COMPLETELY USELESS RANDOM FACT – Did you know … More the 745,000 parkrunners were born in October. That’s 8.4% of all registered parkrunners in the world!

UPCOMING ROAD RELAY AND CROSS COUNTRY FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 5 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 5 OCTOBER UNTIL WEDNESDAY 8 NOVEMBER – The SBH 2023-2024 Winter Fixture Card and Information Sheet is now available on the SBH website – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/

NATIONAL ROAD RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 7 October at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, Town Gate Entrance, Birmingham (Satnav B73 6BU).
Timetable – 11.00 U13 Boys, 11.05 U13 Girls, 12.00 U15 Boys, 12.05 U15 Girls, 12.50 U17 Men, 12.55 U17 Women. All races are 3 Legs of 3.88km. 14.00 Senior Men 6 Legs of 5.848km. 14.10 Senior Women 4 Legs of 4.33km. To qualify, the Senior Mens team have to finish in the first 25 at the Southern Road Relays on 23 September.
Entries Closed
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager

VICTORIA PARK SPORTS MEDICINE METROPOLITAN LEAGUE – The first fixture of five takes place on Saturday 14 October at Claybury, Essex.
The following will be updated once the full information is published on the Metropolitan League website.
Course Location – Claybury Park, Roding Lane North, Woodford Green (Satnav IG8 8NN).
Race HQ – Start/Finish in Claybury Park.
Changing Facilities – Ashton Playing Fields Track, Chigwell Road (Satnav IG8 8AA). 10 minutes walk from course, limited shower facilities. No toilets on course, use Ashton Playing Fields.
Refreshments – Light refreshments throughout the day in the WGEL clubhouse at Ashton Playing Fields. The club bar will be open after the final race.
Travel – Where possible, please use public transport, walk or cycle. If travelling by car, please car share to reduce the impact and check for restrictions that may be in effect in the area (Ultra Low Emission Zone for example). Please also park with consideration of others, especially if using on-street parking. The league and/or host club(s) do not warrant the accuracy of the information provided so take no responsibility for any fines or charges that may be levied.
Public transport – Woodford Underground Station (Central Line). Take trains with Loughton or Epping destination. 10 minute walk from station along Snakes Lane East to Ashton Playing Fields.
By Car – Use the A406 eastbound /M11 northbound junction and branch left onto A1400 signposted Gants Hill and then A113 at roundabout signposted Chigwell onto Chigwell Road. Ashton Playing Fields IG8 8AA is 800 metres away.
Claybury is outside the Ultra Low Emmission Zone, this is a Link to the map showing the new Ultra Low Emmission Zone, which is in Green – ulez-boundary-map-part-2
Link to check if your car is chargeable for the ULEZ – https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/
Parking – Approximately 150 spaces at Ashton Playing Fields (IG8 8AA). Parking in the vicinity of Claybury Park is impossible or extremely limited. Please look out for any restrictions and do not block access to any properties. There is virtually no parking in the Roding Lane North area because of residential parking. You are advised to park at Ashton Playing Fields and make the 10 minute walk to the course. You MUST NOT park on the grass triangle in Roding Lane North so as to avoid confrontation with residents. Any inconsiderate parking could jeopardise the future of the races.
To walk to the course from Ashton Playing Fields, take Gaynes Hill Road (opposite) to Roding Lane North (10 Minutes).
Course Details – Parkland setting , undulating course, with one steep climb on each large lap on grass and woodland paths. On certain sections the course width is limited.
The timetable is approximate and subject to change without notice where necessary. Please plan to arrive early and listen for any announcements. The timetable is approximate and subject to change without notice where necessary. Please plan to arrive early and listen for any announcements. Care is required particularly in the senior men’s race on the narrow downhill start.
Map of Course – Awaiting to be published.
Timetable – 12.00 Under 11 Boys/Girls Over 9 (1.5km), 12.10 Under 13 Boys (3km), 12.20 Under 13 Girls (3km), 12.30 Under 15 Boys  and Under 17 Men (4.2km), 12.45 Under 15 Girls and Under 17 Women (4.2km), 13.00 Under 20, Senior and Veteran Women (8.1km), 13.45 Under 20, Senior and Veteran Men (8.1km).
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run.
Please collect your race numbers from the respective team managers – SIMON KEENE
JEREMY SOTHCOTT or JO KENT

Information as published on the Metropolitan League web site – Race 1 – Claybury – 14-10-2023
Please go to Metropolitan League web site www.metleague.co.uk for final information.

Map of the course.

VICTORIA PARK SPORTS MEDICINE METROPOLITAN LEAGUE RACE NUMBERS – I have been asked to remind you that your race number must be kept by yourselves, and is to be used for all 5 fixtures.

CROSS COUNTRY POINTS CHAMPIONSHIPS – The Metropolitan League at Claybury is the first race in the SBH Points Championships.

SOUTHERN CROSS COUNTRY RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 21 October at Wormwood Scrubs, Linford Christie Stadium, Du Cane Road (SatNav W12 0DF). Enter main car park off Du Cane Road (via Artillery Lane), through 6’6” height/width barrier. Extra parking will be available in the enclosed/fenced hospital parking area. Parking is free in all areas at the week-end.
Wormwood Scrubs is within the Ultra Low Emmission Zone, this is a Link to the map showing the new Ultra Low Emmission Zone, which is in Green – ulez-boundary-map-part-2
Link to check if your car is chargeable for the ULEZ – https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/
Timetable – 11.00 U17 & U20 Women (3 x 3km), 11.30 U17 & U20 Men (3 x 3km), 12.10 U13 Girls (3 x 2km), 12.40 U13 Boys (3 x 2km), 13.10 U15 Girls (3 x 2km), 13.35 U15 Boys (3 x 2km), 14.00 Senior Women (3 x 3km), 14.30 Senior Men (4 x 4km).
Entries Closing Date Friday 6 October
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager
Awaiting details from the SEAA website, the above information is based on the 2022 fixture

NORTH LONDON CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 28 October at Hackney Marshes, Homerton Road (SatNav E9 5PF).
Age-groups U20, Senior and Masters.
Timetable – 13.30 Senior Women (8000m), 14.15 Senior Men (8000m).
Entries Closing Date Saturday 21 October
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager

NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 4 November at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire (SatNav NG18 4JR).
Age-Groups U13 to Senior Men & Women
Timetable – 10.45 U20 Women (3 x 2.5K), 10.57 U17 Women (3 x 2.5K), 11.26 U13 Boys (3 x 2K), 11.50 U13 Girls (3 x 2K), 12.15 U20 Men (3 x 3K), 12.40 U17 Men (3 x 3K), 13.06 U15 Girls (3 x 2K), 13.30 U15 Boys (3 x 2K), 13.50 Senior Women (3 x 3K), 14.40 Senior Men (4 x 5K).
Entries Close Friday 13 October
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager 

NORTH WEST LONDON LEAGUE – The second fixture of five takes place on Saturday 4 November at Fryent Country Park, Kingsbury. Race headquarters is at the Kingsbury Free Church Hall, Slough Lane, Kingsbury (SatNav NW9 8QG). Please park in nearby roads, but not at church Hall. Toilets available at the Church Hall, no showers and very limited changing facilities.Church Hall will not be available until 12 noon. The hall is in use for a fitness class, and is only accessible after 12 noon.
Timetable – 13.00 U11 Boys & Girls (2000m), 13.15 U13 Boys & U13 Girls (3000m), 13.45 U15 Boys & Girls (4000m), 13.30 approximately U15 Boys (4000m), 14.15 approximately U17 Men & Women (5000m) inconjunction with the Senior athletes who run (8000m). Numbers will be given out close to the start area. The timetable is as the 2022 fixture.
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run. Will any of our Female athletes please see TY HOLDEN who will give you a race number

BELGRADE STEPS IN TO HOST 2024 WORLD CROSS – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

Serbian capital to stage global championships after Medulin and Pula in Croatia were forced to pull out. Ten years after staging the European Cross Country Championships, the Serbian capital of Belgrade will now stage its first World Cross Country Championships next year. A decade ago the city’s Park of Friendship hosted the Euro event, but it will now welcome the world after the original hosts of Medulin and Pula in Croatia was forced to pull out.

Croatian plans have been abandoned after World Athletics earlier this month described their “preparations as not sufficiently advanced”. Belgrade has jumped to the rescue, though, which means a major athletics event will be held on the banks of the River Danube just a few months after Budapest hosted the global governing body’s flagship track and field championships. Whereas the Croatian event was due to place on the weekend of February 10-11, the event in Belgrade will be on March 30, which has thrown new year cross-country fixtures into mild turmoil. The British trials, for example, were due to be held on January 20 at Parliament Hill but this now looks likely to be too far away from the championships itself.

When Belgrade held the European Cross Country Championships in 2013 it was the first big athletics event the city had hosted since the European Indoor Games of 1968. I reported at the time: “The Serbian capital put on a decent show with a record entry of 570 athletes across six races on a spectator-friendly course featuring firm ground, surprisingly mild temperatures (mid-December) and a random log that was barely a foot high designed to break the rhythm of runners on each of the 1500m laps.” The number of spectators was modest, but I added: “There was a reasonable buzz in the Park of Friendship venue, partly due to the large contingent of British spectators, some of whom braved the widely publicised airport signal problems to travel to eastern Europe.”

Britain won twice as many medals at those 2013 championships than their nearest challenger, France, with the star performer being under-20 women’s winner EMELIA GORECKA. Less than half a minute behind her, though, team-mate GEORGIA TAYLOR-BROWN finished a fine fourth despite losing a shoe mid-race. It was the kind of grittiness that would earn TAYLOR-BROWN Olympic medals in triathlon eight years later. Elsewhere a young SIFAN HUSSAIN won the under-23 women’s title less than a month after being cleared to represent the Netherlands, while ALEMAYEHU BEZABEH controversially led Spain to senior men’s team victory amid accusations on social media from Britain’s bronze medallist ANDY VERNON that they cheated by putting their six runners in two separate starting pens. Adding insult to injury, BEZABEH had only just returned from a drugs ban too.

Belgrade was also notable for a big congress over the weekend of the championships aimed at reviving the ailing fortunes of cross-country running. Frustratingly not much came of it, though, apart from a large document which was published several months later full of photographs and a short-list of solutions which could have been written in five minutes flat by anyone who has ever worn 15mm spikes. Maybe lessons were learned, though, because Aarhus in 2019 famously revitalised the sport with what World Athletics president SEB COE called “a watershed moment”. I wrote in AW at the time: “Aarhus lived up to the hype to deliver a devilish course and memorable races in sizzling sunshine.” The course featured a number of obstacles, most notably there was a steep climb and descent on the grassy roof of an eco-friendly museum. Mass races for club runners also helped to draw in the crowds.

