Category: Sports News

ONE of the visiting team of runners from Thame’s twin town, Montesson, came second in the annual Thame 10K last weekend.
Stephane Vautier, was beaten by Gary Harris of Headington Road Runners by only 49 seconds.
Thame Runners hosted a buffet and drinks reception for the french visitors at the Thame Barns Centre on Saturday night during which the Thame Twinning Assocation and the Mayor, Cllr David Laver were both present to greet them.

The Montesson runners stayed at a local hotel and indicated that they will be sending Thame Runners an invitation to a cross country event in Montesson next
November.

A record 754 runners completed the CPM Thame 10km course while 154 children competed in the fun run. Under cool conditions, especially compared to the 33 degree heat of the previous Sunday, Gary Harris of Headington Roadrunners finished first in 32.57. This just 9 seconds faster than Stephane Vautier of Montesson AC who battled with Gary for the whole course. Stephane was one of eight runners from Montesson, Thame?s twin town and just north of Paris, who came over for the weekend to participate in the Thame 10km.
First Lady home was Jennifer Pyper of Alchester Running Club in 39.04. Dave Hartwell picked up the First Thame Resident trophy and the race saw some ex-Thame residents return to take part: Sally White winning the Ladies Veteran category for HandyCross while Duncan Cooper ? many time winner of the event ? finished a credible 8th.
(See yesterday’s link for full results)

Children?s Fun Run
7-10 Year Olds 1.25 Km Guy Dickinson
11-14 Year Olds 2.5 Km Luke Ricketts

Click here
to link to Thame Runners’ website for full results.

THAME’S fencing team cruised to a comfortable victory at last Sunday?s Stowe Cup at Stowe School, near Buckingham.
Defeating Stowe, Burford A and Burford B gave the fencers from Thame Duellists Fencing Club an unassailable lead in the competition. The Thame fencers, Ken Jeddere-Fisher, Alec Jeddere-Fisher and James Kingston, were never seriously threatened by the opposition and they retained the trophy Thame won two years ago.
Thirteen year-old Alec Jeddere-Fisher, in particular produced a strong performance, having taken up the sport just ten months ago, and refused to be intimidated by older and more experienced fencers.
Club secretary, James Kingston, said: “This is a fantastic result. We were really keen to hold on to the trophy we?ve won in the previous two years. The team worked really hard and made sure that every hit counted.”
Thame Duellists Fencing Club welcomes new members. Anyone interested should call Club Captain Andy Green on 07832 372302.

OXFORDSHIRE based charity, Soll Leisure, in partnership with South Oxfordshire District Council, have launched a new on-line booking service for their leisure centre customers.
Members wishing to book leisure activities at the Thame, Henley, Wheatley, Didcot, Berinsfield and Wallingford Leisure Centres can now interact with the sites 24 hours-a-day as well as benefiting from instant confirmation e-mails and advanced security for on-line payments.

Using the latest software supplied by Wallingford based Gladstone MRM, this service integrates seamlessly with the membership database, allowing members to perform a wide variety of tasks on-line. Functions include the ability to make, view, edit and pay for bookings in real time as well as updating their personal details.

Soll Leisure?s marketing manager, Victoria Collen, said:”We?re really excited to be the first leisure trust to launch on-line bookings. Soll already uses technology to keep members up to date on health and fitness news through e-mailed newsletters, the www.soll-leisure.co.uk website and using the latest fitness and health testing equipment; web bookings really adds another dimension”.

Visit the SOLL Leisure Website:www.soll-leisure.co.uk or www.southoxon.gov.uk to connect to the new on-line bookings service.

Special Offer from your local SOLLuntions Fitness Centre.
Print off this article and take it along to your nearest SOLLutions, at Thame Leisure Centre (01844 215607, to receive your 5 Day, FREE trial.
Offer valid until June 30, 2005 – Terms and Conditions apply.

LEARNING to Swim is easy and lots of fun!
During week commencing May 16, you can enrol your child on the excellent Aquazone Swim School programme.
All Aquazone Swim school classes are structured so that they are in line with the Amateur Swimming Association’s (ASA) National Plan of teaching Swimming.

