Biggleswade AC December 2008

Handicap (Fairy) Run - Sat 20 Dec

The time for this ever popular event is drawing ever closer! If you wish to have some food in the Sir William Peel pub afterwards (sandwiches, chicken pieces, sausage rolls etc.) then please let Stuart Galloway know as soon as possible. Cost will be Ł4.00. Please pay money to Stuart, Nigel, or Damien as soon as possible, but beforehand, so that the appropriate order can be placed.

Check out the Fairy Run page on the website for more details, not to mention the Fairy Run discussion on the Forum

Sports Hall Match and Circuit Training

Sportshall training for juniors and Circuit training for adults continues on Mondays, 6pm till 7pm at Biggleswade Recreation Centre Ł1.00 per session.

Our first Sportshall league match for the 8-11 age group is Sat 13th Dec at Bedford - see a coach for more information.

Kingfisher Way training run - Winter Edition - Sun 28 Dec

Meet at 08:30am at the Wheatsheaf pub in Tempsford, where we will share transport to Baldock. We plan to start the run at 09:00 in Baldock. For those not familiar with the Kingfisher Way, it is a 21 mile footpath that follows the River Ivel from its source in Baldock, to its confluence with the River Ouse at Tempsford, passing through Stotfold, Arlesey, Henlow, Langford, Broom, Biggleswade, Sandy and Blunham. Those wishing to run part of the route can join or leave at points along the way.

Annual Club Dinner and Senior Presentation evening
Fri 23 Jan

As you may have read on the club website, once again The Green Man at Stanford has been booked for this popular event. The menu is up on the Forum and on the main website so if you would like to come please let Stuart Galloway know as soon as possible but by 9th January at the latest. Although we are allocated a lovely room at the restaurant places are limited to about 75, so tickets will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Cost is Ł21 per person, to be paid before the event

Annual Subscriptions

Annual Subscriptions fall due on 1st January and we would really appreciate it if you could pay the appropriate amount as soon as possible after that date, but before the end of January.
Rates for 2009 are:

Senior Member Ł22 (Ł17 + Ł5 affiliation fee to England Athletics)
Junior Member Ł12 (Ł7 + Ł5 affiliation fee to England Athletics)
Second-claim member Ł9 (affiliation will be made through first-claim club)

This year we are introducing a scheme whereby members can pay their dues by electronic money transfer. So if you are into internet or postal banking you can simply transfer the appropriate sum to the club bank account. Account details are:

Bank Sort Code: 20-41-12
Account No.: 10889148
Account Name: Biggleswade Athletic Club
However, please ensure that you include your name in the transfer Reference Box so we can tell who's paid. Membership cards will be sent out at the end of each month. Alternatively you could set up a Bankers Order and pay the amount automatically annually. Again please include your name in the Reference Box.

Winter Track Passes

Many of you may wish to do more training on our well lit track during the dark Winter months, and so we are offering a "Winter Track Pass" which is excellent value if you train on the track twice per month or more. And it saves you having to remember to bring your Ł2.50 cash for each track session. See the web site for details and an application form, or talk to Ray.

London Marathon 2009 - Club Places

We have received three club places from the London Marathon so all those who wish to apply for a place and who meet the appropriate criteria** should let Stuart Galloway or Nigel Bush know as soon as possible. The draw will be made in the Sir William Peel pub (Sandy) after the annual Handicap Run (Fairy Run) on Saturday 20th December at around 12.30pm.

