Happy Birthday from this Thursday 26 November to Clifford Barley, Amy Bream, Ariel Carmel, Gregory Dunson, Seyi Fari, Oliver Greenstein, Bobbi Harrison, Malika Hislop-Ellis, Tosin Jokosenumi, Neo Mohammadian, Rory Muir, Jacob Nustedt, Milan Trajkovic, Pascaline Wangui, Fergus Watson, Katie Webb and Lucy Woodward

UPDATE ON NEELAM KADERBHOY FROM HER BROTHER IMTIAZ KADERBHOY – Thank you all for your continued love and support of my beautiful big sister. NEELAM has been doing extremely well, constantly wanting to go for walks, eating amazingly healthily and staying incredibly strong in mind and body which I will forever be in awe of.

I have learnt over the past few weeks, and gained a fascinating insight into NEELAM’S athletics life. In particular over 4 decades in the sport how she has inspired countless female athletes in particular those of Asian or ethnic origin, where especially in the 80’s and 90’s athletics and sport wasn’t a top priority. Combined with an incredible amount empathy and love for the athletes she has coached over the years, many parents have recounted stories for which they will be eternally grateful for the profound impact that NEELAM has had on their child’s life.

NEELAM’S impact on the sport was also recognised at the London Council Awards Night last Thursday 19 November. NADIA WILLIAMS, who is a close friend, fellow Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers and on the London council, summarized NEELAM’S contribution to the sport she loves. You can watch again at: youtu.be/WJb7FQAB50U

Please also accept my apologies if I have not responded to phone calls and messages.  It has been a stressful and tiring passage of time and will continue to be the case for the coming weeks and months. It is without doubt the hardest journey to be on, for NEELAM and especially for those closest to me who prop me up daily with a good dose of love and affection and the occasional kick up the backside! It is genuinely mentally and emotional exhausting being in this situation and I/we thank you for your understanding and empathy in focusing purely on showing nothing but love and support for NEELAM’S.  The constant deliveries of turtles, rum chocolates, M&S treats, (which I have also enjoyed, sorry!, but NEELAM’S did give me permission), the phots and videos that you share with NEELAM’S ensure that she is constantly smiling and feeling the love. Also, a very happy birthday to SALMA, who despite taking care of my dad as he fronts up to his own challenges, continues to be a source of love, guidance and support to us all. Please keep the love coming for NEELAM.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS 130TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020 – Took place last Tuesday 24 November on Zoom. The meeting which was managed by STEVE MARSHALL, took place without any hiccups. There were 31 attendees on Zoom.

Chairman JOHN KELLY opened the meeting by welcoming all those present, then proceeded with the Agenda
1 – Apologies for absence – COLETTE HURLEY.
2 – Minutes of the AGM held on 26 November 2019 – DAVE BEDFORD gave an update on subsequent meetings held with SARACENS, with DAVE and BRYAN SMITH representing the Club. 1 – Progress of the re-building the West Stand – It is planned to have any Asbestos removed by the end of 2020, in 2021 a contact will be placed with builder in January, main works to commence in June with a completion in July 2022. 2 – From January 2021 (to be finalised) the indoor facility under the East Stand will used by the NHS as a Covid Vaccination Centre, and it is anticipated that it will closed to the club for a period of 4-8 months! There were no other comments, the minutes were proposed and seconded.
3 – Matters Arising – There were none.
4 – Annual Report for the year ended 30 September 2020 – General Secretary PHILIP CUNNINGHAM gave a brief update on yet another successful year for the club. He emphasised the fact that due to Covid-19 our athletes still produced outstanding performances throughout the period., including completing a full 2019-2020 cross country season. At the last Club Council meeting it was decided that as there would be no Club Best Performance Awards for the year, we would award medals to athletes who have produced top 6 age group rankings in 2020 (see full list in Annual Report). We organised a ThrowsFest meeting on 11 July at Barnet Copthall Stadium following the first lockdown; the first licensed athletics fixture in the UK. We had over 1600 participants at our subsequent 7 licensed meetings at Lee Valley. We wish to thank our Officials and Volunteers plus the Parents for their dedication throughout the year. The report was proposed and seconded.
GEOFF MORPHITIS advised that a special award will be presented to NEELAM KADERBHOY, the Coronation Cup which is for Outstanding Services to the club.
5 – Accounts and the Treasurers Report for the year ended 30 September 2020 – Treasurer GEOFF MORPHITIS gave a detailed report on our expenditure and outgoings for the year, overall we have a reasonably healthy bank balance. The accounts were proposed and seconded.
6&7 – Election of Officers – Chairman JOHN KELLY opened by thanking (myself) ALAN WELLER whose 3 years as President has come to an end, and welcomed new President GEOFF WILLIAMS to the role. GEOFF addressed the meeting by looking forward in meeting you, during 2021.
The list of Club officers were presented en-bloc, GEOFF MORPHITIS advised that EDDIE KING has taken up the role of Women’s Masters Cross Country and Road Team Manager, we wish him every success in the coming Year. The list was then proposed and seconded.
8 – Election of Vice Presidents – There were no comments, the list was proposed and seconded.
9 – Election of Life Members – No new Life Members proposed.
10 – Proposals –There were 2 proposals submitted for consideration at the AGM. The first proposal was considered in two parts 1 – Existing members who have paid their membership fee for year ended 30 September 2020 will be considered as having also paid their fee for the year ended 30 September 2021. In other words, in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19, these members will have 2 years membership for the price of one. 2 – The Annual Membership Fee for new members from 1 December 2020 will increase to £50. The England Athletics fee of £15 will remain payable in the normal way. GEOFF MORPHITIS told the meeting that our current Membership Fee was below most of the top UK clubs. The proposals were proposed and seconded and agreed. 2. Change to constitution due to name change of stadium – Rule 1 The name of the Club shall be Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, hereinafter called the Club whose headquarters are at The Clubhouse, Allianz Park, Greenlands Lane, Hendon, London, NW4 1RL. DAVE BEDFORD stated that SARACENS were close to agreeing a new SPONSOR. This being the case, it was agreed that as when it happens, Club Secretary PHILIP CUNNINGHAM will have the authority to change Rule 1 with the new Stadium names. The proposals were proposed and seconded and agreed.
11 – Any Other Business – Future promotions, firstly Boxing Day races, STEVE MARSHALL has been reviewing this, and dependant on which Tier we are in, also the facilities within the stadium. We will advise the members in the very near future. 2021 cross country races, DAVE BRADLEY has also been reviewing the possibility of holding races early in the new year at Barnet Copthall. One aspect he will be reviewing is with UK Athletics regarding their Covid regulations, which at our T&F meetings, some of them were not very practical.
The meeting closed at 8.40pm

All 5 documents referred to in the above notes can be found on the Home Page of the SBH Website,

NICHOLAS SAVVA SECURES A PLACE ON THE YOUTH TALENT PROGRAMME – Congratulations, we are delighted to be able to NICHOLAS a place on the 2020-22 Youth Talent Programme (YTP). There has once again been a lot of interest and applications for the programme and the level of athletes on the programme is very high. Your selection is testament to the great work you are both clearly doing and the relationship you have built with TY HOLDEN as an athlete-coach pair
The YTP is the first step on the England Talent pathway designed to add value to the athlete and coach plan and help understand self, developing a broad range of skills, abilities and behaviours needed for senior success.
We hope you are all looking forward to an exciting, eventful and successful season and look forward to helping you achieve this qualification.
Many thanks, DON WAGNER Performance Pathway Manager, British Athletics.

NICHOLAS joined us in October 2017. In 2018 he was an ever present in the EYAL and MYAL and Indoors won a 200m Bronze Medal in the Southern Championships and made the final of the 60m England Championships. He had a PB in the 60m (7.45) and 200m (23.51) ranking him UK No. 7 U15. 2019 NICHOLAS concentrated on the 400m, winning Silver Medals in the Hertfordshire and Southern Championships, finishing the season with a PB (51.56).
NICHOLAS currently holds 3 Club Records, firstly in 2018 the Under 15 300m (36.72) also a member of the Under 15 4x100m squad (44.06) when winning the 2018 UK Club Connect relays. In 2019 also a member of the Under 17 4x400m squad (3:27.81) when winning the UK YDL League Final in Manchester.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DINA SILVERMAN AND BINI BLOOM – DINA and BINI are both recipients of the 2020 DANIEL SACKS Memorial Award Winners. Photograph of DINA with her Memorial Award

It has been a year like no other with the Covid pandemic, but in a surviving end of season races DINA ran a personal best 800m (2:25.46) ranking her UK No.9 U13 in 2020. Haberdashers Aske’s pupil DINA, maintained her motivation during the summer by training up to four times a week with her SBH clubmates: sprints on Tuesdays and Thursdays, middle-distance on Wednesdays and trail runs on Sundays. Also, worthy of recognition of this and previous years is BINI who has been a regular in the SBH EYAL teams, and has a personal best in the 800m (2:05.43).

SBH SUBSCRIPTIONS 2020-2021 – SBH Treasurer GEOFF MORPHITIS has sent me the following regarding subscriptions.
Dear Member – I hope you’re fit and well during these difficult times. The Club has continued to function providing Covid-19 secure coaching at Barnet Copthall (formerly Allianz Park) on a limited basis from mid-June. We also promoted 7 Track & Field competitions during the period July to September. Six of these were LICC meetings at Lee Valley.
We’re working on the promotion of a number of Cross Country races at Barnet Copthall during the period December through to March in compliance with the England Athletics and Government guidelines applicable at the time.
The Club AGM will take place virtually at 19.30 on Tuesday 24 November (full login details will be distributed shortly). One of the resolutions on the order paper will deal with Club Subscriptions. Following the recent decision of the SBH Council, the proposal is as follows; “The Annual Membership Fee for new members from 1 December 2020 will increase to £50. Existing members who have paid their membership fee for year ended 30 September 2020 will be considered as having also paid their fee for the year ended 30 September 2021. In other words, in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19, these members will have 2 years membership for the price of one.” Therefore, I’m now asking athletes who have not paid their subscription for the year ended 30/09/20 (£45) to pay, so as to qualify for the 2 for 1 concession together with the England Athletics Registration Fee of £15 for 2020/21. The total is £60 and should be paid NOW to;
ACCOUNT NAME : SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS, BANK : HSBC, ACCOUNT NUMBER : 41308378, SORT CODE : 400426 – Please let me know when you make the payment. Thanks GEOFF

PROFILE ON ANGUS MCKENZIE – ANGUS joined Shaftesbury in 1979. ANGUS and his wife MANDY currently live in Ongar, Essex.
Since 2012 ANGUS has undertaken contracts with UK Athletics and Local Organising Committees as Field of Play Group Leader, Technical Operations Manager and Assistant Competition Manager to deliver 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, World Athletics and Para-Athletics Championships 2017, World Indoor Championships 2018, European Indoor Athletics Championships, Glasgow, 2019.
He has been appointed as Competition Manager (Athletics) for the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth games. 

Prior to him Joining Shaftesbury, ANGUS was a member of Edinburgh Southern, Harriers and was an outstanding multi event athlete.   In one of his main events, the 110m Hurdles, he competed in the 1973 European Junior Championships winning a bronze medal in 14.46 (300th of a sec behind the winner). As a Junior he competed for GB in hurdles and long jump, Captaining the GB team against Sweden. The following year represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand (14.94) 110m H and 4x100m relay.
In 1975 competing in the Southern Counties Championships in the High Jump he jumped to fame as the first British Athlete to clear the old 7-foot barrier (2m14cm. the equivalent of 7 feet and a quarter of an inch). ANGUS was a talented all-rounder who competed for Great Britain in the individual events of 110m Hurdles, High Jump, Decathlon and Long Jump.

He had a spell of inactivity until 1980 when at the Inter Counties he finished 3rd in the 110m Hurdles with a personal best (14.28), he also won the Long Jump with another personal best (7.57m). His final race was in 1981 running the 100m (10.40 w3.0) in an International in Greece against Greece, Israel and Luxembourg.
In 1984 ANGUS was a member of the Great Britain 4-man Olympic Bobsleigh team, which took place in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina). The team of MALCOLM LLOYD, HOWARD SMITH, ANGUS and PETER BRUGNANI, finished in a creditable 15th place with an overall time of (3:25.34) for the 4 runs. The event was dominated by the East German’s who finished 1st and 2nd with Switzerland finishing 3rd.

Best moment in sport – Becoming the first GB athlete to clear 7 feet in the High Jump and Guinness Book Record.
Worst moment – Tearing my Achilles tendon which held me back from improving my 10.4 100m time.
Favourite Country – For Holidays Canada.
Favourite City – Vancouver
Favourite Food/Snack – Friday night is Curry night in my household
Music/Artist – My head is still back in the 70/80s.  Disco music.
Favourite Film – The Matrix series
Hobbies – Taking my dogs out for daily walks.
Dislikes – People who has a disregard for the environment
Likes – The commitment a great many voluntary sports coaches have in helping others achieve the best performances possible.

THE MAKING OF ‘CHARIOTS OF FIRE’ PART 3 OF 4 – Many thanks to TOM MCNAB for another excellent article, part 3 describes his experience once filming commenced, and TOM’S career as an actor was put to the test.

