Meet The LWAC Team

I first ran competitively at secondary school, in Year 7. My very first race was a cross country, and I remember my dad pulling me aside beforehand to warn me that there’d be trained runners out there and to just do my best. As it turned out, I won by a minute – and I think that moment told me everything I needed to know about where this might go.

I joined LWAC at 15. I’d heard that Rob Lewis was an exceptional coach who could take you to the next level, and that turned out to be exactly right. Rob played a huge part in shaping me as an athlete, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything the club gave me during those formative years.

From there the journey took me all the way to the Olympics – the 10,000m in Tokyo, and the 5,000m in Paris. Moments I’ll never forget.

But if I’m honest, none of it would have been possible without my family. They are everything to me. The support, the sacrifices, the belief – they gave me absolutely everything I needed, and I wouldn’t be an Olympian without them.

Outside of athletics, I’m a big sports fan across the board, and I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by family. That’s what keeps me grounded.

Proud to be a life LWAC member!

Sam Atkin is a British long-distance runner and two-time Olympian who represents the Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club (LWAC). Raised in Ulceby, Lincolnshire, he began his competitive career with local clubs like Grimsby Harriers before moving to Lincoln Wellington, where he remains a life member. He is currently based in the United States, training with the Union Athletics Club in Colorado.

He represented Team GB in the 10,000m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 5,000m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he reached the semi-finals. In 2023, he broke Sir Mo Farah’s long-standing British indoor 3,000m record with a time of 7:31.97. He also holds the second-fastest time by a UK athlete in the 5,000m (12:54.66) set in Los Angeles on May 17th 2024, and the fourth-fastest in the 10,000m, and previously held the British 5km road record (13:16) set in March 2023 in Lille, France.

Sam competed in the Grand Slam Track series in May 2025, finishing 6th overall in the 3,000m/5,000m category. Under coaches Pete Julian and “Coach Bonzo,” he is prioritising gradual improvement over immediate speedwork to ensure longevity for the 2026 season.

Atkin has established himself as one of Britain’s top distance runners, frequently competing in major events like the Olympic Games and World Championships.

Matthew Bowser is a decorated British middle-distance and long-distance runner for Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club (LWAC). He is widely recognised for holding the male record at Lincoln parkrun with a time of 14:54, set in May 2014 (In September 2021, he recorded the fastest parkrun time in the UK for that week (14:40 at Market Rasen Racecourse).

Matt competed in middle-distance (800m, 1500m) and road running (5k, 10k), as well as cross country. He currently competes in the V40 category. He has been associated with high-profile coaching, including a period in 2020 under Alberto Salazar.

Bowser came within one second of the qualifying time for the 1,500m in the lead-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games. At his peak, he was ranked among the top athletes in the UK for the 1,500m and 5,000m, having consistently lowered his personal bests to compete at the National Championships.

While he did not compete in the Commonwealth Games itself, he represented his country in other major events. He was a part of the winning junior team at the 2001 European Cross Country Championships. He earned multiple senior caps representing England in international road and cross-country races.

He is a life member of Lincoln Wellington AC and holds several club and course records. A major came in the 2011 Armagh 5k (1st place), and he was the 2012 Northern Road 10k Champion. He also has the honour of being a multiple-time Lincolnshire Cross Country Champion (12 titles).

Some personal bests include: 1500m – 3:43.41, mile (T&F) – 4:06.24, mile (road) – 3:54, 5,000m – 14:03.94, 5k – 14:15, 10,000m – 29.57.57, 10k – 29:33, Half Marathon – 66:50. Now competing in the V40 (Veterans over 40) category, Bowser is active in coaching and has successfully mentored athletes like Sophie Wallis to England selection. He remains a prominent figure in the Lincolnshire athletics community.

Matt also frequently anchors the LWAC team in regional events, such as the Northern Athletics Cross Country Relays, where he helped secure victory in 2017.

Matthew is a fixture in the Lincolnshire athletics community, often involved in school outreach programs to promote competitive sports and a “winning mentality” among young athletes.

Abbie Donnelly is a standout British distance runner representing Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club (AC). Born and based in Lincoln, she has risen from a junior club member at age 12 to a world-class elite athlete.

Abbie won the 2015 English Schools Cross Country senior girls’ title, representing Lincolnshire.

2018 saw Abbie win team bronze as part of the Great Britain U23 squad at the European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg. In 2019 she was a part of the senior British team that secured team gold at the European Cross Country Championships in Lisbon.

Abbie moved from Hoka, and signed with the brand KIPRUN in 2023.

