Happy Birthday from this Thursday 10 December to Joshue Allen-Xuereb, Elena Bulman, Thomas Cadwallader, Charles Edu, Alexa Eichelmann, Keelan Farrell, Thomas Fulton, Gabriel Gayle, George Harrison, John Kelly, Anabelle Panwar, Max Panwar, Jazz Sears, Cameron Sharpe and Emma Taylor
UPDATE ON NEELAM KADERBHOY – As referred to in the report on the SBH AGM held on Tuesday 24 November, NEELAM was awarded the Coronation Trophy for Services to the Club in her over 37 years of membership. Photograph of NEELAM after receiving the Coronation Trophy from RACHAEL HARVEY.
Hi GEOFF – Thanks so much for everything including the trophy last night. It was such a lovely surprise. So much appreciated. Hope all is well with you. Hopefully when I feel better I wll call. But at the moment it’s hard to speak. I get tired very quickly and take extra pain killers when needed. All the best NEELAM x
Good afternoon NEELAM – It was an honour to award you the Coronation Trophy as recognition of your years of service to and for the Club. Keep fighting – we are all with you in spirit and support. Hope to see you soon. Best wishes and take care. GEOFF + all your friends at SBH
Hi GEOFF – Thanks again. You can drop off the award directly at the hospice. The address is the Peace Hospice, Peace Drive in Watford. I am at Watford General Hospital most of tomorrow but hopefully I’ll finish earlier rather than later!!!
Good evening NEELAM – I hope your visit to Watford General was a success. We’re just trying to get the award engraved but due to the Lockdown the engraver has been closed. I’m told that it should reopen on Wednesday. Hopefully, FIONA GROOM will be able to get it done by next week. Take care. We’re all thinking of you. Please stay safe. Best wishes GEOFF.
BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM EAST STAND INDOOR AREA – The NHS are taking this over from Monday 14 December as a Covid-19 vaccination centre for a period of 4 to 12 months. Saracens have agreed to erect 3 large marquees, one to cover the javelin run-up, another one to cover one of the long jump run-ups and the associated sandpit and finally, a third one at the North End of the home straight where the temporay seating has been taken down. Check with your Coach for more information.
THE TRACK MEET – Took place at San Juan Capistrano, California on 4-5 December
5000m – SM JAMIE DEE 8th (PB 13:51.94) taking 10.49 seconds off his 2019 time
MID WEEK OPEN MEETING – Took place at Nathan, Australia on 2 December
Discus 1kg – JADE LALLY 1st (56.98m)
CORONATION TROPHY FOR SERVICES TO THE CLUB – The History of the Trophy goes back to 1948 when PATRICIA (PADDY) HICKS met her future husband HARRY a member of Hampstead Harriers who went on to represent GB in the 1960 Rome Olympic Marathon and “PADDY” took up athletics to form a Ladies section of Hampstead Harriers. Then through time, Hampstead Harriers amalgamated with Barnet AC to become Barnet & District AC. However, the Ladies felt they had a bad deal and broke away to form Barnet Ladies AC. When Barnet & District started a Ladies section the Barnet Ladies renamed themselves Barnet Copthall Ladies AC who eventually merged with Shaftesbury Harriers in 1986 to form Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. Full details are in the Club centenary book.
So much for the history of the women. In the early days of the women’s section in the late 1940s, early 1950’s they did not run cross country but in the winter formed netball teams. In 1952 the women’s team took part in an athletic club’s netball tournament to celebrate the Queen’s Coronation and came out winners and were presented with a trophy, to keep. The Club decided to present the trophy annually to a club member who provided outstanding services to the Club, hence the Coronation trophy awarded annually came about.
The actual trophy has disappeared (in someone’s loft) however the Services to the Club award continues and the winner is now presented with a plaque.
Recent recipients are – 2011 Tony Smith – 2012 George Harrison – 2013 Alan Weller – 2014 Tony Smith – 2015 Clyde Gordon – 2016 Joyce and Bryan Smith – 2017 Ray Powell – 2018 Joyce and Bryan Smith – 2019 Clyde Gordon – 2020 Neelam Kaderbhoy
THE MARATHON DISTANCE – WHY? – Many thanks to TOM MCNAB for another interesting article.
