THE ATHLETIC CHALLENGE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | Issue 21: NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 1 2 x The Athletic Challenge PAUL SHARD’S WEATHER ALTERING SPEED IN THE 800M IN THIS ISSUE following weekend at the State Relay From the Championships. Thanks to her coordination efforts, QMA would go on to place second in the club medal tally Editor (see page 6 for more). by Aidan Hobbs There are also many other regular volunteers I see out there at QA and QMA QMA Brisbane Competition I have a confession to make. As a QMA meets across both the summer and Take a look at some previous meets over the member of 12 months, I had not attended winter season. The guys I run with often last few weeks pages 2-3. a QMA athletics meet up until two weeks share stories about their good humour ago. I was talking to my training partner Half Marathon Challenge and banter with the athletes. Brendan about race opportunities to get With the final race now over, see where you in a practice run over the 800m for him However, things don’t always go to plan finished up on pages 7-9. and the steeplechase for me when he with the coordination of events. After 2017 AMA Championships, TAS suggested we come out for the QMA pacing Brendan through to a sub 2- Results and photo journal are on pages 10- Brisbane meet on the 28th of October. minute 800m we found that a problem in 11. the timing meant our results were lost Even though Brendan has another eight and that the steeplechase was not likely years before he is eligible to sign up with 2017 ANQ Championships, TSV to go ahead due to delays in the program QMA he was still able to compete as a Photos of QMA athletes are on pages 12. and a lack of other nominated runners. visitor. I think this is a crucial part of Gold Coast Report securing our future as a club and it is great Hats off to the volunteers who offered to An update from the Gold Coast region is on to see other juniors regularly joining in drag out the barriers from the shed and page 13. with the masters. fill the water pit just for me, and to Don who spent countless hours trying to One thing that struck me as we were at recover the photo finish records to the track that day, was the dedication of salvage our times. the volunteers who gave us the opportunity to have a run. Of special If you have the chance this season, make mention was Julie, who had me signed up sure you thank the volunteers at every within about 30 seconds of us arriving at opportunity you get. (Continued page 2) the track for a Distance Medley Relay the 1 THE ATHLETIC CHALLENGE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | Issue 21: NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 2 2 In this issue, there are a range of A further thanks to everyone who If I don’t have any good stories I may be upcoming national and international provided content for this issue. forced to trawl through Facebook for Masters events worth checking out. Without you, these pages would be some content. Probably starting with Particularly if you are thinking about considerably less interesting. Peter Reeves. planning a holiday soon. If you still need convincing, be sure to have a look If you would like to add to the next Until next time, I wish you a merry th at the photo journal from the QMA issue, please email me by the 17 of Christmas and safe holidays and I hope team who recently returned from the December. I will be including a column you enjoy the November / December 2017 AMA Championships in Tasmania for letters to the editor and it would be edition of The Athletic Challenge. (pages 10-11). great to get some content on the field events and other regions. [email protected] Photos from QMA Brisbane meet 28 October 2017 If you would like a copy of any photos, email [email protected] 2 THE ATHLETIC CHALLENGE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | Issue 21: NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 3 QMA Bring a Friend and odd events day 11th November 2017 Facebook report by Peter Reeves Great conditions at QE2 this morning for Q'ld masters . Very cool and overcast with just a hint of a breeze . Our Ipswich training group was on fire with the crew smashing heaps of PBs . Clay Dawson ( obscured behind my cobra salute) took out the 3k/mile double in very swift times , Al Mival showed he has a natural affinity for Tartan with some brilliant runs , Chris Bell set a mile PB as did Andrew Willey . I did my bit pacing Shane Kennedy and Jenny Shard to 3k PBs . Paul Shard put in another workmen like performance showing he's over his recent 100 miler . So many great efforts . Sorry if I've missed anyone out . The fields were the biggest