Despite wrestling with pandemic-related delays, Bathurst in Australia took up the baton admirably this year. Now, Belgrade has its chance to shine while Croatia presumably licks its wounds and maybe prepares to mount a bid for a future bid following the 2026 event in Tallahassee, Florida. World Athletics President SEBASTIAN COE said: “Belgrade is establishing itself as a reliable host of world class competitions. Following a memorable 2022 World Indoor Championships we are confident that the organisation of our 2024 World Cross Country Championships is in a safe pair of hands.” It is not unprecedented for the venue to change either. In 2001 the World Cross Country Championships was due to be held in Dublin but following an out-break of foot-and-mouth disease it was forced to move to firstly Brussels and eventually Ostend at short notice

BOSTON MARATHON CUT-OFF TIME STRICTER THAN EVER – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

Runners have had to go (5:29) or faster than the original qualifying time to be accepted in the 2024 race. Applicants for the 2024 Boston Marathon have only had their invitations accepted if they clocked five minutes and 29 seconds quicker than the qualifying standard for their respective age groups. The Boston Marathon Association (B.A.A) announced that out of the 33,058 applications received, 22,019 have been admitted to the race. That means that more than 11,000 runners who ran the qualifying standard in their age groups did not get in. For example, a man and woman between the ages of 18-34 will have had to run (2:54:31) and (3:24:31) respectively. Everyone with a valid time in the 2022 and 2023 editions got accepted. Roughly eight thousand runners will be doing it for charity and that will therefore bring the total up to the 30,000 mark. Before Covid-19 caused the cancellation of the 2020 event, participation numbers for the Boston Marathon were: 30,251 in 2015; 30,741 in 2016; 30,074 in 2017; 30,088 in 2018 and 30,234 in 2019.

The 33,058 applicants for the 2024 Boston Marathon is a race record. The youngest and oldest accepted athletes are 18 and 82 respectively. “Just four years after we adjusted the race’s qualifying standards by five minutes for all ages and divisions, more than 33,000 athletes earned Boston Marathon qualifying times,” said JACK FLEMING, President and CEO of the B.A.A. “While we’re unable to accept all into the field, we applaud and recognize the many athletes who circled the 128th Boston Marathon on their calendar as a goal race to strive towards. Boston Marathon qualifiers are among the most dedicated athletes in sports and are always pushing to achieve their goals and personal bests.”

WORLD RECORDS AT THE BERLIN MARATHON – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

Following the 49th edition of the event, AW looks back at the 12 world marathon records set in the German capital. The Berlin Marathon approaches its 50th anniversary next year and has established itself as one of the fastest marathon courses in the world. It’s no surprise that the Berlin Marathon has hosted more world records (12) over 26.2 miles than any single marathon course in history. The total elevation gain is just 241 feet (73m) while the elevation loss is 260 feet (79m). Out of those 12 world records set in the German capital, three are held by women and 12 by men.

CHRISTA VAHLENSIECK was the first woman to set a world record in Berlin (2:34:48) in 1977, while ELIUD KIPCHOGE holds the current men’s mark (2:01:09) in 2022. Won an astonishing 21 marathons during her career. In 1973, she became the first ever German to complete the marathon in under three hours (2:59:26) but it was two years later when VAHLENSIECK left her footprint on the global stage. That season she broke Julie Brown’s world 10,000m record with (34:01.4) – a mark that stood until 1977. VAHLENSIECK also shattered compatriot Liane Winter’s world marathon record, clocking 2:40:16 in Dülmen. The world record changed hands twice between American Jacqueline Hansen (2:38:19) and France’s Chantal Langlacé (2:35:15) before VAHLENSIECK regained it in Berlin in 1977. The German became the first female athlete to go sub 2:35 in history after clocking 2:34:48 on home turf. It was the first world record set at the Berlin Marathon at a time when the distance was being pushed to be included in the Olympics. That occurred seven years later at LA 1984. 

Ronaldo da Costa (2:06:05) – 1998 
When Ethiopia’s Belayneh Dinsamo set a world record of 2:06:50 in Rotterdam in 1988, no man could beat the mark for 10 years. That was until Brazilian Ronaldo da Costa ran an incredible 2:06:05 in Berlin in 1998. Not only did Da Costa become the first person to ever cross the 40km mark in under two hours but he was also the first ever South American – male or female – to hold the world marathon record. He still remains the only one today. Da Costa also finished 16th in the 10,000m at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and his highest other finish in a major marathon was also Berlin, when the Brazilian fifth in 1997. 

Tegla Loroupe (2:20:43) – 1999 
Tegla Loroupe created history in Rotterdam in 1998 when she became the first African woman to hold the world marathon record. The Kenyan’s 2:20:47 in the Dutch city improved Ingrid Kristiansen’s mark of 2:21:06, which had lasted an incredible 13 years. Loroupe wasn’t satisfied with just one world record though. At the Berlin Marathon in 1999 she clocked 2:20:43 and replicated Kristiansen in breaking her own record. It was some career for Loroupe who was also a double world 10,000m bronze medallist, triple individual world half marathon champion and two-time winner of the New York City Marathon. 

Naoko Takahashi (2:19:46) – 2001 
At the turn of the millennium, the world belonged to Naoko Takahashi. The Japanese runner became Olympic marathon champion at Sydney 2000, in an Olympic record time of 2:23:14. Such was the speed, it remained the mark to beat at the Games until London 2012. Then, in 2001, Takahashi ran a world record of 2:19:46 in Berlin. She was the first female athlete in history to go sub 2:20 and beat previous record-holder Tegla Loroupe by more than eight minutes. However, her world record was rather short-lived as Kenyan Catherine Ndereba ran 2:18:47 exactly a week later at the Chicago Marathon. 

Paul Tergat (2:04:55) – 2003 
Paul Tergat was imperious on the track, road and grass. The Kenyan claimed two Olympic 10,000m silver medals in 1996 and 2000, was a triple world 10,000m silver medallist and a five-time world cross country champion. During his track career, Tergat broke the world 10,000m record with 26:27.85 in Brussels in 1997. Tergat was also a world record-holder over the half-marathon but in 2003 he created headlines over the globe when he did that over double the distance. At the Berlin Marathon, Tergat ran 2:04:55, breaking the previous record by 43 seconds. He became the first man to also go below 2:05. Incredibly, he wasn’t the only one in that race who achieved the feat though. Tergat claimed victory in Berlin in 2003 but by just one second to fellow Kenyan Sammy Korir, who was remarkably a pacemaker in the event. 

Haile Gebrselassie (2:04:26/2:03:59) – 2007/2008
Haile Gebrselassie is considered one of the all-time greats in the sport. A double Olympic and quadruple world 10,000m champion, four-time winner at the World Indoors and an individual world half marathon champion, Gebrselassie has a truly inspirational CV. The Ethiopian set a mind-boggling 27 world records during in his career and two were in the marathon. Both of those marks were recorded in Berlin. The first was in 2007 when Gebrselassie ran 2:04:26 and shaved 29 seconds off Paul Tergat’s record. After withdrawing from the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Gebrselassie instead signed up to the Berlin Marathon again and became the first person ever to break the 2:04 barrier over 26.2 miles. 

Patrick Makau (2:03:38) – 2011
Patrick Makau was the person to eventually better Haile Gebrselassie’s world record. The Kenyan – a double individual cross country silver medallist and team champion – clocked 2:03:38 in the German capital in 2011. That year, Makau dominated and beat compatriot Stephen Kwelio by over four minutes. Makau’s world record would last four years and was the first of four Kenyans in the 2010s and beyond to break the mark in Berlin. 

Wilson Kipsang (2:03:23) – 2013 
An Olympic marathon bronze medallist at London 2012, Wilson Kipsang was favourite to win the gold medal but it instead went to Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich. Motivated by that result, Kipsang travelled to Berlin a year later in the form of his life. The Kenyan not only delivered Eliud Kipchoge’s only marathon loss in the German capital but clocked an incredible 2:03:23, shaving 15 seconds off the previous mark from Patrick Makau. Kipsang has five major marathon wins in his career. However, in 2020 Kipsang was banned for four years for doping offences, after an initial provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit for ‘whereabouts failures and tampering or attempted tampering of samples’. 

Dennis Kipruto (2:02:57) – 2014 
After seeing two fellow Kenyans break the world marathon record in Berlin, Dennis Kipruto joined the club in 2014. Kipruto ran a time of 2:02:57 in Berlin and became the first person in history to break the 2:03 barrier. The year before he had set course records in both Tokyo (2:06:50) and Chicago (2:03:45), the latter being the then fastest ever marathon time on US soil. However, those achievements were superseded by his world record in Berlin a year later. His 5km splits were: 14:42, 14:42, 14:46, 14:26, 14:32, 14:30, 14:09, 14:42. He also ran the second half in an astonishing 61:12. 

Eliud Kipchoge (2:01:39/2:01:09) – 2018/2022 
Where do you even begin with Eliud Kipchoge? Still going strong at 38, the Kenyan is aiming to win a record-breaking fifth Berlin crown, with the long-term aim of becoming the first ever person to win three Olympic golds over 26.2 miles. Kipchoge will no doubt of course have the world record at the back of his head, given his last two times were set in Berlin. The first came in 2018 when Kipchoge clocked 2:01:39, bettering Dennis Kipruto Kimetto’s mark by an awe-inspiring one minute and 18 seconds. Last year, Kipchoge created even more history in Berlin when he tantalisingly nearly broke 2:01 and ended up with a time of 2:01:09. That is the current world record and only Kelvin Kiptum has got near it, when the 23-year-old ran 2:01:25 at the London Marathon back in April.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS ON INSTAGRAM– Since the account was setup towards the end of last year, there has been an amazing amount of Videos and Photographs contributed with many comments. There is 1 post this week.

7 of our Young Athletes prior to competing in last Saturday’s North West London League at Greenford, from left to right SUNNY SHAW, KEENYAH ADELISE, SOPHIA CLOONEY, SIENNA DARCY, LUCIA CASALANEUVO and ELFIE SHAW.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS NEW INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT– Many thanks to SEAN SUTHERLAND who undertook a review on the best way forward, following this a decision was made to set up a new account, and SEAN has now set that account up.
To follow our newInstagram account, from your own account, by searching for ‘shaftesbury_barnet’ or by clicking https://www.instagram.com/shaftesbury_barnet/
To Members and Parents, if you wish for any photographs to be posted on Instagram, please email them to sbh.instagram@outlook.com  If you can at the same time give details on when and where the photographs was taken, plus any other comments.
Please feel free to post photographs of any special occasion, for example, your wedding day, an addition to the family.

THE FOLLOWING IS CLUB INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS

SBH 2023-2024 WINTER FIXTURE CARD – The Fixture Card Front Sheet and Information Sheet can be found on the SBH website.
Link to the Winter Fixture Card and Information Sheet – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/
Please select a document, following this you can print a copy for future reference.

SBH 2023-2024 WINTER POINTS AND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TABLES – Currently a draft of the Winter Points and Club Championship tables are published on the SBH website.
Link to the draft of the Winter Points tables, which will be updated following the 14 October Metropolitan League – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/winter-xc-points-tables/
Link to the draft of the Club Championships table, which will be updated following the 2 December Metropolitan League – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/winter-xc-club-championships/
Please select a document, following this you can print a copy for future reference.

GEORGE HARRISON MBE MEMORIAL DOCUMENT – The document has been put together with contributors from LISA WEBB, MARTIN ROCHFORD, NADEEM SHAIKH, RACHEL FELTON, LIAM and JAMIE DEE, JAMES LOVELL, EMILIA ECONOMU, ALAN WELLER,  KAREN HARRISON,  TIM UNDERHILL, GLEN WATTS, JOANNA WINFIELD, SHAUN CLIFFORD and EUAN MACKENZIE – Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Memorial To George Harrison From Friends And Members 20 April 2023
If you wish to contribute your own memories and/or photographs of GEORGE, please email them to me, either within the email or as a separate attached word document.

