Committee & Contacts

General Enquiries

If you have any other enquiries please feel free to contact the committee members below or our webmaster regarding the website.

David Buffham, Club Chairman  (LiRF Qualified )   Chairman@pontelandrunners.org.uk
Sue Heppell, Club Secretary  (LiRF Qualified )        Secretary@pontelandrunners.org.uk
Matthias Schmid, Club Coach  (LiRF Qualified )      Coach@pontelandrunners.org.uk
Chris Heppell, Club Treasurer  (LiRF Qualified )      Treasurer@pontelandrunners.org.uk
Webmaster                                                                Webmaster@pontelandrunners.org.uk

Committee & Leaders

Ponteland Runners Committee consists of Chairman David Buffham,  Secretary Sue Heppell, Coach Matthias Schmid and Treasurer Chris Heppell.  All the committee are LiRF qualified leaders.  In addition to the committee members we also have 2 additional leaders, Chrys Hudson and Chris Wright.

Chairman – David Buffham LiRF

David took on the role of Chair at the AGM in 2012 and has watched the club grow in 2012 since we made an effort to advertise and push a web presense to help find new members.  David is a keen racer,  being present at many local runs each year.

Secretary – Sue Heppell LiRF

Sue started running over 20 years ago to assist fitness for playing squash.  The squash has stopped but the running still continues.  A keen swimmer, cyclist and runner Sue has completed Cycle Sportives, triathlons, & Running races.  Sue has played both squash and tennis for local teams in the past.  A triathlon with open water swimming and perhaps olympic distance are Sue’s next challenges.

Coach – Matthias Schmid LiRF

Matthias is the club coach.  He organises the majority of the Monday training sessions for club members.  Matthias’s whistle is well known,  and hated, amongst the members,  but he will encourage and help you improve your running whatever the standard your currently at.

Treasurer – Chris Heppell LiRF

Chris supports Matthias in running the clubs main Monday night sessions.  Chris has been running regularly for the last 25 years.  Also a keen Road Cyclist and recently a beginner swimmer Chris completed his first triathlon in 2011 which had been an ambition for a couple of years,  but Chris has to learn to swim first so he could complete the triathlon. Chris enjoyed 5-a-side football, squash and Mountain Biking in the past but now concentrate on Running, Road Cycling and Swimming.
I’m LiRF ( Leadership in Running Fitness ) qualified, thanks to support from England Athletics and TBSF ( Tony Blair Sports Foundation ), and L2 Cycling Coach qualified, thanks to support from British Cycling and Tyneside Vagabonds ( my cycling club ).

Leader – Chrys Hudson LiRF

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Leader – Chris Wright LiRF

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Recent Posts

Naples City Half Marathon – 2022

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Our roving runner Paul has been back on his travels, this time taking part in the Naples City half on 27 February 2022.

Here is his review of the beautiful run…

Well, after the Barcelona half last October the parental controls on my internet connection still hadn’t been blocked and I found the Naples Half in March 2022 on the list of possible races. I fancied a little trip away and although I’d been injured for a few months, I was returning to a bit of fitness again and I’d fancied this race as a target since before Christmas. 

With flights having to go via Paris Naples isn’t the easiest place to get to at this time of year. But this wasn’t going to stop me and I was soon booked up and on my way, flying out on the Thursday before the race. I would travel to Positano on the Amalfi coast for a couple of nights first as I’d wanted to hike some of the Path of The Gods trail which I did in glorious sunshine and it was stunning. I recommend this if you’re down in Sorrento or on the Amalfi coast itself. 

The Expo

Then it was back on the local train to Naples on the Saturday and to the Expo to collect my bib and rather nice Azzurri blue shirt. My hotel was on the North of the bay of Naples high on one of the steep hills that surround the city. The benefit of this was superb views across the bay and to the course, with Mount Vesuvius in the background.

It was a stunning location and the race day morning was perfect – blue sky, sunny and cool

Paul’s take on the views and conditions

A short taxi to the start area and the excitement as always builds and I got myself ready. We were accompanied by some Italian opera as we crossed the start line which was a bit different and the race started. In this out and back course, the first few km’s were slightly downhill, through a long tunnel and eventually we hit the marina. The course took us along the marina with Vesuvius in front of us. From here the course was pretty flat, and led us all around the bay to the turn to head back. The route deviated a little here and ventured in to the old quarter before returning to the marina once again. From there it was back the way we came, this time running back up the slight incline to the finish. 

Running along the coast with Vesuvius in the background

Overall, this was a nice little half marathon, a good course in a stunning location. A time of 1:54 was a decent return to running this distance and it was such an enjoyable weekend of walking and running it was just  a great trip. Now, I wonder what’s next!

Job done – a great run and wonderful experience
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