May Reminders
Howdy Ranelights.
May’s days are counting down and it will soon be June; meaning it won’t be long before we’re then into July and the 2nd half of 2025! Cue tiny gasp of horror…
Time flies indeed, especially when you’re having fun; so let’s not wish the time away as we’ve certainly been having lots of fun in Ranelagh-land.
We believe it’s been primarily Type I fun, but for some, it’s certainly been of the Type II variety, which is defined as, ‘miserable while it’s happening, but fun in retrospect; usually beginning with the best intentions, until things get carried away’.
That resonate much?
Onwards and upwards though for a few reminders and a round-up of what’s been happening in the last few weeks….
1. RANELAGH HALF & 10K
▪️THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE OUR HALF A HUGE SUCCESS. It took the collective might of everyone in our club - and beyond - to realise this awesome event.
You can find the race report, full results & club results @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/news/ranelaghhalf2025 ⬅️
▪️RANELAGH 10K: Next up on Sunday 22 June is our annual 10K, and as with the half, we really need everyone’s help on the day. Duties include helping out pre-race (from 7am), marshalling (from 8.45 - 10.30am) & post race (until 12pm).
Whatever time you can give is deeply appreciated; just please let us know ASAP by filling in this short form @ https://bit.ly/RanelaghVolunteer ⬅️
2. fixtures⬇️
▪️Coad Cup Handicap | Tuesday 27 May @ 7pm | Richmond Park: 5 mile handicap race open to all members, suitable for all abilities, you must enter by Friday 23 May @ https://bit.ly/coad-2025 ⬅️ Please note, NO on the day entries allowed.
If you’re not running, please consider volunteering from 6.30 - 8.15pm. Duties are very light; plus it’s a great opportunity to cheer/heckle your club mates on. Please email coordinator@ranelagh-harriers.co.uk ⬅️ or message Narissa via WhatsApp Community ASAP.
Quick peek at the first week of June:
▪️Dorking 10 | Sunday 1 June @ 9am | Dorking: Fixture 3 in the Surrey Road League; and to clear any confusion it’s 10 MILES; not 10K. COME ON RANELAGH! Entries @ https://www.dmvac.org/dorking-tens/ ⬅️
▪️Wimbledon Trail Series Race 2 | Wednesday 4 June @ 7pm | Wimbledon Common: Second race in Ranelagh’s very own Andy Bickerstaff’s popular summer trail series, featuring 5 miles through scenic Wimbledon Common.
Starting at the iconic windmill; all finishers receive what is simply the ugliest design ever seen on a mug, plus chocolate bar and fruit. Plenty of prizes (when Andy gets it right); please wear a club vest. All entrants must be 17 or over.
Info & entries @ https://www.goodrunguide.co.uk/RaceDetails.asp?RaceID=32635 ⬅️
▪️THH Parkland Relays | Wednesday 4 June @ 7pm | Richmond Park: Fast, furious and (Type II) fun for teams of 3, with each runner taking on 4.5km per leg. Our women shone last year; and our men not far behind. For entries/info, please contact your captains or respond to Teamer.
All 2024/2025 fixtures @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/fixtures-2024-2025/ ⬅️
3. Recent racing ⬇️
🎡 Wimbledon Trail Series Race 1 | Wednesday 7 May @ 7pm | Wimbledon Common: On a sunny May day, with a gentle wind to help cool the runners, 15 Ranelaghs took to the bone dry paths of Wimbledon to fly the club’s flag, at the first of Andy Bickerstaff’s popular summer 5 mile trail races.
Shout out to: Joe Killip (27:46 | 3rd overall), David Lawley (30:01 | 4th MV40), Olaf Wasternack (31:19), Ed Smith (33:21), Malcolm Davies (34:46 1st MV50), Edel McKeever (37:04 | 4th LV40), Ben Shore (38:15), Bruce McLaren (38:56), Robert Wise (39:10 | 3rd MV60), Jeremy Day (40:10), Clare Day (42:11 | 3rd LV50), Maia Rushby (49:10), Sally Bamford (47:23 | 2nd LV60), Colette Doran (47:39) and Peter Fordham (55:26 | 3rd MV70)
🕺 Green Belt Relay | Saturday & Sunday 17 & 18 May | London: 4 teams, 44 runners, 5 vans, 3 dedicated drivers, 2 water station disco divas and the love & heart of our entire club behind us; Ranelagh romped home, winning the Green Belt, the men's category, the women's category and the Queen of the Mountains prize.