CODES OF CONDUCT – SBH have now adopted the UK Athletics (UKA) and the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAF) Codes of Conduct which set out national standards of conduct for all clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes in the sport.  The purpose of the codes are to clarify what behaviours are acceptable and unacceptable, the standards of practice expected and the basis for challenging and improving practice.  The Codes are similar to our previous Codes of Conduct which were part of the previous ClubMark scheme.  All club member and anyone undertaking a relevant role must agree to abide by the codes of conduct. The Codes of Conduct have now been put onto our Website, please read these to understand the commitments you are making by being a member of SBH.
Link to the Code of Conduct document – Codes Of Conduct Booklet 2021 (1)

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH WEBSITE BY USING THIS LINK – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Section ‘About Us’, includes Annual Reports, Best Performance Trophy Awards, Individual And Relay Best Performances By Year, Club Records and SBH All-Time Top 10 T&F Performances.
Section ‘Team Managers And Competitions’, shows details of Track & Field, Cross Country and Road Relays Team Managers.
Section ‘Future Information/Results’, includes Information On Each Fixture, Summer & Winter Fixture Cards, Winter X/C Points Tables and Winter Club Championships Winners.

COMPLETELY USELESS RANDOM FACT – Did you know … The upcoming 2023 Ryder Cup will be held in Rome, Italy. There are almost 17,000 registered parkrunners in Italy!

UPCOMING ROAD RELAY AND CROSS COUNTRY FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 5 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER UNTIL WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER – The SBH 2023-2024 Winter Fixture Card and Information Sheet is now available on the SBH website – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/

NORTH WEST LONDON LEAGUE – The first fixture of five takes place on Saturday 30 September at the Tir Chonail Gaelic Sports Club, at the end of Berkeley Avenue, Greenford (Satnav UB6 0NZ).
For age-groups U11, U13, U15 & U17 Boys and Girls.
Directions – turn off Greenford Road (A4127), opposite the entrance to the Glaxo Factory. The playing fields are at the end of Berkeley Avenue.
Car parking – There will be no parking permitted on the grass adjacent to the course. Please make maximum car share use, travel via public transport to Greenford Station (Central Line) or seek parking in nearby roads or on Greenford Road where there should be plenty of space, then make the shor walk to the race HQ.
Timetable – 12.00 U11 Boys & Girls (2000m), 12.15 U13 Boys & Girls (3000m), 12.40 U15 Boys & Girls (4000m), 13.05 U17 Men & Women (5000m).
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run. Will any of our Female athletes please see TY HOLDEN who will give you a race number

NATIONAL ROAD RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 7 October at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, Town Gate Entrance, Birmingham (Satnav B73 6BU).
Timetable – 11.00 U13 Boys, 11.05 U13 Girls, 12.00 U15 Boys, 12.05 U15 Girls, 12.50 U17 Men, 12.55 U17 Women. All races are 3 Legs of 3.88km. 14.00 Senior Men 6 Legs of 5.848km. 14.10 Senior Women 4 Legs of 4.33km. To qualify, the Senior Mens team have to finish in the first 25 at the Southern Road Relays on 23 September.
Entries Closing Date Friday 29 September
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager

VICTORIA PARK SPORTS MEDICINE METROPOLITAN LEAGUE – The first fixture of five takes place on Saturday 14 October at Claybury, Essex.
The following will be updated once the full information is published on the Metropolitan League website.
Course Location – Claybury Park, Roding Lane North, Woodford Green (Satnav IG8 8NN).
Race HQ – Start/Finish in Claybury Park.
Changing Facilities – Ashton Playing Fields Track, Chigwell Road (Satnav IG8 8AA). 10 minutes walk from course, limited shower facilities. No toilets on course, use Ashton Playing Fields.
Refreshments – Light refreshments throughout the afternoon at the WGEL clubhouse at Ashton Playing Fields. The club bar may be open after the senior men’s race.
Travel – Where possible, please use public transport, walk or cycle. If travelling by car, please car share to reduce the impact and check for restrictions that may be in effect in the area (Ultra Low Emission Zone for example). Please also park with consideration of others, especially if using on-street parking. The league and/or host club(s) do not warrant the accuracy of the information provided so take no responsibility for any fines or charges that may be levied.
Public transport – Woodford Underground Station (Central Line). Take trains with Loughton or Epping destination. 10 minute walk from station along Snakes Lane East to Ashton Playing Fields.
By Car – Use the A406 eastbound /M11 northbound junction and branch left onto A1400 signposted Gants Hill and then A113 at roundabout signposted Chigwell onto Chigwell Road. Ashton Playing Fields IG8 8AA is 800 metres away.
Claybury is outside the Ultra Low Emmission Zone, this is a Link to the map showing the new Ultra Low Emmission Zone, which is in Green – ulez-boundary-map-part-2
Link to check if your car is chargeable for the ULEZ – https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/
Parking – Approximately 150 spaces at Ashton Playing Fields (IG8 8AA). Parking in the vicinity of Claybury Park is impossible or extremely limited. Please look out for any restrictions and do not block access to any properties. There is virtually no parking in the Roding Lane North area because of residential parking. You are advised to park at Ashton Playing Fields and make the 10 minute walk to the course. You MUST NOT park on the grass triangle in Roding Lane North so as to avoid confrontation with residents. Any inconsiderate parking could jeopardise the future of the races.
To walk to the course from Ashton Playing Fields, take Gaynes Hill Road (opposite) to Roding Lane North (10 Minutes).
Course Details – Parkland setting , undulating course, with one steep climb on each large lap on grass and woodland paths. On certain sections the course width is limited.
The timetable is approximate and subject to change without notice where necessary. Please plan to arrive early and listen for any announcements. The timetable is approximate and subject to change without notice where necessary. Please plan to arrive early and listen for any announcements. Care is required particularly in the senior men’s race on the narrow downhill start.
Map of Course – Awaiting to be published.
Timetable – 12.00 Under 11 Boys/Girls (Over 9), 12.10 Under 13 Boys, 12.20 Under 13 Girls, 12.30 Under 15 Boys and Under 17, 12.45 Under 15 Girls and Under 17 Women, 13.00 Under 20, Senior and Veteran Women, 13.45 Under 20, Senior and Veteran Men.
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run.
Please collect your race numbers from the respective team managers – SIMON KEENE
JEREMY SOTHCOTT or JO KENT
Please go to Start Fitness Metropolitan League web site www.metleague.co.uk for final information.

VICTORIA PARK SPORTS MEDICINE METROPOLITAN LEAGUE RACE NUMBERS – I have been asked to remind you that your race number must be kept by yourselves, and is to be used for all 5 fixtures.

CROSS COUNTRY POINTS CHAMPIONSHIPS – The Metropolitan League at Claybury is the first race in the SBH Points Championships.

SOUTHERN CROSS COUNTRY RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 21 October at Wormwood Scrubs, Linford Christie Stadium, Du Cane Road (SatNav W12 0DF). Enter main car park off Du Cane Road (via Artillery Lane), through 6’6” height/width barrier. Extra parking will be available in the enclosed/fenced hospital parking area. Parking is free in all areas at the week-end.
Wormwood Scrubs is within the Ultra Low Emmission Zone, this is a Link to the map showing the new Ultra Low Emmission Zone, which is in Green – ulez-boundary-map-part-2
Link to check if your car is chargeable for the ULEZ – https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/
Timetable – 11.00 U17 & U20 Women (3 x 3km), 11.30 U17 & U20 Men (3 x 3km), 12.10 U13 Girls (3 x 2km), 12.40 U13 Boys (3 x 2km), 13.10 U15 Girls (3 x 2km), 13.35 U15 Boys (3 x 2km), 14.00 Senior Women (3 x 3km), 14.30 Senior Men (4 x 4km).
Entries Closing Date Friday 6 October
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager
Awaiting details from the SEAA website, the above information is based on the 2022 fixture

NORTH LONDON CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 28 October at Hackney Marshes, Homerton Road (SatNav E9 5PF).
Age-groups U20, Senior and Masters.
Timetable – 13.30 Senior Women (8000m), 14.15 Senior Men (8000m).
Entries Closing Date Saturday 21 October
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager

GEORGE HARRISON MBE MEMORIAL – Many thanks to NADEEM SHAIKH who sent me this article on GEORGE’S memorial..

A memorial event was held to remember coach GEORGE HARRISON MBE on Wednesday 23 August at Woolhams Playing Fields in St Albans. There was a fantastic turnout of around 90 people, which included GEOFF MORPHITIS, DAVE BEDFORD, plus many athletes GEORGE had coached in his 50 years of coaching. The event was organised by St Albans School, with the help of  ROY HEAD, STEPHANIE PAPARIZOS and TOM BEDFORD.

Many people paid their tributes to George, including Dave Bedford, Roy Head and Kenny Everritt from St Albans School, Pat Waterton from the Abbots Langley Tough Ten Race committee (George was a founder member of the event) plus many SBH athletes such as VICTORIA WALKER, EUAN MACKENZIE, WAYNE DUMPLETON, JAMES CLARKE, MARK PEARCE and TOM BEDFORD.  TOM very kindly produced  a video link to the event, so that those who were unable to attend could watch it. Please see https://youtu.be/UyH-lDfw0X0

The Abbots Langley Tough Ten (ALTT) has been renamed the ‘GEORGE HARRISON Abbots Langley Tough Ten’ this year in memory of GEORGE and will take place on Sunday 1st October in Abbots Langley, which was the village where GEORGE lived. The event hosts a 1k, 3k, 5k race, as well as a 10k race. Anyone wishing to enter can do so at either
Abbots Langley George Harrison Tough 10 – Can you handle it? or Nice Work Race Management : Abbots Langley George Harrison Tough 10 (nice-work.org.uk)

The Abbots Langley Tough Ten committee are trying to raise funds (approx £2000) to purchase a bench in memory of GEORGE, which will be placed in the grounds of Manor House Playing Fields in Abbots Langley where the races take place every year. Anyone wishing to make a donation, but does not want to run or is unable to run/take part, can still make a contribution using the following link https://www.gofundme.com/f/abbots-langley-tough-ten-pay-not-to-run

HIGHGATE SOCIAL MEET UP – Will take place on Monday 16th October at the Wrestlers Pub, in Highgate Village at 5.30-6pm. This is where the club runs started in the 1930, and hopefully we can replicate the photo taken in our centenary book.
Unfortunately DAVE and RAY i will be on holiday from the 12 October, but look forward in receiving a report and photographs when i return, for the Newsletter.

BETH POTTER CROWNED WORLD TRIATHLON SERIES CHAMPION – The following article was published on the British Triathlon website recently.

BETH POTTER put in a stunning performance to be crowned world champion as she won the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Pontevedra with teammate KATE WAUGH securing a British 1-2 with an equally impressive race. The quartet of Brits in the race was completed by SOPHIE COLDWELL who secured another top-ten spot as she finished 7th and OLIVIA MATTHIAS returning from injury to finish 32nd.

Out of the swim and onto the bike, MATTHIAS  led a British 1-2 with COLDWELL joining her at the front of the field. POTTER was paried with WAUGH 17 second off their teammates in a chase group.

It did not take long for POTTER and WAUGH to close up however, joining their compatriots by the midway point of lap one of the bike leg. As the 15 strong lead group moved through lap two they built a 30 second gap back to the chase group with BEAUGRAND amongst their group. At the halfway point of the race, POTTER had moved into the top-ten for the first time on the bike leg, riding at the front of the lead group. With the leaders trading positions, the chasing group were closing the gap on the leaders who weren’t pushing ahead. On lap five of eight, POTTER and BEAUGRAND came together on the bike in sixth and seventh with MATHIAS the lead Brit in fifth. COLDWELL, who had led the group for a lot of the opening laps, had settled back into the pack in ninth as did WAUGH in 15th. With one lap left, the chasing group had closed to with 30 seconds of the leaders with the British athletes no longer pulling the group along and opting to settle into the pack ahead of the run.

