Club History
In 2007, St. Austell did not have a road running club, Newquay Par Athletics club was well established but catered mostly for track and cross country. However, there were a number of road runners in St. Austell who were members of other clubs in the county and would meet at road races. A group of us got together to consider forming a club in St. Austell. We organised a steering committee and agreed with the Rugby Club that we could use their premises as our meeting place. We put up advertisements’ in the local gyms and sports centres, did a press release and passed the word about the intention to form a new club.
A short history of St Austell Running Club by Doug Alsop
THE 2007 PRESS RELEASE
Thinking of Running? Like to get fit? A new Running Club is being started to serve the St Austell Region and is looking for members. All levels of ability will be welcomed and the training schedule is established to cater for experienced runners and newcomers.
Until now St Austell has not had a club dedicated to the growing sport of Road Running. For many years runners who live in the area and wished to join a club have no alternative but to join clubs in other towns.
Now a core of established runners from the area have joined together to create the St Austell Running Club. From Tuesday 30th October the club will meet at 6:30 on Tuesday and Thursday at the Tregorrick Park Sport and Fitness Centre (St Austell Rugby Club). Longer social runs on a Sunday will commence from various locations around the area.
For Further Information contact Doug Alsop, Paul & Rachel Bestwick, Paul Bullock, John & Alison Sidebotham (telephone numbers removed)
Come along bring your kit with reflective bib for safety and trainers any Tuesday or Thursday and find out what it is all about.
St Austell Voice News Article 07/11/2007
Our initial vision was quite modest and we thought that we would perhaps attract a few members but perhaps we would each remain members of our original clubs until such time as the new club would have enough members to affiliate to EA. We set our starting date Tuesday 30th October and were amazed that over 40 runners turned up on that first night. Our second meeting was Thursday of that week and again we had another 40 turn up some the same as Tuesday but some new. We had to quickly adjust our targets and agreed to get the club on a fully organised basis.
We drafted our first constitution had our initial AGM elected officers and applied to affiliate with England Athletics so that we could participate in the 2008 GP as St Austell Running Club. By Christmas of 2007 we had nearly 100 members and the enthusiasm was incredible. The first race in the GP series was Stormforce 10 in January and our men’s team gained third place. We had announced our arrival. We topped this with the Duchy Marathon in March when our men’s team took first place. The club grew at a pace to over 200 members and at the Sticker 5 mile race in 2009 we were the first club to have over 100 members complete a race in Cornwall.
We opened negotiations with the Eden Project and in 2009 organised the first Eden project marathon and half marathon. This is a successful relationship we have maintained ever since.
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The club is indebted to those many early members who committed time and energy to get the club established and give it a solid foundation for it continue to expand and develop has it has done since those early years. 2007 Committee members and previous club affiliations:
Chairman | Doug Alsop | Previously Falmouth Road Runners |
Vice Chairman | Paul Bullock | Previously Newquay Road Runners |
Secretary | Dawn Roberts | Previously Newquay Road Runners |
Treasurer | Andy Tregaskes | Previously Newquay Road Runners |
Membership Secretary | Rachel Bestwick | Previously Falmouth Road Runners |
Welfare | Alison Sidebotham | |
Social Secretary | Katie Bullock | Previously Newquay Road Runners |
Publicity | John Sidebotham | Previously Falmouth Road Runners |
Men's Captain | Paul Bestwick | Previously Falmouth Road Runners |
Ladies' Captain | Katie Bullock | Previously Newquay Road Runners |
Head Coach | Dave Rowe | Previously Truro Running Club |
Committee Member | Tracey Davey | Previously Truro Running Club |
Committee Member | Carl Miles | Previously Newquay Road Runners |
Committee Member | Garry Player | Previously East Cornwall Harriers |
Committee Member | Terry Wyatt |