Queenswood Cross Country - be prepared

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We are looking forward to welcoming athletes to Queenswood this coming Sunday. The weather is set to be cold - probably just hovering above zero . Unfortunately we cannot offer the usual hot cup of tea after the race due to issues with getting power on site - so please bring a hot flask if you fancy a hot drink - or alternatively the cafe on site will be open for warmth and shelter. We will of course be offering water and a freshly baked doughnut to all finishers .We also suggest you come wrapped up with some extra dry clothing to swap in to after the race. The good news is that as things stand there is little chance of snow, rain, gales or blizzards - but things might change. See you all there.

Wye Valley Runners

Wye Valley Club Championship 2020 - Announcing the Super 6

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There have been lots of requests to bring back the club championship . Previously named the super 8, the frosty 5 or the super ten .Next year we continue with the Wye Valley tradition of naff titles and welcome the new club champ - The Super Six. More detail very soon - basically you need to run 6 races out of 12 selected races in the year. The races are finalised by the committee - so ideas welcome in next few days. The winner of each race is awarded 100 points - second 99 etc. Different leagues for lads and lasses. As the season progresses you can watch your progress and then at the end of the year we award prizes - simples,

We will also try and award vet prizes in ten year categories. It’s a bit of fun designed to encourage competition and help everyone improve.

Rules and more details soon - with a bit of luck we might kick the thing off early and start with the Couriers 10k on December 29th - we realise this is 2019 - but hey…..

Queenswood Cross Country - Sunday 1st December

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Herefordshire Cross Country  League 3 – Queenswood Country Park

Sunday December 1st, 2019

Wye Valley Runners welcome you to the 3rd race in the series, which is again at Queenswood Country Park, Dinmore Hill, located just off the A49 between Hereford and Leominster. 

Please try to car share for this race as parking is limited and can cost up to £4 depending on how long you stay. When arriving you will be directed towards the woodland car park, which we will fill up first. Later arrivals will be using the main car park near the main road. Wherever you are parked, please ensure that you purchase a ticket as enforcement cameras are in operation throughout the park.

The course is similar to last years winter race, but starts further back towards the south of the site, on the track. It is about 5 minutes walk from the car parks. A few hundred yards from the start, you will take a left at the Gruffalo before heading up to the top of the road. After a sweeping right turn, you will come back down the road before joining the Deer Trail. After a loop of the north of the park, you will come back to the road and go back up it, before picking up the trail again to go round the south of the park. There is again the extra loop to take you down the bottom of the hill (be careful at the steps) and then the steep climb back up to the main trail. The good news is that you will only have to negotiate the steep climb on the first lap. After re-joining the main track, you will shortly be back to the start, where you will again leave the track to take a detour around the Gruffalo, before heading out on the second lap. The finish will be slightly uphill, just after passing the Gruffalo and adjacent to the woodland car park. 

The course is likely to be quite wet and is a mixture of forest trails, made up tracks and a short stretch of tarmac. The course is not suitable for spikes.

There will be a refreshments tent in the woodland car park, but the café will also be open near the main car park. Be aware that there may be members of the public around (assuming they can find somewhere to park!), so please take extra care. 



AGM and supper - Dec 13th Railway Club

Join us at the Railway Club Barton Yard on Fri Dec 13th for our annual meeting. Guest spoeaker and club member John Miskimmin will give us a short talk about the Spartathlon, free supper, bar and social.

Have your say on the club’s future and elect the new committee

Any nominations for chair, secretary, cross country captain, treasurer, membership secretary and general committee members - let Peter Smith know in advance please: smith.peter148@btinternet.com

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London Marathon Draw 2020

London Marathon draw

The club has been allocated one slot for next year’s London Marathon.

