Happy Birthday from this Thursday 3 December to Hope Baker, Dylan Evans, Jessica Hunter, Jacob Lange, Theo Michail, Brian Motto, Gilad Nachshen, Joseph O’Hara, Nonso Okolo, Estafania Palanca, Nick Percy, Joseph Rodriguez, Ross Sambrook, Nick Smith, Dan Watts, Glen Watts and Samuel Wiggins

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

UPDATE ON NEELAM KADERBHOY – As referred to in the report on the SBH AGM held on Tuesday 24 November, NEELAM was awarded the Coronation Trophy for Services to the Club in her over 37 years of membership. Here’s an exchange of texts between her and GEOFF MORPHITIS during the following week;

Hi GEOFF – Thanks so much for everything including the trophy last night. It was such a lovely surprise. So much appreciated. Hope all is well with you. Hopefully when I feel better I’ll call. But at the moment it’s hard to speak. I get tired very quickly and take extra pain killers when needed. All the best NEELAM x

Good afternoon NEELAM – It was an honour to award you the Coronation Trophy as recognition of your years of service to and for the Club. Keep fighting – we’re all with you in spirit and support. Hope to see you soon. Best wishes and take care. GEOFF + all your friends at SBH

Hi GEOF – Thanks again. You can drop off the award directly at the hospice. It’s the Peace Hospice, Peace Drive in Watford. I am at Watford General Hospital most of tomorrow but hopefully I’ll finish earlier rather than later!!!

Good evening NEELAM – I hope your visit to Watford General was a success. We’re just trying to get the award engraved but due to the Lockdown the engraver has been closed. I’m told that it should reopen on Wednesday. Hopefully FIONA GROOM will be able to get it done by next week. Take care. We’re all thinking of you. Please stay safe. Best wishes GEOFF.

BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM EAST STAND INDOOR AREA – The NHS are taking this over from 14 December as a Covid-19 vaccination centre for a period of 4 to 12 months. We are currently making alternative arrangements with Saracens which will be advised.

PROCEDURES FOR USING BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM FROM JEREMY SOTHCOTT – The Stadium is now open to SBH members and we have agreed the use of Track & Field facilities with Saracens compliant with current guidance issued by the UK Government and England Athletics. Each T&F group will be limited to a maximum of 12 ‘Competing Club Athletes’ per coach. The number of groups per session will be limited to comply with Social Distancing requirements.

Throws – Athletes should have their own implements. However, one implement of each weight will be left in the SBH Clubhouse. Sanitising arrangements to be made in advance with the coach.

Jumps –Following Government Guidelines up to 5 athletes with a suitably qualified coach can now undertake Jumps training utilising jump beds and sand pits. We have updated our documents to include guidance specific to Jumps areas (such as Cleaning requirements before, during and after sessions). Athletes, coaches, clubs and venues must follow the latest guidance at: ???? https://bit.ly/2ATiU7R

Clubhouse Gymnasium – This is available for use by T&F groups subject to prior booking, and compliance with equipment sanitization before and after use and Social Distancing, with Colin Godfrey (colinjlginvest@gmail.com)

Athletes invited to train by their coach must be sent the attached Barnet Copthall Stadium Track & Field Agreement in advance of starting training at the Stadium. The athlete and parent (if under 16) to sign and return to JEREMY SOTHCOTT or TY HOLDEN before they can train.  Athletes should meet their coach at their booking time outside the SBH Clubhouse where they will be asked to confirm that they do not have, and that no one in their household has, (or has had within the last 14 days) any of the symptoms of COVID-19.
The athletes will then be escorted using Social Distancing (2 metres) into the SBH Clubhouse to sign the attendance record with times in and out of the Stadium (black A4 folder on the desk) and answer a two question health questionnaire (green A4 folder on the desk). There is also hand sanitiser on the table for use. Athletes must follow the instructions of the coach and observe Social Distancing during warm-up, throughout the session and warm-down.

