It’s a wrap for the winter 2025 season – some great events, all sorts of conditions and a variety of running styles. Thanks to all of you who ran this year. The winter season end of season function will be held at the Elms Hotel on the 15th of October. Be good to see some of you there.
Looking forward to 2026. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this reflection of the season.
It is pleasing to report that approval has been given to hold a Special General Meeting via Teams at 7:30pm on Monday the 13th of October to ratify the new SRC constitution. The login for the Teams meeting will be posted closer to the time BUT please put this date in your calendar as we need at least 10 people present before we can approve. Here is a link to the new constitution – if you have any queries please send us an email.
How fast has the start to the year gone by! The start to the winter XC season is close and Junior training starts in Term 2.
There are two training days planned, potentially in collaboration with Port Hills. The intended plan is:
Any queries, please get in touch with Ann Wells or sumnerrunningclub@gmail.com
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Mt Pleasant Community Centre or online – 7.30pm for food. Meeting starts 7.50pm
Please join us on-line or in person for our club AGM
See you then!
08 Feb 2025 – Nga Puna Wai
For any of our Senior Members interested in participating in AC 3000m Championship Race, please e-mail with your name, date of birth and events you would like to enter to sumnerrunningclub@gmail.com by 6pm on Wednesday 05 February. A detailed list of the track and field events on offer can be found here https://athleticscanterbury.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8th-February-2025.pdf
We will be holding a special meeting on Wednesday 19th February at 7:30 pm at CBK Ferrymead (23 Humphreys Drive) to discuss the future of our Club.
This will be to discuss the options as detailed below, any new ideas, and to answer any questions that people may have, ahead of our AGM in April.
It is important to the future of the club that our members attend. We also welcome our past members to join the discussion
Sumner Running Club has been a successful running club for many years now. Members and the club have been successful across a number of races and events over the years including both long form and short form events in road, trail, mountain running, multisport and orienteering. In recent years Children’s Summer Athletics has increased in popularity and now forms 75% of the club’s membership.
Over the last few years adult & children’s membership for winter cross (XC) country and road has been declining to levels that make it impossible to form teams in relay competitions and XC events. The club is not unique in this as a number of clubs are facing this challenge. While running remains a popular activity for many, the traditional format of running clubs and events is not attracting the participation it used to.
The majority of the current committee has been running the club for the past 5+ years and David has president for 10 years. With little or no interest from other members in joining the committee and or taking over the president role, we now feel it is time to step down. This means that some decisions will need to be made by existing members to determine the future of the club.
The committee needs to comprise of a President, Treasurer and Secretary plus 3-4 other members with more general responsibilities such as uniform, race entries, communication and social media
The committee has identified the following possible options:
1. A new committee is formed and elected and the club continues in it’s current format with both an adults’ and children’s summer and winter section.
2. A new committee is formed and elected and the club continues in a reduced format of Children’s Summer Athletics only, with the option to re-open winter membership at a later date if there is sufficient demand.
3. A merger with another club is explored, ideally one with large Adult membership and small or no Junior Section.
4. Club is disbanded and wound down
There may be other options you can suggest which we haven’t yet considered.
Please consider what you would like the future of the club to look like and what you can contribute to the running of the club and we look forward to hearing your views on 19th February
If you can’t attend and wish to give feedback please do so in an email to sumnerrunningclub@gmail.com
Many traditions come with the festive season, for SRC it’s the 5km handicap race.
And, again, there is a twist … it’s not how fast you are but how accurate you are based on your predicted time. If you are more than 3.25% quicker than you say, don’t expect to be on the podium. That’s the qualifying limit to have a counting time. (For those who need some easier maths, it’s about 2 seconds per minute).
There is more than just bragging rights , there is a trophy up for grabs.
When: Wednesday, 10 December
Start: First runner will head off at 5.40pm
Where: Hagley Park (same course and start as the 5km Series)
Rules enforcer: David Fitch
Post run refreshments: The Club is shouting pizzas in the park
This event is open to all club members, whanau, and friends.
Enter here with your name and your predicted 5km time for this event.
Entries need to be in by 3pm Wednesday 10th December.
THE SEASON WILL OFFICIALLY BEGIN IN THE FIRST WEEK OF TERM 4 AND RUN
THROUGH TO THE BEGINNING OF MARCH 2025.