(** The criteria can be found on the club website under Activities/London Marathon)

Club Championship Races in 2008

The remaining Club Championship race to be run in 2008 is:

Half Marathon Beds Harriers Half Wootton Sun 14th Dec

New Members

Welcome to the following new senior members who have joined us in the last month or so:

  Sonya Plosky    who lives in Potton
  Juliet Nayler    who lives in Upper Caldecote
  Jeff Bishop    who lives in Biggleswade
  Sonia Edwards    who lives in Bedford
  Hannah Street    who lives in Sandy
  Neil Adams    a second-claim member who lives in St.Neots

Beds County Cross Country Championships - Sat 10 Jan

Biggleswade AC are hosting the Beds County Cross Country championships at Shuttleworth College, Old Warden, on 10th January, starting at 11:00. This is the first time that Biggleswade AC have hosted these championships for 20 years, when the event was held on Biggleswade Common. There are races for U13 to Vet 60+, and we hope to get a bumper turnout of runners from our club. Please contact to Neil if you wish to enter.

We are also looking for helpers on the day to set up the course (from 07:30!) and act as course and car park marshals. So whether you plan to run or not, but are willing to help set up the course, or act as an official for part of the day, please contact Nigel, Neil or Stuart. We need as many helpers as possible.

SEAA Masters Cross Country Championships - Sat 31 Jan

This event, in combination with the SEAA Inter-Counties Cross championships, is also being held at Shuttleworth College, Old Warden (a popular venue!). All Master/Veteran runners (ie ladies over 35 and men over 40) can enter these races. Please see Neil to enter. We have also been asked to help set up the course and marshalling, so please let Neil or Nigel know if you are willing to help on the day.

The Seniors Tuesday Night Programme

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

2nd Dec Sandy loop, in reverse!!!
Thurs 4th Dec Star Bursts
9th Dec Speedwork with coach Zoe
16th Dec Fartlek is Fun!
23rd Dec Sandy loop with pre-christmas cheer
30th Dec Sandy loop with post-christmas cheer

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. An exception is 4 Dec, which is a Starburst nights

If anyone would like to organise an AWAY DAY in your village or town in 2008, or a run on your favourite training route, please let Gavin or one of the committee know.

Leagues, Series, and Other Events

Chiltern Cross Country League
All meetings are on Saturdays; we have no venue information

6 Dec

3 Jan

14 Feb

Three Counties Cross Country League
All meetings are on Saturdays; we have no venue information

21 Dec

8 Feb

National Cross Country Championships - Sat 21 Feb
The races are open to all first-claim athletes from Under 13 upwards. This year the event is to be held at the very famous venue of Parliament Hill Fields (Hampstead Heath) - an excellent but challenging set of courses. Anybody who has not run at this venue before will come away with some fantastic memories!
Although only one club member has shown an interest in running in the SEAA Cross Country Championships on 24th January at Uxbridge in Middlesex, this year we do not have to enter these championships in order to qualify for the National event. The English Cross Country Association never give us much time to submit entries, accordingly we have only a few weeks to decide whether we have enough interested athletes to run some teams in the National.
The programme is as follows:

U/15 Boys	4.5km	11.05am	4 to score
U/17 Women	5km	11.30am	4 to score
Junior Women	5km	11.30am	4 to score
U/13 Girls	3km	12 noon	4 to score
U/17 Men	6km	12.20pm	4 to score
U/15 Girls	4km	12.50pm	4 to score
Junior Men	10km	1.15pm	4 to score
U/13 Boys	3km	2.00pm	4 to score
Senior Women	8km	2.15pm	4 to score
Senior Men	12km	3.00pm	6 to score

All accepted entrants may run.
The entry cost is Ł5 for each athlete, regardless of age. Chip timing will be utilised but chips must be returned after the race otherwise the club will be charged Ł7 for each non-returned chip. Club Vests must be worn.
If anybody is interested in running in the National please let Stuart Galloway know as soon as possible, but at the latest by 20th December. Entrance fees must also be in by that time.

London Mini-Marathon - Sun 26 Apr
Places are being selected by the region and one place is available from each county within the east region. This is new, previously selections were made by county schools on a range of pre selection events. This year the winner in each age group of the County Cross Country champs (10th Jan 09) will be invited.

Southern Mens League
We have received information from the Southern mens league committee that Biggleswade AC gained promotion this season, we are now in Div 3. The hard work now starts in preparing for our new challenge.