Reigate Priory AC News 01 September 2026

Happy Tuesday RPAC

The editorial team were making the most of the Bank Holiday yesterday, hence the day's delay to publication. We hope you weren't too upset.

Your Newsletter Team

All Club News

The Brockham Blast 5K - This Friday, 4th September

Our brand‑new fast Friday‑night 5K is coming this Friday. If you have volunteered to help you should have received an email with instructions from Ginevra.

If you are running you can collect your race number from Nat at Battlebridge this evening.

Good luck to all our runners taking part in this inaugural event. Fingers crossed that it is a big success.

Rita Diffley's Funeral

We reported last week the sad news that Rita had passed away. Her funeral is to be held on Wednesday 30th September at 10:30 at the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Yorke Road.

Saturday 10th October - A Date for Your Diaries

We are due to host the first of the Mens's Surrey League Cross Country races in Priory Park. We will be asking for volunteers to help stage this. Please make a note in your diaries.

RPAC Couch to 5K Programme starting soon, by Paul Walters

The Reigate Priory AC Couch to 5K Programme starts on Saturday 26th September with optional lead-in sessions on Saturday 12th and Saturday 19th September. Each Saturday during the programme we meet at a park bench in Priory Park at 10:30AM. If you're just coming back to running it is FOC for club members to participate, and do get in touch if you'd like to help us with the programme - we really appreciate our helpers who will run with participants and encourage. Pass on this message if you know anyone who may wish to join us. You can find full details of the programme on our website at https://www.rpac.org.uk/about-rpac/couch-to-5k-programme, and you read all about our Saturday morning activities including the walking and running groups at https://www.satire.org.uk. Do get in touch if you have any queries by emailing Paul ()

Loveworks x Run Reigate

Local food security charity Loveworks is a charity partner of Run Reigate this year and they're looking for athletes to join their team. Sign up at Join Team Loveworks at Run Reigate 2026 if you're interested!

Run Reigate for I Choose Freedom!

I Choose Freedom is building a team of local runners to Run Reigate in support of our work with survivors of domestic abuse in Surrey. We have charity places available for the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Kid's Race so there is a distance for everyone.

Each year, I Choose Freedom helps around 250 adults and children, offering safety, support and advocacy so they can begin rebuilding their lives free from abuse. Every runner will help us continue this vital work across Surrey. If you feel up for the challenge, you can sign-up here. If you would like any further information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Junior News

Parkrun PBs

There were three PBs for RPAC Juniors at the Reigate Priory Park Runs over the last weekend. On saturday Leo Hodgson took 2 seconds off his PB improving his best time to 19:41. On Sunday Arthur Eggleton took 20 seconds off his previous best with a new PB of 8:05 and Evelyn Bateman secured a ten seconds improvement with a new best of 9:18. Well done to you all.

Lily B Match 4 - Sutton - Saturday 29th August

The last match in this year's girls track league took place at Sutton on Saturday in rather grey and drizzly conditions. The August match is never great for PBs given school holidays and possibly little training since early July, notwithstanding this the team of 12 RPAC athletes turned in some strong performances.

Crawley Open - Monday 31st August

Not exhausted after their endeavours on Saturday a number of the girls returned to the track on Monday and were similarly successful. Penelope achieved PBs in the 600m and 75m, and Morgan in the 75m Hurdles. Emma French was fractionally outside her PBs in both the 100m and 75m hurdles.

Club records have been confused somewhat by the new age groups introduced by EA. But for the U12 girls 600m, having reviewed past performances by U12s, Morgan's run of 1:48.17 earlier in the season is a new Club record and Penelope's time of 1:50.47 on Monday would place her second in the "all time" list.

Junior Dates for the Diary

Ebbisham Boys League, Coulsdon - Sunday 13 September
Surrey Cross Country Relays, Nonsuch Park - Saturday 19^th September

Run Reigate - Sunday 20th September

Southern Road relays, Aldershot - Saturday 26th September

Surrey Cross Country League, Match 1 - Saturday 10^th October

Downs League Cross Country Match 1- Sunday 1^st November - Epsom Downs

Ebbisham Boys League - Match 4 - Coulsdon

The last match in this year's boys track league will be held at Coulsdon on Sunday 13th September. There are events for U12s/U14s and U16s . Each athlete can do three individual events plus a relay. Please let Mike Gent know if your son would like to join the team. There is no cost to enter

Surrey Junior Cross Country Relays

This annual winter season opener will take place at Nonsuch Park Cheam on Saturday 19^th September. There are events for U12s /U14s/U16s and U18s. U12s are new school years 6 and 7. It would be great to have at least one boy and one girls team in each age group. The format is teams of three, with each runner completing a 3km lap. The U18s are first off at 11:15 and the U12s the last to go at 12:45. Please let Mike Gent know if your son/daughter is interested in running

Southern Road Relays - Aldershot - 26 September

This is a great even that will be attended by Clubs for all over the South of England. There are races for U14s/U16s and U18s with each race being three legs of 3km, with the exception of U18s which is 3 legs of 4.6km. Again it would be great to have a boys and girls team at each age group. Please let Mike Gent know if your son/daughter is interested in running.

Seniors News

Brockham Blast Race Numbers

If you would like to collect your race number in advance Nat will have them at Battlebridge this evening (1st September)

Jimmy James Handicap Race 27 August

In a close fought contest Connor Bannister out-sprinted Hannah Wright to finish in first place to secure the much-coveted trophy this season.

Fastest over the 4.8 mile course was Andrew Reeves who finished the 4.8 mile course in a very speedy 31:16

Twelve runners took part and everyone finished within a three minute window.

Members News

There were Parkruns a plenty on last soggy Saturday. Our Parkrun Tourism gang, Adrian & Co. took on the Downs Link Parkrun at Shoreham. There was a Welsh theme this week. Andrew Pringle collected his "Y" by heading one of several Welsh Parkruns named "Y Promenad" - this one being in "tropical" Rhos-on-Sea where almost 500 runners braved the inevitable Bank Holiday weather conditions. Hannah Williams and her family tackled the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve Parkrun, whilst Jack Finn took on the Newtown Parkrun in Powys.

Closer to home our Saturday Social runners looked like drowned rats whilst having coffee afterwards.

Notes and reminders

Message from the Coaches

Can all athletes please sign up on WhatsApp polls (where sent) no later than 1 hour prior to a session commencing. This allows us to ensure sufficient coach cover for the sessions.

Cross Country Dates

Get these into your diary now: 10 October, 14 November, 16 January, and 13 February. The league also holds 6 March as a reserve date in case of bad weather - but this being cross country, the weather would have to be apocalyptically bad to use it!

Get in touch

If you participate in an event, email with your results by Sunday evening at the latest. And if there is anything else you'd like to see in the newsletter, get in touch - our email address is .

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