Short and sweet before the last Sunday Cross country league match Sunday, January 29, 2012 There were, as usual, a few entries from the 88 Runners in the weekly 5km in Ilford’s Valentine’s Park. Caroline Cummins led the way home for the team in 23rd place (3rd lady) in 26m 29s with Keith Stephens in 34th with 27m 35s. Timi Veerasamy had a good run in 36th recording 28m 32s, with Anne Duggan 1 place and 10 seconds behind. Nadine Bristowe came home in 33m 34s in 55th and Sam Veerasamy was 59th in 33m 58s. The team was completed by Julie and Sian Wilkins in 62nd and 67th respectively. The long and the short of it Sunday, January 29, 2012 The Benfleet 15 is a challenging event featuring road, mud and hills over Hadleigh Downs. The event this year was won by Crispian Bloomfield from Billericay Striders for the fifth time. For Dagenham 88 Nigel Swinburne put in a good performance finishing 27th in 1hr 47mins 19secs. There was another good run from Steve Ray in 187th with 2h 12m 35s, with Gary Cardnell 199th in 2h 15m 15s. Jenny Akroyd finished 29th in the ladies event and 223rd overall in 2h 20m 05s and Caroline Cummins came home 364th in a time of 2h 42m 40s five seconds faster than hubby Ian. There was the usual good entry from Dagenham 88 Runners in the weekly 5km in Ilford’s Valentine’s Park. Ian Cummins led the way home for the team in 6th place in 20 mins 40 secs. Steve Ray again showed good form with 23m 02s for 15th, while Caroline Cummins recorded 26m 05s for 30th. Timi Veerasamy was 51st in 32m 28s with Anne Duggan next over the line 4 seconds later. Kate McNerlin finished with 32m 01s in 59th, with the team being completed by Joanne (64th), Karen Crighton (65th) and Sam Veerasamy (71st).   Old and New at Orion whilst Nigel completes hat-trick of wins Sunday, January 15, 2012 There was a good turn-out from the Dagenham 88 Runners at the final Essex Cross-Country League match of the winter held over a typical cross-country course in Epping Forest on a sunny but chilly Saturday afternoon. The ladies raced over a 2 laps totalling 6.7km. Jenny Akroyd was the first of the 88s to finish in 63rd position in 34m 05s, with Jackie Frewin recording 38m 56s for 88th spot. The team placed 14th on the day and 20th for the season. The mens event was also over two laps but they were a little longer making the race 7.7km. The 88s team was a contrast for two halves with three members who have been running in the league for over 20 years and three making their debuts in the event. It was one of the new boys leading home the Dagenham challenge in 78th with 32m 32s, with Ian Cummins, also a debutant, next home recording 35m 18s in 104th. The three first timer was Darren Groves who finished 145th with 39m 37s. The experienced trio were Rob Sargent in 108th (35m 52s) Bill Adams 112th (36m 18s) and 3rd in the V60 category and Doug Adams 154th. The team finished 12th on the day and moved up to 16th in the final league table for the winter. Individually for the year Rob Sargent placed 9th in the V50 section. Nigel Swinburne won the weekly 5km in Ilford’s Valentine’s Park for the third successive week in a new personal best time of 17m 54s. Gary Cardnell showed improved form in 16th with 22m 3e while Caroline Cummins was 2nd female and 31st overall in 26m 11s. Keith Stephens placed 36th in 27m 30s and Anne Duggan 45th (29m 15s) and Sam Veerasamy 61st (34m 20s) also in action. Kaz Hurrell took part in the 100 Marathon Club Handicap Marathon at Bromley on Sunday 8 January. Unlike an ordinary race where everyone starts at the same time in a handicap marathon everyone has an individual start time - calculated by taking an average of their last seven road marathon times. Theoretically, this means that the field finishes in a much closer timeframe than a normal race. With a handicap of 4.48, Kaz completed the five lap (multi-terrain) course in 4.30.15. Club Championship dates announced Sunday, January 15, 2012 Club Championships 2012 dates - 26/02 Roding Valley 1/2 01/04 Braintree Skyline 5 15/04 