Rundown: Harriers Training Weekend, 22nd -24th February 2019

Helmsley YHA

Sixteen of us arrived in a sunny Helmsley by train, car, bike and on foot for the annual training weekend. A combination of seasoned Mount Hooley attendees and first timers, the group was pleased to find a comfortable youth hostel on the edge of Helmsley, well equipped, warm and quiet. 

As Chris and I had arrived just in time for dinner last year, we made an effort to get there earlier and took the afternoon off work. Chris cycled down from Greatham and I drove down arriving about 3pm. I thought training had better get under way, so I had a quick look at google maps and headed out of the village on the Cleveland Way towards Riveaulx. A tarmac path soon turned into a field edge path and then a wonderful up and down route through woods. Once I reached the road I doubled back, clocking up 5.5 miles. A great start to the weekend. We all went to The Feathers for an evening meal. I was the only one to have a pudding (dark chocolate and orange brownie, with white chocolate sauce and ice cream, in case your’re wondering) but I was the only one who had done any running!

Saturday morning started with a ‘pacey’ run. With Tracy as our leader, we headed out of the village for a 6 mile loop . A beautiful still morning we saw roe deer and lots of pheasants. A steep hill slowed the pace and the challenge of hill reps was politely declined. Nice try Tracy! Once we got back to the youth hostel Mil and John headed off for another 30 minutes, getting the prize for ‘commitment to training’.

Once we had showered and refuelled the majority of us set off for a walk, taking full advantage of the glorious countryside that surrounds Helmsley. We covered 7.5 miles across fields and through woods. Normally at training we may only have chance to have a quick chat to fellow Harriers, so this was a great opportunity to talk to people. John (Marshall) is a keen bird watcher so could help us identify various birds including magnificent buzzards, waiting to pick off any weaker members of the group.  

In the evening a number of the group headed off to the Brewery to watch the rugby and then everyone refuelled – some getting takeaways and some having home cooked food. Mike (Wood) won the prize for ‘commitment to eating’, managing to consume a family steak and ale pie from the artisan bakers. The men then settled in for an evening of poker and whiskey drinking – luckily playing for chips not coins. 

Sunday dawned sunny again. Another walk was planned but three of us headed off – Phil to Wem-ber-ley (a football match, which apparently the right team won on penalties); Chris cycling 50 miles home; and I headed off to Stockton to run in the Winter Trail Series as part of the Grand Prix. All in all the weekend was great fun with great company. 

And the final prize for ‘commitment’ goes to Sue (Round) for her unwavering ‘commitment to shopping’. She set off before us and came back after us – who knew there were that many shops in Helmsley? Don’t worry Sue, there will be another pair of bargain Gabor blue shoes. 

By Sue Dobson

Club Dinner 2016

For the second year running, the Annual Dinner was held at Hardwick Hall Hotel. After dinner, Tracy Brown and Steve Foreman reminded the assembled guests about FoSH and the ways in which we could all help before conducting a fun game of heads or tails. Together with an auction for a pair of hand-crafted medal hangers generously donated by Ray Carmichael, £120 was raised for FoSH. Star of the night was Lisa Darby who added 4 trophies to her already bulging cabinet: Newcomer of the Year, Runner of the Year, Time Trial winner and Divison 1 Grand Prix winner. Justin Coxtook Performance of the Year for his superb York marathon and qualifying for England. For her astonishing return to sprinting, Frances Barlow took Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Supporter of the Year was won by Ray Carmichaelfor supporting other athletes despite being a very active competitor himself. Ray also won the Division 1 Grand Prix. For her fantastic work with the beginners’ groups and for her all round enthusiasm and generosity, Sheree Lyons was chosen by the committee as Volunteer of the Year. Club Member of the Year was awarded to Tracy Brown for her hard work behind the scenes with the minis and minors and her work with FoSH and co-organising the Serpentine race. The Grand Prix winners were: Division One – Ray Carmichael (men) and Lisa Darby (women); Division Two – Helen Letts(women) and David Round (men). Kieran Walker was the fastest man in the Time Trial and Lisa Darby took the women’s title.

