WCAC Newsletter #316, 12-03-21
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Many happy returns to the following club members who celebrate their birthdays this week:
Rob Boggild, Phil Mercer, Eleanor Wheeler.
And Next Week: Jo Clarke, Kerry Riley, Sophia Falkingham, Jack Jones, Harriet Mercer, Traci Shipley, Maddi Mercer, Freya Pattwell, Helen Tenner, Adrian Gledhill, Tom Shillington.
ON YOUR MARKS…
EPSV Facility Manager, Peter Davies, has sent the following message to West Cheshire AC: “We (Brio) have decided we are going to open from Monday March 29th, we are just waiting for public health to sign it off and then I will send a formal email to all user groups.”
This decision is in line with the date that England Athletics earmarked for athletics training and competition guidance to start.
The Club is now waiting for confirmation from Brio that track training at EPSV can restart later this month and Club members will be updated when more news is announced.
Meanwhile, Cheshire AA remains hopeful that the rearranged Cheshire AA Cross Country Championships can be held on Saturday 17th April, at Betley Court Farm.
Please remember to renew your West Cheshire AC Membership when you receive a renewal email, and be aware of the new Cashless system being implemented for EPSV Track Training Sessions (further details below under the headline: “IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT…”
CLUB WELFARE TEAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
UK Athletics recommends that all Clubs have a Welfare Team and West Cheshire AC recognises the importance of Welfare and Safeguarding. Volunteers are needed to form a Club Welfare Team. If you are interested and would like to learn more details then please email our Club Secretary, Julian Tegg, at: [email protected]
ENGLAND ATHLETICS RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENT’S ROADMAP
England Athletics have outlined in an βathletics and running roadmapβ infographic what everything means at each stage. More detailed guidance will be provided they have received further information from Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Please note, all these dates are subject to the UK Governmentβs four-step roadmap to ease restrictions across England and the conditions which must be met before the country is able to move from one step to the next. More details here.
STAY SAFE AND FOLLOW THE LOCKDOWN GUIDELINES
All West Cheshire AC members should be following National Lockdown Guidelines and only exercising within the restrictions, so please abide by the rules and don’t bring the Club into disrepute.
Following the UK Governmentβs new national COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and the publication of bespoke instructions from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), England Athletics revised the current guidance for athletics and running on January 8th.
PLEASE also remember that Brio Leisure who operate Ellesmere Port Sports Village have closed the facilities until further notice. The EPSV Facility Manager has told the Club not to train at the site, so all scheduled training sessions have been cancelled and the EPSV site remains closed.
We hope you and your family all stay safe and well during this difficult period. Once we know when we can use the athletics track again, we will be back in touch with the new arrangements.
SPEED COACHING WEBINARS
This series of free webinars focuses on developmental topics for the various speed events.
- April 7th (6:30-8pm): Peaking for Championships. Hosted by Michael Baker
- April 21st (6:30-8pm): Coaching Teenagers. Hosted by Mike Leonard
More details can be found here.
COACHING WEBINARS
Take a look at the long list of EA webinars relating to running, jumping and throwing at this link.
ENGLAND ATHLETICS CLUB WEBINARS
During March the following Webinars, Forums and Training Sessions will be delivered:
- On Wednesday March 17th the Club Resources Manager Emma Hurst will lead a session focussing on Club Standards, outlining how EA plan to support clubs work towards these standards through our online resource library.
- On Thursday March 18th EA are hosting a Q&A Webinar on the recent announcement on the Consultation of the Formal Membership of UK Athletics.
- On Wednesday March 24th Club Support Manager Heidi Bradley will be hosting a Workshop to support clubs who are dealing with disputes and complaints by their members.
- Following last weekβs communication to all affiliated clubs and registered athletes and runners about affiliation and registration for 2021-22 EA will be running a Webinar focussing on the key elements of Affiliation and Registration for clubs. This will also include a training session on the new and improved Club Portal and will take place on Monday March 29th.
EA are also jointly delivering six workshops with Sport England focussing on:
- Volunteer Experience
- Participant Experience
- Engaging your Local Communities.
The first workshop takes place on March 13th, and EA only have a small number of places remaining.
Keep checking the England Athletics website for guidance updates and if you have specific queries and want to speak to a member of the Club Support Team please email: [email protected]
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
From January 1st 2021, there will be a change to the way in which club members are asked to pay for attending training sessions at Ellesmere Port Sports Village. Rather than paying by cash, members will be asked to top up their accounts online, via a link to our club membership system.
As members attend each session, their accounts will be debited by the cost of each session.
You should by now have received an email from West Cheshire AC, containing a link to the top-up system. From there, you will be able to top-up by between Β£10 and Β£100, and set both regular top-up amounts and warnings to prompt you when your account is low.
The cashless payment system will be provided by Nifty Entries, who maintain our current online club membership system. They also provide similar cashless training payments systems to other clubs, on the same basis of only paying for the sessions that you attend, from your own account.
Please let us know if you have any questions, by replying Dennis at: [email protected]
ITEMS NEEDED FOR CHARITY AUCTION FOR CLUB FUNDS
Club coach, Paul Fairweather, and his wife Karen, are planning to organise a charity auction in the next 3-6 months to help raise money for Club funds.
