LOUGHTON LINES THE NEWSLETTER OF LOUGHTON ATHLETIC CLUB

NEW SERIES: Number 8 December, 2018

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

[Welcome to the International Edition of Loughton Lines.

That should cover our Membership, we hope.]

OUR CORRESPONDENCE FILES

It’s always a bit of an embarrassment to have to include corrections as the first items coming to hand for a new edition, but needs must…. John Borgars writes to clarify that his team silver medal in the World Masters’ Championships in Málaga came from the 10k; some fool who wrote the item (ahem!) made it look as though it had come from the 20k. This isn’t a correction – much – but a notice that you all failed the observation test; most of the October issue copies went out as No.6; it was really No.7! No points to the readers – or to the Editor, come to that – for proof-reading.

Not even an error, this one: the Editor’s keyboard had scarcely stopped smouldering from October when the Senior team results for the first Chingford League match arrived. The Men’s A, B and Veterans’ teams were all ninth, the Women’s team sixth and the Women Veterans’ were fifth. Added to all the second and fourth team places shown for the Young Athletes in the previous issue, that makes an even more stirring start to the season. In the corresponding race last year, we had nine runners; this year there were thirty-two! Next target – fifty? The Editor claims that mistakes aren’t his fault; various web sites have put so many cookies in his computer that he thinks the chocolate is beginning to melt.

YET ANOTHER COMMITTEE MEETING!

Your Committee met on the 19th November at 7:30 p.m., with nine members present, and did the following: * Approved the previous minutes, with minor corrections: * Heard of the success of the Inter-Club Vets’ Race

and agreed on the same arrangements for the Ware Cup, for which more race numbers would be needed:

* Noted that only Jon Whitehouse had expressed an interest in the Essex Vets’ Cross-country Championship:

* Noted that the Club Affiliation Fee to England Athletics was increasing from £100 to £150:

* Agreed to standardise the Club subscriptions for all Under-18 members at £25·00 p.a., with all of them thus being entitled to the full Club benefits:

* Heard that Gavin Harper had looked at the plumbing and electrics in the portakabin at the Club-house and thought that some repairs could be carried out for not very much expenditure; it was agreed to ask him to produce details and costings for our next meeting and to indicate what benefits would be gained from the work:

* Heard that the next issue of Loughton Lines (this one), due in the first week of December, would be held for the results of the Ware Cup; the Editor again issued an invitation to Members to contribute material:

* Received notice that Mick and Barbara Higgins were resigning as the Club’s Team Managers for the Eastern Masters’ Athletic League. Support had not been strong (noting that although we reached the Women’s Final, only seven athletes turned out on the day). Mick is in discussion with Thurrock Harriers on the potential for a joint L.A.C./T.H. team in the League next year, which

he believes would benefit both Clubs. The Committee expressed its thanks to Mick and Barbara for all their hard work on the Club’s behalf over the years: §

* Heard that, due to fixture clashes and non-availability of venues, the London Open Walks (a Club promotion) would, all being well, be held on Sunday, 27th January, 2019 in Sutcliffe Park, Eltham: §§

* Noted from Doris De Souza Brady that Shaun was now ready to launch the 100 Club and that the appropriate documents would be circulated with Loughton Lines and by other means:

* Also heard from Doris about plans for a Quiz Night in late January or early February – look out for more information soon:

* Agreed that the next Committee Meeting would be held on the 28th January, 2019:

* Fixed the date of the Annual General Meeting as the 1st April, 2019. Formal notice will be issued in due course. David Hobbs indicated that he would probably be standing down from the Chairmanship – and possibly also from the Committee – because of foreseen additional commitments in his Church work.

* Finished the Meeting at 8:40 p.m. § Mick has since reported that negotiations have

been successful and that there will be a joint Loughton/Thurrock team in the E.M.A.C. League next year, managed jointly by us and them. This, as mentioned above, will provide a team that is stronger than either individually; there are already several such joint teams in the League.

§§ Due to circumstances beyond our control, it has subsequently become necessary to postpone this event. A new date and venue will be chosen later in the year.

WALKING NEWS

We suffered a degree of malaise in the Enfield 5 Miles on the 13th October. John, still suffering from his injury before deciding that a complete rest was called for, was fourteenth man in 55:12, while Peter, with his later illness coming on, thought that four miles was enough for him and retired at that point having taken 50:02 over it, a time, he says, that would once have embarrassed him for 10k. Melanie, who reckoned that she hit the wall, still finished as third woman and ninth overall, in 49:52. The Enfield 7 Miles on the 10th November, therefore, saw John officiating as a pointsman, Peter wandering about as a spectator and me judging – largely sitting down, because the imbalance between my “done” eye and the

“undone” one makes me feel dizzy if I stand for too long. It was Melanie to the rescue, as third woman and ninth overall again in 68:53. This race completed the 2018 season; Melanie was second lady (and third overall), losing out to the lady champion by 579 points to 564, while John was seventh man (and tenth overall) with 430. Peter says that his final position cannot be of any interest whatsoever! The team was fifth. We can only do better next year!

