Grand Prix Winter Reports 2020/2021
Fixtures 2020/2021
Round |
Month |
Date and time |
Race |
1 |
November |
14/11/2020 - 30/11/20 |
Two circuits of Norman Park |
2 |
December |
01/12/2020 - 31/11/20 |
One circuit of Scadbury Park |
3 |
January |
01/01/2021 - 31/01/21 |
Two circuits of Jubilee Park |
RACE REPORTS
Round 1: Norman Park 14/11/20 - 30/11/20
You don’t need me to tell you what an awful year 2020 has been, and the pandemic has affected every one of us in many different ways. Even the simplest of things like running has been turned upside down but, thanks to our committee and to certain amazing individuals, the club has somehow managed to continue to support our family of runners with fantastic videos, challenges and group runs (when permitted). As has been said many times previously and, to crib Carlsberg’s global slogan, PWR is probably the best running club in the world!
The 2019-2020 Grand Prix sadly had to be cancelled after just three rounds back in March, and since then competitive events have been few and far between. But just when it looked like 2020 would be a year to forget racing-wise, along came the announcement of a three-round Winter Grand Prix! The brainchild of Richard Dunstan, we can at last compete against each other on the same courses without breaking any rules. Three courses, one a month, with runners able to tackle them as many times as they like and then submit their best times. There are overall trophies to be won, but more importantly we are able to push ourselves again and rejoice in some much missed contact and banter!
Round 1 was two laps around Norman Park in November. To spice things up and to try and stop any runaway series winners, the organisers reserved the right to change the groups after this round of anyone who they felt was too quick for their group. So, you couldn’t be sure who you would actually be competing against! A huge vote of confidence in this mini series was seen in the numbers signing up for it, 116, and only 6 not taking part in the first round.
Group 1 (6 runners)
Nathan Webster and Mark Griffin kindly agreed to be promoted to this group which boosts the numbers to six and means there will be trophies up for grabs for the first three places, not just the winner. I admire their kindness but, looking at how quickly the others in the group lapped Norman Park I fear their mantelpieces will be empty come the end of the championship.
On the opening day Kev Howarth wouldn’t reveal how quick he had run, suffice to say it was sub-14 minutes. At some point later in the month he actually recorded a scintillating 12:31 to set the fastest time and top the table after the opening round. Thankfully, Dave Adams (12:40) and Adam Wilkinson (12:46) were very close behind which is great news for the remaining rounds. Andy Tippett (13:48), Webster (14:07) and Griffin (14:31) completed the top six.
Group 2 (8 runners)
With Webster and Griffin moving up into Group 1, it was Stephen Pond (14:45) who set the pace in Group 2. The reigning Group 1 GP Champion was 7s quicker than 2nd-placed Paul Kelly (15:52) who was just 3s quicker than Oliver Hitch (14:55). Paul Whelan (15:05), Paul Haylock (15:08) and David Moore (15:09) completed the top six.
Group 3 (10 runners)
The younger Pond, Matthew, led the way in Group 3 like his dad had in Group 2 with a 15:17. All the groups are close (that’s how they have been decided!) so Carl Inman (15:20) and Jeremy Benson (15:25) were not far behind in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Emma Crawford (15:26) in 4th is the highest placed lady in the Winter GP and headed home Marcus Elwes (15:27) and Lucy Drury (15:29).
Group 4 (9 runners)
Abey Alexander (16:02) was a “comfortable” 14s clear of Jenny Leng (16:16) and her hubby Paul (16:21). Ian Bauly (16:22) and Jonathan Bond (16:23) followed in quick succession ahead of three runners, Chloe Weaver, Steve Burnett and Viral Tanna with an identical time of 16:25!
Group 5 (9 runners)
James Wall (16:31) led the way in this group from Kate Eperon (16:32) and Paul Strachan (16:33). Next up were David Welfare (16:36), Natalie Jacques (16:37) and Mark Burgess (16:41).
