Warwickshire County  Athletics Association

 

The bear – February 2007

 

Issue 1/2007

 

 

1                     OUTCOMES FROM NEWBOLD COMYN ON A WET FIRST SATURDAY OF 2007

a)  Despite the elements and post race washing problems our year started with well staged races over challenging terrain. Many thanks once again to Warwick District Council and Leamington C & A C who did us proud. Numbers were up, notably in the senior age groups, and format changes including the division of Senior and Veteran teams generally seemed to be well received.  Please give us your feedback on the changes so that we can continue to improve the Championships.

b)  VENUE OFFERS: Leamington C & A C are rightly claiming a rest after their brilliant stint over several seasons for the County and Midlands. We therefore need venue offers for future championships. This is a pressing matter and perhaps two or three clubs could work together and share the strain!

c)  TROPHIES: The County Officers have resolved that there should be a full complement of Individual and Team Cross Country Trophies (Track and Field will then be reviewed). 2007 team winners will have their names engraved retrospectively and thus Royal Sutton Coldfield A C Under 15 Boys are the first holders of a trophy presented by Birchfield Harriers in memory of Dave Skelcher. Would your Club like to donate a trophy in recognition of a Member who have contributed significantly to the County? Team trophies are required for Under 13 Boys, U20 Men and ALL female categories.

d)  WARWICKSHIRE TEAMS have been selected (following the County and Midland Championships) in all age groups for the Inter Counties Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham on Saturday 24th February. Best wishes to all. I am pleased to say that Becky Freeman of Solihull and Smallheath AC has accepted the County’s request to become the new Team Managers Coordinator. Hopefully Becky, the coaches and the Team Managers will encourage our athletes to a very successful day.

 

2                     RACE WALKING 2007

Sunday 25th February – County Championships with Staffordshire and Worcestershire at Nuneaton starting at 1.00pm.

Saturday 17th March – Inter Counties (National) Championships Coventry Business Park, by Westwood Track.

Sunday 20th May – European Cup Championship Event, Victoria Park, Leamington Spa. This is the most important Race Walking event ever to have been held in our County.

 

3                     WARWICKSHIRE OPEN ROAD RELAYS – Sutton Park, Saturday 24th March at 2.30pm.

The prospectus and forms are on the County Website (warwickshirecountyaa.co.uk).  Please give it your club’s support.  The Relays are now part of the Warwickshire Road Race League schedule. 

Note – ALL clubs MUST supply one or two course Marshals

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES – Wednesday 7th March.

 

4                     TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007

With excellent financial sponsorship from Leicester City Council, Warwickshire will join Leicestershire and Rutland and Northamptonshire for what should be a very busy and very competitive weekend at the re-furbished Saffron Lane track.  We believe that this will be the first ever Three County Championships. The prospectus and entry forms are enclosed with this Bear. They will soon be available through the County website or directly at www.3CountyAthletics.co.uk  which is a new site specifically for the meeting.

PLEASE support this event, but NOTE THE ENTRY CLOSING DATE.

 

5                     ENGLAND ATHLETICS

·         Athletics Services, the administration and IT services branch of EA  is operational

·         The ENGLAND ATHLETICS website is up and running (www.englandathletics.org)

·         John GRAVES (formerly West Midlands Council Chair) is now Chair of the England Athletics Council.  Chris LOCKLEY (Staffordshire AA Chair) replaces John as West Midlands Regional Chair.  Chris has already met with the Association’s Officers and would be happy to meet with our clubs.

·         Alan EDWARDS (Leamington C & A C and former W C A A Chairman) has been given the Region’s Road Running / Endurance portfolio and he has been co-opted to the West Midlands Council alongside Stewart BARNES (Competition portfolio) and Graham HEELEY (Officials portfolio)

 

6                     ROAD RACE PROMOTIONS

With permit arrangements undergoing change we suggest that ALL PROMOTERS IN WARWICKSHIRE staging events during 2007 submit their application(s) before 31st March 2007.

 

7                     CONGRATULATIONS TO:

            JANET PAUL – Former Association Secretary, Lifetime worker for Birchfield Harriers and tremendous contributor to Sportshall athletics on her coveted TORCH AWARD.

            SPHINX A C – On their recent CLUBMARK AWARD.

            AND to MANY OF YOU AND YOUR CLUBS for the wonderful response re Licensing Road, Cross Country Officials / Helpers.  Margery EWINGTON submitted 118 applications to UK Athletics

 

8                     AFFILIATIONS 

            With the £50 across the board affiliations due on 1st April to ENGLAND ATHLETICS questions have been raised regarding affiliation to other bodies, including Counties, Territories etc.

