The club has two committees. The main committee meets roughly every 6-8 weeks and ensures the club is meeting the needs of its membership. The race committee takes the lead on running GCR’s main events and decides whether the club will subsidise entries into particular races or events. Visit our Contact page to get in touch.
Main committee
Sean Bowen – Chair
Sean has been a member since 1992 and has served on committee since 2008. From 2009 until 2019 he was men’s team captain, and before that he was our press liaison officer. He has served on Race Committee and as GCR rep on the Herts AAA road running subcommittee. He is Chief Marshal for our midweek league race and the Festive 5. He takes one of our training groups on the track, and has been team manager for the Greensand Ridge Relay and the Round Norfolk. As chair, he aims to ensure that the club does all it can to meet the training, racing and social aspirations of as wide a range of local runners as possible.
Sidney Valentine – Vice Chair
His fondness for running started in 2015 when he was introduced to the world of Obstacle course racing which entails a lot of mud and getting wet whilst negotiating both man made and natural Obstacles, he then joined Renegade runners in 2017 who are a team of runners who specialises in Obstacle course racing, from this point onwards he was hooked on running as part of a team/club.
During lock down a lot of the races where cancelled so after lockdown in May 2021 he joined Garden City Runners and he has loved being part of this all inclusive club, with regular race meets and social runs the club has really become part of his life, the support of the club as helped him run marathons and even his first Ultra this year
He always like to get involved and help out where he could so since joining the club he has taken on the role of 10k group leader for the sociable run and then leader Co ordinater which involves working close with the leaders to ensure the group runs are lead correctly, he is currently Vice chair for the club.
He is a LIRF qualified coach which is an English Athletics course that the club has funded, along with the awards issued to him, he feel the club really does recognise all at the club.
Outside of Garden City Runners he is married to my wife Sarah, they have two daughters Jasmine and Beth and he recently became a grandad to his grandson Henry
Michael Scutt – Secretary
Michael been running off and on for many years, but he never really “got the bug” until he discovered parkrun in 2015. He became more and more involved at Panshanger parkrun and became a Run Director in 2018. Subsequently he joined GCR and was lucky enough to win a place in the London Marathon in 2023.
His favourite distance is 5k but he does like 10k and finds a half marathon very satisfying.
He’s not held any position with the club before volunteering to be secretary at the last AGM.
He has also helped as Deputy Assistant Chief Marshal to Sean and Sue at club runs.
Sue Fletcher – Membership Secretary for GCR and EA
Sue’s favourite distance was 10 miles but her knees don’t allow that now! She feels lucky to do 5k. Her most loved race was the Marathon du Medoc – where else would you have wine stops every kilometre and oysters at 40k? Sue doesn’t have a favourite running partner as she has always preferred to race alone (ok Sue, we get the hint).
David Hale – Treasurer
David joined the committee in 2022 primarily to help out with Website maintenance and to get more involved with the club. He has been running since about 2015 and first joined GCR in 2017.
David tries to do a group run each week (usually 9k) and enter some Avery events. He also runs a lot with his dog Albie, does a bit of park running and half marathon events around the country. His running ambition is to break 25mins for 5k.
James Huish – Men’s Team Captain
James started out with his running journey by training for a charity 10K in 2014. Since joining GCR in 2017, James owes it to the club for enabling him run longer and faster, train better, more frequently and relishes the social benefits of club running. James was elected Men’s team captain in 2019.
James loves the simplicity and accessibility of the 5K distance…but isn’t disciplined enough to take a parkrun ‘easy’. It’s the up-to-10K distance (as opposed to long distance) that suits him and those attributes are best utilised in the XC and Mid-Week leagues
Hannah Ahmet – Women’s Team Captain
Hannah joined the Garden City Runners in 2016 after going out for a few 5K runs on her own and realising she wanted to run with others and explore some of the local trail routes. Hannah then gained a place in the London Marathon and to help get prepared attended the club intervals, track sessions and Sunday long runs.
Hannah’s favourite distance is a half marathon however you will find her most Saturdays at Parkrun with her family either running solo, pushing a buggy or volunteering.
One of the greatest things about GCR in Hannah’s opinion is the number of new friends she has made, who have become an important part of her life.
