Simply the Best.

Written by Mike Eldridge on 17/06/2021. Posted in News

Without who – Officials Emma Sparrow, Mike Sheppard, Nick Campbell and up top, Tony Jackson.

Caleb Spriggs leads the pack in the 800m race.

Ruby Edwards on her way to a soft landing.

Okay, I know, I said there probably wouldn’t be a newsletter this week but somethings just can’t wait and this week we have three such items.

We have, are you sitting down, a report from the triathlon section ! Seriously, many many thanks to Simon Taylor for his article. Simon suggests that this might be the first of many. Much joy.

There’s also a write up on the Midland T&F Championships last weekend. More success for our talented members.

This is the 250th edition of the newsletter and it is only right that it should be celebrated with a very special event, so we have details of a truly magical night at the track last Friday.

It was our very own Super 2 competition.

If I’m honest, it was difficult not to get quite moved after such a wonderful evening.

The event was organised in record time. The event was organised to give all of our young athletes the chance to be with and have some fun with their training groups, with no pressure and no expectations.

Paul Bearman and Carolyne Johnston worked tirelessly to make it happen. I think Carolyne must have been data inputting in her sleep in the days leading up to it. They were supported on the night by an army of some 30 volunteers and from where I was standing it seemed to run like clockwork.

And goodness me what a joy it was to be there, to see the smiles on the faces of the 80+ young athletes, to see the smiles on the faces of the many volunteers, to see the smiles on the faces of the many parents in attendance. To listen to the banter, the glorious glorious banter.

What a club.

Simply the Best.

Good luck to those of you who are competing in the Midlands League T&F fixture at the weekend and also in our first Vets T&F fixture for 21 months at Redditch next Wednesday.

Good luck also to any of you competing in any events anywhere.

If you are competing, please let me have a report.

I know it was the Not Offa’s Dyke 15 last weekend, sadly we don’t have a report on this. I realise that road running is a big part of what many of our senior members do and it is hoped that in the not too distant future we will return to having regular reports on these events. I understand the powers that be on on the look out for a member or members to compile these reports

Take care

Best wishes

David Jones

Covid Alert.

Following yesterday’s announcement from Chipping Campden School of their temporary school closure until Monday 28th June for all year groups, due to further confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, it is a reminder to us all that we need to remain vigilant.

This closure is also a timely reminder that things aren’t back to normal and the AGLs and coaches will be doubling their vigilance in observing the covid protocols at training ……although being outside means that possible transmission is unlikely.

We are still compiling information about who is likely to be affected, so we will send something out separately to them but we do not want to overreact, we want to respond appropriately and also to do what we can to protect all of us.

With some junior club members being pupils at the school, we are going to have to revert to being more active and stringent with our protocols.

Take care and stay safe

Super2wasfantasticexcellentandglorious

Stratford upon Avon AC – Junior Super 2

Report – Paul Bearman.

Due to the limited number of competitive opportunities this year for our athletes because of Covid, the Age Group Leaders decided to run 3 of our own internal events.

We appreciate competition can create some anxiety but after our recent return to training, these events will give the young athletes, who, for whatever reason don’t enter Open competitions or compete in league matches, the opportunity to run, jump and throw to give them a time, distance or height to measure their own personal achievements and try a different event.

These events also give all of our young athletes the chance to be with and have some fun with their training groups with no pressure and no expectations.

To run these events takes a considerable amount of volunteer time behind the scenes and at the event, so the first one on 11 June was a test, insofar as if the event wasn’t widely supported beyond the athletes who normally compete, we would cancel the other two scheduled events.

The reason being, apart from the time and commitment from our volunteers to organise and run it, we are hoping to encourage all our athletes to get involved to dip their toes in the water and give themselves a sense of what they achieve.

Athletes are able to nominate their preferences but only 1 Track and 1 Field event
Alternatively Athletes are able to nominate just a single Track or Field event

Simple timetable:
6.00 Males do field while Females do track
7.00 Females do field while Males do track

Field events
Long Jump
High Jump
Shot Put
Javelin

Track
100m
800m

Match 2 16th July
1500m
200m

Match 3 13th August
100m
200m
800m
1500m

So it was that on a balmy evening the planning paid dividends as 30 of the club’s Officials and Coaches descended on the track, suitably decked out in their club Polo shirts and clipboards ready for action.

We needn’t have concerned ourselves about a lack of support as 80 of the junior athletes entered and on what was the perfect evening for athletics, amid the cacophony of chatter and banter the competition was fast and furious and finished well within the allotted 2 hours.

Thanks to all the officials and coaches ….these events wouldn’t happen without you

Roll on the next one

The seniors will be invited for the 3^rd match….One Club One Vision

I love this photo courtesy of Hannah Osborne. The girls marking out their long jump starts.

Friday Night’s Results

The emphasis is on the athletes competing for themselves and establishing their own PBs, so the results are age group and name sorted, not ranked by time, height or distance.

Triathlon News

Rachel Pearce

Kimberley Lee’s Stratford to Bristol group

Cara Reynolds & Kimberley Lee showing that they sensibly hydrated throughout the ride in the hot weather !

Triathlon News.

Simon Taylor

Now that racing has resumed, there have been some notable results over the last few weeks.

Huge congratulations to Rachel Pearce who competed in the 2022 World Champs qualifying race at Dorney Lake. Although Rach was a little disappointed with her result (she came 4th in her age Group, but has super high standards!), she performed incredibly well. Rach is an athlete who doesn’t shout loudly about her achievements and is an incredibly talented triathlete. She has earned herself a trip to Montreal (although Munich has been muted as an alternative).

