Committee activity

We met again on Wednesday 10^th April and discussed club finances, membership, MemberZone orders and social media as well as the AGM, Horsham 10k and Horsham Round 35^th celebrations. More on some of this later. We agreed to meet again on 29^th May.

The result round up

We get some lovely feedback on this regular feature. It’s always good to see who’s done what and when. Read all about it HERE. The result roundup is compiled mainly from press reports by Iain Campbell and are still looking for someone new to take on the job when Iain becomes treasurer. It involves scanning the weekend activity of team hj, collecting results, writing a report with a few photos and issuing them to meet the local press deadlines on a Monday/Tuesday each week. Please CONTACT US if you want to get involved.

Membership renewals reminder

If you haven’t already paid, your annual subs are now overdue! We have managed to keep the individual membership fees at an incredibly low £10 for yet another year! The best way to renew is via the MemberZone using PayPal or Card. Remember, if you joined after 1^st Jan 2019 then your membership carries through to 31^st March 2020.

It’s party time!

With the spring marathons comes the traditional pasta party! Come and celebrate your marathon achievement at our Pasta Party at Prezzo in the Carfax at 19:30hrs Saturday 11th May. Max 25 persons so replies to James Munden by email: munden888@yahoo.co.uk by 30th April 2019 latest. Don’t forget to wear your medals!

Summer Pub Runs

Our thanks go to Mike De Frateschi for organising some superb winter head torch runs throughout the dark months. We will soon hand over to the Summer Pub Run schedule which start on 25^th April. The 2019 schedule can be found HERE

AGM

This will be held at 8.30pm on Tuesday 30^th April 2019 after the usual 7pm group running which will all start and finish from Horsham Sports Club, Cricketfield Road, Horsham, RH12 1TE and we would like to see as many of you there as possible. There will be no organised club run from The Bridge on this evening.

Itchingfield Time Trials

John Dykes has kindly agreed to continue organising these events, with the help of John Mac and Steve W. If you haven’t tried it before; you race against yourself around a challenging 5k route with the aim of making consecutive improvement over 3 of the 4 time trials. Parking is limited so either jog from The Bridge or car share. Dates: 14^th May@7.30pm, 11^th June@7.30pm, 9^th July@7.30pm, 3^rd Sept@7pm. We will need someone to take the race clock and some warning signs to and from the 1^st trial. Please CONTACT US if you can help.

Southdowns Way Relay

Team organiser, John Wilcox now has two teams of 6 for the 100 mile Southdowns Way relay on Saturday 1^st June 2019 and, as well as the “A” team, we also have a ladies team for the 2^nd time in recent years! However, we could do with a reserve on the ladies team and there are spaces for driver/navigator as well. To read all about it and express an interest, please click HERE for details.

Horsham 10k Volunteers

Plans are well underway for our annual 10k on Sunday 2^nd June this year. We are aware that other local races clash with this revised fixture, so we kindly ask that members consider keeping this date free to volunteer on the day, instead of racing elsewhere. Remember that all volunteers will score a credit towards fulfilling the BM and LM ballot criteria for 2020! Watch this space and our Social Media platforms for more details on how to volunteer.

Club kit SALE – final clearance

Steve Entecott still has some new “old” stock! If you want to purchase any of the following items, please speak to Steve directly and pay him £10 (cash only) per item.

Men’s Vests – size small x 1
Men’s Vests – size XL x 1
Ladies T-Shirts – size large x 1

2019 Challenge Trophy Races

May is just around the corner so the next CT race is looming! Remember to wear club kit if you want to win the silverware!

10mile Challenge – Haywards Heath 10 miles (5^th May)

WSFRL Challenge – Hove Hornets Stinger (14^th July)

Half marathon Challenge – Run Reigate (15^th Sept)

Horsham Round organiser

This year will be our 35^th anniversary celebration and we are still looking for a willing volunteer to organise what is now a well set out plan for the annual Horsham Round on 26^th August. Please CONTACT US  for more information.

West Sussex Fun Run League

Now that the weather is getting warmer, why not see some of our countryside by taking part in the WSFRL races. Join us on Easter Monday for the Lewes 10K followed by Portslade Hedgehoppers (5 mile), Gloria’s Goodwood (5 mile), and the ever popular Beach Run at Littlehampton which finishes with Fish and Chips! All these races are in May. Entries can be made through the HJ club members zone shop – cost £3.00 per race or see me on club nights. I hope to see you there. Jenny Boyd, WSFRL Rep

2019 FIXTURES LIST

Dates for your diary

14^th Apr – Brighton Marathon/10k

22^nd Apr – Lewes Easter Monday races (WSFRL)

28^th Apr – London Marathon

28^th Apr – Angmering Bluebell 10k

30^th Apr  – hj AGM

4^th May – East Grinstead 10m (Mid-Sussex Weekend Marathon)

5^th May – Three Forts Challenge

5^th May – Haywards Heath 10m (Challenge Trophy and Mid-Sussex Weekend Marathon)

6^th May – Burgess Hill 10k (Mid-Sussex Weekend Marathon)

11^th May – Arun River Marathon

12^th May – Portslade Hedgehoppers (WSFRL)

12^th May – Run Gatwick Half Marathon

12^th May – Hastings 5 mile (SGP)

14^th May – hj Itchingfield Time Trial no.1

15^th May – Gloria’s Goodwood (WSFRL)

19^th May – Bognor prom 10k

19^th May – Run Wisborough 5/10k

22^nd May – Beach Run (WSFRL)

26^th May – Rye 10m (SGP)

1^st June – Southdowns Way 100mile relay

2^nd June – Horsham 10k (SGP)

Don’t forget; if you’ve got something worthy of the newsletter then please let us know!

Committee activity

We met again on Wednesday 27^th February with 3 guests in attendance and discussed club finances, membership, forthcoming events, MemberZone orders and social media as well as nominations for jogger, newcomer and volunteer of the year, twinning trip and EA Run & Talk initiative. More on some of this later. We agreed to meet again on 10^th April.

