Happy Birthday from Thursday 3 April to Wednesday 9 April – Alexandra Baltazer-Hall, Grant Brown, Phillip Crout, Keyllan Gentet, Jonah Glausisz, Richard Goodman, Phillipa Lowe, Phoebe Music, Abigail Ross, Paul Simons, Claire Spurway, Alon Taylor, Kayden Thomas and Amelia Wills

HELP WANTED – PARENTS – we need your help to ensure your child can compete at all their events this season!
Volunteering to help on the track or field at just a couple of our home and away fixtures in 2025, will give us certainty early on that the meetings can go ahead. It’s a fun way to be involved on the day, you will still be free to watch your child’s events, lunches and refreshments are always provided at our home fixtures and at most away ones too.

Please contact either GERALD ALTERMAN or ROSALIND ZEFFERTT for further information or complete this form SBH 2025 Summer Availability.
GERALD: (SBH Officials Secretary; athletics@marksman.plus.com: 07956 825781)
ROSALIND: (SBH Officials Co-ordinator: anglo.japan@outlook.com: 07973 822874)

NEW CLUB RECORD – Congratulations to STACEY GONZALEZ who broke her own Masters Women 50-54 1kg Discus with a throw of (27.78m) at the SBH Throwsfest at StoneX Stadium on 29 March. Her previous Club Record was (27.30m) set at Derby on on 28 July 2024.

GOLD MEDAL FOR KOJO KYEREME – The World Masters Indoor Championships took place at Gainesville, Florida, USA on 23-30 March. 1500m – M 50-54 in Heat 1 KOJO KYEREME finished in 2nd place (SB 4:18.37i) in the Final KOJO won the Gold Medal (PB V50 4:09.22i) and is ranked UK No.1 V50 in 2025, and a new Club Record.

The following was reported on the Athletics Weekly website – The final 1500m victory went to M50 800m champion KOJO KYEREME in (4:09.22). Many were expecting 3000m champion and world record-holder FRANCIS BOWEN KIPKOECH to set a furious pace but he got boxed in while KYEREME set a steady pace. Ireland’s CONOR CURRAN made a big move 400m out but the Brit kicked hard after holding him off to complete a (30.63) penultimate circuit and then despite slowing before the line (31.29) kept him clear of a fast finishing CURRAN.
MARK WILLIAMS, who pushed KYEREME all the way at 800m, was a clear third as the Kenyan KIPKOECH was unable to show his (27:45) 10km pace in fourth. Photograph shows KOJO leading the field.

GOLD MEDAL FOR PAUL OGUN – The World Masters Indoor Championships took place at Gainesville, Florida, USA on 23-30 March. PAUL OGUN (HCA) won the M35 Long Jump Gold Medal with a seasons best (6.95mi) which ranks him UK No.1 V35 in 2025

BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD – EYAL Team Managers JACQUI AGYEPONG and ANNA HIGSON were proud to present the certificate for the EYAL Under 17 Athlete of the Year for 2024 to MILLI BRIDGEMAN-ATHANASATOS. During the season MILLIE produced personal best performances in the Long Jump (4.99m w1.4) and Triple Jump (10.48 nwr). This season MILLI won the Middlesex Indoor Silver Medal in the Triple Jump (9.67i).

WATFORD OPEN MEETING – Taking place on Wednesday 16 April, is now open to enter. See upcoming fixtures.

LEE VALLEY OPEN MEETINGS – They have have not published their fixtures.

ENGLAND ATHLETICS THROWS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER – Just received the March issue from NICK RIDGEON of England Athletics – England Athletics March 2025 Throws Community Newsletter

UPCOMING FIXTURES – I have now shown as 2 sections – The first section covers the fixtures that SBH compete in and other major fixtures – The second section covers the Open Meeting fixtures, that you have to enter yourselves.

SUMMER OPEN MEETINGS – These are the BFTTA, Lee Valley and Watford fixtures, dates highlighted in RED are open to enter – all information those fixtures that are open to enter, can be found in the ‘Open Meeting Upcoming Fixtures‘ section, which follows the ‘SBH Upcoming Fixtures For The Next 6 Weeks‘ section.

