Welcome to the Avon Valley Runners Website
Welcome to the Avon Valley Runners WebsiteAvon Valley Runners are a Running club based in West Wiltshire. Although we are mainly a club of road and cross-country runners, our scope does include triathlon and fell running.
The club was founded in 1986 and currently has some 180 members of all abilities.
We meet at least three times a week at our training venues in Trowbridge, Melksham and Bradford-on-Avon with typically 40-50 members running from 1 to 10 miles in different pace groups.
Avon Valley Runners host
a number of events throughout the year including the
Over the Hills
12K Multi-Terrain Race, the
Conkwell Killer, the
White Horse Relay and
assist with the organisation of the
Trowbridge 10K,
the
Shaw&Whitley Stampede
and the
Foxtrot 5.
Avon Valley Runners turned up in force for the Warminster Forest 10, fielding twenty six runners who would undertake a number of testing climbs enroute. The course heads out of Warminster towards the Longleat estate, skirting past Shearwater and then following the trails around Centre Parcs, before heading back into the town and the finish at Warminster Cricket Club in Samborne Road.
First back of the two hundred strong field was Peter Grist of Wells City Harriers in a time of fifty seven minutes and twelve seconds. First of the Avon Valley Runners to finish was 6th placed Vojtech Hajdu (62:04) who renewed his rivalry with club mate Alistair Bartlett who finished just ten seconds behind in 7th place recording 62:14. 11th placed Doug Barber (64:33) and 15th placed Kevin Sparey (66:18) ensured that Avon Valley Runners secured the team prize./p>
In the ladies race, first back for Avon Valley Runners was 63rd placed Tina Giles from 83rd placed Ali Atkinson in 78:11 and 91st sue MacGregor in 79:56, but unfortunately the team lost out to Warminster Running Club for the team prize.
Darren Wrintmore, June 22th, 2008
Avon Valley Runners entertained Team Bath and Corsham Running Club at a Mob Match utilising the
Over the Hills
course - only backwards.
With runners starting in Barton Farm Country Park heading out to Avoncliff, climbing up to Westwood
then descending past Iford Manor before heading Cross Country to Freshford and following the River Avon
back to the finish besides the Tithe Barn in Bradford on Avon.
Avon Valley's Alistair Bartlett used his local knowledge to lead the field for most of the race, before being overcome in the final couple miles by a trio of Team Bath runners led by Brian Penny. Team Bath came away with a points tally of 17 to take victory over Avon Valley Runners who scored 26 points and Corsham who scored 83 points.
In the women's race, the grouping of Tina Giles, Melanie Nichols and Ali Atkinson behind Team Bath's Emer Brangan ensured a victory for the host club with 19 points ahead of Team Bath's 57 points and Corsham's 59 points.
Avon Valley Runners, June 20th 2008
Fourteen Avon Valley Runners travelled to Midsomer Norton for the Miners Half Marathon. The race started with a challenging mile long climb out of the town towards Wells and by the top Daniel Stevens of Somer AC had established a lead that he would go on to extend to take victory in 1:13:40. In the chasing pack Avon Valley Runners Alistair Bartlett and Vojtech Hajdu enjoyed a close battle around the demanding thirteen mile course, finishing in 4th & 5th places recording 1:20:48 and 1:21:47 respectively - with Vojtech claiming the 1st MV40 award. In 12th place Tom Frost recorded 1:26:49 to ensure an Avon Valley victory in the Men's team race. Next back for AVR was 17th placed Mark Harris whose 1:29:26 clocking gained him the 3rd MV40 award, with 18th placed Chris Atkinson and 20th placed Darren Wrintmore less than a minute behind.
In the ladies race Avon Valley Runner Tina Giles finished as 3rd lady recording 1:39:03 and also 1st FV40 with club mate Ali Atkinson recording 1:45:09 to finish as 2nd FV40. Megan Orrell ran well to break two hours for the first time with a 1:58:53 clocking - with the Avon Valley Ladies just missing out on the team prize to Wells City Harriers.
Darren Wrintmore, June 15th, 2008
Danny and Liz Gard pushed north up the M5 to Gloucestershire in order to take part in the Dymock half marathon on what can only be described as a wet, windy and undulating course. The poor weather ensured that participation was low, however an unconfirmed ninety runners took part in the race that saw Danny Gard finish 9th overall, with a PB of 1hr 28min and 18 sec, and Liz Gard finished the race in 1hr 56min 59sec.
Avon Valley Runners, May 25th, 2008
Over one hundred runners lined up at the Beeches to take part in the Shaw&Whitley Stampede, organised by Avon Valley Runners and DB Max. Heading out through Whitley to Neston and then back through Atworth and Purlpit to Shaw, the runners tackled some of the most technical terrain in the area over the six mile route. The race lived up to its name, when as the runners got underway twenty head of cattle decided to join the race but were fortunately diverted before they could reach the A365.
First home in a time of thirty two minutes and forty seconds was unattached runner Tom Fisher from Westwood who was a good two minutes clear of his nearest rival. Michael Towler of Avon Valley Runners and Stuart Henderson of Corsham Running Club were involved in a sprint finish for the line with the AVR member taking the overall runners-up spot. In the ladies race Natalie Burke of teamBath AC took the honours with a good run in thirty eight minutes and fifty eight seconds from club mate Phillipa Spruit and Julie Humphries of Alton Runners.
In the men's team race, the Avon Valley Runners trio of Michael Towler, Will Whitmore and Mark Harris took victory ahead of Chippenham Harriers and Corsham Running Club. The teamBath grouping of Natalie Burke, Phillipa Spruit and Helen Pettemides ensured a clear victory ahead of Avon Valley Runners and Corsham Running Club.
Other awards went to: 1st MV40 - Andrew Holdsworth of Chippenham Harriers; 1st MV50 Sean Butler of Chippenham Harriers; 1st MV60 - Clive Power; 1st FV40 - Mandy Crust of Kenilworth; 1st FV50 - Margaret Thompson of Devizes Running Club; 1st FV60 - Fay Barnes of Avon Valley Runners.
Following on from the Stampede was the 3 Kilometer Family Fun Run
the Keane Kanter
, with just under 100 entrants.
15-year old Jamie Hancock from Hilperton blasted around the course in just over twelve minutes,
whilst Ellie Bennetts from Melksham was the first girl to finish.
Kaya Hereward-Isaac won a special prize for being the best fancy dress entrant (being a flamenco dancer).
It is hoped that the event will have raised over two thousand pounds for children's
cancer charity CLIC Sargent.
Avon Valley Runners, May 17th, 2008
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