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COOKHAM
RUNNING Club celebrated its fifth anniversary with a series of fun
handicap races attended by both senior and junior members in the village
on Saturday 24th January. The thriving club was set up by local journalist
and coach, Peta Bee, as a beginner group for women but has since expanded
beyond all expectation to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with
on the local running and athletics scene.
Now affiliated with England Athletics, the club has a structure of
qualified coaches that includes former international runners and a band of
enthusiastic parents. Senior members feature prominently in the Thames
Valley 5km Summer Series and regularly enter team events such as the
London to Cardiff relay. A junior section for children aged 9 upwards was
added in 2013 and has proven so popular that the club now has a waiting
list for prospective members. Junior teams compete in the North West
London Young Athletes Cross Country League, a wide range of track events
and the Apex Chiltern League where they have accrued several medals in the
last 12 months.
Members meet 3-4 times a week for track sessions at the Wycombe District
Athletics Centre, Braywick Track and for scenic off-road sessions around
Cookham, all lead by qualified coaches. “Our success is born out of
enthusiasm and the fun we all have doing the sport,” says founder Peta
Bee. “Our members range from juniors who have promising athletics
careers ahead of them to older members who are happy not to race and just
enjoy running in beautiful surroundings with friends.”
Gerald Cooper, chairman, says the club keeps going from strength to
strength with a packed social as well as racing calendar for the year
ahead. More than 120 people have now completed couch to 5km courses
organised by the club, many progressing to full membership. “It’s
amazing to think how far we have come in such a short time,” he says.
“We welcome anyone of any standard to come along and have a go.”
For details visit: www.cookhamrunningclub.com
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