Tamworth AC athletes took a break from training when Derek Cooper and Dave Titterton from Drive Assist attended the Town Stadium to present a cheque for £1,000 to John Jenkins.

Drive Assist are proud of its approach to corporate social responsibility within the local community and were delighted to sponsor John Jenkins bungee jump in order to raise revenue for Tamworth Athletic club. 

John successfully completed the jump in fancy dress from the Middlesbrough Suspension Bridge raising £1,000 for the club.  The funds will be used to support an indoor track and training facility at the Marlborough Way Stadium.

Drive Assist also sponsor Tamworth Football Club and the Hinckley Rugby Club, both of which are local to its head office. 

Great Britain Heptathlete Louise Hazel who is ranked third to Kelly Sotherton and Jessica Ennis  presented  trophies, medals and Power of 10  certificates to club members at Tamworth AC’s Annual Presentation Evening. 

Meghan Beesley was named Athlete of the Year and Female Sprinter of the Year for her many successes over the past twelve months and Tamworth AC and Great Britain athlete Nathan Woodward won an award for the Best Performance at the All English Schools.

Amy Frith won the Women’s League ‘Athlete of the Year’ and Dan Cash the Ray Rogers trophy for the Men’s League ‘Athlete of the Year’ . Tom Burton was named as the male Sprinter of the Year.

The winners of the National Junior League’s ‘Athletes of the Year’ awards were Hollie Owen and high jumper Jordan Roach who also picked up the Field Athlete of the Year for his many high jumping successes during the past year and the N J Williams Cup for the highest ranked athlete in the Under13/15 category.

The top athletes who had achieved the Power of 10 rankings were: Meghan Beesley, Nathan Woodward, Jordan Roach, Mark Williams, Alex Berrow, Brett Byrd, Stephen Parkes, Luke Roughley, Tom Adams, Simon King, Tom Hardman, Tom Challis, Dan Cash, Steve Harris, Hannah Sargeant, Jamell Newill, Hollie Owen, Sarah Williams and Milly Kellyman.

The MJ Showell Shield and the Ridgewood Shield went to athletes Sophie Taylor and Luke Roughley respectively for their performances in the Young Athletes Track and Field League , whilst in the Heart of England League young athletes Ellie Redfern and Ricky Hawkes took home trophies.

The Richard Thornton trophy for the Cross Country Young Athlete of the Year went to the talented all-rounder Robert Stroud with Sarah Turner and Kristian Edwards, both with huge athletic potential , collecting a cross country trophy each for their performances in the Young Athletes Cross Country League. Dave Williams won the Graham Lovell trophy for senior cross country.

The Indoor Athletics trophies were presented to worthy winners Tom Challis and Milly Kellyman who both show real athletic potential in their chosen disciplines. Victoria Hollinshead and Ryan Christian won the ‘Most Attendances’ awards which are presented each year to two athletes in the Under 11 age group.

The club’s race walkers collected three awards between them with senior athletes Mark Williams and Sheila Owen winning the Cincinnati Cup and the Agnes Mary Williams Cup respectively and junior walker Matt Redfern who won the Ron Stone trophy. The Veteran category honours went to Muriel Storey and Carlton McDonald.

Tamworth AC club member Mick Showell was presented with a certificate of Life Membership in honour of all his many and varied services to Tamworth Athletic Club over 22 years.

Last but by no means least were the winners of the Chairman’s Award and the Keith Martin Trophy for the ‘Volunteer of the Year’. Winner of the first award was Tom Orton, who although not long out of university is a committee member, coach, men’s cross country and road race team manager and general helper. Emma Redfern who volunteers her time to the club won the second award for her work as a Sportshall team manager, coach, official and general helper.

A bouquet of flowers was presented to guest presenter Louise Hazel by young athletes Victoria Hollinshead and Robert Stroud.

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Liverpool Harriers Open Meeting at Liverpool

TAMWORTH AC’s Kane Densley in his first competition since moving up to the under-13 boys’ age group returned from his trip to Liverpool with two ‘gold’ and one ‘silver’ medal. Densley won the 135m event in 19.3secs and the long jump with 4.13m.