Stadium Booking Details – Please let JEREMY and TY know the names of the athletes and your preferred time slots for the following week (Monday to Sunday) before 6pm on the Saturday. We will confirm the availability and distribute the schedule to Saracens and to all coaches.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
All 1 hour 35 minute slots (Saturday & Sunday – last slot finishes at 7.20)
9.00 – 10.35, 10.45 – 12.20, 12.30 – 2.05, 2.15 – 3.50, 4.00 – 5.35, 5.45 – 7.20, 7.30 – 9.00
There is a 10 minute gap between each session for transitioning.

If you do not have a key fob for gaining access through the Clubhouse, then please contact GEOFF MORPHITIS Mobile: 07976 994302 who will arrange to issue one to you. When going in and out of the Clubhouse from the carpark please ensure the door handle is left in the upward locked position at all times. Please do not enter the Clubhouse until the coach/athletes from the previous session exit. Parents are not permitted to enter the stadium unless there is a child protection issue i.e. one coach and one athlete aged under 16.

From 14 December, toilets and other facilities will be in the “Temporary Changing Building” behind the 100m start area.

Link to the SBH Athlete and Coach Track & Field Training Agreement, which will sent to all participating athletes, and then to be returned signed by the athlete and parent – SBH – Allianz Park Track & Field Areement During Lockdown Period
Please let me know if you have

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

TRACK ADADEMY BE FIT TODAY – Takes place on Sunday 20 December at Peters Stadium, Barking. Events U11 75m, 150 – U11 up to Senior/Masters 600m – U13 up to Senior/Masters 800m, 1500m, 1 Mile, 3000m. Link for full details including entry information https://mailchi.mp/925c7852a96d/bftta-open-meet-saturday-12th-september-5088628?e=056ff9888e

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 recently – 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 CHASE IS ON – During last Tuesday’s AGM I was told that earlier that evening that Shaftesbury has a contestant on the television quiz programme ‘The Chase’. One the AGM was over I promptly downloaded the programme from ‘Catch Up’. And sure enough of the four contestants, was ROSALIND ZEFFERTT.

ROSALIND was first up to face ‘The Chaser’, and looked very confident when facing BRADLEY WALSH for the 60 seconds of questions and answers, and ended with an excellent 6 correct answers, which equates to £6.000. It was now time to face ‘The Chaser’ who apparently is relatively new to the show ‘The Menace’ DARRAH ENNIS. He offered ROSALIND £24,000, £6,000 or £1,000 and she chose £6,000, it was neck and neck until the final question and ROSALIND had a guess, and the £6,000 was secured. The team lost the next 2 contestants, leaving it to PAUL to try and keep company with ROSALIND in the final, PAUL was extremely brave and decided to play for £54,000, after a tense finish he won the £54,000. With ROSALIND and PAUL playing for £60,000 in the final chase, the odds were against them. After the 2 minutes of questions they had 15 correct answers, unfortunately they 4 or 5 short of a good total. The Chaser answered the15 questions required, with just 41 seconds remaining of the 2 minutes. The Chase was over.

THE MAKING OF ‘CHARIOTS OF FIRE’ PART 4 OF 4 – Many thanks to TOM MCNAB for another excellent article, part 4 describes the final scenes, leading up to the final cut and praise. So now our “Chariots” caravan moved on to its last major port of call, a dishevelled cinder track in the Wirral. This was now to serve, in its declining years, as the Stade Colombes Paris, the site of the 1924 Olympic Games. Strangely, my first practical task was to correct the spelling on the shop-fronts at the stadium. For, lacking the benefits of a Scottish education, HUGH HUDSON had failed to notice several spelling-errors, which I duly corrected, at no cost. But first we had to find our stadium- crowds, and we drew, at £10 a day, from the population of Liverpool, daily shuffling them around the stadium, in order to give the impression of a packed Olympic arena. But those were pre-digital days, and when we filmed the terrace-free back-straight, no one in the crowd ever moves a muscle, because what is there is a painted “still”.

