We start off with one of Susan Hunt’s wonderful reports. This time it is on the first and, I strongly suspect, not the last of the Seniors’ Running Weekend held in Shropshire.
From reading the report it would seem that a splendid time was indeed guaranteed for all, in the words of popular beat combo The Beatles (ask your parents if you’ve never heard of them!).
Then there is an article on the importance of and shortage of Coaches in our club. It is a matter of great regret that we have so many youngsters on our waiting list who can’t join because we simply don’t have enough coaches. I can testify to the fact that it really is a hugely enjoyable and rewarding thing to do.
Three of our Masters/Vets, Paula Williams, Phil Brennan and Dave Wilson have been competing at the European Masters Athletic Championships in Madeira, all of who have very kindly written a report.
The Stratford Herald has once again given us ample coverage, this time it’s on the exploits of our junior XC teams.
Finally, there are a few words on last weekend’s Winter Series race at Ilmington.
I’m shivering just looking at this photo.
No open sewage I hope.
Parkrun tourists no less
The things some people do.
Seniors’ Running Weekend.
There’s (SAC) gold in them thar (Shropshire) Hills
Report – Susan Hunt
Back in December, a post popped up on SAC Facebook, offering the chance to participate in a Running Weekend at a YHA Elizabethan Manor. We were warned to be prepared to “share rooms and bathrooms” and to “pitch in”.
I’m a fairly private person; but a parkrun was promised, so I was sold.
As the date approached, we received an intriguing kit list (logs, ear plugs, bath mats, cafetieres…) and further warnings -firstly, that the remoteness of the running location necessitated that we each carry a foil blanket (apparently in Shropshire there’s no one to hear you scream) and secondly, that the Historical features of our accommodation (uneven floors, raised steps, spiral staircases with ‘intermittent’ hand rails) posed a threat to our safety; particularly for those who chose to consume alcohol.
Obviously, the Elizabethans either had excellent balance and ankle mobility or they fell over a lot.
So, it was with a mixture of excitement and trepidation that I negotiated the long and winding road to deepest, darkest Shropshire on Friday afternoon.
I needn’t have worried – Wilderhope Manor was just as grand as it looked on the photos, with huge rooms, high ceilings and (importantly) comfortable sofas.
We each had the luxury of an entire bunkbed to ourselves and the kitchen and dining room were stacked with goodies, thanks to Lisa Lambourn and Sandie Owens – it was clear that we wouldn’t be going hungry, thirsty or running out of loo rolls on their watch.
Fire lit, dinner consumed (lovingly pre-prepared by the organising team), we then snuggled into our cosy bunks to dream of the running adventures that lay ahead.
On Saturday morning, the foil-blanket brigade headed into the hills (Long Mynd or Wilderhope/Wenlock). I joined the hardcore group of 7 who headed further afield to complete the devilishly difficult Ludlow parkrun (in the beautiful and mountainous Mortimer Forest), followed by an outstanding cooked breakfast in a riverside cafe.
We all reconvened at the Manor, grazed on home-made cake and headed back into the wilderness – some to double-run (Mark Barker was never going to be satisfied with a sub-16-mile day) and others to walk and share cow-safety tips (don’t look ‘em in the eye!).
After scrubbing up, dinner at the pub was next on theitinerary (guest-starring local lass and SAC former member, Yvonne Caswell).
Great food and a hilarious evening provided the perfect end to the day (and the mystery of why earplugs had been on the kit list was solved as soon as the pub singer started up).
On Sunday morning, a small contingent were up and away early (something about Ilmington and sausages…), while the rest of us planned our outings over a leisurely breakfast (and heard stories of a bat in a bedroom).
Some donned bobble hats for wild swimming in Carding Mill Reservoir and others ran back to the hills.
There was just time for a second breakfast or similar comfort food before we packed up and reluctantly left our spectacular accommodation.
What an absolutely brilliant weekend! Not only had we all had the opportunity to do the things we love in a stunning location (our chosen activities reflecting the diversity of our superb club), we’d been gifted the opportunity to get to know the clubmates who we don’t normally see because they are either a mile further up the road/trail from us or underwater.
Many thanks to Lisa, Sandie, Miranda Maloney and Jennifer Cockayne for all the hours of work and planning that they put into organising the weekend.
You nailed it!
We need more coaches.
Age is no barrier and there is plenty of scope for everyone, from all parts of the club, to get involved.
Why not give it a go and help reduce the extensive waiting lists of juniors’ wanting to join the club but who are prevented from doing so because of the length of our waiting lists.
This is such a shame when you consider many of the difficulties and challenges youngster’s face these days and the huge benefits they would gain from being members of our club.
From a personal point of view I struggle to put into words just how rewarding and hugely enjoyable a thing it is to do.
