Happy Birthday from this Thursday 19 November to Michael Adebakin, Aiden Bird, Kieran Clements, Jamie Dee, Sunil Jobanputra, Benjamin Morrison, Marion Motto, Jan Pearson, Lydia Rogers, Louis Savva, Ari Selouk, Bradley Singer, Gianleo Stubbs and Charlie Yearwood

RECENT NEW MEMBER – We wish you a very warm welcome, and a happy, healthy and successful time with Shaftesbury to CALVIN SMITH

UPDATE ON NEELAM KADERBHOY – NEELAM joined Barnet Copthall Ladies AC as a 13 year old in March 1983. In 1986 Barnet Copthall Ladies and Shaftesbury Harriers joined forces and Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers became a male and female Club.
NEELAM joined as a sprinter and established herself as a regular team member in Club teams.  In fact it was only last year that saw NEELAM’S name disappear from the Club records when the under 15 Girls 4 x 100m Club record was broken. NEELAM moved up to 400m when she was in the senior ranks.
Her commitment to the Club has been evident throughout her 37 years of membership. Not just by competing from an early age, but also by volunteering whenever and wherever help was needed.
NEELAM started assisting her own coach and soon qualified as a coach in her own right.  However, it was not just in competing and coaching that she helped the Club. She was elected onto the Club Council and contributed positively in all areas. When the Club received requests from 9 and 10 year olds to join the Club, NEELAM took on the very important role of young athletes induction coach and guided them through the basics to find out where their talents really lay. Once she established that the youngster was committed to our sport, she would pass them on to the appropriate specialist coach. Many have gone on to represent the Club in League competition and to achieve medals in County events.
However, NEELAM realised that coaching was only part of the job of looking after these young athletes, so when the Club became one of the founder members of The Middlesex Young Athletes League, she took on the role of team manager. Her work and enthusiasm in this additional role was a great success and she built up a tremendous team spirit, not only between the athletes but also between the parents in encouraging them to come on board to help manage the Club.
Unfortunately, NEELAM has recently been diagnosed with cancer and even though she has been in hospital / hospice for over 5 weeks now, she has still maintained a very positive disposition throughout her treatment and is contacting her athletes, their parents and all her fellow coaches regularly through social media. We wish her the best of luck and hope she achieves a full recovery.

ENGLAND ATHLETICS LONDON REGIONAL AWARDS LIVE – The meeting takes place on Thursday 19 November – This is the link to the live You Tube stream live and watch again at youtu.be/WJb7FQAB50U

CONGRATULATIONS TO STEVE MARSHALL – STEVE has been nominated for an England Athletics ‘Official of the Year London Region’ award on 19 November at 7pm, hosted on Zoom for invited nominees but also streamed live on the England Athletics YouTube channel so that friends, family and fellow club and group members can follow the action by watching online. Link to live broadcasts stream live and watch again at youtu.be/WJb7FQAB50U

Speaking about the awards, CHRIS JONES, England Athletics CEO, said: “The Regional Volunteer Awards is one of the highlights of the England Athletics calendar and is a wonderful opportunity for us to place a focus on the people who often work in the background but deliver such a vital contribution to our sport. This year has seen incredible work from our volunteers who have played a key role in navigating our sport through the unique challenges presented by Covid-19. They have gone above and beyond to keep our sport going in local communities across England – helping people stay active and creating opportunities for athletes to train and compete. We are delighted to have been able to turn this year’s awards nights into virtual events to ensure that everyone can still share in the inspirational stories of our awards nominees, celebrate their achievements and give them the recognition they deserve. Good luck to all those involved and thank you to all the volunteers in our sport for their invaluable contribution in such a challenging year.”

What a day for STEVE who was judging the Pole Vault at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix last February in Glasgow. As you can see in the photograph taken by ALAN FORD, STEVE is in the fore front with his white flag raised, following the vault of ARMAND DUPLANTIS of Sweden who had just turned 20, the vault of (6.18m) was his second World Record in a week.

