Beverley AC – 17th March 2022

Beverley AC rolls out the blue and yellow carpet for its Annual Awards celebrations!

Beverley AC rolled out the red (or should that be the blue and yellow?) carpet on Friday 11th March when the Club held its Annual Club Awards Evening at the Beverley Barn.

Over 120 members attended the evening, enjoying a meal before celebrating the achievements of many Club members. Another 7 joined online to watch the live streaming of the awards section of the night.

The winners of the 13 Handicap Races are as follows:

1. Virtual North Lincs half marathon – Julia Brook;
2. North Newbald 5 (Club handicap run) – Matthew Frampton;
3. Walkington staggered 10K – David Meilhan;
4. Burton Constable Trail 10K – Lorraine Clark;
5. South Cave 10K – Valeriya Marshall;
6. Beverley Westwood parkrun
7 August – Brad Freeman;
7. Gilberdyke 10 – Stuart Eskrett;
8. Major Stone half marathon –Jackie Hardman;
9. Scarborough 10K – Susan McIntyre;
10. Dave MacDonald Haltemprice 10K – Rosie Greenfield;
11. Guy Fawkes 10 – Jackie Hardman;
12. Deepdale Dash 10K – Paul Furness; 1
3. Virtual Hornsea Third marathon – Neil Bant;

Congratulations were recorded to those runners who had completed ten or more Handicap races as follows:
Laura Emms (12 races).
Jo Rowland (11 races).
James Durham, Rob Sparkes, Phil Belton. (10 races).
Winners of the 10K Handicap Series were: First: Ken Pearson; Second: Suzie Kettrick; Third: John Nicholls.
Winners of the Full Handicap Series were: First: Ken Pearson; Second: Jo Rowland; Third: Matthew Frampton.

The Knockout Cup continued throughout the year with the results of races being recorded and the winner of each pairing going through to the next round. The Final saw Start Eskrett emerging as the winner with Runner Up, Jo Rowland.

The Andy Tate Duathlon event was won by Stephen Walker in a time of 56:20 and the Ladies winner was Laura Emms in a time of 1:08:17.

The Awards to the winners of the Club Rankings (based on official races only) were:
Fastest 5k: Ladies: Demi Lidster (19:03 Hull Parkrun 16 Oct); Men: James Johnson (15:43 Hull 5K 3 Dec).
Fastest 10k: Ladies: Demi Lidster (38:31 Doncaster 10K); Men: Rob Sparkes (32:51 Doncaster 10K).
Fastest 10 miles: Ladies: Catherine Snowball (1:09:35 Gilberdyke 10); Men: Luke Davison (59:19 Yorkshire 10).
Fastest Half Marathon: Ladies: Catherine Snowball (1:35:43 Major Stone ); Men: Luke Davison (01:19:38 Bridlington)
Fastest Marathon: Ladies: Valeriya Marshall (3:47:25 Manchester); Men: Ian Boardley (03:03:43 London)
There were further Awards presented, for which nominations from Club members were received and these were awarded as follows:
Team Performance of the Year – Mens Cross Country Team – James Johnson, Rob Sparkes, Dave Morrison, Lee Phipps, Phil Belton; Simon Bishop.
Endurance Performance of the Year – Lucy Stamford (Hardmoors 110).
Male Marathon of the Year – David Meilhan (London).
Female Marathon of the Year – Valeriya Marshall (Manchester)
Female Race Performance of the Year (Non-marathon/ultra) – Demi Lidster (Doncaster 10K)
Male Race Performance of the Year (Non marathon/ultra) – Rob Sparkes (Doncaster 10K)
Pacey Pensioner – Jackie Hardman
Most promising Newcomer Male – Rob Sparkes
Most promising Newcomer Female – Sophie Brown
Most Improved Male – Phil Belton
Most Improved Female – Catherine Snowball

This year’s Awards saw a new award presented – the Committee Recognition Award. This award is presented to a member who has shown outstanding dedication, commitment and support to the Club in a range of ways, not just in running, and the first recipient of this award was Nicola Riley.

