Happy Birthday from this Thursday 17 March to Sydney Allen, Peter Bayvel-Zayats, Djanira Da Costa, Zoe Davis, Antonio Infantino, Abi Jeffrey, Jade Lally, Finn Maccarthy, Oliver Massingham, Emmanuella Owusu-Bempah, William Ryle-Hodges, Sam Scheer and Louis Ubaka

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS SUBSCRIPTIONS – SBH Treasurer GEOFF MORPHITIS has sent me the following regarding subscriptions.
Our new year started on 1 October 2021. The SBH annual subscriptions is £50 and the current England Athletics annual registration is £15 – but increase to £16 if your EA renewal date is after 1 April 2022. The total is £65 – but increase to £66 if your EA renewal date is after 1 April 2022, and should now be paid NOW to; ACCOUNT NAME: SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS, BANK: 41308378, SORT CODE: 400426 – Please let me know when payment is made. I will still be collecting subscriptions for the year to 30 September 2021 from those members who did not pay. Thanks GEOFF

WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Is being broadcast live on television, and the dates/times are as follows – Friday 18 March BBC2 8.15am to 1.15pm, 4.30pm to 7.00pm, Saturday 19 March BBC2 8.15am to 12.00noon, 4.30pm t0 8.45pm, Sunday 20 March BBC2 8.45am to 10.30am, BBC1 10.30am to 12.00noon, BBC2 3.30pm t0 7.05pm.

UPDATE FROM JAKE SHELLEY – I just wanted to let you know that I’m sadly going to have to sit out the road relay season this Spring, from a running and team managing side of things. I’m just too busy, because my PhD is due at the end of April and my new job is quite full on as well. I’ve also had a sore knee since October, so I’m in no state to race. On top of all that, I’m also in the process of moving to Switzerland next month! I will miss being there this year, but hope to get back involved next time.

NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Took place at Parliament Hill on 28 February
Photograph of DAVID GREENSTEIN, JONNY SHAW and ROBERT RIGBY, looking extremely happy following 12000m of the very tough Parliament Hill course.

NORTH WEST LONDON LEAGUE – The fifth fixture of five due to take place on Saturday 5 March at Wormwood Scrubs, was cancelled due to a waterlogged course.

HIGHGATE HARRIERS OPEN MEETING – Takes place on Wednesday 20 April at Parliament Hill Fields, Hampstead Heath (SatNav NW5 1QR), nearest station is Gospel Oak.
Start Times – 6.30pm Discus, 6.45pm 100m and High Jump, 7.20pm 1500m, 7.40pm 300m, 7.45pm Shot Put, 8.00pm 5000m.
Track Events – 100m and 1500m all age-groups excluding Under 11s, 300m U15/U17/U20/Seniors, 5000m U20/Seniors.
Entry fee £8 per event. The total number of entries for each event will be limited. You are strongly advised to enter as soon as possible using the link below. Entries will close when event is full or otherwise at midnight on Sunday 17 April.
Link to On-Line entry and payment only – No entries on the night – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2022/GBR/high1879/
Link to HH Flyer – Advert of HH Open Meeting April 2022
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee

CAU INTER COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS (INCLUDING BRITISH ATHLETICS CROSS CHALLENGE) – Took place at Loughborough on 12 March.

There were a smallish group of Shaftesbury runners representing their counties, of those there were top 20 finishes from HENRY DOVER who finished 7th in the Under 17 race, DYLAN EVANS finished 15th in the Senior Men’s race, POSIE SHAW finished 19th in the Under 13 Girls race and NAOMI TASCHIMOWITZ who finished 20th in the Senior Women’s race.

The majority of Shaftesbury’s athletes are affiliated, either to Hertfordshire or Middlesex. Based on the first 6 races, in which both Hertfordshire or Middlesex completed a team, these are the aggregate points of those 6 races – Middlesex (1762 points), Hertfordshire (1932 points).

