Club awards/social special

The weather was kind to us for the combined awards ceremony and social event at Cirencester Rugby Club last Saturday (30th May), and there was plenty of green space available adjacent to our tables.

After everyone had arrived and had a drink or two, chairman Luke Campbell introduced the orienteering/treasure hunt activity that he and brother Oliver had kindly set up within the rugby club grounds and Harebushes.

Twenty playing cards had been carefully hidden with their locations (fairly accurately) shown on a printed colour map handout. People/teams had a nominal 45 minutes to discover as many as they could, and then use them to crack a code.

The organiser's worries that it was maybe too easy and would all be over in 20 minutes proved wide of the mark - nobody found all 20 (even those who traded answers), there was only sporadic running between target points, and a few stretched their 45 minutes to over an hour ;-)

Once it was established that a search party wasn't needed, the presentation of awards for 2025 could begin - see below for who won (or almost won) what.

Rich Allen had the unenviable task of gathering in the trophies from last year's winners, and getting the new winners names engraved.

Luke presented awards to those present (although sadly quite a few were not). (See below)

A buffet BBQ laid on by the Rugby club was then enjoyed, including vegan/gluten free options, with the club providing dessert - the remainder of the Chedworth cakes and ice lollies.

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The winners and nominees for the awards are shown below

Dorian presented the Juniors Achievement Award (for those still at primary school) to Albert Platts. {Other inc. teen awards will be presented at a Wednesday session).

The award recognises the activities that are key to the development of our younger athletes: regularly attending training sessions and representing the Club in events whether track and field or road, trail or XC. It was really difficult to separate three boys Albert Platts, Brecon Musk, and Henry Thomas - all would have been worthy winners.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Men’s champion Rich Allen   118 points      (Andy Duff 115, James Widdowson 102)

Ladies champion Kate Jacobs 120 points.     (Karen Higuera 105, Kate Kilby 90)

XC CHAMPIONSHIP – winter 25/26 races

Men’s champion James Thomas

(the ladies shield was not awarded).

LONG DISTANCE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - DAVE MUSGROVE

Awarded to the club member who has achieved significant and impressive results in races of at least marathon distance.

Surprisingly Dave has never won this title. He is one of the club’s most prolific ultra runners, certainly in recent years. In 2025 he ran 22h 06m for the South Downs Way 100 mi and finished 24th in the Jurassic Coast 32 mi.

Also nominated Chris Ilman, Gareth James and Rupert Chesmore

MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - JACK BONNICK

Awarded to the club member who has achieved significant and impressive results in multi-sport competition, where at least one part of the event is running.

The fastest full triathlon of the year was completed by Rich Allen, but it was ineligible as competing for the RAF.  Jack finished 7th in the Cotswold Triathlon and 6th in the Dorney Triathlon. Most impressively in September he came 129/1649 in the very tough Ironman Wales in a time of 11:18.

TEAM OF THE YEAR – DURSLEY DOZEN – CLEAN SWEEP

Awarded to the club team (3 or more members) who have made the most significant achievement in the year, not limited to running participation.

men's team (Rob Forbes, Aaron Willis, Bill Leggate, and now ex-member Alex Banks)

women's team (Karen Higuera, Elysia Harrison, and now ex-member Holly Willis)

mixed team (Rob Forbes, Aaron Willis, Karen Higuera, ex-member Holly Willis)

Also nominated the Thursday route setters - Nicola Wood/Alan McAdam/Brendan Mcarthy.

And the Fairford 10k men – Dave Bell, Rob Forbes & Aaron Willis.

PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR (New Award) - KAREN HIGUERA

Awarded to the club member who has achieved a significant and/or impressive result in a single race or competition

“ for bravery and determination in completing her leg of the Cotswold Way Relay, despite having broken her arm whilst falling.  She didn't want to let her team mates down and it showed fantastic spirit.”

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - STORM TROW

Awarded to the club member who has achieved significant and impressive results and joined the club in the 15 months prior to the awards presentation.

Storm won two races outright, the well-established Sodbury Slog and an off-road 10km. Her 1:28 half marathon also earned her 13th on the club all-time list. 

Also nominated :- Susanna Austin, Clare Stickney

MOST IMPROVED MEMBER OF THE YEAR  - JOYCE MATTHEWS

Awarded to the club member who has improved in training, races, personal standing including confidence and participation.

Joyce had already had a couple of really good years, but despite moving up an age group, she made further improvements in 2025, breaking 3 club age records.  Her 10km of 44.01 compares to a previous best 45.30; and her half marathon 1:33.56 smashed a previous best of 1:41.

Also nominated - Clare Stickney, Storm Trow, Aaron Willis

VETERAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - RICH ALLEN

Awarded to the club member who has achieved significant and impressive results in any race or competition. Men aged over 40, women aged over 35.

Regularly representing the club in the county series of road races over various distances throughout the year, Rich won gold in the V40 men’s category in his last year before progressing to V45. As far as our records show, he is the first man to win county gold in an under-60 category. He also won several parkruns, where his times were amazingly consistent, and clocked the fastest club 10 mile of the year.

Also nominated - Dave Bell, Joyce Matthews, David Wright

MEMBER OF THE YEAR  -  BOB FERRIS

Awarded to the club member who has contributed the most to the club throughout the year. This can include race results, additional involvement, contribution to and promotion of the club (Committee members ineligible).

Like quite a few of our lifetime members he has unfortunately had to stop running, but that hasn’t stopped him being a dependable and major contributor to the running of our Tuesday evening club sessions.

Bob gets to keep the plate as it was awarded for the last time this year, given it is largely duplicated by the Tony Curry Award.

Also nominated - Tim Ingham and Jo Roberts

TONY CURRY AWARD - DORIAN MATTS

Awarded to the club member who has contributed the most to the club throughout the year.

For continuing to lead the juniors and teens section of the club. During 2025 this involved a couple of additional challenges, like sorting out the storage container and re-negotiating hire charges for our Tuesday/Wednesday sessions.

Also nominated - Aaron Willis, Brian Harris

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - KATE JACOBS

Awarded to the member who has achieved significant and impressive results, contributed to the club and demonstrated loyal support to the club.

Although injury curtailed things in the second half of 2025, Kate set two more club records and also logged an unprecedented fastest club time of the year in every distance from 5m to the marathon. However, her standout achievement which clinched the Athlete of the Year award was the historic win in the Open category of the Gloucestershire AAA road race series.  In addition to her performances, she also contributed behind the scenes to the organisation of the Chedworth trail races as well leading a successful ladies team.

Also nominated – Dave Bell, Rich Allen, and Storm Trow.