NOT JUST A WALK IN THE PARK….

….more of a run – several, actually – as our Park Runners continue to get up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays; (time[ overall position/gender position) 13th October Roding Valley Ella Palmer (26:22/66/11): Michaela Davis (29:38/96/28): Deborah Davies (31:52/114/40) 20th October Roding Valley Leela Katyal (25:04/44/8): Deborah Davies (31:16/94/28): Jim Whiffin (31:58/101/71 27th October Alice Holt John Stubbs (25:45/82/77): Bruno Stubbs (28:41/139/116) Lancaster Deborah Davies 35:09/245/74) 3rd November Roding Valley John Stubbs (23:54/34/29): Bruno Stubbs (25:14/52/41) Michaela Davis (29:26/91/32): Deborah Davies (31:55/110/42): Jim Whiffin (32:00/112/69): Constance Stubbs (34:52/124/49) 10th November Roding Valley Richard Berry (24:13/33/28): Deborah Davies (31:38/29/96): Haverhill John Stubbs (23:16/17/17)

17th November Roding Valley Deborah Davies (32:21/112/44) Hackney Marshes Richard Berry (18:58/109/90) Haverhill John Stubbs (22:44/11/10): Bruno Stubbs (24:38/16/14) Walmer & Deal Sea Front Rioch O’Gorman (23:14/18/16) 24th November Roding Valley Jim Whiffin (27:12/40/32): Jean Hobbs (27:43/43/10):Deborah Davies (32:20/74/29) 1st December Roding Valley Richard Berry (23:12/14/11): Michaela Davis (30:29/38/12): Deborah Davies (32:11/45/17) Haverhill Constance Stubbs (38:51/45/12): John Stubbs (38:55/46/34) 8th December Roding Valley Leela Katyal (21:09/27/6): Jake Katyal (26:26/28/22) Gunpowder Jim Whiffin (29:03/84/67)

THE YOUNG ’UNS ON THE GO AGAIN IN THE CHINGFORD LEAGUE

Our young team featured well again in the Chingford League race at Leyton on the 20th October, this time over the country, and this is how they – and their senior team-mates – distinguished themselves.

Under 11 Boys 2 Luca Dominguez 13:14 6 Henry Brown 14:37 7 Jake Katyal 16:02 8 Zac Michaels 16:11 9 Joshua Thomas 16:45 10 Luke Wickham 17:05 Team Position 2

Under 11 Girls 1 Monica Wickham 14:27 2 Connie Stubbs 18:28 Team Position 1

Under 13 Boys 2 William Scrutton 13:10 Team Position 3

Senior Women 26 Lorna Gaffney 39:51 43 Sharon Palmer 43:11 57 Joanna Wickham 46:42 59 Jean Hobbs 47:34 60 Melanie Peddle 47:35 73 Michaela Davis 52:24 Team Position 6 Veterans’ Team Position 5

Senior Men 62 Steve Palmer 35:29 97 John Stubbs 40:25 113 Gavin Harper 43:10 Team Position 13 Veterans’ Team Position 11

The third match at Hog Hill on the 6th November saw us turning out full teams – and to spare: Senior Women

16 Mary Knapman 22:26 19 Lorna Gaffney 22:30 60 Gay Shillaker 26:18 72 Melanie Peddle 27:22 85 Nadine Holland 29:01 88 Amie Harrison 29:21 91 Caroline Gipson 29:51 104 Michaela Davis 32:18 Team Position 6 (Overall 6) Veterans’ Team Position 5 (Overall 5)

Senior Men 41 Jon Whitehouse 19:44 47 Steve Palmer 19:50 97 Richard Berry 23:11 98 Cliff Warren 23:17 112 John Stubbs 23:52 113 Ben Joyce 23:59 128 Gary Hooper 25:41 A Team Position 8 (Overall 11) B Team Position 9 (Overall 10) Veterans Team Position 7 (Overall 10)

The younger members kept up the good work as well: Under 15 Boys

5 Thomas Medhurst 22:32 Team Position 2

Under 15 Girls

3 Ella Palmer 25:27 8 Mia Ali 31:08 Team Position 2

Match 4 on the 24th November at Trent Park also had a thin Y.A.G. participation from our point of view: Under 11 Boys

8 Luca Dominguez 13:16 11 Henry Brown 13:59 Team Position 4

Under 11 Girls 5 Lizzie Knapman 8:16 Team Position 4

THE OTHER WAY OF GETTING TIRED AND WET IN THE WINTER….