I absolutely love it
Read Paul Bearman’s article below and hopefully be inspired to put your name forward
Tilly Campbell, centre back row, with her U13s.
Level 1 coach Josh Harrison who is supporting the Under 13s whilst also being an active athlete.
Article – Paul Bearman
When my daughter and her friend decided to “retire” from competitive athletics at the grand old age of 15 (she’s 41 now) I suggested that they get involved in coaching the newbies and they duly went on the basic Pacesetter course, as it was then and started coaching until they went off to Uni.
That was the start of a programme that was designed to grow our coaches organically (it was as hard then as it is now to recruit coaches) and to support the Age Groups in the hope that, even if they left the sport, one day they might return to help develop our next generation.
For example Michelle Bartlett started at age 9, retired from competing in her late teens, started coaching and is still with us in her 30s, helping run the under 11s and now has her 2 children involved.
Similarly, ex athletes Amanda Evans helps coaching the under 13s when work allows and Kaili Woodward is an established coach with the Under 17 plus age group and is a specialist Jumps coach.
We’ve had dozens of young people go through the coaching course and many have used us to help them with their Duke of Edinburgh volunteering over the years.
The latest to attain their Level 1 coaching are Ruby Edwards, who is helping the Under 11s and Josh Harrison who is supporting the Under 13s, whilst both are active athletes.
Currently our junior active athletes, Megan Thomas, Josh Davies, Alex Wood, Tilly Campbell, Eve Cunningham, Georgia Sharpe, Ava Sheppard, Scarlett Dawson, Niamh Hillard, Toby Thomas and Ethan Winning are supporting various age groups.
Megan and Tilly have now headed off to Uni and they are both the epitome of terrific club athletes and on her last training session this week, Tilly said au revoir to the Under 13 athletes and coaching team.
Tilly started training as an Under 11 with the club when she was 8. Cait Davis from the U13 coaching team can remember her in the u11’s and then U13’s where Tilly admits she was probably one of those that would have been ‘hard work’ from her experience of coaching the u13’s. She started volunteering for her DofE five years ago and has been a committed member of the coaching team in all that time, rarely missing a week even when having exams. In parallel she trained as hard as anyone up to 3 times per week and whether it’s the Track or XC she was always the first to put her hand up to support the club.
Megan too has been with us from the start as an Under 11 (at the same time as Tilly) under Michelle and Carolyne’s tutelage and went back to the U11s as a volunteer.
Megan started volunteering about 3 years ago also for her DofE but she enjoyed the coaching involvement so much she continued helping the U11s after finishing her DofE. Like Tilly, Megan continued to commit herself to training 3 times a week and was again a reliable and committed athlete who will always be there to support the club. Fingers crossed they are back to support our Senior T&F team next year.
Several of the over 16 volunteers are now applying to do their Level 1 coaching course and will fit in alongside Ruby and Josh supporting the various age groups and we will continue to support our young athlete/coaches but are always looking at getting more adults involved like senior athlete Angela Williamson, who has just completed her Level 1 and now is a part of the the U13 and U17+ coaching teams.
As well as coaching in the Thursday junior endurance group David Jones has also committed his Tuesday evenings as a part of the U15 age group and Selby Dickinson is now an established part of the U11s and is going to do the Level 1 course alongside Jane Withers one of our Vets athletes ,so age is no barrier and there’s plenty of scope for everyone from all parts of the club to get involved.
The European Masters Athletics Stadia Championships 2025
Madeira
These Championships were held on the beautiful island of Madeira
Renowned for its perfect climate, Madeira offered the ideal setting for this prestigious event. With a rich tradition in sports and a passionate community, the island hosted athletes and spectators from across Europe and beyond.
Three of our very own Masters/Vets athletes were among the 4177 athletes taking part, with 708 events taking place.
The UK topped the final medal table ahead of 2nd placed Germany with 132 gold, 102 silver and 77 bronze medals.
Below we have their thoughts on their involvement in these Championships.
So that’s what a gold medal looks like ?
Paula Williams proudly displays her shot put gold.
Not content with just the one medal, Paula got the full set. As well s her Gold in the shot, she won Silver as apart of the 4 x 100m really squad who broke the British record in winning the medal and Bronze in the Javelin.
The girl done good..
Paula’s Champs.
Report – Paula Williams
My season has been dogged by a rubbish left Achilles tendon, left hip flexor and right rotator cuff issues but I went anyway.
I’d managed about 2 weeks of speed work but I’d kept up my strength work.
Day 1: I started my comp on the first day with javelin and round 1 of the hurdles. My coach did advise not to do javelin as I was in some pain and the risk of stuffing up my shot comp – but after warming up I thought I’d do one throw. Bronze medal? Happy with that.
Later that day I managed to get through my hurdles heat and book my place for the final.
