <Mota–Vation race at Charlton–on–Otmoor – Transport (28 April 2008)
The first race in the Mota-vation Series (the second race in this year’s club road race championships) is scheduled to take place this Thursday at Charlton–on–Otmoor with the race starting at 7:30pm.
For your information I have provided a link to the page on Kidlington Running & Athletic Club’s website showing the details of the 4 mile 168 yards course. Also I have provided links to maps providing overall directions to Charlton-on-Otmoor as well as the village street map.
Registration will open from around 6:00pm – 6:15pm. If you have already paid for your race entry you need to allow time to go to the “prepaid desk” on the evening of the race to collect your race number. Also, please note, you should not use the same number from a previous race as fresh numbers are issued on the day of the event for each race in the series.
I suggest that anyone interested in going to this event meets at Wantage Leisure Centre for 6:00pm to arrange for lift sharing to the race. It should hopefully take about half an hour or so to get to Charlton–on–Otmoor which should allow plenty of time to collect race numbers and warm up.
Dene Stringfellow
top <Hornton Classic – Change of Date (25 April 2008)
Here is an important note for anyone intending to enter the Hornton Classic 6 mile race (race 6 in the Club Road Race Championship). The date has now changed to Saturday 26th July.
Also be aware that there is an entry limit of 200 competitors for this event, so get your entry in early to avoid disappointment. Entry forms are available online at Cherwell Running Club website.
Simon Atkin
top <Cholsey Chase Cancelled (24 April 2008)
The Cholsey Chase, which was due to be part of the Club Road Race Championship, has been cancelled. The race has, therefore, been dropped from the Championship. The Championship will now consist of 11 races, with a competitor's best 8 scores to count. The next race is the the first of the Mota–Vation series at Charlton–on–Otmoor on 1st May 2008.
Simon Atkin
top <December Club Cross Country Time Trial
The next Club Cross Country Time Trial will be held at Wantage Leisure Centre (– in the field we use for Summer training) on Saturday, 15 December. The first race is scheduled to start at 2:30pm, please arrive in plenty of time so you can warm up and view the course. All abilities and ages welcome.
Runners are encouraged to run the course closest to the distance they would run in the Oxford Mail League but beginners can run the distance they are most comfortable with. There will be 3 options; 1 lap (U11’s), 2 laps or 4 laps. The first event will be for the U11’s. Please contact Angela by email: farolfa@aol.com or by telephone 01235 769214) if you would like to participate (prizes for everyone who finishes so we need to know numbers!).
Gareth Smith
top <Oxford Mail Cross Country League – Ascott–under–Wychwood
This is just a quick reminder for anyone who is intending to run at Ascott–under–Wychwood on Sunday, 4 November that the Oxford Mail League officials have requested that participating clubs should encourage their runners to lift share in order to reduce the congestion at races this season. With this in mind I would like to propose that our runners meet at the Wantage Leisure prior to departing for the race.
If you are looking for a lift to the race please contact either Frances Briscoe (01235 769214) or myself (01235 868111). It is advisable to arrive at least half an hour to three quearters of an hour prior to the start of your race. The travel time required to reach the Ascott–under–Wychwood course is between 50 minutes and 1 hour.
Don’t forget to check the race start times. These can be found on the Oxford Mail League’s website. Clifford Mills and myself will be marshalling on the day and are intending to arrive at the course for 9:00am to allow sufficient time to put up the club’s tent and get to our marshalling stations.
We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.
Dene Stringfellow
top <New Year’s Day Handicap
We will again have an informal run on New Year’s Day starting at 11:00am from The Nelson Public House, Wantage to be followed by a social drink. Runners start with a handicap time according to ability – rather than condition on the morning. The route is about 4 miles long round Lockinge and Ardington. All are welcome, just turn up on the day.
Gareth Smith
top <Autumn Social
The club’s Autumn Social will take place at the Comrades Club, Newbury Street, Wantage on Friday, 23 November from 7:30pm onwards. The evening is a relaxed opportunity to get to know some of the other club members and we will present the club’s athletics and road running trophies.
There is no charge for the evening, although we ask you to bring some food to share. Drinks will be available from the Comrades Club bar which is reasonably priced. Donations of any prizes for the raffle would be welcome. We hope to see many of you there.
Gareth Smith
top <New Subscription Rates
As of the club’s A.G.M. held on Friday, 12 October new rates for the annual membership subscriptions were agreed which can be found on the membership page of the club’s website.
Subscriptions are due for the forthcoming year (November 2007 to October 2008) and are at the new rates indicated on the membership page. We ask for subscriptions to be returned by the end of December (2007!) For family memberships please could a separate form be returned for each active member of the family.