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Club Dinner 2015

A celebration of the first ten years of the club was held at Hardwick Hall Hotel. Archie Jenkins, secretary of NECAA was invited to speak and gave an enthusiastic assessment of all the club had achieved before proceeding to present the awards. Deb Pennick took Newcomer of the Year award after making strong improvements and representing the club in many races. Individual Performance of the Year was awarded to Gary Thwaites for his astonishing year of marathons which saw him complete his 50th marathon. Gary also took Club Runner of the Year. Track and Field Athlete was presented to James Oldfield for “having a go” at track and field and taking the club steeplechase and javelin records in the process. Kev Archbold took Supporter of the Year for his many hours of coaching and behind the scenes work. The committee chose Helen Letts as Volunteer of the Year. Helen gives up a lot of time to support the juniors as well as being actively involved in the beginners group and helping co-ordinate coaches and the club’s accreditations. Club Member of the Year was taken by Ean Parsons, in this the anniversary year, having previously ruled himself out of the voting. As it was the tenth anniversary of the club, two further awards were made: Club Runner of the First Ten Years of the Club was awarded to Ean Parsons. Club Member of the First Ten Years of the Club was award to Marie Walker. Additionally, the club presented three bespoke trophies made by Ray Carmichael to say #THX to three people who have been instrumental in building it to what it is today: Marie Walker, Scott Hydon and founder and chair for the first ten years, Ean Parsons. The grand prix winners were: Division One – Paul Weir (men) and Tracy Glaister (women); Division Two – Paul Glaister (men) and Deb Pennick (women). The Time Trial winners were James Oldfield (men) and Tracy Henderson (women).

The club also received a video message from Steve Cram and Daley Thompson congratulating the club on its first ten years.

We also paid our respects to Vicki Wetherspooon who was taken from us during the year.

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Club Dinner 2014

The club Annual Dinner and Awards night was held at the Parish Hall in Sedgefield on Friday 14th November with guest speaker Alan Bell.  Chief International starter, Alan Bell describes himself as ‘I’m not famous but when I speak the world listens’.  He regaled the Harriers and their partners and guests with anecdotes form his long and illustrious career as an international athletics official including disqualifying Usain Bolt in the World Championships 100m final and about his unforgettable experiences at London 2012.  The evening was one of celebration for Sedgefield Harriers at which awards were made for performance and contribution to the club.  Paul Glaister was named as Supporter of the Year for supporting his daughters and his wife at competitions; James Oldfield was voted as Newcomer of the Year for his fantastic performances since joining the club; Jane Spink, Track and Field Athlete of the Year for competing in Javelin; Tracy Brown was voted by the club committee as Volunteer of the Year for all the work she does coaching juniors and in support of many club activities; Paula Warwick was voted by members as Club Member of the Year for competing and her contribution to the club generally; pride of place went to David Sawyer who was voted both Performance of the Year and Runner of the Year for his fantastic achievement of competing in 5 marathons, 5 half-marathons, 5 10k’s and 5 5k’s and if that wasn’t enough, running 98 miles between Sedgefield and Bamburgh on the last weekend of his challenge to race in the Castles Half Marathon – all in aid of Breast Cancer Research.  Christine Hearmon and Paul Weir received the annual club Grand Prix trophies and Abie Hearmon and James Oldfield were winners of the annual time trial trophies. There was a fantastic raffle and half the proceeds went to the club and half to Marie Curie Nursing Care, the clubs’ adopted charity for the next twelve months in memory of Club Secretary Gail Bell who sadly recently lost her personal battle with cancer.

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Club Dinner 2013

The club dinner of 2013 was held in Sedgefield Parish Hall with guests Peter Barron , Editor of the Northern Echo, Mel Carr, Mayor of Sedgefield and John Stacey, England Athletics who all said a few words in praise of the club and made two awards each.  The award winners were; Marie Walker, Club Member of the Year (for the thrid time); Gary Thwaites, Club Runner of the Year; Kevin Archbold, Volunteer of the Year; Matthew Jones, Individual Athletic Performance of the Year; David Round, Newcomer of the Year; Alan Tait, Supporter of the Year.  The club also made a special presentation to Club Chair and Founder Ean Parsons in recognition of his on-going contribution to the the club.  There was a record list of nominations for awards and of votes cast; a list of the nominations is below.

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Club Dinner 2012

The 2012 dinner was held on Thursday 29 November at Sedgefield Racecourse. Guest speaker was Olympian Alison Curbishley who talked about her experience the 2012 London Olympics. Funds were raised for the club as well as Alison’s partner Steve Cram’s charity, COCO. Club member of the year went to Jane Spink, Runner of the Year was Diane Baines and Volunteer of the Year was Tim Dredge.

Club Dinner 2011

Our club dinner in 2011 was held at the Hardwick Arms in Sedgefield.  Guest speaker was Olympic Marathon Bronze Medallist and current English marathon record holder, Charlie Spedding who comes originally from Ferryhill.  Charlie provided us with a mementous evening and made awards to Diane Baines for Club Member of the Year and Volunteer of the Year and to Jason ‘Ferryhill Flyer’ Catterall for Club Runner of the Year.