…is the Essex Cross-Country League,, whose first fixture of the season was on the 27th October: Senior Women

48 Lorna Gaffney 31:45 102 Jean Hobbs 38:29 117 Michaela Davis 44:23 Team Position 12 Veterans Team Position 15

Senior Men 147 Jon Whitehouse 41:27 Team Position 13 Veterans Team Position 23

In the second of the series, Lorna Gaffney flew the flag single-handed, finishing fortieth in 31:30 and making the Team twelfth and the Veterans Team twenty-fourth – a lot of scoring for one lady, but then Jon Whitehouse sometimes does the same for our gentlemen. In fact, he did in the Essex Vets’ Cross-Country Championships at Colchester on the 8th December, finishing 42nd M40 in 29:04.

THE INTER-CLUB VETS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

The first of our two winter cross-country promotions was held on the 3rd November. George Richardson reports that it was the biggest field that we’ve ever had for this event, at eighty-one starters. Conditions were fine and sunny with firm going wet on top. Over a course of about five miles (over the bridge, three times round and back again) the top six gentlemen were: 1 Adam Baker Roding Valley Runners 29:29 2 Gary Coombes Ilford A.C. 29:50 3 Bob Glasgow Roding Valley Runners 29:53 4 Dan Gritton East London Runners 31:24 5 Scott McMillan East London Runners 31:31 6 Seb Parris Ilford A.C. (Guest) 31:39 and the first six ladies: 1 Holly Weir Victoria Park H. 34:12

2 Hayley Rogerson Roding Valley Runners 34:44 3 Holly Wood Roding Valley Runners 34:50 4 Carlotte Bewley Victoria Park H. 36:19 5 Caroline Frith Roding Valley Runners 36:39 6 Mary Knapman Loughton A.C. 37:08 Our gentlemen were: 7 Jon Whitehouse 32:03 9 Steve Palmer 32:48 24 Jason Sewards 36:50 and our ladies: 6 Mary Knapman 37:08 7 Lorna Gaffney 37:40 14 Sharon Palmer 42:19 35 Carien Rensburg 52:20

THE WARE CUP

Conditions were much the same on the 8th December for the Ware Cup, with eighty-eight starters and eighty-seven finishers. First six gentlemen home were: 1 Sam Humphrey VPH & TH 27:54 2 George Day Orion 28:01 3 Lewis Haulknett Orion (U20) 28:09 4 Dan Moses Orion 28:31 5 William Kirk VPH & TH 28:38 6 Gaz Powers Eton Manor (M40) 29:11 and the first six ladies: 1 Sarah Flanagan Eton Manor (W40) 34:17 2 Virginia Silic VPH & TH (W35) 35:23 3 Cheryl Evans VPH & TH 35:27 4 Claire Fisher Eton Manor 35:41 5 Jenny Heyman Eton Manor (W35) 36:44 6 Zoe Woodward Eton Manor (W55) 36:55

Team Results, scoring 4 Men Women 1 Orion 19 1 Eton Manor 167 2 VPH & TH 21 2 VPH & TH 172 3 Eton Manor 58 - 4 Ilford 114 The hosts were thin on the ground from the point of view of running, although thick on it in the officiating department, our ladies being: 8 Lorna Gaffney 37:51 13 Mary Knapman 39:09 35 Jean Hobbs 46:55 and our gentleman: 28 Steve Palmer 33:47

L.A.C. enjoys the sunshine: Steve, Mary, Jean and Lorna The field awaits the starter’s whistle

Photos by Doris De Souza Brady

SUPERMAN? Over the weekend of 15/16 September this year in Talence, Kevin Mayer of France set a new decathlon world record of 9126 points. He joins a select band of men who have broken the 9000 points barrier. These were his performances: Day 1 100m - 10.55s - 963 points LJ - 7.80m - 1010 points Shot - 16.00m - 851 points HJ - 2.05m - 850 points 400m - 48.82 - 1021 points

Day 2 110mH - 13.75 - 1007 points DT - 50.54m - 882 points PV - 5.45m - 1051 points JT - 71.90m - 918 points 1500m - 4:36.11 - 705 points

********

The previous best score was of 9040 points, set by Ashton Eaton in the US trials. Those are the bare facts. The current IAAF scoring tables (for ALL outdoor men's and women's track and field events) were most recently revised in 2017. In most cases, scores are slightly lower than in the previous edition, because of the improvement in world records. I hold a printed copy of the 1996 edition, but this latest edition is only available in electronic form. To make the point about the lower scores now earned for the same performance, here is what he would have scored in the 1996 tables: 100m - 1051, LJ - 1072, Shot - 880, HJ - 910, 400 - 944, 110mH -1133, DT - 877, PV - 1086, JT - 967, 1500m - 482 = 9402 points

The current scoring tables start at 1400 points, and these are the marks which would (in theory) earn the maximum: 100m - 9.46s, LJ - 9.19m, Shot - 24.66m, HJ - 2.54m, 400m - 41.97s, 110mH - 12.28s, DT - 78.39,. JT - 100.90m, 1500m - 3:19.44. It is interesting that in the latest tables, a "blanket" best score in the decathlon would not be 1400 points but "only" 9747 points. We can only guess at how that figure was arrived at. Finally, the current world records for the Olympic events score between 1256 (50kmW) and 1369 (4 x 400m relay).

