Results for July to December 2023
British Masters 5km Road Championships, Battersea Park, 3 December 2023
Photos from Cliff Hide. Cliff has more photos available for download at this link: Photos of BMAF 5k Dec 2023. Please give credit to Cliff Hide if any of the photos are shared on social media. Here are the Full Individual Results. Here are the Age Group and Team Medallists. VAC again hosted this national event on our flat, fast, 5km course in Battersea Park. The day was cold and damp but the forecast rain held off. The race attracted a large entry which was split by gender and age groups into two starting waves, two minutes apart. 70 VAC members were amongst the 208 finishers. VAC members were first and second in the race. Chris Loudon (M35) of Cambridge Harriers was a worthy winner in 15:20 in a close battle with a fast group of contenders throughout the race. Richard McDowell (M40) of Hercules Wimbledon AC fought hard to take the second place in 15:22. Three further VAC members won Gold medals against fierce competition in their age groups: Tom South (M45), Tony Pamphilon (M65) and Peter Giles (M75). Top-ranked times were achieved by Simon Coombes (M50) who placed sixth in the race in 15:52 and Mark Symes (M55) who clocked 16:20. The women's competition attracted some top class athletes and five posted times under 18 minutes. The winner was Sarah Winstone (W35) of Southampton AC in 17:04 well clear of second placed Helen Gaunt (W40) of Tonbridge AC in 17:30. VAC’s fastest woman was Nikki Sturzaker (W50) in a magnificent fifth place with a time of 18:03 just ahead of the first W45s, Zoe Oldfield from Loughton AC and VAC's Zoe Doyle in 18:04 and 18:06 respectively. In the older age groups, there were stand-out wins by Monica Williamson (W60) in 19:08, Jill Harrison (W65) in 21:08, Sarah Roberts (W70) in 22:21, Angela Copson (W75) in 23:52 and Penny Elliott (W80) in 28:36. Monica's time achieved the highest age grading in the event.
Women's Surrey League Cross Country, Hurst Green, 11 November 2023
Photos from Helen Davies The women’s combined Divisions 2 and 3 race was the last of the day and the muddy course, described in the report of the men’s Surrey League match, was by then well and truly churned up. The women’s 6km course missed out some of the men’s mud but it was still very tricky underfoot as testified by several who had taken tumbles or whose shoes had been claimed by the bog. A record turnout of 11 demonstrated that VAC’s women’s team is going from strength to strength in participation and performance in the second season back in the league. Lucy Woolhouse was again the first finisher with a splendid 34th place in the combined race of 296 finishers, and 26th in Division 2. Her time of 27:36 was convincingly the best in the W60 age group contest. The scoring “A” team was completed by Lisa Thomas, Pippa Major, Brigid Hibberd and Anna Garnier, and placed a good seventh “A” team on the day. Having a full “B” team was a boost and was rewarded by a sixth place out of the Division’s 12 “B” teams. The full results are on the Surrey League website.
Men's Surrey League Cross Country, Hurst Green, 11 November 2023
Photos from Helen Davies A magnificent turnout of 22 men represented VAC in the second match of the season. Holland Sports AC hosted the fixture and laid out a new 8km course from their headquarters at Hurst Green, near Oxted. Clubs had been warned to expect mud and having had several weeks of heavy rain before the event, there was certainly plenty of it. However, on the day, bright sunshine and cool air presented ideal weather conditions. The race began with a sprint round a waterlogged playing field before negotiating the first of two bridges and a narrow path leading to open fields beyond. After a long upward slope, the route dropped to the first sticky section where trail shoes and cross country spikes came into their own. And so it went on, with field after field alternating between being slightly muddy through to downright bogs, interspersed by a couple of wet wooded sections. After two gruelling laps, a short sprint over the bridge led to the finish line. Richard Batchelor again led the team, finishing 26th out of the 351 finishers in the combined Divisions 3 and 4 race, and eighth position in Division 4. He was followed by Peter Lee and Simon Moore in positions 23 and 29. Next were Malcolm Davies, Richard Evans, Ian Barnett and Bruce McLaren, all in the top 50. Charles Hampden-Smith, Stewart Bond and Ebe Prill (with a shoe in his hand) completed VAC’s scoring “A” team of ten. VAC’s remaining runners pushed for every place to score for the “B” team. Newcomers Peter Lee, Simon Moore, Richard Evans, Charles Hampden-Smith, Stewart Bond and Petros Hahladakis were welcomed. They made great contributions. The “A” team were an excellent third in the Division 4 match, maintaining VAC’s push for promotion to Division 3. VAC’s “B” team were rewarded by coming first in their competition. In the age group contests, VAC took the top four places in the M60 rankings. The full results are on the Surrey League website.
