The Sneyd Striders celebrate 40 years, and have a new home, after the council sold off there old one.

Express & Star

Short Heath Royal British Legion is the new home of running group: The Sneyd Striders. They also celebrate 40 years and look forward to there upcoming Christmas Pub run.

Transcript

00:00Here at Shore Teeth Royal British Legion and this is the new home of Sneed Striders.

00:05How you doing guys? Introduce yourselves.

00:07Okay I'm John Dargaville and I'm the current chairman of Sneed Striders Running Club.

00:11Cool.

00:12I'm Maureen Dargaville and I'm one of the two welfare officers that we have with the club.

00:17I'm Leanne Harrison and I'm the social media manager for the club.

00:21And I'm Gavin Harrison and I'm the club coach.

00:24So where were you based before then John?

00:27We were previously based at Sneed Community Association.

00:30And you were happy there?

00:32We were very happy there and the club has been there and established in 1984 and has been there in 40 years.

00:38In fact this is our 40th anniversary and tomorrow on Saturday we have our 40th anniversary party.

00:46Awesome. So let's start off with the not so joyful bit.

00:50So when did you find out you were going to be having to relocate from Sneed then?

00:54Earlier on this year when the decision was made.

00:57There have been rumblings previously but we officially got told that Sneed Community Association was closing down by the 31st of December.

01:07And therefore our club and all the other clubs and activities that take place there were informed that it would be closing.

01:14And they would have to find alternative venues if they wanted to continue their clubs.

01:18And there's a lot of clubs you were saying are based there isn't there?

01:21There's a lot of clubs during the day and hockey clubs, there's a fishing community there, swimming pools.

01:27There's absolutely loads of clubs and hence the name it's a community association.

01:31So presumably that will go off to housing development now I take it?

01:35Yes it will be in the future.

01:37So there was never a doubt that the club might finish with the venue being took away?

01:42Absolutely no chance whatsoever.

01:45Especially not in the 40th year?

01:47No not in any year.

01:49As part of our annual general meeting which was in late March this year.

01:54Once a new committee had come on board we then got members to put forward suggestions within our local area.

02:03On where we could relocate to.

02:06We had just over 30 suggestions and therefore we did a little bit of an exercise by mapping all them.

02:15Putting them on a chart, looking at the facilities available, what the cost would be to the club, the location primarily as well.

02:23And then we came up with a short list of four.

02:28And that was after that research, visiting each location, making sure that they would have us at their locations.

02:37And then also I produced a heat map of the postcodes for where our members live.

02:44And that showed the area where the majority of our members are.

02:50How many members do you have?

02:52Just over 100 currently.

02:54It's been higher than that in previous years.

02:57People come, people go, things change.

02:59So you're always welcoming new members?

03:01Absolutely we're always welcoming new members, looking for new members all the time.

03:05And that's both female and male.

03:07And any kind of age range?

03:09What's the minimum requirement? Do you have to be able to run a certain distance to be a part of it?

03:14There's no test to pass or anything like that.

03:18Everybody is welcome.

03:19So no matter what your ability is, you'll be made welcome to do that.

03:23And we do have a minimum age of 18 years as a member.

03:27We don't have a youth section.

03:29And we've got members in their 70s as well.

03:32In their 70s? Fair play.

03:34So what has been part of this club and running given to your life?

03:44What does it add to your life?

03:45Oh my gosh, everything.

03:47Before I started running, I hated it.

03:50I wouldn't even run for a bus.

03:52And then I did a coach to 5k type thing and then I joined SNEED.

03:56And it's not only great for my mental health.

03:59Yeah they say that, don't they?

04:02A couple of years back, you wouldn't have heard me say that, but my mental health.

04:06If I have a bad day, I go for a run.

04:08I feel great.

04:09I've also made lots of friends.

04:12I'm so good at socialising and chatting.

04:16We can have a time where we're having an effort where we can't talk because we can't breathe.

04:21And then there's a time where we're having more of a steady run and chatting with my friends and just enjoying each other's company.