But correction of French spelling was soon to prove to be the least of my problems. For two American actors had now arrived, DENNIS CHRISTOPHER, playing CHARLEY PADDOCK, and BRAD DAVIES, as JACKSON SCHOLTZ. And it was my immediate task to train these two men, in four days, for an Olympic 100 metres final. Alas, CHARLEY PADDOCK had been a chunky, muscular athlete, with muscles in places where DENNIS CHRISTOPHER did not even have the places. PUTTNAM’S American partners, deploying some strange logic, had insisted on DENNIS CHRISTOPHER merely because he had recently starred in another sports movie, the cycling-based film “Breaking Away”. BRAD DAVIS, on the other hand, was a stocky little actor, who had recently appeared in “Midnight Express”, as a young American drug-dealer festering in a Turkish jail. And clearly meaning business, BRAD had travelled the three thousand miles to Liverpool carrying in his suitcase two twenty kilo dumbbells. My first session with CHRISTOPHER and DAVIS proved to be a nightmare. Because both men, though polite, proved to be strangely remote, and I seriously considered employing a medium for assistance. That evening, DAVID PUTTNAM asked me how my first session had gone, and I informed him that it had been little short of disastrous. He did not seem to be too surprised. “Oh, “he said. “Let me have a few words with them tonight at the hotel. “Next day’s session went like a dream. True, neither man would, even with the wind behind him be likely to break 15 seconds for a hundred metres, but no matter. They would both, in a few days, be ready for their Olympic final. I then met with PUTTMAN and asked him to tell me what the problem had been. “Drugs, “he immediately replied. “Cocaine. They’ve already been kicked of their hotel for assaulting some of the guests.”

We were now ready for the Olympic 100 metres final, and apart from making sure that HAROLD ABRAHAMS won it, my aim was to make it look real. This meant that my three athletes from Liverpool Harriers had to look as if they were running flat out, against actors about four seconds slower than them. They did very well, aided by head-on shots which did not make it clear that they were gaining on my actors with every stride. That and the fact that in their thirty metre sequences I had given each of my three actors head-starts of over four metres. Here, my sole aesthetic/ technical contribution to the film was in the pre-race “tunnel” shot, from behind ABRAHAMS, to show the essential focus of the sprinter, to run as if in a tunnel, ignoring his competitors.  One of the many fictions of “Chariots” was that ABRAHAMS’ coach SAM MUSSABINI was, as a professional, denied entry to the Olympic stadium.  But as a result we had a scene in which he was shown sequestered in a hotel bedroom as the Olympic 100 metres final was being held. In COLIN WELLAND’S original script, SAM had, on hearing the National Anthem, had gleefully launched a pint of beer, Cossack- style, into the fire. But I had scored this out, with the words “No- fist through hat”. And so it was to be. But my problems were still far from over. I had from the outset made the point that an Olympics without field events was like an opera without music. My solution was to bring a small group of my decathletes up from London to jump and throw. Impossible, said PUTTNAM, because the film’s meagre £3 million budget, already stretched to its limits, would not allow it. Better therefore that I deploy members of Liverpool Harriers, who had already featured in the Olympic march-past, and in the 100 metre final. But here the problem lay in the fact that these men were Harriers, with about as much experience of field events as they had of Sumo Wrestling. But PUTTNAM resolutely refused to budge, and I therefore assembled the Liverpool lads and asked them if there was anyone amongst them who had any experience of throws. Only one hand went up, that of ARTHUR, a surprisingly big lad for a harrier, and I immediately enlisted him for discus and hammer. Instinctively cautious, I decided to deploy junior implements, which meant a 5kg Hammer and 1.5kg Discus. After all, who on earth would know? My man ARTHUR looked supremely confident as he entered the circle with his hammer dangling from his right hand. “Action, “bellowed HUGH HUDSON. I had decided, for safety-reasons, on a simple single- turn throw, rather than one using the conventional three turns. ARTHUR made two preparatory swings, but only a clumsy half-turn, and dispatched his hammer into the camera-crew, who miraculously survived without injury. I decided against a second attempt, and now handed ARTHUR his 1.5kg Discus, advising a simple, risk-free standing technique, and he managed, in a practice throw, to sling it safely up the middle to about thirty metres.  “Action, “bellowed HUDSON. But it was no different. HARRY’S Discus decided to take pretty much the same route as its friend the Hammer, fortunately scything its way over the heads of the camera crew. My last desperate hope now lay in the pole vault, where Liverpool Harriers had offered me PADDY, a lad who had vaulted over four metres. Back at Goldenacre, I had located in the shadowy depths of the stand an ancient bamboo vaulting- pole, which had probably lodged there since well before World War Two. I managed to get DAVID PUTTNAM to slip the groundsman £5, and the pole had been brought down to the Wirral. PADDY was, of course a fibre-glass vaulter, and did not realize that bamboo vaulters had shifted left hand up to right in the “plant” of the pole in the box. But he was a physically-literate lad, soon got the idea and was ready to vault, into a modern foam landing- area which would not be visible on film. “Action!” PADDY surged in, and made a superb pole-plant, with an excellent “shift”. But my ancient bamboo pole immediately exploded, scattering its splinters far and wide. For it had been close on forty years since such outrageous demands had been made upon it, and this was the last straw. Fortunately, PADDY, ever the survivor, landed safely on his back in the foam landing-area, so all was well.