BFTTA OPEN MEETINGS  – Takes place at Lee Valley – April 21, May 18, June 1, July 20, August 30.
LEE VALLEY OPEN MEETINGS  – Takes place at Lee Valley – Fixtures still to be published.
WATFORD OPEN MEETINGS  – Takes place at Watford – April 16 and 30, May 14 and 28, June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, August 6 and 20, September 3.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS SUBSCRIPTIONS – Our new Club year started on 1 October 2024. The current SBH annual subscription is £85 (following the recent 2024 SBH AGM) and the current England Athletics annual registration from 1 April 2025 is £20. The current total is £105 and should be paid NOW to; ACCOUNT NAME: SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS, BANK: HSBC, ACCOUNT NUMBER: 41308378, SORT CODE: 400426 – Please advise GEOFF MORPHITIS by email (geoffrey.morphitis@capeandd.com) when payment has been made.

RESULTS
Just to clarify, that the results I publish can be different to those that are shown on the Power of 10. The differences relate to seasons and personal best performances. For example in the recent EYAL results, an athlete in the 200m ran (24.1), and on his profile his season’s best was shown as (23.88) indoors. As the 200m indoors and outdoors are totally different type of events, I had shown the (24.1) as a season’s best. Regarding Master athletes any personal best performances relate to their current age-groups, as Club Records for Masters age-groups are in 5 year periods.

SOUTHERN 12 AND 6 STAGE ROAD RELAYS – Took place at Milton Keynes on 29 March.
Senior Men 12 Stage – SBH Incomplete team – Leg 1 MAX WINFIELD U20 (28.30), Leg 2 TONY JACKSON V55 (18.29)
Team Result – 1st Highgate Harriers (4:10.27), 2nd Cambridge & Coleridge (4:11.52), 3rd Tonbridge (4:14.08) 47 teams finished
Senior Women 6 Stage – No SBH team
Team Result – 1st Reading (2:10.27), 2nd Belgrave Harriers (2:11.08), 3rd Bedford & County (2:16.01) 25 teams finished

SOUTHERN YOUNG ATHLETES ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS – Took place at Milton Keynes on 30 March.
5km – U17M SAM TURNER U17 5th (15.42) 25 runners finished

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS THROWSFEST 2 – Took place at StoneX Stadium on 29 March
Discus 1kg – U17W B ELKIE BAKER U17 (2nd Claim) 1st (SB 36.91m) and is ranked UK No.3 U17 in 2025
Discus 2kg – SM B GABOR KISS V50 1st (PB 42.16m) equalling his 2014 throw
Discus 1kg – SW B STACEY GONZALEZ V50 3rd (PB 27.78m) adding 48cm to her 2024 throw, and is a new Club Record
Shot 7.26kg – SM A GABOR KISS V50 1st (PB 11.79m) adding 16cm to his 2024 put
Shot 3kg – W50 A STACEY GONZALEZ V50 1st (PB 8.14m) adding 5cm to her 23 March put, and a new Club Record
Hammer 5kg – U17M B MILO RYNEHART U17 2nd (PB 45.78m) adding 4.38m to his 23 March throw, and is ranked UK No.5 U17 in 2025
Hammer 3kg – U17W B KEIRA LAKE-BRYAN U17 2nd (46.94m)
Hammer 3kg – W50 A STACEY GONZALEZ V50 1st (PB 33.72m) adding 41cm to her 23 March throw, and is ranked UK No.2 V50 in 2025
Javelin 800g – SM DANIEL DUBRAS U20 1st (PB 58.34m) adding 8.26m to his 2024 throw, and is ranked UK No.1 U20 in 2025

BLACK AND GOLD INVITATIONAL – Took place at Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA on 28-29 March
100m – SW 1 LARISSA GILES U23 (Yale University) 3rd (SB 12.69 w0.1) and is ranked UK No.2 U23 in 2025

RALEIGH RELAYS – Took place at Raleigh, North Carolina, USA on 27-29 March
3000m Steeplechase – SM 5 KRISTIAN IMROTH (Eastern Kentucky University) 1st (PB 8:33.56) taking 1.76 seconds off his 2024 time, and is ranked UK No.1 in 2025

TERRY LONG FSU RELAYS – Took place at Tallahassee, Florida, USA on 27-28 March
200m – SM 4 JOSEPH PURBRICK U23 (Iowa State University) 5th (PB 22.14 w1.9) taking .30 of a second off his 2022 time
110m Hurdles – SM 2 JOSEPH PURBRICK U23 (Iowa State University) 5th (PB 14.88 w0.4) taking .92 of a second off his 2021 time, and is ranked UK No.2 U23 in 2025

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

PARKRUNS MILESTONE VESTS – You can purchase these from 50 to 500, this is the link – https://shop.parkrun.com/collections/milestone-run-walk-vests

