Steyning Athletic Club’s RoundHill Romp

Steyning Athletic Club’s summer competition, the aptly named Roundhill Romp, takes place this year on Wednesday 7th July. I would invite you all to watch the start, at 7.30 p.m. from the High Street Clock Tower, and the finish at the Steyning Memorial Playing Field - with refreshments laid on. The first finishers usually appear just before 8.30 p.m.

How did this event ever begin?

This is what John Connell, one of the original thinkers behind the race idea had to say, “In the eighties Dave Stevens at Steyning Athletic Club encouraged a running section to add to this well known walking club. I was one of the early people to join the running section, the jogging boom had taken off and the club wanted to be part of this. Our merry, but small band started entering the many fun runs that were springing up everywhere, but small in number we were, we used to agonise over the best way to get new members. By now, yours truly had risen to the auspicious post of running captain. A fellow runner said to me, John, ‘you know we should organise our own fun run, that would get us noticed’.

The route came from a scout run that had been held once or twice before that showed Steyning and the Downs off in all its glory. That first event was a real worry to us, as the entries came in painfully slowly - I was sure that we would fall flat on our faces. On race day less than 80 had entered, but guess what, a club member went on local radio to talk it up, the sun shone like it never did before, 150 people or more entered on the night, the club got new members and has gone from strength to strength ever since.”

Well, over the years, the number of competitors has sharply risen and it is not unusual for race entries to near 500 in total.

Why not participate yourself? The course is about six miles in length, mainly over fields and downland.

Hope to see you there - to support Steyning Athletic Club, in any way you can.

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