LONDON YOUTH GAMES, VIRTUAL CROSS COUNTRY – If you’re in the U11 to U17 age groups, here’s a way to stay active with others while keeping your distance – and earn some kudos for your Borough to boot. Run your distance in the Nike x London Youth Games Virtual Cross Country competition and record your time to score points for your Borough.
The competition is open to all young Londoners from 21 November to 6 December across four age groups: U11, U13, U15 and U17. Points are scored for participation and performance.
The link to enter results on the London Youth Games website will be live from 21 November and runners have until 6 December to get involved.
If you head to https://www.londonyouthgames.org/virtual-games/ you will find all the information you need to get involved. There’s also safety guidance on https://www.londonyouthgames.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Nike-x-LYG-Virtual-Cross-Country-Safety-Guidance.pdf
If runners want to participate there will be a form for them to fill out once the event has gone live, including letting LYG know which Borough they are representing, and there will also be a chance to upload proof of their time (if they want to).

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 will take place virtually at 19.30 on Tuesday 24 November (full login details will be distributed shortly). One of the resolutions on the order paper will deal with Club Subscriptions. 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 you make the payment. Thanks GEOFF

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS 130TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020 – We extend a warm welcome to you all to attend our first Virtual AGM via Zoom on Tuesday 24 November. You will be able to open it from 18.30pm although the meeting will commence at 19.30pm.

Join Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84592743928?pwd=UTFqM2xTbUVJU2NtaXE1UENxTGlaQT09
Meeting ID: 845 9274 3928 – Passcode: 514605

The IT aspect of the Zoom meeting will be controlled by STEVE MARSHALL, who will activate any responses by the attendees.
When the meeting commences at 19.30pm, could I ask you put yourself into ‘MUTE’ mode.
During the presentation, you may be asked if anyone has a question, if so please raise your hand and STEVE will activate you. The same will apply if the meeting asks for a ‘PROPOSER’ or ‘SECONDER’. There are two proposals submitted for consideration, therefore when you are requested to vote, could all those ‘AGAINST’ please raise their hands. Which will make it easier to assess those who are in ‘FAVOUR’. There is no other business on the agenda of an AGM, any attendee wishing to raise a point must have either placed a proposal on the Agenda or ask STEVE for discussion time after the conclusion of the meeting.
Note: If you experience problems accessing Zoom, please contact STEVE on 07973 253145 who may be able to help you.

Attached are the following SBH documents – 2020 AGM Agenda SBH AGM Agenda 2020 Issued For AGM , Minutes of 2019 AGM Meeting SBH AGM Minutes 2019 , Constitution and Rules as of 26 November 2018 SBH Constitution November 2018 , Annual Report 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020 SBH Annual Report 2019-20 Final Issue , Accounts for the year ended 30 September 2020 SBH Accounts 2020. Issued For AGM

SBH CROSS COUNTRY WINNERS 2019-2020 SEASON – Congratulations to the following winners.
Club Championship Winners – Men Under 11 ARTHUR PHILLIPS, Under 13 THOMAS CADWALLADER, Under 15 SAMUEL GREENSTEIN, Under 17 LUCA STUBBS, Under 20 GEORGE GROOM, 5 Miles Senior DYLAN EVANS, 9 Miles Senior DYLAN EVANS, Masters 40+ PHILIP CUNNINGHAM – Women Under 11 POSIE SHAW, Under 13 POSIE SHAW, Under 15 AIMI WEIGHTMAN, Under 17 MAAYAN RADUS, Under 20 LIA RADUS, Senior ELANA DIMMER 
Club Points Winners – Men Under 11 ARTHUR PHILLIPS, Under 13 GIANLEO STUBBS, Under 15 SAMUEL GREENSTEIN, Under 17 JUDE MIRANDA, Under 20 BEN KELLY, Senior DYLAN EVANS, Masters 40+ BARRY HAWS, Masters 50+ ROBERT RIGBY – Women Under 11 POSIE SHAW, Under 13 EVIE REDPATH, Under 15 RACHEL PEARLMAN, Under 17 JOANNE MIRANDA, Under 20 INDIRA PATEL, Senior ELANA DIMMER

ONE PRESIDENT OUT, ONE PRESIDENT IN – Next Tuesday’s AGM will bring the curtain down on my 3 years as President of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. It has been an absolute Honour and privilege to have seen how our athletes have developed and performed. But it’s not just our athletes and teams that make us the best overall club in the country, it’s all our Members, Supporters, Officials, Coaches and last but not least the Parents that make our club great. One of the numerous photograph taken at the awards presentation following the 2019 AGM, in which I presented MALACHI AMADI with his Under 15 track award.

