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For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow

Tue, 7 Dec 2010 16:17:11 +0000

Former FCRC captain Mick MacEnri made the pages of the local rag this week for replacing a
local resident’s trampoline. This show of generosity is the reason why we are so proud to call Mick a Crusader, and his shameless plugging of the club in the above photo was marvelous!

x country season

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:14:36 +0100

Mud, mud, glorious mud

At this time of year we get a chance to branch out of the usual road running rut and head into the Hampshire countryside. Mix up your training and strengthen our ankles by running off-road in the HYPERLINK "http://homepage.mac.com/bob_ayer/runner" Today’s Runner Winter League. The Winter League offers the chance to take part as a team in any, or all, of 6 races over the winter. The races are about 5 miles, free to enter, and start at the very reasonable time of 11am on Sundays.

As usual there will be copious amounts of mud involved, which depending on your running style (and balance) will end up on various parts of your body. (For evidence look at photos of Paul Coates-goodness knows how he manages to get so much on his rear!) Reward yourself afterwards with the legendary ‘all you can eat’ refreshments in a warm hall for £1!

The emphasis of the league is to provide the ordinary club member with the opportunity to participate in a series of multi-terrain events. The atmosphere is enjoyable and social without the outright 'cut and thrust' of specialist cross-country leagues. For this reason you very fast people are prevented from taking part- men who can achieve a 5:40 minute mile pace, and women a 6:15 minute over 5 miles.  
It would be great to see both new and familiar faces at these events, and of course to improve our score. FCRC finished 17th out of 18th last year, although this was mainly due to having incomplete teams in a number of races. 5 men and 3 women are needed for FCRC to score as a team. Having been the sole female crusader at many of 2009/2010 runs, I ask the girls in particular to give it a go……

Helen Chalk
XC secretary

2010-2011 season

31 Oct Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC - Pamber Forest, near Basingstoke  14 Nov Portsmouth Joggers - Queen Elizabeth Country Park  12 Dec Farnham Runners - The Bourne Woods
02 Jan Hart Road Runners - Lord Wandsworth College  13 Feb Stubbington Green Runners - Manor Farm Country Park  06 Mar Denmead Striders - Staunton Country Park   N.B. Parking is limited at these rural locations so usually we would car share from the centre.

…… top tip from seasoned XC folk, get in the refreshment queue before Keith!

2 races down - best in show

Wed, 6 Oct 2010 22:48:54 +0100

Only a quickie this blog entry.
Just a word to say thanks. Thank you for donning your vests, paying your entry fees and getting involved in local races. The Crusaders still lead the way in participation and representing the club, so whether you are leading from the front, battling around in the middle, or slugging it out at the back, thank you. You are marvellous.

a new season

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 08:28:54 +0100

The Hampshire Road Race season kicked off this past weekend with the Overton 5 in North Hampshire.
In addition to our fantastic representation on the day, after the race, the club received 2 team awards for last seasons acheivements.
The ladies B team and mens B team both received trophies, which is a fine testament to the club’s continuing growth in strength and depth. Without all our runners competing in healthy numbers this would not have been possible.... so well done to all, fast and not so fast alike.

In addition, Ladies captain Kirsty Spittles received a Gold award for scoring the highest number of points scored by a runner competing in ALL races from the previous season (with part time crusader Mike Harper, picking up the mens award on behalf of Stubbington Green) On behalf of everyone at the club, we would like to congratulate Kirsty on this fine achievement.

Lots coming up over the next few weeks.... Victory 5, Test Way Relay, New forest full and half marathon... good luck to all involved.... and to those not..... then why not Get Involved!

Up the Cherries

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 12:41:56 +0100

Pompey survive (just), Southampton are favourites to go up, and The Cherries are back where we belong... mid table in league one..... Bring on the new season.

Whatever

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:58:12 +0100

So, England are out of the world cup for being not as good as Germany.

All we can say, is well done Germany, you were brilliant, and we hope you beat the Argies.

Now on with the real football.
The second game of next season sees a fascinating Carling Cup tie between the mighty Cherries of Bournemouth vs them lot down the road at the Dell.

Hopefully this will be on at a local pub so all you Pompey fans can join us and cheer on the best team on the South coast.

UP THE CHERRIES!

48 Goals

Tue, 25 May 2010 14:01:39 +0100

During his England career, Gary Lineker scored 48 goals, just one short of Bobby Charlton’s record, including 6 in the World Cup or Mexico 1986, which was enough to secure him the Golden Boot of the tournament.

Here is a compilation video of ALL 48 international goals from Lineker, including some from outside the 6 yard box...

