I hope that you and your families are keeping safe and well and that you had a happy and peaceful Easter. With the lighter evenings and the (sometimes) warmer weather it certainly is starting to feel like there is light at the end of the long Covid-19 tunnel. 

All Club News 

And we're back!

After a year of disruption training was able to resume for most groups from last Monday. I think turnout was good for the senior groups and I imagine that the junior groups were well attended too. 

 Here is the Wednesday evening senior group rediscovering the joys of running in Priory Park.

I'm not sure whether they were 'taking the knee' in gratitude or whether they were trying not to block out the magnificent backdrop. 

Left to right are Usha Stevens, Adrian Grant, James England, Melanie Fulton-Bell, Debbie Robinson, Ian Edmonds, Kate Knight, Peter Luxton, Jack Finn, Juliette Stern, David Winzer and Gail Hill.

The Club AGM - a date for your diaries

The AGM will be held on Monday 26th April. Please add this date to your diaries. More details are on the Noticeboard. If you have not received a formal notification (email) please contact the club secretary 

We still have no candidates for the post of Club Chair which will become vacant at the AGM. There is an updated description of the Chair role here.  Malcolm is waiting to discuss the role with anyone who thinks that they might be interested in taking on this position. It is possible for the club to have co-chairs if you would be willing to share the role with others. 

We will also be awarding senior trophies to the 2020 Club Champions and to other competition winners.  

Sportsshoes.com Discount

The discount code for April will be shared in the email version of this newsletter. Don't forget that we are not allowed to share this outside of the club.   

Junior Section News 

Isla's Fantastic Fundraising

Isla Kinniburg and her friend Nicole (sorry, I don't have her surname) each ran 50K over 5 weeks from 1st March to raise money for GreenPeace. Their target was to raise £150 and at the time of writing they have raised a fantastic £578. Well done Isla and Nicole! If you would like to contribute to their fundraising  a link to their Just Giving page will be included in the email version of the newsletter. 

Return to Junior Training

The Saturday morning 9:00 group restarted on Saturday April 3rd.   

Gavin Lawrence and Dave Mills will be in touch directly with their groups with arrangements for the resumption of training.

Dates for Your Diary 

Surrey Quadkids team event on Wednesday 23 June 5:30 at Guildford for school years 5 and 6.  

The athletics leagues are looking to hold events over the summer and the following dates have been confirmed so far:

YDL Lower age group 5th June, 17th July and 4th  September

YDL Upper age group 30th May, 27th June, 25th  July and 5th September 

Lily B  26th June, 7th August and 28th  August

Senior Section News 

RPAC Athletes Back With a Vengeance

RPAC athletes returned to competition with a spring in their step and racked up a host of PBs and two new club records. 

On Wednesday (31st March) Tom Almond took part in the Comeback 5000 in Battersea Park, organised by Belgrave Harriers. He finished in a very speedy 15:41. Well done Tom.

On Saturday (3rd March) Ginevra Stoneley and Kate Knight took part in the Dorney Lake Marathon.

Ginevra set a new club record by finishing in 2:55:29, beating the previous record (set by Ginevra) by 3½ minutes. Fantastic result Ginevra!

Kate Knight completed her 69th marathon, finishing in 6:51:19, just 3½ months after having had spinal surgery. Amazing Kate!  Kate says that she is looking forward to completing her 70th marathon on 17th April. 

Here is Ginevra on her way to her new club record

..and here is Kate having completed her 69th Marathon

Also on Saturday Frank and Gillian O'Regan both notched up new 10k PBs at the Run Through Kempton Park event, finishing in 36:47 and 43:29 respectively. Well done Team O'Regan!

At the same event Doug Kington scored a new PB in the Half Marathon distance by finishing in 1:39:30. Brilliant run Doug!

Today (5th April) Eloise Bull , George Roux and Steve Cheesman all took part in the PB5K at Ardingly Showground. They finished in 18:43, 15:57 and 17:51 respectively. Well done to you all!

