NEWS


20 Apr 2008

It's Road Relay Time

For road runners one of the most exciting events on the calendar - "the 12 stage" - takes place next Saturday at Sutton Coldfield.  Who will end up being national champions for 2008? 

This weekend just gone has seen guys on the edge of the Belgrave team doing all they can to work their way into the dozen. 

A couple ran in 5k races.

Another ran a time trial on the road - a 5k course measured with a proper course measurer's wheel with all the kilometre marks chalked onto the tarmac.  His Dad timed, clocked the kilometre splits, stopped his car to block off a car that might have encroached into the path of our oncoming time-trialler - and then made sure that the selectors were aware of the fact that a little dog and a vehicle turning left caused slight interruptions to the run.

A few hours later - at the end of an Open Meeting at Battersea - we had the electric timing running on yet another time-trialler who was doing his 5k on the "all-weather oval", lapping on his own, in the wind.  It was enthralling, seeing a guy churn out what was required after a two year absence from our teams.

Will they get in the team? Will the Bels, who in the last seven months have won the National Half Marathon, SEAA 6-Stage Road Relay, National 6-Stage Road Relay, National CC Relay and SEAA 12-Stage Road Relay, not to mention narrowly losing the National 10k Championship, pull off this last title at the end of a long "winter" season?  This one's much too close to call.  No doubt Notts AC, Leeds City, Newham & Essex Beagles ... maybe Aldershot Farnham & Dist. and others will have something to say in the matter.

It should be a cracking race.


14 Apr 2008

Mark's international soccer début

Mark Humphrey has been taking time out from his athletics for a while, having been trialled for the island of Montserrat's soccer team.

The trial took place at Crystal Palace and our boy impressed the selectors to the extent that they flew him over to Trinidad for the World Cup qualifier against Surinam where they played in the Marvin Lee Stadium.

The match took place in warm and breezy conditions. Mark didn't get to play the whole game, being brought on as a substitute, and his team finally went down to Surinam 7-1.

All a good experience though - including lining up to sing the Montserrat National Anthem before the game.


9 Apr 2008

England Athletics Registration

It might surprise you to know that you must be individually registered with England Athletics to be allowed to compete in any athletic competitions.  This means everything from open meetings to UK Championships, including league meetings - track & field, road relays and championships, race walking. If you haven't sent in your registration fee of £5 with your subs then you wont be allowed to enter (or we won't be allowed to enter you). When it comes to individual road races, if you can't supply your registration number then you will be asked to pay an additional fee for EVERY race.

We can make it easy for you.  We have set up a standing order scheme which means that if you pay just £3.50 per month your annual subscription and your registration fee will be taken care of.

Take a look at these entry forms for a national championship - do you kno what your registration number is?

Download:

letter giving subscription/registration information

standing order form


9 Apr 2008

Help Wanted

In just a few weeks time Belgrave will be taking part in the Men's and Women's Southern Leagues. Our men's and women's T&F team managers are unable to take on more responsibility and will often be elsewhere at BAL or UKWAL matches.  We therefore need one or two people for each of the Southern League teams to sort out the teams on the day. And while we are at it - is there anyone who could manage the Rosenheim League teams for the mid-week fixtures?

Can you help? Please Contact us


6 Apr 2008

Southern Comfort

Sun 6 April - Rushmoor Arena. On a day that started with three inches of snow on the ground, Belgrave took the Southern 12-Stage title for the sixth time in seven years. They have not been out of the medals now in the last decade. But it was far from being a one sided race as Aldershot, Farnham & District AC excelled, leading for six stages and at one point enjoying a lead of all but one and a half minutes.

Last leg man Jonathan Blackledge (pictured right) ran 3rd fastest of the day on the short stages but was also 3rd fastest Belgravian - headed by Steve Davies and Stephen Sharp. Nick Goolab and Shaun Moralee were also in the top ten. On the long legs, Simon Jones was our fastest, ranked at 5th, just one second ahead of Neil Speaight.

Above: A satisfied Belgrave crew, including SEAA President our own Gordon Biscoe.


30 Mar 2008

World Cross Country Champs., Edinburgh

A crowd of around 17,000 flocked to Holyrood Park, Edinburgh to watch the 36th IAAF World Cross Country Champs., including a surprising number faces that are normally seen at Surrey CC League fixtures. Thames Hare & Hounds, Herne Hill Harriers, Belgrave Harriers - many had taken the opportunity to watch the world's finest cross country runners in action in the UK.

