Happy Birthday from Thursday 11 April to Wednesday 17 April – Leon Biss, Charlotte Harris, Yann Janssen, Scarlett Kent, Eljone Kruger, Dylan Michel, Michael Obiwulu, Ray Powell and Roberto Roncarati

NICK PERCY GOES No.2 ON THE UK ALL-TIME DISCUS RANKINGS – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently. Photograph taken by MARK SHEARMAN.

Scottish record, European and Olympic qualifying mark of (67.73m) for the 29-year-old in Oklahoma on Saturday. Improving his PB by more than two metres, NICK PERCY went from No.10 to No.2 on the UK all-time rankings with a mighty (67.73m) discus throw in Oklahoma on Saturday. Only UK record-holder LAWRENCE OKOYE has thrown further with his national record of (68.24m) from 2012.

PERCY also improved his own Scottish record of (65.00m) – which was achieved at the UK Champs in 2022 – and the mark was a qualifying standard for the European Championships in Rome this summer and Olympic Games in Paris. PERCY won medals in discus and hammer at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011 and was runner-up in the European Under-20 Championships in 2013. He has gone on to compete in the World Championships twice, the European Champs and Commonwealth Games, placing fifth in the latter in 2022, but Paris would be his first Olympics.

NEW CLUB RECORD – NICK’S performance above eclipses GREGORY THOMPSON’S (65.56m) which he set in Philadelphia on 27 April 2019.

HOLLY RYAN’S OUTSTANDING 2024 – HOLLY joined SBH in November 2023, and had a very busy year including setting an outdoor personal best (41.14). 2024 has been exceptional, starting on 14 January finishing 3rd (42.16i) in the Southern Indoor Championships, some 4 weeks later HOLLY produced a blistering run to become the English 300m Indoor Champion at Sheffield, producing a personal best (40.18i) a club record and putting her UK No.1 U15 in 2024 and UK No.3 U15 on the all-time list.

HOLLY started her outdoor season on 1 April in the Yeovil open meeting, and competing against mostly U17 runners, produced a 300m personal best (41.11) ranking her UK No.1 U15 in 2024. This is also a new Club Record, eclipsing the (41.7) set by SOPHIE FORBES-LAIRD at St Ives on 14 September 2020.

CONGRATULATIONS TO AMBER JACKSON – AMBER who is the April winner of the JACK PETCHEY award. AMBER is coached by JEREMY SOTHCOTT and she has been an ever present over the country in 2024.

TCS MONEY LONDON MINI MARATHON – The following Shaftesbury runners have been selected to compete for the London Borough of Barnet. There are 6 runners that make up a team.

Under 13 Boys – SAM CLEMENTS, BEN KASPAR, ETHAN MOSS, ROAN PARKES, EDDIE PASCAL and XANDER REESE
Under 13 Girls – OLIVIA ABBOTT, LUCIA CASALENUOVO, AIMEE PORTER and ELFIE SHAW Reserve 2 HOLLY CLARKE
Under 15 Boys – JESSE ABRAHAMS, CALEB HILTON, JARED MORRIS, ARTHUR PHILLIPS and EUAN PHILLIPS Reserve 1 ZAK JOSEPHS Reserve 2 LADDIE SHAW
Under 15 Girls – ERIN GIBLIN, MEGAN HAMMOND, AMBER JACKSON and POSIE SHAW 
Under 17 Men – RAFI GAYER, TOMMY NARVAEZ-WHITE, ADAM O’GORMAN and GIANLEO STUBBS Reserve 1 JORDAN PEARLMAN Reserve 2 GUY FAWCETT Reserve 3 JACOB CLEMENT
Under 17 Women – ELIZABETH DA TERESA, ADANNA MAZINWOSU, PHOEBE MUSIC, DINA SILVERMAN and EDIE WOODINGS

If any other Shaftesbury athlete is competing for another Borough or UK Region, can you please email me your details to – alanweller111@gmail.com