Group 6 (9 runners)
Stephen Robson (17:02), in a much lower group than you would normally expect to find him in, leads Group 6 from Jamie Trillow (17:11), Peter Fisher (17:18), Martin Smith (17:22), Jackie York (17:36) and Andrew Stubbs (17:39).
Group 7 (9 runners)
Group 7’s runner to beat is currently Robert Rolfe (18:06) from Lianne Flynn (18:15) and Rob White (18:16). Neil Sutton (18:26), Ellen Ball (18:31) and current GP Group 4 Champion Laura Elvin (18:48) complete the top six.
Group 8 (8 runners)
Louis Strover (19:02), Maxine Horsfield (19:04) and Oscar Engles (19:16) topped the round 1 podium, with Alice Neal (19:22), Liz Delamain (19:24) and reigning GP Group 8 Champ Olivia Senbanjo (19:27) ready to pounce if the leaders should have an off day.
Group 9 (11 runners)
David Allison (20:03) tops Group 9 from Sally Callaghan (20:13) and Rob Lillywhite (20:15). Monica Lungu (20:23) is next up from Emma Horan (20:28) in 5th from two equally matched competitors, Prema Reddy and Yolanda Martinez, who both clocked a 20:35.
Group 10 (12 runners)
Group 10 has Simon Gleeson (21:02) in pole position with Terry Stocks (21:04) and Sharon Wroe (21:05) in close attendance. Eadaoin Miller (21:06), Paula Richards (21:11) and Julie Medhurst (21:26) are next up.
Group 11 (12 runners)
Ann Adams (22:49), Barbara Carr (22:55) and Anita Bowden-Brown (23:01) are setting the pace in Group 11 from Kimiko Broadhurst (23:07), David Goss (23:12) and Susan Deer 923:18).
Group 12 (7 runners)
David Boswell (24:00) leads the way in this group by a comfortable margin from Paul Pester (24:29) and Hannah Harrison (24:35). Mary Moore (25:23), Sue McAdam (25:35) and Chris Summers (25:59) complete the top six.
Report: Mark Burgess
Photos: Kev Howarth and pinched from Facebook
Round 2 at Scadbury Park is now almost over, with conditions very different to that of Norman Park. A single lap of off-road hills and increasingly muddy conditions in Chislehurst instead of the two relatively flat and man-made circuits in Bromley. We’ll have to wait and see what that means to which PWRs come out on top.
The 2019-2020 Grand Prix sadly had to be cancelled after just three rounds back in March, and since then competitive events have been few and far between. But just when it looked like 2020 would be a year to forget racing-wise, along came the announcement of a three-round Winter Grand Prix! The brainchild of Richard Dunstan, we can at last compete against each other on the same courses without breaking any rules. Three courses, one a month, with runners able to tackle them as many times as they like and then submit their best times. There are overall trophies to be won, but more importantly we are able to push ourselves again and rejoice in some much missed contact and banter!
Round 1 was two laps around Norman Park in November. To spice things up and to try and stop any runaway series winners, the organisers reserved the right to change the groups after this round of anyone who they felt was too quick for their group. So, you couldn’t be sure who you would actually be competing against! A huge vote of confidence in this mini series was seen in the numbers signing up for it, 116, and only 6 not taking part in the first round.
Group 1 (6 runners)
Nathan Webster and Mark Griffin kindly agreed to be promoted to this group which boosts the numbers to six and means there will be trophies up for grabs for the first three places, not just the winner. I admire their kindness but, looking at how quickly the others in the group lapped Norman Park I fear their mantelpieces will be empty come the end of the championship.
On the opening day Kev Howarth wouldn’t reveal how quick he had run, suffice to say it was sub-14 minutes. At some point later in the month he actually recorded a scintillating 12:31 to set the fastest time and top the table after the opening round. Thankfully, Dave Adams (12:40) and Adam Wilkinson (12:46) were very close behind which is great news for the remaining rounds. Andy Tippett (13:48), Webster (14:07) and Griffin (14:31) completed the top six.
