Sunday 23 February 2014

NATIONAL XC FALKIRK 2014

U15 Harrier team - Helen, Morgan, Louise & Megan
On Saturday 22nd February was the annual Scottish National Cross Country Championship in Falkirk.  Like Christmas it comes around only once a year where athletes of all ages in Scotland get the opportunity to show the hard work and dedication they have put into their training for the past year.  Even a few Olympians and World Championship athletes were in the senior women’s race.

You have the all the age group races under 13, 15, 17, 20 and the Senior races for anyone 21 & over.  Amongst individual glory in achieving 1st, 2nd or 3rd you have team prizes to run for were in the age group races it is 4 counters make a team and 6 counters in the senior i.e. a counter is an athlete from one club.  So it was important to run well for yourself and your club mates.

This year the Calderglen Harriers had a core performance group of athletes taking part and they were the Under 15 team of athletes Megan Anderson, Helen Anderson, Louise Brown and Morgan Beaton and solo Under 13 Boy Marc McQuade for representing the club.

After a week of rain the course at Callender Park was thick with mud, strength sapping conditions which required a lot of physical and mental strength to push yourself to the limit to get through the tough points of the course. So big a well done to all that ran as you are winners having the courage to do it, the positive mental attitude to try such a demanding ask of yourself.  So if you can do this you can do anything.
Marc McQuade
First off for a change was the under 13 boys race were young Marc McQuade was running amongst the field of 151 runners doing 1 lap of 3.2k.   As well as cross country training sessions, Marc has been doing the 5k Parkruns in Glasgow's Pollok Park which has help improve his endurance, speed and strength.  Marc was a 1st timer doing this event and achieved a time of (16:04).
 
 
Megan Anderson
Next up was our under 15 quartet of Helen, Megan, Louise and Morgan.  This was Helen, Megan, and Louise's first time doing the under 15 course of 4k as the last 2 years they were under 13 and it was Morgan's first time doing this event.  It was great for Calderglen to have a full team and the girls achieved 12th team with a combined time of 1:35:23.  There individual times were Megan (21:47), Helen (22:17), Louise (23:18) and Morgan (28:01).

 
A big thank you goes to Harrier tent team erectors of Craig & Alexis Brown, Russell Couper, and Frances Maxwell.  Thank you Mary & Tommy Anderson for their encouraging support around the course.  All runners liked to be encouraged around the course honest it does help.  Finally thank you to the senior Harriers who helped with dismantling the tent at the end of day you know who you are.
 
 

Friday 21 February 2014

NATIONAL YOUNG ATHLETES ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS

On Sunday 16th March at Riccarton Campus, Heriot Watt University (it is situated to the west of Edinburgh near Currie, between the A70 and A71) the National Young Athletes Road Race Championships will take place.  This is a pre-entry race and I will need names by Wednesday 26th February.  Race fees covered by club.


Under 13 Girls team from 2012 Championships
My hope is that we can fill the field with Calderglen teams in all the age groups and as well as individual prizes there is a team prize for each team of 3 young athletes in each age group.

The more Calderglen Harriers running makes all the better chance of success for the club and show the bigger clubs we have strong young athletes coming through the ranks.  Last year we had 7 Harriers racing so lets break our first record get at least 8 entries to the race, all working hard changing your running passion for glory!

Both U13 races cover 2800 metres (2.8k)
U13 Girls declarations close at 11am and race starts at 11.30am
U13 Boys declarations close at 11:15am and race starts at 11.45am

Both U15 races cover 4500 metres (4.5k)
U15 Girls declarations close at 11:30am and race starts at 12pm
U15 Boys declarations close at 11:55am and race starts at 12:25pm

Both U17 races cover 5700 metres (5.7k)
U17 Women declarations close at 12:15pm and race starts at 12:45pm
U17 Men declarations close at 12:40pm and race starts at 1:10pm

Tuesday 18 February 2014

FALKIRK XC 2014

Registration & Parking is at Graeme High School.  Can all young athletes report in at 1 hour before your race and meet me on the course in Callender Park,Falkirk.

The park is across the road from the school. Please arrive at the school in good time as car parking is very limited.

The Calderglen Harrier team for this years National Cross Country Championship in Falkirk is:

Under 13 Boys:    Marc McQuade

Under 15 Girls:     Helen Anderson, Megan Anderson, Louise Brown & Morgan Beaton
    
Under 17 Girls:     Megan Brady

I will be there on Saturday as I am competing in the Senior race and will meet you on the course.  We usually put the club tent near the side of high flats.  I will pick up the numbers to issue as I need to declare who is racing.  In addition to this I have to make sure everyone gets the correct number and matching TIMING CHIP.

This is this 2nd year Scottish Athletics are doing this and I will need to make sure everyone has the right chip and you will need time to attach it properly.  If anyone isn't going to make the race please let me know as I have to return unused chips (charged to the club £8 per chip) to declarations.

I have pre-registered all the above athletes.
 
The first race is u13 Boys, starts at 11.30am

The fourth race, u15 Girls, starts at 12:15pm

The fifth race, u17 Girls starts at 12.35pm

On the day please remember
Ø  Calderglen Harrier black & amber vest - remember this is essential (phone if you need to buy one)
Ø  Spikes or Trail trainers (i am running in spikes)
Ø  Safety pins for pinning your number on your vest
Ø  Layers in case it's cold and waterproofs in case of wet weather
Ø  Spare shoes if planning to walk the course (also spare socks)
Ø  Food and drink for after your race
Ø  If you can't make the race please let me know ASAP! 
PLEASE NOTE: I am bringing the club tent so would very grateful for help to put it up....please.

For those with sat nav the postcode is FK1 1SY for Callender Park,Falkirk.

Remember allow plenty of time to travel, find place and park.  I am leaving EK at 9am and will be leaving Falkirk after 4pm.  If anyone is stuck for lift please let me know there is enough cars going up.  See link to official info on race via Scottish Athletics website:

http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/calendar/events/16738-16123-scottish-national-cross-country-championships

Good luck & see you all on Saturday
Richard

Monday 3 February 2014

MEMBERSHIP FEES 2014

FEES NOWS OVERDUE since Friday 31st January. PLEASE PAY OR GIVE SARAH OR I AN UPDATE WHEN YOU WILL PAY.

The membership fees for 2014 are the same as last year and are due from 1st January.

As with previous years we understand this is a difficult time of year for some financially so you have until the end of 31st January to pay. Anyone that cannot make payment by this time please come and speak to me or Sarah in confidence and we can try to make payment arrangements suitable to you.
 
In the meantime Sarah or I will collect due fees at any Wednesday training night.

The fees are:-
Family Fees
£100.00 + Harrier Fee of £14, total of £114
Individual Intermediate Fees
£40.00 + Harrier Fee of £10, total of £50 (18yrs to 21 yrs)
Individual Junior Fees
£30.00 (6yrs to 17yrs)

In addition the club pays an annual affiliation fee to Scottish Athletics for each athlete.  In 2013 the fee was £7 per young athlete and the total cost to the section was £539. 

We are keen to ensure that the club continues to offer an affordable hobby for families. So we are continuing with the annual one off payment for the second child and any subsequent young athlete members in the family to cover the cost of the affiliation fee. 

This will ensure that we have sufficient funds to meet this cost going forward while allowing us to maintain the weekly training fee at £1 per family instead of £1 per child.   

To allow families to spread the various costs of the club fees, we are asking for the £7 per sibling to be paid by 1st April 2014.  Please speak to Sarah if you have any questions or concerns with this.

Thank you
Richard