MESSAGE FROM HOLMFIRTH HARRIERS PRESIDENT, ROB KERSEY
Well another year nearly over and listening to the news this morning we don’t seem that far from where we were this time in 2020. Most of us have of course now been vaccinated and many will have had their booster, so we have more protection now from serious illness but are still vulnerable to infection and passing on to others. Recently I have learned of an increasing number of members being infected and I wish all those with family members affected a speedy recovery and no long term effects. We will of course be monitoring any new restrictions that come in and how they affect the club training nights. Hopefully we will not have to return to staggered starts or even worse a temporary closure again.
We have managed to keep the club open for most of the year and even returned to a mainly 7.00pm start for our training groups. While we are still down on pre-pandemic numbers, we have been regularly getting 40 to 60 seniors as well as a large number of juniors on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. Membership has also remained stable, with new members coming along in a steady stream throughout the year. Recently we have run another Couch to 5K beginners course and this was well supported with a number intending to become members, mostly joining one of the Tigers groups. At this point I would like to thank the organisers of the course and those that helped on training nights, plus all the Run Leaders and Coaches that have led all the training groups, both senior and junior, throughout the year.
Many of you will be aware that on Saturday 18th December we held the 101st running of our Tinker Cup Handicap Race. In the event we decided to cancel the refreshments and social get together after the race due to the high Covid infection rate and the small size of the Cricket Club building we normally use. The event registration was done outside at Neiley and results and presentations in the hall at Neiley after the race. Not the usual occasion but at least we managed to hold the race this year. Again thanks go to all those that turned out both to run and, more importantly, to marshal and officiate in some way.
Helena Croft was the proud winner of the Tinker Cup for first on handicap, with Chris Law 1st finisher and fastest male and Katie Walshaw fastest female.
We will be holding our Boxing Day Run on the 26th. The club will open at 9.00am and the run starts at 9.30am. It will be a run for all abilities and Jean Shotter, ladies Vice Captain, will be leading the group up to Castle Hill but with turnback points for anyone that doesn’t want to go the whole way. We will do a group photo on the top of Castle hill for those that make it.
The website editors have been beavering away over the last week updating and hopefully improving our already greatly improved website. They are, under Jon Burdon’s lead, attempting to make information even easier to find and developing a club race calendar. This will allow you to see a month by month list of all the events the club is involved in – Club Road and Fell Championships, Club Closed Races such as the 5 and 10 mile, plus all other championship and league events the club attends.
While urgent information will still go out on Facebook and by email the website should be your first place to find out what’s going on and to look for race reports etc.
Well I think that’s all for now.
Hoping you have a good Christmas and New Year and wishing you good health for 2022 and beyond.
Rob
Rob Kersey
Holmfirth Harriers President