And so ask not why there appear to be no field events in the “Chariots” 1924 Olympic Games. I did my best, but my best was simply not good enough. But we did still have the 400 metres hurdles final, albeit with a fictitious LORD LINDSEY, a NIGEL HAVERS who was now hurdling superbly. Then, with only two days to go, I was approached by a tall French athlete, who announced himself as YVES BENYETON.  “Mr. PUTTNAM has told me to report to you for coaching, “he said. “Which event? “I asked. “The four hundred metres hurdles, “he replied. “Have you ever hurdled before, YVES? “I asked. YVES shook his head. No, “he said. “Only le Jogging. “I was know in a quandary, as we now only had two days to go. YVES was playing GEORGE ANDRE, the French athlete who had recited the Olympic oath, and who had finished fifth in the four hundred metres hurdles. My main aim with YVES would be to produce a simple, primitive hurdles technique, and to avoid injury. It was therefore fortunate that we would film the final three hurdles, when athletes tend to stutter and lose their form. That first day, I took YVES through some walk-overs over low hurdles, to provide him with a basic vocabulary. Then, the next day, he undertook some hurdling from a measured seven stride approach, which went surprisingly well. The Olympic 400 hurdles final went like a dream, with NIGEL HAVERS hurdling to his imaginary silver medal, and YVES going well beyond his potential in fifth place. He was immediately deposited into his battered little Volkswagen, and set on his way back to Paris. Legend has it that when YVES arrived there, he was so stiff that his girl- friend had to have the car-door removed, in order that they might continue their relationship. So now there was only ERIC LIDDELL’S 400 metres final, to complete the Olympic competitive sequences. Here again, there had to be a slight departure from reality, because in 1924 the first 200 metres was run on a straight, though do not ask me why. But for HUGH HUDSON one reality had to be retained, and that was the fall of the American JOHN TAYLOR, about thirty metres from the finish of the race. I had in my time in Glasgow as a goalkeeper hit the industrial cinders on many occasions and returned to my mother with bloody legs, so there could be no faking, certainly no second takes. Our TAYLOR was an athletic young Canadian actor called COLIN BRUCE, and he suggested to me that I might negotiate a fee for his fall with DAVID PUTTNAM. I agreed, and duly approached the great man. “Fifty pounds “he said. “A hundred, “I replied. “Done, “said PUTTMAN. COLIN BRUCE did not disappoint us, and duly made a great fall. And half an hour later, he stood before me in the shower, the blood trickling down his legs and arms.  He grinned as I handed him a thick wad of ten pound notes.

