NORTH OF ENGLAND ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION
CHESHIRE COUNTY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION

2006 ANNUAL REPORT

1.Championships
   The following Championships were staged:
a) Cross Country at Joey the Swan Recreation Area, Wistaston, Crewe on 8.1.06.
b) Track and Field at Warrington 13/14.5.06.
c) Track Relays at Macclesfield on 1.7.06.
d) Junior Multi Events at Macclesfield on 10.9.06.
e) Road Relays at Stockport on 16.9.06 (incorporating the NW Road Relay        Championships)
f) 10K incorporated in the Guilden Sutton 10K, Chester on 24.9.06.
g) Half Marathon included in the Macclesfield Half Marathon on 1.10.06.    
h) Fell Race at Cilcain on5.11.06.
Thanks to our committee members who played key roles in the first 5 events.
   Cheshire also participated in the following Inter County Meetings:
a)	Cross Country at Nottingham in Feb. 06.
b)	NoEAA T&F Meeting at Gateshead on 30.7.06.

2. Officials
   An Officials Course was held in Frodsham in April, at which 16 attended, who were generally young people. This was most encouraging.

3.	  Awards
     Cheshire
   The John Young Award went to Carol and John Ashton for  services to Track and           Field Athletics in Cheshire.
     NoEAA
    A Merit Award was given to Adrian Thiemicke for services to Road Running.

4.	Secretary’s Comments
a)	My thanks ,once again, to our web master for the excellent service provided and also to our new editor of the Newsletter, Ellen Molloy.
b)	Crewe & Nantwich deserve congratulating on revitalising their club, which about 2 years ago was near to extinction, but has been brought back to life with a new committee chaired by Stephen Matthews. He usually attends our meetings. They sent 6 young people to the Officials Course this year.
c)	A new ‘off the highway’ road race is being planned in Marbury Park, Northwich which is to be applauded. Halton Borough which had established 3 road races has already abandoned 2, and the 3,rd,  ‘Over the Bridge Race’ was under threat because of conditions imposed by the police. That’s why they were reluctant to affiliate this year. However, I have just been advised that it is to go ahead this Easter Sunday ‘07. Every encouragement must be given to ‘off the highway’ races, because that’s what the police prefer. VRAC must be encouraged to make their new race a permanent fixture.
d)	The first meeting of the NW Regional Council was in July 06, which will soon effectively become our governing body.
e)	The Committee met 11 times this year, once ,more that usual. 
f)	A Handicap scheme, devised by George Bunner, was implemented in Cheshire this year. In road running in was introduced in the Border League, where it has given encouragement to athletes who are not usually among the early finishers. Trials were also carried out in T&F with encouraging results.
g)	Athletics in Cheshire in the past year have shown significant progress.

BJ Warren, 4.2.07