Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the results for the Awards given at the AGM last night!
Club Member of the Year - This is for services to the club as well as promoting the club throughout the year:
Andy Hillman - For his hilarious Langport updates, always making sure that each runners achievements are reported and celebrated, and for his good sense of humour - in particular when it comes to running up disgusting hills!
Women's Champion - Best running performances throughout the year whilst representing the club at events:
Helen Thomsit - Helen has trained unbelievably hard this year and has represented the club in all levels of races from 10K to marathon, both in the UK and abroad. Her recent results at NYC marathon qualified her for the famous Boston Marathon later this year, and that was after having to stop and walk part of the marathon! She is a machine.
Men's Champion - Best running performances throughout the year whilst representing the club at events:
John Howard - Amazing result at isle of Arran ultra & Atacama desert crossing - despite being hampered with an ongoing Achilles problem
Biggest Progress by New Member - Any gender. Open to new members who have been in club less than 2 years:
Lyndsay Hardwick - Slotted into our group well and very much improved over the few months she has been a member
Most Improved Female Member - Open to female members in the club 2 years or longer:
Katy Armstrong - Katy has shown a great improvement with her running, increasing her pace and joining the faster running groups. She has also recently did her longest run ever at The Blackdown Beast in a brilliant time!
Most Improved Male Member - Open to male members in the club 2 years or longer:
Spencer Chapman - Spencer is currently training for London marathon, and planning on wearing a ridiculous piggy bank costume which in itself should be given a award for! Over the last couple months, Spencer has been training incredibly hard and pushing himself to become faster and stronger. He is doing an outstanding job and not only that, he is also supporting others to improve their running too.
Special Achievement Award - Open to any member who has achieved something special related to running:
Paul Parmenter - Paul broke his leg in two places after a nasty accident in February 2022. Despite this, and against the odds, Paul retrained from scratch and completed the Gran Canaria Marathon just 9 months later. Incredible.
Kathy Rowswell memorial award - a member who has come back from a difficult situation (chosen by the committee):
Paul Parmenter - Because of his tenacious and amazing recovery after the horrific leg break he had!
(Photos from the AGM can be found on the club Facebook group)