GOSPORT ROAD RUNNERS 1.7. 1983 to 1993. The First Ten Years. 1. When you have been around as long as Gosport Road Runners, twenty three years so far with I am sure many more to come. It is time somebody recorded their history. This is something I have been contemplating for a few years and now seems to be as good a time as any. I hope if any members past or present ever read this, it will bring back the sense and pleasure of achievement once attained and memories of fellow runners in some cases long forgotten also friendships cemented over the years by there passion for running. It will I hope record the contribution that runners have made to keep the club going over the years that this record covers and also the significant events that have gone to making it the respected club it has become in the running world. It has also helped to put Gosport on the map a good many people who I came across in my travels on holidays and as part of the Royal Naval Reserve who when they saw me out running in the Gosport vest thought I was from Northumberland or that we were a suburb of Portsmouth. Now (2007) we have been spotted in places as far apart as Australia, America, Canada, Malaya, The Falklands, North Africa, South Africa and probably in every county from Lands End to John O Groats. At the time of writing this we have members from Uganda, America and South Africa and others serving in Afghanistan, The Falklands and Iraq. The club previously Gosport Joggers was formed in 1983 by Hugh Pritchard who then ran it as President with volunteers from the membership covering the every day running of the club. As more and more runners joined the club it was decided to form a committee to share the ever increasing work load. 1986. Committee formed. Most of the information in this history is from then as prior to that there were few newsletters and information was sketchy to say the least. I am contacting past members to see if any still have documents, cuttings etc from this period but most of them didn’t keep them. Those whose help knowledge and advice have been invaluable will be listed if I ever reach the end, although if you look at the title there will hopefully never be an ending and Gosport Road Runners will still be around for a long time to come and who knows there may be a runner in the club who will want to record the ongoing years. I have used the date in the title as it is the date the clubs first constitution was drawn up, See next item. 2. GOSPORT RUNNERS CLUB. CONSTITUTION. 1. The name of the club shall be GOSPORT ROAD RUNNERS. 2. The objective of the club is to promote Amateur Athletics & Road Running. 3,The officers of the club shall be the President who will chair the A.G.M. the Chairman who will chair all other meetings and be ex officio member of all sub committees, the Hon. General Secretary who will be responsible for all sub committees, and the Hon. Treasurer who will be responsible for all finance. There will be a minimum of 4 ordinary members of the executive committee. In order to provide continuity one half of the committee will retire each year but all are eligible for re-election. 4.The day to day management of the club shall be the responsibility of the General Purposes Sub committee consisting of the Chairman, the Hon. General Secretary, the Hon, Treasurer and one other committee member elected by the Executive Committee. Decisions of the G.P. sub shall be reported to the Executive at the next meeting. 5. Voting at General and committee meetings shall be a show of hands unless a card vote is demanded by at least two members. Decisions shall be by a simple majority of those present and voting. In the event of a tie the chairman of the meeting shall have a second and casting vote. The quorum at an Executive meeting shall be one officer and three members, at a General meeting twenty members. 6. Membership of the club is confined to amateurs as defined by the Amateur Athletic Association, as follows:- An Amateur is one who has never competed for a money prize or monetary consideration in athletics sports or games or races or in anyway been interested in a staked bet or wager made in connection with any athletic competition in which he or she was an entrant or competitor; who has never engaged in, assisted in or taught any athletic exercise for pecuniary consideration or in any way exploited his athletic ability for profit; and who has never taken part in any athletic competition with anyone who is not an amateur or such other definition set out by the AAA fro time to time. A candidate for membership must apply in writing and be elected by a majority vote of the Executive committee or the relevant sub committee. 