Under 13 Boys – PRINCE VICTORUS JOHN U13 (Middlesex) 47th (12.32), EUAN PHILLIPS U13 (Middlesex) 55th (12.36), CHARLIE CUTLER U13 (Middlesex) 258th (14.20) the winner was Jake Meyburgh of Surrey (11.16), 290 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Surrey (79 points), 2nd North East (88), 3rd Greater Manchester (95), 6th Hertfordshire (170), 8th Middlesex (179) 40 teams finished 

Under 13 Girls – POSIE SHAW U13 (Middlesex) 19th (13.12) the winner was Katherine Haslip of Sussex (12.32), 301 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Buckinghamshire (36 points), 2nd Surrey (48), 3rd Sussex (123), 8th Middlesex (193), 28th Hertfordshire (495) 40 teams finished 

Under 15 Boys – The winner was Robert Price of Cheshire (13.43), 301 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Essex (62 points), 2nd Surrey (81), 3rd Kent (109), 8th Hertfordshire (210), 26th Middlesex (461) 43 teams finished 

Under 15 Girls – The winner was Evey Powell of Oxfordshire (15.43), 297 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Yorkshire (74 points), 2nd Kent (96), 3rd North East (129), 9th Middlesex (210), 29th Hertfordshire (535) 44 teams finished 

Under 17 Men – HENRY DOVER U17 (Essex) 7th (22.50), MAX WINFIELD U17 (Hertfordshire) 63rd (24.32), SAMUEL GREENSTEIN U17 (Middlesex) 65th (24.33), LEO RONCARATI U17 (Middlesex) 159th (26.20) the winner was Fraser Gilmore of Scotland West (22.19), 256 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Scotland West (77 points), 2nd Kent (87), 3rd North East (114), 9th Essex (210), 14th Hertfordshire (256), 20th Middlesex (399) 36 teams finished

Under 17 Women – The winner was Hannah Ryding of Scotland West (19.46), 256 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Scotland West (54 points), 2nd Yorkshire (67), 3rd Cheshire (82), 12th Hertfordshire (266), 16th Middlesex (320) 39 teams finished 

Under 20 Men – THEO MACHIN-PALEY U20 (Middlesex) 84th (32.21) the winner was Liam Rawlings of Shropshire (28.07), 176 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Kent (38 points), 2nd Lancashire (106), 3rd Derbyshire (117), 8th Middlesex (245), Hertfordshire (Team Not Complete) 20 teams finished

Under 20 Women – NATASHA TANNER U20 (Middlesex) 82nd (31.44) the winner was Pippa Roessler of Surrey (25.31), 135 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Surrey (58 points), 2nd Yorkshire (69), 3rd Merseyside (119), 10th Middlesex (250), Hertfordshire (Team Not Complete) 20 teams finished

Senior Men – DYLAN EVANS (Middlesex) 15th (34.27) the winner was Calum Johnson of North East (33.03), 289 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Surrey (205 points), 2nd Northern Ireland (256), 3rd Lincolnshire (286), 25th Hertfordshire (937), Middlesex (Team Not Complete) 34 teams finished

Senior Women – NAOMI TASCHIMOWITZ (Middlesex) 20th (33.18) the winner was Mhairi MacLennan of Scotland North (30.51), 274 runners finished.
Team Result – 1st Surrey (126 points), 2nd Yorkshire (139), 3rd Hampshire (188), 6th Middlesex (306), Hertfordshire (Team Not Complete) 30 teams finished

ENGLAND MASTERS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION INDOOR INTER AREA CHALLENGE – Took place at Lee Valley on 13 March
It turned out to be an emphatic overall win for the Midland Masters team, 2nd was the Eastern Masters with GARY SMITH V50 winning the 60m Hurdles (8.77) and 2nd in the 60m (7.94). In 3rd place was the Veterans Athletic team in which LISA WEBB V55 won the 1500m (2:39.06) ranking her UK No.3. In 4th place was the Southern Counties Veterans Athletic team in which SEAN SUTHERLAND V50 and ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V60 had a very busy day, SEAN was 3rd in the 200m (26.48), 1st in the 400m (58.12) ranking him UK Equal No.7 and High Jump finishing 2nd (1.55m) ranking him UK Equal No.3. ROSALIND completed 4 events, first the 60m (10.20), followed by 3rd in the High Jump (1.05m) ranking her UK No.7, 4th in the Long Jump (3.43m) ranking her UK No.9 and 3rd in the Shot (6.02m).

