Morpeth Harriers 2017/2018 Winter Handicap Series
Winter Handicap Series - Race 3 - Wednesday 21st February 2018
Christmas Handicap Wednesday 20th December
Well the weather couldn’t have been much different from the November race !
It was perfect last night for the 26 who turned out for the 5k Christmas Handicap and a number of PB’s were clocked which was great.
I was recording at the finish and tell you what – people were really trying !
For those who don’t know the system, it’s a ‘yacht’ handicap with the fastest runners away last
chasing down the slower runners and my job as handicapper is to get people finishing together.
Well, I got 24 of you back inside a 2 minute span which I don’t think was too bad but I do owe apologies to
Jill Sandeman and Clare Hiscock for whom I got it completely wrong – Ladies please come back in January & don’t desert me..........!!
Last to start and first back after a tremendous run was 15 year old Daniel Dixon
in a time of 25.41 which minus his handicap meant he got round in 15.51 !!
He chased down Mike Steven and Frances Naylor and passed them in the home straight in a really tight finish.
Mike and Frances finished 2nd and 3rd both recording 5k PB’s so well done to them !
Fastest lady overall was Lorna MacDonald in 18.44 – perfect (?) preparation for her epic charity run that starts today at sunset
and continues until sunrise tomorrow. Lorna is running overnight on the longest night of the year to raise money for Shelter, the homeless charity.
If you want to support her click here; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lorna-macdonald9
where you can find out about what she’s up to !
Best of luck Lorna !
Top %age efforts were Daniel at 84.86%, Paul Bellingham (and Rosie, his reindeer cross English Pointer who definitely won the fancy dress prize)
with 82.38%, and Neil McAnaney with 81.67%. It was great to see Lesley Chapman back on the road with an excellent 77.18% effort,
and Hamish and Jane Kirby running well after recent injuries.
Well the weather couldn’t have been much different from the November race !
It was perfect last night for the 26 who turned out for the 5k Christmas Handicap and a number of PB’s were clocked which was great.
I was recording at the finish and tell you what – people were really trying !
For those who don’t know the system, it’s a ‘yacht’ handicap with the fastest runners away last
chasing down the slower runners and my job as handicapper is to get people finishing together.
Well, I got 24 of you back inside a 2 minute span which I don’t think was too bad but I do owe apologies to
Jill Sandeman and Clare Hiscock for whom I got it completely wrong – Ladies please come back in January & don’t desert me..........!!
Last to start and first back after a tremendous run was 15 year old Daniel Dixon
in a time of 25.41 which minus his handicap meant he got round in 15.51 !!
He chased down Mike Steven and Frances Naylor and passed them in the home straight in a really tight finish.
Mike and Frances finished 2nd and 3rd both recording 5k PB’s so well done to them !
Fastest lady overall was Lorna MacDonald in 18.44 – perfect (?) preparation for her epic charity run that starts today at sunset
and continues until sunrise tomorrow. Lorna is running overnight on the longest night of the year to raise money for Shelter, the homeless charity.
If you want to support her click here; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lorna-macdonald9
where you can find out about what she’s up to !
Best of luck Lorna !
Top %age efforts were Daniel at 84.86%, Paul Bellingham (and Rosie, his reindeer cross English Pointer who definitely won the fancy dress prize)
with 82.38%, and Neil McAnaney with 81.67%. It was great to see Lesley Chapman back on the road with an excellent 77.18% effort,
and Hamish and Jane Kirby running well after recent injuries.
All the participants at the 2017 Xmas Handicap
Back at the clubhouse the buffet was demolished and a special prize was awarded to the ‘man on the bike’, Dave Taylor who has turned out for every race to act as pacer for the lead runners and he has dragged, cajoled, hollered and shouted people to some brilliant performances over the past two winters !
It was also great that to see some of the younger generation taking part – the two Daniel’s Dixon & Melling and Matthew Briggs. Morpeth Harriers have some very talented young athletes which bodes well for the future !
Thanks to Linda and Lindsey for the timekeeping which was spot on and to Mike,
Cinty, Pam and Paul Waterston for their help last night – it’s appreciated !
Next race is on Wednesday 24th January – perfect to help you get over the post festive blues !!
