SURREY COUNTY ATHLETIC NEWS (Issue 33 - November 2002) We have reached the time of year when the Cross Country season is well underway - the first Surrey League fixtures have been held - and the Sportshall season will soon be upon us. Our previous exploits mean that our youngsters have a lot to live up to if they are to repeat our successes at the National Sportshall Finals. However, at this stage lets wish all the contestants enjoyable competition because we need them to enjoy our sport so that they are encouraged to stay with us and maybe become the champions of the future. One athlete who is fulfilling her promise is Long Jumper Jade Johnson of Herne Hill Harriers. I doubt that in her wildest dreams before this season that she would have anticipated coming second in both the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships and then being chosen for the European Select team. From a county perspective there is still one target left for her to achieve - the County record of 6.75m set by Joyce Oladapo in 1985. The fact that Jade has achieved such international success without yet beating Joyce’s record is a tribute to how fine a performance it was. This issue contains details of our athletes’ performances at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships plus all the medalists in the county championships held over the past three months. It shows that the county association is playing its part in providing competition at the grass roots level. Our role complements that of the clubs as it has done for over 80 years. Let us hope that we are not forgotten when the Government’s millions are being allocated for the development of grass roots athletics. WHAT’S IN A NAME Our organisation is called the Surrey County ATHLETIC Association. Like the AAA’s and indeed most clubs the word used is not ATHLETICS which is the name we use to refer to our sport. Do any of our readers know why? COUNTY DIARY 27 October 2002 Sports: Hall U11 (start time: 12:30) Spectrum, Guildford 3 November 2002 Sports:Hall U13/U15/U17 (start time: 1:00) Spectrum, Guildford 30 November 2002 Sports:Hall U11 (start time: 12:30) Crystal Palace 8 December 2002 Sports:Hall U13/U15/U17 (start time: 1:00) Spectrum Guildford 4 January 2003 SCAA Cross-Country Championships Nork Park, Banstead 12 January 2003 Sports:Hall U11 (start time: 12:30) Spectrum, Guildford 2 February 2003 Sports:Hall U13/U15/U17 (start time: 1:00) Spectrum, Guildford 1 CROSS COUNTRY Both of the Surrey Leagues have had to revise the dates of some fixtures. Below is the full list of fixtures: Surrey Cross Country League 2002/2003 Division 1 Division 2 Divisions 3&4 12 Oct Brockwell Park Epsom Downs 16 Nov Wimbledon Common Richmond Park Lloyd Park, Croydon 11 Jan Richmond Park Epsom Downs Croydon Airport 1 Feb Coulsdon Lloyd Park, Croydon Lightwater Park 15Mar Richmond Park For further details contact the Secretary - Bill Bird, The Old Weir House, St Peter Street, MARLOW, Bucks SL7 1NQ Tele: 01628 486321 Surrey Ladies Cross Country League 2002/2003 12 October - Epsom Downs; 16 November - Wimbledon Common (Putney Vale) 11 January - Richmond Park (Petersham) 1 February - Lloyd Park, Croydon For further information contact the Secretary - Ron Gobey, 10 Brome Road, Eltham, LONDON SE9 1LD Tele: 020 8856 4681. Reebok Challenge 2002-2003 Trevor Raggett is looking to organise a coach to this year's Reebok Challenge races at Birmingham, Margate & Cardiff. There will also be a trip to the event at Edinburgh, which will involve a flight and an overnight stay in a hotel. These events are suitable for girls and boys of varying abilities but will be especially valuable to those athletes with aspirations of representing the county later in the season. The cost of the coach will be £10 per person and the pick up points will be at Tolworth & Chertsey. Entries for these events are approximately £3. These trips will help the preparation for County events for both athletes and team managers alike (especially with team selections for the Southern Inter Counties in December). The dates for the meetings are as follows: 2nd November Birmingham; 17th November Margate; 19th January Cardif The Edinburgh event will take place on Sunday 15th December. The group will be flying up on Saturday morning and returning Sunday evening, with an overnight stay in a local hotel. This trip will cost £80 and will include, flight, accommodation, transport to hotel & breakfast. (Trevor needs to know as soon as possible for this one, as flights near Christmas will be at a premium). If you are interested or have any queries please contact Trevor Raggett (01483 488026) as soon as possible. 