The result round up

Your regular fix of who has been doing what and when. Read all about it HERE. The result roundup is compiled mainly from press reports by Iain Campbell, who will soon be standing down from this role. We thank him for his continued contribution to the club and are now looking for someone new to take on the job. It involves scanning the weekend activity of team hj, collecting results, writing a report with a few photos and issuing them to meet the local press deadlines on a Monday/Tuesday each week. Please CONTACT US if you want to get involved.

Nominations for Jogger/Newcomer/Volunteer of the year

Nominations have now closed for your Jogger, Newcomer and Volunteer of the year. Given the incredible uptake and engagement with this in 2018, we’ve been disappointed to see a sharp decline in nominations this time around. However, the voting window will open on 4^th March for you to vote for your winner (closes 16^th March). Just login to the MemberZone and you can vote via the links available to you. The committee will review engagement with this and possibly make some changes next year to increase interest.

Message from Pete O’Connell.

Spring is here and there are a couple of dates for Sussex races. Saturday April 6th – the Sussex Relays at Christ hospital open to all paid up first claim HJ members. Sunday June 2nd – Dorking 10 mile – this is a British Masters championship and there will be teams and individuals in 5year age categories from M35, W35 upwards. To qualify you have to be paid up member of a vets club such as Southern Counties Veterans Athletic Club (SCVAC) – membership is £20. Any queries please contact Pete O’Connell – purpledrummer@sky.com

Southdowns Way Relay

Team organiser, John Wilcox is now looking for two teams for the 100 mile Southdowns Way relay on Saturday 1^st June 2019 and, given the male domination of this event last year, he really wants to put forward a ladies team! To read all about it and express an interest, please click HERE for details.

AGM – Save the date!

This will be held at 8.30pm on Tuesday 30^th April 2019 after the usual 7pm group running which will all start and finish from Horsham Sports Club, Cricketfield Road, Horsham, RH12 1TE.

Club Treasurer

We are delighted to announce that Iain Campbell has offered to take over from Fiona as club treasurer. Iain has been a member of hj since 1991 and is and regular club runner and experienced distance competitor. In recent years he has been producing the weekly race reports on a Monday to meet tight press print deadlines. We wish Iain all the best in his new role.

Accounts Auditor

There’s more good news in that Gary Tomlinson has agreed to review the club accounts for 2018 in preparation for the AGM in April. Again, huge thanks to Gary for his help. We really can’t run this club without offers of help from our members.

Committee Members

At the AGM we ask you to re-elect your committee members and we also invite new people to join us. This year we will have some vacancies to fill so if you want to have a voice and influence the direction of your club, why not join us. We meet every 6 weeks and invite members to sit on the committee and grow into a role organically where you think your talents can be best used. Please CONTACT US if you need more information.

Membership renewals 1^st April

It’s almost that time when your annual subs will be due and we have managed to keep the individual membership fees at an incredibly low £10 for yet another year! The only way to renew is via the MemberZone using PayPal or Card. Remember, if you joined after 1^st Jan 2019 then your membership carries through to 31^st March 2020.

Marathon minibuses

We’re sorry to announce that the London Marathon bus will no longer be available. The logistics of getting around London on Marathon day have become too complicated and uptake from runners has dwindled in recent years. Please arrange car sharing with those volunteering on Blackheath (where it’s free to park) or to go by train. However, we are still hoping to offer a minibus to and from the Brighton Marathon on 14^th April if we can find a willing driver! Any member can drive the bus as long as they have category D1 on their driving licence. Please CONTACT US for more information.

It’s party time!

With the spring marathons comes the traditional pasta party! James Munden will be putting plans in place for a celebration of your achievements on Saturday 11^th May. Watch this space and our social media channels for more news.

Club kit SALE!

Steve Entecott has been a busy bunny recently and while moving house he has found some more new “old” stock in the attic! If you want to purchase any of the following items, please speak to Steve directly and pay him £10 (cash only) per item.

Men’s Vests – size small x 1
Men’s Vests – XL x 2
Ladies T-Shirts – size small x 2
Ladies T-Shirts – size medium x 1

Twinning Update

Dave Maurice is currently doing some research on a potential trip to TG Lage in May 2020. For now, he’d like to know if there would be some interest in this? Click HERE for details.

Job Opportunity

Our friends at Up & Running in Horsham are looking for new staff. Mike writes: We are currently looking for some part time staff for the shop. The work will include selling and till operation with full training provided. Whilst weekday work is available ideally the person(s) will be available to work on Saturday. Contact horsham@up&running.co.uk for more details.

West Sussex Fun Run League
Ed – Our Jenny wants to let you know about the beautiful WSFRL racesJoggers, why not join in the friendship of the WSFRL races. You will experience the joy of running in our beautiful county, and meet lots of friendly folk from other clubs, share tea/cake/beer/burgers/fish and chips – plus lots of encouragement. Why not give it a try? You will not be disappointed. Next race is on Easter Monday, 22nd of April – The Lewes 10K – start 11:15am.
I hope to see you there.
Your Club Rep
Jenny Boyd

Pip’s proud day

Ed – Club member, Pip Mortimer tells us about her 2018 marathon experience and unexpected award!

I was asked to run the VMLM in 2018 as the only runner for The Benevolent – The Drinks Industry Charity.  Having worked in the wine trade for the past twenty years I could only say ‘yes’. The day was hot, my nerves were high and my hair was purple. A truly mind-blowing experience that saw me pass through every gauntlet of emotion.  I met so many amazing people over the 26.2 miles, including someone dressed as a dinosaur, firefighters from Grenfell and a guy running carrying a bicycle!  It took me six hours, five minutes and four seconds to cross the finish line and I ended up raising over £6,000 for my charity. The nomination came as a huge surprise.  The award was for raising the profile of The Benevolent to a wider audience.  Obviously, the purple hair swung it! However, I would have never been able to get to the start line, let alone the finish without the help; support and training of Horsham Joggers. From the gruelling planned long runs on a Sunday morning as I watched my mileage creep up from around 6 miles to 21; to the support of the other runners on a Tuesday evening and the fun (?) of Fiona and Claire’s hill and strength training on a Thursday, the support, advice and encouragement was top class. I also met some amazing people and made some fantastic friends. So a massive thank you to everyone; this is as much HJ’s award as it is mine! Pip.

