AGM

Having asked to join the committee last year, I then found myself taking on the role of chairman and to be honest with you, I felt like David Moyes becoming manager of Man Utd after the long and successful job that Sir Alec Ferguson had done. Following Sam was always going to be a challenge, but I was hopeful that I could make a positive change.

Well, it certainly has been a really interesting year, as well as becoming chairman, I also changed jobs for the first time in 10 years and my running took a downward direction as I struggled for a number of months recovering from a niggling groin injury. It is something I have never really had to worry about before and it has really affected my love of running.

I hope you all have enjoyed reading the new style newsletter, I tried to add some colour (green and white obviously!) and inserted some pictures and of course tried to make it as interesting as I could. I have had some great feedback but as you can imagine it does take some time to do. Going forward this task will be shared by the committee with Hayley pulling it all together.

We have also had to deal with a number of issues this year such as accusations of cheating, two committee member resignations, an interesting little mutiny regarding kit and then the issues around the club championship. In all it has been a tough year but as a committee we have tried to deal with these issues, but it has taken its toll.

With regard to the club championship, I am really conscious that the ladies' results were messed up and I take full responsibility for this and would like to personally apologise to anyone it affected and to the club as a whole. I am not going to justify why or how it happened but would like to acknowledge the patience and positive attitude maintained by all concerned. I would also like to formally recognise Pags, as ladies champion, as well as Katherine Hesketh and Ali Cooper, who were the top 3 in the ladies’ championship. I am sure you would like to join me in congratulating them all and again apologise for not being able to share these amazing successes at the awards evening.

I would also like to acknowledge all our other winners at the club awards. There were some amazing results last year and every single one of them fully deserved their trophy – I hope they have pride of place at home. It is fair to say, looking at some of the results posted this year already there is going to be some real competition for the prizes.

It was great to see the club colours represented across frostbites, parkrun and many championship events as well as a number of other races near and far and it has been great reading about all of your exploits across the year, and of course the St Neots half marathon which enables us to make a donation to our nominated charity along with the money raised throughout the year with our Xmas quiz evening and raffles. This year I am pleased to announce a donation of £4000 going to the children with cancer UK charity.

I hope you agree our parkrun takeovers were great fun, with the green and white fully adorned in every volunteering role as well as providing pacers. The number of people who came to thank us for helping them break a time barrier or just for sharing our love of running was fantastic and something we should be proud of. It is a real measure of the love you all have for running and representing your club, and your town.

We experimented with a couple of track events during the past year which I hope those that attended enjoyed. As well as the running events we tried to revive the social events making use of the facilities here and trying to do something a little different by theming them – which may or may not have worked but it was good to see so many of you attend. So thank you if you did attend and please consider coming along to any we arrange this year as they are an excellent way of bring people together to have a drink or two and talk about their running exploits!

There are so many people who help keep this club going and make it such a friendly community. We have run leaders and coaches supporting with the speed-work sessions or organising the club runs. There are the junior coaches who are doing such a fabulous job with our youngsters. Maurice's monthly handicap remains ever popular. And there are those of you that organise group runs at the weekend. And, of course, the beginner’s group, quiz evenings and various raffles. Apologies if I have missed anyone but on behalf of the committee – we would like to thank you all.

This year was very much a year of transition for the committee with three new members joining in April and working with other members with some great experience and I would like to thank the committee for their dedication in particular as many of them give up so much of their invaluable time, and of course for putting up with me and my challenging of why we do things and have we considered changing. I hope I didn’t drive you too mad!

Finally, as I draw to the end of my year, I have decided not to stand again as chairman as I cannot commit the time. I genuinely wish the next chairman the very best – I am sure they will be great!

Thank you all for your continued support throughout the year and whilst I won’t be involved in the club I will no doubt see some of you when I am out and about plodding round the streets of Little Paxton and St Neots. Whatever events, challenges or even targets you take on I wish you the very best.

Thanks Anthony

During 2022 we saw many familiar events return to the race calendar and several new events appear. It’s been great following club members progress throughout the year, whether running short or long distances, local or abroad, thank you for sharing your achievements with us.

The Club continued to take part of team-based events such as the Frostbite Friendly League and the Round Norfolk Relay. It was good to see new members getting involved in these.

We also continue to host events such as the Frostbite race and Cambs XC in Priory Park, their respective committees are always very grateful so thank you to everyone that helped with these. Then of course there’s the St Neots Half Marathon, our primary fund-raising event of the year. Thank you to all that support these events, whether running or marshalling you help to make these a great experience for everyone taking part. Plus, in supporting club activities you have enabled the club to make a donation of £2000 to Magpas Air Ambulance.