60m – M50 GARY SMITH V50 (2nd Claim EMAC) 2nd (SB 7.94) and is ranked UK No.9 V50 in 2022
60m – W60 ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V60 (SCVAC) 5th (10.20)
200m – M50 SEAN SUTHERLAND V50 (SCVAC) 3rd (26.48)
400m – M50 SEAN SUTHERLAND V50 (SCVAC) 1st (SB 58.12) taking .75 of a second off his 6 March time, and is ranked UK 7th Equal V50 in 2022
800m – W50 LISA WEBB V55 (VAC) 1st (SB 2:39.06) and is ranked UK No.3 V55 in 2022
60m Hurdles – M50 GARY SMITH V50 (2nd Claim EMAC) 1st (8.77)
High Jump – M50 SEAN SUTHERLAND V50 (SCVAC) 2nd (PB 1.55m) equalling his 5 March height, and is ranked UK No.3 V50 in 2022
High Jump – W60 ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V60 (SCVAC) 2nd (SB 1.05m) and is ranked UK No.7 V60 in 2022
Long Jump – W60 ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V60 (SCVAC) 4th (SB 3.43m) adding 7cm to her 22 January jump, and is ranked UK No.9 V60 in 2022
Shot 3kg – W60 ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V60 (SCVAC) 3rd (SB 6.02m)

Team Result – Men 1st MMAC (236.5 points), 2nd EMAC (217 points), 1st SCVAC (190 points) – Women 1st MMAC (220 points), 2nd VAC (167 points), 3rd EMAC (143 points), 5th SCVAC (140 points) – Combined Men and Women 1st MMAC (456.5 points), 2nd EMAC (360 points), 3rd VAC (335 points), 4th SCVAC (330 points)

EUROPEAN THROWING CUP – Took place at Leiria, Portugal on 12-13 March
Shot 7.26kg – SM A SCOTT LINCOLN (HCA) 6th (20.09m)
Discus 2kg – SM A NICK PERCY 11th (57.01m)
Hammer 7.26kg – SM A CHRIS BENNETT 9th (SB 72.66m) adding 5.62m to his 27 February throw, and is ranked UK No.1 in 2022

CHEMIST WAREHOUSE SYDNEY TRACK CLASSIC – Took place at Sydney, Australia on 12 March
Discus 1kg – SW JADE LALLY 1st (59.90m)

NCAA DIV 1 INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Took place at Birmingham, Alabama, USA on 11-12 March
3000m – SM CHARLES HICKS U23 (Stanford University) 3rd (8:00.23)

NCAA DIV 2 INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Took place at Pittsburgh, Kansas, USA on 11-12 March
Mile – SM H2 MITCHEL COX (Queens University North Carolina) 4th (PB 4:05.83) taking .47 of second off his 26 February time, in the Final MITCHEL finished 7th (4:11.92)
Pole Vault – SM GLEN QUAYLE U23 (Northern State University) 12th (4.95m)

RESULTS
SUTCLIFFE INDOOR 60s MEETING – Took place at Eltham on 6 March
60m – SX 1.4 JOSEPH PURBRICK U20 1st (PB 7.12) taking .02 of a second off his 2 January time, 1.9 KIMANI JACK U20 2nd (PB 7.45), 1.10 BRYAN OGBEBOR U20 4th (7.64)
60m – SW 1.11 JANIYA GEORGE U20 3rd (PB 9.19) taking .06 of a second off her 16 February time, 2.11 JANIYA GEORGE U20 finished 1st (PB 9.09) taking .10 of a second off her 1.11 time