STATUS ON OPEN MEETINGS – These are the fixtures which are now open for you to enter yourself, which are as follows. Changes this week in Red.
BFTA Series – 14 April Entries Closed, 19 May Closing Date 12 May and 2 June Closing Date 26 May (All entries on Opentrack)
Lee Valley – 24 April Closing Date 23 April , 8 May Closing Date 7 May, 22 May Closing Date 21 May, 5 June Closing Date 4 June (All entries on Opentrack)
Newham – 26 May (Not open as yet) (All entries on Opentrack)
Watford – 17 April (Not open as yet) (Entries on Roster Athletics)
Please remember there is a possibility that the limits may be taken up before the closing date.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS SUBSCRIPTIONS – Our new Club year started on 1 October 2023. The current SBH annual subscription is £80 and the current England Athletics annual registration from 1 April 2024 is £19. The current total is £99 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
LONDON INTER CLUB CHALLENGE THROWSFEST – Took place at StoneX Stadium on 7 April
Shot 3kg – U17W ELSA SHABANI U17 2nd (11.67m), KEIRA LAKE-BRYAN U17 3rd (9.98m)
Shot 4kg – W35 CHEUK-WING CHAN V35 1st (PB 6.74m)
Shot 6kg – M50 MIGUEL GONZALEZ-BETANCOURT V50 1st (PB 12.30m) adding 27cm to his 30 March put, and is ranked UK No.4 V50 in 2024
Discus 2kg – SM A REUBEN VAUGHAN 1st (PB 50.24m) adding 26cm to his 2023 throw, and is ranked UK No.7 in 2024
Hammer 3kg – U17W A ELSA SHABANI U17 1st (PB 43.66m) adding 37cm to her 30 March throw, and is ranked UK No.8 U17 in 2024, KEIRA LAKE-BRYAN U17 2nd (SB 42.43m) adding 4.05m to her 30 March throw, MAIREAD MCGRATH U17 3rd (35.62m)
Hammer 4kg – SW AMY CLEMENS 2nd (SB 47.28m) adding 2m to her 30 March throw, and is ranked UK No.6 in 2024
Hammer 7.26kg – SM JAMES HAMBLIN 3rd (SB 51.56m)
Javelin 600g – W35 CHEUK-WING CHAN V35 1st (PB 14.19m) and is ranked UK No.9 V35 in 2024
Javelin 700g – U17M ALON TAYLOR U17 2nd (PB 30.47m) adding 4.98m to his 2023
Javelin 700g – M50 MIGUEL GONZALEZ-BETANCOURT V50 1st (38.91m)

OKLAHOMA THROWS SERIES – Took place at Ramona, Oklahoma, USA on 7 April
Discus 2kg – SM NICK PERCY 2nd (PB 67.73m) adding 2.73m to his 2022 throw, see report at the top of this Newsletter

GENERALI BERLINER HALBMARATHON – Took place at Berlin, Germany on 7 April
JAMIE DEE 67th (PB 69.49)

BLACKHEATH AND BROMLEY AC OPEN MEETING – Took place at Bromley on 7 April
200m – SX 1 COLUMBA BLANGO T20/F20 2nd (SB 22.94 w-0.1) and is ranked UK No.1 T20 in 2024

BEDFORDSHIRE AAA OPEN – Took place at Sandy on 6 April
Discus 1kg – SX A EMMA BEARDMORE V35 (2nd Claim) 2nd (SB 43.31m) adding 1.20m to her 30 March throw, and is ranked UK No.2 V35 in 2024

BRUTUS HAMILTON INVITATIONAL – Took place at Berkeley, California, USA on 6 April
Discus 2kg – SM B JAMI SCHLUETER U23 (University of Washington) 2nd (SB 39.71m) adding 5.42m to his 29 March throw, and is ranked UK No.7 U23 in 2024

GAMECOCK INVITATIONAL – Took place at Columbia, South Carolina, USA on 6 April
100m – SM H4 MICHAEL OHIOZE 1st (10.46 w2.4) in the next race MICHAEL finished 4th (PB 10.34 w1.9) taking .04 of a second off his 2019 time, and is ranked UK No.1 in 2024
200m – SM 1 MICHAEL OHIOZE 2nd (SB 20.78 w2.3)

