Got something to say about another member? Or feel you’ve been left out? This is your chance to tell a story about someone in the club. Use this form to tell us all.
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The owner of possibly the driest sense of humour in the club. If some people consider their dotage as starting when their waist measurement in inches is less than their age in years, runners may see their 10k time in minutes as a similar barrier. Julian passed that mark on his last birthday, and promptly crocked himself falling down some stairs.
Poaching Julian from Pegasus has made all the difference to our team results. Getting into the senior men’s ‘A’ team for anyone else (with the exception of Phil Cook) is a triumph in itself now.
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Well-known for the colourful bandanas she wears at races, Claire Beatty of the Galway Tribune has made an impression with everyone in the short time she’s been at the club.
Fast-improving athlete and gregarious in nature, Clare’s generosity of spirit has touched everyone. The most notable example of this happened at the London Marathon, when, after dropping out at 18 miles, Claire helped another distressed athlete back to the finish from Canary Wharf. And then, despite her own personal disappointment at not finishing, had the presence of mind to join her mates in the pub.
A little gem is our Claire.
101 words submitted by Mick
Carol Miller’s partner. Dave is more of a two wheel man. He rode the lead bike for the ‘97 Castles Relay, and sport-wise is happiest off-road biking. You’d think that being a father would have taught him things like mellowness, and the fact that his life’s not just his own anymore, but he still managed to whack his calf with his bike’s kick-start thing.
Dave has plans to be a Karrimor crazy, like Andy Cleves, Geran Hughes, and Simon Nurse.
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Ken is one the hardest workers in the club. He was a distance runner of some pedigree back in the 1950s. After many years out of the sport, the formation of Les Croupiers rekindled his enthusiasm and he competed for us for several years on the road and country.
He then took on the valuable role of co-ordinating the club entries for major races, which is always a tough task given the numbers of athletes we turn out. More recently he became Treasurer of the Welsh Masters, and is both a selector and organisor of Welsh Masters Cross Country events. He also is a timekeeper and Marshalls Co-ordinator at many local events.
Always present at the end of the funnel after the Gwent League, with Derek and Reg, whatever the weather. Ken also likes the odd glass of red wine (or three).
142 words submitted by Mick McGeoch
David is a very talented athlete, even if his numerous other priorities dictate that he no longer figures in our "A" Team. I first met him more than 20 years ago when he was running 400 and 800 metres for Newport Harriers.
He then moved to about 100 yards from my house in Barry, and we started training together. David’s vastly superior leg speed and my extensive endurance background led to our helping each other’s athletic career greatly.
I ran personal best track times over 3000 and 5000 metres in my early thirties and David ran 2:25:34 in the 1989 London Marathon (having run scared for the last mile whilst on TV because Veronique Marot was hard on his heels!) This was the springboard to many international marathon vests for Wales and he also notably won the Belgrave 20 Miles Road Race.
Though pursuing his teaching career, which has seen him move to London, then the Midlands, before securing a headship in this area, David has maintained his allegiance to the Croups throughout, and has also been responsible for Warlingham School, South London and Dudley Kinswinford competing in the Welsh Castles Relay.
Having paid him so many compliments, I should add that he supports Manchester United, but then again, nobody’s perfect!
211 words submitted by Mick McGeoch
Great to see the recent return of one of the club’s all-time great characters, Howard Brown,alias “Handsome Howie.” Maybe we should say “great survivors”.
Stories about Howie could fill many volumes of ACE, and indeed, Woody wrote many of them. Howie was one tough competitor, whatever the event, 2:33 for marathon (short course), 5:55 for 50 miles, 16th in the 1985 London-Brighton. A long-time busker, sandwich-maker and landscape gardener - hence the name “Capability Brown”. Most recently maker of ads. for the Halifax Building Society. Yes, this is an athlete with a little extra.
94 words submitted by Mick McGeoch
See Julian above. Richie says, “ I owe all of my (limited) success to my wonderful wife. Without her cooking, training suggestions, and tolerance towards my stretching regime for my hamstring problem, I would have retired years ago”. So far in 2002 has had yet another hamstring injury, won the Corsham 10K (well it’s a BIG event for Wiltshire ), successfully defended his AAW Vets Half Marathon title, run a 32:28 10K in Poole …. and got lost in the Castles Relay. Last ran a marathon in April 1998 and still has no intention of running another yet.
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So far in 2002 has managed P.B.s for 5k (19:42), 10k (41:04), 10 miles (68:33), and half marathon (90:30), and won her stage in the Castles Relay. Not bad for someone who in her first ever Gwent League race some 16 years ago finished with no one behind her. Her ambition is to beat Dave Lloyd in a head-to-head race and thus get him removed from the Club website homepage … revenge for him not buying a dinner dance ticket.
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The D’Artagnan of the ‘Three Daves’ (ie the fourth one). Like Andy Cleves below, Dave has an enviable running style. Of course, that’s only in comparison to the rest of us. Dave told me that his wife, having watched us race, once remarked that how most us actually moved forwards at all would, like the flight of the bumble bee, forever remain a puzzle to science.
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Jules is a welcome addition to the club. Naturally he is a runner — road, country and fell — but most club members will be unaware that Julian is also a Cave rescue expert, keen mountain biker, BESAC dive master and mountaineer. Aside from being a consummate outdoors man, Julian is a hardened competitor whose results improve as course conditions degenerate. If it’s hard, long or hilly (and preferably all three) he will be in attendance battling it out at the pointier end of the field. For examples of this tendency, look no further than the Karrimor Mountain Marathon, Lowe Alpine mountain marathon and his impressive series win in the 2005 Questar Adventure race series.
