CAPTAINS’ NEWSLETTER
November 2026 – Donna Harris
In Memory of Ray Baggs
Before we look back on October achievements, we just wanted to make a special mention for Ray Baggs.
Ray had been having treatment for cancer and has recently passed away.
He was a fantastic runner, a lovely person and a valued member of GBRC.
He had some super-fast times under his belt. Ray was a stalwart at both our own Mickey Edward series, various club nights and Clacton seafront Parkrun.
Ray was a valued member of our club and will be greatly missed by so many. Our thoughts and sincere condolences remain with Stewart, who is also a member of our club and all those closest to Ray at this difficult time.
Captains Welcome
As we move further into the winter season, it has been fantastic to see so many GBRC members out training, racing, volunteering and supporting each other.
October showcased everything that makes our club special. From marathon finishes and personal bests, to the final Essex Grand Prix race at Tiptree and a muddy start to the cross-country season, members have represented GBRC with determination, enthusiasm and plenty of team spirit.
Whether you’re chasing PBs, working towards a new distance, returning from injury, volunteering behind the scenes or simply enjoying running with friends, every contribution helps make GBRC the club it is.
Thank you for continuing to support each other.
Ladies’ corner
Our ladies have been busy as ever, with plenty of training, racing, travelling, and achievements to celebrate!
Lizzy Bodmer put in months of hard work preparing for Ironman Barcelona. Unfortunately, extreme weather led to the event being cancelled. A huge well done to Lizzy anyway. As every endurance athlete knows, the real challenge is the training, while race day is the reward. We look forward to hearing all about your rescheduled moment of glory!
Emma Gladden continues to impress. Whether she’s training, pacing, racing, or simply smiling her way through it all, she never seems to stop. Emma is doing brilliantly and is definitely one to watch.
Our ladies have also been flying the flag for parkrun tourism. Donna Parker–Evans and Lorraine Adams enjoyed visits to various parkruns around Scotland (which I still maintain counts as international travel!). Meanwhile, I, Donna Harris, couldn’t resist seeking out a parkrun while visiting Tennessee, USA, and was delighted to finish as first lady. Debs Hollidge also claimed a first lady finish at Haverhill parkrun, while Magdalena Komorowska added some Italian flair to her running adventures with a visit to Padua parkrun.
Finally, a special mention for Sammy Cotton, who is currently recovering following an operation. Unfortunately, her recovery has been slower and more challenging than hoped. I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing her a full and speedy recovery, even if “speedy” might not be quite as speedy as Sammy would like!
Keep up the fantastic work, ladies. We love hearing about your adventures, achievements, and milestones, wherever running takes you.
Welcome Our Newest Members
A very warm welcome to the latest runners to join GBRC. We hope you’ve enjoyed your first few weeks with the club and have already experienced the support, encouragement, and camaraderie that make GBRC such a great community.
Please say hello and make them feel welcome at training sessions and events:
- Amber Vidler
- Caitlin Walker
- Karen Johnson
- Charlotte Kilbey
- Nathan Tilbury
Whether you’re chasing a new PB, training for your first race, or simply looking to enjoy running with others, we’re delighted to have you as part of the club. We look forward to seeing you at training, races, and social events in the months ahead.
Welcome to GBRC! 🏃♀️🏃♂️
Training schedules
Training schedules are posted on WhatsApp and also the club website
Training – Great Bentley Running Club
Ladies’ Runner of the Month
Choosing a Runner of the Month is always a privilege, but it genuinely gets harder every month.
There are so many members quietly putting in the work, turning up week after week, supporting others, and producing fantastic performances. Every month there are countless runners worthy of recognition and plenty who make us smile whenever we see their latest result appear.
However, this month there could only really be one winner.
As Vice Ladies’ Captain, I am delighted to award this month’s Ladies’ Runner of the Month to our very own Ladies’ Captain, Louise Balfour.
Now, some might say I’m biased. After all, Lou is my mate, my sidekick and my partner in crime. But I know I’m not alone in recognising just how much she gives to this club.
I’m sure many of you will agree that Lou gives more than 100% in everything she does. Whether it’s:
- Running
- Coaching
- Leading training sessions
- Her role as Membership Secretary
- Her responsibilities as Welfare Officer
- Supporting runners of all abilities
Lou throws herself into everything with enthusiasm, dedication and a genuine desire to help others succeed.