She gained an individual bronze medal and team gold medal at the 2023 European Cross Country Championships in Brussels, her first senior individual international medal. Donnelly was the highest European finisher at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, New South Wales (Aus) in February 2023, as she finished 24th overall.

In 2024s European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, she finished 17th individually as the second British counter. The 2024 World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade saw her captain the British team and she finished 20th in the world.

In 2024, She claimed the senior women’s Inter-counties Cross Country title at Wollaton Park by a decisive 18-second margin. Abbie also won the inaugural senior women’s 10km ‘London International’ race at Parliament Hill, beating a strong international field to qualify for the World Championships.

At the Bath Half Marathon (World Road Running Qualifier) in 2025, she won in 1:09:54, the third fastest winning time in the event’s history. The Big Half in 2023, she finished 3rd with a time of 1:10:31. This podium finish in the elite women’s race secured her spot for the World Road Running Championships in Riga. In 2025, she finished the same race in 2nd in 1:11:24, just behind Jessica Warner-Judd.

She earned a bronze team medal at the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, where she finished 25th individually in 1:11:08. She was part of the gold-medal-winning Great Britain team in the half marathon at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome. Her official PB for the half marathon is 1:09:05, set at the Barcelona Half Marathon in February 2024.

Donnelly debuted the marathon in April 2025, clocking 2:26:21 at the NN Rotterdam Marathon, immediately placing her 14th on the UK all-time list at the time. She is now ranked 7th on the UK all-time list (at the time of the race) after running a 2:24:11 at the 2025 Frankfurt Marathon.

At the London 5000 inaugural event, she claimed victory (July 2025). She won this prestigious event at Highgate with a time of 15:32.90, narrowly missing her lifetime PB of 15:31.02 set at the UK Championships in SportCity, 2024. At Podium Festival 5k (March 2024), she led the British field in a highly competitive elite race, clocking 15:18, setting the 2nd fastest UK 5k of 2024.

A Lincoln legend, she holds the female course record for the JT Run For All City of Lincoln 10K (and overall JTRFA record), 31:42, winning the race five times in a row as of 2023. Over 10,000m, her track best is 31:45.37, achieved at the Night of the 10,000m PBs in London in May 2024.

She has recently selected to represent Great Britain in the marathon at the 2026 European Championships in Birmingham. Donnelly remains deeply connected to Lincoln Wellington AC, crediting her career to the support of the local community and the club’s twice-weekly training sessions with coach Rob Lewis.

Will Strangeway is an elite long-distance runner who competes for the Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club (LWAC). In April 2026, he achieved a major career milestone by being crowned the England Athletics Men’s Marathon Champion at the Manchester Marathon, finishing with a personal best time of 2:15:42.

He is a highly prominent figure in the East Midlands running community, holding numerous club records and consistently finishing on the podium across regional and international road races. He was crowned the England Athletics Marathon Champion in April 2026 after placing as the top British runner and second overall out of nearly 28,000 participants at the Manchester Marathon. He also gained his international honours when representing England at the Copenhagen marathon in 2023.

Competing in the Veteran 40 (V40M) category, his 2:15:42 marathon time places him at the absolute top of the UK national rankings for his age group. He also secured consecutive overall silver medals at the Murcia Marathon in Spain (2025 and 2026). Notably, in the 2025 race, he remarkably took second place in 2:18:33 despite being accidentally directed down the wrong route by course marshals at mile 24.

Will is a multi-time winner of regional events, including the Stamford Striders’ St Valentine’s 30k (which he won multiple times), the Boston UK Mayflower Marathon, and the Robin Hood Half Marathon. He holds several veteran benchmarks for Lincoln Wellington AC, including the V35 10-mile record (50:16) established at Heckington.

Dorothy (Dot) Fraser is an elite masters athlete and a long-time member of the Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club. Now in her late 80s, she is a multi-record-holding sprinter who has achieved national and international success in the W85 (Women 85–89) age category.

She broke the W85 British indoor and outdoor records for the 100m and 200m. At age 87, she ran the 200m in 57.14 seconds at the 2024 British Masters Indoor Championships. In 2023, she won Gold in the relay and Silver in both the 60m and 200m at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.

As recently as 2025, she competed at the BMAF Track & Field Championships, securing a silver medal in the W85 100m with a time of 29.43s.

Dot’s athletic achievements are particularly notable due to her personal health journey: She has overcome breast cancer and a serious stroke that affected her right side.

She typically trains four times a week, incorporating weightlifting and sessions with a personal trainer.