Thanks for running and have all best wishes for Christmas and the New Year !
Kevin
It was also great that to see some of the younger generation taking part – the two Daniel’s Dixon & Melling and Matthew Briggs. Morpeth Harriers have some very talented young athletes which bodes well for the future !
Thanks to Linda and Lindsey for the timekeeping which was spot on and to Mike,
Cinty, Pam and Paul Waterston for their help last night – it’s appreciated !
Next race is on Wednesday 24th January – perfect to help you get over the post festive blues !!
Thanks for running and have all best wishes for Christmas and the New Year !
Kevin
Christmas Handicap Wednesday 20th December
Dear All,
I'm conscious that some of you might not have taken part in the Christmas race before so here is a brief update.
If you have already registered for the Handicaps that's fine !
Just turn up on Wednesday night - 6.30pm at the club hut for a 6.50pm start at Lancaster Park.
Please wear something bright / reflective for the run !
If you want to take part and haven't registered please email me a 5k approx. time and your age and I will add you to the start list !
Christmas Race Rules
1) Spend 5 quid on a prize and wrap it up !
2) Bring it to the clubhouse on Wednesday night when it goes into the prize pot !
3) Run the race - Santa hat's, xmas jumpers etc are optional !
4) Winner gets first pick out of the pot and so on down the field !
5)Bring something to eat / drink to go on the buffet table for the post race bun fight !
There will also be a prize for the caption competition -
so far I've been underwhelmed by the pathetic total of 5 entries (though some are very good !) -
so if you haven't entered please see the picture below and email me your effort !
Fingers crossed for the weather and here's hoping for a good turnout - see you Wednesday evening !
Spectators / helpers more than welcome !
Kevin
0789 60 55 794
THINK OF A CAPTION FOR THIS PHOTO !
Winter Handicap Series – Race 1 – 22nd November 2017
Thanks to everyone who has been in touch to register for the series, 42 of you so far !
Even more thanks to the 27 hardy souls who turned out last night in foul weather for RACE 1 of the series – you all deserved a medal !
I had been round the day before measuring the course and the rain had washed away two of the km markers !
Thanks to Linda Bray & Jane Kirby for the timekeeping and to Paul Waterston for holding the brolly so my start times didn’t get washed away !
Mike Steven written a new programme so results are virtually sorted there and then – he should be flogging it because it’s brilliant !
As usual with any handicap everyone way overestimated how long it would take to get round 5km
and I was far too generous to the young un’s and too hard on the old un’s – that will be rectified for the Christmas race on 20/12/17
now we have some hard information to work off ! You have been warned !
We had an age span of 44 years last night, 16 to 60 which is brilliant, everyone going for it !
Hope that you all enjoyed it !
Anyone else who wants to register, e mail me [email protected] with a 5km time and your age and I will be in touch.
Prizes; 1st Stephen Johnstone,
2nd Thomas Innes,
3rd Matthew Briggs
Fastest lady; Jane Briggs 22.28
Fastest man; Matty Waterfield 17.20
Best %age effort; Phil Walker 78.6% (a whisker ahead of Neil McAnaney).
Kevin
Thanks to everyone who has been in touch to register for the series, 42 of you so far !
Even more thanks to the 27 hardy souls who turned out last night in foul weather for RACE 1 of the series – you all deserved a medal !
I had been round the day before measuring the course and the rain had washed away two of the km markers !
Thanks to Linda Bray & Jane Kirby for the timekeeping and to Paul Waterston for holding the brolly so my start times didn’t get washed away !
Mike Steven written a new programme so results are virtually sorted there and then – he should be flogging it because it’s brilliant !
As usual with any handicap everyone way overestimated how long it would take to get round 5km
and I was far too generous to the young un’s and too hard on the old un’s – that will be rectified for the Christmas race on 20/12/17
now we have some hard information to work off ! You have been warned !
We had an age span of 44 years last night, 16 to 60 which is brilliant, everyone going for it !
Hope that you all enjoyed it !
Anyone else who wants to register, e mail me [email protected] with a 5km time and your age and I will be in touch.
Prizes; 1st Stephen Johnstone,
2nd Thomas Innes,
3rd Matthew Briggs
Fastest lady; Jane Briggs 22.28
Fastest man; Matty Waterfield 17.20
Best %age effort; Phil Walker 78.6% (a whisker ahead of Neil McAnaney).
