www.DatchetDashers.com

Congratulations to Helen Blake who smashed her PB on the way to winning the Jim Banks Handicap. Helen finished just ahead of Andrew Ogierman and Debbie Copley, who also ran under her current PB.

Zoe Smart reports;

A group of 5 Dashers went up to the Lake District weekend of 9 Jan for a pretty extreme 13 mile hike from Threlkeld to Helvellyn in the snow and ice. Setting off early in the morning (with two experienced mountaineers), we were lucky enough to see the sun rise and shine across Blencathra, opposite the route up to our first peak. Wading through deep snow was great fun, although it made for tough going until crampons were donned, making the climb up to Clough Head a lot less exhausting. Conditions across the rest of the peaks surprised us all, with a windchill at around minus 20 (!), beautiful spindrift and stunning virgin snow all around - looked and felt a bit like a North Pole expedition at times Ice axes and GPS came in very handy and I’ve learnt that bags of nuts are definitely not the right snack to take in those conditions when ravenous - struggling to open the bag and fumbling to eat them in gloves is near impossible (fingers froze within minutes of having them exposed!). Reaching the summit of Helvellyn at 3117ft felt like a real feat in the conditions and locals certainly seemed surprised at our achievement. Thai food and beers were well deserved by all that night…  A big thanks to Brent for organising the weekend, which was tough going and magical - looking forward to the next Dashers adventure

Click link for photos

Belated birthday congratulations to Elaine, who recently celebrated her 30th birthday with an afternoon game of rounders, and later in fine style at a choice selection of pubs. A good time was had by all… as the following photos clearly demonstrate!

Elaine’s 30th Birthday

Everyone was quite sore the next day, and many experienced dehydration and headaches. My advice is to give up rounders…

It’s that time of year again for the annual Jim Banks Challenge, a Dashers-only 5k handicap race twice round Home Park.

The important things first:

- it’s on Thursday September 3rd, with the first runner off at 1930
- it’s free to enter!
- there’s free fish-and-chips afterwards!

For those who know all about it, enter online here.

For those who don’t, read on…

The Jim Banks Handicap is a fun handicap 5k race that runs twice around the outside of Home Park. It’s a chance for the slower runners in the club to shine, and often produces a surprise winner!

Here’s how it works: the slowest runner goes off first, followed by the next slowest, etc, until eventually the fastest runner goes off last, over a lap (2.5k!) behind the slowest runners. The winner is the runner who crosses the line first!

In theory, if the handicapper has done a good job, everyone should finish at about the same time - in previous years we’ve had 40+ runners finish within 90s of each other!

Afterwards we decamp upstairs to the cricket-club bar for a drink and free fish-and-chips.

So now that you know all about it, you can enter online here!

On Tuesday 14th July it is our turn to complete the 5k series, we are going to need about 20 helpers to stage our event so some of the members may be able to run.

We also need everybody to bring some food to feed our guests (sandwiches, savouries etc), nearly 100 Dashers have taken part in the series so far  and have partaken in the other Clubs hospitality so I am expecting a good response from the Dashers.

There will be a list going up at the clubhouse tonight for names to be added to, this list is to include all names whether you are volunteering to help or want to run and also what sort of food you intend to bring, if you are unable to make the club just e mail Dave [chairman (at) datchetdashers.com] and he will add your name to the list.

Once our event is over and everything cleared away we intend to retire to the Cricket Club Bar for a social drink or two.

… on the 4^th July for The Runnymede Relay race and our annual Family Picnic!

The Race:

We are looking for Dashers of all abilities to make up a number of teams of six runners with each member running one leg of either 2.75 or 5.25 miles. We would also like to encourage new members to come along to enjoy this fun event and the team format.   Faster runners are also needed to help ‘stack’ a winning team. The rules limit each team to six runners as follows (runners must be 12 years or older on race day):

The first leg starts at 12 noon and the cost is £7 per runner.

Please email Claude (social.secretary at datchetdashers.com) if you would like to enter or write your name on the list in the club house. We will enter teams and collect the money when we have final numbers.

http://www.runnymederunners.com/relay/relay_info.html

The Picnic:

We invite all members to come along with their families to enjoy a fun day out in the Great Park and to offer support to the teams. Please bring your picnic blankets, food, drinks and any picnic games that you may have. Runnymede Runners will provide a BBQ at modest prices as well as a fun run for under 12’s.

Could you let Claude (social.secretary at datchetdashers.com) know if you plan to come along; also feel free to contact him if you have any questions and we look forward to seeing you there.

Anyone who wasn’t at the club tonight missed a very happy announcement - two of our members, Tom Durance and Elaine Culverwell, got engaged over the Easter weekend. Many congratulations to both of you!

Just a reminder that tonight (Wednesday 25 March) is quiz night at the cricket club, above where we meet. The bar will open at around 7 pm and the quiz will start at 7.30. Try not to be (too) late. With competition from The Cricket Club’s own team and the Burnham Joggers we have pride at stake – the more Dashers there, the more likely the Dashers will win.

There are still tickets available at £5 per person or £25 for a complete team of 5 so please feel free to just turn up. We will allocate individuals to teams prior to the start. There are prizes for the winners and runners up along with a best team name prize and a lucky ticket draw.

Guaranteed no fartlek, no hills and no long run – enjoy a social night at the club for a change and help to support Sue Ryder Care and Aspire.

All welcome!

Welcome to 2009! I hope everyone had an happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year’s celebration, and you’re all now ready to hit the roads, trail, track or mud again in 2009.

First on your list of resolutions for 2009 should be to book your ticket for the club’s New Year Party, which is taking place at Charley’s Horse, the second oldest Mexican Cantina in England (there will be a small prize if anyone can find out what the oldest Mexican Cantina in England is).

£10 buys you entry, a free drink, a DJ, a buffet, and lots of dancing like you don’t care who knows! See Claude, Jo or Mel for tickets.