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Newsletter

HJ NEWS – 21ST APRIL 2021

Cheap AND Cheerful

Question: What costs 2.74 pence and is really good for you? 

Answer: A day’s membership to your friendly neighbourhood Horsham Joggers. 

That’s value, right? Being part of the HJ community costs just £10 annually as prices have been frozen once more in light of all the restrictions. And it’s only £20 for a family membership! Renewals were due on April 1st this year and we do have a few stragglers off the back of the main pack who we don’t want recording a DNF (Did Not Finance). 

So, to avoid a serious roughing-up at the hands of the club treasurer, just go to the website, log in, choose ‘subscriptions’ from the Member Zone drop down menu and fork it over. 

Bosh. Simple as that. 

Changing Track

Now, before your correspondent joined Horsham Joggers, his favourite track involving a Nigel was this absolute banger from XTC. But in time it came to be supplanted by the Thursday evening track sessions at BBH. The warm up laps. The dynamic stretches. The sense of anticipation as the paper goes on the post. Will it be 6 X 800m or 8 x 600m? Or what about 20 x 200m sprints (tough, tough, tough)? Or the Pyramids (weirdly, my favourite)? 

While track has recently returned to the calendar, it has done so without the presence of Coach Nigel who is stepping down from the coaching duties he has been fulfilling since 2009. So a big shout out to Nigel for all the help he has given to people over the years. It has no doubt been an introduction to the club for many people. 

In the near term, track sessions will be self-coached. New coaches and perhaps a few tweaks will appear in time. One thing it is important that everyone understands is that track sessions are by no means the exclusive preserve of super fast runners. Everyone should feel encouraged to give it a go. While numbers remain controlled, capacity is being increased. So spread the word!

Which brings us to…

The rules as we emerge from lockdown are changing, but not quickly. For the foreseeable future we must continue with the booking system for Tuesday and Thursday nights to ensure we are operating in a ‘covid-safe’ environment, although this is is continually under review. In the meantime the Committee would like to thank all the run leaders who are stepping forward to take Tuesday groups, and all the people working extremely hard in the background to make any kind of activity possible.

#RunAndTalk

We all hear often about the link between running (and exercise in general) and improved and maintained mental health so we’re pleased to announce that the first Tuesday of every month will feature dedicated Run and Talk groups. These are for anyone to join who fancies a bit of a chat or some friendly support for whatever reason. Paces can be varied to accommodate all comers and there’s the opportunity to have a warm drink and a continued conversation. As always, everyone is welcome. 

Meanwhile the HJ Run and Talk team is planning an event in Horsham Park on May 29th. Keep an eye out for more details nearer the time. 

Back in the race!

Races are back on and the Joggers are right in the mix. On April 5th, six members of Horsham Joggers took part in the PB5K, which is part of the Super-Fast winter race series at Ardingly Showground. There were 5 x 5k races setting of in waves a few seconds apart.

Honorable mentions to: Pete O’Connell 00:18:36 (1st M60), Stuart Adesilu 00:18:48, Steve Wright 00:18:50, Matt Cooper 00:19:04, Andrew Puttick 00:19:14, and Miranda Huisman 00:22:07

Five days later, five intrepid Joggers took part in the UK Sporting Events New Forest races. They were all held in a Covid secure environment and were well organised as they wound through the trails of the New Forest near Christchurch. 

In the half marathon event Philip Liberman was first Jogger home in 1.48.10, followed by Rob Jochimsen 1.58.12, Richard Cherriman 2.01.57, and Derek Buckman 2.02.01. In the 14K event Julie Jochimsen ran strongly to finish in 1.29.24.

On April 11th Chris Yeomans & Paul Burgess competed in The Kent Spring Marathon, a two lap marathon on an undulating course of quiet, wide lanes outside Ashford in Kent – plus a short section on the Pilgrims Way. Chris crossed the line at 03:53:47, while Paul clocked 04:56:25.