She is the subject of the film ‘Younger’, which highlights her story and the spirit of masters athletics.

While she spent many years in Lincoln, she moved to Swanage in early 2023 to be closer to family.

Dot Fraser remains a prominent figure in the British Masters Athletic Federation (BMAF), serving as an inspiration for longevity and determination in sport.

Betty Stracey is an elite long-distance masters athlete and a highly decorated member of the Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club (LWAC). Like her teammate Dot Fraser, Betty is a multiple British record holder in the W85 (Women 85–89) age category, specialising in the 800m and 1500m.

Betty has recently dominated middle-distance events, setting new British benchmarks. She holds the current British W85 records for both the 800m (5:31.77) and the 1500m (11:10.59), both set at the 2025 British Masters Indoor Championships. At the 2026 European Masters Athletics Championships Indoor in Poland, she won Gold in the W85 1500m (10:53.92), 800m, and cross-country events.

At the 2025 British Masters Track & Field Championships, she secured gold medals in the 800m (5:22.95) and 1500m (11:06.64). Betty has been running for approximately 40 years, originally starting track racing in her 60s after a friend invited her to a championship.

She is a staple of the Lincoln parkrun community, where she has completed numerous runs and is known for her high age-graded performances.

While she excels on the track, Betty also competes internationally in cross-country, recently winning European gold in the 6km event.

She was previously awarded the Sweatshop Monthly Prize by parkrun for being an inspiration and role model to both young and old runners.

Betty Stracey remains one of the UK’s most successful masters athletes, frequently placing Lincoln Wellington AC at the top of national and international leaderboards.

Mark Baddeley is a prominent figure in the Lincoln running community, known as a long-time coach for Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club (LWAC) and the shop manager of The Lincolnshire Runner.

He has dedicated over 14 years to coaching at Lincoln Wellington, where he was recently awarded Life Membership for his service.

He was a key coach at Lincoln Wellington AC, guiding athletes to national and international success. He famously coached Lucian Allison, helping him transition from a “Couch to 5k” beginner to an international-level runner.

Mark is an active veteran runner (V50 category) and has pivoted his focus toward fell running.

Mark manages The Lincolnshire Runner, an independent specialist shop on Lincoln High Street. He provides technical advice on footwear and gait analysis. The shop serves as a central community hub point for local runners to find gear and coaching tips.

I joined Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club in 1968 at the age of 10. My first pair of spiked running shoes were Adidas and cost me 3 shillings (15p in current terms), my latest pair, still Adidas, cost over £150. At the time I joined, the club it consisted of 5 to 10 regular athletes being coached by Ken Barnsdale. We have come a long way to our current status and club size.
My journey as an athlete has seen me compete all around the globe at all levels. My best events were the Decathlon and the 400m Hurdles, these remain my favourite disciplines.

In 1982 I qualified as a sprints coach and progressed my coaching to Senior level before becoming a UKA Performance coach. I am also a qualified official having passed all my exams for every technical aspect of officiating in 1984, I focused on the Starting/Marksman role and still favour this as the best activity for officials. I have been the ‘Clerk of the Course’ at multiple competitions because of my wide knowledge of the sport. This year, 2026, I was awarded recognition of my long service (40 years) by England Athletics on behalf of UKA.

I am currently serving as a member of the Lincolnshire County Athletics Association and was the lead instigator in returning the County Championships back to our control. We have seen a remarkable participation in this event which has resulted in it having to expand to a 2 day event this year.

I am also the Vice Chair for England Athletics (EA) East Midlands which gives me a seat at the EA national council. I am very active in promoting our sport and have been involved in bringing EA meetings into our region.

I consider it a privileged to help, guide and coach our young athletes, I still learn from these athletes the importance of this sport and that the bonds that we make as athletes last a lifetime.

For new members just reading this I would like to welcome you and your family to our family. I hope you find the enjoyment that I have in being a member of a great community. I would invite any of you to come and ask me any questions about the sport as I love sharing my knowledge and leaning from others, even if it is just to tell me how much your first pair of spikes cost.

Denise Timmis is a distinguished Masters athlete, coach, and the current Chairperson of Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club (LWAC). She has been a competitive Masters athlete since 1996, specializing in sprinting and long jump events.

Timmis competes in the V60W age category (women aged 60–64) and has secured numerous titles at national and international levels. She won gold in both the W60 long jump and 60m at the British Masters Championships in 2022 and is a member of the Masters Club 4x400m World Record team.