HARVARD v YALE – Took place at New Haven, Connecticut, USA on 6 April
100m – SW 1 LARISSA GILES U23 (Yale University) 2nd (12.52 w2.0)
800m – SM LIAM GARRETT (Yale University 2nd Claim) 7th (SB 2:00.98)

LEE VALLEY APRIL OPEN MEETING – Took place at Lee Valley on 6 April
Only the provisional field event results available, regarding the track events, these are the names of the SBH athletes entered
Hammer 3kg – U17W KEIRA LAKE-BRYAN U17 3rd (37.95m)
100m – U20M MALACHI AMADI U20
100m – SW ESTHER AKITI U23
200m – U15G VERA DOUDKO U15, GRACE NYAONGO U15 and KYRA WILLIAMS U15
200m – U17M HARLEY HENRY U17
200m – U20M MALACHI AMADI U20
200m – U20W MIA HIGSON U20 and ULANI MCCABE-HUGGINS U20
200m – SM ANDREW LI
200m – SW NIA AKINTOKUN, VANESSA ANSUAA U23 and HAYLEY MCLEAN
300m – U20M AIDAN GAFFEY U20
300m – SW INDEA ADAMS-BURNETT and VANESSA ANSUAA U23
800m – U20W OLIVE HARVEY-DEW U20
75m Hurdles – U15G KYRA WILLIAMS U15
100m Hurdles – U20W NIAH AKINTOKUN U20 and AZARIA NWANKWO U20

PENN INVITATIONAL – Took place at Franklin Field, Pennsylvania, USA on 6 April
3000m – SM B JOSHUA FISHER U20 8th (SB 9:05.70)
High Jump – SW LILY HOLT U23 6th (SB 1.60m)
Long Jump – SM JOSH WOODS U23 1st (PB 7.41 w4.1) adding 25cm to his 2022 time

HURRICANE ALUMNI INVITATIONAL – Took place at Coral Gables, Florida, USA on 5-6 April
100m – SW 2 EVE WRIGHT U23 5th (SB 11.97 w1.0) and is ranked UK No.2 U23 in 2024
100m Hurdles – SW 3 LILY PARRIS U23 (Princeton University 2nd Claim) 3rd (14.47 w0.1)

SOUTH FLORIDA INVITATIONAL – Took place at Tampa, Florida, USA on 5-6 April
400m – SW 1 LILY BECKFORD 7th (SB 55.15)

TRITAN INVITE – Took place at San Diego, California, USA on 5-6 April
Pole Vault – SM GLEN QUAYLE U23 (Long Beach State University) 15th (SB 4.41m)

PARIS 5K – Took place at Paris on 5 April
LIZZIE BIRD 20th (PB 15.49) taking 4 seconds off her 2020 time

WATFORD OPEN MEETING – Took place at Watford on 3 April
100m – SX 2 HOLLY RYAN U15 2nd (PB 12.40 w1.5) taking .14 of a second off her 2023 time, and is ranked UK No.1 U15 in 2024
1500m – SX 2 MAX WINFIELD U20 4th (SB 4:14.68), 3 MATTHEW MAY U17 1st (PB 4:52.99) taking 27.12 seconds off his 2023 time, 4 GIANLEO STUBBS U20 9th (SB 4:08.50), 6 JESSE ABRAHAMS U15 6th (PB 4:46.39) taking 1.65 seconds off his 2023 time, 10 NOAH CLARKE U20 (2nd Claim) 10th (SB 4:27.84)

DADA MIDWEEK OPEN SERIES – Took place at Derby on 2 April
Discus 1kg – SX ALEXANDER BALTAZAR-HALL U23 1st (SB 43.11m) and is ranked UK No.5 U23 in 2024

