Club History

Formation – 1984

During the 1980s, as events such as the London Marathon grew rapidly in popularity, many people laced up their trainers and took to the streets – often for the first time since leaving school. Against this backdrop, a group of active squash players from Tiptree Squash Club joined the running boom, casually running the streets of Tiptree and entering local fun runs as a way to improve their fitness.

As interest in running grew quickly, a meeting was held at Tiptree Sports Centre to consider how the group might develop further. Following this meeting, Tiptree Road Runners (TRR) was formally established in October 1984. The club name was proposed by Chris Davis.

Growth

By the first AGM in October 1985, club membership had grown to a healthy 60 members, who met at Tiptree Sports Centre on Tuesday evenings for road running. Annual membership subs were a modest £2.00, with an additional 20p nightly training fee. As the club evolved, the committee expanded to include roles such as Press Officer, News Editor, Race Secretary, Social Secretary, and committee members without portfolio – all helping to guide TRR’s development.

Over the years, membership numbers have naturally fluctuated. In 2016, the club reached its highest level at that time, with more than 80 members and, for the first time in its history, more female runners than male.

The club now boasts over 120 members, while still proudly considering itself a small, friendly, and welcoming running club.

Strip and Logo

The idea of an all-red club kit was suggested by Derek Rochester, with the red vests carrying through to the present day. The colour choice was inspired by Tiptree’s fame for its strawberry jam. The cartoon Road Runner – affectionately referred to as “the chicken” – emerged after many hours spent searching through video stills and comic books for inspiration.

Barry Dobson produced the initial sketches, which were later re-designed and finalised by Mavis Studholme, who carefully created the artwork to avoid any copyright infringement. In 2017, the committee took the decision to modernise the club’s branding, resulting in the introduction of the current “TRR Road” logo.

Tiptree Road Races

After joining the AAA and later gaining BARR status for its race, TRR wasted no time in organising its first road race in September 1985. The inaugural Tiptree Half Marathon and Fun Run were sponsored by Wilkin & Sons Ltd, the local jam factory, which was celebrating its centenary that same year. With support from a wide range of local organisations, the event proved an outstanding success, raising £333.05 for charity.

In 1987, the race evolved into a 10-mile event. Although the course and venue have changed over the years, the race has remained a popular fixture on the running calendar. On several occasions, it has incorporated the Essex County and Eastern Counties Championships. Participation numbers have steadily increased, as has the amount of money raised for local groups and charities. One of the club’s principal beneficiaries has been the Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance, for which TRR has raised in excess of £10,000.

Today, the Tiptree 10 stands out as one of the most popular road races in the county. In recent years it has twice been selected as the Essex County 10-mile Championship, has won the Best Road Race in Essex trophy three times, and finished runner-up on two further occasions. Each October, around 500 runners take part, with the support of sponsors helping to generate significant funds for local causes and charities.

More recently, club members have successfully organised and managed a popular 5k series in Maldon. Run using a handicap format – with runners starting at different times to encourage closely matched finishes – these popular events continue to attract increasing numbers of runners of all abilities each year.

Cross-Country League

With the formation of the Today’s Runner Cross-Country League in 1987, featuring six off-road races, TRR competitors were out in force. The club’s women made an immediate impact, with Tiptree’s own Sharon Wakefield and Sue Baker finishing first and second in the league’s inaugural ladies’ race.

After winning the league outright in the 1998–99 season, TRR progressed to the National Finals in Nottingham and returned to the finals on several other occasions in subsequent years. Thanks to the support of landowner Wilkin & Sons Ltd, the TRR cross-country race was voted the best course in the series. This venue was used from 1987 to 1998, before the event moved to Layer-de-la-Haye in 1999.

Today, the club competes in both the NESS and Essex Cross-Country Leagues. Although TRR no longer has access to a suitable venue to host a league race, members continue to represent the club strongly across the cross-country season.

The Future

The club continues to grow, and in 2015 expanded its training programme to two evenings per week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Running as a sport has continued to grow both nationally and locally, supported by the rise of weekly 5k parkrun events.

TRR actively supports these community events, regularly providing teams of marshals, timekeepers, and pacers at Maldon Prom, Markshall Estate, Great Notley, and Mersea Island parkruns, reflecting the club’s ongoing commitment to participation, volunteering, and the wider running community.