This weekend just past we had three HJers in the South Downs Way 50-mile race.  SDW50 starts in Worthing and finishes in Eastbourne. Runners start by negotiating six miles of chalk footpaths and bridleways, climbing up to join the south downs way at Chanctonbury ring. The remainder of the course is identical to the final 44 miles of the SDW100 and remains on the SDW until the final turn off – bringing runners out to the finish with a lap of the track at Eastbourne. Congratulations to James Tombs (08:46:25), Ian Moore (10:09:42), and Emma Whyman (12:09:41).

On the same day Geri Smith and Phyl Weston competed in the Hurtwood 50k, which starts in Dorking and follows the Greensand Way into the Surrey Hills. This is essentially an out and back, with a loop of the Greensand Way before starting the return journey. The undulating course takes you up and over Leith Hill, Holmbury Hill, and Pitch Hill on a well-marked, easy to follow trail through the woodlands, ridgeways and valleys of this area that is collectively known (perhaps appropriately) as The Hurtwood. Congratulations to Geri (06:37:41) & Phyl (07:06:36)

Great work everyone!

If you’d like a mention, please remember to send in any race photos or reports to info@horshamjoggers.co.uk

And there’s more to come…

If you want to get back in the race, then why not check out one of these:

25 APR, SUN

Running GP at Goodwood 5k, 10k, HM, 20 miles, Full Marathon races

1 MAY, SAT

Mid-Sussex Virtual Half Marathon Wkd

2 MAY, SUN

Mid-Sussex Virtual Half Marathon Wkd

3 MAY, MON

Mid-Sussex Virtual Half Marathon Wkd

9 MAY, SUN

Dunsfold Jigsaw Run 10k

15 MAY, SAT

Eastbourne Trackstar Marathon and Half

23 MAY, SUN

Three Forts Marathon

Something important to (SDW100) relay…  

South Downs Way Relay Saturday 3rd July 2021

With less than three months to go until the running of this great event we are still looking for two or three more members for our Vets squad.  If you like the sound of a superb day out, running three legs of the South Downs Way as part of a relay team, and getting chauffeured between stops in the team bus with all the fun and camaraderie that goes with it, please drop me a line at johnw@ohob.co.uk. You won’t regret it.  You will need to be confident of running at or under an 8:30 per mile pace over hilly terrain and a total of 15 to 18 miles over the whole day.  Don’t let those numbers put you off it really is the best running event of the year. We could also do with a driver so if any former participants familiar with the fun would like to step forward you will be welcomed.

And Finally…

The AGM this year is booked for August 13th. More information is coming down the road. 

Stay safe, keep logging those miles, and enjoy your running, everyone!

The HJ Committee will next be meeting on Wednesday 12th May, if you have any questions, or anything you would like us to discuss, please let us know.

Our thanks to Mike Hibberd for another great news round-up!

Newsletter

HJ NEWS! – 13TH MARCH 2021

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The Finish Line’s In Sight

As we all know, there’s nothing quite like that feeling you get when the finish line comes into view. From an ultramarathon (presumably!) all the way down to a Parkrun when a PB’s in the offing, the sight of the finish unlocks that last little reserve of endurance and energy which you trade for the imminent reward of completion.

And so it is with Lockdown. 

At last week’s HJ committee meeting the return to HJ activities was top of the list for discussion. Government guidelines allow for groups of six people to gather outside from March 29 which, so the HJ Tuesday runs will resume the very next day. They’ll be limited to six people (one leader and five in the pack) and there will be an online booking system in place. More details to come on the booking protocols, and booking will open on Sunday March 28th. Expect it to be like trying to get tickets for Glastonbury. 100 open browser tabs at the ready! 

No word on track sessions or long Sunday runs just yet but expect an update in the coming weeks.  

Say what, now?

Here’s some information on the AGM which will be enjoyed by any fans of Joseph Heller’s ‘Catch 22’. 

Rule 10 of the HJ Club provides that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) “shall be held during the month of April”.  During unprecedented times, the AGM in 2020 was held virtually on 30 September.  Rather than hold a virtual meeting next month, as per Rule 10, the Committee decided at their last meeting to postpone the 2021 AGM to later this year, when we are likely to be able to meet up and socialise together.  Depending on the availability of the Horsham Sports & Cricket Club, the plan is to hold the 2021 AGM in August.  You will, of course, be given 21 days’ notice of the meeting date once confirmed, pursuant to the rules!

