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Sunday saw the England Athletics Regional Awards for volunteers and projects take place at the Athenaeum in Bury St Edmunds. The eight awards were made to the individuals and projects in the East Region that had seen volunteers and clubs go ‘above and beyond’ to ensure that athletes, athletics and communities thrived.
SNHAC were shortlisted for the Community Project of the Year for the Holiday Programme the Club organises at Easter and during the summer which provides 24 days of athletics for forty, 8 to14 year-olds, including youngsters on free school meals, who are provided with a hot meal while having fun. The programme gives everyone the opportunity to try all events including pole vault and hammer and introduces them to timekeeping and field judging. Nick ward collected the Runner Up Award on behalf of the club. Nick, along with Barry Mainstone, Libby Taylor and Dan Mainstone ran the programmes assisted by the Club’s coaching assistants and leaders.
Sarah Berry was nominated for the Newcomer to Volunteering Award and richly deserves winning the category. Sarah’s daughter joined the Club three years ago and Sarah volunteered to help at matches when her daughter was competing. Sarah became a L1 Track and Timekeeper in 2023 and officiated in all the leagues the Club participates in during 2024. In November 2023 Sarah became Club Treasurer and a member of the Club’s Management Committee.
Norma Harris was nominated along with two other stalwarts from the East Region for Services to Athletics and Running. Between them Noel Moss (Cambridge and Coleridge), Peter Cassidy (Loughton AC) and Norma have ‘clocked up’ over 135 years of volunteering between them, covering most positions in the sport over the years. Norma has coached, officiated and held many Club, County and Regional positions over the years. When interviewed at the awards ceremony Norma admitted that her most enjoyable moments have come from watching the many teenagers she has coached achieve success, but also grow up to become lovely people, many of whom have become friends, are still involved in sport at various levels and in various roles. Noel, Peter and Norma all received the award as joint winners from Mattthew Dalton, East Region Chair.