Belgrave's Phil Wicks admitted to feeling a little disappointed with his run, placing 3rd Brit after a couple of laps but fading to 6th scorer as the race concluded. Phil placed 83rd overall, exactly the same as last year in Mombasa, but he thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience - another step in the learning process. Club mate Marty Dent, racing in Australia's colours, was 105th.


26 Mar 2008

Good luck to the World Cross Boys

All athletic eyes will turn to Edinburgh this coming weekend when the 36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships will be staged in Holyrood Park on Sunday 30 March.

For Belgravians there will be added excitement as both Phil Wicks (Great Britain & Northern Ireland) and Marty Dent (Australia) will be lining up for the senior men's race.

No doubt the Ethiopians and Kenyans will be slugging it out for the men's team title but there is great interest in who will be the first Brit to cross the finish line.  The local money is going on Scot Andrew Lemoncello. Tom Humphries was winner of both the National Cross and the World Trial but our own Phil Wicks was pretty close to him in the latter.  Go Phil! And Go Marty (born in Woking)!


23 Mar 2008

Greg Billington nears Club U20 5,000m record

Currently studying at Wake Forest University, North Carolina, Greg Billington ran 14:28.97 to place 2nd over 5000m in an early season Open Meeting.  There were some 86 runners wanting to tackle the 5k which was split into four races. Greg was always in contention in his 20 man "A" race but just lost out in the closest of finishes as the winner ran 14:28.86.

It's a personal record for Greg, whose main aim is, of course, triathlon, and it took him close to the Belgrave under 20 record set in 1993 by Kassa Tadesse when winning a BAL race in Edinburgh - 14:24.02.

Other recent performances from Greg have been:

12 Oct Penn State Nationals XC 5.2 miles, Pennsylvania - 10th 26:34.

27 Oct AAC XC Champs, Charlottesville Vermont 8k - 25th 24:57.7.

18 Jan Clemson Invite, North Carolina - 3rd 1 mile (i) 4:16.70

1 Feb Akron Open, Ohio, 11th - 3000m (i) 8:25.19 (beating Richard Ward's indoor record of 8:27.07)

28 Feb - 3 Mar AAC Indoor, North Carolina - 3000m 10th 8:25.42 and 5000m 9th 14:43.99 (best indoor mark by a Belgrave Junior).


17 Mar 2008

Goldie Sayers sets Olympic Qualifying mark

British record holder Goldie Sayers qualified for this summer's Olympic Games after winning the javelin contest at the European Cup Winter Throwing.

Sayers, who set her British record of 65.05m last year, produced the second biggest throw of her career in Split.

The 25-year-old landed 63.65m to reach the qualifying standard of 60.50m.

After failing to make last summer's World Championships, Sayers will be hoping to maintain her form in the build-up to the Olympics in August.

BBC Website


15 Mar 2008

Wicks the Wizard!

Right: A Who's Who of cross country running 2008 - Andi Jones, Mike Skinner, Tom Humphries, Frank Tickner, Phil Wicks, Steve Vernon and Andrew Lemoncello share the front rank in the World Cross Trial at Nottingham.

Another fabulous run came from Phil as he ran to second place in the Inter-Counties/World Cross Trial at Nottingham. Once again Tom Humphries was the victor but our man described himself as "over the moon" as he now turned his attention to the IAAF World Cross Championships in Edinburgh in two weeks time.

Results: 1 T Humphries 37:03; 2 P Wicks 37:11; 3 M Skinner 37:19; 4 A Lemoncello 37:23; 5 A Vernon 37:42; 6 J Walsh 37:44. Neil Speaight was 24th in 38:40.

Picture by Steve Wicks


12 Mar 2008

Marty qualifies for World Cross

Marty Dent has been in cracking track form, winning the 3000m steeplechase at the Australian Championships at Brisbane in 8:27.00 and beating Kosgei, Nowill and Youcef in the process.  Other performances have included a 13:41.78 5000m and a 3:44.94 1500m.

But Marty's latest exploit was to place 4th in the Australian World Cross Trial at Stromlo Forest Park, Canberra on 8 March.  The 12k race was won by Collis Birmingham in 36:25 with Marty just 13 seconds behind.  Only the first two were automatic selections but with a group of runners packing in closely, the selectors decided to fill out a full team and Marty received confirmation of his selection early this week.  We believe it will be his seventh World Cross.


