THE VIEW THROUGH MY OLD EYES

Hello again and yes it is Christmas and of course the start of a new year and, just in case I forget, which I am assured is just a “senior moment”, let me wish you all and your families a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year. I hope it is one when you all get a PB and never have an injury to stop you running.

It seems strange that so much as happened during 2007 and yet I find it difficult to highlight any particular thing apart from maybe the departure of Alan Taylor to the other side of the world. At least with use of the internet, each and every one of us can keep in touch with him if they want to. There was, of course, the sad time with the passing away of Dave Clarke so prematurely and I have no doubt we will all think of him and his family at this particular time of the year. Has it really been a year since the amalgamation of Blackpool and Fylde and North Fylde and has it made any difference to us as a club in terms of competition? Well yes I think it has. The three clubs inter challenges have not happened this year. LSARR were due to host the relays but didn’t and we were down to do the Track and Field fun nigh, introduced the year before, but we didn’t. It just does not seem the same any more; we are now, in effect, the small club whilst BF&WAC are now a huge club. So what do we want to do about it, if anything? I suppose we could wait another year to see if anything happens or we could carry on the challenge without them or what about involving another smallish club to join in, instead of them? I look forward to your comments but not on the internet please. Lets keep this private for now as maybe the past year as just been a blip, and before you know it everything is back as it was, but I won’t hold my breath.

Something that as evolved this past 12 months is our involvement in fell running which, although not massively popular, it has seen some pretty big turnouts of members in a few select events. I suppose it all started with the Pennine Bridleway Relays and then the Fell Championships. If you then look at the number of members who took part in trail races, it all seems to be taking off quite spectacularly, culminating in our entering a team in the Rotherham Relays much to the delight of Reg Chapman. Reg happens to hail from there and still supports Rotherham football team. Is it just coincidence that on relay day they are at home and Reg as volunteered for the 2nd leg which gives him time to get to the match? They are doing well this year so we will forgive him this once.

In fact the club now actually organises a trail race the “Rudolf Red Nose” race which had its first outing last year on Christmas Eve and this year it is on the 22^nd December and with no entries on the day. I hope you all have your number and Santa suit ready.

I cannot leave the year alone without mentioning the Wesham 10K which once again was a full house a month before the race and what a great race it was with reasonably decent weather. A superb achievement of Wesham ladies and men winning both team events.

Many huge thank you’s to all those who marshalled and organised the race from start to finish. That is an awful lot of people, none of whom I will single out because without just one of them the whole event could have failed - so well done all of you and that includes the runners. Would you believe we had 70 Wesham entries? The day was not complete of course without the Dinner Dance and Presentation evening and this time I have to thank, on behalf of all the members of the club, two people, Celia Gregory and Derek Goodenough. They put the whole thing together and it was superb. The venue in Ribby Hall was excellent and I hope that we can secure it for the 2009 event if, of course, we can all afford it by then. We can all start saving early for it like you have all been doing for next years at the Euston in Fleetwood - haven’t you?

So what is coming up in the next few months of 2008? We have, of course, the cross country including the Lancashire (5/1/08 Witton Park), Northerns (26/1/08 Roundhey Park. Leeds) and National (23/2/08 Alton Towers) Championships. Dave Young and Yvonne Russell our two captains will keep you fully informed about all these events. There is also the Pennine Bridleway relays in early February and once again Derek Buckley is the one to contact asap on 01253 737959. Then of course there is the Coniston 14 weekend 4^th, 5th and 6^th April with Peter and Kirsty Waywell taking on the responsibility of arranging the accommodation. So, if you have not contacted them already please do it now or all the rooms will have gone!

You may or may not have realised that already the Club and Age Related championships have started but do not worry; there are plenty of chances to get involved as races do go on throughout the year. Details of them appear inside this magazine along with the rules applying to each championship. I suppose I must mention that the Inter Club series starts on the 2^nd April at Blackpool’. Not much of a break as usual and an early warning, the first race this year starts at 19:15hrs (7.15pm).

A different date this year for the St Annes 10 miler which is another race where WRR are joint organisers. This takes place on the 16th March and a new start time of 1100 hours. This race, like the Rudolf, as ‘no entries on the day’ so get entered while it’s fresh in your mind and no last minute phone calls to me please.

Right that’s the racing/running calendar dealt with so let’s deal with the other most important club event which is the AGM. This takes place at the school on Monday, 11^th February and it is important that you attend if at all possible as decisions, which will affect you, will be discussed and decided on at the meeting. I have said it before, and I will say it again, it is the member’s club and this is the time when not only do you appoint a committee to run it, you also tell them how you want it run and how much you are going to give them to do it . More details about the meeting are elsewhere in this magazine and also on the website.

Can I use this article to just thank those who continue to sponsor this magazine by placing adverts in it which hopefully the members and their friends will find useful and support the advertisers when they need to use the services that are offered. One sponsor who as done us proud just recently is John Rudd at Sweatshop who assisted us financially with the race and also got Mizuno to provide some race equipment and spot prizes. John tells me they are considering a bigger involvement next year. He, and all the members of his staff, are extremely helpful when you go in the shop and, of course, they give you a discount as long as you let them know you are a member of the club. So, why not make sure you try all the sponsors out when you go looking for presents this Christmas.

I remember wishing you all the best at the beginning of this article but in the last Mag I said that we had no long term injuries. Well did I get my hand slapped by so many people? I did of course forget Mick Edge, (Captain Jack…that’s blown whatever anonymity he had), who has been out for some time now. However his op is due in December and he hopes to be running again by the time we get to Coniston. I am sure I can wish him good luck on behalf of you all and, ‘god willing’, see him back helping out like he has done since he was first injured, in the very near future. Two other people who we have not seen for a while are Mike Owen and Barry Peatfield so perhaps those amongst you who may see or speak to either of them, could remind them that we are all thinking of them and hope to see them back soon.

Written by: Dave Waywell

Submitted: 7^th December 2007

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor