Awards 2021

Apologies for not getting the newsletter out in time for its usual Monday evening slot, but the Club AGM was held last night and there was insufficent time to complete it. The AGM was held at the YMCA Sovereign Centre and was attended by approximately 25 club members. 

All Club News 

Awards Evening This Saturday at Perrywood Sports & Social Club

You can still purchase tickets via LoveAdmin (under "Optional Extras"). The cost is £10 per person. The cut off date for purchase is 09:00 on Thursday (26th April).

Are you an award winner? See here to find out.

The evening for Juniors will commence at 6.00pm with music to enjoy with your fellow club runners. Seniors should arrive from 7.30pm to purchase drinks prior to the awards ceremonies which will commence at 8.00pm. 
 
Following the awards presentations, all attendees are invited to continue enjoying the evenings festivities.  Finger food is included in the price of the evening and will be served throughout the evening so please let us know when booking if you have any food allergies. A (pay) bar is available at the sports and social club to buy refreshments.  The bar is able to take both cash and card payments.
 

Sunday 1st May YMCA Fun Run

We usually have a great turn-out from the club for this one.

The first race is the senior 5 mile race (also a Club GP event) which starts at 10AM and this is followed by an adult 1-mile race plus a number of 1-mile races for children of different age categories.

Every finisher gets a great YMCA medal plus a YMCA T-shirt and there will be free snacks too from the water station at the finish.

Anyone interested can sign up online where there is also more info at

https://www.ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk/get-involved/challenge-events/fun-run/

Online entries close at midnight on Thursday 28th April.

The YMCA are also looking for marshals from 9.30AM and if anyone is interested they can get in touch with  or  

 

Couch to 5K programme

The next Reigate Priory AC Couch to 5K Programme will start on Saturday May 14th - full details are here if you know anyone who would be interested.
 
 

Give us your results please

If you run in an event, do please let us know your results by emailing . If possible please can you submit them by Sunday evening at the latest as this allows us to meet the deadline for the Surrey Mirror sports pages. 

  

Junior Section News 

YDL Upper Age Group at Eltham from Ashley Burridge

There were great early-season performances by RPAC juniors in the first match of the UK Youth Development League at Sutcliffe Park, Eltham on Sunday, 24 April.
 
Congratulations on their performances and commitment go to:
Euan Willis 1500m 4:32.66
Sam Rolaston 1500m 4:33.03
Ella Scrase 800m 2:28.81
Roman Thompson-Lamont 100m 12.26 and 200m 24.86
Oscar Curry 800m 2:04.08
 
Ella, Oscar and Roman waited around in the decreasing temperature to also compete in the relays with athletes from our joint team Holland Sports AC, adding valuable team points. 
 
The Holland Sports/Reigate Priory team punched above its weight finishing 7th, ahead of the enormous composite team of Victoria Heathside Highgate, all of which have full-sized synthetic tracks at their disposal!
 
We look forward to seeing even more Reigate Priory U17 and U20 juniors at our next fixture on 29th May at Bexley.

Ludo's Triathlon

Ludo Blennerhassett took part in the IntoTri junior short triathlon in Walton-on-Thames on Sunday (24th April) https://intotri.com/free-tri/. His Mum Rachel reports that "He came in a respectable 4th in his age group with an overall time of 17 minutes 42 seconds. He competed under the club's name so they will get mention in the scoring. 
If there is any way of passing on to other members that there are still junior places available for the IntoTri Triathalons over the summer, that'd be great. It's a lovely friendly event on a car-free course with a pool swim so no wetsuits needed. Places are free or very low cost so it's an excellent first triathlon and highly recommended for kids. We always have a great time." 
 
Here is Ludo....
 
 
 
 

Surrey County Athletics Championships

Entries are now being accepted for the championships on 14th/15th May. Entry link via the https://surreyathletics.uk website 
 

Ebbisham Boys League

The first Ebbisham Boys League match is this Sunday (1st May) at Kingston. Frist event is 1:00 and last event at 4:15.There are events for U11, U13 and U15 boys.
 
Please let Mike Gent know at  if your son would like to compete and in which events.
 
For U11s the events are limited to 75m, 150m, 600m and Long Jump. Each athlete can do 3 events plus a relay. There are no U11 relays.
 
There is no cost but we have to declare athletes ahead of time on Wednesday 27th April. 
 

Dates for the Diary

Ebbisham Boys League

The dates and venues for this year's Ebbisham Boys league are as follows:

Kingston - Sunday 1st May
Sutton - Sunday 19th June
Coulsdon - Sunday 17th July

This league has events for U11-U17 boys.

