Category: Sports News

INITIAL times from Justracing: LINK HERE THE Thame Triathlon, held yesterday (14/07), saw 329 athletes crossing the finishing line, despite temperatures close to 30 degrees.

The popular annual event, organised by Justracing, continues to grow every year with a 400m swim at the Thame Leisure Centre pool, followed by an 11 mile bike ride to Chinnor and back, with a 5km run on the Phoenix trail to complete the event.

Winner of the 2013 Thame Triathlon was Sam Robinson in a time of 54:47, while Emma-Lea Davis was the first lady home in 61:39.

The team prize went to Racquets Fitness Centre, based in Thame.

The full results list is expected to be made available later to day.

SOURCE: Reg Koster

THAME Town Cricket Club’s Firsts came unstuck defending a decent total at Shipton-under-Wychwood on Saturday (29/06), eventually losing by four wickets in the Cherwell League Division One.

Batting first, Thame got off to a good start, and a middle-order stand of 83 between Deon Laubscher and Will Sutcliffe (33) put the visitors on course for a big score. Laubscher was eventually out for 90, but the remaining Thame batsmen could not maintain the momentum in the face of good spin bowling from Shaun Miller, and they finished on 230 for 8.

When Shipton batted, the home side exploited their ground’s small boundaries, and Jason Hunt scored 85. Sam Lachlan (3 for 53) and Mike Higgs (3 for 58) pegged them back, but the total was eventually overhauled in the penultimate over for the loss of six wickets.

Didcot vs Thame Town

Thame had a better result in the Bernard Tollett Cup, when they travelled to Didcot on Tuesday (02/07) and won by 22 runs. Thame scored 113 off their 18 overs, with Mike Higgs smashing 44 in five overs to set up the win.

Didcot could not get the accurate Thame bowling away, with seamer John Phippen (3 for 12) and spinner Higgs (2 for 12) the most impressive. Thame are now in the semi-finals and next face either Horspath, Banbury or Great Tew.

WOMEN throughout South Oxfordshire have the opportunity swim for just

AS part of its fiftieth anniversary celebrations, Chinnor RFC, which is based in Thame, will be playing a pre-season match against The London Welsh.

The contest, on Saturday, August 17, will be a real test as this ex premier league club is to remain in Oxford based at the Kassam Stadium and will be looking to win the Championship league and return to the Premier league ASAP.

Chinnor’s pre season training starts soon for the senior sides with Craig Chalmers, ex Scotland and British Lion, now heading the coaching team at Chinnor RFC.

There will be two other pre season friendlies in preparation of the start of the leagues. These are:

August 10th – Coventry away ko 3.00pm
August 24th- Tonbridge Juddians home ko 3.00pm

FOLLOWING amended information, the first Corporate team was Limping Sprys and not CPM as previously reported

HUNDREDS of supporters, family and friends turned out on Sunday to cheer on the 1000 entries for this year’s Thame 10K race.

So many runners wanted to take part in this annual event, that entrance had to be closed as early as May, and those who were quick off the mark at submitting their applications set off at 9.30am on the dot, from Thame Leisure Centre, following the Phoenix Trail.

Although the day started a little bit on the cool side, it soon warmed up and once again it turned out to be a lovely hot day for the run!

Claire Novak of Thame Runners, said: “Exactly 813 runners finished with chip times but here were some late stragglers who came in after they stopped the chip timing. There were several withdrawals due to injuries.

“Thame Runners expect to allocate between 2.5-3k to several local charities which will take place around September time.”

James Bolton from Woodstock Harriers was the fastest senior male (32.32)and Jane Ovington (38.08)of Marshall Milton Keynes was the first Senior female.

Jack Hobbs was the the fastest Thame resident over the line with a time of 37:09 and the first Corporate team was CPM, the sponsors of the event.

Supergran Team of around 25 members of an extended Asian-origin family living in Oxford raised

THAME Swimming Club was in action at the Bletchley 25m pool for the City of Milton Keynes (CMK) L3 Gala over the weekend (June 22/23) coming home with no less than 106 Personal Best times.

Head Coach Ian Blyth was supported by coach Rob Briars and Team Managers Tony Collins and Andrew Newton to get the squad into action. The squad put in a strong performance overall putting in 127 swims to turning it those 106 PBs.

Grace Gilmore put in some great swims in the Girls 13/14 years age group: 1st 400m Freestyle in 4.46.20, 2nd 200m Freestyle and 3rd 400m IM as well as making it to the 100m Freestyle final and achieving a fifth place, going home with a ull fset ? Gold, Silver and Bronze!

Lydia Devitt also took Gold with a 1st in the Girls’ 13/14 years age group 100m, back in 1.12.21. Whilst Hannah Hawken in the 15 years and over age group, made the 100m Freestyle final, achieving a fofth place in 1.04.62. Also in the 100m Freestyle final was Girls Squad Captain and soon to be coach, Rachel Newton achieving eighth place in 1.06.90.

