News
NEW Couch to 10k course for 2020.
If you are looking for a new goal this Spring why not sign up for our free Couch to 10k programme.
Join us on 31th March 2020 and build your fitness over 10 weeks culminating in taking part at the Mike Groves 10km on 7th June 2020 (race fee applies) held at the RAF Coltishall Airbase.
Our coaching sessions will be fully structured and led by qualified coaches in a safe and friendly environment. We have guide runners who can help with visual impairment.
We accept all levels of ability and this is a great way to challenge yourself, have fun and meet new people.
The sessions will be held in and around Coltishall village.
For further details and to reserve a place please contact our Head Coach Mel Porter via Facebook or by email at headcoach@coltishalljaguars.co.uk
2017 Jaguars 10k Series – Race Directors Round Up
My first year as race director for the Coltishall Jaguars and I am incredibly proud of my club and pleased with the three races we have delivered this year. Thanks must also go to the amazing Darren from Connections Entertainment who is not only the best next-door neighbours we could ask for but has also helped us out with the PA we used at all of the 2017 races and to Pilch Sports for providing us with spot prizes for the last race of the season.
Mad March Hare
Started our year’s races off with a bang! We had a record entry over 50% up on the previous year’s race using completely new course based on the airfield and with the addition of a free 2k kid’s fun run before the main event. The St John Ambulance cyclists arrived very late leaving us without in-race cover until half way through but this thankfully didn’t cause any issues. Apart from that, some delays with runners getting to the start, caused by traffic going to a match at the North Walsham Rugby Club, and large queues for the loos, I could not have wished for a better start as RD. I left with some fantastic feedback from the runners who especially appreciated being able to watch the fun run before they raced.
Mike Groves
Entries on a par with 2016 were slightly disappointing after the success of our first race, but given the lack of series entries and missing the 80 Norwich Road Runners who targeted this race last year, all in all not a bad result. We repeated the junior fun run, tweaked the signage and marshalling jobs and added pacers in five-minute intervals from 45 to 75 minutes. As is usual the Mike Grove race makes a charitable donation to a local cause and this year this went to the East Anglian Air Ambulance. We actually had a visit from the ambulance after a runner suffered an Epileptic seizure part way through the first lap. He was well cared for by the four runners who stopped to assist him, including an off-duty GP and paramedic, and made a full recovery after a visit to hospital. Once again, some fabulous feedback received about the family friendly event, lovely supportive marshals and “the best race cake in Norfolk”
Jolly Jaguars
The last race of the year and entries were once more slightly up on the previous year. This race featured the blingiest race medal we’ve ever offered in addition to the usual fantastic home-made cakes and friendly support. We added some mid-race cycle support for the first time, repeated the pacers and junior race and increased the number of marshal posts to offer runners support right around the course. Great feedback after the race was off-set by some constructive criticism regarding our ARC race licence making all results ineligible for Run England rankings or inclusion on runners Power of 10 profiles.
Overall a successful year and my thanks go out to everyone who helped the club to deliver a friendly, supportive atmosphere and races that our entrants enjoyed and wanted to take part in.
Changes we made this year
- New race signage to help runners find the Scottow Enterprise Park.
- Marshall briefings
- Junior races
- Pacers
- Tweaks to car parking, HQ layout, café
- Baggage store
- Changing rooms
- In race cycle marshals
- Junior race
- More marshal points
Changes in the pipeline for next year
- UKA race licences
- Better medals
- Different awards
- Increase family friendly feel – activities, crafts etc
- August evening 5k
- ?????
What I need from everyone in the club is your feedback, what went well? What didn’t? Is there anything we didn’t do? Did we do anything that didn’t need doing. Lastly, I need to you to look at other races you’ve entered and see if there is anything that they did which just made your day better?
Paul Taylor
Race Director
EVENTS 2016
2016 CELEBRATION DINNER – 28th January 2017
The 2016 Celebration Dinner was held on Saturday 28th January at The Old Rectory in Crostwick.