Two of the most prestigious Awards is the Club Runner of the Year, the member who has achieved the most as a runner and the Members’ Member Award, where members nominate and vote for the Club Member who has made a huge and significant contribution to the Club. This year’s Members’ Member Award was presented by Mel Pittaway, father of Graeme Pittaway of the Pittaway Group, sponsor of the Beverley 10K, to Sam Allen, in recognition of all her efforts in organising the Cross Country League. He was also delighted to present the Award for Club Runner of the Year to Rob Sparkes.

All members and guests attending thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Special thanks must go to the staff at The Beverley Barn for making us so welcome, to Cater Me Tasty for the wonderful food, and to Chapter 2 who provided the music that got us all up on the dance floor during the evening. Many Club members helped organise the event with special thanks to Rachel Woad, Lucas Meagor, Fiona Oakes, Rob Reid, Sheila Walker, Nicola Riley, Paul and Sam Allen, Fran Ibson and John Manley for the photo montage, video and editing and Andy Grainger who was official photographer for the evening.

Fiona Oakes, the Club’s Secretary, summed it up perfectly: “To be back together in person celebrating the vast range of achievements in our club was a very special thing. We are a big club now, but we are still friendly and inclusive. It is a pleasure to be involved in organising such a joyous event.”

We celebrated the achievements for 2021 and began the celebrations for 2022 on Sunday 13 March at Sewerby for the final race in the East Yorkshire Cross Country League, when 66 members headed out and back along the cliffs from Sewerby enjoying Danes Dyke and a bit of mud and wind on route before joining other clubs for the end of league awards and presentations. This was the 27th running of the League with runners from 10 local clubs taking part in 6 races across the season. 121 Club members registered to run in this year’s League races. The awards were presented by Club member, Brian Richardson. Both Beverley’s Men’s Team, (Simon Bishop. Phil Belton, Rob Sparkes, Lee Phipps, Dave Morrison, James Johnson, Jordan Metcalfe, Steve Walker, Darren Edge, Dave Meilhan) and Ladies Team (Demi Lidster, Catherine Snowball, Emma Greensmith, Charlotte Sherman, Lucy Stamford) came First in the Team competition, winning both the Sewerby race and the overall League. Beverley AC ladies last won the league in 2007 with the men last winning it in 2008 so this was truly a day of celebration! And there were also individual League successes to celebrate! Rob Sparkes (1st M), James Johnson (2nd M), David Morrison (8th M), Billy Pike (MV55-2nd); Mark Dalton (MV60 1st), Alan Flint (MV70 2nd), Catherine Snowball (2nd F), Demi Lidster (4th F), Emma Greensmith (FV45 2nd), Sam Allen (FV50 1st), Nicola Riley (FV55 2nd), Jayne Dale (FV60 1st), Viv Williamson (FV70 1st) and Pam Atkins (FV75 1st).

Beverley AC was also proud to sponsor 3 new awards that were also presented. The first was The Steve Evins Trophy, presented in memory of a popular club member who loved running, especially cross country, who sadly passed away in 2020. His wife, Victoria, proudly presented the Award to the 1st FV50, Sam Allen. The other new Awards, the Brian Richardson Trophies, were presented to the 1st MV65 and 1st FV65 to acknowledge the work undertaken by Club member, Brian Richardson, in setting up and establishing the Cross Country League 27 years ago.

The Club’s Junior section has also been celebrating with several success in the final race of this year’s North Yorkshire/South Durham Cross Country League held at the beginning of March in Whitby. U11 boys Freddie (4:36) and Xavier (5.12); U13 boy Jacob (13:47); U13 girls squad Lois (13:25), Millie (14:44), Orlaith (,4:46) and Harriet (17:16); U15 boy Tom (25:44); U15 girls Ella (19:45, in her first race for the club) and Lily (22:09); U17 Rob (21:22, 2nd in his race). They all ran well in a very competitive league event, and several are going on to represent the club in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships in Loughborough and the English Schools Athletics Association Cross Country Championships in Kent. Congratulations and good luck to you all!

The next key event in the Club’s busy calendar is the Pittaway Beverley 10K taking place on Sunday 8th May. The Specsavers Walkington 10K will take place on Friday 8th July and entries opened on 19 March. Entries are available via the Beverley AC website – www.beverleyathleticclub.co.uk.

If you love to run and are interested in becoming a member of the Club, whatever your age or ability, you will receive a warm welcome. If you would like more information and details on how to join, please visit the Club website on www.beverleyathleticclub.co.uk.