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.
John Feerick | Secretary
Vicky Fletcher | Treasurer
Vicky started running in 2016 when her children were both at school and she wanted to get fitter. Encouraged by some work colleagues she entered her first race, the Corsham 10k in 2017. During covid she did a lot more running and decided to sign up to her first marathon in 2021. Vicky joined the harriers in 2023, wanting to meet other people to run with, rather than training on her own and to join in with coached effort sessions to improve her performance. Vicky participates in road and off road races of all distances and joining the harriers inspired her to run her first ultra marathon in 2024.
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
Valerie is a UKA qualified Athletics Coach with Chippenham Harriers Youth, having previously completed the Leader in Running Fitness and Coaching Assistant courses. 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.
Kate Checchia | Youth Chair
I have been a member of the club since 2009, after first taking up running in 2008 to win a bet and complete the Race for Life. What started as a challenge quickly became a passion, and since then I have completed more 10Ks and half marathons than I can count, along with four marathons.
I previously served on the committee from 2010 to 2013, where I led the beginners’ sessions and helped establish the Friday night pack runs. I later stepped back from committee responsibilities to focus on starting a family, while remaining a member of the club and continuing to run whenever family life allowed.
Now that my children are older (and with at least one showing a serious interest in running) I am excited to be actively involved with the club again, this time supporting the youth section. I am currently completing my training to become a qualified coach and look forward to helping support and develop the club for the future.
Amy Warwick | Social Secretary
Amy Warwick – been a Chippenham Harrier since 2012 following completing the beginners course. Have made wonderful friends and love being part of a wonderful community. Have previously been on the committee from 2014 – 2022 and now I am stepping up again to support the committee with their social events. As well as running it is such a wonderful club for their social events and a good way to get to know your other club members, looking forward to continue to support the club members.
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.