Biggleswade AC Apr 2007

Full results of the 10 mile race and 2 mile fun run are available on our web site, and are also published in the Biggleswade Chronicle (30th March edition). If there are any helpers who have not been given their "Sandy 10 2007" tee-shirt, please contact Nigel at Tues/Thurs training nights or call 01767 682251.

Club Affiliation

As advised last month, this subject will be a topic for discussion at the forthcoming AGM. The Committee has discussed this important subject and will make some proposals at the AGM. We would welcome an input from any Club member on this issue and would love to hear your views. There's a comparison of England Athletics vs. the Association of Running Clubs on the website.

Biggleswade AC Club Tour 2007

More than 14 people have expressed an interest in going on this year's "club tour" to the Derbyshire Peak District for a long weekend in early October. The plan is to hire a well appointed large house or cottage complex for three nights (Friday to Monday) for a weekend of running, walking, sightseeing and socialising. See web links below for the type of accommodation we have looked at:
www.hoptonhall.co.uk
www.darwinlake.co.uk
www.wheeldontreesfarm.co.uk
We may even be able to take part in (or watch) a local Fell Race if we are lucky. More details will be put on the web site Forum during the next few weeks. Please contact Nigel if you are interested. We need to know final numbers by the end of April to book suitable accommodation.

Contact with Stevenage Leisure Staff

Some of you have been sending unofficial messages to Stevenage Leisure Staff on issues relating to our use of Stevenage Leisure facilities. We would ask you not to do this - if you have any queries or concerns about Stevenage Leisure and our use of their facilities, then please contact a Committee member who will then ensure that the matter is brought up for discussion/resolution with all those concerned.

Biggleswade AC Quiz and Social Evening with Buffet

A Quiz and Social Evening is arranged for Saturday 19th May, starting at 7:00pm, in the main Dining Room/Bar at Sandy Upper School. This is an opportunity for all Junior and Senior members of the club (with family and friends) to get together for a fun-filled evening. You can either come along with a pre-organised team of four, or we will form teams on the night from individuals not in a team. Quiz questions will be on a variety of subjects (e.g. modern music, sport, general knowledge, French, etc), so make sure your team has a broad range of knowledge if you want to win. Tickets will soon be going on sale for this event, and will be priced at about Ł5 including the buffet food. A Bar is available to purchase drinks.

So why not put this date in your diary and get working on forming and naming your "winning" team. More information will be available soon on the club's web site, or see any committee member or coach for more information.

Biggleswade AC enter into the Carnival Spirit

This year Biggleswade AC (Juniors and Seniors) will be entering a walking float into the Biggleswade Carnival on Saturday 30th June. If anyone can build, paint or sew please let Gavin know or pop your name on the forum. The theme this year is "50 years" and as our club has been going for more years than that we will be themed "Biggleswade AC through the ages".

The Tuesday Night Programme

You can find these and other training events in the training section of the Club website

3rd Apr St Neots Away Day - led by Nigel
10th Apr Handicap Run
17th Apr Route 51
*** 24th Apr Speedwork with Zoe (All FLM runners to bring medals)

1st May Royston Hills Away Day - led by Gav
*** 8th May Annual Penthalon (Please Remember your Track Fee)
15th May Black Barn
22nd May Everton Loop
29th May Hill Training

*** 5th Jun Speedwork with Zoe (On Track)
12th Jun Old Warden Away Day - led by Tan
19th Jun RSPB Loop & Club Photo (Please Wear Club Colours)
26th Jun Blunham River Loop

3rd Jul Inclines are Fun!
10th Jul Lonely Pines Loop
*** 17th Jul Speedwork with Zoe (On Track)
24th Jul Route 51
31st Jul Grafham Picnic Away Day

August Look out for Buffy's talk on Sports Psychology (Date TBC)

*** you may need a track pass or to pay for a day pass when doing Speed or Track work

Thursday evenings will be "General Running", dictated by the race calendar, and are tailored on the night to the participants needs. Runners are usually split into ability groups to ensure everyone has a good run.

If anyone would like to organise an AWAY DAY in your village or town in 2007, or a run on your favourite training route, please let Gavin or one of the committee know (AWAY DAYS for 2007 are already planned for Grafham Waters, Royston Hills, Bedford Embankment and Parks, Old Warden).

Leagues, Series, and Other Events

Round Norfolk Relay - 15th/16th Sept
Make a note in your diary for this years RNR. Entry for the race is now open. Once again, we will be looking to enter a team in this magnificant running event. See the forum for updates, for more information about the race see www.roundnorfolkrelay.com.
Please let Mark, Ken, Tim or Gav know if you are interested in competing this year and get your money and race questionaires back as soon as possible so a team can be selected.
Three Peaks of Great Britain - 30th June
Four runners are tackling the Three Peaks challenge on the weekend of 30th June. This is an unsupported challenge, attempting to run up and down the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon) within 24 hours, including travelling between the peaks. If any one else is interested in joining them, you can find details on the website forum.
Flora London Marathon - 22 April
It's that time of year again when members of our club take to the streets of London and embark on an epic 26.2 miles. To ensure they're not on their own, Tim will be orgainsing the FLM07 Supporters Team. More details will appear on the forum

Southern Mens and Womens Leagues
All dates are for Saturdays.

	Mens League		Womens League
Apr			28th	Jarman Park, Hemel
May	5th	Ilford (Co-Host)	19th	Braintree
Jun	2nd	Sandy (Prime Host)	2nd	Cambridge (co-hosts)
	23rd	Parliament Hill
Jul			7th	Erith
			28th	venue tba
Aug	4th	Walthamstow
Sep			1st	Tonbridge school
			Past member Peter Ebbage teaches at this (private) school and still holds some club records

Eastern Young Athletes League
All matches are on Sundays

29th April St Albans
17th June Bedford
1st July Sandy
15th July Milton Keynes
5th August Bury St Edmunds
9th Sept Cup and Plate finals

National Junior Athletics League, Thames Division
This year we have also joined the this League as a composite team with Bedford and County and Luton. This is a league for athletes who are primarily U20 but U17's can compete. All matches are on Sundays.
NB some dates are different to those previously published

29th April		Bedford (co?-hosts)
27th May		Gloucester Park Arena, Basildon
1st July		Mayesbrook Park, Havering
29th July		Colchester Garrison Track
9th Sept		Finals at Moorways Stadium, Derby

UK Womens League

Sun 3 Jun	Wigan
Sat 7 Jul	Eton
Sun 5 Aug	Rugby

New Members

Welcome to the following athletes recently elected as members of the Club. We are very pleased that you decided to join us and hope that you get much pleasure from your membership:

  Beth & Rhys Harvey   junior members who live in St.Neots
  Helen Middleton   a senior who lives in Arlesey
  Chloe Litchfield   a junior who lives in Stanford
  Claire Wood   a junior who lives in Bassingbourn
  Amy Yates   a junior who lives in Upper Caldecote
  Peter Howell   a senior who lives in Biggleswade
  Michelle Geeson   a senior who lives in Arlesey
  Jennifer Corrigan   a senior who lives in Sutton
  Steven Benham   a junior who lives in Caldecote

Best of luck in all your athletic endeavours!

Website News...

Have you seen how many people have now visited our website?? The figure is just about to reach 70,000 - thats more than the capacity of the majority of the Premiership football stadiums in England. Well done webteam!!!

Watch out during April as the website will be changing to include a section specifically for juniors. If you have any ideas, please contact the webmaster who will welcome any comments/suggestions.