Club Christmas Dinner and Awards Ceremony
08/12/2009
Christmas celebrations started a little early last weekend when Newport and District Running Club had their annual awards evening and celebration at Harper Adams. Once everyone had arrived and the usual welcoming drinks had been taken then those present were treated to a meal followed the presentation of the awards for the past year. The awards were presented by club chairman Tony Hall and recognised the achievements of many club members over the past twelve months. Most categories had a male and female winner and were awarded as follows: Fastest 5K, Robin Guy and Helen Skelton, fastest 10K, Noel Hogan and Karen Harvey. Fastest half marathon, Steve Fowles and Lindsay Ferguson. Best marathon went to Glenn MacDonald-Jones and Pauline Newton. Kathryn Roper and John Taylor took the award for most improved runners of the year and Kathryn also received the award for completing most races over the year along with her brother Ben Roper for the second year in succession. In the fell racing section, Noel Hogan and Helen MacDonald-Jones took the award for the most ascent in their races and John Taylor and Heather Hogan took the prize for the most miles raced over the year. After the awards, members were treated to entertainment from the club band Running Wild who performed a wide selection of numbers which seemed familiar, but had the lyrics altered in several cases to have a running theme. They were accompanied by a backing group made up of several of the ladies from the club. The 'Runnettes' provided some welcome glamour as well as entertainment for the guests. All present recognised that it had been another marvellous year for the club, which seems to go from strength to strength as time goes on.