Breaking our own Rule 10 for two consecutive years strongly suggests the need to make this rule more flexible.  Rule 13 provides that “no alteration or addition may be made to the Rules except by an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose.”  The Committee propose to amend Rule 10, for voting at the next AGM, such that it provides some flexibility, to deal with unforeseen circumstances. 

“An AGM shall be held during the month of April every year…”

will be amended to

“An AGM shall be held every year, in April unless the Committee decide to postpone for good reason(s) to a later month…”  

Pay up – or else…

It’s that time again, peeps. HJ Membership renewal for 2021/2022 is due on April 1st. As we have frozen membership fees this year at £10.00 / individual, and £20 / family, your HJ membership fees remain the best value spend you can possibly make. 

England Athletics have also frozen their membership for 2021/2022 at £15.00.

The easiest way to renew your membership is via the memberzone which can be found on the HJ website.

Quizzy Rascals, Quiz Team Aguilera, Let’s Get Quizzical, etc…

The HJ Quiz is one of the highlights of the Horsham social calendar and, while we cannot yet convene in person, we do have a Zoom-based pub quiz planned for all the family on Thursday 25th March at 7:00pm (until 8:15pm). Organiser Roger offers the tempting information that there will be prizes, although really it’s all about the glory. There will be 5 rounds, including Geography, Music and Film, with a running theme woven throughout. The Zoom details are below (and will be posted again a few days before), so make a note in your diaries! 

Meeting ID: 886 0986 3901

Passcode: 858619

South Downs Way Relay – Update

This just in from John Wilcox:

Organizers have decided to move the Douth Downs Way  Relay from Saturday June 5th to Saturday July 3rd to increase the chances of the event going ahead. A full refund will be given to any teams already entered who find they cannot participate on this date.

The deadline for entries is still Thursday 1st April. All other information and requirements on the invitation remain the same.

Horsham 10k – Update

Hopefully the weekend after the SDWR will see our very own club race go ahead on Sunday July 11th. The HJ Committee will be monitoring further announcements from the government and will make a final decision regarding the race after our April meeting, and not later than May 1st.

Club Marathon Places

The club are still awaiting a decision from the organisers of both the London and Brighton Marathons as to whether we will be allocated any club places, and how many might be made available. Once we have an update we will make an announcement to clarify the criteria for entering the ballot for these places.

Community Spirit

We’re always on the lookout for ways in which the club could make contributions to the local community. The HJ Run & Talk team are hoping to get some activities underway as lockdown recedes and the club is open to suggestions from everyone. If you have an idea, please share with us!

On my honour!

On that note, we are pleased to announce that we have two members who this year qualify for honorary membership (being over 65 and having been a paying member for a minimum of the previous ten years). 

There are apparently three existing HJHMs who have not yet confirmed their agreement for HJ to retain their personal details for a further four years. If they wish to remain members, they are asked to consent to their data being held. Hopefully you all know who you are!

Save money!

March 2021 https://www.sportsshoes.com/ club discount code is: HVSAJ8 With this running club promotion code, you enjoy 10% off and FREE standard delivery on all orders over £30, expires 02-04-21

If you encounter issues with this discount code please contact sportsshoes customer service dept on: 01274 530 530 Mon-Fri 8am-4pm

Also a reminder that HJ members qualify for a 10% discount at Up & Running, on presentation of their membership.

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Events Calendar:

March 25th HJ Pub Quiz

March 30th Tuesday runs restart!

April 1st Membership renewals due

April 25th Goodwood 5, 10k, HM, 20, Full M

May 1st – 3rd Mid-Sussex Virtual Half Marathon Wkd

May 2nd Three Forts Marathon

May 9th Dunsfold Jigsaw Run 10k

May 15th Eastbourne Trackstar Marathon and Half