Author: smoggypaul

I’d just like to let all members know that the Club has received ONE London Marathon entry, and TWO Brighton Marathon entries, to be allocated at the AGM according to the published guidelines. Fees will apply to whoever takes up the tickets

Hugh and Mark are members of the LDWA, the Long Distance Walking Association, and Hugh has asked me to draw people’s attention to the possibilities offered for long trail runs by this group, which despite the title is open to people running their routes.

There are two specific runs that Hugh wants to draw attention to, for which I’ve now created Events.

The first is the Tanners 20 or 30 mile trail in January.

The other is the Punchbowl Marathon, another 20 or 30 mile trail in February.

If anyone is interested in taking part in either of these, or any other LDWA trail, then contact Hugh or Mark directly and if there is enough interest we’ll look at arranging transport.

For all those wondering about the full name of the monthly Handicap, The Grace Wells Handicap, puzzle no more. Jackie Griffiths has kindly written an explanatory piece which explains who Grace was, which you can find here.

Jackie cleared this with Graces daughter beforehand, and it’s good for some of us ‘recent’ members to get an insight into the early days of the Club and the characters of the people who made big contributions in getting the Club going and sustaining it. If anyone else has some memories of the Clubs early days that should be shared then email them to me and I’ll share them with everyone.

Thanks Jackie!

…..there’s time to look forward to another annual Henfield Joggers event – the Festive Run! Tiddly Tinselly Joggers, whatever next!

Well after a wet Saturday and a rotten forecast, the heavens stayed where they should be and conditions were pretty good for this final race of the 2013 West Sussex Fun Run League season. Starting at Lancing Manor Leisure Centre, adjacent to the A24, the route is unremittingly, but steadily rather than steeply, upward. Winding along the trails until eventually you top out at the trig point on top of Steepdown, looking down at Lancing College and, we didn’t expect, a hazy view of the Channel, at which point the route, bar one little ‘uptick’, the track is downwards and more downwards. Save it up for next year, it’s lovely!
Alan Barwick         40:11

Brian Turrell.         41:46

Paul Crowe.           46:04

Yes its that time of year again and all Henfield Joggers are encouraged to attend this years AGM and participate in the running of your Club!

In a rare display of formality, all members are advised to check the published guidelines covering the allocation of any Marathon places obtained by the Club. It is a benefit covering all paid up memberships.

What on earth was I doing here? After spending 4 of the last 6 weeks out of the

country and in as diverse places as France, USA, Dubai (momentarily) and the Philippines, my last week was spent in an hotel gym each morning in Manila,in extreme humidity despite air-con. Staging through Dubai on Friday it was 35c and sunny……I could feel the heat through the glass of the air bridge as I swapped aeroplanes. And then, the sudden, sodden, realisation that I was home, and this was autumn. Waking up to persistent drizzle, that hardened to persistent rain. What a lovely day for getting out and running. I confess, as I waited wetly under a tree opposite the grandstand at Hickstead Showground, that I swore a bit. What was I doing here (you’ve already said that, get on with it-Ed). Top marks to Brian B and Rosie who also braved the weather, and I’m sure I glimpsed

Alan Barwick on the course too! Who said Fun Runs had to be Fun! This is one of those courses that is difficult to pin down, as it’s a bit of everything, made more extreme by the weather. Multi-terrain, ranging from long grass, muddy wet puddles, slippery short grass, and stony trails…..it isn’t flat (433 feet of ascent) though not exactly ‘hilly’ (undulating would be a good description). The course sort of spirals out, meaning you repeat going through the start multiple times, the laps getting longer each time as you loop further away. It’s teasing, you’re never sure if THIS time it’s the Finish, which when it comes is a pleasant and sudden (sodden!) surprise. I’m glad I did it, “welcome

home and suck it up, it gets worse from here in”, appeared to be the message. I got it, right, I got it!

Results:

42:20    –  Alan Barwick

46:27    –  Paul Crowe

52:05    –  Michael Dee

1:08:03 –  Brian Bracey

They’re in! Click here for details.

The classic 6 mile around the village route. Variations and shortcuts can be made – particularly for those who have just done a marathon