Happy Birthday from this Thursday 2 December to Hope Baker, Gregory Dunson, Dylan Evans, Bobbi Harrison, Malika Hislop-Ellis, Jessica Hunter, Jacob Lange, Michael Lange, Theo Michael, Brian Motto, Gilad Nachshen, Jacob Nustedt, Joseph O’Hara, Nonso Okolo, Estafania Palanca, Nick Percy, Joseph Rodriguez, Ross Sambrook, Nick Smith and Samuel Wiggins

RECENT NEW MEMBERS – We wish you a very warm welcome, and a happy, healthy and successful time with Shaftesbury to DEAN DE-ANDREA, MILO DE-ANDREA, RIO DE-ANDREA, BEN KASPAR and HENRY RYAN

CHARLES HICKS AND HENRY MCLUCKIE SELECTED FOR THE EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Congratulations to CHARLES who will be in the GB&NI Under 23 team and HENRY in the GB&NI Under 20 team. The Championships take place in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland on Sunday 12 December.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2021 – Was held last Tuesday 30 November in the East Stand 100 Club at the StoneX Stadium.
The meeting was attended by many of our athletes, coaches and parents. Following the AGM was the presentation of the 2021 track and field awards, by Club President GEOFF WILLIAMS, with GEOFF MORPHITIS giving a description of each winner’s achievements in 2021. In next week’s Newsletter, I will give a report on the AGM, and also include the winner’s photographs taken by JEREMY SOTHCOTT.

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

INDOOR FIXTURES 2022 – I have just received the following indoor fixtures for the Lee Valley Athletic Centre for January to March 2022.

January – 2 New Year Open Meeting, 8 Minithon, 9 Befit Open Meeting, 15-16 Southern U13/U15/U17 Championships, 22-23 London U20/Senior Games, 26 AOC Sport Indoor Championships, 29-30 London U13/U15/U17 Games.
February – 5-6 Southern U20/Senior Championships, 9 BMC Meeting, 12-13 Essex and Eastern Championships, 16 Middle Distance Open Meeting, 19 Bruce Longdon Sprint Hurdles Open Meeting.
March – 5-6 British Masters Championships, 12 Christine Bloomfield U13/U15 Open Meeting, 13 England Masters Championships, 19-20 Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Kent Championships, 26 Minithon.

Other indoor fixtures – 8-9 January England Athletics U20/Senior Combined Events Championships in Sheffield, 12-13 February England Athletics U15/U17/U20 Championships in Sheffield, 12-13 March England Athletics U15/U17 Combined Events Championships in Sheffield, 18-2- March World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia,

START FITNESS METROPOLITAN LEAGUE – The third fixture of five takes place on Saturday 4 December, course is at Hillingdon Sports Centre, Hillingdon House Farm, Park Road, Uxbridge (Satnav UB10 0RQ).
Race headquarters – Hillingdon Athletics Stadium, Gatting Way, Uxbridge(Satnav UB8 1ES). HQ to course walk time: 2 minutes.
Changing facilities – Men’s & Women’s changing rooms and toilets within athletic stadium and football pavillion. Please do not use the facilities within the main sports centre.
Course Description – Parkland setting, undulating course, with one steep climb per large lap, on grass and woodland paths. Option of small river crossing if conditions on the day allow.

Map of Course

Public Transport – Hillingdon & Uxbridge Metropolitan and Picadilly lines 10-15 minute walk from course. U1 and U2 buses stop within 3 minutes’ walk of Sports Centre.
Directions from major roads – Next to A40 Swakeleys Roundabout Junction, then follow signs for Hillingdon Sports and Leisure centre.
Parking – Limited free parking within Uxbridge College car park on the right of Gatting Way before the sports centre carpark. There are ONLY 50 pay and display parking spaces allocated for this fixture outside the stadium from 12pm onwards. Parking in the main sports centre car park is not permitted. Please car share if driving, as the car park can be very busy with places at a premium.

