From Rob Bates, S West Vets Track & Field Secretary (5 July 2011)

Well Done to those athletes and officials that were at Plymouth on Sunday for the SW League Match 3 fixture. It was certainly an enjoyable day...particularly the 4 X 400m relay at the end...great stuff.

The Plymouth results are already on Powerof10.A few PBs and SBs for our athletes as well, which is nice to see.

Next up in the League is our final fixture at Exeter on Sun, Sept 4th,which is a B Programme match (as per Millfield).We are expecting our largest turnout of the season at this match. The turnout was lower than we would have liked on Sunday, but given the fixture congestion at this time of the season, what with the Worlds etc, it was quite predictable.

As you will be aware, we also have the Inter-Area meet coming up at Solihull on Sunday, August 7th.
This meeting is different from the League in that there is just one athlete per event and it is based on selection. Myself and Ian Snow are doing the selection for this event and I will be in attendance as Joint Team Manager and travelling Reserve.

Looking at previous years' results, the standard has been very mixed. SCVAC, with respect, seem to dominate the meeting by sheer volume of  numbers, rather than being of a higher standard. If we can cover every event, that would be brilliant.

It appears at this stage that the main selection dilemmas for us are the Middle-Distance events, where we are awash with talent. Ian and I will try and select the team by about the 4th week of July, if possible.

It is quite possible that we will have some last-minute cry-offs, no-shows or injuries on the day, so we will be picking some reserves as well...just in case ! Chances are that everyone will get a run out, albeit possibly not in their chosen event. There are also some lighter, more fun events, such as the Medley Relay and 2K walk.

Take care.

Kind regards

Rob
Team Manager

From Rob Bates, S West Vets Team Manager (Monday 18 April 2011)

I would just like to thank everyone for helping to make a cracking day yesterday. It surpassed my expectations, even though we only fielded a small team. There were many positive points to mention really and this is not an
exhaustive list :-

                a) The fact that athletes were bravely competing in events that they  were not accustomed to against people a fraction of their respective ages.
                b) For an M60 to win an event against other much younger athletes....and to knock out a PB at the same time !
                c) How we could field a 4 X 400m Relay team out of just 5 Athletes,whilst 4 other clubs with scores of  younger and fitter athletes to pick from ,couldn't even raise a team.
                d) The good old fashioned Corinthian sporting spirit and the  camaraderie that it brings.
                e) The lovely weather !
                f) The fact that athletes were  mucking in and helping out with the officiating.

I would also like to thank Steve's wife Kath for helping out with the officiating. That was a massive help for us.
On a personal note, it did me the world of good, as up until about last Wed, I was all set to just help with officiating, do the odd field event and walk around with a clipboard ! Due to some back issues, I thought my
Track days were well and truly over. Due to lack of Speed Endurance training etc, my hamstrings were virtually semi-paralysed with Lactic Acid , in the 200m, but my back held out ok.  I'm still recovering today!

I spoke to a few other 2nd Claim Vets & they were all regretting not competing for us yesterday , which says it all really.

I look forward to seeing you all at the end of May plus many other fellow Vet athletes. Have a great week!

Regards

Rob Bates

Following requests, from a few financial strapped athletes [including me] who could not afford to go to Kamloops, about how could they compete at the new indoor arena in Gent, where next years EVAA Indoor Championships are being held, I made some enquiries. I found that the Belgian Masters Athletics Indoor Championships were held there in 2009 and are to be held there again in 2010. Several 'begging' e-mails to the Belgian Athletics Federation followed, and after special dispensation, agreed at a Federation Council meeting, these closed Championships are being opened for the first time. Even better is that the Federation have proffered an invite to ALL British athletes to come and compete.

So this is it. The Championships are on Saturday 13th March at the newish Indoor Arena on the western side of Gent [or Ghent]. Looking at the results from last year, it appears a fairly low key affair, but the population of Belgium is not large, so we should not expect any more. The events are also restricted, the longest race being 1500m plus the 60m Hurdles, the four Jumps and the Shot. The entry fees are a paltry, £2 per event [actually €2 + bank transfer costs], but you can only enter through me.

The proposal is to go over Friday afternoon, I have looked at ferry's the cheapest being the Norfolk Line for £37 return [car and four passengers], Dover to Dunkirk, Gent is 112kms and 1 Hour and 6 minutes away, so says Google. We stay in an Ibis [room £52 per night] or similar accommodation for Friday and Saturday nights and return Sunday lunchtime [some are suggesting they are staying over, coming back Monday] We sort out exactly where we want to stay in 2011, after recce of city hotels, restaurants, bars and access to stadium on Friday and Saturday evenings.

So from London with four in a car and sharing twin bed room - £85 each plus food. Not quite your San Sebastian on a dry night, but beats the hell out of frozen Helsinki or Eskilstuna on ANY night [well apart from farewell night]. Think of it as money well spent, as we should be ahead of the game with hotels etc. for 2011, and a competition as well.

So talk to your club mates, and come back to me with events, where you think you might stay etc., so at least we can try and go as a Team. I will be taking my car, so will have three seats up for sharing and sharing or whatever in hotel.

I am sure there are is something else I should be telling you - apart from wind chill factors and the like - but the grey matter has got frost bite, so will have to wait for now.

Maurice Doogan

BMAF Track & Field Secretary