Mel introduced the evening which was followed by three course dinner. During which everyone had a quiz on the table to complete and some awards to be voted for on the night!
The following awards were presented by Mel Porter and Jackie Gooch
Personal Achievement Awards (PBs)
Female – went to Nicola Lambert-John
Male – went to Jeremy Lawrence, who accepted his award via a recorded message as he was on his holidays!!
Runners up were Lucy Anderson and Graham Johnson
Handicap Award
Female – this award went to Nicola Holden, with the runner up being Ruth Pilch.
Male – this award went to Keith Brighty, with the runner up being James Lambert.
Coach’s Award – This award is voted for by the Jags’ coaches and went to Nicola Lambert-John and Tony Alborough.
Commitment to Club Award – went to James Lambert and Vicky Tovell for their outstanding work in publicity and advertising.
Most Dedicated Male – went to Mel Porter for his hard work and dedication to coaching.
Most Dedicated Female – went to, of course Jackie Gooch for her hard work keeping club records up to date – as without her there would be no achievement awards!
Most Improved Male – went to James Lambert
Most Improved Female – went to Emma Blake
The Daphne Hathaway Award a new award kindly donated by Daphne Hathaway, our lifetime member. This award was given for a heroic action during the course of a race and very obviously went to Andy Mulligan for his compassion during the Bure Valley 10 Mile race in which he assisted fellow runner and friend Mark Ring, who sadly passed away after the race.
Jackie and Mel then handed out the standard awards, of which there were quite a few!!
This was followed by the slightly more light hearted awards, which this year were brilliantly presented by Rod and Jackie Bye, these were as follows:
‘Voted for on the Night Awards’, were in the form of pictures of runners to chose one from each category, these were: best race face, best legs and best dressed.
Best Race Face went to Netty Yeomanson!!
Best Legs went to Paul Gerber (in his dress)!!
Best Dressed went to Andy Mulligan!!
Fun Awards were as follows:
Best Race Reporter – Lucy Anderson – for her amazing race reports this year.
Best Excuse for Not Running – Mel Porter (due to having every injury under the sun!!)
Dedicated Parkrunner – Paul Taylor for his love of Brundall parkrun, and bringing all his friends to the Jags!!!
Chatty Man – Paul Emery – for persistent cheery chat!!
Girl Guide Award – Jackie Gooch – for being the most preparing in an evening (Lights, backpack, compass, gels, first aid kit, orange lipstick).
Best Newcomer – Tony Alborough (outstanding amount of gold standards this year – 14)
Best Oldcomer – Peter KC (Long term member of the club, 3rd place in his age category in Leathes Prior Grand Prix, gold and silver standards this year).
The Mr Modest Award – Ben Letzer, who did run 48 miles that morning in the Peddar’s Way Ultra and came in 2nd place in 6.54 hours!!
Following the presentation by Jackie and Rod Bye, Paul Gerber presented Rod and Jackie with a certificate for Flying the Flag for the Jags, after their flag got rather a lot of publicity on TV during the London Marathon!!
Paul also presented the Red Cross Award which aptly went to Lucy Anderson for probably making the most use of the Red Cross during a race!
As it was Paul’s (big) birthday during the week proceeding the awards dinner, a couple of his friends presented him with a beautifully decorated zimmer frame!
As the evening drew to a close, the quiz named ‘Eye of the Jaguar’ was marked and the winners were the 9 Amigos (they know who they are!). Each of which won a very fetching orange hat!!
Jackie finished with the raffle that raised an amazing £230 to put towards a defibrillator for the base.
A brilliant evening, thanks to all that who attended and thanks to all that went to all the effort to make the evening go well – Sarah Letzer, Clare Hicks, Jackie Gooch, Dee Neale, Mel Porter. Thanks also go to Jackie and Rod Bye and Paul Gerber.
Check out our facebook page for photos!!
