Chairperson’s Chat 4 – June 2019

Hi Everyone,

Well it does not seem that long since I was last in touch with you but in fact it was late March!!!

Since then we have seen the end of the XC season, start of the track and field season and a continuation of the Race Walking and Road Running events. My aim in this chat is to tell you about the new coaching structure, some success we have had since March and events coming up. I will try to keep all to the point so as not to take up too much of your time but hopefully you will find all helpful and interesting.

All the best,

Andy

Coaching and Training Structure.

The Coaching and Training Structure and notes are fairly straight forward we think and hopefully run through what is on offer each week. The table lists days and times of different training sessions and then also the 3 levels of the training and the ages it is most suited for. The notes outline contact details and also more information on some of the sessions where more detail is needed. If you need to ask any questions then do go to a committee member or coach or contact me. This should mean little change for most at coaching sessions now, however, we hope that over time you will see an expansion of what is on offer. Watch this space!!!

Success.

Well I am not sure I can satisfy everyone here as I am bound to leave so many people out but I think it is fair to say that our athletes of all ages have been training hard and producing some fantastic results in all aspects of Athletics. There is no way I can cover all but I have listed a few highlights below and must apologise to others who I have left out. Hopefully over time I will get to mention many and perhaps all of you as we do more of these chats. So, here goes –

Easter Festival – well done to Ollie Lockley and Rachael Franklin for winning the Senior Men and Senior Women’s overall festival trophies. Both ran exceptionally well against very high standard opposition. Also congratulations to the Ladies team who finished in the top 3 teams over the weekend. They were made up of Rachael, Elissa Morris, Gail Griffiths and Ciara Hardisty.

UK Leagues – Our athletes have performed with distinction representing team Isle of Man in the UK Youth Development League and also the first season that Team Isle of Man have been in the first Division of the Northern Senior League. Both teams have finished well up the rankings with the seniors second in their first division one match. Just out of interest we have been in division one twice in the past when the senior leagues were gender based. The men for Manx Harriers were in division one back in the late 90s for two years and then returned in the early 2000s. Indeed they spent two years in the top division but were never relegated as the league combined men and women and our joint team was placed in division two in the first season of the present format. It looks as though the present squad will be in division one for some time to come looking at match one this year and I am sure all will benefit from the higher standard of competition.

Junior Track and Field – We have had some fine performances from Juniors in Track and Field recently. It is difficult to pick any out but Regan Corrin is ranked 2nd under 13 boy in the UK in the High Jump with his PB of 1.60m cleared in May. Sebastien Sgouraditis is ranked third under 15 boy in the UK with his recent PB in the Triple Jump of 12.33m. Both of these performances were recorded in the Club Champs in the last weekend in May. Ben Sinclair is also the top ranked under 15 boy over 300m in the UK with his time of 36.9 seconds recorded in the IOM T&F League. He is also ranked ninth in the 800m with his 2 mins 3 seconds when winning the Lancashire Championships in May. I hope to give more info regarding our juniors over time and apologise for not having more information ready for this chat.

Senior Track and Field – The North of England Champs in early June saw Rachael Franklin add to her tally of medals in this regional event. She took silver in the 1500m in 4.20.50 having taken the race by the scruff of the neck and scaring England International Claire Duck of Leeds City AC. along the way. In a frantic sprint finish Duck came out on top by less than a second but hopefully this augers well for Rachael’s chances in the Island Games in July. She also took Gold the day after in the 5000m in a time of 16.41.32.

Olly Lockley finished 3rd England AA 10000m track champs on the 7th June in 29.26.94. He also set a new road PB and Manx Record of 29.25 in the Vitality London 10km so continuing his fine form of late on the road where he set another Manx record for 10 miles in the Northern AC 10 race in early May in a time of 48.56.

David Mullarkey has also run PBs and so Manx Records over 800 and 1500m this summer running 1.53.76 and 3.49.26 respectively for these events. Hopefully there is more to come here for him so watch this space over the season.

Island Games Team – This years’ Island games sees a team of 28 athletes representing the Isle of Man with 18 of them being from Manx Harriers. I have listed the team below and hopefully you can keep track of the games in July online and follow how our senior athletes are doing. I am sure we all wish them well in their endeavours and hope that they bring back a sack full of medals!

Manx Harriers in the team are – Brandon Atchison, Thomas Riley, David Mullarkey, Stephen Garrett, Alan Corlett, Mikey Haslett, Keoghan Taylor, Ollie Lockley, Bethan Pilley, Meghan Pilley, Rachael Franklin, Elissa Morris, Hannah Riley, Aimee Cringle, Megan Lockwood, Tazmin Fayle, Lydia Morris and Daniel Stewart-Clague.

Race Walking – Our Race Walkers took part in the RWA 10km Champs race in April and performed brilliantly. Tom Partington won the event in 45.21 with Adam Cowin taking silver 49.09. Gianni Epifani came home in 5th place and the team took the male team gold medal. In the Ladies event Gold was also won by Hannah Hunter, Marie Jackson, Rebecca Greatbatch, Nicola Raven and Louise Hollings. Well done to our walkers keeping up a great tradition for the club in successful UK Championship events.

Well I think that is it from my summing up of events/performances since April. I realise I have left much out but hope to cover more in future Chats with you.

Events coming up

13/06 Up and Running T&F Lge. 3 – Postponed from earlier
16/06 Northern Senior League 2 U17 up
22/06 YDL 3 U13 & U15
22 & 23/06 Parish Walk
26/06 IOM T&F League 5
27/06 Up and running T&F Lge. 5
06/07 Island Games Start
11/07 Summer 10km Walk
12/07 Island Games End
18/07 Up and running T&F Lge. 6
20/07 YDL 4 U13 & U15 Pier to Pier Trail Run
21/07 Northern Senior League 3 U17 up
22/07 5km Prom Run
24/07 IOM T&F League
3 & 4/08 IOM T&F Champs
03/08 Prom run
10/08 Northern Senior League 4 U17 up
11/08 No Rest for the Wicked Week
15/08 Foxdale 6 Road race
30/08 Multi Event Taster – NSC

Up and Running T&F Lge. 4 – Postponed, new date still to be identified.

Please check for IOM Athletics Fixture List for the most up to date information

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