Happy Birthday from Thursday 23 March to Wednesday 29 March – Temi Bakare, Jude Bell, James Isaacs, Zanson Plummer, Talya Robinson, Ben Rochford, Joe Shepherd, Roger Simons, Jeremy Sothcott, Neville Thompson and Louis Ubaka

RECENT NEW MEMBERS – We wish you a very warm welcome, and a happy, healthy and successful time with Shaftesbury to ELLA BUCKLEY, ANNA KAMARA and GRACE NYAONGO

LONDON INTER CLUB CHALLENGE THROWS AND INDOOR POLE VAULT – Takes place on Saturday 15 April at the StoneX Stadium, Greenlands Lane, Hendon (Satnav NW4 1RL).
Entry fee is £8 per event for all age-groups, SBH Members qualify for a 50% discount.
Link to the timetable – LICC Timetable StoneX Stadium 15-04-23
Online entries now at Opentrack, then put 438 in the filter box – https://entry4sports.co.uk/#/
Entries Closing Date Sunday 9 April, No Entries On The Day 

LONDON INTER CLUB CHALLENGE TRACK AND JUMPS – Takes place on Sunday 16 April at Bannister Outdoors Sports Centre, Birch Park, Harrow (Satnav HA3 6SP).
Entry fee is £8 per event for all age-groups, SBH Members qualify for a 50% discount.
Link to the timetable – LICC Timetable Bannister Stadium 16-04-23
Online entries at Opentrack – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2023/GBR/harr16042023/
Entries Closing Date Sunday 9 April, No Entries On The Day

QUADKIDS – Takes place prior to the London Inter Club Challenge on Sunday 16 April
CLYDE GORDON will be managing the event, with registration from 12 noon, first event starts at 12.30pm, and completion around 1.30pm, and is free to enter for Shaftesbury members and is £2 for non-members. Quadkids is primarily for school years 3 to 7 inclusive, ie age 7 to 12 and includes the four core disciplines of running (600m), throwing (Vortex Howler), jumping (Long Jump) and sprinting (75m). All are welcome and Parents you may be asked to join in by helping out on maybe one of the events

WATFORD OPEN MEETING  – Takes place on Wednesday 5 April, and is now open on roster athletics to enter, see below.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS SUBSCRIPTIONS – Our new Club year started on 1 October 2022. The SBH annual subscription, as from 1 December 2022 as approved at the AGM on Tuesday 29 November is £65 and the current England Athletics annual registration from 1 April 2023 is £17. The current total is £82 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.

GEORGE HARRISON MBE MEMORIAL DOCUMENT – Many thanks to JOANNA WINFIELD who sent me a photograph of JOANNA, MAX, DYLAN and BEN with GEORGE on a Saturday morning training session on 23rd December 2017. I will add it to the document.

HERTFORDSHIRE STEEPLECHASERS – SALLY GANDEE, who is Honorary Secretary of the Hertfordshire Athletics Association, has sent me the following.
As Hertfordshire County is not holding any steeplechase races in the county championships this year – the county would consider awarding county medals to any Hertfordshire qualified athlete who takes part in this steeplechase festival.  Age groups are from U15 to senior with appropriate distances from 1500m to 3000m. The steeplechase festival organised by West Suffolk is being held at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre on 29 April 2023.

Details can be found by contacting David Cripps at david.cripps7@outlook.com
Entries on-line at Opentrack – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2023/GBR/steeplechase-festival/

