The millennium year was celebrated by myself and Chris Rowe (5th) in the Hangover 5 on the 1st.
In the course of the year Eddie Bland had to resign as Chairman when he moved to a new job which had the
added bonus of being near to the Lakeland fells. His final gesture was to lay on a splendid spread of
food and drinks for us at the Bonsall cottage at the halfway point of our Thursday run. We ran back
to Sherwood with some difficulty. Fortunately we had another Scouser to replace Eddie Bland in
Jimmy Ricketts, complete with a masters degree in sports science.
Steve Mead volunteered to take overtemporarily in the Chair and he saw us through successfully to the
November AGM when Dave Hill was persuaded to become the new Chairman, a post which he has
filled enthusiastically ever since.
Steve also stepped down as Newsletter editor and Richard Bradbury and Jimmy Ricketts agreed to take over.
Membership remained at an all time high and in spite of a loss on the White Peak, income from subs
together with £330 in entry fees for the increasingly popular Black Rocks race enabled Ian Milne to hold
the annual fee at £10.
We noted with interest the proposed development of the Cavendish Fields sports ground but doubted
if this was the right future venue for us .We would follow with interest the District Council’s plans to replace Sherwood Hall with a new sports centre, the incorporation of a running track being
a priority for us.
One of the most significant signings for the future was that of Christine Howard who had already
established a reputation in Police running alongside her partner Karl Webster. We had to say goodbye to
Reg Amor who could no longer run owing to a mystery illness but who, with his family, continued to
support us. John Ostrowskis, known as “Oz”, had joined us after opening a pysiotherapy clinic in
Matlock and he agreed to be our club physio, offering a 10% discount to all members.
Local hairdresser Sue Morley joined us and recorded some good times on her favourite distance, 10k,
before moving on to work in Derby.
Simon Brister completed an epic walk from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in 2 months, raising about
£2000 for Save the Children.
Club Champs ; Karl Webster/James Arnold/Alex Metaxas. Chris Howard 1st F.
Chris Young, George Whittaker Emma Amor all won their categories.
Grand Prix : Karl Webster and Tracey Erskine were 1 st M and F.
Mr and Mrs Kuszynski won a handicap each.
The Meads plus Paul Keetley and John Heald completed the Karrimor.
We finally won the Patagonia High Peak Relay with the B team 14th out of 35.
John Selby-Sly qualified as a coach and became North Mids. u-20 Cross country champion, also taking the
Derbys. 2000m gold medal on the track. Dan Yates was 3rd in the national 3000m ‘chase u-20.
Although winning the Chesterfield Half in 1.27.58 (with Norma Kusinsky 1st vet F in1.44.11), 1st vet F at
Taddington and Black Rocks, Tracey Erskine’s reign as Bionic Woman was about to be superseded by Chris Howard who declared her intent by winning the Black Rocks and the Coalite 10k.
An innovation in Ricky’s Race was the securing of sponsorship from local councillor and
greengrocer Nigel Allwood who would henceforth present healthy prizes in the form of fruit and
vegetable boxes. Dan Yates and Polly Veazey-French took the honours.
There were good individual performances during the year :
Richard Bradbury – Sheffield Half (1.19.01), Buxton Half (7th in 1.20.02), Tigers 10 (7th in 1.15.51)
Mick Kusinsky. – Sheffield (1.21.49).
Winster – John Selby-Sly 2nd, Simon Flitter 4th.
James Arnold won the Buxton in 1.15.52 and was 3rd in the Wirksworth Incline.
Chris Rowe won the LARA Triple Sporting Challenge.