QUEENSLAND ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS – Took place at Brisbane, Australia on 5-6 March
Discus 1kg – SW JADE LALLY 1st (61.75m)

MANCHESTER INDOOR OPEN MEETING – Took place at Sportcity on 5 March
Pole Vault – SX B ETHAN WALSH 2nd (4.80m)

OPEN TRACK SURREY MEN’S LEAGUE DIVISION 1 – Took place at Lloyd Park on 5 March
8000m – SM DYLAN EVANS 2nd (26.33)

AOC SPORT INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Took place at Lee Valley on 2 March
60m – U20M H1 ONAOPE SOGBESAN U20 6th (7.30), H2 BRYAN OGBEBOR U20 4th (7.61)

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. 

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Canons Park on 12 March.
LOUIS PELTA U17 5th (20.46) this was his 52nd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Cardiff on 12 March.
JULIAN LAMY 1st (PB 16.33) this was his 33rd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Great Lines on 12 March.
CLIFF GOLDING V65 62nd (26.42) this was his 110th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Hackney Marshes on 12 March.
BARRY CHISHOLM V60 170th (27.49) this was his 237th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Highbury Fields on 12 March.
THOMAS WESLEY BROOKS 23rd (20.26) this was his 22nd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Long Eaton on 12 March.
INDIRA PATEL U20 4th (PB 17.45) this was her 35th Parkrun, SCARLETT KENT U20 22nd (20.04) this was her 44th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Oak Hill on 12 March.
STUART SINGER V60 21st (22.03) this was his 322nd Parkrun, BRADLEY SINGER 30th (22.48) this was his 169th Parkrun, LILY PLASETT U15 155th (29.48) this was her 17th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Panshanger on 12 March.
RUSSELL DEVITT V70 143rd (31.38) this was his 214th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Poole on 12 March.
HUGH RICHARDS V75 386th (32.39) this was his 170th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Sunny Hill on 12 March.
SHONA MICHEL V50 21st (27.31) this was her 57th Parkrun

UPCOMING FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 4 WEEKS, FOR THE PERIOD THURSDAY 17 MARCH UNTIL WEDNESDAY 13 APRIL – The current 2022 Summer Fixture Card can be found on the SBH website – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/ – also the contact details for all Team Managers can be found on the SBH website – http://sbharriers.co.uk/athletics/track-field/team-managers

WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place in Belgrade, Serbia on Friday 18 March to Sunday 20 March

LEE VALLEY HERTFORDSHIRE, MIDDLESEX AND KENT INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place at Lee Valley on Saturday 19 March and Sunday 20 March, for all age-groups excluding U13s.
Link to athletes information and events –
Entries Closed

ENGLISH SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 19 March at Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent. Age-Groups U15, U17 & U19

SOUTHERN MEN’S 12 STAGE AND WOMENS 6 STAGE ROAD RELAYS – Takes place on Sunday 27 March at the Milton Keynes Track, Milton Keynes, Bucks (SatNav MK14 6BN).
Start times Men 12.00noon and Women 1.00pm
Men 6 Stages (4.8km) and 6 Stages (7.2km) – Women 4 Stages (4.8km) and 2 Stages (7.2km)
Entry Close Tuesday 15 March
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager 

SOUTHERN U15/U17 5k ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Sunday 29 March at the Milton Keynes Track, Milton Keynes, Bucks (SatNav MK14 6BN).
Start time 11.00am
Entry Close Tuesday 15 March
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager

SHAFTESBURY FEATURE IN THE ELITE TOP TEN TEAMS – The following was sent to me by GEOFF MORPHITIS, which was in the March edition of Athletics Weekly. Mind you (tongue in cheek), Arsenal ahead of us! Link for article – SBH – AW much loved athletics clubs

