We invite you to vote for three awards (female runner, male runner and veteran runner).
Instructions on how to vote will be sent to you by email. If you don’t get an email please contact us

Voting will close midnight 20th January 2020

The nominations are listed below.

Female Runner 2019

Suzanne Brotherhood

Another runner who moved up from improvers and is getting better. Her first year in the Harrier’s Challenge. Becoming a familiar face at many Harrier races and events

Tracy Burrows

Moved from improvers to progression group and making big gains since coming back from injury. Running many races including her first marathon in Manchester. 3rd in her Challenge group.

Mel Deakin

Recently selected harrier to compete in the London Marathon in the club draw, 2nd in her challenge group and 7th in NSRRA group M

Stella Dennis

An amazing effort running 5 Marathons in 5 days to help raise funds for Eadies Wishes charity and then finished as first Harrier lady at Parkhall 5 days later

Mel Gorman

Moved from improvers to progression group on a Monday night. Great effort in the cross-country events.

Sally Haycock

A harrier who enters many races, completed the Staffs Ironman earlier this year after coming back from a long term injury

Saffron Latham

An up and coming young runner. Becoming a regular face at many Harrier events and represented the club at Stafford 10K

Debs McDermot

Another regular at many of the Harrier challenge races. Completed two marathons in a week and managed both of them sub 4hr

Katie Peacock

Great runner, improving with every race.

Represented the club in the cross country and a top 3 female regular at Parkrun

Vanessa Welham

A Harrier who has improved every race over the year and has performed at a consistently high standard

male Runner 2019

Nick Beckett

A long time member, completed a solo event at the thunder run, completing 13 laps

Mark Burrows

Making a comeback to the Harriers after surgery and getting stronger with every run. Regular face helping out at many Harrier events.

Michael Dobson

Finished first in the premier league challenge group. 2nd in NSRRA group C. Always encouraging other runners and a regular face at many races representing the Harriers

Liam Duggan

Improving in every race, usually one of the first finishing Harriers in all races. Finished 2nd in Premier Challenge group.

Justin Green

Strong Harrier, struggled with injury in the latter months of the year, but a great runner and cross country regular

Phil Hilsdon

A long standing Harrier, regular sub 3 marathoner. Ran all the cross country events and frequently the first Harrier at most races.

Spencer Holland

3rd in his challenge group and 5th in NSRRA group, NSRRA Compleat runner (ran all 20 NSRRA races)

Darren Mattocks

Active member of the club, regular at many challenge races and cross country. Has made some massive improvements in times and is a great ambassador for the club. 2nd in NSRRA group E

Matt Sargent

Another determined young runner who finishes high up the places in all races.

Antonio Treglia

Extremely determined runner, who has made massive improvements throughout the year.

Veteran Runner 2019

Sarah Gray

Has run many races for the harriers including the cross country events and finished 2nd in her Challenge group

Alan Jones

A regular runner who represents the club up and down the country almost every weekend at various running events across all distances. Regular name in the Harriers Challenge every year.

Karen Murray

Long time Harrier, finished 2nd in her Challenge group, 3rd NSRRA group W and 5th in V50 group.

Julie Nokes

Another long time club member who has represented the club in both the NSRRA league and cross country as well as winning her challenge group

Chris Skellern

A regular face at the challenge and NSRRA races, 3rd in the NSRRA group M, completed all the cross-country events. A long-standing junior coach and Harrier

Ed Smith

Ran many races for the Harriers, completed 49 marathons since he started running,  competed in the cross country and finished 2nd in his challenge group.

Graham Williams

One of our longest running Harriers, attends many of the challenge races and finished 3rd in the NSRRA group G

Ian Wood

A regular Harrier at many races, famous for his bright orange shorts Came 2nd in NSRRA group D and 2nd in NSRRA V55

We need your help…

The Harriers share the responsibility to manage the Chase Park run. This week the Harriers are in charge.

We are short of volunteers in multiple roles, you can check the status online. Click here

Presentation Evening 10^th January 2020

The NSRRA was set up in July 1974. Members from many running clubs are organised into groups based on ability (7 mens and 4 ladies) groups. There are also male and female age groups (16-34, 35-39, 40-45, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and 70+. This gives the runners a chance to win by ability, age or both.

Stafford Harriers had a successful year within the NSRRA league. We came away with 11 Trophies. Nine Harriers attended the presentation evening, some with partners. It was at the Florence Social Club in Stoke.

We were lucky to get a table together as there was a good attendance. As always, Ken Rushton (Chairman) gave the introduction to the President, Stan Winterton. He gave an opening speech which is always funny and entertaining. How he memorises it is to be admired. Ken introduced the guest of honour to present the trophies. Colin sadly had a heart attack last year during the Cannock Chase park run but has now made a full recovery and is back to running.

It was great to have so many Harriers at the presentation evening this year.

Stafford Harriers Winners (in order of presentation):

Karen Murray – 3^rd in Group W

Chris Skellern – 3^rd in Group M

Chris Skellern – 2^nd Age Group 55-59

Michael Dobson – 2^nd in Group C

Ian Wood – 2^nd in Group D

Darren Mattocks – 2^nd in Group E

Graham Williams – 3^rd in Group G

Michael Dobson – 2^nd in Age Group 50-54

Ian Wood – Age Group 55-59

Phil Hilsdon – The George Kay Memorial Trophy for 1^st L runner in Knighton 20

Spencer Holland – Compleat Runner for completing all 20 races in the league.

