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Clubs and Facilities

Ernie Cripps receiving award

99 year old club volunteer presented with long service award

There are just 12 active athletics volunteers recorded on our membership database who are aged over 95. Ernie Cripps is one of them. Ernie doesn’t like a fuss, so England Athletics CEO Chris Jones, Chair of East Midlands Regional Council Jane Pidgeon, and Club Support Manager Heidi Bradley attended under the guise of an ordinary club engagement visit.
Matchroom x RunTogether

Two worlds colliding: Creating inspiring running opportunities for sports fans

Last month, RunTogether welcomed partner, Matchroom, as a new RunTogether group and supported their very first Fight Day 5k event ahead of the Catterall vs. Barboza boxing match on 15 February. With 150 runners in attendance, the event was a huge success for all involved and received full praise from Matchroom Chairman and CEO, Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith. RunTogether and Matchroom are excited to continue delivering pre-match events to the Matchroom community to provide an inspiring opportunity for participants of all abilities.  
Athletics track at night.

England Athletics and Midstream Lighting webinars on stadium lighting

Ed Hunt, UK Facilities and Planning Manager and Midstream's Sports Director James Brunt recently hosted a 30 minute webinar on light spill for stadium lighting.
Run Your Mind running club

Run Your Mind: How joining a club can improve mental wellbeing

The current boom in running is not only extremely healthy for the nation’s physical health, but also mental health – with running groups and clubs around the country enabling people to enjoy our sport together. Initially starting as a free run club, Run Your Mind has taken running and mental health one step further as a social enterprise, delivering workshops and talks in corporate spaces on topics such as self-talk, burnout, resilience, and myths of motivation. We recently caught up with founder, Chris Hatfield, to explore the importance of having an active space for people to speak up about their mental wellbeing.
Don Turner as an athlete and receiving volunteer award in 2023

Don Turner: 1937-2025

England Athletics is saddened to hear that athletics stalwart Don Turner died on Sunday 9 March. Don was a member of Epsom and Ewell Harriers for 70 years. As an athlete, then an official, he dedicated most of his life to athletics in Surrey, the southeast and beyond. He was presented with an England Athletics Services to Athletics volunteer award in 2023.
Lyn Jenkins running Wrexham 10k

Lyn Jenkins: the masters runner proving age is just a number

As one of the most accessible sports in the world, running really is for everyone – something which Lyn Jenkins discovered later in life. Starting running in her 60s, Lyn has since caught the running bug and earned her first England masters vest in November last year. We caught up with Lyn to learn about how running has not only changed her life, but how she has found a supportive community who push and encourage her to try new things even into her 70s.
Visit to Halifax Harriers

Club Support Manager club visits: February round-up

England Athletics’ Club Support team continued their visits to our affiliated clubs this year to provide help and support and to listen to the views of club members. Below is a round-up of their activity in February including visits to Wimbledon Windmilers, Lewes AC, Preston Harriers, and Oswestry Olympians.
Wigan & District

Clubs creating welcoming environments: Wigan Harriers and Guildford & Godalming AC

We recently caught up with two clubs at opposite ends of the country, who have not only created a welcoming community, but also established exemplary governance and achieved all seven of their Club Standards
Claire Austridge - Blackheath and Bromley Club Welfare Officer

Safeguarding and the rewarding role of a welfare officer: Claire Austridge’s story

As we draw closer to April 2025, it is vital that all affiliated athletics and running clubs across the country do their part to ensure they abide by the Club Safeguarding Code of Conduct as outlined in our Club Standards for 2025 and beyond to both protect their athlete’s wellbeing and stay compliant with England Athletics’ club affiliation requirements. We have been working closely with our affiliated clubs to ensure a fun and safe environment is available to their athletes and coaches by appointing club welfare officers before the April deadline.
Victoria Maleski - Chair of Seaford Striders running club

From Couch to 5k to Seaford Striders club chair: Victoria Maleski's running journey

Based in Seaford on the south coast, Seaford Striders Running Club welcomed valued member, Victoria Maleski, into the role of club chair in 2023. As someone who only started running eight years ago, we wanted to catch up with Victoria to talk about her journey into Seaford Striders and find out more about how she became chair.