September 2009: Committee news
President news (by Wendy Foulds)
Really don’t know where the time has gone already we are 75% through 2009 and looking forward to day light saving! A lot has happened since the last newsletter and more has yet to happen in the remainder of the year.
So many events are out there tempting us all to take part that I am sure we could do a different event every week, so it is really pleasing to see so many of our club members out there supporting the Hawke’s Bay Marathon back in August. It was an eye opener for many as to the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes of the event on the day. Thanks to all that helped in any way and thanks to all those that entered. It was really GREAT!
What’s happening for the rest of the year- well the Long Distance Walk Champs will be held in Whakatu over Labour weekend. Here is an opportunity for all walkers to take part in a training session and in the non championship event and get feedback on style. Run Walk will be out there supporting the event so for more information see Joff Hulbert. Napier half will be here before we know it with a “Kids K” incorporated into the event and which will no doubt prove to be very popular with the youngsters. Then our Xmas party will be held end of November so make sure you get your name down for that always lots of fun.
Although not organised by Run Walk directly there will be a group trip organised to the Round Raratonga event in 2010 which offers different events over a number of days. More info is in this newsletter on page 24 and will be forthcoming in the near future so keep an eye open.
All financial members should have received their RunWalk HB drink bottles by now, if not see your club captain. Another bonus for belonging to the club.
Enjoy the longer days and the opportunity to get in some more training and please be careful on the roads.
Napier Branch Committee (By Robyn Wolfsbauer)
Congratulations to those who competed in the Taupo Half Marathon early August and more recently the Shoe Clinic Marathon, Half Marathon & 10k event. Results and photographs are available online www.runwalkhb.org.nz.
I’m sure all members of our Club will join me in congratulating Maryanne and Pete on their recent wedding – all the best for a wonderful future together.
Thanks to all members who participated in our “Bad Taste” event – I’m sure you will all agree that Liz Holt was by far the most innovative dresser – nappies ain’t a good look tho Lizzie!!!
We held our first Father’s Day breakfast on Sunday, 6 September which was attended by 30 members despite it being a cold morning. Joff took a large group of walkers out for a training session which was enjoyed by all however they did cut it short and whizz back for a hot coffee to thaw out!! Thanks to Lorraine and Robyn Galloway for organising the food.
Don’t forget that Wednesday, 23 September will be the last night we leave from HB Lawn Tennis and for those who are hungry and thirsty, I’m sure we’ll be able to satisfy your needs by providing bubbly and biccies on the hill.
Planning for the Napier City Pak’nSave Half Marathon on 8 November is well in hand and we are delighted to have our major sponsor participating for the 4th year and welcome Titan Buildings (HB) on board as sponsor of the 10k & 5k run/walk section. I’ve decided to introduce another fun element to the event called Kids ‘K’ for children under 9 years old. We will measure a 1 kilometre course on the Napier Boy’s High School field for the children to run around. Classic Hits have agreed to sponsor this event and will provide prizes for all the finishers so we are wrapped to have them sign up as well. City Fitness are also involved and providing a variety of prizes. Entry forms are now out in the market place and of course we will be requesting assistance from our members in due course.
Sponsors aren’t easy to come by and branch committee’s would appreciate it if our members could support them whenever possible.
The Executive Committee agreed to provide our members with club drink bottles which I’ve been handing out over the last few weeks - if you have missed out please get in touch with me.
Look forward to seeing you all venturing out more frequently now that spring is here. Enjoy your running and walking over the summer months.
Hastings Branch Committee (By Andrew Wright)
Business has ticked over as usual at the Hastings Branch this year. Our membership seems to be growing gradually, which is a good sign, and we consistently have good numbers at our weekly walk/runs. I still believe that there are many people out there who would enjoy the exercise we offer, it is just a matter of getting them along on a Sunday or Wednesday.
It is a sign of the times that we are competing against so many other activities in people’s lives. Gone are the days of the sixties and seventies when running was the thing that everyone was doing and Marathons were the challenge of the day. People continually look for something a little different and the multisport events seem to have taken off in a big way over the past few years. Anyway we will keep doing what we enjoy and good on us for that. I take heart from the fact that not many people of my (our) age can run the distance I (we) can and do.
The Hastings half was a huge success for us again. I believe we have a good course and we always get good feedback from competitors on the way we run the event. Many thanks to John Beaumont, the race director, for the time he puts in to running this event. The success is a testament to his input. However, it is not a one person show and I would like to thank all our members for the way they step up and support the committee on the day. The event would not run without them. John will be stepping down from his role as director next year and Craig Burns will be taking over. Thanks again John.
The marathon was also a success again and I would again like to thank our members for their help. Although we are small in numbers I think that just about every single one of our members was helping in some way or other.
The joint club events have been a mixed feature of the year to date:
The meeting at the Clive River, although flooded, was a great get together. The morning tea supplied by the Napier members was outstanding. Thanks for that.
The Te Mata Peak run was canned because it was too close to other meetings.
There was a proposed run/walk from Pandora Pond but it was p***** down. I did turn up hoping it wouldn’t go ahead and to my delight one Napier member also turned up with the same thought. We went away quickly.
Silky Oak Café was the proposed venue for morning tea for the run from EIT. They couldn’t be bothered opening early for us. Their loss. The run/walk was good anyway.
The Mad Mother’s (as I call it) Day mile was as successful as ever. Great breakfast was enjoyed by all.
The mid winter Xmas dinner at the Mission was an absolute highlight for me. It was fantastic to see so many people making an effort to drag out their 60’s wardrobe and getting dressed up. I managed to disguise myself with a hair piece and a hired outfit. (I’m too young to have clothes from that era) The food and company was great. A huge thank you to the organisers. I will look forward to the end of year function.
A new event this year was the father’s day get together at Park Island. After a shortish run through the cemetery and beyond and some walking pointers from Joff, we all sat down for a great breakfast. I really enjoyed the cereal, muesli and fruit, as well as the eggs and sausies. Well done you Napierites.
Some of our members have taken the opportunity recently to participate in the Taupo off road half marathons and have returned with good things to say about them. Taupo seems to have taken advantage of its central locality and have had good numbers in attendance. I’m not sure if it was worth missing the father’s day breakfast for.
Neil Wainwright is organising a Waikaremoana trip at labour weekend with a number of different run/walk options. It’s not on the calendar but anyone can participate. Please let me know if you are interested.
Just to let people know that I will be stepping down as Hastings club captain at the end of the year. It’s time for someone else to take over the reins. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the Hasting Branch for their support over the years especially the Hastings Branch committee who have worked really hard towards making the branch a success.
