HJ NEWS – 2ND JULY 2021

Codes of Conduct

As “breaking social distancing guidelines” looks set to replace “Netflix and chill” in the Officially Ordered Euphemism Rankings (“oo-er” for short) it seems an opportune moment to turn to matters of public conduct. 

Not for Horsham Joggers the murk and sleaze of Whitehall. Not for us the chumocracy, entitlement, and favours of our Old Etonian masters. We strive for better. (Although a 50% discount at Wakefield’s the Jewellers wouldn’t go amiss. Just sayin’.) 

Anyway, as we look to uphold the highest standards of behaviour, we are in need of someone to oversee our activities. The club needs a Welfare Officer, who would be responsible for ensuring that Horsham Joggers is operating within the England Athletics Safeguarding Code of Conduct. It’s an important role and, if you want to know what the Code looks like, you can read about it here.  

Training and support will be provided to whoever fills the role and you should get in touch at info@horshamjoggers.co.uk if you would like to put yourself forward. 

Delay of the Land

Now it wouldn’t be a Horsham Joggers newsletter these days without news of another delay to resumption of full activities. Following the latest guidance we are now looking at bringing the Tuesday night club runs back into service on July 20th. This is a provisional date, of course, and is dependent on further updates from Sajid Javid, who has timed his arrival at DHSC to absolute perfection to become the person who gets to lift the restrictions. No doubt he is busy putting Post-It notes over all the cameras in his office right now. 

A Star is Born

Now, while some people get unwittingly caught on camera, some people were just plain born to it. Our own Mark Aylmore was recently on Horsham TV (yes! It’s a thing) talking about the work of the HJ Mental Health Champions and the #RunAndTalk initiative. At the end of May we spent a Saturday morning in the park to promote the initiative, and it was great to see so many HJs stopping by to lend their support. Meanwhile, Mark took to the airwaves to explain it all to a wider audience. You can watch it here.

Please don’t be put off by the description of the show as: “It’s all about jogging, talking, drinking and getting naked this week on Horsham.TV”. That is absolutely not what happens during Mark’s interview. But don’t let that stop you watching it. 

Summer Handicap

A provisional date of July 27th has been set for the Summer Handicap. Phil Liberman has stepped up to organise the event and he’ll get by with a little help from his friends. So if you’re interested in lending a hand to make this great event happen, drop us a line. 

Horsham Round & Social

Another HJ classic is slated for the August bank holiday weekend. So if you want to get a team together, or even run it on your own, then please let Roger Johnson know at rc.johnson@btinternet.com

Pacers needed for Barns Green

If you’re interested, get in touch at info@horshamjoggers.co.uk 

It all works out in the long run

There’s been a lot of crazy distance running since last we published, so here’s a bit of a round up:

Three Horsham Joggers competed in the Sussex Trail Events Marathon Madness it’s an opportunity to run 5 in 5 or 3 in 3 marathons in the evening with a Half Marathon option, 3 footpath and 2 trail

Chris Yeomans competed in the 5 in 5 marathons starting on Monday 21st and ending on Friday 25th with Matt Whyman and Emma Walters in the 3 in 3 Half Marathons.

Day One:  Worthing Promenade Marathon starting at Splash point and running the Worthing parkrun route, r3.28 miles west along the promenade and back 8 times.

Chris Yeomans 04:11:05

Day Two: Goring Marathon starting at Sea Lane café, Marine Crescent, runners will head east towards Worthing and return 10 times

Chris Yeomans 04:24:51

Day Three: Highdown Hill Trail Marathon starting from the Highdown Hill car park and use a circular route around the hill 10 times

Chris Yeomans 05:03:18, Half Marathon Matt Whyman 02:03:33, Emma Walters 02:06:24

Day Four: The River Arun Marathon starting from the Shoreham toll bridge up the river and back down the downslink.

Chris Yeomans 04:29:15, Half Marathon Matt Whyman 01:54:56, Emma Walters 01:54:55

Day Five Widewater Marathon starting at the car park the runners will head towards the Lancing Green beach and then return 8 times.

Chris Yeomans 04:12:03, Half Marathon Matt Whyman 01:50:19 Emma Walters 01:51:01

On Saturday 29th May 10 Horsham Joggers competed in the Devils Lite – a “there and back” ultra-marathon starting and finishing at Steyning Grammar School. The route heads east through the stunning South Downs National Park to Clayton Village Hall and then turns back west.

