The Role of Honour for Year 2009

Friday 10^th July 2009 again saw around 130 Dudley Ladies put on their glad rags to receive the adulation and recognition for their past efforts at the clubs annual presentation evening that was again held at Linden House in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton.

Proceedings began at 7.30pm when Rita welcomed everyone to the event before starting the evening off with a loud explosion of 130 party poppers before sitting down to a three Course meal of either Minestrone Soup or Iced Melon with Ginger for starters, Chicken Chasseur or Roast Topside of Beef or Feta Cheese & Broccoli Bake for main course, with Profiteroles in Hot Bailey’s Sauce or Strawberries & Cream for dessert

Following the meal, which everyone said was excellent, Rita allowed Phil the rare privilege to speak in public and of course being the typical man he is, when given the chance he couldn't perform on the night and had to hand over to Rita to do all the work as usual.

The awards ceremony  was begun by Rita and Mary Lavender, with around 50 or so beginners each receiving their medal, certificate and tee-shirt for running a minimum of 3 miles during their recent 10 week beginners course and having their photograph taken by Nick and Julie Walton, Steve Evans and his partner Jo Lavender.

That done the evening then moved on to the individual award winners and as Phil explained, this year was more difficult than ever, with around 200 beginners plus the established runners in the club and everyone with a good case to put, so just where do you start???

BEGINNERS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

1. Christine Bailey - was the first to be recognized for her outstanding achievement this year. This lady had been very committed to the Beginners Course from day one and not once did she admit defeat. She gave 100% and her improvement has been amazing.

2. Lorraine Buckingham-Smith - helped her friend all the way around through the course and even though she’s not a natural runner and was having to work hard herself she was always there to make sure that they did it together

3. Lesley Cox - is an inspiration to her children and proves that you don’t have to accept them beating you as they get older. She here every week and always giving it her all and we’re pleased to recognise 

4. Donna Burrows - This lady is more used to swimming than running but she exchanged her flippers for a set of running shoes and set out to prove that she could do it. She doesn’t fit into the usual lycra clad running mould either but she worked hard, stuck at it and did it with a smile on her face and the help of Lorraine she did it.

5. Pamela Howell - When people join Dudley Ladies, they never really leave, even if they become pregnant, or injured or ill or for whatever reason they can’t make it down for sometime and this particular lady is an absolute classic example of that. This lady doesn’t fit the usual runners profile that we are led to expect but she’s come back again to encourage her daughter, she’s had to start from scratch and she’s overcome all the obstacles and problems in her way to finally do it.

6 Alicia Hill - This young lady impressed us with her infectious smile and stick-ability. And although she is only 9 she was always around to encourage her mother to keep going and undoubtedly a star of the future 

7. Faye Malkin - If you’ve ever run with this lady you will know that no matter how tough the hill is or how long the run is, she’s always got this great big smile on her face and an infectious positive mental attitude. If ever there was an advert running then this is it.

8. Lynne Leitch - This is another lady that reflects all that is good about Dudley Ladies, because as was said before, when people join Dudley Ladies, they never really leave, even if they become pregnant, or injured or ill or can’t make it for whatever reason. This lady was another of our founding members many years ago and recently returned from having time at to start from scratch again and go on to complete her 3 miles whilst offering help and encouragement to others along the way.

9. June Pinches - This lady has been wonderful to have on the course. She always turns up with a smile and a positive attitude and loves helping others. She has achieved a lot since her first day but she will tell you that she couldn’t have done it without the help of her two very good friends already in the club who have encouraged her all the way, so this is mini team prize really.

10. Tina Sanders - This lady may never run for England but what she lacked in speed she more than made up for with stickability and sheer determination. She started from day one and couldn’t run for a bus, let alone run around the football pitch but now through sheer guts and determination she’s done it and thoroughly deserves being recognised for what she has achieved. She kept everyone around her going and progressed from absolutely nothing to doing 3 miles with aplomb

11.Tracey Wharton -  And yet another lady who demonstrates all that is good about Dudley Ladies, as we’ve said before, when people join Dudley Ladies, they never really leave, even if they become pregnant, or injured or ill or for whatever reason they can’t make it down for sometime. This lady was another of our very first members but due to various reasons which forced her to take a break she’s come back again, she’s had to start from scratch and she’s done it in style.

12. Saheeda Thelwell - This lady is a testament to mind over matter. She has had leg problems, knee problems ankle problems, you name it and it’s ached but she was determined to do it and she will tell you that she has now never felt better. So we are delighted to recognise her efforts.

BEGINNERS OF THE YEAR

For one of the few times in the clubs history we gave a joint Beginner of the Year award.

 Both people have added value from when they came to what they are now. They’ve done it in different ways and are on different levels of ability but the progress of both was clear to see.

Annabelle Addison - Even though she was always nearer the back of the field than the front, Annabelle impressed us with her positive attitude, big smile and sheer determination to finish. When she first started she couldn't run for a bus, let alone run around the football field but now she is regularly running 3 miles and more.

Viv Leach - Like Annabelle, Viv also started on day one and like everyone else, she struggled to run around the football pitch but she put in extra time and really went for it to such an extent that she very soon became too good for the Beginners Group and we had to transfer her to run with the established ladies, where she very quickly settled in and has now gone on to run 5, 6, 7 miles or more. So even though she is a Villa supporter we were delighted to recognise what was a fantastic achievement.

MARATHON AWARDS

As the Beginners will certify, running three miles is a big achievement in itself, so when someone in the club runs 26.2 miles we think that they deserve even more recognition.