Members should be on guard however for Jules’ catchphrase “it’s a laugh innit?” Chances are you’re likely to hear this phrase just as conditions get truly grotty and you’re about ready to collapse in a heap.
151 words submitted by Simon
Another club members cruelly deprived of the London trip by the vagaries of the 2001 ballot, Sandra had to watch the marathon unfold over coffee and Claire Johnson’s croissants. After all the build up, when Terry phoned home, he told her that he’d run three hours —— minus three minutes. Sandra is determined to get in in 2003. Well, you have to celebrate being 40 somehow, don’t you?
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Terry finally broke three hours in London in 2001. After 19 years of trying.
Rob Evans photographed him doing battle with a nun.
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Our woman in West Wales. Liz has been ever generous in throwing open her commodious house to parties up for Race the Train, or the Welsh cross-country champs. I’m told that no one present will ever forget Dave Williams playing charades chez Liz.
Every so oftern, you come across races, like the Craig yr Aderyn Half Marathon, which still have course records set by Liz.
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If you want to know how running should be done, Andy’s graceful and easy running style is the one to watch. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Andy has already run the Barry 40, the Sri Chinmoy 100k, and ran the Marathon des Sables in 2001 (although he had to rethink his weighted backpack training strategy). He finished a very creditable 67th (from 630 starters), and seems to have been one of the few at the front who hadn’t trained by square bashing. And he has the bloody feet to prove it.
In 2002, he was fourth in the Barry 40, and Welsh Ultradistance champion.
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Martin recently triumphed (there is no other word for it) and scored his first British vest (or whatever Triathletes wear) when he took part in the ITU Duathlon World Duathlons Championships (10K run/40K bike/5K run).
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It’s hard to believe that the boyish good looks of Mr Coles conceal a veteran runner and 6 handicap golfer. His long gangly figure can be seen storming along many a course, and he finished a well deserved 14th in the 2002 Cardiff Marathon. A three-time Comrades competitor,a Barry 40 competitor and twice Welsh Ultra distance champion, he’s now taking a well earned rest from long distance running and is taking up the much more challenging prospect of married life.
80 words submitted by Matt Townsend
Hyperactive sexagenarian. Ruth was one of our earlist lady club members, and an extremely encouraging one (via the Reebok Sisters Network).
Highly successful on both road and country, Ruth won the 1983 Cardiff Marathon in 3:03 (amongst many other triumphs). In recent years, she has enjoyed a renaissance, and along with Clare and Annie has three times won medals at the National Masters Road Relays at Sutton Park.
Recently she has again been selected for Wales for the Home Countries XC at Dublin - a just reward for continued success and commitment.
The photo shows a rare moment whilst she’s neither running nor nagging Reg.
105 words submitted by Mick McGeoch
Annie and Ceri Donovan (below) share a racing secretthey always race in “Go faster waterproof mascara.” This a new tactic and is really working for Anniein the last twelve months she has managed new personal bests over most distances. Pretty impressive for a veteran 55, who has represented Wales twice in The International Veteran Cross Country.
The celtic tattoo on Annie’s shoulder dates back to her youth and is most definitely not a further example of Ceri’s trendy influence.
87 words submitted by Ceri Donovan
Les Croups is lucky to have Phil. A class track athlete with British league pedigree and former Gwent League champ, Phil boasts an impressive list of PB’s that most runners would be chuffed to achieve. Though his career has been hampered by injury in recent seasons, Phil is still a club stalwart, putting himself on the line whenever duty calls.
These days he’s found a new outlet for his energies and is one of the leading lights behind “Les Croupiers Triathletes”. As a result he was rewarded for his efforts by election to the post of Triathlon Club Secretary for the club’s multi-sport wing.
If you want advice on running, fancy a trip to the Ballycotton 10 (Phil loves this event and organises an annual trip) or just want to pay your triathlon fee, then Phil’s your man.
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Also known as “Wing Commander” (because he was senior men’s captain, 19982001) and “The Laughing Skull” (for reasons which should be obvious from our picture). John is one of these ex-smoking types who took up running because he thought he could do it. And he can.
John struggled in the Dublin Marathon in 2000. Despite high winds and freezing conditions, he was determined not to be beaten by a woman. The woman in question was Sonia O’Sullivan, perhaps the Emerald Isle’s most accomplished athlete ever. (Result: …19. Cox, J…20. O’Sullivan, S…)
Then the four hour barrier at the Barry 40 beckons. It was home turf (or whatever tracks are made of), he had the background, done the training, and was advised by former international Dr Eryl Davies (now known as Mrs Cox). Well, we know now that he didn’t do it. And all because he wore the wrong socks.
Because I’m stupid, I really believed him when he told me that his baby daughter was going to be christened ‘Ophelia’. She’s called Megan.
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Fast-improving young runner, Stuart has made a huge impression since joining the Croups earlier in the year. A succession of PBs have followed, culminating with a superb 10th place finish on debut at the Cardiff Marathon on October 9th, thereby ensuring automatic qualification for London.
Stuart is also the envy of other athletes for his display of flexibility after Thursday night runs.
62 words submitted by Mick McGeoch
Andy Cleves likes to call John ‘Mad Jack’: Siegfried Sassoon’s nickname in the trenches. Sassoon wrote ‘Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man’, and while we don’t know John’s thoughts on foxes, he does earn his crust with horses - as a farrier and jockey.
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Arguably the most energetic member who, unlike most us, ultra runners included, can run around all day. Has a definite interest in Guinness. Her real surname is Cruikshank, after her father Peter, but everyone knows her mother as simply ‘Scholey,’ so she’s here under ‘S.’
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© Dave Weeden 2000–10.
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