The County Officers are sensitive to the changes taking place and proposals for next year will be made at the September General Meeting.

 

9                     UNDER 17, UNDER 20 TRACK & FIELD COUNTY REPRESENTATION

               We have made known our desire to provide Inter County opportunities to Men and Women in these significant age groups. We hope to stage an Inter Counties U17 and U20 event in 2008.

 

10                 OFFICIALS

Training opportunities will continue to be made available in 2007.  Stuart PAUL is arranging Level one and Level two courses at Alexander Stadium on Saturday 28th April.

This will be backed by a Level 1 and Level 2 courses to be organized by Margery EWINGTON in the Autumn. Margery hopes to supply more information in issue 2/2007 of ‘the bear’.

 

11                 DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, GRANTS

             Ray MORGAN, Leonie LIGHTFOOT, David BOUGHEY continue to lead work in this field.

The GREATER WARWICKSHIRE FORUM and BIRMINGHAM FORUM both met in January.  There are increasing opportunities for GRANT SUPPORT towards initiatives in many respects and it is disappointing that the Association (£500 maximum) has not serviced very many.  From 1st April we shall be working closely with the West Midlands Region, who will be able to offer grants up to £2000 per Club.

COME ON EVERYBODY, LET’S MAKE THE MOST OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES!!

We would like Clubs to come to the next Development Forum with the single most significant improvement that they hope to make in the coming year and with a grant request to make it happen.

 

12                 INFORMATION WANTED – CAN YOU HELP

Has anybody heard of the T A Ellis trophy or the Yelling trophy? If so then please contact

Ray Morgan on 01926 330667 or at Ray.Morgan1@btinternet.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

13                 DATES TO BE NOTED

Below is listed a fairly comprehensive list of meetings events: -

FIRST NOTE

                     W C A A General Meeting - Wednesday 28th March at 7.30pm

                                                      At Royal Sutton Coldfield Clubhouse

 

                              INTER COUNTIES ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007

                                                      Half Marathon – Sheffield – weekend of 19th / 20th May

                                                      10Km – Chichester – Sunday 7th October

                              CONTACT PAULINE AND TOM DABLE

 

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST

                              General Meetings – 28th March, - 26th September – AGM on 28th November

                             

ROAD FIXTURES

                                    (WC = W C A A CHAMPIONSHIP) (WL = WARWICKSHIRE ROAD RACE LEAGUE)

 

Saturday 24th March – Warwickshire Road Relays (WL) – Sutton Park

Sunday 29th April – Stratford Half Marathon (WC)

Sunday 3rd June – Northbrook 10 km (WC & WL)

Wednesday 20th or 27th June – Coventry Godiva Mid-Summer 5 miles (WC & WL)

Saturday 7th July – Stratford upon Avon 6 (WL)

Thursday 12th July – Rowheath 5Km (WC & WL)

Friday 31st August – Coventry Godiva Memorial Park 5 (WL)

Sunday 9th September – Nuneaton 10 Miles (WC & WL)

Sunday 7th October – Kenilworth Half Marathon (WL)

Sunday 14th October – Rugby 10 Miles (WL)

Sunday 21st October – Lady Godiva Half Marathon

 

 

 

 

Please copy, distribute, display and keep following ‘THE BEAR’

 

www.warwickshirecountyaa.co.uk

 

 

      Warwickshire County

 Athletics Association

 

 

 

 

AGENDA FOR GENERAL MEETING

 

RSCAC   HEADQUARTERS

 

WEDNESDAY 28th MARCH 2007

COMMENCING AT 7.30pm

 

           

1                                            Apologies for absence

 

2                                            Confirmation of minutes of last meeting  (the 2006 AGM) and matters arising.

 

3                                            The four Management Groups

                                                              i.      Promotions

                                                            ii.      Teams

                                                          iii.      Officials

                                                           iv.      Development

 

4                                            Other County Business

                                                              i.      Treasurer’s Report

                                                            ii.      Officers reports (President, Chairman, Secretary)

   including correspondence

                                                          iii.      Permits

                                                           iv.      Facilities

                                                             v.      ‘the Bear’

 

5                                            Matters outside Warwickshire County A A of concern to the County (England Athletics, West Midlands Region)

 

6                                            Any other business

 

7                                            Date of the Next Meeting (26th September 2007)