Latest News
Getting your fill from Gade Valley Harriers
Welcome to the latest and greatest Gade Valley Harriers has to offer. We have a few different types of update that get posted on this page.
Here you can find the latest news, Member of The Month, latest club results, club awards and social updates.
New Updates
Shaws Lead the Way at MK
This weekend saw more events emerging from the Lockdown slumber, rubbing their eyes and slowly stretching in the new sunny dawn of the socially distanced, Covid Safe racing era. At least that would be the romantic view of the Gade Valley Harriers taking part in three...
Racing Takes off Again at Bovingdon Airfield
After Lockdown v1.0 and 1.1, a partial release and then Lockdown v2.0 organised racing finally got underway again at a freezing cold, foggy Bovingdon Airfield for the Herts Remembrance 10k. The race was originally scheduled for November 8th but the latest lockdown had...
More Virtual Action for the Harriers
One of the nice things about the scarcity of races in these times is that we can focus on some of the runners that may not always enjoy the spotlight. This week we had three runners taking on the Virtual Run Your Town Dacorum 10k and one taking to the streets of Hemel...
Member of The Month
Existing and past member of the month awards. Congratulations to all those nominated.
Mar 2020: Kim Morgan and Sam Raffety
For March there are two winners of the ladies’ Member of the Month award and they are… Kim Morgan and Sam Raffety! Kim had a place for VLM on April 26th and Sam had entered Manchester Marathon scheduled for April 5th, and their training had been intense and fruitful....
Mar 2020: Gareth Tucker
Marathon training can be tough, Ok it’s always tough. And Marathon training can make you or break you and for our boys Member of the Month for March I think the former applies. Gareth’s recent performances have confirmed this, not only has he performed...
Latest Results
October PBS, team prizes and individual awards
GVH CLUB & INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS OCTOBER 2019
ABBOTS LANGLEY TOUGH TEN (6th Oct):
1st team: Hamish Shaw/Dylan Wendleken/Dave Goodman/Simon Wallis 1st male senior: Hamish Shaw
1st MV40: Dylan Wendleken
1st FV35: Vicky Crawley-Wise
RICKY ROAD RUN (28th):
Team prizes:
1st Herts’ female’s team: Vicky Crawley-Wise/Angeline Cottrill/Helen Cook
2nd Herts’ male’s team: Jon Roberts/Anthony James/Anthony Willcox/Chris Dowling
3rd Herts’ male’s team: Andy Wells/Simon Wallis/Vince Ellerby/Dave Goodman
Individual awards:
1st FV65: Isabel Wilson
3rd MV40: Jon Roberts
3rd Herts’ FV35: Vicky Crawley-Wise
OTHER TOP THREE CATEGORY POSITIONS:
(5th) Gadebridge Park ParkRun: 1st female: Tracey Cotton
(12th) Oxford Cross-Country: 2nd FV65: Isabel Wilson
(26th) Lee Valley Velodrome 10-mile: 2nd & 3rd FV35: Sam Sparks & Holly Beckett
PBs:
5k: Sam Raffety, Kim Morgan
10k: Angeline Cottrill, Dave Wood
10-mile: Chris Dowling, Andy Wells, Dave Goodman, Kim Morgan, Sam Raffety, Angeline Cottrill, Isabel Wilson, Helen Cook
Marathon: Julian Smith x2, Michael Linden, Matt Ashby, Ross Deacon, Antony Beamish, Gareth Tucker, Kirstie Hardiman, Bev Loczy
GVH achievements September 2019
CLUB RECORD BROKEN:
FV35 5k road: Tracey Cotton: 22:03 at Hatfield 5k series (11:09:19).
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS:
Dean Kidd: Ironman Triathlon (21:09:19).
MILESTONES:
Dave Goodman: 50th marathon.
Peter Tucker: 100th ParkRun.
FIRST PLACE FINISHERS:
Kirstie Hardiman (1st female) at Hemel Super Sprint Triathlon (29:09:19).
