Happy Birthday from Thursday 6 June to Wednesday 12 June – Spike Blake, Nia Forbes-Agyepong, Hettie Holbrook, Alex Konstantaras, Joshua Kumar, Emma McCluskey, Jared Morris and Jimmy Thoronka

RECENT NEW MEMBERS – We wish you a very warm welcome, and a happy, healthy and successful time with Shaftesbury to KEYLLAN GENTET, BROOKE MARTIN, ERYKAH OSOBU and KAYDEN THOMAS

NEW CLUB RECORD – Congratulations to GEORGINA WARMATE who lowered the Under 11 Girls 150m time with (21.41 w0.4) at Perivale on 19 May. The previous record was held by VERA DOUDKO (22.4) set at the StoneX Stadium on 18 July 2021.

ENGLAND ATHLETICS JUNE THROWS NEWSLETTER – I recently received this months edition from NICK RIDGEON of EA.
The content is varied and interesting including upcoming events from June to August – EA Throws Newsletter June 2024

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ON TV – It has just been reported that the championships will be shown on the BBC iPlayer.

BRITISH MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS, NOW OPEN TO ENTER – Takes place on Friday 26 July and Sunday 28 July at the Moorways Stadium, Moor Lane, Derby (Satnav DE24 9HY)
Link to the provisional timetable – https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/files.opentrack.run/live/BMAF_FILES/bmafotfc2024+timetable_prov+(3).pdf
Link to enter on opentrack – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2024/GBR/bmaf-otfc/
Entries Closing Date Saturday 13 July

ENTRY FORMS FOR ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS – Which takes place at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, the U20/U23/Senior Championships takes place from 19 to 21 July, the U15/U17 Championships takes place from 26 to 28 July.
The entry system will be open from w/c 3 June on Roster.

This is the link to the entry standards for the U20/U23/Senior and U15/U17 Championships – https://www.englandathletics.org/competitions-and-events/national-championships/2024-championships/

OLYMPIC GAMES ATHLETICS TIMETABLE 2024 – The Athletics take place from the 1 August until the 11 August.
Link to the athletics timetable – https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/schedule/athletics

PARALYMPIC GAMES OVERALL TIMETABLE 2024 – Take place in Paris,France from the Friday 30 August to Sunday 8 September.
Link to the overall timetable for all sports – https://medias.paris2024.org/uploads/2024/01/Competition-Schedule-by-session-Events-V4.pdf
Detailed athletics timetable to be issued in due course.

STATUS ON OPEN MEETINGS – These are the fixtures which are now open for you to enter yourself, which are as follows.
BFTA Series – 23 June Closing Date 16 June (All entries on Opentrack)
Lee Valley Sprints – 5 June Entries Closed, 19 June Closing Date 18 June(All entries on Opentrack)
Newham – 23 June Not Open To Enter Yet (All entries on Entry4sports)
Watford – 12 June Closing Date 10 June, 26 June Not Open To Enter Yet (Entries on Roster Athletics)
Please remember there is a possibility that the limits may be taken up before the closing date.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS SUBSCRIPTIONS – Our new Club year started on 1 October 2023. The current SBH annual subscription is £80 and the current England Athletics annual registration from 1 April 2024 is £19. The current total is £99 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.

RESULTS
Just to clarify, that the results I publish can be different to those that are shown on the Power of 10. The differences relate to seasons and personal best performances. For example in the recent EYAL results, an athlete in the 200m ran (24.1), and on his profile his season’s best was shown as (23.88) indoors. As the 200m indoors and outdoors are totally different type of events, I had shown the (24.1) as a season’s best.
The Power of 10 publishes separate UK rankings for indoor and outdoor performances.

NATIONAL ATHLETICS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP EAST – The first of four fixtures took place at Chelmsford on 1 June.
The following results are provisional, although I have added any season or personal best performance from your profile. An excellent start to the season, with some outstanding performances, especially from the many junior athletes.

