August 2007
| Tamworth Open Meeting |
Friday, August 31 2007 |
| Thank you to all those involved in the organisation and the running of the highly successful Tamworth Open Meeting 2007. Special thanks also go to the various sponsors and supporters; Pickerings Solicitors, The Sandwich Factory, Fottocompli, Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, Ace Sports, Heads and Threads, Chauffeurs and Aldebaran Print & Design. RESULTS One of our club members is currently working on the results which should be ready for posting on the website for Monday or Tuesday of next week. It is planned that they should also go to AW and the Power of 10. A report on the Tamworth AC results will then appear in the Tamworth Herald.
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| Posted by:chris |
| Vets and Road Running - Two reports |
Sunday, August 26 2007 |
| Collin Leaves Rivals Green With Envy The Tamworth Veterans squad picked up a total of eight medals in the British Masters National Championships in Birmingham last weekend.
Colin Green took gold medals in the high jump with a clearance of 1.32m and the long jump with a leap of 4.44m.
He also took fourth place in his triple jump with an effort of 9.51m.
Mark Williams picked up the gold in the 3,000m walk in 13:27.56mins and Brian Sumner won his hammer event with a throw of 35.29m.
Sumner also took fifth place in the shot with 9.46m and another fifth in the weight competition with a throw of 12.51m.
Phil Owen picked up a silver in the javelin with a throw of 39.09m.
Cathy Lyon-Green took second place in her long jump with a distance of 2.88m, another second in the triple jump with a leap of 6.74m, third in the 100m and fifth in the 200m.
Jim Bartlett, in a tough age group, finished in ninth place in the shot with 9.49m and the same position in the discus with a throw Top Two For Senior Athletes in The Burton Road Race League The fifth race in the Burton Summer League series, the Worthington Five, was staged last weekend and Tamworth AC claimed second place.
The ever reliable Howard Bush was their star performer, finishing in fifth position.
Sixteen-year-old Steve Deeley kept up his charge to third overall in the individual men's championship by crossing the line in seventh, just ahead of Sam Micklewright in ninth.
Tom Orton struggled his way through to finish 19th and was followed in by Nigel Fisher, who kept his hopes of a top ten finish in the Veteran 40 Championships alive, with a 27th place finish.
John Jenkins limped his way through the last mile in visible pain, from an injury he picked up, to finish 44th, one place ahead of Alan Oliver.
Meanwhile, at the Brook Street Relays, Tamworth AC landed maximum points for the first time in the sixth race of the series.
Tamworth AC's first team of Simon King, Martyn Naunton and Bush won the race, setting the fastest time on the new two mile course.
Naunton, running the second leg, set a new course record as he claimed first place.
First leg runner King recorded the second quickest leg overall and Bush was seventh.
The green and white vests of Tamworth's second team of Micklewright (15th), Steve Deeley (tenth) and Paul Tasker (ninth) were again highly visible when the team finished fourth overall.
The third team contained one of the performances of the evening from Matt Wood.
The young athlete ran the second leg and his time would have put him in the scoring six but could not count as it was his first registered Burton Race. His leg was 13th quickest overall.
Orton, the opening leg runner, just missed out on finishing in the scoring six in a three way sprint finish with Micklewright and a Hatton athlete which meant he took 17th place.
Steve Deegan completed the team with the 24th quickest leg to bring the team home in sixth.
Tamworth's men's fourth team was made up of Michael Pierrepoint who was 35th quickest in the middle leg while Fisher was 39th, meaning he remains in the top ten of the Vet40 championship over the series.
Emily Field-Lucas led out the ladies team, which finished second, and ran the third fastest ladies' time of the night.
Elyse Jinks followed while Kat Snowden completed the team, recording the ninth quickest ladies' time.
Overall the ladies lie in seventh but have real hope of catching the sixth-placed team going into the final race, the Belvedere 10km on August 19.
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| Posted by:chris |
| Beesley Bags a European Silver Medal |
Sunday, August 26 2007 |
Tamworth Ac runner Meghan Beesley secured a silver medal at the European Junior Championships in Holland last weekend.
The Polesworth-based sprinter, coached by Trevor Marsay, was part of Great Britain's 4x400m relay squad which finished second to the clear favourites Russia in Hengelo.
A delighted Beesley said: "It was a shock to win a silver really.
"We were not expected to do that well so it was a nice feeling.
"I wanted to win a medal in the individual 400m hurdles and didn't but the relay silver made up for it. Our team spirit was great."
The 17-year-old had also finished sixth after qualifying for her first major final in the 400m hurdles.
She ran a time of 58.76secs.
"I have learnt a lot from the championships," Beesley added.
"I need to be more confident in my own ability for certain.
"But I have another year at this age group so I can develop ahead of the World Junior Championships in Poland," said Beesley, who will compete over 200m at the senior World Championships Trials in Manchester this weekend.