Surrey Team Quad Kids

This event is for school years 5 and 6. We need a team of 5 girls and 5 boys. The event is on Wednesday 15 June at the Spectrum in Guildford with a 5:30pm start.

 

Senior Section News 

Surrey Road League Fixtures

Jamilla advises that there are two upcoming fixtures in the Surrey Road League. These are as follows:

Ranelagh Richmond Half Marathon  on  Sunday 8th May
Sutton 10km on Sunday 15th May
 
Please let the team captains know if you plan to take part.
 

MABAC Farnham Park Sunday 8th May

The next MABAC fixture is on Sunday week in Farnham Park. Don't forget that we are currently lying in second place in the league so we need a good strong turnout to maintain our position.

More details are here. As with all MABAC races there are one lap and two lap options and you can decide which you are going to run on the day.  My recollection is that although Farnham Park is very hilly, the course itself isn't too bad as it mostly runs along the top of the hill.  The walk to the start is a different story. Please don't hold me to that as it's two or three years since I last ran it!

Car parking is limited so I suggest meeting in Bell St Car Park for an 08:30 departure. If you need a lift or you can help with transport please let me know 

Unfortunately this clashes with the Richmond Half listed above but hopefully the two races will draw from different pools of athletes.

 

 Monday 18th April Boston Marathon, Lincolnshire 

We mentioned in last week's newsletter that Ian Burks, Mike Pocock and Jim Vince completed the Boston Marathon in Lincolnshire on Sunday 17th April. Ian Burks set a new club record for his age category with his run of 03:15:21, beating the previous record (set by Mike Pocock in 2016) by almost two minutes; Mike Pocock came 2nd in his age category, finishing in 3:39:15 and Jim Vince returning after a series of injuries, ran 4:38:27. Great results Gents! 

Members' News 

Anette Morris set a new age category record in the Ifield Mill Pond Parkrun last Saturday with her finish time of 24.41 (and age grading of 83.39%) . Well done Annette!

John Masterton reports:  "I did the Connemarathon half in Connemara over in the west of Ireland yesterday, result was a PB of 1:47:44 which on a hilly course, I was pretty happy with. Doing my bit for Irish tourism, I would highly recommend this event, particularly if you get good weather like I did. Although this is very much not guaranteed or even likely..." Well done John! 

 

Saturday Social running group

By way of an explanation the Saturday Social running group is a run / run-walk on a Saturday morning at 10:30AM usually from Reigate Priory, but is often replaced by the Couch to 5K session when the programme is running.

The schedule for the Saturday Social running group / impending Couch to 5K is as follows...
 
Saturday 30th April - 10:30AM Earlswood Lakes car park for a ~ 3 mile run, and an optional lead-in session for the up-coming Couch to 5K programme, also at Earlswood Lakes.
Saturday 7th May - 10:30AM start in Priory Park, and a 2nd optional lead-in session for the up-coming Couch to 5K programme also in Priory Park.
Saturday 14th May - 10:30AM start of the Couch to 5K programme in Priory Park, social running group are welcome to come to help and encourage.
Saturday 21st May - 10:30AM Priory Park, Saturday Social running group will be timed alongside the 2nd week of Couch to 5K to frequent the cafe afterwards.
If you'd like to join us for any of this do please let me know at   

 

Volunteer at Run Gatwick Sunday 8th May

If you are not running at either the Surrey Road League or MABAC events why not consider volunteering at Run Gatwick? 

 
The event is starting and finishing at Gatwick Aviation Museum - so driving there is required - Parking is free for volunteers.  As always a free place is offered in return for helping and this time the places can be transferred to a friend or family.
 
They are also looking for volunteers for Run Reigate and Ride Reigate, so if anyone wants a particular role now is a good time to sign up:
 

 

Dates for Your Diary

Sunday 1st May YMCA Fun Run There are 1 mile and 5 mile options for seniors.  The 5 mile race is a Grand Prix race.

Sunday 8th May Surrey Road League, Ranelagh Richmond Half Marathon see above

Sunday 8th May MABAC Farnham Park see above

Sunday 15th May Surrey Road League, Sutton 10K see above

Sunday 12th June Dorking 10's (10 mile and 10K races) The 10 mile is the RPAC Club Championship 10 mile race and a Grand Prix event (and Surrey Championship too) More details on the noticeboard soon. 

 

Keep in touch

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