Topics : Training, awards, events, help
This email is being sent to parents of all junior members and of all prospective members who have come to at least one training session in 2025.
The email address [email protected] is only used for mailshots. Please don’t reply to this address, instead email [email protected]
BOOKING TRAINING
Nearly everyone has booked for August (and 2 September). Here’s the link in case you haven’t booked yet
https://www.valleystriders.org.uk/booking-junior-training-sessions/
Bob’s whinge of the month … On 5 August all three timeslots had 11 or 12 or attendees. We could have had just one group at each timeslot. But for all three timeslots we were expecting more than 12 – at each timeslot there were at least 2 children who had booked but didn’t turn up and hadn’t notified us of their intention to cancel. We ended up with groups of 5 or 6 – it would have been much more sociable to have had single groups at each timeslot.
So please … if you have booked for a session you need to confirm or cancel – by Facebook before 2pm on the Tuesday or by text to 07775 898 558 after 2pm on Tuesday.
There will be a booking form for September towards the end of the month. The last date at GSAL will be 9th September as by 23rd September it will be dark at 7:15pm.
TRAINING AT GSAL ON 12 AUGUST
On the booking form this was advertised as one session at 5:30. We have 50 booked to come. We don’t have sufficient helpers for this, especially if the percentage cancellation rate is as high as this week.
If no more than 32 come to a timeslot, we only need one long jump pit, one shot circle and one track team (to cover 80m and 400m).
I am amending the arrangements
- those who usually come to Leos at 6:10 will come to GSAL at 6:30 not 5:30
- NB Those who usually come to Leos at 4:40 or 5:25 will come to GSAL at 5:30 as planned.
Those now booked for 6:30 are Niamh Archbold, Alice Bonner, Oliver Breedon, Alex Burbidge, Zach Gould, Caleb Keene, Grace Keene, Holly Lloyd, Xander Lloyd, Freddie Portman, Georgie Roberts, Harriet Roberts, Seb Robson, Ben Rollison, also Trystan and Zachary Mann.
I’ll publish the “Names for 12 August” page on the website at the weekend.
A similar arrangement may apply for 26 August.
AWARDS
We presented 2 cups, 9 trophies and 6 medals during July.
For pictures of winners and more information, see https://www.valleystriders.org.uk/junior-award-presentations-july-2025/
EVENTS IN GENERAL
I’ve updated https://www.valleystriders.org.uk/events-for-juniors-spring-summer-2025/ with some more results and details of events in August. I’ve also added full information of events in September and a summary of events from October to February 2026.
Please email [email protected] with anything I’ve missed.
LOCAL EVENTS COMING SOON
- Wed 20 August – Track & Field evening at York (new school year 7+). NB A64 eastbound closed.
- Sat 23 August – Golden Mile at Beckett Park (includes junior race for ages 8 and above)
- Sun 31 August – Track & Field at York (new school year 5+)
- Sun 14 September – Wetherby junior race
- Sat 27 September – possible first date for first Leeds Schools XC (new school year 3+)
- Sat 27 September – Track & Field at Wakefield (new school year 5+)
- Sat 27 September – Tom Bosworth mile races at Beckett Park (and 800m for U11’s)
- Sun 12 October – West Yorkshire XC League first race (new school year 5+)
Please see https://www.valleystriders.org.uk/events-for-juniors-spring-summer-2025/
MEANWOOD TRAIL RACE – SUNDAY 31 AUGUST – HELP NEEDED
Each year the club organises a trail race that starts and finishes at Leos. The route takes runners round the woods on the north side of Leos, then down the Meanwood Valley Trail to Meanwood Park via Seven Arches and the tunnel under the Ring Road. After a lap of Meanwood Park the route returns up the Meanwood Trail to Leos. The distance is just under 7 miles
The race was first run in 1996 and from 2000 onwards we’ve donated all profits to local charities including Lineham Farm Children’s Centre at Eccup. Our total donations have now exceeded £20,000.
Hopefully some of you can help
- Advertise this to your friends who run. https://racebest.com/races/tqfx3
- Volunteer on the day as a marshal. If you don’t want to be too adventurous, volunteer to be in Meanwood Park (2 hours) or near Leos (2½ hours). Take the children but you may need to find something for them to do before the first runner gets to you, after that there will be a continuous stream of runners to cheer. Please contact race director Steph Gledhill [email protected] if you can help.