Match Result – 1st SBH (600 points), 2nd Chelmsford (536), 3rd Havering (525), 4th Herts Phoenix (501), 5th Newham (407), 6th Herne Hill (356)

Our next fixture is on Saturday 22 June at StoneX Stadium.

100m – SM A KRISHAWN AIKEN 1st (SB 10.35 w3.8) taking .21 of a second off his 25 May time, B PHOENIX LYON 2nd (PB 10.54 nwr) equalling his 2023 time, Non Scoring OLIVER LAURENS U20 3rd (11.04 w3.4)
100m – SW A ALANNAH FASHANU U23 3rd (11.91 w4.5), B NIA-FORBES-AGYEPONG U20 1st (PB 12.32 w3.2) taking .11 of a second off her 11 May time
200m – SM A PHOENIX LYON 1st (PB 21.05 nwr) taking .11 of a second off his 2023 time, B KRISHAWN AIKEN 1st (SB 21.20 w3.8) taking .29 of a second off his 26 May time, Non Scoring 2 OLIVER LAURENS U20 2nd (PB 22.42 w3.4) taking .07 of a second off his 26 May time, ISAAC MOORE U23 4th (SB 23.50 w3.4) taking .42 of a second off his 22 May time
200m – SW A HAYLEY MCLEAN 2nd (24.62 w3.6), B ALANA SAMJI U20 4th (SB 29.26 w2.6)
400m – SM A BEN ROCHFORD 3rd (SB 49.57), B HENRY DOVER U20 5th (PB 53.95)
400m – SW A LARISSA WILSON U20 5th (61.71), B OLIVE HARVEY-DEW U20 5th (PB 67.43)
800m – SM A HENRY DOVER U20 1st  (PB 1:51.80) taking 3.80 seconds off his 2022 time, B JACOB CLEMENT U20 3rd (2:00.74)
800m – SW A EMILIA ECONOMU 6th (2:33.28), B OLIVE HARVEY-DEW U20 6th (2:38.19)
1500m – SM A PHILLIP CROUT 5th (4:01.19), B JOSHUA FISHER U20 3rd (4:09.00)
1500m – SW A NICOLA PAYNE 4th (SB 5:17.01)
3000m – SM A THOMAS BUTLER 1st (SB 8:23.17), B SAMUEL GREENSTEIN U23 3rd (8:56.72)
3000m – SW A NICOLA PAYNE 5th (PB 11:04.90) taking 1.50 seconds off her 2023 time
100m Hurdles – SW B NIA FORBES-AGYEPONG U20 3rd (14.73 w3.1), B AZARIA NWANKWO U20 1st (PB 14.58 w3.5) taking.10 of a second off her 26 May time, and is ranked UK No.10 U20 in 2024
110m Hurdles – SM A CRAIG MONCUR U23 3rd (PB 14.95 w4.5) taking ..23 of a second off his 5 May time, and is ranked UK No.10 U23 in 2024, B STEVEN GARRETT V35 2nd (SB 16.23 w3.5)
400m Hurdles – SM A STEVEN GARRETT V35 2nd (SB 53.93) taking .19 of a second off his 25 May time, and is ranked UK No.1 V35 in 2024, B BEN ROCHFORD 2nd (PB 60.71)
400m Hurdles – SW A HAYLEY MCLEAN 1st (59.92), B AZARIA NWANKWO U20 1st (68.79)
2000m Steeplechase – SM A ZOE LEVIN (HCA) 3rd (PB 7.22.69) taking 3.99 seconds off her 2014 time, B JOANNE BLAIR V35 (HCA) 4th (SB 10.35.13) and is ranked UK No.5 V35 in 2024
