Clashing with a number of other local events, the turn out for Sue Hodges' maiden solo hash wasn't quite what it may have been - Woody, Kat and Hands On were over at the North Dorset Villages Marathon, Janus and the Dodge girls were taking on the Honiton Hippo and  Windy Bottom was back racing at the Glastonbury 10km. The few who did turn up all looked keen(!) - Fossil and Coys were knackered after doing the 7 mile long run round the security fences of Sherborne Castle, Mixy was just knackered and Flasher turned up still in the See You Jimmy hat - we thought we'd seen her off at the last one!

We headed off around the Golf Course and out on to the lanes - Sue ignored the sneaky litttle paths and we kept on the road, which led to Warthog Goodman disappearing on every false trail to get a bit of mud under his feet! There was a quick dalliance at Wizard Bridge - had to be done, with Warlock Chaffey and Witch Hazel standing in the river for the photo, leaving Andy to have his photo in the next waterfall - only he didn't know it was the over flow from the Sewerage farm that everyone else could see!

Off over the fields and on to the sweetie stop on Longburton Common before heading off amongst the sheep - CB Hurrell heading in the wrong direction and having to be rounded up - and into the woods. A bit of misdirection and a disappearing arrow meant a bit of wandering about amongst the bluebells - cue a team photo worthy of the Western (must remember to send that photo in!). Sue's local knowledge paid off as she led the way to the P stop - Pavlova and Pimms at her parents' farm!

Photos up on https://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/ThreeElmsHashMay72012PavlovaAndPimmsStop#

Run Replay http://www.runreplay.com/replayFull.aspx?event=1449

At 11am, the only person there to run was Nicky herself - so at least the guest of honour was there, and she was able to don her compulsory hat, a nice "See you Jimmy" tartan affair with ginger wig; worryingly she looked really good in it! Dave Rees ran down from Abbey Manor whilst it wasn't raining (he ran back again afterwards - did he miss the storm?!) and the long distance group runners arrived, and after a quick group photo, it was off. Nicky checked out a long false trail at pace, and it was a shame for the hares (ha ha!) when everyone ran past the first footpath, the sneaky one through someone's garden to Bell Chase, and headed uphill - Mel nearly got to the Asda traffic lights before being called back. Out on the path towards the Westlands social club, everyone humoured the dot making them go under the pedestrian barriers, and then came across a particularly cunning bit of hash laying - needed Mixy to do a bit of subtle sprntimg, "finding" the trail and shouting loudly before the group headed off down Preston Grove.

Janus had a bit of a fall - not run over by a bike as it appears in the photos! Across through Westlands' car park and avoiding the lure of the Golden Arches, the group headed up through Rustywell Park to Hendford Hill and across to Lover's Lane at the side of Ninesprings where the beer stop waited - in honour of the little race taking in the Capital, it was London Pride all round! Adam "Dumbledore" Hawkins willingly posed for the photo with the "Ginger Beard" - honest!

Down through Southwoods (as a result of the hare's house hunting!) and to Goldenstones, before heading over Pen Hill and the "SB" Shortbread Stop - it was that, whisky or haggis, wasn't it?! - before going back over Tesco bridge and back along the Westland footpath and On Inn.

Back in the car park, the clouds blackened over as we watched Woody running laps of the car park until her Garmin reached 20 miles, and offers of lifts were made to Dave Rees, who then ran home - minutes, nay, seconds later the heavens absolutely opened; see the lovely arty photos taken by Richard Janus Dodge from inside of a rain streaked windscreen of the other runners hiding under car boots!

Next hash is just a fortnight away, 6th May at the Three Elms, North Wootton, 11am, Sue Hodges leading.  

 Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/FlasherSFarewellHashApril222012#

http://www.myspace.com/mitchbenn/music/songs/sing-like-an-angel-feat-rick-wakeman-63210149

Rain greeted the hares Mixy and Janus who took to the roads to cunningly hide beer and hot cross buns for later stops, but luckily this stopped by the time the course came to be laid - after all, there's nothing worse than soggy flour ... or hares! Learning from the lessons of the recce the course avoided the more vicious foliage of St Michael's Hill and tried to live up to the billed "5 ish, flattish" didn't stop the laid trail heading up every steep hill all the way round the Tower and Hedgecock before heading across to the Cartgate and the hidden buns - but as time ran out, the last mile was left as a run and it was back to the House to meet the assembled throng.