RESULTS 
ENGLISH SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Took place at Woolaton Park on 18 March.
Junior Boys – ARTHUR PHILLIPS U15 (Middlesex) 53rd (15.21), EUAN PHILLIPS U15 (Middlesex) 218th (16.23) the winner was Joe Scanes of Kent (14.04) 329 runners finished
Team Result – 1st Greater Manchester (156 points), 2nd Kent (207), 3rd West Midlands (214), 21st Middlesex (892)
Junior Girls – POSIE SHAW U15 (Middlesex) 286th (14.42),the winner was Molly Carvell of Merseyside (12.16) 338 runners finished
Team Result – 1st Surrey (223 points), 2nd Sussex (308), 3rd London (340), 18th Middlesex (737)
Intermediate Boys – GIANLEO STUBBS U17 (Hertfordshire) 24th (17.38), RAFI GAYER U17 (Hertfordshire) 50th (18.02) the winner was Sam Plummer of Essex (16.41) 327 runners finished
Team Result – 1st Surrey (153 points), 2nd Kent (315), 3rd Essex (342), 14th Hertfordshire (737) 43 teams finished
Intermediate Girls – EDIE WOODINGS U17 (Middlesex) 210th (14.20), the winner was Zoe Gilbody of Shropshire (11.55) 338 runners finished
Team Result – 1st Berkshire (240 points), 2nd London (302), 3rd Surrey (307), 44 teams finished
Senior Boys – HENRY DOVER U17 (Suffolk) 16th (19.48), ABDIHIRAM HAMUD U20 (Middlesex) 52nd (20.41), SAMUEL GREENSTEIN U20 (Hertfordshire) 78th (20.59) the winner was George Couttie of North Yorkshire (19.12) 314 runners finished
Team Result – 1st Mersey (203 points), 2nd Kent (247), 3rd Surrey (276), 7th Hertfordshire (446), 8th Suffolk (454), 16th Middlesex (611)
Senior Girls – RUBY VINTON U17 (Suffolk) 96th (18.22) AMY GODDARD U17 (Suffolk) 128th (18.45), EMMA MCCLUSKEY U17 (Middlesex 2nd Claim) 205th (19.33), SOPHIE FORBES-LAIRD U17 (Bedford) 274th (21.13) the winner was Innes Fitzgerald of Devon (15.21) 300 runners finished
Team Result – 1st West Yorkshire (127 points), 2nd Hertfordshire (294), 3rd Greater Manchester (317), 16th Middlesex (772), 22nd Suffolk (943) 38 teams finished

HERTFORDSHIRE, KENT AND MIDDLESEX INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Took place at Lee Valley on 18-19 March.

Hertfordshire Championships
High Jump – U20W Straight Final REBECCA WHEELER-HENRY U20 won the Gold Medal (PB 1.66m) adding 1cm to her 5 February jump
Pole Vault – U15B Straight Final THOMAS ROBERTSON U15 won the Gold Medal (2.80m)
Pole Vault – U17M Straight Final ANGUS BROWN U17 won the Gold Medal (3.60m), ISSA PHILLIPS-POPE U17 won the Silver Medal (3.30m)
Pole Vault – U17W Straight Final ABIGAIL EDWARDS U17 won the Silver Medal (2.60m)

