A HIGHLIGHT of the Farnham Runners’ calendar is the annual awards dinner to celebrate individual and club achievements over the previous 12 months.

More than 70 members gathered at the Village Hotel in Farnborough to hear the running club had been ‘highly commended’ for the second consecutive year at the Farnham Sports Awards.

A raffle raised £300 for mental health charity Oakleaf Enterprise and was generously supported by local businesses, including The Fox (in the Bourne), the Bengal Lounge restaurant, Bill’s, Mooey’s, Alton Sports, and ABS vehicle engineers, while the Village Hotel donated a proportion of the bar takings, raising the total to almost £400.

Richard Sheppard again excelled as master of ceremonies with chairman Jacquie Browne presenting the trophies.

The prestigious Steve Parker Award for the person who has done most for the club during the year went to Helen Bracey.

Jacquie Browne said: “This award is for someone who sits below the radar but, when asked, never lets anyone down. We are so blessed in this club to have some completely unselfish volunteers. This person has these qualities and anyone who knows her will have had their life made better in at least one way.”

The Chairman’s Award was won by race director Craig Tate-Grimes, who Jacqui described as “hardworking, dedicated, and always looking for new ideas to push the club forward”.

Mr Tate-Grimes is responsible for the Alice Holt races in September and the Southern Cross-Country League race in December, as well as the Farnham Runners’ club championships in June. He has now taken over as one of the organisers of the Alice Holt Park Run.

The Smiley Award went to Michael Stephens.

Jacqui said: “Michael had to take a break from running, but despite this he has come along and supported us at events as a spectator and smiled his way through cheering us across the finish line. I am pleased to say this person is running again and we would like to thank you for your cheery support.”

Congratulations went to Linda Tyler for winning the Farnham Sports Council’s Senior Volunteer Award, while Kathy Brown had picked up the Farnham mayor’s Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award. James Clarke was runner-up in Sports Personality of the Year.

Sarah Hill won the ladies’ marathon trophy for the eighth consecutive time for her time of two hours 55 minutes 39 seconds in the Bournemouth marathon. Her time gave her fourth place in her age category UK table for 2018 and was the best overall Farnham Runners time for the year.

Stuart Haig took the men’s Paul Charlton Memorial trophy for his personal best of 2.56.11 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

David Boakes Wilkinson was the surprised winner of The Herbie Memorial Trophy for Improvement (by more than six minutes) in the Alice Holt 10k between 2017 and 2018, while Jackie Wilkinson, an absolute beginner from 2016, took the equivalent female award, the Prince Trophy, for the second time after making another huge improvement by almost nine minutes.

The Handicap Trophy went to club newcomer Paul Tucker.

The club’s Grand Prix winners were (men) James Clarke, Andrew Ellison, Harvey Wickham, Matt Saker, Ali Hardaway and (women) Eloise Stradling, Linda Tyler, Anne Snelson, Jane Georghiou and Emma Russ.

Men’s road captain John Phillips presented the trophies to members who achieved the most personal bests in Hampshire Road League races. They were (men) Matt Saker, Damian Probett and Steve Bailey and (ladies) Clair Bailey, Susan MacKenzie, Jackie Wilkinson, and Helen Bracey.

Greatly prized mugs with all the winners’ names, awarded by the Hampshire Road League, were presented to James Clarke (16th), Andrew Ellison (18th), Emma Rus (27th), Matt Saker (28th), Eloise Stradling (28th), Anne Snelson (42nd), Jane Georghiou (45th), Harvey Wickham (63rd), Ali Hardaway (83rd), Keith Marshall (105th) and John Phillips (106th).

Eloise Stradling, Clair Bailey, Lindsay Bamford, Jane Georghiou, Stuart Haig, Damian Probett and Tim Cummins competed in all six Southern Cross-Country League races during 2018 and received special T-shirts.

A bouquet was given to Jacquie Browne (chairman, finally getting the new Farnham Runners clothing available and organiser of the awards event), Jane Georghiou (in recognition of all she does as ladies’ team captain, record keeper and press officer), Clair Bailey (for organising the raffle and in recognition of all her initiatives since she has taken over as social secretary) and Carolyn Wickham (for helping with the co-ordination and organisation of the awards dinner).

Further thanks were given to the committee, David Georghiou (webmaster), Pauline Hamilton for the photography on the night, and Anne Snelson as Farnham Runners’ mental health ambassador.