The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

Karl C

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For those who did not attend the 2008 AGM:

Our Junior Section was a year old in August and continues to go from strength to strength. We have some 52 paid members under the age of 15, and about 6 between the age of 15 and 18 who run regularly with the adult club.

We have regular attendances of between 30 and 45 juniors on our regular Tuesday night sessions.

Our Lottery Awards For All grant this year has meant we are still financially buoyant for the foreseeable future, even after purchasing kit, etc. and with new membership fees now due we have increased the annual fee from £ 5.00 to £ 10.00, so do not anticipate any problems.

We recently purchased around £ 250 of new kit, which included hurdles, cones, poles, javelins, etc. to ensure we have enough equipment to involve all the 35 kids on the Tuesday night. This is in addition to our current kit which came mostly from the Tesco Voucher scheme, and initial purchases. The Tesco Voucher Scheme starts again next year, and we will be collecting again.

We have managed to cajole new Leaders to help out during the indoor season, who have been a great help, especially over the last few weeks with regulars being on holiday etc.

As well as the outdoor sessions in the Summer, we were kindly allowed to use Southend High School for Girls, via Sue Simpson who ran a brilliant Sportshall competition for some of the children.

Our first Junior Club Championships will be held on 20th July at the Thrift Green 1k fun run. We had over 32 Junior’s running, and awarded our own trophies, and prizes for team and handicap.

All in all the Junior section has developed over the last 15 months and is now an overwhelming, (and sometimes oversubscribed) success.

This is solely down to the hard work of all our Leaders, Coaches, and helpers -

Andy Frith, Clive Hopkins, Debbie Smith, Graham Booty, Julia Binstead, Karl Cadman, Peter Watson Snr, Peter Watson Jnr, Sarah Norton, Tony Phillips, Jez Mancer, Vic Mccloud, Catherine Stunt, Lyn Hopkins, Kevin Steed, Ian Pike, Trudy Mahr, & Sara Green, and everyone else who has given time, money or suggestions towards the Junior Club. Thank You.

We have entered the Essex Cross County League this season, and the first race saw many Junior’s running their first ever Cross Country Race. Thanks to all who helped on the Saturday morning practice sessions prior to the race. U13 boys team were 6th, U13 girls team were 6th, U17/U20 Girls were 8th, plus we had runners in other age groups.

Our Junior Training is now indoors at Appelton School on a Tuesday night 6pm-7pm.

Further details and info can be found at www.BenfleetRunningClub.com/juniors
Karl Cadman – Junior Club Coordinator