Our new President for the next 3 years is GEOFF WILLIAMS, who like me lives in the West Country, Barnstable in Devon.

GEOFF and ELIZABETH moved to a rural village near Barnstaple in 2012.
GEOFF was Director pf Physical Education and Sport at Highgate School for over 30 years and following retirement from teaching was Copthall Stadium Manager for 5 years overseeing the refurbishment of the stadium in 2006/7. Though initially involved with Triathlon, ​GEOFF coached middle distance and endurance running at SBH from 1994-2012. Since moving to Devon he mentors endurance coaches and has focussed on officiating. He hopes to be a regular on the timekeepers’ stand or on photo finish at as many future SBH athletic meetings as possible.
He continues his active life long involvement with the English Schools Athletic Association initially as a Middlesex Schools’ representative, latterly for Devon Schools’ and many times as one of the England Team Managers. Currently he is responsible for organisation of the ESAA Cross Country Cup competitions.
His son RICHARD has been a member of Shaftesbury since 1991, won the ESAA Senior Boys Cross Country title in 2000, represented GB U20s in the Steeplechase, was a full Wales International Cross Country, a Metropolitan League regular and a member of numerous SBH road relay teams. RICHARD’S wife SARAH also joined Shaftesbury in 2009, and ran mainly on the road, since 2015 concentrating on Parkruns, mainly at Panshanger. Her personal bests are – Marathon (2:50.51) London 2014, Half Marathon (79.33) Reading 2014 and Parkrun (18.23) Barnstaple 2014.

In my first year as President, 2017/2018 started with the Cross Country season, in which our successes were numerous. This included the National Relays, where our Senior Men’s team of JACK CRABTREE, BRADLEY GOATER, RICHARD HORTON and PHILLIP CROUT won the Bronze Medal. The Southern Championships saw JEREMY DEMPSEY win the Under 20 Silver Medal, and with GEORGE GROOM, THOMAS BUTLER and OLIVER GREENSTEIN won the team Silver Medals. Finally, at the National Championships DAVID STONE had a runaway win, winning the Under 17 title.

The Indoor season was equally successful, firstly in the various Southern Championships our Young athlete winners were REMI JOKOSENUMI U15, GILAD NACHSHEN U15, EVELYNE FONTAINE U15, JAZZ SEARS U17, JOHN OTUGADE U20 and PHOENIX LYON U20 and Senior Winners were JADE IVE and ANGELA BARRETT. In the various National Championships, our Young athlete winners were REMI JOKOSENUMI U15, HANNAH FOSTER U17, JAZZ SEARS U17, DOMINIC ASHWELL U20 and CHARLIE DOBSON U20 and Senior Winners were ANTONIO INFANTINO, LEWIS MCGUIRE and SCOTT LINCOLN. In the World Championships, we were represented by JAMAL RHODEN-STEVENS and SEB RODGER. There were Indoor Club Records from HANNAH FOSTER U17, KARA ONUIRI U17 and JAZZ SEARS U17.