I have often been asked how the opening scene of “Chariots of Fire” came about, if it had been derived from any other source, if only because British Olympic teams did not have training camps until about fifty years later. And even when they did occur, it is unlikely that our team would have collectively splashed through the waves in their training!
My answer is that the credit- scene came as a direct product of COLIN WELLAND’S love of the Olympic baton-relay sequence in LENI RIEFENSTAHL’S magnificent film “Olympia,” showing a young Greek runner, holding his baton high, striding through the waves. And I had showed it to COLIN because that sequence had continued to inspire me throughout my life in sport.
Of course, our opening sequence was massively enhanced by the music of the Greek composer VANGELIS, though none of the cast were to hear it until the film opened a year later. It took place on a cold, windswept beach in St. Andrews on April 28/29, 1980 with our actors scattered amongst a pack of athletes from St. Andrews University.
St. Andrews? I can almost hear you say. But I thought that it was supposed to be Broadstairs in Kent? No, that is where poetic license comes in. So no, there was no 1924 Olympic training camp, and therefore no Broadstairs.
It took two days, and dozens of “takes” in that bitter East wind to get those unforgettable images in the can, then it was off to Crieff Hydro with our “Chariots” battalion, to film the Highland Games sequence in which ERIC LIDELL would be introduced. And yes, when we got to the Games field two days later, it was just as my pathetic little drawing had suggested, as the film’s set-designers had produced a perfect copy. Yes, there it all was, the two mountains above the meandering stream, the dancing platform, the pegged grass track, the competitor’s tents, even the cows in the adjoining field. Yes, it was all exactly as I had imagined. We were now all ready to go.
That first morning, the population of Crieff arrived in droves, their athletic brothers and sons having been recruited to jump and throw, or race in the 220 yard handicap in which our man ERIC would provide the athletics world with a first hint of his talent. That was fine, but my immediate concern was that the cameramen did not appear to be filming the rich diversity of a Highland Games, its throwing, its jumping, its dancing its piping. I pointed this out to HUGH HUDSON, but he did not appear to be unduly concerned.
But my moment of triumph, that was yet to come, in IAN CHARLESON’S address to the assembled crowd. For, a few moments into it, in the adjoining field there was suddenly, as if on cue, the loud moo of a cow. Ever the actor, IAN grinned, paused and continued to address his audience. It was a truly magic moment, though my request for some tangible recognition for my cow was ignored.
Then on trundled our ragged regiment to Edinburgh, to Goldenacre, home of Heriots Rugby Club, and the site of my first athletic success in triple jump back in 1951 at the Scottish Schools championships. Here we would produce a magic moment in ERIC LIDELL’S athletics career, when in a 440 yard race against Irish runners, he had been knocked over at the first curve, had go back on his feet and won the race.
But strangely, for no good reason, now the race was to be against the French. Thus, every time I lecture in France I am invariably denounced by indignant Frenchmen, rightly claiming that they were guiltless.  Indeed, one even observed that a week before an Irish tug of war team had been disqualified for pushing.
But this was the way it was to be, and I had appointed RON SYLVESTER, a leading Highland Games sprinter, to give IAN CHARLESON a wee dunt on the first curve. This would be no problem for RON, as there were no lanes on bumpy Games tracks and sprints were therefore a full-contact sport.
“He’ll go down, Tom, “he said “I promise you that” “Aye Ron, “I said, “But just you remember that he’s got to get up. IAN’S got the Olympic Games next week. “It is at this point worth mentioning that my own skills as an actor had not gone unnoticed, because I had been appointed as Official Starter in this memorable race. Indeed, I had even been given responsibility for two lines of dialogue.
Those unforgettable lines were- “Gentlemen, get to your marks “. (I had sneakily added the word “gentlemen”) “Get set”. Pause. Then I would fire the starting-pistol. “Action, TOM, “shouted HUGH HUDSON, and I walked forward towards RON and his colleague. The two men were now stripped off. But both now wore black berets. “Who on earth told you to wear these berets?” I asked. RON SYLVESTER pointed towards HUGH HUDSON. I strode over to HUGH. “Why don’t you go all the way with these lads? “I said. “What do you mean, TOM?” “I mean why don’t you just give the two of them onions around their necks and a bicycle? This is supposed to be a really moving moment, in the film, but you’re going to have ERIC running past two guys wearing hats. They’ll be falling all over themselves from here to Chatanooga.” Off came the berets, and on went the race.
It had all turned out well. But behind my aggressive approach to HUGH HUDSON had been the words of DAVID PUTTNAM after the Highland Games. He had heard that my advice to HUGH on the lack of field events had been ignored. “No, TOM, let me make this clear “he said. “If you have any problems in the future with HUGH, then just you come to me. And you will win the argument. You are in charge of the film’s athletic content” So, I was now on top of the world, I was somebody. But then, alas, out of the blue came a crushing blow to all my hopes of a Thespian career. Because, with the day’s filming now over, I immediately ripped off my sticky moustache and threw it to the ground. The props lady was immediately at my side. “No, don’t do that TOM,” she said. Your moustache, it’s worth eighty pounds! “she said.
Eighty pounds! And I had been paid a mere seventeen for my one-take performance. My moustache had been worth four times as much as me.

KEW GARDENS TO HOST BRITISH OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

The 26 March event to be held on fast, flat course in an area of London renowned for its running heritage and tradition. British Olympic marathon contenders will battle for places in the team for Tokyo on a flat, fast course at Kew Gardens in Richmond, south-west London, next spring. The trials races will take place on Friday morning of 26 March as part of the Richmond Runfest weekend. The course is a 5.5km loop, does not have any significant elevations, is sheltered from the wind and is believed to be fast enough for athletes to hit the Olympic qualifying marks of (20:11:30 Men) and (2:29:30 Women). Usually British athletes find themselves battling for major championship selection in the Virgin Money London Marathon. But after the coronavirus-hit 2020 season a decision has been made to stage a domestic dust-up of Olympic hopes at the world-famous botanical gardens and its surrounding roads. With the expectation that the coronavirus is going to be prevalent through the winter, the Olympic marathon trials event will be staged in a similar fashion to the recent London Marathon with athletes held in a bio-bubble and small fields of around 30 men and 30 women in two separate races. There are also obvious comparisons with the standalone US Olympic marathon trials that have taken place in recent years in Atlanta (2020), Los Angeles (2016), Houston (2012) and New York (2011) with the latter, in the city’s Central Park, on a similar multi-lap course to the one planned for Kew Gardens. Athletics Weekly understands that Dorney Lake in Buckinghamshire and various motor racing and horse racing courses were considered but one of the appeals of Kew Gardens is that it can be incorporated into an already-established event – with the Richmond Marathon scheduled for 27 March and AIR 10km on 28 March. In a statement, UKA said: “The venue was selected due to its ability to minimise issues that may arise as a result of the current pandemic. Following lengthy consultations across a host of stakeholders, the need to stage a race that could continue to be deemed viable under the potential of tightening Covid restrictions was a priority.”

British Athletics will tap into the expertise of former London Marathon race director DAVID BEDFORD as technical director, with TOM BEDFORD as race director at an event that will also double as the British marathon championships for 2021. Among the likely contenders are CHARLOTTE PURDUE and CHRIS THOMPSON, both of whom have run at Richmond Runfest in the past (pictured below), plus JONNY MELLOR and BEN CONNOR, who both broke the Olympic qualifying standard in London this month. JESS PIASECKI, STEPH TWELL, LILY PARTRIDGE and STEPH DAVIS will hope to return to form to challenge NATASHA COCKRAM and NAOMI MITCHELL – the latter two being the top Brits in London last month. Added to this entries could include DEWI GRIFFITHS, TISH JONES and DEREK HAWKINS (CALLUM HAWKINS is the only British marathoner who is pre-selected for Tokyo).

TOM BEDFORD, who is also race director of the Richmond Runfest, believes the area has a strong claim to be the unofficial home of endurance running in Britain too. “Iten in Kenya is ‘the home of champions’,” he says, “but the Borough of Richmond has the rightful claim to be the home of British distance running. My old man (DAVE BEDFORD, former world 10,000m record-holder) used to train in the area despite being a north London boy. “With Bushy Park, Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common it’s the best for hilly running and lots of different types of training all in one place. All the top agents have based themselves there like KIM MCDONALD and now RICKY SIMMS with PACE. MO FARAH is one of the many top athletes who went to St Mary’s. “CHRIS BRASHER (London Marathon co-founder) lived there and they created the London Marathon in one of the pubs just off Richmond Park. PAUL SINTON-HEWITT invented parkrun there at Bushy Park. It’s a real epicentre for the sport and the greenest borough in London too.” Shortly after London 2012, BEDFORD set up the Richmond Running Festival in order to keep the Olympic legacy going in the area. A launch event saw Farah doing interviews and since then the event has grown over the past seven years. “Like London Marathon, the idea was formed over a beer,” says BEDFORD. “We thought that we could create an Olympic legacy for Richmond. Last year, before Covid, we had 10,000 finishers raising £2.5 million. It’s significantly grown from a one-day event to a weekend event.”

ASK THE PHYSIO – PLANTAR FASCIITIS – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently. In the first of his regular columns, renowned physiotherapist and best-selling author PAUL HOBROUGH takes a closer look at the foot condition plantar fasciitis.

WHAT IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS? – The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that starts at the base of the calcaneus bone (heel bone) and extends forwards along the base of the foot. It divides into slips that attach to the short ligaments of the metatarsal heads (the long bones that meet the base of the toes). The plantar fascia helps support the long arch in the foot and also protects the foot.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? – The most common way to discover plantar fasciitis – better known these days in medical circles as plantar fasciopathy – is when you first step out of bed in the morning and it feels like you have stood on a stone. Once you have checked for gravel on your bedroom floor and not found any, start to consider this injury. The pain is most likely to be just as your medial longitudinal arch (the arch on the inside of your foot) leaves the heel bone. If you feel the underside of your heel bone, run your finger just into the beginning of the arch on the medial side and press in. This is the start of the plantar fascia and the site of greatest pain.

WHAT HAPPENS? – When you first feel the pain, a few steps later it will have eased off completely. This is why I call it the ‘dark destroyer’, because in the early days of the injury you feel a sharp pain for just a few steps and then it goes away for the rest of the day. You will most likely forget you even felt anything and even go for your run that day without any pain. However, the dark destroyer will return the next morning and the morning after that and so on. Over time, it will take a few more steps for the pain to abate and you will start to feel it when you get up from your desk or the couch. Within a fairly short time scale, the pain will occur several times a day and become worse the morning after those days on which you have run. If this continues, it will soon interrupt your running. It is my experience that those people who take expert advice early on have fewer issues, get better more quickly and lose less overall time from their running programme. There are also measures you can take, even without this issue ever having darkened your door, to stave it off or to provide some repair when the first danger signs appear.

PAUL’S 10-POINT PLAN FOR PLANTAR FASCIOPATHY – 1 No barefoot walking – 2 Write the alphabet with your foot in the morning/after a rest, before taking a step – 3 Wear some off-the-shelf insoles to help maintain a good foot arch and offer some support – 4 Gently stretch the gastrocnemius (upper part of your calf ) against a wall –not off a step – 6 x day 30-40 sec
5 Gently stretch the soleus muscle (lower part of your calf ) as per the gastrocnemius but with a bent knee – 6 Wear a strassburg sock at night to bring the big toe into extension
7 Gentle gastrocnemius strengthening on alternate days 4 x 25 calf raises – 8 Gently strengthen the soleus as per the gastrocnemius, but with a bent knee
9 Pull your big toe into extension when at rest (eg whilst watching the TV at night) – 10 Aqua jog, cross train, strength train but do not run with pain

A GRADUAL RETURN TO RUNNING – The rule of thumb is not to run if you can press on the sore area and get pain greater than you would feel with the other foot (assuming only one side is affected). You can return to running, with caution, after this milestone has been reached. The recommended return to running would be 5 x 3 minutes with gentle stretching between sets. Do not try to run extra slowly but choose a happy, steady pace instead. Use the following system to decide if you can complete each session and when to increase your intervals: You need the pain to be under a 4 out of 10 on the visual analogue pain scale (0 = no pain, 10 = the most pain you can imagine). Whatever the pain level is when you start, however, this cannot rise or you must stop. If the pain isn’t getting any worse then you can continue. If you can manage to complete all five of the three-minute runs then wait a full day before trying again. Assuming you manage again then, on the third run, you would  increase the time from three minutes to four minutes. If this is fine for the next two runs (still a day apart) then you would increase to 5 x 5 minutes. However, if you do not manage to complete the 5 x 3 minutes, then wait two days and try again. Keep this process going until you have managed to complete 5 x 3 minutes then start to climb through the rehab running programme as per the process above. Once you have completed five sets of the 5 x 5 on alternate days you can start to increase your running time, reducing the rests until you are once again continuously running again and pain-free. Then – and only then – can you return to sessions. Consider not using spikes for the first few times you return to the track. Plantar fasciitis can be an injury that lingers for years if not treated correctly. Whilst the above process sounds like it takes a long time, it is well worth the effort as the short cut will undoubtedly result in a prolonged period of no running.

SHOCKWAVE THERAPY – There is a well-researched treatment option that I ensure all my patients with this, or similar injuries, are offered. Shockwave therapy is a healing accelerator which has an 82% success rate* when it comes to plantar fasciopathy. This involves having six weeks of targeted shockwave to the plantar fascia, generating a pressure wave and acoustic wave at the same time to increase microscopic circulation, stimulate the stem cell activity and help rejuvenate the soft tissues that make up the structure. Some studies demonstrate a 40% faster return to play when shockwave therapy is used compared to standard treatment protocols alone. *requires ‘Focused shockwave therapy’, not necessarily Radial Pressure Wave (RPW) which is commonly referred to as radial shockwave therapy. RPW can still be effective but does not have supporting evidence for 82% success rates.

ATW CROSS COUNTRY SERIES NEXT RACE – The second race will take place Merchant Taylor’s School, Sandy Lodge, Northwood HA6 2HT on Saturday 19 December.
Timetable – 2K Under 11 start – 12:00 pm, 3K Under 13 start – 12:30 pm, 4K Under 15 start – 1:10 pm, 5K Under 17 start – 1:50 pm, 8K Senior/U20 start – 3:00 pm.
Here is the link which went live last Tuesday – https://activetrainingworld.co.uk/project/atw-cross-country-series-round-2-19th-december-2020/
The third race is on Sunday 10 January and the link for that should come out in mid December.

LONDON YOUTH GAMES, VIRTUAL CROSS COUNTRY – If you’re in the U11 to U17 age groups, here’s a way to stay active with others while keeping your distance – and earn some kudos for your Borough to boot. Run your distance in the Nike x London Youth Games Virtual Cross Country competition and record your time to score points for your Borough.
The competition is open to all young Londoners from 21 November to 6 December across four age groups: U11, U13, U15 and U17. Points are scored for participation and performance.
The link to enter results on the London Youth Games website will be live from 21 November and runners have until 6 December to get involved.
If you head to https://www.londonyouthgames.org/virtual-games/ you will find all the information you need to get involved. There’s also safety guidance on https://www.londonyouthgames.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Nike-x-LYG-Virtual-Cross-Country-Safety-Guidance.pdf
If runners want to participate there will be a form for them to fill out once the event has gone live, including letting LYG know which Borough they are representing, and there will also be a chance to upload proof of their time (if they want to).

UPDATE ON SBH FIXTURE CARD – Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed, This update shows the status of all cross country fixtures as of the 10 November 2020 – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 10-11-20

NOVEMBER 2020 RACES – Currently there are minimal results on the Power of 10, if anyone competes especially virtually please let me know.