Heading into T2, MATHIAS led the way with WAUGH in second and COLDWELL third as POTTER led BEAUGRAND in tenth. Out of transition though, French triathlete EMMA LOMBARDI led the way as the Brits all swapped around. POTTER moved up to fourth alongside her teammates and, during the opening lap, WAUGH and POTTER climbed the standings and traded top spot as COLDWELL was fifth. MATHIAS further down the field as she dropped 21 seconds back in 23rd. The lead trio of POTTER, LOMBARDI and WAUGH put a six second gap back to BEAUGRAND as COLDWELL was battling it out with the French star and JEANNA LEHAIR of Luxembourg for fourth place. At the halfway stage, WAUGH’S strong run performance continued as she remained at the front of the race with POTTER, who had one hand on the world title thanks to an 11 second gap back to BEAUGRAND in second. On the third lap LOMBARDI dropped off the pace as WAUGH and POTTER moved seven seconds clear of the French athlete. COLDWELL’S battle with BEAUGRAND had come to an end as well, the French athlete knowing she needed a real charge to catch POTTER. MATHIAS was down the field working hard to climb into the top-30 as she dropped to 33rd. At the start of the last lap, POTTER had dropped her teammate by five seconds and she pushed on to extend that gap throughout the lap to take the win and the world championship crown by 18 seconds. WAUGH was the next over the line to secure the silver medal ahead of BEAUGRAND. COLDWELL earnt a top-ten finish as she crossed the line in seventh with MATHIAS finishing 32nd.

The overall series standings saw POTTER crowned 2023 World Champion, with BEAUGRAND second and LOMBARDI third.

Results – 1st BETH POTTER (1:53.19), 2nd KATE WAUGH (1:53.37), 3rd CASSANDRA BEAUGRAND (1:53.50)

TIGST ASSEFA SMASHES WORLD MARATHON RECORD IN BERLIN – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

TIGST ASSEFA smashes women’s world marathon record in Berlin with (2:11:53). The Ethiopian slices more than two minutes off BRIGID KOSGEI’S mark as ELUID KIPCHOGE wins men’s race in (2:02:42) and CHARLOTTE PURDUE goes No.2 on UK all-time rankings. It is 20 years since PAULA RADCLIFFE smashed the women’s world marathon record with (2:15:25) in London. Described as a “quantum leap” in 2003, it stood the test of time for 16 years before BRIGID KOSGEI eventually improved it to an incredible (2:14:04) in Chicago. KOSGEI’S mark survived four years but on Sunday (Sept 24) it was decimated in Berlin as TIGST ASSEFA of Ethiopia ran more than two minutes quicker with (2:11:53). If RADCLIFFE’S run represented a quantum leap then ASSEFA employed her warp drive boosters to take the marathon mark to the outer reaches of what the athletics universe believes is possible. After passing halfway in (66:20) the 29-year-old simply got faster with a negative split of (65:33) to create history. Never mind the (2:14) and (2:13) barriers, ASSEFA skipped those and went straight for the jugular with a sub-2:12. All of which meant ELIUD KIPCHOGE’S fifth victory in the Berlin Marathon men’s race in a swift (2:02:42) was relegated to the second biggest story of the day.

In 2022 in Berlin, ASSEFA caused a big surprise when she won in 2:15:37 to go No.3 on the world all-time rankings. That run saw her improve her best from a modest (2:34:01) where she had finished seventh in the Riyadh Marathon six months earlier. More remarkable was ASSEFA’S background as she had specialised in 800m before moving on to the roads, representing Ethiopia at the 2016 Rio Olympics on the track (she didn’t make it out of the heats) and with a two-lap best of (1:59.24) set in 2014. Prior to this she was better known as a 400m runner and clocked (54.05) for that distance in 2012. Maybe that basic leg speed helped her handle the vicious pace in Berlin as she ticked off kilometre splits in the (3:10) range as she passed 5km in (15:59), 10km in (31:45) (15:46), 15km (47:26) (15:41), 20km (62:52) (15:26), 25km (78:40) (15:48), 30km (94:12) (15:32), 35km (1:49:41) (15:29) and 40km (2:05:13) (15:32) before running her final 2km at 3:03/km pace. Significantly given her upbringing in Ethiopia, she ran quicker than national hero ABEBE BIKILA, the 1960 and 1964 Olympic champion, who ran a world record of (2:12:11) in 1964.

Berlin is a notoriously fast course featuring a combination of smooth, flat roads and invariably a great climate for marathon running at this time of year. ASSEFA was also wearing adidas super-shoes on her feet and this was also a victory for a sponsor that has its origins in Germany and whose latest road racing shoe – the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 – was released this month costing $500. “I think this is the result of hard working which I have done for the last year,” said ASSEFA. Did she believe she could break (2:12)? “I expected to break the record but not by that much,” she said. On the Paris Olympics next year, she added: “The decision lies in the hands of (Ethiopian federation) committee members but I’ve set a record now which can’t be ignored so I hope to run in Paris.” The race almost failed to get off on time after climate protestors invaded the start area and threw orange paint on the ground. But once the runners were away ASSEFA settled into her stride as she was joined by fellow Ethiopians WORKENESH EDESA, SENBERE TEFERI and ZEINEBA YIMER plus Kenya’s SHEILA CHEPKIRU in the early stages. Accelerating through 17km with a (2:59) kilometre split, ASSEFA dropped her female rivals and just had some male pacemakers for company. Just after halfway she speeded up again with a (2:48) kilometre – the fastest of the race at that point – as she continued at world record pace.

Entering the final couple of kilometres it was clear ASSEFA was going to smash the world record but the big question was whether she could get inside (2:12). With her final pacer peeling away to leave her alone, she stormed home to break the barrier by seven seconds. Behind, many of her rivals had also been operating inside world record pace, despite being dropped, for much of the race but they faded as CHEPKIRUI placed second in (2:17:49), while MAGDALENA SHAURI took third in a Tanzanian record of (2:18:41). “Berlin is very special to me and after my win last year I had big plans for today,” ASSEFA continued. “I trained very hard over the last few months to accomplish the fastest time I have ever run. I’m very thankful for the support of the crowd along the race, but also for my partner adidas equipping me with their lightest racing shoe ever – the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 – which gave me that extra boost today to go and achieve a world record time. I could not be happier.”

On a day of fast times another adidas athlete, CHARLOTTE PURDUE, ran (2:22:17) to go No.2 on the UK all-time lists with a big PB. PURDUE had previously sat fourth on the rankings with (2:23:12) from London 2021 but the 32-year-old overtook MARA YAMAUCHI’S (2:23:12) from London 2009 and JESS PIASECKI’S (2:22:25) from Seville in 2022 to put herself in pole position for Olympic marathon selection.

For much of the morning it looked like there could be two world records as KIPCHOGE passed through halfway in (60:22). He was on pace to break the (2:01:09) record he set in Berlin 12 months ago but he began to drift off the pace from halfway onwards. KIPCHOGE had company as well for much of the race in the shape of the unheralded DERSEH KINDIE of Ethiopia. But KINDIE’S challenge ended at 31km as KIPCHOGE broke clear with the final remaining pacemaker, HILLARY CHEPKWONY. Moments later KINDIE stepped off the road, too, as did CHEPKWONY as KIPCHOGE was left alone for the final 11km. With VINCENT KIPKEMOI of Kenya, AMOS KIPRUTO of Kenya and TADESE TAKELE of Ethiopia seemingly closing on KIPCHOGE, there was a moment when it looked like he might be in trouble. But he continued to cruise along effortlessly and despite a strong late surge from KIPKEMOI, KIPCHOGE held on to win by 31 seconds as KIPKEMOI ran (2:03:13) on his marathon debut. TAKELE clocked (2:03:24) in third with RONALD KORIR of Kenya (2:04:22) in fourth and HAFTU TEKLU of Ethiopia (2:04:42) in fifth. BELAY SHIFERAW of Ethiopia ran (2:04:44) in sixth, KIPRUTO (2:04:49) in seventh and PHILEMON KIPLIMO of Kenya (2:04:56) in eighth with AMANAL PETROS running a German record on home soil of (2:04:58) in ninth.

On struggling to add another world record to his amazing CV, KIPCHOGE said: “I was expecting to do the same but that’s not how it happened and that’s the way sport is. Every race is a learning lesson.” With a number of Brits travelling to Berlin in search of fast times, LOUISE SMALL ran a PB of (2:30:54) as WEYNAY GHEBRESILASIE also clocked a PB of (2:09:50).

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS ON INSTAGRAM– Since the account was setup towards the end of last year, there has been an amazing amount of Videos and Photographs contributed with many comments. There are no posts this week.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS NEW INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT– Many thanks to SEAN SUTHERLAND who undertook a review on the best way forward, following this a decision was made to set up a new account, and SEAN has now set that account up.
To follow our newInstagram account, from your own account, by searching for ‘shaftesbury_barnet’ or by clicking https://www.instagram.com/shaftesbury_barnet/
To Members and Parents, if you wish for any photographs to be posted on Instagram, please email them to sbh.instagram@outlook.com  If you can at the same time give details on when and where the photographs was taken, plus any other comments.
Please feel free to post photographs of any special occasion, for example, your wedding day, an addition to the family.

THE FOLLOWING IS CLUB INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS

SBH 2023-2024 WINTER FIXTURE CARD – The Fixture Card Front Sheet and Information Sheet can be found on the SBH website.
Link to the Winter Fixture Card and Information Sheet – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/
Please select a document, following this you can print a copy for future reference.

SBH 2023-2024 WINTER POINTS AND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TABLES – Currently a draft of the Winter Points and Club Championship tables are published on the SBH website.
Link to the draft of the Winter Points tables, which will be updated following the 14 October Metropolitan League – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/winter-xc-points-tables/
Link to the draft of the Club Championships table, which will be updated following the 2 December Metropolitan League – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/winter-xc-club-championships/
Please select a document, following this you can print a copy for future reference.

GEORGE HARRISON MBE MEMORIAL DOCUMENT – The document has been put together with contributors from LISA WEBB, MARTIN ROCHFORD, NADEEM SHAIKH, RACHEL FELTON, LIAM and JAMIE DEE, JAMES LOVELL, EMILIA ECONOMU, ALAN WELLER,  KAREN HARRISON,  TIM UNDERHILL, GLEN WATTS, JOANNA WINFIELD, SHAUN CLIFFORD and EUAN MACKENZIE – Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Memorial To George Harrison From Friends And Members 20 April 2023
If you wish to contribute your own memories and/or photographs of GEORGE, please email them to me, either within the email or as a separate attached word document.

CODES OF CONDUCT – SBH have now adopted the UK Athletics (UKA) and the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAF) Codes of Conduct which set out national standards of conduct for all clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes in the sport.  The purpose of the codes are to clarify what behaviours are acceptable and unacceptable, the standards of practice expected and the basis for challenging and improving practice.  The Codes are similar to our previous Codes of Conduct which were part of the previous ClubMark scheme.  All club member and anyone undertaking a relevant role must agree to abide by the codes of conduct. The Codes of Conduct have now been put onto our Website, please read these to understand the commitments you are making by being a member of SBH.
Link to the Code of Conduct document – Codes Of Conduct Booklet 2021 (1)

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH WEBSITE BY USING THIS LINK – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Section ‘About Us’, includes Annual Reports, Best Performance Trophy Awards, Individual And Relay Best Performances By Year, Club Records and SBH All-Time Top 10 T&F Performances.
Section ‘Team Managers And Competitions’, shows details of Track & Field, Cross Country and Road Relays Team Managers.
Section ‘Future Information/Results’, includes Information On Each Fixture, Summer & Winter Fixture Cards, Winter X/C Points Tables and Winter Club Championships Winners.