The boys had a cracking weekend and there were several new members of the sub-30 club for 50m freestyle as well as some great PBs. Nacho Mendi in the 13/14 age group made the 100m Freestyle final and walked away with a Silver medal for his second place in 59.31. Boys Squad Captain, James Goetz was back in action for the first time since the ‘counties’, due to illness and A-Level exams. To his surprise he PB?d in the 50m Free, 100m Free and 50m Breaststroke and made the final for the 100m Freestyle in the 15 yrs and over age group taking sixth place in 1.01.51. His old training buddy, Dominic Holmes, took fifth place in 1.01.00. Elliott Riley Brown shot off in the 400m Freestyle putting in a huge PB.

Head Coach Ian Blyth nominated the sub-30 club as his best swims of the gala, so congratulations go to:

Ines Devitt 2nd 50m Freestyle 29.83

James Newton 50m Freestyle 29.93

Ben Williams 50m Freestyle 28.96

Ian Goetz expressed his thanks to the Thame volunteers and officials whose work enabled the squad to have such a great weekend. He also thanked Steve Price, Sol Devitt, Conny Gilmore, Mark Simms and Brian Pridmore for officiating.

Thame Swimming Club’s squad was also back in action over the weekend of June 29/30 at the Hillingdon Gala. Report to follow.

SOURCE: Contributed

THAME CPM 10km Road Race – this coming Sunday, June 30; This popular event has been run since 1985 and has grown to be one of the key sporting fixtures in Thame and is sponsored by CPM. There will be 1000 runners pounding a course through the town centre to Towersey and back, along the Phoenix Trail

The race starts at 9.30 from Thame Leisure Centre. The race is full and so there will be NO ENTRIES ON RACE DAY. There will be road closure in place on the Oxford Road for five minutes from 9.30 to 9.35 am and then the ring road from the rugby club to Chinnor Road from 9.40 to 10.30 am.

Please do go along and support the runners, many of them running in order to raise money for charities like the Supergran team from Oxford with some 25 family members raising money for Sobell House. In addition, several local charities will benefit from the funds raised by the organisers. For more information about the race, visit Thame Runners?WEBSITE

AFTER their comprehensive win against Oxford Downs the previous week, Thame travelled to Twyford last weekend for a tricky fixture in the Cherwell League Division One.

The home side batted first and managed to get to 194 for 9, mainly thanks to their star player Afzal, who hit 64, despite excellent spells from John Maynard (4 for 39) and George Patey (3 for 43 off 14).

When Thame batted, several of their more experienced players made starts but could not push on against the spin of Afzal, who bowled unchanged from one end. Mike Higgs, Sam Lachlan, Ed Barnett and Gabriel French, making his Thame debut, all hit 20’s but then got out and Twyford eventually got their last wicket in the penultimate over with Thame on 133, well short of the target. Afzal took 7 for 41.

The Seconds lost to Cumnor Seconds’s, despite six wickets from paceman Cian Davies, whilst the Thirds’ game at home to Horley Seconds was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch at Lord Williams Upper School.

A TEAM of runners is seeking the support of local people to help them ‘Make Waves for Alex’, a young father of four from Thame, who suffered brain damage after a rugby accident.

Stephanie Prevost and the rest of her team, Making Waves for Alex, will be taking part in the Thame 10K next Sunday, June 30, to raise funds for Alex Wood’s family, to help pay for his rehabilitation. Stephanie sexplained: ” Alex suffered a brain bleed on October, 2011, after a rugby accident. Alex lost his sight and much of his speech and movement. Since then Tamsyn, Alex’s wife, has fought tirelessly to give Alex the level of care he so desperately needs whilst juggling a busy home life and four children under 10. Alex’s rehabilitation is paid for by fundraising so please, sponsor us as we will be running the Thame 10km this coming Sunday, and help this gorgeous family!”

For more information and progress updates, please visit: http://makingwavesforalex.co.uk

Read Tamsyn’s blog page: http://manic-mums.blogspot.co.uk It is just inspirational…

“So please dig deep to help this lovely family!! said Stephanie. “We will dig deep to run the 10km! Please support us by donating ! Thank you so much!”

http://www.gofundme.com/3czi4w

PHOTO: Tamsyn Wood, Alex’s husband, and her uncle Andy, running to raise funds for Alex, back in January.

THAME Town kept up their improved form last Saturday (June 15) to put in an impressive display against Oxford Downs at Church Meadow. Thame won the toss and gave a home debut to the experienced John Maynard who showed his quality with the new ball, taking seven wickets for 60, after rain reduced the game to 42 / 32 overs.

Maynard was supported well by Sam Lachlan (2-52), Mike Higgs (1-15) and some excellent fielding and catching as Downs were all out for 130, with only Wes Bartlett (45) making a significant contribution.

In reply skipper Higgs changed the batting order in light of the reduced overs that Thame were allocated, and duly set the tone scoring Thame’s first half century this season as they eased towards the total.

Higgs was out for 53 with the score on 85-2, after which Deon Laubscher (37 not out) kept up the impetus and steered Thame to victory. This solid performance saw Thame move up the table in Division One.

Thame ‘Seconds’ lost by two wickets to Tiddington, and the Thirds also went down to Cumnor in a rain affected game.

The forthcoming game in the Bernard Tollett Cup has been conceded by Oxenford, so Thame are away in the next round to Didcot next week.

SOURCE: Contributed
PHOTO: Half Century Scorer, Mike Higgs