PARKRUNS IN THE UK – Last Saturday at parkruns in the UK, there were…
1,275 events – 249,544 walkers, joggers, runners and volunteers – 12,104 first timers – 39,307 PBs

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Aldenham on 29 March
PAUL LEWIS V50 7th (22.00) this was his 252nd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Canons Park on 29 March
LENARD MICHEL V55 43rd (24.36) this was his 139th Parkrun, SHONA MICHEL V50 92nd (28.22) this was her 142nd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Cassiobury on 29 March
EMILIA ECONOMU 77th (22.00) this was her 8th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Hampstead Heath on 29 March
ETHAN SLUTZKIN U11 56th (22.32) this was his 123rd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Jersey on 29 March
CLIFF GOLDING V70 94th (25.47) this was his 187th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Felixstowe on 29 March
ROSS HAMMOND U20 145th (24.58) this was his 75th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Moors Valley on 29 March
JO KENT V55 34th (21.29) this was her (sorry page not available) Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Oak Hill on 29 March
BRADLEY SINGER V35 31st (21.51) this was his 316th Parkrun, DYLAN HEPWORTH U23 36th (22.02) this was his 39th Parkrun, STUART SINGER V60 68th (23.31) this was his 463rd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Panshanger on 29 March
RUSSELL DEVITT V75 318th (61.24) this was his 340th Parkrun

SBH UPCOMING FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 6 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 3 APRIL UNTIL WEDNESDAY 14 MAY – The SBH 2024-2025 Winter Fixture Card can be found on the SBH website, in which you can Access/Print a copy for future reference. Also the majority of fixtures Information can be found on the SBH Website under the ‘Upcoming Fixtures’ section.

EASTERN YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE ROUND 1  – The first of four fixtures takes place on Sunday 13 April at the Cambridge University Athletics Track, 18 Adams Road, Cambridge (Satnav CB3 9AD).
Age-Groups Under U13, U15 & U17 Men/Women.
Link to the timetable – EYAL-Timetable-2025-matches-1-and-3-v1 (1)
Note: You will have to be selected by your Team Manager, Those athletes who wish to compete as a non-scorer, please contact your Team Manager no later than Thursday 10 April as the declarations have to be in on Friday 11 April

UK YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE PREMIER SOUTH – The first fixture of three takes place on Sunday 27 April at the Norman Park Community Sports Centre, Norman Park, Hayes Lane, Bromley (Satnav BR2 9EJ).
Age-Groups Under 17 & U20 Men/Women.
Link to the timetable – YDL UAG Timetables 2025
Note: You will have to be selected by your respective Team Manager

MIDDLESEX YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE – The first fixture of four takes place on Saturday 3 May at the Perival Park Athletics Track, Stockdove Way, Perivale, Greenford (Satnav UP6 8TJ).
Age-Groups Under 13, 15 & 17 Men/Women.
Note: You will have to be selected by your Team Manager.
Those athletes who wish to compete as a non-scorer, please contact your Team Manager no later than Thursday 1 May as the declarations have to be in on Friday 2 May. 

BUCS CHAMPIONSHIPS  – Takes place from Saturday 3 May to Monday 5 May at the Manchester Regional Arena, Gate 13, Ethiad Campus, Rowsley Street, Manchester (M11 3FF)
Link to BUCS website for all information and entry process – https://www.bucs.org.uk/events-page/athletics-outdoor-championships-2024-25.html
Entries Close Tuesday 8 April
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee

HERTFORDSHIRE AND BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May at the Bedford International Athletic Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford (Satnav MK41 9SB).
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women
Link to enter on Opentrack – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/bedstfc/
Entries Closing Date Friday 25 April
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a possibility that the limits will be taken up well before the race day.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women
Link to enter on Opentrack – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/middxtfo/
Entries Closing Date Sunday 27 April
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a possibility that the limits will be taken up well before the race day.

SCVAC VETERANS LEAGUE – Takes place on Monday 12 May at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups 35 and above Men/Women
Note: You will have to be a 2nd claim member of Barnet & District AC. Just turn up and you may be selected (dependant on you current performances), otherwise you can compete as a guest

WATFORD OPEN MEETING  – Takes place on Wednesday 14 May at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH).
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Timetable – 7.00pm 400m no under 13s, 7.15pm BMCs, 7.50pm 800m no times over 2 minutes 45 seconds, 9.10pm 3000m no times over 11 minutes, no under 13s
Link to entries on roster athletics, although entries are not open yet –
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a probability that the limits for some or all events will be taken up well before the closing date

OPEN MEETING UPCOMING FIXTURES, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 3 APRIL UNTIL WEDNESDAY 14 MAY, THEN THOSE THAT ARE OPEN TO ENTER FOLLOWING THE 14 MAY.