And a throng it was - despite fears that Easter Day visiting would put off the majority of the usual hashers, there was a good turn out. Warthog was the first on the swings outside the House (nice horsy looking things made out of tyres), swiftly joined by Fossil, fending off rampant injury and who'd already finished the morning's lomg run on his one remaining cartilage, and there were a good number of Chard hashers who had joined us for the day. Heading off across the Park, the group made their way out on to the road and up Hollow Lane, before dropping down to have a look at a Llama and peer at an Alpacha, and then a climb up towards the Tower. It was gratifying for both hares to see the flase trails up the steep hills were fully checked out!

On into the woods of Hedgecock, the group stopped at the old pumping station for jelly babies and then headed down to East Sttoke church, from where it was out across the fields - in deference to usual, the trail did not go through the little muddy bit, though Sadie threatened to push Donna Smith in to the mudd - but the csmera wasn't trained on her so didn't bother. Over the fields, there were good views of the Pinnacle and the Tower in the distance, and the trail led round to the Hot Cross Bun stop - enjoyed by all, though brought rudely to a halt by that Troll jumping out from under the bridge! (From the troll's point of view, looking up through the cracks in the slabs of the bridge from a freezing river to "enjoy" an "up shorts view" of Jakeman's lycra wasn't pleasant either!)

After walking on the public footpath through  that nice house next to the Cartgate, the sneaky hares led the pack along the Cartgate towards Yeovil before nipping down over the bank to Windsor Lane and a beer stop - a good half mile from the hot cross bun stop! A second bun and a can of lager or blue stuff apiece and the pack wobbled on back towards Montacute House - all suitably jaded, particularly hare Mixy whose recent lack of running was more than apparent!

PS There were notable absentees. Lee Holloway was being a good boy, cooking Easter lunch for his lunch and his young lady, whilst all bets were lost that Paul McNeill would be found snuggled up asleep in the loft insulation he was laying!

Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/TheEasterMonkeycuteHash8thApril2012#

Next Hash - Sunday 6th May, 11am - Three Elms, North Wootton - Sue Hodges and Matt Blencowe

If you are coming on Sunday (Montacute House, 11am, park in the overflow car park) then expect a flatttish (ha ha - I'm setting it!) course with some twisty bits, a couple of evil planned moves designed to confuse and a hot cross bun stoop if we can manage it!

A quick trip to Bradford Abbas and there was quickly the start of the struggling - starting to go uphill! Sad, but I found myself adopting Midsummer Dream pace, trying to survive the 6 miles home - walking far too much, deciding that whilst the legs were burning, the chest was thumping, the feet were blistered, it is the injury between the ears that caused the bggest issues!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZm9h_9pkAc

The group headed off down Mudford Road, working hard against the head wind and driving rain - Barnacles Orme and Two-Skin Blencowe to the fore - and ended up at the play area at Yeovil Rec. In the absence of money for a Mocha at the Galley and flour markings (washed out by the rain), we had to trust the hares' explanation that the correct course including the zip-wire and climbing over the pirate ship and down the dragon slide - net result; wet arses all round!

Look at the RunReplay course - looks like we ran miles and the hares have obviously been well trained, as there were some particularly nasty twists - and how they laughed when the whole group ran right down Ilchester Road almost to Yeovil Marsh.. only to get carried away and not notice that the Crane clan were still standing back by the bus stop at the top of the hill! Down to a good beer stop (those hedgehogs will bury anything) and out into the mud (Mixy nearly missing out on a puddle until put right!), before a really nice bit - heading down Marsh Lane, only to round the field, and past the Windy Bottom which gave the man his name, before heading back up hill & come out just feet from where we'd been 10 minutes earlier!

Despite the rain stopping and the sun coming out, the enthusiasm had been used up and so it was a quick trot back along Combe Street Lane and an ad hoc jelly baby stop at the Hundred Stone before the call of On Inn - well done Windy Bottom and Duke for a very enjoyable hash; next time we'll let you have a dry one so more people turn up!

Next hash - Easter Sunday, 8th April - venue to be decided!

RunReplay - http://www.runreplay.com/replay.aspx?event=1322

Photos on: https://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/FleurDeLysHash04032012# 

It was good to see so many Club runners out in force on Tuesday evening - Ellen and I were at the Doctors and so got to "encourage"  various groups around the town - though there is a fine line between encouragement and shouting abuse at them!

Next Hash is this Sunday - 11am at the Fleur de Lys, Mudford Road, 4th March - see you there!

Back in 2003 the Ham Hill Hash (H5) had been inspired by a trip to the Lundy Hash by Martin “Major Clanger” Monaghan and Martin “Mixy” Chaffey, members of the Yeovil Town Road Running Club, and the mix of laid flour trails, shouted instructions and more laid back type of running quickly caught on as a supplement to the “proper” running of the Club’s training nights. The first hash was laid by Mixy and Major Clanger for a group of    , including members of the Bridgwater, Taunton and Blandford hashes who came to help celebrate the inaugural hash. It was good to see a number of the originals back in place on Sunday – Fred “Midflow” and Sue “Grotbags” Fox, Nicky “Flasher” Adcock and Andy “Warthog” Goodman amongst them and we were also joined by Rowland Stibbards, who came out of running retirement for the occasion.