LEE VALLEY MINITHON – Took place at Lee Valley on 23 March
Year 3 Boys – BENI LEWISON U9 7th (121 points) 60m (10.68), 200m (36.97), Shot (4.72m)
Year 3 Girls – NOOR EMAAN OBAIDULLAH U9 6th (135 points) 60m (11.97), Shot (5.87m), Turbo (8.25m), AMELIA MUSMAR U9 10th (104 points) 60m (11.21), 200m (40.74), Shot (4.00m)
Year 4&5 Boys – MICHAEL OBIWULU U11 3rd (161 points) 60m (8.90), 60m Hurdles (11.10), 200m (31:74), PRINCE-MOSES JOHN U11 8th (155 points) 60m (9.17), 200m (32.57), 600m (1:58), SHAAYAN RANMAL U11 22nd (96 points) 60m (9.92), 200m (34.14), Shot (11.25m), KENDRICK OGANYO U11 64th (96 points) 60m (10.15), 60m Hurdles (12.23), JAMES KING U11 67th (96 points) 60m (10.15), 60m Hurdles (12.23), 600m (1:58)
Year 4&5 Girls – TEMI JAIYEOLA U11 4th (158 points) 60m (9.17), 200m (30.20), Long Jump (3.36m), KEENYAH ADELISE U11 8th (152 points) 60m (10.43), 200m (37.79), Long Jump (2.33m), NADIA MARAS U11 41st (122 points) 60m (9.69), 200m (31.71), 600m (2:04.01), NAYAH BOBB-SEMPLE U11 95th (139 points) 60m (10.03), 200m (33.37), 600m (2:19.20), TOLU ADENKUNLE U11 73rd (84 points) 200m (40.83), Shot (3.17m), Turbo (5.25m)
Year 6&7 Boys – LUCAS DAVIS U11 3rd (169 points) 60m (8.59), 200m (27.93), Long Jump (3.52m), NOSA URUBUSI U13 11th (159 points) 60m (8.90), 200m (30.00), Long Jump (3.58m), SETH SAUNDERS U13 17th (153 points) 60m Hurdles (11.49), 600m (1:57), Long Jump (3.58m), HARRISON HENDERSON U13 31st (110 points) 60m (8.94), 200m (29.12), 600m (1:58.6)
Year 6&7 Girls – DAMI ADENKUNLE U13 16th (167 points) 60m (9.00), 200m (30.38), Long Jump (3.41m), SIENNA DARCY U13 18th (165 points) 60m (9.29), 200m (31.63), 600m (1:54m), ELLA APPIAH-SPICK U13 30th (151 points) 60m (9.72), 200m (32.79), Long Jump (3.17m), ELINOR JOHNSON U13 51st (114 points) 200m (34.76), Long Jump (2.18m), Shot (3.92m)

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…
1,113 events – 206,775 walkers, joggers, runners and volunteers – 9,7873 first timers – 17,347 PBs

COMPLETELY USELESS RANDOM FACT – In March, parkrun had over 1.8 million instances of participation, the largest in parkrun history! – This is more instances of participation than in all of 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 put together

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Aldenham on 6 April.
PAUL LEWIS V50 21st (25.42) this was his 211th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Blandford on 6 April.
HUGH RICHARDS V75 204th (37.47) this was his 243rd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Fell Foot, Newby Bridge on 6 April.
RUSSELL DEVITT V75 186th (44.37) this was his 298th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Hackney Marshes on 6 April.
BARRY CHISHOLM V65 302nd (29.38) this was his 326th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Hasenheide, Germany on 6 April.
STUART SINGER V60 51st (22.29) this was his 415th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Kesgrave on 6 April.
ROSS HAMMOND U17 4th (18.24) this was his 38th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Oak Hill on 6 April.
JOSHUA BOWMAN U15 25th (21.26) this was his 4th Parkrun, BRADLEY SINGER V35 55th (23.25) this was his 265th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Queen Elizabeth on 6 April.
JAMES DAVIS U23 49th (29.54) this was his 53rd Parkrun

UPCOMING TRACK AND FIELD FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 5 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 11 APRIL UNTIL WEDNESDAY 15 MAY – The SBH 2024 Summer 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 ‘Fixtures and Results’ section.

