Solihull

Ten Tamworth athletes took part in an open meeting at Solihull last week, bringing back a total of 14 medals between them, writes Mick Sanderson.

Robert Stroud won the 150m in a personal best 21.8secs, the 600m in 1:53.2mins and made it a hat-trick when he won the long jump with 4.22m.

Jessica Hirst won her 150m in 23.6secs and picked up a couple of silvers with second places in the 75m in 11.3secs and the long jump with 3.67m.She also recorded a personal best time of 23secs in her heat of the 150m. Chloe Williams won the 600m in 2:5.6mins and finished in third place in the long jump with 3.66m.

Jordan Roach won the high jump with a clearance of 1.80m.
That was his 20th win from 23 competitions this year.

Samantha Lawton picked up a couple of medals with second place in the discus with a throw of 15.28m and third in the shot with a personal best 7.01m.

Danielle Marczak claimed third place in the 100m in 14.1secs and won another bronze in the 200m in 28.3secs.

Jamell Newill picked up a medal for third place in the 200m in a personal best 27.1secs, finished in fourth place in the high jump with 1.45m and seventh in the 100m in another personal best time of 13.1secs.

Olivia Woodward took fifth place in her final of the 150m in 23.8secs after winning her heat in a personal best time of 23.7secs and finished in seventh place in her 75m final in another personal best of 11.7secs.

Jasmine Oliver earned herself a couple of personal bests with a long jump of 3.34m and a 150m in a time of 23.6secs for a seventh place.Oliver was also in the same position in the 75m in a time of 11.9secs.

Nikita Shelyakin was unlucky not to pick up a medal when he finished in fourth place in the high jump with a clearance of 1.45m, another fourth in the 200m in 28.1secs and fifth in the long jump with a distance of 4.89m.

Telford

An awesome foursome of Tamworth junior athletes entered the Telford Games last weekend.

Under-13s athlete Samantha Lawton was second in the shot with a personal best of 7.05m and added a silver in the discus with a throw of 16.67m.

In the under-11 girls events, Georgina Steggles was fourth in the final of the 60m in 9.5secs and was fifth in the long jump with a leap of 3.23m.She also qualified for the final of the 150m in a time of 24.8secs but the long day proved too much for her as she finished just out of the medals.

Chloe Williams had an excellent day which started with a silver in the long jump.She then ran a convincing 600m to take gold in 2mins flat.She also took second in her heat of the 150m in a time of 23.6secs and finished third in the final in a time of 23.2secs.

Kane Densley was the only under-11 boys to compete at Telford.
He took second in his heat of the 60m in 9.1secs and won the silver medal in the final in 8.9secs.After two no-jumps in the long jump, he managed a leap of 4.19m to take the silver on his very last effort.Densley also won silver in the 150m in 21.4secs.

On Sunday, Charnwood Athletic Club held there 'Stars Of The Future' open meeting at Loughborough University.Elliott Jones finished fourth in the under-13 boys 100m.He also took fifth in the shot with a distance of 6.96m and was fourth in the 200m in 31.5secs.

Densley convincingly won his 75m sprint in 10.89secs, took gold in the long jump and the 150m.

Norwich Union Sports:hall Athletics at

Tamworth AC

Tamworth AC has had tremendous success in Sportshall Athletics. The club competes in the Birmingham Sportshall League and has been part of the newly formed Staffordshire Sportshall League for one season with at least 5 TAC representatives chosen for the national team each year, including Nathan Woodward and Meghan Beesley in previous years.

If you wish to take part, between Oct 07 and March 08 sign up at the registration desk and one of the team managers will get in contact with you.

Team Managers this year are:

Emma Redfern and Jonathan Christian

This year we are lucky to have Andy Day, Coaching Co-ordinator, who will be involved in coaching and identification of athletes for competition for Sportshall Athletics.

Competition dates for the Birmingham Sportshall League held at Stockland Green, Birmingham are:

5th October,

9th November,

7th December,

11thJanuary,

8thFebruary  7thMarch                                                                              

 What is Norwich Union sports:hall?

·          An exciting and fun athletics team game with the emphasis on taking part and enjoyment. 

·          A child friendly format that uses brightly coloured equipment specially designed with safety in mind. 

·          A competition focus for budding athletes who have learned skills when taking part in Norwich Union star:track and Norwich Union shine:awards. 

·          An effective first step into the world of traditional track and field athletics. Many of the current UK track and field stars started their careers in sports:hall including Olympic Gold medallist Denise Lewis. 

·          There are three Norwich Union sports:hall national programmes Norwich Union Fun in Athletics for 8-10 year olds. 

·          The emphasis is on fun enjoyment and giving one's best for the good of the team. 

