Tewkesbury Running Club
Member of the Month
2022
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January
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Our first Member of the Month of 2022 is someone who has never received the prestigious award before...despite being on the shortlist many times during the past 3 years. Sheena Moseley is a very popular member of our running club, her welcoming smile, laugh and dulcet Irish tone can be heard at most club nights as she is ever present on the Monday and Wednesday runs. Always encouraging other runners and being a perfect run buddy - as she likes to talk whilst others listen and catch their breath! Her running has flourished this month as she follows a 'revolutionary' new training plan; with great results at the Fladbury Frolic, the Cross Country at the Cotswold Farm Park and culminating in knocking 4 minutes off her PB in the Staverton 10 mile race. Congratulations Sheena.
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February
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February's Member of the Month is a popular and engaging member of our running club. Although being a recent winner of Club Person of the Year, she has never won the prestigious MotM award.
Sam Robinson is a regular on the club runs, whether it be on a Monday night helping out with the C25K and Jolly Joggers, or a Wednesday night encouraging from her preferred sweeper position. She is an ever present on the unofficial Thursday night run, cajoling runners to join her on a comfortable jog and Saturday mornings, putting in a longer run with a Morrisons breakfast after as reward!
Sam regularly tops 100 miles run in a month (200 if including her daily power walks), with February seeing her in the form of her life.
An 'ever present' at the Cross Country, Sam put in a fine performance at this month’s Pittville run, helping the Ladies team score valuable points.
Her unselfish work behind the scenes encouraging the newer and tender members is a credit to Sam, indeed trying to find a photo of Sam running on her own is an impossible task as it never happens! Congratulations Sam.
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March
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March is traditionally the month when the running activities warm-up with races popping-up near and far. Springing into action for Tewkesbury was Alan Whitby – a genuine renaissance runner who keeps coming back with vigour after his setbacks. Alan had a splendid March in which he broke another of the club records; 20 mile races are hard – not as long as the marathon meaning you can run harder for a shorter but still be exhausted at the finish! Alan’s 2:22 20 mile record measures impressively against his V60 marathon record of 3:25, clearly highlighting his change in pace despite being 6 months more senior. Theoretically, he could have quietly jogged another 10k and broke the marathon record again! Alan has rarely missed a club run recently and his lovely warmth is a credit to the club. The cherry on top of his March achievements is the wonderful charity donations he raised for the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. It has been a topping month for Alan and he quite simply runs away with our Member of the Month title. Congratulations.
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April
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April's Member of the month needs no introduction: our leader and Chairman has had an exceptional month, even by his own lofty standards. Hot on the heels of directing the popular Pendock Chicken event he went straight into the setting-up next month's Gloucester 10k. Whilst sharing his love of the great outdoors, he organised a jog for club members around the beautiful bluebell blooms near his home. A regular as a Parkrun tourist, travelling the country trying out different Parkruns, Nigel doesn't mind travelling to get his running fix. This April he landed in Boston USA, where he managed an impressive 3.38 marathon time - despite not being fully recovered from Covid! Boston Marathan became a nice training run for his upcoming Ultra marathons. Nigel's tireless work behind the scenes with the committee, supporting and encouraging others to share in his love of running in his friendly, quiet, and unassuming way is a credit to our Running club and himself. Congratulations Nigel, the MotM for April.
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May
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Congratulations to our Member of the Month for May, Alec Vincent. In what was a busy racing month - important too with the town's traditional 13.1 mile event back - Alec still managed to support the club training runs attending most Monday and Wednesday runs including Mike's monthly run, Kerry's May session and Roy's handicap. Brilliant club attendance aside, Alec has produced some prime displays in the local Parkruns. His splendid run in the Tewkesbury Half Marathon, where he came home in a new PB of 1:27 hr was clearly his best run for several years after recovering from a lengthy period with plantar fasciitis. Rarely seen without a smile on his face, Alec is a great asset to Tewkesbury Running club and we are very pleased to recognise his achievements this month and look forward to seeing what's to come during the rest of the year.
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June
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Our Member of the Month award for June goes to someone who likes to dip her toes in water, ride on cushions of air and then set about her running. Jo Chandler has had an amazing month of swimming, biking and running, culminating in her completing the IRONMAN 70.3 Westfriesland (Netherlands) in 6 hours 34 minutes. For us runners unfamiliar with triathlons, the 70.3 is the distance in KM of the non-stop swim, bike & run challenge, AKA a Half-Ironman... with the final run distance being a half-marathon 13.1 miles.
Many club members when training for their ‘A’ race, struggle to fit in club runs in their schedules. Jo however, proved it can be done. An ever present at the Monday and Wednesday night club runs, Jo could be found diligently following her schedule, speeding up, slowing down, sprinting off and looping back, displaying a dedication many of us can only dream of whilst still managing to encourage those around her.