COMPLETELY USELESS RANDOM FACT – Did you know … We had over 278,000 parkrunners attend an event last week, that’s almost the population of Barbados!

UPCOMING ROAD RELAY AND CROSS COUNTRY FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 5 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER UNTIL WEDNESDAY 25 OCTOBER – The SBH 2023-2024 Winter Fixture Card will be issued and posted on the SBH website from Mid September – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/

SOUTHERN SENIOR MEN’S, WOMEN’S AND YOUNG ATHLETES ROAD RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 23 September at the Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot (Satnav GU11 1PZ).
Timetable – 10.30 U13 Boys (3 x 3000m), 10.58 U13 Girls (3 x 3000m), 11.26 U15 Boys (3 x 3000m), 11.53 U15 Girls (3 x 3000m), 12.30 U17 Men (3 x 4600m), 12.32 U17 Women (3 x 4600m), 13.30 U20, Senior, Master 40+ & 50+ Women (4 x 6000m), 15.15 U20 & Senior Men (6 x 6000m), 15.15 Masters 40+ & 50+ Men (4 x 6000m)
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager
Entries Closed

NORTH WEST LONDON LEAGUE – The first fixture of five takes place on Saturday 30 September at the Tir Chonail Gaelic Sports Club, at the end of Berkeley Avenue, Greenford (Satnav UB6 0NZ).
For age-groups U11, U13 & U15 Boys and Girls.
Directions – turn off Greenford Road (A4127), opposite the entrance to the Glaxo Factory. The playing fields are at the end of Berkeley Avenue. Car parking spaces is limited and we had considerable problems with too many cars at recent fixtures. If you can share cars please, also do not park on the areas marked out for the course.
Timetable – Still to be issued.
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run. Will any of our Female athletes please see JEREMY SOTHCOTT who will give you a race number

NATIONAL ROAD RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 7 October at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, Town Gate Entrance, Birmingham (Satnav B73 6BU).
Timetable – 11.00 U13 Boys, 11.05 U13 Girls, 12.00 U15 Boys, 12.05 U15 Girls, 12.50 U17 Men, 12.55 U17 Women. All races are 3 Legs of 3.88km. 14.00 Senior Men 6 Legs of 5.848km. 14.10 Senior Women 4 Legs of 4.33km. To qualify, the Senior Mens team have to finish in the first 25 at the Southern Road Relays on 23 September.
Entries Closing Date Friday 29 September
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager

VICTORIA PARK SPORTS MEDICINE METROPOLITAN LEAGUE – The first fixture of five takes place on Saturday 14 October at Claybury, Essex.
The following will be updated once the full information is published on the Metropolitan League website.
Course Location – Claybury Park, Roding Lane North, Woodford Green (Satnav IG8 8NN).
Race HQ – Start/Finish in Claybury Park.
Changing Facilities – Ashton Playing Fields Track, Chigwell Road (Satnav IG8 8AA). 10 minutes walk from course, limited shower facilities. No toilets on course, use Ashton Playing Fields.
Refreshments – Light refreshments throughout the afternoon at the WGEL clubhouse at Ashton Playing Fields. The club bar may be open after the senior men’s race.
Travel – Where possible, please use public transport, walk or cycle. If travelling by car, please car share to reduce the impact and check for restrictions that may be in effect in the area (Ultra Low Emission Zone for example). Please also park with consideration of others, especially if using on-street parking. The league and/or host club(s) do not warrant the accuracy of the information provided so take no responsibility for any fines or charges that may be levied.
Public transport – Woodford Underground Station (Central Line). Take trains with Loughton or Epping destination. 10 minute walk from station along Snakes Lane East to Ashton Playing Fields.
By Car – Use the A406 eastbound /M11 northbound junction and branch left onto A1400 signposted Gants Hill and then A113 at roundabout signposted Chigwell onto Chigwell Road. Ashton Playing Fields IG8 8AA is 800 metres away.
Claybury is outside the Ultra Low Emmission Zone, this is a Link to the map showing the new Ultra Low Emmission Zone, which is in Green – ulez-boundary-map-part-2
Link to check if your car is chargeable for the ULEZ – https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/
Parking – Approximately 150 spaces at Ashton Playing Fields (IG8 8AA). Parking in the vicinity of Claybury Park is impossible or extremely limited. Please look out for any restrictions and do not block access to any properties. There is virtually no parking in the Roding Lane North area because of residential parking. You are advised to park at Ashton Playing Fields and make the 10 minute walk to the course. You MUST NOT park on the grass triangle in Roding Lane North so as to avoid confrontation with residents. Any inconsiderate parking could jeopardise the future of the races.
To walk to the course from Ashton Playing Fields, take Gaynes Hill Road (opposite) to Roding Lane North (10 Minutes).
Course Details – Parkland setting , undulating course, with one steep climb on each large lap on grass and woodland paths. On certain sections the course width is limited.
The timetable is approximate and subject to change without notice where necessary. Please plan to arrive early and listen for any announcements. The timetable is approximate and subject to change without notice where necessary. Please plan to arrive early and listen for any announcements. Care is required particularly in the senior men’s race on the narrow downhill start.
Map of Course – Awaiting to be published.
Timetable – 12.00 Under 11 Boys/Girls (Over 9), 12.10 Under 13 Boys, 12.20 Under 13 Girls, 12.30 Under 15 Boys and Under 17, 12.45 Under 15 Girls and Under 17 Women, 13.00 Under 20, Senior and Veteran Women, 13.45 Under 20, Senior and Veteran Men.
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run.
Please collect your race numbers from the respective team managers – SIMON KEENE
JEREMY SOTHCOTT or JO KENT
Please go to Start Fitness Metropolitan League web site www.metleague.co.uk for final information.

VICTORIA PARK SPORTS MEDICINE METROPOLITAN LEAGUE RACE NUMBERS – I have been asked to remind you that your race number must be kept by yourselves, and is to be used for all 5 fixtures.

CROSS COUNTRY POINTS CHAMPIONSHIPS – The Metropolitan League at Claybury is the first race in the SBH Points Championships.

SOUTHERN CROSS COUNTRY RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 21 October at Wormwood Scrubs, Linford Christie Stadium, Du Cane Road (SatNav W12 0DF). Enter main car park off Du Cane Road (via Artillery Lane), through 6’6” height/width barrier. Extra parking will be available in the enclosed/fenced hospital parking area. Parking is free in all areas at the week-end.
Wormwood Scrubs is within the Ultra Low Emmission Zone, this is a Link to the map showing the new Ultra Low Emmission Zone, which is in Green – ulez-boundary-map-part-2
Link to check if your car is chargeable for the ULEZ – https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/
Timetable – 11.00 U17 & U20 Women (3 x 3km), 11.30 U17 & U20 Men (3 x 3km), 12.10 U13 Girls (3 x 2km), 12.40 U13 Boys (3 x 2km), 13.10 U15 Girls (3 x 2km), 13.35 U15 Boys (3 x 2km), 14.00 Senior Women (3 x 3km), 14.30 Senior Men (4 x 4km). Times are as the 2021 fixture.
Entries Closing Date TBC
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager
Awaiting details from the SEAA website, the above information is based on the 2022 fixture

WORLD RECORDS IN 5000m AND POLE VAULT IN DIAMOND LEAGUE FINAL – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

One year after winning the world 5000m title in Eugene, GUDAF TSEGAY returned to the Hayward Field venue to smash the world record for the distance on the second day of the Diamond League finals. With (14:00.21) the 26-year-old from Ethiopia improved FAITH KIPYEGON’S mark of (14:05.20) which was set in Paris earlier this summer. She came agonisingly close to becoming the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier for 5000m, but she was hardly disappointed as she celebrated and embraced her fellow competitors. These included runner-up BEATRICE CHEBET of Kenya, who was almost inside the old world record herself with (14:05.92). Racing just after midday at this Pre Classic event, SINCLAIRE JOHNSON led through 1000m in (2:48.08) before another pacemaker, ELISE CRANNY, went through 2000m in (5:37.24). BIRKE HAYLOM then passed 3000m in the lead in (8:26.03) with TSEGAY bouncing along close behind. Knocking out 67-second laps like a metronome, TSEGAY hit 4000m in (11:16.89) and as she wound it up she began to pull away from CHEBET before entering the final lap, at which stage it was clear the world record was going to fall but the big question was whether the winning time would be inside 14 minutes.

TSEGAY has taken the event to a new level. When the women’s 5000m was in its infancy as an official world record attempt, MARY DECKER ran a world record of (15:08.26) in 1982 in Eugene. Two years later INGRID KRISTIANSON became the first woman to break 15 minutes with (14:58.89) in Oslo. TSEGAY, who also holds the world indoor 1500m record with (3:53.09), has now run faster than the legendary PAAVO NURMI and only three seconds slower than the iconic EMIL ZATOPEK. “My focus today was the world record,” she said, before adding on the prospect of breaking 14 minutes next year, “Yes, I try.”

There was no world record in the men’s 3000m but JAKOB INGEBRIGTSEN and YOMIF KEJELCHA enjoyed an epic duel with the Norwegian winning by one hundredth of a second in a European record of (7:23.63). The target had been DANIEL KOMEN’S long-standing world record of (7:20.67) but the pace drifted away at the halfway mark and it turned into a genuine race as opposed to a time trial with a number of athletes queuing up behind INGEBRIGTSEN at the bell. INGEBRIGTSEN was racing just 24 hours after setting a European mile record of 3:43.73 and here he led down the back straight as KEJELCHA moved past fellow Ethiopian TELAHUN BEKELE and into second place on INGEBRIGTSEN’S shoulder. Into the home straight Ingebrigtsen held a slender lead and kicked from the front as KEJELCHA strained with effort to draw level. With 50 metres to go INGEBRIGTSEN turned his head to his right and the danger was there. The Ethiopian, who holds the world indoor mile record, had greater momentum in the closing metres but came agonisingly short as INGEBRIGTSEN tumbled over the finish line, although it was so close the decision wasn’t known for a few moments. Like the mile the previous day, the event had amazing depth with GRANT FISHER third in a North American record of (7:25.47), BEKELE was fourth in (7:25.48), SELEMON BAREGA fifth in (7:26.28), BERIHU AREGAWI fifth in (7:28.38) and LUIS GRIJALVA also breaking (7:30) with (7:29.43) but finishing only seventh.

The women’s 800m was a re-match of last month’s world final in Budapest but it ended up being more of an action replay of the 2022 world final on the same Eugene track. Last year ATHING MU beat KEELY HODGKINSON in a thrilling battle and a similar struggle unfolded here as MU edged past HODGKINSON in the home straight to win in a world lead and American record of (1:54.97) as HODGKINSON improved her British record from (1:55.77) to (1:55.19). In third, NATOYA GOULE ran a Jamaican record of (1:55.96) with world champion MARY MORAA of Kenya fading in the final 120 metres and finishing fourth in (1:57.42). With everyone ignoring pacemaker KAYLIN WHITNEY through 400m in (55.9), HODGKINSON led the contenders through the bell in 57 seconds with MU on her shoulder. MORAA was forced to run wide for much of the second lap and ran out of steam around the final bend, but MU, who took bronze in Budapest, was in control as she powered past HODGKINSON. “I felt really new and refreshed,” said MU. “I wasn’t even hoping for the American record, I was just hoping for a PR, but I knew I could do something fast if I could just relax and compete.” HODGKINSON said: “I’m actually really proud of myself. I’m happy with a national record and a huge PB, so it’s a really good way to end the season. It’s a different result every time we run, so it’s good to be a part of it. There’s not really much pressure today, so I just wanted to commit.”

