print newsletter 30

Dear Runners,

In this newsletter :
- EPO team at the Royal Ten 2009
- T-shirts pick-up
- 2 nice trail races in Charente Maritime
- PlaspoelPolderClassic 2009

EPO team at the Royal Ten

This week-end a team representing the EPO has participated in the Royal Ten (10K, The Hague). The team, wearing the new AJT T-shirts, achieved a great result, finishing 7th.

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE RIJSWIJK; PATENTLAAN 2:06:14
3851 Thomas Pieper 24e 40:17 14,894 4:01
3853 Ole Nielsen 32e 42:23 14,157 4:14
3852 Frédéric Laue 51e 43:34 13,772 4:21
3856 Pal Kis 98e (45:57) 13,058 4:35
3855 Tomas Raming 101e (46:36) 12,876 4:39
3859 Paul Schwander 103e (46:25) 12,926 4:38
3854 Manisha Szamocki 278e (54:31) 11,006 5:27
3857 Nadine Le Cornec 288e (54:59) 10,912 5:29
3850 Adam Piekarski 324e (57:19) 10,468 5:43
3858 Chloé Pasturel 374e (1:01:13) 9,801 6:07

Congratulation to the team for representing the office and running so well.

T-shirts pick-up

Some of you have not picked-up their AJC T-shirt yet. Left over T-shirts are waiting for you in Wim's office.

2 nice trail races in Charente Maritime

And now a bit of French reading. You know my passion for trail running, don't you. You'll find the link to my reports of the trail du canal here and trail du pertuis here. Enjoy.

Plaspoelpolder Classic (Ole Nielsen)

On Sunday, June 14 a group of 8 EPO runners (6 employees and 2 partners) participated in the Plaspoelpolder Classic race organised by local companies in Plaspoelpolder, Rijswijk including Shell, BMW and Mn Services.

From left: Ole Nielsen, Francesco Zaccà, Paul Schwander, Frédéric Laué and Elio Lo Conte.
Not on the photo: Bernhard Neubüser, Concetta Zaccà and Mia Lo Conte (the photographer)

Participation was free and that included official electronic timing (Racetimer) and a medal for all finishers. Runners had the choice of three distances: 5 km, 10 km or 15 km. All distances used the same 5 km long track which led through the Elsenburgerbos forest, well-known to all EPO lunch time joggers and also the venue of our own famous Patentrun that was held just three days later.
The race day started out in a less promising way with plenty of rain. Despite the lack of cooperation from the weather gods about 200 enthusiastic runners had turned up for the event together with plenty of supporters. The event was based at a local hockey club located within walking distance of the EPO. The children had their own races and the organisers had also provided other activities for the kids including a tall climbing wall! The runners and spectators were entertained by a brass band undauntedly playing on in the wet conditions. And there was a massage tent where tired runners with sore legs could have a massage after the race.
Fortunately, the rain stopped just before the start of the race. However, the wet conditions on the twisty footpaths in the wood made the race a bit hazardous and you had to make the turns with care. One runner just in front of me slid out in a sharp turn and landed in a mud pool. Luckily, the poor guy was not hurt and could continue.
Like last year the EPO runners had great success. In the 10 km race Frédéric Laué took the prize as third fastest runner in a time of 41:41 followed shortly later by Paul Schwander as 8th. The 5 k race was won by Ole Nielsen in a time of 20:14 repeating the success of Pal Kis of last year (it must be said the competition in the 5 km race was quite light this year). The full results are available at this link.
The race, expected to take place again next year, can be recommended without reservation. Will the 5 km race next year be won by an EPO runner for a third time in a row? (This year's winner announces he will not participate on the 5 km distance next year as he intends to try one of the longer distances instead).

On behalf of the Committee, Cécile