On 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.

To start the evening, attendees were treated to a “chip supper”, paid for by the club, and sourced from a local fish and chip shop, which gave everyone a chance to recover from the evening’s run and catch up with friends.

The club’s collection of trophies, which were awarded on the night.

The AGM came next, with the usual formalities that accompany such a meeting, and each committee member gave an update on what work they’ve been doing behind the scenes for the past 12 months. After a few years without a Social Secretary, Andy Wilmot and Aaron Nicholas kindly came forward to take that on as a joint role.

The formalities concluded, it was time for the presentation of the club’s annual prizes. These awards reflect club members’ achievements over the course of 2024, 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”.

(Left to right, back row): Catherine Lamond, Pete Johnstone, Alex Millington, Amy Hughes, Simon Smith, Helen Mason, Elizabeth Bennett, Ashley Moore, Alex Cochrane. Front: Annabel Bolton – some winners were not present on the night.

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: Helen Mason
Age Graded 10K:
Men: Robin Guy
Women: Emily Pope
Age Graded Half Marathon:
Men: David Clarke
Women: Elizabeth Bennett
Age Graded Marathon:
Men: David Clarke
Women: Annabel Bolton
Fastest 5k:
Men: Alex Millington
Women: Helen Mason
Fastest 10K:
Men: Alex Millington
Women: Emily Pope
Fastest Half Marathon:
Men: Alex Millington
Women: Emily Pope
Fastest Marathon:
Men: Alex Millington
Women: Annabel Bolton
Ultra Marathon:
Men: Darren Waters
Women: Ellen Deighton
Most Improved Runner:
Men: Pete Johnstone
Women: Amy Hughes
Most Promising Young Runner: Alex Cochrane
Strowger Award (Effort and Participation in Races): David Evans
MacDonald-Jones Award (Inspiring Others): Ashley Moore
Contribution to the Club:
Men: Simon Smith
Women: Catherine Lamond

Helen Mason (right) won both women’s 5k awards, presented by club chair Jo Lutner (left)
Alex Millington won the fastest men’s 5k, 10k, half and full marathon prizes
Liz Bennett won the women’s age graded half marathon
Annabel Bolton won both of the women’s marathon prizes
Pete Johnstone was voted most improved male runner by members
Amy Hughes was voted most improved female runner by members
Ashley Moore won the MacDonald-Jones Award (for inspiring others)
Simon Smith won the contribution to the club award (male)
Catherine Lamond won the contribution to the club award (female)