Training for a 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike and then run a half marathon takes discipline and mental strength, having to train for it twice due to the event being cancelled last year is incredible – yes, Jo’s original race date was postponed – hugely disappointing with her training accomplished and then to lift herself up and start again to peak for the new start-line.
Congratulations (half) Ironwoman Jo. An awesome achievement and now you are our MotM.
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July
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The Member of the Month award for July goes to Tom Lee. Continuing his running journey with the club, Tom has had a fantastic year of running thus far. His arduous work in training paid-off with two personal bests (PBs) in July. The first came at the Evesham 10k with a time of 58.53 mins - smashing his previous best by several minutes and getting him his first sub-1-hour 10k. The second PB came in the Club's Wednesday evening GF5 handicap series, where a time of 48.23 mins was enough to gain him a podium finish along with knocking over 1 minute off his previous PB time.
Tom only took up running 12 months ago and Coach Mike’s protégé is continuing to go from strength to strength. His welcoming smile can be seen at most Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday runs... his determined smile can be seen when he races. Congratulations Tom. Keep on improving.
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August
August saw a welcome return to form for one of the club's most decorated runners. Rumour has it that Jon Mansfield was there when our club was formed in 1983, but the record books show a more accurate year to be 2005, when he first burst onto the scene by winning The King of the Roads title (and continuing to do so for record 10 years).
The last 3 years have been barren due to work and family taking priority – injuries took their toll too and competitive running and triathlons were forgotten. However, you cannot keep a good man down and this year Jon has found his running mojo again culminating in his victory in The Handicap Series - with five 5 mile races ran over 5 months, Jon has improved his time in every race and was a worthy winner ahead of a competitive field.
A longstanding and valued member of the Committee, Jon has also found time to organise the Cotswold Way Relay and a club off-road adventure at Stanway recently, whilst also masterminding all the planning ahead of our annual Guy Fawkes 5 event. Congratulations Jon, our MotM for August.
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September
Having only recently joined Tewkesbury Running Club, James Archer has burst onto the scene with the exuberance of a puppy on its first walk in the park. His enthusiasm for running is lifting and is a joy to see. James has lost an impressive amount of weight since he started running and his racing pace has been reducing at an equally impressive rate - his Parkrun times getting shorter every week is a fine example.
September saw James flying around the Alderton 5k, Cheltenham Half-Marathon, Angels 10k and the Apperley Quarter Marathon, getting a PB in every race, of course. His attendance at our training dates is very healthy and James has also shown a social gift by keeping the club's WhatsApp group alive.
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October
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October 2022 sees our first triple winner - Chris Nicholls has had a fantastic year of running and has been on the shortlist for MotM every month. He finally gets his third coveted award for an amazing month of running, whilst still finding time to move house and come to club runs. Chris went back 'home' for the Cardiff Half Marathon at the beginning of the month and became the first finisher for the club when he recorded a speedy time of 1.37 hrs, some 20 minutes quicker than his previous time on this course. He then followed this up with a noteworthy first place at the Tewkesbury Parkrun - a week when we had 5 members in the top 20. His time of 19.20 minutes was only 3 seconds outside his PB.
The following Saturday he finished 5th and the following week he managed another podium finish in 3rd place. His transition from 'Jolly Jogger' to 'Speedster' is now complete. What an inspiration. Congratulations Chris, MotM for October.
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November
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The Member of the Month award for November goes to David Aguirre. Dave has been an integral part of Tewkesbury running club for years and until now, was one of our unsung heroes. If there is a club event on, the chances are Dave won’t be far away, if not running, then supporting - and little beats a good supporter lifting spirts and performances. As a regular chauffeur to many club members over the years, he has clocked up 1,000’s of miles giving safe passage and wisdom to all who need a lift. However, under the friendly, easy-going smile, Dave is a tough competitor, who always gives his all during races and has become known for his rapid leg speed once his has the finish line in his sights.
A regular in the Cross-Country team, Dave produced a fine performance in difficult conditions at Cirencester Park this month - assisting the men's team to get some valuable points. He followed Cirencester Park by running a PB of 38.10 the very next day at the Guy Fawkes 5 - a fabulous run and just reward for someone who rarely misses a club training run.
Congratulations Dave, our long overdue and well deserved MotM.
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December
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The twelfth and final MotM of 2022 has been awarded to Linda Younger. Linda has done so much for Tewkesbury Running Club behind the scenes and rarely misses a club training session. Not content with helping her husband and club coach Mike plan the routes for Monday and Wednesday nights, she has recently added a Tuesday night run to her busy schedule, helping out with the popular ‘Get Back Running’ group. Linda is also the driving force behind the resurgence of the social Saturday morning runs, encouraging some extra few miles out of runner's weary limbs on the longer runs and giving the bright option of a group run in the daylight. This year she arranged a Christmas Eve run from her home, with coffee and cake afterwards as a festive reward - an offer 19 members eagerly enjoyed. Her constant commitment and encouragement is very much appreciated and certainly keeps the club tempo bubbling. Congratulations Linda, our member of the month for December.
