Deadline Day Looms. Don’t Miss Out.

Written by David Jones on 18/04/2024. Posted in News

Please don’t miss out on entering the Warwickshire County Track & Field Championships on 11th and 12th May. They are open to all age groups, Under 11s to Seniors.

We would like to see everyone competing at this event and we want to be flooded with yellow and black vests!

Come on everyone get your entry in if you haven’t already done so!

THE DEADLINE IS TOMORROW, Friday 19^th April!

https://entry4sports.co.uk/#/

If anyone has any questions or needs any advice, please contact Paul Bearman:

trackandfield@suaac.co.uk

or Carolyne Johnston

juniormembership@suaac.co.uk

Above is an important reminder for you to enter the Warwickshire County Track and Field Championships on 11th and 12th May if you haven’t already done so

Last year we were the overall winners for an unprecedented 7th year in succession and I’m pretty sure Paul Bearman doesn’t want to be polishing the trophy for another club to hold.

It is a competition for all ages. I’ve certainly entered it. It is also a chance for the whole club to come together and compete as one unit. One club with one voice, with one aim – to triumph. Okay and enjoy ourselves.

If you haven’t entered yet, please do, you won’t regret it.

If you hadn’t noticed we are well and truly in to the Spring marathon season. Last weekend saw 5 members take part in the Manchester Marathon. Net result – 5 runners, 5 PBs. You can’t do better than that. Chris Bloomfield took 35 minutes off his time in 2022. Hugely impressive.

Gwil Price, the Warwickshire Schools Athletics supremo had some very kind and much deserved words to say about the support we as a club gave last Saturday to enable the delayed final schools XC fixture of the season to go ahead at the Stratford track. An event that saw many of our younger club members put in some superb performances before they get ready to compete in the forthcoming T&F season.

We were well represented at last weekend’s Leicester Big 10k and many thanks to Pip Bell and Ade Mason for their reports on this race.

Finally a few of us ventured to the superb Alexander Stadium at the weekend to compete in an open T&F event. Speaking from a personal perspective it was a wonderful experience to run on the iconic track that was used for the Commonwealth Games in 2022. In the footsteps of giants indeed.

Good luck to any of you competing in the London Marathon or Stratford full and half marathons this coming weekend. Please, please, please send your reports in. I’m on holiday next week, so unless it’s raining in North Wales I’m not sure if there will be a newsletter. If not I will certainly include the reports in the following weeks.

Take care.

David Jones

Kim and Joe Lee

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Manchester Marathon

14^th April 2024

Report – Kim Lee

A weekend in Manchester child-free!

Unfortunately, it involved Joe and I having to run 26.2 miles.

Staying on the outskirts of Manchester the night before, we jumped on the first tram to Old Trafford, squeezed into carriages next to Batman and Joker, and a sea of lycra.

Both having deferred our 2023 entries due to my work travels, we found ourselves on the start line together ready for the 9.20am start time.

We were surrounded by very athletic individuals, with no hint of enthusiastic fancy dress . . . yes, I may have sneaked into the faster section to be able to start with Joe.

After running the first 50m together, Joe soon strided away into the distance. Back to being in the zone, with my marathon playlist booming in my ear, and staying relaxed to keep the heart rate down.

Manchester exceeded our expectations with an effortless start process, buzzing atmosphere, and a great route, first skirting back up through the city centre and then south through picturesque suburbs, with great support throughout.

As I plodded through the 10km mark, I saw Joe bounding down the other side of the road and we exchanged a high five. Soon after Drew Sambridge sprinted past me. Looking strong, he finished with a new PB in a time of 2 hours 54 minutes.

All went well and I was well paced for the first 30km, but then the marathon fatigue kicked in. Being well fuelled with a gel every 5km, I put it down to hydration, or at least that was my excuse for having a stroll through the next couple of water stations.

Then the notification flashed up on my watch that Joe had finished in 3 hours 12 minutes, another PB. He was delighted. I was gutted I still had an hour to go.

The last 10km was certainly a struggle, with the highlight being Adam Evans cruising past. He went on to finish in 2 hours 57 minutes, another PB.

I finally finished in 4 hours 13 minutes. Initially disappointed due to the slog through the final stages, I eventually realised it was still a PB, being 1 minute quicker than 2 years ago in London.