In the 75m, Densley won his heat in the fastest time of the day with 10.8secs and finished in second place in the final in a time of 11.4secs.

Birmingham Rowheath Open Meeting at Birmingham University

SENIOR athletes Tom Burton and Dan Cash made their debuts in the senior age group when they took first and second places respectively in the senior men’s 300m at this meeting. Burton won the race in a club record time of 35.6secs with Cash in second place in 36.2secs.

Danielle Norton recorded her best time for over a year in the under-15 girls’ 100m when she clocked 13.9secs for second place.

Chloe Saunders was in fifth place in this event in 14.4secs with Lauren Saunders sixth in 14.5secs.

Derby Open Meeting – Derby

SAMANTHA Lawton won the shot at this meeting with a personal best putt on 8.62m and made it a double when she won the hammer with a throw of 20.39m.

Ellie Redfern also chalked up a double when she won the 70m Hurdles in 12.8secs and the long jump with 3.84m.

Chris Moxon won the 600m in a time of 2:8.7mins and recorded 2.97m in the long jump.

Sam Redfern was in third place in the 600m in 3:1.0mins and jumped 2.07m in the long jump.

Stoke Open Meeting at Stoke on Trent.

EIGHT Tamworth Athletes earned themselves medals at this well organised Bourne Sports open meeting at Stoke.

Eloise Redfern won the under-13s girls’ 70m hurdles in 12.8secs, the high jump with a clearance of 1.20m and took second place in the long jump with 4.07m.

Jordan Roach picked up a couple of first places when he won the high jump with 1.80m in the under-17 men’s age group and won the 100m hurdles when he equalled his personal best of 15.8secs.

Sarah Turner won the under-11 girls’ 800m in 2:56.8mins, took second place in the 75m in 12.5secs, and another second in the 200m in 33.7secs.

Robert Stroud took third place in the under-13 boys’ 100m in a personal best 14.2secs, third in the 800m in 2:32.3mins and third in the long jump with 4.07m.

Nikita Shelyakin in his first ever triple jump competition took second place in the under-17 men’s event with 11.21m, finished in third place in the long jump with a personal best jump of 5.45m and fourth in the 200m in 29.3secs.

Jasmine Oliver picked up a couple of medals for the first time when she equalled her personal best jump of 1.20m in the under-13 girls’ high jump for second place, finished in third place in the 70m hurdles in another personal best of 14.3secs, and took fourth place in the 200m in 31.5secs.

Victoria Hollinshead added to her medals won last week at the Tipton games when she finished in third place in the under-11 girls’ 200m in 35.2secs and another third in the 800m in 2:59.3mins.

Corinne Blythe opened up her season with third place in the under-13 girls’ 800m in 2:45.7mins.

In the shot events Samantha Lawton moved up an age group to take first place in the under-13s girls’ shot with a putt of 7.77m, and Jamell Newill was in sixth place in the under-17 men’s shot with a putt of 9.11m.

Georgia Oliver finished in fifth place in the under-11 girls’ long jump with a personal best jump of 2.86m and sixth in the 75m in 13.6secs.

Aiden Blythe took eighth place in the under-15 boys’ 800m in a personal best time of 2:47.8mins. Ben Wright finished in ninth place in the same race in 2:40.5mins and Abbie Cresswell was in 11th place in the under-15 girls’ 800m in 2:47.8mins.

There will be no training for hammer as a new hammer cage is currently in the process of being constructed in the stadium. Check the website for the opening date.

A new javelin run up has also been laid and is ready for use.

Sixteen Tamworth AC athletes have been placed in the Power of 10 Regional Rankings, from under 15 to under 20 age groups, for 2007.

Tamworth AC’s Stephen Parkes , who is both a track and cross country athlete, appears three times in the rankings in the Under 15 age group.

The talented athlete, appears on the Power of 10 with results of 2:07.50 for the 800m held in Exeter, 4:16.38 for the 1500m that took place in Birmingham and with a score of 2230 for the Penthalon (boys) competition held in Nuneaton in 2007.

