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MWCCL: K&D Women Ink Names in History

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Taking on the biggest clubs and best athletes across University giants and elite distance runners for the first time ever in Division 1 our K&D women inked their name in history with their greatest ever season.

Race 4 of the year was at Leaminton. Shorn of several of our fastest women for a whole host of reasons it was those who’s names haven’t been in the limelight who were now thrown centre stage. Oh Boy (or more appropriately ‘Oh Girl’) they stepped forward. With the season involving a Team 5th 152(pts), a 17th (280pts) and a 7th (96pts) it had been up and down but finished with a massive high as our women fought like a dozen Boudica’s. With 249pts on the day K&D women secured a magnificent 10th place our of 15 teams. Securing another season in Division One next year with ease and beating, Trentham, Bournville, CLC Striders, Stratford AC and Gloucester AC in the process. Our Masters team also finished 8th overall.

Congratulations to Jane Evans who takes the crown as overall Masters Champion.

Considering two races with a number of absentee’s 10th is a superb result and has our women looking up the table and getting excited about what they can achieve next year.

On the day it was Arden 9 Race Director Flick Sharp and Captain Fantastic Rosie Marsh who led the team round in 26:11 (33rd) and 27:57 (65th). Kerry Thompson had an absolute stormer of a race to finish in 28:32 (71st) while huge fan of the mud Kathryn Bird clocked an impressive 29:50 (87th). Behinf the first four were an excellent team, often unsung, that all added points to the opposition.

Super-Improver (Like ABBA’s Super-Trooper?) Adeba Jama ran 31:48 (11th), Hannah Gibson ran 32:00 on the nose (120th) while Kathy shower great strength to run 33:53 (138th). Karen Ratcliffe, presumably pleased by the plethora of Vegan cafes in Leamington, ran 34:04 (139th), Sandra ‘mother of insanely fast Louie’ Boot showed where he gets his running genes from with a 35:29 (143rd) and Linda Whitehead managed not to break a leg at Leamington in 40:14 (158th). She also got a guard of honour from the guys who arrives just as she was passing. GO LINDA!

Congratulations to all the women that ran this year. It was an incredible season. To finish the last race in 13th place without the likes of Jane or Rachel just shows the incredible strength in depth of K&D women. A 19th place over all bodes well for continued growth and success and everyone at K&D is incredibly proud of the achievements of the whole team. From a 2015 club that would only be able to field 1 woman in a league fixture… to 10th in the Midlands with potential for a great future. You’ve done everyone incredibly proud.

Special mention to those who volunteered this season. Without you our women’s team wouldn’t have half as successful. To Jane Evans who always brought the face paints and motivational speeches (‘Don’t mince through the ditch’) and to Jess Woolley who never let being preggers get in the way of her support for the women.

And to Rosie Marsh for the incredible baking and putting herself on the line despite 12 months of injury hell. Captain Fantastic!

PosNameTimeClub
33Felicity Sharp00:26:11Knowle & Dorridge RC
65Rosie Marsh00:27:57Knowle & Dorridge RC
71Kerry Thompson00:28:32Knowle & Dorridge RC
87Kathryn Bird00:29:50Knowle & Dorridge RC
116Adeba Jama00:31:48Knowle & Dorridge RC
120Hannah Gibson00:32:00Knowle & Dorridge RC
138Kathy Bailey00:33:53Knowle & Dorridge RC
139Karen Ratcliffe00:34:04Knowle & Dorridge RC
143Sandra Boot00:35:29Knowle & Dorridge RC
158Linda Whitehead00:40:14Knowle & Dorridge RC
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MWCCL Race 3: To Quote Tina Turner…

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“Big wheel keep on turning 
Proud Mary keep on burning 
And we’re rolling, rolling 
Rolling on the river…”

We are rolling on full steam. K&D’s women once again rolled into town. Sitting pretty at the top of the table they shook off any pressure with a monumental display. Cruising through the course like a New Orleans Steamboat. Glam. Smooth. Powerful. A hilly Droitwich course was no match for our Women who once again proved to be the pick of the bunch racking up another match win to extend their lead at the top of the Midland Women’s XC League table.

There’s no secret. Just good people, a love of hard work and belief in their abilities.

Jane Evans (2nd), Rachel Gifford (3rd), Flick Sharp (5th) and Rosie Marsh (21st) contributed directly to a preposterous score of 31pts. Leaving second place Gloucester AC, on 73pts, more than doubling K&D’s score. While it’s 4 to score for the ‘A’ Team every place counts in Cross Country. With Gloucester scoring 12, 15, 18, 28 it put the pressure on but Rosie Marsh (21st) and Monica Green (23rd) responded to the pressure superbly.