Eloise's time is a new club record, beating the previous record (set by Ginevra) by 12 seconds. Fantastic result Eloise!

Just a reminder that if you are taking part in a race that could form part of this year's Club championships you need to include your affiliation to RPAC for it to appear correctly on Power of 10.  

Keep in touch

 Stay safe everybody. Please let us know if there is anything you'd like to see in the newsletter.

If you wish to get in touch our email address is   

Surrey Athletic Officials were out in force on Friday 26th March for the Olympic Marathon and 20k Race Walk Trials at the glorious Kew Gardens.

While there was some drop out of competing athletes for all sorts of reasons, the Officials just could not wait to be back ‘working’. Everyone took a covid test (LFT) within 48 hours of the event, and the athletes were only allowed a 'plus one' who had to control their water station during the races.

From Reigate Priory AC, Donna Barrington-Smith was the selected Chief Timekeeper with Ashley Burridge a significant part of the timekeeping team. Reigate resident, Peter Crawshaw, was Assistant Referee.

Alarms set for just after 3am, meet time at Kew was 4.45am with the first race, the 20km Race Walk starting at 6.00am and the mixed Marathon at 8.00am.

The hopes were that this flat but beautiful course would provide a great basis for some super times, but what the TV presenters, who must have been inside warm buildings didn’t seem to fathom, was that it was actually quite windy – even to the extent of blowing away Donna’s tent which was put up under a huge Yew tree!

A great morning of athleticism, with Callum Wilkinson taking a clear lead and great finish in the 20k Walk in 82:47. Sadly none of the 20k Race Walkers quite reached their Olympic goals (this time) although there were some great PBs. However, within the 20k was a 10k Race Walk for three younger athletes, with the first male and first female potentially qualifying for the GB team for the European Race Walking Cup.

The weather was a little calmer by 8am and the Marathon started with 36 athletes plus pacemakers. One lap of just over 1.6km was following by 12 x 3.33km laps, and it wasn’t until about 20k that you could spot the lead 10 men pulling away from the lead group of women. Christopher Thompson, Benjamin Connor, Mohamud Aadan and Dewi Griffiths ran very much as a pack, and were constantly reminded to ‘work with the wind’. The front 3 men started pulling away from Dewi at about 35km, but in the last few laps, it was evident that Chris Thompson really was going to take a spectacular first place, and ultimately finished in 2:10:52 - the Olympic Qualifier being 2:11:30.

For the Women to get to Tokyo, 2:29:30 was the goal, and Stephanie Davis ran a fantastic 2:27:16. Sadly, second place was just over 30 seconds after the qualifying time but let’s keep our fingers crossed for Natasha Cockram!

All Club News 

The Club AGM - a date for your diaries

The AGM will be held on Monday 26th April. Please add this date to your diaries. More details are on the Noticeboard.

We still have no candidates for the post of Club Chair which will become vacant at the AGM. There is an updated description of the Chair role here.  

We will also be awarding senior trophies to the 2020 Club Champions and to other competition winners.  

England Athletics registration renewal

Many of you will have received an e-mail from England Athletics, which talks about renewal of your / your child's EA registration.

The club will collect the EA registration fee as part of the annual renewal process from 1^st May onwards, and will renew all EA memberships as soon as the fees have been paid. There is a notice on our website to this effect.

Junior Section News 

Return to Junior Training

The Saturday morning 9:00 group will restart on Saturday April 3rd.   

Gavin Lawrence and Dave Mills will be in touch directly with their groups with arrangements for the resumption of training.

Dates for Your Diary 

Surrey Quadkids team event on Wednesday 23 June 5:30 at Guildford for school years 5 and 6.  

The athletics leagues are looking to hold events over the summer and the following dates have been confirmed so far:

YDL Lower age group 5th June, 17th July and 4th  September

YDL Upper age group 30th May, 27th June, 25th  July and 5th September 

Lily B  26th June, 7th August and 28th  August

Senior Section News 

Return to Senior Training ***TODAY!!!***

Senior training returns from 29th March. Please look at the noticeboard for the latest information about the groups and sessions.