SOUTH OF ENGLAND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 2020/2021 CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE – SEAA were hopeful of staging some Cross Country and Indoor Track & Field events during this coming winter, even though it looked as if we should only be able to cater for the younger age groups.  However, the news that the Country is to go into Lockdown from this Thursday does throw these aspirations into doubt. If Government guidelines after the lockdown permit, we hope to put in place the following events.
Cross Country – Cross Country Relays, London Championships, Master & Inter Counties Championships have been postponed until the New Year.  The Association hopes that it will be possible to stage some Cross Country events in February/March 2021. 
Road Relays – At present the date for the 12/6 Stage and 5K Road Relays remains the same; Sunday 28 March 2021. 
Track & Field – It is hoped that some Indoor Covid Games can take place dates scheduled for these events are 16/17 January & 6/7 February next year.  Due to the restrictions on numbers we may have to use more than one venue.
As we enter another lockdown, we just want to reassure our athletes and officials that we shall do our utmost to stage some competition (In line with England Athletics guidance).  We shall review the situation and publish any further news as soon as we can. In the meantime, we do hope everyone stays safe and well JOHN GANDEE SEAA Competition Chairman.

CAN YOU HELP PLEASE – During the period when all competitions are suspended, I will do my upmost in keeping the Newsletter information and other content going.
I would welcome any contributions From Yourselves, any impending marriages, or additions to the family, any running or competing incidents, also past warm weather training/holidays (No Club 24 please). Currently the response has been excellent, but if you have anything that could make it into next week’s Newsletter – please email me.

PROCEDURES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) FROM JEREMY SOTHCOTT – Due to the new Covid-19 Lockdown regulations Barnet Copthall is closed, and will re-open on  Thursday 3 December. Coaches will be in touch with their athletes through WhatsApp groups. Further updates from JEREMY SOTHCOTT will appear in future newsletters.

THE FOLLOWING SBH DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION CAN EITHER BE VIEWED, DOWNLOADED OR PRINTED 
SBH 2020-2021 Winter Fixture Card updated  10-11-20, Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed. An update on 2021 Fixtures will be published in early December 2020 – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 10-11-20
Cross Country Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/cross-country/team-managers/
Road Running/Relay Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/road-running/team-managers/

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH HOME PAGE BY USING THIS LINK, THEN SELECT THE LEFT OR RIGHT ARROW – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Barnet Copthall Stadium (Fomerly Allianz Park) Membership, which gives SBH members 10% discount on entry to the Barnet Copthall stadium – Membership details and Form can be either printed or downloaded
Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Club Hoody, information on how to purchase one, please go to the bottom of this Newsletter

SBH MIDWEEK JUMPS CLUB AT BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently Suspended. From 2 December please contact CLYDE GORDON on 07753 985525/clyde67@hotmail.co.uk for further information on High Jump and Pole Vault days and times.

STEEPLECHASE TRAINING AT BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK)  – Currently Suspended.

PARKRUN 5K RESULTS – Currently Suspended

PARKRUN – Can you make sure that you are registered as ‘Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers’, as the link I use to select all results only shows SBH athletes. If anyone is also officiating can you please contact me, and advise me where and when.

PHOTOGRAPH’S – From time to time we have photographs of our members taken at meetings or presentations which we would like to use both on the website or incorporated within our report to our local newspaper. Can you please let me know if you do NOT want your photograph to be used. Also, I would appreciate if you could send me any photographs, which I can then publish on the website and newsletter.

CLUB EMBROIDERED RED HOODIES – Currently there are now over 750 Hoodies in circulation, this is the link giving details on how you can order your Club Hoody for £35, which includes having your name embroidered on the front Club Hoodies Updated 01-07-19

FACEBOOK – Photographs can be found on the SBH page.

CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF SHAFTESBURY INFORMATION – Currently I notify members (by email) using “MailChimp”. The reason I changed, was in November 2017 “Gmail” put a limit of 100 addresses that users could send to in a 24-hour period, and currently I send to approximately 850 members each issue.

On seeking technical advice “MailChimp” was recommended as the best way for SBH to go forward. There is one thing you should be aware off is that when you receive an email from me, the footer at the bottom has 4 options, of which one is “Unsubscribe Me From List”. Could I ask you not to select this as if you do you will be automatically removed from my distribution list.

SBH PRIVACY STATEMENT – In becoming a member, SBH will collect certain information about you. Can you please read the attached ‘Privacy Statement’ which contains Information on General Data Protection Regulations – SBH Privacy Statement Final April 2018

BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Main Switchboard telephone number is 0203 675 7250.

CHARGES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently the stadium is closed until the 3 December.

ALAN WELLER

Happy Birthday from this Thursday 19 November to Michael Adebakin, Aiden Bird, Kieran Clements, Jamie Dee, Sunil Jobanputra, Benjamin Morrison, Marion Motto, Jan Pearson, Lydia Rogers, Louis Savva, Ari Selouk, Bradley Singer, Gianleo Stubbs and Charlie Yearwood

RECENT NEW MEMBER – We wish you a very warm welcome, and a happy, healthy and successful time with Shaftesbury to CALVIN SMITH

UPDATE ON NEELAM KADERBHOY – NEELAM joined Barnet Copthall Ladies AC as a 13 year old in March 1983. In 1986 Barnet Copthall Ladies and Shaftesbury Harriers joined forces and Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers became a male and female Club.
NEELAM joined as a sprinter and established herself as a regular team member in Club teams.  In fact it was only last year that saw NEELAM’S name disappear from the Club records when the under 15 Girls 4 x 100m Club record was broken. NEELAM moved up to 400m when she was in the senior ranks.
Her commitment to the Club has been evident throughout her 37 years of membership. Not just by competing from an early age, but also by volunteering whenever and wherever help was needed.
NEELAM started assisting her own coach and soon qualified as a coach in her own right.  However, it was not just in competing and coaching that she helped the Club. She was elected onto the Club Council and contributed positively in all areas. When the Club received requests from 9 and 10 year olds to join the Club, NEELAM took on the very important role of young athletes induction coach and guided them through the basics to find out where their talents really lay. Once she established that the youngster was committed to our sport, she would pass them on to the appropriate specialist coach. Many have gone on to represent the Club in League competition and to achieve medals in County events.
However, NEELAM realised that coaching was only part of the job of looking after these young athletes, so when the Club became one of the founder members of The Middlesex Young Athletes League, she took on the role of team manager. Her work and enthusiasm in this additional role was a great success and she built up a tremendous team spirit, not only between the athletes but also between the parents in encouraging them to come on board to help manage the Club.
Unfortunately, NEELAM has recently been diagnosed with cancer and even though she has been in hospital / hospice for over 5 weeks now, she has still maintained a very positive disposition throughout her treatment and is contacting her athletes, their parents and all her fellow coaches regularly through social media. We wish her the best of luck and hope she achieves a full recovery.

ENGLAND ATHLETICS LONDON REGIONAL AWARDS LIVE – The meeting takes place on Thursday 19 November – This is the link to the live You Tube stream live and watch again at youtu.be/WJb7FQAB50U

CONGRATULATIONS TO STEVE MARSHALL – STEVE has been nominated for an England Athletics ‘Official of the Year London Region’ award on 19 November at 7pm, hosted on Zoom for invited nominees but also streamed live on the England Athletics YouTube channel so that friends, family and fellow club and group members can follow the action by watching online. Link to live broadcasts stream live and watch again at youtu.be/WJb7FQAB50U

Speaking about the awards, CHRIS JONES, England Athletics CEO, said: “The Regional Volunteer Awards is one of the highlights of the England Athletics calendar and is a wonderful opportunity for us to place a focus on the people who often work in the background but deliver such a vital contribution to our sport. This year has seen incredible work from our volunteers who have played a key role in navigating our sport through the unique challenges presented by Covid-19. They have gone above and beyond to keep our sport going in local communities across England – helping people stay active and creating opportunities for athletes to train and compete. We are delighted to have been able to turn this year’s awards nights into virtual events to ensure that everyone can still share in the inspirational stories of our awards nominees, celebrate their achievements and give them the recognition they deserve. Good luck to all those involved and thank you to all the volunteers in our sport for their invaluable contribution in such a challenging year.”

What a day for STEVE who was judging the Pole Vault at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix last February in Glasgow. As you can see in the photograph taken by ALAN FORD, STEVE is in the fore front with his white flag raised, following the vault of ARMAND DUPLANTIS of Sweden who had just turned 20, the vault of (6.18m) was his second World Record in a week.

LONDON YOUTH GAMES, VIRTUAL CROSS COUNTRY – If you’re in the U11 to U17 age groups, here’s a way to stay active with others while keeping your distance – and earn some kudos for your Borough to boot. Run your distance in the Nike x London Youth Games Virtual Cross Country competition and record your time to score points for your Borough.
The competition is open to all young Londoners from 21 November to 6 December across four age groups: U11, U13, U15 and U17. Points are scored for participation and performance.
The link to enter results on the London Youth Games website will be live from 21 November and runners have until 6 December to get involved.
If you head to https://www.londonyouthgames.org/virtual-games/ you will find all the information you need to get involved. There’s also safety guidance on https://www.londonyouthgames.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Nike-x-LYG-Virtual-Cross-Country-Safety-Guidance.pdf
If runners want to participate there will be a form for them to fill out once the event has gone live, including letting LYG know which Borough they are representing, and there will also be a chance to upload proof of their time (if they want to).

SBH SUBSCRIPTIONS 2020-2021 – SBH Treasurer GEOFF MORPHITIS has sent me the following regarding subscriptions.
Dear Member – I hope you’re fit and well during these difficult times. The Club has continued to function providing Covid-19 secure coaching at Barnet Copthall (formerly Allianz Park) on a limited basis from mid-June. We also promoted 7 Track & Field competitions during the period July to September. Six of these were LICC meetings at Lee Valley.
We’re working on the promotion of a number of Cross Country races at Barnet Copthall during the period December through to March in compliance with the England Athletics and Government guidelines applicable at the time.
The Club AGM will take place virtually at 19.30 on Tuesday 24 November (full login details will be distributed shortly). One of the resolutions on the order paper will deal with Club Subscriptions. Following the recent decision of the SBH Council, the proposal is as follows; “The Annual Membership Fee for new members from 1 December 2020 will increase to £50. Existing members who have paid their membership fee for year ended 30 September 2020 will be considered as having also paid their fee for the year ended 30 September 2021. In other words, in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19, these members will have 2 years membership for the price of one.” Therefore, I’m now asking athletes who have not paid their subscription for the year ended 30/09/20 (£45) to pay, so as to qualify for the 2 for 1 concession together with the England Athletics Registration Fee of £15 for 2020/21. The total is £60 and should be paid NOW to;
ACCOUNT NAME : SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS, BANK : HSBC, ACCOUNT NUMBER : 41308378, SORT CODE : 400426 – Please let me know when you make the payment. Thanks GEOFF

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS 130TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020 – We extend a warm welcome to you all to attend our first Virtual AGM via Zoom on Tuesday 24 November. You will be able to open it from 18.30pm although the meeting will commence at 19.30pm.

Join Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84592743928?pwd=UTFqM2xTbUVJU2NtaXE1UENxTGlaQT09
Meeting ID: 845 9274 3928 – Passcode: 514605

The IT aspect of the Zoom meeting will be controlled by STEVE MARSHALL, who will activate any responses by the attendees.
When the meeting commences at 19.30pm, could I ask you put yourself into ‘MUTE’ mode.
During the presentation, you may be asked if anyone has a question, if so please raise your hand and STEVE will activate you. The same will apply if the meeting asks for a ‘PROPOSER’ or ‘SECONDER’. There are two proposals submitted for consideration, therefore when you are requested to vote, could all those ‘AGAINST’ please raise their hands. Which will make it easier to assess those who are in ‘FAVOUR’. There is no other business on the agenda of an AGM, any attendee wishing to raise a point must have either placed a proposal on the Agenda or ask STEVE for discussion time after the conclusion of the meeting.
Note: If you experience problems accessing Zoom, please contact STEVE on 07973 253145 who may be able to help you.

Attached are the following SBH documents – 2020 AGM Agenda SBH AGM Agenda 2020 Issued For AGM , Minutes of 2019 AGM Meeting SBH AGM Minutes 2019 , Constitution and Rules as of 26 November 2018 SBH Constitution November 2018 , Annual Report 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020 SBH Annual Report 2019-20 Final Issue , Accounts for the year ended 30 September 2020 SBH Accounts 2020. Issued For AGM

SBH CROSS COUNTRY WINNERS 2019-2020 SEASON – Congratulations to the following winners.
Club Championship Winners – Men Under 11 ARTHUR PHILLIPS, Under 13 THOMAS CADWALLADER, Under 15 SAMUEL GREENSTEIN, Under 17 LUCA STUBBS, Under 20 GEORGE GROOM, 5 Miles Senior DYLAN EVANS, 9 Miles Senior DYLAN EVANS, Masters 40+ PHILIP CUNNINGHAM – Women Under 11 POSIE SHAW, Under 13 POSIE SHAW, Under 15 AIMI WEIGHTMAN, Under 17 MAAYAN RADUS, Under 20 LIA RADUS, Senior ELANA DIMMER 
Club Points Winners – Men Under 11 ARTHUR PHILLIPS, Under 13 GIANLEO STUBBS, Under 15 SAMUEL GREENSTEIN, Under 17 JUDE MIRANDA, Under 20 BEN KELLY, Senior DYLAN EVANS, Masters 40+ BARRY HAWS, Masters 50+ ROBERT RIGBY – Women Under 11 POSIE SHAW, Under 13 EVIE REDPATH, Under 15 RACHEL PEARLMAN, Under 17 JOANNE MIRANDA, Under 20 INDIRA PATEL, Senior ELANA DIMMER

ONE PRESIDENT OUT, ONE PRESIDENT IN – Next Tuesday’s AGM will bring the curtain down on my 3 years as President of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. It has been an absolute Honour and privilege to have seen how our athletes have developed and performed. But it’s not just our athletes and teams that make us the best overall club in the country, it’s all our Members, Supporters, Officials, Coaches and last but not least the Parents that make our club great. One of the numerous photograph taken at the awards presentation following the 2019 AGM, in which I presented MALACHI AMADI with his Under 15 track award.

Our new President for the next 3 years is GEOFF WILLIAMS, who like me lives in the West Country, Barnstable in Devon.

GEOFF and ELIZABETH moved to a rural village near Barnstaple in 2012.
GEOFF was Director pf Physical Education and Sport at Highgate School for over 30 years and following retirement from teaching was Copthall Stadium Manager for 5 years overseeing the refurbishment of the stadium in 2006/7. Though initially involved with Triathlon, ​GEOFF coached middle distance and endurance running at SBH from 1994-2012. Since moving to Devon he mentors endurance coaches and has focussed on officiating. He hopes to be a regular on the timekeepers’ stand or on photo finish at as many future SBH athletic meetings as possible.
He continues his active life long involvement with the English Schools Athletic Association initially as a Middlesex Schools’ representative, latterly for Devon Schools’ and many times as one of the England Team Managers. Currently he is responsible for organisation of the ESAA Cross Country Cup competitions.
His son RICHARD has been a member of Shaftesbury since 1991, won the ESAA Senior Boys Cross Country title in 2000, represented GB U20s in the Steeplechase, was a full Wales International Cross Country, a Metropolitan League regular and a member of numerous SBH road relay teams. RICHARD’S wife SARAH also joined Shaftesbury in 2009, and ran mainly on the road, since 2015 concentrating on Parkruns, mainly at Panshanger. Her personal bests are – Marathon (2:50.51) London 2014, Half Marathon (79.33) Reading 2014 and Parkrun (18.23) Barnstaple 2014.