Fifa world cup 2010

Fri, 21 May 2010 18:20:45 +0100

The Fifa world cup is going to be awesome..... no question about that!
So if you have any ideas for events you want to throw or to just meet up for the games as a club, then why not email james@farehamcrusaders.co.uk or post a message on the Facebook page and get involved.

in the meantime we are going to post some wicked videos from World Cup’s past on here.....
First one is an obvious one. Gazza’s perfectly dinked free kick, Platt’s instinctive volley and Lineker topping off the biggest bundle seen on a football field.

The Final race

Thu, 13 May 2010 09:31:03 +0100

This Sunday sees the last race in the HRRL season at Netley Abbey.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the club runners who have entered the races this season. 2009-2010 has seen us maintain our high entrant level for all races, while also bettering on the quality of our times and performances, and as a team we are stronger and enjoying it more than ever.

Thank you to all of you, and enjoy Sunday.

UP THE CHERRIES

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:40:25 +0100

With Pompey drowning in a sea of bad debt, European football denial and relegation, and Southampton floundering in the lower leagues.... it’s just as well there is at least one team on the south coast that is achieving something and making us proud.

On Saturday Bournemouth secured promotion to Division 3, where they will look to take 6 points from Southampton next season, and then pass Pompey on the way up to Divison 2!

Portsmouth’s Semi Final - crusaders at wembley

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:54:32 +0100

The club now has two new TV stars, Matthew and David Fleet. Both were spotted in the Pompey end during the dramatic two nil FA Cup Semi-Final win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium last Sunday afternoon.  I was also there, and saw David outside the ground after the match. I received a text from Jim saying that both David and Matthew were spotted before the two goals. I haven't seen it myself, as I mistakenly thought that we were going to get hammered three or four nil, and only set up my set top box to record normal time. I only caught the first seven or so minutes of extra time, missing both the goals later on.
However, I did spot Matthew in the first half of normal time. Pompey's midfielder Marc Wilson, was accidentally caught in the face by Tottenham's Luka Modric. Whilst the Pompey physio was cleaning up the "claret", the ITV producer decided to pan around the crowd. After picking out a couple of Spurs supporters, they zoomed in on Matthew and a couple of his mates discussing the game. For those of you who recorded the game, and still have it, he can be seen at 32 minutes 15 seconds on the clock in the top left corner of the screen where the score is displayed.

Those of you who are not interested in football, or support Southampton, will soon be sick and tired of hearing that Portsmouth FC are playing Chelsea in the FA Cup Final on Saturday 15th May 2010, kick off 3pm, live on ITV1, and probably ITV HD. But, as a Pompey fan, I make no apology, and warn you all that regardless of the result against Chelsea, we will dine out on this cup run for many years to come. What a cup run, better than two years ago.
The first game in the third round went to a replay after an awful one each home draw with Coventry City. In the second game in the middle of the snowy cold snap we had earlier in the year, Pompey were losing one nil, then in the very last minute, an own goal from one of the unfortunate Coventry defenders took it to extra time. Still drawing in extra time, with penalties looming, Pompey get a corner with almost the last kick of the game, from which they score the winner with a header.
An uneventful two one home win against Sunderland in the fourth round, paired us with arch rivals Southampton in the fifth round at St Mary’s. The pre match hype leading up to the big game to be screened live on ITV1 at lunchtime on Saturday 13th February 2010, was fever pitch. Especially for me, as I have colleagues who are passionate fans of “Them Down The Road”. A plucky Southampton had us all a bit worried in the first half, but in the second half Pompey’s Premiership class showed through, as they steamrollered past The Saints with a superb four one away win.
Another live ITV1 Saturday lunchtime kick off, this time at home to Birmingham City was the sixth round or Quarter-Final fixture. The match left the home crowd buoyant after two second half goals from Fred took us into the Semi-Final draw the following Sunday. Out came Fulham or Tottenham Hotspur v Portsmouth. Spurs beat Fulham in their Quarter-Final replay, leaving a Semi-Final against ex Pompey manager Harry Redknapp, coaches Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond, and former players Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, and Croatian Nico Kranjcar.
Hollywood could not have written this as script for a movie. Equalising in the last minute to an own goal, then going on to win in extra time. Then, hammering your feistiest rivals on their own patch, followed by a huge win against a club who have cherry picked your best players at a cut price because you are in financial difficulties, priceless.
Everyone I spoke to who went, had their own routine, which you can guarantee they will repeat for the Final. The same group of fans, on the same train, coach, minibus, or car, going to the same cafe for breakfast, and the same pub for the pre match drink. What an atmosphere too. Wembley is now spoken of as our new home ground away from Portsmouth, as you could hardly hear the Spurs fans, and with four games there in two years, two with extra time, yet to concede a goal.
Will we beat Chelsea in the Final ? Probably not, and our great record at the new Wembley will be severely tested, but all the supporters there will enjoy their day in the sun.

