September Member Celebration

September saw our club delivering their AGM. We always celebrate members at our AGM and share their achievements and what made them stand out.

Adult Awards

Weston Whippets Member of the Year - Amy Jones, in recognition of the determination shown in her running journey, going from non runner to a confident 10k runner. Working hard to get a wonderful 10k PB in September. It has been a pleasure to watch Amy grow in confidence and ability in such a short period of time. Amy has shown huge commitment to her running and this has paid off in her various achievements.

Weston Whippets Volunteer of the Year - Karen O'Sullivan, chosen by her fellow club members for countless reasons that all prove why Karen was so deserving of this award. Karen is always supportive, kind, caring, fun, encouraging, inclusive and positive. Karens character allows our members to feel welcome, comfortable and valued, with no worry about their ability as Karen is always ready and willing to support them regardless of pace or distance needed. Karen is often the LiRF to offer support to ensure sessions can go ahead safely with full support, even at short notice. Karen is a valuable and much loved member of the club, who has grown in confidence since becoming a member of the LiRF team. Karen also practices what she preaches and has worked tirelessly to build her own running.

Lu Smith Award

Weston Whippets Lu Smith Award - Claire Sunshine

This award is handed out each year in memory of our much loved member Lu Smith who passed away. We like to recognise Lu each year by thanking members for showing us kindness, love, care and support, all attributes that we loved and appreciated from Lu.

This year, we award our plant pot, sunflower and chilli seeds to Claire to thank her for all that she does to ensure that our members are given opportunities to improve themselves. Claire has dedicated her time, effort and care to vring us 2 amazing trail weekends in Wales, an excellent Christmas party and other events, including our Barn Dance fundraiser. Claire is a huge asset to our club. She really is our very own ray of sunshine.

Under 18 Awards

Weston Whippets Funetics Member of the Year - Jessica, in recognition of great listening with regards to coaching advice and the ability to understand and out this into practice to support her progression. A much loved and respected member of the team and also recognised by her peers for being a kind, caring and supportive teammate.

Weston Whippets Funetics Member of the Year - Mia-Rose, in recognition of the determination shown to improve in all aspects of athletics, especially her running, listening to the coaching advice given and putting this into practice in every session. A wonderful athlete to coach as she listens and understands.

Weston Whippets Youth Member of the Year - Emma, in recognition of how much improvement the coaching team have seen in the last year in both running and attitude to running.For listening to all coaching advice and putting it into practice. Emma has a great character and her humour sets her aside.

August Member Celebration

Victoria May

Victoria is one of our regular Social runners and has fit in really well within this team.

Over recent months Victoria has attended a variety of other sessions to improve in all aspects of her running, including attending some trail runs which are out of her comfort zone.

It is an absolute joy to run with Victoria as she is so friendly and she works really hard to improve her running. Victoria is a much loved member of the club and everyone can see how much she has grown in confidence. She really is someone we all love to run with.

Well done Victoria. We love seeing you at all of the sessions you attend.

July Member Celebration

Amy Jones

Amy is one of our newest members. Amy joined us in April 2024 in the hope of returning to running with our 0-5k course.

Throughout the course Amy worked her socks off! Amy wasn't our most confident runner, but each week she used her determination to build her ability and kept her long term goal in mind. This long term goal hasn't faltered and we are sure that she will achieve it, Amy knows what her goal is and we hope to hear all about it in the very near future.

Amy was the only member of the team who attended every session of her 5k course and we were thrilled when she chose to take on the 10k course. Another 6 weeks of building up the belief that she is a brilliant runner who can run for miles and miles, and again not missing a single session of the 10k course! Amy can do anything she puts her mind to and has been an absolute delight to coach with Sophie, her side kick.

Amy is proof that hard work, determination and commitment pays off and she deserves the recognition for all that she has achieved in such a short time.

Well done Amy. We look forward to seeing your progression and self belief continue to grow.

June Member Celebration

Chris Sanders

Weston Whippets are absolutely delighted to share that one of our fantastic members has qualified as an England Masters runner and will represent England at the 2025 International Representative Masters 10k.

Chris has worked extremely hard to strengthen and build her running and all of her hard work, commitment and ability has definitely paid off. Becoming an England Masters runner at 70 years of age is utterly brilliant and she has earned her place as a club hero.

Chris joined our club in 2022 and quickly became one of the clubs most loved and respected members. Chris joined the clubs committee in 2023 and supports the club to continue to strive to be a wonderful and friendly club to run with.

Chris, we are so proud of you and you've shown your whole team how inspirational you are. Thank you for everything you do for our club.

Your whole club will be cheering you through your England Masters experience.

May Member Celebration

Sarah Postma

After taking some time out from running, Sarah joined one of our 0-5k courses in 2023.

Unfortunately, Sarah was diagnosed with TB in week 2 of the course and rather than drop out of the course, chose to continue but due to the TB diagnosis, she had to run alone. During the remainder of the course Sarah pushed herself to keep running and defied the odds when she reached 5k. Even her Consultant and nurse were surprised at her determination and she was told that her running kept her out of hospital.

With the 5k under her belt and treatment going so well, Sarah was allowed to resume running with the team and completed the clubs 10k course, swiftly followed by the clubs Half Marathon course. As she came to the end of this course, she was signed off from her treatment. By this point Sarah was well into her preparation for Bristol Half Marathon, running to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK and was supported by her run buddies Vikki, Hanna and Karen. Sarah completed her race in 2:30 and followed this up with a 10k trail race the following week.

We are absolutely amazed at Sarah's strength, perserverance and commitment to achieve her goals, even when faced with such a worrying health problem that would be a huge setback for most.

Congratulations Sarah. We are proud that you are a Weston Whippet.

April Member Celebration

Julie Kanaan

Julie first joined Weston Whippets in 2018, taking a space in one of our first 0-5k courses.

Once Julie completed her course, she really worked hard on her running and has had an amazing journey with so many achievements.

Julie has now run 6 Half Marathons. This is an achievement that she is really proud of and the club is too.

Julie is a much loved and respected member of the club, she has worked hard to improve all aspects of her running and she has also supported the club by becoming a Leader in Running Fitness and more recently a Coach in Running Fitness. Julie was a valued member of our Committee from 2018 to 2024.

Julie really is the epitome of a Weston Whippet.