Club XC Championship Results
INTRO
As winter seemingly throws it’s last gasp toward us, another XC season finally draws to a close. Except that any of us running parkruns recently might take a different view on that, as they all seem to have morphed into muddy wet XC courses at the moment!
The 2017/2018 Oxfordshire XC League season again started at the relatively benign Newbury course, followed by a hastily convened flattish course at Carterton, the dual event of the County Championships at a slightly more testing Adderbury, and the eventual finale on a muddy hilly ‘proper XC’ course at Swindon, which many of us enjoyed particularly.
A fine season was had in the League, despite the unavoidable cancellation of the home Farmoor fixture, on account of the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ and the club had some tremendous individual and team results and prizes, which will be posted on the website separately.
This present report reflects on the efforts of all runners in the ERR club XC Championship, which highlights and rewards merit based on both attendance and improvement.
SCORING AND PARTICIPATING
The Eynsham XC Championship is designed to reward improvement on the previous season (or from the start of the current season for new members). This year we incorporated two changes to the scoring system. Firstly a difficulty rating was calculated for all of the courses to assist with calculating the ‘base pace’ (or handicap) more fairly, and scores are now calculated by percentage improvement on your ‘handicap’ base pace, rather than by absolute minutes and seconds. Again this makes the system fairer. The best 3 of 4 races counted, meaning anyone who ran at least 3 could qualify. In a 5 season race, it will be the best 4 races to score.
So, firstly, well done to all the 43 ERRs who raced this season. Another fine turnout from the club. I know I enjoyed being part of it, and I really hope we’ll see more members next year. One idea being mooted is to make the club tent area even more social and inviting, by having tea and coffee urns, and the odd camping chair or three!
The club were hugely successful at the competitive end of the Oxfordshire League this season too, and those many prizes and achievements will be posted separately.
With regards the 2017/2018 Club XC Championships, congratulations are extended to Nick and Laura Leach who were Men’s and Ladies’ XC Champs respectively, with Nick taking the overall title. Pete Green was Men’s runner up, with Tom Baker taking 3rd place. Tess Evans was the Ladies’ runner-up, and Alison Craggs taking 3rd place. This system really does reflect improvement so well done to all of our prize-winners, but also those others who came close. Don’t be downhearted if you’re closer to the bottom of the table – ’tis only a symptom that you can remedy by running more races next season!
Special mention goes to those who ran all 4 races (the 100%ers). XC is as much a social gathering as anything else, and it makes a big difference on many levels to see people there, race in, race out. 100% commitment awards will therefore be presented to the following: Nick Leach, Tom Baker, Katherine Bates, Dan Lewis, Graham Bridges, Mark Creasey, Robert Storey, Keith Baker, Dave Ferrier, Hannah Hale and Benedict Pollard. Can we get up to 20 100%ers next season??
ERR CLUB XC CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE
| RUNNER | M/F | RACES | TOTALS | BEST 3 RACES | PODIUM | 100% (all 4 races) |
| Nick Leach | M | 4 | 199 | 150 | OVERALL & MEN’S CHAMPION | YES |
| Laura Leach | F | 3 | 144 | 144 | LADIES’ CHAMPION | |
| Peter Green | M | 3 | 144 | 144 | 2nd MEN | |
| Tess Evans | F | 3 | 140 | 140 | 2nd LADIES | |
| Tom Baker | M | 4 | 171 | 137 | 3rd MEN | YES |
| Alison Craggs | F | 3 | 135 | 135 | 3rd LADIES | |
| Katherine Bates | F | 4 | 162 | 128 | YES | |
| Jane Garton | F | 3 | 119 | 119 | ||