Middlesex Championships
60m – U15B H1 SETH RENNIE-RODDY U15 3rd (PB 7.89) taking .16 of a second off his 2022 time, ASHER ESCOBAR U15 6th (8.56), H2 MODEBAYO AKIN-AGUNBIADE U15 5th (PB 8.19) taking .27 of a second off his 8 January time, in the Final SETH finished 6th (7.96)
60m – U15G H3 ANGEL MCLEOD U15 1st (7.94), in the Final ANGEL won the Gold Medal (7.83)
60m – U17M H1 OLIVER LAURENS U17 3rd (7.53), H2 RUBEN CARDOSO U17 3rd (PB 7.53) taking .01 of a second off his 14 January time, H3 ZICO JONES U17 1st (7.20), BRANDON KUFAZVINEI U17 5th (PB 7.71), H4 EBUKA NWOKEJI U17 1st (7.23), NATHAN HOWELL U17 2nd (PB 7.43) taking .04 of a second off his 28 January time, ISAAC OTAH U17 7th (PB 7.99) taking .04 of a second off his 8 January time, in Semi-Final 2 EBUKA finished 1st (7.14), ZICO finished 2nd (7.25), NATHAN finished 4th (7.44), RUBEN finished 5th (7.54), OLIVER finished 6th (7.66), in the Final EBUKA won the Gold Medal (7.02)
60m – U17M H1 AARON OTAH U20 5th (7.70), H3 SEBASTIAN BETARANO-RAMIREZ U20 3rd (PB 7.35)
60m – U217W H1 TAMI GEORGE U17 1st (8.02), MAKAYLA BRAI-AYOYE U17 3rd (PB 8.17), H2 OYINKAN OGUNBIYI U17 5th (SB 8.94) equalling her 8 January time, H3 ANNALUCIA HARLLEY U17 5th (8.87), in the Final TAMI finished 4th (8.06), MAKAYLA finished 6th (PB 8.10) taking .07 of a second off her H1 time
60m – U20W H1 ANNA ROSE U20 3rd (SB 8.16)
200m – U15B H1 ASHER ESCOBAR U15 2nd (PB 26.65) taking .15 of a second off his 29 January time, in the Final ASHER finished 5th (27.37)
200m – U15G H1 MORAYO IDRIS U15 4th (30.40)
200m – U17M H1 BRANDON KUFAZVINEI U17 1st (23.77), MATEI FRUNZA U17 4th (24.53), H2 EBUKA NWOKEJI U17 1st (22.84), OLIVER LAURENS U17 2nd (SB 23.98) taking .21 of a second off his 28 January time, RUBEN CARDOSO U17 3rd (PB 24.31), H3 NATHAN HOWELL U17 3rd (24.53), ISAAC OTAH U17 5th (26.66) taking .20 of a second off his 8 January time, in the Final EBUKA won the Gold Medal (22.45), BRANDON finished 4th (23.75), RUBEN finished 5th (PB 24.19) taking .12 of a second off his H2 time, OLIVER finished 6th (24.28)
200m – U20W Straight Final ANNA ROSE U20 won the Silver Medal (SB 25.94) taking .33 of a second off her 5 February time
200m – SM Straight Final AARON OTAH U20 6th (25.03)
300m – U15B Straight Final SETH RENNIE-RODDY U15 won the Gold Medal (41.08)
300m – U15G Straight Final ELLA BUCKLEY U15 (2nd Claim) won the Gold Medal (PB 44.11) taking .07 of a second off her 2022 time
300m – U17W Straight Final MACIE SUTHERLAND U17 won the Bronze Medal (SB 44.11)
400m – U17M H1 LANRE PRATT U17 4th (PB 58.38), in the Final LANRE finished 5th (PB 57.65) taking .73 of a second off his H1 time
400m – U20W Straight Final LOLA MCCANN-EZEKIEL U20 4th (PB 61.49) taking .04 of a second off her 12 March time
400m – SM Straight Final SEAN SUTHERLAND V50 6th (SB 57.69) taking .12 of a second off his 12 February time
800m – U15G Straight Final ELIZABETH OTHULO U15 won the Bronze Medal (PB 2:38.21) taking 2.79 seconds off her 2022 time
800m – U17M Straight Final JACOB CLEMENT U17 won the Gold Medal (SB 2:05.94)
800m – U17W Straight Final MYA MAIRS-INGRAM U17 4th (SB 2:20.29), DINA SILVERMAN U17 5th (2:21.10), LARISSA WILSON U17 6th (2:22.34)
800m – SM Straight Final CALLUM SYDENHAM U20 (2nd Claim) won the Silver Medal (SB 2:07.06) taking .16 of a second off his 5 February time, NOAH CLARKE U20 (2nd Claim) won the Bronze Medal (2:14.67)
1500m – U20W Straight Final EMMA MCCLUSKEY U20 (2nd Claim) won the Gold Medal (SB 4:57.15)
1500m – SM Straight Final CALLUM SYDENHAM U20 (2nd Claim) won the Bronze Medal (SB 4:24.20) taking 5.42 seconds off his 15 February time, NOAH CLARKE U20 (2nd Claim) 4th (SB 4:43.24)
60m Hurdles – U15B Straight Final JIMI ADU U15 won the Silver Medal (PB 9.85), ASHER ESCOBAR U15 finished 4th (9.92)
60m Hurdles – SM Straight Final SEBASTIAN BETARANO-RAMIREZ U20 won the Gold Medal (PB 8.83)
High Jump – U15G Straight Final ELIZA LEIBOWITZ U15 won the Bronze Medal (PB 1.35m) adding 5cm to her 2022 height
High Jump – U17M Straight Final JORDAN NGIGE U17 won the Gold Medal (PB 1.90m) adding 10cm to his 2022 height, and is ranked UK No.6 U17 in 2023
High Jump – U20W Straight Final HOPE BAKER U20 won the Bronze Medal (SB 1.40m)
Pole Vault – SW Straight Final STACEY GONZALEZ BETANCOURT V45 won the Silver Medal (2.70m), ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V60 5th (PB 2.40m) equalling her 5 March height
Long Jump – U15G Straight Final ELLA BUCKLEY U15 (2nd Claim) 4th (4.25m)
Long Jump – SM Straight Final CALLUM SYDENHAM U20 (2nd Claim) 5th (SB 5.16m)
Tripleg Jump – SM Straight Final CALLUM SYDENHAM U20 (2nd Claim) won the Gold Medal (PB 11.41m) adding 28cm to his 2022 jump
Shot 4kg – U15B Straight Final MILO RYNEHART U15 won the Gold Medal (PB 10.37m) adding 39cm to his 15 January put