LEE VALLEY OPEN MEETING – Takes place on Saturday 5 April at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Events –  100m, 200m, 300m, 400m, 800m, 70mH, 75mH, 80mH, 100mH, 110mH, 400mH, Discus, Shot (full), Hammer – £10 per event.
Entries Closed

WATFORD OPEN MEETING  – Takes place on Wednesday 16 April at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH).
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Timetable – 7.00pm 200m no, 7.15pm 400m no under 13s, 7.30pm 800m no times over 2 minutes 45 seconds, 9.00pm 3000m no times over 11 minutes, no under 13s
Link to entries on roster athletics – https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=26585
Entries Closing Date Monday 14 April
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a probability that the limits for some or all events will be taken up well before the closing date

BFTTA OPEN MEETING – Takes place on Monday 21 April at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Events – 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m, 300m, 600m, 800m, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump
Entry is now open via Open Track – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/bft111125/
Entries Closing Date Saturday 6 April
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a probability that the limits for some or all events will be taken up well before the closing date

BFTTA OPEN MEETING – Takes place on Sunday 18 May at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Events – 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m, 400m, 800m, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump
Entry is now open via Open Track – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/bft111118/
Entries Closing Date Saturday 10 May
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a probability that the limits for some or all events will be taken up well before the closing date

BFTTA OPEN MEETING – Takes place on Sunday 1 June at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Events – 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m, 400m, 800m, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump
Entry is now open via Open Track – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/bft111119/
Entries Closing Date Friday 23 April
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a probability that the limits for some or all events will be taken up well before the closing date

BFTTA OPEN MEETING – Takes place on Sunday 20 July at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Events – 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m, 400m, 800m, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump
Entry is now open via Open Track – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/bft111120/
Entries Closing Date Friday 11 July
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a probability that the limits for some or all events will be taken up well before the closing date

DIAMOND LEAGUE READY FOR 2025 LIFT-OFF – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

 PETR STASTNY, chief executive of the Diamond League, on Grand Slam Track, long jump take-off zones, street athletics and more. It is 15 years since the Wanda Diamond League was created and 2025 will see a number of changes. This season will feature new and improved prize money, a new broadcast partner and, in coming weeks, a new website. There are also new rival competitions in the shape of Grand Slam Track and Athlos. Instead of athletes earning up to $10,000 at individual Diamond League meetings and up to $30,000 at the final, those figures rise to $20,000 and $50,000 respectively in selected disciplines called Diamond+ events. Some assume the Diamond League has done this as a response to Grand Slam Track offering generous prize money of $100,000 to group winners down to $10,000 for athletes who finish eighth. But PETR STASTNY, chief executive of the Diamond League, denies this. “Our prize money increase is not a reaction to any new project,” Stastny says. “We knew five years ago we would raise the prize money in 2025. “Staging an athletics competition in the way we do requires a big investment. Since we were founded, or introduced, in 2010 we have handed out close to $200 million to athletes.”

Mirroring the recent comments of World Athletics president SEB COE, STASTNY welcomes initiatives like Grand Slam Track and Athlos. “It’s good to see athletes getting more opportunities to earn more income,” he says. “Being a top athlete needs lots of focus, discipline and practise and they deserve to be paid well.” However, he says fixture clashes are not ideal. Grand Slam Track’s second meeting in Miami on May 2-4, for example, coincides with the second of 15 Diamond League meetings in 2025 in Shanghai, China, on May 3. “We usually establish our dates first and it allows other organisers to look for other non-clashing dates,” says STASTNY. “We welcome the new projects but we don’t welcome date clashes and unfortunately they seem to be happening in 2025.” STASTNY admits there has been minimal communication between the Diamond League and Grand Slam Track over fixture clashes. “We don’t approach others and they don’t approach us. We feel it could be done but we don’t feel it’s on us to ask others when to put on their dates.”

