The 10-kilometere trail race starts in Aylsham and winds through the district’s countryside before ending in Reepham’s Market Place.

This is the 15th year the council has held the event to encourage more people to get fit and active.

There will be a complimentary shuttle from Reepham High School, Whitwell Road, Reepham, to the start line and each runner will receive a medal and other goodies for taking part.

Entries cost £17 per affiliated runner, £19 per non-affiliated runner and £60 for corporate challenge entries of four runners. Places are limited.

Book your place HERE.

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Reepham Town Council and the Stimpson’s Piece Charity trustees are eager to make improvements and want local input to steer this process in the right direction.

To achieve this, a survey has been created by the young people of Reepham, in conjunction with Broadland Youth Advisory Board and Resilient Pathways.

They want to hear about what changes would improve the ground and share your experiences, ideas and suggestions.

Whether it is to support the skatepark replacement or not, or to share other ideas, such as adding new benches, outdoor gym equipment or improving the playground, every insight is valuable – and your participation could make a real difference.

The survey can be accessed in two ways: printed versions can be completed at Reepham Library, Market Place, or an online version is available.

In addition, a community drop-in event is planned for Saturday 27 April from 11 am – 1 pm at the Dial House, Market Place, Reepham, where residents can speak with local volunteers and representatives from the town council about the skatepark project or share views and ideas for the local recreation ground.

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The club, based at Bawdeswell Recreation Ground, hosted a “Songs for a Summer Evening” concert at Bawdeswell Village Hall in July, which raised almost £1,000.

Over the season the club raffles alone raised £680, with the overall figure amounting to £4,060, which has been handed over to the dementia support charity.

The club thanks readers of Reepham Life who supported these efforts.

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Allan Tripp (pictured) helped decorate the Dial House in the Market Place, as well as the new dwellings to the rear of the building, when it was refurbished a few years ago.

He has continued training through lockdown while working long shifts, six days a week, trying to fit in time with his partner and three-year-old daughter.

His run will take him into Reepham before looping round on the Marriott’s Way, towards Whitwell Station, before heading back into Norwich.

The virtual event will be held on Sunday 4 October and Mr Tripp, who lives near Hellesdon, is raising fund for the Alzheimer’s Society. To donate via Just Giving, click HERE

“I’ve lost loved ones to this horrible disease and most recently we lost my partner’s nan,” he said.

“I really wanted to do something to try and help research in finding ways to slow/prevent Alzheimer’s and possibly one day we won’t have to see loved ones go through it.”

Mr Tripp will also be running the London Marathon in April 2022 – hopefully in London.

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The site for the proposed new sports hall. Photo: Realistic Reepham

According to a planning application (20201183) submitted to Broadland District Council on behalf of the high school, the facility would include a four-badminton court sports hall, changing rooms, meeting, office and studio space, as well as two teaching rooms.

The building would be sited on part of the existing school playing fields, adjacent to Whitwell Road.

The 1,340 m² sports hall would be partly funded by proceeds from the 7.5-hectare residential development planned by property developer Lovell Homes, which could add around 320 new residents to the town and includes an extension to the Whitwell Road cemetery.

RHSC headteacher Tim Gibbs argued that a new sports hall would benefit both the high school, which currently has around 810 pupils with an additional 240 within the sixth form college, and the local community, providing local sporting teams and groups with a base from which to operate outside school hours.

However, in a report published in the Eastern Daily Press, Mr Gibbs admitted there were still uncertainties around the project, and that work on the sports hall would probably not start for another five years.

Opponents of the housing development say the latest application is simply being submitted as a “sweetener” and a “bribe” to justify the proposal for an additional 21 houses to the 120 dwellings originally proposed.

Campaigners also point out that Sport England has lodged a holding objection, on the grounds that the new site for the sports hall could result in the loss of grass sports pitches.

In its objections, Reepham Town Council noted that the site, at 0.48 hectares, is not part of the land off Broomhill Lane, as specified under the approved site allocations document, but instead takes up a significant proportion (one fifth) of the remaining high school playing fields.