VAC 7 mile road walk championships, Enfield, 11 November 2023, King George V Playing
Fields, Enfield
Jack Fitzgerald Centenary Memorial Walks Tilgate Park, Crawley, 4 November 2023
Veterans AC were pleased to host the eighth running of this event on a lakeside course once used as the test bed for Britain's water speed record round popular beauty spot Campbell's lake, now in Jack Fitzgerald’s centenary year. The rain which endured until the event had just finished could only be described as heavy and persistent or just persistent. In the headline race over 9.52 km VAC were pleased to welcome back Trevor Jones from Steyning AC on his second win for the men at this event; the overall and ladies’ winner was Melanie Peddle from Loughton AC, who is having a very successful year. VAC are always grateful for our judges and team of officials, especially in these difficult weather conditions, in particular Ron Penfold who is a local resident had been monitoring the state of the course up to the day before; in the end the usual loop was roughly halved and became out and back due to the flooded patches on the return half. The race was held to raise funds for Blind Veterans UK, as a tribute to RAF fighter pilot Jack Fitzgerald. Acknowledgements
Men's Surrey League Cross Country, Epsom Downs, 14 October 2023
Photos from Cliff Hide. Cliff has more photos and is happy to supply J-Peg copies to competitors. A great turnout of 19 VAC men contested the combined Division 3 and 4 race at Epsom Downs. On arrival, most were drenched by a heavy shower but by the time the race started, it was sunny. Despite the rain, the 8km, two-lap, course past the iconic grandstand, was firm underfoot. Richard Batchelor (M45) was VAC's first finisher in a hard fight for 11th place. Mike Webber (M55) was next, making a great contribution in 19th place, followed by Vic Maughn who topped the Division's M60 results' listing. Clive Rolfe, Ian Barnett, Gary Ironmonger, Malcolm Davies, Tony Harran, Ben Revill and John Foss completed the scoring "A" team which finished in a fantastic second place out of the 14 clubs in Division 4. The "B" team of the next nine runners fought for every place and matched the A team by coming second in the B team competition. Newcomers, Mike Webber, Ian Barnett, Ben Revill and John Foss were welcomed. Their fine performances certainly bolstered VAC's teams' standings. The full results are on the Surrey League website
Ladies Surrey League Cross Country, Epsom Downs, 14 October 2023
Photos from Cliff Hide.
Cliff has more photos and is happy to supply J-Peg copies to competitors. VAC's women's team competed strongly in the combined race for Divisions 2 and 3 at Epsom Downs in sunny, but cold, conditions. The two-lap, 6km, course was a mixture of rough gravel, dirt tracks and grassland, with a steady climb up the Down and a fast descent to Tattenham Corner. Lucy Woolhouse was the first finisher from VAC's team of nine in 25th position in Division 2 and first W60 in the combined race. Next was Lisa Thomas (W55) in 43rd position followed by Brigid Hibbert (W55) in 62nd place. Anna Garnier (W65) and Gina Coulson (W65) completed the scoring "A" team which finished a commendable 8th out of 15 "A" teams. The next four finishers, Patricia Thomas, Sarah Allen, Catherine Porter and Lesley Bowcott scored for the "B" team which also finished eighth. A warm welcome was given to new VAC members, Brigid and Catherine. Also running for the first time in VAC's Surrey League team were Lisa, Gina, Patricia and Lesley who all made great contributions. The full results are on the Surrey League website
East Surrey League Cross Country, Lloyd Park, 7 October 2023
Photos from Martin Berry Here are the Results of the East Surrey League race, 7 October 2023. Hot sunny weather and dry ground made an unseasonal start to VAC's cross country campaign but the team of thirteen tackled Lloyd Park's traditional course with enthusiasm and determination in a very competitive first match of the East Surrey League. Jani Kraner (M40) led the team home with a splendid second place finish. Also in the top ten were Mark Tennyson (M55), in eighth place, followed by John Foley (M55) in ninth, just four seconds behind. VAC's fourth scorer was Terry Booth (M55) whose 17th position cemented VAC's excellent second place in the men's team competition. VAC's Alex Baird (W40) was third in the women's competition, followed by Victoria Carter (W50) in seventh place. VAC scored well in the age groups. Jani Kraner was first M40-49, Mark Tennyson first M50-59 and Hugh Balfour first M60+.
