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BA Athletics Club News Digest 5th July 2021

For future weeks: inclusions, with photos, please to Roderick Hoffman at news@barunner.org.uk.

Events Calendar - online here

 

For Coronavirus related restrictions and advice see News_Coronavirus_Guidance_May_2021.shtml.

Club Event Map: [Clickable link to Google Maps]

New Date for AGM/Awards Evening

The AGM/Awards evening has had to be rearranged due to previously announced slip to the Roadmap Step 4 date. It will now be held on the evening of Wednesday 11th August, again at the Bedfont Club. Please put that date in your diaries and apologies to anyone who cannot make the new date. The news from this evening's Government brief does imply that all restrictions will be removed at Step 4 and we can return to "normal", including with parkrun, though the date for Step 4 will not be confirmed until next Monday.

We are likely to have a normal monthly running evening on 14th July, with drinks in the bar afterwards (in groups of six). Details will follow.

This Week's and Future Solo Events

Please help me by sending in your results, for instance by filling in the tables below and forwarding to News@barunner.org.uk. Some events, such as the weekend achievement, will have "Prompts" set up in Facebook. These allow the posting of a single image and some text and make it easy to flip through everyone's entries.

Weekend Achievement (by 5pm on the Monday) or use the Facebook prompt that will be added on Friday:

Participant Event Distance Location Day/Start Time or Duration Details or comment, and other achievements
e.g. Running

Questionnaire Response and Analysis

After my nag last week we got another ten responders, so there are enough responses to draw some conclusions. Nineteen responded to the questions on attendance and twenty-one on the questions on communications [and a twenty-second added their views after I produced the graphs but didn't change the overall results]. The graphs below for each question show the proportion of those 19 or 21 ticking each option, with the responders able to tick multiple items.

Questionnaire Q1 and Q2 It is clear from the question one responses that there is a requirement for a monthly event at the club but little demand for more frequent attendance. Question two shows that we would expect the facilities to be used. Added comments explained some people's low attendance at Bedfont - such as shift patterns and the relative unattractiveness of the Bedfont area.

Question 3 shows that we would expect to attract many people to our Anniversary and Christmas events, and about 80% of those to runs held beforehand, but the AGM/Awards might not be so popular. Perhaps the proposed August date will be more to peoples' satisfaction.

Question 4 shows the potential interest in our lunchtime NOW events but also that there is equivalent interest in non-Bedfont Club informal evening runs. And, of course, half of us are keen to get back to Saturday parkrunning - not to mention getting muddy on cross-country runs.

Questionnaire Q3 and Q4

Questionnaire Q7Jumping ahead to Question 7 and we can see that we have got at least one thing spot on - that the club has a weekly digest published at a regular time. There is no proposal to change this.

The purpose of Question 5 was to see how well the digest had gone down during the period of the lockdowns. The three questions highlighted in the graph were the ones I was particularly interested in getting answers for. Clearly, almost everybody appreciated having the digest arriving every Monday evening even if, or perhaps because of, the fact that we couldn't meet together and run in person. Most people also appreciated the addition of the Weekend Achievements table - and in the comments no one complained to say that we were a running club not a walking, cycling, mountain climbing or pogostick jumping club. The third question, the inclusion of Covid-19 advice, had less agreement with only 5 of the 21 responders appreciating its inclusion. There was also one comment added saying that the inclusion of the Covid information was "totally unnecessary". Six others provided comments about the digest in general saying that it was "a good read", "about the right length" and "helped keep the club together".

Questionnaire Q5, Q6, Q8, Q9 and Q10Question 6 looked at future content and took it as read that the future digest would always include future club events and reports and results of same. I'm glad that your answers to question 5 concurred with this! Now, "Weekly Achievements" gets a high rating. From a workload point of view I was wondering if the "Weekly Achievements" would be unnecessary once we were back into the swing of normal life, including with weekly parkrun results (which also scored well). Clearly you'd like me to do some thinking over this. "Entertainment" scores low so I know not to try such content in future. But I'm puzzled as to why nearly 40% of you would want "Commentary on UK / World Athletics". There are lots of sources out there that would be much closer to the action...unless Janet is prepared to write something for us from inside the British Olympic camp! But, despite this questionnaire guidance, please remember that to include something, someone has to generate it - and generally I'll print anything that anybody sends in.

