Sent: 21 December 2006 00:09
Subject: V S Update (B) - 2006 Presentation Night
There had been 54 marathons run by 35 Striders and
second-claim Striders in 2006.
Fastest second claim Strider – Tim Crossland – 2:30 at
Fastest first claim Strider – Tracey Morris – 2:33 at
Melbourne (Commonwealth Games)
Fastest first claim Strider in a Striders vest –
Fastest first claim woman Strider in a Striders vest –
Fastest off road marathon –
Oldest marathon runner – Bob Wilkes – 4:50 at
Wharfedale
Fastest by an Australian in
Fastest by an Australian in
Fastest by a Brit in
Fastest by a Brit in
4 marathons (possibly 5?) were run by Bill Murphy,
including 2 as the last part of full ironman triathlons
3 marathons were run by Eric Green (fastest 3:04), Roy
Flesher (3:06),
2 marathons were run by Tracey, Jules, Jon Uttley,
Michael Grant, Mick Loftus (both off road),
1 marathon was run by 23 Striders including
At this point I recounted some stories about our
earliest encounters with Tracey Morris, how Jane Sutton and I had beaten her in
the Abbey Dash in December 2001, how Lisa Wilyman had recommended that she join
the Striders in May 2002 (around the time of the Leeds Half), how after 18
months training and successful racing she had been discovered in the Abbey Dash
of December 2003, how in the last 3 years she had run in 4 out of the 5 major
marathon championships in the world (AAA London, Olympics, Commonwealth,
European). We presented Tracey with a cut glass vase engraved to
commemorate these achievements (and with sufficient space to engrave World
Championships should she be selected).
The Marathon Trophy then went to a vote by those
present and by a large majority was awarded to
Grand Prix T-shirts (presented by Paul White)
The Grand
Prix races have been very popular again this year with 108 first claim members
taking part.
This year
21 runners completed at least 8 races, those not winning prizes were
The 2nd
Claim winner has taken part in a variety of events including all four West
Yorkshire Cross Country’s
The winner
of Group C has run in 6 Half Marathons this year, had a 10 mile PB aged 58 and
is doing the London Marathon for the first time next year, it’s your new
treasurer Paul White.
The winner
of Group B has performed consistently well in 16 Grand Prix races, including
100 points for the Selby Half Marathon Ian Sanderson.
The Ladies
Vets champion has entered a variety of races including all four West Yorkshire
Cross Country’s and she is usually very well wrapped up with her hood on even
during the summer,
The Vets
Over 50 champion has taken part in 12 Grand Prix races including 100 points for
the Rothwell 10K Roy Flesher.
The Vets
Over 40 champion for the second year running is Drew Taylor.
The Ladies
Champion is a new name this year, she was also first in Group D. She has
done Half Marathons, Cross Country, various other races and her first fell race
it is Erica Hiorns.
The final
award is for the Men’s and Overall Club Champion, it is somebody who was runner
up for the last two years and has a perfect score of 800 points it is
Thanks to
Bob for collating the results and all the other work he does for the
Club. Good Luck to everybody for 2007 and let’s hope we are all fit,
healthy and injury free.
Fell Championship Trophy
G.W. presented the Fell Championship Trophy, complete
with shoe box and 3 whitish socks, to
Also Ran Trophy
The Stuart St John Also Ran Trophy was not won by any
of our race winners during the year – Vicky, Tracey, Sam, Jules,
The Also Ran Trophy was not won by any of our Yorks
Vets winners – Bob Wilkes, Sylvia, Peter Lambert, Lou Gilchrist,
The Also Ran Trophy was not won by our
The Also Ran Trophy was not won by our
The Also Ran Trophy was not won by any of our winning
Bradford Millennium Way vets team, nor our winning Leeds Country Way vets team,
nor our runners up LCW womens team, nor our runners up Calderdale Way mixed
team – this accounts for 23 men and 18 women of whom Drew,
The Also Ran Trophy was not won by any of the previous
winners of the trophy (including, present at the presentation night,
The Also Ran Trophy was not won by anyone who ran
fewer than 10 Grand Prix Races, this left Roy Flesher, Simon Redshaw,
In recognition of running 20 Grand Prix Races, running
1 relay, helping at both trail races and being a regular Tuesday member, the
Also Ran Trophy was presented to Paul Sanderson.
Also Ran Trophy little brother
Steve O presented me with a small version of the
trophy, engraved with my name and the year 2005. I would like to express
my thanks to the anonymous benefactor – the little brother sits proudly
on my Valley Striders office desk occupying the position the original was in
for the whole of 2006.
Raffle
Steve made a short speech before MC’ing the
raffle. There was a surplus of £37 (which either indicates the generosity
of the Striders or the skill of the purchasing team (thanks Jane)) which will
be sent to Lineham Farm
Thanks
Thanks to Steve for organising the do, to Tony for the
food and to Tony’s bar staff for staffing the bar.
If you didn’t go to the Presentation Night this year
and you’re thinking of going in 2007, just ask anyone who went what they
thought of the evening. Maybe we’ll have 70 or 80 Striders and friends
there next year!