A FESTIVE REMINDER Don’t forget the Mince Pie Relay on the 22nd December at 11:00 a.m. at the Club H.Q. Come in plenty of time to register and be allocated to a team. For the information of newcomers, it’s a relay race, four to a team, round the adjacent field, and therefore pretty flat. It’s fair to say that the event is informal! More time is spent afterwards actually eating mince pies and drinking coffee than is spent running. Feel free to bring a cake or two. If the Editor remembers, he will provide some of his widely-famed rum truffles; three of them will get six points on your licence and half a dozen will get you carried home and put to bed. Comical Hats are optional.

THE RUNNING MORALE BOOSTER

Fort William F.C. have continued as before, still offering consolation to clubs that didn’t have a very good Southern Athletic League Season (like us!). On the 10th November, they went down 13-0 to Fraserburgh. As our Highland League Correspondent, Terry Casey, points out, this ended Fort William’s unbeaten run; however, since their unbeaten run consisted entirely of drawing 3-3 with Clachnacuddin on the Wednesday before, it’s not very noteworthy. In his despatch Terry says that the Fort William Manager suggested that the referee should have gone to Specsavers, but there is some reason to believe that he is making this up. They are on course to do even worse than in 2017-2018, when they played 34 matches, of which they drew 5 and lost 29, scoring 31 goals against 184; their league points were only five, but at least that’s positive.! This year, to date, their figures are played 20, won 0, drawn 2, lost 18, scoring 13 goals against 140, league points -7. Perhaps it’s time to leave them to their grief and just have another look at them later in the season. Our grey-haired members will remember the comedian Frankie Howerd, one of whose catchlines was, “No, don’t; it’s wicked to mock the afflicted!”

CHUMMINESS CORNER

As usual, we greet our readers with birthdays in December or January: Tony Babbs, Elliot Davies, Michaela Davis, Doris De Souza Brady, Joanne Harrison, Amie Harrison, Jean Hobbs, Michelle Hurley, Mary Knapman, Ted Martin, Natalie Newman, Hella Pilla, John Taylor and Lee Wright. Many Happy Returns to them all!

THE LONDON MARATHON PLACE

The Club has ONE place for the London Marathon, 2019. It will be allocated to a failed ballot entrant or to a person who has done most for Loughton Athletic Club this year, the decision being taken at the Mince Pie Relay on the 22nd December. Anyone interested in applying should put his or her name on the sheet in the Changing Rooms.

THE DROLL BIT AT THE END

Older (much older) Members may recall a famous television sketch with, I think, John Cleese and the Two Ronnies called “I look up to him” George offers, extracted from another journal, the following modern variant.

Not just athletics, but incisive politico-economic satire.

DOUG FOTHERINGHAM, 1930-2018

Older walking readers in particular will remember Doug Fotheringham, who has recently died at the age of eighty-eight. Although a first-claim member of Belgrave Harriers, Doug competed second-claim for Loughton in the once-thriving Essex Walking League, strongly supported by his late wife Maureen. Doug, an Inspector in the Metropolitan Police, was a Centurion and, in the Veterans’ ranks won several gold and silver medals at World and European level, retiring from international competition in 2007.

George also offers: “I taught my 52-year-old husband how to crack eggs this week. Now he’s a scrambled eggspert” and “A good pun is its own reword.” “Boom,boom!” you might say, but if you think these are painful, wait until he recycles his Christmas cracker jokes! Your Editor, whose strange illness has given him a lot of time to laze about reading, saw this seasonal item in some journal or other: “There are three phrases traditionally connected to Christmas: 1 Peace on Earth; 2 Goodwill to all men; 3 Batteries not included.” We are trying to keep one issue ahead in thinking up the Door Jokes:

GOOD THINGS TO COME

Well, Good Thing, really. This edition of Loughton Lines has been held back for the Ware Cup and a couple of other items; we should be returning to a strict schedule with No.9 in the first week of February, especially if our readers rush their contributions (preferably in English, although this is the International Edition) to Peter.Cassidy@btinternet.com or to Hufflers, Heard’s Lane, Shenfield, BRENTWOOD, CM15 0SF; he also accepts bits of paper!