The phone rang, and I answered, it was none other than CHRIS BRASHER, the creator of the London Marathon. “TOM, “he said. “I’m phoning you because you seem to know all sorts of weird stuff about the history of athletics. Stuff that nobody else knows, or wants to know “I paused before replying, for this was surely a moment for tact rather than honesty. “I’ll take that as a compliment, CHRIS, “I replied. “So, how can I help you?” “Twenty six miles, three hundred and eighty five yards TOM, “he said. How did the marathon ever get to be that odd distance? I’ve been given all sorts of reasons. So can you help me?” This was a corker. Because although yes, pretty much everyone knew that the first time that this distance had been run had been in London, at the 1908 Olympic Games. True, but yet even the official Olympic Report listed it as only twenty six miles. But yes, since that race in 1908, the distance had always been twenty six miles, three hundred and eighty five yards. Why?
I put down the phone and thought back. The world’s first marathon, it hadn’t really been a race, no, it had occurred when the Athenian messenger PHEIDIPPIDES had run the twenty three miles from Marathon to Athens to report the defeat of the Persians by the Athenian army. “Rejoice, we conquer,” he had gasped, before dropping dead, not a particularly good omen for the countless millions who were to follow him over two thousand years later. Little of that first marathon had been run over anything resembling a road, so nowadays PHEIDIPPIDES’ run would be described as cross-country, so all credit to him. But the first major marathon, run at the Athens 1896 Olympic Games, that was over a dusty road, from Marathon to the Averoff stadium in Athens, ending in front the Royal Box. And it had been rumoured that if, by any chance a Greek won, he would be delivered a buxom wench as wife and a life’s supply of free shaves. It was over just beyond twenty five miles, and appropriately won by a Greek, SYPIRIDON LOUES, but we know nothing about the wife or for that matter the free shaves.
The next Olympic marathon was held in Paris in 1900, but it was a chaotic affair through the French capital’s winding streets, this time over about twenty four miles. It was over a slightly different distance in St. Louis in 1904, and again in Athens in 1906. 1906, I hear you say? But surely there was always four years, an Olympiad, between Olympic Games? Yes and no. Because the Greeks had believed since 1896 that the Olympics belonged to them, and had now decided to hold another Games, two years between each Olympics. Thus, in 1906 we had the Intercalated Games, with the marathon distance now closer to twenty three miles, but why am I telling you all this? Because of the eruption in 1906 of Vesuvius and its impact upon the Rome Olympics of 1908. But again, you ask, what Rome Olympics? The answer is the one caused by Rome’s withdrawal from the 1908 Games, the result of the costs of Vesuvius. But the Olympic fencer LORD LONSDALE’S yacht, the Branwen, was parked in Piraeus Harbour, and he seized the moment, and offered the International Olympic Committee London as the venue for the 1908 Olympic Games. And so it came about that the 1908 Olympic Marathon runners set off from Windsor Great Park, in the baking heat, towards White City Stadium. The runners set off at an incredible pace, close to five minute mile-speed over the first ten miles. Thus, by the time that they were passing through West London towards the waiting crowds in the White City Stadium, most of them were on their heels. And, though they had been sustained by Oxo, rice, brandy and strychnine, they were all fading fast.
The first of them to reach the stadium was the unknown Italian runner DORANDO PIETRI, and legend has it that he was offered a glass of chilled champagne on his entry, slugged it down and shambled into the arena. No, I don’t believe that, either. But it was immediately clear to everyone in the eighty thousand crowd that the little Italian was now in deep trouble. He staggered onto the track and immediately collapsed on to its black cinder surface. Urged on by the crowd, he wobbled around the track and fell three times more, landing a few metres short of the finish-line The American JONNY HAYES had now entered the stadium, but on the other side of the track, the delirious DORANDO was being carried through the tape by anxious officials. Needless to say, DORANDO was disqualified and the Olympic gold medal given to the American JONNY HAYES. But our story does not end there. No, because the British public had by now surrendered their hearts to the plucky little Italian, and two days later he was presented with a cup by none other than Queen Alexandra.
So now we come again to that distance. The Olympic authorities had originally decided on twenty six miles, though don’t ask me why. The extra three hundred and eighty five yards has usually been explained by the start having been placed three hundred and eighty five yards back, in order that the Royal children might get a better view. But me, I have a different explanation. It is that the authorities had measured the twenty six miles to the stadium’s entrance, with the other three hundred and eighty five yards being the distance round to the Royal Box. We will never truly know, but from then on even in indoor marathons (and there was one a few weeks later, in the Albert Hall) the distance would always be twenty six miles tttthree hundred and eighty five yards,and all because of that little Italian DORANDO PIETRI. And a few days after the Games, the lyrics” DORANDO, DORANDO, he run a run a run” was the first hit for a young Jewish American called BIELIN. But you, you might well know him better as IRVING BERLIN.
SEB COE’S VIEWS ON THE SHOES – There has been many articles recently on how shoe technology. The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.