3000m Steeplechase – SM A STEVEN GARRETT V35 3rd (SB 11.02.88) and is ranked UK No.5 V35 in 2024, B GLEN WATTS V35 (DNS)
High Jump – SM A CRAIG MONCUR U23 2nd (1.75m), B REUBEN VAUGHAN 2nd (SB 1.60m)
High Jump – SW A REBECCA WHEELER-HENRY U20 2nd (SB 1.65m) equalling her 28 April height, B ALANA SAMJI U20 3rd (PB 1.25m)
Pole Vault – SM A CRAIG MONCUR U23 4th (3.80m), B ANGUS BROWN U20 (DNS)
Pole Vault – SW A JADE IVE (HCA) 1st (4.25m), B ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V60 (DNS)
Long Jump – SM A KENAN STEPHENS U23 2nd (SB 6.75m w3.1), B JAI-SHAMMAH LEWIN 1st (SB 6.56m w2.4) adding 42cm to his 21 February jump
Long Jump – SW A LILY HOLT U23 3rd (PB 5.48m w3.8) adding 16cm to her 2023 jump, B NIA FORBES-AGYEPONG U20 4th (SB 3.58m w1.7)
Triple Jump – SM A HARLEY HENRY U17 3rd (13.59 w2.9), B KENAN STEPHENS U23 1st (13.35m w4.0)
Triple Jump – SW A LYDIA ROGERS 3rd (PB 9.14m w2.8) adding 86cm to her 11 May jump, B ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V60 4th (SB 7.73m w2.8) adding 22cm to her 21 January jump
Shot 7.26kg – SM A GREGORY THOMPSON 2nd (SB 15.53m) adding 7cm to his 24 March put, B CRAIG MONCUR U23 2nd (13.07m)
Shot 4kg – SW A ALEXANDRA BALTAZAR-HALL U23 2nd (11.44m), B ALLANAH FASHANU U23 3rd (PB 9.42m)
Discus 2g – SM A GREGORY THOMPSON 1st (55.96m), B REUBEN VAUGHAN 1st (48.28m)
Discus 1kg – SW A ALEXANDRA BALTAZAR-HALL U23 1st (46.92m), B LYDIA ROGERS 5th (SB 16.61m) adding 1.73m to her 18 May throw
Hammer 7.26g – SM A GREGORY THOMPSON 3rd (SB 45.68m), B REUBEN VAUGHAN 2nd (PB 24.23m)
Hammer 4kg – SW A ALEXANDRA BALTAZAR-HALL U23 5th (PB !9.28m), B LYDIA ROGERS 2nd (PB 19.23m) adding 2.38m to her 18 May throw
Javelin 800g – SM A GREGORY THOMPSON 4th (SB 39.94m), B CRAIG MONCUR U23 3rd (SB 38.93m)
Javelin 600g – SW A JO BLAIR V35 (HCA) 2nd (42.69m), B HAYLEY MCLEAN 3rd (SB 22.75m)
4x100m Relay – SM 2nd (SB 42.61) OLIVER LAURENS, PHOENIX LYON, ISAAC MOORE, KRISHAWN AIKEN, SW 1st (SB 50.39) AZARIA NWANKWO, OLIVE HARVEY-DEW, NIA FORBES-AGYEPONG, HAYLEY MCLEAN
4x400m Relay – SM 1st (SB 3:26.30) PHOENIX LYON (52.2), JACOB CLEMENT (52.8), STEVEN GARRETT (50.7), KRISHAWN AIKEN (51.6), SW 3rd (SB 4:08.08) LARISSA WILSON (60.7), AZARIA NWANKWO (66.8), ZOE LEVIN (66.9), HAYLEY MCLEAN (53.7)

