June 2025
Howdy Ranelights.
We’ve made it through May! Woo hoo!
Note: Admittedly, we’re aware that this is not ordinarily a cause for celebration, but bear with us here at Comms HQ, it’s been quite an epic month and we’re running slightly on fumes, coffee and mild delirium…
As we enter the month of June, it’s looking like it’s going to be another packed month full of racing, racing and more racing.
There’s something for everyone in the weeks ahead, so make the most of the longer days and the fabulous weather to get out there.
And if running’s not on the cards for you at the moment, please don’t feel you can’t still get involved with upcoming fixtures.
There’s equally as much opportunity - and more fun even (just ask Jonny Smith about his volunteering stint at the Coad Cup) - in supporting and volunteering your clubmates.
Read on for more info about what’s coming up..
1. RANELAGH 10K
▪️3 weeks (GASP!) until our 10K on Sunday 22 June, and as always, we need everyone’s help on the day. Duties include helping out pre-race (from 7am), marshalling (from 8.45 - 10.30am) & post race (until 12pm).
The organising team are busy working to ensure another great, well-run (ha ha), safe and fun event for all the runners. Crucial to this is having plenty of marshals on course; so whatever time you can give is deeply appreciated.
FYI the 10K route is two laps from Riverside Drive Playground, taking in the towpath at Teddington Footbridge, before turning at Half Mile Tree (stump), and then looping round again.
We’re anticipating 600+ runners so we really need to know ASAP that you can help. Please fill in this short form @ https://bit.ly/RanelaghVolunteer ⬅️ or message Narissa or Oli via WhatsApp Community, or email coordinator@ranelagh-harriers.co.uk
We also have roles available if you can only offer a limited amount of time, and roles that are compatible with running the race.
In return for your help, we would like to offer a FREE coffee or ice cream from our race vendors at the start or finish, as well as post-race THANK YOU drinks on Tuesday 24 June @ The Fox & Duck from 8pm.
2. Notification: Ranelagh harriers AGM
Tuesday 8th July | Ranelagh Clubhouse @ 19:30
Please note that our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at the Ranelagh Clubhouse from 19:30 on Tuesday 8th July *
* The Club Secretary should give at least 21 days notice for the AGM. This note is the confirmation of the time, date, and location of the next AGM.
We are starting earlier as we want to make it a celebration of the year, and also to have a look forward to some other exciting challenges. The AGM Agenda is as follows:
President’s Introduction
Women’s Captain: review of the racing year
Men’s Captain: review of the racing year
Celebration and President’s report of the year
Coaching Updates
Kit Launch
Clubhouse Changes
10k & Half Marathon Road Races
Social Events
Cross Country Race Officials and Fixture Sec
Membership Update
Digital Platform and Web Page
Elect Committee Members: President, Hon Treasurer, Hon Secretary, and the Men’s/Women’s Captains. Also the Auditor will be elected.
Review from the Honorary Treasurer: audited balance sheet and annual accounts for the prior financial year.
Ranelagh Forward Look
Governance Update
Legal Structure
Strategy Update, including the 4 working groups
Clubhouse Trustees: consider any changes to Trustees structure
Amendment to the Constitution and Rule Book including subscriptions, and any election of Life Members or Vice Presidents
Other Key Roles in the Club: reminder of the important non-committee roles
President’s Prize
Any proposed updates to the Constitution and Rule Book should be sent to Trevor Maguire, Honorary Club Secretary by 9 June ** via ranelagh.hon.secretary@gmail.com ⬅️
The current version is available here >
**28 days before the AGM, as required by the club constitution.
The proposed Constitution and Rule Book will be circulated by 23 June 2024 *** and any questions can also be directed to the Club Secretary.
***14 days before the AGM, as required by our club constitution.
3. fixtures⬇️
▪️Wimbledon Trail Series Race 2 | Wednesday 4 June @ 7pm | Wimbledon Common: Second race in Ranelagh’s very own Andy Bickerstaff’s popular summer trail series, featuring 5 miles through scenic Wimbledon Common.
Starting at the iconic windmill; all finishers receive what is simply the ugliest design ever seen on a mug, plus chocolate bar and fruit. Plenty of prizes (when Andy gets it right); please wear a club vest. Entrants must be 17 or over.
Info & entries @ https://www.goodrunguide.co.uk/RaceDetails.asp?RaceID=32635 ⬅️
▪️THH Parkland Relays | Wednesday 4 June @ 7pm | Richmond Park: Fast, furious and (Type II) fun for teams of 3, with each runner taking on 4.5km per leg. Our women shone last year; and our men not far behind. Entries are likely to be closed, but do contact your captains if you’d like to run. Otherwise supporters are very welcome; meet just before 7pm at the big log by Spankers Hill Woods; opposite Pen Ponds carpark.
▪️Stragglers (mini) Mob Match | Saturday 14 June @ 9am | Bushy Park parkrun: Our annual (mini) Mob Match against The Stragglers Running Club will take place in conjunction with Bushy Park parkrun. As with all mob matches, it’s all about numbers so COME ON RANELAGH!
For it to count, you’ll need to register with parkrun that you are a member of our club. To do this, sign into your parkrun profile, click on Groups and add Ranelagh Harriers as your club. If you have more than one club, please make Ranelagh your primary club for it to count. Then turn up at Bushy Park on 14 June at 9am and RUN!