Denise also earned a bronze medal in the Long Jump at the European Masters Indoor Championships. She has represented Great Britain as a member of European and World 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m Masters relay teams. She holds multiple Lincolnshire County Masters records in the 200m, 400m, 800m, and long jump.

Beyond her own competing, Timmis is a prominent Level 3 Senior Sprint Coach and a Life Member of LWAC (46+ years). Her coaching experience spans a wide range of levels, including coaching Invictus Games Champions, World, European, and UK record holders, World Junior Championship medallists, British Championship medallists, Masters athletes, and University of Lincoln BUCS athletes.

As Chairperson, she actively promotes Masters athletics, recently highlighting the medallists from LWAC at the 2024 European Indoor Masters Championships in Poland.

I started coaching at the club in the late eighties when my sons joined LWAC and started training with Rob Lewis.

I asked him where all the girl’s were as there was just boys in the group at that time! He said well you know what to do then – haha! So he is the one to blame for all my years of coaching!

I am a level 3 Young Athlete coach and a Level 2 in both Jumps and Throws. I am also the clubs Junior Welfare Officer.

In the past I competed for the club’s Ladies team in both Cross-Country and Track & Field.

I’ve always run, since from when I can remember.

I joined Lincoln City and Colleges AC in 1978, training and competing in short sprints and field events.

In 1982 I joined Lincoln Wellington AC and 43 years later I’m still here!

I also take part in Masters Athletics.

After playing football and cricket quite seriously since leaving school I joined Wellington in 1981 principally to train for the 1982 London Marathon with the strong road running group at that time. I ran London again in 1983 together with a lot of shorter road races over the next few years until an ongoing knee issue resulted in retirement from running.

By 1987 my son Andrew had joined Wellington and when stalwart coach Ken Barnsdale retired I was persuaded to take on the coaching of a small group of about six 10/11 year olds with, of course, zero coaching experience at that time. Numbers in the group grew rapidly and in 1989 Ian Mansfield announced his arrival as a top class athlete with a silver medal in the junior boy’s 800 at the English Schools Championships. Ian subsequently went on to become North of England U17 and U20 800m champion.

A few years later Roger Morley went one better than Ian and became the English Schools intermediate boy’s 800m champion and subsequently a silver medallist in the senior boy’s 800m. Tom Duffield was one of the fastest athletes I have coached and became a 400m specialist. He was an easy winner of the junior boy’s 400m at English Schools in what is still a county record.

A few years later Rachael Nathan became the first female in the group and developed into a superstar – not a word I use lightly with young athletes but entirely appropriate for her. Over the country she won the English Schools, Inter counties and National Championships in one year. She won two gold medals in the English Schools 3000m as an intermediate, taking the Championship record and holding it for the next 10 years. She also represented GB U20 team on the track when 16 years old winning a 3000m race against a USA U20 team. Also at 16 she won team U20 gold with 12th individual place at the European XC in Croatia. One further achievement was a bronze medal in the 3000m at the European Youth Olympics in Paris.

Current Olympic athlete Sam Atkin spent his late teen years in the group before relocating to the USA. He illustrated his potential by winning the North of England XC Championships as an U17 and was also no 1 in the 5k rankings in that age group.

There has been many team medal winning performances from the group over the years with the outstanding one being Catrina Thomas, Rebekah Ward and Abbie Donnelly winning the National Road Relay U17 girls title at Sutton Park. This was a very high class team with Catrina subsequently representing the England U20 team at steeplechase and Rebekah winning two English Schools silver medals in the steeplechase. An earlier high class steeplechase performance had come from Daniel Hewitt who won a bronze medal in that event at English Schools.

Abbie has remained in the group since joining as a 15 year old and has steadily moved herself among the very highest class female endurance runners in the country with a string of terrific performances. Over that time the composition of the group has seen major changes with the appearance of younger athletes virtually drying up to be gradually replaced by the senior and veteran athletes we have today.

I do get asked why I’m still continuing to coach after around 38 years and there are two responses I give to that. I still do enjoy it but more importantly the group at the moment are totally committed and that is all coach can ask for. Of course the sessions are hugely demanding but there is still time for a few laughs and positive results do seem to keep coming so on we go.

In conclusion I must acknowledge the part played by Mark Thornton and Bill Delaney in managing the group. By sharing the workload it does mean that only in exceptional circumstances will there be no coach present at any session.

I started volunteering with LWAC in 2006, when my daughter joined the club.

My LWAC journey started with helping coaches, then in 2012 I became Membership Secretary.

I joined the Committee and started a role in Timekeeping.

In 2019 I was the England Athletics East Midland Volunteer of the Year.

