Hello all you lovely running ladies!

 

I hope you are well and recovering from your dry January!  Welcome to our New members who have joined our new to running group, you are all doing fab!

 

Its been a brilliant week for the fantastic Oh! ladies running club and we celebrated in style at our Awards evening at Mill Green Golf Club.  It was fabulous to see so many of us out and wearing something other than trainers and active wear.  I’m pretty sure there were some sore feet on the dance floor wishing they had trainers on by the time the lights came up!  Congratulations to all the nominees, the winners and of course all the helpers behind the scenes, all of whom we appreciate enormously.

 

If you weren’t there…. drum roll please…. the winners are….

 

Best Newcomer: Kerry Colyer

Perseverance Award: Melanie Lynch

Most Improved: Louise Sopp

Runner of the Year: Maria Blythe with Gemma Rafferty as runner up
For the first time, the more swift-footed among us were also recognised for their efforts.
Fastest 5k: Melissa Mileham

Fastest 10k: Angela Spicer

Fastest half marathon: Victoria Tidd

 

A raffle on the night organised by Paula Mummery and Donna Staughton O’Toole, made £260 for their charity Phab Kids!

The Phab runners’ next fundraiser is being held at The Wrestlers Pub in Hatfield on March 18, so save the date.

 

They are also holding a virtual race, ‘Oh so Phab’, to coincide with their 20-mile training run on Good Friday, March 25 which all club members and non members are invited to join in. Entry is £10 with all profits going to Phab Kids! All you have to do is choose how far you want to run and then submit proof of completing the distance, e.g. a photo of your Garmin or running app. All finishers receive a fantastic medal.

For more information go to http://www.activetrainingworld.com/events/2016/03/25/oh_so_phab_virtual_race or email ohsophab2016@gmail.com

 

Also revealed at the Awards were details of our first official Weekend Ohway!!!

 

Allison Skeggs and Maxine have been busy securing a great deal at The New Westcliffe Hotel in Bournemouth for the weekend of the Bournemouth Running Festival October 1st and 2nd 2016.

 

https://www.newwestcliffhotel.co.uk/the-hotel/relax

 

The cost of the trip will be £80 including two nights B & B and 3 course dinner and entertainment on Saturday Oct 1st, return transport from Hatfield to The New Westcliffe Hotel and a limited edition Oh! Bourne to Run hoodie or running top.  The cost of transport and a contribution towards the cost of a hoodie or running top will be funded by the club.

Currently the trip is only open to Oh members.

The coach will leave on the evening of Friday Sept 30th and we will stay Friday and Saturday nights, leaving Sunday afternoon after the marathon.

 

Space is limited so secure your place on our very first Ohway weekend by paying a £20 deposit into the Oh account marking your payment as ‘Bournemouth’ if possible.  The balance will be payable in August.

 

Pay with instant bank transfer to – Barclays Bank Sort Code: 20-92-54   Account No: 43553817

 

Then of course you will need to sign up to a race as a runner or a supporter at http://www.run-bmf.com/?bm_festival There is everything from 5 km to full marathon to choose from, something for everyone. (Please be aware the Saturday night meal may clash with the timing of the 5 km race)

What are you waiting for?  Get booking!!!!  Places are limited!!!

 

And finally the awards aren’t over yet… we have been nominated in the ‘Club of the Year’ category at the Welwyn Hatfield Sports awards which will be announced on March 8th at a presentation evening.

If you available to attend from 7 pm on March 8th as a representative of the club please get in touch to request a ticket.  If demand exceeds our ticket allocation a draw will be made at random.    Good luck!!!  Thank you for those who voted for our club, your support is much appreciated.

http://www.welhat.gov.uk/sportsawards2016

 

Congratulations to all who braved the snow at the Winter run and those who braved the hills at the Fred Hughes 10 miler.  What a fabulous January it turned out to be!

 

Run happy!