Brian Hall – Life President
Helping to promote our Race events in a professional, safe and profitable manner.
Having reached the age where running competitively is no longer a serious option, I get tremendous satisfaction from putting back into the sport which we all love, whilst still enjoying the camaraderie and friendships which I have built up over the years since 1987 when I first joined the Club. Most of my interests are based on outdoor activities and there cannot be many better areas for running or walking than in the countryside around Stone, and our races are a showcase for this.
Paul Phillips – Chair
Email – chair@stonemm.co.uk
I got into running quite late after being a keen footballer and cricketer for the local teams in Stone but finding time limited due to family commitments I decided to enter the Stafford Half Marathon back in 2012. (At the time running appeared to take up a lot less of my time than either of my previous sports – little did I know!!)
After this first race I decided that running might be the hobby for me, so joined Stone Master Marathoners in 2012 ish. Within a few months I’d taken up the role as Vice Captain and was soon on the committee and as is normal with SMM encouraged to ‘help’ out more with club runs and coaching leading to doing the LIRF course in 2015/6. This was quickly followed by doing the full coaching CIRF course and you will now find me ‘encouraging’ on the club interval sessions on a Tuesday and when fit I will be found on plenty of club runs to offer support and advice for your running journey. Now after 18 months of Captain and a role of Interim Chair, I find myself in the privileged role of Chair for this wonderful club.
Ellie Evans – Ladies Captain
Email – captain@stonemm.co.uk
I first came to Stone Master Marathoners in 2016 after having my first child. I had started doing a little bit of running however felt a bit ‘stuck’. I was really apprehensive going along to my first club run as although I’ve always been sporty I have never been a ‘runner’. It really was a fantastic first run, challenging yes but that was the whole point. The encouragement and enthusiasm of the club was and remains second to none. Moving between chatty club runs to Tuesday ‘fun’ (blimey!) speed sessions really helped with my running. Improving my running times and feeling stronger with my running. PB’s started to come with consistency.
The community and support of the club really helped me in challenging myself further, trying new things and gaining friendships. There is always someone there to offer a kind word or to offer to pace you on a race. That community is always there. From just trying to get fit to now on 5 Marathons and an Ultra and countless halves and shorter races, running has become part of me. I notice my headspace, or lack of it, when I don’t get out for a run.
Running is a solo sport but the club gave me the opportunity to get involved in team events such as the Showground relays (the noise and cheerleading from the SMM team tent is incredible!) and the sometimes dreaded Cross Country season. I can honestly say I look forward to Cross Country with its team spirit and fully stocked cakes drawing other teams to our tent.
Now it’s time for me to give back to the club. It’s been such an honour to be asked to be Ladies Captain. If you’re concerned about coming along to your first run, just as I was, then please do get in touch with me through the captains email – captain@stonemm.co.uk or directly through Facebook. I am always happy to speak to anyone and hopefully inspire a bit of confidence to give us a go.
Martin Cross – Mens Captain
Email – captain@stonemm.co.uk
My first contact with the Stone Master Marathoners came on 2017 when I met a bat after finishing Stafford Half Marathon, who despite my apprehension of joining a running club(that’s for serious runners, not me!!) managed to convince me to come along for a run or two.
It didn’t take long before I realised what a warm and welcoming club it is, before being swiftly introduced to those ‘fun’ speed and tempo sessions along with many amazing experiences including a 24 hour team race, cross country(contemplating coming out of retirement this year!), social events and even a marathon abroad!
Joining the club has been a springboard for my own running, and a few will be aware of my journey and battle to get a sub 3 marathon, which along the way included club members coming along to pace me to run marathon distance around Opal Way in 2:54, a memory of those who helped me which I will appreciate and cherish always.
Now I have been given the honour of becoming Men’s Captain, I would like to give back to the club what it has given me. If you are thinking of joining us for a run, or would like some advice then feel free to get in touch at captain@stonemm.co.uk or directly on Facebook. I can’t pretend to be an expert but always happy to talk running and can share my own experiences and journey.
Sara Buckley – Secretary
Email – secretarycic@stonemm.co.uk
I joined Stone Master Marathoners in 2017, recruited by the legend Chris Barlow after a chance meeting by the canal. I have enjoyed many club runs and races since and never cease to be amazed by the incredible support and camaraderie in the club. I have made many friends, enjoyed some wonderful social runs and challenges and am proud to be a member of such a friendly, encouraging and supportive club.
Tracey Wadsworth – Membership Secretary
Email – membership@stonemm.co.uk
When I nervously signed up for the Can’t Run Don’t Run course in 2021, having spent my first half
century saying exactly that, I couldn’t have imagined what it would lead to! From that first scary
Hanley Parkrun 5 km I’ve gone on to join races, complete half marathons and even some crazy ultra
marathons which I still can’t quite believe! Stone Master Marathoners really is a Club for everyone
and offers so much more than running. From the coffee and cake celebrations of Parkrun milestones
to the coaching of speed and marathon sessions by our professional coach Paul and the amazing
support for all, wherever you are on your running journey. I’m proud to be a bat and look forward to
welcoming new members!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any queries regarding SMM membership, England Athletics registration, or if you change your contact details.
