WCAC Newsletter #273, 15-05-20

PLEASE PAY YOUR CLUB MEMBERSHIP

Please remember to renew your Club Membership to help support West Cheshire AC prepare for life after the lockdown when the Club is aiming to organise a Club Track & Field Championships in September and hopefully host the Cheshire Track & Field Championships if restrictions are lifted.

The link to the Club Membership payment page on the website is here:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Many happy returns to the following Club members who celebrate their birthdays this week:

Christina Broome, Katie Clarke, Alex Byrne, Megan Kettle, Thomas Renondeau, Logan Evans, Sarah Hughes, Jenny Palmer, Laura White, Debra Erskine.

And Next Week: Scarlett Whittall, Teresa Arvidsson, Andrew Howarth, Abigail Hutton, Ellen McMahon, Daisy Ross-Maddock.

LATEST MESSAGE FROM ENGLAND ATHLETICS…

England Athletics CEO Chris Jones has provided a message for all club members which can be found here.

STAYING SAFE AND STAYING IN TOUCH

Hopefully you are continuing to stay fit, healthy and upbeat in these strange times. It’s so important to keep in touch, so please forward me your contributions for the Club Newsletter by email to: dennis.wall1@ntlworld.com

I hope you enjoy this latest weekly issue of the Club Newsletter which features news, work-outs, links to video clips, and a list of club members who are celebrating birthdays.

Remember that you can all play your part in communicating and sharing your thoughts and ideas during this lull in Club training and competition.

PLEASE SUPPORT JON PARK…

Club member Jon Park is more than a quarter of the way towards raising £1,000 for NHS Charities. Jon thanks everyone who has donated so far before he runs for 24 hours this Saturday, (May 16), starting at 10am.

To pledge a donation, please follow this link.

HEATHER McLINTOCK’S REHAB EXERCISES…

Club member and physio Heather McLintock has provided a webpage developed for athletes to access over the COVID period. The link contains video exercises which can be used to rehabilitate whilst you can’t visit her at the practice. The link is here.

HOME PENTATHLON UPDATE…

Teresa Arvidsson, Isabella Rimmer, and Thomas Rimmer have all completed the Home Pentathlon Challenge.

Teresa’s results after several weeks training were: 5x20m run: 28.2 seconds; Throw: 15 of 20; Speed bounce: 61; Vertical jump: 58; Standing long jump: 2.07m.

Isabella’s results: 5x20m run: 40.3 secs; Throw: 12 of 20; Speed bounce: 43; Vertical Jump: 30; Standing long jump: 2.05m.

Thomas’s results: 5x20m run: 40.1 secs; Throw: 12 of 20; Speed bounce: 42; Vertical Jump: 28; Standing long jump: 2.02m.

If you haven’t completed the Home Pentathlon yet, please give it a go and let me know how you get on. The link can be found here.

CATHRYN WOODALL’S WORK-OUT INVITE…

Club member and Farndon physio Cathryn Woodall has posted crab walk and squat video exercises on her Farndon physio Facebook page here.

Cathryn is also thinking of doing a Facebook live/Zoom video of a 20-30 minute exercise routine, if anyone is interested.

JASON OSWELL’S LOCKDOWN PHYSIOTHERAPY

Jason Oswell has been in touch to say he is doing Physiotherapy video consultations during lockdown. If anybody has any issues, he is prepared to provide a consultation to anybody from the club for £10. His email address is: jason_oswell@live.com

HOME CHALLENGES WITH JENNY MEADOWS…

If you need something to brighten up your week, then the Jenny Meadows Weekly Challenge is just for you! Our friend, World and European medallist at 800m and coach Jenny Meadows, will be setting a special fun challenge each week, that you can do within your home. This week is a Speed Bounce Grid Challenge.

FUN EXERCISES WITH KADEENA COX…

Double Paralympic champion in cycling and athletics, Kadeena Cox takes you through seven exercises designed to help with some of the physical effects of multiple sclerosis.

It’s easy to set up and most of all very fun, featuring exercises called “crazy legs” and “broom hurdles”.

HELP AND SUPPORT

Anyone requiring help and support while self-isolating can contact the local council hotline number of 0300 123 7031.

This is a dedicated hotline number for those self-isolating and who don’t have anyone to help. A call to this number will provide help organising food or medicine deliveries, or some sort of social contact. The number for the most in need is 0300 123 7031. It is open Monday to Sunday (8am-7pm).

ALSO – Please feel free to ring me (Dennis) if you want a chat or need any help or support. My numbers are: 0151 201 1254 and 07968 643038.

