Health & Safety: Al Ford, Vikki Skipper & Mike Schofield.

Alan Ford

I'm Alan, one of the run leaders and also I've done a course which says I'm competent in health and safety.

This might not be entirely accurate as I have been known to fall down dead in a race and also being bitten by a large dog whilst out on a run requiring a hospital appointment and 3 months of medication!

My other interests while out running include rescuing animals, including pigeons, hedgehogs and ferrets, but never a badger. I am now unofficial wildlife officer, at least in my run group!

If you need advice on running or health and safety I am overly qualified in how not to do it.

Good luck...

Vikki Skipper

I have been a Harrier for 20+ years and have had many running adventures during that time. My favourite running now has to be club running and parkrunning. I love touring different places to run and finding parkruns to run on holiday. I am married to John who is also a Harrier and we run with the ‘steady’ group. I am lucky enough to be retired, although I recently did a Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification and enjoy getting people moving with a circuit class.

Mike Schofield

Happy New Year to you all.... I' m Mike and came to Barnsley Harriers over 10 years ago. I really love the friendship and support the club offers, it would be so easy to cry off a run when it's cold, dark and wet.... but the camaraderie keeps me going and has enabled me to achieve some enjoyable personal goals, particularly my 3 hour marathon PB.

I really enjoy giving my time back to the club as timekeeper. I started this some 20 years ago at an athletic meeting both my boys were competing in. It was almost on the verge of being cancelled as they at the last minute several officials had failed to turn up. I volunteered to timekeep and the rest as they say is history.

Being on the other side of events is quite eye-opening...and perhaps something every athlete should think about doing to see the sheer organisation that is needed for us to run their track or long distance event... we thought training was hard....

Away from running, my other two passions (other than my boys of course) are my primary school teaching (32 years) and baking. I love trying different flavours and styles of cakes So ultimately, I have to run to keep the weight off lol....

Looking forward to running with you all in 2024.