Of the other usual hash suspects, Brian “Sanatogen” Mountjoy-Row, Adam “Dumbledore” Hawkins and Pete  “Hands On” Jakeman were joined by Phil “Fossil” MacQuaid and Mel “Lackov” Dodge, whilst Richard “Janus” Dodge, Deb “Woody” Neal and Deb “Sugar Plum” Stanfield were all apparent in the field of over 40 runners – a cracking turn out.   

Eight years on and H5 100 was led by Mixy and a special “secret hare” – unknown to the members of hash, Major Clanger was back! Years ago Martin Monaghan moved to the Far East (Suffolk to be precise!) but made the pilgrimage back to home ground for the celebration. On the day the weather held fair – temperatures stayed above freezing, although things underfoot were much more interesting for the runners at 11am once the mud had defrosted!

The hares had laid a cunning course across Stoke recreation field – making sure that runners made their way all round the bike track – and then up into the woods on the side of Ham Hill itself. A couple of naughty circular routes later – that Major Clanger has a bit of an evil streak and the course snaked round a bit - and the mud saw a number of people fall over spectacularly – most spectacularly was Matt “Two Skin” Blencowe – wearing his trademark two pairs if socks was no good as he fell flat on his arse and ended up with a perfect circle of mud on the back of his newly shaved head! The jelly baby stop was at the bench we’d run past ten minutes before, overlooking Norton sub Hamdon, and then it was on to Tinker’s Bubble and a quick trip through the waterfall before the climb up Witcombe Valley and a celebration beer stop. With time ticking, the pack headed over towards Hedgecock woods, dropping down to skirt the Prince of Wales pub and around to the Pinnacle atop Ham Hill – a fitting end to Hash 100!

Sliding down the hill (literally in some cases – Karen Edwards, we mean you!) back to the pub the hares apologise for not coming in to join the group for lunch but Clanger had to drive through the snow to Suffolk and I had to get back to my babies – if I’d known about the H5 100 cake, I’d have been in like a shot!

Jon and Matt “Duke” Crane have offered to lay the next hash from the Fleur de Lys, Mudford Road, Yeovil on Sunday 4^th March at 11am – let Jon know if you want to eat there so he can inform the pub.

ADDENDUM TO HASH REPORT: Matt Blencowe's falling ais documented; he has just been diagnosed (2 months later) as having suffered whiplash... which shouldn't really be funny, but....!

I write this with just a week to go until H5 100 – the 100^th running of the Ham Hill Hash, and I’ll be laying the course with the help of a Secret Hare; I’m trying to remember where the course of the inaugural hash went back in 2003 to see if we can recreate it! The Ham Hill Hash came out of a trip with Martin and Tracey Monaghan, Fred and Sue Fox and Steve Church to the Lundy Island Hash, and a cracking weekend later, we realised that this hashing lark was something that would fit in well with the Yeovil Town way of running – though we agreed that perhaps we would dispense with the “down downs” of the true hashers and simply incorporate a beer stop on each run instead. 

The hash names tradition has been upheld – I’m Mixy, due to an unfortunate habit of looking like a rabbit in the headlights, whilst the origins of fellow hash-originator Martin Monaghan’s “Major Clanger” moniker has nothing to do with that funny noise he makes! Many of the names are obvious – Phil “Fossil” MacQuaid, Pete “Hands On” Jakeman – whereas some, like Chris Hurrell’s “CB” or Fred Fox’s “Midflow” take a bit more explaining!

Watch this space for a report of the 100^th hash in due course – about June should do it!

PS have done a recce of the Hash 100 course this morning and it's wet & muddy; only fell over the once, and that was on a walking bit! 

The whole group of hashers were good enough to throw themselves into it, all going down the slide and over the balance beam and seesaw, before heading down Blackberry Lane and out of Sherborne. Sue had devised a cunning course out past the Cattery, thinking of a nice big hill to take them up, with a nasty little “fishhook” at the top – although the surprise element was lost as Jon Crane and Lee Holloway were miles ahead of everyone else and were at the top of the hill and back down to the group by the time the others had regrouped and so knew there was no real incentive to be in the first 5 to the top!