Earlier in the programme the men’s 800m was no less exciting as EMMANUEL WANYONYI of Kenya clawed his way past world champion and long-time leader MARCO AROP of Canada in the closing metres to win in (1:42.80). It was a world leading mark and meeting record as runner-up AROP ran a PB of (1:42.85), third-placed DJARNEL SEDJATI of Algeria set a PB of (1:43.06) and DAN ROWDEN of Britain was fourth in (1:44.21).

 As if the second day of the Diamond League final wasn’t spectacular enough, MONDO DUPLANTIS gave the meeting its second world record with a (6.23m) clearance in the pole vault. With the competition wrapped up with a (6.02m) jump, DUPLANTIS enjoyed a first-time clearance at (6.23m) before celebrating wildly in what is clearly one of his favourite venues. It is little over a year, after all, since he set a world record of (6.21m) to win the world title here, although he subsequently improved the mark to (6.22m) indoors in France in February. “The limit is very high and I hope that I can continue to jump well and keep jumping higher than I did today,” said DUPLANTIS, “but for now I’m not really thinking about anything except enjoying this moment and enjoying what I just did. “For me, I just try to jump high. I love pole vaulting so much and I’ve loved it ever since I was just a little kid. If I’m able to take pole vaulting to another level and I can get as many eyes as possible watching it by jumping really high and doing some cool things, then that’s a job well done by me.”

Similar to the first day of these Diamond League finals, there was little sign of end-of-season fatigue with a number of world leading performances.

The women’s high jumpers were among those excelling as YAROSLAVA MAHUCHIKH of Ukraine and NICOLA OLYSLAGERS of Australia jumped a world lead of (2.03m). MAHUCHIKH won the Diamond Trophy on countback but OLYSLAGERS had the consolation of an Oceania record as rising star Angelina Topic placed third with (1.95m) and Britain’s MORGAN LAKE fifth equal with (1.91m).

Another world lead came in the 110m hurdles with Olympic champion HANSLE PARCHMENT of Jamaica clocking (12.93 w0.9) as world champion GRANT HOLLOWAY of the United States was runner-up with (13.06).

MATT DENNY enjoyed a surprise win in the men’s discus with an Australian record of (68.43m) in the final round to beat KRISTJAN CEH of Slovenia and world champion DANIEL STAHL of Sweden as Britain’s LAWRENCE OKOYE was fifth with (65.23m).

JOE KOVACS produced another big surprise as the two-day meeting drew to a close when he threw (22.93m) in the shot put to beat world record-holder RYAN CROUSER (22.91m) and TOM WALSH (22.69m). KOVACS took the lead with (22.70m) in the first round and CROUSER hit back with (22.91m) in round two. But KOVACS rose to the occasion with (22.93m) in the fourth round and CROUSER, who won the world title last month after finding blood clots in his leg, could not quite regain the lead with (22.86m) in the sixth round.

The final event went to form, though, with SHERICKA JACKSON of Jamaica taking the 200m in (21.57 w0.3) with Britain’s DARYLL NEITA in fifth in (22.35).

WORLD CROSS COUNTRY 2024 IN LIMBO – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

The 2024 World Cross Country Championships is looking for a new home after Croatia was forced to abandon plans to stage next year’s event in Medulin and Pula amid accusations from World Athletics that “preparations have not advanced sufficiently”. The global governing body say they are in advance negotiations with a replacement host in Europe. Finding an alternative venue probably wasn’t easy, though, given that the event has earned a reputation in recent years as the unwanted child of World Athletics.

The last time Britain staged the event was in 2008 when Holyrood Park in Edinburgh proved a fine setting. However some of the host country’s top athletes like MO FARAH chose not to compete and even the UKA performance director at the time did not turn up. In 2009 the event moved to Amman in Jordan with athletes racing on a course that I described in AW as “resembling a building site” and where the only grass was in the home straight. From that dust-up in the desert the World Cross moved to Bydgoszcz in both 2010 and 2013 as the Polish city staged it twice in the space of three years largely due to lack of interest from anyone else in hosting it. Sandwiched in between was a sun-drenched event in Punta Umbria in Spain in 2011 before it moved to the far-flung location of Guiyang in China in 2015. By this stage there were regular calls to “save the World Cross” with many European teams effectively boycotting it and after lively 2017 event in Kampala, which is best remembered for JOSHUA CHEPTEGEI imploding in the men’s race, the event was truly revitalised in Aarhus in 2019 with an imaginative course that included athletes running up the roof of an eco-museum.

After being delayed due to the pandemic, Bathurst in Australia took up the baton and held a good championships with a number of “features” on the course designed to test athletes and entertain spectators. In 2026 the event is due to be staged in Tallahassee in the United States, but the 2024 meeting now has a question mark over it. At least the new 2024 host will have a few months to prepare. In 2001 the World Cross was due to be held in Dublin but the hosts had to pull out (eventually hosting the event in 2002 instead) due to foot-and-mouth disease. Belgium came to the rescue with firstly Brussels and then Ostend offering to stage the meeting off just three weeks’ notice.

The 2024 event was due to be held on February 10 but is now likely to be in March. World Athletics has been trying to drag the championships back into February so that it doesn’t clash with the spring road racing season, but those plans will have to wait now until Tallahassee 2026. The British trials are due to be staged on January 20 at a Night of the 10,000m-style meeting on Parliament Hill. But for athletes who earn selection, where will they be heading? British athletics fans would love the event to come to London, Cardiff or Edinburgh. Dublin is another popular choice of venue. Logically, one of the recent hosts of the European Cross Country Champs might step up to stage the global event too.

You can probably rule out this year’s Euro Cross host, Brussels, but how about Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Slovakia, France, Bulgaria or Serbia – all hosts of the Euro Cross in the past decade? We await World Athletics’ verdict with interest. One thing for sure, though, is that their evaluation teams are renowned for being forensic and challenging when it comes to keeping tabs on a host’s preparations, but the governing body will surely have thought long and hard before taking the event away from Croatia. Cancelling a World Championships is not the kind of decision made on a whim.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS ON INSTAGRAM– Since the account was setup towards the end of last year, there has been an amazing amount of Videos and Photographs contributed with many comments. There is 1 post this week.

Photograph of SBH athletes at the Eastern Young Athletes League Top 6 Final.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS NEW INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT– Many thanks to SEAN SUTHERLAND who undertook a review on the best way forward, following this a decision was made to set up a new account, and SEAN has now set that account up.
To follow our newInstagram account, from your own account, by searching for ‘shaftesbury_barnet’ or by clicking https://www.instagram.com/shaftesbury_barnet/
To Members and Parents, if you wish for any photographs to be posted on Instagram, please email them to sbh.instagram@outlook.com  If you can at the same time give details on when and where the photographs was taken, plus any other comments.
Please feel free to post photographs of any special occasion, for example, your wedding day, an addition to the family.

THE FOLLOWING IS CLUB INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS

SBH 2023-2024 WINTER FIXTURE CARD – Currently the Fixture Card Front Sheet and Information Sheet has been published on the SBH website, the Fixtures once completed, will be published on the SBH website on the 22 September.
Link to the Winter Fixture Card and Information Sheet – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/
Please select a document, following this you can print a copy for future reference.

SBH 2023-2024 WINTER POINTS AND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TABLES – Currently a draft of the Winter Points and Club Championship tables are published on the SBH website.
Link to the draft of the Winter Points tables, which will be updated following the 14 October Metropolitan League – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/winter-xc-points-tables/
Link to the draft of the Club Championships table, which will be updated following the 2 December Metropolitan League – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/winter-xc-club-championships/
Please select a document, following this you can print a copy for future reference.

GEORGE HARRISON MBE MEMORIAL DOCUMENT – The document has been put together with contributors from LISA WEBB, MARTIN ROCHFORD, NADEEM SHAIKH, RACHEL FELTON, LIAM and JAMIE DEE, JAMES LOVELL, EMILIA ECONOMU, ALAN WELLER,  KAREN HARRISON,  TIM UNDERHILL, GLEN WATTS, JOANNA WINFIELD, SHAUN CLIFFORD and EUAN MACKENZIE – Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Memorial To George Harrison From Friends And Members 20 April 2023
If you wish to contribute your own memories and/or photographs of GEORGE, please email them to me, either within the email or as a separate attached word document.

CODES OF CONDUCT – SBH have now adopted the UK Athletics (UKA) and the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAF) Codes of Conduct which set out national standards of conduct for all clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes in the sport.  The purpose of the codes are to clarify what behaviours are acceptable and unacceptable, the standards of practice expected and the basis for challenging and improving practice.  The Codes are similar to our previous Codes of Conduct which were part of the previous ClubMark scheme.  All club member and anyone undertaking a relevant role must agree to abide by the codes of conduct. The Codes of Conduct have now been put onto our Website, please read these to understand the commitments you are making by being a member of SBH.
Link to the Code of Conduct document – Codes Of Conduct Booklet 2021 (1)

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH WEBSITE BY USING THIS LINK – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Section ‘About Us’, includes Annual Reports, Best Performance Trophy Awards, Individual And Relay Best Performances By Year, Club Records and SBH All-Time Top 10 T&F Performances.
Section ‘Team Managers And Competitions’, shows details of Track & Field, Cross Country and Road Relays Team Managers.
Section ‘Future Information/Results’, includes Information On Each Fixture, Summer & Winter Fixture Cards, Winter X/C Points Tables and Winter Club Championships Winners.

COMPLETELY USELESS RANDOM FACT – Did you know … With South Africa as the defending champions of the 2023 Rugby World Cup,there are over 200 parkrun events in South Africa.