The Outdoor season started with the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia. I went to the games which was an experience I will never forget, and prior to the games I spent a few days with DAVE and NATALIE SWEENEY who live some 4 hours from the games on the Gold Coast. We had 11 athletes – CHRIS BENNETT, DAN BRAMBLE, SAM DAWKINS, ZANE DUQUEMIN, NATHAN FOX, ZHARNEL HUGHES, JADE LALLY, KYLE LANGFORD, BETH POTTER, ALLAN SMITH and DAVID SMITH. ZHARNEL following his controversial disqualification in the 200 final, after being awarded the race following the photo finish result, won a Gold Medal with the England 4x100m relay team. KYLE also running for England had an outstanding championship, and in the final of the 800m he produced another fast finish, after being last entering the home straight he just run out of room, and with another 5m would have caught the winner.
In the various Southern Championships, our winners were NIAH AKINTOKUN U13, MALACHI AMADI U13, FREDDIE FORD U13, HANNAH FOSTER U17, JAZZ SEARS U17, DANIEL BAINBRIDGE U20, JOHN OTUGADE U20 and PHILLIPA LOWE SEN. In the various National Championships, our winners were REMI JOKOSENUMI U15, HANNAH FOSTER U17, KRISTIAN IMROTH U17, TAIT JONES U17, DANIEL BAINBRIDGE U20, ELLIE BAKER U23, GEORGE EVANS U23, JESSICA HUNTER U23, MARK PEARCE U23, PHILLIPA LOWE, JADE LALLY, SCOTT LINCOLN and HAYLEY MCLEAN.
There were Outdoor Club Records from THOMAS CADWALLADER U11, NIAH AKINTOKUN U13, MALACHI AMADI U13, REMI JOKOSENUMI U15. NICHOLAS SAVVA U15, HANNAH FOSTER U17, LUCY KOENIGSBERGER U17, CRISTINA POTTER U17, JAZZ SEARS U17 and ZHARNEL HUGHES. There were also 5 various Relay Records.
Our team performances were outstanding, firstly the Young Athletes after finishing 2nd in the 2017 Eastern Young Athletes League, went one better with an impressive win. The pressure was on the YAs, this being the inaugural year of the Middlesex Young Athletes League and ended up finishing in 2nd place. The UK Youth Development League for our U17/U20 athletes, turned out to be another battle with Blackheath Harriers, and we finished 2nd in both the League and Cup Final. In the British Athletics League our Senior Men finished 2nd to Birchfield Harriers, and our Women in the UK Women’s Athletic League finished in 5th place.

On a sad note BOB PARKER aged 87, passed away in January. BOB was an exceptional man who always on hand to give advice when asked, and as a talented coach who was behind the success achieved by former World Record Holder, DAVE BEDFORD and many other SBH members. He was Shaftesbury President from 1980 to 1982.

2018/2019 Cross Country season, which was cold and wet saw our successes continue. This included the Southern Relays. We had 2 team winners, the Under 20 team of BEN WINFIELD, THOMAS PATRICK and GEORGE GROOM and Under 17 team of LAURANCE EDWARDS, KRISTIAN IMROTH and JUDE MIRANDA. At the Southern Championships DAVID STONE won the Under 17 title. At the National Championships our Under 17 Men’s team of FINN HARVEY, DAVID STONE and KRISTIAN IMROTH took the Bronze Medals, and the Under 17 Women’s team of FREYA STAPLETON, LIA RADUS and MIA GROOM also took the Bronze Medals. There were Individual Bronze Medals from HENRY MCLUCKIE U17 and JEREMY DEMPSEY U20.

The Indoor season was equally successful, firstly in the various Southern Championships our winners were AKIN COWARD, PAGE FAIRCLOUGH U23 and NATHAN FOX. In the various National Championships our winners were DOMINIC ASHWELL U23, SCOTT LINCOLN, LEWIS MCGUIRE U23, CLAIRE SPURWAY V40 and LISA WEBB V50. CLAIRE SPURWAY V40 also won Gold at the World Masters Championships. There were Indoor Club Records from AMELIA DALEY U17, EVELYNE FONTEYNE U17, SCARLETT KENT U20, JESSICA HUNTER U23 and COLETTE HURLEY V55-59.

