THE HOBBLE '07

Thanks for the route Kevin. It was very enjoyable.

SUMMER WHINE ON A SUNNY SUNDAY

85 trail enthusiasts benefitted from perfect conditions (and instructions!) on the sunniest day of the week. 8.6 cross country miles in very pleasent conditions thru' some previously ''un trailed'' private tracks and paths that gave the competitors a nice day out. Many local clubs supported the event and stayed on for tea and a chat.

The Essex Air Ambulance will benefit from the proceeds of the event. We raised £320 pounds in all which should keep the tin box in the air between Broomfield and Ongar.....

Thanks to Howard Jardine (he ran the check ins and outs), Dave Game (he took the money) and Graham Baker (the infamous Batty burger with or without stockings!!) on the day for their help and Trevor for the sawdust and burgers (not from the same supplier).

Graham, Yan and Dave enjoy the sun

Yan and Howard fiddle the books..............................

And Len, for lobbying for the addition of Stana Stairlifts at all stiles!!!

Next years route is already planned and I look forward to seeing you all then.

Heres the results (but you'll get a better view from http://www.midessexcasuals.org.uk/ )-

David Norman
Springfield Striders
10:36:00
11:36:48
01:00:48
Steve Read
GFDR
11:01:00
12:02:57
01:01:57
Gary Wright
Springfield Striders
11:08:00
12:10:28
01:02:28
Greg Wisken
Mid Essex Casuals
11:28:00
12:30:40
01:02:40
Anthony Marsh
Springfield Striders
12:18:00
13:20:41
01:02:41
Andrew Mason
Springfield Striders
10:34:00
11:36:51
01:02:51
Jason Praill
Springfield Striders
10:58:00
12:03:05
01:05:05
Andy Smith
GFDR
10:59:00
12:04:30
01:05:30
Rob Rodie
Springfield Striders
11:37:00
12:43:22
01:06:22
Nick Laughton
GFDR
11:49:00
12:57:10
01:08:10
Roger Gooding
Springfield Striders
11:02:00
12:10:22
01:08:22
Graham Baker
RRC
09:16:00
10:25:02
01:09:02
Howard Jardine
GFDR
09:16:00
10:25:02
01:09:02
Andy Kettles
Springfield Striders
11:04:00
12:13:17
01:09:17
Tina Hull
GFDR
11:32:00
12:43:19
01:11:19
Keith Jackson
Pitsea
11:08:00
12:20:05
01:12:05
Ian Lawson
GFDR
11:32:00
12:44:17
01:12:17
Eleanor Hall
Mid Essex Casuals
11:06:00
12:19:57
01:13:57
Richard Taylor
Springfield Striders
10:38:00
11:51:57
01:13:57
Jim Slater
Tiptree
10:50:00
12:04:55
01:14:55
Malcolm Bailey
Tiptree
10:50:00
12:04:55
01:14:55
Richard Broad
GFDR
10:59:00
12:15:25
01:16:25
Jo Bisset-Smith
GFDR
10:59:00
12:15:37
01:16:37
Ian Gowers
Springfield Striders
10:45:00
12:02:01
01:17:01
Emma Copeman
GFDR
10:48:00
12:05:09
01:17:09
Julie Jenkins
GFDR
10:48:00
12:05:09
01:17:09
Malcolm Savage
Springfield Striders
11:21:00
12:38:10
01:17:10
Sarah Colbert
Springfield Striders
11:21:00
12:38:10
01:17:10
John Reeves
GFDR
11:18:00
12:35:20
01:17:20
Stuart Adams
GFDR
11:18:00
12:35:20
01:17:20
Steve Downing
GFDR
11:44:00
13:01:40
01:17:40
Neil Bradley
Springfield Striders
11:17:00
12:35:17
01:18:17
Duncan Anniss
GFDR
10:52:00
12:10:33
01:18:33
Jane Smith
GFDR
12:10:00
13:28:50
01:18:50
John Clarke
Springfield Striders
11:15:00
12:33:57
01:18:57
Sue Clarke
Springfield Striders
11:15:00
12:33:57
01:18:57
Peter Tremain
Springfield Striders
11:09:00
12:31:16
01:22:16
Ken Johnston
Springfield Striders
10:51:00
12:13:33
01:22:33
Diane Knights
Witham
10:43:00
12:06:11
01:23:11
Sue Aves
Mid Essex Casuals
10:43:00
12:06:11
01:23:11
Angela Allin
GFDR
10:47:00
12:10:57
01:23:57
Sarah McLagan
GFDR
10:47:00
12:10:57
01:23:57
Peter Boulstridge
Blackwater Harriers
10:42:00
12:06:11
01:24:11
Paula Purtell
Blackwater Harriers
10:42:00
12:06:11
01:24:11
Ross Silverton
Blackwater Harriers
10:42:00
12:06:11
01:24:11
Tracy Harrington
Blackwater Harriers
10:42:00
12:06:11
01:24:11
Kevin Wright
Springfield Striders
10:56:00
12:22:58
01:26:58
Dave Game
Mid Essex Casuals
09:16:00
10:43:00
01:27:00
Kerry Marsh
Springfield Striders
13:27:00
14:54:10
01:27:10
Jackie Adams
GFDR
10:32:00
12:00:48
01:28:48
Katia Robertson
GFDR
10:32:00
12:01:25
01:29:25
Janet Hill
Springfield Striders
12:32:00
14:01:44
01:29:44
William Metcalfe
Basildon AC
11:02:00
12:32:57
01:30:57
Pete Deadman
Orion
10:32:00
12:03:20
01:31:20
Don Vickers
Springfield Striders
10:57:00
12:28:24
01:31:24
Roy Tucker
Springfield Striders
11:22:00
12:54:10
01:32:10
Barrie Taylor
Blackwater Harriers
10:42:00
12:16:18
01:34:18
John Pritchard
Blackwater Harriers
10:42:00
12:16:18
01:34:18
Mike Fielding
Thrift Green Trotters
10:44:00
12:19:50
01:35:50
Ken Edwards
Springfield Striders
10:51:00
12:28:24
01:37:24
Andy Hind
Springfield Striders
10:41:00
12:19:08
01:38:08
Kelly Rayner
Thrift Green Trotters
10:41:00
12:19:08
01:38:08
Angie Coster
Thrift Green Trotters
10:46:00
12:25:42
01:39:42
Sylvia Clare
Thrift Green Trotters
10:46:00
12:25:42
01:39:42
Dawn Potter
Springfield Striders
10:27:00
12:08:13
01:41:13
Julie Neilson
Springfield Striders
10:27:00
12:08:13
01:41:13
Leslie Holmes
Thrift Green Trotters
10:27:00
12:11:53
01:44:53
Peter Bates
Pitsea
10:52:00
12:37:35
01:45:35
Barry Dobson
Tiptree
10:50:00
12:38:15
01:48:15
Carolyn Bownes
Tiptree
10:50:00
12:38:15
01:48:15
Gavin Foster
GFDR
10:29:00
12:17:28
01:48:28
Linda Bates
Pitsea
10:53:00
12:47:53
01:54:53
Helen Walker
Springfield Striders
10:34:00
12:30:58
01:56:58
Paul Price
Thrift Green Trotters
10:46:00
12:45:42
01:59:42
Brenda Morelli
GFDR
10:49:00
12:52:22
02:03:22
John Elliott
Springfield Striders
10:50:00
12:55:35
02:05:35
Len Clark
Springfield Striders
10:50:00
12:55:35
02:05:35
Heather Jackson
Pitsea
10:21:00
12:27:21
02:06:21
Jillian Jones
Pitsea
10:21:00
12:27:21
02:06:21
Cecilia Hunt
Springfield Striders
11:19:00
13:37:55
02:18:55
Damien Bhanji
Springfield Striders
11:19:00
13:37:55
02:18:55
David Tremain
Springfield Striders
10:58:00
13:24:40
02:26:40
Theresa Tremain
Springfield Striders
10:58:00
13:24:40
02:26:40
Geraldine O'Grady
Mid Essex Casuals
11:11:00
13:50:00
02:39:00

