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LEIGHTON BUZZARD ATHLETIC CLUB

Dec 2014 Newsletter

Secretary: Nick Clay Tel: 01525 382839 Treasurer: Phil Mead

Key Points

LBAC would like to welcome our newest athlete(s) to the club – Thomas and Evan Hirst-Mitchell, Inductions days will continue on first Tuesday of each month but those attending will be put on a waiting list that will be revised in January 2015 at the earliest.

Vandyke Tuesday 365/Sportshall Training Tuesday 16th Dec – A change to the previously announced date, we now will be outside on Tuesday 16th December which is the last training Tuesday before we break up for Christmas (if you want to keep running come on the 18th too– see below). We will be doing some running activities to stay warm. All athletes will finish at 8pm on Tuesday 16th. Please wear suitable clothing for weather.

Next three up and coming events – if you are U13 age group or over please put your name down now (you only pay if you reserve a place and fail to turn up) – 1. Beds/ Bucks County Championship, 3rd Jan, High Wycombe (Hughenden Manor) 2. Southern Championship, 24th Jan, Brighton (Stanmer Park) and 3. English National Championship, 21st Feb, London (Parliament Hill). The Chiltern League cross country is harder and much more competitive than the Beds/Bucks counties and it is very likely that your rank will be higher, so give it a go. Both the Southerns and National come highly recommended. These two events are the pinnacle of XC in England and many of the stars of athletics have run these, why don't you, the Brownlee brothers do. Deadline 4th December please we have to book early for these events.

Last Thursday training will be 18th December – The very last chance to train before Christmas will be the 18th December at Soulbury Road. Please remember to park either near Southcott Lower School

(Sat Nav: LU7 2UA) or on Knaves Hill (Sat Nav: LU7 2UD) to avoid blocking Bideford Green Road.

Please do not drop your kids off at the Bus Stop on the main road.

LBAC coaches feedback on 'Athletics 365' on Tuesday nights for U15s – Clearly this is a major change to training but what we are finding is that juniors appear to like the new regime. Feedback from juniors has been good and comments like "well structured", "different" "I like the small groups" etc are common. However, one or two comments have pointed towards asking "where the running is" and the answer to that is that relays are coming up. If you want to run every week, come to Thursday training. 365 Red assessment date Tue 9th Dec remember your 365 passport (re-attached)

Vandyke Tuesday Training for over 15s –Over 15s will venture outside for endurance and speed training and will work on conditioning indoors after 8pm for half an hour. Additionally, anyone 12 and over is eligible to train for the extra 30 minutes 8 – 8.30pm. Suitable over 15’s and those working towards Duke of Edinburgh, volunteering for LBAC will be helpful, and we provide the opportunity to help with the U15 age groups providing the experience you need.

Leighton Buzzard attended Santa Dash 29th November – On Saturday 29th November @ 11am Leighton Fun Runners held a Santa Dash. We spotted Mckenna Keefe, Sid and Rebecca Mead, Caitlin, Harry and Julia Bell. Well done everyone else who ran.

Last sporthall event announced for all U11/U13s – The remaining Sportshall event will be on Sunday 4th January which will be entirely composed of relays (1+1 - 2+2 - Parlauf - Hurdles - Obstacle - Grand Prix – Tag).. All events are between 1300 and 15:30-1600 hours and will be held at Alameda Sports Hall – Ampthill (head to back of car park behind Parkside Hall near postcode MK45 2HX). £2 per athlete payable on registration. website

Regional Sporthall Event confirmed – If you have competed in most of Ampthill Sporthall's, the very best athletes are chosen from this meet to represent the county in the regional finals on Sunday 22nd March, Herts Sports Village. If we don't see you, we can't pick you. Please e-mail Fiona for info.

Click on icon to go to

clubs website or FB page

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In addition to the above – Biggleswade AC will also be hosting their annual invitational sportshall event in the New Year. The proposed event will be Sunday 22 February at Stratton school.

Cross Country at Stockwood Park, Luton, Saturday 6th December – The third match in the Chiltern League will be at Stockwood Park. Please note that parking for cars and mini-busses will be in the Luton Discovery Centre car park with access off London Road. Use the postcode LU1 4LX. Note this is also the entrance to Stockwood Park Golf Club but please continue on the access road past the Golf Club car park to the Discovery Centre. Also note that the entrance is very close to the turnoff from the M1 Junction 10A roundabout. The course is an easy introduction to XC and is recommended for first timers. Changing, toilet facilities and refreshments will be available in the athletic track pavilion approximately 150 metres from the start/finish area.

