What Do These 8 Valley Royals Athletes Have In Common?

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RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP for 2018, before Midnight December 31st 2017, and get your remaining Fundraising Credits back as a Discount/Refund. To Renew Click: ONLINE REGISTRATION (Due to insurance rules, all athletes must have a paid membership to train with the Valley Royals)

Answer: Each of these Valley Royals athletes have achieved performances in 2017 which surpass a standard based on the best performances of all time in their age category as recorded by BC Athletics. These Athletes have been nominated/awarded for the BC Athletics “JD Award” or “Athlete of the Year Award” for 2017.

  • Vikramjit Gondara (Senior) Athlete of the Year Award nominee for Hammer (63.00m) and Discus (47.64m)
  • Rowan Hamilton (Youth) Athlete of the Year Award nominee for Hammer (69.54m) and Discus (47.54m)
  • Alexa Porpaczy (Youth) Athlete of the Year Award nominee for High Jump (1.80m)
  • Liam Espedido (Midget 15) Athlete of the Year Award winner for High Jump (1.83m)
  • Elliott Payne (Midget 15) Athlete of the Year Award winner for Javelin (55.79m)
  • Harrison Trustham (Midget 15) Athlete of the Year Award winner for 100m Hurdles (14.10 seconds) and 300m Hurdles (41.40 seconds)
  • Mark Molina (2006 JD Boys) Junior Development Award winner for 60m Sprints (8.65 seconds) and 100m Sprints (13.62 seconds)
  • Emily Tinsley (2008 JD Girls) Junior Development Award winner for High Jump (1.15m)

Mark and Emily received their awards at the BC Athletics Junior Development Banquet on October 29th, 2017. Our Midget, Junior and Senior Athletes will be honoured at the BC Athletics Banquet coming up on the evening of February 3rd, 2018 at the Executive Airport Plaza Hotel in Richmond. For Banquet Tickets and the most up-to-date info on Athlete of the Year Award Winners in BC, click this link: http://www.bcathletics.org/News/bc-athletics-annual-awards-banquet/2711/

Membership in the Valley Royals Increased by 76% in 2017

Need to RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP for 2018? See the NEXT POST below this one…

Membership in the Valley Royals has increased from 109 Members in 2016 to 192 Members in 2017. This is a remarkable 76% increase in one year!  Several new initiatives may have contributed to this stunning level of growth:

  • The Board of Directors chose not to increase prices. Instead, they created a new Fundraising Initiative that would give athletes 50% credit for any Fundraising or Sponsorship that they earned for the club. These Fundraising Credits could be used to help pay the athlete’s race/event fees and even be refunded as a discount on their 2018 Membership if renewed before midnight December 31st 2017. To Renew Click:  ONLINE REGISTRATION 
  • The Board also approved the creation of smaller membership packages for just the Track & Field Season or just the Cross-Country Season so that athletes had choices beyond the Whole-Year package (which remains our best deal)
  • Club President, Ivon Gill, created the new Vaisakhi Track & Field Meet and Cultural Celebration which raised our profile in Abbotsford and the athletic community. He also worked hard to invite many new sponsors to contribute to the club allowing us to advertise and raise greater awareness of the event.  Club Treasurer, Debbie Foote was Meet Director and Club Secretary, Dawn Driver, was Volunteer Coordinator.
  • Our new Online Registration System & Online Credit Card Payment System was designed by Sheldon Kotyk, Web-Developer & Owner of Abigah.com . Sheldon is a parent of two Valley Royals athletes and his web design work for the club has made registering/renewing and paying much easier for new and current members. Sheldon also designed the Monthly Online Credit Card Payment Option breaking down the cost of an annual membership into smaller monthly payments.
  • Board Member Monica Carsience and Vice-President James Porpaczy, wrote many press releases resulting in more media attention from newspapers around the Lower Mainland which reported the high achievements of several Valley Royals athletes and coaches.
  • Club Administrator, Christa McAuley, arranged for city-wide advertising in the PRC (Parks, Recreation and Culture) Guide and made Large Banner-Style Posters placing them at key locations around the City.
  • Board Member, Monica Carsience, created a new type of trial membership: the “$20 One-Week Trial”. She promoted this by creating a water bottle label to encourage new athletes to try a training group for one week. These water bottles were given away or sold for a dollar at key athletic events throughout the year. 
  • Club Treasurer, Debbie Foote, ran the Valley Royals Grand Prix Series in the fall reaching many schools, students, and their families in Abbotsford and Mission. Debbie arranged for all of the volunteers to receive a thank-you gift key chain with our club logo on it. The club promo tags on the key chains were designed and made by Chris Wright, parent of a Valley Royals athlete and owner of Wright’s Laser Design in Abbotsford.
  • Royals Vice-President, James Porpaczy, ran the BC Cross Country Championships which our club hosted in Clearbrook Park on October 28th. This event received national coverage in an Online news article in Canadian Running Magazine which featured video interviews of top athletes racing that day. 