Currently I’m studying hard for my MBA, so inevitably not as fit as prior year. I gave myself a good talking to and concluded this was a great result, and I even beat Batman!

I located Joe and headed straight for the massage tent for an extra 15 minutes of torture, but totally worth it.

A great marathon to take part in, and I’d even consider doing it again . . . which is the opposite to what I was saying in the tail end of marathon training beforehand. Its certainly fired me up to want to push to go quicker.

Adam’s Race

Report – Adam Evans

On Sunday 14^th of April a group of us made the trip up the M6 to run in the Manchester Marathon. This was my 4^th time running this race. It was also the first time I’ve put the wrong predicted finishing time down (I put 3:50 instead of 2:55). Simple mistake….

Race day itself was perfect for running. About 8-12 degrees, no rain and little wind.

My race plan going in was to take it steady for the first 10 miles, Marathon pace for the next 10, then hope for the best for the last 10km.
Like most men, we have plenty of plans, but once the gun goes off animal instincts take over and you do your own thing anyway.

The first 20 miles went pretty well. I was bang on target for 2:55.
The next 10k is where the dream slowly drifted away. Though I managed to hang on and a positive split the second half by 1 minute.

In the end I finished in 2:57:13. A new PB by 2 minutes. Which I’m still really proud of.

I believe everyone from SAC who ran on Sunday recorded new PB’s with Chris Bloomfield knocking a huge 35 minutes off his time when he ran Manchester just 2 years ago.

So it was a pretty special day for all of us.

Below are the finishing times:

Drew Sambridge – 02:54:32
Adam Evans – 02:57:13
Joe Lee – 03:12:12
Kim Lee – 4:13:01
Chris Bloomfield – 04:19:05

Simply the Best
Will & James Mayes with Sam Lambert and Niamh Hillard

Warwickshire Schools XC

Simply the Best

“I am so extraordinarily grateful to The Club once again, you are THE BEST CLUB”

A quote from Gwil Price MBE, the driving force behind schools athletics in Warwickshire.

Gwil Price, Warwickshire schools athletics supremo made the above comment following the support shown by us as a club for the delayed final Warwickshire schools XC fixture held at the Stratford track last Saturday.
He went on to say

“There were small fields as expected but I think it went well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the morning and I believe the runners and parents did too!

There was brilliant support from your club runners who volunteered their help as hares and trail runners for the 4 races.

Niamh Hillard, Abbi and Aran Cooper, Sam Lambert and Will and James Mayes. I asked them to run through the funnel, collect the first three for medals and certificates and present both to the young runners outside the pavilion, shaking their hand and placing the medals around their neck.

I also asked them to stand behind the athletes for the photos!

As I said they were fantastic and they all said they enjoyed doing it.

Tilly and Nick Campbell acted as marshals for me and everyone helped with course clearance.

I’m so extraordinarily grateful to The Club once again.

THE BEST CLUB“.

Listed below are our junior members who competed on Saturday. As you can see there were some great performances which looks promising for next season’s XC.

Yr 5 & 6 Girls

1st ???? Eliza McLeod (6)
2nd ???? Elise Pipitone (5)
4th Amelie Marshall (6)
7th Emily Lambert (6)
17th Poppy West (5)
22nd Sara Cleaver (5)
28th Freya McIntyre

Yr 5 & 6 Boys

1st ???? Robin Gallagher (6)
18th Dexter Sharpe (5)
26th Reuben Wheeler (5)

Yr 3 & 4 Girls

2nd ???? Nell Wheeler (3)
3rd ???? Saskia Atkins (4)
10th Quinn Lancaster (4)

Yr 3/4 Boys

1st ???? Oliver Hollis (4)
2nd ???? Henry Yates (4)
5th Oliver Marriotts (4)
6th Jacob Thomas (4)
9th Henry Cotton (4)
10th Charlie Cunningham (3)
22nd Bertie Hovell (4)

Many thanks to Nikki Hillard for putting this report together.

Pip Bell, Phil Brennan, James Morrison and Hannah Stockil

Pip Bell – she looks pretty pleased with herself.

Ade Mason follows Gemma Steel, former 2014 Cross Country European Gold Medalist.