12 Mar 2008

John Kimaiyo wins again in Thailand

Globe trotting John Kimaiyo raced the Sichon Hospital Half Marathon in Thailand on Sunday 9 March. The race started at 5am due to the oppressive humidity - but early or late, it's all the same to John who won in 1:08:22.

He's now preparing for the Kualar Lumpur Half Marathon on 30 March before returning to Kenya.


10 Mar 2008

Neil Speaight has wintered well

 

Right: Mark Miles (6) and Neil Speaight (3) race neck and neck to the finish of The Mizuno Trafford 10k
Photo by Job King.

 

Neil Speaight showed that he was wintered well by grabbing victory in the final few strides of the Trafford 10k on 9 March. Speaight emerged from the pack and outsprinted Belgrave team mate up the final straight Mark Miles to ensure a thrilling victory in a time of 29.45.

It was Miles who took up the running early on, leading a large pack of athletes through 1k in 2.55. Paying close attention behind were Guernsey's Lee Merrien and Mark Draper. Indeed it was Merrien who took up the running, just edging in front through 4k in 11.53, with Andi Jones' course record looking under threat, and a dozen runners still in contention.

However, as the athletes approached halfway, it became apparent that a tactical battle was going to ensue, with no-one prepared to really push on and make a bid for home in a fast time. Draper briefly took up the running before Miles re-took the lead going into the final kilometre. Clearly aware of Speaight's presence and his 1500m speed, Miles did everything he could to shake his team-mate off, but his effort proved unsuccessful as Speaight edged clear with 30m left.

Understandably, Speaight was delighted with the win smashing over a minute from his previous pb. The John Bicourt coached athlete, recently returned from a training trip in Morocco with fellow racers Draper and Simon Jones. Whilst he was there, Speaight was able to continue his bigger mileage that he has been performing this winter and it would appear to be bearing immediate fruit.

The Belgrave Harrier's form is particularly impressive considering that last summer he was hampered by a debilitating lung injury which prevented him from capitalising on a 3.38 1500m early season run at Sheffield. However, Speaight confirmed "That's all behind me now, and it's extremely motivating to think that I ran 3.38 with out full function in my lungs. I'm really looking forward to the summer now."

Speaight will now have a crack at next week's inter-counties race in Nottingham, before turning his attention to the track season, "Obviously Beijing is a major target of mine" confirmed Speaight. "I think there are 6 lads who could run the A 1500m standard, but that's the competition we all need and I'm relishing the challenge."

Behind the 2 Belgrave athletes, Merrien came home in 3rd and admitted to having 1 eye on next week's Inter Counties in Nottingham where he hopes to be in contention for a place on the world cross team. Belgrave wrapped up the team event through Speaight, Miles and 4th placed Jones.

On the women's front, Bedford's Katrina Wooton smashed the course to record a victory in 33.38, 35 seconds clear of Nicky Archer. Horwich's Katie Ingram was 3rd.

Wooton, who was only advised on Friday that she should have a run had never done a road 10k before, went 4th on the UK rankings with her time, behind currently leader Michelle Ross-Cope. The Andy Hobdell coached athlete will now decide during the week whether to run at Nottingham at the weekend. However, having narrowly missed out on selection for the world indoors, like Speaight, Wooton's primary focus will be on the track this summer, "I'm still weighing up doing a mix of 1500's and 5k's" said Wooton after the race. "Ive done the bulk of my winter work in Coventry but soon Ill be going back to St Albans to prepare for the track."

Matt Barnes


7 Mar 2008

Spanish Silver for Dwain Chambers

12th IAAF Indoor World Champs., Valencia.

After all the controversy, emotion and pressure it was a very relieved looking Dwain Chambers who vowed to celebrate winning a 60m silver medal at "his Olympics". A personal record equalling 6.55 came in the semi finals (a record set eight years ago) and the final saw him improve that record by one hundredth of a second, unable to match Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba but sharing silver medal after dead-heating with the pride of St. Kitts and Nevis, Kim Collins.

Earlier in the day Samson Oni placed 12th in the high jump qualifying round with 2.24m, and thus will not take a place in the final - while Phillips Idowu leapt 17.05m in the triple jump and could well be a medal threat on Saturday.

When did these three Belgravians last compete in the same team?  We believe it was 1997 - in our National Junior League team.

IAAF picture of the men's 60m final with Dwain Chambers far right.


1 Mar 2008

Alex Wright cracks 5k record

Race walking at Bexley in the Cambridge Harriers Winter League, 17 year-old Alex Wright, barely into the Under 20 category, not only won the race from Nick Silvester of Aldershot, Farnham & District by two seconds, he also ducked under our best ever U20 time for the distance.