UPCOMING ROAD RELAY AND CROSS COUNTRY FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 5 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 14 SEPTEMBER UNTIL WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER – The SBH 2023-2024 Winter Fixture Card will be issued and posted on the SBH website from Mid September – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/

SOUTHERN SENIOR MEN’S, WOMEN’S AND YOUNG ATHLETES ROAD RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 23 September at the Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot (Satnav GU11 1PZ).
Timetable – 10.30 U13 Boys (3 x 3000m), 10.58 U13 Girls (3 x 3000m), 11.26 U15 Boys (3 x 3000m), 11.53 U15 Girls (3 x 3000m), 12.30 U17 Men (3 x 4600m), 12.32 U17 Women (3 x 4600m), 13.30 U20, Senior, Master 40+ & 50+ Women (4 x 6000m), 15.15 U20 & Senior Men (6 x 6000m), 15.15 Masters 40+ & 50+ Men (4 x 6000m)
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager
Entries Closed

NORTH WEST LONDON LEAGUE – The first fixture of five takes place on Saturday 30 September at the Tir Chonail Gaelic Sports Club, at the end of Berkeley Avenue, Greenford (Satnav UB6 0NZ).
For age-groups U11, U13 & U15 Boys and Girls.
Directions – turn off Greenford Road (A4127), opposite the entrance to the Glaxo Factory. The playing fields are at the end of Berkeley Avenue. Car parking spaces is limited and we had considerable problems with too many cars at recent fixtures. If you can share cars please, also do not park on the areas marked out for the course.
Timetable – Still to be issued.
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run. Will any of our Female athletes please see JEREMY SOTHCOTT who will give you a race number

NATIONAL ROAD RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 7 October at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, Town Gate Entrance, Birmingham (Satnav B73 6BU).
Timetable – 11.00 U13 Boys, 11.05 U13 Girls, 12.00 U15 Boys, 12.05 U15 Girls, 12.50 U17 Men, 12.55 U17 Women. All races are 3 Legs of 3.88km. 14.00 Senior Men 6 Legs of 5.848km. 14.10 Senior Women 4 Legs of 4.33km. To qualify, the Senior Mens team have to finish in the first 25 at the Southern Road Relays on 23 September.
Entries Closing Date Friday 29 September
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager

START FITNESS METROPOLITAN LEAGUE – The first fixture of five takes place on Saturday 14 October at Claybury, Essex.
The following will be updated once the full information is published on the Metropolitan League website.
Course Location – Claybury Park, Roding Lane North, Woodford Green (Satnav IG8 8NN).
Race HQ – Start/Finish in Claybury Park.
Changing Facilities – Ashton Playing Fields Track, Chigwell Road (Satnav IG8 8AA). 10 minutes walk from course, limited shower facilities. No toilets on course, use Ashton Playing Fields.
Refreshments – Light refreshments throughout the afternoon at the WGEL clubhouse at Ashton Playing Fields. The club bar may be open after the senior men’s race.
Travel – Where possible, please use public transport, walk or cycle. If travelling by car, please car share to reduce the impact and check for restrictions that may be in effect in the area (Ultra Low Emission Zone for example). Please also park with consideration of others, especially if using on-street parking. The league and/or host club(s) do not warrant the accuracy of the information provided so take no responsibility for any fines or charges that may be levied.
Public transport – Woodford Underground Station (Central Line). Take trains with Loughton or Epping destination. 10 minute walk from station along Snakes Lane East to Ashton Playing Fields.
By Car – Use the A406 eastbound /M11 northbound junction and branch left onto A1400 signposted Gants Hill and then A113 at roundabout signposted Chigwell onto Chigwell Road. Ashton Playing Fields IG8 8AA is 800 metres away.
Claybury is outside the Ultra Low Emmission Zone, this is a Link to the map showing the new Ultra Low Emmission Zone, which is in Green – ulez-boundary-map-part-2
Link to check if your car is chargeable for the ULEZ – https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/
Parking – Approximately 150 spaces at Ashton Playing Fields (IG8 8AA). Parking in the vicinity of Claybury Park is impossible or extremely limited. Please look out for any restrictions and do not block access to any properties. There is virtually no parking in the Roding Lane North area because of residential parking. You are advised to park at Ashton Playing Fields and make the 10 minute walk to the course. You MUST NOT park on the grass triangle in Roding Lane North so as to avoid confrontation with residents. Any inconsiderate parking could jeopardise the future of the races.
To walk to the course from Ashton Playing Fields, take Gaynes Hill Road (opposite) to Roding Lane North (10 Minutes).
Course Details – Parkland setting , undulating course, with one steep climb on each large lap on grass and woodland paths. On certain sections the course width is limited.
The timetable is approximate and subject to change without notice where necessary. Please plan to arrive early and listen for any announcements. The timetable is approximate and subject to change without notice where necessary. Please plan to arrive early and listen for any announcements. Care is required particularly in the senior men’s race on the narrow downhill start.
Map of Course – Awaiting to be published.
Timetable – 12.00 Under 11 Boys/Girls (Over 9), 12.10 Under 13 Boys, 12.20 Under 13 Girls, 12.30 Under 15 Boys and Under 17, 12.45 Under 15 Girls and Under 17 Women, 13.00 Under 20, Senior and Veteran Women, 13.45 Under 20, Senior and Veteran Men.
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run.
Please collect your race numbers from the respective team managers – SIMON KEENE
JEREMY SOTHCOTT or JO KENT
Please go to Start Fitness Metropolitan League web site www.metleague.co.uk for final information.

START FITNESS METROPOLITAN LEAGUE RACE NUMBERS – I have been asked to remind you that your race number must be kept by yourselves, and is to be used for all 5 fixtures.

CROSS COUNTRY POINTS CHAMPIONSHIPS – The Metropolitan League at Claybury is the first race in the SBH Points Championships.

PETER MATTHEWS, STATISTICIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE, DIES – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently. Photograph of PETER with STEVE OVETT taked by MARK SHEARMAN.

Highly respected British track and field expert has been one of the sport’s leading writers and commentators for more than half a century. PETER MATTHEWS, one of the most respected voices in athletics and arguably the world’s foremost track and field statistician, has died aged 78. After a lifetime in the sport where he excelled as a statistician, book editor, stadium announcer, radio and television commentator, historian and club president with Enfield & Haringey, he passed away in his sleep in the early hours of Saturday (Sept 9) after having had a recent history of heart problems. At his time of death he was long-time editor of the International Athletics Annual and chairman of the NUTS (National Union of Track Statisticians). In addition, he compiled the Athletics International newsletter as a solo venture following the death of his co-editor, Mel Watman, in 2021 and he was part-way through the next issue with his desk covered with notes and results when he died. MATTHEWS was born on January 6 in 1945 in Fareham in Hampshire and he joined the NUTS in 1966. He was involved in the British Athletics League in its early days in the late 1960s and by 1970 he worked as an announcer at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

In-stadia announcing became a big part of MATTHEWS life as he went on to enjoy this role at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the 2003 World Indoors in Birmingham, the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg and countless domestic events in the UK. With a clear and commanding voice together with encyclopaedic knowledge, he attracted plenty of radio and television work too, broadcasting for BBC radio from 1975-85 before switching to ITV from 1985-1996 and then Channel 4, Sky Sports and the IAAF.

But it was as a book editor where his work had possibly the greatest impact and endured over several decades. In 1984 he began a long period as editor of the International Athletics Annual, for example, produced by the worldwide Association of Track & Field Statisticians (ATFS), ahead of its 1985 edition and turned it into a brilliantly in-depth summary of the year’s performances. Indeed, his editor’s notes in the ATFS annual were a must-read and he was never afraid to voice strong views on the sport. In particular he was exasperated in recent years by the dwindling number of competitive opportunities on home soil for British athletes – especially the loss of the traditional international matches that used to fill the summer – and he was fiercely critical of UKA’s selection strategy for last month’s World Championships in Budapest. Similarly, he edited the British Athletics Annual from 1980 onwards before it became more of a joint operation in recent years. As the internet began to take its effect, these statistical books became less popular but they were still being published when he died.

Outside athletics he was editor of the Guinness Book of Records from 1991-95 after previously having worked as a sports editor at the famous publication. Perhaps most impressively of all was his compilation of the UK merit rankings. He began putting these together in painstaking style in 1967 and more than half a century later he was still publishing them in the AW magazine or website at the close of last year.

While his knowledge and influence of the sport was truly international, he was deeply involved with the sport at grassroots level in the UK and served as president of Borough of Enfield Harriers and, following a merger, Enfield and Haringey AC for 25 years. In recent years he was also president of the UK Counties Athletics Union too. Such achievements led to him being awarded the prestigious RON PICKERING Memorial Award for Services to Athletics in 2009 whereas in 2018 he was inducted into the England Athletics hall of fame.

ATHLETICS RELATED JOKE – KARL MARX is a historical famous figure, but nobody ever mentions is sister ONYA MARKS– who invented the starting pistol.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS ON INSTAGRAM– Since the account was setup towards the end of last year, there has been an amazing amount of Videos and Photographs contributed with many comments. There is 1 post this week.

Photograph of SBH athletes at the Eastern Young Athletes League Top 6 Final.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS NEW INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT– Many thanks to SEAN SUTHERLAND who undertook a review on the best way forward, following this a decision was made to set up a new account, and SEAN has now set that account up.
To follow our newInstagram account, from your own account, by searching for ‘shaftesbury_barnet’ or by clicking https://www.instagram.com/shaftesbury_barnet/
To Members and Parents, if you wish for any photographs to be posted on Instagram, please email them to sbh.instagram@outlook.com  If you can at the same time give details on when and where the photographs was taken, plus any other comments.
Please feel free to post photographs of any special occasion, for example, your wedding day, an addition to the family.

THE FOLLOWING IS CLUB INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS

SBH 2023-2024 WINTER FIXTURE CARD – Will be issued and published on the SBH website, during mid September. 
Link to the document which gives details of the Metropolitan and North West London league dates/venues, remaining Cross Country league dates/venues, Cross Country points and club championship races and Road Relay dates/venues – SBH Winter Fixture Card Information

GEORGE HARRISON MBE MEMORIAL DOCUMENT – The document has been put together with contributors from LISA WEBB, MARTIN ROCHFORD, NADEEM SHAIKH, RACHEL FELTON, LIAM and JAMIE DEE, JAMES LOVELL, EMILIA ECONOMU, ALAN WELLER,  KAREN HARRISON,  TIM UNDERHILL, GLEN WATTS, JOANNA WINFIELD, SHAUN CLIFFORD and EUAN MACKENZIE – Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Memorial To George Harrison From Friends And Members 20 April 2023
If you wish to contribute your own memories and/or photographs of GEORGE, please email them to me, either within the email or as a separate attached word document.

CODES OF CONDUCT – SBH have now adopted the UK Athletics (UKA) and the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAF) Codes of Conduct which set out national standards of conduct for all clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes in the sport.  The purpose of the codes are to clarify what behaviours are acceptable and unacceptable, the standards of practice expected and the basis for challenging and improving practice.  The Codes are similar to our previous Codes of Conduct which were part of the previous ClubMark scheme.  All club member and anyone undertaking a relevant role must agree to abide by the codes of conduct. The Codes of Conduct have now been put onto our Website, please read these to understand the commitments you are making by being a member of SBH.
Link to the Code of Conduct document – Codes Of Conduct Booklet 2021 (1)

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH WEBSITE BY USING THIS LINK – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Section ‘About Us’, includes Annual Reports, Best Performance Trophy Awards, Individual And Relay Best Performances By Year, Club Records and SBH All-Time Top 10 T&F Performances.
Section ‘Team Managers And Competitions’, shows details of Track & Field, Cross Country and Road Relays Team Managers.
Section ‘Future Information/Results’, includes Information On Each Fixture, Summer & Winter Fixture Cards, Winter X/C Points Tables and Winter Club Championships Winners.