Not only has she been smashing PBs left, right and centre throughout the year, she has also played a huge part in helping many others achieve theirs too. She continually pushes herself outside of her comfort zone, embraces new challenges and is always there with encouragement, advice or support whenever it is needed.
Her contribution to GBRC extends far beyond race results. She is a driving force within the club, helping to create the supportive, welcoming and inclusive environment that makes GBRC such a special place to be.
Quite simply, Lou embodies the spirit of our club. She leads from the front, inspires those around her, and gives so much of her time and energy to help others enjoy and achieve their running goals.
She is one of those people who makes GBRC a better place simply by being part of it.
Congratulations, Lou. A thoroughly deserved Ladies’ Runner of the Month. 🏃♀️💜🏆
Men’s Runner of the Month
For this month’s runner of the month Charlie and I couldn’t ignore Richard Hudd’s 1 hour 15 minute improvement on his previous marathon times, especially as it was 10 years since his previous marathon attempt. Improvements like this can only come from hard work and dedication. So incredibly well-done Richard!
Race Round-Up
Tiptree 10 Mile
The final Essex Grand Prix race of the season saw a fantastic turnout from GBRC runners.
A special mention goes to Lou Balfour, who produced a superb performance and significantly improved on her previous Tiptree result.
The event also marked the conclusion of another successful Essex Grand Prix season and we’d like to congratulate the following GBRC medal winners:
• Debs Hollidge – Silver Medal
• Magdalena Komorowska – Bronze Medal
• Jon Mann – Silver Medal
A fantastic achievement across an entire season of racing.
Marathon Successes
Congratulations to:
• Jess Gould and Mary Ann Taylor, who travelled north to take on the Loch Ness Marathon.
• Richard Hudd, who produced an incredible marathon PB at Chelmsford Marathon, taking over an hour off his previous personal best.
Performances like these demonstrate what consistent training, commitment and resilience can achieve.
Other Outstanding Performances
There were brilliant performances throughout October, including:
• Andrea James, who finished 5th overall and 2nd in her age category at the Ipswich Half Marathon.
• Lisa Briggs, who won her age category at the Victoria Park 10K.
• Stephen Bullen, who continued his excellent form with a strong run at the Cambridge 10K.
As always, it’s impossible to mention everyone, but congratulations to all members who raced, volunteered and represented GBRC during the month.
Essex Championships 2026
The Essex Championships have now come to an end and we’d like to congratulate everyone who entered and represented GBRC throughout the series.
As always, it was fantastic to see members supporting one another, travelling together, racing hard and proudly wearing club colours.
Whether you were chasing medals, personal bests or simply enjoying being part of the team, you all played your part in another successful year for GBRC.
PB Wall of Fame
Congratulations to the following runners who have recently achieved Personal Bests:
• Emma Gladden
• Martin Cotton
• Gerry Gladden
• Ella Harris
If we’ve missed your PB in this report apologies.
Cross Country Season Is Here
Cross country is officially underway and what a start we’ve had.
The first NESS League fixture at Gosfield certainly lived up to expectations, delivering plenty of mud, puddles, hills and tired legs. It was fantastic to see so many GBRC members taking part and supporting each other throughout the day. GBRC secured an excellent second-place team finish to kick off the season.
It has also been wonderful to see Angel Jasper progress from the junior section to the Ladies XC team, and we wish her all the very best as she embarks on her first season representing the ladies.
We’ve now created a GBRC Cross Country WhatsApp Channel as another way to quickly access information and updates throughout the season. If you’re planning to run XC this year, please make sure you’ve joined.
Of course, cross country isn’t just about running. It’s the tea, cake, transport, shelters and support that make these events so special. If you’re willing to help with any of the behind-the-scenes jobs that keep race days running smoothly, please get involved when requests for help are posted.
Our next fixture is particularly special because GBRC will be hosting. Thank you to everybody who has already volunteered to help make it another successful event.
Safe Winter Running Alternative
As the evenings continue to get darker, many runners are looking for alternatives to running on the roads.
A recent social media post from Colchester Sports Park highlighted that the cycling circuit is available for runners throughout the winter months.
The circuit is:
• Fully lit
• Traffic free
• Ideal for steady runs, interval sessions and tempo training
• Perfect for anyone who isn’t keen on road running in the dark
Cost:
• Free for current leisure members
• £5 per session for non-members
Session times:
Tuesdays 7-8pm & 8-9pm
Fridays – 8-9pm & 9-10pm
If you’re looking for somewhere safe, well-lit and reliable for winter training, this could be a fantastic option. Check out their social media posts and website for further information.
