On Sunday Michael’s Mile was held at a wet and soggy Elephant Park where Club stalwart Garry Taylor was awarded the amazing feat of reaching 1800 runs with the Club.

Gary’s consistency and dedication to his running is a great motivator for us all and his ability to smile while clocking up the kilometres around Elephant Park is always greatly admired.

Another member to celebrate a great number of runs with the club came from long time Club members the Rich family with Amber reaching 800 runs with the club.

Congratulations Gary and Amber. Your long term commitment to the club and your health and fitness through running sets a bar for us all to reach.

But Amber - bring dad back with you for a run now it has warmed up a bit!

With the Connelly dynamic duo keen to get going into the rain Michael’s Mile saw 44 members run the 1.6km loop of Elephant Park in age group battles.

Taking home the chocolates with the fastest lap was Mitch ‘King of the Mountain’ Williamson in a time of 4.50.

Everyone was declared a winner.

The club then descended on the Orange City Bowling Club for its Christmas Party and presentation function to recognise the achievements of members over the past year.

Amongst a sea of four-year-olds bouncing balloons towards vice president Anthony, president Renai presented a number of awards.

The award winners included: Runner of the Year Greg Shapter, Junior Runner of the Year Lachlan Ross, President’s Medal Steve Wensley, Most Consistent Senior Wednesday Kim Jarvis and Anna Dantith, Most Consistent Junior Ella Lamrock, Championship Over 55 Jane Fargrieve and Mike Cooper, Championship Open Urslua Wilson and Alastair Merrifield and Championship Junior Noah Lamrock and Ella Lamrock. Congratulations to all.

Wednesday’s run back at Elephant Park saw more muddy conditions but blistering PBs by young guns Ethan McCardle, Rikky Bangert and Hugh Dantith with the speedy Anna Dantith shaving 22 sec off her PB. Tim Murphy was declared the winner.

Celebrating all these achievements is a great incentive to have your eye on some New Year’s goals with the ORC Running Festival just around the corner on 24-25 February 2018. Club runs will be held on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve to keep us all focused and if you haven’t already, register now at orangerunningfestival.com.au

This Sunday’s run is at Clergate, meeting at Clergate Primary School at 9am. For those keen (and injury free!) trail runners the trail run will be at Federal Falls.