One of the comments may be a spark for a future regular feature - "Member recommended runs".

The remaining questions were on the other media available and part of the reason for these questions was to remind you that these media exist. Comments gave the game away as to why these other tools are not used as much as they could be - the digest is too good!

We do also use WhatsApp but usually restrict it to the operation of specific events.

The survey remains open using the link previously published. Survey Monkey allows up to 40 respondees so there is space for you.

Roderick Hoffman

Rosenheim League Track & Field – Battersea, June 30th

The first Rosenheim League match of the season took place at Battersea last week.  To help clubs who have been stretched in hosting these events, the Eastern and Western Divisions of the league have been combined this season, with the number of matches cut to four.

Due to injury, illness and transport problems and Olympic commitments, our representation was reduced to a men’s team for this match, but we still managed to produce some interesting results.  Michael continues to sprint well, and the talent has been shared in the family.  His son, Kenny, is a member of Woking AC, and has been missing competition like the rest of us.  We were able to cheer him on to two stunning times in the sprints, where he achieved 11.5 in the 100m and 22.8 in the 200m.

Paul Watt has been chasing down M55 middle distance records all season, and this time he hit the target, beating Alan Friar’s long standing 800m mark.

The field events proved as popular as ever, with big entry lists keeping the field judges busy, retrieving implements and sanitising them for other throwers to use.  The volunteers have worked even harder this year to make these events happen!

Dates for your diary:

  • Weds 7th July    Final Vets League Match at Perivale
  • Weds 21st July   Second Rosenheim Match at Sutton

Let me know if you can take part at either of these events.  Thanks!

> Steve Hillier

Results from Rosenheim League Track & Field at Battersea on 30th June 2021
Event BAAC Participant Age group Time/Distance Position
100m Race1 Michael Ball M55 15.8 3rd
200m Race1 Michael Ball M55 33.8 3rd
800m Race1 Paul Watt M55 02:33.1 3rd CR
Javelin 600g Steve Hillier M65 18.31 6th
Shot 5kg Steve Hillier M65 6.98 9th

June Track-on-Field Results

June Track-on-Field results

Just four sets of results from last month (unless I missed some). I tried my series from 100m upwards rather than the normal 1500m downwards and correspondingly, but not surprisingly, recorded my best 100m time of the last 15months but a poor 1500m. But the average speed equalled my best ever. Chris, running early in the month, also recorded his best.

Roderick Hoffman

Marshalling:  The Big Half 2021 

Thank you to those of you who have already committed to marshalling events this summer.  The next one we have been asked to staff is the Big Half, to be run through East London on Sunday 22nd August.  As with every other running of this race, we have been requested to manage one crossing in Greenwich.  A BAAC team of fifteen is required, prepared to make an early start, and be on post until early afternoon.

To get us fully prepared in good time, I would appreciate it if volunteers could contact me during the next three weeks to let me know if you can help.  As always, your help is much appreciated by BAAC and the London Marathon organisation. 

> Steve Hillier

SOLO Activity Achievements, Weekend 2nd to 5th July 2021

21 activities recorded, although some of them had to be extracted from other sources and others couldn't be due to Facebook issues on a dodgy hotel WiFi setup. With some apologies submitted also - such as Clara who was baking.