| Arthur McEwan-James | M | 3 | 118 | 118 | ||
| Ewan MacDonald | M | 3 | 115 | 115 | ||
| Liz McAllister | F | 3 | 114 | 114 | ||
| Dan Lewis | M | 4 | 135 | 108 | YES | |
| Dafydd Warburton | M | 3 | 107 | 107 | ||
| Graham Bridges | M | 4 | 135 | 105 | YES | |
| Jacky Pinnock | F | 3 | 101 | 101 | ||
| Howard Humphris | M | 3 | 99 | 99 | ||
| Mark Creasey | M | 4 | 120 | 98 | YES | |
| Robert Storey | M | 4 | 121 | 98 | YES | |
| Jon Cox | M | 3 | 95 | 95 | ||
| Keith Baker | M | 4 | 111 | 95 | YES | |
| Dave Ferrier | M | 4 | 106 | 91 | YES | |
| Hannah Hale | F | 4 | 107 | 90 | YES | |
| Richard Hume | M | 2 | 90 | 90 | ||
| Florence Storey | F | 2 | 86 | 86 | ||
| Kate Allred | F | 2 | 82 | 82 | ||
| Nick Hardwick | M | 3 | 82 | 82 | ||
| Benedict Pollard | M | 4 | 95 | 81 | YES | |
| Mark Baker | M | 2 | 77 | 77 | ||
| Tara Lawfull | F | 2 | 76 | 76 | ||
| Tom Weller | M | 2 | 72 | 72 | ||
| Cecilia Dahlsjo | F | 2 | 69 | 69 | ||
| Owen Hughes | M | 2 | 59 | 59 | ||
| Tony Whitlock | M | 2 | 58 | 58 | ||
| Sean Duvall | M | 1 | 47 | 47 | ||
| Simon Walker | M | 1 | 44 | 44 | ||
| Tristan Hale | M | 2 | 44 | 44 | ||
| Jane Whitlock | F | 1 | 42 | 42 | ||
| Anna Mackin | F | 1 | 39 | 39 | ||
| Derek Breaker | M | 1 | 38 | 38 | ||
| Alison Berrett | F | 1 | 33 | 33 | ||
| Martin Johnson | M | 1 | 33 | 33 | ||
| Stan Johnston | M | 1 | 32 | 32 | ||
| Steve Butler | M | 1 | 29 | 29 |
FINAL WORD – BRINGING THE CLUB TOGETHER
As the club has grown from strength to strength in recent years, more and more members have joined up from towns and villages outside of Eynsham’s immediate environs (perhaps we could informally call those our satellite runners, of which I am now one, being a temporary Swinbrookian !). This speaks healthily as to both the sociability and competitive aspects of this fine club, and it is wonderful that the club is extending its welcome outwards in this way, as much as it is to see so many runners seeing the quality of Eynsham as a home club and runners’ destination. It is also noticeable to those of us who run XC, just how many of our ‘satellite runners’ do regularly race XC but might perhaps not be regulars on our main club night on a Wednesday. The club would love to see the ‘satellites’ in Eynsham on a Wednesday evening from time to time, and hope you can make it along occasionally, especially now that the summer running hours are with us, and we explore some of the more inspiring tracks and trails around the countryside.
Remember also that Ian Keeley runs a great speedwork session every Tuesday, meeting at 6:30pm at the Chilbridge roundabout (see his recent email for more details on that, and his regular updates). I for one will be committing to that more this year, as I know from experience it’s value as very knowledgeable training and coaching. There’s also the increasingly well-attended Sunday Long Runs, meeting at 9am from the Back Lane car park, Eynsham, where folks will do anything from a shorter 5 or 6 up to the 18-20+ miles for marathon trainees and others.
This is equally an invitation to all those Wednesday club regulars to come along to one or two (or all!!) of the cross country fixtures next season, meet some of the other club members you may not know, and help make XC more like a club Wednesday gathering too!
So,who’s going to offer to help with tea and coffee by the club tent at the Newbury fixture in November and help keep us warm and chatty? I have a fine camping chair I’ll bring … Volunteers do get in touch with me …
So, here’s wishing you all a healthy and fit year full of achievement and encouragement out on the roads, track or the trails. Get yourself along to the Club Champs and Grand Prix fixtures, and remember to get your motavation forms in to Roger Gascoigne this week!
There will be a XC prize-giving in the next month or so, so keep your eyes out for further announcements.
Best,
Benedict Pollard
Men’s Captain.
April 2nd 2018
