Bramley Newspaper Articles

The Notts Summer League continued this month, with the second enstallment hosted by Holme Pierrepont Running Club at the National Water Sports Centre. With strong performances as ever from Steven Rice, Adam Carney and returning member Ant Rosevear, SRC continue to hit above their weight in the league, with the vetererans team currently sitting 8th of 25 teams. 

 Congratulations to Bill Lee and Carol Hayward for finishing first in their age categories at the Caythorpe Dash Half Marathon and Run Rabbit Trail Festival respectively. They both claim absence of competition, but we’re hearing none of it – and I’m sure that the runners trailing in their wake would also disagree. 

 The development group for runners looking to move on from Couch-to-5K or return to training is proving a great success, welcoming new runners every Tuesday with some runners already taking the step up to the main training session. 

 Lifetime SRC member and multi-Olympic champion Richard Whitehead is organising a fundraising event called ‘Run with Rich’ on 25 June at Holme Pierrepont with the tag line: ‘Run 1km or 5km your way’. You can find out more at www.whitehead.foundation, hope to see you there! 

 The Scarlet Pimperrunner 

www.southwellrunningclub.org

Southwell Running Club hosts the return of the Summer League at Hexgreave Hall 

With much planning and excitement Southwell Running Club were delighted to host the first of the Nottinghamshire  Amateur Athletics  Association Summer League races for over two years. The evening was clear and bright with spring sunshine creating golden shadows as the event began in the beautiful grounds of Hexgreave Hall. The race route took the 500 runners out along traffic free roads, to the Southwell trail and back through the fields and paths of Hexgreave . Members from over 20 different clubs participated in the event including Mansfield Harriers, Holme Pierrepont RC, Redhill Road Runners, Beeston Athletics Club, Witham Runners, Sutton in Ashfield Harriers and of course Southwell Running Club. The first three runners home from Mansfield Harriers made their way around the 5 mile course in just over 26 minutes, hot on the tail of SRC’s Pam Dutton who took on the role of lead bike for the event. With reduced club members able to participate due to the organisation and running of the event Southwell RC Veterans A  team achieved a commendable7^th place and the B team 17^th place. Club members are looking forward to participating in the next four Summer League events which take place in the coming months. Southwell Running Club continues to run its popular improvers group on a Tuesday evening. If you are returning to running after an injury or wish to slowly increase your distance please come along and join us. Details at www.southwell runningclub.org.

Mud, mud glorious mud on the Belvoir Challenge

Back in December, signing up for the renowned Belvoir Challenge seemed like a good idea. However, following the recent weeks of wind, rain and inclement weather, the Southwell Running Club members who had registered for the event began to wonder what might be in store for them.

The Challenge, which is organised by Harby Primary School, has '26' and '15' mile routes - both of which start and finish at Harby Village Hall and follow footpaths, byways, tracks and minor roads through the beautiful Vale of Belvoir and the Belvoir Castle Estate.

The event is definitely not for the faint-hearted and not a PB route; it is exactly what it says - a challenge! Luckily, the day dawned bright and sunny with hardly a cloud in the sky. Alongside the very generous helpings of mud and hills, there were glorious views along the way which made up for the strong headwinds which seemed to somehow accompany the 750 entrants along the majority of both circular routes.

Besides the mud and hills, this event is famous for its refreshments and this year was no exception. The checkpoints, manned by parents and school children, offered an array of savoury and sweet snacks to help the runners on their way.

SRC members Penny Durance, Brendan Parkinson, Julie Stafford, Tracy Polak, Barbara Garrett, Kat Hall and Carol Hayward all completed the '26' mile route, which in reality was very close to 27 miles, whilst congratulations go to Katy Simpson for finishing first female on the 15 mile route which was also completed by Bill Lee and Pam Dutton.

In other equally muddy conditions, Ben Parker, Adam Carney, Steve Hargrave, Adam Smith, Paul Grogan, Ian Haigh, Kayne Rukas, James Stubbs, Bill Lee, Di Hopper and Pam Dutton participated in the East Midlands Cross Country League helping the club to gain a commendable sixth place out of twelve clubs.