The 1924 Olympics were now at an end, and I made my way South, where there were still a few more dribs and drabs to be filmed, most of which would never make the screen. At last, it was all over. But no, it was not quite over yet, because a few weeks later, I received a call from DAVID PUTTNAM. “We’ve had a response from the Americans to our first rough cut, “he said. “They don’t like it; they think that it’s too long by about twenty minutes. Could you go over to Radlett and sit with our editor TERRY RAWLINGS. And see if there is anything that you think that we can take out of the athletics sequences. “Soon I was watching the athletics sections of the film for the first time, with the famous editor TERRY RAWLINGS, who had just finished a movie with BARBARA STREISAND. But, if anything, there was too little athletics in “Chariots”, and I said so to DAVID PUTTNAM, that he would have to make his cuts elsewhere. Thus the eleven minutes of athletics stayed in and a shipboard romance with RUBY WAX and a Paris “Tee Dansant “sequence were removed. All went quiet, and then, in April 1981 I was to see the film for the first time, in a tiny Soho Square studio cinema, with a group of my athletes, who enjoyed it immensely, as did I. Then, about a week later, PUTTNAM asked me if I could host a BBC critic JUDITH CHALMERS at the same cinema, and I agreed to do so. JUDITH was nothing if not frank, as we made our way into the studio after a couple of drinks. “Before we start, I must make one thing absolutely clear to you, TOM, “she said. “I hate sport. “Then we were plunged in darkness, and two hours and twelve minutes later the lights went on. I could immediately see that the mascara was now streaming down JUDITH’S face. “Oh TOM, “she said. “That was so lovely. “But my story does not end there or with the film’s four Oscars a few months later. No, it concludes with a hand-written letter which I received from IAN CHARLESON. “You made a basically unathletic person look like an athlete, no mean feat, “he said. That was a letter which I will always cherish. Always.

JONATHAN KILSBY 1955-2020 – We received these following recollections of JONATHAN from DES MICHAEL of Barnet & District AC.

I first became aware of JONATHAN as a fellow athlete during his time with our neighbouring Club, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers.  We would, occasionally, meet as rivals at various races.  In the early noughties JONATHAN started training with our Barnet Club group sessions in Trent Park, on Saturday mornings.  He would then join us in the café after training so, over a number of weeks, we became quite “chummy” & he revealed that he was thinking of resigning from Shaftesbury. Well, that was all the incentive I needed. “Tapping-up”, in relation to professional football is strictly forbidden – nevertheless, it happens. Similarly, the code of ethics in organised athletics is supposed to discourage us from trying to attract athletes from opposing Clubs, before they’ve formally resigned.

For the next several months, I was utterly shameless in my approaches to JONATHAN. He joined Barnet & District A.C. in March 2005 and even when he moved to Norfolk & transferred to Wymondham A.C. as 1st claim, he remained a 2nd claim member of Barnet. He had an immediate impact on our Masters relay teams.  In October that year, JONATHAN, together with LIAM O’HARE, DAVE WILCOCK & MYSELF, won the M50 British Masters Cross-Country Relays, against all the Country’s top Club teams.

I could take all day to discuss JONATHAN’S extensive list of athletic achievements so I thought I’d focus on just one & it’s the one he’s probably most renowned for. In the London Marathon in April 1983, he recorded a time of (2:15:53). But what lies behind that level of performance is a single-minded determination & dedication that’s beyond the capacity of most athletes – that’s why so few achieve it. JONATHAN was known as a mileage man & at the peak of his training schedule, he was totalling 140 miles per week.  He didn’t regard himself as having a great deal of natural talent, hence his dedication to pure hard work. To place that performance in perspective & as an indication of how British distance running has declined since; that (2:15) ranked him just 27th British marathoner in 1983. It would, however, have gained him 5th British place in last month’s elite London Marathon. It was, perhaps Jonathan’s misfortune that he reached his peak during an era that we now refer to as a “Golden Age” of British distance running. There are still only 170 British men, plus PAULA RADCLIFFE, who have ever run a faster marathon. His several selections for England & GB senior teams are testament to the level of achievement that he did reach.

In Masters athletics we get to compete in a new age category every 5 years. JONATHAN was 5 years younger than me but for just one week every 5 years, we would be in the same age category. As we grew older we were performing at a similar level so we made a personal challenge to compete together in an officially accredited race, in the same age category, when that week came around each 5 years. It never actually happened & the nearest we got was in March 2014. JONATHAN was 59 & I was 64. We both went to the Eaton Park Run in Norwich.