Fellow Tamworth 400m hurdler Nathan Woodward missed out on a medal in his race.
After finishing second in his heat, the talented Coleshill-based runner finished seventh in the final.
The 2006 World Schools Championship bronze medallist, coached by Matt Hargreaves and advised by David Hemery, had been struggling with a knee problem.
But he said: "I wasn't there to think about the injury, I was there to perform.
"I felt better for the first two hurdles in the final but after that it all fell to pieces a bit.
"I don't know why but I am going to have to learn from it.
"I am determined I am going to come back strongly for the World Junior Championships next year."
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| Posted by:chris |
| Norwich Union 'Join Our Team' Project |
Sunday, August 26 2007 |
Help Our Club Win £50,000 With The Norwich Union ‘Join Our Team’ ProjectIF you have access to e-mail and the Internet then you will be able to vote for Tamworth AC’s exciting new initiative (see below). Please help us to maintain our lead at the top of the West Midlands regional section by voting NOW! Take a look at the Norwich Union "Join our Team" campaign On behalf of the committee, John Graves, Tamworth AC’s Chairman, has recently applied for some funding via a Norwich Union "Join our Team" campaign. If successful, the funding will part fund a much needed indoor training centre that will contain facilities for jumping, vaulting, throwing, sprinting, hurdling and conditioning. The club has already raised £75,000 and has applied for further funding from two other sources. This project for the indoor training centre will go a long way to raising the standards of support that we are able to give to the athletes in Tamworth and the surrounding areas whilst at the same time enabling technical event athletes (throwers, jumpers, hurdlers, vaulters etc.) to raise their standards of performance by having an indoor centre for the winter months. The facility will be open for use by members of all clubs in the region and so will ensure that standards are being raised not just in Tamworth but in the region as a whole. Junior athletes in the area will once again have the opportunity of taking part in Sportshall athletics, an excellent introduction to the exciting world of athletics. The club currently has to make use of a gym at a local school that is closing at the end of this term. Please pass this onto all club members, friends, families, your Christmas card list and work colleagues and encourage them and their families and friends to vote... it will only take a few minutes and the potential future benefit to our club and to sport in Tamworth and the surrounding areas is enormous. The application is now on a website along with all of the other proposed projects and members of the public have to vote for which one will win the money! 30 votes will win £1,000 and the most votes in the West Midlands will get £12,500. If that happened then the clubs project would go forward to the final against all of the other Regional winners for £50,000!! The club is asking for your support to : · Vote for Tamworth AC’s project · Forward this to anybody else who you work with etc to also support the project and vote. · By registering your details and voting you can win prizes such as holidays, tickets to athletics competitions etc so it might be worth your while! To vote you need to go to www.joinourteam.com. You need to register your details first in order to be able to vote - name, address etc which doesn't take long . Once you are registered go to "Cast your vote" and in the Find Initiative box at the top right hand side select "West Midlands" from the drop down menu. This brings up a list of all of the projects in the Region. Ours is called "Tamworth Athletic Club Indoor Facility". What a massive difference this would make to the club and the community of Tamworth. Please get voting!!! Our Initiative – taken from the NU ‘Join Our Team’ website Tamworth Athletic Club has a track record of innovative club development and sound management, developing, financing and operating our own facility. This initiative began in 2004 and is for an indoor athletics training facility to provide athletes with the opportunity to continue year round training whilst increasing participation opportunities for the local community. There is evidence that facility usage increases by approximately 50% if an indoor facility is available during the winter months. The club has 400 members of who 100 are volunteers who ensure the club functions professionally and are responsible for raising funds for the club. The facility will allow the club not only to offer an enhanced program of formal athletics coaching but also to increase participation in physical activity by all sections of the community particularly females, children of primary school age and those with health or weight issues. Local schools have free access to the outside facility as the club is committed to increasing community usage. Discussions have already taken place with the Local Education Authority for local primary schools to use the facility for Sportshall Athletics and with the Local Authority who are keen for the club to use this building to help address the Authority's health agenda. It is anticipated that the building will be used from 9am until 9pm, 6 days a week - a considerable undertaking for a voluntary organisation. John and Chris Graves Chairman and Club Secretary, Tamworth Athletic Club, tamworthac@aol.com
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| Posted by:chris |
| NJL Reports - Premier Status Secured |
Sunday, August 26 2007 |
| Premier Status Secured - August Tamworth AC's National Junior League team ensured their Premier Division status for next year as they finished in fourth place overall.
Club records went to Meghan Jacobs (1,500m steeplechase), Hannah Sargeant (100m hurdles) and Alex Berrow (shot) in the final meeting in Tipton.