UPDATED ONLINE ATHLETICS WEBINARS

In these unprecedented times, I wanted to draw the club’s attention to some of the great resources available online. England Athletics is expanding its campaign to support Athletics and Running for everyone @home, with a focus on ‘Running @home’ support and advice. The homepage can be accessed here:

There are many webinars, interviews and tips from top coaches and athletes on how to stay conditioned and focused.

In addition, there are some fantastic videos for 4-11 year olds on the Funetics webpage put together in conjunction with England Athletics. The videos demonstrate parents and children (aged 4-11) taking part in FUN activities based on fundamental core movement skills: running, jumping and throwing. Funetics is a programme that has been designed to reflect the requirements of the National Curriculum Key Stage 1 and 2. At this time when our children are currently schooling at home, we hope that these video activities will support the need for education to continue at home.  You can access the videos here.

The link to other updated webinars can be found here, here and here.

VIRTUAL CHESHIRE ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Cheshire County Athletics Association in conjunction with Run Cheshire and Gogledd Cymru are organising the Cheshire County Virtual Road Racing Championships.

As well managing and administrating the races, Run Cheshire and Gogledd Cymru are donating at least £300 from the entry fees to a charity to be determined by Cheshire County Athletics Association.

The competition will consist of three individual races over 5k, 5m and 10k and the races are now open. Runners have until Sunday, June 28 to register, run the distance and upload their results using Strava, Garmin, etc. The closing date to submit entries is midnight on Sunday, June 28. 

To take part, entrants must follow three steps: Register for the virtual race of their choice; Run the race in their own location taking careful note of social distancing advice (you can even download a printable number if wanting to look the part); and upload proof (full instructions on how to do this will be in a confirmation email).

The entry fee is £3.50 per person (plus booking fee). The winners of each race will have a hamper of goodies sent to them. The winners of veteran categories will receive a free entry into a Run Cheshire race of their choice in 2021.

All distances must start and finish more or less in the same place. If this is not possible then try to ensure the route is reasonably flat. 

Runners should ensure that they are adhering to social distancing laws at all times avoiding busy parks.

The races should be undertaken as part of an individual’s daily exercise allowance, and not addition to any other form of daily exercise

To be eligible for a prize all competitors must have been either: Born within the current Cheshire County boundaries (including Halton and Warrington); or have been resident within Cheshire for nine months prior to the date of competition.

The online entry link is here.

HELSBY FOUR VILLAGES HALF MARATHON UPDATE

Next year’s Essar Four Villages Half Marathon will hopefully take place on Sunday 17 January. However, the organisers will take guidance from UK Athletics and other authorities in the coming months whether this is possible. The organisers are also keeping a close eye on whether large mass participation running events such as the London Marathon and Great North Run go ahead in the autumn and any changes they put in place.

One option is to simplify the race to minimise the money needed to be spent in advance to enable plans to put the race on, but if a change of plans takes place at a late stage due to ongoing restrictions the organisers are not put in a difficult financial position. The race is organised by Helsby Running club and on a voluntary basis and there are considerable costs to putting on a safe and enjoyable race and some of these need to be committed well in advance.

The proposed idea is to put on a ‘Back to Basics’ race with minimal bling (no medals, no goody bag) but still with a great course and lots of community spirit. Any savings made would be donated to the two local hospices and the community groups, who like many are currently facing challenging times. This extra income will be very much needed. Runners will receive a token of recognition for completing the race.

Organisers are also considering to reduce the number of entries to keep costs down and put less pressure on the local community in terms of parking. Hopefully the race will be hosted from a new club house, which will be located not far from our existing site and means a slightly different start location for the race. The entry price will reflect any changes having to be made, making sure there is still great value and to provide support for charity and community partners.

Organisers plan to go-live about the race on 1st October.

STAYING FIT AND HEALTHY

The links below offer a range of advice on exercises we can all do while confined indoors.

MIND provides a series of workouts here.

Joe Wicks has become a household name with his daily online morning workouts which can be found here.

Sport England is offering tips, advice and guidance on how to stay active around the home on this link.

Youth Sport Trust is providing healthy tips including a series of 60-second Challenges on this link.

Realbuzz has provided strength and conditioning exercises to help avoid injury.

MORE GREAT MEMORIES…

Club member Steve King has got in touch to add his choice to this week’s list. It’s a race he loves from the Seoul Olympics and he thinks people would love to see. He remembers getting up at 3 o’clock in the morning to watch it and thinks it’s an all but forgotten performance from Mark Rowlands in a world class field. It still stands as the British record. Enjoy…

MULLER ANNIVERSARY GAMES CANCELLED

British Athletics confirmed on Tuesday this week the cancellation of the 2020 Muller Anniversary Games – Part of the Wanda Diamond League, scheduled for July 4-5 at the London Stadium.