Map of car parking 

Timetable – 12.20 U11 (Over 9) Boys (up to 2km), 12.25 U11 (Over 9) Girls (up to 2km), 12.40 U13 Boys (3km), 12.45 U13 Girls (3km), 13.00 U17 Men and U15 Boys (4km), 13.05 U17 Women and U15 Girls (4km), 13.35 U20, Senior and Veteran Women (8km), 14.35 U20, Senior and Veteran Men (8km). The first 4 races there will be no river crossing, decision on the other races to be done on the morning of the fixture.
Note: You do not have to be pre-entered, just turn up and run.
Please collect your race numbers from the respective team managers – SIMON KEENE, JEREMY SOTHCOTT and JO KENT
Please go to Start Fitness Metropolitan League web site www.metleague.co.uk for final information.

START FITNESS METROPOLITAN LEAGUE RACE NUMBERS – I have been asked to remind you that your race number must be kept by yourselves, and is to be used for all 5 fixtures.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RACE – The Start Fitness Metropolitan League fixture on Saturday 4 December, is the Club Championship race for the following age-groups – Under 20 Men, 5 Miles Senior Men and Masters Men 40+

UK CROSS CHALLENGE INCLUDING EUROPEAN TRIAL – Took place last Saturday at Sefton Park, Liverpool. Photograph by MARK SHEARMAN.
What an exciting day for HENRY MCLUCKIE, who secured victory in the under-20 race, covering the 6.5km in (19:53). The 19-year-old will now have the opportunity to add another major medal to his 2021 roster after he won bronze in the 1500m at the European Under-20 Championships.
“I’m happy that I’ve done what I came here to do [make the team],” explained HENRY, who was also nominated recently as AW British Male Junior Athlete of the Year. “It was very cold. I’m from the Isle of Wight so I’m used to the sun! At least there was no mud and rain this year, “The aim was to always get a big gap and maintaining it. I’d done a few sessions around here recently so I knew I had to save some in the tank down the back straight.” WILL BARNICOAT came second with (20:10) while LIAM RAWLINGS made up the podium with (20:12). Team mate KRISTIAN IMROTH finished in an excellent 6th place (20.29).

Under 17 Men – ABDIRAHIM HAMUD 12th (17.35), the winner was Edward Bird of Poole (16.58) 104 runners finished.

Under 20 Men – HENRY MCLUCKIE 1st (19.53), KRISTIAN IMROTH 6th (20.29) 113 runners finished.

Senior Men – DYLAN EVANS 26th (29.28), LIAM DEE 30th (29.33), PHILLIP CROUT 50th (30.09), THOMAS BUTLER 57th (30.16), THOMAS PATRICK U23 74th (30.43), the winner was Jack Rowe of Aldershot, Farnham & District (28.05) 511 runners finished.

NORTH WEST LONDON LEAGUE – The third fixture of five took place last Saturday at Trent Park.
Apologies, but unfortunately the results are still to be published. Following the fixture, BRIAN FOWLER had an accident to his hands, which has affected his ability to type.

I have been reliably informed that in the Under 11 Boys race, recent new member BEN KASPAR won the race

XANDER REESE finished in 6th place

In the Under 13 Boys race, EUAN PHILLIPS won the race

PRINCE VICTORUS JOHN was just behind in 2nd place

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY CUPS – Took place last Saturday at Trent Park.
Fraternity Cup Senior Men – ROBERT RIGBY V60 55th (33.19), DANIEL NICHOLLS 74th (34.40), the winner was Ash Harrell of Highgate Harriers (26.35) 215 runners finished
Team Result – 1st Highgate Harriers (60 points), 2nd Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets (99), 3rd London Heathside (111) 25 teams finished

Sorority Cup Senior Women – The winner was Jessica Prior of Trent Park (32.00) 131 runners finished
Team Result – 1st Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets (35 points), 2nd Barnet & District (57), 3rd Trent Park (59) 22 teams finished

