MEW UARSKE trIARWERS •LINCEAT dlt 40,7n40 1.02124 ILlaTrOD m2 TrllEk&FW %5Q 28,7¥7S3 th¢om• IW4ry C￿rt yjoo 4,JZT30 7.7a iYJOll xeow F¥nOM QrMr*A 46 Jatsj iW4V* LMpYwT(•l A¢¢ 81 1.911.71 lot 11,72L 711￿0E 7¢74 ## New Marske Harriers Report 2020 15 months ago, we looked back on a “normal” year of ups and downs, and looked forward with hope. And whilst at that time, covid was a subject for discussion we didn’t think it would all but wipe out the year. Like many other sporting clubs, New Marske Harriers has found the last 15 months very difficult. Events organised by the club like the regular annual Coast Road 5 Race Series had to be cancelled for 2020 and 2021, together with the Locke Park races and the 2020 Redcar Running Festival. In addition, there has been little or no Track & Field, Cross Country or Fell Running action. The road race events are normally our biggest source of income. However, we have managed to benefit from donations via a local employer match funding scheme. ## Last year’s report stated: “It is essential that the club formulates a strategy to recruit more volunteers and members. To be effective, this will need to involve as many current members/parents as possible – but it needs to be driven by a good leader.” And though covid has made this difficult, some progress has been made, but it is still very much a work in progress. So, the post covid era, which we are hopefully moving into, will be a period of renewal. There has been a long association between New Marske Harriers and Redcar Rugby Union FC going back decades. And when they were in serious financial difficulties, they appealed for help, and we stepped up with a contribution. It has sparked a renewed sense of mutual cooperation - we have already England’s first 2021 cross country event here, and we will look at repeating this annually perhaps in a different format. Other collaborations: we are obviously holding our AGM here, parking for the Northern Road Relays will be here on Sept 18th, and we have set up a new training group. ## **New Training Group:** We have a new training group meeting at Redcar Rugby Club on Tuesday evenings at 6pm. We are hoping to get the full range of abilities - plodder to podium, not just New Marske Harriers members but anyone who is fed up running with only themselves for company, or looking to start running from scratch! There will be an emphasis on the social aspects and hopefully recruitment will follow. ## **New Race** Having lost the Pie & Peas 5-mile race at Locke Park we have replaced it with Redcar Penguins 5 Mile - Sunday 25th July 1pm starting outside Zetland Park and finishing inside the park. The event takes place on roads closed to traffic, taking advantage of the road closures in place for the Redcar Sprint Triathlon held earlier in the day. ## **New Date** Due to other events on the local and national calendar being rearranged due to Covid, the Redcar Running Festival has had to move to the new date of 10th October. The start / finish area has had to be relocated due work that will be underway at Majuba Road car park. The new start will be on the Coast Road near Zetland Park with runners finishing inside the park itself.. ## **New and improved facilities.** Despite delays caused by staff being furloughed, the club has worked to get new and improved facilities in the borough. At Marshall Drive Playing Fields, a new toilet unit has been delivered and will soon be connected for the primary benefit of parkrun but it can be made available to other community groups. This has largely been funded by a grant from EDF via Tees Valley Community Foundation. At Laurence Jackson Sports Village the club has spent £15,000 on upgrading the throwing facilities made possible thanks to a £10,000 grant from the Sirius Foundation. The discus / hammer cage has been refurbished and had floodlighting added to extend winter time use, and an additional shot put circle has been added. ## **Finances.** Our balance sheet looks very strong, but it will be the year end 2021 that will show the effects of covid. That said we can expect to remain financially secure.