Veterans AC 10k track race incorporating Sussex, Surrey, Middx & Herts County Championships Woodcote High School, Purley, 30 September 2023 The annual VAC and Counties championships took place in good racing conditions on a picture-perfect autumn afternoon, with cloud cover and a modest breeze. With the second rail strike in two years on this race date and a number of regulars racing in Holland this was never going to be a big field, however ten on the line faced the starter’s pistol. The men’s race was won by Blackheath’s junior Jonny Ellerton with good style, in an excellent time slightly outside his personal best time at Coventry track this year. EHAC’s entry second male Dave Walsh also did a good time just outside his PB, and beat the rail strike by an interesting route including a local park run and cycling. The ladies’ race, Surrey County and VAC championship, was won by Penelope Cummings in a time just outside the hour, with Sian Baum from Herne Hill Harriers taking second place in the same championships in her first attempt at this distance. Both ladies were commended for their style. Flying the flag for Sussex, Paul Gaston (SWC) took the County honours, and Ron Penfold (Steyning AC) won the men’s VAC championships. VAC are indebted as always to the team of officials and judges for this event to take place, who appear below. Veterans AC 10k track race walk
incorporating Sussex, Surrey, Middx & Herts County Championships
Acknowledgements
Vitality Westminster Mile, VAC One Mile Championships, 23 September 2023
Nineteen VAC members enjoyed the Westminster Mile's traffic-free course along the Mall, past Horse Guards parade ground and back along Birdcage Walk to the iconic finish outside Buckingham Palace. VAC's Chris Loudon (M35) won Wave One in style, breaking the tape in a fantastic 4:26 chip time. Paul Howard was the second VAC finisher, clocking 4:43 as the first M40 in the race. Gina Galbraith was VAC's first woman in 5:27, placing second in the combined times for Waves 1 and 2, and first W45. VAC members dominated the age groups. Other age group firsts were achieved by Lucy Woolhouse (W60), Peter Hall (M65), Avril Riddell (W65), Peter Kennedy (M70), Maggie Statham-Berry (W70) and Bill O'Connor (M75). Lucy's time of 6:05 translated to a magnificent age-grading of 95.22%. Pamela Whitter and Avril Riddell also achieved over 90% with a further five members above 85%.
Peckham Rye parkrun, Saturday 16 September 2023
Photos from Cliff Hide. 15 VAC members arrived at Peckham Rye Park for the latest parkrun meet-up. It was a lovely morning – sunny and still, but not too hot for running. The course is a twisty three-lapper with a slight uphill at the end of each lap. The run was quite congested at the start and the paths are narrow and uneven, but we all settled down and enjoyed ourselves. Cliff Hide was present to encourage us and take photos. Results for VAC were impressive. We had the first finisher for men and women (Andy Bond and Nikki Sturzaker). The first seven on age grading were all VAC members. Andy Bond, Ade, Nikki, Ros, Lucy, Peter, and Avril were all first in their age groups.
VAC 10,000m Championships, Battersea Park, 13 September 2023
Photos from Cliff Hide. Cliff has more photos and is happy to supply J-Peg copies to
competitors. Here are the results of the individual 10,000m races Here are the combined results including medallists The three seeded races took place in settled weather, warm and calm. Andy Bond (M50) retained his VAC men’s 10,000m champion’s title, followed throughout by the 2021 winner, Duncan Woolmer (M40) who gradually lost ground. Andy’s time of 33:11.82 set a new M50 Championship Best Performance, just a fraction of a second ahead of Simon Baines’s previous record of 33:12.22 set in 2022. The first woman was Lara Bromilow of EMAC in a fantastic time of 36:23.31, an all-comers’ record for W40. Madeleine Armstrong-Plieth was the first VAC woman and was awarded the Champion’s trophy which was a fitting reward for her first track 10k. Ruben Carvajal (M40) from Queen’s Park Harriers won the second race in 38:08.10, pursued by Jeremy Garner (M45) in 38:16.89, in turn chased by Steve Corfield who pulled ahead of fellow-M60, Roger Beardsworth, to claim M60 Gold. In the first race, Pete Woodward (M40) of Crowborough Runners was dominant and won in a time of 37:31.82. Pete had been on the start list for the second (faster) race, but travel constraints were taken into account, and he joined the earlier race instead. Clare Norris (W45) led the main field of runners, finishing in 43:03.01, having pulled away from fellow Dulwich Runner, Edward Smyth. Gold medals for men’s age-group firsts were won by Chris Jones (M35), Duncan Woolmer (M40), Andrew Aitken (M45), Andy Bond (M50), Jonathan Ratcliffe (M55), Steve Corfield (M60), Peter Hall (M65), Jerry Lockspeiser (M70) and Eddie Torpe (M75). For the women, the Golds were awarded to Sara Ellen (W35), Lara Bromilow (W40), Loise Faherty (W45), Vera Blei (W50) and Caroline Helder (W60).