Now, I am a qualified Athletics Coach, a Level 3 Timekeeper, a Level 1 in: Field, Endurance and Photo Finish.

Outside of LWAC I am the Treasurer for a local Trefoil Guild, and volunteer at Special Olympics events when I can.

I joined LWAC Road Runners in 2006 when my children joined. I initially assisted with the younger groups when they were out on Road Runs and became the Treasurer in 2008 and have been doing it ever since.

I can often be seen in the caravan when we host league matches doing the results recording.

I enjoy running and walking but haven’t done very much competitively for a number of years.

Outside of athletics I play league table tennis and am on the Lincoln and District League committee

Coming from other sporting backgrounds, I played racquet and ball games primarily whilst growing up. I regularly found myself watching athletics however, yet seldom participated (only when asked by school teachers  – I remember one cross-country race and a handful of track and field events at Gateshead International Stadium, near where I’m from).

I continued the above sports throughout my adult life (and still play to this day), and discovered running for some mental peace approximately 5 years ago (after a couple of people said they thought I’d suit it). After a few months training with Gav Ellis (Linda’s son), being told I should go to ‘Rob’s Group’, and having been set a session by Mark Baddeley and Lucian Allison, (which was 6 x 1k [60 sec recovery]), I duly obliged, and was unintentionally met at that stretch of road by Rob Lewis and his training group.

Rob being Rob, he pulled me at the end of one of my reps and remarked: ‘So, who are you then?’, to which I replied, ‘You must be Rob’. From there, he told – yes, ‘told’ (let’s say strongly and politely encouraged), me to jump in with the group and continue their session. The rest, as they say, is history!

After pushing to compete, and supporting when not, I had a conversation with Denise Timmis about a vacant Officer role (Press & Media), and soon after joined the Committee, too. I wanted to give back to the Club that had welcomed me so generously and provided such light during darker times and showcase the truly immense community, culture, and successes we have at LWAC.

Outside of ‘Welly’, I can be found keeping my brain busy with games of rapid chess, and frames of snooker. You may also bump into me at a live music gig! But really it’s all about athletics!

I am a 61-year-old coach who still runs and trains regularly. I am passionate about both Road Running and athletics, and feel privileged to coach in both these fields at Lincoln Wellington AC.

I ran to a reasonably high standard as a youngster and was British Police Champion in the 200m & 400m, and Metropolitan Police Champion numerous times in both the 400m & 800m.

In competition, I ran 22 seconds for the 200, 48 seconds for the 400m and 1:50 for the 800m, as well as 55 minutes for the road 10-mile in my golden years.

I therefore bring personal experience to both track and road running in addition to my England Athletics coaching qualifications (I feel your pain!). I am proud to be part of the voluntary coaching set up at Lincoln Wellington AC.

I first joined the club in 2012 and spent 6 years with the Road Runners training group, learning to run with Anne Gilroy and Sean Baxter, from 10k which was my first race, up to marathon distance.

In 2018 I moved over to Rob Lewis’s middle and long distance track group, where I still train today, and have now represented the club on both the track and road.

Also that year, I began to work alongside the club in the 5k Series with my own business, Lincs Van Hire, by becoming the official race sponsor and volunteer.

I joined the LWAC Committee in 2025 as Assistant Secretary.

I joined Lincoln Wellington in 1984 with my family. During my time I have been an athlete, running coach, and (still) am a committee member.

Whilst coaching I was also taking part in events such as: track, ultra-marathons, and everyone’s favourite – cross-country!

Whilst coaching it was important for me to make running fun and goals achievable. Enjoying our running experience, and competing with confidence in events was key, and I would like to think that they did. Everyone seemed to enjoy the ‘Gilroy Miles’ which was a running joke, as my miles were much more, but everyone did them, especially before the time of GPS watches that now tell you exactly how far you’ve run! I couldn’t get away with these ‘miles’ now.

I have been very lucky in my running and achieved more than I ever thought I would have. Simply by taking part in events, we have achieved a World Record in the (Masters) 4x400m, become British Champs in the UK Half Marathon team, and I have placed 3rd in the Northern XC Champs, and lots more besides.

I grew up in south Florida and swimming was my love…so I thought. My school entered into a city track and field competition when I was 6 years old. I was put forward for the long jump and to everyone’s shock, I took first place along with winning a sprint race. I must have been average height for my age back then. IYKYK! I competed until my senior year in high school before being injured in a car accident.

