Croft Ambrey Running Club is celebrating its 21st birthday, which happily coincides with the coming of age of one of its younger members, Dave Rouse.

Two of the founder members of the club are still running regularly, even if a little slower than in 1982, but nevertheless both were medal winners in the 2002/3 Hereford-shire Cross Country League: Bryan Markham

was first over 60, and 'young' Tom Davies third over 50 (another founder member, Peter Faulkner, is now one of the club's vice-presidents).

Two runners who joined a few months later, Guy Whitmarsh and Brian Davies, picked up medals in the over 55 category.

Back in 1982 the county championships were competed for by a mere dozen or so runners (whereas now 50 is a relatively poor turnout).

Club members trained in a possibly haphazard fashion and generally alone, whereas now midweek club training sessions often see about 10 turning out, and maybe more at weekends.

Over the years the club has had brushes with glory: Mick Ligema won the Midland Counties Fell Running Championships in 1993, Peter Tyler won the Towyn marathon on more than one occasion, Louise Skelton won the Welsh Universities Cross Country, David Rouse Jnr won the Pencombe race, his sister Natalie was district 800m champion and ran in the Inter-County Cross Country Championships and briefly having Justin Pugsley (1999 National Cross Country champion) as a second claim club member!

The club now look forward to the next 21 years to increasing numbers of younger runners (of all abilities) and to a club that retains its friendly, supportive nature.

Potential new members should contact Tom Davies ( 01568 708474 ).