STASTNY says the Diamond League have worked closely with World Athletics, however, on the general calendar changes this season which will see this summer’s major championships in Tokyo take place in September after the entire Diamond League season has concluded with its final in Zurich on August 27-28. “We support the new calendar,” he says. “The (Diamond League) champions will get a wild card to Tokyo so it creates a narrative through the season.” Elsewhere, the Diamond League has switched from IMG to Infront when it comes to a broadcast partner. There are also plans to launch a new Diamond League website soon which will, among other things, attempt to simplify the ongoing frustration felt by fans relating to how and where to watch the meetings live on television. There are no plans, however, to expand the current street athletics events at Diamond League meetings. The first day of the two-day final in Zurich, for instance, will see some jumps and the shot put in the city centre with the majority of other events the following day in the Letzigrund Stadium.

“We like to bring athletics to the people and we see these events as being mainly a promotional tool,” says Stastny. “But they can be costly to organise so we will probably just continue to have some city events at three or four meetings a year such as Zurich, Lausanne and Stockholm.” There will be no experiments with the controversial long jump take-off zone in 2025 either. But Stastny does not rule it out being used in the Diamond League in future.

“Our sport is traditional and historic but it needs to evolve over time otherwise we’d still be jumping without a runway and doing a standing long jump as we did a hundred years ago,” he says. “We basically do not want a third of all long jump attempts to be with red flags at the stadium or fouls on TV all the time.” STASTNY draws comparisons with the ‘final three’ idea, which was introduced to bring more drama to field events but was criticised to begin with before the rules were subsequently tweaked a little to appease the critics. “There was a real shit storm and resistance when we introduced the ‘final three’ idea,” STASTNY says, “but we talked to the athletes and coaches and they got used to it. “So I think if new elements are introduced then people get used to it. If we introduce it (take-off zone) in 2026 will depend on how many jumps are legal or not legal and whether we are really improving the product or not. “We don’t have it at our meetings but we might in future. We will have to wait firstly to see what World Athletics’ evaluation of the 2024 season and what the 2025 season will begin. It (the take-off zone idea) needs to improve the offering of that discipline.”

Diamond League fixtures in 2025
Xiamen CHN April 26
Shanghai/Keqiao CHN May 3
Doha QAT May 16
Rabat MAR May 25
Rome ITA June 6
Oslo NOR June 12
Stockholm SWE June 15
Paris FRA June 20
Eugene USA July 5
Monaco MON July 11
London GBR July 19
Silesia  POL August 16
Lausanne SUI August 20
Brussels BEL 22 August 22
Final in Zurich SUI August 27-28

ZANE DUQUEMIN: “COACH THE PERSON AND NOT THE EVENT” – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

 Former British international thrower and Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers member is now guiding athletes at the Aspire Academy in Qatar and here explains his approach, his influences and why building a pathway is key. ZANE DUQUEMIN is a former Great Britain and Northern Ireland internationalist specialising in the shot put and discus. He competed at four consecutive Commonwealth Games for Jersey, achieving a best place of eighth (in the discus) in Glasgow 2014.

The 33-year-old, coach to European bronze medallist LAWRENCE OKOYE and multiple Paralympic Games medallist DAN GREAVES, is the lead “development” throws coach at Qatar’s prestigious Aspire Academy with the aim of progressing athletes aged 12-18 years from grassroots level through to Asian Games, World Championships and Olympic Games (across all throwing disciplines). Working alongside programme lead Ivica Jakeljic – coach to former Olympic, world and European hammer champion and world record holder ANITA WLODARCZYK – DUQUEMIN is also the “performance” throws coach for shot put and discus at the Academy. 

 How did you get into coaching? – I wanted to coach from a young age. My first throws coach in Jersey was from New Zealand and she went back over there when we were quite young. My mum ended up getting a coaching qualification just to allow us to train, but I would help out the other throwers in the group from about 15 years old and I enjoyed it. I guess I got quite a good taste of coaching early on in my career because of that. My coaching took a back seat once I went to university [St Mary’s University, London]. I focused more on my own training and I didn’t coach anyone other than my sister.  After I graduated I moved to Loughborough. At that point I was still fully focused on making the Rio Olympics and I was looking for a job to help support me financially after being removed from the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP). A few people at the track suggested that I should do some coaching because there seemed to be a market for it. I started coaching for Loughborough University and shortly after that I started my own coaching company.

My company took off pretty quickly. I knew the level of commitment that was required to be a full-time coach and I also knew that it would be detrimental to my training, so it was really just meant to be a short-term project until I could find another job, but I soon realised I enjoyed it – and I was quite good at it.  At the time I think I was probably the first UK throws coach to promote content on Instagram and it really blew up. I was quite fortunate in that sense, I realised I could get by financially with online programming, and because of my reputation as an athlete and my relationships with other UK athletes I was soon able to develop a good training group.