·          Teams of 14 boys and girls are raised from counties or districts to take part in Regional festivals of fun. 

·          Norwich Union sports:hall 'Team Challenge' is for under 13’s 

·          An exciting competition requiring competitors to have a multi-skilled approach to athletics. 

·          Each county or district is invited to raise a team of 12 boys and 12 girls to take part in a regional Final 

·          Norwich Union sports:hall 'All-Rounder' competition is for under 15’s 

·          A multi-event measurement of fitness and ability requiring skilful team management. Each county or district is invited to select teams of 7 boys and 7 girls to compete in a Regional Final.

·           Regional Finals all over the UK teams compete for a place in the Grand UK Final at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham. Anyone who has been to this event will know the talent and team spirit is abundant. In the words of UK international Jo Wise 'the atmosphere is electric'.

·          Since its modest beginning in the north west of England Sports Hall Athletics has spread to every corner of the United Kingdom and to over 30 other countries throughout the world. Its success has been outstanding and over 300,000 children are now involved in the United Kingdom alone. An Association was formed in 1984 which is affiliated to UK Athletics and the programme forms a major part of the UK Athletics development strategy.

 For further details see the Junior Athletes section

Please note Peter Flemming, TAC's Induction Officer,is not available on Thursday 27th September and therefore there will be no Induction for new athletes on that evening.

The next Induction session will be on Tuesday 2nd October at 7pm in the clubhouse.

Over 60 young athletes have attended the starter ‘Reception’ squad at Tamworth Athletic Club this year summer.

This popular squad, led by UKA coach Jonathan Christian, attracts youngsters from all over the town and the surrounding areas and provides the ideal opportunity for trying out the many athletic disciplines on offer at the club. 

The squad now continues on both Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6.00 to 7.15pm throughout the rest of the year.

Although the track and field competition season has almost finished that doesn't mean athletics has stopped for the rest of the year at Tamworth Athletic Club.

Here at the Marlborough Way Stadium juniors and seniors alike carry on training and competing throughout the autumn, winter and spring.

Young athletes who wish to take part in competition during the winter season can choose from cross country, fell running, race walking, road relay and Sportshall Athletics. Seniors have the extra options of road running and Triathlon with Indoor Athletic competitions available in the spring.

Two of the clubs well known athletes Megan Beesley and Nathan Woodward, who have represented Great Britain in competition, competed in Sportshall Athletics, Indoor Athletics and cross country running earlier in their athletic careers.

The first cross country race of the year was at Uttoxeter in September and was open to age groups from Under 11’s all the way up to Vets. A report will be available as soon as the results are published.

If you want to know more about the Starter Reception squad, cross country, fell running, race walking, road relay and Sportshall Athletics at Tamworth AC phone 01827 260897 or 287177, email tamworthac@aol.com or visit the website at tamworthac.co.uk

Tamworth AC Triathletes try out Birmingham’s inaugural Triathlon!

Roads were closed around the Birmingham NEC on the late August Bank Holiday weekend for Birmingham’s first Triathlon event.

The weekend saw events for all ages starting on Saturday afternoon with a “Toddle Waddle” followed by a “Nursery Fun Run”. More serious racing started with the 8-12 year olds Tristars duathlon event which was a run followed by a bike, followed by another run.

The Sunday started a little cool but with ample sunshine. Over 300 athletes, between the ages of 14 and 65, all clad in wetsuits gathered for their respective events. The day started with “The Mighty Pendigo” a super-sprint triathlon with a 400M open-water swim in the NEC’s Pendigo Lake followed by a 10KM bike, followed by a 2.5KM run. This was swiftly followed by the “Brumbuster” sprint triathlon, a 750M open-water swim, 20KM bike with a 5KM run. As it was a world championship age-group qualifying event, there were some impressive times with the winning man, Paul Gittings, finishing in just 56 minutes and 38 seconds. The leading lady Robyn Golding wasn’t far behind with an overall time of 62 minutes and 5 seconds.

Two of Tamworth Athletic Club’s Triathletes Jackie and Andy Wakeman, lined up for the toughest event of the day, the “Bermonator”.  This was a full Olympic distance triathlon with an open water swim of 1500M followed by a 40KM bike ride followed by a 10KM run.

With lake water at 17 degrees centigrade, wetsuits were deemed “optional”, but there were no athletes in evidence who chose to swim without. The water was somewhat murky from the turbulence created by a couple of hundred Brumbuster competitors, and the ducks and other wild life had long since retreated to the safety of the island and the lake’s banks.