TOP THREE CATERGORY POSITIONS:
BOVINGDON 10K:
3rd overall, 1st MV40: Rich Coles
1st FV65: Isabel Wilson
GOODWOOD RUNNING GRAND PRIX:
Marathon: 1st MV50: Andy Cook, 3rd MV40: Nicholas Crowther
20 miles: 3rd MV40: Phil Mercer
Half Marathon: 1st FV50: Helen Cook
CHASE THE SUN: OLYMPIC PARK 5K:
2nd MV40: Phil Mercer
HARROW HALF MARATHON:
3rd MV40: Rich Coles
RIDLINS 5000m:
2nd place: Rich Coles
WELWYN HALF MARATHON:
2nd MV40: Simon Wallis
PBs:
1 mile: Phil Mercer.
5km: Tracey Cotton, Rich Coles, Chris Dowling, Phil Mercer.
10km: Katie Hogendoorn, George Einchomb.
Half Marathon: Andy Cook, Ross Deacon, Dave Goodman, Julian Smith.
20 miles: Phil Mercer.
50km: Chris Dowling.
GVH achievements August 2019
GVH PBS & OTHER NOTICEABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
AUGUST 2019:
FIRST PLACED FINISHES:
4th: Richard Coles: 1st MV40 at Bearbrook 10k
18th: Teresa Reason: 1st female at South Downs Midnight Marathon
30th: Kathleen Smith: 1st female at Gadebridge ParkRun
TEAM AWARDS AT BEARBROOK 10k:
2nd Men’s team:
(Richard Coles, Antony Beamish, Dave Goodman, Simon Wallis)
3rd ladies team:
(Tracey Cotton, Helen Cook, Kim Morgan, Angeline Cottrill)
NEW CLUB RECORD:
MV50 at Gadebridge ParkRun:
Bill Hawes – 19:45
PBS:
10k: Julian Smith: (37:58) Bath Two Tunnels 10k
ParkRun: Mary McCluskey: (25:37) Groe ParkRun
1 mile: Phil Mercer (6:00) Ealing Mile
Half Ironman: Dean Kidd: (5:14:20) which included 1.2 mile swim PB (38:02) and 56 mile cycle PB (2:32:33)
MILESTONE PARKRUNS:
100: Andy Cook, Helen Cook, Gareth Tucker
Bovingdon 10k – 1 Sep 2019
Place | Name | Gender | AG | ChipTime | Club league points | Age grade |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Richard Coles | M | V45 | 00:35:23 | 20 | |
12 | michael linden | M | V40 | 00:39:14 | 19 | |
20 | David Goodman | M | V40 | 00:41:06 | 18 | |
23 | James Birnie | M | V45 | 00:41:45 | 17 | |
30 | Philip Mercer | M | V40 | 00:42:29 | 16 | |
33 | Philip Heaton | M | SEN | 00:43:06 | 15 | |
38 | Trevor Normoyle | M | V40 | 00:43:36 | 14 | |
56 | Andrew Watt | M | V45 | 00:46:26 | 13 | |
71 | Tracey Cotton | F | V40 | 00:47:01 | 20 | |
106 | Bethan Heaton | F | SEN | 00:51:59 | 19 | |
112 | Isabel Wilson | F | V65 | 00:52:29 | 18 | |
127 | Helen Cook | F | V50 | 00:53:27 | 17 | |
133 | Jaqui Sampson | F | V40 | 00:54:32 | 16 | |
135 | Angeline Cottrill | F | V40 | 00:54:51 | 15 | |
148 | Kirstie Hardiman | F | V35 | 00:55:59 | 14 | |
170 | Holly Beckett | F | V35 | 00:58:59 | 13 | |
171 | Mary McCluskey | F | SEN | 00:58:59 | 12 | |
173 | Susie Ivin | F | V40 | 00:59:06 | 11 | |
193 | philip walker | M | V55 | 01:03:09 | 12 | |
194 | Helen Heathcote | F | V45 | 01:03:24 | 10 |
A huge contingent of Harriers took part in the Bovingdon 10k, a fairly flat road race which started in the heart of the village and wound its way around local country lanes. Rich Coles wasn’t taking any prisoners as he was first club member to pass HMP The Mount and turn onto the High Street to cross the finish line, completing the course in third place overall and as first male vet 45+ (MV45), clocking a superb time of 35:23. Andy Symmonds was just three places further back and second MV55, crossing the line in 37:04, ahead of Michael Linden who also managed a sub-40 minute finish, claiming the first MV40 position with a time of 39:21.