The Surrey Slog

MABAC have advised that they plan to hold the Surrey Slog on Sunday 25th July. This is described as "a challenging half marathon around Holmbury Hill".

We will be asking for volunteers nearer the time. More details are available on the MABAC website. There is also a link to enter the event, but at the time of writing it is still not working!

Congratulations Kate Knight! 

Kate has completed her 600 mile journey for NHS charities and Mind. She got up early on Friday to finish the last 7 miles before her shift. Brilliant!

Kate says that she is now looking forward to the Dorney Lake Marathon this Saturday and Hurstwood on 17th April. That will be her 70th marathon to date!

The Balcombe Ball Run 2020 - by Moray Carey

Many institutions, as well as running clubs, organise races. This includes schools.

One such event hosted by an educational establishment has been the low key Balcombe Bull Run - a challenging 7.1km cross-country run on tracks, public footpaths and lanes.

It’s been staged annually since 2014 and last year’s event was held on 15th March, attracting 105 runners, both conventional and canni-cross.

The conditions were extremely wet and since a lot of the undulating course is routed along unmade paths through fields and woodland, it was extremely muddy!   

The run started on a steep descent from the back of Balcombe Primary School, traversed the London-Brighton railway line up Westup, through an inclined, waterlogged field dropping perilously down onto Rocks Lane, up the sharply graded, lung busting ascent to Rowhill Lane, past the White House, along Postman’s Walk, through a water filled trench in woodland, through Westup Farm (where the bull may be observed) finishing with a sharp climb back to the school.

It was won by Ben Short of Horley Harriers and every finisher was greeted by the enthusiastic marshals accompanied by the constant tinkling of cowbells, which are awarded as a race memento.  

As a further reward, post run refreshments, consisting of delicious home-made cakes, snacks plus hot and cold drinks, were available from the school, laid on by the school PTA.     

The race was sponsored by Balcombe Dairy, makers of “Blue Clouds” a mild, creamy, handmade blue cheese. The proceeds were shared between the school PTA and St Catherine’s Hospice.

I would recommend this idiosyncratic event to anyone looking for a low key cross country run through varied and scenic countryside.  

Keep in touch

 It's more important than ever that we keep in touch with each other at this time. Stay safe everybody. Please let us know if there is anything you'd like to see in the newsletter.

If you wish to get in touch our email address is   

Hello everyone. I hope that you and your families are all keeping safe and well. I'd like to start by wishing my fellow editor Paul Walters a very happy birthday today. 

All Club News 

The Club AGM - a date for your diaries

The AGM will be held on Monday 26th April. Please add this date to your diaries. More details are on the Noticeboard.

We still have no candidates for the post of Club Chair which will become vacant at the AGM. There is an updated description of the Chair role here.  

We will also be awarding senior trophies to the 2020 Club Champions and to other competition winners.  

EA Consultation

England Athletics are running a consultation about the future formal “membership” of UK Athletics, which is equivalent to the shareholders in a company limited by shares. Full information about the various options proposed are available on the EA website. If you want to input to this consultation, which could have a significant impact on the level of control that we (as athletes) have over the future  of our sport in the UK, then please contact Ginevra or Malcolm  with your views on the various options, by no later than Friday 26^th March. We will then respond to the consultation on behalf of the club.

Junior Section News 

 Return to Junior Training

The Saturday morning 9:00 group will restart on Saturday April 3rd.   

Gavin Lawrence and Dave Mills will be in touch directly with their groups with arrangements for the resumption of training. 

Dates for Your Diary 

Surrey Quadkids team event on Wednesday 23 June 5:30 at Guildford for school years 5 and 6.  

The athletics leagues are looking to hold events over the summer and the following dates have been confirmed so far:

YDL Lower age group 5th June, 17th July and 4th  September

YDL Upper age group 30th May, 27th June, 25th  July and 5th September 

Lily B  26th June, 7th August and 28th  August

Senior Section News 

Return to Senior Training 

Senior training returns from 29th March. Please look at the noticeboard for the latest information about the groups and sessions.

