28
Feb
Ripon Runners set for milestone weekend
The Stray Ferret covers more articles about Ripon than any other news organisations. We have made this article free to read, but to see all our content from as little as 14p a day, click here.
It started when a local milkman called Cameron Wetherburn and a few mates went running regularly around Ripon in 1985.
They set up a club and, 40 years on, Ripon Runners is now firmly established as one of the leading local running clubs with over 350 members, ranging from elite athletes to total novices.
The club will be taking over the weekly park run at Fountains Abbey tomorrow (March 1) to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
More than 70 club volunteers will help the hundreds of participants safely negotiate what is one of the most scenic park run courses in the country.
Club founder Cameron Weatherburn and chair Karen Lennox
With tomorrow marking the first day of spring, and the forecast set fair, the club hopes it will prove the perfect opportunity for people to try running to get fit or to make friends and improve their mental wellbeing.
Club press officer Jess Pearman said:
This park run event is perfect for those who've fallen off the wagon of their healthy new year resolutions and people who want to make new friends through a healthy sport.
Former Bishop of Ripon Helen-Ann Hartley sporting her Ripon Runners' top.
Park runs are free to enter and start at 9am. Anyone interested just needs to register here if they want to record a time.
Ripon Runners’ members range from elite runners, including 73-year-old Ray Johnstone, who can complete a five-kilometre park run in 23 minutes, to people who just enjoy gentle jogging and junior runners aged as young as 11.
Perhaps the most famous Ripon Runner is Helen-Ann Hartley, the former Bishop of Ripon and current Bishop of Newcastle, who always speaks warmly of the club and its community value.
Ms Pearman said:
We have seven speed groups, including a walking group for newer runners and those rehabilitating injuries and celebrating being one of the only running clubs to meet all of the England Athletics standards.
The club organises the Ripon 10 Mile, Ripon Ultra, Minster to Minster and the festive Jolly Holly Jog each year.
A group of runners completed this month’s Torremolinos Half Marathon, with Helen Pickard picking up a trophy for being the fastest female in her age category.
The club also raises money for local and national causes, especially the Shaun Lee Johnstone Fund, which was set up by Ray Johnstone in memory of his son and has raised £130,000 for the Brain Tumour Charity.
Ray Johnstone and his wife Paula
0