Under 20’s athlete Tom Burton, Under 17’s Tom Challis and Under 15’s Jordan Roach are each listed twice in the results. Burton, now receiving joint coaching through Loughborough University and Tamworth coach Paul Tasker, recorded a 400m best of 49.94 at the Tamworth Games and 15.5 in the 110 hurdles (Junior).

Challis, also in the 400m hurdles ran 51.8 at Tamworth and 59.2 for the 400m hurdles. Roach tried his hand at hurdles with a time of 12.9 in the 80m hurdles and jumped 1.85 in his favoured event of the high jump.

Six more athletes appear in the regional rankings in the Under 20’s age group.

Tom Adams and Alex Berrow also appear on the Power of 10 National Rankings. Adams is ranked for the 5K in a time of 16:59.1 and Berrow for the Shot putt (j) with a putt of 12.88 at the Tamworth Games.

Dan Cash is ranked for the 400m in a time of 50.29, Simon King for the 2K steeplechase in a time of 6:31.8, Tom Hardman recorded 47.29 for the javelin throw at RAF Cosford, Hollie Owen is ranked for the 400m with a time of 58.4 and pole vaulter Sarah Williams jumped 2.80 to be included in the rankings.

In the Under 17’s age group the club has two more athletes ranked for 2007. They are Steve Harris who clocked 5:00.8 for the 1.5K steeplechase at the Yate competition and Hannah Sargeant who scored 3105 points in the Heptathlon.

The under 15’s have three more athletes who scored well enough to take a place on these highly regarded rankings. All three recorded their pb’s in competition at the Marlborough Stadium, Tamworth. Luke Roughley is ranked for the 800m with a time of 2:06.0, Jamell Newill for the shor putt with a throw of 12.14 and Milly Kellyamn for her 100m in a time of 12.7.

The Power of 10 scheme launched in July 2006, is aimed at raising athletics standards in the UK all the way from clubs to the Olympic Games.

It is a statistical step-ladder devised to inspire athletes – seniors, Under 20’s, Under 17’s,Under 15’s and Under 13’s – to move through club, regional and national levels to international standards.

For more information on training and competition at Tamworth Ac contact Chris on tamworthac@aol.com.

Tamworth AC’s veteran sprinter, Carlton McDonald , has been competing at the 3rd World Masters Athletics Championships (Indoors) in Clermont- Ferrand in France. 3671 athletes from 65 countries were entered with 287 from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

McDonald did very well to make the semis in both the 60m and 200m finishing 4th in the 200m semi in a time of 24.75  and in the quarter final in a time of 24.62. He followed this up with a 7^th place in the 60m semi in 7.78.

Unfortunately McDonald had to scratch from the 400m and relay due to an injury.

Meanwhile another group of Tamworth AC athletes were in top form when they travelled to compete in the British Master Athletics Federation 2008 Indoor and Winter Throws Championships at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre outside London .

Busy athlete Carlton McDonald was in action again in the 200m (M45) where he recorded a time of 24.76 for 2^nd place in the heat going on to take 4^th place in the final in 24.59.

Brian Sumner, a Tamworth AC life member who belies his age, competed in three heavy throws competitions in the M70 age range. Sumner took 2^nd place in the Hammer with a throw of 35.82 and two 3rd places in the Weight (throw) 11.08 and the Shot Putt with 9.77, all in finals.

Husband and wife team Collin Green and Cathy Lyon Green were competing in their first indoor competition of 2008 where between them they placed in the top three medal positions in six events .

Lyon Green took three second place spots in the W55 200m (35.94), the long jump (3.08) and the triple jump (6.89) whilst husband Collin took a first, second and third place altogether. His results in the M65 age group were - High jump 1^st with 1.29m, triple jump 2^nd with 8.86 and long jump 3^rd with 4.14.

Once again experienced veteran athlete Mollie Mills did not disappoint! Mills picked up two good second places in the W65 60m (10.42) and the 200m (37.08) respectively.

To take part in track and field training and competition at Tamworth AC as a junior, senior or a vet please contact Chris at tamworthac@aol.com .

