What a year for Dragons! Our highest ever membership numbers, successful Couch 2 5k courses, superb numbers attending our 3 club sessions each week, several new leaders trained and events galore!!
There are so many achievements to celebrate from our wonderful members it would be impossible to list them all. However, the recipients of this year’s DRAFTAS (Dragons Awards for Total Awesomeness) are a little special. Here’s why:
Female Achievement Award – Charli Briggs
As well as some fantastic runs this year including The Berlin Half Marathon, Charli has given back to the wider running community by training to be a pacer and pacing many races including the Yorkshire 10 mile, Morley 10k and York 10k. A great skill and fantastic commitment to help other runners achieve their goals in races.
Male Achievement Award – Darren Mawson
For finishing a marathon with a broken hip!! Then after months recovering, he signed up and completed another marathon a year later! Consistent hard work and training this year resulted in him achieving a sub 4 hour marathon time as well as running 45 miles in 24 hours at Endure 24 in the summer. He also regularly supports club events and in races including the Harrogate & District Summer League.
Fledgling Dragon Award – Charlotte West
She started with C25K in January and has hardly ever missed a session, works hard in Ken’s fartlek group, and doesn’t think twice about joining the longer/faster club runs now. She has completed a couple of 10ks including the Abbey Dash in October and has mentioned possibly moving onto a half marathon! Amazing progress!
Whoopsie Award – Andrew Waller
On the club trip to Aintree – a closed, marshalled 2 looped 10k around the race course – managed to go the wrong way and get a bit lost !!! Quite an impressive feat.
Chair’s Special Award – Manuel Reyes
The Chair’s Award goes to a great ambassador for the club, who represents our aims and ethos.
- Encourages & supports runners of all levels & abilities – C25k club run, PECOs….always smiling & supporting
- Encourages practice & development of amateur athletics in road, trail, fell & cross country – participated in all of the above & encourages others to join – anyone for Rombalds??
- Encourages competitive opportunities & participates in team events – have we ever had a bigger PECO supporter?
- Promotes the club within the local community – and across the country & further afield. Has our green dragons tshirt been more well travelled? Up mountains and down valleys, coast to coast & sea to summit – Top Tier Type 2 fun!
Achieved not without mishap and injury:
Man v dog
Man v Kerb which aggravated
Man v drive
A member since 2020, feels like he’s been around much longer …. dependable, inspiring, supportive, dedicated and loyal.
Sandra Stokes Award – Carolyn Park
Sandra Stokes was a member of Dragons Running Club, and she came to the club regularly. She was always here on a Saturday morning for a cuppa and a catch up, because that’s the kind of person Sandra was. She was passionate and dedicated and most of all very friendly. When Sandra passed away, she left a very generous contribution to Dragons Running Club that has been used to fund what Sandra loved to do best, socialise and party. In Sandra’s honour we wanted to create an award that was for exactly what she stood for, someone who had shown spirit and dedication and is a valued member of our friendly club. The Sandra Stokes Award is presented to an individual who encapsulates the spirit of the club and has made a valuable contribution throughout the year.
This year the captains have chosen an individual who has been a member of the club for over 10 years. This person leads a very hectic life as a busy mum of 3, but always finds time to bring energy and enthusiasm to the club. Over the years, her genuine passion for the club has grown. She took over as Chair, and the club has gone from strength to strength and we now have the most members we have ever had. But what makes her so special, and worthy of this award is her spirit. She keeps the club’s heart beating. She listens to each member, supports them, and is always a friend to chat to. As club members, we turn up to club nights and expect everything to be in place. Few of us take the time to appreciate how much work is required behind the scenes for all these things to happen. In her role as club chair, she works tirelessly along with other committee members to ensure that the club runs in a way that everyone feels included and has an enjoyable running experience. She doesn’t look for recognition for all her hard work, but this hasn’t gone unnoticed.
We wanted to recognise just what dedication she has shown and the positive impact that she has made on every one of us – THANK YOU!