SUMMER OPEN MEETINGS 2024 – The link will open the document that has the dates for all fixture dates for BFTA, Lee Valley, Newham and Watford fixtures and updated up to the 11 April – All Summer Open Meetings 2024 Updated 11 April 2024
The Information including how to enter for each fixture, will be published below as and when known.

EASTERN YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE  – The first of four fixtures takes place on Sunday 14 April at the Stuart Storey Track, Wodson Park, Wadesmill Road, Ware (Satnav SG12 0UQ).
Age-Groups Under U13, U15 & U17 Men/Women.
Link to the timetable – EYAL Timetable 2024 For Matchess 1 and 3
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 11 April as the declarations have to be in on Friday 12 April

BFTTA OUTDOOR SERIES 1 – Takes place on Sunday 14 Aprill at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Entry is now open via Open Track – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/?o=&page=1&date__gte=2024-02-26&date__lte=2024-04-30&type=&q=&country_id=GBR&uses_ot=on#
Entries Closed

WATFORD OPEN MEETING  – Takes place on Wednesday 17 April at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH).
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Timetable – TBC
Link to entries on roster athletics, although entries not open as 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 possibility that the limits will be taken up well before the race day.

TCS MONEY LONDON MINI MARATHON – Takes place on Saturday 20 April close to Temple Station and finishes on The Mall.
Note: The teams have been selected for the London Borough of Barnet, which include many Shaftesbury athletes. 

TCS MONEY LONDON MARATHON – Takes place on Sunday 21 April from Greenwich. We should have a few runners representing the Stripes.
Note: You will have to enter yourself.

LEE VALLLEY 100M/200M SPRINTS NIGHT – Takes place on Wednesday 24 April at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Timetable 19.00pm 100m, 20.00pm 200m estimated start time, or 20 minutes after the end of the last 100m race.
Entry is via Open Track, now open to enter – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/?o=&page=3&date__gte=2024-03-20&date__lte=2024-06-30&type=&q=&country_id=GBR&uses_ot=on
Entries Closing Date Wednesday 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 possibility that the limits will be taken up well before the race day.

MIDDLESEX YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE ROUND 1 – The first fixture of four takes place on Saturday 27 April at the Finsbury Park Athletics Track (Satnav N4 2NQ).
Age-Groups Under 13, 15 & 17 Men/Women.
Note: You will have to be selected by your Team Manager.
To Be Confirmed: Those athletes who wish to compete as a non-scorer, please contact your Team Manager no later than Thursday 25 April as the declarations have to be in on Friday 26 April. 

UK YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE PREMIER SOUTH ROUND 1 – The first fixture of three takes place on Sunday 28 April at the Thames Valley Athletics Track, Pococks Lane, Eton, Windsor (Satnav SL4 6HN).
Age-Groups Under 17 & U20 Men/Women.
Link to the timetable – UKYDL UAG Timetable 2024
Note: You will have to be selected by your respective Team Manager

WATFORD OPEN MEETING  – Takes place on Wednesday 1 May at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH).
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Timetable – TBC
Link to entries on roster athletics, although entries not open as 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 possibility that the limits will be taken up well before the race day.

BUCS CHAMPIONSHIPS  – Takes place from Saturday 4 May to Monday 6 May at the Manchester Regional Arena, Gate 13, Ethiad Campus, Rowsley Street, Manchester (M11 3FF)
Entries Closed

EASTERN YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE ROUND 2  – The second of four fixtures takes place on Sunday 5 May at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH).
Age-Groups Under U13, U15 & U17 Men/Women.
Link to the timetable – EYAL Timetable 2024 For Matches 2 and 4
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 2 May as the declarations have to be in on Friday 3 May 

LONDON INTER CLUB CHALLENGE HURDLES NIGHT – Due to take place on Wednesday 8 May has now been cancelled.

