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| Rotherham HAC |
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"April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land.."
The words of poet TS Eliot always come to mind as spring develops, but different reasons this year; we are living in strange times, sure enough. No-one should underestimate the extent to which our way of life has been disrupted- and may indeed be permanently altered.
One of the strengths of a lot of running and athletics clubs, certainly RHAC numbering amongst them, is that members often have no idea what walk of life their colleagues come from, what work they do, what sort of life they adhere to outside of the running. So I hope it's clear that my attempts to see the best in our situation do not overlook the problems and dangers that numerous of you are enduring: I am greatly appreciative and impressed.
I am classified as 'at special risk' though I do not feel like it. I have tried for years to avoid being treated as a statistic. But there we are. Enough.
I find it fascinating that, this year of all years nature is doing a huge job. In my garden I have watched greenfinches, chaffinches, bullfinches, goldfinches, dunnocks, wrens, blue tits, great tits, long-tailed tits, robins..well, pigeons as well...almost in procession. On this morning's run to Whiston, Ulley Res and Ulley Village butterflies and solitary bees all over the place. And the flowers are staggering. Has corona virus brought some curious different conditions? Is is cleaner air? Is it lack of population out and about?
Whatever: it's brilliant. The photo above is from Lucie Skates, a Crystal Peaks member who kindly helps RHAC out from time to time. Bluebells in Silverwood are well on thr way just as wood anemones are past their best. Listerdale daffodils also are fading now, but given one or two weeks of warmth the bluebells will be superb- check out your local woods....some I know are below.
Please share your bluebell wood pix with us
reply@rotherhamharriers.org
It is indeed cruel that we cannot run, visit and share these sights together, but a consolation that we can do so separately....
Current government advice and requirements are here
And England Athletics position for race licence applications is
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) notice
Members and of course press commentators have raised the question of whether there are any precedents; how long this situation is likely to last, and then the possibility of race events has been mentioned.
Precedents?
Nothing like it. The foot-and-mouth emergency of 2001 closed footpaths and some parks (The ERRA Road Relays came to Clumber with Sutton Park closed). And winter cold spells have shut down sports, and sports clubs, but even in the worst times people got about together....
Race events?
A lot of people may be planning ahead to their postponed race, say at Manchester (Oct 11th), or London (Oct 4th) (or at least wondering about it). You can only feel sympathy for those who have worked long and hard through the winter and now are denied what would no doubt have been fruits of their labour: they now might well find it no easy task to keep on track for a revised event which might or might not take place.
Nobody knows at this stage- I have an opinion but as regards facts: you might look at the race calendars of major event results managers such as
Graham Fecitt or
John Schofield's race site
Most of June they have RACE CANCELLED
RACE POSTPONED TO 30 AUGUST
RESCHEDULED TO 21 NOVEMBER 2020
Even for July
Race calendars such as the above are quite sparse, but more and more postponed events will surely struggle to find space later
I'm not saying these 'redates' are important- just pointing out the issues which will are likely to block them.
Just consider the phases to go through:
*fatalities and the virus spread to come under control
this is where we are now, and a lot of people would like to know the time scale of this one: when government spokespersons say 'at least several weeks' you can probably expect two months (into June);
*new cases to reduce to a more manageable level, individual safety looking better
unknown time, but it depends on so many developments: progress on equipment so far is not consoling; how many months do you think before all the population can be tested? At least into August?
* 'lockdown' or 'social distancing' to be relaxed
another one we wait and see about: it is quite possible that UK Government will wait to see what happens in other countries; (September?)
running together?
possibly by the autumn, in small groups perhaps
organising a race? maybe late November: but there again
what about getting advisory group backing?
After the long struggle by the NHS and its personnel- and related personnel in homes, transport etc, what importance do you think local advisory groups will allocate to races?
I think races will be allowed even later than attendance at football matches.
Could be quite wrong. Hope I am.
We are obliged to Janet Dutton for the Swinton route, James Joiner is also a familiar on this route. There may well be others.
Janet is one of a lively What's App group formed and motivated by Keith Storey and Sasha Gallagher. Stunning Running
Janet starts from home, don't we all these days? But you can intersect with the route and make your own start/finish as usual. I mapped it as S/F on Fitzwilliam St at the end of Lime Grove. And as alluded to above, you can use road rather than footpaths if you prefer. The three hills are clearly outlined however.
Narrative:
A short warm-up to the start of the hills which is at the lower end of Celandine Rise. If you don't know your way about, head for the church next to the narrow zig-zag bridge across the railway line, from there head away from Kilnhurst towards Wentworth.
This is the first climb as far as the High House pub (A).
Pass the pub and after a short 200m or so turn right (B) and drop down the field and at the bottom right (C) on the path to access the bottom of Piccadilly Road. Climb back up to Wentworth Rd at A.
Continue all the way to Warren Vale roundabout (E), turn right and do the climb of Warren Vale as far as the Woodman Roundabout (F)
Make your way back by paths (as JD does) or estate roads.
Distance as shown: 7k/4m approx
Wentworth Road: length 0.7k climb average 5% steepest 6%
Piccadilly Road: length 0.3k climb average 4%
Warren Vale: length 0.7k climb average 3% but 0.2k at 7% near the top.
I am obliged to Andrea Hansel-Hides for a suitable motto:
Organising club events then was just that: really 'club' events serving just the members, very casual. All this continued quite successfully but we had to resurrect club team running (particularly in road running) which we did with the help of newsletters in the early and mid-90s. After 2000 I personally dropped out of action due to caring responsibilities for several years, and on return there was a dearth of members turning out, and a job to do.
However we never got the numbers back, and it was clear that other clubs were not that well off for visitors to races at times. So it looked a good idea to co-operate with them- Maltby and Kimberworth obviously, to make attendances more reliable. KMR was born.
At about this time Clive Davenport, a social acquaintance of mine, needed a business website. I was able to assist and the trade-off was settled as a couple of years sponsorship of a new race. I made it the tough Bassingthorpe 5 at Fenton Road and the headquarters was Clive's local: The Plough at Roughwood Road.
The photo shows landlord George Austin (left) with Race Winner Rob Watkinson and Clive. George was rightly hugely respected in the area and proved a great friend to RHAC over the years. He is sadly missed, but the link to the Plough has been maintained first by his wife Colleen and subsequently by daughter Louise and Neal, who manage the pub now. They are among the many whose business is now jeopardised and we feel for them and hope for the best.
We persevered with Bassingthorpe for many years (always KMR#1) but we had to move nearer to Roughwood Road three seasons ago, the race now being the Scholes Coppice Race.
This coming Tuesday was to be the fourth year. We will rearrange if we can, but see all the above. I am weighing up the possibility of getting there for an 'exercise' run from home, but it may prove too much from Wickersley. if you live near enough, why don't you consider running the course once- start and finish is at the rear of The Kimberworth Park pub.
You can download the
race route and description here
I am spending some time putting archive newsletters online (website), if you want a preview you can see
January 2004
which announces the Bassingthorpe Race and
March 2004
which gives the results. Each together with much interesting other information.