Club night training and coaching starts on 15 October at Ferry Mead Park
Ages 4-6 at 4.30-5.15pm
Our youngest athletes can enjoy the Athletics NZ ‘Get Set Go’ initiative, tailored for children
aged 4-6. This fantastic introductory programme is designed to offer a fun, educational
experience with activities that help build fundamental athletic skills.
‘Get Set Go’ is all about FUN while helping children develop key skills like agility, balance, and
coordination, which are the building blocks of athletic development. Activities include
exciting games, obstacle challenges, relay races, and adapted athletic events, each focusing
on run, jump & throw.
This programme is designed to boost confidence and building a love for athletics, providing
a strong foundation for future sporting involvement. We encourage parents to be actively
involved, supporting their children and assisting with the activities.
Ages 7-14 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Our Club Night programme for athletes aged seven and older combines fun, learning, and
friendly competition! Every Tuesday evening, we offer three rotations where participants
receive guidance on basic techniques across all relevant track & field disciplines.
For newcomers to athletics, Club Night at Sumner Running Club introduces the rules and
techniques for each event, helping athletes gain the capability to participate in Saturday
interclub competitions and school athletics days with confidence.
For our more experienced athletes, they can use club nights to fine-tune their skills and
focus on the fundamentals in a supportive, enjoyable setting.
COACHING NIGHTS (FOR COMPETITIVE ATHLETES AGED 10-14)
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS – 4.30PM-6.00PM
Our coaching nights take place on Wednesdays evenings (and sometimes other evenings
depending on coach availability). Led by our team of top-level coaches, these sessions are
perfect for our athletes aged 10 to 14 who want to develop and improve their event-specific
skills, strength, and flexibility.
There is an additional charge per athlete (paid at registration) for those wishing to attend
weekly coaching sessions.
INTERCLUB COMPETITION
Interclub events are held on Saturdays from 8.30am to 12:30pm at the Track & Field complex
at the Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub. Events offer junior athletes a fantastic opportunity to test
their skills, gain valuable competition experience, and have a great time!
Each week, registered athletes can compete in up to four events plus a relay, making
Saturdays an exciting and action-packed morning.
We fully encourage all our junior athletes to give Interclub competitions a crack. Not only are
they a fun and social experience, but they also provide an excellent chance to further
develop athletic skills and confidence in a supportive environment.
COLGATE GAMES 2025
Many of you are probably aware of the Colgate Games. It’s an amazing event for young
athletes aged 7-14 that has been running for almost 50 years. Some of you parents may have
even competed yourselves not so long ago?
The location of the games alternates between the main athletics centres each year.
This season, the South Island Colgate Games are in CHRISTCHU
SEASON 2024/25 CLUB MEMBERSHIP
AGES 4-6 = $90.00
AGES 7-9 = $120.00
AGES 10-14 = $120.00
ages 10-14 (+ coaching night) = $145.00
(Family discount available – 20% for families with 3+ siblings registered)
Interclub Competition – $55.00
For more info please contact…
Richie – 021 688214, or
Ann – 022 3766180
email: athleticssumner@gmail.com
Spring has sprung! And in October we have a number of events on the AC calendar to suit our club members
Head to the websites for entries and more information
Sunday 13 October – Boulder Bay Classic: https://www.boulderbayclassic.run/
Saturday 19 October – Canterbury Children’s Interclub Opening Day: https://www.sporty.co.nz/cantychildrensathletics/
Saturday 19 October – AC Senior Interclub Opening Day: https://athleticscanterbury.org.nz/events/ac-senior-opening-day/
Sunday, 20 October – Crater Rim including the 2024 Mountain Running Championship https://www.craterrimtrailrun.com/
Saturday, 26 October – Timaru 10 including the NZ 2024 10km Road Champs: https://timaruten.nz/
Saturday, 21 September 2024 – Ashley Picnic Ground
The Andrew Reese Memorial Relay is the final team relay of the 2024 Season.
The course is a mixture of cross country, grass, stop bank shingle road and windy single mountain bike tracks.
Gently undulating and no sand, not suitable for spikes.
Adult teams (18+) – 4 x 5km starting at 12.30m
Under 18 – 4 x 2.5km starting at 2.45pm
For more information please check out the website here
Please head here to enter before 6pm on Monday, 16 September 2024