The 2025 Club season started with a bang on Wednesday with the annual Trevor's Challenge.  The scratch race is the club's championship named in honour of the club's founder, Trevor Stothard.

There was a strong turnout of members for the annual group photo, now on the home page of the website, with 51 going on to take part in the championship race.

We were greeted with glorious clear skies on a bright and dry early spring evening.  Racers were set off by Julie Alcock after a presentation of flowers by the club's chairwomen Catherine Seager - The recently departed Bill was with us in spirit.

With conditions very different from the cool and muddy race last year, the first mile along riverside walk was unusually dry with no excuses for runners to get a good head of steam - no dodging puddles and mud this year.  Runners then headed into Liss Forest along Forest road before turning left up Mint road, right into Warren road and then right again for the long run in along Rake road to the finish at the Triangle Centre.  Approximately 3.8 miles (6km) of flat, eyeballs out, racing with strong performances across the board.  Strava seemed to suggest that a number of 5k PBs were broken.

The times from the race are used to set each runners' starting time and position for the first club handicap race on May 7th. 

This year saw new winners in both the male and female categories.  Congratulations to "nearly" man Paul Stokeo, at last turning a number of second place finishes into first.  Also congratulations to Georgie Freeman who has very recently joined the club and announced herself with a win - we expect approved club colours next time Georgie but will let you off on this occasion.  The winner's trophies were presented by Margaret Stodhard.

Plenty of photos and videos are available from the club's main WhatsApp group.

Well done to all racing, and more importantly a big thank you to those organising, signing and time keeping.  See you all for handicap race #1 in May.

Results

Ladies - 1. Georgie Freeman, 2. Gemma Sills, 3. Maddy Smith, 4. Laura Rogers, 5. Emily White, 6. Sarah Tyas, 7. Leoni Barber, 8. Laura Batty, 9. Sandra Sellis, 10. Annette Heitch, 11. Rosie Whatkins, 12. Millie Harfield, 13. Liz Avery, 14. Julia Whetlor, 15. Sara Rhimes, 16. Maddie Jannoe, 17. Laura Armstrong, 18. Mel Jenson, 19. Michelle Norton-Hughes, 20. Alison Strudwick, 21. Jacqui Waddell, 22. Alx Wilkinson, 23. Laura Harding, 24. Rose Lewis, 25. Karen Peck.

Mens - 1. Paul Stokoe, 2. Tom Bennie, 3. Rob Nugent, 4. Steve Armstrong, 5. Rob Fleming, 6. Tom White, 7. Tom Frost, 8. Neil Hancock, 9. John Harfield, 10. Paul Turner, 11. Alex Peck, 12. James White, 13. Andy Paton, 14. Stavros Valourdos, 15. Hugh Maddison, 16. Richard Pegden, 17. Ed Rolls, 18. Adrian Albury, 19. Eddie Butters, 20. Warwick Parker, 21. Stuie Lavalette, 22, Noel Wright, 23. Neil Gwatkin, 24. Paul Judge, 25. Simon Tack, 26. Gary Lomas.