04:26What a great way to socialise and get fit at the same time, eh?

04:30So what about you then, sir?

04:32This is your partner.

04:34So who's got the better legs out of the pair here?

04:36What about running here?

04:39Well, it used to be myself, but now that Leanne's really competitive.

04:44She's took over.

04:45I have to try and beat him.

04:48He's really pushing me to my limits.

04:51So it's your 40th year.

04:53You've got a party tomorrow.

04:54Yes, we have.

04:56How long have you been involved, Shaun, then?

04:59I've been actively involved with the club, but this is in my seventh year.

05:03I'm an ex-military man, and with the job I did within the military when I retired,

05:08I was unable to come to club on a Tuesday night because that was one of my work nights.

05:14So Maureen had joined the club.

05:16She's been with the club probably for over 10 years now.

05:18It will be.

05:19So when I completely finished with the military, then I was able to come and join in.

05:26So when is your night here, then?

05:29We meet on a Tuesday and a Thursday evening.

05:32We arrive at quarter to seven, ready to start running at seven o'clock.

05:39And it will be roughly about an hour's activity.

05:42And then, as you can see, the facility is here.

05:45It will enable us to do a little bit of socialising afterwards.

05:48Yes, it's a nice venue, isn't it?

05:49They've got a lovely function room here.

05:51Well, we wish you all the best in your 40th year.

05:54And if people want to get involved, how do they find out a bit more?

05:59Have you got a Facebook group or something like that?

06:01Come down to Shortheath Royal British Legion at quarter to seven on a Tuesday or a Thursday.

06:05And visit us.

06:08Have you got a running shirt?

06:10Or go onto the internet and Google Sneedstriders.

06:16And you will get www.sneedstriders.run.

06:21And that will take you to our website.

06:23And there's lots of questions that can be answered on there.

06:26The other thing that's very important to us is our annual pudding run.

06:30What's the pudding run, then?

06:31The pudding run is our annual run.

06:34And this is in its 38th year of existence from Sneedstriders.

06:39It used to be run by the Sneed Community Association.

06:43And then we took it over as a running club.

06:45Yes.

06:47So what is it, then?

06:49I'm pudding straight away.

06:51You've pricked up my ears.

06:53The clue is in the title, see.

06:55It takes place on the second Sunday of December.

06:59So this year it's the 8th of December.

07:01We offer a five mile course and a ten mile course.

07:04So runners, you can do either one there.

07:07We're expecting somewhere in the region of 600 plus runners.

07:11And we've had that steadily over all the years.

07:14Starts and finishes at Sneed Community Association.

07:18So this year will be the last iteration in its current guise of our pudding run.

07:24It costs just over £20 to enter.

07:27For that you get a well managed and well run and laid out course.

07:32Well signed.

07:33You get a goody bag at the end which contains a medal, a t-shirt and of course a Christmas pudding.

07:40Along with a few other little goodies that we can throw in there as well.

07:44Is that the kind of event where people sometimes dress up in stuff a bit quirky?

07:48Absolutely.

07:49The theme this year will be Christmas.

07:51As it has been for the last 38 years.

07:54We get people dressing up in all sorts of stuff.

07:56Consistency, John.

07:57Yes, all sorts of stuff.

07:59But predominantly Santa Claus's, elves, turkeys, all sorts of stuff.

08:04You've got to weigh up the weight of a suit though.

08:07What it's like when you're sweating in it, haven't you?

08:10If anybody wants to enter this year, being the last one.

08:14The details are on our website.

08:16Or they can contact www.stuweb.co.uk

08:22who are our team managers for the course.

08:25They will find the Sneeze Triders Pudding Run on there.

08:29But please, if anybody wants to do the final one, come along and give it a go.

08:33Or if it's your first one, come along and have a good day.

08:36And we do do Fancy Dress Prize as well.

08:40Fancy Dress Prize and Age category prizes in the events.

08:45Awesome.

08:46Well, thank you ever so much, guys.

08:48And enjoy your 40th celebrations tomorrow.

08:51All the best.

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