Timetable of events (arrive 1 hour before event!) :

11.30 Under 11 girls

11.45 Under 11 boys

12.00 Under 13 girls

12.15 Under 13 boys

12.30 Under 15 girls

12.45 Under 15 boys

13.00 Under 20/17 ladies

13.15 Senior/Veteran ladies

13.40 Under 17 men

14.00 Senior/Junior/Veteran men

There is no course map yet. The courses for the

u11’s up to the U15’s are on grass around the top

area of the park and suitable for spiked shoes. The course for the U17’s and above will include the

same as the juniors but will include a section of ploughed field, approximately 600 metres, and with

two (2) access roads (marshalled) to the park to cross and approximately 80 metres of tarmac.

Spikes for sale size – Nike Zoom Waffle cross country

spikes suit size 5. Only used 5 times so in great

condition. £20 please contact Lynn (Dominic’s mum)

lynnboddy@btinternet.com or see her at junior

athletics

Lost Kit – Nick has a selection of sweat tops, florescent bibs pink amongst other lost kit please let him

know if you are missing anything. Also, please ask the children as they get in your car at the end of

training if they have everything. Where they have got warm at training they are not needing to put a

warm top back on hence the lost property box at Vandyke schools is starting to fill up.

– All Chiltern league, Sportshall, Quadkids and Track and field

events from the Summer can be found at this link www.lbacresults.com

Thanks to Peter Hawes for developing and hosting the results database full results from recent

events will be posted soon.

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Results From Recent Competitions Sportshall, November 23rd, 2014.

Well done to all that attended the last two Sportshall events at Ampthill. All of you will have received an award for both the first five events in October (Pentathon awarded at the Nov. meet) as well as a Decathlon award (be given at the last meet in Jan). Those of you that did just five events on either the first or second meet will have been given a penthalon award that will be handed out in January if you have yet to receive it. See below for more details (note: some details for a small number of athletes are missing and we are working to rectify this)

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Keysoe XC, 8th of November. The juniors ran brilliantly and a full report is here.

LBAC Kit Ordering – you really need this for XC:

You really need a vest! – these can now be ordered directly from the supplier and sent to your home. If children are racing in league matches they need to race in a club vest and we encourage club members to buy their own. Ordering is quite straightforward: click www.leightonbuzzardac.co.uk Look for ‘Club kit ‘ in the menu on the left hand side and then follow the link to ‘ Moette’ You can then search our organisation which is Leighton Buzzard AC and start ordering. We encourage initials on junior vests. If you have any problems please contact Michelle ( Sarah’s Mum) on 01525 211195 or michelle@plummer1.demon.co.uk.’ Vests – if you have borrowed and then competed in an LBAC vest, please return it washed. Many thanks.

Useful information: how do I know which size spikes to fit?

It can be confusing to choose the right length spikes for the conditions runners face. As many of you now know, track requires a maximum of 6mm but cross country demands more grip. For dry conditions, particularly in parks many runners use 9mm spikes. If it starts to get wet underfoot, 9mm are swapped for 12mm. When mud is everywhere many chose to use 15mm spikes. Buzzards sports in town sell all these sizes. When buying spike shoes, the general rule is to buy a size larger than the current size.

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Parent helpers The juniors are going through yet another expansion but the coaching staff remains the same number. If you have an interest in athletics or just want to help out, please talk to Nick. The different roles are described here http://www.englandathletics.org/courses-and-bookings/england-athletics-courses

For the sportshall event in January, LBAC must have as a minimum: 1 x young leader to register athletes and record results 4 officials (at least two with some experience).

For the XC on February 7th - Chiltern XC League 5 Milton Keynes, we require a large number of you (>20) to help with marshalling. No training needed.

If you are really keen and want to become an assistant coach speak to Nick and he will point you in the right direction. All training is paid for by LBAC - we'd be grateful for your help.

Future dates for your Diary – the next event after the hatters: U11-Veterans compete in the Chiltern Cross-Country League (green) which involves races for all age groups across five fixtures each winter http://www.chilternccl.co.uk/. Additionally, all club members are invited to run in the County, Southerns and National which are detailed below. All entry fees for these events are covered by your subs, all you have to do is get yourself there. Depending on numbers, we may have a bus to Brighton, more nearer the time:

January 3rd – Beds/Bucks County XC champs

January 10th – Chiltern XC League 4 Milton Keynes, Campbell Park

January 24th – Southern Champs, Brighton.

February 7th - Chiltern XC League 5 Milton Keynes, Teardrop Lakes (Our HOST FIXTURE, we need everyone not running to marshal)

February 22nd – National XC championship, Parliament Hill, London XC race distances

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Coaches

Assistant Coaches

Fiona Nick

David Tracey Kim

Warren John James

Athletic Leaders

Jordan, Charlie Tom, Billy