Herne Hill Harriers
a Community Amateur Sports Club founded in 1889
based at Tooting Bec Athletics track
www.wiggle.co.uk
29/03/09 HHH men show their ambition with a resounding team win at Eastleigh 10k
8 of our number contested the race, headed home by Ben Paviour in 14th position in 32:03, reaping the benefits of his marathon training. The strength of our team packing was illustrated by the fact that we then had another 4 runners finishing within less than 45 seconds of Ben, as Brian Wilder made an excellent return from injury in 18th, clocking 32:24, backed up by fine runs from Jeff Cunningham, 21st in 32:42 and first veteran over 40 Keith Newton, 24th in 32:46. These 4 men claimed the team title, but just one second and one place ahead of Keith was one of our newest runners, Chris Busaileh, so new that he will only become eligible to race for HHH in team competition on Wednesday and was therefore unable to count for the team. Further backup was provided by Simon Coombes, 46th in 33:53 and Tim Elsey, having an off day by his high standards finishing 2 places and 5 seconds further back. The HHH effort was completed by Sarwar Khan, whose 35:43 in 90th position smashed his PB by over 4 minutes and emphasised the fine progress he has made this winter.
With the South of England road relay championships a week after this race it is to be hoped that these runners can combine with some more of our best men to make up a formidable 12 man team that can challenge close to the front of this next big race. Certainly the squad looks much stronger now than for many a year.
Some HHH athletes were also racing at the Reading Half Marathon, where second claim Benedict Whitby scorched to a time of 63:43 to place an excellent 3rd in the fastest half marathon of the year so far. As the winner was from Kenya, Ben's time currently ranks him 2nd in the UK for 2009 to date and shows that, like Ben Paviour at Eastleigh his London Marathon training is well on course. A little further down a very large field could be found Gabriel Carnwath, clocking 1:30.17 (chip time), Helen Sharp, scorching her way to a new PB of 1:29.41 (chip time), Matthew Conway recorded 1:34.27 (chip time), Richard Davis 1.33.11 (chip time), Debbie Jackson 1:36.03 (chip time) and finally Monica Lobefaro-Karn, continuing her return after injury to record 2:00.30 (chip time). (Geoff Jerwood)
Owing to the unfortunate cancellation of HHH's Frank Harmer 10k road race our club championship over this surface and distance was instead held in conjunction with a local alternative promotion, the Wimbledon Audi 10k. 13 club members toed the start line to ensure a decent representation, no doubt persuaded out of bed by a beautiful spring morning and an undulating, but reasonably fast course.
As is often the case in HHH road race championships, it was second claim club members who were to the fore. Kevin Quinn claimed the club title for 2009 as he placed a fine 3rd in the race in 32:39. Apparently following his coach's instructions to adhere to 5:10 minutes per mile pace, one was left to wonder if he could have beaten the men ahead if given a free reign to run as fast as he could. Next man to finish was another second claim man, Chris Blackburn, who finished 4th in 32:59.
The first red and black vest to cross the finish line was worn by Paul Shiel in 19th position in 37:54, but only just as he was chased down all the way by Iain Yates, who was 20th, just 2 seconds in arrears. A delayed train service had given Iain the opportunity to practice his overtaking strategy for the forthcoming road relay championship races as he arrived late and started at the back of the field and spent the entire race passing runners who had started on time. His chip time of 34:53 indicates that he lost 3 minutes due to his late start, but his progress would have been further impeded by having to negotiate a passage past the slowest runners during the first mile at least.
Bob Harrison placed 22nd in 38:02 in the colours of South London Harriers and he was followed in at regular intervals by Mark White (32nd in 39:42), Club President Waldy Pauzers (55th and 3rd M50 in 41:57), Sarah Allen (137th and 2nd W40 in 45:34), Penelope Fixter, recording a huge PB by around 5 minutes (214th in 48:09), Veterans secretary Dave Wilson in his first road race for around 9 years (227th and 3rd M60 in 48:25), Phillip Henwood (288th in 49:52), Roland Woodbridge (345th in 51:38) and Andy Lea-Gerrard, nursing sore knee around the course, to complete the HHH set (539th in 56:20).
The HHH men's team comprising Paul Shiel, Iain Yates and Mark White, our best 3 first claim finishers, placed 2nd in the team race, losing out by only 4 points, a deficit which would surely have been turned into a comfortable win if Iain had been able to start at the front rather than at the back of the field. (Geoff Jerwood)
22/03/09 - HHH boys and girls help Surrey again...