Kent Championships
No SBH athletes

SEMI DE LILLE 10K – Took place at Lille, France on 19 March.
NAOMI TASCHIMOWITZ 5th (PB 33.37) taking 54 seconds off her 2022 time

JW SPEED FEST – Took place at Kingston, Jamaica on 18 March.
200m – SM 5 ZHARNEL HUGHES 1st (SB 20.25 w-1.4) and is ranked UK No.1 in 2023

CARDINAL CLASSIC – Took place at Palo Alto, California, USA on 18 March.
100m – SM 1 MICHAEL OHIOZE 2nd (SB 10.39 w0.8) and is ranked UK No.1 in 2023
200m – SM 1 MICHAEL OHIOZE 2nd (SB 20.78 w0.8) and is ranked UK No.4 in 2023

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM WINTER THROWS AND DISTANCE MEETING – Took place at Birmingham on 18 March.
5000m – Race 1 FREYA STAPLETON U23 (University of Birmingham) 4th (PB 16:41.93) taking 26.38 seconds off her 2021 time, and is ranked UK No.1 U23 in 2023, 3 LUCA STUBBS U23 (Loughborough Students) 5th (PB 15:26.38) and is ranked UK No.10 U23 in 2023, 4 KRISTIAN IMROTH U23 (University of Birmingham) 3rd (PB 14:29.26) and is ranked UK No.4 U23 in 2023

FRIDAY NIGHT 5K UNDER THE LIGHTS – Took place at Battersea Park on 17 March.
KOJO KYEREME V45 4th (PB 14.57) taking 3 seconds off his 2020 time, and is ranked UK No.1 V45 in 2023 and is ranked UK No.8 V45 on the all-time list.

CAMBRIDGE HALF MARATHON – Took place at Cambridge on 5 March.
JUDE BELL 55th (PB 71.59), DANIEL NICHOLS V35 246th (SB 78.26), MARK COTTLE V35 404th (PB 81.09), NICOLA PAYNE 501st (PB 82.58)

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 Aldenham on 18 March.
PAUL LEWIS V50 8th (23.34) this was his 160th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Maidstone on 18 March.
CLIFF GOLDING V55 129th (28.43) this was his 135th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Oak Hill on 18 March.
DAVID JOSEPHS V45 11th (20.41 this was his 26th Parkrun, STUART SINGER V60 23rd (22.29) this was his 367th Parkrun, BRADLEY SINGER 42nd (24.15) this was his 220th Parkrun, SHONA MICHEL V50 172nd (38.17) this was her 84th Parkrun

PARKRUN 5K – Took place at Panshanger on 18 March.
RUSSELL DEVITT V70 113th (43.56) this was his 256th Parkrun

UPCOMING CROSS COUNTRY AND ROAD RELAY FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 4 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 23 MARCH UNTIL WEDNESDAY 19 APRIL – The SBH 2023 Summer Fixture Card can be found on the SBH website – http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/

SOUTHERN MEN’S 12 STAGE AND WOMENS 6 STAGE ROAD RELAYS WHICH INCLUDE THE 15/U17 5k ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Sunday 2 April at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20.
Unfortunately due to insufficient numbers, we will not be entering a Senior Mens team. Which also mean we cannot compete in the National Relays on 15 April.
Start times – U15/17 Men and Women 11.00am Senior Women 1.00pm
Entries Closed

NATIONAL MEN’S 12 STAGE AND WOMENS 6 STAGE ROAD RELAYS WHICH INCLUDE THE 15/U17 5k ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 15 April at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, Town Gate Entrance, Birmingham (Satnav B73 6BU).
Start times U17 Men 11.00am, U17 Women 11.05am, U15 Boys 11.15am, U15 Girls 11.20am, Senior Women 12.20pm
Distances U15/U17 Men/Women 5K, Women Long Legs 5.38K, Short Legs 3.16K
Entries Closing Date Friday 7 April
Note: You will have to be pre-entered by your respective Team Manager.