For those who didn’t receive your trophy on the evening, Mel will be presenting at the AGM on Friday 24th February 2017 at the Diplomat Pub in Badersfield at 7.30pm.
TOUR DE BROADS
A great 40 mile bike ride around the villages and towns of the Broads, enjoyed by a great group of Jags and their families – despite a grazed knee or two and a bit of getting lost, we all finished!!
EAST COAST SUPERSPRINT TRIATHLON
Due to popular demand the East Coast Triathlon organised 2 events this year Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
The event consisted of 250m swim, 17k Bike and 3k Run.
There were two Jaguars, Claire Owen and Adele Bushell competing in this year’s event on the Saturday afternoon.
The forecast was for a wet and cold triathlon. Indeed after the early rain on Saturday cleared, it remained cold and windy with the sun making a final appearance for the bike and run section.
The swim took place in the Marina centre with the women going first in 30 second intervals.
It was then out to transition to brave the elements onto the bike section.
The cycle route took you along the coast road towards Caister and consisted of 3 loops, half of it up hill into headwind!
Back into transition heading out along the promenade for an out and back run.
This was a really enjoyable event, made extra special with lots of support and cheering from our friends, family and fellow Jags. If anyone is contemplating a triathlon, we would highly recommend this as a first event.
Congratulations goes to Adele Bushell who came 1st in her age category.
NEWS 2016
Thank you to Vicky Tovell for some fantastic publicity articles that have been featured in local press recently and for arranging for a photoshoot at the RAF base, regarding our future races and imminent move to the base!
To view the article, click on the following link: – Flying Start Article
EVENTS 2015
Awards Dinner 2015
The year’s annual Awards Dinner took place at The Old Rectory in Crostwick on Saturday 23 January 2016. A fantastically attended event, everyone in high spirits awaiting the evenings presentations. The evening kicked off with a great three course meal during which a picture quiz was completed. Well done to table six (you know who you are) for recognising more of their fellow Jags than anyone else!!!
A speech written by Alan and read by Andy Mulligan started off the evening, followed by a superbly written poem by Ellie Bye on the legend that is Ken Bowman!!
Click here to read either:
Following this, Mel Porter proceeded with the awards, with the assistance of our Life Member, the lovely Daphne Hathaway, who has recently reached 80 years young and is celebrating by flying in a Tiger Moth!!!
Scott Shrubsall and Rosemary Jackson won the handicap award with Emma Jordan and Jeremy Lawrence as runner up!
Jackie Gooch and Jeremy Lawrence both won the Achievement Awards with Clare Hicks and James Lambert both as runner up!
Following this was the presentation of standard awards that had been achieved throughout the year, of which there was a fantastic amount, so some great work this year!!
For full standards results, click here – Mens Highest Standards or Ladies Highest Standards
There were also six awards that were voted for on the night, these were as follows:
Most Dedicated Female – Jackie Gooch
Most Dedicated Male – Andy Mulligan
Most Improved Female – Emma Wilcock
Most Improved Male – Jeremy Lawrence
Member’s Member – Andy Mulligan
Commitment to Club – a draw between Clare Hicks and Becky Durant
The Coach’s Awards went to Jackie Gooch and Martin Bagnall
Following these were some more ‘fun’ awards as follows:
Most Committed Parkrunner – Peter Kean-Cockburn for achieving 100 parkruns!
Best Junior Award – Billy Life
Best Improved Newcomer – Carolyn Gerber for 5k achievements and Hilda Mears for half marathon achievement.
Best Improved Oldcomer – Jeremy Lawrence and Jackie Gooch
Best Excuse for NOT running – Stewart Marden again!! (2nd year in a row!)
RNR Hero’s Award – Jackie Bye and Dee Neal
Best Fancy Dress Award – Becky Durant and Michael Fairchild
Jags Photographer Award – David Simpson
The ‘Should have gone to Specsavers Award’ which was presented by Stewie Marden:
Nominees were as follows:
Ken Bowman – For hitting THAT lamp post!!