Herne Hill’s youngsters had an outstanding day at the NEC Arena Birmingham helping Surrey’s U15 boys team win the UK Sportshall title, winning two individual titles and setting a UK Sportshall record.
Funto Fabunmi-Alade, last summer's English Schools 200m junior girls champion, shattered the previous national best for the standing long jump by 12cm, setting a new mark of 2.76m with her final jump. The record had previously been held by GB international Phyllis Agbo and had stood for eight years. Funto also won the two lap race and a high placing in the shot put secured enough points to win the girls’ national individual all-rounder title.
Blade Ashby, another English Schools champion last year, won the boys’ individual title, winning his 4 lap race and the standing triple jump. Blade was also in the Surrey paralaaf team that finished 3rd and helped the Surrey U15 boys team win the national title for the first time beating, strong Hampshire and Birmingham teams which won the other three age groups by 150 points.
Also members of the U15 boys’ team were Khalil Njoya, whose best individual performance was 4th in the shot put, and Taj Johnson, who helped the boys’ team place 2nd by a whisker in the 4 x 2 lap relay.
In the U15 girls’ team event, four club athletes helped Surrey to 3rd place with Hazel Ashby completing a family double by winning two events, namely the 4 lap race and the standing vertical jump. Taherah Grant helped the 4 x 2 lap relay team to 3rd place and Sinead Worrell was third in the shot with a PB throw of 10.19m.
Kelly Sotherton, a former Sportshall competitor herself, presented the medals and it is very exciting that the Herne Hill’s youngsters should perform so well competing at such a high level. Sports Hall is often a really strong indicator of future ability and potential and a big step on the ladder to senior success. (Steve Bosley)
22/03/09 - 7 HHH athletes represent London in the English Schools XC championships in Leicestershire
Well done to the young athletes who travelled to Leicestershire as part of the London team for the English Schools cross country championships. In the Junior Girls; race Alex West placed 118th, Ashleigh Campbell 278th and Maysie Hillaire 312th. James Allen finished 173rd in the Junior Boys' race. In the Intermediate Girls' race Katie Snowden placed 39th while Samuel Woods finished as 178th Intermediate Boy. Julia Wedmore finished 63rd in the Senior Girls' race and was also the first counter for London's team in that race. (Geoff Jerwood)
21/03/09 - More recognition for HHH youngsters
The efforts of some of the club’s were further recognised at the Surrey County AA AGM on 20 March 2009 as Lakesha Abrams-Quamina, Blade Ashby Michael Wheeler won Best Performance Awards for the performances in the 2008 Surrey championships. The awards were presented for the following performances:
Lakesha - U13 girls’ discus - 29.47m
Blade - U15 boys’ 60m - 7.34
Michael - U17 men’s shot put -18.58m
Blade also won the top individual award in his age category for the indoor Sportshall series this winter. The club provided 2 other winners as Zoe Doran won the award for U13 girls and Tahera Grant won the award for U15 girls. (Steve Bosley)
20/03/09 - James McDonald is named Wandsworth Coach of the Year for 2008
A number of Herne Hill Harriers were nominated for the Wandsworth Sports Awards 2008 which were awarded at a presentation evening at the Wandsworth Civic Suite on 19 March 2009 rewarding talented local sports performers, coaches, officials, volunteers, teams and clubs for their exceptional achievements throughout 2008.
James McDonald won the Coach of the Year Award for his continued efforts in nurtruing a prospering group of talented young athletes while Geoff Jerwood was presented with an award for Voluntary Services to Sport in recognition of the many years he has devoted to Herne Hill Harriers and the sport of athletics in general.
The excellence of some of the club's younger athletes was also recognised. Lascelles Hussey was the runner-up for the Junior Sports Person of the Year Award (for those aged 13 and under) and Katie Snowden was the only athletics representative among those from a number of sports presented with Sports Aid awards and participated in a question and answer session. Jessica Barnes and Zoe Doran formed part of the Under 11 Team of the Year as part of the Wandsworth Mini Games Sportshall Team. Hannah Edwards was one of 6 very high standard nominees for the Sports Person of the Year Award (for those aged 21 and under).