EASTERN YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE – The third of four fixtures took place at Sandy on 2 June.
Apologies but the provisional results have just been published, and are far from correct. Thefore I will publish the full results in next week’s Newsletter.

Match Result – 1st SBH (671 points), 2nd Norwich (612), 3rd Stevenage and HAWCS (579), 4th Bedford Lions (268), 5th Harlow (179)

Our next fixture is on Sunday 21 July at StoneX Stadium, in which our next opponents are Cambridge and Coleridge, Ipswich, Orion and Ilford, SS Athletics and Enfield and Haringey and Thurrock.

Based on the provisional results for the 2 June fixtures published, we are currently in 3rd place with 1986 points, to Chelmsford 2197 points and Havering 2093 points. At our next fixture on Sunday 21 July, our best placed opponents are Ipswich 1598 points, Cambridge and Coleridge 1528 points and Thurrock 1495 points.

Link to the provisional league table for the 24 clubs, as of 2 June – EYAL Legue Position 2024 as of 02-06-24.lsx

BE FIT TODAY SERIES 1 – Took place at Lee Valley on 2 June
100m – SM A5 ALEX KONSTANTARAS U17 (2nd Claim) 6th (10.96 w3.0), A15 EBUKA NWOKEJI U20 3rd (SB 10.44 w1.0) taking .07 of a second off his 26 May time, and is ranked UK No.1 U20 in 2024, KRISHAWN AIKEN 5th (10.60 w1.0), A16 JOHN OTUGADE 7th (10.22 w4.5), B1 JOHN finished 3rd (10.19 w1.7), B3 KRISHAWN finished 3rd (10.49 w1.8)
100m – SW A5 SHEREEN CHARLES V35 6th (12.57 w1.5), A6 ROSALIND ZEFFERTT V60 4th (SB 16.01 w3.3) taking .16 of a second off her 11 May time, A9 EVE WRIGHT U23 1st (SB 11.60 w2.4) taking .01 of a second off her 26 May time, B1 EVE finished 5th (11.66 w1.3), B4 SHEREEN finished 1st (12.45 w2.6), B8 ROSALIND finished 5th (SB 15.72 w5.2) taking .29 of a second off her A6 time
200m – SM 6 EBUKA NWOKEJI U20 1st (PB 20.81 w3.6) taking .37 of a second off his 26 May time, 7 KRISHAWN AIKEN 3rd (SB 21.10 w5.5) taking .39 of a second off his 26 May time
400m – SM 2 ISAAC MOORE U23 1st (52.45)
800m – SW LARISSA WILSON U20 2nd (2:17.16)

ATLETICA 2000 MEETING – Took place at San Vito Al Tagliamento ,Italy on 2 June
High Jump – SM AKIN COWARD 6th (2.08m)

BMC REGIONAL RACES – Took place at Leeds on 2 June
800m – Men’s A ROBERT SHIPLEY (HCA) 1st (PB 1:51.17) taking 2.07 seconds off his 12 May time

EAP MALTA INTERNATIONAL – Took place at Marsa, Malta on 1 June
Long Jump – SM A PAUL OGUN (HCA) 1st (SB 7.24m w1.5) adding 7cm to his 11 May jump, JOSH WOODS U23 2nd (7.10m w-1.8), BEN MCGUIRE 3rd (6.78m w-0.2)
Triple Jump – SM JOSH WOODS U23 3rd (14.66m w1.1)

RACERS GRAND PRIX – Took place at Kingston, Jamaica on 1 June
100m – SM ZHARNEL HUGHES 5th (10.09 w0.9)

LUCA CHAMPIONSHIPS – Took place at Battersea Park on 1 June
100m – SM 2 BRYAN OGBEBOR U23 3rd (11.75 nwr)
200m – SM 1 DECARIE DAVIES U23 3rd equal (22.50 nwr), BRYAN OGBEBOR U23 4th (PB 23.97 nwr) taking .54 of a second off his 2024 time
Shot 7.26kg – SM GABOR KISS V40 1st (PB 11.57m) adding 44cm to his 17 April put, and is ranked UK No.10 V40 in 2024
Discus 2kg – SM GABOR KISS V40 1st (PB 42.16m) adding 68cm to his 17 April throw, and is ranked UK No.6 V40 in 2024

BMC PB CLASSIC – Took place at Loughborough on 1 June
3000m – Men’s A GIANLEO STUBBS U20 5th (SB 8:45.21)
2000m Steeplechase – SC A CALLUM SYDENHAM U20 (2nd Claim) 7th (6:40.83)

BMC PB CLASSIC – Took place at Street on 1 June
3000m – Mixed B NATHAN GODDARD U23 1st (PB 8:44.2) taking 15.05 seconds off his 2022 time