TCS MONEY LONDON MINI MARATHON – Takes place on Saturday 22 April close to Temple Station and finishes on The Mall.
Note: You will have to be pre-selected by your respective London Borough or UK Region. 

TCS MONEY LONDON MARATHON – Takes place on Sunday 23 April from Greenwich. We should have a few runners representing the Stripes.
Note: You will have to enter yourself

UPCOMING INDOOR FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 4 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 23 MARCH UNTIL WEDNESDAY 19 APRIL  

WORLD MASTERS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Sunday 26 March to Tuesday 4 April at Torun, Poland.
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee

WATFORD OPEN MEETING  – Takes place on Wednesday 5 April at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH).
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Timetable – 19.00pm 100m, 19.15pm High Jump, 19.20pm 1500m no times over 5minute 30 seconds, 21.00pm 3000m no times over 11.00 minutes, no Under 13s
Link to entries on roster athletics – https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions?cc=GBR&page=0&from=2023-04-01&to=2023-04-22
Note: There are no entries on the day, and there is a possibility that the limits will be taken up well before the race day.

LONDON INTER CLUB CHALLENGE THROWS AND INDOOR POLE VAULT – Takes place on Saturday 15 April at the StoneX Stadium, Greenlands Lane, Hendon (Satnav NW4 1RL).
Entry fee is £8 per event for all age-groups, SBH Members qualify for a 50% discount.
Link to the timetable – LICC Timetable StoneX Stadium 15-04-23
Online entries now at Opentrack, then put 438 in the filter box – https://entry4sports.co.uk/#/
Entries Closing Date Sunday 9 April, No Entries On The Day 

LONDON INTER CLUB CHALLENGE TRACK AND JUMPS – Takes place on Sunday 16 April at Bannister Outdoors Sports Centre, Birch Park, Harrow (Satnav HA3 6SP).
Entry fee is £8 per event for all age-groups, SBH Members qualify for a 50% discount.
Link to the timetable – LICC Timetable Bannister Stadium 16-04-23
Online entries at Opentrack – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2023/GBR/harr16042023/
Entries Closing Date Sunday 9 April, No Entries On The Day

LEE VALLEY 2023 OUTDOOR FIXTURES – The following will be available for you to enter on Opentrack, this is the link to enter the 1 April Open Meeting now on Opentrack – https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/lee-valley/athletics-centre/athletics-competitions
The following fixtures will be available to enter on Opentrack, in the coming weeks.
26 April – Sprints 100m/200m Meeting
10 May – Double 100m Meeting
24 May – 300m/300m Hurdles/400m/400m Hurdles Meeting
7 June – Double 100m Meeting
21 June – Sprints 100m/200m Meeting
5 July – Double 100m Meeting
19 July – Sprints 100m/200m Meeting
2 August – Double Sprint Hurdles
16 August – Sprints 100m/200m Meeting
30 August – Double 100m Meeting
September – Autumn Throws Fest