In my first year as President, 2017/2018 started with the Cross Country season, in which our successes were numerous. This included the National Relays, where our Senior Men’s team of JACK CRABTREE, BRADLEY GOATER, RICHARD HORTON and PHILLIP CROUT won the Bronze Medal. The Southern Championships saw JEREMY DEMPSEY win the Under 20 Silver Medal, and with GEORGE GROOM, THOMAS BUTLER and OLIVER GREENSTEIN won the team Silver Medals. Finally, at the National Championships DAVID STONE had a runaway win, winning the Under 17 title.

The Indoor season was equally successful, firstly in the various Southern Championships our Young athlete winners were REMI JOKOSENUMI U15, GILAD NACHSHEN U15, EVELYNE FONTAINE U15, JAZZ SEARS U17, JOHN OTUGADE U20 and PHOENIX LYON U20 and Senior Winners were JADE IVE and ANGELA BARRETT. In the various National Championships, our Young athlete winners were REMI JOKOSENUMI U15, HANNAH FOSTER U17, JAZZ SEARS U17, DOMINIC ASHWELL U20 and CHARLIE DOBSON U20 and Senior Winners were ANTONIO INFANTINO, LEWIS MCGUIRE and SCOTT LINCOLN. In the World Championships, we were represented by JAMAL RHODEN-STEVENS and SEB RODGER. There were Indoor Club Records from HANNAH FOSTER U17, KARA ONUIRI U17 and JAZZ SEARS U17.

The Outdoor season started with the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia. I went to the games which was an experience I will never forget, and prior to the games I spent a few days with DAVE and NATALIE SWEENEY who live some 4 hours from the games on the Gold Coast. We had 11 athletes – CHRIS BENNETT, DAN BRAMBLE, SAM DAWKINS, ZANE DUQUEMIN, NATHAN FOX, ZHARNEL HUGHES, JADE LALLY, KYLE LANGFORD, BETH POTTER, ALLAN SMITH and DAVID SMITH. ZHARNEL following his controversial disqualification in the 200 final, after being awarded the race following the photo finish result, won a Gold Medal with the England 4x100m relay team. KYLE also running for England had an outstanding championship, and in the final of the 800m he produced another fast finish, after being last entering the home straight he just run out of room, and with another 5m would have caught the winner.
In the various Southern Championships, our winners were NIAH AKINTOKUN U13, MALACHI AMADI U13, FREDDIE FORD U13, HANNAH FOSTER U17, JAZZ SEARS U17, DANIEL BAINBRIDGE U20, JOHN OTUGADE U20 and PHILLIPA LOWE SEN. In the various National Championships, our winners were REMI JOKOSENUMI U15, HANNAH FOSTER U17, KRISTIAN IMROTH U17, TAIT JONES U17, DANIEL BAINBRIDGE U20, ELLIE BAKER U23, GEORGE EVANS U23, JESSICA HUNTER U23, MARK PEARCE U23, PHILLIPA LOWE, JADE LALLY, SCOTT LINCOLN and HAYLEY MCLEAN.
There were Outdoor Club Records from THOMAS CADWALLADER U11, NIAH AKINTOKUN U13, MALACHI AMADI U13, REMI JOKOSENUMI U15. NICHOLAS SAVVA U15, HANNAH FOSTER U17, LUCY KOENIGSBERGER U17, CRISTINA POTTER U17, JAZZ SEARS U17 and ZHARNEL HUGHES. There were also 5 various Relay Records.
Our team performances were outstanding, firstly the Young Athletes after finishing 2nd in the 2017 Eastern Young Athletes League, went one better with an impressive win. The pressure was on the YAs, this being the inaugural year of the Middlesex Young Athletes League and ended up finishing in 2nd place. The UK Youth Development League for our U17/U20 athletes, turned out to be another battle with Blackheath Harriers, and we finished 2nd in both the League and Cup Final. In the British Athletics League our Senior Men finished 2nd to Birchfield Harriers, and our Women in the UK Women’s Athletic League finished in 5th place.

On a sad note BOB PARKER aged 87, passed away in January. BOB was an exceptional man who always on hand to give advice when asked, and as a talented coach who was behind the success achieved by former World Record Holder, DAVE BEDFORD and many other SBH members. He was Shaftesbury President from 1980 to 1982.

2018/2019 Cross Country season, which was cold and wet saw our successes continue. This included the Southern Relays. We had 2 team winners, the Under 20 team of BEN WINFIELD, THOMAS PATRICK and GEORGE GROOM and Under 17 team of LAURANCE EDWARDS, KRISTIAN IMROTH and JUDE MIRANDA. At the Southern Championships DAVID STONE won the Under 17 title. At the National Championships our Under 17 Men’s team of FINN HARVEY, DAVID STONE and KRISTIAN IMROTH took the Bronze Medals, and the Under 17 Women’s team of FREYA STAPLETON, LIA RADUS and MIA GROOM also took the Bronze Medals. There were Individual Bronze Medals from HENRY MCLUCKIE U17 and JEREMY DEMPSEY U20.

The Indoor season was equally successful, firstly in the various Southern Championships our winners were AKIN COWARD, PAGE FAIRCLOUGH U23 and NATHAN FOX. In the various National Championships our winners were DOMINIC ASHWELL U23, SCOTT LINCOLN, LEWIS MCGUIRE U23, CLAIRE SPURWAY V40 and LISA WEBB V50. CLAIRE SPURWAY V40 also won Gold at the World Masters Championships. There were Indoor Club Records from AMELIA DALEY U17, EVELYNE FONTEYNE U17, SCARLETT KENT U20, JESSICA HUNTER U23 and COLETTE HURLEY V55-59.

The Outdoor season included the World Championships, in which OJIE EDOBURIN, ZHARNEL HUGHES, KYLE LANGFORD, LIZZIE BIRD and ANTONIO INFANTINO competed. ZHARNEL HUGHES won a Gold Medal with the GB&NI 4x100m relay team. In the various Southern Championships, our winners were KACEY WALTERS U15, AMELIA DALEY U17, KIMANI JACK U17, MARLI JESSOP U17, MUKHTAR MUSA U17, KARA ONUIRI U20, EMMA ANDERSSON, AKIN COWARD, NICK PERCY, NENE HARRISON V35. In the various National Championships, our winners were LIAM GARRETT U20, KRISTIAN IMROTH U20, DOMINIC ASHWELL U23, LILY BECKFORD U23, ETHAN WALSH U23, KRISHAWN AIKEN, CHRIS BENNETT, DAN BRAMBLE, OJIE EDOBURIN, NATHAN FOX, SCOTT LINCOLN, ALLAN SMITH and NENE HARRISON V35. EDWIN YAMOAH won 2 Gold Medals at the World Transplant Games and RALPH WILLIAMS U18 Gold at World Student Games.
There were Outdoor Club Records from NIAH AKINTOKUN U15, SOPHIE FORBES-LAIRD U15, ALINA COFIE U15. KACEY WALTERS U15, EMILY HATHAWAY U17, LUCY WOODWARD U17, LIZZIE BIRD, ZHARNEL HUGHES, KYLE LANGFORD and GREGORY THOMPSON. There were also 5 various Relay Records.

At the Southern Road Relays our U17 Women’s team of FREYA STAPLETON, EMILY HATHAWAY and JOANNE MIRANDA won the Silver Medals. At the National Road Relays our U17 Women’s team of LIA RADUS, FREYA STAPLETON and GRACE INGLES won the Bronze Medals, and our U17 Men’s team of FINN HARVEY, DAVID STONE and KRISTIAN IMROTH won the Bronze Medals

Our team performances were outstanding, firstly the Young Athletes finished 3rd in the Eastern Young Athletes League, and 2nd in the Top 6 Final. The UK Youth Development League for our U17/U20 athletes, turned out to be another battle with Blackheath Harriers, and we finished 2nd in both the League and National Final. In the British Athletics League our Senior Men finished 3rd, and our Women in the UK Women’s Athletic League finished in 4th place.

Congratulations to LEE MCCONNELL who was inducted into the Scottish Athletics Hall of Fame, and ZHARNEL HUGHES who was named as the male athlete of 2018 at the British Athletics Writers Association Awards.

2019/2020 – What a strange and difficult year! With Covid-19 taking hold in March. Our athletes achievements up to this point were outstanding. However, perhaps the biggest success for the club has been achieved through our officials. Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers hosted a ThrowsFest on 11 July at Barnet Copthall Stadium following the first lockdown; the first licensed athletics fixture in the UK. We had over 1600 participants at our 7 licensed meetings.

Cross Country was not affected, and our successes started at the Southern Relays we had a Gold Medal Under 17 team of JOANNE MIRANDA, EMILY HATHAWAY and MAAYAN RADUS and our Under 13 team of ZICO JONES, THOMAS CADWALLADER and GIANLEO STUBBS took the Silver Medals. At the National Relays our Under 20 mens team won the Gold Medals THOMAS PATRICK, JEREMY DEMPSEY and HENRY MCLUCKIE, there were Silver Medals from both our Under 17 girls team of FREYA STAPLETON, EMILY HATHAWAY and JOANNE MIRANDA and our Under 13 boys team of GIANLEO STUBBS, ZICO JONES and THOMAS CADWALLADER. In the English National, what an outstanding performance from our Under 20 mens team winning the Gold Medals JEREMY DEMPSEY, THOMAS PATRICK, KRISTIAN IMROTH and NATHAN GODDARD, with our Under 17 womens team of FREYA STAPLETON, APRIL HILL, JOANNE MIRANDA and EMILY HATHAWAY taking the Bronze Medals. Individually GIANLEO STUBBS U13 won the Silver Medal, JEREMY DEMPSEY U20 4th and FREYA STAPLETON U17 6th.

The Indoor season was equally successful, firstly in the various Southern Championships our winners were NIA AKINTOKUN U15, MALACHI AMADI U15, NATALIA IVANOV U15, ZICO JONES U15, MARIO DOBRESCU U17, EMMANUEL DURUIHEOMA U17, KACEY WALTERS U17, BRAD DAVIES-PUGHE U20, KARA ONUIRI U20, JAZZ SEARS U20, REBECCA JEGGO U23, ANGELA BARRETT, COLUMBA BLANGO, DANIEL LEWIS and HAYLEY MCLEAN. JAMI SCHLUETER U20 won the Welsh Championships. In the various National Championships our winners were NIA AKINTOKUN U15, EMMANUEL DURUIHEOMA U17, DAN BRAMBLE, SCOTT LINCOLN, LEWIS MCGUIRE U23, ROBERT SHIPLEY, NENE HARRISON V35 and LISA WEBB V50. There were Indoor Club Records from NIA AKINTOKUN U15, NATALIA IVANOV U15, MANON BAINES U17, EMMANUEL DURUIHEOMA U17, KACEY WALERS U17 and ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V55.

The Outdoor season due to the Covid pandemic lockdown prevented athletics training and did not allow any scope for competition. Training was permitted in June and arrangements for events were published and updated. The efforts of our coaches and athletes to keep the sport going demanded our best efforts to organise competitions even in the very disturbing times. With the limited opportunities, the outstanding performance was the new Club Record of (1:44.83) in the Senior men’s 800m by KYLE LANGFORD for 5th place in the National rankings. HENRY MCLUCKIE set a new Junior men’s 1500m Club Record of (3:42.16) for top spot in the National outdoor rankings. At the LICC meeting on 1 August, MARIO DOBRESCU set a new Youths 400m Club Record of (48.17) for top spot in the National outdoor rankings. In the British Championships we had 2 National Champions SCOTT LINCOLN and NICK PERCY.

Congratulations to CLYDE GORDON who at the England Athletics London Awards evening, received his well-earned Volunteer of the Year award. In a tight run vote GEOFF MORPHITIS was runner-up to ANNE RODEN in the Services to Athletics category.

Attached are the 2018, 2019 and 2020 SBH Annual Reports, which gives details of Shaftesbury’s success throughout those years – SBH Annual report 2017-18 Rev B (1) – SBH Annual Report 2018-2019 Final Issue  – 
Also attached are the 2018 and 2019 Best Performance Awards –SBH Best Performance Awards 2018 Final Revision A– SBH Best Performance Awards 2019 Updated 06-11-19

MILAN TRAJCOVIC SECURES A PLACE ON THE YOUTH TALENT PROGRAMME – Congratulations, we are delighted to be able to offer MILAN a place on the 2020-22 Youth Talent Programme (YTP). There has once again been a lot of interest and applications for the programme and the level of athletes on the programme is very high. Your selection is testament to the great work you are both clearly doing and the relationship you have built with JOHN WAUGH as an athlete-coach pair
The YTP is the first step on the England Talent pathway designed to add value to the athlete and coach plan and help understand self, developing a broad range of skills, abilities and behaviours needed for senior success.
We hope you are all looking forward to an exciting, eventful and successful season and look forward to helping you achieve this qualification.
Many thanks, DON WAGNER Performance Pathway Manager, British Athletics.

MILAN joined us in March 2019, and was an ever present in our EYAL and UK YAL teams, and produced a personal best of (55.44m) in the Javelin. In 2020 he extended his personal best to (56.09m) which ranked him UK No.9 U17.

ATW CROSS COUNTRY SERIES NEXT RACE – The second race will take place Merchant Taylor’s School, Sandy Lodge, Northwood HA6 2HT on Saturday 19 December.
Timetable – 2K Under 11 start – 12:00 pm, 3K Under 13 start – 12:30 pm, 4K Under 15 start – 1:10 pm, 5K Under 17 start – 1:50 pm, 8K Senior/U20 start – 3:00 pm.
Here is the link which went live last Tuesday – https://activetrainingworld.co.uk/project/atw-cross-country-series-round-2-19th-december-2020/
The third race is on Sunday 10 January and the link for that should come out in mid December.

THE MAKING OF ‘CHARIOTS OF FIRE’ PART 2 OF 4 – Many thanks to TOM MCNAB for another excellent article, part 2 describes his experience in moulding the actors into athletes, and the hurdles (pardon the pun) that TOM faced.