I’ve always loved athletics and when my youngest daughter joined LWAC in 2008, I decided to get involved. I took on the role of kit officer in 2010 and joined the club management committee at well. I still hold both roles today.

Over the years I’ve managed the Youth Development League Teams, Officiated Track and Field, dabbled at announcing meets we’ve hosted and was the Social Officer. I’m currently living “across the pond” but remain committed to this club and its success.

I joined Lincoln Wellington AC at 15 years old, and 20 years on, athletics is still very much at the centre of my life. The club has shaped who I am, and I’m passionate about giving something back to a sport that has given me so much.

During my time as a member, I’ve competed at national level across road, steeplechase, and cross country. My proudest moment in the vest was being part of the club team that won silver at the National 6-Stage Road Relays in 2017 — a result that meant a great deal to me and one I’ll never forget.

I joined the committee in 2021 and have since been committed to helping the club thrive for the next generation of athletes.

Outside of LWAC, I’m a parkrun Run Director and have been involved in creating running communities in the local area. Professionally, I founded and run a health and performance business, specialising in sports rehabilitation, psychology, and coaching.

I’d enjoyed running when I was younger, and later in life I came back to it as a way to a healthier lifestyle when I stopped smoking. I began running in the Lincolnshire Wolds and found I enjoyed it very much. I ran on my own for a while before joining a local club, who helped me get going. I knew I wanted to improve, so when I moved to the local area, I joined Lincoln Wellington Athletics Club. I’d heard they were the top running club.

Over time I got more involved and became a Run Leader. This is an experienced runner who takes a group of newer runners out to help them find their pace and keep going. I then took my coaching qualifications to become a running coach. I enjoy it, there’s a real sense of accomplishment when you’re supporting people and can see them improving. When I’m coaching, I keep it simple, helping people run at the right pace, so they don’t go off too fast and struggle later. When people get that and start to run better because of it, that’s what matters.

I’m also Cross Country Manager at the club. Cross Country challenges you, and I like that. It’s always between autumn and winter, so it can be hard and a bit unforgiving, because it’s wet, muddy and you’re more likely to slip and fall on your face. But it makes you better, tougher, and builds your stamina.

I’ve been running around 20 years now. I enter competitions, mainly 10K’s and half marathons. I ran the London Marathon in 2023, I felt brilliant when I crossed the finish line, it was such an achievement. I’m hoping to run it again in the future.

I love running and cross country because they keep me strong and fit and help maintain my mental health and wellbeing. What I like most is that feeling of being free. I’ve made some really great friends since joining the Wellies, it’s my running family, we support each other on and off the running track. I’m happy running on my own, but if I had to choose, I’d run with others. It keeps me going, staying with the group for motivation, and supporting each other to keep pace.

After University I moved to Lincoln and joined LWAC as an athlete.

Having spent a few years with Terry and Denise in the sprint group, I then started to compete in multiple events and even some distance races (a half marathon being the longest).

I was a LWAC committee member for many years, being the treasurer for 7 of these.

I became a coach over 20 years ago with a Level 2 in throws, jumps, and sprints.

More recently I have been helping out as a track and field official, mostly for the team points!

My favourite event is the Pole Vault, which I still enjoy in both coaching and competing.

I volunteer to help with new member enquiries by making sure the emails are directed to the relevant coaches or the waiting list in the case of juniors.

I am also admin support for the 5k race series. I have been a member of the club since 2010 and I am still an active member of Lincoln Wellington Road Runners.

Bio coming soon...

Hi I’m Kelly Carchedi, social secretary alongside my daughter Alicia (who competes and coaches for the club). I am thrilled to lead the planning for Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club.

I’m dedicated to supporting our local community and bringing people closer together through sport. This is to include our annual awards evening and fundraising events.

I have supported the club for a number of years assisting as trophy secretary. Whilst my elder children were training with the club, it seemed like the right thing to do and champion a good cause.

If you have a brilliant idea you would like to share, please get in touch, we would love to hear from you!

I joined Lincoln Wellington in 2012 and run a variety of distances from 5k to marathons.

I have competed over cross country, trail races and road running – although in recent years only road running. My favourite distance is 10k.

Outside of the club I am a qualified accountant and perform the independent examination on the club accounts.

I am currently the YDL Team Manager and have been for 9 years. As well as this, I am coach of the Lightning Squad. I came to the club as a junior athlete, staying for 18 months before re-joining again at age 30!

From there I gained an England vest at 40 years old, running a 2:38.57 marathon.

I started coaching having been inspired by my Ancaster High School PE Teacher, Paul Reddington – the only person who believed in me whilst growing up. He also gave me the confidence I needed in my day-to-day life.