THE HBCU PRO CLASSIC, THE EDWIN MOSES LEGENDS MEET – Took place at Atlanta, Georgia, USA on 31 May
200m – SM MICHAEL OHIOZE 8th (20.99 w0.6)

LOUGHBOROUGH OPEN MEETING – Took place at Loughborough on 29 May
800m – SX SCARLETT KENT U23 4th (SB 2:18.38)
1500m – SM 1 LUCA STUBBS U23 3rd (SB 3:59.35) taking .09 of a second off his 20 April time
1500m – SW 1 AMELIA WILLS U23 (HCA) 1st (4:34.02)
Pole Vault – SX MANON BAINES U20 7th equal (3.32m)

WATFORD OPEN MEETING – Took place at Watford on 29 May
1500m – SX 3B EMILIA ECONOMU 7th (PB 5:05.33) taking 4.69 seconds off her 18 May time, 4 TOMMY NARVAEZ-WHITE U20 8th (4:22.51), 5 EUAN PHILLIPS U17 12th (4:19.40)

HERCULES WIMBLEDON 1500M FESTIVAL NIGHT – Took place at Wimbledon on 29 May
1500m – SX 5 EMMA MCCLUSKEY U20 (2nd Claim) 12th (4:48.41), 8 NOAH CLARKE U20 (2nd Claim) 8th (4:23.92), 13 PHILLIP CROUT 1st (SB 3:54.89) taking 1.93 seconds off his 1 May time

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.

PARKRUNS MILESTONE VESTS – You can purchase these from 50 to 500, this is the link – https://shop.parkrun.com/collections/milestone-run-walk-vests

PARKRUNS IN THE UK – Last Saturday at parkruns in the UK, there were…
1,208 events – 241,376 walkers, joggers, runners and volunteers – 12,922 first timers – 32,956 PBs

COMPLETELY USELESS RANDOM FACT – With the 2024 Olympics around the corner, did you know there are 454 parkrunners with the last name Gold, 582 parkrunners with the last name Silver and 22 parkrunners with the last name Bronze!

UPCOMING TRACK AND FIELD FIXTURES FOR THE NEXT 5 WEEKS, WHICH COVERS THE PERIOD THURSDAY 6 JUNE UNTIL WEDNESDAY 9 JULY – The SBH 2024 Summer Fixture Card can be found on the SBH website, in which you can Access/Print a copy for future reference. Also the majority of fixtures Information can be found on the SBH Website under the ‘Fixtures and Results’ section.

SUMMER OPEN MEETINGS 2024 – The link will open the document that has the dates for all fixture dates for BFTA, Lee Valley, Newham and Watford fixtures and updated up to the 6 June – All Summer Open Meetings 2024 Updated 6 June 2024
The Information including how to enter for each fixture, will be published below as and when known. 

EUROPEAN ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place from Friday 7 June to Wednesday 12 June in Rome, Italy.

SOUTHERN U20 AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June at the Thames Valley Athletics Centre, Pococks Lane, Eton (Satnav SL4 6HN).
Entries Closed

WATFORD OPEN MEETING  – Takes place on Wednesday 12 June at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH).
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Link to entries on roster athletics – https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=25411
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a possibility that the limits will be taken up well before the race day.

MIDDLESEX YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE – The third fixture of four takes place on Sunday 16 June at Bannister Outdoors Sports Centre, Birch Park, Harrow (Satnav HA3 6SP)
Age-Groups Under 13, 15 & 17 Men/Women.
Note: You will have to be selected by your Team Manager.
To Be Confirmed: Those athletes who wish to compete as a non-scorer, please contact your Team Manager no later than Thursday 13 June as the declarations have to be in on Friday 14 June

NATIONAL ATHLETIC LEAGUE – The second of four fixtures takes place on Saturday 22 June at the StoneX Stadium, Greenlands Lane, Hendon (Satnav NW4 1RL).
Age-Groups Under U20 & Senior Men/Women.
This is the link to the timetable – NAL Championship Timetable 2024.docx
Note: You will have to be selected by your Team Manager

WATFORD OPEN MEETING  – Takes place on Wednesday 26 June at the Woodside Stadium, Horseshoe Lane, Watford (Satnav WD25 7HH).
Age-Groups Under U13 and above Men/Women.
Link to entries on roster athletics, although entries not open as yet –
Note: You will have to enter yourself and pay the appropriate entry fee. There are no entries on the day, and there is a possibility that the limits will be taken up well before the race day.