The Outdoor season included the World Championships, in which OJIE EDOBURIN, ZHARNEL HUGHES, KYLE LANGFORD, LIZZIE BIRD and ANTONIO INFANTINO competed. ZHARNEL HUGHES won a Gold Medal with the GB&NI 4x100m relay team. In the various Southern Championships, our winners were KACEY WALTERS U15, AMELIA DALEY U17, KIMANI JACK U17, MARLI JESSOP U17, MUKHTAR MUSA U17, KARA ONUIRI U20, EMMA ANDERSSON, AKIN COWARD, NICK PERCY, NENE HARRISON V35. In the various National Championships, our winners were LIAM GARRETT U20, KRISTIAN IMROTH U20, DOMINIC ASHWELL U23, LILY BECKFORD U23, ETHAN WALSH U23, KRISHAWN AIKEN, CHRIS BENNETT, DAN BRAMBLE, OJIE EDOBURIN, NATHAN FOX, SCOTT LINCOLN, ALLAN SMITH and NENE HARRISON V35. EDWIN YAMOAH won 2 Gold Medals at the World Transplant Games and RALPH WILLIAMS U18 Gold at World Student Games.
There were Outdoor Club Records from NIAH AKINTOKUN U15, SOPHIE FORBES-LAIRD U15, ALINA COFIE U15. KACEY WALTERS U15, EMILY HATHAWAY U17, LUCY WOODWARD U17, LIZZIE BIRD, ZHARNEL HUGHES, KYLE LANGFORD and GREGORY THOMPSON. There were also 5 various Relay Records.

At the Southern Road Relays our U17 Women’s team of FREYA STAPLETON, EMILY HATHAWAY and JOANNE MIRANDA won the Silver Medals. At the National Road Relays our U17 Women’s team of LIA RADUS, FREYA STAPLETON and GRACE INGLES won the Bronze Medals, and our U17 Men’s team of FINN HARVEY, DAVID STONE and KRISTIAN IMROTH won the Bronze Medals

Our team performances were outstanding, firstly the Young Athletes finished 3rd in the Eastern Young Athletes League, and 2nd in the Top 6 Final. The UK Youth Development League for our U17/U20 athletes, turned out to be another battle with Blackheath Harriers, and we finished 2nd in both the League and National Final. In the British Athletics League our Senior Men finished 3rd, and our Women in the UK Women’s Athletic League finished in 4th place.

Congratulations to LEE MCCONNELL who was inducted into the Scottish Athletics Hall of Fame, and ZHARNEL HUGHES who was named as the male athlete of 2018 at the British Athletics Writers Association Awards.

2019/2020 – What a strange and difficult year! With Covid-19 taking hold in March. Our athletes achievements up to this point were outstanding. However, perhaps the biggest success for the club has been achieved through our officials. Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers hosted a ThrowsFest on 11 July at Barnet Copthall Stadium following the first lockdown; the first licensed athletics fixture in the UK. We had over 1600 participants at our 7 licensed meetings.

Cross Country was not affected, and our successes started at the Southern Relays we had a Gold Medal Under 17 team of JOANNE MIRANDA, EMILY HATHAWAY and MAAYAN RADUS and our Under 13 team of ZICO JONES, THOMAS CADWALLADER and GIANLEO STUBBS took the Silver Medals. At the National Relays our Under 20 mens team won the Gold Medals THOMAS PATRICK, JEREMY DEMPSEY and HENRY MCLUCKIE, there were Silver Medals from both our Under 17 girls team of FREYA STAPLETON, EMILY HATHAWAY and JOANNE MIRANDA and our Under 13 boys team of GIANLEO STUBBS, ZICO JONES and THOMAS CADWALLADER. In the English National, what an outstanding performance from our Under 20 mens team winning the Gold Medals JEREMY DEMPSEY, THOMAS PATRICK, KRISTIAN IMROTH and NATHAN GODDARD, with our Under 17 womens team of FREYA STAPLETON, APRIL HILL, JOANNE MIRANDA and EMILY HATHAWAY taking the Bronze Medals. Individually GIANLEO STUBBS U13 won the Silver Medal, JEREMY DEMPSEY U20 4th and FREYA STAPLETON U17 6th.