Thus, it was that in mid-November 1979 that I began to prepare my motley crew of apprehensive actors for what was soon to become “CHARIOTS OF FIRE”. I use the word “apprehensive” advisedly, because in discussion, though none expressed any doubt about his capacity as an actor, not one had expressed any confidence in his athletic ability. But first, first we had still had to find an actor to play my fictitious hurdler, LORD LINSEY. PUTTMAN and HUDSON now brought to my St. Albans track a fine young Scots actor, who shall be nameless, for reasons that you will soon appreciate. At first, all went well, with his running as just as good as the others had been back at Putney. True, he had no background in athletics but then neither had any my other future Olympians.  But soon the moment of truth eventually arrived when I had to present my Scot with the clearance of a hurdle. I put the barrier down to its lowest point, at about thirty centimeters. But on being confronted with it, my doughty Scot visibly paled and refused to make any attempt to clear it. This was perhaps not surprisingly, for it probably represented for him a personal best in high jump. He was immediately placed by PUTTMAN on the next taxi to Heathrow Airport, and we all returned to my house. There, DAVID PUTTMAN confessed to me that he had known that the Scot had been known to be partial to a wee dram. I saw no purpose in discussing the extent of his alcoholic habits, but we still had to find ourselves a LORD LINSEY.

But now another problem arose, a few weeks before I was to set off to the Lake Placid Winter Olympics as coach to our national bobsleigh team. My actors had assembled at my house and we were discussing their training for the two weeks that I was away. Then IAN CHARLESON spoke. “TOM, “he said. “We have been training for over a month, but so far Enigma have paid us absolutely nothing. “ “So what can I do?” “Could you ask them to help us out while you are at the Olympics?” “Well, I’ll give it a try, “I said. “How much would you want? “IAN’S response was immediate. “Fifty pounds a week. “I immediately went into my office to call Enigma, and was greeted by an assistant producer, JAMES CRAWFORD. His response was immediate. “Impossible, “he said “Impossible. None of them are on contract yet, and if we paid them it would represent acceptance that they were on contract. So, if we changed our minds about casting they would have us by the balls. “ Thus, I went off to Lake Placid, knowing that none of my men would train on Thursday mornings, because that was when they would report at their Employment Exchanges for their dole. But when I returned, I suddenly found my LORD LINSEY, in the form of NIGEL HAVERS. Fortunately, by this time we had moved indoors, because the manager of the St. Albans track had now, fearing for the surface of his cinder track in winter, banned us from using it. Thus, soon we had moved to a large indoor area, at Haringey, and NIGEL had proved to be an apt pupil. Up to that point, all of our training had been conducted in warm-up shoes, to avoid injury. But I had decided that the time had now surely come to move on to wearing sprint-spikes, and had ordered a pair for each of my actors. That eventful Haringey day in March 1979, we had just completed what had been an excellent session, and I intimated to the squad that their sprint-spikes had arrived. There was something close to hysteria when I this was announced, because for them this would be the first time that they had ever worn spikes,

I first sternly warned them that on no account should they now immediately try to run in their new shoes, for the session was over, and I turned to take care of my three-year old daughter KATE. But suddenly there was a scream from just behind me. It was Naughty NIGEL. For not only had he put on his spikes, but had even attempted to hurdle in them. And no, he had not hit the hurdle and fallen, no, NIGEL had not even reached it, he had simply tripped over his spikes, hit the ground hard and damaged his left wrist. But he was now clearly in considerable pain, and BEN CROSS immediately offered to drive him to the A and E at the nearby Middlesex Hospital. I agreed, and asked him to get back to me on NIGEL’S condition later that afternoon.  A few hours later, BEN reported that NIGEL was OK, he had simply tweaked his wrist, and would be fine for the next session, and I phoned NIGEL to confirm this. I heaved a sigh of relief, for NIGEL was a lovely guy, and had taken to hurdling really well. But what I was to discover several years later was that had actually broken his wrist. And that neither of them had probably got within a mile of the Middlesex Hospital, who would have immediately encased NIGEL in plaster, putting him out of the 1924 Olympic Games. No Naughty NIGEL had simply bought himself a thick, wide leather strap and tightly bound it around his left wrist. A few years back, after a BBC interview with him, he showed me that wrist, and it was like something out of a Hammer movie. So please let us hear no more about wimpy actors.

In the meantime, there had been a glitch with the script. Because COLIN WELLAND had now become enthralled with my tales of the Powderhall Professional Sprint Handicap, and wanted Liddell to run in it. But I pointed out to him that LIDDELL would have immediately lost his amateur status, so that was impossible. Instead, I suggested, why not introduce us to our hero in something uniquely Scottish, like a Highland Games? Great, said COLIN, and immediately included a Highland Games sequence. But where, asked DAVID PUTTNAM, could we film this, and what would it look like? I immediately sketched out, in my schoolboy scrawl, encompassing two mountains, a stream, a farmer’s field, dancing platforms and a couple of tents, a grazing cow, a typical Games scenario. And when PUTTNAM had asked me where he would be able to locate such a Brigadoon fantasy, I directed him up to the far North, where an aristocrat-member of my bobsleigh team said that he owned such a site. Thus, it was that DAVID PUTTNAM made his way north into the depths of the Highlands, with WELLAND and HUDSON at his side, in his battered Volkswagen, only to find that the promised site was nothing like my exquisite drawing. Disappointed, desolate, the three men chugged slowly south, through the Highlands. Then suddenly COLIN WELLAND wound down the car-window and whooped triumphantly. “There it is!  There it is! Over there! Just like TOM said! “And indeed, there it was, just as I had predicted. The two mountains, the winding stream, the grassy Games field, waiting for the dance-platforms, the tents, the cabers, the expectant crowds, even the cow. And it was there that we were to film our Highland Games. But now filming began, in early April, not in Scotland, but at the Eton track near Windsor, which stood in for the Cambridge University facility. This was because the Cambridge University authorities, having read the script, felt that it portrayed their university as anti-semitic, and refused to permit filming there. Thus, Windsor was to stand in for not only Cambridge but also, in later filming, as the track on which the American team would prepare prior to the Paris Olympics. The sequence featuring the American athletes (which actually took place in May AFTER the filming of the Olympic Games) had to be carefully choreographed to ensure that the exercises shown were representative of their period. In stark contrast, the Windsor exercises which we filmed featuring MUSSABINI and ABRAHAMS bore no relationship to those deployed in a Pathe film made in 1923. These drills showed ABRAHAMS deploying a ludicrous cross-arm sprint action, and running at top speed with an equally ridiculous forward lean. Looking back, as a coach, it seems odd that neither MUSSABINI or ABRAHAMS, in any of their writings, comment that ABRAHAMS always ran with a conventional arm-action, and normal vertical body-position at full-speed.  It is therefore difficult, from this distance to see what advantage HAROLD ABRAHAMS drew from MUSSABINI’S advice. Things were going swimmingly in those early April days at Eton, at least till the point where I had BEN Cross dig starting-holes for the first time. For suddenly, the shadow of HUGH HUDSON appeared over us. “You can’t do that here, “he said. I looked up. “Why on earth not?”  “Because… because this, this is ETON!” he spluttered. “I replied. “Keep digging, BEN. “

Then came the famous race round the Trinity college quad, which would now have to take place at Eton, over about a third of the Trinity distance. This was another WELLAND fiction, because ABRAHAMS had never actually made that run of 370 yards within the twelve chimes of the Trinity clock. No, it had been the four hundred metre hurdler LORD BURLEIGH, by himself, later, in 1927, and he had done it on his own. But the main problem would be that our Eton run would be over much less than half that distance, on concrete and with very tight turns, a test that no athlete in his right mind would have attempted.  Fortunately, HAVERS and CROSS survived unscathed, because an injury at that early point might well have stopped “CHARIOTS” in its tracks, even though I had by that time recruited the services of DAVID ALLEN, an excellent Scottish physiotherapist, who proved to be vital to the film’s success.

UPDATE ON SBH FIXTURE CARD – Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed, This update shows the status of all cross country fixtures as of the 10 November 2020 – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 10-11-20

NOVEMBER 2020 RACES – Currently there are minimal results on the Power of 10, if anyone competes especially virtually please let me know.

SOUTH OF ENGLAND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 2020/2021 CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE – SEAA were hopeful of staging some Cross Country and Indoor Track & Field events during this coming winter, even though it looked as if we should only be able to cater for the younger age groups.  However, the news that the Country is to go into Lockdown from this Thursday does throw these aspirations into doubt. If Government guidelines after the lockdown permit, we hope to put in place the following events.
Cross Country – Cross Country Relays, London Championships, Master & Inter Counties Championships have been postponed until the New Year.  The Association hopes that it will be possible to stage some Cross Country events in February/March 2021. 
Road Relays – At present the date for the 12/6 Stage and 5K Road Relays remains the same; Sunday 28 March 2021. 
Track & Field – It is hoped that some Indoor Covid Games can take place dates scheduled for these events are 16/17 January & 6/7 February next year.  Due to the restrictions on numbers we may have to use more than one venue.
As we enter another lockdown, we just want to reassure our athletes and officials that we shall do our utmost to stage some competition (In line with England Athletics guidance).  We shall review the situation and publish any further news as soon as we can. In the meantime, we do hope everyone stays safe and well JOHN GANDEE SEAA Competition Chairman.

CAN YOU HELP PLEASE – During the period when all competitions are suspended, I will do my upmost in keeping the Newsletter information and other content going.
I would welcome any contributions From Yourselves, any impending marriages, or additions to the family, any running or competing incidents, also past warm weather training/holidays (No Club 24 please). Currently the response has been excellent, but if you have anything that could make it into next week’s Newsletter – please email me.

PROCEDURES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) FROM JEREMY SOTHCOTT – Due to the new Covid-19 Lockdown regulations Barnet Copthall is closed, and will re-open on  Thursday 2 December. Coaches will be in touch with their athletes through WhatsApp groups. Further updates from JEREMY SOTHCOTT will appear in future newsletters.

THE FOLLOWING SBH DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION CAN EITHER BE VIEWED, DOWNLOADED OR PRINTED 
SBH 2020-2021 Winter Fixture Card updated  10-11-20, Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed. An update on 2021 Fixtures will be published in early December 2020 – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 10-11-20
Cross Country Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/cross-country/team-managers/
Road Running/Relay Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/road-running/team-managers/

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH HOME PAGE BY USING THIS LINK, THEN SELECT THE LEFT OR RIGHT ARROW – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Barnet Copthall Stadium (Fomerly Allianz Park) Membership, which gives SBH members 10% discount on entry to the Barnet Copthall stadium – Membership details and Form can be either printed or downloaded
Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Club Hoody, information on how to purchase one, please go to the bottom of this Newsletter

SBH MIDWEEK JUMPS CLUB AT BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently Suspended. From 2 December please contact CLYDE GORDON on 07753 985525/clyde67@hotmail.co.uk for further information on High Jump and Pole Vault days and times.

STEEPLECHASE TRAINING AT BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK)  – Currently Suspended.

PARKRUN 5K RESULTS – Currently Suspended

PARKRUN – Can you make sure that you are registered as ‘Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers’, as the link I use to select all results only shows SBH athletes. If anyone is also officiating can you please contact me, and advise me where and when.

PHOTOGRAPH’S – From time to time we have photographs of our members taken at meetings or presentations which we would like to use both on the website or incorporated within our report to our local newspaper. Can you please let me know if you do NOT want your photograph to be used. Also, I would appreciate if you could send me any photographs, which I can then publish on the website and newsletter.

CLUB EMBROIDERED RED HOODIES – Currently there are now over 750 Hoodies in circulation, this is the link giving details on how you can order your Club Hoody for £35, which includes having your name embroidered on the front Club Hoodies Updated 01-07-19

FACEBOOK – Photographs can be found on the SBH page.

CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF SHAFTESBURY INFORMATION – Currently I notify members (by email) using “MailChimp”. The reason I changed, was in November 2017 “Gmail” put a limit of 100 addresses that users could send to in a 24-hour period, and currently I send to approximately 850 members each issue.

On seeking technical advice “MailChimp” was recommended as the best way for SBH to go forward. There is one thing you should be aware off is that when you receive an email from me, the footer at the bottom has 4 options, of which one is “Unsubscribe Me From List”. Could I ask you not to select this as if you do you will be automatically removed from my distribution list.

SBH PRIVACY STATEMENT – In becoming a member, SBH will collect certain information about you. Can you please read the attached ‘Privacy Statement’ which contains Information on General Data Protection Regulations – SBH Privacy Statement Final April 2018

BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Main Switchboard telephone number is 0203 675 7250.

CHARGES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently the stadium is closed until the 2 December.

ALAN WELLER

Happy Birthday from this Thursday 12 November to Moyo Adekeye, Andoni Amphlett, Ogochukwu Anochirionye, Alica Battistini, Nathan Davies, Kierra Grant, Samuel Greenstein, Sam Griffiths, Eliana Hanstatter, Mia Higson, Ellie Hopping, Michael Kobeh, Alvin Leong, Nnamdi Ndukwe, Andrew Nicolaou, Ebuka Nwokeji, Robyn Palmer, Noa Renton, Kenny Roberts, Max Robinson, Nathaniel Senior and Anthony Whiteman

RECENT NEW MEMBER – We wish you a very warm welcome, and a happy, healthy and successful time with Shaftesbury to GRACIE ROSENBLATT

NEELAM KADERBHOY – Thank you all for your kind words and support this week.Neelam continues to be looked after in the Peace Hospice and is receiving excellent care. The staff there are 1st class, food is great, and the rest and recuperation is doing her the world of good.
This week, we received the full set of biopsy results. As a result, Neelam has started a course of treatment this week aimed at improving her quality of life over the coming weeks. We have follow ups scheduled with the medical experts to review progress.
Neelam continues to enjoy reading your lovely messages. It’s wonderful that she has so many loving friends and family who message her and show her the love and support she needs. The food packages also go down a treat. Rum chocolates and turtles are particular favourites.
Many of you have asked about visiting Neelam. Whilst she would love to see you all, with Covid-19 and an imminent return to lockdown the Hospice have to manage visitors very carefully to ensure patient and staff safety.
If you have any further questions, please let me know.  It has been and continues to be a stressful and extremely time for us all, especially my dad and we appreciate all the love and support we have received.
Finally, thank the Club for the lovely bouquet of flowers recently received which have pride of place in Neelam’s room. Please keep showing the love to Neelam, and I’ll do my best to keep you updated on Neelam’s progress over the coming weeks – IMTIAZ
NEELAM’S number on WhatsApp is 07791 512383.

JOANNE MIRANDA AND GILAD NACHSHEN SECURE A PLACE ON THE YOUTH TALENT PROGRAMME – Congratulations, we are delighted to be able to offer JOANNE and GILAD a place on the 2020-22 Youth Talent Programme (YTP). There has once again been a lot of interest and applications for the programme and the level of athletes on the programme is very high. Your selection is testament to the great work you are both clearly doing and the relationship you have built with JEREMY SOTHCOTT as an athlete-coach pair
The YTP is the first step on the England Talent pathway designed to add value to the athlete and coach plan and help understand self, developing a broad range of skills, abilities and behaviours needed for senior success.
We hope you are all looking forward to an exciting, eventful and successful season and look forward to helping you achieve this qualification.
Many thanks, DON WAGNER Performance Pathway Manager, British Athletics.