Rebecca Barden – Women’s Vice Captain / Performance
Rebecca took up running in 2007 when her youngest daughter was a baby, training with former GCR coach Mandy Livingstone. She was encouraged by Mandy to enter her first race, an 8K in Windsor, and went on to try out race distances up to a half marathon, before being inspired by a friend to run her first marathon, London in 2012, to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society. She has gone on to complete 15 marathons including New York, Berlin, Stockholm and Edinburgh.
When not training for or running races, Rebecca is often to be found out discovering new routes through the Hertfordshire countryside, although despite the aid of her OS maps and app, she retains her skill at getting lost. With Steve E-E, Rebecca ran the entire length of the Hertfordshire Way in stages during 2021-22, and the dynamic duo are currently midway through a Herts Chain Walk challenge.
Rebecca’s favourite thing about being a GCR is the friendships she’s made through the club and our tremendous team spirt. As Women’s Vice Captain, Rebecca supports Hannah Ahmet in encouraging the women’s team.
Markus Allen – Welfare Officer
Markus loves to race and tries to complete in as many of the Mid Week League and Sunday League Cross Country races as possible.
We are unable to track back to when he first became a member but his family had a family membership in the early 90’s. His first race for the club might have been a triathlon, where Garden City was challenged by another local running club.
As one of the welfare officers he is available to listen to any concerns you have.
Charlotte Jones – Technology Support
Charlotte joined GCR in 2014 after getting spotted out running by Eleanor and invited to join her group on their run. She realised she loved running in a group of like minded people and has run with the club ever since.
She is very much a “back of the pack” runner but loves a race (and a medal) and believes running is great fun for everyone whatever their pace.
She leads and helps support the ‘Couch to 5k’ Beginners group and her proudest running achievement was running a marathon a month through 2020 (mostly virtual) including a ‘backyard’ marathon of about 900 loops of her garden
Sophie Packman – Social Secretary
Sophie’s first passion growing up was swimming. As soon as Sophie was old enough to learn she didn’t want to leave the water. She loved trampolining and gymnastics and then tried springboard diving. Sophie’s claim to fame was winning gold on the 3-metre diving board, at an international diving competition in the Hague. Sophie carried on with the swimming and gym right up until lockdown. Sophie started running by accident about 15 years ago! She felt sorry for a friend who had been signed up to do a half marathon by a family member but the family member failed to say they were running it too! So, Sophie entered and trained on the treadmill (she had no idea and she had no intention to get cold or wet! Lol). It was the Nike ‘Run To The Beat’, in London. Really nice day, music at every mile. My legs went halfway around, and then she hobbled to the finish. Got over the finish line and thought well, “If I can do a half then I can do a whole marathon!” Little did she know!
Sophie originally preferred volunteering for the club and running solo (when the time suited). It was actually Sophie’s neighbour who pushed her in the right direction and to run properly with the club and now she joins in all club races and organises the club social events. Running has helped Sophie through some difficult times in her life and she has not looked back. Sophie says she has made some great friends and everyone is so welcoming and kind. “It’s more like a family to be honest.”
Chris Poole – Performance
Chris has been running for the past twelve years and been a member of Garden City Runners for six years.
He enjoys all distances from parkruns to marathons. His favourite marathon is the London Marathon and it is also where his PB is. He likes supporting others to achieve their running potential.
Tendy St Francis
Tendy joined the GCR Couch to 5k course in 2021 with a 3min max running stamina. Fast forward three years, and she has recently completed her first ultra marathon.
She credits her success to the supportive environment of GCR and the strong friendships she formed along the way. Her running journey has seen her complete her first half marathon within a year, her first full marathon the next, and undertake a solo trip to Japan to tackle the Yodogawa parkrun as part of her quest to complete the parkrun alphabet in order in one year.
Now a certified run leader, Tendy thrives on leading the 5K group and supporting new runners. She regularly attends club races. Despite often finishing last, always feels welcomed and supported by the club.
Alongside Charlotte, she co-leads the Couch to 5K course where her own running story began, and as a new committee member, she’s eager to help more beginners and returning runners find their stride.