A jelly baby stop later and it was on towards Trent – apart from the two who missed the false trail cross and were nearly in Stallen before turning back – and then on to a beer stop overlooking Sherborne golf course (nice brown stuff in substitution of the normal blue stuff!). Matt Blencowe used hare’s privilege to bring his daughter, and Jess was told she’d be given extra points for beating “the old ladies” to the finish – Tina and Mel were not impressed! There was still time for a trip up through Crow Woods and another jelly baby stop before heading back to the Mermaid. No food available at the pub but it’s changing hands in a month so watch this space for future pub runs…  

Forthcoming Hashes

We now have hash dates in hand until the end of the year…

Sunday 20^th November – Ilchester Arms, Ilchester – Richard “Janus” Dodge leading

Sunday 18^th December – Drayton Inn, Drayton (between Langport and Curry Rivel), joint hash with Taunton – Mixy Chaffey

Saturday 31^st December – Fred & Sue’s annual New Year Eve’s hash (everyone excited at prospect of “left over biscuits and chocolate stop!”)

Watch out for H5 100 – January 2012!!

This led to a run with Jill Harrison one evening after work along Leg 3 – starting at the Boat just outside Bridgwater, heading along the tow path for a couple of miles and then inland to Burrow Mump and the finish at Oath Lock. Due to a misunderstanding, I though Jill had printed out the route – and she thought I knew where I was going! (the route has changed quite dramatically since I last ran it with Lynda – they don’t go anywhere near Pincombe Drove and Bridge any more). Still, the first half of the route is the same as before and the second half easy once you find the gate by the Pub – but with it getting darker, we were running through persistent rain at my race pace – Jill just ticking over, and helpfully telling me I could be quite good if I trained! – and all was well until the penultimate field when the herd of frisky cows who wanted to check Jill’s dog out, and decide to keep back stories of people being trampled until we were safely at the finish!

Now allocated to Leg 1, which again has been changed, I ran a recce run with Richard Dodge – putting the world to rights as we went round. Having committed the schoolboy error of wearing brand new shoes for a long run, I soon regretted that – so with Rich struggling with a chest infection picked up on the plane back from Oz (the at was the only thing picked up – despite the flight being full of single travellers, not one offered him the chance to join the Mile High Club!) and me dehydrated and blistered, we weren’t setting any records today! The nice bench on the river side is still there, albeit looking bit worse for wear now, so we had the traditional jelly baby stop and then carried on – we won’t be doing that come race day! As a continuation of the theme, we were then set on by a field of complete Bullocks – big nasty ones, which terrified me and so probably best that the likes of Karen Edwards weren’t with us!

(We actually carried on to Bridgwater Docks – Leg 2 runners, be aware that it’s just over 3 miles from the start of your leg to the Docks!).

Come race day, the blisters were still there, but the cows had gone! 27 runners had made their way to the start out at Steart, where it was cold but dry. The small car park was crowded, as a group of twitchers were also meeting there, somewhat bemused by the runners in various states of undress, and heaven alone knows what photos they got of the various toileting habits - watch out for David Attenborough's latest blockbusting series "Weeing in the Bushes", featuring Yeovil, Exmouth and Crewkerne runners!). The start is along a narrow track, and Pete Darton and Gareth Ashmead were amongst the leading group as we made our way on to the beach section - I thought I'd gone off too fast, as although I was holding up a lady from SWRR (who didn't even acknowledge me when I told her she was going the wrong way!), the next group including Richard Dodge and Annie Ashmead were about 100 yards behind me. It wasn't to last - after about a mile and a half (and the burst of energy brought on by my London Marathon ringtone going off in my bum bag as my welsh friends were sending me score updates!) I was quickly reeled in by Rich and a group of three others - although the two Maiden Newton runners went for a team wee and I briefly took their places back. The blisters reared their ugly head before reached Combwich and both Jane from Wells and Crewkerne's Sarah Warren went past as I needed to stop and stretch out. Unfortunately none of the others got lost in the middle of Combwich [home to the house with the tower I will buy if I ever win the lottery!) and so I was destined to trail in behind the others - I did keep ahead of the chap from Wells who was as knackered as me, and the last three miles were a combination of walk-running and stile-climbing, with a fall into a hole and hurting feet chucked in for good measure. Richard had already finished (Gareth and Pete having done so a long time before and already had a lift to the start to collect Gareth's car), and Annie ran well to finish a few minutes behind me. Still, all 5 of us finished well, completing the 9.1 mile course and none of us got lost - at least not whilst on foot (don't mention meetin up in cars afterwards - as they say, what happens in Bridgwater, stays in Bridgwater!) 