World Athletics president says recent records are not entirely down to carbon fibre-plated shoes and that technological advancements are nothing new. SEB COE says advantages given by modern-day racing shoes is an “age-old challenge” and the World Athletics president believes recent world records are as much to do with athletes being refreshed and raring to go after lockdown than the footwear. “The challenge has always historically in our sport been the balance or trade-off between technical innovation and development and codification,” he says. “And I think we’ve got that balance about right.” COE was speaking the day after the global governing body for the sport amended its rules to allow shoe prototypes to be used in all races apart from the Olympics and World Athletics series events. However, these shoes must still abide by current rules relating to stack height and the number of carbon fibre plates.
“Shoe technology is with us and it always will be,” says COE. “We have to maintain rules and codifications. And these issues have been there for a long time. “In a way the horse bolted the stable many, many years ago. What we’ve managed to do this year, if anything, is sort of still chase it around the paddock, but we have at least been able to put a structure around this that has allowed us to start a process and start checking, for instance, some of the shoes that are out there. We’ve never been in a position to do that. We’d never checked the spec on a prototype, but now we do. So I think there is more system in there.” COE argues that technological advancements have always happened and that shoes in the 1960s, for example, were better than those in the 1940s and 1950s. Shoes in the 1990s and turn of the millennium were better than those in the 1970s and 1980s and so on. “If we’re going to go back into the history of world records, we are looking at world records and permanently changing circumstances. I still marvel at somebody like RUDOLF HARBIG back in 1936, 1937 running (1:46) and bits on a cinder track. I still marvel at the fact that PETER SNELL ran around (1:44) and bits in WANGANUI on a grass track. “I still marvel at the fact that we had people like RON HILL running significantly under (2:10) in the marathon, in shoes that had little more than cardboard support in them. So everywhere you look records have developed and they’ve often developed alongside technological change.” Indeed, HILL often used to race barefoot. He even won the Inter-Counties cross-country title in 1968 without shoes
COE also feels the startling performances in distance running this year such as the track world records from JOSHUA CHEPTEGUI and LETESENBET GIDEY in Valencia in October wearing Nike Dragonfly spikes and then the jaw-dropping half-marathon and marathon times in the same city last weekend, led by adidas-sponsored KIBIWOTT KANDIE’S 13.1-mile record, are not entirely down to the shoes. “A lot of the very high-quality performances have in large part been inspired by athletes who were just so goddamn pleased to get back into competition,” COE says. Drawing on the experience of his own career, he adds: “I lost over a year in the lead-up to the ’84 Games. I know what I felt like when I got back on to the track at the beginning of ’84. Yeah, undercooked and without enough petrol. I was just so pleased.”
READ MORE: Could super shoes cost athletes an Olympic medal?
COE continues: “My instinct is in large part what has happened is the athletes have had a year after they’ve actually had their bodies screaming at them mentally and physically for the last four or five years where they’ve actually come off that rollercoaster, they have mastered lockdown and this really difficult period wonderfully well and they have come back and just been so excited about being back into combat.” COE continues: “I do think this year has been a very different type of year. Athletes have managed to just get a little bit more fuel in their minds and in their bodies, again, some really good respite and the ability to sort of regroup. “So I’m not sitting here thinking that this is a really dangerous period. I think these world records are still in the nature of that evolutionary change. And some of it is technology, yes. But some of it is just because the athletes have had some rest and are training really well again.”
PROCEDURES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM FROM JEREMY SOTHCOTT – The Stadium is now open to SBH members under the supervision of an SBH registered Coach. We have agreed the use of Track & Field facilities with Saracens compliant with current guidance issued by the UK Government and England Athletics. Each T&F group will be limited to a maximum of 12 ‘Competing Club Athletes’ per coach. The number of groups per session will be limited to comply with Social Distancing requirements.
Throws – Athletes should have their own implements. However, one implement of each weight will be left in the SBH Clubhouse. Sanitising arrangements to be made in advance with the coach.
Jumps –Following Government Guidelines up to 5 athletes with a suitably qualified coach can now undertake Jumps training utilising jump beds and sand pits. We have updated our documents to include guidance specific to Jumps areas (such as Cleaning requirements before, during and after sessions). Athletes, coaches, clubs and venues must follow the latest guidance at: ???? https://bit.ly/2ATiU7R
Clubhouse Gymnasium – This is available for use by T&F groups subject to prior booking with COLIN GODFREY (colinjlginvest@gmail.com) and compliance with equipment sanitization before and after use and Social Distancing.
