The Junior Runner of the Year recognises a junior club member that has demonstrated consistency, achievement and improvement over the past 12 months (1st October 2022 to 30th September 2023).  The award includes a perpetual trophy in which the winner holds for the year and then an individual trophy for the winner to keep.

To nominate someone this year please download the form below

2023 Junior Runner of the Year Nomination Form

Junior Runner of the Year

The Championship includes 3 categories, Junior, Open and Senior Open, with male and female recipients.  Points are awarded per run and tallied into a cumulative total.  Your point score is a combination of both Sunday and Wednesday events.  Every runner is awarded a participant point and bonus points are awarded based on the number of distances in the event.

How points are calculated

Sunday Runs

For our Sunday runs, runners per age category, will receive points based on the distance completed as follows – distance 1 being the shortest distance and distance 6 being the longest.

Other runners in position 6 and onwards for each age category will receive 1 point each.

Wednesday Runs

For our Wednesday runs, runners per age category, will receive points as follows.

All other runners will receive 1 point.
Runners doing 1 or 2 laps are awarded 1 point.

Championship Winners

Life Members

An application may be made nominating a member of the Club for Life Membership. Life membership is a significant recognition of a member’s service and contribution to the Orange Runners Club over an extended period of time.

Life Member: Dawn Camery

Dawn Camery was there right at the start of the Club, but you won’t see her winning any races! Dawn was the clubs treasurer, official starter and timekeeper. When husband Jim and a few friends formed the Orange Runners Club, Dawn was a natural to get roped in.  Not only did she look after the Orange Runners Club, she was often coerced by other clubs to keep times at their meetings!

Dawn was a constant, rain, hail and shine, with stop watch and clipboard in hand.
It has been reported that without Dawn, there would be no Orange Runners Club. Despite her involvement with the Club, Dawn was not a runner – “I’ll stick with the timing, I’m quite happy doing that”.

R.I.P

Life Member: Mike Cooper

Mike Cooper (Coop) has been an invaluable member of the Orange Runners Club since he joined in 2006. Mike has served on the ORC Committee for a number of years in the role of secretary.
However, it is in the position of course marker that Mike has arguably made the most significant contribution to the Club. Rain, hail and shine, Mike has for many years expertly marked out our Sunday courses to ensure that we all return safely home. This was even more incredible since he mostly rides to the course, marks the course, runs the course and then rides home again!
Mike in an avid half marathoner and consistently competes in events across the state. Mike has over 500 club runs.
Mike receiving his Life Membership from Graham Fahy at the Club presentation in 2015.

Life Member: Robyn Cotten

Robyn Cotten during her time with the Orange Runners Club was one of the quiet achievers. As quite often happens, initially it was her children that first started with the club and obviously needed mum for transport. Robyn then assumed the timing duties each Wednesday and Sunday runs without fail. The contribution was quite significant for the fact that the Club was still relying upon a manual timing system that quite often got hectic on Wednesdays when everyone would finish at the same time.

Life Member: Graham Fahy

Graham Fahy has provided an invaluable contribution to the Orange Runners Club over a significant period of time. Graham’s first run with the club was in 2002.
If there is a job to be done, you can trust that Graham will be the first to put his hand up. Graham has served two terms as the Club Vice President.
Graham’s biggest contribution has been the building of the Clubs shed at Elephant Park. This has provided a fantastic facility for the club and the storage of all of its equipment. Graham has provided significant contribution to the success of the Orange Running Festival, especially through coordination of all the gear and the set up of the site.
Graham enjoys competing in regional fun runs up to the 10km distance.

Life Member: Bill Fairgrieve

Bill Fairgrieve has provided a significant contribution to the Orange Runners Club for a long period of time.  His first run with the Club was back in 2001 and has provided an “all round” contributor ever since and has amassed well over 1100 club runs.Bill has served on the Orange Runners Club committee in the role of Treasurer. Bill joined the Club in 2001.

Bill has also been involved with the Orange Colour City Running Festival in a variety of roles.

A long distance specialist, Bill has completed in many half and full marathons.

