News From Your Club (September 2025)
Dear Parents, Athletes and Supporters,
It has been a real pleasure to see so many WPH athletes in action over the summer season-whether competing on the track in the SAL or YDL or representing the club in events such as the Thames Valley League races.
Well done to all our athletes for their hard work and dedication!
Club Voice Survey
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our recent Club Voice Survey. The feedback we received was both positive and insightful, and it will help us continue to serve our members in the best possible way.
We were especially pleased to see encouraging comments about the quality of coaching, the level of competition, and the overall experience athletes have at WPH. That said, we are always striving to improve and have carefully considered the feedback shared.
Three key areas of focus that emerged from the survey and will remain priorities for the Committee include:
- Continuing to strengthen our positive club culture
- Finding more ways to foster togetherness within the club
- Improving communication between the club and its members
As always, we welcome further suggestions. If you have any ideas, please feel free to email us at admin@wycombephoenix.org.
Spring/Summer Review
YDL
Following a hugely successful Buckinghamshire County Championships in May, many athletes turned their focus to club track fixtures.
For our younger athletes, this included four Youth Development League (YDL) fixtures.
In the Lower Age Group, our athletes performed strongly across all four meets, including a home fixture at Little Marlow Track. The team achieved a fantastic 3rd place out of 7 clubs. Notably, our home fixture yielded the highest points score of the series—proof that home advantage really does count!
In the Upper Age Group, WPH partnered with Chiltern Harriers. The team placed 4th out of 5 clubs. Unfortunately, due to a withdrawal by another club, WPH finished in the bottom two and will be relegated from Division 1A to Division 2. We’re confident the squad will bounce back stronger next season with a renewed push for promotion!
SAL
For senior athletes, the Southern Athletics League (SAL) is the highlight of the summer season. WPH currently competes in Division 1 (out of 3), following recent promotions.
The standard in this division is exceptionally high, and we’re proud to report that WPH finished an impressive 6th out of 18 clubs—an excellent achievement. Each match includes a “Man and Woman of the Match” award, and WPH’s Ryan Wells was nominated as Man of the Match in Match 3, scoring an outstanding 834 points.
The SAL is a prestigious competition, with many Olympians having developed their skills through the league. In fact, the records feature names such as Olympic Gold Medallist Greg Rutherford. We encourage all eligible athletes to consider joining the SAL squad next season. Please speak to your coach to find out how you can get involved.
More Summer Success!
💥 Outstanding Multi-Events Performances!
Our multi-eventers have been on fire this summer, producing a string of brilliant performances at both the Regional and South of England Combined Events Championships.
Florence Lee Rubis set a new U20 and Overall Club Record at the Regional Champs in June, finishing 4th with 3,976 points—and PBs in 5 events! Her performance earned her a place at English Schools Combined Events in September.
Aoife McAuley wasn’t far behind, finishing 5th with a PB total of 3,750 points—including individual PBs in shot and 200m (from lane 1!). Although Florence claimed the new club record, Aoife’s efforts also earned her a well-deserved English Schools qualification before she heads to college in 🇺🇸.
To top it off, Buckinghamshire won the team title with a combined 12,160 points.
In the U15 category, Harriet Stichbury was the sole Bucks athlete and made it count—finishing 3rd with PBs in hurdles and 800m (2:35!). She also secured her spot at English Schools in September.
🥈🥉South of England Medal Haul!
July brought more glory at the South of England Combined Events Champs:
- Harriet grabbed BRONZE in the U15 pentathlon with 3 new PBs (hurdles, long jump, shot put) and a fantastic new overall PB total!
- Aoife returned to the podium with a hard-fought SILVER in the U20s—another gutsy, standout performance!
Irish Record Alert!
Coach Leanne Wellings smashed the Irish Masters W50 100m record with a time of 13.83 seconds, breaking a mark that had stood since 2021. Inspirational stuff from Coach Leanne!
🌟 Rising Star – Duncan Williams
One name keeps appearing this season—Duncan Williams!
He’s broken 7 U13 Club Records in:
🏃♂️ 60m, 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m, High Jump, and Long Jump.
He currently ranks 1st on Power of 10 in five events this year (2025) and has seven all-time top 7 Po10 entries—three of which are all-time No.1s (75m, 150m, LJ).
What a sensational season for Duncan—long may it continue!
Thames Valley Summer Series
This year, WPH joined the Thames Valley 5km Summer Series—a series of six local road and trail races held over the summer months. Our athletes consistently placed well, often finishing in the top 10.
Rob Wright delivered standout performances, winning the Maidenhead race in 16:55 and the Hazlemere race in 17:33, as well as taking 2nd place at the Datchet event. Ben Pease also reached the podium at the Handy Cross event with a time of 17:19, and Tom Stark made the Podium at the Marlow Event.
On the women’s side, Samantha Usher had a fantastic series, finishing as 1st V50 in the Wargrave race and repeating the feat at Burnham, Maidenhead, Hazlemere, Marlow, and Datchet. An exceptional run of performances—well done, Sam!
Mel Phair also enjoyed success, finishing as 2nd Senior Female at the Hazlemere event.
Congratulations to everyone who took part! If you’d like to get involved next year, please speak to Mel Phair (Endurance Squad) for more information.
Club Awards Night
Our Club Awards Evening is back – and we’d love to see you there!
It’s time to come together and celebrate all the incredible achievements from across the club this season – on and off the track.
📅 Friday 26th September 2025
📍 High Wycombe Rugby Club, 181 Kingsmead Rd, HP11 1JB
🕖 Time – To be confirmed
All members welcome – from Foundation to Masters!
There will be awards and nominations across all age groups, so come along, support your teammates, and enjoy a great evening together.
📸 Got great photos from the season?
We’re putting together a presentation and would love to include your pictures. If you’ve captured moments from training, competitions or team events, simply drag and drop them into the folder using the link below:
🔗 https://www.dropbox.com/request/b9XXP8ddvYTXU2czN6Yt
Let’s make this a night to remember – we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Club Kit
If you wish to purchase any Club kit, including vests (which you will need for competitions), they can be ordered online via the Club Shop run by Hawkinsport of Bourne End. https://wycombephoenix.org/kit/.
Up-coming Important Dates:
Sunday 7th September – Watford Minors Open (this is perfect for Fundamentals and Foundation squads) Entries are on the day.
Saturday 20th September – Southern 6/4/3 Stage Road Relay Championship. – http://seaa.org.uk/images/Road_Relay_Entry_Details_20.09.2025.pdf
Races from Under 13 upwards.
Saturday 11th October – Chiltern League XC – Match 1 – St. Albans