On the back of the renewal form sent out with the BiteSize Harrier newsletter is a questionnaire that we would also ask you to fill in before returning it.
Gareth Smith
top <Cross Country Fixtures Update
In the rush to get the cross country fixtures out I made an error in transposing the dates of the fourth and fifth Wessex Cross Country League events. Apologies to everyone. The dates for the Yeovil and Kingston Marward events are Sunday, 13th January and Sunday, 17th February respectively.
The fixture list has been updated accordingly. Thanks go to Dick Jégou for pointing this out.
Dene Stringfellow
top <Forthcoming 2007 Club AGM
The club’s forthcoming Annual General Meeting which is due to take place on Friday 12 October at 7:30pm in the Dixon Suite, Old Mill Hall, Grove. Gareth Smith, our chairman, will be presiding as usual along with the rest of the committee members.
Drinks and nibbles will be provided and there will be plenty of opportunity for you to raise any issues you may have or, indeed, make any suggestions or recommendations. We will also be voting on some important club issues so you need to be present if you would like your voice to be heard!
There will also be an opportunity to browse through and borrow from the club’s library – you never know you might come across something really helpful.
The members of the committee look forward to meeting you on the evening.
Dene Stringfellow
top <Club Social Run
A regular Club Social Run takes place on Sunday mornings aiming to leave from Wantage Leisure Centre at 10:00am. The objective of the run is to do a circular route of between 50 minutes and an hour at an easy pace with an emphasis on keeping the group together.
If you are interested in joining us you would be very welcome. Don’t forget, tea or coffee and cake afterwards at a local cafe is an option for anyone who is interested! We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Dene Stringfellow
top <Saturday Morning Training Sessions
This is just a quick reminder to all athletes and parents that Saturday morning training starts on Saturday, 15 September:
- Meet in the car park at Home Farm, Ardington.
- Starts at 10:30am.
- The session lasts 45-60mins
- Yr6 and above athletes only please.
- All abilities welcome but you must be prepared to push yourself!
- Activities include hill reps, fartlek & getting used to continuous steady running.
- Much smaller groups than Thursdays so you get more advice and feedback!
We can’t make every Saturday (there is never a Saturday session if there is a club race on the Sunday) but we will be there every Saturday between now and half term. Frances will be helping for the next few weeks so we will be able to split into groups of different ability for some of the activities.
Any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch and well done to everyone who successfully completed their timetrial on Thursday evening.
Angela Briscoe
top <Helen & Douglas House Donation
The 25th annual White Horse Half Marathon, held last April, raised £838 for Helen & Douglas House. A cheque was recently presented to Lyn Westwood, manageress of the Helen & Douglas charity shop in Market Square, Wantage by Kevin Harris (Half Marathon Race Secretary) and Gareth Smith (Chairman).
A further £977 was also raised by individually sponsored runners in the race. The 2008 White Horse Half Marathon, which is to be held on 6th April, will again support Helen & Douglas House, continuing the club’s association with this important local charity.
Kevin Harris
top <Level 1 Assistant Athletics Coach Course
This is an introductory course to coaching athletics skills, with a major emphasis on the “how to” skills rather than the “what” skills. The course covers elements of running, jumping and throwing activities.
The course is due to take place on Tuesday, 28 August from 9:00am at King Alfred’s School - West Site. For more information please contact Lizzie Gottwald either by telephone on 01235 225823 or by email .
A document covering the course details is available for download here » for your reference. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Angela Briscoe
top <New Club Kit Prices
There are new prices and kit items available. See the Club Kit » section for full details.
Frances Briscoe
top <Request For Volunteers
This is just a quick request to all our members that volunteers are required to help officiate at the Young Athletes League fixtures ».
If you are available and are willing to help could you please contact Angela or Frances Briscoe either by telephone on 01235 769214 or by email » . We will be very grateful for any help you may be able to offer.
Frances Briscoe
top <Wantage Park Training – Wednesdays
The first in a new series of circuit training sessions took place last Wednesday night. It was circuit training with a difference – instead of being in a sweaty gym it happened in Wantage Park.
The organiser plans to run it over the summer and to cater for the needs of all the different sportspeople who turn up – amongst other things he will be incorporating Fartlek for the runners. You can work to whatever level you want, but if you are willing to be pushed then it is a good hard workout. I attended last night and strongly recommend it!
The sessions take place from 7:00pm until 8:00pm on Wendesday evenings. The cost per session is £5.00. The name of the person running the sessions is Gerry and he is contactable on 07979 637029.
Helen Brackenbury