Biggleswade AC June 2003

Monthly Summer Training Runs - Old Warden, Tues 10 June

Once a month during the Summer we travel to a location other than Stratton School Biggleswade for a sociable training run. This month's run will start from Old Warden - meet next to the Hare and Hounds PH at 7pm. Contact Nigel or Stuart for more details.

Summer Barbeque

We are thinking of holding a Summer Barbeque party. The venue and date have still to be decided, but it could be mid July. Watch this space!

Everton Fun Day 5km Trail Run - Sat 28 June, 10:30am

Everton village is organising a Fun Day on Saturday 28th June and part of the "fun" is a 5km Trail run along the Greensand Ridge from Everton. nbsp; If anyone in the club would like to run in this event, please contact Nigel for an Entry form. All standards welcome.

Le Touquet 10km & 20km Races 4th-6th July

The planning is now complete for the Le Touquet weekend in July, and the Minibus, Ferry crossing and hotel rooms are all booked. We are all staying in a hotel in Boulogne and will travel into Le Touquet for the races on Saturday. If anyone else is interested in joining our party of 15, they are welcome, but they will have to make their own travel arrangements as our minibus is full.

Leagues, Series, and Other Events

Southern Womens League 2003

Southern Mens League 2003

Womens League		Mens League
Jun 7	Barnet Copthall	May 31	Luton (Home Fixture)
Jul 5	Mile End London	Jun 28	Sutcliffe Park Sussex,
Aug 9	Cambridge	Jul 12	Croydon
Sep 6	Southend	Aug 2	Tonbridge

The Womens League is a new venture for Biggleswade AC after many years not putting forward a team. This is a compilation team where U13/U15 combine and U17/Jun/Sen are a team.

For the Mens League, given the depth of squad we have with more U17's coming forward, this is the year that we can win the league and be promoted. Like the Womens team, all that is required is filling the team sheet. Track and field athletics is a team event where you support each other, although personal results are important, the main aim is to get maximum points for crossing the line first, jumping the highest/longest, throwing the furthest, every member is important.

Watford Open Series
Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm

Jun 11	200/400/1500/3000m	Pole Vault >3.50 M High Jump
Jun 25	100/200/800/3000m	Javelin Long Jump
Jul 9	200/400/1500/3000m	Discus Triple Jump
Jul 23	100/400/800/3000m	Shot Hammer
Aug 6	100/200/400/500/3000m	Javelin High Jump
Aug 20	100/200/800/1500/3000m	Hammer
Sep 3	100/200/400/800/1500/3000m	Shot Long Jump
Sep 17	100/200/400/800/1500/3000m	(No Field Events)

Also Sun Sep 7 from 11:00 am
Ł2.25 per event. For more information contact a coach.

Three Counties League
The Boss Truck League has been re-named "The Three Counties League". Our Club will be responsible for the administration of the League this coming season. Provisional details of the Races are as follows:-
26th October - North Herts
9th November - Wellingborough
30th November - Bedford
11th January 2004 - Ampthill & Flitwick
8th February 2004 - Leighton Buzzard

Inter-Counties CAU Championships, Bedford 25-26 May

Congratulations to Zack Morrison, who has been selected to compete for Bedfordshire in the Inter-Counties CAU Championships at Bedford 25th/26th May, where there is one member per event, and Zack has been selected in the High Jump. We believe Zack is the first member of Biggleswade Athletic Club to be selected to compete for Bedfordshire in many years, as a Senior, (and a Zack is still a Junior U20).

County Elite Training Session

On the 3rd May, a number of our athletes were invited to a County Elite Training session. Those invited. having achieved at least a Grade 3 performing standard, were Lauren Ambrose (Hurdles and High Jump), Kay Brown (Hurdles and Middle distance), Rachel Bellamy (Sprints), Samantha (Sammy) Freeman (Throws), Jessica King (Throws), Ross Taylor (Throws), Adam Dilley (Sprints) and Rachel Bellamy (Sprints). Not all of the invited athletes from Biggleswade Athletic Club could attend but those that did felt they benefitted from this event, hopefully one of many. Jessica King reports on the day:

On the 3rd May at 10 am I arrived at Stockwood Park Luton with my Dad. I received a 'Beds Active Sports' T-Shirt and drinks bottle. We sat in a room that overlooked the Athletics Stadium and were introduced to Greg Simmons the organiser, Stanley a sprinter and Paul Head a world class Hammer thrower. After this we were encouraged to talk to other people in the room, 10 of us in all. Later, we listened to an interesting talk from Paul all about his athletics career and training. I now have a clearer idea what it takes to compete at the very top!! After that we had a short break which was followed by a talk on nutrition by Stanley. It basically reinforced the idea of healthy eating, and what athletes should eat and when. To sum up, we were given a quiz all about fat.