Mel Porter – For hitting the wall – the brick wall!!!
Josh Neale – For his navigational skills during a Dunerunner!!
Paul Taylor – For tree hugging during an ultra race!!
I’m sure you can all guess who won this award??!! Ken’s prize was some new glasses and a hat with a light on the front, to light his road ahead!!
Finally Coach of the Year Award, was presented to Mel Porter by Becky and a gift of a superb Alice in Wonderland mug presented to Clare Hicks for her all her help!!
Martin Bagnall and his new wife Louise Bagnall were also presented with a voucher and card from a collection from the club to celebrate their recent wedding!!
The evening drew to a close with a presentation of some flowers to Daphne with a biggles style hat for her flight, and Jackie Gooch concluded the evening with a fantastic raffle which raised £211 for the Air Ambulance.
A great evening of fun and laughter and thoroughly amazing achievements! A wonderful club atmosphere in cheering fellow Jags winning awards. Well done to everyone!!
Lets hope 2016 will be equally if not more rewarding!!!!
* * * * *
Two social events have been organised by Mel Porter. Firstly a picnic in his back garden after our Jolly Jags Race on 2nd August at 2pm onwards. Informal afternoon, everyone to bring a plate of food and a bottle. A food list will be distributed around on the training nights.
A Murder Mystery Evening on Saturday 5th September at South Walsham Village Hall at 7pm. This is hosted by a group of actors who will mingle with guests during the evening, setting the scene and there is a chance to guess ‘who dunnit ‘ and win a prize!!!!
There is a two course buffet style meal at a cost of £15 per head. The hall has a bar and the drinks are very reasonable!
There will be a raffle at the end of the evening, donations of raffle prizes on the night would be most welcome! Please contact Mel for further information.
This year’s summer event is an activity day at Hautbois Activity Centre, near Coltishall on 15 August 2015. The day includes a morning and afternoon activity and a BBQ. Prices are £15 for adults and £10 for children, this is open to all Jags and their families. If you would like to come along or would like further information, please contact our Social Secretary Sarah Lezter at sarahletzer@icloud.com. There a plenty of activities to chose from and looks like an exciting day!!
NEWS 2015
Leathes Prior Grand Prix Award Evening (Formally Runners Centre Grand Prix)
For the first time the Grand Prix award ceremony took place at the Assembly Rooms, on the 14th December 2015. Ken Bowman, Jill Bowman, Jackie Gooch and Becky Durant all agreed that it was an excellent event, enjoyed by everyone who attended.
The venue was very grand without being overwhelming. The food was excellent as we were each given little pots of wholesome delights to taste. It wasn’t necessary to leave our table as we were waited on by very jolly, helpful, young waiters and waitresses who seemed to be having just as much fun as us.
Pat Brightman, GYDAC, organised the evening with the help of Richard Polley, CONAC and a few others. Pat is responsible for keeping a record of all the Grand Prix races and sorting out the results. This is an incredible job which she undertakes with amazing ease and competence. Please look at the Leathes Prior Grand Prix website to see all the results and an explanation of the competition as well as the Postal Marathon awards.
Ken won his age category and also a prize for the fastest Marathon in his age group. Jackie and Jeremy Lawrence were third in their respective age categories. Heather Hollister won her age category Postal Marathon award.
Jackie and I left early leaving Jill and Ken to rock away the evening ……..
Becky
Jags Go To The Tour
This is a very unusual report as we usually only print stories relating to members who compete in running events under the Jaguars name. On this occasion however, we have decided to set aside our rule. You will see the Three Jaguars concerned undertook an extarordinary adventure with spectacular consequences! They all wore the Jags Jersey and have taken our name to greater heights.
As Chair and Website Manager we reserve the right to modify the rules when necessary (and it does make for some good reading)!!!
Click here to read Jags go to the Tour by Ken Bowman.