REQUEST FROM REBECCA JEGGO – REBECCA joined Shaftesbury in 2017, and is an outstanding sprinter, having represented the club in the UK Youth Development League, UK Women’s League and the National Athletics League. Individually she won the British Indoor and Outdoor 200m bronze medals in 2020, and was also a finalist that year in the Indoor 60m and Outdoor 100m British Finals. In 2021 she won the 4x100m relay gold medal at the Manchester International representing England. This year in the 200m she won the Southern bronze medal, was a finalist in the British Championships, and a silver medallist in the BUCS Championships. REBECCA is currently ranked 200m UK No.7 U23 in 2022. 

I am involved with the University of Essex project for UK track and field athletes (18+ years old) who are competing in the 2022 track season to complete a short online questionnaire which should take approximately 5 minutes before the start of the outdoor season. In addition to this, any athlete that completes the questionnaire will be contacted directly to fill out another 5-minute questionnaire at the mid-point (end of June) and then at the endpoint of the 2022 athletics season (early September) via email provided within the first questionnaire.
The project itself looks into how athlete burnout changes and influences performance across an athletics season. It is anticipated that the findings will provide the first evidence into understanding the extent that the mental health and wellbeing of an athlete may be tied to their performance. Once the study is completed, the findings will be distributed to all the athletes that participated. The results are likely to have direct implications for athlete performance, wellbeing, and career longevity. We anticipate this information will be useful to practitioners, coaches, and athletes when trying to raise awareness of athlete burnout in terms of how it develops and its consequences.
This is the link to the questionnaire study – https://bit.ly/33lZA1q
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, REBECCA JEGGO, School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex on 07544 669923.

RETURNING TO SPORT AFTER INJURY, OR TIME AWAY – Our friends at Finchley Rugby Club are co-hosting the above event with their club sponsor, OneWelbeck, and is being held at Saracens StoneX Stadium on Wednesday 30 March at 7pm.
The event is in the ‘Hundred Club’ room, with its incredible sports memorabilia collection and we have lined up a brilliant panel of speakers to talk about ‘Returning To Sport After Injury Or Time Away’.
The speakers are NATASHA BEACH, Orthopaedic Consultant and Chief Medical Officer for England Athletics, JOE GRAY, Pro player & Premiership winner last season with Harlequins, previously Saracens and England, RICHARD BAMFORD, former Saracens, Harlequins & England Rugby Physio and LLOYD WILLIAMS Orthopaedic Surgeon & former Saracens Doctor.
Tickets are £10 + a small booking fee (£11.37 total) and are available here: https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/finchley/news/returning-to-sport-after-injury–stonex-stadium–expert-panel-event-2687293.html
The organiser is MAMTA, who is a committee member at Finchley Rugby Club representing the women and girls’ teams. She also plays for the senior women and mixed touch rugby teams at the club.

THE QUEEN’S BATON RELAY CELEBRATES COMMONWEALTH DAY IN NEW ZEALAND – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently. 

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay arrived in New Zealand on 12 March and spent four days travelling the nation, coinciding with Commonwealth Day on Monday 14 March. This year, Commonwealth Day was a celebration of “Delivering a Common Future” for all nations and territories in the Commonwealth by innovating, connecting, and transforming.

The Relay began on 7 October 2021 during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, where The Queen placed Her Message to the Commonwealth into the Baton. In total, the Queen’s Baton will spend 294 days travelling to all 72 Commonwealth nations and territories, bringing together communities from across the globe in the run up to Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. During the visit from the Queen’s Baton Relay, each Commonwealth Games Association organises an itinerary of activities, designed to showcase their local heroes and celebrate untold stories. Kicking off on Saturday 12 March, the activities in New Zealand included a sunrise pōwhiri to welcome the Baton at the peak of Kaiti Hill in Gisborne. A pōwhiri is a welcome ceremony that involves speeches, singing, and cultural performances. Continuing the Relay through Gisborne, Batonbearers paddled in a waka, a traditional Kiwi canoe, from Marina Park along the Tūranganui River to the mouth of the river, as members of the local community watched from the banks. Then the Baton was taken to Lawson Field Theatre Riverbank, where athletes MICHELLE RENNIE and MELLISSA LOUISE JONES were eagerly awaiting its arrival. The Baton then travelled south to Hawke’s Bay and visited Napier Basketball Court, where children of the community played basketball with athletes, including weightlifting champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, NIGEL AVERY and the most capped international netball player of all time, IRENE VAN DYK. The Baton was also taken to Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, where the Baton was held in the sky, whilst the birds soared around it.

