Thirza & Hyde

Huge Thanks to CVFR’s Membership Maestro Thirza Hyde

Thirza in full flight

Thirza Hyde has been Calder Valley Fell Runner’s membership secretary for the last 20 years and is handing on the baton to take up her new roles as joint co-ordinator of the club juniors and on the CVFR committee. This is a great opportunity for the club to thank Thirza for her hard work and dedication, during which time CVFR has seen successful growth in membership for both seniors and juniors.

Bill Johnson, CVFR chairman summed up Thirza’s contribution: “Thirza has been the heartbeat of the club for 20 years. Without her unwavering enthusiasm and energy, the club would not be what it is today. Thirza is a shining example of someone who dedicates hours of their time, on behalf of others, for no thought of reward. We are lucky to have had her as CVFR membership secretary for two decades. And now the CVFR juniors will continue to benefit from that enthusiasm and energy as she directs more of both those talents on the juniors who form the future of the club.”

CVFR’s Rod Sutcliffe remembers Thirza in the ‘early’ days working hard to grow the membership, particularly among women, spending time to encourage ‘unattached’ fell runners in races to become proud Calder Valley club members.

Thirza centre_21st Anniversary Run 04-11-07 (High Brown Knoll 6)

Regularly going above and beyond the call of duty, Bill Johnson recalls Thirza and club mates spending many hours making ‘sheep’ batons for the British Relay Championships, hosted by CVFR at Castle Carr. These unusual batons were greeted with much hilarity when each competing team was given them to carry round the relay event.

Clare Kenny, Thirza, Rose Carnochan, Amanda Farrell.

As well as enjoying success as a runner (five times ladies club champion in a decade), our CVFR club archivist, John Riley also found a great deal of evidence of Thirza’s penchant for fancy dress.

Thirza at CVFR Club do Jan 2012

Jo Waites, a fellow CVFR runner remembers fondly, the early starts and arrivals at races, as she benefitted from Thirza’s fell-running experience, fuelled by copious tea and egg sandwiches.

Calder Valley are still benefitting from Thirza’s experience as she works with Andy Clarke and the club juniors and contributes to the committee. Trudy, a CVFR parent commented: “Thirza’s familiar personality starts the junior sessions off with a smile and enthusiasm ready to run the calder hills. For them she is the face of CVFR. Thanks for getting us organised Thirza!”

Thirza, once confused as ‘ Tizer’, may also pursue her new-found talent for photobombing, as experienced first-hand by top cyclist Mark Cavendish at the launch of the 2018 Tour De Yorkshire. You have been warned!

Thirza photobombing Mark Cavendish

The future is bright. The future is red and white. Thank you Thirza, for everything you have done for CVFR (so far).