And So This Is Christmas

Written by David Jones on 23/12/2024. Posted in News

Senior members with a sprinkling of juniors (a few more turned up later) ready for the Christmas Social Run on the Welcombe Hills last Sunday.

Before going on to the festive stuff, there is an important message below about the inaugural Shipston IX which will replace the much loved and hugely important, in terms of fund raising, Not the Roman IX. As mentioned in the notice, volunteers are required to ensure the safety of runners and the smooth running of the race.

Now on to the festive frivolities.

96 hours in the life of our wonderful club.

OK so I already knew we trained hard. What these 4 days have proved is that we also play hard while training hard.

Starting on Thursday at the track, our junior endurance and junior T&F groups combined some fun stuff with their hard work and on Sunday many of our Seniors’ enjoyed running on the Welcombe Hills followed by cake and stuff afterwards. A few of our seniors got to experience the pleasures of clearing stiles whilst running through mud in bitterly cold conditions.

Nobody said it would be easy.

I’m delighted to say that at the gathering together after the Seniors’ run members’ generously donated £120 to the extremely worthwhile and important BEAT charity, a charity that supports those suffering from eating disorders. Many thanks to those who contributed.

Needless to say participants in these festive events involved the oft quoted 8 -80 age range.

Finally, to paraphrase Paul McCartney, I hope you all simply have a Wonderful Christmastime.

David Jones

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The Inaugural Shipston IX

Volunteers needed

For over 30 years the club hosted an open race every January called Not the Roman IX which was a great fundraiser for the club.
This race has been replaced with the NEW 9 mile route in Shipston on Stour.

Saturday 26th January 2025.

We require volunteers to complete a multitude of roles to ensure the safety of runners.

Thank you to those who have already agreed to help, it is greatly appreciated.

More volunteers are required to cover all the marshal points, direct runners to the start, water station, cake stall etc.

If you can help please go to the events tab on Spond and look for the race on January 26 and add your name to the help out with some tasks

Junior T&Fers plus coaches at the track last Thursday.

Junior Endurance Group members also at the track last Thursday.

Yet more Junior T&Fers last Thursday

Aspiring Santas waiting to be dressed in the Dress the Santa Race

Said Santas being dressed.

Training hard and playing hard.

And harder.

And harder. Are you getting the picture ?

Blue skies, nothing but blue skies. Bloomin’ cold though

On top of the world. Well the Welcombe Hills anyway

Nobody mentioned stiles!

Stratford’s finest in all of their finery

Coach Richard ‘Usain’ Harrison quick off the mark in the Dress the Santa race.

The very technical Haribo and Spoon race.

Seth Clark and Charlie Cassells mastering the technical aspects of the race.

Ready for the off.

And Finally

Cakes !!

Many many thanks to those who made the Senior Social Run a success on Sunday, including those who contributed food, those who donated to Beat, Sarah Boundy, Tim Hutchinson and Adam Linforth who led the groups, my fellow host and dear friend Kate Sergent and last but by no means least, my long suffering wife Ann.

Apologies if I’ve forgotten anyone.

I mentioned the importance of cake in our club’s culture last week. This is a shot of the table before the runners’ arrived. I meant to do one after they left but it would have basically been of just a few crumbs.

Vultures doesn’t get close

Putting the world to rights I’m sure.