Have you signed up for the Weald St Georges 10k run? Entries are now open – and more volunteers are needed to help on the day

ON YOUR MARKS FOR 10K RUN: Extra volunteers are needed on Sunday 1 September to assist at the Weald St George’s 10k run, which has been voted by readers of Runners World as one of the top three 10K events in the South East.

This is the event’s 14th year and every event has raised between £4,000 and £5,000 for different charities, all of which have a relevance to the local community.

Ian Walker, the chairman of the organising committee, is looking for volunteers to assist with registering runners as they arrive and others to marshal at various locations along the route of the run. No experience is necessary as new volunteers will be teamed up with someone who has volunteered before. The organisers have asked people to be available from 8pm to noon on the day of the run. Call Ian on 07811 122010.

If you haven’t booked your place on the run, entries are now open. The course is described as varied, mostly on road, with around 2km of hard surfaced woodland trail. It can be completed at whatever pace you choose and there is plenty of variety, including long straights, sharp turns, on road and off road, a water point at 5k and the hill, which has become a feature of the event, at 9.5k. It is short and steep, and the finish line is 500m further on.

At present, the Ladies record stands at 37:15 minutes the Men’s record, set in 2006, stands at 33:19 minutes. The main event is the 10K run, but there is also a 2K Fun Run. Plus, as well as the two races, there will be plenty of other activities on the village green.

For refreshments there will be a range of delicious coffees from Bojangles mobile coffee house, hot dogs and burgers, prepared by Weald Scouts, and ales from the local Camra award-winning pub, The Windmill. The race details are: 10k Entry Fee: £18 attached, £20 unattached, £20 on the day. 2k Entry Fee: £8. Entry limit: 500. For further information or enquiries, call 01797 229955 or log on to: 

https://www.nice-work.org.uk/races/the-weald-10k

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: St George’s Church recently hosted a film making taster session for children in Year 5 and Year 6 from Weald School. Led by Rev. Mandy Carr, Cathrin Beddoe, Julia Downing and Elizabeth Miller, the children worked in two groups to produce stop-film animations, choosing animals for the main characters. In three hours, they moved from selecting a theme and title to creating a storyboard and writing the script, after which they made the scenery and filmed the story using iPads and, finally, recording the soundtracks. Mandy used film-editing software to produce the finished films. As well as learning techniques, the children discovered the benefits of working as a team, using their various talents and offering each other support. There was a ‘Premier’ of the two short films at a Sunday Family Service.

The tug of war competitions were as popular as ever at the Weald School Summer Fair on the village green.

FUNDRAISING: News has just been received that the Fun Dog Show held in Weald in aid of Canine Partners raised the magnificent sum of £1,727.90. This follows the equally impressive report that a total of £8,000 was also raised in Weald for charity during the village Christian Aid Week.

The Weald School summer fair was another great success and although the final figure raised from the annual event on the village green has not yet been confirmed by the committee, it is believed to be in the region of £12,000.

GARDEN PARTY: Members and friends of The Weald Horticultural Society recently went away for their annual garden ‘fest’. This year they visited five rather than the usual six gardens in Essex and Suffolk and these included Ickworth (NT), Wyken Hall, Green Island Garden, Helmingham Hall and Hyde (RHS).

The Society also held its summer show in the village recently when the Mackney Challenge Trophy was won by Paul Allen, Beverley Kimbrick (pictured) picked up a 1st prize for her Victoria Sandwich, Chris Andrew won the Fauchon Challenge Cup for most points in cookery and flower arrangements, Sheila Turley lifted the Silver Plate for the best exhibit in the show and the Pat Thomas Trophy for best flower arrangement.

Carol Ryman won the Malcolm Pierson Memorial Cup for most points earned in the show and also the new Carol Dooley bowl, awarded for most points across the cookery and flower arrangement sections in the Spring Show. Carol Dooley, who died last year, was a well-loved member of the Horticultural Society and the special hand-thrown and decorated pottery bowl was created in her memory by Chipstead Pottery where Carol went to classes. Although the bowl itself needs is returned each year, a smaller pottery bowl has been made for the winners as a keepsake.

Brian Jarvis was awarded the Willis Trophy and Sweet Pea Bronze Medal Award for best sweet-pea exhibit in Weald. Garden News Top Vase Award went in first place to Sheila Turley, second place to Julie Todd, and third place to Carol Ryman.

The Weald Village news is compiled by Susan Gidman. If you have any news or events you would like her to consider for the village column you can call her on 01732 454222 or email it to her at: wealdnews@hotmail.com