2019 Challenge Trophy Races

One race has now been run so we look forward to race two in May. Qualifying criteria remains the same; you must be a paid up member at the time of each race and you MUST BE WEARING CLUB KIT to qualify for an award. If you’re not listed as a Horsham Jogger, please let us know so that we can include you in the results. As these are races and not a time trials, times are recorded and prizes awarded on your GUN TIME, so sharpen your elbows and get up the front at the start!

10mile Challenge – Haywards Heath 10 miles (5^th May)

WSFRL Challenge – Hove Hornets Stinger (14^th July)

Half marathon Challenge – Run Reigate (15^th Sept)

Mental Health Champions

Mark Aylmore has kindly offered to become our Mental Health Champion in conjunction with UKA’s Run & Talk initiative. He will soon be finding out more about the role and how to develop it within the club. Watch this space and our social media channels for more news and appeals for help to support Mark in growing this.

Horsham Round organiser

We are delighted for James and Becky Munden who are expecting their 2^nd child in August 2019. Unfortunately this means that James can no longer commit to the Horsham Round and so we will be looking for a willing volunteer to organise what is now a well set out plan for the annual Horsham Round on 26^th August. Please CONTACT US for more information.

Dates for your diary

3^rd Mar – Eastbourne Half

3^rd Mar – Steyning Stinger Half and Marathon

3^rd Mar – Leith Hill Half, Dorking

10^th Mar – West Worthing 5&10k

10^th Mar – Surrey Half, Woking

17^th Mar – Balcombe Bull Run

23^rd Mar – Kelly’s Clandon Park 10k

24^th Mar – Hastings Half Marathon (SGP)

24^th Mar – Reigate Priory 5/10k

31^st Mar – Mel’s Milers 10k

31^st Mar – Cranleigh 15/21m

7^th Apr – Lancing 10k

14^th Apr – Brighton Marathon/10k

22^nd Apr – Lewes Easter Monday races (WSFRL)

28^th Apr – London Marathon

Don’t forget; if you’ve got something worthy of the newsletter then please let us know!

Ed – Happy New Year y’all! We’ve got a fair bit to cover so lets crack on………..

Committee activity

After a short break for the festive season, we met on Wednesday 9^th January and discussed the usual club finances, membership, forthcoming events, MemberZone orders and social media hits as well as old kit stock, SGP and WSFRL results, nominations for jogger, newcomer and volunteer of the year, new arrangements at The Bridge, Horsham 10k plans and our 35^th anniversary year! More on some of this later. We agreed to meet again on 27^th February. Just a reminder that anyone can attend a committee meeting as a guest, either to observe or to raise a concern. Just CONTACT US to get involved in the next meeting.

The result round up

A quieter period in the run up to Christmas but still some amazing performance by team hj. Read all about it HERE. The result roundup is compiled mainly from press reports by Iain Campbell and we thank him for his continued contribution to the club.

Sussex Masters Cross Country Championship

Entries are open for this, taking place at Coombe Farm, Lancing, BN15 0RS, on Saturday, 19^th January. If anyone is interested in being part of the hj team then please email Pete O’Connor at: purpledrummer@sky.com

Club Treasurer

Following Fiona’s open letter in the last edition of this newsletter, sadly no one has stepped forward to take on the role of treasurer, so we will need to find a new one before the next AGM… could this be you? You don’t need to be a qualified accountant, but you do need to make prompt payments and able to drive a fairly straight forward spreadsheet.  There’s still time for a handover period, with plenty of time to ask questions and get comfortable with the role before you have to go solo. If you’d like to know more, please have a word with Fiona or any of the committee members.

Accounts Auditor

Following on from the appeal above, we also need someone to audit the club accounts in preparation for the next AGM. You don’t need to be qualified, just good at following a trail of invoices/payments/receipts etc for all club transactions recorded on a simple spreadsheet. This can be done over a period of days as and when you can. Please CONTACT US if you can help.

Spring Marathon Training

Starting at 9am (8am from 3^rd Feb onwards!) these training runs are now 3 weeks into the 16 week schedule but James Munden is still looking for a few more volunteers to organise and support the runners. Please check the schedule HERE and offer your support by CONTACTING US. We have hundreds of routes saved and can support you with water containers, cups etc.

Nominations for Jogger/Newcomer/Volunteer of the year

As a new year starts, it is time to look back over the past year and think about who is your Jogger (JOY) / Newcomer (NOY) / Volunteer (VOY) of 2018.

JOY can be for any reason which makes a current member stand out in your eyes.

NOY will be those newcomers who joined between 1st Jan and 31st Dec 2018.

VOY may be those individuals who aren’t necessary regular runners (if at all) but are always supporting the club and getting involved.

Please CONTACT US with a brief description why you believe they should be considered. Nominations will close at midnight on Sunday 3rd February. Voting will then open on Sunday 17th February and close on Sunday 10th March. Awards will be made at the AGM in April.

Quiz Night Winners!

Horsham Joggers had a great night at the Quiz evening back in November when 13 teams of hj’s and friends/family tested their knowledge against one another. Congratulations to our winners “And In Forth Place” followed by “Low Expectations” in 2nd place and “Old Gits And Others” in 3rd place. The most coveted award of the HJ wooden spoon went to “5 cakes to 10 cakes Improvers”. The most coveted award of the HJ wooden spoon went to “5 cakes to 10 cakes Improvers”.

Award winners!

At our recent awards night, over 50 members went home with some bling for their efforts in 2018. To read all about it, click HERE

The Bridge

We are now meeting in the undercroft at the new leisure centre just before 7pm on a Tuesday and 9am on Sunday. We can use the toilets and refreshments in the leisure centre at any time as before. Showers are available for a small charge, payable at reception.

2019 Challenge Trophy Races

Just a quick reminder of the CT races for 2019. Qualifying criteria remains the same; you must be a paid up member at the time of each race and you must be wearing club kit. As these are races and not a time trials, times are recorded and prizes awarded on your GUN TIME, so sharpen your elbows and get up the front at the start!

