England Athletics
Recently the Chairmen and Secretaries of County Associations in the North of England were invited to meet Jack Buckner (Project Director) whose job it is to implement the recommendations of the Foster Report for the restructuring of our sport. He has been in post since mid-September and has been visiting groups to listen and to inform. Four Groups have been established (which have representation from the North) to investigate particular aspects - “New England” (structure), Membership (not just a membership scheme), Funding for Initial Schemes, and Relationships with external organisations. By Christmas he hopes to issue a basic structure for athletics in England and then during next year (2005) to step by step agree the detail of that structure. It will be based on Regions playing the key role of delivering athletics in their patch and will include an England-wide membership scheme. Full implementation of the plan is aimed for in April 2006. The role of County Associations is likely to be determined by each Region separately - some Regions may not have a role for Counties (as currently in the North East, where the proposed North East Region coincides with the North East Counties AA0. I suspect in the North West Region which geographically is a large region, Counties will be needed.
Competition.
The recent National Cross Country Relays at Mansfield saw a number of teams from Cheshire clubs taking part amongst the record entry. Highest placed Cheshire team was the Under 15 boys (Daniel Cliffe, Matt Jackson and Lawrence Walker) from Warrington who just missed out on medals when finishing 4th. The Under 13 Warrington Boys team were 10th in their event, the Junior Ladies from Vale Royal were 9th while their Under 17 team were 12th and the Under 13 Girls team from Macclesfield were 10th in their event. In the Under 13 Girls event Rebecca Craigie from Macclesfield ran the 4th fastest leg of all athletes taking part.
The final event in the :
Cheshire Road Running Grand Prix.
was the Chester Zoo 10K on 17 October.
Both of the Grand Prix awards were presented to Wilmslow RC and in addition two perpetual trophies donated by Wilmslow RC and not as indicated last month. Although the mens title had become decided with 2 races to go, the ladies title went to the final race and it was a very close finish with Wilmslow winning from Macclesfield and Vale Royal.
There seems to be general agreement amongst clubs that the GP series has again been successful and the co-ordinator (Adrian Thiemicke) is to be thanked for his work in running the competition. He has already contacted Cheshire clubs with the view to continuing the series next year - but has had little response. PLEASE respond - it does help to know you want it to take place.
Contact details for the co-ordinator, Adrian Thiemicke (e-mail : roadracegp@cheshireaa.com Tel : 01270 569012)
County Championship dates :
Fell Race : unfortunately the Fell race event within which we hold our championship was cancelled this year. It appears to be down to problems with insurance cover the details of which changed from 1st November, particularly for organisers who are not an athletic affiliated club or organisation. Subsequent information suggests that it is more complicated as the Welsh Fell Runners have opted out of the UK Athletics scheme and have joined their Scottish Hill Running colleagues in signing up to a different insurance scheme - which presumably does not cover the English. And you thought athletics was simple!!
Cheshire Cross Country Championships 2005
Knights Grange, Winsford, on Saturday, January 15th. Entry forms have been distrubuted by e-mail and by post. The entry form is also on the Cheshire AA web site.
The host club again, Vale Royal AC, will require help from other clubs to set the course up, marshall and clear away afterwards. PLEASE respond to this - afterall athletes from your club are taking part so giving something back would be appreciated.
Looking ahead to the Inter-county cross country championships in March 2005, we are still looking for a team manager for the U17 and U20 ladies. Offers please to the County secretary.
Cheshire Cross Country League (not part of the Cheshire County AA).
League dates are :
Tuesday 28th December, Frodsham
Sunday 13th February, Woodbank Pk, Stockport
Sunday 13th March, Macclesfield.
No volunteer has yet come forward to replace Hamish Thomson as League Secretary so there are likely to be problems in getting the paperwork together for these meetings. So, again another request for any person who is willing to take on this role is asked in the first instance to contact the Newsletter Editior
Road Race Fixtures (in Cheshire).
Forthcoming road races in Cheshire which have been notified to Adrian Thiemicke and Permits applied for are
12 Dec Hale 5 mile, nr Speke (Halton BC 0151 420 9414)
26 Dec Chester “Round the Walls” (B Hastings 01244 311908) PLEASE NOTE NO ENTRIES ON DAY
2005
23 Jan 4 Villages ½ mara, Helsby (D Barnes 01928 723185)
6 Feb Alsager 5 mile (Ken Rushton 01782 330853)
6 Feb Runcorn 5 mile (Halton BC 0151 420 9414)
20 Mar Wilmslow ½ marathon (M Fowler 01625 434235)
27 Mar Bridge 5 mile (Halton BC 0151 420 9414)
27 Mar South Cheshire 10K, Crewe
5 Apr Chester Spring 5 mile (R Batterham 01244 300107
?? Apr Whitley 10K
?? May Christleton 5K
22 May Chester ½ marathon
Statistics on the 2003 road races in Cheshire are available on request from the Newsletter editor as well as a summary for the North of England.
