February 2025
Howdy Ranelights.
Despite it’s reputation as the weariest month of the year, our February has been jam packed with racing, mud, cake & pasta! The latter thanks to the fabulous turn out at our recent clubhouse social, where everyone gathered post training to enjoy food delivered by Pasta Evangelists. A huge thank you to our social secretaries Hadi & Sue for a great job organising.
Quite a bit to cover in this month’s comms, so please read on…
1. REGISTER NOW ⬇️
▪️ South Downs Way 100 Mile Relay | Saturday 7 June: We’re looking for competitive runners who’d like to be part of our 2 teams. Men, women, seniors, vets – ALL ARE WELCOME. Please don’t think you’re not fast enough or won’t make the team. We’ll need reserves and drivers too! Simply fill in this short Google Form @ https://bit.ly/sdw-relay ⬅️
▪️ Clutton Cup Handicap | Saturday 8 March @ 2pm & Baker Cup Handicap | Saturday 5 April @ 3pm: Entries are open @ https://bit.ly/clutton2025 ⬅️ and https://bit.ly/baker2025 ⬅️ for our next two handicap races in Richmond Park. Further details to follow but don’t miss out on signing up now. Also a reminder that the Baker Cup Supper will be from 6pm; details & venue TBC very soon.
2. THREE LINE WHIP ⬇️
▪️ Ranelagh vs Orion Mob Match | Saturday 1 March @ 2pm | Richmond Park: Let’s continue our winning mob streak and make it THREE in a row. We need every single Ranelagh Harrier to take arms against the inevitable coach load of Orion Harriers. Full details @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/mob-orion-2025/ ⬅️
▪️parkrun takeover | Saturday 15 March @ 9am | Richmond Park: Further details to follow very soon but all are welcome to be part of the blue & amber wave as Ranelagh takes over all volunteering duties at Richmond Park parkrun. A chance to give back, followed by lots of cake, coffee & chats at Pembroke Lodge after.
▪️Ranelagh vs Blackheath Mob Match | Saturday 22 March | Norman Park: Further details to follow but for now please just save the date. Expect lots of mud, not very many Blackheath runners but nevertheless, we still need everyone to run, especially if we’re successful against Orion 🤞
3. FIXTURES
You can find the full list of our 2024/2025 fixtures @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/fixtures-2024-2025/ ⬅️
🏔️ 🏔️ English National XC Champs | Saturday 22 Feb @ Parliament Hill: Back to that hill again, and the holy grail of cross-country venues that is Parliament Hill. We were last there for the SEAA London XC Champs, and it was as challenging as expected. Entries are closed but it is also one of the best places for supporting/spectating, so please come along anyway to cheer our runners on. For further info, please contact your Captains.
4. RACE REPORTS:
🏔️ Surrey XC League #4 | Saturday 8 Feb | Women @ Epsom Downs: Women’s Captain Suzy Whatmough writes:
Last Saturday saw the Ranelagh Women competing in the final Surrey League race this season in Epsom Downs. We had 10 women taking on this varied 8km course of mud, sand and gravel. We had been maintaining a steady 8th place in the league up until this match, but with a few injuries and drop-outs, it was looking like it might be tough to maintain this in the final match. However, a strong team of Cordelia Parker, Cecily Day, Agnes Nagy, Edel McKeever, and Clare Fowler ran well and we finished 9th overall in the league. This keeps us safely in division 1 for another year. Belgrave took the overall win again, followed by Herne Hill, and Thames Hare and Hound. We wave farewell to Reigate, Epsom and Ewell, and Dorking & Mole Valley, who drop down to division 2.
Our B team on Saturday consisted of Claire Warner (her best ever league performance and getting very close to the A team), Rebecca Bissell, Carol Aikin, Clare Day, and Sally Bamford.
Well done to all the women taking part in the Surrey league races this year!
🏔️ Surrey XC League #4 | Saturday 8 Feb | Men @ Lloyd Park: Men’s Captain James Riley writes:
Lloydstock ‘25: Ah, Lloyd Park. A venue so synonymous with cross-country suffering that it practically oozes character—along with an impressive amount of mud. It was classic Lloyd Park conditions: thick, energy-sapping sludge, the kind that turns every step into a full-body workout and makes you wonder why you didn’t take up chess instead. Think Woodstock ‘99 levels of chaos – minus the riots, but with just as much mud (and arguably worse hygiene by the end).
To make things even more challenging, we were missing five of our ten A-team scorers from the first fixture due to a combination of illness, injury, and ill-advised travel plans. So, the odds were against us. But when have we ever let logic get in the way of a good day’s racing?
The A-Team Strides (or, more accurately, Slides) Through the Sludge: Despite the tough conditions, Joe Killip led the charge once again, proving that not even ankle-deep mud can slow him down. He stormed home in 7th place, securing his spot as 2nd overall in the Surrey League this season – absolute class. Behind him, Jonathan Smith delivered his usual pacing masterclass to finish 20th, just pipping Dave Lawley by a single second and cementing his place as 5th V35 for the season. Dave was next home in 21st, claiming 4th V40 on the day, continuing his streak of feigning illness on Tuesday and going hard come race day.
Just behind, Marc Leyshon (26th) put in another strong showing, bagging 7th V40, while Joel Peirson-Hagger (39th) and Chris Davidson (40th) were locked in a battle tighter than their mud-soaked laces, neither willing to give an inch. James Riley (47th) led the charge for the V45s, just about keeping his feet when many around him didn’t (apologies, Rudyard). David Ready (56th), Graham Brook (58th), and a VERY determined Mark Herbert (77th) rounded out our A-team scorers, ensuring Ranelagh’s blue was well represented at the front end of the field.
