December 2025 Newsletter

Toby Heley
12h
5 min read

Welcome to the December Newsletter.

Entries for the Silverstone Grand Prix 10k race go live tonight, so please keep sharing the social media posts and don’t forget to keep 6^th May marked on your 2026 calendar for volunteering!

As you will see from Graham’s round up, there has been some great racing over the last month, with lots to look forward to in December and January.

The Facebook Group has also been busy this month: a herd is gathering for the Farthingstone Foot Fest in June; Sheona, Kim, Paul Rose and others ran the Sundon Saunter 18 miler; Rob raced at the Run Fest Silverstone and the European Adventurers are planning their next trip to Slokakia and Austria. If anyone is thinking they might be tempted, below is Stephanie Spencer’s recount of their last trip…

Many thanks, Helen

A group of us went on an unofficial club running trip to Netherlands at the end of October, with thanks to The Morley Popiel Tour Company.

An early flight from UK to Netherlands on Thursday morning gave us a full day to explore. Some stayed in Amsterdam for some sightseeing and the rest travelled to The Hague. Most of the group visited the capital at sometime during our weekend, and visits to Delft and the beach were also popular, with some brave souls even swimming!

On Saturday we took the tram to Zuiderpark Parkrun for our Z in the alphabet challenge - it poured with rain! We sheltered under the iconic copper leisure centre for the briefing whilst the rain bounced off the ground. It didn’t stop whilst we ran twice around the park, but did for our photo with the parkrun sign. Two of our group missed the group photo as they chose Zegerplas Parkrun instead.

On Sunday, we all headed south to Alphen for our trail run. Distance choices ranged between 24k-12k, although some of us missed vital arrows and completed both more and less than the specified distances. I missed the same small loop as James and we were not running the same distance nor at the same time. Most runners chose to run up the high dune but a sensible few ran around the base. Sonia and Joe tried for directions from a bemused local, then found Sarah and Kim running through a carpark. But we all made it back before the rain, having had a great morning running. One runner described it as, “Like a Sheona Sunday run - no one knew where they were in the woods but all had fun and there was cake at the end.”

We went for lunch in Baarle-Hertog, which whilst in Netherlands is actually a Belgium municipality and there are crosses inlaid across the roads and pathways denoting the border, queue photos of us in both countries at the same time. Great weekend with lovely people.

Next stop - Bratislava in the Spring

Stephanie Spencer

Graham’s round up:

I will start by wishing all Silson members family and friends a Happy Christmas.

The start to the Cross Country season has been encouraging, with Silson sitting top of league 2 after two fixtures. With the next match being our closest fixture in Milton Keynes, we are hoping to maintain our good start. Below is a report from the Oxford league fixture and the winners from an excellent Awards evening. Well done Julie Ann and Sonia for organising this event. Also included are training sessions for December along with some important forthcoming fixtures.

Chiltern Cross Country League Oxford

Saturday November 15^th

Storm Claudia had made the lower reaches of the Horspath course muddy, but not as deep as we have known previously. There was a good turnout of 26 Silson runners, with many donning the smart, recently arrived new club kit. I will endeavour to give everyone a mention throughout the league season, as all are important to the team. First off was a strong looking ladies’ race with Oxford University out in force and using it as their club championships. A good battling display saw our first 3 ladies cross the line in the twenties, Louise Honeyball ran an excellent 2^nd lap to finish 46^th, Rosemary Heley in 49^th completed the Silson scoring five. Also running strongly for 55^th place was Mary de Frates. An equally strong men’s race followed, with our first three packing well. Chris Coghlan and Simon Woodward were closely matched coming home 57^th and 60^th respectively. Simon Storer 68^th also scored good points for a competitive men’s team. The men finished 2^nd on the day, with Oxford University way ahead, Silson men edging out Buckingham by a single point. Buckingham beat Silson ladies by 6 points with again Oxford Uni well ahead. Silson remain 80 points clear at the top of the table in what is shaping up to be an exciting season. We are unlikely to see much more of Oxford University, for the rest of the season.

Results Men 45^th Richard Francis, 48^th Steve Lincoln, 52^nd Alfie Long, 57^th Chris Coghlan, 60^th Simon Woodward, 68^th Simon Storer, 73^rd James Spencer, 82^nd Simon Kirshner Heavens, 85^th Paul Holmes, 89^th Levien Stevense, 112nd Richard Popiel, 120^th David Morley, 121^st Bob Kellam

Ladies 21^st Helen Heley, 23^rd Julie-Ann Hammond, 26^th Izzy Hodgson, 46th Louise Honeyball, 49^th Rosemary Heley, 55^th Mary de Frates, 58^th Rachael Prior, 62^nd Jade Storer, 63^rd Madeleine Moutrie, 65^th Sue Torrance, 74^th Laura Torrance, 76^th Fiona Storer, 83^rd Hannah Torrance.

Silson Awards Evening Friday November 28^th

The Silverstone Recreational Association again played host to the Silson Awards Evening. We were pleased to welcome founder members Dr Frank Newton and Gerald Lovell to join us for the evening. A good percentage of Silson’s membership enjoyed an excellent evening. Congratulations to our well-deserved prize winners below.

Winter Cup Mathew Elliott, junior Rosemary Heley Track & Field Julie Ann Hammond Silson Road Race Challenge Sue Torrance Silson Club Cross Country 1^st Junior Rosemary Heley 1^st Lady Madeleine Moutrie, 2^nd Rachael Gardener, 3^rd Fiona Storer, 1st Man Alfie Long, 2^nd Simon Storer, 3^rd Mathew Elliott Best Newcomer Steve Wareham Most Improved Junior Amelia Lewis Most Improved Young Athlete Rosemary Heley Most Improved Male Rob Pardon Most Improved Lady Hannah Torrance Chairman’s Achievement David Morley Volunteer of the Year Graham Linnell Club Person of the Year Brian Keers Runners Runner David Morley,

Club standards were achieved by 26 members, Platinum: Helen Heley, Simon Woodward, Julie-Ann Hammond, Susan Mulligan, Simon Storer; Gold: Richard Popiel, Paul Holmes, Sue Torrance, Chris Coghlan, Toby Heley, Madeleine Moutrie, Mark Conway, Steven Wareham, Michael Spencer; Silver: Kim Froggitt, Simon Kirschner-Heavens, Alfie Long, James Spencer; Bronze: Rosemary Heley, Hannah Torrance, Rachel Prior, Richard Francis, Laura Torrance, Fiona Storer, Tracy Turner, Tina Morris.

Silson London Marathon Place Susan Mulligan

December Training

Weds 3^rd Cross Country Prep from Winterhills Silverstone 6.30pm

Weds 10^th Winter Cup 5k Watermeadows Towcester 6.30pm

Weds 17^th Christmas Special Winterhills Silverstone 6.30pm

Sat 20^th County Cross Country Fartlek Abington Park Northampton 10am

Sun 28^th Mince Pie Run Everdon Stubbs

For Sunday Runs Follow Facebook

December & January Races

Sat Dec 6^th Chiltern League Campbell Park Milton Keynes (No Coach)

Sat Jan 3^rd County Cross Country Abington Park

Sat Jan 10^th Chiltern League Watford (A coach is booked)