UKA Coaching Courses :
Below are local ones to Cheshire.
Level 1
15/01/05 North Manchester (NW057)
19/03/05 SportCity, Manchester (NW062)
02/07/05 SportCity, Manchester (NW063)
Children in Athletics
05/12/04 Robin Pk, Wigan (NWCIA19)
22/01/05 SportCity, Manchester (NWCIA12)
26/03/05 SportCity, Manchester (NWCIA17)
03/07/05 SportCity, Manchester (NWCIA18)
Level 2 (Core)
4&5/12/04 SportCity, Manchester (NW214)
19&20/02/05 SportsCity, Manchester (NW215)
Level 2 (Event Specific) :
23/24 April 05 at SportsCity Manchester
Please book your place with Tony Airnes (Tel : 01253 358168 or e-mail : tairnes@ukathletics.org.uk) well before the date of the course.
Eddie Gore (Tel : 0151 513 5606), the Cheshire County AA Coaching Co-ordinator, has asked that a reminder is published to all UKA qualified coaches that their passes are due for renewal in April 2005. The scheme requires coaches to have attended courses and these to be noted in their pass book. Eddie has not got a clear answer from UKA as to what happens in the event of not enough credits. He therefore strongly advises that those who have been on courses to ensure their passes were signed by the course organiser/presenter. Also to consider going on appropriate courses. One such is that recently advertised by Sport Cheshire on “Emergency First Aid in Sport” to be held in Warrington on 16th AND 23rd November (you have to attend both evenings). Further details and bookings to Emma Deakin (Assistant Sports Development Officer) on 01606 871812, Ext 204 (e-mail: emmad@sportcheshire.org.
Additional information on suitable courses should also be avialble from Leonie Lightfoot at Sport Cheshire (contact details in the contacts section)
Contacts
Michael Hunt, Regional Development Co-ordinator for NW England. He is based at Preston Sports Arena. Contact details : Tel : 01772 728872; Mobile : 07968 498710; e-mail : mhunt@englandathletics.org
Leonie Lightfoot, Athletics Development Officer for Sport Cheshire (Active Sport) : contact details are Tel : 01606 871812 Ext 242 and e-mail : leoniel@sportcheshire.org
At our November committee meeting Leonie gave an up-date on Active Sport in Cheshire. More details of the 2005 Youth Games were given in that athletics is likely to be confined to Years 5 and 6.
TECHNICAL OFFICIALS
The County Officials Secretary, Joe Shellhorn, is proposing to hold a full day course for prospective Track & Field Officials in April 2005. This will include all disciplines (track, field, timekeeping) and hopefully up-dates for current officials and a Health & Safety course.
PLEASE contact Joe if you have persons in your club interested in becoming graded officials. Names and numbers are important to ensure it is worth putting these courses on.
Joe’s contact details are : Tel : 01244 679196 or e-mail (BUT no attachments please) joshell@talk21.com
Address changes
Please note that the North of England AA moved office with effect from 1st November 2004. The address of their new office is : 7A Wellington Road East, Dewsbury, West Yorks WF13 1HF (Tel : 0870 991 4545, Fax : 0870 991 4546; e-mail : info@noeaa-athletics.org.uk). PLEASE note the small change to their address - the addition of “A” to the number to ensure post drops through the correct door in the building!
Please ensure the County Secretary, Brian Warren is informed of any changes of Secretary for your club (Contact details : Brian Warren, 51 Fairways, Frodsham WA6 7RY, Tel No : 01928 732529, e-mail : brian@brianwarren.fsnet.co.uk). Also please inform the NoEAA Office in Leeds.
County AGM
Preliminary notice - the AGM of the County Association will be held on 16th February, probably in Frodsham.
Communications
Please ensure your club members see this Newsletter. The next County committee meeting is on 8 December at the Community Centre, Fluin Lane, Frodsham at 7:30pm. Hopefully we will see your club represented at this meeting.
Editor - John Driscoll (0151 339 5341 or, preferably, jld@sunnyfield.co.uk).
Any views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Cheshire County AA. Contributions are welcome.
Remember to look at the Cheshire County AA web-site for latest news and information :
www.cheshireaa.com
Ójohndriscoll (11/11/04)