Chippenham Harriers’ Committee members are elected at the club’s annual general meeting by the members of the club.
The Committee will meet several times a year to manage club affairs, such as deciding on Club Championship events, organising club races, arranging social events, training and coaching matters and membership fees.
Rohaise Des Voeux | Chairperson
Rohaise is a long standing member of the committee with multiple roles, including organising the Chippenham Harriers Youth events, organising the annual River Run, the Cotswold Way participation and the all important inter-club liaison. She also carries the youth role into County level, with the ever challenging job of compiling the annual calendar of youth running events. Rohaise is regularly seen running at parkrun as well as in the county race league events, where she is team captain for the ladies road race team.
Vicki Bolton | Secretary
Vicki has been a well known and loved member of the harrier family for many years and is now our most recently elected committee member. Vicky has conquered many a ParkRun, Championship Race and Marathon distance including the London Marathon in 2022 which she also used to raise funds for a really good cause. Always keen to lend a hand with races too, Vicki helps organise our popular Chippenham Half-Marathon and helps marshal at many other races and events. You can find Vicky at many of the club nights and helping out on the Friday night pack runs and beginners program. Outside of running Vicky is a devoted mum and enjoys long evenings in the hot tub with friends & bubbles.
David Walker | Membership Secretary
David’s been running for many years with the club and as an all rounder and is as happy competing in the club mile event as he is in ultra running. David’s been heavily involved with the running of the club too from helping organise races, marshalling and setting up to selling club kit and coding the website there’s nothing he can’t do! Outside of the club David also enjoys triathlons, caravanning and home DIY.
Lesley Gleeson | Health & Safety
Lesley Gleeson…. or affectionately known in the Chippenham Harriers, as “Welsh Lesley”
The role and responsibilities mirror that of her day job which is Safety Manager & Project Manager for Great Western Railway. She is in the final year of a two-year Safety, Health & Environment Diploma with Exeter College, she is looking forward to sharing her experience and knowledge with the club.
Lesley’s running journey began in March 2012, two months after she was diagnosed with a heart condition. Ironic is it! but the condition prevented Lesley participating in any classes or team sports, so she started to run. Lesley entered her first race, the Chippenham Harriers 5k River Run in July 2012, and loved both the welcome given by the members and the race environment so much she joined the club a month later. And never looked back. She has made some great friends and some fantastic memories, and says “I am very proud to be a Chippenham Harrier. Now it’s my time to give back.”
Valerie Light | Welfare Officer & Youth Chair
Valerie is a UKA qualified Athletics Coach with Chippenham Harriers Youth, having previously completed the Leader in Running Fitness and Coaching Assistant courses. She is the Youth section Chairperson and coaches the Youth on Wednesday evenings. She regularly runs at parkrun and is part of the Chippenham parkrun and junior parkrun core teams. Other sporting interests include orienteering and cycling. Valerie is a qualified Level 1 Breeze cycle leader, encouraging women to get cycling.
Natasha Williams | Communication Secretary
With a love of healthy, Natasha inspires us all with her positive energy. Natasha is always smiling and having a good ‘ol laugh about life, the universe and everything else. You find her on trail runs, away days, club nights; efforts, phys prep & Thursdays as well as online pushing a daily regime to keep everyone else fit and healthy too. In addition to this Natasha organises the clubs social calendar from 10k & half marathon away days to the summer bbq, Christmas party and everything else. Outside of running Natasha is a devoted mum to two boys and runs a highly successful wellness club.
Nick Blair | Welfare Officer
Nick graduated the beginners’ course at the second attempt at the River Run in 2022, and has continued to progress, doing his first half marathon in 2023.
He shows up for as many local races as he can; if he can’t run, he’ll try to marshal, and is often found managing the funnel at Chippenham Parkrun.
Nick is also a Leader in Running Fitness, and especially enjoys running with the beginners, sharing his experiences with them and showing them it can be done.
Mark Powell | Green Harrier Rep
My love of running started back in 2015 when at the ripe old age of 48 I discovered Parkrun. In 2016 I joined the Harriers where i have found great support and many new friends.
I’m a very keen off road runner who loves taking part in the Wiltshire off road race league. Since joining the Club I have expanded my running range and now take part in marathons & ultras of the off road variety. Although having recently suffered a stroke I have had to slow things down a little, I’m still very passionate about my running and have no intention of stopping.
I have a passion for sustainability and the environment and I will be trying to introduce green initiatives into the club.