It added that this would result in the loss of open space and further reduce the school’s capacity for future expansion.

Other objectors to the proposed Broomhill Lane housing scheme, who include the town council, have cited the increased demand on the town’s overstretched infrastructure, including the sewage system, and the increase in traffic on nearby roads.

In addition, only 28 (20%) of the proposed 141 dwellings will be “affordable” or “social” housing, rather than the policy target of 30%.

Local lobby group Realistic Reepham, which opposes large-scale housing estates, pointed out that the last “affordable” houses to be built in Reepham were 11 units constructed in 2009.

The group’s founder, Mark Bridges, who lives on Broomhill Lane, next to the proposed development site, said many residents felt the community would be paying a high price in terms of extra traffic, overloaded infrastructure, disruption and the loss of green space for a sports hall that “should be provided by the education authority”.

“Building on a playing field is short-termism,” he continued. “Taken together, the housing and sports hall will use 30% of the current grass playing fields. Long-term, taxpayers’ money will be needed to buy extra playing fields.

“If you asked residents of Reepham and the surrounding area what extra sporting facilities they’d like to see, they might mention a gym or even a swimming pool.”

See our earlier stories:

• School sports hall has costs as well as benefits
• Community benefits from new high school sports hall
• Town council objects to Broomhill Lane housing development plans

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You may be aware that there are early plans to build a new sports hall at Reepham High School & College. This would be fantastic, as we are one of the few high schools in the area without one.

When I joined RHSC in 1996, I was told by my predecessor, Mike Rowson, that the current sports hall was built in the early 1970s, half-sized, with a plan to extend it fully in the future. Clearly, that never happened, so we are left with what is, frankly, not a great facility.

Subsequently, it could be easily argued that every sport we play in that hall is compromised, and therefore the physical education of our pupils is compromised too; this is not acceptable for our young people.

A new sports hall would be fantastic for the area, as we fully intend to make it a joint school and community use facility.

We currently sit in the middle of an area without a sports hall, surrounded by other towns and schools with such a facility, all of which cannot be called “local”. This is clearly unfair on our pupils – and the wider community.

It would be wonderful to see local sports teams and clubs using the new sports hall out of school hours, and it becoming a key sporting hub for Reepham and the surrounding area.

Fortunately, we enjoy a huge school playing field, which has been in existence since the opening of Reepham College more than ten years ago, so the news sports hall can be placed perfectly for easy access for community use – without compromising the security of the school site.

There would also be other knock-on benefits of this new accommodation, as our plan would be to turn the old hall into an impressive performing arts facility, again with the potential for community use.

In summary, a new sports hall would represent an important and long overdue improvement to the school and community’s sporting life.

But, from a headteacher’s point of view, please understand the main aim of a new sports hall is to ensure our community’s young people can be involved in a truly first-class physical education experience, as we try to equip them for an active, happy and healthy life.

See our earlier stories:

• Town council objects to Broomhill Lane housing development plans
• Plans submitted for 141 houses off Broomhill Lane

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Training is held on Saturday mornings from 10.15–11.15 am at Cawston Church of England Primary Academy, Aylsham Road, Cawston. Everyone welcome; no experience necessary.

For more information, contact: Paul Willmott 07926 004994 or email

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Small but enthusiastic crowds gathered in Reepham on Sunday 30 June to watch cyclists in the HSBC UK National Road Championships and a 100-mile recreational ride.

Pit stop in Reepham’s Market Place for the recreational riders on the British Cycling Challenge 100 Sportive. Photo: Charles Butcher

The men’s and women’s races brought out the cream of British road riders plus a host of police motorcycles and support vehicles.

With rolling road closures in force, several motorists had to alter course at the last minute as they were overtaken by honking police bikes.

For the 1,000-plus riders in the British Cycling Challenge 100 Sportive arriving after the men’s race, a giant refreshment stand in Reepham’s Market Place provided fuel for the last leg of their journey back to Norwich.