Martin

helen’s london marathon blog

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:42:42 +0000

If you had asked me a few years ago if I would consider entering a marathon, I would have looked at you like a rabbit in the headlights and given a resounding no! I did my first 10k in 2004, and never thought I would get to a half marathon.

But roll on the years, and in 2009 some people put the seed into my mind that I could drag myself around 26.2 miles, and at a reasonably respectable pace too. That was it, I was persuaded. The seed grew, and I entered the ballot for the London Marathon 2010, along with many others from the club, and waited. Notoriously difficult to get a place in, I was not surprised to get rejected at my first attempt.

The encouragement, and team spirit, continued and I dutifully gave Jim my rejection letter to go in the draw for club places. The wait continued until the Playzone Party when I was still shell shocked after plucking up the courage to do the big slide (thanks again to others for helping). My name was called- I was in! I was already starting from a base of around 10 mile/ half marathon fitness (?) so I built on this, loosely following a programme borrowed from rivals Portsmouth Joggers.

I have enjoyed the training, completing Bramley in February for a second time (it was still tough) and picking different races to mix it up like the Meon Valley Plod. Us mad folk training for a marathon, and some who aren’t, continue to meet up on long weekend runs. It is hard to fit the miles in with full time job, especially with the dark evening and snow and ice to contend with. But the support from family and friends had buoyed me up when it has got tough. I actually feel like the longer runs are feeling easier, and my feet have toughened up.

The weeks to the big day are speeding on by, a few more long runs and then the taper. The sun is shining more, the gloves are off, and I feel like I can do it.....Most of all, thanks to Jim and Mike for convincing me, over the years, that I could do it. I will try not to let you down.
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I am raising money for Asthma www.justgiving.com/helen-chalkLondonMarthon

Thank you

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:30:16 +0000

Thank you to all our members for making BOND NIGHT such a success

visit www.closerphotography.com to view the images

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A donation will be made to Naomi House for all images purchased.

Notts County 2 v 2 AFC Bournemouth

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:36:46 +0000

While your lot were busy in Merseyside taking elbows from Steven Gerrard and conceding 4 goals, The ONLY team on the South Coast were live on Sky Sports, getting an up close and personal view of the underside of Lee Hughes’s football boots.

Jeff Goudling, pictured above, scored the Cherries equaliser in the 3rd minute of added on time to the delight of a live audience of literally tens of dedicated Cherries fans.

10 games to go, and next stop league 1 and St Mary’s ! ! !

Debbie’s marathon training Blog.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:36:49 +0000

"Having completed 3 half marathons in the autumn, I knew it would be a really good time to get a London Marathon place, so I was totally made up at the Christmas party when my name was the first pulled out of the hat.

I was looking forward to getting into my training proper, but the weather had other ideas, before Christmas it was really icy, so I had to grab a run when safe to do so. Then after Christmas I came down with a cold, just as I was recovering from that, down came the snow, and stayed for 2 weeks…….I managed some tentative runs before the snow melted, then I got down to the hard work. Since that time I have managed between 30 and 40 miles a week, and have completed 2 runs of 20 miles or more, last week I managed 21.5 miles on my own, I think I'll find another route for the next one, tedium is hard to deal with.

The highlight of my training so far has been the Bramley 20, it was the furthest I'd ever run when I did it, and my aim was just to finish inside 3 hours, I was totally gobsmacked and delighted to finish in 2:42:29, and it has given me confidence for the marathon.

There are 7 weeks to go now, so I have 4 more weeks of long runs before the taper starts. I will create a 'just giving' page in a week or two, in the hope that I can stay injury free and actually get there - I have decided to raise money for Rowans Hospice."

bond costume ideas - number 10

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:34:23 +0000

Blofeld is the head of SPECTRE and Bond’s arch enemy.
Played by many actors over the year’s, the general rule of thumb is a grey suit, bald head, white fluffy cat and a desire to take over or destroy the world.

Bond costume ideas - number 9

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 22:33:08 +0000

While James Bond is travelling the world, making out with anything that has a pulse, Miss Moneypenny can always be found hard at work in the offices of MI5, whimsically dreaming of the cottage they may share together in Dorset someday.
Plenty of costume choice with this one, sensible make-up, smart office wear and a pair of glasses hung from the neck.