The decision has been made in light of the ongoing global pandemic, with the safety of all athletes, coaches, volunteers, spectators and members of staff, at home in the UK and abroad, the upmost priority.

Joanna Coates, UK Athletics CEO, said: “We are hugely disappointed to confirm the cancellation of one of the flagship events of the global athletics calendar, but we must place the safety of the entire athletics family at the forefront of every decision we make during these unprecedented times and ensure we are following Government advice.

“Cancelling the event will have a significant financial impact on UKA and the wider sport. The revenue we generate from events – through ticketing, broadcast and sponsorship helps administer the sport and provide the essential governance services that we, as an NGB, oversee.

“We’re incredibly thankful to our commercial partners, some of which are continuing to support us during these tough times but there will be a substantial reduction in income from the cancellation of this event and this will have an impact moving forwards.”

Müller Anniversary Games ticket purchasers will receive an automatic refund via the method of payment originally used to buy tickets and will not need to do anything or make contact. However, given the extraordinary circumstances and high volumes placed on banks during these times, the refund process may take slightly longer than usual.

DIAMOND LEAGUE UPDATE

Organisers of the international athletics circuit on Tuesday attempted to salvage their coronavirus ravaged season with the announcement of the 2020 Diamond League programme.

The first of the meetings featuring 16 track and field events was scheduled to start in Qatar on 17 April. But the gathering in Doha was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has been reset for 9 October.

After a modified event in Oslo on 11 June, athletes will congregate on 14 August in Monaco before moving onto Gateshead in north-eastern England.

Other European venues include Stockholm, Lausanne and Brussels before a switch of continents to take in venues in the United States and China.

The revamp has left casualties though. Rabat has been called off. And the events in July in London and Zurich in September have also been scrapped.

Joanna Coates, the head of UK Athletics, said the cancellation of the London Stadium’s two day would leave a big hole in the organisation’s coffers.

“The revenue we generate from events – through ticketing, broadcast and sponsorship – helps administer the sport and provide the essential governance services that we, as a national governing body oversee.

“We must place the safety of the entire athletics family at the forefront of every decision we make during these unprecedented times and ensure we are following government advice.”

The Zurich Weltklasse meeting had been due to provide the three-day culmination of the Diamond League season between 9 and 11 September.

“Despite the fact that the Swiss federal council has banned large events only until the end of August, staging the finals in their intended form is unrealistic,” the Zurich organisers said.

Despite the cancellations and reconfigurations, World Athletics boss, Sebastian Coe, hailed the efforts to stage competitions after the loss of the Olympic Games.

“I’m delighted that it now looks like we will be able to offer athletes a solid international season between August and October where they can earn prize money and assess their training progress in preparation for next year’s Olympic Games.

Coe, a former Olympic gold medallist, added: “Inevitably international travel restrictions will affect the ability of some athletes to attend some meetings, but we hope that there will be a wide enough range of meetings available for most elite athletes to access some competition before the end of the year.”

COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES TO BE RE-SCHEDULED

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Executive Board have decided to explore rescheduling options for the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. The seventh Commonwealth Youth Games were scheduled to take place ‪from 1-7 August 2021 after Trinidad and Tobago was awarded the competition by the CGF in June last year.

The impact of the pandemic on the global international sporting calendar means that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have now rescheduled to the summer of 2021 during the original dates of the Youth Games.

Following positive discussions, the CGF has agreed to consider the best alternative options and timeframes for staging the event in the future, potentially in 2023. The CGF has given the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA) consideration as the first option to host.  Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs in the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, has committed to asking the Cabinet to re-examine its position and provide the necessary confirmation regarding the hosting of the Commonwealth Youth Games and the related expenditure.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “The rescheduling of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics has also changed demands on scheduling and resources for many of our Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) and International Federations from 2020 to 2021. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact across the world and everyone’s absolute priority is the health and well-being of their communities. Our decision has been made in the best interests of athletes, fans and citizens that are to benefit from these transformational Games. We are committed over the coming months to look at future dates and hosting options, to ensure the right decision is taken for the Commonwealth Youth Games, so that the region can continue to play a leading role as part of the Commonwealth Sports Movement.”

IT’S GOOD TO TALK

Members and parents are reminded to look at the following links for updates about the Club:

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

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/westcheshireac/