Jackie and Andy, both wearing purple swimhats, started in the second of two waves of competitors and were both pleased to overtake a few first wave swimmers distinguishable by their white hats. Two laps of Pendigo Lake were navigated without difficulty despite the large yellow marker buoys being sometimes camouflaged against sunshine and reflections on the outward leg of the swim. Safety boats were positioned around the lake, but thankfully their services were not required.

Running into transition whilst peeling off the wetsuit, an on-looking friend (and veteran of some 14 ironman triathlon events) offered encouragement in the form of a bacon roll to be waiting at the end of the race!

With wetsuit removed, cycle shoes on and number belt fastened, it is vitally important to don a cycle helmet before unracking the bike in order to avoid disqualification. This safety rule was rigorously applied by the referees operating in the transition area. A 100M run to the mount line and the cycle leg of the triathlon was underway.

The cycle route looked complex on the map with loops and figures of eight to be navigated. However, due to some clever cones and signposting laid out the previous evening by Trafeco the event’s organisers, and some excellent marshalling of the route, navigation proved easier than anticipated. This was testament to Trafeco’s experience in traffic management for some of the country’s biggest triathlon and cycling events.

The three-lap cycle route was mostly flat so allowed for some fast bike splits. Jackie was a good minute faster out of the water than Andy but, with the bike being his strongest discipline, he soon stormed past.

No significant uphill sections on the bike also meant no free-wheeling, so, having pedalled hard for 40KM the running legs out of second transition were rather wobbly and took most of the first 5KM lap around the NEC perimeter to get into stride. Despite Jackie having the post-bike, heavy-leg sensation she still managed to overtake a succession of triathletes during the run. It was halfway around the second lap though before Andy came into her sights. An energy gel snatched up in transition and consumed at this point still didn’t allow a burst of speed at this stage in the race, but she did manage to catch him up with about 500M to run into the finish. With no other athletes in danger of catching them, the pair decided to finish together and did so in an overall time of 2 hours, 36 minutes and 32 seconds. Jackie and Andy were first and third in their respective (veteran) age groups and were both pleased to be less far behind the overall leaders than in their previous attempt at an Olympic distance triathlon!

The men’s winner was Mike Cornes with a time of 1 hour, 50 minutes and 6 seconds and Lisa Greenfield led the way for the ladies in a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 5 seconds.

Overall, the event was well organised and enjoyable and deserves to go from strength to strength. It could be that, in a couple of years, Britain’s second city will be hosting a triathlon that compares in magnitude to the London event!

Jackie W.

28.08.07

Tamworth AC's men finished their Burton League season in perfect style by signing off in the final race seven the Belvedere 10k with 1st place on the day scoring maximum points and therefore cementing their position as league runners up.

In the new Roland Gibbard Trophy, named after the league's
founder and given for percentage participation of membrers,Tamworth finished 3rd.

In the mens race once again the individual victory was taken by Martyn Naunton who celebrated taking the senior mens title over the series for Tamworth. Howard Bush, who had raced and beaten the train in Wales the day before, was 4th and took runners up spot in the same mens series competition.

The star of the day for Tamworth though was Sam Micklewright who finished 8th and was unlucky not to finish higher than 6th in the overall  mens individual series. He was in blistering form on the day and narrowly beat the talented Simon King who followed him in 9th place for Tamworth.

Carl Dunne enjoyed his return to action after a long lay off to take 11th spot on his Burton League debut but he had the work hard to hold off two of his own teams mates. Firstly Steve Deeley who just made the scoring six in 12th place holding onto 5th place in the mens series and secondly the 'bridesmaid' Tom Orton who for the second race running missed out making the
scoring six by one place and this time just by 1 second from Steve. Tom was also in the Top 10 for the individual series finishing 9th.

Next was Nigel Fisher who came home in 19th place which gave contributed to him gaining 6th place in the Vet40 category in the individual series and was only one of 4 men who completed every race in the series.

Matt Wood completed the Tamworth team in 23rd and, the youngster who impressed in the previous shorter race, will have learnt much from the tough 10k race which will stand him in good stead for the future.

Tom Orton as team captain would like to thank the athletes on behalf of the club for their efforts and looks forward to seeing those and more competing in the Birmingham Cross County League which starts at Seneleys Park on the 27th October.

Contact Tom at sharon.tom@tamworthac.co.uk if you are a senior athletes and interested in road running and cross country training and competition.

Northern Athletics hosted the AAA’s Tom Pink relays within  their Under 23 Home International at Moorways Stadium,  Derby on 19th August. Tamworth AC were again invited to enter three teams in what proved to be another enjoyable competition held in appalling weather conditions for the second time running.