There have been flashes mind - the Blackdown Beauty was a good day out, as were the annual Race for Life marshalling stint, whilst the monthly hashes have been well received (though still need to get some more hashers interested in actually laying the things!). The Chaffey family had their two first ventures out in race gear at the Runway Dash in Yeovilton, where Ellen's running buggy was nearly blown back to Yeovil by the downdraft of the starter's helicopter, and at teh Mendip Mashup where flag 6 was named "Chaffey Time" in my honour!

The Blackdown Beauty was a good event, albeit quite low key and only half of the runners made the effort to get the Circus themed fancy dress - needless to say I was in full Clown get up, and the face paint stayed in place until after I'd arrived at Mother in Law's in the evening! It was about 16 miles and 5 pubs on the way round but really needed a few more team mates to make it a really good day out; we'll look at the Midsummer Dream again next year I think.

We had hashes at Thornford (where Lynda was able to run the first half and then collect Ellen from me at the Wyke beer stop), the Red House down to the Obelisk  and then the Quiksilver Mail - where "Dennis" stole the show!

Will try to update this more often from now on - but have said that before! 

In absence of any volunteers for the Sunday e-mail, these will now cease (I am still willing to help any of you who are willing to take on this role, or the preparation of press releases). In the absence of a weekly e-mail, do look at the website – this will be the first point of call for all breaking news and Nigel does a cracking job in keeping it up to date. Nigel would be grateful if information could be sent to him rather than having to search for stuff, so if there is anything that you want putting on the website, do send him the text. Similarly I will no longer be doing press releases on a weekly basis so send your results instead to Nigel – preferably with a link to race website for results and details of the other Yeovil runners taking part (not all runners are necessarily shown as Yeovil, so do tell him if there are others).

Deb Neal is taking the Membership Secretary role on and I have passed her the renewal forms that I have already received. Please do tell Deb (or me by replying to this e-mail) if you are not wanting to rejoin as this will save her chasing you!

The new Membership forms are on the website and we ask for all members to complete a form this year so that Deb can make sure all of your information is correctly held.

It is the AGM on Tuesday night – after a 5km Chairman’s Handicap run over the same course as the 5km the other night. Please do come along to the meeting, which takes place in the Football Club – with sausage and chips provided. The Committee will be elected on the night and there is always room for more willing volunteers to help out! In seriousness, it is an opportunity for you to have a say in how the Club runs and what can be done in the coming year.

........

Please bear with me here, as I am going to bring my last Sunday mail to an end with a bit of reminiscence.

Having joined the Club in 1998, I joined a fledgling committee as Secretary the following year when the previous committee stood down en masse and the future of the Club was in some doubt. Our new committee included Phil MacQuaid, who is remaining on the committee, and others such as Pete Darton and Dee Worth who are still with the Club, and our new broom decided to change the way the Club worked. With membership down to as low as 25 members back then, I think we have done a pretty good job over the years – the Club membership list handed to Deb last week listed 285 members and several more have sent in their forms ready to join in the new Club year.

We have gone from a good running club to an excellent Club – the running is also important, but I think you will agree that it is not the be all and end all! If you have not been to France with the Argentan trip yet, or joined a pub run such as the Midsummer Dream or the Blackdown Beauty (watch out for that one coming up!), then do go – likewise come on the Thursday night pub runs for a bit more of a social run in a different place each week. On the racing side, we have forged a good reputation, with the other Clubs who can only look on with envy when we have a team of 20 or 30 runners turn up for an event like the Monty or the Forde Abbey 10km. I know it may be petty, but I love it when there are Western Gazette photos of a race where there are 4 or 5 Wells runners, 4 or 5 Crewkerne runners .. and 25 Yeovil! It has been good to encourage as many of our members to take part in races as possible – I know from experience that we’re not all racing snakes at the front of the field, but again this Club is good in that we may have a couple of runners in the first 10, a couple of runners in the last 10 – but there are no egos here and we’ll all go a beer together afterwards (or fish & chips – Egdon Easy is 28^th May and look out for the Maiden Castle Loop!)

Club nights have gone from strength to strength and whilst this brings with it its own problems, it’s a nice problem to have – how to organise groups that accommodate everyone when 60 runners turn up on a Tuesday; when I joined, there was one group, and it was a case of trying to keep up! Something we as a club pride ourselves on is not leaving anyone behind. However, to keep things going, it does need more people to put their hand up and help by leading groups – there are several of us who are willing to mentor Run Leaders to help give the confidence to take a group on (as I have proved over the years, knowing where you are going or the ability to read a map are desirable but not essential qualities to have! All you need is a bit of confidence to take the group where you want to go!). Phil is doing a cracking job organising run groups but needs volunteer leaders each week. (I understand that about 25 people went to the Run Leaders meeting but not many of them have gone on to become run leaders on a  Tuesday – if there is anything I can do to help sway you into doing so, please have a word with me on the run one night…)

The Club’s own events have a good reputation and this is in no small part to the help given by all of the members – it’s good to know that we’ll have enough people offer to marshal at the race days. The Committee will be looking for race directors or helpers for organising next year’s races – as well as things like getting sponsorship – so do offer to give any help that you can; many hands make light work!

