The Greater Peterborough Athletics Network are celebrating after picking up a prestigious national award at the England Athletics National Presentation evening at the weekend

In front of some of the most famous faces in England Athletics, both past and present, including Linford Christie, Hannah England, Kriss Akabusi and Dina Asher-Smith GPAN followed their summer success in the Regional awards by being named Participation Project of the Year for 2016 for all of England

The Greater Peterborough Athletic Network was formed in 2011 by six of Peterborough’s leading road and athletic clubs and who, with support from England Athletics in the early years, work to promote running and athletics in the local area without any loss of clubs individual identity

The citation for the award also recognised the partnerships GPAN has forged with both Vivacity and Advance Performance, who share the same values and vision in making running and athletics available to as wider audience as possible

Just some of the participation projects GPAN has run in the last 12 months, which were mentioned in the award included:

• the hugely popular twice monthly try the track evenings which regularly attract close to a hundred runners of all abilities including those requiring a sign language interpreter
• satellite clubs in local schools for both current athletes and those in under-represented groups
• the 50 mile Greenwheel relay around Peterborough, which this year attracted 36 teams

• first aid, coaching, traffic management and officials workshops
• early morning and lunch time training sessions in the summer months
• regular opportunities to try the latest running shoes at the athletics track
• junior athletics summer scheme during the school holiday for children aged 9-14

Speaking after the awards, Tim Cook Chairman of GPAN, who collected the award on behalf of the network, recognised that GPAN’s success was down to the vision of a core group of people within the local clubs who had recognised that greater participation in the sport would be best achieved by working collaboratively and it was wonderful that their hard work and dedication over the last five years had been recognised

The Greater Peterborough Athletics Network, which is now completely self-funding, has recently expanded to 9 clubs, to cover areas beyond Peterborough and consists of: Bushfield Joggers, Eye Community Runners, Fenland Athletic Club, March Athletic Club, Peterborough Athletics Club, Thorney Running Club, Ramsey Road Runners, Werrington Joggers and Yaxley Runners and Joggers

For further details go to www.gpan.org.uk

Read more about this on the England Athletics site here http://www.englandathletics.org/england-athletics-news/congratulations-to-our-2016-national-volunteer-award-winners