I've ever seen ! This new track is fast ! QMA Athletes in the News… We have some celebrities in our ranks. Peter Bracken was spotted on the channel 9 coverage of the Melbourne Marathon in October, keeping pace with the lead female runner, Celia Sullohern through the 30km mark. Peter finished in a red-hot time of 2:33:09. Irene Davey also captured some media attention with a solid steeplechase effort at the recent AMA Games in Tasmania. Irene claimed gold in an astonishing six events. Both athletes will be available to sign autographs at the next QMA Brisbane meet. 3 THE ATHLETIC CHALLENGE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | Issue 21: NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 4 2017-18 QMA Membership The full QMA membership year runs from 1st October to 30th September each year, and registration is now open for 2017- 18. As a financial member, you are eligible to compete at all QMA competitions, QMA Championships and Australian Championships, and also Oceania Region Championships. If you are 35 and over, you are also eligible to compete at the World Masters Championships. Please note that Platinum QA or Traditional QA membership benefits only apply to QA meets, not QMA meets. So track fees at QMA meets are still payable. There is no reason for QMA members to choose these options unless they regularly compete with QA. Membership Fees for 2017-18 General membership fee $65 Concession membership fee $55 (with a Government concession card) Members of other QA clubs $55 Members of other QA clubs $45 (with concession card) Members of other QA clubs $30 (joining QMA for the first time) QMA Full Membership + $110 (online only) QA Traditional Membership QMA Full Membership + $275 (online only) QA Platinum Membership Officials and Volunteers Free (please renew online or complete a membership form) QMA is Proudly Supported by: 4 THE ATHLETIC CHALLENGE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | Issue 21: NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 5 2 In this club, have you ever wondered... Who puts up the nets? Who puts them away? (I’d love to help, but just now I can’t stay.) Who fills the urn? Who makes the tea? (It isn’t my job, don’t look at me) Who collects empty bottles? Who washes up? (What a nerve. She asked me to bring back my cup!) Who fills the icebox with all those cool drinks? (What, no bitter lemon? The service here stinks!) Who is the mug who is always umpiring? (I’d try it myself, but find it too tiring) Who locks every lock? Who shuts every gate? (What does it matter? She’ll be right mate.) Who does all these things? I really can’t say ---- What’s more I don’t care. I just came here to play. Brisbane volunteer roster NOVEMBER 18 SATURDAY SATURDAY 25th NOVEMBER SAF SAF Con Dimauro Jeanette Flynn Glen Dunne Jim Furlong Brendan Dyer Brenda Gannon Craig Elliott Noel Garvey Noela Ensbey Michelle Gibson Ron Ensbey Randal Gibson Greg Farmer Darrell Giles Lance Faulkner Fred Goodwin Greg Fellows Neil Gray Darren Felsman Robert Gunningham Richard Flack Krispin Hajkowicz Lynda Flynn Jean Hampson If you are not available to do your roster on this day, please advise Irene ASAP. [email protected] or 0409 470608. 5 THE ATHLETIC CHALLENGE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | Issue 21: NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 6 2 State Relay Championships What a buzz! QMA came away with a total of 29 medals to finish in second place behind Ashgrove Rangers who dominated the day. Well done to everyone who participated and/or cheered them on. Special thanks to Julie for her great recruitment campaign, to Ross her assistant and to Kathy who backed them up. Here is the top five medal tally and some photos taken by Lee-Anne on the day. CLUB GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL Ashgrove 23 13 10 46 Rangers Queensland Masters 23 4 2 29 Athletics Qeii Track Club 22 10 2 34 Gold Coast 11 5 3 19 Victory Thompson 9 16 4 29 Estate 6 THE ATHLETIC CHALLENGE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | Issue 21: NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 7 QMA Half Marathon Challenge Over the past few years, the QMA Half are to be congratulated on their efforts. Consider that the world c'ship for Marathon Championship has been run The final results are summarised on in conjunction with several different page X and Y by age group, showing our age group was won in 83:01 major events: Doomben, Townsville and each participant's best time (where last year [in Perth] which Sunshine Coast with only limited support athletes did more than one half), and the wouldn't have gained the winner from QMA distance runners at any of corresponding Age Graded %.