Biggleswade AC Dec 2006

Christmas Handicap "Fairy Run" - Sat 23 December

All fairies should be suitably dressed and should gather and be ready to fly on Sat 23rd December in the bottom car park of the RSPB. The junior race starts at 10.00am with the seniors starting at 10.30am. The Fairy dash will take place over a 1 mile and 3 mile undulating course. Once the race has finished all fairies and spectators should gather at the Sir William Peel, on the High Street, Sandy for some light refreshments and a buffet (Ł3 to be paid in advanced, prior to the day). The best dressed fairy competition will also be judged.

When all fairies are fed and watered adequately, all fairies over the age of 18 years old will set off following the Green Haired Fairy for an adventure. A small pocket of fairy dust (or money) is recommended as it can be a long flight.

(For those wishing to partake in the buffet and refreshments at the Sir William Peel public house after the race, please let Stuart or Nigel know that you are coming. The cost of the buffet is Ł3 per person.)

Annual Club Dinner and Presentation Evening
Friday 19 January 2007 - The Green Man (Stanford)

The venue has now been agreed as the Green Man at Stanford. We have used this venue several times before - we have a lovely conservatory style area made available to us in the restaurant and the food is very reasonable. We shall be discussing menus with the pub in the near future but we expect the price to be in the order of Ł20 per person. Partners are welcome at the event. Please advise Stuart Galloway as soon as possible as to whether you would like to go, preferably by e-mail. Menu details will be advised sometime in December.

Three Counties Cross Country race at Shuttleworth College

MANY MANY THANKS to all those members who helped out at the Cross Country race at Shuttleworth. It was a great success, and we have received many messages commenting on the superb venue and organisation. We will no doubt be asked to repeat the event in the future.

Kingfisher Way Training Run - Winter Edition - Wed 27 Dec

What better way to see out the old "running" year than with a 21 mile jog along the Kingfisher Way? For those who have not done this route before, the run starts in Baldock and follows the River Ivel all the way to Tempsford. If you prefer to run a shorter distance, you can finish at Biggleswade (12miles) or Sandy (16 miles), or alternatively join the run at any point along the course. Transport will be arranged to Baldock. We plan to start the run at 9:00am. Contact Nigel for details.

Sandy 10 Road Race

The Sandy 10 mile road race, organised by Biggleswade AC, will take place on Sunday 25th March next year. If you would like to find out more about the race and its history, check out the Sandy 10 link on our web site. During the next few months we will be asking members if they are prepared to help with all the various duties on the day of the race. If you feel that you have a particular skill to offer, please contact Nigel or Stuart.

Club Championship Race 2006

Don't forget the remaining Club Championship race for 2006:

Half Marathon Beds Harriers Half Marathon Sun 10 Dec

London Marathon - 2007: Club Places

We have been lucky enough to again receive three club places this year so don't forget, if you have entered the London Marathon and get rejected, but still wish to be considered for a place in this prestigious event, let Stuart Galloway know by 18th December at the latest. However, please ensure that you first meet the criteria laid out on the Club website regarding London Marathon Club Places. - or go to the homepage and click on "London Marathon" under Activities, or try www.biggleswadeac.org.uk/FLM.html.

The Tuesday Night Programme

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

*** 9th Jan Speed work with coach Zoe
16th Jan Potton Away Day - Organised by Elaine Stead
23rd Jan New / Beginners Evening (please bring a friend)
30th Jan Fartlek and Ladders
*** Please be aware that you may need a track pass or to pay for a day pass when doing Speed 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.

From time to time on a Thursday evening Graham Bufton (Buffy) (Coach to the stars) from Bedford International Athletics Track will be down to give his expert coaching.

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

Chiltern League Cross Country
All dates are on Saturdays

13	Jan	Slough
17	Feb	Wing

Three Counties Cross Country
All races are on Sundays at 11am

17	Dec	Letchworth
14	Jan	Team East Haddon
11	Feb	Dunstable RR

FAIRY RUN - Sat 23 Dec
The most fun you can have with wings!

SEAA Cross Country Championships, Holkham Park, Norfolk - Sat 27 Jan
Entry forms for this event have now been received and have to be submitted back to the SEAA even earlier this year. As many of you will know this is a popular event with races for all age groups from Under 13's through to Seniors. Often the event has been held at Parliament Hill Fields in London but this year it has been switched to the lovely area of Holkham Hall (Norfolk), a property owned by Edward Coke (7th Earl of Leicester). Senior Men will run 15Km. and Senior Women 8Km. (Vets can run in the Senior teams of course). Lower age groups run between 3Km. and 6Km. The cost will be Ł3 for all entrants.

Please advise Stuart Galloway, as soon as possible but by 12th December at the latest, if you wish to run this event because we need to establish whether it will be worth putting in a team - 12 athletes of whom 6 score (men) or 4 score (women).

SEAA Masters Cross Country Championships, Mad Bess Wood, Ruislip - Sat 3 Feb
Entry forms have been received for this event, open to all Men over 40 and Women over 35 (10 Year Vet age groups apply). The event also incorporates the Middlesex Championships. Women run 6Km. and Men run 10Km.

The venue is on the A4180, close to Ruislip Common. It is a wooded area of about 190 acres - Mad Bess was the wife of an 18th Century gamekeeper, a demented old woman who prowled the woods at night looking for poachers . The place is reputed to be haunted! However, if you still wish to run after all that, then let Stuart Galloway know as soon as possible, but by 8th January 2007 at the latest. The cost will be Ł6 per person.

Indoor competitions
Contact David Brown for more information.

Sun 10 Dec	Opening event of the new Pickets Lock Stadium Field and Track events 60 m to 800 m.
Sun 7 Jan	U15/U17 Pentathlon Pickets Lock SEAA Champs
Sat 13 and Sun 14 Jan	U20/Sen Combined events Pickets Lock SEAA Champs
Sat 20 and Sun 21 Jan	SEAA Indoor Champs Pickets Lock
Sun 18 Feb	Eastern Indoors Chelmsford, closing date 3rd Feb

Further dates are expected for meetings at the NIA, none released at the present moment.

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.

  Tom Stead   a junior second-claim member who lives in St.Neots
  Richard Bevan   a senior member who lives in Dunton
  Steve Pledger   a senior second-claim member who lives in St.Neots
  Kim Masson   a senior second-claim member who lives in Great Cambourne
  Lorna Allen   a senior who lives in Sandy
  Laura Sylvester   a junior who lives in Sandy
  Michael Bannister   a senior who lives in Rushden

Best of luck in all your athletic endeavours!