Cheers Everyone

Hi everyone

This is my last message to you all this year, because as of midnight last night Dave Taylor is officially Captain. I hope you agree that it's been a great year and that you've all enjoyed it as much as I have. I can't believe it's over and honestly am really gonna miss it, but the club definitely has a bright future and it's exciting to see where it'll go next. Best of luck to Dave, Claire and the new committee who are now in charge.

I want to encourage everyone to stay involved with the club. Turn up to the runs and the sessions, and hit the socials hard. Once you leave uni you'll realise that this sort of community doesn't exist in the 'real world'. Throw yourself into it and make the most of it while you can, because the time will fly, and once you're gone you're gone.

There are quite a lot of people who deserve thanking. The committee have been top-class this year. Thanks to women's captain Natasha for leading the women to Varsity victory, and to Brucie for knowing more about the club than everyone else on the committee put together, he's always there to set us right if we're going wrong! The race organisers like Dave, Maire, Sean, Alex, Claire and Tom have saved me so much work and all did great jobs, and of course Michelle did a Stirling job organising BUCS. Sean Ledger experienced stress levels no-one deserves as THR organiser, but pulled it off to stage a highly successful race, so thanks. Heyes and Matty J successfully organised loads of socials, they are top dogs. In particular, the hours Anupam has put into the club are exceptional, and he also has been at almost every run, making sure people don't get lost, so massive thanks.

Everyone else on the committee too, great job, and also thanks to other people like Ed Nicholas at the Sports Fed and Simon Molden who are not on the committee but are always there for the club, as are sneior members like John De'Ath. The Old Gits and TH&H (Thames Hare and Hounds) are great organisations and I recommend anyone who is leaving the club this year to investigate them further. And of course, coaches Paddy and Jim Bennett - thanks for the time you've put in, it would have been very difficult for me to run the club without any additional guidance. And talking of guidance, past captains Ian, Jamie and Cheggers have been very helpful - thanks a lot.

Dan, Skouby, Clara and OUAC - good luck for Varsity, thanks for helping out in the mob matches and I hope the two clubs continue to support each other and work together closely. Thanks also to CUH&H. As far as I know they don't have anyone on this maillist (or do they?! spies...) but their club captain Robin Brown has been a top guy to deal with this year, and there's a lot of fun people over there, so we should all look forward to racing in front of them and partying with them in the future.

We couldn't function without the people who aren't on the committee but have nevertheless helped out, for example marshalling. Thanks to all of them. I know we're always asking for marshals but when we don't provide them people tend to run the wrong way(!) so thanks so much to everyone who's helped out like that. And anyone who's helped out, looking after people on runs or whatever. Thanks. Above all, thanks to everyone who has turned out for the club, racing and even just training. You are the club, you love the sport - keep running.

Chris
(CXXIV)