JOANNE joined us in May 2018 and has been and has been one of the leading lights in our Under 15 and now Under 17 team. In the 2019-2020 cross country season JOANNE won the Under 17 points title and competed in all 5 Metropolitan League, Southern and National fixtures. The same applied in the Track & Field season competing in all the UK YAL fixtures and the EYAL league. Her personal best for the 800m is (2:15.61) in the recent LICC fixture.

GILAD joined us in September 2014 concentrating on his main event the 800m, and up to the end of 2017 was an ever present in the Eastern Young Athletes League. 2018 saw his development blossom, winning the Southern Indoor 800m Under 15 title, and setting a personal best (1:59.10) ranking him UK No.1 U15 in 2018.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS 130TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020 – Is to be held on Tuesday 24 November at 7.30pm, to be held Virtually (Zoom). Full details on how to access Zoom, plus other documents, will be issued w/c 16 November via email and the SBH weekly newsletter.

This is the link to the 2020 AGM Agenda – SBH AGM Agenda 2020 Final also the 2019 AGM minutes – SBH AGM Minutes 2019
This year’s Track & Field Best Performance Awards have been cancelled. Although at the recent SBH Council Meeting is was discussed and agreed that certain awards will be given. These awards will be for an athlete that achieved a club Record or an Outstanding Parformance. The 2019-2020 Cross Country Points and Club Championships Winners Awards will be presented to the winners by our various Coaches.

SBH SUBSCRIPTIONS 2020-2021 – SBH Treasurer GEOFF MORPHITIS has sent me the following regarding subscriptions.
Dear Member – I hope you’re fit and well during these difficult times. The Club has continued to function providing Covid-19 secure coaching at Barnet Copthall (formerly Allianz Park) on a limited basis from mid-June. We also promoted 7 Track & Field competitions during the period July to September. Six of these were LICC meetings at Lee Valley.
We’re working on the promotion of a number of Cross Country races at Barnet Copthall during the period December through to March in compliance with the England Athletics and Government guidelines applicable at the time.
The Club AGM will take place virtually at 19.30 on Tuesday 24 November (full login details will be distributed shortly). One of the resolutions on the order paper will deal with Club Subscriptions. Following the recent decision of the SBH Council, the proposal is as follows; “The Annual Membership Fee for new members from 1 December 2020 will increase to £50. Existing members who have paid their membership fee for year ended 30 September 2020 will be considered as having also paid their fee for the year ended 30 September 2021. In other words, in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19, these members will have 2 years membership for the price of one.” Therefore, I’m now asking athletes who have not paid their subscription for the year ended 30/09/20 (£45) to pay, so as to qualify for the 2 for 1 concession together with the England Athletics Registration Fee of £15 for 2020/21. The total is £60 and should be paid NOW to;
ACCOUNT NAME : SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS, BANK : HSBC, ACCOUNT NUMBER : 41308378, SORT CODE : 400426 – Please let me know when you make the payment. Thanks GEOFF

ATW CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – The first in the three race series took place at Merchant Taylor’s School in Watford on Saturday 31 October.
Under 13 Boys/Girls – EUAN PHILLIPS 28th (13.06 22nd Boy), CHARLIE CUTLER 62nd (14.13 37th Boy)

ATW CROSS COUNTRY SERIES NEXT RACE – The second race will take place Merchant Taylor’s School, Sandy Lodge, Northwood HA6 2HT on Saturday 19 December.
Timetable – 2K Under 11 start – 12:00 pm, 3K Under 13 start – 12:30 pm, 4K Under 15 start – 1:10 pm, 5K Under 17 start – 1:50 pm, 8K Senior/U20 start – 3:00 pm.
Here is the link which went live last Tuesday – https://activetrainingworld.co.uk/project/atw-cross-country-series-round-2-19th-december-2020/
The third race is on Sunday 10 January and the link for that should come out in mid December.

UPDATE ON SBH FIXTURE CARD – Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed, This update shows the status of all cross country fixtures as of the 10 November 2020 – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 10-11-20

NOVEMBER 2020 RACES – Currently there are minimal results on the Power of 10, if anyone competes especially virtually please let me know.

HERTFORDSHIRE AND MIDDLESEX CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021 – It comes as know surprise that both of these championships have been Cancelled.

MY SITUATION IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE – MARILYN OKORO ON THE STRUGGLE BEHIND THE MEDALS – The following was published on the athletics Weekly website recently.

Before you read the article, these are the highlights of an outstanding career. MARILYN joined Shaftesbury in 2000 and currently holds the Senior Women’s 800m Club Records – Outdoors (1:58.45) when winning the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on the 26 July 2008 and Indoors (1:59.27) also when winning the London Grand Prix at Birmingham on the 21 February 2009.

Domestic Championships Record
2003 – AAA Junior Championships 400m gold
2004 – AAA U23 Championships 400m gold
2005 – BUSA Indoor Championships 400m gold. BUSA Championships 800m gold. AAA U23 Championships 800m gold
2006 – AAA U23 Championships 400m gold
2007 – Norwich Union European Indoor Champs Trials 800m gold. Norwich Union World Trials 800m silver
2008 – Norwich Union World Indoor Champs Trials 800m, silver. Olympic Trials 800m gold
2009 – Aviva UK Indoor Championships 400m silver. Aviva World Championships Trials 800m bronze
2010 – Aviva European Championships Trials & UK Championships 800m bronze
2011 – Aviva World Trials 800m bronze. Aviva European Indoor Trials 800m gold
2012 – Aviva European Indoor Trials & UK Championships 800m gold
Major Championships and International Record
2012 – IAAF World Indoor Championships 800m 4th ht
2011 – IAAF World Championships 800m 7th sf. European Indoor Championships 800m 5th
2010 – European Championships 800m 4th h, (4x400m) silver
2009 – World Championships 800m 8th. European Indoor Championships 800m 5th, (4x400m silver)
2008 – Olympic Games 800m 6th sf, (4x400m Bronze). World Athletics Final 800m bronze
2007 – World Championships 800m 4th sf, (4x400m bronze)
2006 – European Championships 400m 8th sf (4x400m 4th). Commonwealth Games 800m 7th
2005 – European U23 Championships 800m 4th, (4x400m silver), World University Games 800m bronze, (4x400m 4th)
2007 – 4th European Indoor Championships 800m, 3rd World Athletics Final 800m

The Olympic, World and European medallist opens up on the athletics-life balance and how she is supporting other athletes who may be finding things hard. MARILYN says her own experiences in the sport have led her to create support groups for athletes in areas such as sponsorship and transition, to help them avoid the same “impossible” situation in which she currently finds herself. The Olympic, World and European medallist had been hoping to target the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games but is simply too tired to train to the required intensity, exhausted from trying to balance her job and life with athletics. She is now working with Brand You:Sport, which specialises in elite sport career transition, and has launched a crisis fund ‘Athlete Fundamentals’, which aims to support athletes with living and training costs. “My situation now is actually impossible,” explains 800m specialist OKORO, who has claimed multiple major medals as part of the British 4x400m squad. “Half of it is deciding ‘do I walk away now and throw myself into not feeling this anxiety every day or can I push through this?’ And what I am learning, hopefully there will be a framework for all the other athletes that are feeling the same. “People aren’t aware, they just assume,” adds the 36-year-old, who now works in crisis management. “At work all the time people are like ‘oh my god, you’re an Olympic bronze medallist, what are you doing here?’ “I do love the work I do, but I’m in two minds because I really, really want to be training and preparing – I’ve been given this amazing opportunity, when is an Olympics postponed? And also I wanted to retire on my terms but it’s looking like… my body is exhausted because it’s unrealistic to work a 12-hour shift and then expect to have the same intensity and then obviously life is uncertain at the moment.” “I do love the work I do, but I’m in two minds because I really, really want to be training and preparing” Reflecting on her own journey, having been self-funded since 2012, MARILYN adds: “Probably a lot of it stems from 2012 – that was my first real traumatic year in sport. “That was the year of the controversial non-selection [for the London Olympics]. It was a really difficult year, being introduced to the politics of sport. As an athlete, you just beat yourself up. How it was handled and the structure of it all was really difficult to process and understand. Subsequently, I lost my funding. There was so much hanging on that and I think that has affected me a lot more than I  ealised. “I think some of the things that hurt me now is that when I look back on my career, I have achieved so much and I’m so thankful for what sport has given me, but I wasn’t always present, I wasn’t always enjoying it,” she continues. “It was always so pressurised that it was ‘life or death’ and that’s not how it should be. “Winning and losing is all part of the sport and it’s how you respond to it, but for me it was only ‘I had to win’ but that pressure wasn’t from myself, it was from external factors. “I think there’s always a purpose for any pain or adversity you go through. I see an amazing crop of athletes coming through and you can put yourself in their shoes and I don’t want any athlete to ever go through what I have been through the last seven years because it’s unnecessary. “I think a lot more focus should have been on competing and racing rather than a lot of the stresses that could have been avoided with better planning and support.” “I think there’s always a purpose for any pain or adversity you go through … I don’t want any athlete to ever go through what I have been through the last seven years because it’s unnecessary” And that is what OKORO hopes to help change.

On the transition after an elite sports career, she says: “I’m doing research at the moment and setting up some focus groups, because I think there are a lot of companies that are trying to support athletes, rightly so, but I find they just think ‘okay the next thing you need is just a job’, which for a lot, yes, maybe jumping into that next career is what they are ready to do, but a lot of athletes aren’t. “I think transition preparation should start a lot earlier. At the moment I’m trying to see what athletes actually need and obviously no two athletes are the same. I think essentially it is that time where nothing is going to fill 10, 15, in my case 20, years of what you’ve been doing – such highs and such lows. “I think it is about working really intrinsically, it’s very 360, looking at the athlete as a whole. There’s a very holistic element, so it’s not about just networking and throwing them in a room with all these different CEOs and managers because even that culture is something that we are not really used to. “I have learned a lot applying for jobs lately and my CV has completely transformed because the things that I know and I am so proud of, those are the things you chuck at the top and actually looking at the roles I have been applying for, it’s like ‘okay, that is actually going to have to go right to the bottom’. So basic things like that, learning how to structure your covering letter, practical things and just life skills as well. “I think one of the things that you’re not taught as an athlete is budgeting,” she adds. “Especially when you’re getting such unstable and uncertain income, it’s a huge thing. For me, a lot of my mental health has been triggered by instability and insecurity financially and not being financially astute. I think what the main frustration is that so many athletes are going through the same thing and nothing is really being done about it. “At the moment I’m doing a lot of networking. Brand You:Sport we want to get off the ground and perhaps talk to brands and see how they can get involved as well in helping these athletes. “A lot of them won’t be retiring any time soon but it’s about preparing for that day, when they choose to, and a lot more athletes being able to retire on their terms, not just when their body gives up or when they run out of funds.”

THE MAKING OF ‘CHARIOTS OF FIRE’ PART 1 OF 4 – Many thanks to TOM MCNAB for another excellent article, describing his experience in the making of the film.

From memory, it was in late 1978 or early 1979 that I first read in the Sunday Times that COLIN WELLAND was scripting a movie on HAROLD ABRAHAMS and ERIC LIDDELL, gold-medalists in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. It bore a less than inspiring title, and was called ”The Runners”. Don’t ask me how, but I somehow secured COLIN’S address, wrote to him offering my help, and within a week he was sitting opposite me in my living room. It immediately became clear to me that COLIN WELLAND was a sports nutter. OK, perhaps not quite as nutty as me, not a fanatic who had devoted his life to sport, but a fellow- nutter nevertheless. Thus, we immediately got along together like a house on fire, and within a week I was appointed to the role of “script consultant”, at the prodigious sum of £500. COLIN was still in the early stages of his research on the film, which was the product of someone called DAVID PUTTNAM, at the head of a film-company called Enigma Productions. The central themes of the film would be the anti-semitism endured by ABRAHAMS at Cambridge University and LIDDELL’S, on religious grounds, to compete in the Sunday Final of the 100m. In the case of ABRAHAMS, I had the advantage of knowing him, as he had in effect been my previous employer, as a National Athletics Coach. ABRAHAMS, who had died a couple of years earlier, had been a member of a privileged Blazerati, a group who believed that they had been given by birth the Divine Right to rule British athletics. He was not therefore an immediately likeable character, and it would not be to be easy for COLIN to make him one. And, to my knowledge, ABRAHAMS being Jewish had not hindered him in reaching the ruling class of British athletics. ERIC LIDDELL, on the other hand, he had the advantage of being a Scot, he was a man of a totally different complexion. But I pointed out to COLIN that he had not refused to compete for in the 100m, simply because he had not been chosen by his country for that event in the first place. No, as far back as 1923 LIDDELL had known that the 100m final would be on a Sunday, and as a devout Christian, he did not wish to compete on the Lord’s Day. He had instead therefore chosen to go for the two longer sprints, the 200m and the 400m.

But I was to learn early in my role as script-consultant that in the area of biographic feature film, writers tend to be free in their attitude to literal truth. All that was going to matter was that the characters of the two men were accurately portrayed, within a plausible plot. And so I kept to myself my concerns about historical accuracy for the moment and let COLIN get on with his research. And get on with it he did, but he soon came up against his first problem, difficulties in securing the help of another medalist, DOUGLAS LOWE, who had achieved gold in the Paris 800m. COLIN never made clear to me what problems he was having with LOWE, but my reaction was immediate. And it was that we take him out of the plot. Because I felt that LOWE, being another gold-medalist, might well take attention away from our two principals, ABRAHAMS and LIDDELL. COLIN should therefore create a lighter, aristocratic contrast to our two principals, and I therefore suggested the fictitious LORD LINSEY. I chose the 400m hurdles as his event, not because it echoed LORD BURLEIGH’S later achievement in Amsterdam in 1928, but because I felt that it might be possible to train an actor in an event with modest technical demands. These were ones which could be made even more modest by taking the hurdle down by six inches. After all, no one in the audience could possibly notice. We were, by now, into mid-1979, and it was now time to meet PUTTNAM and the director HUGH HUDSON. HUDSON, an Old Etonian, seemed to me to have arrived from some distant planet. DAVID PUTTNAM, on the other hand, was quite different. Deriving from a more modest background, he made no similar display of effortless superiority, having navigated his way through the demanding world of commercial films. I was soon to find PUTTNAM to be a leader of quite a different calibre from those like HAROLD ABRAHAMS whom I had encountered in athletics.