The make up of the teams were of some athletes new to the sport who were able to experience a competitive race in front of a good sized crowd and those club athletes with more experience. A number of the newcomers had taken part in the recent five day Star:track programme run by Tamworth AC at the Town Stadium during the first week of August. The relays offered a great opportunity to enter a competition straight after the full week of athletics at the home track.

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.

George Bunner, the inventor of the nationally acclaimed Sportshall Athletics movement was the brainchild for this new event that is to be rolled out across the country at athletic meetings and other sporting venues throughout the year.

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:

The U11 mixed team of Chloe Williams, Emma Roughley, Sarah Turner, Rebecca Williscroft, Abigail McDonald ,Robert Stroud, Ryan Christian, Matt Redfern, Owen Blythe and Sidney Wood took 3^rd place.

The U13 Girls team of  Ellie Redfern, Fran Hughes, Corinne Blythe, Louisa Facchino Stack and Danielle Cassar also took a 3^rd place.

The U13 Boys team of Sam McDonald, Oliver Wood, Ricky Hawkes, Steven Haywood and Ben Wright came home in 4^th place.

Tamworth AC held their own against the strong city teams from Derby AC, Notts AC A & B teams, City of Sheffield, Leicester Coritanians and Birchfield Harriers, showing just what potential for achievement exists at the local club.

For information on training and competition at Tamworth AC please contact Chris on 01827 287177/ 260897 or email tamworthac@aol.com.

Tamworth AC's Tom Burton finished in a fine second place in the National Junior League Grand Prix Final at Derby.

The competition was held in National Junior League matches throughout the country with the best performances over the athletes three events being invited to the final.

In the final, Burton competed in the 400m hurdles, the 110m hurdles and the 200m.

In the 400m hurdles he recorded a personal best time of 54.33secs.

In the 110m hurdles, he managed a time of 15.8secs and completed his three events with a 23.13secs time in the 200m.

This gave Burton 2,492 points, just 24 points short of the winning total of Chris Scott of the Shaftsbury Barnet club and second place for the runners-up trophy.

Bronze For Burton

Tamworth AC's Tom Burton gained his first representative honour when selected to compete for the Midlands last weekend.

He competed in an inter area under-20s match against teams from the north and south of England, Scotland and Wales.

Burton finished in third place in the 400m hurdles in 54.83secs, his second best ever time for the event.

He also ran his best ever leg in the 4x400m relay to record a time of 49.25secs.

Apologies for the long delay but the Tamworth Open track and field results are now available to download as PDF documents from the results section on the left of this page.  Also if you go to the gallery you will see newly uploaded photo's of Tamworth AC athletes at the Open meeting.

Please note that as many people will be trying to download the results once word gets around that they are available, you may experience delays in using the site or periods of unavailability.

Photos taken by David Griffiths can be viewed and purchased through his website at http://www.fotoccompli.com

COMMENTS
Thanks to Paul Williams from Ironbridge in Shrops for his comments that he emailed to the Tamworth Herald.

My son, who competed for Telford AC in the U11 age group, enjoyed the meeting very much as it was well organised and attracted athletes from a wide range of clubs. The club house facilities, electronic timing and PA system make the Tamworth meeting just that bit different from a lot of other Midland's events and I am sure we will be back again next season.

Having only been involved in the junior athletics world for just over a year, I am full of admiration for all the work the various club volunteers and coaches put into the sport. It really was an enjoyable day out for me and my son despite his three silver medals not quite earning him one of those nice orange t-shirts…….. but that’s another reason we hope to be back next year!

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 16^th 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!

Howard Bush, one of Tamworth AC’s ever increasing number of endurance runners, took to his heels in the predictably wet Welsh hills when he competed in  heavy rain in the 24^th annual ‘Race the Train’ competition on Saturday 18th August at Tywyn in  Wales.

Bush who was accompanied by another local athlete Colin Jennings from Fazeley ran 1  hour 44 mins and 56 seconds to beat the train by 3 minutes and Jennings was close behind in 1hr.57mins.  

Race the Train takes place alongside as far as practicable the 15 mile route taken by the Talyllyn Railway on its journey to Abergynolwyn and back. Each year about 600 runners take part in the event and roughly 100 beat the train.

The race route is tough as it crosses the face of the hillsides ascends and descends quite steep terrain and runs on narrow footpaths with little chance of overtaking. The terrain varies all the time and can be VERY wet & muddy in places, the routes also involve some STEEP hills.  Often the Train or for many runners the track is just over the fence and in many places if you coincide with the train your family and friends if they are on the train will be able to shout encouragement to you.

Seniors who are interested in training and competition for cross country, fell running and road running should contact Tom on .

All interested athletes for all disciplines including cross country, track and field and race walking should contact Chris on email tamworthac@aol.com