Battlebridge Floodlights

I am happy to confirm that all the floodlights are working again and are now operated by timer. 

The Surrey Slog

MABAC have advised that they plan to hold the Surrey Slog on Sunday 25th July. This is described as "a challenging half marathon around Holmbury Hill".

We will be asking for volunteers nearer the time. More details are available on the MABAC website. There is also a link to enter the event, but at the time of writing it is still not working!

And finally...

The mystery of the missing trophies has been solved and I will arrange for distribution of the outstanding awards and medals in due course.

Kate Knight has now just 31 miles to go to complete her 600 mile challenge raising money for NHS Charities Together and Mind. Well done Kate! 

Keep in touch

 It's more important than ever that we keep in touch with each other at this time. Stay safe everybody. Please let us know if there is anything you'd like to see in the newsletter.

If you wish to get in touch our email address is   

Hello everyone. I hope that you and your families are all keeping safe and well. 

Floodlights this week

There is some remedial work taking place on the floodlights at Battlebridge on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week to replace the failed floodlight, straighten the column and fit a timer. As a result of this, it is very unlikely that we will be able to switch them on tomorrow evening (16th March).

Return to Senior Training 

Senior training returns from 29th March. We are planning to hold sessions at the same times and in the same groups as we had after Lockdown 2 at the end of last year. Full details are on the noticeboard.

The Club AGM - a date for your diaries

The AGM will be held on Monday 26th April. Please add this date to your diaries. More details are on the Noticeboard.

Please note the very important information about nominations being needed for the post of Club Chair. There is an updated description of the Chair role here. 

We will also be awarding senior trophies to the 2020 Club Champions and to other competition winners.  

EA Consultation

 England Athletics are running a consultation about the future formal “membership” of UK Athletics, which is equivalent to the shareholders in a company limited by shares. Full information about the various options proposed are available on the EA website.

If you want to input to this consultation, which could have a significant impact on the level of control that we (as athletes) have over the future  of our sport in the UK, then please contact Ginevra or Malcolm () with your views on the various options, by no later than Friday 26^th March. We will then respond to the consultation on behalf of the club.

The Surrey Slog

MABAC have advised that they plan to hold the Surrey Slog on Sunday 25th July. This is described as "a challenging half marathon around Holmbury Hill".

We will be asking for volunteers nearer the time. More details are available on the MABAC website. There is also a link to enter the event, but at the time of writing it is not working; I have been assured that it will be up and running in the next day or two.

Summary Minutes

The Summary Minutes from February's Committee Meeting are here. 

YMCA Virtual Quiz Night 

Our friends at the YMCA are holding a virtual quiz night fundraiser this Friday (19th March) at 7pm. They are looking for teams of up to 6 people to enter. The cost is £5 per person. There is a maximum entry of 20 teams. If anyone is interested in entering a team they can do so here. 

Kate's Challenge

At the time of writing Kate Knight is 470 miles into her 600 challenge with just 16 days left to complete it. Kate has had to walk all of this distance so far as she has not been allowed to run following surgery on her neck just before Christmas. 

She tells me that she is allowed to run again from this week though, so I expect she will complete her goal well inside the deadline. Well done Kate! Her fundraising page is here. 

London Marathon 2021 

The next Virgin Money London Marathon takes place on Sunday 3rd October 2021. Assuming we are allocated place(s), the recipient of the place(s) will be decided by a draw. 

To be eligible for the draw you must:

• have been a member of the club for 2 years
• have been rejected in the ballot
• not have had a club place in the last 3 years
• have done some volunteering for the club in the last 24 months.

For 2021 only there will be no additional place available for members who have helped at the start of the marathon. This is a decision by the London Marathon organisers, not us.

If you have any questions or would like your name entered in the draw, if/when we receive any places, please contact Ginevra

Keep in touch

 It's more important than ever that we keep in touch with each other at this time. Stay safe everybody. Please let us know if there is anything you'd like to see in the newsletter.