SANDWICHES

The sponsorship deal with the Sandwich Factory, who sponsored sandwiches for home meetings for the last 4 years, has come to an end. If anyone knows of a company who is able to sponsor the supply of sandwiches to officials at these meetings please contact tamworthac@aol.com or speak to John, Kevin, Andy or Chris at the club asap. Thanks.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL FOR 2008/2009

Annual subscription renewal to Tamworth Athletic Club is now due.

Please complete a renewal form and hand it in to registration with your remittance or post it, with a cheque made payable to Tamworth Athletic Club, to the name and address below. For administration purposes , it is essential that everyone should complete an up to date renewal form.

A new set of training and membership fees were agreed at Tamworth AC’s AGM on 31^st March 2008.  For the first time in four years there have been some increases to membership and training fees. The meeting agreed to raise club membership by £5 for both juniors and seniors in order to accommodate the affiliation to England Athletics.

·         New training fee charges will take effect from Tuesday 8^th April .

·        Please note that membership cards will be available from mid April and will have to be shown for entry to the clubhouse. The start date for showing membership cards will be widely advertised.

PLEASE NOTE PRICE CHANGES

Membership

£40 for seniors 

£30 for juniors

£70 £5 per child for a family membership (£70 – price held)

£15 for second claim members

£10 for social members

NEW TRAINING FEES WILL BE CHARGED FROM TUESDAY 8^TH APRIL 2008

Training Fees

Members

£2 for juniors

£2.50 for seniors

Non-members

£4 for junior

£5 for seniors

It is the aim of Tamworth AC to continue to provide and extend its quality service to it’s club members and to the people of Tamworth and the surrounding districts, and to build on and further develop its present success to make it one of the most excellent and sought after athletic clubs in the West Midlands.

ANNUAL PRESENTATION EVENING – Friday 11^th April

The Annual Presentation Evening will take place in the clubhouse on Friday 11th April at 7.30pm when awards for performance, achievement and service will be made. This year the UKA Power of 10 certificates will also be awarded.

Come along and enjoy the presenting of the awards and trophies by the guest presenter, the supper, dance to the disco music, try your luck on the raffle, enjoy the drinks at the bar, chat with friends and have a good night out. Tickets are priced at £4and are on sale registration, the tuck shop and bar.  (Please note that the £4 is a subsidised amount and includes the cost of certificates, trophies, engraving, disco and the food).

This year’s raffle will include a £25 voucher for the Beefeater Restaurant and complimentary tickets for 2 adults and up to 3 children for the Black Country Museum. Thanks to Sue Turner was organising these prizes.

Parents, family members, club members and coaches are welcome to attend. Juniors must be accompanied by an adult. So buy your tickets now as only 120 can be sold.

Details of the guest presenter will be available soon!!

VOLUNTEERS – WE NEED YOU!!!

Home Meeting Secretary

Home Meeting Managers and Home Meeting team members

The club is in urgent need of a committed and well organised person to take on the new role of Home Meeting Secretary to organise and collate all the information required to ensure our home meetings remain as successful as ever.

To back up this role the club also requires a group of 6/7 people to take on the role of Home Meeting Managers  for the following home meetings this summer:

National Junior League – Tamworth – 25^th May 2008

Young Athletes League – Tamworth -  1^st June 2008

Heart of England - 6^th July 2008

British Athletic League Cup – Tamworth –19^th July 2008 – Kevin Wood and John Graves

Young Athletes League – Tamworth – 20^th July 2008

Tamworth Games - 25^th August 2008

Kevin Wood, John Graves and Andy Day have already agreed to help but these jobs need to be shared out otherwise only a few people are covering far too many jobs within the club.

A team of at least 20 Home Meeting team members are also required to cover a number of jobs on a rota basis, at each home meeting. These jobs include : announcers, recorders, opening up and closing the clubhouse and stadium, equipment moving including hurdles, equipment preparation, litter, bar and tuck shop, officials, sandwiches and many more. 

If helpers could sign up for as many meetings as they are able to cover then the workload will be spread out within the club. If you can only do one meeting you will have helped our club.