The club wouldn’t be the success it is without the many volunteers that chip in as required, so a huge thank you to all the run leaders who set the routes for club runs and the coaches taking speedwork sessions; to our dedicated and enthusiastic team of coaches and helpers that are training our juniors; to those of you that arrange social runs or other activities; and of course to Maurice for the handicap.

Finally, I would like to thank the committee: Malcolm, Gary, Lee, Ann, Kellie, Emma, Chris and Wayne for their contribution to running the club and the support they gave me throughout the year.

Now my time as Club Chairman has come to an end. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to lead this fantastic club. I also feel proud to have been Chair of the club that my Dad helped to set up way back in 1987. I would like to thank everyone that I’ve shared a place on the committee with over the years. I encourage everyone else to consider joining the committee at some point, it’s a very rewarding experience and enables you to have input into the running of this great club. Good luck to Anthony, who is about to take over the reins, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

After two really unusual years hopefully we are finally getting back to some normality. The 2021 race calendar started to fill up and it was good to see members entering races with renewed enthusiasm. The recent presentation evening awards demonstrated that we have keen and talented members. It's at this point I'd like to encourage you all to add your results to our website so that we can keep track of your achievements when considering awards. I hope you all enjoyed the evening, it certainly was nice to get us all back together again in a social setting.

Sadly, last year we lost two much loved members in Tony Hainsby and Ali Wright. Tony truly was a club legend, coaching and encouraging so many of us over several decades. We will miss his supportive presence along the route of local races but his legacy lives on in all of us. Ali was the most smiley, supportive and welcoming lady, a great person to meet on your first day at the club. It was a fitting choice to support Ali's nominated charity throughout 2021 and I'm pleased we raised £4000 for the Hunts Community Cancer Network. They are both greatly missed.

There are so many people who help keep this club going and make it such a friendly community. We have run leaders and coaches taking speedwork or the club runs. There are the junior coaches who are doing such a fabulous job with our youngsters. Maurice's monthly handicap remains ever popular. And there are those of you that organise group runs at the weekend or little challenges to keep us entertained. We thank you all.

Thank you also to the members who engage in these activities and make our efforts worthwhile.

The St Neots Riverside Runners Half Marathon also resumed as if it wasn't away. As popular as ever this event raises good money for the club so thanks to Keith and family for putting this on and also to the many of you that helped or marshaled. Thanks also to those of you that helped at the other events we organise, the Frostbite and the Cambs County Cross Country. Their respective committees are always very grateful.

Finally, I would like to thank the committee: Malcolm, Gary, Lee, Ann, Kellie and Rodrigo for their contribution to running the club and the support they give me throughout the year. Rodrigo is stepping down from the committee and as Club Captain to focus his efforts on his ultra aims for this year, we thank him for a very successful captaincy during which time we won the Frostbite and Round Norfolk Relay.

Now we look forward to see what this year brings. Stay healthy and run strong.

What a bizarre year 2020 was, I don’t think many of us expected Covid to have such a huge impact on our lives for such a length of time but as we move into the second quarter of 2021 there does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel as vaccinations start to have a positive impact. 

With all organised races and club runs being cancelled you as club members stepped up and created challenges for members of all ages to take part in. Throughout the year we had sprints, distances, hopping, hills, relays, a mini club championship and a medal hunt. There are too many people to name individually but many thanks to all of you that set something up. It really helped keep the club together with fun, laughter and of course provided a much needed running focus. 

We hope club activities will gradually return to some sort of normality and I would like to thank all of you for your patience as we have tried to comply with England Athletics and Government guidance, it’s not always easy with the resources and facilities we have at our disposal. It has been particularly difficult to get the Junior training sessions back up and running. Our only ‘Covid-secure’ training locations for groups of juniors were the local parks and the lack of lighting meant we had to revert from Thursday evenings to Saturday mornings. We know Saturday’s didn’t suit everyone but now the evenings are lighter we can go back to Thursday’s and we very much look forward to having the juniors back running regularly. A huge thanks to the Junior Coaches, helpers and Ali our Welfare Officer for making this happen. 

Despite being unable host the 10K and the Half Marathon, our main annual fundraisers, I was absolutely delighted that we were still able to make a donation of £3065 to the Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice at Moggerhanger. They were immensely grateful to us and they will continue to support local people during their darkest hours. 