Colleague Activity Distance Course Start Time Duration Comments
Andy Rayner Cycling 8miles Out and back Fri 00:38:32 Have started up again but just cycling. Did the same on Tuesday, slightly slower.
Barry Walters Running 12km Swinley Forest Sat am 01:10:25 Tried to push the early pace during this run and got ahead of my previous check times. I was pleased with the overall effort and glad the rain held off.
Ben Cooper mixed Run/Walk 5km BAMC Thur 00:28:16 Similar to last week, Garmin training plan. 1k warm up, 6x sets 2min race pace+ 2 min walking, cool down jog back to BAMC following my 5k route.
Benita Scaife Running 5km Braywick / Maidenhead parkrun course Wed pm 00:31:54 A run on the parkrun course at Braywick organised by Maidenhead AC.
Denis Foxley Running 5miles Ruislip Woods 01:00:00
Emma Moreton Running 10miles Sat am 01:20:00 VLM training, much faster than I planned.
Jacqui Musselwhite Cycling 14.69km River Wey from Woking to Guildford Fri pm 00:57:43 Not running due to a sore heel so I’ve been doing cycling and love this ride. This weekend I swam ‍♀️ and played tennis which I haven’t played in years and years.
Jasvir Singh Modaher  Race Marathon Goodwood Running Grand Prix Sun 05:22:12 Jasvir flew the flag and finished 3rd placed V60.
Joan Foxley Running 4.5miles Ruislip Woods 01:08:00
Julie Barclay Running 5miles Wellesley Trail Sat 00:45:00 Test run after time off
Kelly Davis Running 6.72miles Serpent 10k Sat pm 01:19:18 I did it 2019 and struggled really hard, but this year I felt great.
Melanie Miller Walking 22.51km Chichester Sun 04:56:44 Did a lovely circular ramble. Walking around Itchenor and Chichester Marina were the highlights of the trip and the canal was full of wildlife…definitely one to return to in the future
Neil Frediani Fell Running 20miles Chevy Chase Sat am 06:13:00 Fell race on the Scottish border. Very technical and tough.
Paul Watt Running 5km Rushmoor Freedom Run Sat 00:19:45
Piers Keenleyside Running 10miles Richmond return Sun 01:54:00 Did my usual 10 mile loop from Ealing and along the Thames behind Kew Gardens from the bridge to Richmond Lock. Ran with a friend and we tried to keep at a 10 minute mile pace - just missed out with an average of 10:10.
Roderick Hoffman Walking 22.25km Swanage to Old Harry Rocks Sun 06:45:00 Yes, our Harry isn't the only Old Harry that Rocks. I carried on to Studland and then doubled back to get to Anvil Point - 50 years on from doing this when I was ten.
Simon Turton Running 6.2km Chilterns Sat pm 00:34:00 The good weather recently has led to some seriously overgrown paths.
Stephen Taylor Running 13.12km Brentford big loop Sun am 02:14:43 A random route completely made up on the fly and a tough run following a busy week.
Steve Hillier Running 6km Yeading Brook to Ruislip Manor and back Sun 00:43:32 It was muddy and slippery from overnight rain, I could've done with studs as it was more like cross country.  Also 6.5 miles cycling with Linda through Harrow parkland.  Hot at the start and we met a very wet, windy squall by the end.
Steve Newell mixed Run/Walk 5km Old Deer Park Sat am 00:47:26 Freedom run of the well trodden path which now has all corners marked with a motif etched post (plus one telegraph pole). I cycled there and back (getting caught in a heavy shower on the way home).
Joe Nolan Running 10.63km Black Park Mon 01:17:46 late report - Final preps for Yateley this Wednesday- bit of a slow run walk finishing at the cafe for a cappuccino and sausage sandwich reward.

 

John Scaife reported that "I was at home with my feet (foot) up, as the previous day I broke the fifth metatarsal in my right foot and will be wearing a heavy boot for the next six weeks or so". This brings Benita level with John in terms of Digest Activity Achievements and she should be able to match ahead from next week.

