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.
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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.