Loughton Lines

LOUGHTON
LINES

THE NEWSLETTER OF
LOUGHTON ATHLETIC CLUB No. 56 FEBRUARY, 2008
INDEX

Editorial Captain Barclay	The Mary Knapman Interview	All Change at the Top Voterigger
The Birthday Celebrations Diaryman	Summer Fixtures George Richardson	The Physical Shield George Richardson, Tony Maycraft & Captain Barclay
Obituaries	The Next Edition

HERE WE ARE AGAIN!

    Is this it, then, Cassidy? You do nothing for ages and then produce a picture of a heap of coal with some extremely thin nuns standing on top?

    Please, Sir, it’s meant to be a birthday cake – because the Club is a hundred years old this year.

    I see! Is this to be the extent of the celebrations, then, your dazzling piece of artwork or is there something else equally gripping to come?
    No, Sir, please, Sir. The year will be jam-packed with interesting things.

    Which are, Cassidy, what, precisely?

    Oh, you’ll have to look inside for that, Sir; full details elsewhere, as they say in real publications.

    I shall turn the page with bated breath, Cassidy. Am I going to find eighteen months’ of results, as well, as I thumb the volume?
    Oh, pull the other one, Sunshine; it’s got bells on!

    Hmm! Is there some explanation for the long silence, then, Cassidy?

    I’m not well, please, Sir; I’ve got a sick-note.

    And what is wrong with you. boy, apart from chronic idleness?

    Ophthalmic shingles, please, Sir, in September, and I was swollen up and ghastly – photos of the condition are available in a plain cover for those interested – and I’m too enfeebled to do anything worth talking about.

    I’m sure we’re very sympathetic Cassidy, but what about all the months before September?

    Amnesia, please, Sir.

    You were suffering from amnesia, were you?

    No, Sir, please, Sir,, I mean that I can’t remember what happened.

    Nothing, apparently! However, get on with it now that you’ve at last made a start – or so you say.

    Yes, Sir, thank you Sir; I’ll get down to it at once, Sir.

[Stage direction; unscrews cap of gentleman’s grade 1 fountain-pen in a purposeful manner and lapses into a trance.]

Captain Barclay

THE MARY KNAPMAN INTERVIEW

Name?
    Shaun de Souza Brady. That's Irish and Portuguese. I am the Irish connection, born Shaun Michael Brady. I changed my surname when I married my wife Doris.

Where did you grow up?
    Eastbourne, East Sussex (God's waiting room). The average age of residents is around 60. The nearest landmark is Beachy Head and the nearest football club is Brighton and Hove Albion.

What's your job?
    I am a Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police based at Haringey, North London. I am responsible for neighbourhood policing, community engagement, youth and schools. I also police Spurs football matches.

How long have you been a member of Loughton AC?
    I joined on 1st April 2005. (Ted is now checking to see I've paid!) I was overweight, unfit and had a vision of completing a marathon and winning Olympic gold. I am now overweight, much fitter and would like to beat 1 hour for the club 5-mile race.

PBs?
    Watford this year: 200m in 25·5 (that would be a club V40 record), 400m in 63·5 secs and 11·55 for the Hammer. The next day I was in pain. The day after that day I was bedridden. I then ended up at the surgery, believing I had appendicitis or a water infection. After several tests the doctor diagnosed muscle pain. The things I do for Loughton AC!!

Who in the club would you most like to be “lost” on a 10-mile forest run with?
    My wife. That's for many reasons, including the fact that she will admit being lost and ask directions, whereas I would be running for hours rather than ask….It's a man thing!

Which sportsperson do you most admire and why?
    Daley Thompson. He did it clean and enjoyed it.

Who/what has been the biggest influence on your sporting career?
    My games master, Mr Marsden. He either hated or loved me. He put me in the second row of the scrum. Everyone else was 6' and 18st. I was 5 8 and 5st wringing wet. I learned to run fast very quickly and as a result competed above my age group at 400m. At 15 my PB was 61·4secs, so I've not slowed that much.