▪️Ranelagh 10k | Sunday 22 June @ 9am | Ham: Fixture 4 in the Surrey Road League; scenic, flat & fast 2 lap loop round the towpath & quiet roads of Ham. Loads of prizes to reward performances at all levels, great club & running community vibe throughout so whether you’re running or volunteering (or both), you’re guaranteed a fab time. Entries @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/ranelagh-10k ⬅️
All 2024/2025 fixtures @ https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/fixtures-2024-2025/ ⬅️
4. RACE REPORTS ⬇️
💙 Ranelagh Half Marathon | Sunday 11 May | Richmond: https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/news/ranelaghhalf2025 ⬅️
🕺 Green Belt Relay | Saturday & Sunday 17 & 18 May | London: https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/news/gbr-2025 ⬅️
🦌 Coad Cup | Tuesday 27 May | Richmond Park: https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/news/2025-coad ⬅️
5. KIT ⬇️
Thank you to everyone for their patience. The new kit order has arrived this week and all orders are being processed as we speak.
Our kit secretary Agnes will be at the clubhouse from 6:30pm on Tuesday for collection. Alternatively, you can message her via WhatsApp to arrange collection from TW1 1RB.
Please arrive on time to allow time to collect your order. It would help speed up the process if you could have your order number, as indicated in your confirmation email.
New joiners, there’s a selection of stock that will be available, of various sizes, to purchase. Kindly bear with us as the above pre-orders are distributed.
Once this is completed, the online kit store will reopen, so you can place your orders, and make payment through that platform. You'll then be able to pick up your orders at the clubhouse on the Tuesday after (or not long after that).
6. BEER ⬇️
So equally as important to the social fibre of our club as racing is, is BEER!
And we have a fabulous opportunity for you to get your hands on not just any beer, but the very exclusive RANELAGH 20 PONDS beer, which was an instant sell-out when it debuted last year.
Courtesy the wonderful Park Brewery, we have 300 cans of this tasty beverage available to purchase in our clubhouse, at socials etc from £3 per can.
This is also available to purchase in bulk @ £2.50/can, for orders above 10 cans, on a first-come, first-served basis, while stocks last.
Please place your orders @ https://forms.gle/pdmKKoaxz13zvc2MA ⬅️ and we will email you to confirm availability.
You will then be asked to pay by bank transfer to the Ranelagh club account. Once payment confirmed has been confirmed, you can pick up your beer from the clubhouse.
7. CLUB SUBS ⬇️
An ongoing reminder, if you haven’t already, to please renew your subs for 2025/2026 as soon as possible using the account details below:
Beneficiary Bank: HSBC
Sort code: 40-23-29
Account Number: 81109847
Account Name: Ranelagh Harriers
For any other methods of payment, please go to www.ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/join-info.
Where applicable, your payment includes registration with England Athletics, which will allow you to represent our club in official races. You will also receive a £2 discount on most other race entries, plus other benefits and discounts as offered by England Athletics.
Once you have paid your subs, we will register you with them. Should you have any queries regarding renewing your membership, please email the Membership Secretary.
NOTE: By paying your subs, you agree go to the England Athletics site, to accept and abide by the relevant codes of conduct relating to your role(s) within the club.
8. TRAINING ⬇️
A reminder that for Tuesday's session, please meet at our clubhouse for 7pm; and for Thursday's track, please meet at Osterley Park track for 7.30pm.
To our new joiners, those on a taster session and our C25k beginners; a BIG HELLO - welcome to Ranelagh. We hope you enjoy yourselves.
To our existing members, please don’t forget to introduce yourselves when you see anyone new; we were all there once!
Summer is definitely here; and the longer days mean fab sessions in the park followed by some much appreciated hydration in the pub after!
A reminder to dress appropriately (keep cool), to stay hydrated before, during and after all your runs and training sessions (but also don’t drink too much!), and to allow plenty of time for your body to adjust and aclimatise.
Do check in on each other, especially as the heat and humidity increases and if you feel faint, dizzy or not well, please slow down or stop running.
Also, tick season will soon be upon us; so please take the appropriate precautions by covering legs, wearing insect repellent and checking for ticks after running in the park.
Detailed info can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/642bec29fbe620000f17dbbe/Tick-awareness-A5-leaflet-April-2023.pdf ⬅️
And the following advice from The Friends of Richmond Park:
Ticks are small creatures, related to spiders and mites, that feed on the blood of animals and sometimes people. Ticks can survive in many places but prefer slightly moist, shady areas such as bracken, bushes and leaf litter. They can be found in both long and short grass.
Ticks can't jump or fly, so they have to wait until an animal (or human) brushes past to attach to their skin. The tick population peaks between spring and autumn (March to October).
Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection spread by infected ticks. Human infection is uncommon, because only a small proportion of ticks have the infection.
However, those ticks that may carry Lyme disease are common in the countryside, especially woodlands and parks with deer, such as Richmond Park.
Please see the Government advice on tick bites and the prevention of Lyme disease for more information.
The Visitor Centre has free Information leaflets produced by Lyme Disease Action and tick removers for sale.
8. NOTICES:
💙 Quiz Night | 27 June : Quiz. Clubhouse. Food. Fun. Drinks. Save the date - further details coming soon.
💛 Share: Your running or running related celebrations & achievements in our ‘General Club Chat’ group. Please contact Ed or Narissa via WhatsAppCommunity to be added. We love seeing what you get up to!
