Sport

Eliza legs it for armed forces

After two years of setbacks due to the Pandemic, a determined runner has raised much-needed funds for a Dorset charity by completing a marathon - in Berlin. On September 25, Eliza Brodie finally managed to run the Berlin Marathon in aid of the Dorset branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. She was among 45,000 runners who took the streets of the German capital, on a route that took in the old East and West Berlin with the finish line being the spectacular Brandenburg Gate. The run was Eliza’s 34th marathon, with her support team in Germany headed up by her godmother, Sally Cadec, who is vice-president of the Dorset branch of SSAFA. Earlier in the year, Eliza also ran the North Dorset Villages Marathon and the Ham to Lyme 50km. “I like running as it’s something I can do for myself and I like a challenge,” she said. “I always have a feel-good factor at the end of a run as well. “I’m dyspraxic, which means my coordination isn’t brilliant and I was never very good at team sport at school, so the fact that I do running now is great. “I’m part of a local running club, so I do most of my runs with them. I’ve met some really lovely friends through this group as well.” And she said the charity was one close to her heart. “Through my godmother I’ve learned how much good work this charity does for serving and ex-service personnel and their families,” she added. “I am lucky enough to be fit and able to run. Many service personnel have been injured in the line of duty and can no longer do so. I am running to support them.” So far, Eliza’s efforts have raised more than £1,000 for the charity, and people can still donate at justgiving.com/ fundraising/eliza-brodie4. Meanwhile, SSAFA Dorset is urgently in need of a fundraising co-ordinator to help planning and running charitable events. To volunteer, you do not need to have any military connection or knowledge, just community spirit and a desire to help people. For more details, visit ssafa.org.uk/ volunteering.

High altitude training for club’s star Emily

by Peter Impett

Wimborne Athletic Club’s Emily Shaw is sharing her love and enthusiasm for running with children in Nepal whilst in her gap year. The former English Schools 3000m Champion and England international cross-country runner is passing on much of the experience gained while training with Wimborne AC where she’s been a member since 2015. The ex-Bryanston pupil is working with the charity Right4Children. Eighteen year-old Emily is co-ordinating a project in six Nepalese schools under the banner ‘Right2Run’. Emily says: “I believe that everyone should have the right to play sport – young and old, girls and boys. “We see time and time again that sport has the power to break down socioeconomic barriers, cultural norms and inequalities, and the simplicity of running makes it accessible to all.” Right2Run supports teachers and pupils and delivers weekly running sessions which cover skills, drills, games and the highly-important nutrition. Emily is using the knowledge gained as an athlete in Wimborne to coach in Nepal. She’s also drawing inspiration from female Nepalese international mountain runner Mira Rai who she has met with in Kathmandu. Mira has launched and initiative to support five female athletes a year from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop their skills as future trekking guides. Emily is currently working hard to raise money for 150 pairs of training shoes, along with other sports kit, for the children she’s working with. If you’d like to contribute details are ‘Children4ChildrenNepal’, bank sort code 40-52-40, account number 00022077. Please state that your donation is for the Right2Run project.

Life’s a beach for volleyball battlers

A beach volleyball tournament staged by Poole-based MSP Capital has raised £5,000 for two hospice charities. Ten teams from the Dorset business community did battle on Bournemouth beach in the firm’s first-ever such event. At the end of a keenly-contested series held across two courts, the winners were Bournemouth IT consultancy QuoStar. They saw off the challenge of six-a-side teams representing MSP Capital, NatWest, AFC Bournemouth, asset management firm Ridge, estate agents Frost & Co, lawyers Ellis Jones, accountants Saffery Champness, internet marketing specialists Uprated and office rental agency Venaspace. Among the spectators cheering on their favourites were AFC Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore and ex-Cherries forward Steve Fletcher who also presented the winners’ trophy. The £5,000 raised from the competition has been split evenly between charities Julia’s House and Lewis-Manning Hospice.

Rugby lunch raises a fantastic £30,000

Mariana Swain, Laura Stanley and Claire Cooper Hoburne CEO Jim Forward with guest speaker David Flatman

Megan Becker and Eve Hluchnik

Diverse Abilities’ Rugby Lunch 2022 took place last month at Hoburne Park in Christchurch. The event attracted more than 170 attendees to listen to this year’s guest speakers, David ‘Flats’ Flatman and Tom ‘Shanks’ Shanklin. A fantastic £30,000 was raised on the day.

Jim Forward with Alice Smee