This June sees the Superb Six taking part in the Great British Relay 2015! Starting in Caister and finishing in Weybourne, completing stages 551 to 556 respectively out of a total of nearly 600 stages totalling 7000km. An amazing event to take part in and also be part of a world record attempt!!
Also fame at last with their photos in the paper!!
UPDATE JULY 2015 – Unfortunately the Great British Relay has at present been postponed due to problems with the Guiness Book of Records.
AWARDS DINNER 2014 – The Old Rectory Hotel, Crostwick – Saturday 31 January 2015
Well despite the cold weather, it was a fantastic turnout of Jaguars to the first annual awards dinner! Attended also by our honorary life member, Daphne Hathaway and awards presented by the one and only Paul Evans!
The Personal Achievement Awards were well deservedly won by Ellie Bye and Andy Mulligan and as equally well deserved were the Handicap Awards going to Rosemary Jackson and Ben Gaskins.
Some great awards voted for on the night, included:
Most Dedicated Male and Female Awards – going to Mel Porter and Ellie Bye
Most Improved Male and Female Awards going to Paul Gerber, Rosemary Jackson and Vicky Tovell
Member’s Member Award – went to the amazing Mel Porter
and appropriately the Commitment to the Club Award, of course had to go to Becky Durant!!
The Coach’s award voted for by the coaches went to Jillie Cole and Alan Bushell.
In addition, some slightly more ‘fun’ awards included the following:
Most Improved Duathlete – Adele Bushell
Most Committed Parkrunner – Claire Owen
Most Internationally Travelled Runner – Jenny Welsh, Vanessa Clements, Annette Yeomanson
Best Media Motivator – Andy Mulligan
Best in Lycra – Ellie Bye
Best Excuse for NOT running – Stewart Marden
Best Club Attendance – Shirley Wilcock
Muddiest Runner – Alan Bushell
Runner with Longest Distance between his SMILES – Ben Letzer
Diamond Lady – Jackie Bye (for gaining several diamond standards recently!)
Dee Neal with presented with her gold standard award and Richard Bateson was awarded the prestigious go faster socks and hat!!
Vicky Tovell and Jackie Bye were also presented with Silver County Championship medals for their age group!!
A superb evening, also included a quiz on facts of the club and a charity raffle – raising £178 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance!
NEWS 2014
The ballot was drawn for VLM 2015 by Paul Evans, only two places up for grabs!! The lucky two were Clare Hicks and Dean Blake!!
NEWS 2013
Peter Kean-Cockburn was the lucky member to be drawn out of the ballot for the club’s London Marathon place in 2014. The club only received one place this year as only 38 members joined UKA. Only members of UKA were allowed to be in the ballot.
The Annual club achievement awards for 2013 went to Ellie Bye and Mark Harmer. Ellie won the ladies award for the second year running but was closely followed by Lisa Symon who achieved 7 p.b’s. Mark Harmer ran 9 pb’s just pipping Richard Collyer by one.
NEWS 2013
The annual club achievement awards for 2012 went to Ellie Bye and Scott Chadwick. Ellie won the ladies award by a big margin running eleven p.b’s. The men’s award was much closer with Scott running nine p.b’s followed by Lawrence Wade and Richard Collyer both running seven. The club presented a special ultra distance award to Ben Letzer for all his outstanding runs in 2012. The handicap prize winners were Mel Porter and Fiona Baldwin
Alex Moore 2012 photos here – courtesy of Dave Simpson
NEWS 2012
The achievement awards 2011 and the handicap winners were presented with their trophies at the Christmas Party. It was a joint win for both the men and ladies with Melanie Burch and Claire Owen running 8 p.b’s and Mark Harmer and Andrew Mulligan 7. Christine Cooke with 58 points and Jeremy Lawrence 61 points were the handicap winners. The London marathon places were drawn out of the hat and the lucky winners were Mel Porter and Debbie Moore. The reserve is Zep Ciarla.