2 CROSS COUNTRY “Calling all under 23 Men” You are invited to compete for the county at the Southern Counties Cross Country Championships on Saturday 7th December at Banbury. Transport will be provided. Interested athletes should contact the Team Manager John Woolmer on 020 8651 1244 or E- mail: [email protected]. Under 17 men will also compete at this event. Interested athletes should also contact John Woolmer, especially those just coming into this age group. Downs Cross Country League There are vacancies for local athletics clubs and schools to enter this years Downs Cross Country League. Races are for boys and girls and mixed teams over a 2 to 3Km course on Epsom Downs. Clubs from Croydon, Epsom, Kingston & Sutton currently compete. Teams can be entered for any or all age groups. Meetings are held on Sunday mornings with the first race starting at 10:45am. 2002/2003 season fixtures: 10th November 1st December 9th February 9th March 2003 For further details contact the League Coordinator John Woolmer 020 8651 1244 SPORTSHALL Our Sportshall programme will be getting underway shortly. The fixtures confirmed for 2002-2003 are: U11 (Sportshall team will be present) 27 October 2002. Guildford. Start time 12.30 Contact is Paul Eales. 30 November 2002 Crystal Palace. Start time 12.30 Contact is David Reader. 12 January 2003. Guildford. Start Time 12.30 Contact is Paul Eales. U13/U15/U17 3 November 2002. Guildford. Doors open 12.15. Start 1.00. Contact Michael Cowlard. 8 December 2002. Guildford. Doors open 12.15. Start 1.00. Contact Michael Cowlard. 2 February 2003. Guildford. Doors open 12.15. Start 1.00. Contact Michael Cowlard. U13/U15 Regional Final (Sportshall team present) 2 March 2003. Guildford. Start 12.30. Local contact is Michael Cowlard. U13/U15 National Finals March 2003 National Indoor Arena, Birmingham 3 COACHING UK Athletics is offering the following training courses in the South East Region: UKA LEVEL ONE COACHING COURSE – minimum age 16 A one day practical and theory course for potential coaches on the ‘HOW ‘ to coach. Very suitable for beginners into coaching, parents,ex-athletes, and teachers. On successful completion of the course you will be qualified to work under the supervision of other qualified coaches and to assist in coaching all groups of events. (Course cost: £45) 9 November - Canterbury High School 8 December - The Spectrum, Guildford UKA CHILDREN IN ATHLETICS MODULE – minimum age 14 A one-day course that is ideal for people leading games based activities with children 8 –13 years old using soft athletics equipment. To promote skill development the course shows how to devise game like activities. There is a practical assessment. If taken with a level one- qualification candidates will be qualified and insured to coach 8 – 13 year olds using soft athletics equipment. If taken as stand-alone module candidates can only assist a qualified coach. Course cost £45 (if selected as the event module part of the level two course the cost is £20) 26 October - Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, Horsham 10 November -Canterbury High School UKA LEADERS AWARD FITNESS IN RUNNING AND WALKING This award is tailored to suit the individual involved in a wide variety of activities that centre on fitness, running and walking. The course encompasses leadership skills, session planning, fitness factors and components, training principles and energy systems. Courses are delivered through practical and classroom sessions. Course cost: £45. (Taken as the event module of the level two £20) UKA LEVEL TWO COACHING COURSE - minimum age 18 This course consists of a two-day core and a one-day event group module with a practical assessment. The core days and the event day are usually separated by a period of 8 – 10 weeks. Candidates must hold a level one award before embarking on level two. Successful completion of level two will qualify and insure you to work unsupervised in a selected group of events and will also build on coaching skills acquired under level one. Coaches already at level two can attend event group modules to add to their existing level two qualification. In this circumstance there would not be an assessment and the cost will be £20. This excludes Children in Athletics if taken as the event module. Course cost: £100. 30 Nov / 1 Dec & 1 / 2 Feb - both at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, Horsham Applications for these courses should be made to: Ray Thompson, UK Athletics Education and Training Administrator, 54 Coulsdon Rise, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 2SB Tele: 01737 554450; E-Mail: [email protected] 4 BOOK REVIEW HERNE HILL HARRIERS - INTO THE MILLENNIUM reviewed by Pete Mulholland. ALMOST thirty years in the making, this hardback history of Herne Hill Harriers was a labour of love by it's compiler Kevin Kelly who has set a standard that future club historians will find a hard act to follow.