Athletes invited to train by their coach must be sent the attached Barnet Copthall Stadium Track & Field Agreement in advance of starting training at the Stadium. The athlete and parent (if under 16) to sign and return to JEREMY SOTHCOTT or TY HOLDEN before they can train. Athletes should meet their coach at their booking time outside the SBH Clubhouse where they will be asked to confirm that they do not have, and that no one in their household has, (or has had within the last 14 days) any of the symptoms of COVID-19.
The athletes will then be escorted using Social Distancing (2 metres) into the SBH Clubhouse to sign the attendance record with times in and out of the Stadium (black A4 folder on the desk) and answer a two question health questionnaire (green A4 folder on the desk). There is also hand sanitiser on the table for use. Athletes must follow the instructions of the coach and observe Social Distancing during warm-up, throughout the session and warm-down.
Stadium Booking Details – Please let JEREMY and TY know the names of the athletes and your preferred time slots for the following week (Monday to Sunday) before 6pm on the Saturday. We will confirm the availability and distribute the schedule to Saracens and to all coaches.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
All 1 hour 35 minute slots (Saturday & Sunday – last slot finishes at 7.20)
9.00 – 10.35, 10.45 – 12.20, 12.30 – 2.05, 2.15 – 3.50, 4.00 – 5.35, 5.45 – 7.20, 7.30 – 9.00
There is a 10 minute gap between each session for transitioning.
If a Coach does not have a key fob for gaining access through the Clubhouse, then please contact GEOFF MORPHITIS Mobile: 07976 994302 who will arrange to issue one to you if available. When going in and out of the Clubhouse from the carpark please ensure the door handle is left in the upward locked position at all times. Please do not enter the Clubhouse until the coach/athletes from the previous session exit. Parents are not permitted to enter the stadium unless there is a child protection issue i.e. one coach and one athlete aged under 16.
From 14 December, toilets and other facilities will be in the “Temporary Changing Building” behind the 100m start area.
Link to the SBH Athlete and Coach Track & Field Training Agreement, which will be sent to all participating athletes, and then to be returned signed by the athlete and parent – Please open the agrrement form, sign and return to either JEREMY SOTHCOTT of TY HOLDEN – SBH – T & F Agreement During Lockdown Period 08.12.20
SBH SUBSCRIPTIONS 2020-2021 – SBH Treasurer GEOFF MORPHITIS has sent me the following regarding subscriptions.
Dear Member – I hope you’re fit and well during these difficult times. The Club has continued to function providing Covid-19 secure coaching at Barnet Copthall (formerly Allianz Park) on a limited basis from mid-June. We also promoted 7 Track & Field competitions during the period July to September. Six of these were LICC meetings at Lee Valley.
We’re working on the promotion of a number of Cross Country races at Barnet Copthall during the period December through to March in compliance with the England Athletics and Government guidelines applicable at the time.
The Club AGM took place virtually at 19.30 on Tuesday 24 November. One of the resolutions which was passed dealt with Club Subscriptions as follows. Following the recent decision of the SBH Council, the proposal is as follows; “The Annual Membership Fee for new members from 1 December 2020 will increase to £50. Existing members who have paid their membership fee for year ended 30 September 2020 will be considered as having also paid their fee for the year ended 30 September 2021. In other words, in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19, these members will have 2 years membership for the price of one.” Therefore, I’m now asking athletes who have not paid their subscription for the year ended 30/09/20 (£45) to pay, so as to qualify for the 2 for 1 concession together with the England Athletics Registration Fee of £15 for 2020/21. The total is £60 and should be paid NOW to;
ACCOUNT NAME : SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS, BANK : HSBC, ACCOUNT NUMBER : 41308378, SORT CODE : 400426 – Please let me know when payment is made. Thanks GEOFF
TRACK ADADEMY BE FIT TODAY – Takes place on Sunday 20 December at Peters Stadium, Barking. Events U11 75m, 150 – U11 up to Senior/Masters 600m – U13 up to Senior/Masters 800m, 1500m, 1 Mile, 3000m. Link for full details including entry information https://mailchi.mp/925c7852a96d/bftta-open-meet-saturday-12th-september-5088628?e=056ff9888e
ATW CROSS COUNTRY SERIES NEXT RACE – The second race will take place Merchant Taylor’s School, Sandy Lodge, Northwood HA6 2HT on Saturday 19 December.
Timetable – 2K Under 11 start – 12:00 pm, 3K Under 13 start – 12:30 pm, 4K Under 15 start – 1:10 pm, 5K Under 17 start – 1:50 pm, 8K Senior/U20 start – 3:00 pm.
Here is the link which went live recently – https://activetrainingworld.co.uk/project/atw-cross-country-series-round-2-19th-december-2020/
The third race is on Sunday 10 January and the link for that should come out in mid December.