Knocking massive points off the other teams were the closely packed pair of Mary Heald (32nd) and Jess Woolley (41st). K&D Stalwarts Claire Magee, Elaine Callinan and Jo Hitchcock fought a close battle in 83rd, 91st and 103rd while Jude Masfield (115th), Sarah Connors (130th), Amy Larsson (201st), Linda Whitehead (207th), Lissy Calvert (219th), Caroline Edwards (227th) Gail Partridge (240th) and Penny Taylor (241st) joined in the party atmosphere as they formed part of the match winning women’s team. And lets not foget a superb 3rd place for K&D women’s masters team. It was especially lovely to see a number of new faces making their K&D XC Debut. We hope they enjoyed the fun, facepaint, cake and victory!

We really can’t praise our K&D Women’s Team enough for the way they have seized this year’s opportunity. Remember you only have one race left to be part of a potential title-winning team. Not something you get to say very often. If you run, you contribute. That’s the rule in Cross.

The next race is 9th Feb, Gloucester. We really hope you’ll all consider the opportunity to turn out for our women and offer them your support by racing as part of a K&D Women’s XC Party. Gotta keep that big wheel turning…

Full Results:

2Jane Evans00:25:17
3Rachel Gifford00:26:57
5Flick Sharp00:27:15
21Rosie Marsh00:27:58
23Monica Green00:28:05
32Mary Heald00:28:46
41Jess Woolley00:29:34
83Claire Magee00:32:00
91Elaine Callinan00:32:32
103Jo Hitchcock00:33:07
115Jude Mansfield00:33:39
130Sarah Connors00:34:21
201Amy Larsson00:39:17
207Linda Whitehead00:39:44
219Lissy Calvert00:41:45
227Caroline Edwards00:43:05
240Gail Partridge00:44:35
241Penny Taylor00:44:36
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MWCCL: Women Top of the League

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In another outstanding display of teamwork K&D’s women romped to the top of their division with a stunning win on Saturday at Welcombe Hills, Stratford.

Donned in Green face paint the women smashed their way round the incredibly hilly course. Not only did they win the race, they put 18 women through the field as the success at the front encouraged even more of our wonderful club’s women to join in the fun of a winning team. Jane Evans, K&D Women’s Show Pony for so long, delivered another superb result from the front to finish 2nd overall. She was backed up once again by a plethora of K&D as we again put 7(!!) women in the top-30.

Monica Green put in another stunning display of XC technique, Rachel, Flick, Rosie, and Jess backing up Jane with superb team work and packing! Special mention to Mary who came down that last ridiculous hill into the finish with a smile on her face that summed up how fun the day was. 

Kerry Thompson continued her strong improvement moving up to 67th overall. With Louise Bell, Caroline Park, Jo Hitchcock, Jude Mansfield, Catherine Sherlock, Rachel Aston, Linda Whithead, Lianne Le Swann, Amanda Crees and Caroline Edwards all helping to add points to the other teams’ totals. What a squad!

Having so many women out created an brilliant atmosphere among the team with jubilant celebrations at what is probably K&D’s first ever league win at Cross Country. Contagious fun!

A big thank you to Emma Horsefield who acted as Official for the day managing the funnel. Our ladies certainly gave her plenty to manage as they stormed home!

Next league match is:
 12th January 2019 – Droitwich High School – MWCCL Division Two

To join in the fun (you know you want to!) as K&D Women challenge for the league title speak to Women’s Team Captain Rosie Marsh, Vice-Captain Emma Horsefield or any of the K&D Committee and they’ll give you a high five and pass your name on. 

Pos Name Time
2 Jane Evans 00:26:37
7 Rachel Gifford 00:29:08
13 Flick Sharp 00:29:57
14 Monica Green 00:30:03
25 Rosie Marsh 00:31:02
27 Mary Heald 00:31:10
29 Jess Woolley 00:31:22
67 Kerry Thompson 00:34:34
83 Louise Bell 00:35:50
86 Caroline Park 00:36:14
95 Jo Hitchcock 00:36:35
97 Jude Mansfield 00:36:50
127 Catherine Sherlock 00:39:28
137 Rachel Aston 00:40:28
176 Linda Whitehead 00:43:54
181 Lianne Le Swann 00:44:49
214 Amanda Crees 00:48:20
216 Caroline Edwards 00:48:58

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Cross Country Details: Race 2 Stratford United

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The men and women are both at Stratford on Saturday as the two cross country worlds unite in an Avengers style battle. Captain America Torsten and Captain Marvel Rosie are hoping you’ve heard their pleas to turn out en-masse as K&D battle for titles, tophies, glory and honour at the top of the table. The more runners we have the better chance we have of bringing home glory. All speed runner can contribute to the team score.