LAST OF THE SUMMER WHINE 30.9.07

LATEST UPDATE
see further down this web log for times/directions and general info
* The Nora Batty Challenge- just like Nora's stockings, it's 1 mile of either up or down! This is an ADDITIONAL event for fun from the same location on road that we've added. It'll be a voluntary mass start after you're all back from the trail between (this is approximate!!) 1-2pm on a narrow traffic free lane. No entry fee for this AND there wwill be spot prizes to some winners AND losers!
* Trail route- has now been tested by three testers. You will not get lost as long as you can read. Distance is 8.6 miles. At time of typing this (23.9.07) you could run it in your carpet slippers.
* Private paths and trails- there are several private tracks and paths on this trail. Access has kindly been allowed on race day only by farmers Martin Matthews, Simon Marriage, Chris Simpson and Peter Matthews.
* Water Stop There will be a self serve stop at approximately five miles
* EssexAir Ambulance- As you all already know, all proceeds will go to this worthy cause. The helicopter running costs are funded 100% by donations such as ours. As countryside runners, we benfit from it's availability. Please bring any loose change that yyou have lying about the house/car. There will be a donation box. There will also be an Essex Air Ambulance spokeman available to answer any questions that you may have
* Batty Burgers will be availailable at £2 e.
* parking- different field to last year but will be signposted. Plenty of space
* Bring a bottle/friends/chairs and stay for as long as you like

PLEASE REMEMBER- NO STARTS BEFORE 10.30!!!!!!