Our Tuesday Evening Development group continues to thrve - please come along and join in if you are interested in progressing your running.

Ruby Runner

Is there anything more fun than running around in a cold, muddy field?

Possibly. But nothing that anyone at SRC can think of. We are delighted to be back racing at the North Midlands and East Midlands Cross Country  leagues after long pandemic-related absences. Let's keep everything crossed for a sustained period of normality now. A special mention to Adam Carney and James Stubbs, who posted notable finishing positons of 12th and 6th at Holme Pierrepont and Bramcote Park respectively.

If you are just starting out with your running or coming back from a break, it can be intimidating to join a running club. With this in mind, a new session aimed at beginning or returning runners is now running every Tuesday (in February and March) at 6.45pm from the Leisure Centre/Minster School car park. You do not have to be a member. Just put on your trainers and some reflective clothing and come and find us. It would be great to see you.

The Scarlet Pimperrunner

Last month members of Southwell Running Club were able cast off their running gear and dress up for their annual presentation evening and Christmas celebration meal.The numerous awards were presented by club chairman Brian Jobe, who paid tribute to how the club continued to hold training sessions in line with Covid regulations during the pandemic. The club’s annual Grand Prix ladies’ award went to Sam Hatton with Pam Dutton as Runner Up. The Grand Prix Men’s Winner was Steve Hargrave with Steven Rice as Runner Up. The club’s Runner’s Runner Award, which is voted for by club members went to Ben Parker for his outstanding contribution to the club during the pandemic and The Outstanding Achievement Award went to Tracy Polak for her North Atlantic Coast Challenge. 

The Mary Cochran Award, which is presented to a club member who has overcome adversity to carry on running, went to Paul Grogan. The Cregg Cup, which is awarded to a club member who has made an outstanding contribution to cross country or fell running, went to Ian Haigh and finally this year’s Chairman’s Award to Katy Simpson, for her contribution to the club’s coaching team this year. 

A number of novelty awards were also presented notably the Strava Miles Challenge to Tracy Polak, Most Forgetful Runner to Paul Orton, The Knackered Knee award went to Ian Haigh, Golden Runner Jonathan Simpson for managing to retain a suntan all year and Best Register Keeper to Ben Parker for his record keeping during the pandemic. 

The club held its annual Halam Hat chase just before Christmas and the winner this year was Adam Carney and finally five members of the club just missed winning their Christmas Turkeys at the Keyworth Turkey Trot half marathon. Katy Simpson finished in 1:34:34, Ben parker on 1:36;09, Bill Lee in 1:51:47, Brendan Parkinson 1:53:29 and Penny Durance in 1:53:30. 

Southwell Running Club members would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year and don’t forget to come along on a Tuesday or Thursday eve if you’d like to join us. 

Ruby Runner for Southwell Running Club

Festive greetings from Southwell Running Club

SRC members are gearing up to reflect on the year, nurse our sores, celebrate our achievements and, in all likelihood, undo about two months of training!

Yes, the fabled SRC Christmas dinner will take place early in December, hopefully leaving enough time for bodies and heads to recover in time for many runners’ highlight of the year – the Halam Hat Chase. Held on a beautiful/foul (!) winter’s morning towards the end of the month, just one runner sets off, wearing suitably festive headgear. The rest of the club then set off at intervals determined by an opaque handicap system to catch them and (politely and COVID-compliantly) snatch the said headdress. The runner who crosses the finish line first not only wins the race but has the toastiest pate.

Congratulations to two of our members who have achieved their Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) licence this month. LiRF is a UK Athletics qualification and is the first rung on the ladder to becoming a qualified coach. We look forward to being made to do the latest drills and stretches.

Merry Christmas everyone, and do not forget that every morsel of overindulgence this month is another mile to be enjoyed on the trail next year.

The Scarlet Pimperrunner