The day was warm and competitors had already faced energy-sapping headwinds as they travelled westwards from Cromer to Wells-next-the-Sea.

Earlier, local police officers lent willing hands to help set up the “pit stop” when support staff were delayed.

For a while it seemed the riders would have to do without their sausage rolls, but in the end all the supplies arrived safely.

Spectators included Reepham residents, riders’ friends and families, local cyclists and racing fans, some of whom had travelled from outside Norfolk.

Mainstream media coverage was thin, the experts said, and the lack of reliable 4G signals on the inland parts of the route spoiled the video live-streamed by British Cycling.

You can watch the men’s race (try starting at 3:27:00 as they leave Themelthorpe) and the women’s race (2:38:00), but in each case the signal drops frustratingly as the riders approach Reepham.

The race winners were Ben Swift (Team Ineos) and Alice Barnes (Canyon–Sram Racing). Swift’s cousin Connor Swift won the men’s race last year. The full list is here.

See our earlier story:

• Elite cyclists to visit Reepham in national championship

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Competitors in the men’s “elite” class of the HSBC UK National Road Championships are expected to reach Reepham around 12.28 pm, with the elite women following around 16.54 pm. Close behind each of the elite races will be riders in the men’s and women’s under-23 classes. Watch the video HERE

In between the men’s and women’s races Reepham Market Place will serve as one of three “pit stops” for cyclists on the Challenge 100 event, in which 1,300 riders tackle a 100-mile course. All the riders will enter Reepham on the B1145 Dereham Road before crossing the Market Place to hurtle down Church Hill, leaving on Norwich Road.

Throughout the day there will be rolling road closures along the route, which starts and finishes in Norwich and takes in Wroxham, North Walsham, Cromer and Wells-next-the-Sea as well as Reepham.

Reepham will see stringent parking restrictions from midnight to 10 pm on 30 June. Any vehicles left in areas marked by small bright yellow signs are liable to be towed away, warns town clerk Jo Boxall.

The events are part of the Great British Cycling Festival, which also features time trials around Sandringham on 27 June, mountain biking at Hethersett on 29 and 30 June, and a family cycling festival in Norwich on 30 June.

In the road races, reigning men’s champion Connor Swift will defend his title against riders including 2016 champion Adam Blythe, 2013 winner and former world champion Mark Cavendish and 2012 national champion Ian Stannard.

Past winner Hannah Barnes is a strong contender for the women’s race, with reigning champion Jess Roberts and four-time winner Lizzie Deignan not riding.

Charles Butcher

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The club was the brainchild of chairman and coach Jamie Snell after his son had said he would like to play for a team.

Realising there were not many teams in the area, Mr Snell approached Dave Froom to see if he would be willing to help put together a couple of trial sessions to find out if there was sufficient interest from local youngsters.

Flyers were handed out to all Bawdeswell Primary School children and 40 turned up for the first trial session.

The club has since gone from strength to strength and now has three teams playing on a weekly basis, including an under 12s all-girls team.

As with all clubs, there are constant demands on funds and regular fundraising events are held.

When Bawdeswell Bombers heard that Reepham Lions had formed and was looking for local clubs who would benefit from funding, the club approached the Lions to see if it could offer any help.

After considering their written application, Reepham Lions is delighted to announce it has donated £250 towards the purchase of a portable team shelter and eight-seat bench package, which is expected to be in place for use at the football tournaments to be held in June.

Recycling used spectacles and hearing aids

Meanwhile, thanks to all those who have donated their old spectacles and hearing aids. The bin in the Bircham Centre was full in no time and has now been emptied, ready for more donations. Please keep them coming.

If you would like to know more about Reepham Lions, please visit the website, email or come along to one of our meetings, which are held on the first Tuesday of the month in Reepham Methodist Church, Station Road, Reepham, at 7.30 pm.

Liz Howes

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