David Goodman was participating in his third race of the week, after completing the Canterbury Half Marathon (1:39:11) on Bank Holiday Monday and the Chase The Sun – Brockwell Park 10k (41:54) on Wednesday, and took the silver MV40 medal at Bovingdon on Sunday with a time of 41:06, ahead of James Birnie (41:51) who was third MV45.
Phil Mercer had completed the Spitfire 10k at RAF Hendon on Saturday morning (44:33) and manged to better his time just 24 hours later, finishing the Bovingdon event in 42:29, ahead of Phil Heaton (43:06), Trevor Normoyle (43:36) and Andrew Watt (46:26).
Tracey Cotton was another Harrier to string together two races this week, completing the Hatfield 5K (22:36) on Wednesday before being first female from the club – and eighth overall – to cross the line at Bovingdon, picking up the FV40 prize with a time of 47:01.
Rupert Cavenagh-Mainwaring (51:25) was the next club athlete to complete the course and Bethan Heaton (51:59) finished a minute ahead of the first FV65 and club mate Isabel Wilson (52:29) while Helen Cook (53:27) was third FV50.
Jaqui Sampson (54:32) held off Angeline Cottrill (54:51) and Kirstie Hardiman (55:59). Holly Beckett and Mary McCluskey (58:59) ran together and recorded identical times, with Susie Ivin (59:06) just a few seconds, and two places, behind.
Philip Walker (1:03:09) and Helen Heathcote (1:03:24) rounded up a fine performance for the team.
GVH achievements and PBs July 2019
GADE VALLEY HARRIERS PBS ETC JULY 2019
SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Chris Dowling for completing the Wendover Woods 100 Mile Ultra
Teresa Reason & Anita Berwick for completing Race to the Stones 100k Ultra
Rob Humphreys for completing the Lakeland 50 Mile Ultra
Craig Hardiman for completing the Bolton Ironman Triathlon
TOP THREE CATEGORY PLACES:
Dave Goodman: 2nd MV40: Chase the Sun 5k, Victoria Park on 3rd
And 1st MV40: Gunnersbury Park 10k on 21st
Tracey Cotton: 1st FV40: Spire Bushey 10k on 14th
PBS:
ParkRun: Holly Beckett, Ross Deacon, Isabel Wilson (x2), Imogen
Hudson, Susannah Harker, Jody Whitehill, Jenny Plastow (x2), Helen
Harker, Nikki Tucker, Sara Muncke, Caron Williams, Jackie Leach,
Angela Hunt
5k (non ParkRun): Dave Goodman, Phil Mercer (x2)
5 mile: Phil Mercer
10 mile: Dave Goodman, Holly Beckett, Mary McCluskey
Bearbrook 10k – 4 Aug 2018
15 GVH runners toed the line at the August club league race – the Bearbrook 10k. Rich Coles came in 1st V40, and GVH were 2nd male team and 3rd female team. Individual results as follows:
Pos | Name | Net Time | Category | Cat Pos | Gender | Gen Pos | Club league points | Age graded |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Richard Coles | 00:36:16 | MV40 | 1 | Male | 7 | 20 | |
23 | Antony Beamish | 00:39:43 | MV40 | 6 | Male | 20 | 19 | |
27 | David Goodman | 00:40:43 | MV40 | 7 | Male | 24 | 18 | |
33 | Simon Wallis | 00:41:39 | MV40 | 10 | Male | 30 | 17 | |
40 | James Birnie | 00:42:20 | MV40 | 13 | Male | 36 | 16 | |
41 | Stephen Newing | 00:42:52 | Male Senior | 16 | Male | 37 | 15 | |
44 | Anthony Willcox | 00:43:17 | Male Senior | 17 | Male | 40 | 14 | |
45 | Phil Mercer | 00:43:22 | MV40 | 14 | Male | 41 | 13 | |
73 | Tracey Cotton | 00:47:21 | FV35 | 4 | Female | 10 | 20 | |
136 | Helen Cook | 00:52:23 | FV45 | 8 | Female | 25 | 19 | |
142 | Kim Morgan | 00:52:51 | FV35 | 9 | Female | 28 | 18 | |
155 | Angeline Cottrill | 00:53:47 | FV35 | 10 | Female | 36 | 17 | |
184 | Jaqui Sampson | 00:56:52 | FV35 | 16 | Female | 51 | 16 | |
215 | Susie Ivin | 00:59:53 | FV35 | 24 | Female | 69 | 15 | |
249 | Helen Heathcore | 01:04:30 | FV45 | 24 | Female | 93 | 14 |
The Bearbook 10k treated runners to almost perfect race conditions – the polar opposite to recent weekends of racing in either wet and windy or hot and humid conditions – on a sunny day with a slight breeze and lower-than-average temperatures for August
Rich Coles was taking part in his first race since having surgery on his knee just seven weeks ago, for an injury sustained in February which aborted his marathon training. He bearly put a foot wrong as he was first Harrier to complete the course, which started with a long flat stretch before a gradual incline became a welcome,long-downhill finish.
