A defibrillator has been bought for the clubhouse, to be positioned adjacent to the bar. It is a model which theoretically requires no training, since it automatically guides the user through the use process.

However, knowing that most people would generally feel more comfortable with if they were familiar with the equipment, the club would like to organise a training session by a certified training provider in the clubhouse.

Club members and their parents are invited to register interest for such a session. Ideally we would like to hold it on a Tuesday evening after training. Once we know what interest there is we will firm up a date and time. The club intend to pay for the training.

Defibrillators have been in the news recently, as ex-England footballer Glenn Hoddle's life was saved by a TV studio technician who used a defibrillator on him. One of our past club presidents who collapsed in the street was also saved by a defibrillator, used by a passing taxi driver.

If you are interested in this training, please email Terry McCarthy (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

The club has been allocated just one place for club entries at the 2019 London Marathon.  Anyone wishing to be considered for this place should contact club secretary, David Hollingworth This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Sunday 25^th November.  To be considered for this place, applicants must: 

1. Be fully paid up club members
2. Have entered the public ballot for the 2019 London Marathon and received a rejection (please send evidence of this)
3. Be willing to assist with marshalling or other duties at the Roding Valley Half Marathon (or enrol a friend/family member)

 It is likely that we will need a ballot to allocate the place, and this will be drawn in the clubhouse on Tuesday 27^th November.

A recent addition to our ranks will be of particular interest to older members. Young Tilly Major, a bottom year U13, joined us from Herts Phoenix to maintain a family tradition. 

Tilly's parents are Paul Major and Sally Chapman, both of whom were good WGEL distance runners in their day. Paul's dad was Eric Major, a very fine distance man in the late 1950s/early 1960s who finished as high as 32nd in the English National CC. (John Hayward's review of the 1957 track season also had him as "Worst Turned-Out" due to the holes in his club vest!). And Sally Chapman's father is David Chapman, who ran as fast as 8.46 for the 3000m steeplechase and represented GB at the Rome Olympics in 1960.

So a fine heritage! We wish Tilly lots of enjoyment and success with her new club. She has reinforced an U13 Girls team which was already strong, and finished 3rd (2nd scorer) in the first Met League race of the season at Claybury last Saturday.

From L. to R.: John Hayward, Jill Chapman, Paul Major, Tilly, and Dave Chapman (photo by Sally Chapman)

The club was well represented at the England Athletics London Region Volunteer Awards on 1st October 2018. The Woodford Green Game Changers won the Spirit of 2012 award. Spirit of 2012 is the legacy charity from the London 2012 Olympics, and many of our Game Changers were inspired having had a taste of volunteering as kit carriers at last year’s World Championships and Para World Champs. This year our volunteers (aged 14-25) have enjoyed success team managing our YDL lower and upper age group teams to promotion, officiated at a range of events including UKWL fixtures. with 5 reaching their requirements to become level 1 officials, while several are taking their coaching assistant awards. Game Changers Coordinator Alan James accepted the award on behalf of the volunteers from England Athletics Chief Executive Chris Jones.

John Stow (below) was the runner-up in the prestigious Coach Of The Year category at the event held at a hotel in Kensington. WGEL was recognised as the runner-up in the Club Of The Year category.