15/03/09 - Road relay season continues with easy win in East Surrey League
Following the Teddy boys' outing, the spring relay season continued with the East Surrey League road relays at Box Hill. Our A team won the race with Deron Fagan 5th place on the opening stage. Simon Wurr then moved us up to 2nd on the next leg with the 2nd fastest overall time in the race, 10:28, and Vic Maughn handed over to Chris Peach on the shoulder of the leading team to set him up nicely to bring us home comfortably in front with an anchor leg of 10:33. The B team of Rupert Mainwaring, Iain Yates, Sarwar Khan and Ben Hallifax also ran well, while 3 of our older runners, John Garber, Andy Lea Gerrard and Waldy Pauzers ran in a C team with Simon Wurr running again to complete the quartet with a time only 16 seconds slower than his first stint. Helen Carter, Helen Sharp, Penelope Fixter and Sarah Allen ensured we had a full women's team.
In the younger age groups, Lascelles Hussey won the U13 race by 50 metres as we continued our close battle with Sutton & District for the U13 league title we won last year. Lascelles, who was 41st in the Inter-Counties championships last weekend broke away at the top of the hill and finished strongly to lead the team home followed by Tim Leeke who had a fine run for 5th place. Alex West, another Inter-Counties representative for Surrey was the 2nd girl home and the team was completed by Elena Rodham. We had 9 runners in this age category, more than any other club. Our U15/U17 relay team of Julia Wedmore, Joe Kidson and John Tayleur to finish 3rd.
Click here to view the full results (courtesy of Ken Crooke).
Elsewhere, club members 3 produced notable half marathon performances, all at different races.Iain Lockett ran 69:18 on the tough Hastings course to finish 8th and was easily first vet over 40, while Ben Paviour continued his preparations for the London Marathon, recording 70:00 to place 24th in the faster, but very strong Bath Half Marathon and David Peters ran 76:46 for 31st position in Fleet. Running even further was Paul Shiel who clocked 2:16.31 for 61st place in the Finchley 20. (Geoff Jerwood)
11/03/09 - Teddy boys take a bow at Iffley Road
Some of the club's finest intellectuals made the trip to one of the most famous athletics tracks in the world on 11 March to take part in the Teddy Hall Relays at Oxford, an open road relay race but which is contested primarily by University and College teams and which this year carried the additional attraction of being part of the 80th birthday celebrations of Sir Roger Bannister who was himself in attendance. There was, though, much more of a Herne Hill Harriers connection to this race than you might realise for it was organised by Katie Sam, none other than the daughter of Jack Sam, one of the fastest 400m runners this club has ever had and a member of the quartet which set the club a 4 x 400m record at White City in 1969 which would not be broken for 16 years.
Starting and finishing at the famous Iffley Road track, the scenic 3.6 mile course offered a short, sharp test of fitness ahead of the forthcoming track season as well as the challenge of avoiding hockey-stick yielding youngsters on one of the tighter turns along the route.
Leading the way on leg 1 was Simon Coombes, still perhaps a little weary from racing in the Inter-Countries cross country championship the previous weekend. Although not at his best, he ran solidly enough to record 19:48 and hand over to James Ward in 22nd place. James was inevitably not at his sharpest having completed a testing track workout only the previous evening and, in that context, was pleased with his effort of 20:42 which ensured the team lost only 3 places on leg 2 and set up our third runner, Francis Marsh, for an old-fashioned charge through the field on leg 3. By then the field had spread out, enabling Francis to regularly pick-off runners at will during his effort of 18:38, the 24th fastest time of the day overall, lifting the team to 8th place overall.
Running the anchor leg and ensuring we had a complete team was Andy Lea-Gerrard who started in a sprightly fashion and finished with his customary sprint finish to record 29:05 and close the team in 39th place before many other teams had even sent out their 4th runner.
Other HHH members in action included Harriet Owles, running for Kings College, London, who recorded 23:25 and, running in self-styled "Old Gits" teams, second claim members Andy Weir and Chris Daniels who set marks of 18:25 and 19:43 respectively.
Then, in true HHH fashion, a fine tea (well, it must have been as all of the sandwiches had been eaten by the team we arrived) and a toast to Sir Roger was followed by a trip to a medieval watering hole once frequented by Morse and Lewis, though thankfully to solve nothing more sinister than the mystery as to whose round it was.