My coaching highlights so far have been our U17W being champions at the road and XC relays for 2 calendar years in a row, and medalling in the subsequent year. As well as this, we’ve seen an English Schools winner, 2 runner-ups, 3 SIAB gold medals, northern and national team selection, as well as Team GB (although the athlete qualified, was too young to be selected).

In my spare time I enjoy: golf, darts, and snooker. A fun-fact is that I played in a dominoes league!

I first started running at secondary school in 1993 when a PE teacher encouraged me to give cross country a go and I’ve been passionate about the sport ever since.

I joined Louth AC in 1995 to begin structured training and competition, before moving to Lincoln Wellington AC in 1996 to train under coach Rob Lewis. I competed until 2002, with a particular love for track and cross country, gaining valuable experience in competitions across the country, including multiple national finals.

After stepping away from racing, I spent 12 years working as a PE teacher before transitioning into professional sport, where I’ve spent the last 10 years supporting athletes across multiple disciplines. In 2023, I rejoined Lincoln Wellington AC with my children and returned to coaching in 2024, updating my UKA Level 3 Endurance Licence and working alongside Marc Thorpe and the Lightning Squad.

I’m passionate about long-term athlete development and take an athlete-centred approach that balances challenge, enjoyment, and growth. I aim to create fun but purposeful training environments where athletes feel supported and stretched, using my background in education and elite sport to help individuals thrive and reach their potential both in and beyond athletics.

Fun Facts:

• Favourite food: A good Indian meal
• Athletics memory: My sister and I won the Lincolnshire Schools XC Championships in 1999 crossing the finish line at exactly the same time, winning our respective age group (Senior Boys/Junior Girls). I had to sprint hard to catch her she didn’t make the moment easy😂
• Favourite race location: Berry Hill for the National Cross Country Relays — I loved racing there.
• Pre-race superstition: I used to take a Ruud Gullit action figure with me to every race 🤷‍♂️
• Sporting hero: Steve Prefontaine – for his fearless, uncompromising racing style.

I loved athletics from a young age, starting at LWAC in Linda and Larry’s group. Over the years, I trained with Terry, Denise, and Rob, and competed for LWAC across track, field, cross country, and road events. The club gave me so much in those early years, and that passion stayed with me even when I moved away from Lincoln. After completing my Level 2 athletics coaching course, I went on to coach in schools in Melbourne, Australia.

I stayed a member of LWAC, and when I returned to Lincoln in 2023, I was keen to give something back. Although I had gained my coaching badges 20 years earlier and held a Personal Training qualification, I wanted to refresh my athletics coaching knowledge. LWAC kindly supported me as I started again, and after more than a year of shadowing Linda, I was invited to join Harriet in forming a new group to support young athletes. I love helping them develop their own passion for athletics. The sport offers so much, not only through its variety of disciplines, but also through the sense of community it creates.

Personally, I still love running, even more now, especially over long distances! I have been fortunate enough to take part in the London and Valencia marathons, and one of my proudest achievements was qualifying for and representing England as a masters runner. Running brings me a lot of joy, keeps me motivated and challenges me, and I love sharing that energy with athletes of all ages and abilities – something I have LWAC to thank for, and I hope to continue coaching for as long as I can.

I was late taking up running. I didn’t run through school, I was around 23 when I decided to Join the jogging boom around 1984 age 23. I did some fun runs and came reasonably high up the field, so my friend asked me to go to Lincoln Wellington and join their road group.

I met Ken Barnsdale and Gary Warhurst in a little brick hut across the field from the track. After a few months Gary, after seeing me run asked me to try the track. From then, I did the opposite to most athletes, my distances seem to get shorter as I got older. I trained under the coaching support of Ernie Harrison, Gary Warhurst, and Rob Lewis.

I went from 10k down to 800m and 400m training, distances I would settle into as I became a masters athlete over 40. My best results coming at 45 on the indoor scene in the British and European championships; running the second fastest time indoors by a Britain that year in the semi-final to make the final.

Athletes seem to come and go, as I continued to put in the years, but some of all different decades have become friends. Along the way, I helped with some coaching of young athletes, and provided physiotherapy/rehabilitation advice before taking a break from athletics for 10 years as I started a family.

I returned to athletics as I approached 60, doing the odd race around injury niggles and fought back to fitness. I still hope to compete on/off if the body is willing.

It was a great honour when becoming a life member at Lincoln wellington. It has been a huge part of my life, meeting many lifelong friends that have supported me in many ways as I hope I have supported them where I can. It is such a well structured and supportive club with amazing volunteers through all the distances and field alike.