UK CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place from Friday 28 June to Sunday 30 June at the Manchester Regional Arena, Rowsley Street, Manchester (Satnav M11 3FF).

SOUTHERN COMBINED EVENTS U17, U20 AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Takes place on Saturday 29 June and Sunday 30 June at the Horspath Athletics Track, Horspath Road, Oxford (Satnav OX4 2RR).
Please Note: For all information including entering yourself online please use this link – https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=25379
Entries Closing Date Tuesday 18 June

UK YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE PREMIER SOUTH  – The third fixture of three takes place on Sunday 30 June at the StoneX Stadium, Greenlands Lane, Hendon (Satnav NW4 1RL).
Age-Groups Under 17 & U20 Men/Women.
Link to the timetable – UKYDL UAG Timetable 2024
Note: You will have to be selected by your respective Team Manager

MIDDLESEX YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE – The fourth fixture of four takes place on Saturday 6 July at Parliament Hill Fields Athletics Track, London (Satnav NW3 2JP).
Age-Groups Under 13, 15 & 17 Men/Women.
Note: You will have to be selected by your Team Manager.
To Be Confirmed: Those athletes who wish to compete as a non-scorer, please contact your Team Manager no later than Thursday 4 July as the declarations have to be in on Friday 5 July

 NATIONAL ATHLETIC LEAGUE – The third of four fixtures takes place on Sunday 7 July at Ridlins Athletic Track, Woodcock Road, Shephall, Stevenage (Satnav SG2 9LX).
Age-Groups Under U20 & Senior Men/Women.
This is the link to the timetable – NAL Championship Timetable 2024.docx
Note: You will have to be selected by your Team Manager

FIFTY YEARS ON, MARATHON MAN IAN THOMPSON REMEMBERS HIS VINTAGE 1974 SEASON – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently. Photograph taken by MARK SHEARMAN shows IAN (22) leading the 1974 Commmonwealth Games Marathon in Auckland, New Zealand.

STEVE SMYTHE catches up with an iconic distance runner who made a massive impact on the marathon scene half a century ago winning European and Commonwealth titles.

Nowadays, the world’s top marathoners are mostly Kenyans and Ethiopians. Despite the huge and encouraging breakthrough for EMILE CAIRESS and MAHAMED MAHAMED in finishing in the top four at the London Marathon this year, Britain’s two fastest runners do not rank in the world’s top 100 men over the past 12 months as the African nations dominate. Go back half a century though and it was Britons who often led the way numerically. For example in the men’s 1500m to marathon Commonwealth top 10s of 1972 – Britain had a total of 29 athletes ranked to Kenya’s nine. Certainly the world’s top individual marathoner of 1974 when it came to the year’s world rankings (on merit and time) was the young and exciting Brit IAN THOMPSON. His effective rag to riches story was unparalleled among top-level British runners as he went from an unknown to being voted runner-up in the 1974 British Sports Writers Sportsman of the Year awards behind boxing world champion JOHN CONTEH and he won the British Athletics Writers award for 1974 ahead of BBC Sports Personality of the Year Brendan Foster.

THOMPSON finished the year with a stunning European title in Rome but it’s still highly relevant how the 24-year-old trainee teacher, without a coach, got to that point. His first marathon was at the end of 1973 when he shockingly won the AAA title and England Commonwealth Games trials at Harlow. His time was the world’s fastest ever debut of (2:12:40) as he easily defeated a incredible quality field including reigning Commonwealth champion and Britain’s greatest ever marathoner RON HILL (2:13:22) and European fourth-placer COLIN KIRKHAM (2:15:25). THOMPSON had never raced over 10 miles before on the road and was persuaded to go there to help his team Luton and he wasn’t among the 40-odd names that AW Editor MEL WATMAN highlighted in his extensive preview. Although THOMPSON was unknown he was clearly a major talent just waiting to find his event.