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Canons Park on 27 November.
LAUREN MALTZ U17 47th (29.05) this was her 21st Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Gladstone on 27 November.
JULIAN LAMY U23 2nd (18.26) this was his 27th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Hackney Marshes on 27 November.
BARRY CHISHOLM V60 202nd (47.11) this was his 222nd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Long Eaton on 27 November.
INDIRA PATEL U20 2nd (17.55) this was her 33rd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Oak Hill on 27 November.
STUART SINGER V60 30th (22.25) this was his 309th Parkrun, BRADLEY SINGER 39th (22.25) this was his 155th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Perry Lakes, Perth, Australia on 27 November.
STUART MOORE V60 64th (27.50) this was his 176th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Poole on 27 November.
HUGH RICHARDS V75 330th (31.12) this was his 163rd Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Stevenage on 27 November.
RUSSELL DEVITT V70 193rd (37.14) this was his 204th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Sunny Hill on 27 November.
DYLAN MICHEL U20 1st (18.34) this was his 44th Parkrun, LENARD MICHEL V50 3rd (22.24) this was his 68th Parkrun, SHONA MICHEL V45 13th (28.16) this was her 49th Parkrun

SOUTHERN INTER COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 11 December at Horspath Sports Ground, Oxford (SatNav OX4 2RR).
Timetable – 11.00 U13 Girls (Approximately 3k), 11.20 U13 Boys (Approximately 3k), 11.40 U15 Girls (Approximately 4k), 12.25 U15 Boys (Approximately 4k), 12.50 U17 Men (Approximately 5k), 13.15 U17 Women (Approximately 5k), 13.40 U20 Women and Senior Women (Approximately 6k)
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your County Team Manager

 SOUTHERN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 11 December at Horspath Sports Ground, Oxford (SatNav OX4 2RR).
Timetable – 11.45 Women 40+ 50+, 60+, M70+ (Approximately 6k), 14.10 Men 40+, 50+, 60+ (Approximately 10k)
Entries Close Friday 26 November
Note: If you wish to be entered please contact your Team Manager

BOXING DAY BONANZA RUN – NOW takes place on Monday 27 December at StoneX Stadium and Starts at 11.00, issuing of numbers, refreshments and prize giving takes place in the Indoor Track area. Distance 2 miles, 1 mile for Under 11 and £2 entry fee, There will be prizes, raffle and refreshments, and why not come in fancy dress.
A chance for all the family, yes Mums and Dads, Sisters and Brothers to run off the Boxing Day dinner. We are looking for a record turn out with well over 100 present, the more the merrier. Donations to the raffle welcome.

BACK TO THE FUTURE AS CHERRY ALEXANDER RETURNS TO UKA – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

Super-experienced athletics administrator faces multiple challenges as she attempts to get British major events back on track. The news that CHERRY ALEXANDER is re-joining UK Athletics as major events and international relations lead has been met with near-universal applause from within the sport. It is a popular decision by the new UKA chair and CEO combo of IAN BEATTIE and MARK MUNRO and shows they mean business as they attempt to resurrect the fortunes of the national governing body and the health of the sport generally.
Despite her rich experience and wealth of contacts, ALEXANDER was deemed unnecessary during JO COATES’ 20-month period as chief executive at UKA. Her return now is a clear admission that it was a bad idea to let her go in the first place and, during a unique period of lockdowns and coronavirus-related inactivity, the sport has squandered the chance to quietly restructure itself so that it could emerge stronger than ever in the post-pandemic period. Alexander is unlikely to dwell on the past, though. She will be too focused in getting the sport’s major events back on their feet.
This year UKA did well to leap to the rescue of the Diamond League by volunteering to replace the pandemic-hit Rabat meeting in May with what turned out to be an enjoyable but rain-soaked event in Gateshead. In July, Gateshead staged a second Diamond League event, but there was an awkward stand-off with the BBC which led to the British Championships and Olympic trials in Manchester being merely streamed by the governing body itself. As we head into 2022 there is only one Diamond League in Britain, too, which is likely to be in Birmingham on May 21.
Hopefully ALEXANDER can use her abilities to resurrect the ailing fortunes of British televised events. She cut her teeth years ago under the infamous British Athletic Federation promoter ANDY NORMAN and, among many other things, later oversaw the staging of the 2017 World Championships in London. So now she needs to draw on all her tact and knowledge to boost the status of major events in this country.

