Biggleswade AC February 2005

Club Membership - Annual Subscriptions

Annual subscriptions became due on 1st January - Ł12 for Seniors, Ł5 for Juniors, Second Claim Ł7. Club Rules say you may not compete for the Club after 31st January if your subscription hasn't been renewed. About 60 people have re-joined but that still leaves about 85 from last year who have yet to come back to us. We don't want to lose you so please get those cheques in as soon as possible!

The Newsletter on the Web...

This edition of the newsletter is the first to be hosted by and (mostly) integrated into the Club website. The main change for most readers, if you get here via the club website, will be that you won't see those Tripod popups which many people find so annoying.

The previous links still work, so if you use the old URL you will still get here (but you'll also get the popups) - instead, point your browser to

www.biggleswadeac.org.uk/newsletter.

If you prefer to view the newsletter in a full window rather than in a frame on the Club website, type the above URL into the browser's Address line, or (if you use Internet Explorer) right-click the "newsletter" link on the left-hand side of the Club website and select "Open in New Window".

There may be some teething troubles, or if you use a different browser it might not give you the result you want - please contact me, David Hindle, at davidhindle@msn.com if you have problems.

The archive of old newsletters will, for the time being at least, stay on my Tripod website, at davidhindle.tripod.com/BAC

Notice of the Club's Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 22nd March

The AGM of the Club will be held on Tuesday 22nd March 2005 at Sandy Upper School in one of the larger class rooms. The AGM is a very important event in the life of the club and provides the opportunity for members to make their own views known about how the club is being run, and to make suggestions for the future. It is also the time when the new committee is elected. Please make every effort to attend. (Only paid up members over the age of 17 may vote at an AGM).

If you wish to nominate a member to serve on the committee, this must be made in writing with the agreement of the person concerned, and supported by one other club member. Such nominations should be sent to Stuart Galloway, by 8th March at the latest. Prior nominations in writing take precedence over nominations on the evening. All existing members of the committee are willing to stand again.

We will publish the Agenda in the March Newsletter.

Sandy 10 - Sunday 3rd April

The race committee have held their first planning meeting, and activities are well on schedule. Race entries are already being received and we are hopeful of a record entry this year. Don't forget to mention the race to any of your friends, family and work colleagues who may be up for the challenge of a 10 mile race, or the 2 mile Fun Run.

Over the next few weeks we will be asking you if you can help us on race day with the organisation. There are lots of jobs to do such as race marshal (we need lots of these), car park attendant, drink station helper, baggage handler, finish line official, etc. It's great fun and gives you a new perspective on race organisation

Club Dinner and Awards

About 60 people had a very good evening at the Green Man in Stanford on Friday 14th January. We had the whole of the new conservatory room to ourselves and were well looked after. It looked like everybody who attended enjoyed themselves and it was good to have so many people present when the club awards were presented. The trophies were all keenly contested and thoroughly deserved by those who won them.

The Awards and their winners are:

Men's 10k Roger Wadeley
Men's 10 Mile Roy Steven
Men's Half-Marathon Ian Skerratt
Lady's 10k Karen Worrall
Lady's 10 Mile Zoe Dawson
Lady's Half-Marathon Karen Worrall
Endurance Trophy Ken Prior
Most Improved Senior Athlete Debbie Bryant
Club Person of the Year Sharron Best
Pentathlon Challenge Zoe Dawson and Zac Morrison
Most Improved Junior Female Chloe Best
Best Performance Junior Female Helen Brown
Best Performance Junior Male Jorden Best
Most Improved Junior Male Roscoe Pibworh

Schools cross-country relays

We are again organising this popular event at Rowney Warren. This year it is on Wednesday 9th March. Because of its popularity, we will be starting it at 3pm this year to enable more teams to take part. This will obviously make it more difficult for many potential helpers/marshals to attend - and we need lots. We have already had several offers of help but we will always need more. If you are able to help, even if you cannot get there before 4.30pm, please let Ken know ASAP.

The Track and the Club

As far as we know, it is still hoped to lay a new track this year at Sandy. A new facility will inevitably attract lots of new people, particularly youngsters. Although we have far more coaches now than we have ever had, we will still need more when the track comes. Unfortunately coaching courses are not usually run during the summer. If any parent, athlete or grandparent is interested in getting involved then please speak to one of our coaches NOW - the Club will cover your course costs and give you all the assistance that it can.

If you feel that you might like to be come more involved but do not want to go as far as taking up coaching, there are many other ways of helping, for instance: collecting money, organising teams for matches, helping with the administration of training groups etc. Some may have ideas for training sessions or exercise classes. The Club's coaches have a monthly meeting to discuss training and new initiatives. The next meeting is at Stratton House Hotel on Wednesday March 2nd at 8pm. Anyone who wants to contribute is more than welcome - Ken might even buy you a drink

Club Championship races

In line with our policy of using Beds County Championship road races for our Club Championship races, the 10km club championship race for 2005 will be at the Flitwick 10km on Sunday 10th April . Enter the race as normal.

The 10 Mile and Half Marathon Championship races for 2005 will almost certainly be the Leighton Buzzard 10 in September and Beds Harriers Half Marathon in December.

Overseas Tour 2005

One suggestion for our Club tour in 2005 is to visit a "training camp" at Font Romeu, high up in the Pyrenees in France - the details can be found at www.clos-st-savin.com. The area varies from 1800m to 2900m above sea level, and is used by many international athletes, including Paula Radcliffe. We are looking to spend a long weekend away in either May or June.