10k Challenge – Chichester Priory 10k (3^rd Feb)

10mile Challenge – Haywards Heath 10 miles (5^th May)

WSFRL Challenge – Hove Hornets Stinger (14^th July)

Half marathon Challenge – Run Reigate (15^th Sept)

Track Etiquette

It can be a daunting prospect taking to the track for the first time. Some of us haven’t stepped a foot on a running track since school days! Rest assured that you are all very welcome and the benefits of a weekly £2 interval or circuit training session on a track are well recognised. However, as a first timer you will need to be aware of some simple rules or, if you are a regular track user, you may need a gentle reminder! These are displayed on trackside and are available on our website HERE.

SGP & WSFRL races for 2019

While the WSFRL race calendar has already been published HERE, the SGP dates are not yet on their website. However, we have an advance page for our members handbook which can be found HERE. Horsham Joggers came 12^th in last years SGP team list with Paul Chantler and Geri Smith scoring the most points for our men and women respectively.

Mental Health Champions

We have had one member interested in becoming a Mental Health Champion in conjunction with UKA’s Run & Talk initiative. If you want to join in, please click HERE for details.

January SALE!

We have various bits of new “old” kit stock which we would like to offer members for just £10 per item! Please take a look at the list HERE and see Stephen Entecott or CONTACT US directly to purchase items. These are not for sale via the MemberZone and we can only take cash payments to simplify the process.

Dates for your diary

19^th Jan – Sussex Masters X-Country Champs

26^th Jan – Maverick Series 8, 15 or 23km, Amberley Museum

27^th Jan – Dark Star River Marathon, Shoreham

3^rd Feb – Chichester 10k (Club Challenge Trophy race)

10^th Feb – Worthing Half

24^th Feb – Brighton Half

2^nd Mar – Winter Nuts Challenge, Dorking

3^rd Mar – Eastbourne Half

3^rd Mar – Steyning Stinger Half and Marathon

3^rd Mar – Leith Hill Half, Dorking

Don’t forget; if you’ve got something worthy of the newsletter then please let us know!

Committee activity

We met again on Wednesday 7^th November and discussed the club finances, membership, forthcoming events, MemberZone orders and social media as well as The Gunpowder Trot, The Bridge arrangements, challenge trophy races, Twinning, SGP and West Sussex Fun Run League updates. We agreed to meet again on 9^th January. Just a reminder that anyone can attend a committee meeting as a guest, either to observe or to raise a concern. Just CONTACT US to get involved in the next meeting.

The result round up

It never ceases to amaze us how many races team hj attend during the 6 weeks between news updates. To read all about the amazing performances just CLICK HERE for the latest race result roundup, compiled mainly from press reports by Iain.

Gunpowder Trot Review

Following on from the superb foundations laid by Victoria Saunders over the few past years, Margaret Wadman and her core team burnt the midnight oil recently and the fruits of their labours were clear to see to all the competitors and volunteers who played their parts in this fabulous event. The Gunpowder Trot has become one of the key events on the WSFRL calendar and is widely praised by all who take part. Our congratulations go to Bradley Burke (Horsham Blue Star) and to Tara Shanahan (Arena 80) who crossed the line as first man and lady but also to the 439 runners who followed them and to the hi-viz heroes, without whom this day just doesn’t happen! Well done to you all. If you’ve got any feedback, please CONTACT US

Annual hj Quiz Night

Martyn Newton has written the questions and he’ll be ably assisted by James Munden, so we are almost ready for you on Friday 16^th November at Horsham Cricket and Sports Club at 7pm. 11 teams have already entered and we have space for about 14 in total. So be quick! Enter your team now to avoid disappointment! CONTACT US to register your team of max 6 players (min 2x hj members per team) and pay your £18 on the day (that’s just £3 per person by my GCSE in maths!!). You can BYO snacks and nibbles and the bar will be open for all liquid refreshments.

“The Bridge”

If you’ve been to a club training night recently or read the local press, you’ll have noticed that we are now meeting in the undercroft at the fabulous new leisure centre kindly “donated” to us by HDC using our council taxes. As with all new facilities, they are clearly protective and have implemented new security turnstiles to prevent unauthorised access. While we are free to use the toilets on the public side of the barriers at anytime, access for club members to the changing rooms, lockers and showers is currently restricted to a Thursday evening only. Rest assured that we are working hard on your behalf and are in communication with The Bridge operators and if necessary the owners (HDC) to ensure that we are welcomed and accommodated as we were with the previous leisure centre. Watch this space and our social media platforms for further updates.

2019 Challenge Trophy Races

The races chosen for 2018 have certainly rekindled interest for this inter-club championship with some surprising results and a varied bunch of winners this year! On Tuesday 11^th December we will be awarding the trophies straight after the annual winter handicap at Horsham Cricket and Sports Club. In order to retain that new found excitement, the committee has again changed things a bit for 2019. Qualifying criteria remains the same; you must be a paid up member at the time of each race and you must be wearing club kit. As these are races and not a time trials, times are recorded and prizes awarded on your GUN TIME, so sharpen your elbows and get up the front at the start!

10k Challenge – Chichester Priory 10k (3^rd Feb)

10mile Challenge – Haywards Heath 10 miles (5^th May)

WSFRL Challenge – Hove Hornets Stinger (Aug – TBC)

Half marathon Challenge – Run Reigate (15^th Sept)

A letter from the club treasurer

Dear All, I have been club treasurer for five years, and would like to hand on the role after the 2019 AGM.  So we will need a new treasurer… could this be you?  The most important part of the role is making sure that bills get paid on time, and keeping a record of payments into and out of the club’s accounts.  At year end, this all gets brought together into the financial statements which are presented to the members, to show them how the committee is a) using and b) looking after their money. You don’t need to be a qualified accountant (I’m not!) but you do need to be comfortable with numbers and able to drive a fairly straightforward spreadsheet.  There will be a reasonable handover period, with plenty of time to ask questions and get comfortable with the role before you have to go solo.  And you get to be part of the great group of people that make up the HJ Committee, who are appreciative, supportive and fun to work with! If you’d like to know more, please have a word with me or any of the committee members. Many thanks, Fiona.

