WCAC Newsletter #252, 13-12-19

EMAIL DAVE ASAP TO ENTER CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS…

Entry fees will be paid by the club for members wanting to run in the Cheshire, Northern, and/or English National Cross Country Championships, on the basis that members who ask to be entered turn up on the day.

No qualification needed, all abilities represented. Run in any one event or all three. The only requirements are that you are a FIRST-CLAIM member of West Cheshire AC and, for the Cheshire Championships only, you must either have been born in Cheshire or have been living in Cheshire for at least nine months before the race, and must not have competed in another county’s championships since October 1st 2019. The races are:

Cheshire County AA Cross-country Championships at Knights Grange, Winsford. Saturday January 4th 2020. Age groups from under 11s to veterans.
Northern Athletics Cross-country Championships at The Camp Hill Estate, Kirklington, Bedale DL8 2LS. Saturday January 25th 2020. Age groups from under 13s to veterans.
English National Cross-country Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham NG8 2AE. Saturday February 22nd 2020.

IF YOU WANT TO RUN PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected] (don’t just reply via Facebook or tell a coach!) with your name, date of birth and the name of the championships you want to run in, by the following dates: Cheshire: December 20th 2019; Northern: January 3rd 2020; National: January 3rd 2020. 

Any entries for the Cheshire Championships, after the Cheshire closing date above, must be done by the entrants themselves, who will have to pay an entry fee. It appears that there is no individual entry to the Northern or National championships, so please let us know by the dates shown above if you want to run!

IMPORTANT The club is paying members’ entry fees again this year on the basis that people commit to showing up on the day unless there are legitimate unforeseen circumstances, eg illness or injury. If members who are fit to compete decide to pull out after entering, the club will expect to be reimbursed for their entry fees. Please be sure that you want to run before committing to do so.

NORTHERN INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Entries are now open for the Northern Indoor Under 17, Under 20 and Senior Track & Field Championships being held at EIS, Sheffield, on Saturday and Sunday, 11th and 12th January. The link for online entries is: https://www.northernathletics.co.uk/events/northern-senior-u20-u17-indoor-tf-championships/

And Entries are also now open for the Northern Under 13 and Under 15 Track and Field Championships being held at EIS, Sheffield, on Sunday 2nd February. The link for online entries is here.

THIS WEEKEND

CROSS COUNTRY FIXTURE: Saturday, 14th December – North Staffs League Final Round, at Rodbaston Campus, Penkridge, ST19 5PH. There will be no senior men’s or women’s races. The Under 17 men’s race will be moved forward to a 1pm start (from its usual 1:30pm start), to run with the Under 17 Women and Under 15 Boys. Our Club Cross Country Secretary, Dave Alexander, won’t be there, so a volunteer is required to pick up the team envelope from the organisers’ marquee near the start/finish area. The marquee usually has a Range Rover parked under it. If anyone can collect WCAC finishers’ tokens for one or all of the races and fill in the relevant form for each race, that would be very helpful – it is straightforward, but instructions are available on request.

THE REVISED TIMETABLE IS: 12 noon – Under 11 Girls; 12.15pm – Under 11 Boys; 12.15pm – Under 13 Girls; 12.35pm – Under 13 Boys and Under 15 Girls; 1pm – Under 17 Women, Under 17 Men and Under 15 Boys. Presentation at approximately 2.15pm.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD MEETING: Sunday, 15th December – Sale Harriers Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting, at SportCity, Rowsley Street, Manchester. M11 3FF.

SPORTSHALL TRAINING: An indoor sportshall athletics training session, will take place on Saturday, 14th December (10am-12 noon), at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Old School Sportshall. Everyone needs to register first at the Track Office.

HIGH JUMP TRAINING: All members in the Under 13s age group and above are invited to a high jump training session supervised by Jane Palmer, at Deeside Indoor Athletics Centre, Kelsterton Road, Connahs Quay, CH5 4BR, on Friday,13th December (6.30pm start). The cost to use the facility is £4 per athlete.

THROWS TRAINING: All members in the Under 13s age group and above are invited to a throws training session supervised by Dave McKay, at Deeside Indoor Athletics Centre, Kelsterton Road, Connahs Quay, CH5 4BR, on Friday, 13th December (6.30pm start). The cost to use the facility is £4 per athlete.

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FUN MORNING

West Cheshire AC’s Annual Christmas Fun Morning will be held on Saturday 21^st December, at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall between 10am and 12 noon. The morning will be a ‘fun/games’ element, fancy dress is optional. The cost is £1.50, the proceeds of which will go to a local charity. If you wish to come, please put your name down on the list in the Track Office. You can bring your brothers and sisters along but please note any child under the age of 8½ years old will need an adult with them at all times.

YOUR CLUB COMMITTEE

At the recent Club AGM the following members were elected onto the Club Committee which meets after training on the second Tuesday of every month to discuss every aspect relating to the Club:

Chairman: John Clarke; Secretary: Clare Mallon; Treasurer: Lisa Davies; Vice-Chairman: Dennis Wall; Membership Secretary: Jane Pughe; Facilities Officer: Eddie Gore; Media Officer: Mark Davies; Road Running Secretary: John Parlevliet; Cross Country Secretary: Dave Alexander; Track & Field Secretary: Dennis Wall.