Exploring more of the country on Sunday 13 March, the Baton travelled to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It visited the Basin Reserve Cricket Ground to witness the Australia vs New Zealand game, an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup event, to celebrate the upcoming debut of Women’s T20 Cricket into the Commonwealth Games programme. KYLE PONTIFEX, member of the bronze medal winning hockey team at Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, carried the Baton around the grounds. That same day,The Right Honourable Prime Minister JACINDA ARDERN and The Honourable GRANT ROBERTSON interacted with the Queen’s Baton, learning about the intricate methods that were used to create the Baton in the West Midlands.

The following day, Monday 14 March, the Baton was present for Commonwealth Day celebrations at Wellington College, where athletes, including LEWIS CLAREBURT, SALLY JOHNSTON, and KYLE PONTIFEX took part in a Q&A session for the students. Later that day, the Governor General, Rt Hon DAME CINDY KIRO, hosted a reception to celebrate Commonwealth Day and the Queen’s Baton Relay, guests included, NIGEL AVERY, President of the New Zealand Olympic Committee and former Olympic rower, MIKE STANLEY, as well as former President of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, KEREYN SMITH. The Baton’s final day in New Zealand started in former Commonwealth Games host city, Auckland, with a visit to MURRAY HALBERG Retirement Village, where athletes RICHIE PATTERSON, ALEXIS PRITCHARD, EVE WILLIAMSON, and ETHAN MITCHELL carried the Baton with pride. With anticipation for Birmingham 2022 building, Team New Zealand announced their team selections for para-bowling and weightlifting. The day and Kiwi leg of the journey ended with a visit to Kolmar Recreation Centre, where athletes from around the Pacific Islands had the chance to carry the Baton.

LEWIS CLAREBURT, Batonbearer and swimming champion, said:“I feel honoured and delighted to have been given the opportunity to represent my home city, Wellington, in the Queen’s Baton Relay, and to inspire the students of Wellington College. I’m looking forward to watching the rest of the Relay in the run up to Birmingham 2022.”
MIKE STANLEY, President of New Zealand Olympic Committee, said: “It’s great to have the Queen’s Baton Relay in New Zealand as we build up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. It’s very appropriate that the Relay is here for Commonwealth Day, and we’ve been using this moment to celebrate what the Commonwealth stands for, and the many communities and cultures that connect us. “Hosting the Relay has created a real buzz ahead of the Games, especially amongst our athletes. Excitement is building and the New Zealand Team can’t wait to get to Birmingham and show what we can do.”
LISA HAMPTON, Head of the Queen’s Baton Relay, said: “It has been incredible to experience New Zealand’s culture through the lens of the Queen’s Baton Relay and be able to share special moments, such as the ceremony of the pōwhiri, with communities in every corner of the Commonwealth. It allows so many to be educated on the powerful symbolism of these performances. “The Baton’s visit to New Zealand was made even more unique with Commonwealth Day festivities, to celebrate the communities and cultures within the Commonwealth.”
DAME LOUISE MARTIN, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said “Commonwealth Day is such a special moment for our 72 nations and territories. It is a chance for us to reflect on our shared objectives and special bond. A wonderful sunrise ceremony at the peak of Kaiti Hill in Gisborne is a fitting moment for the Queen’s Baton Relay, with New Zealand being one of the first time zones to welcome in Commonwealth Day. New Zealand will provide an amazing start to celebrations across the Commonwealth.”