Twinning UpdateA few members of TG Lage came to Horsham during the weekend of 29^th and 30^th September. Organised by Dave Maurice for many years, this twinning arrangement is still going strong and we hope soon to announce some news regarding a reciprocal visit next spring! The club members took part in a parkrun at Horsham on Saturday followed by the Barns Green Half marathon or 10k on the Saturday.

Horsham 10k

We will soon be kicking off the pre-event planning for the Horsham 10k which will be held on 2nd June 2019.  Due to the revised date, we will now be looking to recruit a race referee and junior run director.  Both roles are a key part of the event team and support will be provided to individuals during the run up to the event. We will lead you through the planning and run up so you will have experience on hand except on the day. Neither role is as daunting as it sounds – and both are rewarding in their own way.  Please CONTACT US for more info.

Norwegian Fjords

(Ed – Club member Crispin tells us about his Norwegian experience)

Encouraged by my son getting a 6 month placement at university in Norway I said I would go and visit him in Bergen, “when there is a good race on”!  A Google search for Bergen Marathon led me to the Knarvikmila, Great Fjord Run race weekend at the beginning of September. This was 3 races over 3 days totalling a marathon distance. I was reminded that they do the same in Haywards Heath in the spring …..but that to me is where the similarities between mid Sussex towns and beautiful Norwegian cities end ! All 3 races started from a sports stadium in the town of Knarvik, a 20 minute bus drive from the centre of Bergen. We began on Friday evening with an 11 K cross country race, starting on the running track, then 2 laps in the hills. It was very steep and seemed designed to knock the stuffing out of you for the next 2 days , but I finished in 1hr 17 min (96th out of 180 runners). On Saturday afternoon there was a 10K on road around the town and along the edge of the fjord. Like everything else over the weekend it was well organised and great fun. Despite legs getting tired and quite a hilly course I got round in 46 min (146th of 550 entries). Sunday morning  and time for the big one.  A scenic half marathon on roads crossing 3 suspension bridges over the fjords . A really good course, fantastic weather and views, made even better as I passed 2 runners late on who had beaten me the previous day! I was happy with 1hr 41min (76th of 293). Overall there were 64 people who ran all 3 races (we are officially Fjordvikings!) and I finished 32nd out of 50 men, and got my Viking warrior memento. Getting the courtesy bus from Bergen centre each day was a great way to make friends and I met about a dozen English runners, some from Ireland, a group from Sweden and others from Iceland, Hong Kong and Ethiopia & Eritrea. Most stayed in the main hotels in town, but everything in Norway is expensive and I found a cheap Air B&B. Next year my son will no longer be a student in Bergen and I won’t have a good excuse to go back, but the idea is tempting and I would recommend it to every Horsham Jogger. Entries are open for 2019 if you follow this link: https://www.knarvikmila.no/

Do you have what it takes to be a Champion?

England Athletics are looking to develop a network of Mental Health Champions throughout clubs in the area and a couple of the committee attended a workshop recently to see what it’s all about. We all run for different reasons and with a club of over 480 members, there will be scores of you who welcome the “head space” and sociability that running provides. If you’re compassionate and a good listener you could become hj’s Mental Health Champion! Basically a point of contact for those who might be struggling a bit more than most. The role is supported by EA and would be a great asset to the club. Have a look HERE for further details

Dates for your diary

16^th Nov – hj quiz night

18^th Nov – Brighton 10k

25^th Nov – Dunsfold Jigsaw 10k

25^th Nov – Crowborough 10k (SGP)

1^st Dec – Christmas Cracker 10k

9^th Dec – Mince Pie 10

11^th Dec – Winter handicap and award night

30^th Dec – Spring marathon training begins!

1^st Jan – Hangover 5 (WSFRL)

Don’t forget; if you’ve got something worthy of the newsletter then please let us know!

Committee activity

Your committee met on Wednesday 26^th September and discussed the usual club finances, membership and forthcoming events as well as Track training, club kit, Gunpowder Trot, challenge trophy results, SGP and West Sussex Fun Run League updates. We agreed to meet again on 7^th November. Not sure who your committee are? Well we’ve updated the committee page and personal profiles so why not have a look HERE

The result round up

Some amazing performances over the last six weeks. To read all about it CLICK HERE for the latest race result roundup compiled mainly from press reports by Iain Campbell.

Barns Green team photoIf you are reading this with an early morning cuppa and wondering what time to get to Barns Green today, we will be having a team photo (half and 10k) at the hj gazebo at 9.30am. Just look for the hj flags and all those marvellous maroon hoodies! A staggering 122 hj’s ran in both the half and 10k races last year so it would be great to see the same amount this time.

Goodwood Cross Country Relays

Pete O’Connell is looking to put teams together for this event on Saturday 13^th October. For more info CLICK HERE

Or CONTACT US to be put in touch with Pete.

Gunpowder Trot – 4^th November

Margaret Wadman is on course to deliver another fantastic fun run around the beautiful Denne Park and Chesworth Farm with all the key roles now filled. However, she still needs about 20 marshals for the course and more cake bakers! If you can help please use this Survey Monkey link to let her know: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GunpowderTrotForm

Headtorch Runs

These have now started again under the watchful eye of Mike de Frateschi and will continue until April 2019. Venue details are sent out weekly by Mike for those on the mailing list. Alternatively you can find them HERE and also subscribe to the list.

Keep Running 5 to 10k

Sue and Simon have done a superb job of delivering this course for all abilities with the help of a few regular helpers. The new runners recently graduated at the Chestnut Tree House 10k in Littlehampton on 9^th September (see result round-up) and most have gone on to become regular hj members running other races and also coming to regular hj sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evening. Congratulation everyone!

Annual hj Quiz Night

Martyn Newton has kindly stepped up to be quiz master this year. Provisionally Friday 16^th November at Horsham Cricket Club. Please save the date and watch this space for further details of how to register a team.