Lunch break was 12.00 to 1.00 which was followed by a talk on strength conditioning and performance factors. Next came the practical part - we went outside and did a thorough half hour warm up led by Paul. After this we split into separate discipline groups and worked for a solid hour and a half with our specific coaches. Greg took the distance athletes, Stanley the Sprints, Paul the Throws and Ken Prior (our Ken) took the Jumps.

I learnt a great deal from this as only Sammy and myself were doing any throwing, Sammy on the Javelin and myself on Shot and Discus. I felt very privileged to be coached by a top class performer and now coach. I really enjoyed the day and felt that it was very worthwhile, I can't wait for the next session.

New Members

With the very best wishes of the Committee, welcome to the following new members who have recently joined the Club:

Martin Turpin - who lives in Sandy

Melanie Truett - who also lives in Sandy

Tara Kier who lives in Biggleswade

Club Shorts

Although Sportscene in Biggleswade now supply our Club vests and shorts, Ken still has four pairs left for sale (medium and large). Ken is also the contact for sweatshirts, tee-shirts, crop-tops and tracksters and, hopefully soon, nylon jackets, all printed with the Club name.

Clubmark Scheme

Despite the fact that we believe we have the processes in place which will satisfy the requirements for accreditation under this scheme, there is an administrative delay. It is necessary for several coaches and committee members to attend two workshops run by Sport England, one on Child Protection and the other associated with Club Development/Administration, before we can submit our final input. The necessary members have agreed to attend the workshops but on three occasions the workshops have been cancelled because of lack of delegates. We are working with the Athletics Development Officer to try and resolve the problem.

Looking after yourself - Vitamin C

A lot has been published in the press over the past year or so about the beneficial effects, or otherwise, of taking vitamin pills. One thing is for sure though, a good diet helps your running. Vitamin C is vital for the production of collagen which is used in the structure of connective tissue and bones and promotes healthy blood vessels. It may also improve oxygen uptake - a deficiency lowers levels of physical performance so runners need higher doses. A good way of obtaining this Vitamin, which cannot be stored by the body, is to eat more fresh fruits (especially the citrus variety) and dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and peppers. So get down to the greengrocer!

NEWS FOR YOUNG ATHLETES

For information on track and field events,
contact your coach or David Brown, Track and Field Manager (01767 600094)

Eastern Young Athletes' League dates for 2003
- 22 Jun Bury St Edmunds
- 27 Jul Thurrock
Our next junior league meeting is on June 22nd at Bury St Edmunds. Our last two league fixtures have been poorly attended and we are at the bottom of the league because we are not putting out anything like a full team. Let us make an extra special effort to get a full squad in all age groups (U13 to U17) and show the league what we can really do !

Star-Track
Bedfordshire Active Sports are putting on these activities for three days during the Summer Holidays (12-14 August) at Biggleswade Recreation Centre.
10 am to 2 pm each day, cost Ł15.00 includes specialist coaching/advice goody bags (cheques payable to Beds Active Sports).
For more advice contact a coach
or Greg Simmons (phone 0789 995 1705 or email simmons@deal.bedfordshire.gov.uk)

BIGGLESWADE ATHLETIC CLUB

BIGGLESWADE ATHLETIC CLUB

Newsletter : JUNE 2003

Monthly Summer Training Runs Old Warden, Tues 10 June Summer Barbeque Everton Fun Day 5km Trail Run Sat 28 June, 10:30am Le Touquet 4th-6th July Leagues, Series, and Other Events	Inter-Counties CAU Championships County Elite Training Session New Members Club Shorts Clubmark Scheme Looking after yourself: Vitamin C
NEWS FOR YOUNG ATHLETES