Club Championship and our Get Me Started course
Club Championship
Making use of the long-standing traditional route of almost 10km, fifty-two Farnham Runners turned out for the 2025 Club Championship.
There was fierce competition for most of the thirteen age category shields, as well as the overall men and ladies trophies.
Warm conditions added to the challenge of the hilly course, which is mostly on roads but veers off into the woods part way round. A water station passed twice was much appreciated.
Joe Collins and Lizzie May both retained their overall titles and were first in the senior categories. Joe had competition from two other senior men, second-placed Alex Elsey and third Joe Lee.
Fourth overall was first M50, Matt Saker followed by the next three in that category, Nick Grist, John Hill-Venning and Simon Millard.
Colin Addison was a clear winner in the M60 category with Mike Walberton second. Laurence Morgan finished ahead of Ivan Chunnett in the M40 category. First M70 was again Terry Steadman.
For the first time there were runners in the new M80 category with Robert Drummond clocking a new club record. A founder member of the club 40 years ago, John de Moraes also completed the challenging course, second M80.
After Lizzie May, Gabi Hitchcock and Leza Milligan were second and third ladies, followed by Emma Dawson and Debbie Tully, all in the F45 category
Next was first F35, Gemma Whitehouse, and then first F55 Billy McCulloch with Lina Haines and Georgie Abrook second in these age groups. First F65 was Jane Georghiou with Kay Copeland second.
A beaming Under 23 winner was Laylan Pointon-Berkowitz.
Others who tackled the course were:
- Men – Charles Ashby, Richard Steedman, Paul Keogh, Harry May, Justin Clarke, James Goodwin, Terry Copeland, Ronan O’Carroll, Chris Gill, Jonathan Tyler, Howard Inns, Lucas O’Connor, and Joe Napier
- Ladies – Rebecca Holburn, Charlie Gray, Bridget Naylor, Sue Taylor, Lindsay Bamford, Colette Grist, Sandra Hickey, Julia Tagg, Nicola O’Connor, Brigid Walters and Sue McKenzie.
Five runners who have recently completed the “Get me Started” course, organised by Linda Tyler, also ran a 5km route. Read Linda’s report below.
Chairman Justin Clarke thanked the race director, Craig and all the marshals and helpers, including Chris Gill, Chris Raby, Gill Iffland, Tori Shaw, Neil Ambrose, Keith Marshall, Clair Bailey, Kate Townsend and tail runners Pauline Hamilton and Caroline Wickham, before presenting the championship trophies.
Most stayed after the race to enjoy a pizza and drinks at the clubhouse on the Bourne Green.
See the Photo Gallery 2025 for further photos from the Club Championship.
Get Me Started course
Nine ladies signed up for our Get Me Started course this year, and with the benefit of three qualified coaches and five qualified leaders, they were guaranteed a very personal service!
We offered two weekly sessions to start with, on our Wednesday evening club nights and at the Alice Holt parkrun and followed the England Athletics designed Get Me Started course, using a combination of walking and running, gradually reducing the time spent walking. As the group progressed, we were able to welcome them to our track sessions on Monday evenings.
We were delighted to follow the progress of the group over the ten-week period until the final sessions when they were able to run for 30 minutes without stopping, an incredible achievement, particularly at our very hilly local parkrun!
Five of our beginners, Rachel Kapur, Louise Morton, Kate Roach, Katie Evans, and Sarah Brown successfully completed the 5K race organized for them as part of the Club Championships.
Rachel Kapur said:
“Thank you to everyone who supported us and got us through the course”
Thank you to coaches Craig Tate-Grimes, Sarah McCulloch and Linda Tyler and to leaders Lindsey Bamford, Ivan Chunnett, Chris Gill, Colette Grist and Gemma Whitehouse for giving up their time each week for another very successful Get Me Started course.
Our next course will be held spring 2026.
Linda Tyler