WATFORD 2023 OPEN MEETING OUTDOOR FIXTURES – The following will be available for you to enter on Roster Athletics
Wednesday 5 April – 7.00pm 100m, 7.15pm High Jump, 7.20pm 1500m No times over 5 minutes 30 seconds, 9.00pm 3000m No Under 13s (Entries Open)
Wednesday 19 April – 7.00pm 200m, 7.15pm Shot, 7.20pm 400m No Under 13s, 7.40pm 800m No times over 2 minutes 45 seconds, 9.05pm 3000m No times over 11 minutes, No under 13s
Wednesday 3 May – 7.00pm 100m, 7.15pm Long Jump, 7.20pm 1500m No times over 5 minutes 30 seconds, 9.15pm 3000m No times over 11 minutes, No under 13s
Wednesday 17 May – 7.00pm 400m No Under 13s, 7.15pm Triple Jump, 7.25pm BMC, 8.00pm 800m No times over 2 minutes 45 seconds
Wednesday 31 May – 7.00pm 100m, 7.15pm High Jump, 7.20pm 1500m No times over 5 minutes 30 seconds, 9.15pm 3000m No times over 11 minutes, No under 13s
Wednesday 14 June – 7.00pm 200m, 7.15pm Shot, 7.25pm BMC, 8.00pm 800m No times over 2 minutes 45 seconds, 9.15pm 3000m No times over 11 minutes, No under 13s
Wednesday 28 June – 7.00pm 100m, 7.15pm Long Jump, 7.25pm 1500m No times over 5 minutes 30 seconds, 9.05pm 3000m No times over 11 minutes, No under 13s
Wednesday 12 July – 7.00pm 400m No Under 13s, 7.15pm High Jump, 7.25pm BMC, 8.00m 800m No times over 2 minutes 45 seconds, 9.05pm 3000m No times over 11 minutes, No under 13s
Wednesday 26 July – 7.00pm 200m, 7.15pm Triple Jump, 7.15pm 1500m No times over 5 minutes 30 seconds, 9.00pm 3000m No times over 11 minutes, No under 13s
Wednesday 9 August – 7.00pm 100m, 7.15pm 400m No Under 13s, 7.30pm 800m No times over 2 minutes 45 seconds, 9.05pm 3000m No times over 11 minutes, No under 13s
Wednesday 23 August – 7.00pm 200m, 7.15pm Long Jump, 7.25pm BMC, 8.00m 1500m No times over 5 minutes 30 seconds
Wednesday 6 September – 7.00pm 200m, 7.15pm High Jump, 7.20pm 100m, 7.40pm 800m, 9.05pm 3000m No under 13s

HARSH NEW RULES FOR TRACK AND TRAINING VENUES – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

Coaches are facing the pinch due to soaring prices relating to the use of facilities. For years coaches and athletes have taken it for granted that there will be tracks to train on, pits to jump into and designated, safe throwing areas to throw in. Now, however, that idea is very much under threat. It seems that athletics tracks up and down the country are changing their usage policies. Our facilities may not be “facilitating” our sport any more. In fact, some of the changes could completely change the way coaches coach – and may even drive some away entirely. The track I coach at has recently decided to turn its athletics usage model on its head. In the kind of set-up which is echoed throughout this country, it used to be the case that I could simply turn up with my athletes and coach. The members of my training group would just pay at the door and we would get on with our session. The new system, however, has changed all of that. It is now impossible for a shot putter, hurdler or triple jumper – in fact any event apart from sprinting, middle and long distances – to use this particular track without a coach being present and an advance booking being made. Even then, the “runners” may turn up at the track to find it booked out for other events. My local facility is far from alone in doing this, either.

The changes afoot – Let me explain what’s happening in a little more detail. At the facility I use, coaches will now only be allowed to use it if they pre-book all of their training slots. At first glance, this may not appear to be that onerous a problem – after all, we had to do this in response to Covid when space was being controlled. However, the difference now is that coaches will be invoiced monthly for their sessions. There’s a sizeable fee for using a lane, the long jump pit, the pole vault and so on.  We are also supposed to know the exact times and precisely which facilities we wish to use months in advance. On top of that, the centre has informed us they need 28 days’ notice for a change of times and dates, something which represents an extraordinarily difficult challenge in a sport where things change all the time.  The centre I coach from has also required coaches to re-submit their coaching documents, download and supply the British Athletics insurance policy, child protection policy and complete risk assessments. We have also had to identify which events we can coach. Was an explanation given as to exactly why this information was required again? No. There is an insistence that the centre is not doing this for financial reasons, but rather it seems these changes may actually be for insurance purposes. I guess ensuring the coach is more liable for the session would reduce the premium and the claim would be against British Athletics’ insurance in the first place.  I have not been given a direct explanation for the changes, however, which does leave room for speculation. If it is about making money, that’s not unreasonable in these difficult times, but should coaches – who are amateur more often than not – be made to fork out?  Some quick calculations indicate that, under this strategy, many coaches will face monthly bills ranging from £500 to over £1000. Where will they find that additional money? This, potentially, has huge ramifications for the sport.

Opening the door to non-athletics use – With a pressing need to increase revenue, many centres up and down the country use their athletics facilities for non-athletic activities. Indoor arenas can play host to children’s birthday parties, gymnastics, trampolining, cheerleading, meetings, gatherings and so on. For outdoor tracks, football and other field sports can cause complications. It’s therefore not surprising that many coaches and athletes feel their sport is being squeezed out. On another level some tracks charge additional fees to use facilities such as the long jump pit, as staff are required to move the covers. It certainly makes you think that “things ain’t easy any more”…

JOAQUIM CRUZ AT 60 – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently. Photograph taken by MARK SHEARMAN.

