
The Club was
formed in 1983 and is based at Ambleside RUFC Club House
during winter months and many Lakeland pubs on Sundays
and summer Tuesday evenings. There are approximately 90
members, spread across the length and breadth of the
country; one member even lives in France, though we
don’t expect to see him every week!
We have
regular committee meetings held at what we think is the
optimum frequency, this is our once a year AGM held on
the first Tuesday in December at the Rugby Club. This
important meeting lasts around half an hour, which is
the time it takes to appoint the all important Office
Holders. The only two you need to know about are firstly
the Treasurer Roger Bell, who collects the subs and your
vital statistics and the Hon Secretary Eric Parker, who
opens the Club mail but little else and is always
pleased to hear from anyone. Oh and then there's the
Newsletter and Training Schedule, which goes out four
times a year.
If you are
an average or above fell runner you will no doubt be
contacted by our Senior Team Captains Simon Stainer or
Jane Reedy. Their main interests are getting enough runners
out to the Championship races - studs on the start line
- this involves arranging transport for races outside
the Lakes, bribing the better runners to turn out and
choosing the pub where in the race post mortem is to be
held. In 2003 Men's Team Captain, Simon, did a brilliant
job of getting people out, so much so that we won the
British Championship. A return to form for the Club as
we last won the Championship back in 1993.
We have a
few social get-togethers but our DO's tend to be
centred on popular away races and a few ad hoc
evenings, Bar-B-Q's, meals etc, etc. Jura and the Ben
are two of the best attended, plus a few trips to N
Wales over the years. In addition mini bus trips are
arranged from time to time for day trips and the odd
evening trip on long summer nights, these all allow
maximum participation in the race post mortems. A high
spot in our social calendar is the Xmas Do,
traditionally
preceded with a a race. This is a
Club handicap
race starting from the Golden Rule in Ambleside and
finishing at the top of Kirkstone Pass. It has little
going for it, as it's all on the road and up hill with
no descent. However, everyone has a chance to win, get
their name on the Cup and work up a thirst for the
evenings festivities.
During
winter months we run from the Rugby Club on Tuesday
evenings starting at 6.45 pm. and run on the roads
around Ambleside from around one to two hours, some of
our keener members also meet on Thursday nights and do hill reps around the plentiful
hills of Ambleside. Sundays throughout the year are
almost always on the fells and start and finish from
various carefully selected pubs. During the summer
months we like to support as many of the local pubs on a
Tuesday evening as we can, but only after having had a
run first!
Any runners interested in joining us for the
odd time whilst on holiday or if you are moving into our
area will be most welcome. Our training schedule is
listed here.
In summary
if you are interested in running around the Fells, can
take the 'Michael' or have it taken, enjoy a good crack,
a pint in the pub and need to get fit or stay fit look
us up.