Brian Bollen's Blog

Jungfrau Marathon 2016: registration opens February 14

Why not spoil your loved one this Valentine's Day and book a place in the Jungfrau Marathon on September 10 2016, for which registration opens on February 14 at 00.80h CET? Highlights of the communication to that effect from the organising committee follow below.

Entries are capped at 4000 participants – after this maximum number is reached, we cannot accept further registrations. The 2016 entry fee is CHF 160. 

OnlineInscription (incl. link)

With the online payment we can offer you the following additional specials: 

1. Train tickets for spectators full fare at the rate of CHF 58 
2. Train tickets for spectators half fare (for children up to 15 years) at the rate of CHF 37 
3. Entry fee insurance – your money-back guarantee in case of illness or injury at the rate of CHF 8 
4. Charitable donation for the “mine-ex” Foundation CHF 10 
5. Personalized race number at the rate of CHF 20
   (Standard is your first name and an assigned number) 
6. Personalization possibilities: words instead of your first name or a number between 300 and 99999
7. Size option for your finisher shirt: XS, S, M, L or XL
   Please note: women will receive a semi-fitted t-shirt. 
8. Additional race entries for the SWITZERLAND MARATHON light SWITZERLAND MARATHON light
   at the special rate of CHF 20 (21 km) or CHF 15 (10 km) 

Please find more details on our website here: http://www.jungfrau-marathon.ch/en/inscription.html. 

Package Sleep and Run
Are you interested in booking the starting fee and accommodation? Find more information here

After transferring your entry fee, you will find your name on the final start list on our website after 15 February 2016 (this is updated every 24 hours). You will also receive your personal start card as well as the programme of the 24th Jungfrau-Marathon by mail in August 2016. 

Excerpt from the rules and regulations 
By paying the entry fee you accept the rules and regulations of the Jungfrau-Marathon and the liability disclaimer in the invitation. Moreover, failure to participate does not entitle you to a refund of the entry fee, unless you have booked entry fee-cancellation insurance via Datasport.

We sincerely thank you for your interest and look forward to welcoming you to Interlaken in September 2016! We wish you an effective marathon preparation and a successful and injury-free running season. 

Best regards
OC Jungfrau-Marathon

The enigma of Clara Oswald

Is Clara Oswald Doctor Who's granddaughter Susan? She teaches at the school Susan went to in Unearthly Child. She has been repeatedly referred to as extraordinary or some variation thereof. And in Saturday night's concluding Zygons episode, she opened a safe-like device in her 'pod' which had a picture of William Hartnell (or lookalike) on the front.

My pizza was rubbish

The pizza I had at ASK Italian in Milton Keynes last night was rubbish, with absolutely none of the customisation I've come to expect. More like a Pizza Express effort. Portion control, I wonder?

Lauberhorn Downhill Day Glorious

Apologies in advance for the repetition of an earlier Facebook post, but Lauberhorn Downhill day looks set to be absolutely glorious. The race, rescheduled from yesterday because of the weekend's weather forecasts (a lot of snow on Saturday which would have made the Downhill excessively dangerous but clear and bright on Sunday) will start at 13.00h CET.

Eurosport is covering the event, with commentary by Nick Fellows and John Clark; it should look great on television and just about any other visual medium you care to think of.

Related articles

Lauberhorn Downhill Start Time Set

Neureuther takes Wengen Lauberhorn Slalom

The real point of snow

January is such a miserable month

Far too warm in Wengen

Apple And The Smart Home

I also read that Apple is is working on making homes smarter, including creating apps that will enable the user to switch lights on and off. I already have several scattered around the house. They've been known as light switches for over 100 years...

Houses Smarter, Owners Dumber?

I've just read a piece in this morning's Financial Times about 'smart' homes. Apparently there is an app that allows people to chat with ovens, fridges and washing machines. Seriously, how sad would you have to be to want to do that?

The houses might be made smarter but are owners really getting dumber?

Downhill Only Club Inferno Day Out

I've posted a selection of photos taken on the Downhill Only Club's Inferno Day out on January 25 2014.

See: https://www.facebook.com/brian.bollen.10/media_set?set=a.768362716525135.1073741827.100000542404850&type=1&notif_t=like

 

Lauberhorn Downhill: Home Win Confirmed

Confirmation is now in that we have a home win in the Lauberhorn Downhill World Cup ski race today. Patrick Keung of Switzerland finished in first place, with a time of 1m 32.66 seconds, 0.06 seconds ahead of Austria's Hannes Reichelt with Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal a further one hundredth of a second back.

The winning time is almost a full minute less than the full course would take to negotiate, reflecting the decision to start much lower down the course because of high winds around the Hundschopf section of the course.

Bode Miller of the USA, always a crowd favourite because of his unorthodox, some would say reckless skiing style, finished fifth in 1m 33.01 seconds. Coming nicely into form for the Sochi Winter Olympics?

Related articles

Lauberhorn Races Dance To The Music Of Time

Lauberhorn Races Sitting Pretty

Lauberhorn Programme Confirmed

Wind The Problem

Lauberhorn Super Combined Set To Go Ahead

Lauberhorn 84 Here We Go

Eyes Of The World Turn To Wengen

Bunfight At The OK Corral

Viktor Gertsch leaves Top OK Post With A Tear

The dinner held last night in the Mannlichen Berghaus above Wengen to mark the departure of Viktor Gertsch as the president of the Lauberhorn Races OK (organising committee) was packed with enough emotion to bring a tear to at least one eye: that of the man himself.

