Helsby RC – EOY Club Talk

Helsby RC – EOY Club Talk

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End of Year Club Talk

Following last year’s excellent inaugural EOY Club Talk – Mike and Ben were back to host another well attended and engaging edition at the Sports Club last Wednesday. The duo stepped through a review of all things run related in 2024 and looked ahead to 2025. A link to the presentation slides (containing lots of useful reference material) is included, along with a summary of what was discussed:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hIK8vEISNxf33mH4sUltHdUNUSqucP_i/view?usp=sharing

Introduction and Overview:

  • Mike introduced the meeting, explaining its purpose to review the past year’s achievements and outline plans for 2025. The meeting is informal, encouraging questions throughout.

2024 Successes:

  • The club had a successful year with notable events like the Couch to 5K program, which had great turnouts in January and April, and individual awards, including Mark A’s win in the V40 individual category for Borders League season 2023/24
  • Strong all round club performances in the Borders League, with the men’s team finishing third in Division One and the women’s team also performing well taking 5th in Division 1.
  • Successful HRC races included the Four villages, Sandstone Trail, and The Wobbler, with increased turnout at club championship counters and the launch of Track Night being opened to other clubs

Upcoming Races and Volunteering:

  • Key races for 2025 include the Four villages (January 19), Sandstone Trail (May 11), and The Wobbler (end of June/start of July).
  • Emphasis on the importance of volunteering for these events, with specific roles and dates mentioned. Volunteers are needed for baggage, finish areas, and course clearance – for the Four Villages. Opportunities to volunteer for course clearance on December 27 and January 5.

Borders League and Cross Country:

  • Explanation of the Borders League, its fixtures, and the importance of team participation. The league includes about 15 teams from Wales and the northwest, with six fixtures and a relay at the end.
  • Upcoming cross-country races and championships, including the Cheshire champs (January 4), Northern champs (January 25), and the final Northwest League race (February 9).
  • Encouragement to participate in cross-country races, which are free and offer a friendly environment.

Northern Athletics Affiliation:

  • Overview of events hosted by Northern Athletics, including the Ribble Valley 10K (December 29), indoor championship (January 11-12), and the 12-stage and 6-stage road relays (March 30).
  • Discussion of the competitive nature of these events and the club’s participation in the road relays in Blackpool.

Club Championships and Awards:

  • Changes to the club championship structure, including more fell counters and new awards for performance, marathoner, and volunteer of the year.
  • Emphasis on the importance of attending the awards evening to celebrate achievements.
  • Introduction of new awards to recognize achievements beyond running performance.

Handicap and Standards:

  • Explanation of the Parkrun handicap system and its changes for 2024, including a move to four best park runs of the year.
  • Introduction of club standards to encourage participation in various distances, with a spreadsheet available on the club website to track progress.
  • Challenges within the handicap series, such as the tourism challenge, Helsby challenge, and elevation bonus, to make it more interesting.

Track Night and Relays:

  • Successful track night event and plans to hold another in 2025, with potential inclusion in the GP road race Grand Prix.
  • Discussion of various relay events, including the Welsh castles relay, Chirk Castle relays, and the Northern Cross Country relays.
  • Emphasis on the enjoyment and team spirit of relay events.

Couch to 5K Program:

  • Details of the nine-week Couch to 5K program starting in January 2025, with a graduation race at Phoenix or Delamere Parkrun.
  • Call for volunteers to help with the program, especially in the first few weeks.

Local Races and WhatsApp Groups:

  • Notable local races and the importance of supporting local running clubs, including events by Run Cheshire and Run Northwest.
  • Information on joining the club’s WhatsApp groups for updates and communication.

Club Kit and Merchandise:

  • Discussion on the availability of club kit and plans for a club shop. Mention of bringing back the white and green vests as a celebratory kit.

Useful Links

In a bid to consolidate key club information and improve access for YOU we will be posting (and adding to) this useful links section with each blog post from now on:

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