LEE VALLLEY DOUBLE 100M SPRINTS NIGHT – Takes place on Wednesday 8 May at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton (Satnav N9 0AR)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Timetable 19.00pm 100m 1st round, 2nd round will follow the last race of the 1st round.
Entry is via Open Track – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2024/GBR/lvac1001001/
Entries Closing Date Tuesday 7 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 possibility that the limits will be taken up well before the race day.

HERTFORDSHIRE AND BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 11 May and Sunday 12 May. at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH)
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women
Link to enter on Roster athletics – https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions?nextUrl=L3B1YmxpYy9jb21wZXRpdGlvbnM%2FaWQ9MjQ5NDUmY2M9R0JSJmZyb209MjAyNC0wMy0yMyZ0bz0yMDI0LTA2LTMwJnBhZ2U9MQ%3D%3D&cc=GBR&page=2&from=2024-04-03&to=2024-06-28
Entries Closing Date Sunday 30 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 11 May and Sunday 12 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 and Information – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/?o=&page=2&date__gte=2024-03-20&date__lte=2024-06-30&type=&q=&country_id=GBR&uses_ot=on
Entries Closing Date Sunday 30 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.

WATFORD OPEN MEETING  – Takes place on Wednesday 15 May at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH).
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Timetable – TBC
Link to entries on roster athletics, although entries scheduled to be open from TBC –
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.

INSANE STATS BEHIND RUSS COOK’S RUN ACROSS AFRICA – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

The “Hardest Geezer” became the first person in history to run the full length of the continent, It’s not your typical run in the park.

Over the past year, RUSS COOK – AKA “The Hardest Geezer”, has trekked across Africa, with the aim of being the first person in history to run from the continent’s most southerly to northerly point.

It’s a journey that started out in Cape Agulhas, South Africa – Africa’s most southerly point – on April 23, 2023 and ended in Ras Angela, Tunisia – Africa’s most northerly point – on April 7, 2024.

During his journey COOK encountered a variety of issues, from being held at gunpoint in Angola and kidnapped in the Congo by a gang of men armed with machetes to visa troubles getting into Algeria and health scares such as recurring back pain. That didn’t stop the 27-year-old from Worthing, West Sussex. Overcoming adversity time and time again, and more often than not running alone, COOK counted down the miles. It was fitting that during the final stretch to Ras Angela, he was joined by a myriad of supporters who had flown in to run with him on the last leg of of the journey.

When he crossed the line, COOK was reunited with his girlfriend EMILY and later on in the evening drank a long awaited strawberry daiquiri. What makes his achievement even more impressive is when you delve into the numbers.

His journey from Cape Agulhas to Ras Angela was an astonishing 16,295km/10,125 miles. The fact that it took him 352 days to complete the journey means that COOK averaged out 46.3km/28.7 miles per day for almost a year. That’s the equivalent of 386 marathons. No surprise he went through 30 pairs of trainers. COOK also travelled through 16 countries: South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria, and Tunisia. In total, COOK completed approximately 19 million steps during that period. The longest single run he did in one day was 110km, 241 days into the journey.

Nicknamed ‘Project Africa’, COOK’S aim is to raise £1m for The Running Charity and Sandblast. He is no stranger to challenges and previously ran from Istanbul to London while he also holds the record for the fastest marathon while pulling a car. COOK’S claim to be the first person to run the length of Africa has been challenged by the World Runners Association (WRA). They state that JESPER KENN OLSEN from Denmark was the first person to run the length of Africa, running the 12,791km distance from Egypt to South Africa. The counterargument is that OLSEN’S journey wasn’t from the continent’s most northerly to southerly point.

DALEY THOMPSON DOCUMENTRY SET FOR JULY RELEASE – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently. Photograph take by MARK SHEARMAN taken at Edinburgh in 1986.