UPDATE ON SBH FIXTURE CARD – Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed, This update shows the status of all cross country fixtures as of the 10 November 2020 – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 10-11-20
NOVEMBER 2020 RACES – Currently there are minimal results on the Power of 10, if anyone competes especially virtually please let me know.
SOUTH OF ENGLAND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 2020/2021 CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE – SEAA are hopeful of staging some Cross Country and Indoor Track & Field events during this winter, even though it looked as if we should only be able to cater for the younger age groups. If Government guidelines permit, we hope to put in place the following events.
Cross Country – Cross Country Relays, London Championships, Master & Inter Counties Championships have been postponed until the New Year. The Association hopes that it will be possible to stage some Cross Country events in February/March 2021.
Road Relays – At present the date for the 12/6 Stage and 5K Road Relays remains the same; Sunday 28 March 2021.
Track & Field – It is hoped that some Indoor Covid Games can take place dates scheduled for these events are 16/17 January & 6/7 February next year. Due to the restrictions on numbers we may have to use more than one venue.
We want to reassure our athletes and officials that we shall do our utmost to stage some competition (In line with England Athletics guidance). We shall review the situation and publish any further news as soon as we can. In the meantime, we do hope everyone stays safe and well JOHN GANDEE SEAA Competition Chairman.
CAN YOU HELP PLEASE – During the period when all competitions are suspended, I will do my upmost in keeping the Newsletter information and other content going.
I would welcome any contributions From Yourselves, any impending marriages, or additions to the family, any running or competing incidents, also past warm weather training/holidays (No Club 24 please). Currently the response has been excellent, but if you have anything that could make it into next week’s Newsletter – please email me.
THE FOLLOWING SBH DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION CAN EITHER BE VIEWED, DOWNLOADED OR PRINTED
SBH 2020-2021 Winter Fixture Card updated 10-11-20, Currently all Cross Country and Road Relay fixtures for 2020 are either Cancelled or Postponed. An update on 2021 Fixtures will be published in early December 2020 – SBH Winter Card Fixtures 2020-2021 Updated 10-11-20
Cross Country Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/cross-country/team-managers/
Road Running/Relay Team Managers Details – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/road-running/team-managers/
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OF INTEREST CAN BE FOUND ON THE SBH HOME PAGE BY USING THIS LINK, THEN SELECT THE LEFT OR RIGHT ARROW – http://sbharriers.co.uk/
Barnet Copthall Stadium (Fomerly Allianz Park) Membership, which gives SBH members 10% discount on entry to the Barnet Copthall stadium – Membership details and Form can be either printed or downloaded
Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Club Hoody, information on how to purchase one, please go to the bottom of this Newsletter.
SBH MIDWEEK JUMPS CLUB AT BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Please contact CLYDE GORDON on 07753 985525/clyde67@hotmail.co.uk for futher information on High Jump and Pole Vault days and times.
STEEPLECHASE TRAINING AT BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently Suspended.
PARKRUN 5K RESULTS – Currently Suspended
PARKRUN – Can you make sure that you are registered as ‘Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers’, as the link I use to select all results only shows SBH athletes. If anyone is also officiating can you please contact me, and advise me where and when.
PHOTOGRAPH’S – From time to time we have photographs of our members taken at meetings or presentations which we would like to use both on the website or incorporated within our report to our local newspaper. Can you please let me know if you do NOT want your photograph to be published. Also, I would appreciate if you could send me any photographs, which I can then publish on the website and newsletter.
CLUB EMBROIDERED RED HOODIES – Currently there are now over 750 Hoodies in circulation, this is the link giving details on how you can order your Club Hoody for £35, which includes having your name embroidered on the front Club Hoodies Updated 01-07-19
FACEBOOK – Photographs can be found on the SBH page.
CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF SHAFTESBURY INFORMATION – Currently I notify members (by email) using “MailChimp”. The reason I changed, was in November 2017 “Gmail” put a limit of 100 addresses that users could send to in a 24-hour period, and currently I send to approximately 850 members each issue.
On seeking technical advice “MailChimp” was recommended as the best way for SBH to go forward. There is one thing you should be aware off is that when you receive an email from me, the footer at the bottom has 4 options, of which one is “Unsubscribe Me From List”. Could I ask you not to select this as if you do you will be automatically removed from my distribution list.
SBH PRIVACY STATEMENT – In becoming a member, SBH will collect certain information about you. Can you please read the attached ‘Privacy Statement’ which contains Information on General Data Protection Regulations – SBH Privacy Statement Final April 2018
BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Main Switchboard telephone number is 020 3675 7250.
CHARGES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently the Stadium is only open for limited use by SBH members with no charge.
ALAN WELLER