Tish Jones and Steve Gardner made Belgrave life members
Belgrave endurance athletes Tish Jones and Steve Gardner were made life members at the club AGM on September 20th.
Both were rewarded for their consistent outstanding contributions to the club.
Tish Jones
Tish joined Belgrave in 2012 and made an immediate impact with a win in the Surrey League cross country and a gold medal at the South of the Thames 5-mile cross championship.
Since then she has claimed club records over 5 miles, 10k, half marathon and the marathon.
Racing highlights include a dogged 7th place at the 2014 national cross and a brilliant 2:31:00 at the 2019 London Marathon which saw her qualify for a place on Team GB at the World Championships in Doha.
“She is a unique talent,” says women’s road and cross country team manager Charlie Dickinson.
“Belgrave are very fortunate to have her and I am delighted to propose her as a life member.”
Steve Gardner
Steve Gardner (87) in a Surrey League cross country fixture in October 2019.
Steve joined the club in 2016 as a football convert and endured an enthusiastic but injury-ridden first 18 months. But come 2018 he would win the coaches’ award for a stellar track season that included appearances for the club at every Southern League fixture and sharply-improved PBs over 3000m and 5000m.
He turned out for every Surrey League cross country fixture in 2018/19 and by this time had become heavily involved with the club committee, improving the club website and social media presence and landing a kit supply deal with New Balance.
When Will Cockerell stepped down Steve took over team management duties - along with friend and co-manager Arne Dumez - for the men’s road and cross country team.
Steve (centre frame) on the balcony at Battersea race directing at the Comeback 5000 in March 2021. Revee Walcott-Nolan (foreground) would compete at the Tokyo Olympics later in the year.
Then when the coronavirus pandemic struck in early 2020, Steve instigated a virtual road relays competition against local rivals Herne Hill Harriers, a format that was later replicated at national level and around the world. His impact was recognised with a special volunteers’ award from England Athletics.
Steve also organised the Lockdown Burnup 3000m (2020) and the Comeback 5000 (2021) races at Battersea, in both cases the first licensed track races since the suspension of organised athletics due to lockdowns that immediately proceeded them, showing other clubs and organisers that such events could be put on safely and successfully with a bit of determination and flexibility.