VAC and London Masters Open Track & Field Championships, Finsbury Park, 9 September 2023
Photos from Cliff Hide. Cliff has more photos and is happy to supply J-Peg copies to
competitors. Here are the results on Power of Ten of the VAC/London Masters T&F Championships, 9 September: Results (thepowerof10.info) Here are the results for each event by age group category VAC's Track and Field championships took place during a heatwave at London's Finsbury Park athletics track. In a new venture, VAC expanded the club championship to include an open London Masters tournament. The event was successful and attracted over 150 entries, with half of these from non-members, many experiencing their first Masters competition in age groups. Despite the heat, there were fine performances, with many athletes competing in several events. VAC's multi-eventer, Bilen Ahmet, completed 12 events!. London Marathon ever-present, Bill O'Connor, completed seven events, including all five track distances. VAC was grateful for the support of the London Heathside club at its home track and particularly for the vision and organisation provided by Adrian Essex and Adrian Day of Heathside and Peter Kennedy of VAC. Other local clubs also rallied round and provided many officials. Thanks go to all the officials and helpers who served for many hours in the high temperature to ensure a successful meeting, which we plan to repeat and build on next year.
England Masters Athletics Association Inter-Area Challenge, Nuneaton, 6 August 2023
Photo of the M60 Relay Team from Brian Steene. Other photos from Andy Murray. Here are the Results of VAC's Team Members. The date of the annual fixture was later than usual and slipped into the holiday period. VAC had a numerically weakened team but there were great efforts from those who made the trip to Nuneaton's Pingles Stadium where there was a pleasant track and a well-officiated meeting. Particular highlights were the double firsts for Gavin Stephens (M35 200m and 400m) and Mike Vassiliou (M60 200m and 400m) plus first places for Chris Taplin (M50 400m), Tim Carter (M70 Long Jump) and the M60 relay team. There were also six splendid second places and eight third places. Many team members did more than one event, with multi-eventer, Bilen Ahmet, scoring well in eight events. Fiona Bishop did five events and Natalie Mann did four.
VAC Battersea Park Grand Prix, Summer Race Series 2023
Photo of Neil Danby from Andrew Cornish. Other photos from Cliff Hide. Thirty VAC members qualified for the 2023 Grand Prix. To be eligible, members needed to register times in at least three of VAC's four 5km/5 mile road races in the 2023 series in Battersea Park. Each year, the person with the highest average of his or her three best age-graded performances is awarded the Snow Cup, a beautiful trophy which dates to 1950. Congratulations to Neil Danby (M55) the worthy winner of the 2023 competition with an outstanding average age grading of 93.19%. In each of his three races, Neil set new M55 records for the Battersea Park courses. In April’s 5k race, his time of 16:29 beat his own course record of 16:33 set in 2021. He went even better in June’s race by posting 16:25 to win VAC’s 5K championship and improve his M55 record by four seconds. In May’s 5 Mile championship race, he won M55 Gold against top opposition and set a new course record of 27:35. Nikki Sturzaker (W50) was second in the Grand Prix with an average of 89.64%. Nikki set new W45 course records in April’s 5k and May’s 5 Mile races, and then, having turned 50, set a W50 5k record of 18:04 in August’s race which was actually faster than her W45 record (18:16). Richard Tomlinson (M55) was third in the series with an average of 88.53%, closely followed by Joseph Gonzalez-Armas (M50) with 88.02% and Simon Shaw (M50) with 87.91%. Six members were ever-presents, contesting all four races. They were Andrew Cornish, Martin Daoud, Jay Hadfield, Caroline Helder, Nikki Sturzaker and Tony Tuohy. Thanks go to all the VAC members and open runners who competed in the races over the summer. The series resumes in April 2024.
