Team Captain’s Award Winner 2026: Mark Flynn

Following Mark Anderson’s win in 2025, this season’s Team Captain’s award went to one of our relative newcomers (though you wouldn’t know it!): Mark Flynn.

Mark has made an outstanding contribution to the club over the last year, despite only having joined as a member about 9 months ago.

Fully signed-up, he didn’t hang about. In that period, no-one else represented the club more times, and even if you expand to the full year, only the team captains racked up more appearances in a Claremont vest.

Mark has consistently been one of the first to put his name down, showing no fear towards snow-covered, cross-country quagmires in the dead of winter, even after the questionable purchase of some very light-coloured spikes!

Being a member of Claremont isn’t all about pace, but Mark has come on leaps and bounds in his running, shaving a good 4 minutes off the 5k times he was running last summer, and overall demonstrating improved speed and fitness through his dedication to putting in the hours with the club.

Away from the actual running, Mark has demonstrated a great desire to give back to Claremont. He has already stepped up as one of our handicap co-ordinators, tested the water as a Monday night run-leader, shown interest in assisting the club committee, and taken on multiple tasks as part of the Weetslade Committee. Possibly most important of all, he has on occasion taken custody of the club tent and flag between events, a crucial component to our club trips around the north-east!

Being near ever-present suggests a certain level of enthusiasm, and Mark is always up for the next challenge, displaying determination and a keen sense of humour, even after having tackled some extremely steep hills!

Congratulations Mark!