We all came together for the first time at a Piccadilly club, and it was at this point that PUTTNAM asked if I might extend my role and act as a sort of Technical Director. This would mean choosing the actors for the physical roles, training them, then making certain that that the film’s athletics sequences looked real. For, although athletics would occupy less than a tenth of the running-time, it lay at the heart of the film. If, therefore, its portrayal failed to convince, then no one would have much interest in the other two hours. And so it was back to the script. I had been for weeks boring the pants off COLIN with my yarns about the famous New Year Powderhall professional sprint, and he now suggested that we have LIDDELL run in it. No, I replied, the issue of his amateur status would prevent that. But, I suggested, why not have us introduce LIDDELL in a Highland Games, deep in the heather and the hills? COLIN immediately agreed, and inserted a new scene, but more of that later. So now, now let’s move on to October 1979, and to a sodden cinder athletics track in Putney and thirty-one shivering actors, standing before me, awaiting my commands. Alas, there was a significant lack of muscle on display, for those were the days long before Health Clubs and rippling abdominals. It was therefore not perhaps a surprise that several of my prospective Olympians were sick during their warm- up. “Remember TOM,“ said DAVID PUTTNAM. “We’ll go by your choice. So just give us the ones that you think you can make into athletes.” Easier said than done, unless I had suddenly acquired the powers of a Gypsy Petulengro. Because it was impossible to predict how an actor’s muscles might respond to training in sprints and hurdles, with hamstrings ever-ready to twang and sensitive Achilles tendons begging to become inflamed. So this was surely going to be a shot in the dark. Nevertheless, after an hour and a half in the freezing cold, I had chosen two actors BEN CROSS and IAN CHARLESON for the main roles and another four for the supporting parts. DAVID PUTTNAM smiled. “Those were exactly the two men that we wanted, Tom, “he said. “I really don’t know how you did it.“ Neither did I. Thus, in November 1979, with six months to go to the 1924 Olympic Games, I set about training six actors who had never in their lives taken part in athletics, not only to compete, but to convince an audience that they were athletes. And to coach two of them to win Olympic gold medals. But more of that next week.

HOW THE LATEST LOCKDOWN AFFECT UK ATHLETICS – The following was published on the athletics Weekly website recently.

Track and field training this month will be challenging during English lockdown, whereas restrictions on what is allowed are varied and ever-changing across the UK. Athletics club activity has gone into limbo in England as the month-long lockdown begins. Group sessions and all competitions have been suspended but athletes are still able to train with one other person or enjoy one-to-one coaching in an outdoor public space if they maintain social distancing. Sports minister OLIVER DOWDEN has urged people to try to stay as fit and healthy as possible during a lockdown that is set to last until at least December 2, but what exactly can athletes and coaches do?

England Athletics say the following is allowed: – Training with your household or one other person in a public outdoor space. » One-to-one coaching in a public outdoor space following social distancing, although the governing body is still looking for clarity regarding under-18s and para-athletes. » Virtual training sessions delivered by qualified coaches and virtual competition.

What is not allowed: – Indoor and outdoor club group coaching activity. » Indoor or outdoor competitions. » Face-to-face coach and officials’ education.

Attempts by England Athletics together with British Cycling and British Triathlon to lobby the Government for exceptions to the lockdown rules failed this week. Many have argued that sport and fitness is vital for physical and mental wellbeing but the Government has refused to buckle and Dowden says: “As soon as we’re in a position to start lifting restrictions, grassroots sport will be one of the first to return.” In Scotland the situation is complicated by a five-tiered system of coronavirus restrictions. Outdoor competitions, for example, are still permitted in levels 0-3 but not in level 4. Indoor competition, meanwhile, is allowed in levels 0-2 for all age groups and in level 3 for under-17s, but not level 4. Training group sizes in Scotland are also limited with under-11s allowed a maximum number of 30 athletes, for example, in areas that are levels 0-3 whereas athletes over 12 can train in groups of up to 15 with a varying coach-athlete ratio numbers depending on the age of the athletes. In level 4 areas, under-11s can only train in groups of eight and over 12s in a maximum group size of eight. In Northern Ireland the maximum group size for both training and competition is 15 with that number including coaches and volunteers. Wales has been in a 17-day ‘firebreak lockdown’ since October 23 with no athletics clubs or groups allowed to meet together to train and no face to face coaching permitted outside of your own household. However Welsh Athletics encourages people to keep active. In Wales you can leave your house as often as you like to do exercise and an update is expected from Welsh Athletics after November 9. Linked to the restrictions, many athletics tracks will now become inaccessible if they are part of leisure centre complexes or run by local councils. Plans by parkrun to return in the UK have also been put on hold, while the Great Run Local events have been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus. Elite athletes will be frustrated by international travel problems, but their training should otherwise not be affected too much because they are exempt from restrictions. The British Indoor Championships is also set to go ahead in the new year, in addition to the British Olympic marathon trials in March. Those two events at least appear relatively corona-proof although elsewhere the athletics calendar has been decimated with the small number of grassroots meetings that had hoped to happen in England this month being called off. You can read more about athletics guidelines in England here, Scotland here, Wales here and Northern Ireland here.

SOUTH OF ENGLAND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 2020/2021 CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE – SEAA were hopeful of staging some Cross Country and Indoor Track & Field events during this coming winter, even though it looked as if we should only be able to cater for the younger age groups.  However, the news that the Country is to go into Lockdown from this Thursday does throw these aspirations into doubt. If Government guidelines after the lockdown permit, we hope to put in place the following events.
Cross Country – Cross Country Relays, London Championships, Master & Inter Counties Championships have been postponed until the New Year.  The Association hopes that it will be possible to stage some Cross Country events in February/March 2021. 
Road Relays – At present the date for the 12/6 Stage and 5K Road Relays remains the same; Sunday 28 March 2021. 
Track & Field – It is hoped that some Indoor Covid Games can take place dates scheduled for these events are 16/17 January & 6/7 February next year.  Due to the restrictions on numbers we may have to use more than one venue.
As we enter another lockdown, we just want to reassure our athletes and officials that we shall do our utmost to stage some competition (In line with England Athletics guidance).  We shall review the situation and publish any further news as soon as we can. In the meantime, we do hope everyone stays safe and well JOHN GANDEE SEAA Competition Chairman.

CAN YOU HELP PLEASE – During the period when all competitions are suspended, I will do my upmost in keeping the Newsletter information and other content going.
I would welcome any contributions From Yourselves, any impending marriages, or additions to the family, any running or competing incidents, also past warm weather training/holidays (No Club 24 please). Currently the response has been excellent, but if you have anything that could make it into next week’s Newsletter – please email me.

PROCEDURES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) FROM JEREMY SOTHCOTT – Due to the new Covid-19 Lockdown regulations Barnet Copthall is closed, and will re-open on  Thursday 2 December. Coaches will be in touch with their athletes through WhatsApp groups. Further updates from JEREMY SOTHCOTT will appear in future newsletters.

THE FOLLOWING SBH DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION CAN EITHER BE VIEWED, DOWNLOADED OR PRINTED 
SBH 2020-2021 Winter Fixture Card updated  10-11-20, Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed. An update on 2021 Fixtures will be published in early December 2020 – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 10-11-20
Cross Country Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/cross-country/team-managers/
Road Running/Relay Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/road-running/team-managers/

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH HOME PAGE BY USING THIS LINK, THEN SELECT THE LEFT OR RIGHT ARROW – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Barnet Copthall Stadium (Fomerly Allianz Park) Membership, which gives SBH members 10% discount on entry to the Barnet Copthall stadium – Membership details and Form can be either printed or downloaded
Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Club Hoody, information on how to purchase one, please go to the bottom of this Newsletter

SBH MIDWEEK JUMPS CLUB AT BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently Suspended. From 2 December please contact CLYDE GORDON on 07753 985525/clyde67@hotmail.co.uk for futher information on High Jump and Pole Vault days and times.

STEEPLECHASE TRAINING AT BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK)  – Currently Suspended.

PARKRUN 5K RESULTS – Currently Suspended

PARKRUN – Can you make sure that you are registered as ‘Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers’, as the link I use to select all results only shows SBH athletes. If anyone is also officiating can you please contact me, and advise me where and when.

PHOTOGRAPH’S – From time to time we have photographs of our members taken at meetings or presentations which we would like to use both on the website or incorporated within our report to our local newspaper. Can you please let me know if you do NOT want your photograph to be used. Also, I would appreciate if you could send me any photographs, which I can then publish on the website and newsletter.

CLUB EMBROIDERED RED HOODIES – Currently there are now over 750 Hoodies in circulation, this is the link giving details on how you can order your Club Hoody for £35, which includes having your name embroidered on the front Club Hoodies Updated 01-07-19

FACEBOOK – Photographs can be found on the SBH page.

CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF SHAFTESBURY INFORMATION – Currently I notify members (by email) using “MailChimp”. The reason I changed, was in November 2017 “Gmail” put a limit of 100 addresses that users could send to in a 24-hour period, and currently I send to approximately 850 members each issue.

On seeking technical advice “MailChimp” was recommended as the best way for SBH to go forward. There is one thing you should be aware off is that when you receive an email from me, the footer at the bottom has 4 options, of which one is “Unsubscribe Me From List”. Could I ask you not to select this as if you do you will be automatically removed from my distribution list.

SBH PRIVACY STATEMENT – In becoming a member, SBH will collect certain information about you. Can you please read the attached ‘Privacy Statement’ which contains Information on General Data Protection Regulations – SBH Privacy Statement Final April 2018

BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Main Switchboard telephone number is 0203 675 7250.

CHARGES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently the stadium is closed until the 2 December.

ALAN WELLER

Happy Birthday from this Thursday 4 November to Niall Carney, Isabel Deacon, Shadine Duquemin, Daniel Lewis, Kate Lloyd, Shane Martin, Tommy Narvaez-White, Tony Packham, Charles Romito, Jasmin Sabir, Layla Scott, Allan Smith, Trecia Smith, Isobel Thompson, Steve Turnock and Jovan Zigic

RECENT NEW MEMBERS – We wish you a very warm welcome, and a happy, healthy and successful time with Shaftesbury to CHLOE AGAGJYSHI, ALVARO ARROYO, DANIEL ARROYO, GRANT BROWN, BETHAN HALE, BRIAN MOTTO, MARION MOTTO and SOPHIA VENTER

NEELAM KADERBHOY – Thank you all for your kind words and support this week.Neelam continues to be looked after in the Peace Hospice and is receiving excellent care. The staff there are 1st class, food is great, and the rest and recuperation is doing her the world of good.
This week, we received the full set of biopsy results. As a result, Neelam has started a course of treatment this week aimed at improving her quality of life over the coming weeks. We have follow ups scheduled with the medical experts to review progress.
Neelam continues to enjoy reading your lovely messages. It’s wonderful that she has so many loving friends and family who message her and show her the love and support she needs. The food packages also go down a treat. Rum chocolates and turtles are particular favourites.
Many of you have asked about visiting Neelam. Whilst she would love to see you all, with Covid-19 and an imminent return to lockdown the Hospice have to manage visitors very carefully to ensure patient and staff safety.
If you have any further questions, please let me know.  It has been and continues to be a stressful and extremely time for us all, especially my dad and we appreciate all the love and support we have received.
Finally, thank the Club for the lovely bouquet of flowers recently received which have pride of place in Neelam’s room. Please keep showing the love to Neelam, and I’ll do my best to keep you updated on Neelam’s progress over the coming weeks – IMTIAZ
NEELAM’S number on WhatsApp is 07791 512383.

JONATHAN KILSBY – JONATHAN’S funeral took place yesterday 4 November, and was live streamed at: www.obitus.com, Username: Qupu7057, Password: 215152. It will be viewable until the end of November. Unfortunately, our memorial walk in Trent Park is postponed until COVID-19 restrictions can be eased again. A tribute page has been set up at https://jonathankilsby.muchloved.com. If you would like to make a donation in memory of JONATHAN or write a comment, it can be done on this page. All donations will go to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), a charity Jonathan supported throughout his life. Also, I’ve taken up a suggestion from ANDY MAGNALL that they might like to participate in.  It’s been suggested that those who intended to join in the Memorial Walk on the 7th, could join in with our weekly Barnet training sessions on that Saturday morning.  This seems a fitting tribute to JONATHAN so any are welcome to come along for 09:15, meeting at the car park by the café.
Best wishes, DES MICHAEL 07768 485469

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS 130TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020 – Is to be held on Tuesday 24 November at 7.30pm. This is the link to the Agenda – AGM Notice 2020 (1)
Due to the need for social distancing and the current government restrictions, it is intended to hold the meeting via ‘Zoom’. Full Zoom, Agenda and other information will be published next week and by separate email.
This year’s Track & Field Best Performance Awards have been cancelled. The 2019-2020 Cross Country Points and Club Championships Winners Awards will be presented to the winners by our various Coaches.

