Testimonials

Why Do You Love the Valley Royals? Club Members Share their Experiences:

My son joined the Valley Royals JD program in 2018 after he discovered he liked throwing at a school track meet. The JD program gives kids the opportunity to try all the events at practice. The coaching is positive and encouraging. The kids are encouraged to work hard but always have fun. The older athletes assist in coaching and mentor the younger athletes. Special thanks to coach Sean from the older athlete group for taking the time to help coach my son and other JD athletes in throwing. Thanks to Christa, club administrator for all her help and hard work. Valley Royals is a great program for kids in the junior development age group.

Natasha Khan

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Valley Royals came into Charlie’s life at the exact right time.  Speed comes naturally to Charlie but through track and field, he has developed his technique and learned new skills.  The learning atmosphere at Valley Royals allows for kids to try something that they might not ever had tried.  We challenge him to compete in the various events that he has participated in practices, and by doing this he has expanded beyond being just a fast runner.  Charlie, being an athlete, has utilized his training in other aspects of his sports, and Coaches always appreciate his sportsmanship and discipline.  We are going into our 4th season with Valley Royals and appreciate all the hard work of those involved to make this club available.  Thank you to the coaches who put time and value into our kids.

Corrie and Melissa Franson

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It is with much enthusiasm that we write this testimonial for the Valley Royals Track and Field Club.  Our son, Riley, has been a member since 2018 in the cross country and the track and field programs.  During this we have felt a real sense of community and belonging to a team.  The coaches and Board of Directors have created a safe environment where the young athletes work towards achieving their personal best.  The coaches are professional, approachable, knowledgeable and always encouraging.  Since joining the club Riley’s speed, endurance and confidence has improved significantly.  He looks forward to practices, meets and running with his friends. 

 

Sincerely,

Tyler and Shannon Simmonds

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Our introduction to the Valley Royals Track & Field Club began when our oldest daughter reached grade four and ran in the city-wide cross-country races that the club runs for grades 4-8. That experience encouraged us to enroll our daughters in the club. The club allowed our family an affordable way to participate in organized physical activity that could cater the each of their different interests. It allowed for the girls to each do different activities at the same time and place allowing our family to all stay together. 

The coaches and older athletes have always been encouraging and supportive to our girls. The club fosters positive role modeling, volunteering, and a peer group that is across a wide range of ages. Our girls often say the other athletes are as older and younger siblings. The club has assisted in 2 of our girls attending and winning gold medals at the BC summer games. Also assisted in one of our daughters obtaining a university track scholarship. We are very grateful to the club, coaches, athletes, parents, Volunteer Board for all their great work. 

The Hutchison family.

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Our daughter is in her second year with the Royals.  This year she joined the power and speed group.   Coach Trevor has been exceptional in training and educating.  As you simply can’t have training alone, the coach takes the time to properly educate on the importance of form and technique.
The quality of the coaching is professional and admirable.  The coaching is serious, committed and have each athlete’s best interest in mind.

Thank you, Royals, for providing this amazing atmosphere for our athletes!

Nadia Van Delft

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We joined Valley Royals JD’s in 2017 when we registered our son.
It really has felt like we joined a community of like-minded people.
The feel since the start has been welcoming, encouraging, and fun-filled. Our son has grown and developed incredibly in coordination, strength and in his confidence. The coaches and assistant coaches are incredible and make every training session meaningful and fun. They really focus on long term fitness/athletic development. If the kids are not engaged and having fun then they won’t likely stick with it.  Our son is excited to go to track for every practice and  every track meet.

Thank you Valley Royals for the amazing program for the Junior Development age group.
Jen & Chris Wright

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Our experience with the Valley Royals began over 1 ½ years ago when my son discovered he loved to run.  We have been involved with the club ever since and have nothing but positive experiences to tell about.  We have encouraged friends to come out and join the club as well.  Not only is the coaching staff extremely dedicated, capable and invested in the development of our youth athletes, they make every practice fun, engaging and encouraging.  The club offers a variety of events to train and compete in and the youth athletes are encouraged to try all the various events.   The older athletes also assist in the coaching of the younger athletes which we find is very positive role modelling.  The Club has had a positive impact on my son with regards to his self-esteem, character traits like perseverance and sportsmanship, and he has widened his circle of friends with common interests.  We have also noticed the positive impact the Club has had on our community through the efforts and very hard work by the Club administration.  We very much value the Valley Royals Track & Field Club and are grateful to be part of it.

