Club History
Roy ‘Razzer’ Clarke started running in 1978 in order to lose weight (he tipped the scales at 14½ stone). Two weeks later, he was joined by his pal Kevin Bishop and they were soon running three times a week, building up to six miles each session.
Incredibly, after just three months, the lads completed their first full marathon; The Vale of England Marathon at Oulton Park, Cheshire and within a year or two (and several half-marathons later), Roy’s weight had dropped to a meagre 10½ stone.
For the next 30-odd years, Razzer has continued to run three times a week, gradually being joined by over fifty new runners from around mid-Cheshire.
On his sixtieth birthday in January 2000, Roy received a super present: the Razzer’s Runners club came into being. Founded by Tom Banks, Sue Jennings, Alan Bell, Mark Wright and Anthony Taylor, the club was registered with UK Athletics. Alan was elected Club Secretary, Tom took up the post of Treasurer and Razzer himself was installed as Club President. Mark and Anthony have lent generous support to the club through their respective companies, Hankinsons Builders and Northwich Glass whilst Rosebank Sports have also given great support and encouragement.
The move to affiliation sparked widespread interest as the club’s unusual name began to appear on race results, as well as on UK Athletics’ own club database. In the space of a couple of years, membership rocketed from the original handful of diehards to thirty plus and it soon became apparent that Roy’s kitchen could no longer cope with a horde of thirsty runners three times a week. Roy has a long association with Barnton Football Club and they generously agreed to host the Tuesday and Thursday evening running sessions at their Townfield Lane clubhouse, allowing the use of their changing and toilet facilities and, most essentially, their magnificent tea urn!
The traditional Sunday morning session, for many years hosted by Roy in Little Leigh, has now also moved to Barnton FC.
Club membership currently stands at around fifty people of all abilities from all walks of life. The age range is 15-71 (assuming Roy is telling the truth!) and there is a fairly even male:female split. The atmosphere is extremely informal and whilst the club specialises in absolute beginners, we also have a fair sprinkling of half-marathon and marathon veterans and even the odd triathlete. Whatever your speed or distance, we will have a group for you to run with and every session finishes with a mug of Roy’s legendary tea and a biscuit or three.
Razzer’s Runners is a very sociable club and we have frequent outings including curry nights (Lamb Rogan Josh for Roy), hot-pot quiz nights with our friends at Barnton FC and our annual Christmas bash, usually featuring an awards ceremony and some appalling fancy dress!