The Indoor season was equally successful, firstly in the various Southern Championships our winners were NIA AKINTOKUN U15, MALACHI AMADI U15, NATALIA IVANOV U15, ZICO JONES U15, MARIO DOBRESCU U17, EMMANUEL DURUIHEOMA U17, KACEY WALTERS U17, BRAD DAVIES-PUGHE U20, KARA ONUIRI U20, JAZZ SEARS U20, REBECCA JEGGO U23, ANGELA BARRETT, COLUMBA BLANGO, DANIEL LEWIS and HAYLEY MCLEAN. JAMI SCHLUETER U20 won the Welsh Championships. In the various National Championships our winners were NIA AKINTOKUN U15, EMMANUEL DURUIHEOMA U17, DAN BRAMBLE, SCOTT LINCOLN, LEWIS MCGUIRE U23, ROBERT SHIPLEY, NENE HARRISON V35 and LISA WEBB V50. There were Indoor Club Records from NIA AKINTOKUN U15, NATALIA IVANOV U15, MANON BAINES U17, EMMANUEL DURUIHEOMA U17, KACEY WALERS U17 and ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V55.

The Outdoor season due to the Covid pandemic lockdown prevented athletics training and did not allow any scope for competition. Training was permitted in June and arrangements for events were published and updated. The efforts of our coaches and athletes to keep the sport going demanded our best efforts to organise competitions even in the very disturbing times. With the limited opportunities, the outstanding performance was the new Club Record of (1:44.83) in the Senior men’s 800m by KYLE LANGFORD for 5th place in the National rankings. HENRY MCLUCKIE set a new Junior men’s 1500m Club Record of (3:42.16) for top spot in the National outdoor rankings. At the LICC meeting on 1 August, MARIO DOBRESCU set a new Youths 400m Club Record of (48.17) for top spot in the National outdoor rankings. In the British Championships we had 2 National Champions SCOTT LINCOLN and NICK PERCY.

Congratulations to CLYDE GORDON who at the England Athletics London Awards evening, received his well-earned Volunteer of the Year award. In a tight run vote GEOFF MORPHITIS was runner-up to ANNE RODEN in the Services to Athletics category.

Attached are the 2018, 2019 and 2020 SBH Annual Reports, which gives details of Shaftesbury’s success throughout those years – SBH Annual report 2017-18 Rev B (1) – SBH Annual Report 2018-2019 Final Issue  – 
Also attached are the 2018 and 2019 Best Performance Awards –SBH Best Performance Awards 2018 Final Revision A– SBH Best Performance Awards 2019 Updated 06-11-19

MILAN TRAJCOVIC SECURES A PLACE ON THE YOUTH TALENT PROGRAMME – Congratulations, we are delighted to be able to offer MILAN a place on the 2020-22 Youth Talent Programme (YTP). There has once again been a lot of interest and applications for the programme and the level of athletes on the programme is very high. Your selection is testament to the great work you are both clearly doing and the relationship you have built with JOHN WAUGH as an athlete-coach pair
The YTP is the first step on the England Talent pathway designed to add value to the athlete and coach plan and help understand self, developing a broad range of skills, abilities and behaviours needed for senior success.
We hope you are all looking forward to an exciting, eventful and successful season and look forward to helping you achieve this qualification.
Many thanks, DON WAGNER Performance Pathway Manager, British Athletics.

MILAN joined us in March 2019, and was an ever present in our EYAL and UK YAL teams, and produced a personal best of (55.44m) in the Javelin. In 2020 he extended his personal best to (56.09m) which ranked him UK No.9 U17.

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 last Tuesday – 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.

THE MAKING OF ‘CHARIOTS OF FIRE’ PART 2 OF 4 – Many thanks to TOM MCNAB for another excellent article, part 2 describes his experience in moulding the actors into athletes, and the hurdles (pardon the pun) that TOM faced.

Thus, it was that in mid-November 1979 that I began to prepare my motley crew of apprehensive actors for what was soon to become “CHARIOTS OF FIRE”. I use the word “apprehensive” advisedly, because in discussion, though none expressed any doubt about his capacity as an actor, not one had expressed any confidence in his athletic ability. But first, first we had still had to find an actor to play my fictitious hurdler, LORD LINSEY. PUTTMAN and HUDSON now brought to my St. Albans track a fine young Scots actor, who shall be nameless, for reasons that you will soon appreciate. At first, all went well, with his running as just as good as the others had been back at Putney. True, he had no background in athletics but then neither had any my other future Olympians.  But soon the moment of truth eventually arrived when I had to present my Scot with the clearance of a hurdle. I put the barrier down to its lowest point, at about thirty centimeters. But on being confronted with it, my doughty Scot visibly paled and refused to make any attempt to clear it. This was perhaps not surprisingly, for it probably represented for him a personal best in high jump. He was immediately placed by PUTTMAN on the next taxi to Heathrow Airport, and we all returned to my house. There, DAVID PUTTMAN confessed to me that he had known that the Scot had been known to be partial to a wee dram. I saw no purpose in discussing the extent of his alcoholic habits, but we still had to find ourselves a LORD LINSEY.