Women: Meet at St. Philips Hall at 11am
Men: Meet at The Drum & Monkey at 12:15pm.

Teams will depart in convoy.

Vests. I’ve checked in with Helix but it looks like the Chinese are still causing us Vest Issues. Do they not know who we are!? Please bring any spare K&D vests/tshirts for your fellow runners who may be without.

K&D Rain Jackets will be on Sale for £27.50. Bring exact change please. We can accept bank transfer though so if you don’t want to bring all your pennies you can purchase on the day and just show me you’ve transfered the money when i’ve sold you one (please don’t do it before).

Course: Expect a hilly one.

Men: Dress warm as we’ll be cheering on the Ladies. And Rosie has pointed out how you aren’t nearly as tough as her women’s squad. Worst runner of the day will be The Flacon. And he’s the worst Marvel Superhero. Nobody wants that. 

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MWCCL – Fixture 1: Coundon the Women to Deliver

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It was a monumental kick off to the XC season for K&D’s women as they broke new ground in both the number of participants and quality of performances. K&D’s Women delivered a result that will turn heads fast enough to cause whiplash. 

K&D Women fielded 17 women on Saturday. Which has to be a club record. A few years ago we fielded 1 woman in a league fixture. Credit must go to Kathy Bailey and Rosie Marsh who have shaped our Women into a real team over the last 3 years. It takes a while to get the ball rolling but the momentum is cranking up…

It is so pleasing to see K&D women of all speeds taking part as team in the joys of XC. 

K&D Favourite Jane Evans has led the way driving herself forward; now we’re beginning to see the benefits of the standards she sets. Her positive influence has set the tone for the women. New K&D’er Rachel Gifford was snapping at Jane’s heels on Saturday as we put 2 in the top-3. Amazingly only 3 min and 30 seconds separated Jane who led the way for K&D from Jess Woolley in 7th for the club.

A) I’ve never had to write that before!
B) We had a staggering 7 women in the top-30. 
C) This is very exciting

Our Women’s Senior and Master’s Teams finished the day 2nd. Only just  behind Tipton (2pts) overall. Genuinely going toe to toe with one of the biggest clubs in the country.

Througout the field we benefitted from many of our members who have carried our women’s team for many years. Although some of these whippersnappers now finish ahead of them i’m sure they’re delighted to see the benefits of all those muddy days bearing fruit. They have laid excellent foundations.  Special mention to Monica Green too who managed to more than hold her own in the K&D field. Monica is ever the excellent XC runner.

And finally to everyone else that ran, even if you didn’t score this time every point counts in XC.  As Chair i’m delighted to see so many of you embracing the mud, it is incredible training through the winter and you never know in XC if that one person you overtake might be the difference to the ‘A’ Team picking up a promotion or championship! The women have set incredible standards for race 1. 

The next race is 1st December 2018 – Welcombe Hills, Stratford upon Avon 

Host club Stratford AC – same venue as BCCL Division 2 Race..  So K&D Men and Women will be at the same venue next month. If you want to run speak to Rosie Marsh, Emma Horsfield, Kathy Bailey or any of the women below and they’ll point you in the right direction.  We can’t reiterate enough just how important XC is for improving your running, speed, strength as well as bonding you with your club mates.

Congratulations to our K&D Women:

Pos Name Time
2 Jane Evans 00:21:26
3 Rachel Gifford 00:22:43
17 Rosie Marsh 00:24:00
20 Flick Sharp 00:24:15
24 Monica Green 00:24:25
25 Mary Heald 00:24:46
27 Jess Woolley 00:24:54
63 Kerry Thompson 00:27:02
86 Kathy Bailey 00:28:00
106 Jo Hitchcock 00:29:17
110 Jude Mansfield 00:29:23
111 Catherine Sherlock 00:29:25
181 Jan Hornby 00:33:36
214 Linda Whitehead 00:35:26
226 Amanda Crees 00:36:42
235 Katie Price 00:37:22
243 Caroline Edwards 00:38:41