James Tombs 05:40:15, Chris Yeomans 05:57:38, Emma Waters 06:03:47, Ian Moore 3rd in best of age 06:18:28, Philip Liberman 06:41:17, Andy Robins 07:28:34, Victoria Robins 07:28:37, Paul Burgess 07:58:39, Theresa Adams 09:20:09 & Jacqui Williamson 09:20:11

Michael Saunders competed in the London to Brighton 100km challenge which started at the Old deer park in Richmond-Upon-Thames, then headed over the North Downs with wonderful Surrey & Sussex countryside to half way at Turners Hill. The route heads over the South Downs before the welcome sight of the Brighton coastline comes into view. Michael’s race time was 21:40:17

On the 22nd May James Tombs competed in the North Downs Way. The race begins in Farnham at the western end of the North Downs, travelling past Puttenham and Guildford following the North Downs Way National Trail. The course then continues on to Ranmore Common before the steepest climb of the race up to the top of Box Hill. Then trail then drops down the other side and back up to Reigate Hill, on through Merstham to Oxted and a further 8 miles to Knockholt Pound and the 50 mile finish. James came in at 08:45:01.

On the 23rd May four Horsham Joggers competed in The Three Forts Challenge, known as “The Tough One”. The Three Forts Marathon (approximately 27.2 miles) includes a total of c. 3450 ft of climb with stiles and rough tracks underfoot. The route runs northwards from Hill Barn to Cissbury Ring, then eastwards towards Coombs then to Botolphs and the River Adur crossing. The route then goes to Devil’s Dyke and back to the River Adur. It continues on the South Downs Way to Chanctonbury Ring, where it swings south-west to Findon Park Farm. It stays on public bridleways to Cissbury Ring and back to Hill Barn. Marathon Finish times Chris Yeomans 05:01:17 & Rob Jochimsen 05:40:22, Half Marathon Finish Times Euan Ramage 01:58:10 & Elisabeth Scott 02:14:47

(ED: Anyone else starting to think that Chris Yeomans needs his own newsletter?!)

Race to the King is an award winning historical trail which starts from Goodwood racecourse then winds along the spectacular South Downs Way, ending on the steps of Winchester Cathedral, one of the most historical significant buildings in Britain and the claimed burial ground of twelve English Kings. A number of Horsham Joggers competed in the non-stop event, covering a distance of 53.6 miles: Dom Wakefield 09:43:21, Paul Davis 10:11:13, Geri Smith 11:27:02, Ethel Whyman 13:04:30 & Robert Swan 16:55:04. And we had three in the Sunday event, a distance of 30.2 miles: Simon Rhodes 06:29:20, Andy Robins 06:29:22 & Victoria Robins.

Well done to all of you crazy people!!

Upcoming Events

If you would like to participate in either the Brighton Marathon or the 10k as a Horsham Jogger, please email SokWahLee@btinternet.com the following asap:

  • Firstname and surname
  • the distance that you would like to run (marathon or 10k) and 
  • your email address (if different to the one you are using)

Please note that if we have more interests than the 10 club places available for each of the events, then the committee will prioritize those who have volunteered in the past and a ballot will be drawn from the remaining applicants for the unallocated places. 

If you are successful in obtaining a club place, you must enter as a Horsham Jogger, and wear an HJ vest / t-shirt as you will be representing the club.  You will be sent a link by the event organiser to register and pay directly to them.  The price is £75 for the marathon and £35 for the 10k.

To be eligible for the ballot mentioned above, for either of the events on 12 September, you must meet the following criteria: 

  • You are a first claim member – that means that HJ is the only (or the first) club you registered with
  • You have been a continuous paid-up member of HJ for at least a year at the time of the 

4 JUL

Focus 10k at Borde Hill

Wisborough Green 10k and 5k

10 JUL

Maverick East Sussex Races 2021

18 JUL

Caterham Rotary Half Marathon & 10k

21 JUL 19:00 – 21:00

HJ Committee Meeting

24 JUL

South Downs Way 100 Relay

Horsham parkrun restarts (hopefully)

27 JUL, TUE Evening

HJ Summer Handicap

Our thanks, as always, to Mike Hibberd for another fantastic news round-up!

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