Which three people would you invite to a dinner party?
    Alecia Moore (PINK) – she's outrageous and talented. Sebastian Faulks (author of Birdsong, Green Dolphin Street and Human Traces). Alex Ferguson (the only football manager to have his name on his club shirts: “AIG” – Alex is God).

What would be on the menu?
    Homemade soup, a Jamie Oliver fish course and Bill Granger dessert. Oodles of good wine and great company.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what two things would you take with you?
    My wife and a scrabble game.

Who or what makes you laugh?
    Real life. I enjoy real life stories and people recounting incidents that happened to them.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you like to have?
Teleportation. I would like to be wherever I want to be now.

What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind?
    Apart from Brighton and Hove Albion successes (I can only think of four), The Laws of association football.

Do you have any hidden talents?
    Karaoke (or however you spell it!). Doris doesn't agree. I am a level 3 football coach and qualified referee.

If you were a car, what would you be?
    A Saab. Sleek lines, dependable, sporty performance when the need arises.

Describe yourself in six words or less.
    Hard-working family man, occasional Fungi.

ALL CHANGE AT THE TOP

    Preparing this edition, you Editor has the odd half-ear on the electric wireless, where the main topic is the elections held a couple of days ago in Zimbabwe. In the spirit of that country’s idea of democracy, here are the results of the elections to be held at the Club A.G.M. on the 14th April for the Officers and Committee members. How does he know, you ask? Are opposition candidates being taken round the back of the Pavilion for a brief interview and a spot of political re-education? Has there been a popular upwelling of affection for the new nominees so overwhelming that it cannot be gainsaid? Have favours and considerations been solicited and offered?

    Not quite, but as we set out upon a new century, the old guard have decided that it is time for a radical change. As you will have seen from the notice of the A.G.M., a reorganisation of the Committee responsibilities is proposed and a “slate” of nominations has been prepared by the Committee. Of course, members still have the right to make nominations, but, to help with a smooth changeover, the new officers have been working with the old for a few months and this seems to be a good way of doing it.

    The new Committee being elected – if the A.G.M. agrees, of course! – will be: Barry Edwards (President), Michelle & Scott Hurley, Gabrielle Brooks, Caroline Real, Peter Cassidy, Pauline Wilson, Tony Maycraft, Tony Babbs, Mick Rolfe, David Hobbs, Doug Bliss, Paulette and Lara Regan, Barbara Higgins, Gavin Harper and George Richardson.

    The fact that it looks like a carve-up shouldn’t deter you from coming to the A.G.M.; remember, there is also the election of the Member of the Year for 2007. In addition, there are three or four vacancies on the Committee and you may feel moved to throw your hat in the ring.

Ballotrigger

THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

    A number of events will take place to mark the Club’s Centenary Year and these are just some of them:

Centenary Book

    George Richardson is producing a book – after the fashion of the seventy-fifth anniversary one – to provide a record of what L.A.C. has done over the last hundred years. This will be available as soon as maybe after the A.G.M. has confirmed the new Committee and will run to about forty pages

A National Championship

    We shall be staging the Race Walking Association National Younger Age Group Championships on the 4th May in Victoria Park, based on the V.P.H. Clubhouse, from 1:00 p.m.

    The Officials will be appointed by the R.W.A. and Tony Maycraft will be providing a computerised results service, but we need volunteers to help on the day; pointsmen (to make sure that no-one gets lost), a cyclist or two (to lead the field round the first lap and then collect disqualification cards from the judges), catering assistants and someone to sell raffle tickets. This is one of the larger of the R.W.A. Championships and will provide an interesting afternoon’s competition. Those of you without much experience of race walking might like to come along and watch, to be terrified by the speed that some of them work up; it terrifies me, anyway!

    Please volunteer to Pauline Wilson or Peter Cassidy in person, by ’phone on 01277 220687 or by E-mail at Pauline.Wilson@btinternet.com a.s.a.p.

    Incidentally, we expect to show a profit on the day, to help the Birthday Fund.

The Ekiden Relay

    On the 15th June, we revive our relay run from Limehouse to Hertford; in fell-running terms, this is 26 miles/150 feet or thereabouts, all the climb coming in helpings of a few feet every couple of miles when you reach a lock.