Finally, I’d like to thank the Committee; Gary, Malcolm, Ann, Ali, Ryan, Lee and Rodrigo for their support throughout the year. With Ryan stepping down I am very pleased to be welcoming Kellie on to the team.  

I’m extremely proud to be Chairman of this club; the support, friendship and sense of community members provide each other is second to none. I mentioned last month that I would like to step down as Chairman but am happy to stay on for one more year, especially as there has been a lot of uncertainty and change in the usual club activities over the last 12 months. Hopefully things will begin to get a little more back to normal over the next year and someone with fresh ideas and enthusiasm can take over. I will of course provide full support. 

I’ll finish by wishing you all a happy and healthy 2021, and as races resume I look forward to seeing many of you out in our green and white vests competing and achieving your goals. 

What a cracking year 2019 was for Riverside Runners. We had the fantastic Round Norfolk Relay win as a team, and many superb individual achievements ranging from members winning races, representing the county or even the country. However it’s not just the winning, there have been many other individual inspirational achievements where members have overcome adversity, injuries or reached goals they never thought they would. 

We also have a very enthusiastic and talented Junior section, several of whom have represented their county in the past year. This is in no small part down to the commitment and efforts of the Junior Coaches – so a huge thank you to them. 

I also wish to thank those who regularly contribute to club activities: So along with the Junior Coaches, my thanks also go to Alan and Iain Turnbull for the Tuesday speedwork sessions, the Hemingway’s for the monthly Handicap, Keith Pritchard for the Beginners Course and Tony Hainsby for the Star Awards. 

The Club continue to put on several successful events. The Half Marathon raises significant funds for the Club and the 10K raises decent money for the Club’s charities. We also successfully organise the Frostbite Race 1 and Cambs County Cross Country and receive thanks and praise from their respective committees. We couldn’t put these events on without the members volunteering their time so a huge thank you to all who got involved. 

Finally, I’d like to thank the Committee; Gary, Malcolm, Dave, Louise, Ryan, Lee and Rodrigo, for their support throughout the year. With Dave and Louise stepping down we will be welcoming Ann and Alison on to the team. 

I’m extremely proud to be Chairman of this club. The membership numbers are growing but we remain one big friendly family with everyone supporting each other. I thank you all for that. These uncertain times are really bringing out the best in you all, the banter and challenges on Facebook are a welcome light relief.  Stay safe, healthy and 2 meters apart! 

During 2018 our members took part in events of all distances from sprints and 5K’s, to Ultra’s over 100 miles, and many distances in between.  We’ve seen members travelling all over the country and even the world, wearing the green and white vest with pride and sharing their exploits and achievements with everyone.

As well as all the individual achievements there were the team events such as the Round Norfolk Relay, the 24hr Thunder Run and of course the Frostbite. It makes me particularly proud when we get Riverside teams together, showing such great team spirit and camaraderie, encouraging and supporting each other. It will come as no surprise to you that Riverside Runners winning the Frostbite League last year was my highlight of the year. It was great to see some of the newer members getting involved too.

The Junior section continues to go from strength to strength. We really do have a talented group of young runners with many of them running us seniors ragged at parkrun on a weekly basis. They also did their club proud by finishing Runners Up in the Frostbite League last year. So a massive thanks must go to the Coaches for doing such a fantastic job with them.

Our club races remain ever popular with the Half Marathon raising significant funds for the Club and the 10K raising a significant amount for each of our nominated charities, which for 2018 were Magpas Air Ambulance and the Teenage Cancer Trust at Addenbrookes. My non-running highlight of the year is when we hand over the cheque for the charity donation, they really are appreciated by the recipients. The success of these events relies heavily on the volunteering of our members, quite simply we couldn’t do it without you so thanks to everyone who contributed in some way.

I also wish to thank those who regularly contribute to club activities: So along with the Junior Coaches, my thanks also go to Alan and Iain Turnbull for the Tuesday speedwork sessions, Matt Sellick for the Saturday sessions, the Hemingway’s for the monthly Handicap and Keith Pritchard for the Beginners Course.

Last but not least, thank you to the Committee: Clare, Malcolm, Dave, Gary, Karen, Dawn and Lee. With Clare, Dawn and Karen stepping down we will be welcoming some new members onto the team and as Gary steps to one side we will also be welcoming a new Club Captain. The Club doesn’t run itself so do consider joining the Committee at some point in the future, it’s very rewarding to be a part of it.

