Club Handicap

2008

A record 26 Abergele Harriers turned out for the club’s annual Handicap race, which this year again had a new format, simply consisting of a five mile out-and-back course, where members were asked to pace themselves evenly to try to run each direction in exactly the same time, without the aid of any timing device; the winners being the man and women who got closest to an exact split. The “race” was run in almost perfect conditions and as a result most members got their split times very close indeed. The “winner” of the men’s section was second claim member Philip Edge who went out in 16mins exactly and home in 15mins 55secs, for a five second difference, with Pete Smith only one second further off, with 19mins 7secs out and 19mins 13secs back. Darren Blazier, who was the first Harrier to complete the course, was third in the Handicap with a seven second difference, 13mins 27secs out and 13mins 34secs back. The winner of the ladies “race” was a “graduate” from Jaime Ashton’s “beginners group” Cheryl Richards, running an excellently paced run, like the men’s winner, finishing with a five second negative split, 23mins 11secs out and 23mins 6secs back home. Second lady, another of Jaime’s “graduates” was Lucy Jones, with an excellent nine second split of 24mins 24secs out and 24mins 33secs back. Sonia Wignall was third with an eighteen second difference (24:26 out, 24:44 back), just ahead of Angie Hughes with a nineteen second negative split (18:24 out, 18:05 back) and Pam Grant with a nineteen positive split (19:30 out, 19:49 back). Angie, although fourth lady in the Handicap, was in fact the first lady home, and ninth home overall, in a tremendous time of 36mins 29secs. Overall twenty members managed to keep their split times within 30 seconds of each other which is a testament to superbly disciplined racing and training. The club would also like to thank the Bee Hotel for providing excellent food after the race.
Results

Photos

 

More Photos

2007

Abergele Harriers held their annual Handicap Race on Sunday in horrendous weather conditions on the cycle track from Pensarn to Towyn and back. All Harriers had to estimate their own time to complete the 7k course, then run without a watch, with the winners being the male and female that got closest to their own estimate. Eleven men and six women braved the conditions with the male race particularly close, with three men finishing six seconds from their estimate, but the winner, Darren Blazier, proving his superb ability to pace, finishing in a time of 24mins 30secs, just five seconds faster than his estimate. The unlucky trio, that were six seconds out, were Grahame Shone (finishing time 28mins 24secs), John Earlston (25mins 6secs) and Paul Ross (29mins 36secs). Club Captain Geran Hughes was particularly unlucky also, finishing in 26mins 1sec, which in fact was exactly his original estimate, but just at the start line he changed his estimate and ended fourteen seconds out. The male runner that exceeded his own expectations the most was Peter Smith, who beat his estimate by 1min 43secs (31mins 50secs), while Ed Reid (-1min 26secs), Justin McIlveen (-1min 19secs) and Paul Thomas (-55secs) were also all much too fast on the day. On the other hand Robert Spotswood (finishing time 39mins 9secs) and Jonathan Perry (42mins 22secs) miscalculated but in the opposite direction.

The ladies race wasn’t quite as close but Eleri Bacon won for the third time in four years, by running a superb 38mins 34secs, just 34secs over her estimate. Second lady was Pam Grant who’s fantastic time of 34mins 51secs was 44 seconds faster than she expected, while Melanie Williams was third in 35mins43secs, 1min 27secs faster than she predicted. First lady home on the day was Angie Hughes, but unfortunately for her, she arrived in 1min 37secs quicker than expected. The Harrier who surprised themselves the most on the day was Julie Jones, who ran an amazing 43mins 54secs, which was 3mins 36secs faster than her estimate, while Susan Calvert was also pleasantly surprised by beating her time by almost two minutes (finishing time 36mins 42secs). Altogether twelve of the seventeen Harriers finished quicker than their estimated times which bodes very well for the coming season.

 RACE TIMES 

Name

 Estimated Time

Actual Time

Difference

Darren Blazier                          M             

24:35

24:30

-5

John Earlston                            M

25:00

25:06

+6

Geran Hughes                           M

26:15

26:01

-14

Ed Reid                                     M

29:30

28:04

-1:26

Grahame Shone                        M

28:30

28:24

-6

Paul Thomas                             M

30:15

29:20

-55

Paul Ross                                  M

29:30

29:36

+6

Justin McIlveen                        M

31:30

30:11

-1:19

Peter Smith                                M

33:33

31:50

-1:43

Angie Hughes                                      F

35:12

33:35

-1:37

Pam Grant                                           F

35:35

34:51

-44

Melanie Williams                                F

37:10

35:43

-1:27

Susan Calvert                                      F

38:38

36:42

-1:56

Eleri Bacon                                         F

38:00

38:34

+34

Rob Spotswood                        M

34:27

39:09

+4:42

Jonathan Perry                         M

38:00

42:22

+4:22

Julie Jones                                            F

47:30

43:54

-3:36

Men’s results;

1)      Darren Blazier (-5 secs)

2)      Grahame Shone (-6 secs)

3)      John Earlston and Paul Ross (+6 secs)

Ladies results;

1)      Eleri Bacon (+34 secs)

2)      Pam Grant (-44 secs)

3)      Melanie Williams (-1min 27secs)


2007 pictures

 

2006

Twenty seven Abergele Harriers, the biggest ever field, took part in the clubs annual Handicap race on Sunday. The race took on a new format this year with the winners being the runners finishing closest to their own estimated time for the course. Because of the very dangerous road conditions, the race was changed at the last minute to the traffic-free coastal cycle track. Amazingly, Stevie Ward finished in exactly his estimated time of 39 minutes 30 seconds for the 4.7 mile course, winning the male title. The female title was won by Kristy Stephenson, who was also the first lady home, in a time of 34 minutes 18 seconds, missing her estimate by just 18 seconds. First runner home overall was Darren Blazier in a superb time of 27mins 19secs, 13secs faster than his estimate, and second closest to his estimate overall. Next in was Geran Hughes, in 29mis 2secs, 31secs ahead of his estimate and 4th closest, with Justin McIlveen, in 32mins 39secs, 3rd closest male, missing out by just 29 seconds. Second closest lady was Pam Grant, finishing in 39mins 31secs, just 28 seconds, with 3rd closest lady going to Susan Calvert, in 40mins 27secs, 67 seconds out. Twenty Harriers were within two minutes of their estimate, while the runner who surprised himself most was Dave Edwards, who beat his own estimate by over eight minutes, finishing in 39mins 19secs. Other finishing times were; Matthew Ashton 30.31, Ed Reid 30.58, Grahame Shone 31.11, Simon Grant 32.42, Roy Evans 32.57, Jeramy Bright 34.09, John Essary 36.06, John Humphries 36.36, Stevie Salt 36.47, Judith Jones 36.49, Hilary Jaques 36.51, Rob Spotswood 39.59, Melanie Williams 40.06, Eleri Bacon 41.30, Meinir Hughes 41.30, Alan Lucas 43.36, Alison Guillemin 43.51, Garry Tann 43.51, Jamie Ashton 56.35. Abergele Harriers wish to express their sincere sympathy to all involved with Rhyl Cycling Club following the tragic accident that took place that same morning.

2006 Photos
Results