Alex clocked 23:03 to shave six seconds off the previous mark set by Richard Dorman on 16 September 1978.

The young Belgravian is far from being a “one trick pony” for the day after setting this record, he won the Lambeth trial for the London Mini Marathon, running in Brockwell Park, and followed up by running in Liverpool in the English Schools cross country.


6 Feb 2008

Norwich Union Indoor World Trials & UK Champs

Eighteen Belgravians have been invited to take part this coming weekend in the trials for the Indoor World Championships which doubles as the UK Championships. First past the post earns the right to compete in Valencia, 7-9 March, in the 12th IAAF World Champs., with others to be selected at the discretion of UKA.

Not all will take their place on the start line - but it should be a very interesting weekend.

Men

60m - Wade Bennett-Jackson, Dwain Chambers

200m - Jason Hussain

400m - Ryan Thomas

800m - Graeme Oudney

1500m - Tim Bayley, Shaun Moralee, Richard Ward

3000m - Jonathan Blackledge, Stephen Sharp

60m Hurdles - Louis Evling-Jones, William Sharman

High Jump - Samson Oni, Darvin Edwards (St. Lucia)

Long Jump - Louis Evling-Jones, Bernard Yeboah

Triple Jump - Phillips Idowu

Shot - Scot Thompson

Women

1500m - Catherine Bryson


29 Jan 2008

Darvin and Samson raise the bar

Belgrave's high jumping duo of Samson Oni and Darvin Edwards are enjoying a productive winter with coach Trevor Llewellyn.  Last week Darvin won the SEAA Indoor title at Lee Valley in 2.20m with Samson clearing the same height but pushed back to equal 2nd on countback.

Seven days later at Brunel's Indoor Jumps Meet in West London, Darvin went even higher, setting a new St. Lucian national record of 2.25m before retiring from the competition on the advice of Trevor. Samson was again second in 2.20m but watch out for fireworks when the big events come around, for he was ranked number one in the UK in 2007 with a best of 2.28m.

Hopefully both will be in action in the Birmingham Games next weekend and at the World Indoor trials the weekend following.

There is a possibility of pre-season training for Darvin, Samson and Trevor in St Lucia at the end of March/beginning of April. We hear that the St. Lucian Athletics authorities are keen accommodate them and are open to exploring ways in which to subsidise visitors in return for athletics clinics/master classes to St Lucian schools/aspiring athletes.


29 Jan 2008

Jonathan back on track

We're pleased to hear that after a foot infection curtailed his activities before Christmas, Jonathan Blackledge raced last weekend in the Romsey 5 Mile Road Race and won with 24:28.

He was not sure how things would go, having not donned his racing shoes for a while, but it turned out well. The standard was pretty good with Woodford Green's Simon Plummer also running, and the result was that JB had a serious test to help him gauge his fitness. He took the lead from halfway and pushed on hard in the final km to open out a lead of 18 seconds.

Next up for Jonathan is the BUSA Cross Country Championships at the weekend before turning his attention to the indoor scene for the AAA Championships and then the Armagh 5k Road Race.


28 Jan 2008

The Flyder Cup

In an epic darts competition between Thames Hare & Hounds and Belgrave Harriers on Saturday night at Belgrave Hall, it all came down to the final "1001 down - all in" match to decide the destination of The Flyder Cup ...

Belgrave took an early lead - up to 4-1 ... Thames came back, simultaneous matches finishing within seconds with our rivals clocking out on doubles to hoots of delight ... and it was 6-6. Nip and tuck then through the doubles until at 9-9 it was down to the final game. Now it was Thames making the pace right until the home straight only to be denied when a final Belgrave flourish took the home club ahead just before the tape with Knut Hegvold's killer "dip" being a double 11 check-out.

It was a great evening and one well worth repeating. Many thanks to Will for getting it off the ground - to Pat for rustling up a score or more helpings of home made lasagne and chilli con carne, and to Maureen and Brian for providing the baked potatoes.

And of course many thanks to our guests Thames Hare & Hounds for rising to the challenge.  We've no doubt that Larry Mathews is even now organising training sessions with a view to Thames lifting the Flyder in 2009.