So, we are a quarter of the way through 2019 and we’ve already seen some superb individual performances, I’m really looking forward to seeing what else you can all achieve throughout the rest 2019!

2017 saw St Neots Riverside Runners reach their 30th anniversary. Thirty years ago a small group of runners arranged to meet in the Old Sun for the first time to set up the club, we now have over 350 members, including a vibrant junior section that is so popular we have a waiting list. To celebrate our 30th anniversary we held an old school sports day and hog roast that brought the juniors and seniors together for a bit of fun plus we held our charity 10K where the race T-shirt was designed by the juniors. This successful event coupled with various other fundraising activities raised a significant amount for our club nominated charities, CPSL MIND and the Lewin Stroke & Rehabilitation Unit at Addenbrookes.

Whilst our members have enjoyed racing in the green and white vest all over the UK and in many places abroad I've particularity enjoyed the events where many members of the club can get together and compete as a team or just have some fun. We had some exceptional performances at the Round Norfolk Relay, the 24 hour Thunder Run and the Frostbite League and a good laugh at the Dragon Boating, Still Not Kenny's Relay and Parent & Child Relay.

Our club races, the 10K and the Half Marathon, remain as popular as ever, largely due to the friendly encouraging environment provided by our members whilst marshalling and helping during the events. So thanks to all of you that got involved. We really couldn't do it without you.

A successful club relies on the voluntary contributions from a great many people so I would also like to thank those members that contribute to the club on a regular basis. There are the coaches giving their time and support to the juniors, Alan and Iain Turnbull for setting up the Tuesday speedwork sessions come rain or shine, Matt Sellick for keeping the Saturday sessions going, Maurice Hemingway and his family for putting on the ever popular monthly handicap and Keith Pritchard for organising the Beginners Course. My thanks also go to the Committee: Clare, Malcolm, Dave, Gary, Karen, Dawn and Lee, who make my role so much easier. And finally a massive thanks to every club member who has represented St Neots Riverside Runners whether that be during a training run around town, at a race elsewhere or at an event the club have put on. You make our efforts worthwhile. Have a great 2018!

Well, this time last year I didn’t expect to be here today in the position of Chairman, but now that I am I have to say that I’m actually rather enjoying it. I especially feel proud to be the Chairman of a club that my Dad was a founding member 30 years ago and is now one of the five honorary members. 

Over the past few months we’ve had some new additions to the coaching team. Whilst the coaches are available to support all our members they are integral to the development of our juniors. Quite simply we wouldn’t have a junior section without them, so many thanks to all the coaches and helpers for giving their time. They are evidently doing a super job, with many Riverside juniors topping local fun run results, obtaining a creditable third place in the Junior Frostbite League and with several of last year’s juniors making a successful transition to the seniors. 

I’d also like to thank Alan Turnbull who has been doing an excellent job setting up the Tuesday speedwork sessions, along with his brother Ian. Come rain or shine the sessions are organised, varied and importantly suitable for all. If you’ve not been, come along, you might like it! You'll certainly improve your running. 

Throughout the year we’ve seen some excellent individual and team achievements with many of these being recognised and rewarded either with a Star of the Month award or at the annual Presentation evening. Hopefully seeing or hearing about these has inspired more of you to get involved in the Club Championship or take part in other events. 

Our Charity10K race once again raised a significant amount for the Club’s nominated charities; the UpsideDownClub and Macmillan both received £1476.57 and the St Neots 1st Scouts £664. 

Our Half Marathon remains extremely popular and the partnership with NiceTri Events is working well. This is our flagship event and helps keep the Club’s finances healthy.  

The beginners course was also a great success during 2016. Here's hoping that 2017 also brings some equally enthusiastic new members. 

The success of these events is down to you, the members, so many thanks to all of you who have volunteered or helped in any capacity throughout the year. 

So, in its 30th year the club is still going strong. Riverside Runners is a great community club; very welcoming to all, providing encouragement and support, with coaching available for runners improvement and a friendly social environment to enjoy. When you join Riverside Runners you are making friends for life. 

As you know, Club Captain Keith Pritchard is standing down. I would like to thank him for all his hard work over the past few years, he’s been an excellent Captain and from a personal perspective incredibly supportive. Darren and Natalie are also standing down, they have been valued Committee Members and along with Keith I know they’ll remain active, valued members of the Club. 

It just leaves me to thank Keith, Malcolm, Clare, Darren, Natalie and Karen for their support on the Committee and I look forward to welcoming the new Committee members on board.