Life Member: Jane Fairgrieve

Jane Fairgrieve has provided a significant involvement to the Orange Runners Club for a long period of time. Jane’s first run with the Club was back in 2001 and has provided an “all round” contribution ever since and has amassed well over 1000 club runs.
Jane has served on the Orange Runners Club committee in various roles including Secretary, Vice President and 2 terms as President.
Jane has also been involved with the Orange Colour City Running Festival in a variety of roles.
A long distance specialist, Jane has completed many half and full marathons.

Life Member: John Healey

John was president of the Orange Runners Club in the early 1980’s and was a founding member of the club along with Ken Patteson, Jim Camery and Peter Massingham (the clubs first president) in June 1978.
John continued with the Club for a long period of time and has the last recorded run on the 20th September 1998.
While John was president of the Club, he helped start the Challenge Shield which was held between the running clubs of Bathurst, Dubbo and Orange (John was the manager of Challenge Implements at that time).
Some of John’s running achievements include:
• Winner of Grenfell, Trangie, Gilgandra and Narromine fun runs.
• Winner of the 1980 Canobolas Climb a run from the bottom of Mount Canobolas to the top via the road from the Towac picnic grounds.
• In a pre-vets competition John at the age of 39 ran 15:12 for a 5k event.
• Won the 1981 & 1984 Orange Fun Run.

Life Member: Ken Patteson

Ken Patteson has had distinguished running career and most importantly was a co-founder of the Orange Runners Club in June 1978.
Ken had the honour of carrying the torch for a mile on its way to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. In 1956 Ken was acclaimed as one of the best cross country runners in country NSW and started running competitively in 1950. He had many excellent results during the 1950s. After a brief stint away, he returned to running in the early 1970’s and in 1976 won 3 state championships in the veterans. Ken also had success at the Australian Championships with a couple of second placings.
Not to be out done by carrying the Olympic Torch once, Ken also had the honour in 2000 in Orange, where he actually passed the torch to our other life member Garry Williams.

Life Member: Michael Sharp

Michael Sharp has provided a substantial contribution to the Orange Runners Club from the start of the Club right through until today. Michael has served on numerous Committees during this time, but it is his contribution to the time keeping and results that has been amazing. After every Wednesday and Sunday run, Michael will collect the times, tabulate and record the results and publish them for the benefit of members. Michael has undertaken this very important and time-consuming job on behalf of the membership without any issue and his contribution goes beyond any expectations.
Michael has been the club’s handicapper nearly for the whole history of the Club.
Michael has amassed over 1300 club runs and this number would be substantially more as he has regularly selflessly foregone his run to ensure that we all receive our times.

Life Member: Gary Williams

Gary Williams has provided an invaluable contribution to the Orange Runners Club. Gary first started with the Club in 1984 after a very successful boxing career. Taking this fitness from the ring, Gary was able to take this to the road with stunning performances over the range of distances based on a tremendous work ethic.
Gary was President of the Runners Club for a staggering 14 years and during this time was able to achieve with the assistance of some great people some fantastic achievements both inside and out of the Club (that has made significant funds for local organisations and charities):
• Orange Colour City Running Festival
• Introduced a handicap system
• Encouraged families and children to become more involved
• Australia Day Sports Personality Award
• Mr Orange (for Careflight)
Super competitive over all distances, Gary amassed over 800 runs during his club career.

Life Member: Anthony Daintith

Since joining the Club in 2005, Anthony has been heavily involved with both the Club and Running Festival Committees.

Anthony served on the Club’s committee from 2015 to 2020, including two years as the President and two years as Vice President.  Also during this time he performed a number of ancillary roles include website administrator, course marker, public officer, social medial and equipment. Anthony renewed our website, transformed the representation of our courses on the website and results presentation.  He coordinated and set up the Junior Spring Racing Carnival, Achievement Medals, equipment and timing purchases and design of new courses.

Anthony has also helped ensure the success of the Orange Running Festival, as assistant Coordinator in 2013 & 2014, including government and Council approvals from 2013 onwards, course design and mapping since 2013, a member of the Running Festival Committee Member 2016 to 2020, Race Manager in 2020, and Race Announcer 3 times.  Anthony is the current Event Coordinator. He was also involved in the development of the Festival website.