Make no mistake, this really was an excellent day out - great course, great atmosphere - a great race overall. We will be returning next year! (James Ward)
08/03/09 - Golden glow for super vets
The British Masters Indoor championships continued at Lea Valley and Allan Long continued where he left off a fortnight before by helping himself to another gold medal, this time in the M65 60m hurdles with a time of 12.69. John Garber claimed no fewer than 3 medals in this category, winning the 800m in 2:43.78 and the1500m in 5:35.24, but had to settle for silver in the 400m with 70.15. European champion Masakatsu Kondo won the M45 long jump with 5.82m and also placed 5th in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.64. Steve Knight also placed 5th in the M55 3000m, clocking 10:47.82. (James Ward)
07/03/09 - HHH athletes help Surrey to their best day out at the races
12 athletes from Herne Hill Harriers made the trek to Nottingham as members of cross country teams representing Surrey in the UK Inter Counties Championships. Successfully as it turned out, as in races for all age groups from U13 girls through to senior men, Surrey combined to win the trophy for the best county of the day overall.
Surrey won team gold medals in 3 of the girls' races, but such was the team strength the Herne Hill athletes in those races were unable to place highly enough to score for the teams and secure medals for themselves. Valuable team backup was provided nevertheless by Katie Snowden, 27th U15 girl, Hannah Edwards and Julia Wedmore, 48th and 72nd in the U17 women's race and Alex West, 79th U13 girl, the latter a particularly good effort in her first race at this level.
With fields of around 300 county standard runners in most age groups those were fine performances, but even more striking was that of young Lascelles Hussey who, despite being younger and smaller than the great majority in the race, placed an excellent 41st in the U13 boys' race and will still be young enough to try to improve on this placing in the same race next year. The one Herne Hill young athlete who did come home with a medal was U15 boy Lewis Lloyd who, although a little disappointed by his 18th position, was the second counter in a bronze medal winning team.
Not to be outdone, the Surrey senior teams also placed well with more than a little help from HHH. The men brought home more team bronze medals as Ben Whitby 17th, James McMullan 43rd and Iain Lockett 63rd were among the 6 scorers. Ben had hopes of a top 6 placing and a possible place in the GB team for the World Cross Country championships, but felt the effects of a sore throat and did well to complete the race for the team. Although James runs against HHH in the winter season, he is a key man in our track team in the summer, so it was great to see him in the form of his life with that time of the year fast approaching.
Top veteran Iain underlined his ultra consistent reputation and his refusal to decline with age with a typically strong and well judged race as he gradually gained places to finish as the first man over 40 in the race. Zig Stegner closed in the Surrey team as a non counter and was not at all happy with placing 211th. Being called up to run as a late replacement was not the ideal preparation for him, but like Lascelles he has age on his side and hopefully many years in which he may make much more of a mark in this event.
The 5th placed Surrey women's team contained Karen Ellison in 93rd place and although not scoring in the team Harriet Owles placed a decent 127th. The HHH story wasn't all about Surrey either as a number of our club runners, namely Orlando Edwards, Alan Wray, Jeff Cunningham, Andrew Donno and Simon Coombes all represented other counties with distinction in the senior men's race on a superb day of racing. (Geoff Jerwood)
01/03/09 - Surrey indoor champs witness HHH gold rush
Some of the club's young athletes picked up a host of medals at the Surrey Indoor championships at Sutton.
Winners of county titles included Jennifer Honeyball in the senior women's pole vault with a clearance of 2.90m and Charlotte Nyame in the U20 women's triple jump with a leap of 10.87m. Charlotte also recorded 4.88m in the long jump to win a silver medal in that event. At U17 level, Rosa Williams broke the women's club indoor pole vault record, clearing 3.20m in pole vault to claim gold, while Gabriella Rosejee won the shot with a throw of 10.23m and Funto Fabunmi-Alade was crowned 60m champion after recording a time of 7.87. Patrick Jones won the U15 boy's shot with a mark of 11.15m while Jonathan Grant finished 1st in the U17 men's 60m and also placed 2nd in the long jump with 6.39m. In only her second ever competition, Zoe Doran won the U15 girls' long jump with 4.56m while Jamal Mohammed won the U13 boys' 60m despite never having competed before!
Other medallists included Briony Phillips who placed 2nd in the senior women's shot with 11.31m, Jessica Barnes who was 2nd in the U13 girls' long jump with 4.01m, Rebecca Zelic who finished 2nd in the U15 girls' long jump with 4.73m, Lakesha Adams-Quamina who threw the shot 7.83. to claim 3rd place in the U15 girls' competition and, completing a clean sweep in the U17 women's pole vault, Lily Whitlam finished 2nd with a vault of 2.30m ahead of teammate Angharad Seaton who cleared 2.20m for 3rd place. (James Ward)