Newham Classic 10k 20/05 Great Baddow 10 03/06 Barking and Dagenham 5 (date tbc) 19/06 Havering Midweek 5 (date tbc) 11/07 Ilford Hilly 5 (date tbc) 15/07 Brentwood 10k 27/08 Barking 5k 23/09 Pleshey 1/2 04/11 Billericay 10k 25/11 Chelmsford 10k Scoring will be best 8 results from the 12 races Be a Club Championship Warrior   Excellent performances at the Essex XC Champs Tuesday, January 10, 2012 For the first time in many years Dagenham 88 Runners finished both a men’s team and a ladies team in the Essex Cross-Country Championships held on a grassland course with 4 climbs per lap at Gloucester Park, Basildon last Saturday. Chris Donnellan represented the club in the mens under-20 race over 2 laps totalling 5 miles, In a highly competitive race he finished a creditable 17th in 35 mins 25 secs. The ladies were led home by Samantha Monk in 30th spot in 38m 80s over the same 5 mile course. She was supported by Jenny Akroyd, 56th in 44m 30s, and Caroline Cummins, 73th on 48m 43s. Jackie Frewin tried hard in 78th with 50m 44s, while Timi Veerasamy completed the squad in 59m 43s for 90th. Overall the club finished 11th in the team rankings. A good quality field assembled for the senior men’s 7 ½ mile race over 3 laps. The first home for the 88s was Sam Rahman in 100th position with 51m 39s. Next was a group packing well led by Ian Cummins in 131st with 55m 01s, closely followed by Rob Sargent 2 places behind in 55m 24s and Gary Cardnell 139th in 57m 07s. Dan Miller with 58m 14s in 144th and the improving Steve Ray in 151st with 59m 21s completed the 88s scoring 6. Also running were Malcolm Dennis, 164th in 68m 18s, and Rob Rant, 169th in 71m 08s,who found the going tough. In the team competition the Dagenham squad were placed 15th. In the morning there were also Dagenham 88s in action in the weekly Valentine’s Park 5km. There was victory for the 2nd week in succession for Nigel Swinburne who finished in 18m 10s. Ian Cummins finished 7th in 20m21s and the travelled to Basildon for the cross-country. Keith Stephens returned to action in 36th spot with 27m 54s, while Julie Dalphinis came home 51st in 31m 04. Julie Cardnell, 61st in 33m 03s, and Sam Veerasamy , 63rd, completed the 88 line-up. Meanwhile, Dagenham marathon machine Amanda Heslegrave completed her 58th run at the distance in the Enigma Event in Milton Keynes in 4h 07m 47s. Karen finished in a time of 4h 45m 54s. Finishing the year off in style and straight into 2012 with a cracker Tuesday, January 10, 2012 At the Ilford AC 10 mile cross-country race staged at Hainault Forest on New Year’s Eve the Dagenham 88s had a large squad in action. Leading the way home was Nigel Swinburne in 36th position with 75 mins 36 secs for the 3 lap muddy hilly course. Next up was Sam Rahman in 45th with 77m 23s and Samantha Monk was 4th lady and 63rd overall in 81m 17s. Rob Taylor found the going tough finishing in 83m 57s for 71st. one place and 3 seconds ahead of Gary Cardnell. Steve Ray had a good run in spot 84 with 88m 23s while Malcolm Dennis was 95th in 92m 56s and Jenny Akroyd recorded 99m 57s in 112th. Multi marathoner Amanda Heslegrave didn’t take to the slippery condition in 118th with 105m 47s. Some for the club’s newer member also had a go at this event with Laura Peskett 112th (102m 17s) Jackie Frewin 127th (152m 46s) Anne Duggan 130th and Karen Crighton (131st) Earlier the same morning the 88s were also out in the Valentine’s Park 5km Parkrun, some of whom went onto race in Hainault Forest. Nigel Swinburne, one of those doubling up, became the 2nd Dagenham winner in recent weeks in 18m 36s, with Ian Cummins 5th in 21m 14s. Jenny Akroyd placed 2nd lady and 24th overall in 25m 01s. Chris and Claire Howlett made their 88 debut finishing 32nd (26m 48s0 and 39th (29m 50s) respectively. Amy Johnstone came home 41st in 30m 44s and Timi Veerasamy 47th with 31m 25s. There was a personal best time of 32m 59s for Julie Cardnell. On New Year’s Day the Knacker Cracker 10km in held on a very tough course over Box Hill in Surrey. Rob Rant