Rachel’s performances were

900m Swim – 14.18
21.5k Bike – 37.57
5k Run – 22.10

Another notable performance by the evergreen Paul Nash. Nashy competed in the Bedford Triathlon and came second in his age group. It was another brilliant performance, despite mechanical issues (Paul could write a book on his mechanicals – with half of it filled with his Weymouth IM 70.3 experience…maybe about time Nashy did a bike mechanics course???).

For those of you unaware, Nashy competes in Iron distance and half iron distance races with distinction all over the world – often for charity. He’s a proper globe trotting triathlon hero!

Great weather on the weekend persuaded some of the Iron Distance triathletes to ride 100 miles from Stratford to Bristol via the picturesque Wye Valley or from Bristol to Stratford.

A group led by tri stalwarts Neil Gardiner (another of our GB Triathletes) and the indestructible Joe Lee drove to Bristol and cycled back. Another group consisting of Kimberley Lee, Sam Wignell, James Kidd, Cara and John Reynolds headed from Stratford to Bristol and drove back.

A well earned BBQ and shower under Neil’s hose (?) waiting for them all on their return. The tan lines were well earned. A special mention for Kimbo as it was her 3rd century ride in just a few weeks – and to think that her target is the London Marathon in October.

The ride was great preparation for James Kidd too, as he’s deep in preparation for the Bolton Ironman in July. A powerful athlete who will no doubt do himself proud.

One of the first big 70.3 events takes place on Sunday – the Outlaw Half at Holme Pierrepont in Nottingham. There are a number of club members competing. Best of luck to you all and results of their extraordinary performances will be posted next week.

Just a reminder too, swim sessions are back. Saturday morning 6.40am to 7.50am. There is usually a post swim run too.

Midland Counties Athletic Association Senior & U20 Championships

Rory Dwyer on top of the podium

Alex Adams’ leads the field in his 3000m race.

What’s the Story – Rory’s Glory.

Report – David Jones

It was a return to form with a bang for Rory Dwyer at the Midland Counties Athletic Association Senior & U20 Championship at the weekend. Rory recorded a massive leap of 2.15 metres in the high jump. As far as I can tell this is his highest jump since June 2016, when he cleared a PB height of 2.17m. This latest jump puts him in 8th place on the current UK rankings for all ages.

As well as Rory’s performance, it was another hugely successful championship for our club members.

Paula Williams was her usual consistent self, recording throws of 11.20m in the shot put, picking up a bronze medal and throwing a season’s best of 36.52m in the javelin.

There were other season’s best performances from both Faye Gourlay in the high jump, with a clearance of 1.40m and Emily Field with a time of 2:23.69 in the 800 metres.

Charlotte Gravelsons’ ran a PB time of 69.66 in the 400m, dipping under 70 seconds for the first time. It was a performance that places her in the top 50 for her age in the current UK rankings.

Imogen Sheppard is a busy young lady at the moment. In the 400 metres she ran a time of 57.86. Mike Sheppard commented “There was a fair bit of confusion about running order etc & Imy ended up unexpectedly and slightly unprepared in a very strong first heat. She ran hard for 5th in 57.86, not quite as fast as she hoped, but the second heat was slower, so she made the final as 6th fastest. For reasons no one understood, the final was scheduled barely an hour later. Everyone was tired and unsurprisingly it was slower than the heats. Imy 6th in 58.83.”

It was a tremendous couple of days for the Campbell siblings. On Friday evening, in our own Super 2, Tilly recorded a 7 second PB in the 800m with a time of 2:53.4. At the Midland T&F Championships, brother Ned, who seems to be going from strength to strength, ran his first ever official 3000m in 10:05.22. He also recorded a PB in what I suspect is his favoured distance of 800m, shaving a couple of seconds off his previous best, with a time of 2:11.75. Older sister Georgie ran a PB time of 2:17.70 in the 800m and in the 1500m she recorded a 7 second PB with a time of 4:35.58. This places her 17th in the current UK rankings for her age. She was apparently “quite “ pleased with her performances. Careful Georgie, don’t get carried away.

Elsewhere, on Tuesday evening at the Kettering Town Harriers Open Meeting, 15 year old Alex Adams won the 3000m in a PB time of 9:13.12, knocking 9 seconds off his previous best time, recorded just over a month ago. This puts Alex at 44th in the current UK rankings for his age.

At the Moulton Summer Inter Club Event,16 year old Taylor Stubbins continued his fine early season form, running his 1500m in 4:15.2, just 14/100ths of a second off his PB. Taylor comfortably won the race by 6 seconds and one can’t help but wonder, had he been pushed a little harder, if he could have gained another PB.

Finally, on Wednesday night at The Pingles Stadium, three of our members competed in the Night of 800m, resulting in PBs for all three.

James Mucklow ( 2:12.39 ) shaved almost a second off his previous best time. Josh Harrison, fresh from completing his virtual Lands End to John O’Groats challenge with his brother Ben, knocked 5 seconds off his previous best time with a run of 2:40.6 and Sam Plumb continues his superb form with a 5 second improvement, with a time of 2:31.77. Oh what a night!

100 Club

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR JUNE 100 CLUB WINNERS

1st prize of £100 John Cart
2nd prize of £50 Karen Harris
3rd prize of £25 Kirsty Fairweather

Please rember to let me know of any changes, for example email address, so that I can contact you, otherwise may miss out on your winnings !

You can join the 100 club at any time just email me on jo100club@gmail.com for more details.

Continue to stay safe and enjoy being able to get out and about in

Take care

Jo Hutchinson

Simply the Best

More photos from Friday night’s extravaganza.

As they say, a picture paints a thousand words.

A huge thank you to Lucy Edwards and Paivi McMillan for these wonderful photos.