A big, big thank you to everyone who supported the RNLI Samtampa Memorial Run 2023. We had an amazing response, with runners taking part from across South Wales and some completing the distance as a virtual 5.7km in other parts of the UK. It was lovely to have you all there on Sunday, with representatives from at least 15 different clubs taking part. Several members of the RNLI Mumbles crew completed the run in their ALB kit, and Gareth from RNLI Porthcawl completed it dressed as Stormy Stan. Well done to them and to everyone else that took part.
Thanks to your support, we raised £2,626 for the RNLI.
We had a fantastic team of volunteers, who were essential to the success of the event. So thank you to everyone who helped setup, made registrations go so smoothly, to Delia for sorting out the funnel at the finish, to everyone on scanning and timing who had to use the app for the first time. Everyone from the RNLI crew who presented the medals and made it the event it was, and thanks to Steve from the RNLI shop for providing our presentation mugs for the first three male and female finishers.
Many thanks to Steve Brace and the Parkrun folk for providing us with most of the equipment we needed to stage the event. Steve also provided the water and lots of invaluable advice. First4Numbers (https://www.first4numbers.co.uk/) provided our bib numbers, signage and safety pins free of charge. They were also incredibly quick. Thank you!
A massive thank you to our wonderful team of volunteers:
Registrations: Amy, Jo, Jo, Lucy, Sarah-Jane, Steve and Sue.
Funnel Manager: Delia
Timing: Ellis, Marija and Murray
Scanning: Amy, Sue and Jo
First Aid/Casualty Care: Andrew, Chris, Etienne, Luis, Ruth, Steve and Tim
Tail Walkers: Juliet and Sue
Setup: Amy, Ellis, Jeff, Lucy, Marija, Owain, Nick, Steve, and Sue
Lead Bike: Owain
Marshals: Andrew, Bob, Brian, Chris, Chris, Clive, Grace, Hywel, Ian, Iwan, Jack, Jeff, Jeff, Kev, Michael, Norah, Paul, Phil, Ruth, Steve, Steve, Sue, Sue, Tim and several of the RNLI crew who pitched in to help marshal on the day.
…and to anyone I may have inadvertently forgotten.
Lastly, I need to thank the organisers Nick Molloy-Evans, Amy Hill (RNLI), Lucy Hughes and Steve Picton (Porthcawl Runners) who were part of a joint team. Nick chaired our planning meetings, and Amy had overall control of the event on the day as well as pitching in with registrations and helping out at the finish.
Lucy provided invaluable help and advice in organising the event, particularly with the documentation required by the council, and ensured things ran smoothly on the day.
Steve, devised and organised the first Samtampa Run last year and he’s continued to support the event with advice and encouragement throughout and was involved in all the many planning meetings we had with Nick and Amy.
Thank you all for making the event go off with a bang… even if it started with a pathetic whistle! I promise to get a new whistle for 2024, or maybe an airhorn.
Julian Straker-Jones (Run Director)