Three areas clearly need attention.
Athletics needs to get back into the London Stadium or, as many athletics fans still call it, the Olympic Stadium. The legacy of London 2012 was supposed to be a brilliant stadium which could be the home of athletics in the British capital for big track and field meetings for years to come.
Secondly, the sport needs to return to terrestrial television. The streaming of events has become increasingly popular and definitely has its place, but any big sport worth its salt needs to be on a platform where it will command the biggest possible audience.
To illustrate how the sport has gradually vanished from our TV screens, back in 1985 there were 32 athletics meetings broadcast on ITV (and a further three on BBC during the indoor season). At this time of year alone they included the McVitie’s Challenge Cross Country International where DAVE LEWIS enjoyed a runaway victory at Gateshead Bowl. That particular event was on the same weekend in the calendar as Saturday’s Liverpool Cross Challenge and Euro Trials, for example, but the latter is not even streamed let alone on telly.
Finally, British athletics is crying out for more top-level athletics meetings for international athletes who cannot get into Diamond League meetings or athletes on the cusp of an international breakthrough. An increasing trend has seen British athletes make a pilgrimage to various venues in France, Italy, Spain and beyond in the quest for good competitive opportunities and conditions, but this has led to the competition calendar in Britain withering.

Thankfully, BEATTIE and MUNRO recognise this and have already stated it is one of their goals to create more decent-standard competitions in the UK. During her exile from UKA incidentally, ALEXANDER has already been busy working behind the scenes on the creation of some of these events too.
The final word goes to ALEXANDER, who said on her re-appointment: “It’s a real honour to be asked to return to UKA, I am always motivated working with people who are genuinely passionate about our beautiful sport and who will strive to make it a success. Mark and Ian have shared their ambitions for the sport and events and there is no doubt the next few years will be busy!
“I’m thrilled to be linking up again with friends and colleagues who love this sport and who want to be part of this new but challenging era. Let’s get started!”

BIRMINGHAM SET TO STAGE EARLY-SEASON DIAMOND LEAGUE – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

The Wanda Diamond League will take place in 14 cities across four different continents next year, with the series set to host two meetings in China in July and August before it concludes in Zurich with a two-day final in September. However it is the position of the event in Birmingham that will interest British fans the most with the originally published date of August 28 now switching to the start of the summer season. Diamond League organisers have announced the date as being May 21 although it is followed by the letters “TBC” and this is likely to be finalised in December. The series kicks off in Doha on May 13 before the circuit moves – probably – on to Birmingham eight days later. The Alexander Stadium in Birmingham is gearing up, of course, to stage the Commonwealth Games from July 30 to August 7. This means the Diamond League in Birmingham will be a great chance to see the newly-revamped Alexander Stadium before the Games itself. From 2023 and beyond, too, British Athletics will no doubt hope to return to staging events in the London Stadium in the capital.

Next summer also sees the World Championships take place in Eugene, Oregon, and athletes will be able to get a taste for the venue at a Diamond League event – the Pre Classic – in Eugene on May 28. The series then moves on to Rabat – the Moroccan city that had to abandon plans to stage a Diamond League last year due to the pandemic – before it returns to Europe for events in Rome, Oslo, Paris and Stockholm. The world’s best will then head to Rabat on 5 June, before returning to Europe for the rest of the month with meetings in Rome, Oslo, Paris and Stockholm. After the World Championships, the Diamond League will return to China for the first time since 2019, with the Shanghai Diamond League set for July 30 and a second Chinese meeting scheduled for August 6. August will then see the series move to Monaco and Lausanne before the last series meeting in Brussels on 2 September and then the final in Zurich on September 7-8.

