Thanks to everyone who helped make yesterday’s 44th Annual Christmas Handicap such a success.
The race was won by Emma Coombes who, after going close to winning several times in the past, strode to a well deserved and very popular victory. Emma closed a 3 minute gap on the 3 ladies in front, passing them just a few hundred metres from the finish to win by 11 secs. The first man to finish was Matt Bray who set off 9 mins behind Emma but finished 32 secs behind in 5^th place.

Congratulations to Thaila-Jade Mason who was awarded the prestigious Junior Sports Personality of 2024 at an inspiring Bedford Sports Awards Ceremony held at the Corn Exchange on Monday 9^th December. She came out on top of a very strong field of 16 nominations for the Junior Award.

A number of other Bedford and County members were nominated. Jemma Eastwood, Etienne Maughan, Jasmine Wilkins and Euan Supple were among 12 nominations in the Senior Category, whilst Lyla Danobrega was also nominated for the Junior Award.

The Wheelchair Racing Section were nominated in a number of categories: Sean Chigumba and Varun Bandi respectively for the Junior and Senior Disability Awards; The coaching team of Zoe Luscombe, Michael Blunt and Sharmila Harman for the Open Coaching Award (16 nominations in that category); and the Wheelchair Racing amongst 12 nominations for the Club of the Year.

Kempston Academy, whose Head of PE is Gav Fordham, won the Secondary School of the Year Award.

Jasmine Wilkins taking a break from winter training competed in the 60m at the Cardiff Dual Meet on the 4th Dec, running 7.47secs a new club record beating the previous record of 7.60 she also held.

Jasmine was satisfied with the result and feels she will run quicker in the new year.

She is off to Tenerife in early Jan, training, and then off to Dublin for an indoor meet there and is off to another longer camp training meet at Easter.