Taylor's Trail

Here's today's trail route from my Garmin. Unfortunately, due to old age, I forgot to turn the darned thing on at the start but you'll get the idea. The pedants amongst you will see that Clipper point one was was accurately taken!!!! I was a pleasure to venture in pastures new.

THE MAGNIFICENT 7, FYFIELD, FOOTPATH ACCESS ISSUES

DO YOU REMEMBER THIS RACE? The one where the old lady insisted that you walked the footpath thru' her field to avoid disturbing her cattle? Well here's some information that i've received from the highways authority legal depatment regarding our rights-

“There is control in the Road Traffic Act 1988 over cycle racing on public ways (including bridleways) and on the use of footpaths and bridleways for motor cycle trials. However there is no restriction on the use of public highways for races on foot though of course there is a need to respect other traffic on such highways which might be met.

In using cross field paths there is the practical consideration of keeping to the path and not straying on to the landowner's property. Any path is likely to be narrow and to pass other ramblers or fellow racers may mean wandering off the path. That in itself might create tensions. Also if there are to be large numbers of people running across fields where livestock are kept there might be an unpredictable impact upon the disposition of the animals. In the case of an organised event it would therefore make sense and would be a matter of common courtesy to tell the farmers in advance so that they might make alternative arrangements should they wish.

Section 2 of the Animals Act 1971 makes the keeper of an animal liable for damages if it injures another person provided that the keeper was aware of the animal's tendency to cause injury. The liability does not arise if the injury is the fault of the injured party. Runners might of cause "spook" animals by their activity and that is good reason to warn the farmer of their intentions in advance to mitigate any risk.

Consideration should be given by event organisers whether they should seek an order under section 16A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to restrict traffic including pedestrians to enable the event to take place.”

The Council have been very helpful and I hope that this helps you understand your rights and responsibilities when using footpaths. At the end of the day, we're just enjoying the countryside in the most harmless of ways. Whilst animal issues can be very real, I feel that we are all responsible people and will do all that we can to avoid upsetting livestock. I'll ask the landowner to keep the animals in if we use this particular path next year.

DEDHAM TRAIL 6.8.07

5 B Team members travelled 8,000 miles to the very edge of Northen Essex last night to partake in a search for a policeman. Despite a 6.2 mile beautifully undulating cross country course centred in and around the historic small town of Dedham, we didn't even get to run past the home of the most famous Constable of all! So here he is -

The Haywain by John Constable, is probably one of the most famous of all English paintings. Many a home has a print, but relatively few people know the story behind it.
John Constable was born in East Bergholt, Suffolk, England on 11th June 1776. Initially his father, Golding Constable wanted young John to join him is his prosperous corn business. By 1799 however it was obvious that John loved nothing more than drawing, so he was given an allowance to study at the Royal Academy in London. The art world was slow to recognize his talents. Landscapes were not considered very important in his day, so he had to produce a few portraits for his income. He would often spend his Summers in East Anglia, making sketches ready for them to be transformed into his beautiful works when he returned to his home in London. During these early years he created such works as Boatbuilding near Flatford Mill (1814-15) which can be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
In 1819 he moved to Hampstead Heath on the outskirts of London. By this time his father had died, so he was more financially secure. He was now producing his best work, including The Haywain in 1821. The work was based on many sketches he had produced, many of which still survive. In 1824 The Haywain was exhibited in Paris, where it won a gold medal. The painting caused a stir amongst the French art critics, who were astonished by its freshness. In his later years he lectured, still trying to popularize landscape painting, but he died in 1837 with none of the fame he now has.

So there you have it- run and learn!!!!!!!

the Dave Game history trail......

Today's (2.8.08) old boy's 10 miler was organised by our very own Dave Game who recently gave up full time employment so that he can dedicate the rest of his life to his main passion of trail running. Today's run was a little special, starting and finishing in the smoke free (yes!) Jack and Jenny in Witham, Dave took us around local villages giving various researched talks en route. The picture on the left is of some old wooden bridge over a dirty old river. Apparently it's the last wooden ailway bridge in existence!! Fortunately Howard had a phone with a camera and instantly mastered the new to him art of e mailing the picture. I rec'd it over a pint in the pub and we all thought that it would liven up the blog by having something other than Google Earth maps!

The shadow on the right of the shot is Springfields very own Richard Taylor who, by the way, is organising the Thursday 16.8 trail from South Woodam Ferrers. Richard has guaranteed to base his route on the local topography ( being a fine geography tutor). The team can't wait for Sue and John Clarke's math based Thursday bash. It will be a fine ''addition'' to our ''division'' (doh!)