Ivanhoe Runners had a very busy weekend with the club’s Annual General Meeting on Friday, Annual Awards evening on Saturday and the first race of 2014 on Sunday. The Awards evening, held at the Lyric Rooms in Ashby and organised by social secretaries Heather Swan and Laura Graves, was a great success with many members recognised for their performances over the year. Hosted by Club Chairman Kevin Sanders and 2013 Captains Julia Blewitt-Jenkins and Martin Yeomans, 35 awards were presented. One of the highlights of the evening was the award of Club Member of the Year, nominated and voted for by the membership and won by Martin Yeomans in recognition of his unstinting commitment to the club over many years. The Margaret Hibbell Trophy for endeavour went to Ramzi Sidani, who has finished the majority of races that he has entered as first Ivanhoe finisher, recorded an excellent personal best time of 2:55:57 at the London Marathon and took part in a 50 mile ultramarathon race at Long Eaton in June where he finished an incredible 4th place in 8 hours 30 mins. Ramzi also collected the Ivanhoe 20 shield winning the men’s race in a personal best 2 hours 11 minutes. The ladies Ivanhoe 20 trophy winner was Rosie Dear who won in a sprint finish with a time of 2:44. The team player awards recognising their support and commitment to the League races across the year went to Kev Wright and Ruth Green. Ruth also won the ladies most improved runner award with Andy Lindley picking up the most improved male runner trophy, reflecting a year of personal best performances for both runners. Best newcomer awards went to Becca Hallam following her impressive performances in the London and Chester marathons along with many other races and Nick Rowles who has made an excellent contribution representing the club at numerous events. Julian Rawlings was a popular winner of the Club Ironman trophy awarded in recognition of completion of his first Ironman (Nottingham Outlaw) in July in 15 hours 15 minutes in extremely hot conditions. The winners of the 2013 Ladies Grand Prix Series was incoming Captain Laura Graves with the outgoing Captain Julia Blewitt-Jenkins taking the runner up prize. In the men’s Grand Prix Series super-vetaran Andy Jeyes took the honours with a maximum 150 points with Martin Yeomans runner up. Leicestershire Road Running League 100% finisher prizes were presented to Martin Yeomans, Julia Blewitt-Jenkins, Andy Lindley and Ruth Green for completing all eleven league races. In the Burton and District Summer League Nick Teige collected a 100% finisher’s award and went one stage further by winning the series for which he collected his trophy. Laura Johnson was the overall winner of the ladies competition in the same league but couldn’t attend on the night. Tim Caukwell collected the Adrian Smith Handicap Trophy for winning the club Handicap 10k race in September. The club organises a Standard Scheme based on age-grade related performances in different race distances from 5k to marathon and this year 14 members received new Awards. Regular awards are presented when a runner makes the standard in 5 different distances whilst runners making the grade in 9 distances receive a distinction. Tim Caukwell received the Bronze standard whilst Silver Awards went to Emily Starkie, Ruth Enion, Katie Cotton, Victoria Smith, Fiona McKean, Ian Bolton, Phil Stevenson, Nick Rowles and Kev Wright. Andy Lindley was awarded a Bronze Distinction whilst Ruth Green and Becca Hallam won Silver Distinction Awards. Finally after an outstandingly consistent season Andy Jeyes collected a Gold Distinction award to round off an excellent evening for the club.