The Greater Peterborough Athletics Network was today awarded the "Best Project" award for the England Athletics Eastern Region. The presentation was carried out at the England Athletics Under 17 & Under 15 Championships held at Bedford International Stadium and was received by GPAN and Werrington Joggers coach Roz Hamlyn on behalf of all GPAN member clubs.

The award nomination reflected the network’s collective achievements rather than focusing on one stand-alone project. The award citation was as follows;

GPAN is an active network made up of nine affiliated athletics and road running clubs, and is supported by two main partners; Advance Performance and Vivacity.

GPAN proactively supports the growth of athletics in Greater Peterborough through the delivery of a wide range of participation projects, including;

(i) GPAN/TDA Satellite Club, providing athletics to new participants.

(ii) GPAN/TDA Girls Running Group to support under-represented groups.

(iii) GPAN Try the Track programme providing fortnightly track sessions to all road runners within the network ran by qualified coaches. An average 60-70 runners from across GPAN clubs take part each session.

(iv) GPAN Runner’s Workshops.

(iv) GPAN Green Wheel Relay in which 36 teams took part this year over a 50mile course offering an income generator for the network helping them to sustain and invest in other participation and community projects.

GPAN works in partnership with a number of organisations to provide additional opportunities within the community:

(i) Coach led ‘Get Fit 4 the Eastern’ track training sessions in lead up to the Perkins Great Eastern Run.

(ii) Leader led early morning and lunchtime running sessions in partnership with Peterborough City Council targeting employees at local workplaces.

(iii) Inclusive Try the Track sessions which have previously offered a British Sign Language interpreter, working in partnership with a local deaf charity.

GPAN also proactively supports volunteers across all member clubs by providing:

(i) Popular Coach Development Workshops;

(ii) Opportunities for young coaches to deliver the GPAN Summer Scheme;

(iii) Road Traffic Management and First Aid Courses for Officials.

The Greater Peterborough Athletics Network is a group of nine local athletics clubs and can be found at their website here www.gpan.org.uk.

GPAN Consists of

Bushfield Joggers

Eye Community Runners

Fenland Atheletic Club

March Athletic Club

Peterborough Athletics Club

Thorney Running Club

Ramsey Road Runners

Werrington Joggers

Yaxley Runners and Joggers