Boot Camp Corner
Boot Camp remains as popular as ever and it’s fantastic to see so many members attending regularly.
A quick reminder to please mark yourself as attending whenever you plan to come along. It helps ensure the sessions are set up appropriately and that equipment and activities can be matched to numbers.
And finally, in the interests of friendship and honesty, a gentle reminder that a room full of hardworking runners can occasionally get a little fragrant!
Please remember your deodorant, fresh kit and post-work hygiene.
Your fellow club members will thank you!
Awards Night Reminder
A quick reminder to:
✓ Submit your club award nominations – Deadline 30th November
✓ Let us know if you are attending
✓ Return any trophies or awards currently in your possession
If you have an award at home, please arrange to return it as soon as possible so everything can be prepared ahead of the presentation evening.
Voting form GBRC Awards Night – Voting form
Coming Up
Cross Country Fixtures
The NESS Cross Country season continues with more opportunities to score points for both yourself and GBRC.
Benidorm Half Marathon & 10K
Good luck to everyone travelling out to take part.
Club Championships 2026/27
Don’t forget, the new Club Championships kick off on 16th November! 🏃♂️🏃♀️
The focus events are listed below, so get those dates in the diary and start planning your race calendar.
If you don’t fancy all of the focus races, or simply can’t make some of them, don’t forget you have two wildcard entries available. This means you can substitute the results of two alternative races of your choice.
Personally, I quite like the idea of swapping out a marathon for a nice, sensible 5K… although I’m not sure the Championships Committee had that in mind when they came up with the wildcard rule! 😉😂
Whatever your goals, we hope you’ll get involved and enjoy the challenge. Good luck to everyone taking part! 🏆🏃♀️🏃♂️
| Focus Event | Date | Website |
| GBRC vs Harwich 10 Mile | 3 Jan 2027 | Link here (last years info) |
| Essex 20 | 14 Mar 2027 | Link here (password to enter is ESSEXCHAMPS2027. Also enter GBRC15 to get 15% discount) |
| Dave Wright 15 Mile | 21 Mar 2027 | Link here |
| Little Bromley 10k | 11 Apr 2027 * | Link here (last years info) |
| Halstead & Essex Marathon | 9 May 2027 | Link here |
| Any one race in the Friday 5 Series | May to July * | Link here (last years info) |
| Harwich v GBRC 5k Relays | 19 Sept 2027 * | |
| St Helena Half Marathon | 3 Oct 2027 * | Link here (this years info) |
*Provisional dates
GBRC vs Harwich Challenge
It’s never too early for a reminder that we want that trophy back in January!
Sunday training sessions continue to provide an excellent opportunity to build confidence over the 10-mile distance.
Men’s Captains Corner
Steve Bullen put in a solid 10k time of 40 minutes 14 seconds round the winding streets of Cambridge.
Several Bentley men raced and paced at the St Helena 10k and Half Marathon in Harwich. Tim Clifton made it his fourth half marathon in a row. The following week Tim was in the land of Tulips running in the Amsterdam marathon. Tim’s time for this was 4 hours and 57 minutes.
Scott Young also took on a half marathon, this time not so close to home but in the city of Manchester. Scott ran it in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK and put in a solid time of 2 hours and 11 minutes.
The Tiptree 10 mile was another popular race for the men of Great Bentley, although I could only find a picture of me running. I’m guessing the lens cracked after that.
Richard Hudd returned to marathon running in style after completing the Chelmsford marathon in 3 hours 35 minutes and 46 seconds, after 10 years without a marathon, and knocking 1 hour 15 minutes off his previous best!
Individual achievements aside, everyone who took part in the first cross country race all put in sterling efforts and this isn’t just a mention for the quicker runners; it’s for everyone, as every single one of you had an impact on the result, which is a rather pleasing second place.
Looking Ahead
The final months of the year always seem to fly by.
With cross country, Club Championships, festive races, Awards Night and the Harwich Challenge all on the horizon, there is plenty to look forward to.
Whether you’re chasing a PB, building fitness, returning from injury or simply enjoying time spent running with friends, remember that every mile counts.
Thank you for everything you do to make GBRC such a supportive, welcoming and successful club.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
Donna Harris & Louise Balfour Charlie Keitch & Jon Mann
Ladies Captains Men’s Captains
