Exeter Harriers Clubhouse was packed to the rafters to welcome Jo Pavey, Five Times Olympian, and her Husband/Coach, Gavin, who were “Special Guests” at the club’s Annual Awards Night on Saturday.
The club, founded in 1904 and now with a membership of 495, was celebrating yet another year of outstanding athletic achievements with a number of their members achieving #no1 spot on the UK rankings and winning not only local and regional but also National Competitions and England/GB Vests.
Trophies and prizes were presented by Jo to the following recipients;
| Ken Trickey – Athlete of the Year |
Molly Canham English Schools JG 800M Gold UKA U15 Indoor & Outdoor Champ 800m |
| Senior – Male Athlete of the Year |
Sam Talbot National Indoor Heptathlon Champion *World Indoor Youth Heptathlon Record (U20 implements)* UK U18 Decathlon Record |
| Senior – Female Athlete of the Year |
Jo Pavey Olympian – Rio 2016 Ranked UK #No 1 V40W 3000m, 5000m, 10000m |
| Veteran – Male Athlete of the Year |
Lyndsey Fairbrother Ranked UK #No 1 V75M 400m |
| Veteran – Female Athlete of the Year |
Jackie Walpole Ranked UK #No 1 V60W 800m |
| South West League – Female Athlete of the Year | Rebecca Squires |
| South West League – Male Athlete of the Year | Lee Dart |
| South West League – Commitment to the Team | Courtney Howard |
| Cross Country – Female Athlete of the Year | Caitlin Apps |
| Cross Country – Male Athlete of the Year | Lee Dart |
| Sportshall Certificate of Recognition for Commitment | Samidi Nanayakkara |
| Sportshall – Female Athlete of the Year | Abbie Freeman |
| Sportshall Certificate of Recognition for Commitment | Matthew Williams |
| Sportshall – Male Athlete of the Year | Craig Moncur |
| Junior Award – Male Athlete of the Year (U11) | Charlie Hague |
| Junior Award – Female Athlete of the Year (U11) | Isabella Peyton-Jones |
| Junior Award – Male Athlete of the Year (U13) | Gus Tiernan |
| Junior Award – Female Athlete of the Year (U13) | Katie Chapman |
| Junior Award – Male Athlete of the Year (U15) | Thomas Putt |
| Junior Award – Female Athlete of the Year (U15) | Isobel Pinsky |
| Junior Award – Male Athlete of the Year (U17) |
Finley McLear English Schools IB 1500m Steeplechase Gold SIAB IB 1500m Steeplechase Gold |
| Junior Award – Female Athlete of the Year (U17) | Olivia Dobson |
| Centenary Cup – Thrower of the Year | Josh Tyler |
| Individual Performance Award |
Jamie Anderson HJ 2.01m |
| Power of 10 Award –
U20 athletes achieving Top 10 Power of 10 status |
Finley McLear U17M 3000m & 1500m Steeplechase |
| Jack Turner | |
| U17M Octathlon | |
| Jamie Anderson
U20M High Jump |
|
| Katie Chapman
U13G High Jump, Long Jump & Shot Putt |
|
| Lily Mills
U20W Javelin |
|
| Molly Canham
U15G 1500m, 3000m, Mile, Parkrun |
|
| Olivia Dobson
U17W Shot Put, Pentathlon & Heptathlon |
|
| Rebecca Squires
U13G 100m |
|
| Thomas Putt
U15B Javelin |
|
| Sam Talbot
U20m 60m Hurdles, Long Jump Hepthatlon & U18M Decathlon |
|
| Trixie Nicholson
U17W Javelin |
|
| Young Volunteer Award | Jack Moncur |
| Services Shield | Rose Curtis |
Two special “Life-Time Achievement Awards” were also presented.
The first to Bob Melhuish who has been a club “stalwart” for many years. He came late to running as his passion in his younger days was motorbikes. He completed several marathons and more than 70 half-marathons. He was key in organising many of the cross-country competitions and even at 80 was seen setting out the course for the Devon County Cross Country Championships. His volunteering also included taking on many of the maintenance tasks in and around the clubhouse as well as assisting with the refurbishment a few years ago.
The second award was presented to Tony White, Jo Pavey’s former coach. For more than 40 years he has been coaching at Exeter Harriers and many anecdotes were shared by his athletes. What is most remarkable is that Tony continued to coach even after losing his sight, more than 20 years ago, assisted by Les Curtis. Tony was instrumental in Jo’s early years as a young junior athlete. Back in 1987 Jo recounts that “he saw something in me – ‘Little Jo’ as he called me. He was a hard taskmaster and what I always needed was someone to reign me in and hold me back, but he was also like a family member. Our bond was immediate.” Jo also presented Tony with a vest worn by her at the Rio Olympics.