Kevin
Dear All,
If the support is there I am willing to sort out the WINTER HANDICAP SERIES RACES on the following dates;
WEDNESDAY 22nd NOVEMBER 2017
WEDNESDAY 20th DECEMBER 2017 - CHRISTMAS HANDICAP & POST RACE SOCIAL
WEDNESDAY 24th JANUARY 2018
WEDNESDAY 21st FEBRUARY 2018
Meet at Club Hut 6.30pm for Start at 6.50pm
COURSE will be extended to 5km to tie in with Parkrun times so hopefully making handicapping more accurate (ha ha !).
Prizes for first 3 on the night plus fastest time (male & female) and highest %age effort !
I am grateful for the support of MIKE STEVEN who has sorted out the computer programme that should simplify working out handicaps and results.
Mike & I need people to register with us beforehand - SO, if you want to take part please email [email protected] with your;
Name
Age
5k times from 2017 - the more info the better for me !
Hoping for a good response,
so look forward to hearing from you soon,
Cheers,
Kevin Bray
0789 60 55 794
Morpeth Harriers 2016/2017 Winter Handicap Series
At the clubhouse after Handicap Race 4
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Winter Handicap Series
The Grand Finale Race 4 February 2017. First a BIG thanks to Dave Taylor the pace bike man who pedalled up from home with his front brake stuck on – and it stayed stuck on !! Bit of a slog up to Lancaster Park ! Dave and his bike have been a big help to the slower runners over the 4 races and he is certainly ‘vocal’ in keeping people pushing along ! Also thanks to Paul Waterston, Tony Ward, Gordon Dixon, Linda Bray & Pam Woodcock for their help in recording and timekeeping duties – we all have a much better idea of what the ‘officials’ experience at events week in and week out and as we found out last night wet weather poses an additional challenge ! Finally, thanks to Mike Steven whose computer skills have been invaluable in producing speedy and accurate results – they would be done even quicker if we could solve the problem of his specs constantly steaming up when he gets back in the van to sort the laptop out ! Winter Handicap Series – Race 3 – 25/1/17.
A cool, bright, still evening, perfect conditions for the 26 who turned out to run in January’s race – thanks to you all and hope you enjoyed it. To celebrate ‘Burns’ night Carol Parry kindly contributed Haggis (inc a veggie version !) and Whisky miniatures for prizes, but fortunately she forgot her Tam O’Shanter and ginger wig so Les Cavill is still way out front in the daft hat category ! Pam Woodcock was missed following her accident a couple of weeks ago but it meant that someone else would win the prize for the best %age effort – which I have renamed the ‘PAMS POTHOLE PERCENTAGE PRIZE’ (PPPP!) – get well Pam and look forward to seeing you back at the club before too long ! Thanks to Linda, Gordon Dixon, Tony Ward, Mike Steven and Dave Taylor for their help on the night – it’s appreciated ! The first of the new WINTER HANDICAP RACES was held on Wednesday 23/11/16 in really good conditions on the traditional 2 lap circuit of Lancaster Park estate.
Many thanks to all who turned out and supported the idea of reviving the monthly handicap – a chance for club members to compete on a (supposedly!!) level playing field and mix with members of other training groups. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and as the results show there were some standout performances across all age groups and gender – congratulations to all prize winners on the night. First time I’ve organised a handicap so a bit of a learning experience for me – thanks to Linda, Gordon Dixon, Dave Taylor, Paul Waterston and George McDougal (for the numeracy wizardry) for their support on the night. Also thanks to Carol Parry for the prize contributions ! I didn’t give the prize list enough thought beforehand and I realise I didn’t award a prize for the fastest ladies – apologies for that oversight and Helen King, Lindsay Turnbull and Jane Briggs will find their prizes in the hut as will Pam Woodcock & Gavin Bayne for their %age effort ! I’m working on one prize per person ! I will adjust handicaps for the next race, the CHRISTMAS HANDICAP on Wednesday 14/12/16. For that race spend £5.00 on a prize, wrap it up and it goes into the prize pot. Winner of the race gets first pick..........!! |