The Great Bentley Men’s Team has always found a good crop of useful and talented runners. An old member was Paul Strutt who went on to be a top runner for Colchester Harriers and we like to proudly boast about who we feel is one of the top runners in Essex today in Geoff Day in our team. Geoff is rewriting our Club Record books these days with phenomenal times and will soon be running for Essex in competition.

Back in 1996 Derek Cook, our Club Chairman at that time, felt that as The Men’s Team were starting to form a really good crop of top runners giving the Team Depth in talent and class we should have a Men’s Team Captain.

The Clubs first Team Captain was a moderate level runner Dean King. He led them to a steady 4 years of improvement with The Club finally fulfilling their dream of Champions of Pool B of the Today’s Runner Cross-Country League in the 1999/2000 season. An achievement he holds with great pride. Other Team events improved too with Great Bentley Running Club regularly beating their rivals in team events showing the importance of team spirit with us peaking in 1999 at The Ekiden Relays where the Club came 6^th against Clubs over the whole of East Anglia.

When Derek retired as Chairman Dean moved on to become Vice-Chairman and was replaced by another runner who was present and involved in nearly all the Club team events and successes Geoff Tomlinson. He has succeeded in continuing the achievements of The Men’s Team even further.

There are many characters in the Club too like Dave Nugent who competes in as many races as he can and must have clocked up hundreds of runs in his career. He may not be our fastest runner but it could be said he is the most travelled and committed. Other members worthy of note are Graham Sheward an International Triathlete who has won his age group and another top ranking Triathlete in Keith Scrivener. 

So there you are we do not feel you will come to meet a closer knit and friendly team than the Great Bentley Running Club Men’s Team. Come and join us for a great laugh and a good run with the boys. The first 2 visits are free so drop Geoff a line and come on down.