 Wanda Diamond League Calendar 2022 – Doha QAT – May 13, Birmingham/London (TBC) GBR – May 21, Eugene USA – May 28, Rabat MAR – June 5, Rome ITA – June 9, Oslo NOR – June 16, Paris FRA – June 18, Stockholm SWE – June 30, Shanghai CHN – July 30, China2 CHN – August 6, Monaco MON – August 10, Lausanne SUI – August 26, Brussels BEL – September 2 and Zurich SUI – September 7-8

GLASGOW TO HOST THE 2024 WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.  Finest athletes on the planet will compete at the Emirates Arena at the 20th edition of the global event in Glasgow at the Emirates Arena.

The decision was made at the World Athletics Council in Monaco on Wednesday 1 December and it means that the UK will host the championships for the third time, after Birmingham in 2003 and 2018. It will also be the first time that Scotland has held the three-day event. In 2019, Glasgow hosted the European Indoor Championships and in February the Emirates Arena will be the venue for European Athletics’ Dynamic New Athletics event – an innovative, team-based competition which will see England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Turkey and Spain go head-to-head. The Scottish city also has a history of hosting major outdoor athletics championships, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

It is set to be quite a few years for athletics in the UK with Birmingham hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games. You won’t be short of seeing the world’s best athletes compete indoors over the next few years as well with Belgrade and Nanjing hosting the 2022 and 2023 championships respectively. Since the inaugural event in Paris 36 years ago, the championships have usually been held biennially but the pandemic changed all of that, meaning that we’ll now have three competitions in as many years. You can expect the likes of Scottish favourites such as LAURA MUIR, JEMMA REEKIE and JAKE WHITEMAN to be strutting their stuff around the 200m oval track at the Emirates Arena. Muir won two golds in the 1500m and 3000m at the 2019 European Indoor Championships in Glasgow and she’ll be hopeful to repeat that medal feat in 2024 at world level.

IAN BEATTIE, chair of UK Athletics, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the opportunity to host the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships. World Athletics have demonstrated their confidence in the UK to host global athletics championships once again, and history has shown time and time again our ability to deliver amazing events. “We’re thrilled with the outcome and look forward to a successful Championships working alongside our partners that will truly give all athletes a fantastic stage upon which to perform.” NICOLA STURGEON, First Minister of Scotland, added: “I’m delighted that Glasgow has been chosen to host the prestigious World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2024. This will underline Scotland’s global reputation as the perfect stage for events and is welcome news as we look to recover from the pandemic.”  DAME KATHERINE GRAINGER, chair of UK Sport, added: “I am delighted that with our event hosting partners, we have secured another world class event to take place in Scotland. As part of our new strategy to reach, inspire and unite communities across the UK, ensuring a wide geographical reach is of utmost importance to us. The National Lottery investment into this event will help ensure a truly inspirational event, both on and off the field of play.”

NORTH WEST LONDON LEAGUE RESULTS FROM 2009 TO 2022 –Link to the NWLL website which has the results from 2009 to 2022 – http://www.british-athletics.co.uk/nwll/

BIRMINGHAM 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES, OPEN FOR VOLUNTEERS – Birmingham 2022 are looking for more than 13,000 spirited, dedicated and dynamic volunteers to be the heartbreak of the Commonwealth Games, a community of passionate people coming together to help deliver the biggest sporting and cultural event the West Midlands have ever seen. As part of the Commonwealth Collective, you’ll be the public face of Birmingham 2022, the heart and soul of the Games experience for athletes, officials, spectators, and a global audience of more than one billion.
For more information on volunteering, this is the link – https://www.birmingham2022.com/get-involved/volunteering/