UPCOMING ROAD RELAY AND TRACK AND FIELD FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 4 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 7 SEPTEMBER UNTIL WEDNESDAY 4 OCTOBER – The SBH 2023-2024 Winter Fixture Card will be issued and posted on the SBH website from Mid September – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/

EASTERN YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE TOP 6 FINAL  – Takes place on Sunday 10 September at the Chelmsford Sport & Athletic Centre, Salerno Way, Chelmsford (Satnav CM1 2EH)
Age-Groups Under U13, U15 & U17 Men/Women.
Link to the timetable – EYAL-Finals-Timetable-2023 (2)
Note: You will have to be selected by your Team Manager

SOUTHERN U15 AND U17 INTER COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Sunday 10 September at the Horspath Athletics And Sports Ground, Horspath Road, Oxford (Satnav OX4 2RR).
Please Note: You will selected by your County Team Manager

SOUTHERN SENIOR MEN’S, WOMEN’S AND YOUNG ATHLETES ROAD RELAYS – Takes place on Saturday 23 September at the Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot (Satnav GU11 1PZ).
Timetable – 10.30 U13 Boys (3 x 3000m), 10.58 U13 Girls (3 x 3000m), 11.26 U15 Boys (3 x 3000m), 11.53 U15 Girls (3 x 3000m), 12.30 U17 Men (3 x 4600m), 12.32 U17 Women (3 x 4600m), 13.30 U20, Senior, Master 40+ & 50+ Women (4 x 6000m), 15.15 U20 & Senior Men (6 x 6000m), 15.15 Masters 40+ & 50+ Men (4 x 6000m)
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager
Entries Closing Date Thursday 7 September

NORTH WEST LONDON LEAGUE – The first fixture of five takes place on Saturday 30 September at the Tir Chonail Gaelic Sports Club, at the end of Berkeley Avenue, Greenford (Satnav UB6 0NZ).
For age-groups U11, U13 & U15 Boys and Girls.
Directions – turn off Greenford Road (A4127), opposite the entrance to the Glaxo Factory. The playing fields are at the end of Berkeley Avenue. Car parking spaces is limited and we had considerable problems with too many cars at recent fixtures. If you can share cars please, also do not park on the areas marked out for the course.
Timetable – Still to be issued.
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run. Will any of our Female athletes please see JEREMY SOTHCOTT who will give you a race number

GEORGE HARRISON’S MEMORIAL – The St Albans School Memorial was held on Wednesday 23 August, at Woollam Playing Fields School Pavilion. Following the Memorial the guests adjourned afterwards to The White Horse in Harpenden.
Many thanks to MARTIN ROCHFORD who sent me this photograph showing SBH athletes at the White Horse. They are from left to right – BEN ROCHFORD, SAM GRIFFITHS, ROBBIE LIGHTOWLER, MARK PEARCE and TOM FULTON.

KRISTIAN IMROTH USA BOUND – Contacted KRISTIAN recently, who updated me on his upcoming move to the USA.

Yes I’m going to Eastern Kentucky University! This is for a 2 year masters in sport administration. It’s a very steeple heavy university with two guys running sub 8:30 so I’m hoping to be the 3rd. This is the strongest team they’ve had in years so really looking to try and get to NCAA cross country and challenge for all titles possible! My aims are to try and help the team make the NCAA cross country championships and then get to the NCAA outdoor championships next summer!

Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, Kentucky, and currently there are 14,465 students. The University was founded in 1894, from 2012 the campus has been vastly improved with a multimillion-dollar project.

Traditions – Among EKU’s most prominent traditions is the rubbing of DANIEL BOONE’S left foot for good luck; the statue features prominently in front of the Keen Johnson Building. More recently, former President BENSON initiated the Welcome Walk at the beginning of the fall semester; first-year students gather in front of Keen Johnson Building with the President before walking along University Drive and passing through the new Turner Gate.

No name looms larger in the story of the early American West than DANIEL BOONE’S exploits in exploring and hunting in the Bluegrass, as well as its defense during the American Revolution 1775-1783 made him a legend in his own time.

The men’s and women’s cross-country team has also been a staple of success over the recent decade. The men’s team has won all ten of the last ten OVC Championships, and the women have won nine of the last ten. In 2011 the men’s cross country team qualified for NCAA National Cross Country Meet for the first time in school history. Since 2011, the team has qualified for the NCAA National Cross Country Meet five consecutive times.

On behalf of the club we wish KRISTIAN every success in his academic and athletics career in Kentucky.

RIGA UNVEILS MEDALS FOR WORLD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

Just one month to go to the next big global event following last week’s World Champs in Budapest. On the eve of the British trials for the World Half Marathon Championships in Riga, the organisers of the global event on October 1 have unveiled the design of the medals. British distance runners are poised to race in the half-marathon trial at the Vitality Big Half in London on Sunday (Sept 3) and the 5km and one mile trials at the Great North Run weekend in Newcastle and Gateshead next week.

With exactly one month to go to the World Road Running Championships, the local organising committee has revealed the medals’ design inspired by Latvian culture. The design of these medals, created by MAIJA ROZENFELDE, draws inspiration from Latvian artist’s NIKLAVS STRUNKE artwork “A Man Entering a Room.”

The artwork “A Man Entering a Room” by NIKLAVS STRUNKE is prominently showcased in the permanent exhibition of the Latvian National Museum of Art. To strengthen the connection between Latvian culture and the World Championships, the starting point for the mile race will be situated at the base of this iconic museum. Additionally, participants in the 21km distance will have the privilege of running past this prominent architectural gem. “At the outset of organising the championships, we made it clear that Latvian culture and art would be integral to the inaugural World Championships,” says AIGARS NORDS, head of the local organising committee in Riga.

“Participants of the World Championships will have the chance to enjoy singers and dancers during the race. And the medals awarded to both world champions and mass race participants at the finish line will be inspired by the renowned artwork by STRUNKE.”. MAIJA ROZENFELDE, the designer of the medals, says: “The concept behind the medals is rooted in the geometry of the race, encompassing elements such as body position, step angle, breathing rhythm, and pulse rate. It symbolises the multifaceted journey of each runner towards the finish line, abstractly representing the length of the specific distance (1 mile, 5km, 21km).”

FAITH KIPYEGON, the world 1500m and 5000m champion, is among the athletes who have already expressed an interest in racing in Riga on October 1. The world champions will be crowned in Riga in the one-mile, 5km, and half-marathon distances as well as teams’ standings in the half marathon distance. However, for the first time the event over all the championships distances is also open to masses and you can register here www.riga23.org.

PARLIAMENT HILL HOSTS NIGHT OF THE 10000M STYLE WORLD CROSS TRIAL – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently. Photograph taken by MARK SHEARMAN.

Race director EAMONN MARTIN is creating an exciting spectator-friendly cross-country event at north London venue on January 20 with the support of On Running. Cross-country running in the UK is set to be revitalised in spectacular fashion this winter with a new-look world trials event at Parliament Hill Fields in London on Saturday January 20. British distance running legend EAMONN MARTIN hopes to transfer the same kind of atmosphere and excitement seen at the Night of the 10,000m PBs in early summer on to the nearby grassy slopes of Hampstead Heath at the beginning of 2024. Early details of this new event were first published in the July issue of AW magazine, but since then plans have gathered pace with the shoe brand On Running coming on board to offer some support with the new event following their sponsorship of this year’s Night of the 10,000m PBs on the track that sits on the edge of the Heath.

“We plan to have a 2km lap and it will be an extremely spectator-friendly course with at least one decent hill on it,” says MARTIN. “We’re looking at athletes running through a tent and having features such as a hairpin bend in front of the crowd.” The event will be the official British trial for the World Cross Country Championships, which takes place in Medulin and Pula, Croatia, on February 10. In addition it will incorporate a home countries international including teams from the English areas, although entry requirements will be fairly tight in order to avoid runners being lapped on the 2km loop.

MARTIN is a former UK record-holder for 10,000m and the last British man to win the London Marathon in 1993. The 64-year-old adds there are plans to have a big screen and maybe even pyrotechnics on a Parliament Hill course that has long since been regarded as the spiritual home of cross-country running in the UK. “Everyone I’ve spoken to has been so supportive and wants to make it happen,” he says, adding that the same Highgate Harriers volunteers who make the Night of the 10,000m PBs such a special event are poised to act as marshals on January 20.

MARTIN has also been in talks with Night of the 10,000m PBs event director BEN POCHEE and long-time British Athletics Cross Challenge co-ordinator CLIFF ROBERTSON on the event and how best to weave it into the winter calendar. MARTIN adds that he’s also gained inspiration from the now defunct Great Edinburgh Cross Country International, plus the 2019 World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, the 2022 European Cross Country Championships in Turin which saw athletes running through a museum, plus the 2023 World Cross in Bathurst, which featured a number of unusual course features. 

MARTIN modestly describes it as a “pilot” event but is quietly ambitious that the venue could stage the European Clubs Cross Country Championships and maybe even the European Cross Country Championships itself in future. The latter has not been staged in the UK since Edinburgh in 2003.

ULTRA MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIPS – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

For a week towards the end of August or early September every year, the French mountain resort of Chamonix becomes a global trail running hub as runners congregate from all over the world to compete in the the annual Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) races, writes ADRIAN STOTT.

While opinions among runners continue to be divided on the influence and growing global outreach of the UTMB operation, what cannot be denied is that some of the world’s best are in Chamonix this week. This week seven races are being held based around the Chamonix area, the blue riband of which is the UTMB over 171km (105 miles) with 9963m of climbing. The route circles Mont Blanc from Chamonix, France, through Italy and Switzerland, before finishing back in Chamonix with the race starting at 6pm on Friday 1 September.

2023-2024WINTER SEASON– With just 2 weeks to go to the Cross Country and Road Relays. Please see the link to the document on the ‘Club Information on Various Topics’ later in this Newsletter. Which gives details of the Metropolitan and North West London league dates/venues, Remaining Cross Country league dates/venues, Cross Country points and club championship races and Road Relay dates/venues.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS ON INSTAGRAM– Since the account was setup towards the end of last year, there has been an amazing amount of Videos and Photographs contributed with many comments. There are no posts this week.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS NEW INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT– Many thanks to SEAN SUTHERLAND who undertook a review on the best way forward, following this a decision was made to set up a new account, and SEAN has now set that account up.
To follow our newInstagram account, from your own account, by searching for ‘shaftesbury_barnet’ or by clicking https://www.instagram.com/shaftesbury_barnet/
To Members and Parents, if you wish for any photographs to be posted on Instagram, please email them to sbh.instagram@outlook.com  If you can at the same time give details on when and where the photographs was taken, plus any other comments.
Please feel free to post photographs of any special occasion, for example, your wedding day, an addition to the family.

THE FOLLOWING IS CLUB INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS

SBH 2023-2024 WINTER FIXTURE CARD –Will be issued and published on the SBH website, during mid September. 
Link to the document which gives details of the Metropolitan and North West London league dates/venues, remaining Cross Country league dates/venues, Cross Country points and club championship races and Road Relay dates/venues – SBH Winter Fixture Card Information

GEORGE HARRISON MBE MEMORIAL DOCUMENT – The document has been put together with contributors from LISA WEBB, MARTIN ROCHFORD, NADEEM SHAIKH, RACHEL FELTON, LIAM and JAMIE DEE, JAMES LOVELL, EMILIA ECONOMU, ALAN WELLER,  KAREN HARRISON,  TIM UNDERHILL, GLEN WATTS, JOANNA WINFIELD, SHAUN CLIFFORD and EUAN MACKENZIE – Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Memorial To George Harrison From Friends And Members 20 April 2023
If you wish to contribute your own memories and/or photographs of GEORGE, please email them to me, either within the email or as a separate attached word document.

CODES OF CONDUCT – SBH have now adopted the UK Athletics (UKA) and the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAF) Codes of Conduct which set out national standards of conduct for all clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes in the sport.  The purpose of the codes are to clarify what behaviours are acceptable and unacceptable, the standards of practice expected and the basis for challenging and improving practice.  The Codes are similar to our previous Codes of Conduct which were part of the previous ClubMark scheme.  All club member and anyone undertaking a relevant role must agree to abide by the codes of conduct. The Codes of Conduct have now been put onto our Website, please read these to understand the commitments you are making by being a member of SBH.
Link to the Code of Conduct document – Codes Of Conduct Booklet 2021 (1)

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH WEBSITE BY USING THIS LINK – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Section ‘About Us’, includes Annual Reports, Best Performance Trophy Awards, Individual And Relay Best Performances By Year, Club Records and SBH All-Time Top 10 T&F Performances.
Section ‘Team Managers And Competitions’, shows details of Track & Field, Cross Country and Road Relays Team Managers.
Section ‘Future Information/Results’, includes Information On Each Fixture, Summer & Winter Fixture Cards, Winter X/C Points Tables and Winter Club Championships Winners.