The next destination along the Queen’s Baton Relay is Australia, host of Gold Coast 2018. The Baton will spend four days there before beginning its journey through the Americas with visits to Belize and Guyana.

ATHLETES GET A TASTE OF “REVOLUTIONARY” ALEXANDER STADIUM – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently. 

Stars of the past, present and future come together for Commonwealth Day celebrations at the Birmingham 2022 venue which is nearing completion. As proud members of Birchfield Harriers, SARAH MCDONALD and RHIANA BURRELL both know the club’s Alexander Stadium home better than most. They’ve never known it like this, however. To celebrate Commonwealth Day on Monday 14 March, a number of Birchfield’s stars of the past, present and future – as well as a number of local schoolchildren – got their first look inside a venue which has been completely transformed and is nearing completion as it prepares to host the athletics action at the Commonwealth Games in August. The stadium will house up to 30,000 spectators at each Games session, before reverting to a permanent capacity of around 18,000.

For 18-year-old multi-eventer BURRELL, the 2022 Games will come a little too soon. But, having watched the stadium transform before her eyes thanks to regular visits to the British Athletics High Performance Centre which forms part of the complex, she admitted that being able to step back on to the track – her “second home” – was inspirational as she instead sets her sights on selection for 2026.Alexander Stadium is almost complete (Birmingham 2022). “I’ve trained on the track since I was 12 so this means a lot,” said the teenager who was born and brought up in Birmingham and recently finished fifth in the high jump at the UK Indoor Championships. “I basically live on the track – it’s like a second home – so the change in the facilities is going to be revolutionary. “I saw when the [old] Nelson and Knowles Stands got knocked down and I was quite sad about that and, because I’ve been training quite a lot at the High Performance Centre, I’ve seen it only from the outside. But, to get a look inside now… it doesn’t disappoint. “It’s accelerated my drive, I’d say. It makes me want to be better and train harder.”

For MCDONALD, 1500m finalist at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, it was her first visit back to the Alexander Stadium since the British Championships of 2019. “It’s unrecognisable,” said the 28-year-old. “I haven’t seen it in progress at all so it was good to see the before and after. [The Games] still feel a long way away right now but it’s really good to be here and to visualise it.”to R) Sarah McDonald, Rhiana Burrell and former world indoor champion Ashia Being selected for England at Birmingham 2022, as well as securing a place on the British team bound for the World Championships in Eugene, is at the top of MCDONALD’S priority list for the year ahead. Having recently made the move to join the Boston-based New Balance training group under coach MARK COOGAN, and back to full health after injury problems, inspiration is not in short supply for her, either. “There are a lot of really great girls in that group to help me push on and I’m really glad that I made the change,” she said of her new set-up. “I think the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships are huge so they’ll be my priority to try to qualify for and make the team.”

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED FOR OUR FIRST TWO FIXTURES OF 2022 – RAY POWELL has now received information of the first two fixtures, that Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers will be providing a team of volunteers. The fixtures are – The Westminster Mile on Sunday 1 May, from 8.30 to 16.00, 20 volunteers needed – Vitality 10k on Monday 2 May, from 8.30 to 16.00, 10 volunteers needed.
The meeting place is the volunteer hub in Green Park.
Please contact CLARE & RAY at ray571m@btopenworld.com

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS ON INSTAGRAM – Since the account was setup towards the end of last year, there has been an amazing amount of Video and Photographs contributed with many comments. The following is an update of this week’s contributions.

RAINY TRAINING SESSION – Photograph of our very wet sprinters. on an extremely wet training evening this week.

BIRMINGHAM 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES – You may wish to sign up to receive their Newsletter. Link – https://www.birmingham2022.com/register-your-interest/. This is the link to the current schedule for the 25 events – https://images.birmingham2022.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/11441664_CWGs_Daily_Competition_Schedule_FINAL.pdf.