The traditional media dinner held on the eve of the Lauberhorn Downhill World Cup ski race has been a muted affair in recent years, with empty seats appearing to increase in number each January. Last night the place was packed to the rafters.

Lauberhorn 84 Here We Go

The countdown to the 84th Lauberhorn World Cup ski races is well under way. Preparations for the races, which take place on January 17 (super combination of truncated downhill and a slalom), January 18 (the longest downhill race on the circuit) and January 19 (slalom) is proceeding apace and the World Cup village in the centre of Wengen is taking shape by the minute.

The only slight concern I have relates, as so often it does, to the weather. It is unseasonally warm here in Wengen and there is very little snow on the ground in resort. It feels more like spring than mid-winter and there is little or no new snow forecast over the next few days. The organising committee have worked wonders in the past; I suspect this year could test them to the limit.

One personal landmark is the planned retiral of Viktor Gertsch as race president. This will be his 44th race in the role, which he took over from his father who handled the first 40 (the first running took place in 1930).

Mr Gertsch is not bowing out of the local skiing scene entirely; in 2013 he became the honorary president of Wengen's Downhill Only Club, created by British skiers in 1925 and still going strong today, welcoming skiers and non-skiers to social events at its club house in the former Eiger Hotel next to Wengen rail station.

Related articles

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Lauberhorn Training Starts

Lauberhorn Races Dance To The Music Of Time

Two New EMD Aces For ING IM

Speed read: ING IM appoints two senior portfolio managers to EMD team


ING Investment Management International (ING IM) has announced two senior appointments to its Emerging Market Debt team.
Marcin Adamczyk joined ING IM as Senior Portfolio Manager EMD Local Currency, based in The Hague. Alia Yousuf  joins as senior portfolio manager EMD local currency, based in Singapore.

Airdrieonians Vs Rangers On BT Sport 1

Airdrieonians play Rangers tonight and the match is being shown live on BT Sport 1. I for one will be watching! It's easily the highest profile match to be played at the Excelsior Stadium, otherwise known as New Broomfield and ticket sales suggest virtually a full house.

 

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HS2. One Question.

Why?

Jungfrau Marathon 2012 Finisher Certificate

This is my Jungfrau Marathon 2012 Finisher Certificate, of which I'm ridiculously proud, even if my ankle still aches from all the training. There were 4,000 runners registered for each of the two races over that weekend.

I forgot to attach the image first time round...

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I Lost My Nerve On The Eiger Gletscher

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A Sure Sign The US Economy Is Improving

Is the sheer number of American voices currently being heard around Wengen. They've been conspicuous by their absence for several years but are now well and truly back. A sure sign the US economy is improving. Mind you, they're still almost all insisting on tap water in restaurants...

Mannlichen Weather Today

Conditions on the Mannlichen, above Wengen, today: http://www.swisspanorama.com/html/maennlichencam1.html

Margaret and I had the best of the morning weather for our 40-minute jog/hike earlier. Won't be going out again today.

Congratulations Anna And Tom

My older daughter Anna Louise married her long-time beau Thomas James Eastman-Thoy on Friday, June 7, 2013.

For those of you who might not have already seen on Facebook many, many photos and one or two videos of the occasion, I thought I'd post a couple here.

 

 

 

I Admired Mrs Thatcher But Enough's Enough...

I've just been doing some counting of the pagination in today's The Times (April 9). A total of 51 pages out of 92 are devoted to Lady/Baroness/Mrs/Margaret Thatcher, including a six-page obituary and a four-page wraparound cover.

Even to long-time supporters and admirers, that is surely overkill. An unfortunate side-effect of 24/7/365 media.

Moderation in all things, please. The Financial Times got it about right, I'd argue, running her passing as the front page lead, filling pages two and three with news, reaction and tributes, and an assessment of her legacy to Britain in the leader section.

Stop The World, I Want To Get Off

Any faint chance that I might watch the Manchester United versus Real Madrid game tonight has been killed off by the ridiculous hype surrounding it. In particular, the ludicrous assertion by José Mourinho that the world will stop to watch it.

At least one member of the human race has something better to do with his time, than watch one bunch of overpaid foreign mercenaries tackle another bunch of overpaid foreign mercenaries.

Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of football's best-ever practitioners, but his arrogance and self-love make it impossible to warm to him. Who else would ever have thought that the first thing on his beloved mother's gift wish list would be a mini-Ronaldo?

I Recommend: Silverstone Car Sourcing

Looking for an exceptionally clean pre-owned car? One in virtually showroom condition? I strongly recommend Silverstone Car Sourcing (http://www.silverstonecarsourcing.co.uk). I've just helped younger daughter acquire a car (pics and direction below) and am hugely impressed by how this relatively new company goes about its business out of a remote industrial unit in the village of Pattishall, near Towcester.

We're very happy with the terms of trade, the value for money and the quality of service involved. If you're looking for a quality runaround vehicle, make an appointment and give them a visit!

Tel: 0845 625 1825

Viewing by appointment only at:

Unit 4

Millfield Business Park

Banbury Lane

Pattishall

NN12 8FB

 

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