The wonderful growth seen in the club this year can also be attributed to our club athletes who have enjoyed their training groups and have invited their friends to join them! 

Club President, Ivon Gill, wishes to officially thank all of the members of the Valley Royals Track & Field Club and says, “Many thanks to all of our athletes, families, coaches, officials, sponsors, fundraisers and volunteers who have contributed to the success of the Valley Royals in 2017! It is truly wonderful to see what we can accomplish together working as a team. Enjoy your holidays and we look forward to continued growth together as a Club in 2018!”

Renew Your Membership for 2018 Before Fundraising Credits Expire

Just a reminder to renew your Valley Royals Club Membership before December 31st. It’s fast and easy with our “Renew” option – just use the same email address that you used to register in 2017, check/edit your information, choose your membership package & payment option and you’re done!

Click here: ONLINE REGISTRATION 

Online credit card payment and our monthly payment program are available. You can also pay by cheque.

Due to insurance rules, all athletes must have a paid membership to train with the Valley Royals.

Fundraising credits expire at midnight New Year’s Eve so be sure to register before then and Christa will give you a refund for the dollar value of your credits. Happy New Year!

Incredibly Lucky: Coach Kiya Posthumus

Known for her bubbly personality, gorgeous hair, and colorful nails– Valley Royals former athlete and middle distance Assistant Coach, Kiya Posthumus, is graduating with a degree in Kinesiology this December from the University of the Fraser Valley. She will be leaving the Valley Royals to begin her new career as a Perdorthist making orthotics & lifts to adapt footwear to the needs of her clients. She is also planning on eventually completing a Masters Degree. 

“I have been incredibly lucky to have coached for such an amazing club that has allowed to me to grow as a coach and individual. Thank-you for all of the wonderful support, encouragement, and opportunities you have given me throughout the years. ” ~ Kiya Posthumus
 
The Valley Royals Track & Field Club has been incredibly lucky to have Coach Kiya too! She is a Level 1 Certified Coach and began working with our Middle Distance athletes in the Winter Season of 2013. Kiya has impacted a remarkable number of runners over the years.  (See photos from Kiya’s Album below featuring many of the athletes that she has coached with the Royals).
 
Kiya, herself a Valley Royals athlete, began training with the Royals when she was in Grade 10 at Rick Hansen Secondary. She loved going on team trips where there was greater competition and team bonding. She attended Nationals for Cross Country in Guelph, Ontario and Nationals for Track in Abbotsford in 2009.  Kiya was  selected to be a torch carrier for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. 
She also coordinated the Medal Presentations at the 2016 BC Summer Games. 
 
Regarding her years as a coach, Kiya says that she will miss “watching athletes develop and get better at their discipline, learning about themselves and their sport. As well as, how different each athlete is and all the personalities encountered.”  She advises young athletes, “Do what you love and don’t let pressure take the love out of your sport. Work hard, have fun, and always communicate with your coach.”
 
Remarkably, we are all incredibly lucky to have Kiya Posthumus with us at all. On January 25th 2010 she was hit by a car in a serious accident that changed the course of her life and led to her long and courageous recovery. The inspiring story of Kiya’s recovery, giving back to the community by coaching athletes and working with children with FASD, and the challenging journey she’s been on to get her education is featured in an online video by the UFV:
 
Thank You Coach Kiya. We wish you all the best in your new career! 

Kiya’s Photo Album: