Club Committee Profiles

Name: Jeffrey Aston 

Place of birth: Walsall Wood, Staffordshire

Favourite running distance: In the 1980s it had to be 10 miles - this is a classic distance and there was a 10 mile race every other week at least

Nowadays, I don't consider my running as more than survival and enjoyment at finishing!

Favourite race/ event: It has to be the London Marathon 1983 - first (and only) time under 2:30. However, I really enjoy the way that competitors in the Handicap 10 all come together over the last 2 miles or so - or maybe it is down to the handicapping!

What do you bring to the committee:

a. Experience - I have been on every Les Croupiers Club Committee since the club was formed!

b. Objectivity.

c. An interest in statistics and the history of the club.

Interesting fact: In 1981 the Mentholatum company that manufactured 'Deep Heat' ran an advert in the London Marathon program, saying 'How to finish 765th in the London Marathon'. When I pointed out that I had done that they sent me a large box of Deep Heat!

Interesting fact from the responses so far:

Most of the male members of the committee were born in England.

Walsall Wood (J Aston) is about a half-marathon from Warley (J Bruce).

Place of birth:  Morriston, Swansea

Favourite running distance: xc or 5km/half marathon

Favourite race/ event: Too many to pick but Castle Relays, Armagh 5km and London Marathon are up there.

What you bring to the committee: New ideas and a lot of energy.

Interesting fact:  I was Welsh Chess Champion when I was in primary school - don’t ask me for a game now as I can’t remember a thing. 

James Bruce

Place of birth:  Mums living room floor - Warley - West Midlands

Favourite running distance: Half to Marathon

Favourite race/ event:  Welsh Castles Relay (but not leg 10 !)  ; Hopefully the New York Marathon this year !

What you bring to the committee:  Cakes.  Help support the committee and work with effective traditions of the club and bring in new ones too.   And bring in the odd bad joke or three.

Interesting fact:  Not followed by Ryan Reynolds (yet) on twitter.  First marathon was whilst living in Kentucky in 1997, Chicago..

Richie Bullen joined the Club in 1982 shortly after it was formed and became Club Treasurer in 1988.

Place of birth: Solihull. Studied at Cardiff University and did not return back across the border.

Favourite running distance: 10K (101 completed of which the first 78, July 1985 - June 2009 were sub-35 minutes).

Favourite race/ event: Currently the Great South Run (10 miles). Since 2005 I have raced it fifteen times, run it once with Yvonne, and twice been a spectator as injured.

What you bring to the committee: Hopefully brevity, occasionally some common sense, and always attention to any financial implications of decisions made.

Interesting fact: A non-running one: my degree was in Philosophy. A running one: after Margam Park my total cross-country races for Les Croupiers stood at 261.

Welfare: Karen Chadwell 

Name: Karen Chadwell, Club Welfare Officer

Place of birth: Rottenrow Maternity Hospital, Glasgow

Favourite running distance: Something longer.  Short stuff hurts.  As does falling over (I have a reputation…)

Favourite race/ event: Just one? I can’t do that! If I had to pick a race, it’s got to be Snowdonia Marathon, I have a real soft spot for it. As far as an event goes, it goes without saying; I am totally and utterly obsessed with parkrun.  Volunteering, running, walking, touring, reading and researching, talking about it, boring the pants off anyone who can’t escape me…..

What you bring to the committee: I like to think I’m a voice for the less speedy club members, aiming to keep things inclusive.

Interesting fact: I like to bake 😊

Paul Chapman 

Kelly Crofts 

Place of birth: UHW, Cardiff born and bred

Favourite running distance: anything from 10k to 10 miles

Favourite race/event: love the Rabbit run and pudding run. Any off road or trail is generally the best.

What you bring to the committee: brand new to the committee so this is yet to be seen. Can promise to bring enthusiasm and quick typing.

Interesting fact: I played the steel pan for a number of years in high school and after I left school. Our band once opened the Notting Hill Carnival which was a fabulous weekend.

Dave George details to follow soon.

Peter Gillibrand.

Place of birth: Bangor, although I’m a west Wales boy through and through

Favourite running distance: 5km-half

Favourite race/ event: Florence Marathon

What you bring to the committee: A can-do attitude and a drive to bond the team and organise the more social side

Interesting fact: Ryan Reynolds follow me on Twitter, @GillibrandPeter for anyone who’s interested.

John Griffin is the Club’s Chairman.

He joined the club shortly after it was formed and was a formidable runner in his time! Irrepressible John dedicates a huge amount of his time to the Club – from putting up the tents and storing the kit to time keeping and handing out club vests.

He’s also Co-Race Director for the Welsh Castles Relay and an official for the Gwent League and most major races in South Wales.

Place of birth:  Paddington London .

Favourite running distance: was 10 to 20 miles. I found the Marathon a step too far after the 4th one. Slow learner.

Favourite race/event:   Rhayader 20. and obviously the Castles.

What you bring to the committee:  28 years of Consistency and an aim to implement new ideas to improve our club.

Interesting fact: The Second World War was declared exactly 1 month after I was born but not my fault.

Dave Hodges.
Newly elected vice chairman. Big steps to follow after Firouz Mal

Place of birth: Brighton 

Favourite running distance: marathon/ultra

Favourite race/ event: San Francisco marathon 

What you bring to the committee: Quite a few years of hard work and transparency 

Interesting fact: Steve Ovett is my cousin (google him if you are unsure) but the running genes do not run in the family.😂😂

Claire Jacobs

Place of birth: complicated!

Favourite running distance: Marathon

Favourite race/ event: Black Mountains trail race

What you bring to the committee: Updates on castle entries, info on recruiting & entering members to XC events/road relays (when possible), and anything the committee would like me to do (within reason)!

Interesting fact: Attended lunch at Highgrove Palace with Prince Charles and 6 other Student Union Presidents in 2001. The cheese soufflé was bang on! Also used to sing in a band.