The Usual B-Team Brilliance in the Never-Ending Mud: Further back, Matt Hirschler (87th) and Graham Weller (90th, 2nd V50) continued their solid form, while Sam Roberts (131st), Edward Forbes (132nd), Andy Star (141st), Ed Smith (149th), James Ritchie (156th), Alex Ring (164th), Neil Rae (183rd), and Hadi Khatamizadeh (216th) ensured that Ranelagh had numbers deep into the field. A massive effort all round.
A Strong Team Effort & Season Wrap-Up: As runners staggered across the line, caked in Lloyd Park’s finest sludge, the numbers were tallied. A 4th place finish – but an absolute battle to earn it and an impressive result given the key absences. Croydon sprang a surprise on their home turf, finishing 2nd and pushing Clapham Chasers into 3rd, showing that local knowledge (and a lot of mud training, maybe) can be a game-changer.
Overall, we finished 3rd across the season, a fantastic achievement and one that sets up an exciting battle next year. We look forward to a well-matched showdown with Woking and Epsom & Ewell next season – bring it on! But first, some marathons, trails, and the small matter of the Surrey Road League!
Season Standout Performances & Silverware: As the mud settled on another season, it was time to acknowledge some huge individual efforts:
▪️Joe Killip: Winner of the Ranelagh Men’s Surrey League Open Trophy – a phenomenal season.
▪️Dave Lawley: Ranelagh V40 Champion – proving that speed doesn’t fade with age, just the ability (or is that willingness?) to perform on Tuesday.
▪️Graham Weller: Ranelagh V50 Champion and 3rd overall in the Surrey League V45 rankings – a masterclass in consistency.
Next stop: The Nationals. More mud. Bigger hills. Fiercer competition. And, if history is any guide, at least one person will lose a shoe within the first mile. See you at the start line… if we ever get our spikes clean.
5: IT’S NEARLY TIME:
Update from the Kit Committee
We’re still waiting for final confirmation and shipping timings, but we’re hoping to be able to launch our new kit at a special event with drinks and nibbles on Friday 28th from 6pm. For now, please save the date and we’ll be in touch with more details ASAP.
6. TRAINING:
You’ve got this!
Although the days are getting a bit longer, we’d still recommend staying safe & visible, ideally with lights or a head torch and reflective/hi-vis clothing whenever you’re out running, and definitely when training on Tuesdays at the clubhouse and Thursdays at Osterley track.
For Tuesday’s session, please meet at our clubhouse for approx. 7pm; and for Thursday’s track, please meet at Osterley Park track for 7.30pm.
Track is suitable for all abilities, and a great opportunity to run with other members from across all the groups. All sessions are tailored to individual ability, and there’s ZERO of getting lost or not being able to see where you’re going! There’s a great social vibe at track too; the next Thursday Track curry night is March 27th at the nearby Gymkhana social club. All welcome!
A reminder that our marathon-focused sessions, which runs alongside our usual Tuesday group training offering, is free for all members. Simply join the group suitable to your pace & experience. Further info on sessions can be found @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/training/marathon/ ⬅️
7. SAVE & WIN:
An *extra reason* to secure your Early Bird entry to the Ranelagh 10k.
Along with the Ranelagh Half, our 10k is part of the Surrey Road League 2025 Summer Series.
As sponsor of the Ranelagh 10k, James Riley of Run Unbound is offering a FREE 12-week coaching plan for one lucky Early Bird entrant. The winner will benefit from a detailed plan, regularly reviewed and adapted, plus ongoing support and accountability, to ensure you’re on track to meet your goals.
So for the chance to win dedicated coaching time to boost your running, ENTER NOW. Just a little over two weeks before early bird pricing ends on 28 February for the Ranelagh 10k. Don’t miss out on your chance to save & win @ https://bit.ly/ranelagh10k ⬅️
8. ‘EAR ‘EAR:
Give Episode 15 of Season 3 of our favourite podcast, RunAlive, a go.
What’s your motivation to run fast? Is it a sense of achievement or is it because you’ve just got somewhere to be? Be inspired by Gill Bland’s story, one of the RunAlive podcast hosts, of how she ran her first half marathon!
📽️ https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6bavg4t1Xm/?igsh=ZndkeHF4bmU5OGc1 ⬅️
🎙️ https://www.runalive.co.uk/episodes/gillbland ⬅️
Join host Ed Perry as Gill shares her transformation from a non-athlete to a marathon winner, and how running is her “me time” in the busyness of life as a mother. Hear about the importance of community in Gill’s running career, including how moving to a new village and connecting with a local running group profoundly impacted her life and running practice.
1️⃣ Details @ www.runalive.co.uk ⬅️
2️⃣ Subscribe @ https://open.spotify.com/show/2sVes1jFMwSvFe8SfI5Sj0 ⬅️ or wherever you get your podcasts from.
3️⃣ Join @ https://strava.app.link/ocOMIV5y5Fb ⬅️
9. NOTICES:
💙 SHARE:
Your running or running related celebrations & achievements in our ‘General Club Chat’ group. Please join via WhatsApp Community or this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Jyn19UwOCk7BoVRBqBPnW6 ⬅️ We love seeing what you get up to!