Thanks, Anna Maria Molina

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I have had five children train with Valley Royals over the past eight years, and four are currently members of the club. I have really appreciated that despite varying ages, abilities and event preferences, there has been something for each of them. Three started in Junior Development where they experienced each of the main track and field events and two commenced in the Power Speed Group where they specialized in sprints and hurdles. When one of their younger brothers moved up into the older group and had an interest in javelin, the throws coach took him on, a relative beginner, whilst coaching high school students competing at international level – you see this with other disciplines within the club too. I have always found the boys have enjoyed their sessions, not only benefitting from the coaching, but also the ‘atmosphere’ of the club: working hard, but having fun too. Although there are high-level competitors within the club, competing at national and international level, I have found the coaches give equal regard for the athletes, notwithstanding their ability, which makes people feel  accepted, respected and ‘part of the team’.

MrsTaryn Price

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After joining our club Gurpartap is developing a good habit in her life, making  friends and developing confidence as a athlete and becoming a responsible toward sports community. She likes Trevor coaching and like his coaching style. Moreover, she enjoy her sessions at track as well cross-country. As a parent we are satisfied that Gurpartap is in good hands. We are extremely thankful to you (Christa – Club Admin) as well to help us to update with everything and helping us out of your comfort zone to deal with our late night emails and texting. A very big thanks to all coaches to share and provide their knowledge with our kids. We are looking forward and waiting for little one to join as well.

Thanks for everything
Hardeep and Gurpreet Kaur

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I have really enjoyed my experience with Valley Royals so far during my first year of track. It is really fun participating and learning specifics about every running, throwing, and jumping event. The atmosphere at practices is very friendly and encouraging. The coaches have helped me a lot and I am telling my fiends at school to join next year.

Syra Dhaliwal – Grade 4

Parent: Harjinder Dhaliwal

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“The Valley Royals Track Club does a great job in sharing and providing equipment for the many schools in Abbotsford for our track meets.  Every year the Valley Royals allow our school, Abbotsford Middle School, to use their high jump standards, equipment, and mats for our school track meet.  Our school has a population of 650+ students and they are always so excited to experience the wonders of high jump at our track meet!  Without the continued cooperation of the Valley Royals, we wouldn’t be able to give these kids the chance to participate in high jump (many for the first time)!  Thanks Valley Royals for your support of our school in Abbotsford!”

 Shawn Mani – Athletic Director of Abbotsford Middle School 

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“Abbotsford Traditional Middle school has been connected with the Valley Royals and participated in the Grand Prix race series for over 10 years now. The ATMS Cross Country program has grown over the years largely due to the quality of the race events that the Valley Royals put on every year. Students appreciate the ability to track their progress online throughout the running season, the health benefits related to being part of a running club and the sense of ‘team’ that comes with competition. Overall, this club provides a place for students to get hooked on a healthy activity that supports the notion of ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body.”

Josh Lockington – Abbotsford Traditional Middle School 

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“Our son Vikramjit Singh Gondara is an active athlete of Valley Royal track and field club from 2009 to present. He started training with Valley Royal as a 10-year-old little boy but today he is an 18-year-old young man and three-time Canadian champion in Hammer throw. He is Canadian record holder in Hammer throw and very good in Discus throw. We are proud on him. All this happen with Valley Royals professional training and throwing technique taught by Mr Harold Willers.  And on another hand, we are thankful to coach Mr Ziggy Szelagowicz who made him very strong. So, all over very good club and experienced coaches and hardworking athletes. As parents we are thankful to club management, coaches and very thankful to our own senior coach Mr Gerry Swan who create the Club and today we see our kids in top Canadian ranking. Vikramjit is favorite of all coaches, even though he didn’t train with all of them, but they give advice to him, so we are thankful to Royals.”

S. Gondara

 

 

Updated April 2020