If you’ve not got bored by now, and you are still reading this e-mail, this should imply that you are  computer literate – if you do a run, perhaps think of sending Matt Driver a report for the newsletter and your results to Nigel for the website. As mentioned at the start of this e-mail, there are still openings for a press release officer – ever wanted to see your name in print in the Western Gazette? You write it, you can give your own performance whatever positive spin you want to! The Club has had a good presence in the local press over the years and it would be good for that to continue – if not a report, then do send photos to Nigel and the press so that the Green and White continues to feature – likewise you can put your own photos on to the Club website (I sent the upload details back along and these are available from Nigel or me).

I have already started to collate the Christmas Photos for the Christmas meal so you can also send any good photos to me – otherwise you’ll be stuck with those taken by me and Rich Dodge!

Over the years, I have worked on the committee with some cracking people and the current crop of committee members are excellent and some of the ideas discussed at last week’s meeting for things the Club can do sounded really exciting – but please remember that it is your Club and if there is any way in which you can help out, the committee will be more than happy to hear from you! If you fancy having a go at leading a pub run or organising a team to go to a race, then let them know. Likewise I know that Nick is keen for people to suggest different run sessions – I will be setting a hash run on the Club night next week (17^th May) to run alongside the usual Club groups and would be grateful if one or two of you would come on that!

I’ll sign off by thanking all of my friends in the Club for their help and support whilst I have been Secretary – I shall miss my evening computer sessions reading through the race results and e-mails to collate the press releases and Sunday e-mails, but am sure that I’ll find something else to do when the Strictly Come Dancing starts up again!

See you all at the Club on Tuesday – and of course when you all come marshalling on Wednesday at the 5km!!

Martin

In addition, there was a final send off e-mail to the local press: 

Please find attached the Yeovil Town Road Running Club press release. Whilst I have been sending you press releases on behalf of the Club for the past twelve years, I am actually stepping down as Club Secretary at the Club AGM and so you will be receiving information from someone else in the future – once I’ve found a willing “volunteer”! (having said that, I will continue preparing reports on the Club’s own races until such time as a replacement is found).

 Can I just thank you on behalf of the Club for printing the releases during my tenure – it is very much appreciated and many of the members that we now have mention that the local press coverage of the Club’s activities is what attracted them to the Club.

In the absence of the weekly press releases, if you ever want any details about the Club or articles on running generally, please do contact me – the local running scene is a vibrant one and all the local clubs are reporting large increases in numbers (Yeovil Town has increased from 105 members in 2006 to 140 in 2008, and then up to 214 in 2010 to its current membership of just under 300 members!) and every week there are races organised across the region that do not get perhaps the recognition that they perhaps deserve (and, dare I say it, perhaps not the coverage it would get if 300 footballers were turning out somewhere!). I know for instance that there are still places available for the Ninesprings races on 12^th June if you fancied running round for research purposes…!

 (Actually on that point, the Club has a beginner group which would make a good story, and we also organise Hash runs that would be suitable for any journalist who can run (even only a little) a bit – they are gentle, fun affairs of about 4 miles, with a jelly baby and beer stop on the way round! Let me know if you have anyone that might fancy joining us – or whether an article on either would be considered).

 Many thanks again.

Martin Chaffey

There was time for a bit of running in between times, starting with the Johnny Kipps race out at Wynford Eagle. There were record numbers taking part – still not 30, and a little disappointing that so few of the Club made it to what is a free race. There was a cracking victory overall for Lin Lascelles – the first time the fabled biscuit tin has been won by a lady – and obviously this was simply warming up for further success as she became Californian State Champion at the Avenue of the Giants – a date with the outgoing Governor was, luckily, the winner’s prize! It was interesting to see a proper racer in full flow – Phil MacQuaid became a completely different animal under race conditions, not talking and every sinew stretched to near bursting point on the way round – he even restrained himself by resisting the young lady marshal in the “I love Hugs” T-shirt!

April is always busy with the Club’s own races, and this year a late Easter meant that the 5km took place first, with 150 runners making their way out to the start. It was a good race and again showed the benefit of having a good club membership who all know what they are doing so that things went smoothly (even if there was a little explosion half way through from the direction of the chaps on the computer who didn’t know how to enter the results!). The following week was the big event of the year – no, not the London Marathon but rather it was Ellen’s Christening in Devon! (our Club runners did really well, with Rose Harvey’s run resembling an edition of Heat magazine with the number of celebrities (I use the word lightly) that she met, and Chris Burton just missed out on a World Record by being pipped to the line by James T Kirk!).

I assisted Terry Byrne with the annual Natterjack Inn pub run and an assault up Lamyatt Hill – which was fine, as all of the runners realised it was his fault this year, not mine! After last year’s heavy rain, the weather conditions were lovely – though the views were obscured by heat haze this time; there’s no pleasing some people!

We had the traditional Easter Sunday hash out at Lytes Cary again – which had the advantage that I could re-hash (pardon the pun) the course of 2 or 3 years ago, safe in the knowledge that few of those who ran before would be there, and as I struggled to remember it, so would any that had! We had a good turn out on a hot day, and all seemed to enjoy the hot cross bun stop and the beers atop Kingsdon Hill!

It was also very hot at the Easter Bunny on 25^th April – worryingly so, and we came very close to a first tragedy – mind you, if you are going to collapse, it’s best to do so in front of a retired surgeon, and then be treated by the Club’s paramedic and later by Club member in A&E!). The race was won by Ben Tickner in 30m02 – so just avoided having to pay the £50 prize (and we won’t talk about the rush round when discovered “someone” hadn’t bought the team prizes or extra Eggs for the second placed Vets!).

I ended the month by making an effort to up the mileage and hopefully lose a bit of weight – but ended up overdoing things and crocked as a result. The Club Handicap on Tuesday 26^th followed the Bunny and this went well – running round with Janine, for whom I badly guessed a handicap time and as a result was concerned that she would be finishing last; she did really well and ran a lot faster than many of the others and will be fine when Adam’s left in charge of setting the handicap for her! I followed that up with two days of “exploring” (note, you can never be truly lost when you can still see Yeovil!) and after running out to George’s Tree, found a nice route back through to Yeovil Junction – and then spent an hour walking around the river to find the bridge – that is actually about 50 yards from where you enter the field and which I missed in exactly the same way as all that time ago with Mike Regan and Lisa Andrews (didn’t have to cross the river giving anyone a piggy back this time – and also missed out on running through slurry!). The following day I went “exploring” again and found a path that ends up at the Obelisk folly on Barwick park – as I went through the woods, I kept thinking that the obelisk must be off to my left somewhere, only to turn round and find that it was about 6 feet behind me!! After 8 miles, enough was enough, but gives a few more options for future hash runs (found a couple of nice places for beer stops, but might need the nettles to die down before we go there!).

The month ended with some wedding or other – Wills and Kate, was it? – and Deb Neal organised a pub run to take us away from it all, nicknamed the Right Royal Romp – 14 miles, 3 pubs. Again we had a good number of people turning up and everyone embraced the spirit of the thing by donning patriotic fancy dress; I settled for St George’s Day shorts and Prince Charles ears! I thought of the Royal Family and took two punnets of fruit with me to the start so that we could all begin with a plum in our mouths (again everyone entered into the spirit of things!).

The course took in Tintinhull – although en route there was a split off by a group of four to the Carpenters Arms at Chilthorne (for mixed intentions – Sian and Mel wanted to see “the” dress as Kate arrived at the church – Fred and I hoped to get a cheeky extra pint in! Whilst the pub was closed, they let us in to watch the TV – but not serve us!) – and the first official (royal themed) pub was the Crown & Victoria. Deb brought out the hot cross buns and sweeties to accompany the first beer of the day. Photographic evidence showed that elsewhere the Chairman and his wife were with us in spirit by having strawberries and cream….

Pub number 2 was the Prince of Wales atop Ham Hill and there was an interesting run across the fields to the Cartgate – unfortunately I injured my ankle by taking a photo; jumping into a field over a potato ridge and tweaking it by a poor landing! (was a good photo, though!) and this was to make the remaining 8 miles interesting (and wouldn’t run for the next week). On the way we went on a footpath that goes right through someone’s garden (I wouldn’t want to live right next to Cartgate roundabout) and then over a bridge that was infested by a nasty looking troll (photos available) and then on to Stoke.  A bit of elopement from Kate and her Father in Law followed and then we all climbed up past the Pinnacle and were joined by Adam Hawkins – had he got his wedding fix before meeting us?! At the Prince of Wales they were serving a number of themed beers – whilst others enjoyed “Royal Celebration”, I had a pint of “Kate Loves Willy”! Luckily they weren’t serving the very nice dark lager so there was no incentive simply to settle in for the day and miss the whole Wedding thing, and so instead we cracked on, and here the group split into two for those who wanted to take in the sights of Tinker’s Bubble and those of us who didn’t – we had the sight of Hazel Ford, resplendent in her wedding dress, leading the group around the ramparts of Whitcombe Valley (I will be sending that to Runner’s World as a suggestion for Rave Run as we discussed!). Meeting at the King’s Arms in Montacute for a final beer of the day, we tried everything to work a way to get another one in – the “Prince” Phelip’s Arms was closed and we couldn’t think of anything remotely tenuously royal in “Mason’s Arms” to justify a diversion to Odcombe – so we enjoyed the run back to Yeovil, ready to thank Deb Neal for organising the day – and to join Lynda and her Mother for the final 10 hours of Royal Wedding coverage!!

 After the disastrous tsunami in Japan, the Club joined the international Run for Japan campaign organised by Martin Yelling – it was good to contribute, with 347 miles dedicated to the cause and a sum of £150 donated.

 March also saw difficult times in personal life and a change of circumstances at home, but we’ll keep this light and stick to the running..

 There was a return to racing on Saturday 26^th, with the Nightrunner event held at Beer. A small turn out from Yeovil saw only Martin & Lin Lascelles, in colours of Maiden Newton, Andy Goodman in Doddlers blue and Richard Dodge running with me. It’s a nice run although the start had been moved so the first thing was a drag up the big hill to Beer Head – so you’re knackered from the word go! Running round the lanes in the dark is good fun, and we dropped down through the woods to the disappointment of finding the ice cream shop at Branscombe was closed. There was the long stretch across the beach – quite awesome with the torches switched off (and also helped not to see how far it was to the Stairway to Heaven!).

 Race day dawned for the new Yeovil Half Marathon, and 750 entrants ended up with nearly 700 runners making their way to the start line at Huish Park, amongst them over 70 Club members – including Chris “Sportacus” Burton on his way to a World Record bid for fastest half marathon dressed as a TV character. All seemed to go well and the lack of road closures, a concern before the event, did not detract, and all completed the event successfully.

 The clocks have now gone forward – Spring is here, and we’ve had the first runs in the lighter evenings. My group on Tuesday had the traditional run up to Jack the Treacle Eater – none seemed inspired to try running to London on the strength of a tin of treacle! I then joined the South Molton Strugglers on Wednesday evening for a run round the Molton lanes, getting ready for April running – and the hope of more frequent updates of this site!

Great Western photos - https://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/GreatWestern10km#

Lamb & Lark hash photos - https://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/LambLarkHash13032011#

Yeovil Half photos - https://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/YeovilHalfMarathon#

 A week later and it was off to Tintinhull for the first hash laid by Sadie and Hazel; first thing – tell Sadie where Tintinhull is! Good run and report is on the Hash Report section.

February came to a close with a recce run of the new Yeovil Half Marathon course, and an intrepid group setting off from Yeovil Football Club to replicate the conditions likely to be experienced in a month’s time. A good route round familiar roads, making it feel like an extended Club run and although a few dropped out along the way, most made their way to the finish successfully and all boded well for the event at the end of March.

Tintinhull hash photos - https://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/TintinhullHashFebruary2011#

 Debbie’s Long training run group started their weekly long runs from Goldenstones and these have gone from strength to strength. I attended the one on the 23^rd January, for photographic purposes and the group was taken for a nice route out to Mudford and around the back roads; it was the first time I had run 10 miles for months!

The month ended with another hash, this time at Griffin’s Head in Nether Compton, laid by myself and Lee Holloway – there’s a report on this in the Hash reports section.

Red House hash photos - https://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/RedHouseHash#

Having last added to this blog in October, I’ll skip November altogether partly because the month flew past but mostly because I can’t remember anything done in it; most of my memories also consist of making milk and changing nappies at that time!*

December  saw the inaugural Santa Dash taking place in Yeovil Country Park, which saw 100 runners charging about all dressed as Father Christmas – apart from Lynda who was a very attractive Mother Christmas and Ellen stole the show as the cutest baby Santa! It was a successful event and has raised nearly £2,000 for the Hospice, and so one to repeat.

There was snow at Christmas which made for interesting running – the Santas were out in force again, this time for the annual Phil MacQuaid Christmas Day run, and the fantastic champers and canapes put on by the Brammers; I struggled up the lane from Thorne Coffin but it had nothing to do with the ice! There was a good family walk around Bradford Abbas with the re-emergence of Steve Pattemore – and before you know it, that was 2010 done and dusted!

* This is only wet nappies; I only did my first poo nappy in March, and was actually sick!

Santa Dash photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/SantaDashYeovil#

Christmas Day photos - http://picasaweb.google.com/yeoviltownrrc01/ChristmasDayInTheSnow#