Day 2: hurdles final – 5th. I’ll take that
Day 4: 100m heats and then 5 mins later over to the shot put. I got through the heats, knocking nearly 0.3s off my last 100m due to achilles problems.
Through to the semis – that was my goal.
Shot – gold medal. More to work on – still not at 14m.
100m semi saw me 6th. I’ll take that.
Day 8: weight throws pentathlon. 9m pb in the hammer, discus and weight throw let me down. 5th in Europe in my second ever weight throws pent – I’ll take that.
Day 10: lead leg in W50 4x100m relay. Silver medal and a new British record. I’ll take that.
Overall I was very happy.
It was wonderful to be able to compete and share the experience with Phil Brennan and David Wilson from Stratford AC.
The aim now is to stay fit, get a solid winter season in and be great shape for Torun in March 2026.
So that’s what a gold medal looks like part 2.
Phil Brennan and team mates with their XC team gold medals.
Phil’s Champs
Report – Phil Brennan
It was a somewhat busy day for me at the start of these Champs.
Understatement!
Because of scheduling changes after I had registered, I found myself entered for both the 1500m and cross-country on the same day.
XC was always a priority because of team chances but on paper there was enough time between for a reasonable recovery.
The world is never that kind to optimists!
The full facts as they emerged about XC were horrendous:
0900 start just after dawn, followed by a 40 minutes tortuous drive up a mountain. Fortunately one of my team mates had hired a car so we were free of the unreliable bus service: unfortunately the drive in the dark, as a passenger to a slightly nervous driver and navigator didn’t do my nerves any good.
The course was a 1k loop (six times round) on the only piece of flattish (undulating?) ground in Madeira.
On a recce the day before, we found a flock of sheep training hard on it but at least they had been withdrawn on race day.
The final enticing fact was that at 4,000 ft above sea level, there was a worry that lack of acclimatisation might be a problem for the oldies.
At start time it was predictably cold with a heavy dew, (who packs a fleece on a trip to a semi-tropical paradise?) but the spectacular views made up for it.
I was definitely in first gear at the start in case of breathing problems. I added to my list of “famous places I have fallen over in” but this time landed on my back on the soft turf (and sheep poo).
I lost sight of my team mates but when I lapped the fourth member of our team, I was happy to be in the scoring three.
After that transfer to the baking heat of the track, the 1500m was a doddle. I wasn’t the only person to do both and was highly satisfied with 6th individual in the XC and 7th in 800,1500 and 5000m
It was then a final trek, in an overheated bus, for the medal ceremony in the evening.
I was worn out but delighted to finally meet Paula and the rest of the gang,
It was then a brutal nighttime round the houses 10k complete with cobbles, resulting in team silver, losing out to the German team. Happy with that.
Dave Wilson
Dave’s Champs
Report – Dave Wilson
The European Masters Athletics Champs in Madeira was my 3rd international competition this year following Speedmasters in Albania and the London Masters meet, although this was the first major international.
As the local season had finished most of my team mates were taking their well earned two week break from the track but with these champs being in October I had to keep the momentum going a bit longer than usual.
Madeira is a beautiful island and it was like stepping back into summer again, which was a pleasure.
I was taking part in a very competitive M55 100m and 200m.
I managed to get through my heat of the 100m to the semi-final in 13.26 into a strong headwind, so was very pleased as there were 52 competitors in my age category.
I didn’t progress to the final but in my current form getting to the semis was a great result for me.
The 200m was even more competitive with 56 athletes and unfortunately I didn’t progress to the semi-finals and would have needed a season’s best to have beaten the four athletes ahead of me.
All in all though another great experience and I know what I need to do to improve my performance and I will be working hard through the winter to achieve this.
The Stratford Herald.
Once again The Herald have devoted considerable space to our activities. This week it was the turn of our junior XC runners to be in the spotlight, 60 of who competed in our first league fixture of the season, 14 of them being very brave debutants.
Winter Series
Race I
The first of this season’s Winter Series Races took place last Sunday in Ilmington with 10% of the 334 finishers being our club members with 6 of them finishing in the top 30.
The race was won by Harry Jolly, proud aren’t of junior member Imogen, although not a member himself.
We need to sign him up fast !
There was a stunning performance from our U17 athlete Marijka Tear-Verweij who was first female finisher and 24th overall with the superb time of 35:47. The other of our first 5 lady finishers were Katie Wilcox (69th – 39:41), Camilla Creswell (92nd – 41:29), Rachel Fielden (116th – 43:200 and Kim Lee (150th – 45:47).
Our first 5 male finishers were Seb Woolsoncroft-Dodds (4th – 30:08), David Teasdale (13th – 32:52), Huw Crossweller (17th – 33:26), Rob Gisbourne (28th – 36:03) and Ade Mason (30th – 36:16).
A full list of those shown as SAC members in the results, please follow the link below:
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