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XC – Dates for the Diary

Sat 10th Nov – Men’s & Women’s – League Fixture 1: Cheltenham/Coventry
Sat 1st  Dec – Men’s & Women’s – League Fixture 2: Stratford (Both)
Sat 5th Jan – Warwickshire XC Champs: Rugby
Sat 12th Jan – Men’s & Women’s – League Fixture 3: Leamington/Droitwich
Sat 26th Jan – Midlands XC Champs: Leamington
Sat 9th Feb –  Men’s & Women’s – League Fixture 3 : Trentham/Gloucester
Sat 23rd Feb – The National XC Champs: Harewood House, Leeds

The Club pays entry fee for ALL XC races for you.
League race entry is done by squad, just speak to your Team Captains (Torsten Roesler, Rosie Marsh) or Vice-Captains (Chris Sharp, Emma Horsefield) and they’ll put your name down.

Entry for Warwickshire, Midlands and National Champs is done through the club. We’ll ask you to email your intention to run soon.

XC is suitable for all abilities (even more so with the men back in Div. 2 this year). This includes the National Champs which is an iconic race, but welcoming to all standards. A bucket list race. For the first time this year we’ll be looking to fill mini-bus or coach and encourage lots of you to join in a club jolly to Leeds for the day.

Last year was our most successful year ever for our women, while our men fought bravely in a very competitive Div. 1.  We travel as a team. We rally round the club flag. We get muddy and have a lot of fun and cake. Ask Greg, and Jack how it improves your running too…. Both competed regularly and made massive leaps through the winter.

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Women’s XC League Fixture 2 Results: Stratford – Ribbons and Facepaints

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Our ladies donned the face paint and green and gold hair ribbons and delivered a ferocious performance on the Stratford hills on Saturday afternoon. Boudica would have been proud as our women warriors put in another excellent performance in spikes. 

Jane Evans won the women’s Division 2 race. A fantastic result. Jane was backed up by Rosie Marsh putting in another great cross country race with a 31st place finish. In 64th and 68th were the Callinan’s with Natalie pipping Elaine. Natalie is going to be an excellent addition to our XC team – especially with the familial rivalry to push her on.  Jude Mansfield and Linda Whitehead made up our team with fantastic 85th and 163rd places. Superb team work all round.

K&D women scored 164 points. In 2016 at the same venue we scored 30, 61, 70 and 104 points for a total of 265 points. A massile 101 point improvement! Our ladies sit in 10th place with our masters in 9th. 

Huge congrats to our women who continue to perform fantastically. If you want to join in the fun in what’s shaping up to be our best year ever speak to Captain Kathy. The next race is Jan 13th, Cofton Park in Birmingham – local!

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Ladies XC Team: Stat Attack

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Results are in!

We came 7th as a team for the series out of 20.
 
Special congratulations to Jude who was the team ever-present. She raced in all 4 of the league fixtures this year. A lynch-pin!
 
Individual places for masters are as follows:
Kathy 25 (3 races)
Elaine 37 (3 races)
Jude 51 (3 races)
Jane 135 (2 races)
Monica 136 (2 races)
Hala 174 (2 races)
Claire 263 (1 race)
Linda 267 (1 race)
 
for seniors (out of 104):
Emma Donnelly 16 (3 races)
Flick Sharp 79 (2 races)
 

Read more

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Ladies XC Results: MWCCL, Race 3 – Aldersley, Wolverhampton

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K&D Ladies spiked up at Aldersley Stadium in Wolverhampton on Saturday 14th January.

Flick Sharp finished an impressive 20th in 26:29. Consistency and speed have been on show over and over from Flick this season. Emma Donnelly put in a very solid 28:56 run to finish 50th. Elaine Callinan was third home in 30:45, Jude Mansfield ran 32:03 while Hala Atkin finished in 33:22. 

With two runners in the top 50 and our other ladies all within three minutes of each other there were some excellent results and strong consistency throughout the team.

 

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Midlands Women’s Cross Country League Race #2 Results

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Our ladies were back in action with a few additional members this time. The larger group showed that strength in depth is vital over a cross country season. Every point counts and the more runners a team has the more damage they can do to rival’s points totals.

Flick Sharp’s good form transferred over to the grass with a strong 29:32 clocking. That took her to a 29th place finish. Sneaking inside that top 3 is a great performance. And the same applies to Monica Green who, with a 29:33 finish was right behind flick. Two ladies in the top 30 is a cracker of a result. Read more

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