The Cross-Country

    This will be an open 10k event at Loughton on the 13th September; many hands will be needed!

The Centenary Dinner

    A (reasonably) formal dinner will be held on 25th October at Theydon Bois Gold Club; more details will be provided later.

Other Events

    These will include a 100-lap Event and Summer Barbecue, a Younger Members’ Disco, a Century Quiz Night and other things beside. The people listed below are in charge of the various happenings and will be pleased to hear from you. It’s your centenary, so let’s all join in and make it successful. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, L.A.C!

Contacts

Walks Champs: Pauline Wilson
Ekiden Relay: John Hart
100 laps: Scott Hurley
10k cross-country: Michelle Hurley
Dinner: Scott Hurley & Ted Martin
Disco: Scott Hurley
Quiz: Scott Hurley
History: George Richardson
Sponsored T-shirts, etc.: Scott and Michelle Hurley & Steve Anstiss
Merchandise: John Hart

Expect to hear from them!

    We were hosts for our annual Physical Shield Road Relay on the 25th March, a fine day sandwiched between one of gales and one of heavy rain; the officials were pleased, anyway. For new members who may not know, this is a race of four two-lap legs starting and finishing more or less outside Chez Hobbs and getting them ostracised by their neighbours for the next few weeks. (The excitement seems to have been too much for Mary Knapman –née Hobbs – who doesn’t live there any more but who gave birth to a daughter the following day.) The normal collection of motorised lunatics was present at intervals.
    The result of the race was more clear-cut than usual:

    1    V.P.H. Men A    37:19
    2    Eton Manor Men A    39:19
    3    Loughton Men A    40:14
    4    Loughton Men B    42:45
    5    Orion Ladies    43:33
    6    Eton Manor Men B    44:10
    7    Loughton Ladies     45:40
    8    VPH Ladies    45:45
    9    Eton Manor Men C    46:27
    10    VPH Men B    49:40
    11    Loughton Men C    50:39
    12    Eton Manor Ladies    53:43
    13    Loughton Ladies B    54:42
Orion Ladies’ time was a new record and Natalie Kipps, their No.1, set a new individual ladies’ best.

    Loughton leg times:
Men A Brett Underhill 9:55; Gavin Harper 10:09; Craig Smallbone 10:28; Tony Babbs 9:42
Men B Mick Rolfe 9:53; Greg Vedgen 10:20; Adam Hollingsworth 11:34; Rob Sargent 10:58
Ladies A Caroline Real 11:01; Gabrielle Brooks 11:29; Michelle Hurley 12:04; Lorna Gaffney 11:06
Men C Scott Hurley 12:53; Shaun de Souza Brady 13:49; John Hart 12:22; Jim Whiffin 11:35
Ladies B Ann Heeks 12:52; Gwen Harwood 14:47; Jean Hobbs 13:43; Amanda Gibbins 13:20

George Richardson, Tony Maycraft & Captain Barclay

OBITUARIES

Sadly, while Loughton Lines has been absent, the Club has suffered a number of losses.

Steve Hall
Our middle-distance runner died last year after a long and recurrent illness.
During his time with us he not only ran at his favourite distances and filled any gap that occurred at Southern Men’s League matches,
but acted as Captain/Secretary of a number of our sections.

Jane Edwards
Jane, the wife of our President, Barry Edwards, died recently at their home in France. Those who were Committee members in the past
will remember her cheerful hospitality when we used to meet at Woodcroft School, of which Barry was the Principal.

Ken Owles
Ken died at the end of March, after an illness. A Grade 1 timekeeper, Ken will be well remembered for carrying mutton-chop whiskers
into the twenty-first century; his distinctive appearance and meticulous multicoloured preparation for his duties made him
a popular and valued official.

To the relatives and friends of these three, we offer our sympathy.

NEXT EDITION

We hope that we are back on track and that the next edition will appear in June; please let Peter Cassidy (a.k.a. Captain Barclay), the Honorary Editor, have your material, at Peter.Cassidy@btinternet.com or otherwise.