Personal bests were also set by Amy Williams (1,500m steeplechase), Sargeant (400m hurdles), Faye McCabe (400m hurdles), Rose Williams (triple jump), Jenny Evans (triple jump) and Emily Field-Lucas (discus).
Simon King (800m), Tom Challis (high jump), Ben Horsley (triple jump), Sean Gynane (triple jump) and Marcus Yoxall (shot, discus and hammer) also improved their previous bests.
Luke Leads Way as Juniors Show Their Best Yet - July (Tamworth Herald) Tamworth's young athletes produced their best team performance of the season when they finished in second place in their Premier Division fixture at the town stadium.
In the under-15 boys' age group, personal bests went to Luke Roughley (800m and 400m), Jordan Roach (high jump and 80m hurdles), Richard Mahoney (1,500m and javelin), Brett Cash (pole vault), Jack Childs (1,500m) and Josh Leaver (80m hurdles).
Full results and report on the Reports section of the website.
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| Posted by:chris |
| Midland men's & Women's League Reports |
Sunday, August 26 2007 |
| For full reults go to the Reports section of the website Women's team The rain that the athletes had to endure at the second match in Division Two of the Midland Women's League seemed more like what would be expected during the cross-country season, writes Sarah Williams.
However, the Tamworth team performed well in difficult conditions and finished fifth overall among very competitive teams.
The first event was the senior hammer throw with Alana Smetham and Gemma Wheelhouse getting the club off to a good start, finishing second and third with throws of 37.44m and 20.75m respectively.
Wheelhouse also went on to take second in the shot putt with a throw of 9.25m and was fourth in the discus and sixth place in the javelin.
Men's A Team Tamworth AC's Midland Men's A team won the Division Two League Championships as they won their final match of the season at Tipton.
The win gives the Tamworth club promotion to the Midlands League top division for next season.
Personal bests were recorded by Adam Smith (100m), Simon King (3,000m steeplechase), Howard Bush (3,000m steeplechase) and Alex Berrow (hammer).
Men's B Team Tamworth Ac Men's B team secured fifth place in Division Four of the Midland Men's League.
At the final meeting in Telford, personal bests went to Dave Williams (110m hurdles, pole vault and hammer), Tom Challis (100m and 200m), Sam Micklewright (800m and 1,500m) and Ben Horsley (100m).
Williams played a valuable part in the team's performance by taking part in six individual events.
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| Posted by:chris |
| Shugborough and Tom Pink Relays |
Sunday, August 26 2007 |
| Here are 2 reports on 2 very different relay competitions. Tamworth AC fielded one of its best set of junior teams to take part in the eighteenth Shugborough Relays where the multi-terrain event requires teams of four athletes to complete a course of 2 miles each in the grounds of Shugborough Hall. The race is an opportunity for athletes of all ages to compete with and against each other and the younger athletes to pit their strength against more experienced runners from other teams from around the Midlands area. . Tamworth entered 4 teams of athletes. The ‘Boys Under 64 years’ ( their total ages to add up to 64 or less years) section was won convincingly by the Tamworth Tigers team of Steve Harris who took the first leg in 11.31, Matt Wood who on the second leg scored a time of 11.27, Luke Roughley who ran the third leg in 10.54 and Stephen Parkes who completed the final leg in 11.06. In the ‘Girls Under 64 years’ section the team scored another success for the club when they took an excellent second place. First off was Lauren Mann who clocked 13.22, the second lap was run by Amy Williams in 13.59, the third lap saw Laura Lewis pick up a time of 14.18 and sister Leanne Lewis brought the team home in a leg time of 15.43. The Tamworth Terriers team that comprised of ‘Boys under 52 years’ took third place. Kristian Edwards led with a time of 11.31, Jack Childs ran 12.34 for the second leg, followed by team mate Oliver Wood in a time of 13.32 and the team was led home by Richard Mahoney with a time of 12:30 A creditable fifth place went to Sophie Oldfield, Jasmine Oliver, Sam Lawton and Chloe Williams in the Tamworth Tots team who competed in the ‘Girls Under 52 years’ . For anyone interested in endurance running please contact Tom or John on 01827 260897 / 287177 , email tamworthac@aol.com or visit the website at tamworthac.co.uk The First Tom Pink Relays Tamworth AC were invited to enter three teams into the first series of the Tom Pink Relays which proved to be a resounding success despite the appalling weather. The AAA’s of England Tom Pink Relays were held at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham on July 15th as part of the AAA’s commitment to supporting grassroots athletics. The relays were able to be held following receipt of a substantial amount of money, that was left to the AAA by Louise Pink, whose son Tom Pink, of Mitcham AC, died at just 19 years old, with instructions that it must be put toward supporting athletics for youngsters. The young athletes, with their combined efforts, were trying to maintain or better the pace of athletics superstars. For instance the under11 mixed teams’ goal in the continuous 2000m relay was Paula Radcliffe’s pace when she set the Commonwealth 3000m record in Manchester. The under 13 girls had Kelly Holmes’ British 15000m record to chase while the under 13 boys were aiming for Steve Cram’s 1500m record. Tamworth AC’s teams and results are as follows: Chasing Kelly (Under 13 girls 1500m). Target time: 3:57.9 The team of Laura Facchino Stack, Fran Hughes, Lauren Whitehouse, Ellie Redfern and Jasmine Oliver was 1st for Tamworth AC in a joint time of 3:45.5. Each member of the winning team received a trophy. Keeping Up With Paula (Under 11 mixed 2000m) Target time: 5:37.7 Tamworth’s team of Robert Stroud, Ryan Christian, Max Hart, Michael Elvins, Matthew Redfern, Chloe Williams, Olivia Woodward, Sarah Turner, Chloe Whitehouse and Georgina Cresswell finished 4th in 5:46.0 . Chasing Steve Cram (under 13 boys) Target time:3:29.67 The Tamworth boys team of Anthony Parkes, Sam McDonald, Elliott Jones, Oliver Wood and Ricky Hawkes took 4th place with 3:55.8. The other teams competing were Rugby and Northampton AC, Stratford on Avon AC and Birchfield Harriers. The next event in the series will be held in Derby in August. For information on training and competition at Tamworth AC please contact Chris on 01827 287177/ 260897 or email tamworthac@aol.com.
