NEWS
New Address!
As from Monday 4th July 2011, Vicky is pleased to announce her new treatment room at the Halfway House, Brampton Heath Golf Club. This unique venue in Church Brampton is close to the town, has fantastic views of Northamptonshire, ample parking and has bar and restaurant facilities.
She will still also be offering treatments at the newly formed Dallington Racquets and Fitness Club. See Contact page for details.
Three Peaks' Challenge - June 2011
Vicky has recently completed the Three Peak's Challenge (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon) in 23 hours 50 minutes. This also included the descent of Snowdon whereas the traditional 24 hour challenge has been to the top of the third peak!
She would like to thank all her clients who have sponsored her - she raised a total of £795 for the Birmingham Childrens' Hospital Appeal.
Vicky is now sponsoring Kirsty Gallagher of Wootton Road Runners
Kirsty
has been running competitively for several years and has achieved many impressive results:
Three Counties X-Country Champion 2006 and 2007.
East Midlands Grand Prix Series Overall 2nd for 2009 and 2010.
Luton Marathon Winner in 2006.
Country X-Country Champion 2008 and 2009.
Represented East Midlands in Nottingham British Half Marathon
Team Championships.
Elite start London Marathan 2008 Personal Best 2hrs/58 mins.
Selected to represent England Squad at British Masters English and Irish X-Country International Team Winners 2009.
Midlands Masters X-Country Champion 2009.
A bit about Kirsty:
"I was born in Dunstable to Scottish parents in 1972 - that makes me 38! I currently live in Abington with my husband Chris who is also a keen runner and my two children from a previous relationship; Will 9 and Scarlett 6. I qualified as a General Nurse many years ago but since having the children have to fit work in around them and therefore have a very suitable and worthwhile job as a Teaching Support Assistant at Northampton College which I thoroughly enjoy. Apart from the allure of seeing fit men in tights and being able to get away with consuming more chocolate than the average woman I guess I took up running more seriously when I entered local races as a way of keeping fit and challenging myself and soon realised by my overall placing that I had an element of natural talent. I then decided to pursue this to see what level I could attain."
Kirsty Gallager, December 2010
Extracts from an interview by Richard Slater, from ComeOnYouSaints, December 2007 when Vicky was Massage Therapist to Northampton Saints 2003-2009
The Saints' squad and support team is well over fifty strong, and I'm prepared to bet that very few of us know just how many people it takes to keep the squad going - how many of us know the Saints have a massage therapist? This individual can be seen at all matches, home and away, sat with coaches and replacements, sharing the same emotions of the supporters as our team delight and frustrate us.
But before the game and then afterwards, this individual's role comes to the fore, as they help the players prepare for and then recover from the rigours of the hard game they play. Some would say this person was in a very lucky position - I write of course of Vicky Clarke, Massage Therapist to the Saints.
Although not full time, Vicky goes to the Club most days. Typically Tuesdays are made up of rehab treatment, while the other end of the week is all about preparation for Saturday's match. Her massage treatments are designed to increase circulation and after matches or heavy training sessions, to flush out lactic acid from the body. On a home match day, Vicky will arrive at the ground two hours before kick-off and the next hour is the most intense of the week. Her role is both one of injury prevention and injury care. In days gone by, the treatment would have differed between the forwards and the backs. These days with there being far less size difference and seemingly interchangeable roles - many of the players have similar needs.
Looking to the future, Vicky is clearly looking forward to a return to top-flight rugby, hopefully next season. Other than the obvious reason of wanting to be part of a Premiership team, the long coach trips to the most southerly and westerly reaches of the country are not to be relished apparently!