But now another problem arose, a few weeks before I was to set off to the Lake Placid Winter Olympics as coach to our national bobsleigh team. My actors had assembled at my house and we were discussing their training for the two weeks that I was away. Then IAN CHARLESON spoke. “TOM, “he said. “We have been training for over a month, but so far Enigma have paid us absolutely nothing. “ “So what can I do?” “Could you ask them to help us out while you are at the Olympics?” “Well, I’ll give it a try, “I said. “How much would you want? “IAN’S response was immediate. “Fifty pounds a week. “I immediately went into my office to call Enigma, and was greeted by an assistant producer, JAMES CRAWFORD. His response was immediate. “Impossible, “he said “Impossible. None of them are on contract yet, and if we paid them it would represent acceptance that they were on contract. So, if we changed our minds about casting they would have us by the balls. “ Thus, I went off to Lake Placid, knowing that none of my men would train on Thursday mornings, because that was when they would report at their Employment Exchanges for their dole. But when I returned, I suddenly found my LORD LINSEY, in the form of NIGEL HAVERS. Fortunately, by this time we had moved indoors, because the manager of the St. Albans track had now, fearing for the surface of his cinder track in winter, banned us from using it. Thus, soon we had moved to a large indoor area, at Haringey, and NIGEL had proved to be an apt pupil. Up to that point, all of our training had been conducted in warm-up shoes, to avoid injury. But I had decided that the time had now surely come to move on to wearing sprint-spikes, and had ordered a pair for each of my actors. That eventful Haringey day in March 1979, we had just completed what had been an excellent session, and I intimated to the squad that their sprint-spikes had arrived. There was something close to hysteria when I this was announced, because for them this would be the first time that they had ever worn spikes,

I first sternly warned them that on no account should they now immediately try to run in their new shoes, for the session was over, and I turned to take care of my three-year old daughter KATE. But suddenly there was a scream from just behind me. It was Naughty NIGEL. For not only had he put on his spikes, but had even attempted to hurdle in them. And no, he had not hit the hurdle and fallen, no, NIGEL had not even reached it, he had simply tripped over his spikes, hit the ground hard and damaged his left wrist. But he was now clearly in considerable pain, and BEN CROSS immediately offered to drive him to the A and E at the nearby Middlesex Hospital. I agreed, and asked him to get back to me on NIGEL’S condition later that afternoon.  A few hours later, BEN reported that NIGEL was OK, he had simply tweaked his wrist, and would be fine for the next session, and I phoned NIGEL to confirm this. I heaved a sigh of relief, for NIGEL was a lovely guy, and had taken to hurdling really well. But what I was to discover several years later was that had actually broken his wrist. And that neither of them had probably got within a mile of the Middlesex Hospital, who would have immediately encased NIGEL in plaster, putting him out of the 1924 Olympic Games. No Naughty NIGEL had simply bought himself a thick, wide leather strap and tightly bound it around his left wrist. A few years back, after a BBC interview with him, he showed me that wrist, and it was like something out of a Hammer movie. So please let us hear no more about wimpy actors.