SBH SUBSCRIPTIONS 2020-2021 – SBH Treasurer GEOFF MORPHITIS has sent me the following regarding subscriptions.
Dear Member – I hope you’re fit and well during these difficult times. The Club has continued to function providing Covid-19 secure coaching at Barnet Copthall (formerly Allianz Park) on a limited basis from mid-June. We also promoted 7 Track & Field competitions during the period July to September. Six of these were LICC meetings at Lee Valley.
We’re working on the promotion of a number of Cross Country races at Barnet Copthall during the period December through to March in compliance with the England Athletics and Government guidelines applicable at the time.
The Club AGM will take place virtually at 19.30 on Tuesday 24 November (full login details will be distributed shortly). One of the resolutions on the order paper will deal with Club Subscriptions. Following the recent decision of the SBH Council, the proposal is as follows; “The Annual Membership Fee for new members from 1 December 2020 will increase to £50. Existing members who have paid their membership fee for year ended 30 September 2020 will be considered as having also paid their fee for the year ended 30 September 2021. In other words, in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19, these members will have 2 years membership for the price of one.” Therefore, I’m now asking athletes who have not paid their subscription for the year ended 30/09/20 (£45) to pay, so as to qualify for the 2 for 1 concession together with the England Athletics Registration Fee of £15 for 2020/21. The total is £60 and should be paid NOW to;
ACCOUNT NAME : SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS, BANK : HSBC, ACCOUNT NUMBER : 41308378, SORT CODE : 400426 – Please let me know when you make the payment. Thanks GEOFF

UPDATE ON SBH FIXTURE CARD – Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed, I anticipate having a clearer idea on the 2021 fixtures in December. This is the latest Fixture Card – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 28-10-20

SOUTH OF ENGLAND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 2020/2021 CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE – SEAA were hopeful of staging some Cross Country and Indoor Track & Field events during this coming winter, even though it looked as if we should only be able to cater for the younger age groups.  However, the news that the Country is to go into Lockdown from this Thursday does throw these aspirations into doubt. If Government guidelines after the lockdown permit, we hope to put in place the following events.
Cross Country – Cross Country Relays, London Championships, Master & Inter Counties Championships have been postponed until the New Year.  The Association hopes that it will be possible to stage some Cross Country events in February/March 2021. 
Road Relays – At present the date for the 12/6 Stage and 5K Road Relays remains the same; Sunday 28 March 2021. 
Track & Field – It is hoped that some Indoor Covid Games can take place dates scheduled for these events are 16/17 January & 6/7 February next year.  Due to the restrictions on numbers we may have to use more than one venue.
As we enter another lockdown, we just want to reassure our athletes and officials that we shall do our utmost to stage some competition (In line with England Athletics guidance).  We shall review the situation and publish any further news as soon as we can. In the meantime, we do hope everyone stays safe and well JOHN GANDEE SEAA Competition Chairman

ATW CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – The first in the three race series took place at Merchant Taylor’s School in Watford on Saturday 31 October.
Under 13 Boys/Girls – ARTHUR PHILLIPS 12th (12.24 10th Boy)
Under 15 Boys/Girls – DANIEL BANYARD 50th (17.09 36th Boy), TOMMY NARVAEZ-WHITE 79th (19.21 42nd Boy)
Under 17 Men/Women – AMI WEIGHTMAN 20th (20.11 1st Woman)
Under 20 & Senior Men/Women – ALEXANDER LEPRETRE (2nd Claim) 2nd (25.31 2nd Man), ROBBIE LIGHTOWLER 16th (27.55 16th Man), JUDE MIRANDA U20 20th (28.23 20th Man), ALEX LYTRIDES U20 24th (28.55 24th Man), KEVIN WALDEN V35 68th (31.59 66th Man), EMILY HATHAWAY U20 86th (33.08 10th Woman)
Photograph of ALEX LYTRIDES negotiating the water hazard

HERNE HILL HARRIERS HALLOWEEN OPEN MEETING – Took place at Battersea Park on 31 October
1500m – SX1 GIANLEO STUBBS U15 1st (PB 4:22.7) taking 15.16 seconds off his 2019 time
3000m – SX1 LUCA STUBBS U17 5th (PB 9:14.1) ) taking 3.69 seconds off his 6 September time, 2 MAX WINFIELD U17 1st (PB 9:28.2) ) taking 24.92 seconds off his 10 September time

BE FIT TODAY TRACK ACADEMY OPEN MEETING – Took place at Dagenham on 31 October
600m – SX1 MAYA GREEN U11 3rd (PB 2:00.26)
800m – SX4 ZICO JONES U15 1st (PB 2:12.33) taking .26 of a second off his 2019 time
1500m – SW1 PHOEBE MUSIC U13 4th (5:49.09)

KOJO KYEREME – I have just received this from KOJO. We are all well and healthy here thanks. Otherwise, like most we are taking things one day at a time too with many Covid challenges particularly to my girls schooling and financial stability due to allowance cuts.
Races have recommenced recently. The last 3 Fridays I have competed in the Qatar Running Series but have limited myself to 3k (on a sand trail) and managed to win all 3. I’ll make an effort going forward to update ALAN with future performances, also summarise my running highlights this year. Glad to hear things are booming at Copthall. Good luck organising the XC races – they are so desperately needed but I guess the Governments worse kept secret of another lockdown may jeopardise things in November at least. I fear it maybe a bumpy winter.
I’ve included a link to a recent article for ALAN to share in the Newsletter. It’s from St Georges University London, where I am finalising my dissertation at the moment for my MSc in Sports Cardiology. It goes into some detail about my current role in Qatar which some may find interesting.

“It’s really positive that there are now more opportunities in this area that allow you to work more closely with patients, and it’s an industry and profession that needs to be promoted more”. Cardiac Physiologist and scholarship recipient KOJO KYEREME is in the second year of his two-year Masters in Sports Cardiology. His scholarship and previous role at the Cardiology clinic at St George’s hospital have allowed him to gain valuable experience in this field of work, leading to a role in Aspetar Hospital in Doha, Qatar – which he started at the beginning of this year. In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, his degree has been extended to December 2021, so he continues to fit his studies around his new role. We caught up with KOJO to talk about careers in sports cardiology and how his degree at St George’s has helped him develop key skills for a career as a Cardiac Physiologist.

Tell us a bit about your role – “I have been working at Aspetar Hospital, Qatar as a Cardiac Physiologist in the Sports Medicine department since the beginning of this year. I really enjoy the patient contact involved in this type of role. Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine hospital is on the same site as the venue of the 2019 World Athletics Championships, which boasts a sports academy for aspiring youngsters so it allows me to work closely with the athletes who train there.
“My new job title is Cardiac Physiologist (which falls under Healthcare Science). My role involves undertaking sports screening on professional and recreational athletes at Aspetar. Our primary clients are professional athletes from Qatar’s Domestic and National Teams across Football, Handball, Athletics and Volleyball to name a few. Athletes have an initial screening with a Sports Screening nurse who reviews a prefilled questionnaire and undertakes a small number of tests such as height, weight, and a resting ECG (Electrocardiogram).
“Following this, depending on the requirements of the sports team, the athlete may have a dental check and chest x-ray before having an Echocardiogram with myself. Depending on the outcome of what I find, the age of the athlete plus any presenting symptoms revealed on the questionnaire further testing maybe undertaken. I would typically proceed to perform an exercise stress test and fit the athlete with an Ambulatory BP (blood pressure) and ECG monitoring to check for arrhythmias for 24hrs which I would analyse upon return. Once all the results have been collated the athlete would have a consultation with a Sports Medicine Doctor. For some athletes, this process may be an annual screen as per the requirements of their sporting organization or it may be prior to a signing of a new contract.
“In addition to my role and completing my MSc I am actively involved in other research projects with others in my hospital. My MSc thesis incidentally is about the Prevalence of myocarditis affecting Athletes’ hearts post- Covid-19″.

What drew you to a career in sports cardiology? – “I was always interested in Science and anatomy, and always followed what I was interested in. In the 90s, this field of work was not well-known. It’s really positive that there are now more opportunities in this area that allow you to work more closely with patients, and it’s an industry and profession that needs to be promoted more. My Undergraduate degree at Roehampton was in sports cardiology and prior to this I’d also studied on a scholarship in the US. Outside of work, I am also a semi-professional long-distance runner, so have always been interested in sports”.

What made you choose St George’s for your Postgraduate degree? – “I currently work as the lead Cardiac Physiologist (Echo Cardiography) at St George’s. A few of the consultants I work with also lecture in sports cardiology. Several of my colleagues are also alumni, so there’s a lot of crossover. I already had a background in sports cardiology, and following a conversation with one of the course lecturers I decided to look further into it. I was really interested to find out what sort of opportunities the course could lead to”.

What do you like the most about studying at St George’s? – “I really like the friendly atmosphere at St George’s, and the cohesion of students. I have found staff at St George’s to be really supportive of my learning needs. As I also work full-time, it’s really helpful to be able to access library materials to work remotely, and being next door to the hospital has allowed me to access some really valuable resources”.

How did your degree at St George’s help you get into your current role? – “Sports Cardiology is a specialized area within Cardiology. Athletes hearts remodel in such a way that a misdiagnosis of a condition can be made, as the character of some athlete adaptations can mimic that of something pathological when it could be innocent. Therefore, the skill to differentially diagnose is key to stratifying the risk of sudden death. The Sports Cardiology MSc has given me extra tools to adapt my existing qualifications to be able to practice proficiently and competently.
“My experience of working and studying at St George’s has given me a greater understanding of congenital heart diseases. Working at the clinic at St George’s hospital has helped me to relate to patients who have inherited heart diseases. My background in sports research, as well as my own passion for sport and my sporting attributes, also helped lead to a positive interview for the new role.

KOJO’S recent results in Qatar – 3K 16 October 1st (9:41.5), 23 October 1st (9:35.9), 30 October 1st (9:23.6). Photograph shows KOJO (1061) leading the 30 October race.

ENGLAND ATHLETICS CROSS COUNTRY GUIDANCE FOR A RETURN TO LIMITED COMPETITION – A collaboration of England Athletics, the English Cross Country Association and other competition providers were pleased to publish (on Friday 18 September) the return to limited competition guidance for cross country. We want to encourage all competitors and organisers to enjoy and compete in cross country this winter while we are also aware that we have to keep the cross country and wider community safe. We will continue to update guidance in light of the pilot events we are working on with competition providers and any change to government guidance. Click the link below to view the guidance documents and to read an update from MARTIN RUSH, Head of Coaching and Athlete Development at England Athletics.
A collaboration of England Athletics, the English Cross Country Association and other competition providers are pleased to publish the return to limited competition guidance for Cross Country. We know athletes, clubs, schools and coaches want a return to cross country competition. It has been the bedrock of endurance in Britain for well over a century. We want to encourage all competitors and organisers to enjoy and compete in cross country this winter while we are also aware that we have to keep the cross country and wider community safe.
The guidance document provides a framework for getting cross country competition back but this is in a limited way at this current point in time. The need to maintain social distancing (2m) or only spend a very limited amount of time closer together is at the heart of every sports’ guidance from road running, to football, to netball and triathlon. We have worked with Sport England and DCMS and other sports to ensure that our guidance recognises the current limitations imposed by the government restrictions with a return to activity which is so important to the sport, and wider community.
Our aim is that school children, club runners, international athletes and all who love the sport of cross country will be able to get back to limited racing and, if government guidance shifts, to the iconic scenes of the English National. We will continue to update guidance in light of the pilot events we are working on with competition providers and any change to government guidance.

Timelines – Late September to Mid-October – Pilot cross country events, 3rd October – Cross Country Licensing opens, 17th October – Licensed Cross Country events.
Click here to access the cross country return to limited competition guidance document and associated cross country Covid-secure environment guidance document.

LATEST UPDATE ON PARKRUN – An update on our planned restart in England from parkrun Global Chief Executive Officer NICK PEARSON. Sadly, after significant consultation and discussion, circumstances outside of our control have dictated that parkrun cannot return in England by the end of October, as we had hoped.

CAN YOU HELP PLEASE – During the period when all competitions are suspended, I will do my upmost in keeping the Newsletter information and other content going.
I would welcome any contributions From Yourselves, any impending marriages, or additions to the family, any running or competing incidents, also past warm weather training/holidays (No Club 24 please). Currently the response has been excellent, but if you have anything that could make it into next week’s Newsletter – please email me.

PROCEDURES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) FROM JEREMY SOTHCOTT – We cannot train at Barnet Copthall for 4 weeks from today due to the new Covid-19 Lockdown regulations. We hope to start again on Thursday 2 December. Coaches will be in touch with their athletes through WhatsApp groups. Further updates from JEREMY SOTHCOTT will appear in future newsletters.

ENGLAND ATHLETICS CORONAVIRUS HELP FOR ATHLETES – Many thanks to TUNJI who as reported on the 19 March newsletter is the father of NIAH AKINTOKUN. 
In these unprecedented times, I wanted to draw the club’s attention to some of the great resources available online. England Athletics is expanding its campaign to support Athletics and Running for everyone @home, with a focus on ‘Running @home’ support and advice. The homepage can be accessed here
There are many webinars, interviews and tips from top coaches and athletes on how to stay conditioned and focused.
In addition, there are some fantastic videos for 4-11yr olds on the Funetics webpage put together in conjunction with England Athletics.  The videos demonstrate parents and children (aged 4-11) taking part in FUN activities based on fundamental core movement skills: running, jumping and throwing. Funetics is a programme that has been designed to reflect the requirements of the National Curriculum Key Stage 1 and 2. At this time when our children are currently schooling at home, we hope that these video activities will support the need for education to continue at home.  You can access the videos here   TUNJI AKINTOKUN MBE – Non Executive Director, England Athletics

THE FOLLOWING SBH DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION CAN EITHER BE VIEWED, DOWNLOADED OR PRINTED 
SBH 2020-2021 Winter Fixture Card updated  28-10-20, Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed. An update on 2021 Fixtures will be published in early December 2020 – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 28-10-20
Cross Country Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/cross-country/team-managers/
Road Running/Relay Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/road-running/team-managers/

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH HOME PAGE BY USING THIS LINK, THEN SELECT THE LEFT OR RIGHT ARROW – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Barnet Copthall (Fomerly Allianz Park) Membership, which gives SBH members 10% discount on entry to the Barnet Copthall stadium – Membership details and Form can be either printed or downloaded
Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Club Hoody, information on how to purchase one, please go to the bottom of this Newsletter

SBH MIDWEEK JUMPS CLUB AT BARNET COPTHALL (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Please contact CLYDE GORDON on 07753 985525/clyde67@hotmail.co.uk for futher information on High Jump and Pole Vault days and times.

STEEPLECHASE TRAINING AT ALLIANZ PARK – Currently Suspended.

PARKRUN 5K RESULTS – Currently Suspended

PARKRUN – Can you make sure that you are registered as ‘Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers’, as the link I use to select all results only shows SBH athletes. If anyone is also officiating can you please contact me, and advise me where and when.

PHOTOGRAPH’S – From time to time we have photographs of our members taken at meetings or presentations which we would like to use both on the website or incorporated within our report to our local newspaper. Can you please let me know if you do NOT want your photograph to be used. Also, I would appreciate if you could send me any photographs, which I can then publish on the website and newsletter.

CLUB EMBROIDERED RED HOODIES – Currently there are now over 750 Hoodies in circulation, this is the link giving details on how you can order your Club Hoody for £35, which includes having your name embroidered on the front Club Hoodies Updated 01-07-19

FACEBOOK – Photographs can be found on the SBH page.

CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF SHAFTESBURY INFORMATION – Currently I notify members (by email) using “MailChimp”. The reason I changed, was in November 2017 “Gmail” put a limit of 100 addresses that users could send to in a 24-hour period, and currently I send to approximately 850 members each issue.

On seeking technical advice “MailChimp” was recommended as the best way for SBH to go forward. There is one thing you should be aware off is that when you receive an email from me, the footer at the bottom has 4 options, of which one is “Unsubscribe Me From List”. Could I ask you not to select this as if you do you will be automatically removed from my distribution list.

SBH PRIVACY STATEMENT – In becoming a member, SBH will collect certain information about you. Can you please read the attached ‘Privacy Statement’ which contains Information on General Data Protection Regulations – SBH Privacy Statement Final April 2018

BARNET COPTHALL (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Main Switchboard telephone number is 0203 675 7250.

CHARGES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently the stadium is open for limited use.

ALAN WELLER