I now split my time between family (3 children 10, 15, 17), athletics, and my other hobby, dog training. I have a new puppy that I hope to enjoy dog sport with. Hopefully I can do both. I have just retired after doing Physiotherapy for the past 22 years, before that I had 20 years as an electrical engineer changing career and going to university at age 40. As I turn 65 this year I hope to be competing once again on the next indoor scene, if my body will agree 😊.

I started in athletics in the late 1990’s and blame Daley Thompson for wanting to pole vault.

I’ve been competing and coaching since the turn of the century and think pole vaulting is the most frustrating and rewarding of the athletics events.

I also like to throw the hammer and discus, orienteer, and the odd adventure race or muddy obstacle run.

I recently finished my Doctorate in Criminology and now fill my spare time reading golden age British crime classics and watching Columbo, NCIS or Bangers and Cash.

I have been a member at Lincoln Wellington AC for approximately 20 years.

When my children were competing for the club (in a variety of events, including steeplechase, pole vault and hammer) I became involved, too.

I have been a ‘Throws’ coach since 2008. The throws group is a small, friendly, group of athletes who train in all 4 throwing disciplines.

As well as this, I am also a field official for the club.

Finally, I enjoy running and am a member of the Road Runners training group.

Terry gave many years of outstanding service to the club, holding key roles including Chairman and Treasurer. He was especially proud of and supportive of his children and grandchildren and their involvement in athletics.

Terry’s commitment, leadership, and friendship left a lasting impact on the club and its members.

13/06/1933 – 29/05/2026

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I started coming to LWAC when I was 13 after qualifying for the county schools cross country at Stamford. I then started to compete at both track and cross country racing for the club.

As an U17 I came 5th in the 1500m at Nationals, and more recently as an U20 ran 30.51 for 10k, to break a 23 year old club record.

I also started coaching in 2021, after COVID-19. Initially for the volunteering part of DofE at school, but found enjoyment out of it, and have since completed the England athletics coaching qualifications and specialise in endurance running.

I moved to Lincoln in 2001, but have always had a passion for athletics, and it was an ideal opportunity to introduce my children to the sport. We therefore joined LWAC.

This is when I started volunteering at the club. I completed the level 1 Assistant Coaching course in 2004.

I have now been assisting at the club for just over 25 years in the (middle distance and endurance category), under the guidance of Rob Lewis and more recently Mark Thornton, both with the senior endurance track group.

Before I was a coach at Lincoln Wellington, I was an athlete and joined the club when I was 8 years old. Through the course of moving through the groups, I developed a passion for hurdling and sprinting, which I still continue to compete in – and would highly recommend everyone try!

As I got older, I realised that I wanted to give back to the club and help coach young aspiring athletes and have now been coaching since 2023.

The enjoyment and reward I get from coaching is amazing; I truly love helping my athletes achieve their end goal and love to see their improvement with time.

I joined LWAC in 2003 after the gym where I started running closed. I was quite nervous coming to training for the first time as I’d never imagined myself belonging to an athletics club, but I needn’t have worried as everyone was so friendly and welcoming.

Being a member of the road running group at LWAC has enabled me to achieve things I never thought I could (like running a marathon – although I never thought I’d want to either!), thanks to the support and encouragement of fellow members, and particularly the coaches of the road running group, Anne, Martin, and now Sean.

To help out at the club I became a leader in running fitness in 2015 and I also help at the club’s 5k race series in the summer taking on-the-night entries and results processing. I am also a regular volunteer at Lincoln parkrun, while away from running I am a keen follower of county cricket and supporter of Essex County Cricket Club.

I first began helping out at LWAC in 2007 when my daughter joined Linda’s group. Very soon I was persuaded to take my Level 2 qualification before then qualifying as an athletics coach.

Over the years I have coached juniors in all disciplines but primarily moved my focus to endurance running. I have coached all age groups and seen many young athletes progress through schools athletics into senior competition.

My primary focus has always been to help athletes realise their goals and to be the best they can be, whatever their level. I feel strongly that every athlete is an individual and that no one size fits all.

It has been most rewarding to see athletes achieve things which will remain as lifelong memories, such as County representation and English school’s participation as well as a number who have gone on to gain great life experiences with scholarships at American Universities.

In 2020 I had a serious accident leaving me with a spinal cord injury which has somewhat slowed me down and means that I have taken a slight back seat and now work with Rob Lewis in his endurance group.

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