Any member wanting to be co-opted onto the Club Committee or raise a matter to do with the Club should notify any of the above. The Club Committee is always looking for fresh ideas and suggestions.

RAFFLE PRIZES STILL NEEDED FOR AWARDS EVENING

Raffle Prizes are needed from members for the Club Presentation Evening being held in February. Any raffle prizes should be handed in at the EPSV Athletics Track Office before or after Club Training Sessions.

HELPERS URGENTLY NEEDED FOR BOXING DAY CHESTER WALLS RACE

Members, parents and friends are needed to help out on Boxing Day at the Essar Chester Walls Race. If you are taking part, then please ensure that you provide a family member / friend to marshal in your place. This is a major fundraiser for the club and we need your support. If you can help please email Dennis Wall ASAP at: [email protected]

PROMOTIONAL CLUB VIDEO

The Club is planning to produce a promotional video to be screened at the Club Awards Evening in February. If any members don’t want to be shown on the video please let Dennis Wall know ASAP by email at: [email protected]

URGENT HELP NEEDED

The Club needs urgent help, support, and assistance from parents during Tuesday evening (6.30pm-8pm) and Saturday morning (10am-12 noon) training sessions at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track (6.30pm-8pm).

PARENTS who can help should contact Dennis Wall on 07968643038 or email:[email protected]

BE SEEN AND BE SAFE

All Club members training at night on routes that involve crossing roads and where there is traffic are reminded to wear bright and reflective clothing. Please be safe.

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

All parents of youngsters attending track training sessions are reminded to collect their sons and daughters from the track – not from the car park. The Club wants to ensure everyone stays safe and that every youngster safely leaves every track training session.

All youngsters attending track training sessions should bring along warm clothing, preferably waterproofs, hats, gloves, as well as a bottle of water.

INDOOR CIRCUIT TRAINING

Dave McKay and Jenny Manning will be supervising winter circuit training for club members on Wednesdays in the old Stanney High School Sportshall (Annexe) from 7pm.

BECOME ONE OF OUR CLUB COACHES

Any parents of West Cheshire AC members wanting to become qualified coaches will be fully supported by the Club who will pay for coaching courses.

Please email Dennis if you are interested at [email protected]

Further details about coaching can be found here.

REGIONAL COACH AND ATHLETE TRAINING DAYS

England Athletics is running a series of Regional Coach & Athlete Training Days across the country between September 2019 and March 2020. Delivered by elite-level coaches, these practical event-specific sessions are tailored to either Speed, Endurance, Jumps or Throws and are perfect for club-based athletes and coaches looking to develop in areas including training, preparation and technique.

Further details can be found here.

REGIONAL ENDURANCE WORKSHOP

West Cheshire AC has agreed to host England Athletics Regional Endurance Coaching Workshops this Winter at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track.

The target audience will be Coaches working with athletes who are County standard or higher, and athletes aged 11-18. The duration will be up to three hours to include Q&A/discussion.

A threshold training session will take place on Thursday, 5th March.

WHY NOT BECOME AN OFFICIAL?

West Cheshire AC is keen to help any parents of members wanting to become qualified officials. The Club will pay for parents of members wanting to attend an officials course.

Please email Dennis if you are interested at [email protected]

Further details about officiating can be found here.

IT’S GOOD TO TALK

Members and parents are reminded to look at the following links for updates about any Club training sessions being cancelled due to adverse weather conditions:

FACEBOOK: West Cheshire AC, West Cheshire AC Road Running, west cheshire ac jnr to u20 middle distance group

WEBSITE: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/westcheshireac

CLUB KIT

Anyone wanting to purchase club vests and/or hoodies is reminded that parents Vikki Brett and Joanne Lark will sell club kit at the EPSV Track Office AFTER Tuesday night training sessions.

Payment can be made by cash, or by cheque made payable to West Cheshire AC.

PHYSIO SUPPORT

Club member Heather McLintock is a qualified physiotherapist and offers substantial discounted prices for West Cheshire AC members on production of their membership card. Heather can be contacted on 01244 381350 or 07885 462487.

WEEKLY PRESS REPORT

This week’s press report can be found here.

FIXTURES

SATURDAY, 14TH DECEMBER – North Staffs Cross Country League Round Four, at Penkridge, ST19 5PH, (12 noon start). NO SENIOR RACES; MU17s moved to 1pm.

SUNDAY, 15TH DECEMBER – Sale Harriers Open Indoor Track & Field Meeting, at SportcIty, Rowsley Street, Manchester, M11 3FF.

SATURDAY, 21ST DECEMBER – West Cheshire AC Annual Christmas Fun Morning, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall, (10am start).

THURSDAY, 26TH DECEMBER – Essar Chester Walls Race, at Chester Racecourse, 10.30am start).