Newsletter as word document

NOTE : the introduction of a 10 mile race in the County in August, the first at this distance for several years, thanks to Malcolm Fowler.  It has been decided to include it in the Cheshire GP series and hopefully Cheshire club members will support the event in big numbers.

After 3 races the Cheshire GP series is proving very competitive this year.  Full results and those of the associated endurance handicap are on the Cheshire AA web site. The 4^th race is imminent (tomorrow as this is compiled at the Whitley 10K)

As part of an attempt to get a feel for participation at senior level, John Driscoll is trying to collect ALL road running performances by Cheshire club members.  Already this has shown that over 50% of all road running performances in the first 3 months of the year were at the half-marathon distance.  Will that picture change by the end of the year?  Ranking lists at 7 different distances containing all performances by Cheshire club members are available from him : jld@sunnyfield.co.uk

CROSS COUNTRY

Two national events brought the season to a conclusion.  Cheshire runners did well in both.

In the English Schools championships at Sefton Park, Liverpool the senior boys team was 4^th with Daniel Cliffe 7^th and Laurence Walker 18^th. In the Inter-boys, Harry Ellis finished 11^th.  Heather Timmins picked up a bronze individual medal in the Senior Girls race with the team finishing 10^th.  Rebecca Craigie was third, running for Cheshire schools and not Hampshire as indicated in AW in the Inter girls race with the team 11^th.

A week later, the Inter-Counties championships at Nottingham again provided some medals for Cheshire. The U17 Mens team took silver team medals only 6 points behind Yorkshire (who should really take part as 3 separate counties in my view) with Harry Ellis 11^th and Daniel Cliffe 17^th. Tim Pattison was 8^th in the U20 Mens event with the team in 9^th place.  With the first two senior ladies (Olivia Walwyn and Charlotte Roach) coming home together in 30 and 31^st position the team was 15^th.  Heather Timmins finished a good season with 9^th place in the U20 womens race and with Stevie Stockton 14^th, the team finished an excellent 6^th.  In the younger age groups M Huxley was 9^th in the under 15 girls and D Wallis 11^th in the under 13 girls event.

A personal observation on the cross country season is the varied support at senior level by Cheshire clubs for this discipline.  A number of clubs who have traditionally given strong support and had success were noticeably absent or had very limited participation.  In contrast it was very pleasing to see another club take the opposite direction.  South Cheshire H had large numbers at the County championships and picked up medals; they then had the most runners of any Cheshire club at the Northern and National championships.  Perhaps there is a strong connection between that and their improved success so far in the Cheshire RR GP this year.  In addition, Mike Hatton from South Cheshire was the fastest Cheshire male runner in the 117 who took part in the London Marathon

FELL RACING

Track & Field - Fixtures

NOTE – a plea : a championship secretary is required for the track relays to be held later this summer.  Offers as soon as possible please to the County Secretary, Brian Warren.

News from the County T&F championship secretary (John Ashton) shows that entries came in rapidly as the closing date approached and are at same the level as recent years.

UKA Coaching Courses (local to Cheshire)

Subsidised places are available - funding information is available from Katie Jones kjones@englandathletics.org.   (Cheshire).

Details of courses at other venues can be found on www.ukathletics.net

Course entitled ‘How to develop an effective grant application’ is to be held at Connexions HQ on 6 March, Prestbury Village Hall on 11 March. Details are available from Stephen Wright on 01244 973331.

Information on Funding Opportunities for U23s is available via a link from the Northern Athletics website.

Eddie Gore (Tel : 0151 513 5606), is the Cheshire County AA Coaching Co-ordinator

PLEASE NOTE that all enquiries about athletics should now be directed to the NW Regional Office at Sport City.

 Specific enquiries re affiliation and membership should be sent to Athletics Services, details having been sent to ALL affiliated clubs, leagues and associations.  The new NW Region administrator is Debbie Beresford at Sports City (0161 230 8184, dberesford@englandathletics.org)  and the new Regional Manager (Andy Lee) started on March 3^rd  - although the England Athletics web site still gives Michael Hunt as Regional Managaer. 

New Club secretary :

Ellesmere Port RC : D Nalder, 4 Dolphin crescent, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port  CH66 4SZ (Tel : 0151 339 5392) e-mail : david.nalder@yahoo.co.uk

New e-mail address for County Secretary : Brian Warren : bjwarren@talktalkbusiness.net

PLEASE send any items for the next Newsletter direct to the Editor (Ellen Molloy): jamesandellenmolloy@btopenworld.com

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE GRATEFULLY  RECEIVED.

COMMUNICATIONS

Please ensure your club members see this Newsletter.

Cheshire AA Newsletters can be viewed on the Cheshire AA  website.

The next County committee meeting will be held on 28 May and will be held at Frodsham Community Centre, Fluin Lane, commencing at 7.30pm.  ALL clubs are entitled to a representative at this meeting.

 Remember to look at:             www.cheshireaa.com