Leicester Big 10k

Report – Pip Bell

Last Sunday a small but determined group of SAC runners ran the Leicester Big 10K in beautiful Abbey Park.

The race is known for it’s significantly flat and wiggly course. It is also well known for the amazing local support and this year the spectators and marshals were fantastic in cheering on the 1080 runners who participated in some glorious sunshine.

I ran this race when I was a brand new club member back in August 2021. This year I was determined to beat my time and hoped that my recent marathon training would help me get a new 10K PB!!

I finished 3rd in my age category (out of 62) and a new PB of 51:42.

A very happy Pip!!

I bumped into Ade Mason before my race and he gave me a little pep talk before he ran in the first wave of runners (the very quick ones).

Ade had a fabulous run, despite his battered knees from a fall whilst running a few days earlier. His finish time of 37:47 meant he was first in his age category and 14th overall. Well done Ade!

James Morrison and his guide Hannah Stockil had a fantastic race, only a week prior to the London Marathon for James. Both of them were beaming at the finish line and Hannah bagged herself a new PB too!!

Phil Brennan and John Butler had great races too and both said that they enjoyed the race and the atmosphere a lot.

If you are looking for a fast, flat, Spring 10K then this is definitely one to put on your calendars.

Club results:

Ade Mason (14th) 1st MV45 37:47
Pip Bell (223rd) 3rd FV55 51.:42
Hannah Stockil (298th) 54:37
James Morrison (299th) 54:37
Phil Brennan (531st) 2nd MV75 1:01:10
John Butler (1021st) 1:21:51

Ade’s Race

Report – Adrian Mason

After Wednesday’s Shakespeare Race “bloody” Pothole drama!, I wasn’t sure how the knees would hold up, but on the face of it, it appears to only be a mere flesh wound! Also still trying to find some of my prior fitness after a few easier months with a few niggles, this was a bit of a test. Nevertheless, the weather was glorious (almost perfect racing conditions), so I headed to Leicester and lined up on the start line with my 2021 course time in my head, because you need to have a target, even if it’s the wrong one!! A quick glance to my right and I spotted a woman that looked fast standing still! It wasn’t until I’d finished, that I realised it was Gemma Steel of British Athletics fame and former 2014 Cross Country European Gold Medalist, who finished 3rd overall at Leicester’s Big 10k, in 34:18.

Personally, I couldn’t have asked for more, finishing 14th from a field of over a thousand in 37:47 (30 secs behind my in-form 2021 time) and also bagging the MV45 age category win.

Ruby and Martha Edwards

Birchfield Harriers Young Athletes and Seniors Open Meetings

Alexander Stadium

13th / 14th April

Report – David Jones.

Last weekend 8 club members took themselves off to the wonderful Alexander Stadium to compete in the above Open events.

U13 Martha Edwards had a competition to remember with PBs in both the 75m and long jump. In the 75 metres she lowered her PB from 11.83 seconds to 11.7 and in the long jump she smashed her previous best by jumping 3.79 metres against a previous best 3.5m. Martha’s U17 sister Ruby had a day of mixed fortunes. She was disappointed with her triple jump of 10.19 but was only denied the gold medal in the long jump on count back. Her jump of 4.7m being the equal longest in her competition.

Our junior sprinters were on fine form after their winter training. U13 Lila Gallinagh lowered her PB in the 75m from 11.5 to 11.46. U15 Arthur Mansbridge achieved a PB in his 100m. His time of 12.41 was an improvement on his previous best of 12.56. In the 200m his time of 26.43 was just 100th of a second off his best time over that distance. U17 Sam McKenzie recorded times of 12.24 and 25.18 in his 100m and 200m respectively and U15 Scarlett Dawson recorded times of 13.56 and 27.34 over the same distances.

Harry Hibbert improved his long jump PB considerably, with a best jump of 5.36 against a previous best of 5.09.

I was pretty pleased with my time of 6:28.65 in my 1500m race. My previous two outdoor 1500m times being 6:35.46 and 6:35.4.

It was a wonderful experience to run on the Alexander Stadium track and all for the princely sum of £10. What’s not to like?

Meanwhile at Loughborough U15 sprinter Alex Wood ran a PB time of 11.86 in the 100m. This time moves him up to an impressive 12th place in the UK rankings in his age group.