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| Posted by:chris |
| Jog England Latest Updates & Important Changes |
Sunday, August 26 2007 |
| Please note the change of venue and times Contact Jackie for information and forms for the Jog Leader course Jog England Jog Leaders Course Sunday 16th September @ Tamworth AC Town Stadium 8.45am – 4.30pm This course is free of charge for Tamworth AC members and associates who are aged 16 and over, and qualifies individuals to lead running and walking groups. For information or to book a place contact Jackie Wakeman: jackiewakeman@doctors.org.uk Or tel. 07890743369 Get involved and help Tamworth AC move forward in the innovative Jog England fitness scheme!
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| Posted by:chris |
| More About Jog England |
Tuesday, August 21 2007 |
| Jog England at Tamworth Athletics Club Jog England is a new scheme for England which is being spearheaded by ENGLAND ATHLETICS. However, it is NOT athletics! The overall aim is to get thousands of people more active in order to help improve and maintain their health and fitness. Jog England is facilitating this by developing and supporting a countrywide network of recreational walking, jogging and running groups. Ultimately there could be groups catering for individuals of all abilities and based at a variety of venues, for example; sports centres, community centres, athletics clubs, universities and colleges, health clubs, and groups operating from workplaces. The new scheme is at an early stage of development and Tamworth Athletics Club has the exciting opportunity to host a pilot project for the scheme. Would-be jog leaders, aged 16 and above, are being recruited for a training course to be held at the Town Stadium, Marlborough Way, Tamworth on Sunday 16th September. The jog-leaders course, which includes theory and practical sessions, will cover the basics of leading beginners and mixed ability groups, fitness factors, goal setting, motivation, session planning, warm ups, health benefits & risk assessments. If you are interested in becoming a jog leader a modest degree of fitness would be helpful but enthusiasm is more important! The leaders course will be free to those who commit to leading a jogging, running or walking group at Tamworth AC. The first Tamworth AC Jog England group session for joggers and walkers is planned for the last week in September and will be based at the Town Stadium. This should be fun, friendly and not too taxing. For more details about either the leaders course or the planned beginners walking/jogging group, please contact Jackie Wakeman by e-mail: jackiewakeman@doctors.org.uk Jog England – England’s Recreational Running Programme Take a Breath of Fresh Air and Enjoy the Experience Jog England is promoting a series of pilot recreational running groups across England in the next few months to help people be more active. The programme concept has been established by England Athletics, the governing body of athletics in England. The aim of the jog england recreational running programme is to increase informal active recreation opportunities for adults in their quest to improve the quality of life, long-term health and wellbeing. People can discover a whole new approach to getting fitter and feeling better about themselves. Jog england will train jog leaders, provide support and advice on walking/running programmes for jogging groups across the country in local communities and in the workplace. The jog england programme will offer people the opportunity to be part of a national jogging network that will enable people to join fellow joggers, make new friends and enhance their health and active lifestyle at the same time. Jog england jogging groups will be formed on the principles of making fitness fun and accessible. Jog england will work closely with all key agencies and organisations that have similar aims to help people in England adopt a healthier lifestyle plus identify and support the profiling of safe and accessible routes. A change in lifestyle can make a huge difference to health at any time and whatever age. Jog england can assess people’s needs and ensure the appropriate level of activity. Paul Eales National Partnerships Manager England Athletics
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| Posted by:chris |
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