Shout out also to our Vets team who came a strong 2nd place in their category; clocking 50 mins + faster than the year before!
So much fab racing & strong performances from everyone plus ELEVEN stage wins from Lizzie Broughton, Sarah Palmer, Edel McKeever, Peter Robins (2 stage wins), Marc Leyshon, Eirin McDaid (& course record), James Whistler, Joe Killip, Jonathan Smith, David Ready & Ross MacDonald.
Well done everyone! Race report coming soon…
🦸♀️ World Record Achievement | 17 & 18 May | South Wales Traverse: The biggest of shout outs to Sally Minchella, who’s quietly rewritten the record books.
Having missed the cutoff last year when the weather turned, she came back to finish the job and over the weekend, Sally became the first woman to complete a solo and unsupported South Wales Traverse.
Which meant running 120K (with 5,500m of ascent) in 22 hours across some of the most rugged and remote terrain in the UK. No crew. No pacers. Just a small pack, enough food to get her through, streams for water - and a whole lot of determination.
Well done Sally - you’re simply incredible.
🍰 Hogsmill 5 | Sunday 18 May: Fab ladies-only event organised by Epsom AllSorts. Congratulations to Jackie Dunkley (55:28 | 6th in category), Penny Merrett (59:17 | 5th in category) & Su Clark (1:03:25) for flying the Ranelagh flag.
💪 Goring Gap Trail 50K | Sunday 18 May: Kudos to Kelly Thomas on completing her first ultra in style, supported by Paul & Louise Wapshott, Becca Ireland and Deborah Blakemore. Well done Kelly!
4. TRAINING ⬇️
To our new joiners, those on a taster session and our C25k beginners; a BIG HELLO - welcome to Ranelagh. We hope you enjoy yourselves. To our existing members, please continue to introduce yourselves when you see anyone new; we were all there once!
Summer is definitely here; and the longer days mean fab sessions in the park followed by some much appreciated hydration in the pub after!
A reminder though to dress appropriately (keep cool), to stay hydrated before, during and after all your runs and training sessions (but also don’t drink too much!), and to allow plenty of time for your body to adjust and aclimatise.
Do check in on each other, especially as the heat and humidity increases and if you feel faint, dizzy or not well, please slow down or stop running.
Also, tick season will soon be upon us; so please take the appropriate precautions by covering legs, wearing insect repellent and checking for ticks after running in the park.
Detailed info can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/642bec29fbe620000f17dbbe/Tick-awareness-A5-leaflet-April-2023.pdf ⬅️
A reminder that for Tuesday's session, please meet at our clubhouse for 7pm; and for Thursday's track, please meet at Osterley Park track for 7.30pm.
5. CLUB SUBS ⬇️
A gentle reminder, if you haven’t already, to please renew your subs for 2025/2026 as soon as possible using the account details below:
Beneficiary Bank: HSBC
Sort code: 40-23-29
Account Number: 81109847
Account Name: Ranelagh Harriers
For any other methods of payment, please go to www.ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/join-info.
Should you have any queries regarding renewing your membership, please email the Membership Secretary.
NOTE: By paying your subs, you agree go to the England Athletics site, to accept and abide by the relevant codes of conduct relating to your role(s) within the club.
6. NOTICES:
💙 Kit Delivery: Thank you to everyone for their patience. The orders have been shipped!!! WOO HOO! As soon as we’ve received it, the kit team will be in touch to distribute.
💛 Quiz Night | 27 June : Quiz. Clubhouse. Food. Fun. Drinks. Further details coming soon.
💙 Ranelagh AGM 8 July @ 7.30pm: All welcome to attend our AGM on Tuesday 8 July. To allow time for this important meeting, training will start a little earlier as a one-off. A separate comms with full details will be shared very soon. This is your club; make your voice (& vote) count so see you there.
💛 Share: Your running or running related celebrations & achievements in our ‘General Club Chat’ group. Please contact Ed or Narissa via WhatsAppCommunity to be added. We love seeing what you get up to!
