Harriers AGM - Report on the Year

Exmouth Harriers held its Annual General Meeting at Exmouth Sports Centre on Friday, 16th November.

The races organised by Exmouth Harriers, the Bicton Blister (November), the Fulfords Five (February) and the Manor Hotel 10K (June) were all successful and will be repeated during the coming year. A donation of £250.00 was made from the proceeds of the Manor Hotel 10K to the Exmouth Lifeboat Appeal and the Club plans to donate the same amount from the June 2008 race.

Some of the main achievements by the Club’s athletes over the past 12 months have included the bronze won by the men’s vet 60 team (Roger Rowe, Ray Elston, Jim Wyatt and Pete Tabenor) in the Southern Counties’ 6K Road Relays at Aldershot and the ladies team (Jenny Timms, Sue Wilkin, Lorraine Croome, Dawn Teed and Camilla Mathison) winning the Parrett Trail Relays. John Perratt won gold, silver and bronze medals at the BMAF Indoor, World Masters and European Veterans Indoor Championships and Cathy Newman won silver and bronze at the European Non-Stadia Championships. Hugh Marsden completed a hat trick of Falkland Island Marathon victories. Or, for extreme endurance, how about Paul Champion’s epic North Face Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc, a small matter of running for over 36 hours including 2 nights without sleep, for slightly more than 100 miles up and down mountains, often in the dark!!!

The leadership of the Club remains very stable with all the officers except one continuing in post for the coming year. Shaun Lock will be leaving the area and has resigned from the post of men’s team manager, which he held jointly with Hugh Marsden. Bob Woodall has become a new committee member.

The financial position of the Club is healthy, with liquid assets at around the same level as last year. The Club is very grateful to race directors Bob Keast and Roland Young for their efforts in organising the races that provide a healthy source of income. Steve Merry was thanked for his work raising money for the Club through the bonus ball scheme.

There is, however, some concern about the reduction in training fees because the number of members who train regularly with the Club has fallen considerably from the high level in spring and early summer to much lower levels in autumn and winter. Unfortunately, this affects the quality of training that can be provided as well as the Club’s finances. A priority for the coming year will be increasing the numbers training with the Club during autumn and winter to as high a level as possible, at all ability levels from the fastest to the slowest. This will enable more groups to train more effectively throughout the year.

It would, of course, also be very helpful if the Club could attract more new members to swell the numbers on training nights and this is another priority. More and more runners are seen on the streets of Exmouth and many don’t belong to a club. They could benefit greatly from joining a club like Exmouth Harriers, with organised training and coaching, which would enable them to experience a much bigger range and variety of activities and running routes. These include middle and longer distance road, cross country, coast path, etc. runs from a couple of miles up to 18 or 20 in preparation for marathons and half marathons. At the other end of the scale, much shorter track intervals of 100, 200, 400, 800 m, etc., and short hill sprints are also catered for.

.
The physical fitness benefits of all these activities and the establishment of new and often long-lasting friendships are just a few of the advantages that can be enjoyed by joining a club like Exmouth Harriers on a purely recreational basis, without any pressure to enter races. Most runners with clubs do eventually decide to try a race, however, and once they have, they usually want to do more. Although many non-club runners do race anyway, joining a club would enable them to do team events, road and cross country relay races, etc., as well.

Unfortunately, the change in the administration of athletics nationwide and the establishment of a new body, England Athletics, has resulted in clubs being charged an additional lump sum figure plus £3.00 per member. Most clubs are having to pass this on to their members and the annual subscription for Exmouth Harriers is being increased from £18.00 to £21.00.

Organised races usually offer a reduction of around £2.00 in the entry fee for members of clubs, however, so if an Exmouth Harrier competes in 11 races a year, the annual subscription is paid for by the reduction in the race entry fees. Training fees are just 50p per session, not much for an evening’s entertainment plus all the other benefits. Why not come and run with us? Don't be put off because you think we are all super fast, because we are not. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday 18:45 at the Imperial Rugby Ground, where Exmouth Rugby Club play. We would be glad to see you.

The chairman was very disappointed that the turnout for the working party to redecorate the clubhouse, etc., had been so poor. He was, however, extremely grateful to Jon Bamsey for his massive contribution in doing the lions share of the work.

Four Exmouth Harriers were amongst the field of 261 who completed the BBC Children in Need Race at Colyton, which was reduced from 10 k to 8.1 k because the conditions were too bad to allow the jog across the fields to the normal start point. The winner was Wayne Stephens of Bideford AAC in 27:49 and Exmouth’s Cathy Newman was 1st lady and 7th overall in 30:18. However, on an age-graded basis, Cathy was 1st overall with 85.6%, nearly 3% higher than the next age grading, a tremendous performance considering the conditions. Well done, Cathy!! The other Harriers were Chris Dupain 40th in 34:22, Nigel Dupain 90th in 37:50 and Les Turner 175th in 44:57.

Missing from the Colyton race last weekend was John Perratt who escaped the appalling weather by running on the Saturday in Belfast. The race was the British Masters Home International held on the Stormont Estate in the grounds of the historic Parliamentary Building of the Northern Ireland National Assembly.

The teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were competing in 5 year age groups from 35 upwards. England as usual dominated the event and John’s team was no exception taking the 1st 3 places in the Men’s 70 category. With four in a team and 3 to count, John flew home with a team Gold and an individual Bronze medal to add to his collection. All part of a fantastic year for a marvellous athlete. Congratulations, again, John!! Another link with Exmouth was the presence in the Northern Ireland team of ex-Harrier Derek Donaghy who had a decent run in the M50s.

Two Exmouth Harriers competed in the Cornish Marathon on a tough out and back course starting at Millenium House, Pensilva, up the Draynes Valley, across Bodmin Moor to Bolventor (Jamaica Inn), down the Fowey Valley and back to Pensilva. Both ran extremely well, with Dave Stone 6th in 2:59:47 and Adrian Kearns 23rd in 3:16:26. The winner out of the field of 212 was Jez Bragg of North Face in 2:53:18.

Joe Pascoe represented Exmouth Harriers at the Templar Ten, a ten-mile multi terrain race on roads, tracks and fields incorporating the picturesque Stover Park and ran superbly for 6th place in 58:01. The winner was Jon Parkinson of Torbay AC in 55:06 and 227 runners completed the race.

Finally, this Sunday, 25th November, Exmouth Harriers will be hosting the Bicton Blister, supported by Ironbridge Runner. This popular annual off road race involves 11 miles of paths and tracks on East Devon Common Land, over the beautiful area of pebbled heath to the north of Exmouth, with spectacular views. The race will start at 11.00 am and late entries will be taken on the day. The Event Centre at Bicton College, where the race starts and finishes, provides all the facilities you could wish for and is a wonderful backdrop. All members of the club who are not racing themselves and are in a position to help out at the event are strongly requested to contact Roland Young (01395 278455) or Bob Keast (01395 225042) in advance.