As we get settled in to a new decade, it’s a pleasure to be able to reflect on what has been another monumental past twelve months for Ramsbottom Running Club.
2019 was a year full of significant milestones with 80 new members being welcomed to the club, bringing the total number of RRC'ers to a whopping 342!
In January the club hosted its first ever Couch to 5K group at Woodhey High School. At times up to 80 people joined in and got their first taste of RRC.
The group 'graduated' at Bolton parkrun at the end of the 10 week programme - you can read all about Tracy's experience here.
We'll be hosting another Couch to 5K group in 2020... watch this space!
January also saw the beginning of the annual Club Championships with an invasion of over 100 Rams at Cuerden Valley parkrun.
Over the course of the year 195 different people represented the club in at least one of the 25 Club Champs events.
A huge congratulations to all of the winners in this years Club Championships:
We hosted our first ever Burns Night celebration in February. Our very own poet laureate, Paul Jenkins addressed the haggis and we ceilidh’d the night away at St Anne's Church in Tottington.
Tickets are on sale now for the 2020 event which is scheduled for 1st February.
March saw a landmark moment in the history of the club as Ramsbottom Running Club Juniors was launched which caters for 6-14 year olds.
Over 100 Juniors have joined in with the Friday evening sessions at Woodhey High School so far with 32 having become fully signed up RRCJ members!
In July we hosted the inaugural inter-club challenge where we were joined by North Bolton Runners and Burnden Road Runners for a team event on the Kirklees Trail. Burnden were the eventual winners of this (hopefully) annual event which saw over 150 people taking part.
A large contingent of Rams headed over to North Wales in August and made up around 20% of the field of the award winning Cybi Coastal Marathon in Anglesey.
Just three days later over 100 Rams took on the third annual Ramsbottom Summer Mile in Nuttall Park.
parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt was the guest of honour on a wonderful summers evening and the entertainment was provided by the incredible Mr Wilson’s Second Liners 🎺
Entries for the 2020 edition of the Ramsbottom Summer Mile will be opening soon!
In October a whole load of RRC’ers headed to Amsterdam to take part in the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K race.
Alongside countless moments of huge pride, including several members debuting at each of the distances (and for some, completing their first ever competitive event!) the weekend was made extra special by an RRC proposal as Neil Rothwell dropped to one knee and Karen Grindrod said yes!!
October also saw the launch of a weekly walking option alongside the running offer at Tuesday evening club nights. Another key milestone for the club which reflects our ambition to be as inclusive, friendly and welcoming as possible to everyone regardless of ability!
We rounded off the year by celebrating together at our annual Christmas party and Awards Evening in December.
It was another fantastic evening of shared pride with all those who had completed at least 9 club champs events (88 people in total!!) being awarded a special memento and the winners of each of the various competitions being presented their trophies.
We also presented the ‘Ramouflage’ award to Ben Knight and Andrea Sidebottom for special efforts in the Club Champs and the ‘Spirit of the Ram’ awards to Chris Hughes and Emma Stacey for embodying the club’s values.
Members have represented Ramsbottom Running Club in events and races all over the globe in 2019 ranging from 1 mile to iron-distance triathlons and Ultra Marathons. You can read Connor's excellent 'Club highlights - A Member's Perspective' blog here which picks out some of your own favourite moments from a wonderful 2019!