Challenge Trophy

The races have been run and the results collated by the wonderful Steve Wilson. All that remains is to present the awards on 11^th December, so watch this space, social media and your inbox (if you’ve won!) for more news.

Club coloursWe’ve streamlined the club kit purchasing process and it’s now in the very capable hands of Stephen Entecott. Just log into the MemberZone and place your order using PayPal or your credit/debit card. And remember, if you are entering ANY race as a Horsham Jogger, wear your club colours with pride!

Dates for your diary

30^th Sept – Windlesham House 4 (WSFRL)

30^th Sept – Barns Green Half Marathon and 10k

7^th Oct – Lewes Downland 10m (SGP)

7^th Oct – Heron Way 10k

7^th Oct – Bright 10

7^th Oct – Downslink Ultra

13^th Oct – Goodwood X-Country Relays

14^th Oct – Great Walstead 5 (WSFRL)

21^st Oct – Hove Prom 10k (SGP)

21^st Oct – Amsterdam Marathon

27^th Oct – Beechy Head Marathon/10k

28^th Oct – Steepdown Challenge (WSFRL)

4^th Nov – Gunpowder Trot (WSFRL)

16^th Nov – hj quiz night (provisional)

18^th Nov – Brighton 10k

Don’t forget; if you’ve got something worthy of the newsletter then please let us know!

Committee activity

Your committee met on Wednesday 15^th August and discussed the usual club finances, membership  and forthcoming events as well as the “Keep on Running” 5 to 10k course, Club kit, Horsham Round and Gunpowder Trot. We agreed to meet again on 26^th September.

The result round up

Despite the heat, so many of you have been out and about flying the hj flag over the past eight weeks. To read all about it CLICK HERE for the latest race result roundup compiled mainly from press reports by Iain.

Horsham Round

Entries are now flooding in for this bank holiday Monday social run and we have guest teams joining us from Horley Harriers, Crawley Run Crew, Mel’s Milers and Crawley Saints and Sinners. Teams divide up the 29 miles (consisting of 7 legs) between them and set off early from Horsham Park Bandstand with the goal of returning with everyone else at 2.30pm. To avoid any delays, we will have three BBQ’s available this year so bring your own food and drink and we will provide the heat! This social after party is open to all members, friends and family (not just those running the round) and is now considered to be our primary social event of the year. So don’t miss out!

Horsham Round organiser

We’re delighted to announce that James Munden will take over from Phil next year. It’s great to see this annual event go from strength to strength and to know that it will be in very capable hands. Thanks James!

Gunpowder Trot – 4^th November

Margaret Wadman is keen to deliver another fantastic fun run around the beautiful Denne Park and Chesworth Farm. However, she still needs to fill some key roles in order to distribute the work load evenly among club members. We are still looking for organised and self motivated individuals to complete these tasks and the future of this event depends on it! We really can’t do this without people stepping up to fill these key roles!

• Race Secretary (collating entries and issuing numbers on the day).
• Finish Manager (setting up and managing the funnel, timekeepers, number checkers and results).
• Chief Marshal (Briefing volunteers, making sure the course is ready for the start, coordinating emergencies or problems around the course during the run).
• Junior run organiser

If you think you have what it takes, please CONTACT US to be part of the team.

Keep on Running 5 to 10k

The response to this course has been phenomenal with many participants commenting that it has stopped them from stagnating following their initial running achievements to 5k. Sue and Simon have done a superb job of delivering this course for all abilities with the help of a few regular helpers. New runners are currently in week 8 of 11 and are all on target to graduate at the Chestnut Tree House 10k in Littlehampton on 9^th September and can then continue with hj if they want to.

Itchingfield Time Trial

The 4th and final ITT of 2018 takes place on Tuesday 4th September at the slightly earlier time of 7pm. Numbers were low in July and John wasn’t feeling the love! Please support this great event and remember to share lifts or park away from the start as we rely on the goodwill of the locals to ensure this event can continue.

Group Leader try outs

We’re always keen to see new people leading group runs on a Tuesday evening as it helps to spread the load among our regulars. However, we’re also aware that some who would like to lead feel daunted by the task and don’t know where to start. So if you would like to lead, just come along on a Tuesday evening with a route in mind (or on paper!) and ask your regular leader if you can take the front and navigate/pace the group while they follow. If you don’t have a route, we have hundreds stored on the hj Good Run Guide website (login details by request) and we even have some printed and laminated within the hj file at BBHLC reception desk. It’s a great opportunity to give back to the club while having the comfort of an experienced leader keeping an eye on your progress.

West Sussex Fun Run League

Ed – Joe has been in touch with an offer for you. Please CONTACT US to express an interest. If there is a good amount of interest we will put all names in a hat.

I am writing to introduce our new event the Running Festival at Goodwood set to take place on October 14th. We at UK Run Events (www.ukrunevents.co.uk) will be hosting a family lap, 10K and Half Marathon at this prestigious venue. We would like to offer a free place for one of your club members to take part in a race of their choosing. If you could just reply with which race your chosen runner would like to take place in and we will send you a code for them to register at no cost. We are very pleased to announce that our partners for this event are national retailer Up & Running as well as Ron Hill, Hilly and Altra. The event will be the first ever “live” race to be a part of the Ron Hill run every day challenge for a month which takes place each October. All competitors receive a Ron Hill technical t-shirt, bespoke medal, free pre and post-race massage, free photography and goody bag!

Track training – 30^th Aug

BBH football club will play a match on this date so we have been asked to ensure that all runners vacate the track by 7.30pm. In return and to ensure our safety, we have asked BBHLC that they don’t use the infield for warm up and target practice until our booked and scheduled session is over.

