Author: smoggypaul

Thanks to everyone who had a crack at the Henfield Half in August – here are the results, and thanks also to everyone who contributed to the Just Giving page – I thought it would be ‘loose change’ but everyone was very generous!

August is here therefore its the Virtual Henfield Half Marathon – as a solo or team relay (2 to 4 people) if you are going to share – how you do that and who you do it with is up to you!

Share your result by emailing to enquiries@henfieldjoggers.co.uk, or set of results if you’re sharing with friends as a virtual relay, provided the course is covered, (Elapsed time please to make it a level playing field) before midnight on MONDAY 31st August – so there’s plenty of time to make arrangements, do recce’s etc – and I’ll compile them into Solo and Team results and publish here on Tuesday 1st September.

The Route – this is NOT the usual Henfield Half route – interestingly we don’t normally run the regular annual route as we’re too busy marshalling and I wanted to make it more interesting therefore I’ve arrived at a new route – the map is below and I can share a .gpx too on request….sadly the website won’t store .gpx files. Notably the route is CLOCKWISE, starting and finishing at HLC, and has a stretch on the West bank of the River around Laurence Oliviers old house – its well worth looking at this bit closely as I was surprised to find out how different everything looked to our familiar ‘usual’ territory – I think everyone will like it! I’ve added some arrows to the route….note there is one loop, which will be towards the end of the route, where you go along the river to Betley Bridge, rejoin the Downslink and head towards Henfield, then turn right at the stones and take the track up past the barn, turning right to go past Chates to rejoin the river back up to Betley, down the Downslink back to HLC!

NON HJ members are actively encouraged to join in the fun, and we have opened a JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/virtualhenfieldhalf
for completely voluntary contributions to St Barnabas House in memory of Brian Turrell, such an important and loved HJ member who passed away so sadly in June. Let’s see if we can raise something for a great cause which we know was close to his heart, and that of other people.

I think that covers everything but if I missed anything please let me know – I think this should be a lot of fun and the Relay option means that literally EVERYONE can have a crack at it! So – what are we waiting for?

Following the government update England Athletics updated their guidance this week, which you can see by following the link here. There is, as of now, nothing to stop 6 people running together, ensuring 2 Metre separation and anyone interested is free to do so. However for the CLUB to arrange any such runs is more complex, CLUB runs have obligations attached (for example we have to have a Covid-19 co-ordinator identified in each club to take responsibility for club plan and undertake the relevant risk assessments. These risk assessments and club plans must be in place before any activity can take place in order for insurance to be valid).

After considering this at a Committee meeting the unanimous decision was to NOT change anything at Club level and NOT organise any Club runs using these new rules. We believe that the restrictions mean that the benefits are so small, the complications so great, and the responsibilities so onerous that it just isn’t worth it. Nor was anyone comfortable in accepting the responsibility that taking on such a role required.

But what people do OUTSIDE ANY CLUB ORGANISATION is down to them. Just please be sure to stay within the rules. Hope that makes it clear

Sadly (but not surprisingly) we have had to cancel the 2020 Seven Stiles due to Covid-19. See you in 2021 – stay safe everyone!

An early picture of the Henfield Joggers in our 30th year – this is a Worthing Fun Run from the early 1990’s and comes courtesy of Joanne Boorsma, the daughter of Sid Wells (legendary HJ member whose wife gave the name to the Handicap)

From the back left Philippa Wright & Mick Wright – Malcolm McLean Cristina Mclean Jackie & Brian Griffiths , Joanne Boorsma (Lane) Malcolm Lane Sid Wells ( Jo’s father – sadly passed away in 2010) Gill Partridge , plus various kids . Becky Knight Katie Hopkinson . Missing from original line up . Elaine & John Scott . Not sure what year – but would have been very early days. ❤️

This may not be at the forefront of peoples thoughts right now – but its that time of year when we register as ‘athletes’ (!!) with England Athletics. Its completely voluntary but can only be done through the Club. You can find out whats in it for you as an individual here.

As a reminder provided we have 10 as a minimum people who sign up, we get our place for the London Marathon – less than 10 and its a ballot which may not grant us a place.

England Athletics have dropped the price to £15 this year (they’d planned for it to be £16) due to the current circumstances.

So who wants to be registered this year? Please email enquiries@henfieldjoggers.co.uk to let us know, and BACS £15 to the Henfield Joggers account using the reference UKA.

Well we may be in ‘lockdown’ but Chris has still been working on the latest Results, which you can find here! Obviously the suspension means no April Handicap, and we will have to review the future of the 2019/2020 Handicap over the coming weeks as the situation develops. Stay healthy everyone.

This morning England Athletics issued the following statement:
England Athletics advises that all face-to-face activity such as club training sessions, events, competitions, club committee and face-to-face meetings, athlete camps, running groups and social events should be suspended until at least the end of April.
The decision has been taken in the interests of athletes, runners, officials, coaches, volunteers, supporters and the wider athletics and running communities. This decision is also in alignment with actions taken by the home country athletics federations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and is similar to action taken by other sports.
Where possible, athletes and runners at all levels are encouraged to maintain their own personal fitness and keep active during this time, while following government guidelines about safe distance and safe exercise environments.
After an urgent committee meeting we feel we have zero choice in the matter, therefore Henfield Joggers will not be holding, for the foreseeable future until this guidance changes, any Club Runs.
Club Nights, Pub Runs, our 30th celebration, Beginners course and Summer Social are all cancelled forthwith. So not only is there no pub run from the Partridge tomorrow evening, but also no club run from HLC that we’d arranged to take its place.
However, if members want to use social media forums to tell others of their plans to run, that is up to them. If people want to join in (social distancing applies) then that is up to them too. But there is nothing under the auspices (or insurance) of Henfield Joggers.
Of course, we’re not going away. The Club is the Club. We’re all who we were and still are. We’ll have a bloody big party when this is over!
Your CommitteeNikkiDanielleMarkLizKasHugh and Paul

Well, its what may be termed ‘nip and tuck’ at the top of the table! The latest results are in and available here! There are still FOUR Handicap events left in this years challenge so there is plenty of scope to change this situation!