Sky Documentaries and will feature the life story of the Olympic decathlon legend this summer. One of sport’s most compelling characters and arguably Britain’s greatest ever track and field athlete will star in a television documentary this summer. It promises to shed new light into DALEY THOMPSON’S life and is timed to coincide with the eve of the Paris Olympics and the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Los Angeles Games, where he won his second Olympic title. Sky Documentaries say they have gained “unprecedented access and never seen before archive”. They add: “The film chronicles his legendary sporting achievements, from the streets of London’s Notting Hill to Greece’s Olympia, the site where his iconic event began during the Ancient Games.” In what sounds like a warts-and-all look at his life, THOMPSON reveals the struggles he faced on the road to success. There are contributions as well from his close friend and World Athletics president SEB COE, former decathlon rival JURGEN HINGSEN and CAITLYN JENNER, who, as BRUCE JENNER, won the 1976 Olympic decathlon crown and acted as a mentor to THOMPSON ahead of his 1980 Olympic victory in Moscow and subsequent world records.

Olympic heptathlon champion DENISE LEWIS and sprint icon LINFORD CHRISTIE are also among those who make contributions. THOMPSON said: “It took me a long time to realise I was an introvert living an extroverted life, and I’ve been fortunate to keep most of that life to myself. “Nearing pensioner hood, I’d like to share some of the good and a few disappointments, with my kids who don’t believe any of my adventures but mainly with people who are looking and hoping to be inspired. My message is simple: your altitude is dictated by your attitude, ‘believe in you’.” JACK OLIVER, head of co-productions at Sky added: “With the Olympics around the corner, we are thrilled to be working with The Mob Film Company and Abacus Media Rights to tell DALEY’S story, a true sporting legend and one of the best decathletes of our time.

“With unprecedented access, exclusive archival footage and a host of brilliant contributors, we hope to give viewers a behind the scenes glimpse at the complex journey of one man, who became Britain’s greatest all around athlete.” VADIM JEAN, director at The Mob Film Company said: “As a teenager at the time in the 1980s, DALEY was my sporting hero. I never imagined that 40 years later I’d have the privilege of making a film that I hope does justice to his legacy as the ultimate Olympic superstar. “It’s an honour to be able bring together my love of film and sport to tell DALEY’S incredible, inspirational story for the screen and reveal what it would take to be greatest all-around athlete the world has ever seen.”

SEB COE: I’VE ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR ATHLETES – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

World Athletics president explains the thinking behind “historic” move to award $50,000 to Olympic gold medallists in Paris, SEB COE insists that World Athletics’ move to become the first international sports governing body to award prize money at the Olympic Games is the latest step in a commitment to improve the support given to athletes. In what the organisation described as a “landmark”, “historic” and “pivotal” moment, it was announced that Olympic gold medallists in athletics disciplines at this summer’s Games in Paris will each receive $50,000. A total prize pot of $2.4 million has been ring-fenced from the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) revenue share allocation, which is received by World Athletics every four years. The $50,000 prize will go to winners of the 48 track and field events, with athletes in relay teams sharing the money. There is a further commitment to extend the prize money at a tiered level to Olympic silver and bronze medal winners at the LA Olympics in four years’ time.

“I’ve always been committed where I possibly can to making life a little bit easier for the athletes and I hope this does that,” said COE, the men’s Olympic 1500m champion in 1980 and 1984. “There is a big distinction between our World Championships and the Olympic Games so if that contribution helps in allowing an athlete to stay in the sport for a little bit longer or to prepare in a more cohesive or strategic way then there’s a welfare element in all of that as well. “It’s 40 years this year since I competed in Los Angeles. The world has changed a lot since then. When I started out in the British team, it was a 75p meal voucher, a second-class rail ticket or 10p a mile petrol or whatever was cheaper.” Asked if it was right that additional money would be going towards athletes already at the top end of the earning scale in the sport when there are others who are operating on a financial knife edge, COE added: “This is one element of the support mechanisms that we have in play in world athletics.

“Over the course of a four-year cycle, we commit $24 million to all our events, including World Championships indoors, on our race walks, cross country, World Youth, World Junior Championships, and this is an additional prize money pot of $2.4 million on top of that. “Over the course of just one year, some $13 million goes into the development of our sport – so that’s north of $50 million over that four-year cycle. Then of course we fund the Athletic Integrity Unit, which is also there to protect the birthright of the athletes and their ability to compete in a drug-free environment. We are doing all sorts of things to meet with those challenges.”