Who is your greatest coaching influence? – I met my coach JOHN HILLIER when he was on holiday in Jersey. He had that typical coach mentality, so even when he was on holiday he’d come down to the track and take a couple of sessions. He obviously had no idea I’d go on to do anything – I was just a scrawny little 12-year-old who was obsessed with throwing the discus – but in the end I went to university in London just so that I could be coached by him. JOHN has been my biggest influence and greatest mentor by far. I think, as an athlete, when you spend so much time around someone, you pick up a lot of their traits. JOHN has a very unique way of getting people to work hard and he was able to squeeze performances out of athletes who should never have been anywhere near that level. He did it on a consistent basis, and he still does. There are a lot of things that JOHN did that I still apply today, especially when I’m working with the development athletes, for example knowing when to go hard on them, when to be that father figure, or when to go a bit softer. Technically and programme-wise I learned a lot from him, but I think that learning how to deal with athletes and how to push their buttons in the right way at the right time was the biggest thing I took from John JOHN.

 I also spent quite a lot of time on training camps with SHAUN PICKERING and Swedish coach VESTEINN HAFSTAINSSON [coach to former Olympic champion and reigning world champion DANIEL STAHL]. I learned a lot technically from VESTEINN as he had a bit of a different approach to JOHN, but SHAUN was a completely different influence. There was a small coaching element, but it was more a sense of how to be truly professional and he questioned everything I knew about what it meant to be an athlete. Some people found SHAUN intrusive because he was opinionated and wanted people to do well. If he didn’t think someone was doing what was best for them he didn’t hold back, he’d just tell them. Not everyone appreciates that but, for me, that was something I always really liked about him. If he didn’t think I was making smart decisions he’d pull me up on it right away. He would always ask: ‘Why?’. Even if the point was irrelevant, the fact you had to think about what you were doing and justify it is something that I do to this day, so, if I’m writing a programme or I’m trying to change someone’s technique I have to truly understand why I’m doing something, rather than just going with the flow and hoping it works out. Most recently I’ve obviously been working with VICA JAKELIJIC. He’s been in Doha for ten years and he’s the top guy on the programme. He’s quite similar to JOHN in how he approaches things with athletes, but technically he also does a few things differently, especially in the hammer and the javelin which are events I hadn’t been exposed to much before I came out here, so he’s really upgraded me in those areas.

 What’s your coaching style? – It’s important to coach the person and not the event, and that’s the way we try and do it here. Everyone’s programme is different based on who they are and what their body responds well to. You can’t just put people in boxes; it’s trying to take them on the path that’s right for them, as opposed to trying to squeeze them into a set programme or a path you’ve taken athletes previously. What we do at the Aspire Academy is actually very simple. We have a solid talent ID programme, we have a very simple philosophy of how we develop athletes from age 12-18 and we stick to it. We have basic principles – throwing, lifting, athleticism, gymnastics – and we let the programme run its course. If you take an athlete from point A to point B there’s a pretty good chance they’ll be at a high level as long as you’re recruiting correctly.

 How would you describe the current state of throws in the UK? – Much like British Athletics as a whole, it’s a bit of a mess. What we’re doing in Qatar isn’t rocket science, but in the UK we don’t seem capable of doing that. We hope it comes together, we chop and change plans every few years, and we don’t get anywhere. The reality is, before I moved out here [in 2019], there were maybe only two other guys around my age who were coaching at a decent level. We should probably have been supported at that stage to plug a gap through to the older generation. I was offered a very small package with British Athletics as a consultant, but when I told them I was looking to move to Qatar they wished me luck; they didn’t even try to keep me, and that said everything to me. On the hammer side, the hammer circle organisation in the UK does a great job of bringing people together, but with the other events, every time something starts to gain momentum it seems to stop. Until you have a decent number of full-time coaches who are encouraged to go through CPD [continuing professional development] and upskill themselves, we’re never really going to get anywhere, that’s the bottom line. Every now and then you’ll get a freak athlete who comes out of nowhere, but without the coaching structure you can’t even begin to talk about the athletics structure and the athletes themselves. The fact is, the good athletes who come through in the UK just now, they might have supportive families and a coach who’s a good fit at the time, but often it comes together through luck as opposed to a pathway or a system. There are plenty of talented athletes who fall by the wayside and we never see them again. It’s a shame, unfortunately.