VAC 5 Km Road Race, 1 August 2023 , Battersea Park
Photos from Cliff Hide. Cliff has more photos and is happy to supply J-Peg copies to
competitors. Here are the Results of the 5K Road Race , including the category positions (PDF file). August’s race in VAC’s summer series is usually depleted by hot weather and holiday absences. This was not the case this year when 101 runners completed the 5k race in ideal cool conditions. VAC’s Duncan Woolmer won the race in an excellent 16:05 which set a new M40 course record for a VAC member, 14 seconds inside Steve Surridge’s previous record of 16:19 set 20 years ago in July 2003. Tom Hollis (M35) of Lonely Goat Running Club piled on the pressure to finish second in 16:08, closely followed by Chris Mullin (M45) in 16:09. The record-breaking continued when Mark Cursons set a time of 17:14 which convincingly bettered David Ogden’s M60 record of 17:39 set in 2021. Other age group winners were David Williams (M50), Richard Tomlinson (M55), Peter Hall (M65), Ged Ruffle (M70), Peter Giles (M75) and Michael Johnson (M80).
Melissah Gibson, the women’s winner of April’s race, dominated the field of 25 women to cross the line in 17:35
which improved her own W35 all-comers record of 18:10. Next was Nikki Sturzaker, new to the W50 age group, who
worked hard to hold off Carole Coulon (W45). Nikki’s time of 18:04 wiped over 40 seconds off Anna Critchlow’s W50
record of 18:45 set in 2021. The fourth woman was Maria Heslop of Tonbridge AC who set a phenomenal W55 all-comers’
record of 18:22, well inside the record of 19:55 for a VAC member held by Lisa Thomas since 2021. Another splendid
record was set by Penny Elliott whose time of 28:47 improved on her own W80 record of 29:02 set in June. Penny tops
RunBritain’s W80 5k national rankings for 2023. Other age group winners were Lucy Woolhouse (W60), Lynn Wilson
(W65) and Annie Ross (W70).
Veterans AC 5k Road Walk - Battersea Park, 1 August 2023
Photos from Cliff Hide. Cliff has more photos and is happy to supply J-Peg copies to
competitors. The last of the regular Battersea Park races had an average field this time in indifferent humid weather, luckily the rain held off for the duration. Coming in as men’s winner was Dave Annetts from N Herts RR in a fast time just outside his personal best, with Ian Richards from Steyning AC not far behind. The ladies’ winner for the third time running was Melanie Peddle from Loughton AC, in her usual highly respectable time. Veterans AC were pleased to welcome two guests from Hong Kong, Min Yee Michelle Lee and For Yau Fung who had chosen the race while holidaying in the UK. In addition the other guests were Paul Hawkins from Stratford upon Avon AC, and promising junior athlete Trejan Checheku-Boamah from Blackheath & Bromley AC who completed in a good time; going under 30 minutes for this distance is now a realistic target for him.
Officials:
Octogenarian and Nonagenarian gathering at the Bushy parkrun, 1 July 2023
Here are the results for the over 80s in each age group. VAC members led the way at the sixth annual gathering of the over 80s at the Bushy parkrun. Eighty-five octo- and nonagenarians came together to set an unofficial record amongst the 1453 finishers at the 937th parkrun at Bushy Park, the home of parkrun. Never have so many over 80s started together. VAC member, Richard Pitcairn-Knowles (M90) is one of the founders of the annual meeting which includes prosecco and cupcakes as rewards. He was one of four over 90s to complete the course. There were 64 finishers in the 80-84 age group and 17 in the 85-89 age group. VAC’s Michael Johnson was the fastest of all the over 80s with an impressive time of 25:54 and an age-grading of 83.20%. The fastest of the women was VAC’s Penny Elliott who achieved the best age grading of the entire field with a magnificent 89.88%. Her time of 29:39 was only nine seconds short of the all-time best for the W80 age group at Bushy Park. VAC’s Joe Aspinall clocked a time of 34:17 which was convincingly the fastest of the M85 competitors. Next year’s gathering at the Bushy parkrun will take place on 6 July 2024 with the aim of 100 over 80s taking part.
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