Stowmarket Striders Running Club have become the fifth athletics & running club in Suffolk to be awarded ClubMark.

The ClubMark process has taken the club a lengthy time to complete helped initially by Chloe McMorran from Mid-Suffolk District Council (now of Suffolk Sport). Vicky Tunaley (previous Athletics Development Officer) assisted in the specifics for England Athletics. The club is grateful to both these people for their assistance.

Within the club the notable person worthy of mention is Carole Prance who did much of the work towards documenting the policies and procedures as well as liaising with coaches for changed procedures, courses, and documentation along side Richard Nash in writing up a number of the policies and procedures. Carole remains active in ClubMark being the Female Welfare Officer for the club alongside David Loads who is their Male Welfare Officer.

Neil Deans of England Athletics East (right) and Paul Evans (centre), two times London Marathon medalist, 1996 Chicago Marathon winner and double Olympian, made the presentation of the certificate during the junior training session. Paul was then on hand to display his medals and trophies to the juniors before joining the Striders in their senior speed training session. It is however suspected that Paul took it easy and enjoyed a jog around with club members without the responsibility of coaching.