RESULTS

Singles

Belgrave

 

Thames

Snowy Brooks

lost to

Simon Molden

Knut Hegvold

beat

Darren Talbot

Dave McMillan

beat

Megan Clark

Mark Pollard

beat

Dave Symons

Hazel Mead

beat

Dorchie Cockerell

Alan Mead

lost to

Larry Mathews

Maureen Pritchard

beat

Andy Weir

Brian Pritchard

lost to

Nick Gould

John Martin

lost to

James McMullen

Pete Willis

beat

Nick Altmann

Simon Jones

lost to

Alun Johns

Cynthia James

lost to

Allison Carpenter

Score 6-6

Doubles

Matt Whiting
& Will Cockerell

lost to

Darren Talbot
& James McMullen

Alan Mead
& Anne Hegvold

beat

Simon Molden
& Megan Clark

Dave McMillan
& John Martin

beat

Dorchie Cockerell
& Alun Johns

Maureen Pritchard
& Mark Pollard

beat

Nick Gould
& Nick Altmann

Brian Pritchard
& Pete Willis

lost to

Alison Carpenter
& Larry Mathews

Simon Jones
& Hazel Mead

lost to

Andy Weir
& Dave Symons

Score 3-3

1001 Finale – everyone throws

Belgrave

beat

Thames

MVP’S (Most valuable players):

Of the 27 players on parade, six managed to win two matches:

Belgrave’s double victors were - Mark Pollard, Maureen Pritchard & Dave McMillan.

Thames’s double victors were - James McMullen, Allison Carpenter, Larry Mathews


28 Jan 2008

Kenya's darkest days

The news bulletins bring us terrible pictures from Kenya where political and now tribal differences have resulted in escalating violence and bloodshed. It is brought home to us, as runners, when we hear that some of the most brutal fighting has taken place in Eldoret, the home of so many of Kenya's world beating distance runners. Lucas Sang, a member of Kenya's 4x400m team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, was hacked to death and his body burnt by a rampaging mob, while Luke Kibet who won the Marathon at last year’s 11th World Athletics Championships in Osaka is lucky to be alive after being attacked by the same machete wielding gang.

While the latest terrors were being reported last night on TV we received the following heart rending SMS message from our friend of the last year or so:

"Hi Alan and your family, it is me John Kimaiyo in Kenya. We really need your prayers. Kenya in war after wrong election. I lost my cousin brother Luka Sang ... Pray for us."

What can we do but hope and pray that talks between the opposing forces will result in things returning to normal, thus sparing John and all the other ordinary citizens of Kenya.   


24 Jan 2008

Past Belgrave athletes in the frame as Welsh Athletics unveil top coaches

Welsh Athletics have just named three coaches who have been tasked with developing talent over the years ahead. Top scalp is that of Bengt-Eric Blomkvist the Swedish national coach renowned for overseeing the world class performances of Sweden’s Susanne and Jenny Kallur. Backing him will be Past Belgrave top athletes Darryl Maynard (middle distance) and Nigel Bevan (throws).

Darryl Maynard competed 26 times in BAL matches for Belgrave accumulating 275 points in the process to put him in 21st spot on our all-time rankings. He competed in the 400, 800, occasional 1500 and the long relays and his last BAL outing for Belgrave was on July 5th 1997 at Solihull where in a Div 1 match he ran 48.2 for the 400 and was part of a long relay squad which comprised also Noel Levy, Chris Rawlinson and Phil Goedluck. Darryl was one of the team's big extrovert characters and his exploits are still remembered with amusement by the team management.

Nigel Bevan also competed in 26 BAL matches for Belgrave and was a contemporary of Darryl. His javelin prowess was legendary and with a best of 81.70m in 1992 he ranked among the best in the world, thwarted only by the incredible presence of Backley and Hill in their world best prime. Nonetheless Nigel finished 4th in the World Student Games and represented Wales in the Vancouver Commonwealth Games. Nigel accumulated 361 points in BAL for Belgrave and still ranks 13th on the list of all time greats. His last match in Belgrave colours was at Kingsmeadow on 17th August 1996 where he finished 3rd with 70.88m.

We wish both Darryl and Nigel all success in their new appointments based in Cardiff.


24 Jan 2008

Coggie's crew grows

News from New Zealand is that our old harrier chum Paul Coughlan and wife Bronwyn are expecting a third child. Coggie is also keen to track down one time Belgravian Ray Foley.  We know that Ray headed for Yorkshire and heard that he was going to join Leeds City - has anyone heard from him lately.

21 Jan 2008

Phillips Idowu in the best form of his career

European indoor triple jump champion Phillips Idowu declared himself to be in the best form of his career after he bettered his own South of England Indoor Championships record by 58 centimetres on Sunday.