Dates for your diary

19^th Aug – 13 The Hard Way

26^th Aug – Arundel 10k

26^th Aug – Newick Will Page 10k

27^th Aug – Horsham Round/Family BBQ in the park

2^nd Sept – Fittleworth 5 (WSFRL and hj Challenge Trophy race)

4^th Sept – Itchingfield time trial 4 of 4

9^th Sept – John Faulds Hellingly 10k (SGP)

9^th Sept – Chestnut Tree House 10k (hj 5to10k graduation)

9^th Sept – Eridge Park 10 Trail Challenge

9^th Sept – Bacchus Marathon/Half Marathon

16^th Sept – Richmond Marathon

23^rd Sept – Tilgate Forest 5 (WSFRL)

30^th Sept – Windlesham House 4 (WSFRL)

30^th Sept – Barns Green Half Marathon

Don’t forget; if you’ve got something worthy of the newsletter then please let us know!

ED – A bumper crop of info this time so let’s crack on…………………

Committee activity

Your committee met on Wednesday 20^th June and discussed the usual club finances, membership  and forthcoming events as well as the Horsham 10k round up, “Keep on Running”, Twitter updates, Club kit, BG1/2 training, SGP award qualification, Horsham Round and Gun Powder Trot. We agreed to meet again after a summer recess on 15^th August.

The result round up

Wow! What a busy lot you’ve been! So many races to report on this time with incredible performances by all of you. To read all about it, CLICK HERE for the latest race result roundup compiled mainly from press reports by Iain.

Keep Running!

Our new course leaders are ready and raring to go next week with the start of our brand new 12 week course to take those new to running 5k up to the next level with the goal of the Chestnut Tree House 10k on 9^th September. Training takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7pm and at parkrun on a Saturday. And all for just £25! So tell your friends to look HERE to book their place. We are also looking for volunteers to help the course leaders to deliver this safely and to encourage the improvers. If you can help occasionally or want to be a permanent part of the team, why not send an email as well.

The Andy Spriggs Running Spirit Award

We were delighted to see Sandra and Jo at the recent Horsham 10k to present the inaugural Running Spirit Award in Andy’s memory. The award will be presented annually to someone who demonstrates exceptional generosity, courage, stoicism, passion, perseverance or sportsmanship. All qualities which Andy bought to the club. Unfortunately our recipient had other ideas and sloped off home before we could catch up with him. Fortunately though Mick Duplock wasn’t quite so quick at club training on Tuesday recently and we caught up with him there. Congratulations Mick! We can’t think of a more fitting recipient for this year’s award.

Horsham 10k Junior fun run

Junior RD Sharon has kindly produced this little report on what the juniors got up to before the main event. Thanks Sharon! Horsham 10k Junior report

Barns Green Training Plan

With 15 weeks until the day, Coach Fiona has been busy preparing a new training schedule for our favourite half marathon on 30^th Sept. The plan starts on 1^st July and uses your usual Tuesday/Thursday club sessions along with structured Sunday running. CLICK HERE for details.

Riverside Walk 2018

The next Annual Riverside Walk takes place on Saturday 14th July 2018. As before the start is at 10.00 at Horsham Rugby Club, Hammerpond Road, RH13 6PJ, where there is ample parking for cars. It will be going again in a clockwise direction, calling first at Chesworth Farm, then onto Warnham Nature Reserve and Strawberry Fields Tearoom at New House Farm. A mini-bus will be available to give lifts back to the start from various points. Registration for the Event can be done by phoning 07780 701184 or emailing horshamriversidewalk@gmail.com. Registration is not compulsory but will help them with numbers to expect.

Horsham Round organiser

As noted in the previous newsletter, this will be Phil’s last year as organiser for the annual Horsham Round so its future depends on new help! We have 5 guest clubs joining us by invitation this year and we need a new organiser to shadow Phil and learn the ropes. If you’ve ever run in the event, you’ll know that it’s a well established, self-navigated, self-timed, self-managed event so there’s really not much to organise! If you have stood on the sidelines wondering how to get more involved with hj then this could be your chance! CONTACT US for more details.

Gunpowder Trot – 4^th November

Ok, so you’re probably too busy scoffing strawberries and cream to even think that the days are now getting shorter and it will soon be Christmas! But here at hj HQ the wheels never stop turning and our new event organiser, Margaret Wadman, is on track to deliver another fantastic fun run around the beautiful Denne Park and Chesworth Farm. However, we need to fill some key roles in order to distribute the work load evenly among club members. We are looking for organised and self motivated individuals to complete these tasks:

• Race Secretary (collating entries and issuing numbers on the day).
• Finish Manager (setting up and managing the funnel, timekeepers, number checkers and results).
• Chief Marshal (Briefing volunteers, making sure the course is ready for the start, coordinating emergencies or problems around the course during the run).
• Course break down and clearance to the lock up (following set up by Phil).

If you have what it takes please CONTACT US to be part of it.

Marathon madness!

ED – Busy mum of three, Kate Short tells us what motivated her to be even busier by training for 3 marathons in 50 days!

Last year 3 separate friends suggested 3 separate marathons & for some crazy reason I said yes to all of them! So it’s fair to say it’s been a busy start to 2018 and here is my little review of 3 marathons in 50 days.
Paris Marathon 8/4/18
An extremely stressful start to what should have been a wonderful weekend away, we flew out on the Saturday and our flight was delayed which meant we were going to miss the expo where we had to collect our race packs! Thanks to the amazing power of Facebook I made a cry for help on the #parismarathongirls group and an extremely kind lady collected our packs for us and we met her later at her hotel. The marathon itself was lovely, it was just a whirlwind weekend. Marathon time: 4hours 20 minutes.
Milton Keynes 7/5/18
The hottest bank holiday! It was a scorcher! But the people of Milton Keynes were brilliant with loads of kids lining the route with their super soakers. It was a beautiful route, lots of parks to run through & a fantastic finish line inside the football stadium. We paid for the park & walk (which feels like a really long way to walk!) but there is parking at the stadium which would be a much better option. Marathon time: 4 hours 43 minutes.
And finally Edinburgh Marathon 27/5/18
This has to be my favourite of the 3, maybe because I was relieved to have completed all 3 and also because I got a PB! Your race number gets posted to you which makes it all much easier. We flew up early Saturday morning & after dropping our bags at the hotel caught the bus into the city centre to work out how to get to the start line. It’s such a beautiful city, although we didn’t explore too much as we wanted to save our legs for the next day. Edinburgh definitely had the best finish line out of the 3, the crowds were awesome and the finish funnel with the music, I felt like a true athlete! The challenge was getting back to the airport on time because from the finish line you have to take a shuttle bus back to the city centre which takes about an hour. So make sure you book a late flight or_r stay an extra night. Marathon time: 4 hours 9 minutes.
Kate

SGP 10’s

With a reduction in the number of SGP races this year, the committee has re-looked at the criteria and agreed to reduce the amount of races needed to win an award to 6. With 7 races remaining in this year’s calendar, there is every chance to win a club award and valuable points for the club. WSFRL races remain at 10 to qualify for an award.