If you wish to get in touch our email address is   

Hello everyone. I hope that you and your families are all keeping safe and well. At last we have some good news to report!

The Club AGM - a date for your diaries

The AGM will be held on Monday 26th April. Please add this date to your diaries. More details are on the Noticeboard.

Please note the very important information about nominations being needed for the post of Club Chair. There is an updated description of the Chair role here.

We will also be awarding trophies to the 2020 Club Champions and to other competition winners.  

Lilah Unwin fastest U15 girl at 600m in 2020

Lilah set her 600m time of 1.38.76 at Bromley in September 2020.

Her U15 time wasn’t beaten by the end of the year and so is now officially recorded by the Power of 10 as the fastest U15 girl at 600m in 2020. Congratulations Lilah!

London Marathon 2021 

The next Virgin Money London Marathon takes place on Sunday 3rd October 2021. Assuming we are allocated place(s), the recipient of the place(s) will be decided by a draw. 

To be eligible for the draw you must:

• have been a member of the club for 2 years
• have been rejected in the ballot
• not have had a club place in the last 3 years
• have done some volunteering for the club in the last 24 months.

For 2021 only there will be no additional place available for members who have helped at the start of the marathon. This is a decision by the London Marathon organisers, not us.

If you have any questions or would like your name entered in the draw, if/when we receive any places, please contact Ginevra

Some Commonwealth Games facts - by Moray Carey

The next edition of the Commonwealth Games takes place in Birmingham in 2022.

These multi-sports events were first held in 1930 (in Hamilton, Canada) and staged every four years since, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete separately in the Commonwealth Games unlike the Olympics where the Home Nations are represented in a single, combined UK team.

There are 54 members of the Commonwealth of Nations but 71 teams currently participate in the Games as “dependent” territories such as the Isle of Man, Falkland Islands, Guernsey and Jersey under their own flags.

Curiously, Mozambique (where the official language is Portuguese) joined the Commonwealth in 1995, despite never having been part of the British Empire.     

The most recent and XX1st edition of the Games was staged at Australia’s Gold Coast 4^th-15^th April, 2018:

• 6500 athletes
• equal number of medals for women and men (a global first) – awarded to 1^st (gold), 2^nd (silver) and 3^rd (bronze)
• largest ever para-sport programme
• 275 events divided into 23 categories including lawn bowls and rugby Sevens

Categories

1. Athletics
2. Badminton
3. Basketball
4. Beach Volleyball
5. Boxing
6. Cycling – mountain bike
7. Cycling – road
8. Cycling – track
9. Diving
10. Gymnastics – artistic
11. Gymnastics – rhythmic
12. Hockey
13. Lawn bowls
14. Netball
15. Para powerlifting
16. Rugby sevens
17. Shooting
18. Squash
19. Swimming
20. Table tennis
21. Triathlon
22. Weightlifting
23. Wrestling

Medal Table

The most successful Nations were:  

1. Australia – 80/59/59 (gold/silver/bronze)
2. England -  45/45/46
3. India -  26/20/20 

Wales finished in 7^th place, Scotland 8^th and Northern Ireland 20^th.

Some other results:

Nauru (formerly known as Pleasant Island), a microstate in Oceania in the Central Pacific) won a single silver medal (in the women’s +90kg weightlifting) 

The Solomon Islands won a single bronze medal (in the women’s 58kg weightlifting)   

Norfolk Island, a dependency directly administered by Australia, won a single bronze medal (in the men’s triples – bowls)

Note from Editorial (Paul): Moray mentions the inaugural games in 1930. I couldn't resist but mention that my Great Uncle George Bailey was there running the steeplechase. He's the one at the end of this Youtube video at the top of the podium receiving his medal.

Keep in touch

 It's more important than ever that we keep in touch with each other at this time. Stay safe everybody. Please let us know if there is anything you'd like to see in the newsletter.

If you wish to get in touch our email address is