Peter Reilly • March 21, 2024

NEW CHAIR APPOINTED AT NEW FOREST RUNNERS

It’s all change at the top of New Milton based New Forest Runners with Steve Hull and Caroline Woodford stepping down as Chair and Honorary President respectively at the expiry of their terms of office. Jim Edgar has been appointed Chair and Charles Fox has accepted the position of Honorary President. 


Paying tribute to Steve and Caroline, Jim Edgar commented that Steve had taken over as Chair just as the pandemic hit and had the tricky task of guiding the club through and beyond that difficult time. He leaves the club well positioned for the future. Caroline’s role as Honorary President was to ooze positivity and encouragement at every opportunity, a task that she undertook with relish participating with and cheering club members at training sessions, parkruns and races alike. 


Jim Edgar has been a member of the club for a number of years and joined the committee in 2023. He has benefited from the myriad training sessions the club provides regularly setting new personal bests. Jim completed his first marathon last year and is looking forward to his second marathon in April. 


Charles Fox has been involved in all aspects of the club from club committees to organising our active Mudlarks group to entering races and picking up personal bests and age category awards. Like Caroline before him Charles will continue to bring positive vibes and encouragement to all involved in the club.


Like many New Forest Runners Jim and Charles are supporters of running in the community and regularly volunteer at Lymington Woodside and Brockenhurst parkruns.


Jim Edgar commented:

"I am grateful to Steve and Caroline for getting the club safely through the pandemic years. Along with my fellow committee members I am looking forward to addressing the future challenges and opportunities for this great club. 


New Forest Runners is a welcoming club to belong to and I hope will go from strength to strength over the coming years.”

Abdi wins New Forest 10 Mile Race in record time

By Peter Reilly • November 1, 2024
Abdi wins New Forest 10 Mile Race in record time! 822 runners took on the 36th running of New Forest Runners’ flagship race over road and forest tracks. It was a stunning performance from race winner Abdinassier Mohamoud Elhmi (Abdi) of Bournemouth AC who led the race from start to finish setting a course record of 49:01 pacing at 4:54 per mile. Joseph Arundel, also of Bournemouth AC came second in 51:14 while Jamie Grose of Poole AC rounded off the top three in a time of 53:42. For the ladies Erin Willmers of recently formed Winchester Running Club took first place in a time of 1:04:55. Just three seconds separated the second and third ladies. Kat Charles of Reading Roadrunners took second place in 1:05:28 and Emma Jolley of City of Portsmouth claimed third in 1:05:31. Bournemouth AC also took home the inaugural Mike Ryan Team Trophy. The trophy honours Mike Ryan, one of the founders of New Forest Runners who made a huge contribution to the success of the club from its inception in 1981 until his recent passing. The trophy was presented by Mike and Glenys Ryan’s daughter Fiona, in the presence of Glenys. Race Director, Peter Reilly commented: “With 32 member clubs of the Hampshire Road Race League represented on the start line plus some very strong clubs from out of the area the New Forest 10 was destined to be a highly competitive race and it certainly was with some very impressive performances. Having seen our race winner Abdi in action at a recent cross country race I had a feeling that we would see a sub 50 minute finish and he didn’t disappoint. We’ll all be following his running progress with great interest. Of course this race only happens because our volunteers turn out to support it every time. In the words of Dawn Rogers our volunteer coordinator “They were brilliant.” And going by the positive messages we have received, the runners agree.” Jim Edgar, New Forest Runners Chair said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the New Forest 10 committee and all the volunteers - and all their respective families - for the tremendous support they have given yet again. This is the first New Forest Runners 10 mile race to be staged since the recent passing of our esteemed friend and co-founder Mike Ryan. I am proud on behalf of the entire Club for the success of this years event, and I know that Mike would be too.” TABLE OF PRIZE WINNERS

JUNIORS UPDATE

By Steve Hull (chairman) • March 31, 2023
It is with regret to announce that New Forest Runners will not be running a Junior section starting the new membership year for 2023, starting 1 st April. Even with the restructuring of the group after the pandemic, it has become even more difficult to sustain numbers, acquire adult assistance and meet the England Athletics criteria to maintain Junior Safeguarding. If, in the future, we are able to comply and implement a sustainable process, the Club will be more than happy to resurrect the Junior section, which has been a great inspiration since the Club was started.  I am sure you would like to join me and the Club in extending our sincere thanks to all that have been involved over the years and now to Nick Marshall and Gavin Hawkins, for all the commitment that has been put into running the Juniors.
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