Club colours

We’ve streamlined the club kit purchasing process and it’s now in the very capable hands of Stephen Entecott. Just log into the MemberZone and place your order using PayPal or your credit/debit card. And remember, if you are entering ANY race as a Horsham Jogger, wear your club colours with pride!

Dates for your diary

24^th June – Heathfield 10k (SGP)

24^th June – Polesden Lacey 10k

27^th June – Harder than Snails 10/15k Shalford

30^th June – Richmond Park 5/10k

1^st July – Bewl 15 (SGP)

4^th July – Roundhill Romp (WSFRL)

8^th July – North Downs Way Marathon

8^th July – Cranleigh 10k

8^th July – Eastbourne 10k

11^th July – Brighton Phoenix 10k (SGP)

14^th July – Riverside Walk

29^th July – Seven Stiles (WSFRL)

1^st Aug – Highdown Hike (WSFRL)

19^th Aug – Hornets Stinger (WSFRL)

Don’t forget; if you’ve got something worthy of the newsletter then please let us know!

Committee activity

Your committee met on Wednesday 9^th May and discussed the usual club finances, membership renewal and forthcoming events as well as the CASC application, AGM round up, club kit, data protection, Horsham 10k, gun timing vs chip timing, SGP10’s and Gunpowder Trot organisers.  More on some of this later. We agreed to meet again on 20^th June

URGENT! – Membership renewals

A reminder that your membership runs from 1^st April to 31^st March annually and is still only £10!

360 members have already renewed leaving about 190 still to pay or submit the correct paperwork. With the implementation of GDPR on 25^th May, we can no longer legally hold your personal data without your consent. If you have renewed via the MemberZone or sent a signed paper renewal form with your payment you don’t need to do anything else.

However, if you haven’t renewed or have sent cash, cheque or bank transfer direct to hj WITHOUT A RENEWAL FORM, your data will be deleted on 25^th May and your membership will expire. You will then need to re-join the club and a £5 joining fee will apply. This is a legal requirement for 2018 but the committee has now decided to follow similar timelines for renewal in the future as it seems unfair that most pay on time whereas others wait for multiple reminders sometimes up until August each year!

Please remember that the best way to renew is online via the MemberZone using your PayPal account, credit or debit card. No paperwork, no paper money, no hassle!

The result round up

It’s been another busy six weeks for team hj! To read all about it CLICK HERE for the latest race result roundup compiled from press reports by Iain.

Horsham 10k update

Entry to the adult 10k is now FULL but we have plenty of space for more U16 juniors and we NEED MORE CAKE BAKERS! We are almost there with the volunteer lists and specific instructions will now be emailed out by the relevant team leaders. If you’ve volunteered but not received instructions by Wed 16^th May, please contact: horsham10khelpers@gmail.com

Prior preparation and planning prevents poor performance!

In the spirit of the title, team manager John Wilcox took Trevor Barrett and Paul Davis up the downs (?) last week to recce leg 17 of the route for the forthcoming South Downs Way 100mile relay. Well done chaps!

Gun time or Chip time?

This age old argument has been rolling on since the advent of individual timing and fills so many blogs and forums that we won’t bore you with the details here. But some members have asked why we use gun times to judge the awards given for our Challenge Trophy races (CT). Well, firstly these races are picked annually by the committee and we cannot be certain that all will include chip timing (WSFRL doesn’t for instance). Secondly the traditional idea of a “race” is summed up by being first past the post (or finish line) therefore if you’ve started at the back of the pack you are reducing your chances of beating those in your age category or even taking the overall male or female shield. Thirdly, if we could use individual timing (chip or otherwise) it effectively becomes a time trial and not a race. So the moral of the story is; Get up the front at CT events! You never know, you might win a prize by just a few seconds!

SGP 10’s

With a reduction in the number of SGP races this year, the committee has agreed to reduce the amount of races needed to win an award back to 8. WSFRL races remain at 10 to qualify for an award.

Horsham Round

Are you a keen Horsham Round participant? Do you want to help by inviting, organising and communicating with the teams? This year will be Phil’s last as organiser and we are keen to find someone to shadow him this year with a view to taking over next year. The event is well established and pretty much self managing but it just needs someone to coordinate it and make it happen. Just CONTACT US for more details.

Gunpowder Trot organiser

Great news! Margaret Wadman has put herself forward to carry on the excellent work by Victoria. Thanks Margaret! This year’s fun run will take place on Sunday 4^th November and over the coming months, Margaret will be getting up to speed and then looking for key people to develop a small organising team. A general call for helpers will follow nearer to the event.

Twinning update

Ed-A message from our Twinning rep, Dave Maurice – This photo was taken on our last visit to Lage for the Adventlauf. Ben Ageros ran the 10 km. Ray Ageros walked the 10 km and I walked the 5 km . As always we had a great time.

Dates for your diary

16^th May – Littlehampton Beach Run (WSFRL)

20^th May – Horsham 10k (SGP)

23^rd May – Trundle Hill Run (WSFRL)

27^th May – Rye 10 miles

2^nd June – South Downs Way Relay 100m

3^rd June – Worthing 10k

10^th June – Hove 5k (WSFRL) with BYO picnic

12^th June – 2^nd Itchingfield Time Trial

19^th June – hj Summer handicap (in Horsham Park)

23^rd June – Downland Dash (WSFRL)

23^rd June – Race to the King

24th June – Heathfield 10k (SGP)

Don’t forget; if you’ve got something worthy of the newsletter then please let us know.