London Marathon is on 26th April 2020

Rules to be in the first draw

1.   Must be a member of Wye Valley Runners for more than 12 months.

2.   Have applied for London Marathon 2020 and have been unsuccessful and have proof.

3.   Have not run in the London Marathon previously.

 If no one applies who fits this category a second draw as below will take place

Rules to be in the second draw

1. Must be a member of Wye Valley Runners for more than 12 months.

Please email club secretary Peter Smith if you want to be included - you will need to provide evidence of application and rejection or let him know you are applying only for draw two.

smith.peter148@btinternet.com

Draw will take place at the AGm in December 13th

Club nights

Now we are based at the Rugby Club, we are implementing a few changes. Mondays and Wednesdays will continue to be predominantly a club run for all. On alternate Wednesdays (from September 11th onwards), we will book the track for speedwork, rather than every week There will be other non-track based sessions, as an option on the other Wednesdays. At least once per month, we will have an alternative session, such as a handicap or relay, for the whole club to be involved. Phil Butler will be in overall charge of the programme of activities and will publish details on the website initially, although we will be testing out a new running app shortly as well. He will be supported by the other 3 qualified Leaders in Running Fitness, Ian Sockett, Peter Nugent and myself. We would like other members to put themselves forward as Run Leaders, as we need to spread the load a bit, rather than rely on the same people every week. This does not mean that you have to physically lead the run. As you know, Phil and I can barely run at all these days. You just need to help to come up with suitable routes, take charge of the group in terms of outlining where we are going and gather up points etc but most importantly, making sure that everyone is looked after on the run, particularly our newer recruits. If we get enough volunteers, we can have an informal rota and it won't be too onerous.

Names to any of the Committee please.

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Alternative run - Wednesday 17th July, 2019

Alternative run, next Wednesday 17th July. Meet at the Bell Tillington at 6.15 to start at 6.30
We will have a quick presentation of the team prize that Wye Valley were awarded for the Crocodile 8. This is a new trophy that Nicky Tyler has donated in memory of Vic Tarrant.
The run is across fields and orchards to Badnage Woods, around the back with an optional longer route then up and back in. All welcome!

The route is here: https://www.strava.com/activities/2522529018?share_sig=CMU7O8FH1562834542&utm_medium=social&utm_source=android_share&fbclid=IwAR0XndO6qR_BwalrIEXvzEbgExaWQc2YpWAXeughetDTui7XWYwJ-IACSD0

Alternative Run - Wednesday 19 June

Wednesday 19 June is our first summer alternative run and a new exciting route. We are meeting at Sutton St Nicholas Village Hall, Bayley Way postcode HR1 3SZ at 6.15 to start run by 6.30.The route is mainly off road on well maintained nettle free footpaths and we head to Amberley then over to Sutton Walls. Fabulous views in all directions. All welcome, the distance is 5.8 miles but some opportunities for a shorter route. We plan go to the Golden Cross local pub for a social drink afterwards.

Club move

We will be based at the Greyhound Rugby Club on Grandstand Road from 1st July. We have use of their changing facilities, free parking and social membership of the Club.

Google maps link to the location of the club below;

https://goo.gl/maps/Yf6A5vEivUo7vhHUA

Our last run from the Rowing Club will be Monday June 24th due to the second cross country race on the 26th. There will be more information about detailed arrangements in due course.

Gords 6 - kids races

There will again be races for kids held in conjunction with this years Gords 6.

  • Entries on the night - £2.

  • 1k for 8s and under, 2k for 9+.

  • Races will start at 5.30.

  • The routes are mainly grass and traffic free.

  • Medals and goody bags to all finishers. certificates to category winners.

  • Parking behind Wye Leisure accessed via Green Man car park

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Race Directors needed

As you all know, a great deal of work is required to put on any race and as a club, we organise, annually 2 road races, 2 off-road races and 2 cross country league races. The role of Race Director is key to the organisation of each race. Although there is a group of committee members and others who help with the pre-race organisation and many more who help on the day, the Race Director is the person who leads the team. The Race Directors for 2 of our major races, Muddy Woody (Dave Sherwood) and New Years Day 10k (Paddy Nugent), have indicated that they want a break and will not be race directors in 2020. We also need someone for the Summer cross country at Queenswood. We are therefore asking for people to come forward to take on these roles. There are plenty of experienced people around who will help you and we have a helpful checklist for each race. What we are looking for is people with good organisational and leadership skills. Please consider whether you could take this on, as it is unlikely that we will be able to put on either the NYD or Muddy Woody next year, without a willing volunteer. Names as usual to one of the committee, or speak to me if you want to know more about what is involved.

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Wye Valley Runners

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