Tribute to William (Monty) Munson
This is a tribute to William (Monty) Munson Co-Founder and ex-President of Ripon Runners by his good friend and fellow Ripon Runner Rodney Mills
I first came across Monty in July 1985 at a half marathon in Grassington. Standing in the finishing funnel I saw this white-haired man in front of me wearing a Ripon Runners vest. As we had recently moved to Ripon I made enquires and joined the club the following week. This was to be the start of my long association with Ripon Runners and the beginning of an equally long friendship with Monty.
Although he always enjoyed a fit and robust healthy lifestyle through his work in the building trade, Monty never took up running until almost 56 years of age. A year later in 1985 along with a running friend Cameron Weatherburn he formed Ripon Runners. Over the next 30 years he made up for lost time and it’s doubtful if anyone in his age category covered as many miles.
The club c1986 with Monty on the left
During the years we shared many training runs together, mainly through the seven bridges, including in the early days a run every Christmas Day morning. A keen supporter of local races and series events he completed all 25 Rainton 10k races, before the event was dropped.
Monty at the last Rainton 10k with grandchildren
He came to prominence when he reached 60 winning his age category in most of the local races and putting Ripon Runners on the map. It became something of a family affair with his eldest son Tony often winning prizes in the over 40s and his youngest son Jonathan achieving similar results in the junior section. It was during this period that he gained a sub 40min 10K PB at one of the local events, a good time for anyone but exceptional for an over 60 runner.
One year his winnings from the Loftus Poultry run provided him with a very tasty Christmas dinner. However, another year he was not so lucky, after receiving a lovely tea service as the winner of the over 60s at the Leeds Half Marathon, he brought it to the club to show members and dropped it when he got home and had to replace it. His favourite event, which gave him his main inspiration for running, was the London Marathon. Employing Monty to complete a building job in the weeks leading up to the race was never a good idea, as he would often disappear, park his truck at Hell Wath and complete 3 circuits of the 7 bridges route. He completed some 17 or 18 London Marathons in total, achieving a PB time of 3:12 in his early 60s; no mean feat.
Monty out for a club run with Swaledale Runners
In 1994 I went to London with him; we were at separate start lines, he was with the good for age veterans and I was with the crowds at another start. Ironically with a mile to go I caught up with a tiring Monty, but made sure we finished together. At one London he bought a new pair of shoes on the Saturday at the race exhibition and ran in them the next day, not recommended but he got away with it. On another occasion a group of Ripon Runners went to watch the boat race, which was on the day before the London. When the boats had passed and the crowds started to disperse Monty was heard to say, “don’t they come round again”; as a marathon runner a one lap rowing race didn’t seem long enough to him.
Monty would be the first to say he was never interested in being an administrator, but he was still the main driving force behind Ripon Runners and by far the chief club workhorse. Nothing was ever too much trouble for his cherished running club and over the years some of his trucks covered almost as much mileage delivering race equipment as building materials for his jobs. In fact, when he retired from work, he kept his final truck going for the sole purposes of the club races. Monty served on the committee for almost 35 years, serving as Club President for 20 of them. As President he particularly enjoyed meeting the younger members at the Annual Presentation evening.
Monty at the 2015 club annual awards ceremony
His devotion over the years has seen Ripon Runners club grow from a membership of a dozen people to some 280 runners of all ages and abilities. Ripon Runners now take part in a huge range of different running disciplines in all corners of the world, including Everest. Many hard working and dedicated past and present members have all played their part in this transformation, none more so than Monty, his contribution over so many years was truly outstanding.
During our many years of friendship and joint service on the committee I can honestly say that we never had a cross word. The past year will have been difficult for Monty, he liked nothing better than visiting the club on Tuesday, sit in his chair and chat to people coming in for a drink after their run. The evening he was presented with his 90th birthday cake, it was all I could do to get him to go home at the end of the night.
Monty would have reached his 93rd year in March this year, his legacy as the father figure of Ripon Runners will ensure his memory lives on.