Steve Newell also reports that on Wednesday he made his first appearance at the new venue for swimming in the tidal Thames, Linden House in Upper Mall, Hammersmith.  About 60 swimmers completed a clockwise circumnavigation of Chiswick Eyot, an estimated 1800m distance in total.  There were several no-shows with Andy Murray's (possibly final) televised appearance at Wimbledon blamed.  The water was a chilly 17 deg C and I was glad to have chosen to wear a full wetsuit. These evening swims, with safety cover, will be held about every fortnight until the end of August but will sometimes get cancelled after a thunderstorm. Google "NOWCA" for more details.

 Roderick Hoffman

BA Athletics Club Records - Discus

Discus records for us to discuss. Note that the weight and size of the discus will be different for men and ladies and also vary across the age groups - and may not be consistent over the years and at different events. But we can be very confident that Janet is the best lady thrower we've ever had in the club.

GROUP ACTIVITY NAME TIME EVENT LOCATION DATE Status
TRACK & FIELD - LADIES (OPEN) Discus Janet Smith 35.54m LBH Perivale Jun-96 Current
TRACK & FIELD - LADIES (FV35) Discus Janet Smith 30.61m Rosenheim Woking Jul-00 Current
TRACK & FIELD - LADIES (FV40) Discus Janet Smith 32.73 World Masters Sydney 18-Oct-09 GB Vest
TRACK & FIELD - LADIES (FV45) Discus Janet Smith 33.84 Rosenheim Eton Jul-10 NEW
TRACK & FIELD - LADIES (FV50) Discus Janet Smith 29.29 Vets League St Mary's ??? NEW
TRACK & FIELD - LADIES (FV50) Discus Janet Smith 32.01 World Vets Malaga Sep-18 GB Vest
TRACK & FIELD - MEN (OPEN) Discus Hadi Shugaa 33.99m Rosenheim Barn Elms Aug-05 Current
TRACK & FIELD - MEN (MV40 & MV45) Discus Paul Goldsmith 26.92m Eton Jan-02 Current
TRACK & FIELD - MEN (MV50) Discus Steve Hillier 25.20m Grand Prix Eton Aug-05 Current
TRACK & FIELD - MEN (MV55) Discus Steve Hillier 19.88 BA Champs Eton Sep-09 Current
TRACK & FIELD - MEN (MV60) Discus Paul Goldsmith 29.23 Grand Prix Eton Sep-08 Current
TRACK & FIELD - MEN (MV65) Discus Steve Hillier 25.12 Vets League Battersea Jun-19 NEW
TRACK & FIELD - MEN (MV70) Discus Harry Wild 21.56 BA Champs Eton Sep-04 Current
TRACK & FIELD - MEN (MV75) Discus Harry Wild 16.63 BA Champs Eton Sep-08 Current
TRACK & FIELD - MEN (MV80) Discus Harry Wild 17.71 BA Champs Eton Sep-14 NEW

 

To qualify as a record the event has to be competitive and accurately measured and the participant has to be a paid-up member of the club and wearing a club vest (or in an in-house organised event). Members for whom BA is a second claim club may need permission from their first claim club for them to compete in a BA vest and claim the record (so the same performance cannot be claimed by two different clubs). If you know better, please send us your claim - we want to get these in the best shape possible. New records or questions: Stats@barunner.org.uk . 

Roderick Hoffman obo Paul Brandon

Letters to the editor

Dear Roderick, 

We've noticed that your page on www.justgiving.com/dreamflight has raised a total of £66.25, including the reclaimed Gift Aid, online.  Without such support we would not be able to take 192 deserving children to Orlando each year. Your contribution makes a huge difference and we are most grateful. 

On behalf of the Dreamflight children, thank you very much!

Kind regards.

Gina Butler

Fundraising and Communications Assistant

The above relates to our request for Speedbird Ladies entrants to make a donation, either to Dreamflight or to a charity of their choice.

Next Digest - Results, news, pictures, feedback, jokes, stories - send them to the editor, Roderick Hoffman, at news@barunner.org.uk.

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