The IOC responded to the move by stating: “It is up to each International Federation and National Oylmpic Committee to determine how to best serve their athletes and the global development of their sport.” To some, paying competitors will go against Olympic the spirit. Asked what he would say to that more view, COE responded:  “To be honest, if I’d been asked this question 30 or 40 years ago, I’d have probably been in that camp too but I fundamentally understand, by spending a large portion of my time with athletes, the pressures they’re under now the world has dramatically changed.”

He added: “I think you would find the single biggest contributor over the career of an athlete will be friends, family, local communities and modest contributions at a local level to get careers kick started. “And remember an athlete will often have been out there in dedicated training, relying on the largesse of family and friends for the best part of a decade before they make it to the public visibility that a podium finish gives them. “I know that an athlete winning an Olympic title, you can’t really put a monetary value on it, but you do know there will be some sources of finance available. This is our way of reflecting modestly that we understand what this process is about and to help move that financial viability. “So I don’t really see this being at variance with the overwhelming principle over the welfare of the athletes, the ability of the athletes to compete and to train, and to have the wherewithal to do it safely and securely. I think that is being met here. I think it is the right thing to do, we will continue to do that and hopefully, as we grow the sport, we can be more expansive in what we can do.”

ENGLAND ATHLETICS APRIL THROWS NEWSLETTER – I recently received this months edition from NICK RIDGEON of EA.
The content is varied and interesting including upcoming events from April to August – Throws Newsletter Apr-24

OLYMPIC GAMES 2024 – Take place in Paris from the 26 July until the 11 August. The Athletics take place from the 1 August until the 11 August.

Link to the Olympic Games website for the schedule for all events – https://www.paris2024.org/en/competition-schedule-olympic-games/
Detailed schedule for events will be issued later this year
Link to the Olympic Games website to register for tickets – https://tickets.paris2024.org/en/

PARALYMPIC GAMES 2024 – Take place in Paris, from the 28 August until the 8 September.
Link to the Paralympic Games website for the schedule for all events – https://www.paris2024.org/en/competition-schedule-paralympic-games/
Link to the Paralympic Games website to register for tickets – https://tickets.paris2024.org/en/

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

Photograph of AMBER JACKSON and her coach JEREMY SOTHCOTT, celebrating after winning the JACK PETCHEY award for April.

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 2024 SUMMER FIXTURE CARD – The 2024 Summer Fixture Card is now published on the SBH Website, in which you can Access/Print a copy for future reference.
The Information on upcoming fixtures will be published in the SBH Weekly Newsletter, plus the majority of fixtures Information can be found on the SBH Website under the ‘Fixtures and Results’ section.
Link to Fixture Card – A SBH Summer 2024 Fixture Card Front Sheet Re-Issued 10-03-24    B SBH Summer 2024 Fixture Card Fixtures Re-Issued 30-03-24 – 8 May LICC Fixture Cancelled

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 – StoneX Membership (1) as of 30 October 2023

JAMIE BATH MEMBERS MASSAGE SERVICE – Since joining SBH he has been working closely with TY HOLDEN in his quest for Athlete and Athletics Development. To help support the club members he has (with the club’s support) set up a Members Massage Service available on club nights at a small charge of £15 (as compared to outside masseurs who charge £60) to simply cover materials and insurance.
Please contact JAMIE at jamiebath@live.co.uk or text him on 07902 592561. You can also see him on training nights for availability.

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 JUMPS 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. High Jump training is on Wednesday’s from 18.45pm 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 TRAINING AND COACHING – Please see the 2024 Summer Fixture Card, which gives full details of Traing and Coaching – A SBH Summer 2024 Fixture Card Front Sheet Re-Issued 10-03-24

POLE VAULTERS REQUIRED FOR 2024 – 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