 You’re balancing a full-time job at Aspire with coaching UK-based athletes remotely. What are the main challenges you’ve faced? – Remote coaching is not the same, no matter what anyone says. If you see someone in person before training you can tell if they’re having a bad day. You can have a conversation with them and they might still have a good chance of a decent training session. If you’ve got a 30-minute window on Zoom and they’re rushing around in a bad mood, that session is finished before you even start. Inter-personal relationships are never the same working online and I’ve really struggled with that. Even though I had good relationships with my athletes before I moved out here, it’s something that’s hard to maintain because everyone wants more. LAWRENCE is a relatively low-maintenance guy so he’s quite easy to work with long-distance. The challenge is when you have athletes who are a bit more emotional; that can be very difficult. 

BEN CONNOR REJECTS GB SELECTION AFTER BEING ASKED TO PAY TO COMPETE – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

 Distance runner says he has turned down the chance to compete for Great Britain at the European Running Championships. BEN CONNOR, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, has rejected the chance to represent Great Britain at next week’s European Running Championships in Leuven, Belgium (April 11-13). The Brit was picked by UK Athletics to race in the half-marathon but declined his selection after the governing body asked athletes for a fee of up to £1100 to cover things like travel, accommodation, food, kit and staff. CONNOR, on his Instagram, stated that “England Athletics had offered to subsidise their athletes”, with UK Athletics adding that the fee “was likely to be under £500”. However, the 32-year-old, who is seventh on the UK all-time half-marathon list with 60:55, said that the national governing body was still asking for a “significant athlete contribution” and that he felt “it is wrong”.

“After a really tough few years and having previously represented Great Britain at every level across road, track and cross-country – starting as a junior right through to the Olympics in Tokyo – I was looking forward to pulling on another GB vest,” CONNOR said. “Unfortunately I have declined my selection for the European Running Championships – I’m healthy and back in full training post Seville [Marathon] and have a few races in the diary starting this weekend in Ireland, but I wanted to give clarity as to why I have declined selection. “UK Athletics are asking for a significant athlete contribution, which up until a few days ago was an unknown amount and although England Athletics have offered to subsidise this for their athletes, to which I’m sure many are grateful for, I feel it is wrong. “Representing your country is a privilege and in athletics, it’s earned via a qualifying process, which whilst not always perfect, gives everyone the same chances to gain selection.

“Representing Great Britain shouldn’t come down to who can or cannot afford to pay for it. Coming from a working class background I don’t like the potential precedence being set where people, especially junior athletes of the future don’t have the same development or competition opportunities because of finances. “Running (especially road) is the highest mass participation sport in the UK and we are asking our best to pay to represent this country on an international stage. I wish there was more transparency and honesty regarding the state of our governing bodies finances and about how our sport is being managed for this to be the position.” UK Athletics state that “athletes had to provide an expression of interest for selection” and that “we would not seek to select anyone that wasn’t aware of this requirement [maximum athlete contribution]”.

The national governing body added that as more competitions get added to the calendar it is “impossible” to fund all teams, pointing to the fact that “a number of other Olympic sports have similar models whereby competition outside the major senior championships is self-funded”. The selection policy for the European Running Championships was published on July 22 and then amended on December 11, 2024. UK Athletics is also asking athletes to contribute up to £200 to compete at this summer’s European Under-23 Championships in Bergen, Norway. The British Milers Club announced on March 10 that they will “cover the cost of self-contribution” for athletes that were “a paid up member of the BMC who achieved selection via a qualifying time at a BMC meeting”.

Read the full selection policy here

ATHLETICS WEEKLY 1969 TO 1987 – RICHARD SAMUEL wishes to dispose of his collection of Athletics Weekly’s, which ranges from mid 1969 to mid 1987. Most years are complete but there are a few gaps. Mostly the condition is good but a few are a bit dog eared. RICHARD suggests a donation to club funds by anyone interested and they would have be collected.
Anyone interested please contact RICHARD by email at Richard.samuel1@btinternet.com

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.