In the meantime, there had been a glitch with the script. Because COLIN WELLAND had now become enthralled with my tales of the Powderhall Professional Sprint Handicap, and wanted Liddell to run in it. But I pointed out to him that LIDDELL would have immediately lost his amateur status, so that was impossible. Instead, I suggested, why not introduce us to our hero in something uniquely Scottish, like a Highland Games? Great, said COLIN, and immediately included a Highland Games sequence. But where, asked DAVID PUTTNAM, could we film this, and what would it look like? I immediately sketched out, in my schoolboy scrawl, encompassing two mountains, a stream, a farmer’s field, dancing platforms and a couple of tents, a grazing cow, a typical Games scenario. And when PUTTNAM had asked me where he would be able to locate such a Brigadoon fantasy, I directed him up to the far North, where an aristocrat-member of my bobsleigh team said that he owned such a site. Thus, it was that DAVID PUTTNAM made his way north into the depths of the Highlands, with WELLAND and HUDSON at his side, in his battered Volkswagen, only to find that the promised site was nothing like my exquisite drawing. Disappointed, desolate, the three men chugged slowly south, through the Highlands. Then suddenly COLIN WELLAND wound down the car-window and whooped triumphantly. “There it is!  There it is! Over there! Just like TOM said! “And indeed, there it was, just as I had predicted. The two mountains, the winding stream, the grassy Games field, waiting for the dance-platforms, the tents, the cabers, the expectant crowds, even the cow. And it was there that we were to film our Highland Games. But now filming began, in early April, not in Scotland, but at the Eton track near Windsor, which stood in for the Cambridge University facility. This was because the Cambridge University authorities, having read the script, felt that it portrayed their university as anti-semitic, and refused to permit filming there. Thus, Windsor was to stand in for not only Cambridge but also, in later filming, as the track on which the American team would prepare prior to the Paris Olympics. The sequence featuring the American athletes (which actually took place in May AFTER the filming of the Olympic Games) had to be carefully choreographed to ensure that the exercises shown were representative of their period. In stark contrast, the Windsor exercises which we filmed featuring MUSSABINI and ABRAHAMS bore no relationship to those deployed in a Pathe film made in 1923. These drills showed ABRAHAMS deploying a ludicrous cross-arm sprint action, and running at top speed with an equally ridiculous forward lean. Looking back, as a coach, it seems odd that neither MUSSABINI or ABRAHAMS, in any of their writings, comment that ABRAHAMS always ran with a conventional arm-action, and normal vertical body-position at full-speed.  It is therefore difficult, from this distance to see what advantage HAROLD ABRAHAMS drew from MUSSABINI’S advice. Things were going swimmingly in those early April days at Eton, at least till the point where I had BEN Cross dig starting-holes for the first time. For suddenly, the shadow of HUGH HUDSON appeared over us. “You can’t do that here, “he said. I looked up. “Why on earth not?”  “Because… because this, this is ETON!” he spluttered. “I replied. “Keep digging, BEN. “

Then came the famous race round the Trinity college quad, which would now have to take place at Eton, over about a third of the Trinity distance. This was another WELLAND fiction, because ABRAHAMS had never actually made that run of 370 yards within the twelve chimes of the Trinity clock. No, it had been the four hundred metre hurdler LORD BURLEIGH, by himself, later, in 1927, and he had done it on his own. But the main problem would be that our Eton run would be over much less than half that distance, on concrete and with very tight turns, a test that no athlete in his right mind would have attempted.  Fortunately, HAVERS and CROSS survived unscathed, because an injury at that early point might well have stopped “CHARIOTS” in its tracks, even though I had by that time recruited the services of DAVID ALLEN, an excellent Scottish physiotherapist, who proved to be vital to the film’s success.

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 were hopeful of staging some Cross Country and Indoor Track & Field events during this coming winter, even though it looked as if we should only be able to cater for the younger age groups.  However, the news that the Country is to go into Lockdown from this Thursday does throw these aspirations into doubt. If Government guidelines after the lockdown 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.
As we enter another lockdown, we just 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.

PROCEDURES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) FROM JEREMY SOTHCOTT – Due to the new Covid-19 Lockdown regulations Barnet Copthall is closed, and will re-open on  Thursday 2 December. Coaches will be in touch with their athletes through WhatsApp groups. Further updates from JEREMY SOTHCOTT will appear in future newsletters.

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) – Currently Suspended. From 2 December please contact CLYDE GORDON on 07753 985525/clyde67@hotmail.co.uk for further 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 used. 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 0203 675 7250.

CHARGES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM (FORMERLY ALLIANZ PARK) – Currently the stadium is closed until the 2 December.

ALAN WELLER