What a night at Bellahouston Park on Wednesday 15th May for our President’s Cup 5k Race. A fantastic 74 members ran in this annual ‘handicap’ event with each individuals start time calculated against their recent 5k /10k race performances. This ensures that everyone has a chance of winning, and also involves a very busy finish line! It was fantastic to be holding the event in Bellahouston Park again after a couple of years at Rouken Glen, although a fine substitute. We were blessed with a fine spring evening, with good running conditions on a reasonably flat course. Congratulations to our champion on the night, Graeme Pert;, who was cheered on by our army of volunteers and supporters. Overall, there was some fantastic running and several PBs, with 44 members finishing within 30 seconds of their predicted finish times. Testament indeed to the hard work put in by our stats team. Our President, Emer Campbell, commented “This was another superb night for the club. Huge thanks everyone who helped organise this event, the volunteers, supporters and of course congratulations to Graeme”
PRESIDENT’S CUP 2024
It has been seven years since we became a charity and we are very pleased to Trustees’ annual report (2022_23) Final Public. It highlights all the fantastic achievements of members and the incredible events the club has held – we hope you enjoy reading it. The report has been approved by the Scottish Charity Regulator OSCR. We are grateful to everyone who helped write the report, particularly the Board of Trustees. We are especially thankful to Julia MacDonald for the expert, independent examination of the accounts. Note that all our annual reports, and charitable status documents, can be found on our charitable status page.
It’s now six years years since we became a charity, and as part of that we publish an annual report and accounts, for submission to the Scottish Charity Regulator, OSCR. You can read our recently submitted report, for the year 2021-22, on our website. We’ve again used the opportunity to reflect on and highlight the achievements of the club and its amazing members, pick a few of our favourite photographs, and cherish some memories. We hope you enjoy reading it! We’re grateful for everybody who helped contribute to the report, particular our Board of Trustees. We’d also like to once again express our gratitude to Julia McDonald for the independent examination of our accounts. You can find all our previous annual reports on our Charitable Status page.
We’re delighted to today be sharing our Annual Report, for 2020-21. It highlights the achievements, performances and awards from right across the club, a few of our favourite photos, as well as the statements and details our charitable status requires us to make. We hope it helps show what a positive impact being a member can have, both to other members, but also the communities we are a part of. Club President, and Chair of the Board, Richard Leyton, said the following in his introduction: I am delighted to share the Bellahouston Road Runners Trustees’ annual report, covering the period from August 2020 to July 2021. Our previous reporting period was a story of two halves, pre-lockdown normality, followed by the club and its membership coming together over the first Coronavirus Lockdown. All in our 20th anniversary year. This reporting period picks up the story – and challenge we set ourselves – for the club to build forward. It has been a remarkable year. We were honoured and delighted to receive Scottish Athletics’ Impact and Innovation Club of the year award, Glasgow Sports Council’s Club of the year award, as well as many individual nominations and awards for the club and its amazing membership. We think these awards are a reflection on the huge contributions, achievements and innovations from, and inspired by, our members. We continued to innovate. Our Coronavirus plan, built on the Scottish Athletics framework, was widely shared and referenced. Directly because of our plan, our group training setup could respond quickly to rule changes as they impacted group sizes, travel restrictions and social distancing regulations. We were able to organise club-internal training events, enabling members to experience something close to a normal race experience in a club setting. We could also, when rules allowed, work collaboratively with other clubs to organise small scale track events. Looking to the future period, we are mindful of strategic challenges. There are significant changes to our local sports facilities, as well as changes in support from local authorities impacting them, and us. There will be additional risks and costs for event organisation which may have an impact on our finances. I am confident that the club and its membership will respond and adapt to these, and other, challenges. I’m continually reminded that the club has a real appetite to grow, build and innovate. At every training session or event I attend, our members are fostering a friendly, welcoming and supportive environment that embraces everybody. The feedback I regularly hear from members is that the club, and the friendships they’ve made through it, are important parts of their lives, supporting their physical and mental wellbeing. I’ve always felt that if we get these foundations right, everything else flows from that. I think this report reflects that, and I’m confident and optimistic we’ll continue to do so into the next reporting period. Richard Leyton, Chair of the Board of Trustees 20th February, 2022 NB: You can find full details about our charitable status, […]
A massive well done to everyone who raced the Allan Scally 5k relays this weekend. What glorious weather for running! Everyone had a blast and there were some terrific times, plus lots of PBs. Wasn’t it wonderful to be racing in Bella teams again. The awesome Deborah Gray won 1st prize in the Ladies V50 race. Our men’s A team were an impressive 8th and the Ladies team finished in 9th place, both in a very strong field. We’re also delighted that a new club men’s 5k record was set by the flying Tony Connelly. Tony smashed the men’s 5k record in a superb time of 15:26. Absolutely amazing Tony, we knew you had it in you!! Well done! Great effort team Bella and it’s an exciting start to our road racing season! Many thanks to Shettleston Harriers for the organisation.