He was also first Male Vet 40+ to cross the line, with a superb time of 36:16. Antony Beamish (39:43) passed David Goodman (40:43) – who had worked a night shift the previous night – in the closing stages. Simon Wallis (41:39) had been suffering with slight illness all week, but the quartet combined to pick up a second place award for the men’s team.
The next four club mates all finished within just over a minute of each other, with James Birnie (42:20) and Stephen Newing (42:25) finishing in consecutive places while Anthony Willcox (43:17) held off a sprint finish from Phil Mercer (43:22) who was completing his second race in three days after clocking a personal best (PB) at the Ealing Mile on Friday, with a time of exactly six minutes.
Tracey Cotton (47:21) was first Harrier female to cross the line, and she was nearly five minutes clear of her team mates. Helen Cook (52:23) led a trio of club athletes who all finished within ninety seconds of each other with Kim Morgan (52:51) and Angeline Cottrill (53:47) helping the ladies team to a bronze medal.
Jaqui Sampson (56:52), Susie Ivin (59:53) and Helen Heathcote (1:04:30) all completed a great team performance.
Club Awards
Club awards 2019-20
Award | 2019-20 |
---|---|
Best male athlete | Jon Roberts |
Most improved male athlete | Gareth Tucker |
Best new male athlete | Stuart Gallagher |
Best female athlete | Teresa Reason |
Most improved female athlete | Kim Morgan |
Best new female athlete | Sam Sparks |
Multi-sport award | Heather Taylor |
Club league male | Dave Goodman |
Club league female | Kim Morgan |
Club league age-graded | Isabel Wilson |
Club handicap | Nikki Tucker |
Committee award | Ed Price |
Club members award | Ed Price |
Club awards 2018-19
Award | 2018-19 |
---|---|
Best male athlete | Rich Coles |
Most improved male athlete | Phil Mercer |
Best new male athlete | Michael Linden |
Best female athlete | Teresa Reason |
Most improved female athlete | Mary McCluskey |
Best new female athlete | Isabel Wilson |
Multi-sport award | Dean Kidd |
Club league male | Phil Mercer |
Club league female | Helen Heathcote |
Club league age-graded | Teresa Reason |
Club handicap | Mary McCluskey |
Committee award | Paula Cook |
Club members award | Ed Price & Gemma Bitaraf |
Club awards 2017-18
Award | 2017-18 |
---|---|
Best male athlete | Mike Ferris |
Most improved male athlete | Ross Deacon |
Best new male athlete | Hamish Shaw |
Best female athlete | Maria Kenny |
Most improved female athlete | Sam Raffety |
Best new female athlete | Naomi Iles |
Multi-sport award | Jon Roberts & Guy Woollett |
Club league male | Ross Deacon |
Club league female | Tracey Cotton |
Club league age-graded | Rich Coles |
Club handicap | Rich Hutton |
Committee award | Gemma Bitaraf |
Club members award | Andy Newing |