Last Wednesday evening, after the weekly club runs, Newport & District Running Club came together for their annual AGM and Awards Presentation Evening at Newport Bowling Club.

The AGM took place first, with the usual formalities that accompany such a meeting, and the committee, many of whom are new to their roles, introduced themselves and gave an update on what work they’re doing behind the scenes.

Following the AGM, attendees were treated to a “chip supper”, whilst a photo slideshow of events from the last year played on the screen, before the awards section took place. These awards reflect club members’ achievements over the course of 2022, with members submitting their best times from certain distances for consideration, as well as voting for fellow members on awards such as “most improved” and “contribution to the club”.

Prizes for various race distances include the outright fastest male and female runners, as well as “age graded” awards which adjust times depending on the age category of the runner.

List of winners:

Age Graded 5K:
Men: Robin Guy
Women: Anne Strowger
Age Graded 10K:
Men: Richard Bennett
Women: Anne Strowger
Age Graded Half Marathon:
Men: Phil Dolding
Women: Annabel Bolton
Age Graded Marathon:
Men: Phil Dolding
Women: (No award this year)
Fastest 5k:
Men: David Clarke
Women: Elizabeth Bennett
Fastest 10K:
Men: Ashley Moore
Women: Elizabeth Bennett
Fastest Half Marathon:
Men: David Clarke
Women: Elizabeth Bennett
Fastest Marathon:
Men: David Clarke
Women: Annabel Bolton
Ultra Marathon:
Men: Darren Waters
Women: Ellen Deighton
Most Improved Runner:
Men: Alex Cochrane
Women: Elizabeth Bennett
Strowger Award (Effort and Participation in Races): Hilary Stevenson
MacDonald-Jones Award (Inspiring Others): Jo Lutner
Contribution to the Club:
Men: Neil Fairbrother
Women: Emily Pope

Back row (L-R): Alex Cochrane, Ashley Moore, Phil Dolding, Richard Bennett, David Clarke, Elizabeth Bennett, Annabel Bolton, Ellen Deighton
Front row: (L-R): Neil Fairbrother, Emily Pope, Jo Lutner, Anne Strowger, Robin Guy
Elizabeth Bennett (right): 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Most Improved (female)
Alex Cochrane (right): Most Improved (male)
Anne Strowger (right): Age graded 5k & 10k (female)
Annabel Bolton (left): Marathon, Age Graded Half Marathon (female)
Phil Dolding (right): Age Graded Half Marathon & Marathon (male)
Richard Bennett (right): Age Graded 10k (male)
Ashley Moore (right): 10k (male)
David Clarke (right): 5k, Half Marathon, Marathon (male)
Jo Lutner (right): MacDonald-Jones Award for inspiring others
Ellen Deighton (right): Ultramarathon (female)
Emily Pope (right): Contribution to the Club (female)
Neil Fairbrother (right): Contribution to the Club (male)