Approximate costs for the weekend are as follows:

Return flights to Perpignan (Ryanair from Stansted) start at about Ł60.00, depending on which weekend we choose, and how much in advance the flights are booked. There is only one flight per day, so the idea is to fly out on Friday (11.30) and return on Monday (15:00). Flight duration is 2 hrs.
Transport from Perpignan airport to Font Romeu is 20 Euros (Ł14:00) each way.
The cost of accommodation at Font Romeu is from 10 Euros (Ł7:00) per night! (Chalet style accommodation in large rooms).

So the total cost, excluding meals, start at about Ł110:00 per person. We would need to book flights and accommodation soon, to keep flight costs to a minimum.

If you are interested in this trip, then please let Nigel know. You can also keep in touch by visiting our web site Forum Topic "Biggleswde AC on Tour".

The Tuesday Night Programme

1st Feb Circular route of Sandy
8th Feb Speed work with our Steve
15th Feb Fartlek training
22nd Feb Away Day - St Neots
8th Mar Handicap run
15th Mar Incline training
22nd Mar Speed work with our Steve
29th Mar RSPB Circuit

(NB: The Thursday evening programme is decided on a week to week basis depending on ability groups and racing programme.)

All feedback is greatly appreciated. Please speak to Gavin or anyone on the committee. Also any ideas you would like incorporated into the programme please let them know.

Leagues, Series, and Other Events

Apex Sports Chiltern Cross Country League
www.chilternccl.fsnet.co.uk
This league is open to all ages from nine upwards and takes place on Saturdays.

Feb 12 Wing, Leighton Buzzard
Three Counties Cross Country League
www.threecountiesxc.org.uk
This league is open to anyone 16 years or over and takes place on Sundays at 11:00am. Where there is a junior race the lower age limit is 9 years.

Feb 6 Wellingborough ( plus junior race)
North West London Y.A. Cross Country League
This league is for juniors under 17 and takes place on Saturdays

Feb 5 TBC
Mar 19 Wormwood Scrubs
8

Southern Mens and Womens Track and Field Leagues
Southern Mens Track and Field League (Division 4 North)
Saturdays, all are double fixtures except 25th June at Hornchurch

7	May	Walthamstow
21	May	Luton
25	Jun	Hornchurch (Essex) single fixture
9	Jul	Walton (London) ? Hosts Queens Park Harriers
30	Jul	Ware Home fixture with Herts Pheonix.

Southern Womens Track and Field League
All matches are on Saturdays

30	Apr	Watford
21	May	Mile End (Clashes with Southern Mens at Luton)
23	Jul	Hillingdon
20	Aug	St Ives (near Huntingdon)
3	Sep	High Wycombe

Indoor Eastern Athletic Association Championships
Kings Lynn, 13th Feb
Events for all U11 to Sen/Vet - contact David Brown for more information.
AAA Indoor Championships, Birmingham
This is the first time the ages have been separated:
Feb 19th & 20th - U20
Feb 26th & 27th - U15/17
In 2004 we had 8 athletes who qualified . so far we have 10 with plenty of time for others to qualify. We wish our young stars every luck in the world.
Keith Ward Memorial indoor competition
Kings Lynn, 6th March
See David Brown for more information.
London Marathon Sun 17 April
The guaranteed Club Places have now been allocated and the lucky athletes are Chris Clarke, Gavin Elliott, and Tony Haymes. Best of luck in your training guys and may you remain injury free.
National InterCounties, Nottingham Sat 5th March
Representing the County - final teams have not been selected yet, but on the female side we have Aileen Russell (U17 Women) and Karen Worrall (Senior Women) with currently reserves Zoe Dawson (Sen Women) and Alice Middleton (U17 Women), and for the boys Nick Gilbert (U15 Boys)

Eastern Young Athletes League
All matches are on Sundays

24th April	Stevenage
22nd May	Bedford (No doubt we will be expected to run this for Bedford!)
19th June	St Ives (see Southern Womens Track and Field League - same again)
3rd July	Milton Keynes
7th Aug	Bedford - possible hosts.

New Members

Welcome to the following athletes recently elected as members of the Club:

  Alice Middleton - a junior who lives in Arlesey
  Frank Careless - a senior who lives in Gamlingay
  Karoly Juhasz - a senior who lives in Sandy and comes from Worcester
  Simon Fawcett - a senior who lives in Biggleswade and comes from Spalding
  Rebecca Tippett - a senior who lives in Sandy and comes from Manchester.
Best of luck in all your athletic endeavours!

Congratulations...

... to Zoe and Tim Dawson for passing their track and field exams with just under 70% (a high mark for track judges), also Tim Huxtable who achieved the highest mark in those that took the exam this time around with 87%.

Also congratulations to Lauren Ambrose who has been invited by UKA to compete in the AAA Senior Indoor Championships. Lauren competed for Biggleswade AC at U15 & U17 level in both the indoor and outdoor championships, and won medals. Lauren has now moved into the U20 age group and is still a member of Biggleswade AC, but has moved to Rugby and Northampton AC for first claim. This will take place on Feb 12/13 at Sheffield.

NEWS FOR YOUNG ATHLETES

Sports Hall: at Biggleswade Recreation Centre, Mondays 6pm to 7pm
Annual Sports Hall Challenge against Riverside and Huntingdon
postponed until March