Andrew Cawthorne – Race Committee Coordinator
I’m a journalist who worked round the world (eg here’s a running tale from Africa and a football yarn from Latin America !) for three decades before returning to my beloved home Staffordshire in 2018 and discovering Stone Master Marathoners the next year. I loved it from Day 1 and still do – more-and-more in fact as the friendships grow, the routes become so familiar and the races provide some spice and purpose. A couple of years ago, I took on organising the Flying Fox 10-miler with the great Chris Barlow and and have finally been foisted kicking-and-screaming onto the committee as your new Race Committee Coordinator.
As our club’s annual races (Spring Treble, Westbridge 5, Flying Fox 10) have been so superbly run from long before I was on the scene and we are never short of brilliant volunteers, my job is both easy and enjoyable! We are, however, looking for some assistant race directors. See me if interested.
Alison O’Mara – Social Secretary
Dawn Watkins – Treasurer
Email – treasurercic@stonemm.co.uk
I am probably the most ‘non-runner’ runner in the club! Even though I do actually run these days, as proven by the occasional photographs, I remain continuously surprised at the end of every club run when I make it back to the club. I never ran at school nor did I ever want to until I got to my forties.
In 2012, I attempted the couch to 5k week one which seemed to prove I couldn’t and shouldn’t run as I thought I would never recover. Bizarrely, I didn’t learn from this attempt and kept trying it again until somehow, in 2016, I ended up in the car park of the tennis club for the Thursday night’s SMM beginners club run. I have never looked back! The support and camaraderie within the club was and has continued to be incredible and I feel as much pride for what all of our members achieve as I do for the progress I have made myself.
I have gone beyond that couch to 5k week one now, having attempted a few runs and races in all distances (including the odd ultra!) but I will never let those early memories go and use them now to encourage others. I am so pleased to have been able to take on a committee role and be in a position to give back to the club that has given me so much
Salli Hamilton – Communications
I joined Stone Master Marathoners in November 2022 after completing the Couch to 5k and after attending a Park Run on my own seeing lots of runners in SMM T Shirts, decided to give the running club a try – and here I am 2 years later on the committee looking after the Comms 😉
Since joining the club I’ve ran distances from the 5k to a full marathon, and a 50k ultra this year which has all been down to the support and encouragement of club members and the variety of different club runs on offer.
Anne Griffiths – Welfare Officer
I have been a running leader since 2014 and I work closely with the Thursday evening beginners group.
Being a running leader means that I have been able to see many beginners join the Club (often slightly nervous and uncertain as to why they are there!) and progress into enthusiastic and competent runners. I joined SMM as a complete novice and the opportunity to run with dedicated, passionate runners inspired me to take on a running leader role so that I, too, could encourage others to join this wonderful little community.
Email – tbc
Michael Beasley – Mental Health Ambassador & Welfare Officer
I am a relatively new comer to running completing my first marathon in 2015 and joining SMM in October 2017. I started running after friends of a similar age experienced physical health problems so out of a sense of recognition of my own poor physical health I started running. As a learning disability nurse working in an NHS mental health trust, I was more than aware not only of the physical benefits of running but also the positive impact running can have on an individual’s mental health.
I have completed the Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) course with England Athletics and I am now qualified as a run leader. I have also completed a ‘Guide Runner’ course again with England Athletics to allow me to guide visually impaired runners. I also enjoy helping others meet their running goals by pacing from 5K to marathon distance.
Since joining SMM I have been entrusted with the role ‘Mental Health Ambassador’ with the objective to work within our running club to support the mental well-being of all members. I aim to make links between our club, mental health services/groups and organisations to encourage their members to start running.
With support from other SMM members we will start discussions about mental health with other running clubs working proactively with members of the ‘running community’ to achieve our goal of making running inclusive for all.
I aim to utilise social media to share information regarding England Athletics #runandtalk campaign and organise regular runs within SMM and again with other running clubs across our area.
Don’t hesitate to contact me regarding this role, I’ll do my best to answer your questions.
Mark Neeld – Committee Member
Having been a member since about 2009, and not really being a particularly active member behind the scenes, I felt that, with more time on my hands, that the time was right to step up and give something back.
On a personal note, I didn’t embark on my running career until about 17 years ago when, in my 40s, I found purely by chance that I rather enjoyed it following a cancer research charity run. I joined SMM and instantly found it heightened my running experience. There is nothing like running in the company of like minded and incidentally, lovely people. The club also offered great advice to me as a novice runner from a vast amount of experienced and talented members.
Racing was the next step which I found to be addictive: the atmosphere, emotion and camaraderie. Fast forward 13 years and I now run and race all distances locally, nationally and on occasions internationally, with a little bit of success along the way. The running community is vast, and I feel blessed that I can be a part of it.
I would like to see SMM increase its presence locally and nationally and to promote the virtues of our wonderful club.