Group 2 (8 runners)
With Webster and Griffin moving up into Group 1, it was Stephen Pond (14:45) who set the pace in Group 2. The reigning Group 1 GP Champion was 7s quicker than 2nd-placed Paul Kelly (15:52) who was just 3s quicker than Oliver Hitch (14:55). Paul Whelan (15:05), Paul Haylock (15:08) and David Moore (15:09) completed the top six.
Group 3 (10 runners)
The younger Pond, Matthew, led the way in Group 3 like his dad had in Group 2 with a 15:17. All the groups are close (that’s how they have been decided!) so Carl Inman (15:20) and Jeremy Benson (15:25) were not far behind in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Emma Crawford (15:26) in 4th is the highest placed lady in the Winter GP and headed home Marcus Elwes (15:27) and Lucy Drury (15:29).
Group 4 (9 runners)
Abey Alexander (16:02) was a “comfortable” 14s clear of Jenny Leng (16:16) and her hubby Paul (16:21). Ian Bauly (16:22) and Jonathan Bond (16:23) followed in quick succession ahead of three runners, Chloe Weaver, Steve Burnett and Viral Tanna with an identical time of 16:25!
Group 5 (9 runners)
James Wall (16:31) led the way in this group from Kate Eperon (16:32) and Paul Strachan (16:33). Next up were David Welfare (16:36), Natalie Jacques (16:37) and Mark Burgess (16:41).
Group 6 (9 runners)
Stephen Robson (17:02), in a much lower group than you would normally expect to find him in, leads Group 6 from Jamie Trillow (17:11), Peter Fisher (17:18), Martin Smith (17:22), Jackie York (17:36) and Andrew Stubbs (17:39).
Group 7 (9 runners)
Group 7’s runner to beat is currently Robert Rolfe (18:06) from Lianne Flynn (18:15) and Rob White (18:16). Neil Sutton (18:26), Ellen Ball (18:31) and current GP Group 4 Champion Laura Elvin (18:48) complete the top six.
Group 8 (8 runners)
Louis Strover (19:02), Maxine Horsfield (19:04) and Oscar Engles (19:16) topped the round 1 podium, with Alice Neal (19:22), Liz Delamain (19:24) and reigning GP Group 8 Champ Olivia Senbanjo (19:27) ready to pounce if the leaders should have an off day.
Group 9 (11 runners)
David Allison (20:03) tops Group 9 from Sally Callaghan (20:13) and Rob Lillywhite (20:15). Monica Lungu (20:23) is next up from Emma Horan (20:28) in 5th from two equally matched competitors, Prema Reddy and Yolanda Martinez, who both clocked a 20:35.
Group 10 (12 runners)
Group 10 has Simon Gleeson (21:02) in pole position with Terry Stocks (21:04) and Sharon Wroe (21:05) in close attendance. Eadaoin Miller (21:06), Paula Richards (21:11) and Julie Medhurst (21:26) are next up.
Group 11 (12 runners)
Ann Adams (22:49), Barbara Carr (22:55) and Anita Bowden-Brown (23:01) are setting the pace in Group 11 from Kimiko Broadhurst (23:07), David Goss (23:12) and Susan Deer 923:18).
Group 12 (7 runners)
David Boswell (24:00) leads the way in this group by a comfortable margin from Paul Pester (24:29) and Hannah Harrison (24:35). Mary Moore (25:23), Sue McAdam (25:35) and Chris Summers (25:59) complete the top six.
Report: Mark Burgess
Photos: Kev Howarth and pinched from Facebook
Round 2 at Scadbury Park is now almost over, with conditions very different to that of Norman Park. A single lap of off-road hills and increasingly muddy conditions in Chislehurst instead of the two relatively flat and man-made circuits in Bromley. We’ll have to wait and see what that means to which PWRs come out on top.
Round 2: Scadbury Park 01/12/20 - 31/12/20
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Report: Mark Burgess
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Report: Mark Burgess
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Round 3: Jubilee Park 01/01/21 - 31/01/21
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Report: Mark Burgess
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Report: Mark Burgess
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