Competing at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre that has been his training base since he recovered from a back injury that restricted him to sixth place at last summer's World Championships, Idowu opened with a leap of 16.96metres, adding 48cms to the record he set 12 months ago.

He improved to 17.06m, had two marginal fouls that would have added another 30cm and said: "I don't think I have ever felt this good ever. The stuff I have been doing in training is the best work I have done.

"I was a little bit nervous last night because you never know how the first competition will go. Now I know I can jump 17m easily.

"Consistently I was hopping and stepping 12 metres. I usually don't get close to that before the summer."

The 29-year-old will now plan a competitive winter programme with coach John Herbert and refuses to commit himself to competing at the World Indoors in Valencia in March.

BT Yahoo


10 Jan 2008

Bels back in the "Rosenheim" for 2008

Belgrave Harriers have accepted an invitation to take part in the Eastern Division of the Rosenheim League in 2008.

On six Wednesday evenings throughout May, June and July we will be taking part in track & field matches at Battersea Park, Croydon Arena, Wimbledon Park and Tooting - with the possibility of reaching the final at Tooting in August. Opposing teams in our division will be Croydon Harriers, Hercules Wimbledon AC, Herne Hill Harriers, South London Harriers, Serpentine Runners and Striders of Croydon.

Competition is available for men and women. All we need now is a team manager a timekeeper a track judge and a few field judges.

See the 2008 fixture list for full details.


10 Jan 2008

... and also in the Men's & Women's Southern League

In 2007 the men entered the Southern League as a joint team with Sutton & District AC but next summer we will be putting out a pure Belgrave team as we take our place in Division Four (North). Matches will be at Battersea, Thurrock, Battersea again (a home match on June 28th), Watford and Stevenage.

Some of the dates will clash with British League fixtures and on these occasions we'll need every available person lending a hand to make sure that we fulfil our obligations by providing judges ... and of course athletes.

We have also entered the Women's Southern League where we'll take part in Division Two of the Seniors only competition.  Again help will be required to make sure that things go well.

So ... plenty of competition, then, in 2008, for those who don't quite make the BAL and UKWAL squads.


9 Jan 2008

Belgrave Harriers vs Thames Hare & Hounds at Darts

Whatever happens on the race course during the day (the South of England Cross Country Championship will be contested at Parliament Hill during the afternoon) the evening of Saturday 26 January will see the vanquished given a chance to seek revenge.

At Belgrave Hall the Belgrave Harriers and the Thames Hare & Hounds will compete at darts for possession of The Flyder Cup with the first arrows being flighted at 7:45pm.

Food will be available - bring your own drink.

Rules are as follows:

1. Hopefully twelve bodies per team with at least a couple of women in each team.

2. Twelve singles matches, 301 down, finishing on a double.

3. Six doubles matches (reserves allowed to step in to ensure that they get a game) finishing on a double.

4. To finish - one match of 1001 down (with twelve or more players from each team to take part) finishing on a double.

On Sunday morning there will be a run around Richmond Park starting from Robin Hood Gate at 10am.


29 Dec 2007

George Beecham M.B.E.

Long Distance walker, George Beecham, has achieved many honours since joining the Club almost 60 years ago but none matches the MBE, awarded by the Queen, for services to the community of Canvey Island.

George was a leading member of Championship teams on many occasions from the 1950s to 70s.  He gained a GB vest in 1957 at 50 kms and completed many trips to Brighton in addition to having a unique record in the Nijmegen Shield race over 20 miles which the Club won 8 years in succession with George a member of every team.

He is also a Centurion having walked 100 miles in 24 hours on more than one occasion.  He, and wife Marlene, moved to Canvey Island back in the 1950s and was soon involved in a number of local activities.  Raising money for charities and serving on the Sport's Council still takes up much of his time.  He combines sport with support by actively helping victims of heart problems by leading weekly walks.

On a wider front he has, for many years, walked the London Marathon and the Nijmegen Marches in Holland to raise money for charities including the RNLI, Asthma and Heart research.  He helped form, and still coaches, Point Clear Athletic Club, one early member being Dean Macey.

It is typical of George that he helps organise a 5 mile race annually and on the day he assists by putting up the finish funnel, setting out notices, walking the course, all the 5 miles, to check, and sweep if necessary, the pathway then returning to race the course!

Such service deserves recognition and we congratulate George on his award - be warned though George that corgis do not need that much exercise.



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