Olympic 800m champion in 1984 turns 60 this weekend and we look back on the career of one of the all-time greats. JOAQUIM CRUZ is best known for beating SEB COE to the 1984 Olympic 800m title in Los Angeles. For many in South America there was also a decent argument to describe him as the world record-holder too. COE ran (1:41.73) in Florence in 1981 at an event where the photo-finish equipment malfunctioned. The Briton’s time was calculated from three photo-cells positioned at three different heights at the finish and officials hand-timed his run at (1:41.6), (1:41.6) and (1:41.7). The world record stood until 1997, when WILSON KIPKETER broke the mark. But in Cologne in 1984 – just 20 days after his Olympic victory – CRUZ ran (1:41.77) to miss COE’S mildly controversial mark by a mere four hundredths of a second. That statistical story is one of many embedded into the folklore of middle-distance running in the 1980s. It was a golden period, largely dominated by COE and fellow Englishmen STEVE OVETT, STEVE CRAM and PETER ELLIOTT, but there were a number of athletes from around the world who were just as good on their day. Most notably, for example, SAID AOUITA of Morocco and, of course, CRUZ.

Humble beginnings – CRUZ turns 60 this week (March 12) but the athlete (whose first name is pronounced JOE-AKEEM not WAH-KEEM incidentally) was born in 1963 in a favela in Taguatinga near Brasilia. To begin with he was a talented basketball player and his athletics talent was spotted when playing that game by a coach called LUIZ DE OLIVIERA.

Initially CRUZ was a reluctant runner who preferred basketball, but he had stacks of natural running ability. He clocked a world junior 800m record of (1:44.3) in Rio in 1981 and moved to Eugene, Oregon, to train. Injuries held him up a little and it was discovered his right leg was slightly shorter than the left, which needed an orthotic to fix. But in 1983, aged just 21, he made his mark at the World Championships in Helsinki by finishing third behind winner WILLI WULBECK of West Germany. With an aggressive front running style that would become his trademark, he battled for the lead with ELLIOTT at a furious pace before running out of steam as the more experienced WULBECK charged through for gold.

Glory in Los Angeles – One year later CRUZ was virtually invincible over two laps. He began the summer by winning the NCAA 800m and 1500m titles, plus a (3:53.00) mile in his debut at the distance at the Pepsi Invitational. Then at the Olympics in LA itself he ran a remarkable series of races with (1:45.66) in his heat, (1:44.84) in the second round, (1:43.84) in his semi and (1:43.00) in the final – all in successive days. Three years earlier an 18-year-old CRUZ had finished well behind COE as the Briton destroyed the field to win the IAAF World Cup 800m in Rome. But now, in LA and aged 21, he was always in control and surged clear of COE and runner-up EARL JONES and the rest of the field in the home straight to win with ease.“We’re too old to be playing with fire,” the runner-up COE famously told OVETT. However while COE went on to successfully defend his 1500m title, CRUZ withdrew from the metric mile with a cold. Back in Europe a few days later, though, CRUZ scorched to some great end-of-season victories with (2:14.09) for 1000m in Nice, (1:42.34) for 800m in Zurich, (1:42.41) in Brussels and then (1:44.77) in Cologne. Such was his status back home now, in Sao Paulo an abandoned baby was left on someone’s doorstep and it was named JOAQUIM CRUZ.

Post-Los Angeles – CRUZ was never quite the same after his impeccable 1984 season. In early 1985 he was humbled in an early season 1500m showdown in Nice where CRAM narrowly held off AOUITA in a world record of (3:29.67) as CRUZ lost contact approaching the bell and faded to seventh in (3:37.10). At his specialist distance, though, he still ran brilliantly by beating TOM MCKEAN at Crystal Palace, whereas he also enjoyed victories in (1:42.49) in Koblenz, (1:42.54) in Cologne and (1:42.98) in Berlin, plus a narrow defeat to an in-form CRAM in (1:43.23) in Zurich. The 1986 season was lost through injury and with his career seemingly on the slide the Brazilian whipped himself into great shape again for a defence of his Olympic title in Seoul in 1988 and managed to put up a gallant fight that nearly resulted in gold. On the eve of the Games in August he ran a 1500m PB of (3:34.63) to win in Hengelo and finished a close runner-up to AOUITA in Cologne over 800m in (1:44.27). Ultimately the title in Seoul went to surprise package PAUL ERENG as the Kenyan burst past CRUZ in the closing metres to claim victory as the Brazilian ran (1:43.90) ahead of AOUITA, ELLIOTT, JOHNNY GRAY and fellow Brazilian JOSE-LUIS BARBOSA.