They can host the auction and provide access to a worldwide market of buyers of vinyl and music memorabilia in addition to Sports, TV and Film memorabilia.
In May 2020 Paul and Karen raised Β£179k for the NHS & Feeding America through a charity auction of items donated by musicians associated with Island Records. There were some amazing lots that were donated and it shows the potential with the right sort of push.
In the North West we obviously have a good pool of musicians, big sporting clubs, and sports/TV stars that people may know who could donate something.
If you can help or would like to get involved please email Dennis at: [email protected]
More information can be found at Paul and Karen’s website.
PLEASE HELP TO STAY IN TOUCH
During this lockdown period when all competitions are suspended, I will do my upmost in keeping the Club Newsletter information and other content going.
I would welcome any contributions from yourselves, any impending marriages, or additions to the family, any running or competing incidents, also anything to help everyone stay entertained. Currently the response has been excellent, but if you have anything that could make it into next weekβs Newsletter β please email me at: [email protected]
WOMEN IN COACHING PROGRAMME
The Women in Coaching Programme is a collaboration between England Athletics and British Athletics. The programme will focus on providing development opportunities to help upskill female coaches, officials, volunteers and other support staff whilst also addressing the issues of gender inequality in specific areas of the sport and providing a network and support system for women in athletics and running. Further details can be found here.
COACHING COURSE UPDATE
England Athletics has started to publicise Virtual Coaching Courses on their website. Follow this link to find a list of virtual courses.
Please get in touch with Dennis if you do book on the course at: [email protected]
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS FOR SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COURSE
UK Coaching is organising a course to gain the confidence to be able to support people experiencing mental health problems, and help them to thrive inside and outside of your sessions. The link is here.
WEEKLY QUADRATHLON @HOME
Are you missing the buzz of track and field competition while weβre all at home in lockdown? If so, then sign-up for England Athletics new fun weekly track and field Quadrathlon competition β open to anyone aged 9 or over and perfect for setting up at home! Details are here.
UPDATED PROVISIONAL DATES FOR YOUR DIARY…
Subject to Covid-19 rules, West Cheshire AC’s latest revised league season looks like this:
Under 13/Under 15 Youth Development League Merseyside Division: Saturday, June 5, (at Ellesmere Port Sports Village), Saturday, July 17, (at Bebington Oval), and Saturday, September 4 (at Wavertree, Liverpool).
Under 17/Under 20 Youth Development League Merseyside Division: Sunday, May 30 (at Ellesmere Port Sports Village), Sunday, June 27, (at Bebington Oval), Sunday, July 25 (at Bebington Oval), and Sunday, September 5, (at Wavertree, Liverpool).
West Cheshire AC’s North Premier West League squad will open their season on Saturday, May 22, at Blackburn, before heading to Preston on Saturday, June 19, then hosting round three at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Sunday, July 4, and concluding the campaign at Trafford, on Sunday, August 1.
West Cheshire AC’s Cheshire League season is scheduled to start at Wrexham’s Queensway Stadium, on Sunday, May 23, before heading to Stockport on Sunday, June 20; East Cheshire on Saturday, July
31, and hosting the final round at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Sunday, August 29.
HEATHER McLINTOCK’S PHYSIO OFFER
Heather McLintock has been in touch to say she is still able to offer physiotherapy if anyone is injured over this lockdown…Heather knows how important it is to exercise in this time so if she can keep people exercising that would be great. Heather’s email address is: [email protected]
RUN LEADER DEVELOPMENT DAYS
England Athletics Run Leader Development Days is a series of informative and engaging workshops aimed at leaders and coaches from affiliated clubs and RunTogether groups. They are designed to bring leaders and coaches together in an environment where they can network and learn from each other by sharing skills and challenges, plus expand their knowledge of managing and growing groups, and enhance their understanding of technical skills in running.
Run Leader Development Days are going virtual for 2021, featuring five interactive (taking place Mon March 1st). Sessions will discuss a mix of topics, tasks, group discussion, Q&As, and the final webinar is based around a virtual practical session. Each webinar will have a lead theme β enabling Run Leaders to develop their knowledge and skills in a wide variety of areas. All five webinars cost Β£30.
ENGLAND ATHLETICS WEBINARS
A revised list of England Athletics webinars can be found here.
PLEASE HELP OUR CLUB WHEN YOU SHOP
West Cheshire Athletic Club has registered with easyfundraising, which means over 4,000 shops and sites will now donate to the Club for FREE every time you use easyfundraising to shop with them. These donations will help SO MUCH, so please sign up to support us β itβs completely FREE and doesnβt take long – here.
STAYING IN TOUCH WITH DAN GILROY
Our Lifetime Vice-President, Dan Gilroy, passes on best wishes to everyone at the club. Dan said he would welcome members to ring him and have a chat. His number is: 07594 464287.
ATHLETICS WEEKLY NEWS UPDATES
All the latest athletics news can be found on the Athletics Weekly website here.
LOOKING BACK
This week: Elaine Thompson, Women’s high jumping, and men’s javelin. Enjoy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX7RgFb_dYg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qhohBo32NI
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnHf9ZFrXy8
ITβS GOOD TO TALK
Members and parents are reminded to look at the following links for updates about the club:
WEBSITE: www.westcheshireac.co.uk
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/westcheshireac
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/westcheshireac/