did well finishing in 109m 07s in 222ns with Ian and Caroline Cummins running together finishing with 112m 52s.   2011 Roll of Honour Tuesday, January 10, 2012 At the 88s recent Christmas party the presentations for 2011 were made. Club personality of the year was Alan Potter from Bill Adams with Jenny Akroyd in third. The Ron Fordham Memorial Trophy for best marathon performance was won by Caroline Tuck, Rob Sargent was runner-up and Nigel Swinburne 3rd. The Grand Prix winner for the men was Nigel Swinburne with Jenny Akroyd taking the ladies prize. Age group winners were for the men; Lee Davis (M400, Rob Sargent (V50) and Bill Adams (V60) and for the ladies Karen Crighton (V35) Jackie Frewin (V45) and Timi Veerasamy (V55). Dagenham 88 London Marathon Squad Tuesday, January 10, 2012 Dagenham 88 Runners have announced their London Marathon squad for 2011. Leading the team are the top male and female marathon runners in the club. Nigel Swinburne will be running his 11th marathon and his personal best of 3hrs 08 mins and is aiming to break the 3 hour barrier. Caroline Tuck is the club’s marathon record holder at 3h 14m 26s and is looking to improve this in her 14th run at the distance. Amanda Heslegrave is the club’s most experience member over the 26 miles having run 57. She is hoping for a sub 4 hour time. Gary Carnell has taken part in 5 previous marathons and is training to beat 3h 30m for the first time, while Keith Stephens in trying for sub 5 hrs in his 5th . Club Chairman Tony Bradley has taken part in 5 Londons and also ran 11 Comrades Marathons, which is 57 miles long, while living in South Africa. His best time is 3h 45m but has recently had a knee replacement operation and aims to speedwalk the race in under 5 ½ hours. Rob Rant will be in his 5th London and is hoping for a new best time of under 4h 25m and Caroline Cummins wants to beat 5 hours. There will be 2 marathon debuts from Robert Abrey Jnr and Karen Crighton. Alan Potter completes the squad.   Ian wins Valentines while others spread far and wide Tuesday, December 20, 2011 With the festive season approaching there were not many 88s in action at the weekend. Dagenham’s man in form Ian Cummins became the first club male to win a parkrun on Saturday morning when he was victorious in Valentine’s Park in a new personal best of 19 mins 32 secs. Caroline, his wife, finished 2nd lady and 25th overall in 26 mins 24 secs. At the Ware Cup cross-country meeting at Loughton Rob Sargent gave an better performance than of late finishing 33rd in the 8km race in 36mins 30secs, while Jackie Frewin came home 75th in 47m 04s, over 4 minutes faster than last year. Second claim member Ian Place, who is based in Leeds, became the third 88 to race in the USA recently. He took part in the Las Vegas half-marathon, which runs along the Strip at night, finishing 3379th and 33rd M60, out of an incredible 33257 runners in 1h 54m 21s. Previously, Jackie Frewin took part in the 8 mile GRIM challenge in Aldershot. This is an off road course which adds to the normal hills and mud such obstacles as piles of logs to climb over and waist high water to wade through! She finished in a respectable time of 1hr 34m 40s. Cross Country and Santathon - It's silly season but that's how the 88's roll Tuesday, December 20, 2011 Dagenham 88 Runners were represented by a small squad at the Essex Veterans Cross-Country Championships at Hainault on Saturday. The race was over 2 laps through the forest and totalled 5.4 miles in total. The first race was for men over-50. The in form Bill Adams led home the team in 41mins 56 secs in 54th position, which gave him 8th in the M60 category, outsprinting team mate Rob Sargent in the home straight who crossed the line 3 seconds and 1 place later. Doug Adams completed the squad in 110th spot. In the mens over 40 race saw 88 compete and 88s only representative Rob Taylor finished 67th with 40mins 56 secs. Also on Saturday there was another personal best for Ian Cummins as he finished 65th in the 5km Valentine’s