The Mens Team came 4^th missing 3^rd position by just 1point and the ladies team came 3^rd.

I would encourage our runners of all abilities to join the NSRRA. It costs £10 for the year. It gives you a chance of winning a trophy as an individual or as part of the Stafford Harriers Team. Look on the NSRRA web site to view the 20 races. The first race is the Alsager 5 on 2^nd of February. It would be great to see more harriers at the presentation evening next year clasping trophies or winning the team prizes.

Karen

Photos are on Bryan Dale web site click here

Great news the Stafford Hockey and Cricket club on Riverway is reopening on the 8th Feb.

A great deal of work was required after the flood in October 2019.

England Athletics and the Staffordshire Athletics Network have arranged for Sonia and Chris McGeorge to deliver a warm up and drills for road runners workshop in Stafford on Thursday 5^th March. 6 pm to 8:30 pm £10 per person.

Places are limited and you must book via EA web site

warmup and drills stafford

Places are going fast if you want to go please talk to Ian. At the end of January, we will open the trip up to non-Harriers.

Friday 16th October 2020 to Monday 19th October 2020 (4 Days and 3 Nights)

Price per Person; £195 pp which includes 3 nights dinner, bed & breakfast, travel and *excursions (*TBC) Single room supplement £45, Based on a minimum of 40 guests – cost may increase if number not reached.

Friday 16th October;

Depart from Happy Days Depot, Stafford @ 7.45am & then Train Station @ 8am to Travel up North.
After a brief stop en-route, the first taste of Scotland will be Gretna Green before we continue into the highlands, taking a short coffee (beer) break near Perth. Arriving in the Spey Valley late afternoon, we book into the Craiglynne Hotel, Grantown on Spey, where all rooms are en-suite with TV, wifi & tea & coffee facilities.

Saturday 17th October;

After a hearty Scottish breakfast, we shall set out on a day trip into the highlands with a stop off for lunch & free time to explore. Mid-afternoon we shall return to Aviemore for race registration & pasta party ahead of the races on Sunday.

Sunday 18th October;

Today we head into Aviemore for the half marathon and 10k events and afterwards, there will be time for post-race refreshment & lunch before we re-join the coach for a brief journey into the surrounding countryside to blow away the cobwebs.

Monday 19th October;

Following breakfast, we take our leave of the Craiglynne Hotel and commence the return journey home to the midlands.

Half Marathon & 10K information;

There is no obligation to raise sponsorship for the Speyside Trust, although anyone wishing to is free to do so. The race is described as “one of the prettiest and easiest you will ever do”. The course is a combination of excellent forest tracks and road all against the backdrop of the Cairngorm National Park, heading alongside Loch Morlich, through Glenmore forest park into Rothiemurchus Estate, across the river Spey before finishing in Aviemore.

RACE ENTRIES ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY !!!

By visiting https://www.entrycentral.com/aviemorehalfweekend
IMPORTANT – PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE TOUR WILL BE TAKING PLACE BEFORE YOU ENTER THE RACE!

Booking form

To join this tour, please complete in full the form below and return it, along with a £20pp non-refundable deposit to
Ian Hodkinson (Cheques payable to Stafford Harriers)

Aviemore 2020 Flyer

As some of the early races in 2020 are already filling up fast. We have a provisional list of races in Challenge 2020.

Please contact Ed Smith or Ian Hodkinson if you are interested (or use our contact page).

The Harriers challenge is open to all members of Stafford Harriers, it’s a bit of fun and adds a little interest to your race diary & maybe introduces you to some races that you may not normally try or heard of.

Provisional Info for Challenge 2020

Membership runs from 1^st January 2020 to 31^st December 2020

Over 70s – Free

Associate Members (non-runners) – Free

Juniors/Students – £20. All juniors and students will be registered with England Athletics.

Seniors Option 1 – £45. If you wish to be registered with England Athletics choose this option. You will need to be registered with England Athletics if you wish as a Stafford Harrier to enter races affiliated to England Athletics. This will include North Staffs cross country fixtures, Sutton Park relays, and the majority of road races.

Seniors Option 2 – £30. If you want to run with Stafford Harriers but do not intend to enter events affiliated to England Athletics choose this option. You will not be registered with England Athletics. If, however, at some point in 2020 you decide to enter an affiliated event you will either have to pay £15 to be registered with England Athletics or enter the event as an unattached runner and pay the appropriate levy. For some events, such as Parkruns, you do not need to be registered with England Athletics in order to compete.

All paid-up members of Stafford Harriers are covered by England Athletics insurance policy whether they are registered individually or not.

If you want to go we need to hear from you by 24th Jan

7:30 pm Friday 14th February 2020 we will be holding our presentation night. It will be held at the Chase Golf Club.

Tickets will be £28 per person and this is open to members and partners.

Please download an order form (food selection).

PresentationNight2020

Please return these, along with payment to Lindsey Foster or via any committee member or session leader by 24th January.