Getting to know….. Florence Baulk. Edition 22.
Throwing caution to the wind.
If there’s one thing you can count on with Florence Baulk, it’s that she’ll say yes to a challenge — whether that’s a 600g spear, a club competition, or, most recently, the entire heptathlon.
Florence found her event early: the javelin — a discipline that rewards precision, bravery and a willingness to commit fully.
She was fortunate to learn under the late Owen, one of Woking AC’s most cherished coaches.
“I was lucky enough to join the club and learn everything from Owen. He taught me the javelin and helped me grow into the athlete I am today. He always told me stories about his wife Barbara, who coached long jump, and insisted that if you could throw, you could jump… unfortunately that part never came true for me!”
But one thing Owen did teach her stuck for good: progress isn’t linear — it has peaks and troughs.
It’s a motto Florence still carries.
And it’s driven her into all sorts of new territory — Hyrox, half marathons, and now the heptathlon. She’ll try anything once.
Athletics has shaped her relationships too.
“Athletics has given me my best friend — Katie H.”
(Readers may remember Katie from Episode 15.)
It’s also brought her even closer to her mum, “who comes to every competition and keeps me up to date with everything from memberships to officials!”
After a short spell away from Woking, Florence hit a major milestone: breaking 40 metres in the 2024 season.
Returning home in 2025, she took another step forward — throwing over 40 metres at every single competition, earning a top-30 UK ranking, and delivering the most consistent season of her life.
“My proudest moment has to be the consistency of this season. It’s by far the best I’ve had — and doing it without a coach really spurs me on for what I could achieve next. I enjoyed every comp and loved spending time with the team. They’re truly inspirational — and the high I get after a SAL is second to none. Especially after seeing my adopted grandparents Dave & Gina!”
And in true Florence fashion, she’s not stopping at one event.
“I’ve challenged myself for the 2026 season to compete in the heptathlon. I’ve dabbled before, but the growth and energy of the senior women has inspired me to commit properly. And Kay too — who’s made me do just about every event in the SAL anyway!”
Her fun fact?
“I don’t think I have one! I’m quite old-fashioned — you’ll always see me on a night out with a disposable camera. And I send postcards to Dave and Gina from every trip I go on, domestic or abroad. They say they’ve collected them all on their mantelpiece.”
Classic Florence: thoughtful, sentimental, full of warmth… and fully committed.
(Editor’s note: Florence didn’t just throw herself into the season — she also launched our Woking AC Awards Evening earlier this year, hosting the night with humour, charisma and complete ease. Whether she’s throwing a javelin or helping launch our biggest moments, she brings energy, joy and absolute commitment to Woking AC. 
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Inspired by Florence’s story?
Whether you’re a thrower, runner, jumper — or still figuring out your event — Woking AC is the perfect place to discover what you’re capable of.
Join us, try something new, and surprise yourself.
seniors@wokingac.com