Park parkrun in 20min 08secs. His wife, Caroline, recorded 27m 08s in the same event. In the Santa Run from Dagenham Football Club on Sunday saw over 30 88s donned the red suit for the 5km run. Nigel Swinburne led home the club’s contingent in 2nd spot, with Sam Rahman, Ian Cummins and Bill Adams all featuring in the top 10. Jenny Akroyd took the ladies prize and Nicola Embery the junior girls trophy. The previous weekend the Runners took part in the South Essex League match in Thornton Park. The club were encouraged by fielding full teams in both the mens and ladies matches. The race was over one lap of the park and 7.5km in distance. The mens squad were led by Nigel Swinburne in 27th place in 29m 36s,he was supported by Ian Cummins in 82nd and 33m 59s and Bill Adams who placed 99th with 35m 19s. Steve Ray was next home in 38m 22s for spot 38m 22s, with Doug Adams (175th) and Steve Easley (178th) completing the team. For the ladies Caroline Tuck was in good form finished 17th, and 1st FV45, in 35m 01s. Dependable Jenny Akroyd placed 32nd with 39m 03s and Wendy Saunders 64th in 44m 53s. Anne Duggan finished in 47m 59s and Julie Cardnell in her first cross-country crossed the line 78th. The same weekend Rob Sargent ran in the Chingford league for his 2nd claim club Loughton AC at Alexandra Palace. The 3 lap 7.5km course was around the old horserace course with a stiff climb upto the Palace on each lap. Rob was happier with his run after some disappointing performances of late leading home his team in 108th place, and 18th m50, in 37m 04s.   Busy run up to Christmas for the 88's Tuesday, December 20, 2011 There were a number of 88s in this week’s 5km Parkrun at Valentine’s Park. Ian Cummins was once again leading home the club squad in 4th spot with 21mins 53mins. Gary Cardnell, now back in action after illness, was 8th with 24m 02s and Malcolm Dennis had a fine run in 10th in 24m 23s.Jenny Akroyd won the ladies section in 15th overall in a time of 25m 06s. Steve ray recorded 25m 23s in 18th and Steve Easley placed 23rd with 27.59. Also in action were 38th Timi Veerasamy, 42nd Karen Crighton and 46th Sam Veerasamy. Rob Sargent was the only club member to travel to Colchester for the 4th round of this winter’s Essex Cross-Country league. The 9km 3 lap race around an interesting course on Hilly Fields which featured a bit of all conditions encountered in cross-country. Rob finished 100th, his best position of the season, in 41m 51s. Karen Hurrell completed a double marathon weekend in Deal, Kent. On Saturday she ran the Saxon Shore Marathon. This is a 4 lap trial race on the Saxon Shore Way. She finished in 4h 56m 16s. Having enjoyed the run so much she ran in the next day’s race as well! This time she came home in 5h 01m 52s. Previously the club had competed in the South Essex Sunday Cross-Country League fixture at Hadleigh Country Park. In the men’s section Nigel Swinburne was the first 88 home in 34th with 28m 12s for the 7.5km course. Ian Cummins came home 76th in 32m 12s with Bill Adams 84th with 33m 13s. Gary Cardnell finished 111th in 34m 59s while Malcolm Dennis recorded 40m 38s for 142nd. Steve Easley placed 154th and Doug Adams 158th. For the ladies Caroline Tuck led the way in 15th with 32m 27s with Jenny Akroyd 27th in 37m 19s. Caroline Cummins placed 43rd in 42m 08s and Tracey George came home 62nd. Caroline Comes in First At Valentines Park Tuesday, December 20, 2011 There was only one Dagenham 88 Runner in this week’s 5km Parkrun in Valentine’s Park but Caroline Cummins made her presence felt as she won the female section in 26 mins 28 secs to place 27th overall. At the West Ham Park 5km Inga Hayden-Cooper returned to action following a calf injury with a creditable time of 23m 40s in 2nd spot in the female race and 13th overall. Also in this event was Jackie Frewin who finished 25th in 26m 41s. In other action recently Ian Cummins set a personal best of 20m 17s in the Poole 5km Parkrun and wife Caroline also set a pb in the Stroud Half-Marathon of 1h 58m 07s.