7. Resignation shall be in writing to the Hon. General Secretary but members subscription shall be deemed due if resignation has not been advised by 1stMarch in respect of the current year commencing 1st September. 8. The annual subscription shall be payable on election in the sum set by the A.G.M. from time to time. 9. The committee shall have the power to expel any member whose subscription is six months in arrears provided a month’s notice in writing shall have been sent to a member by recorded delivery letter, addressed to his last known address informing him of the proposed action by the Committee. The Southern Counties AAA shall be informed of any such expulsion and record the information in the Black Book. Any such person shall be suspended from competing in any meeting held under AAA laws until the liability causing his/her said suspension shall have been discharged. Arrears of subscription means ineligibility for club competition or representation. 10. The A.G.M. shall be held in September each year with 21 days notice to members. Special meeting can be called by the Chairman or the Executive Committee or by members requisition, similarly 21 days notice should be given. A special meeting must be notified to the members by the Secretary within 14 days of a requisition in writing being received, signed by a minimum of 20 paid up members stating the business to be discussed, which must be set out on the notice of the meeting. 11.The club colors shall be blue and white and the club badge shall incorporate a “Road Runners” bird motif. The club vest shall have a blue top with a white mesh lower half. The words “Gosport R R” shall be printed on both sides with the club badge set between the R R on the front. 12. Alterations or additions to the rules may only be made at an A.G.M. and notice of any proposed amendment must be set out in the notice of the meeting giving the text of such amendment. Alterations of the objective clause of these rules shall require a two thirds majority of paid up members present and voting. Rules 6 and 8 cannot be amended without consultation with and permission from the AAA. All other rules may be amended by simple majority. 1st July 1983. Joining fee 2 pounds. Membership open to adults 18 +. Pre. 1986. *President Hugh Pritchard Club Secretary Dave Day. “Dennis Hanham. Other officials. Publicity: Carl Pritchard. * Transport: Terry Weston. Events: Sue Andrews. Membership: Dave Day, Di & Chris Atchison. Social: Mike Hempstead & Dave Oakes. • Still members. • 4.4.1982. The News 1st Gosport & Fareham Marathon 11am. Registration took place for all local runners living within a 25-mile radius at Fareham swimming baths between 10 am. and 8 pm. on Saturday April 3rd. All others at H.M.S. DAEDALUS on race day between 9 am. and 10.30 am. Route: Start Marine Parade West Lee-on-the-Solent taking in Gosport, Fareham, Sarisbury, Warsash, Titchfield, Stubbington and finishing Marine Parade West Lee-on-the-Solent. Listed between 1982 & 1983 are a good many of the runners including Gosport Joggers who went on to become Gosport Road Runners. (I) Independent. Race Director Hugh Pritchard Gosport Joggers. Men. 8th John Stephens RN Haslar 2:41:24, 26th Derek Arnold Don Stylers Gym 2:48:35 (1st Marathon) 59th Colin Bowsher (I) Botley 3:00:24 (1st Marathon) (Vet 45), 67th Dennis Hanham Gosport Council 3:01:45 (1st Marathon), 71st Edwin Taylor Hants Fire Brigade 3:02:48 (1st Marathon), 75th Dennis Kemp (I) Fareham 3:03:39 (1st Marathon), 92nd Vic Tarrant RNAC (S) 3:07:46, 98th John Armon (I) Titchfield 3:09:56 (1st Marathon). 107th Arthur Fleet Gosport Joggers 3:10:45 (PB) (Vet 40), 108th Bill Mills Gosport Joggers 3:10:45 (PB) (Vet 40), 112th John Edwards (I) Lee-on the Solent 3:11:59 (1st Marathon), 150th Bill Dowling (I) Bishops Waltham 3:18:41(1st Marathon), 158th Ted Setchell RNAC (S) 3:20:04 (Vet over 40), 164th Anthony (Speedy) Powell Gosport Joggers 3:20:52, 171st Andy Wing (I) Gosport 3:22:14 (1st Marathon), 175th Dave Harrison (I) Fareham 3:23:04 (1st Marathon), 174th Peter Vale HMS Dolphin 3:22:25 (1st Marathon), 175th David Harrison (I) Fareham 3:23:04 (1st Marathon), 177th Terry Brown Fleetlands 3:23:07 (1st Marathon (Vet 40), 184th Hugh Pritchard Gosport Joggers 3:23:48 (Vet 45) (Race Director), 217th Pete Etherton Fleetlands 3:28:44 (1st Marathon) (Vet 40), 218th Clive Piper Piper Construction 3:28:53 (1st Marathon), 259th Ken Littlewood (I) Hilsea 3:33:27 (1st Marathon), 287th Alan Gardner Locks Heath Sports 3:36:56 (1st Marathon), 330th Pete Hockley (I) Stubbington 3:42:11 (1st Marathon), 334th Derek Flahey Fareham AC 3:42:24 (Vet 40), 350th Terry Woodman (I) Gosport 3:43:57, 354th John Wiltshire (I) Peel Common 3:44:29 (1st Marathon), 370th David Weaver (I) Locks Heath 3:46:17 (1st Marathon), 376th Jim Littleproud (I) 3:46:38 (1st Marathon), 403rd Dave Wainwright RNAC (S) 3:49:36,