This year we were delighted to honour Jo Jones, Kath Morgan and Natalie Dellar, who unfortunately couldn't be with us on the night.

All these Ladies have blossomed into becoming some of the best runners in the club despite not fitting the normal runners profile to such an extent that not even her Jo's husband Wally Wombat would catch them.

ESTABLISHED RUNNERS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

1 & 2 Eileen Bolton & Ann Kelly - This first award is a joint award because the ladies in question are a double act and we just couldn't split them. They are both two of our more senior members of the club supports and they inspires all those around them. Since coming to the club as beginners two years ago, they have improved to such an extent that they have surprised even themselves. They turn up every week; they are a joy to be with and have become not only a real asset to the club but very good friends to many of us.

3, Ann Pedley - This lady is one of those people who prefer to stay in the background. She just gets on with it without any fuss and has now worked her way up to being in the top half of the clubs ability level. And her hard work fully deserves being recognised.

4, Mary Soloman - This lady is an inspiration to everyone. Her running has improved greatly this year even though she takes time out to encourage everyone around her, support them and bring them on.

5. Kerri Pearson -  As we’ve said before, when people join Dudley Ladies, they never really leave, even if they become pregnant, or injured or ill or for whatever reason they can’t make it down for sometime and this particular lady is an absolute classic example of that. This lady was one of our founding members and recently returned from having yet another child, add this to the fact that she has got a very demanding job that we can all relate to, so if anyone deserves an achievement award, it's Kerri..

6, Tracey Green - This lady has also recently returned to the club after falling off the wagon but has knuckled down again, she’s lost over 7 stone since she’s come back and is unrecognisable from when she started back in just a few short months ago.

7, Jackie Green - Last year this lady was a newcomer to the club but she slipped in seamlessly and very quickly found her level within the group and soon made a host of new friends. She has now progressed on to be one of the mainstays of the club and has continued to impress.

8, Sue Ryan - This lady only joined the club in February of this year and had never done any running before coming down but she has surprised everybody, not least herself by not only running the DK 10K in May but also the Black Country Half Marathon last week, so there is no way we couldn’t recognise her achievements.

9. Sally Goodman - You know how some people tend to stay in the background and just get on with things without making a fuss, well this lady is one of those. She’s been a member since day one in 2003 and is one of the club’s un-sung hero’s.

10, Helen Cartwright - This lady is our best New-Comer of the Year. She joined us used before Christmas as a Beginner to run around the cold, dark, wet streets of Wombourne having to put up with Phil's daft ramblings at the back, but she very quickly blossomed, she graduated into a very friendly and supportive group and has just got better and better. So we are delighted to recognise her achievements.

11 Marion Willetts - This lady is one of our more senior members and everyone that knows her will tell you that she disproves the theory that you can blame your age for not doing something. This lady is one of the best runners in the club as well as being one of the oldest and puts girls more than half her age to shame.

12 & 13 Angela & Amber Woodhall - This is another joint award because the ladies in question are not only a double act but they’re also mother and daughter. They have both made tremendous progress since joining the club last year. Mom Angela only came under sufferance because her daughter Amber wanted to run but as time went on Angela got really in to it and has now really progressed into being quite a competent runner so we just can’t split them.

THE COMEBACK QUEEN AWARD

This is an award we give each year to someone who has shown outstanding bounce back ability and this year we’re giving it to a lady who has had a new lease of life after an injury that stopped her running and then having to cope with all the worry and stress of an OFSTED at school which  stopped her coming to the club for quite some time but she persevered, didn’t give up and showed that kind of determination that we’d all like to have.

And not only did she beat the injury but she also blew the OFSTED out of the window by producing the best set of results in her schools history. She is almost back to her best again now and is taking other people along with her infectious enthusiasm. It’s Rachel Chapman

THE MOST IMPROVED RUNNER AWARD

This is an award that we give to the runner who we think has improved the most over the last 12 months ie Most Improved Runner.

This year, the lady that has stood out the most joined just a couple of years ago now and being the very sociable person she is, very quickly got herself established with a group albeit only by hanging on to their coattails but now she is more than holding her own and running with real confidence and is a brilliant asset to the club.

And in typical self deprecating fashion when told she'd won an award by toning up she replied that No we'd got it wrong, she won it for turning up - It’s Kath Morgan

CLUBWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Some people in the club do more than run. They do other things as well and without them, none of this would take place. One such lady is an inspiration to us all. She has a busy full time job, clubs to run, trips to go organise, and a couple of grandkids to care for. Everyone that meets her is immediately struck by her outgoing personality and the loads of energy and enthusiasm that just hits you in the face There just isn’t a better Mrs Motivator anywhere. Every week she is at the club, supporting, advising, cajoling and working everyone that runs with her.

So we were absolutely delighted to award the Clubwoman of Year to Mary Lavender

SPECIAL AWARD

The next award was a very sad one for us because it was for a lady that is leaving us. It’s particularly sad because nobody who knows her wants her to go. She is one of our more cosmopolitan athletes who has bought a continental flavour to the club. She only joined last year but has now totally integrated herself and made a lot of new friends who will also miss her when she moves back to Germany later in the year it's – Annette Geray

JO JONES - RUNNER OF THE YEAR

As was said earlier, this lady over the last 12 months or so has really blossomed, she’s lost weight, run a marathon and ever so gradually has become one of the best and most popular runners in the club despite not fitting the normal runners profile. In fact she’s become so good that not even her husband Wally Wombat wouldn't catch her. A lot of the trophies that we gave out on the night were very difficult decisions to make but this one was by far the easiest so we don’t think there will be any complaints when we say that Jo Jones is by far and away The Runner of the Year.