A super 60 Bellas took on the National XC Champs in Falkirk on Saturday . It was a fantastic day again at Callander Park and we assembled one of the largest club squads for this year’s Nationals! A HUGE well done to all our runners with amazing performances all round. Our Ladies team came home in 8th place and the men’s team came home in 11th place – top running team . We’re delighted to see such great enthusiasm for this year’s cross-country races. We topped the day off with a BIG Bella bake off. Indulging in some amazing home baking was a perfect way to celebrate the end of a successful XC season. Thanks to everyone who baked and took part. A special mention needs to go to the six club members who completed all of the cross-country races this season. Our cross-country performances are going from strength to strength. Now it’s on to the road season, and we’re already looking forward to some more team racing in the upcoming road relay races.
The Bella team had a fantastic day out today at the Renfrewshire AAA county 5 mile road race championships. Despite challenging conditions there were top performances and lots of PBs . It was fantastic to see so many of us smiling and enjoying the day, whilst we braved the windy weather. We had one of our best turnouts for the race, with a tremendous 68 Bellas signing up. A huge well done to everyone who ran! Thanks for making it a top day! We picked up a few prizes too. Our ladies team won 1st prize in the team competition and our men’s team finished on the podium as well, in 3rd place. A huge well done to Rebekah Russell who was 3rd lady in the individual competition. Top running again Bellas!!
What a great morning that was at our Festive Fun Run at Pollok parkrun! Well done to everyone who wore festive outfits, ran the parkrun, and came back to the Cricket Club for the afterparty The brilliant costumes worn by Lucy Mackay and Colin Hughes won them the prizes for the best dressed. Congratulations you two! The parkrun was won by our very own Alan Moss, who ran round in his Christmas jumper!! A fantastic £220 was raised in the charity draw, with Stuart Douglas’s name being pulled out from the hat. Stuart’s charity of choice is the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity The club will match the £220 and donate it to Elizabeth Hughes’s Beatson appeal Merry Christmas everyone!!
What a fantastic day out we all had at the weekend. We’re were there for the West District Cross Country Championships at Balloch Castle . It was terrific to see 42 Bellas racing together again at the first West Champs since 2019! There were wonderful performances across the board and it was especially good to see some club members getting their first taste of cross country racing. To top the day off, our cross country Queen, Cat MacDonald ran a magnificent race to finish a superb 2nd place in the ladies race. Awesome running Cat!! #ProudToBeABella
We were back at the Emirates indoor arena today for another club track event. We’d previously been there in January 2020 for our 20th Birthday event. We had a fantastic time, with a series of mile and 800m races with brilliant performances from all members! Fab club spirit throughout the whole morning Well done everyone
The club recently got together for one of its biggest, and certainly most anticipated, awards night! Every year we celebrate the performances, achievements and accomplishments of our memberships over the preceding twelve months. Last year we held it virtually, but we were delighted to be able to hold a traditional evening at Sloan’s again for the first time since 2019. Full details on our members forum, and over on our Facebook members group you can catch a copy of the premier of the celebratory video of the last year, as well as a collection of photographs from the evening. A huge part of our club year is the Club championship, so a huge well done to everybody who completed the criteria, and – of course – to the many winners of the categories! A particular shout out to the banner award winners! Member of the Year: Kevin Queenan Most Improved Female 2021: Siobhann Dunn Most Improved Male 2021: Alan Moss Ladies Club Champion 2021: Rebekah Russell Gents Club Champion 2021: Tony Connelly Many thanks to everybody who helped made the event possible! Particular shout out to Kevin for his epic organisation, Susan for handing out the awards, Richard for hosting, and Craig for the photos!
Bellahouston Road Runners, Bellahouston Harriers and West End Road Runners got together last night, for a fantastic evening of one mile track races at Hutchesons’ Grammar School track. The conditions were ideal which helped produce several great performances and many personal bests. Just as importantly, everyone had a great time running in a real race and socialising afterwards. Thanks to the organisers, all the volunteers and supporters, and of course the runners. Well done everyone! A few pics over on our facebook page post (thanks again to Kevin Queenan for the pics). We’ll update this post with a link to the results in due course. With racing and competition opportunities very limited, we’re excited to be able to showcase the benefits of being in a club, and clubs working together. Hopefully more events like this in near future.
