Biggleswade AC August 2009

Summer BBQ - 12 July

A BIG thank you to Susan and David Sutton and Damien for hosting, preparing and cooking such a superb barbeque. Approximately 50 club members, partners and children came along and enjoyed some superb food, especially the chocolate fountain. A great time was had by all, and nearly all the beer was consumed, mostly by the thirsty post-Kingfisher Way runners.

RNR Team Briefing - Tue 8 Sep
8:15pm, Classroom of the Future, Sandy

Please could all runners, reserves and support crew attend this very important Team briefing, even if you have done the Round Norfolk Relay before. Yet again it promises to be another informal and entertaining team briefing with a lot of information to be given out as well as collated from all involved regarding camping numbers etc - please ensure you are there.

Annual Grafham Relay - Sat 12 September

The Seniors vs Juniors Grafham Relay is set for Saturday 12th September. Each team of 8 juniors or 8 senior runners ** completes a full circuit of Grafham Water on the cycle track, starting and finishing near the Sailing Club at Perry. Each runner runs a 1 mile leg. One of the junior teams normally wins this prestigious event, so there's a challenge to the seniors!

** Or a mix? Or a ladies team? Or a vets team? Use the string on the forum to advertise for team members or advertising to join a team, and remember to think of a witty team name and decide on a team colour

Biggleswade AC Open - Sat 26 Sep

The Open is an important event in the club calendar.

It brings in local schools and we have the opportunity to hopefully recruit any not attached.

It allows our athletes to compete in an open event and concentrate on producing a high performance, rather than a league event where they are competing for match points.

It is an opportunity to raise funds to pay for our track hire - in 2009 the clubs track hire for league matches was over Ł800, and our return from one of the leagues will be a small percentage of this.

Since our track opened in 2005 we have held a track open on the same weekend in September since 2006 and its popularity grows each year.

Any help on the day will be greatly appreciated, please contact David Brown and offer what help you can.

Club Championship Road Races

24 club members took part in the club's 5k championship race (the Doug Anderson 5K) on 22nd July, and many gained PBs in the fast and furious 2½ laps around Bedford Park. In a keenly contested club championship, which is based on age-graded times, John Haines and Nathalie Auger are our 5k club champions for 2009. Many congratulations to them both, and to everyone else who ran.

Detailed championship results are on the club website.

The remaining club championship road races for 2009 are:

10 Miles Sun 13 Sep Swineshead 10
Half Marathon Sun 13 Dec Beds Harriers Half Marathon, Wootton

New Members

Welcome to the following new members who have joined us recently:

  Stephen Atkins    who lives in Biggleswade
  Sue Rapley    who lives in Sandy
  John Mayor    who lives in Stevenage
   (John is a member of Stevenage & North Herts and has joined us second-claim)

May we wish you all the best in your sporting endeavours

Affiliation to England Athletics

By now members, apart from those who have joined in the last two or three months, should have received their Competition Licences from England Athletics.

Annual Club Booklet

We intend to have a professionally published annual booklet with details of club and personal achievements, and other articles of interest. We are hoping to have the first edtion in print by Januray 2010. We shall be calling upon all you budding writers to give us your input in the next few months or so.

The Seniors Tuesday Night Programme

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

4th Aug A new hill, a new challenge
11th Aug Biggleswade Away Day 2005 field circuit
18th Aug Black Barn Fartlek
25th Aug Sandy 10 loop (wear hi viz)

1st Sep Lonely Pines in reverse
8th Sep Speed work (followed by RNR briefing)
15th Sep Donkey Hll
22nd Sep Hill races
29th Sep St Neots Away Day

you may need a track pass or to pay for a day pass when doing Speed or Track work
Thursday evenings will usually 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 2009, or a run on your favourite training route, please let Gavin or one of the committee know.

Leagues, Series, and Other Events

Southern Mens League

Sat 1st August Hillingdon

Southern Womens League

Sat 5 Sep Newham

Eastern Young Athletes League

Sun 13 September finals at ???

Eastern Veterans Athletic Club
We have joined this league (EVAC) for next summer.
Matches are on Wednesday evenings (final on Sunday 6 Sep)

Wed 5 Aug Milton Keynes
Sun 6 Sep Finals at Bedford

Chiltern Cross Country League
Provisional dates, all on Saturdays

Oct 10 Oxford
Nov 7 venue tba
Dec 5 venue tba
Jan 16 Shuttleworth
Feb 13 Wing

Three Counties Cross Country League
Provisional dates, all on Sundays

Oct 25 Stopsley
Nov 22 Wing
Dec 20 North Herts
Feb 14 Ampthill
Feb 28 Bedford