November 2005

Induction sessions for juniors will take place on Thursday nights only during the remainder of the winter months.Mandy Challis has taken over as Induction Officer.

New senior athletes who are interested in joining and training at the club should still arrange to meet with Rob James on an individual basis. Rob can be contacted through the website at tamworthac@aol.com.

Schools Inter Counties cross country, November 19^th ,Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent

   Seven of the nine Tamworth AC athletes who were selected to run in the Schools Intercounties Cross Country competition competed on the testing course at Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent in glorious winter sunshine but with crisp conditions under foot.

   For six of the club athletes it was their first opportunity to represent their counties. The race was excellent preparation for the major championships that will be taking place early in the New Year.

   Representing Staffordshire, Steve Deeley (Wilnecote High School) ran a gutsy race in the Intermediate Boys section taking 23^rd place overall and being 3^rd counter for Staffordshire. The Staffordshire team took 3^rd place against seven other county teams.

   The Staffordshire Intermediate Girls team took 2^nd place overall with Megan Jacobs (John Taylor High School) in 45^th position and 5^th counter for her county.

   Tamworth AC had three entries in the Junior Boy’s race. Mathew Wood (Wilnecote High School) was 27^th and 7^th for Staffordshire and hot on his heels was Luke Roughley (Friary Grange High School) 31^st and 8^th for Staffordshire. Bobbie Grayson (Polesworth High School) finished in 61^st and was 7^th counter for Warwickshire.

   Elyse Jinks (Wilnecote High School) was running for Staffordshire in the Junior Girls race and she performed well to finish in   53^rd place overall and was the 9^th Staffordshire athlete home.

   Warwickshire’s Sarah Dryhurst (Polesworth High School) was the club’s only year 7 athlete that was selected to run but unfortunately a bout of sickness half way around the course meant she was withdrawn by her team manager.

   Although selected Tamworth’s Craig Farrell and Simon King did not compete.

 For more information on training and competition at Tamworth AC please call Chris the Club Secretary on 01827 287177, email tamworthac@aol.com or visit the club’s website at tamworthac.co.uk

Tamworth AC's International athlete Kirk Allen has decided to hang up his spikes.
   The Tamworth AC sprinter has competed for the Great Britain on several occasions in international events for athletes with learning difficulties.
   "We would like to thank everyone who has helped Kirk fulfil his dream on competing for Great Britain," said his mother, Angie.
   "Thanks to Quince Tree School for helping Kirk get to Budapest for his first international, Tamworth Sports Council, Jean and Maureen of Provident, Dave Collins of Peaks, Foseco, Ryan at Ikea and the Herald for their support."

Over 50 Tamworth AC athletes were unable to compete in the November meeting of the West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League when it was cancelled at the last minute due to atrocious weather conditions in the Sandwell Valley, Tipton.

   Following the heavy rains of the previous few days, the condition of the course itself was remarkably good, but the area at the turn of the lap, the start area, and particularly the finish area were all dangerously wet, and quickly turning to mud. 

   With the onset of yet another downpour just before the meeting, the Referees assessed that there was a significant risk to the youngsters due to the muddy conditions underfoot and at a meeting of Team Managers the majority agreed.  The Referees therefore decided, on the grounds of safety, that conditions underfoot were too poor to allow the meeting to go ahead.  While it might have been possible to miss the worst rain by rescheduling races, there was no chance of the ground drying out.

   Unfortunately there is no possibility of re-arranging this fixture in the crowded season, so the League will run for four races only with the next league meeting taking place at Rodbaston College on 11 December.

   In the meantime Tamworth AC’s cross country teams will concentrate on their busy training programmes and look forward to the next meeting when two promising young athletes, Robert Stroud and Chloe Williams, will make their cross country debuts for the club.

  For more information on cross country training and competition email Chris at tamworthac@aol.com.

As the numbers training on an evening continue to rise, the club has been presented with a welcome problem – there are too many athletes on the track at one time.

  This means that we aren’t able to offer the premium coaching service that we would like and also that there could be a serious health and safety issue.

  At the last meeting of coaches it was suggested that the club operates a tiering or block system as at sports centres and the larger athletic clubs and this idea met with approval from all coaches present. After much discussion and re-organisation here is the new training timetable:

Perhaps I can 'mop up' after the MUPA saga by congratulating Ian Osborn and his army of resident remonstrators against this play area for Amington's younger generation, resulting in 70-plus letters being sent to the school governors, guaranteeing their attention and bringing about the desired decision to 'scupper' the plans completely.
  I thank him for his suggestions as to alternative sites, one of which is a nature reserve and such a change of use would not, I am sure, be allowed. The other site which he mentions, namely an area between Kerria Road and Mercian Way has, in fact, already been suggested as a 'possible' site and no doubt further detailed discussions will ensue.
  I must say that I find it very difficult to believe that 70-plus people can really be so uncharitable towards the local youngsters. Okay, so they don't want any sign, sight or sound of playgrounds within a sizeable radius of their own homes - some folks are like that, some are not. That's life!
  I wonder, though, would the objectors be more kindly disposed towards supporting an existing facility, run by a group of people who really do care.
  There are a number of groups within the borough whose main aim is to provide worthwhile pursuits for young people. Members of these groups struggle on tirelessly, giving their time and energy to a cause which they see as beneficial to local youngsters.
  Not only do they receive excellent training in their chosen sport/ pastime, but are also open to the influences of a more acceptable code of conduct for living within the community - something which we would all agree is a good thing.
  However, there is always the age-old problem - that of shortage of financial backing.
  Tamworth Athletics Club in Marlborough Way, Glascote, is one such facility. This club has plans for a new purpose built addition to the present building, but, having been refused lottery funding, must look towards raising funds elsewhere.
  I am sure that if just a few of the 70 plus objectors could make a gesture to show that they do really care, deep-down, about the well-being of Tamworth's younger generation by sending a donation, payable to the Tamworth Athletics Club, c/o 34 Park Lane, Bonehill, Tamworth, B78 3HZ, this would indeed benefit a great number of young people for many years to come.
  Perhaps some parents would be interested in their own off-spring joining such a club. If so, please get in touch. We all know that when young people get bored, they get into mischief. So, find them something worthwhile and fun to do!
  Cllr Evelyn Rowe, Amington.