Our website news page has been a touch quiet over the last wee while, we’ve been busy at the club! Do check out our social media feeds (facebook.com/bellaroadrunner, twitter.com/bellaroadrunner) for the latest. A couple of big highlights from the last month! 2021 President’s Cup The President’s cup is a big part of the club year: It’s run as a handicap, with members setting off in time stagger relative to their estimated time. Theoretically, everybody should finish at the same time, and has a chance of winning, but there’s always a mix of circumstances to add a huge amount of fun. Last year it was run virtually, but with the easing of restrictions and group size limits for organised activities, we were able to stage it ‘for real’ on the 13th June. Organised in a couple of heats, and members who weren’t running or volunteering, were able to support everybody out on the course. Over 90 runners, spectators and volunteers stayed within Covid rules and had a fantastic time. And of course we can’t have a Bella occasion without plenty of cake afterwards!! Congratulations to our winners Joni Lindsay and Nick Windley , who collected their trophies from our President Richard Leyton 2021 AGM Tuesday 15th saw us hold our 2021 AGM, virtually on Zoom. Much as the President’s cup is a big part of the participation, the AGM is a big part of our governance. Member’s can access a recording of the AGM, the video featuring Leanne, Kevin and Richard, reflecting on the last 12 months, on the members’ forum. Our annual report is available on our public website. Key outcomes from the AGM, all of which allowed members an opportunity to question and discuss elements: Finances and Treasurers report were accepted Club annual report from the President was accepted COVID Coordinator, Emer provided an update on our Coronavirus plan Membership secretary Susan updated members on our membership A motion to formalise virtual meetings and voting (per OSCR recommendations) was passed unanimously. Membership fees were retained at present rate. Our Trustees were approved for another year. We held an open discussion about local sports facilities at Nethercraigs, and associated issues. Full details on the members forum
Delighted to report that we featured as ‘Club of the Month’ in the June issue of Women’s Running. It features a super picture of member’s Rhoda, Elizabeth and Roz at the 2019 edition of our President’s cup 5k handicap race, a huge part of our club year (credit: Kevin Queenan), and a brief interview with club secretary, Susan.
We’re delighted to today be publishing our latest annual report, for 2019-20, following completion of our submission to the Scottish Charity regulator, OSCR. You can find it, and all our previous annual reports, on our website’s charitable status page. Club President, and Chair of the Board said the following in his introduction: I’ve great pleasure in sharing Bellahouston Road Runners Trustees’ annual report, covering the period from August 2019 to July 2020. It is only the third such report we’ve produced since we became a charity. But in the full 20 years since the club was first founded, I think it’s fair to say it is probably the most significant 12 month period we’ve experienced. It’s a story in two parts. The first half reflects a forward-looking ambitious running club, celebrating what it’s always done well: supporting members with their personal goals and targets, working well as a team, training and organising events – athletic and social – in the parks, roads and venues of Glasgow, growing our sport. This period culminated in a fantastic 20th anniversary celebration at the amazing indoor track facility at the Emirates arena, and embarking on a potential next chapter with a new training base. The second half was dominated by the fact that almost out of nowhere we found we could no longer meet or train together, no longer race together. Coronavirus meant we were at risk of losing the very thing many of us joined a club for in the first place: support and camaraderie in training and racing. The club’s response was inspirational. Innovative member-led efforts brought the club together, even whilst we couldn’t meet in person. Members supported members to keep training and pushing themselves. The club motivated us, supporting our mental well being as the crisis unfolded. We made waves online, receiving positive coverage and attention, with the club – and its members – going on to win national awards. The challenge for the next twelve months then is how to sustain that positivity, and tackle the uncertainty we face with a changing situation. The club is in a strong position, with a solid coronavirus plan enabling a resumption of training as soon as rules allow, a growing membership, solid financials and brilliant coaches, trustees and volunteers. Most importantly, we have kept that strong sense of community and shared purpose, passion for the sport of running, the benefits being a member of a club brings, both for ourselves, each other and the community in which we all live. Thank you to each and every member over the last twelve months. I hope you enjoy reading the report, and look forward to working together over the next year taking our club forward. Richard Leyton 13th February, 2020 Questions or queries about the annual report, or the club in general, should be directed to the club secretary, via info@bellahoustonroadrunners.co.uk