THE FOLLOWING IS CLUB INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS

SBH 2025 SUMMER FIXTURE CARD – The SBH 2025 Summer Fixture Card has now been published on the SBH Website on 20 March 2025. This is the link to the fixture card, which you can access and print for future reference – https://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/
Information on each fixture will be published in the SBH Weekly Newsletter as and when available, this is the link to the current and previous SBH Weekly Newsletters – https://sbharriers.co.uk/news/

SBH 2024-2025 CROSS COUNTRY POINTS RACES – Take place throughout the season, the final winners hve now been determined.
Link to the final Men and Women’s points tables, following the National Championships at Parliament Hill on 22 February –Mens Cross Country Points Tables 2024-2025 Final Issue 22-02-25     Womens Cross Country Points Tables 2024-2025 Final Issue 22-02-25

SBH 2024-2025 CROSS COUNTRY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RACES – Take place throughout the season, the final winners hve now been determined.
Link to the final Men and Women’s Club Championship winners, following the 25 January Southern Championships – SBH Cross Country Club Championship Winners 2024-2025 Updated 25-01-25

STONEX STADIUM MEMBERSHIP – To use the StoneX Stadium facilities for training, SBH members are required to pay a fee. You can register as a member (which is free) which then entitles you to a discount. This is the link to the form to apply for membership – SBH StoneX Membership 2024-2025  The entrance fee on the membership form, cover the period 1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025.

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.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS NEW CLUB KIT – They are now available to purchase from our club kit supplier, Supreme Sports – click on the link for the full range – https://www.supreme-sports.co.uk/webshop/schools-and-clubs/shaftesbury-barnet-harriers/
By opening the link, you will be on the front page, which displays the men’s items. Click on SBH LADIES for the women’s items, or click on SBH KIDS for the young athletes’ items.

CLUB HOODIES– With well over eight hundred hoodies already in circulation, this is your opportunity to join the club. The bright red hoody is made to order and has your name embroidered on the front along with the club badge and has the Club name on the back. We now have 2 styles, the original pull over style at £37 + P&P or the new one with a full zip at £40 + P&P.
Here is the link to the Supreme Sports website which if you click on it, will take YOU to the new Club Hoody and allow you to then view the full range of Club kit online – https://www.supreme-sports.co.uk/webshop/schools-and-clubs/shaftesbury-barnet-harriers/

ACCESS TO SBH CLUBHOUSE – The new Keyholders to the outside door are TY HOLDEN, CLYDE GORDON, NEVILLE THOMPSON, GREG THOMPSON, COLIN GODFREY and YAMILLE ALDAMA who all use the Clubhouse outside of normal stadium opening hours. GEOFF MORPHITIS and DAVE BEDFORD will also have a key. All other key fob holders can continue to gain access to the clubhouse via the (New) West Stand Entrance and the Trackside Door to the Clubhouse.
Link to note and details for further information – SBH Club House Door 20-01-23

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

FACEBOOK – Photographs can be found on the SBH page.

CAN YOU HELP PLEASE – I would welcome any contributions From Yourselves, any impending marriages, or additions to the family, any running or competing incidents, also past warm weather training/holidays (No Club 24 please). Currently the response has been excellent, but if you have anything that could make it into next week’s Newsletter – please email me.

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

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

SBH MIDWEEK POLE VAULT CLUB AT STONEX STADIUM – The current arrangements until further notice are that Pole Vault training is on Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 18.30pm to 21.00pm. Please contact the session administrator CLYDE GORDON at clydeg67@hotmail.co.uk in advance and let him know if you are planning to attend.

SBH HIGH JUMPS GROUP AT STONEX STADIUM – High Jump training takes place on Monday’s from 19.00pm to 21.00pm. These sessions will be run by our High Jump Coach GRANT BROWN. There will be a charge of £10 per session.
Please contact the session administrator CLYDE GORDON at clydeg67@hotmail.co.uk in advance and let him know if you are planning to attend

SBH TRAINING AND COACHING – Please see the 2024-2025 Winter Fixture Card, which gives details of Training and Coaching – A SBH Winter 2024-2025 Fixture Card Front Sheet Issued 02-09-24

POLE VAULTERS REQUIRED FOR 2025 – To all athletes young & old – are you aware of the SBH Pole Vault sessions held at StoneX Stadium on Monday & Wednesday evenings from 18.30pm. We have room to coach more of you, why not come along and watch a session and the get involved – give it a try NOW.
Please contact the session administrator CLYDE GORDON at clydeg67@hotmail.co.uk for more details.

STEEPLECHASE TRAINING AT STONEX STADIUM – Check with your Coach for details of training times.

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

STONEX STADIUM – Main Switchboard telephone number is 020 3675 7250.

STONEX STADIUM AWARDED TRACKMARK STANDARD – Congratulations on achieving the UK Athletics Quality Assurance Standards for StoneX Stadium. This is the letter from UK Athletics and certificate showing all area that achieved compliance – StoneX Stadium Award Letter 09.11.21StoneX Stadium Certificate

ALAN WELLER – SBH NEWSLETTER EDITOR AND WEBSITE MANAGER – alanweller111@gmail.com