The National Plan offers teaching for all ages and abilities, from non-swimmers (Level 1) through to adults and children whose swimming skills have reached entry level with local swimming clubs (level 10-12).

For full details of Aquazone Swim School availability please contact your nearest leisure centre (Thame Leisure Centre 01844 215607) or visit www.soll-leisure.co.uk

CHINNOR U7’s competed in the Wasps community TAG Rugby Challenge, with the two top sides playing in a exhibition match on the Causeway Stadium, before
the London Wasps 1st XV v Worcester Warriors 1st XV match.
The Best display by a Chinnor U7’s squad I have ever seen. Chinnor RFC U7’s went to Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College to play in the London
Wasps TAG Challenge and through some of the best defensive games, I have seen, managed to continually force the turn over, regardless of who the opposition was. The turn overs were then converted, in fine form, leaving the opposition questioning where we were from, we ended the day winning the over all competition in some style, participating in a showcase match on the Causeway stadium pitch against Worcester.
Worcester were so impressed with Chinnor’s RFC’s standards they have asked for further fixtures in the future; they went as far as presenting us with the clubs medal.
The squad comprised of Jack Aston, Jack Hill, Oliver Ratcliffe, Joseph Wilson, George Ayres, Daniel Pearce, Tom Evans, Josh Edwards, Alex Leech, Nathaniel Armstrong & Alex Beveridge: All of them played out of their skins and were focused on the task and ended a perfect day exhausted but with smiles on their faces.

Results;

Game 1 – Worcester A (3) 15 v Chinnor (5) 25 (Alex Beveridge, Daniel Pearce, Tom Evans & Alex Leech x 2 )
Game 2 – Worcester B (3) 15 v Chinnor (5) 25 (Nathaniel Armstrong, Tom Evans x 2 & Jack Aston x 2 )
Game 3 – Drifters (2) 10 v Chinnor (4) 20 (Josh Edwards, Oliver Ratcliffe, George Ayres & Jack Aston)
Game 4 – Windsor (1) 5 v Chinnor (2) 10 (Jack Aston & Tom Evans)
Game 5 – Staines (4) 20 v Chinnor (3) 15 (Jack Hill & Jack Aston x 2 )

THE EXHIBITION MATCH: Worcester B 20 – Chinnor 15
(Tries for: Alex Leech, Nathaniel Armstrong and Jack Aston).

Final Standings:

Won Drew Lost Points
Chinnor : 4 0 2 8
Worcester B : 3 2 0 8
Drifters : 2 1 2 5
Staines 2 0 3 4
Windsor 1 2 2 4
Worcester A 1 1 3 3

Contributed By: David Ratcliffe

ONCE again, Thame men and women were well represented in the London Marathon held yesterday, among them Andrew Woods, who managed a personal best time of 3 hrs 59 mins and raised around

THE third, annual Memorial football match, played in memory of keen footballer, Richard Wheeler, raised over

THAME Martial Arts experts, Duncan Elliott and Mark Thomas were both back in action on Sunday, March 27, at the Premiership of their sport in Guildford.
Mark’s Chinese broadsword category came up first. He had been working very hard for the previous two months since the last competition, and this showed as he won second place in a very strong field, only just losing to Sam Green, the current WPKA, World Forms champion.
Duncan, who is Mark’s trainer, told ThameNews “Mark’s skill has improved greatly and I will be putting him forward for the European championships later this year.”
Duncan himself was fighting later in the day and was determined to improve on the third place he achieved at the semi-final against a Leicester fighter,winning quite comfortably in the final where he faced Tony Gartside. Duncan had fought Gartside previously,which made the score very close. Duncan took up the story: “I took the lead, sticking to the game plan that I had work on the friday before. However, Tony came back to level the score 4-4, which meant we went into extra time. Once again we both got one point, so it was down to sudden death. I was composed and always felt in control of the fight as I took the lead initially and finished the fight with my tried and tested side kick,back fist combination.
“I was very happy with the performance and the result and would like to dedicate this win to my step dad who passed away on March 9, aged 79.
“Ken, this ones for you!”