JONATHAN soon pulled out a 20 metre lead on me but I managed to hold on to that for most of the race until the final 800mts when I decided it’s time to go for him & I do mean “go for him”.  We may have been best buddies at all other times but in a race, we both took on a “do or die” personality.  With 100mts to go, I was almost clipping his heels but then he still had a final kick to the finish whilst I was “all out”. JONATHAN recorded (19:01) & I was just two seconds behind.  He knew my breathing pattern & foot strike so well, that he didn’t even need to look round to know it as me so close behind. JONATHAN had a keen sense of fashion awareness (not!). A couple of years ago I was targeting a fast-for-age time at the Run Norwich 10k. On arrival at our chalet at Winterton, I discovered that I hadn’t packed my running shoes. I telephoned JONATHAN to see if he could loan me a pair of racers for the event, which he readily offered. We went to Roudham to pick them up & he produced a selection, all of which looked like they were purchased in the 20th Century. The cloth uppers were all frayed, had holes & any cushioning in the soles had long-flattened out. “Beggars can’t be choosers”. I just told him that if I crap-out in the race it’ll be due to the shoes rather than my performance. I duly broke my age group course record. JONATHAN insisted it was his “go-faster” shoes that did the trick.

COLIN PEIRSON relates that very often whilst on their long steady runs together, JONATHAN would be pestered by a wide variety of wild creatures. He’d be interfered with by an assortment of cows, sheep, birds, squirrels, the obligatory dogs.  On one occasion during a 10 miler in Epping Forest, after several such encounters, he was mobbed by a bunch of crows & a squirrel jumping between trees landed on his head.

And this from ANDY MAGNALL: JONATHAN could be both deadly serious and great fun, a great friend and a deadly rival, all within the time it takes to meet, get changed and train. The thing that I found so amazing, says ANDY: occurred after our Sunday long run when JONATHAN was making a cup of tea. A glimpse inside his fridge when he was reaching for the milk revealed……. milk, a jar of something and a packet of biscuits. How good could JONATHAN have been with the support of a half-decent diet? Thankfully, his diet improved considerably in later life. CLIFF BARLEY; during a race at Alexandra Palace, JONATHAN’S coach, supporting from the side, shouting; “JON, get rid of him, get rid of him”. JONATHAN always obeyed coach’s instructions.

Our Club Facebook received dozens of condolences, all of which testify to JONATHAN’S gentle, kind, lovely nature & to how inspirational he was to all who learned of his athletic achievements. A lovely, modest, gentle man. For any who would like to replay the funeral, it can be viewed at: www.obitus.com, Username: Qupu7057, Password: 215152

COMPETITION GETS TENTATIVE GREEN LIGHT – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

As the English lockdown prepares to be lifted, endurance athletes are poised to race again in December. Athletes in England are ready to return to competition and group training next month. With the latest lockdown due to lift on December 2, England Athletics has updated its guidance with road, cross-country, trail and mountain running allowed to resume but with travel restrictions based on the new tiered system created by the Government.

Even track meetings are set to go ahead with Trafford AC staging an opening meeting on December 5, for example, whereas other track events are taking place in places like Middlesbrough and Hexham in coming weeks.

UK Athletics have been processing licences for competitions and a number of fixtures have been given the green light, or provisional licences, for December and into the new year.

Events company Run Through have been particularly busy organising endurance races in places like Cheshire, Clapham Common and Goodwood Motor Circuit in Sussex on December 5-6 followed by events in venues like the Olympic Park in London.

Run Nation is another events company that is staging events in places like Durham. Clubs generally have been a little slower out of the blocks to resume staging competitions but there are races in December such as the Indian Queens Half Marathon in Cornwall – one of England’s few tier one areas. The indoor season remains in doubt although the British Indoor Championships in Glasgow will definitely go ahead in February for elite athletes. Cross-country racing is similar, with doubts over whether the big end-of-winter national championships for schools and clubs will happen. The Midland Counties has already cancelled its area championships at Wollaton Park on January 30, for example.

When it comes to what athletes and coaches can do in the various areas of England, the national governing body has put out three charts – see here – which explain what can be done in each of the three tiers. England Athletics’ general guidelines in full can be seen here too.

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).

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.

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) – Please contact CLYDE GORDON on 07753 985525/clyde67@hotmail.co.uk for futher 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 open for limited use.

ALAN WELLER