CRUZ carried on racing until 1997 but was only eighth in his 1500m heat at the 1996 Olympics and, in recent years, he has been based in San Diego as a coach primarily for the United States Paralympics programme where he has continued to inspire modern-day athletes in addition to older ex-athletes and fans who remember him as one of the most graceful and powerful 800m runners of all time.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS ON INSTAGRAM – Since the account was setup towards the end of last year, there has been an amazing amount of Videos and Photographs contributed with many comments. There are 4 posts this week, all photographs taken at the Middlesex Indoor Championships at Lee Valley on 18-19 March

ANNA ROSE with her 200m U20 Silver Medal, with a seasons best (25.94) taking .33 of a second off her 5 February time
EBUKA NWOKEJI with his 60m and 200m U17 Gold Medals, winning the 60m in a time of (7.02), and the 200m in a time of (22.45)
JORDAN NGIGE won the U17 High Jump Gold Medal with a personal best (1.90m) adding 10cm to his 2022 height, and is ranked UK No.6 U17 in 2023
MACIE SUTHERLAND U17 coming off the final bend in the U17 300m, and won the Bronze Medal with a seasons best (44.11)

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.
To follow our new Instagram account, from your own account, by searching for ‘shaftesbury_barnet’ or by clicking https://www.instagram.com/shaftesbury_barnet/ 
To Members and Parents, if you wish for any photographs to be posted on Instagram, please email them to sbh.instagram@outlook.com  If you can at the same time give details on when and where the photographs was taken, plus any other comments.
Please feel free to post photographs of any special occasion, for example, your wedding day, an addition to the family.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023 – Takes place in Budapest, Hungary from 19-27 August 2023.
This is the link for all information including tickets – https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-championships/budapest23
This is the link to the qualification system and entry standards – https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/62ff627cef4200119b5555be.pdf

Currently we have 4 athletes who have achieved qualification standards – ZHARNEL HUGHES 200m (20.07 w-0.3), ELLIE BAKER 800m (1:59.52), KYLE LANGFORD 800m (1:44.49) and LIZZIE BIRD 3000m Steeplechase (9:07.07)

THE FOLLOWING IS CLUB INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS

SBH 2023 SUMMER FIXTURE CARD – Can be found on the SBH website –http://sbharriers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixture-cards/

SBH 2022-2023 WINTER CROSS COUNTRY POINTS AND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURE – The CROSS COUNTRY POINTS TABLE is now available on the SBH Website, and is the final table following the National Championships on the 25 February – Mens Cross Country Points Tables 2022-2023 – Final Issue 25-02-23  Womens Cross Country Points Tables 2022-2023 – Final Issue 25-02-23
The CROSS COUNTRY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP LIST is now available on the SBH Website, and is the Final Issue following the Southern Championships on the 28 January – Men & Womens Cross Country Club Championship Winners 2022-2023 – Updated 28-01-23 Final Issue

START FITNESS METROPOLITAN LEAGUE 2021-2022 SEASON – The following link shows the following – Final league positions, Points and club championship winners, SBH athletes consecutive races, SBH athletes races completed to date – Start Fitness Metropolitan League Statistics For 2021-2022 Season

GEORGE HARRISON MBE MEMORIAL DOCUMENT – The document has been put together with contributors from LISA WEBB, MARTIN ROCHFORD, NADEEM SHAIKH, RACHEL FELTON, LIAM, JAMIE DEE, JAMES LOVELL, EMILIA ECONOMU, ALAN WELLER,  KAREN HARRISON,  TIM UNDERHILL, GLEN WATTS and JOANNA WINFIELD – Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Memorial To George Harrison From Friends And Members 23 March 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.