Born in Birkinhead in Cheshire, his first memory of running was not that positive while he was growing up in Canada. He was running past some tied dogs and thought he was safe but unknown to him the dogs were on a very long lead and nearly caught him and he ended up falling in a ditch and had to be rescued by a Mounted Policeman. “We moved from Canada when my father had a job at Vauxhall Motors and I joined Luton AC when I was about 13 and started running cross-country and 800m and 1500m on the track,” he says. “I can remember seeing RON CLARKE run at White City in the mid-1960s breaking the world three miles record and I started having more success and I was fourth in the 1968 English Schools Cross-Country and fifth in the English Schools mile that year.” JOHN KING won the cross-country in (25:51) with THOMPSON on (26:29) ahead of DAVE BEDFORD who was seventh. A year later BEDFORD would win the International junior cross-country title and break the British senior 10,000m record as a teenager. THOMPSON ran (4:17.4) for fifth in the mile final in a race won by PAUL DENNIS in (4:09.8).

His most notable result on the track as a senior though was only a (14:05.6) 5000m which meant none of his major marathon rivals really had a clue who he was but there were a few runs in the winter of 1973 that maybe should have sounded some warning bells. He was only 34th in the Inter Counties cross-country but ahead of a few marathon stars such as Olympians past and future – JIM ALDER, KEITH ANGUS and CHARLIE SPEDDING and Commonwealth medallist DON FAIRCLOTH and future British champion DAVE CANNON. A few weeks later was an even more significant performance as he won the Eastern cross-country Championships at Peterborough ahead of internationals GRAHAM TUCK and TONY SIMMONS. The latter, who would go on to finish second in the European 10,000m the following year, was suffering from a cold though. In terms of endurance one notable effort probably not seen by many was a second place in the Orion 15 cross-country in March when THOMPSON lost the lead in the last 200 metres to MALCOLM THOMAS – a future English national champion and someone who would set a Welsh marathon record in Harlow, albeit a long way behind Thompson. He began serious training for Harlow in August and early in his training he was a solid sixth in the Shaftesbury 10 in (49:49) in  near-80 degree temperatures in a race won by clubmate TONY SIMMONS in (48:20) as Luton won the team race and the Southern gold medals. The work in the final weeks was especially hard as he completed two very long runs runs in the final two and a half weeks before the race. His first attempted 30 was close to five-minute miling before blowing up at 24 miles and then he did a slower 30-miler at 5:30 miles.

Thompson says: “I’m sure none of the main contenders for the English team knew who I was. I had to have some days off before the race as I had shin splints but I was fit but I didn’t have any race plans other than to try for around (2:20) and be around the top 10. “I was very relaxed because I wasn’t expecting anything earth-shattering and I spent some of the early miles chatting with my clubmate TONY. I remember I got to 15 miles at Harlow and everyone seemed to be breathing hard and I felt fresh and like I was floating and thinking this is going well. At 18 miles I just took off uphill and no one could come with me. I was expecting the wall but nothing happened and I felt good.” After the race in a post-race interview, THOMPSON said: “I was chuffed to have the press around me after the race as I’ve never had that before. They won’t be asking who is IAN THOMPSON anymore, will they?” Oh his decisive move, he added: “It was a half-mile burst,” to which second-placer Hill interjected: “It was an eight-mile burst! I tried going with him but he must have run that mile in 4:45. He ran without inhibitions. THOMPSON covered the fourth 10km in a searing (30:33) as he went from nowhere to fifth all-time among Brits.

In MEL WATMAN’S superb AW report he said; “What happened to IAN THOMPSON is a realisation of the dream of most athletes who have not yet made the top grade – a dream that one day everything will click and they will take on and beat the champions. When the miracle occurs it gives renewed hope and incentives for all other aspirants. Life for THOMPSON can never be the same again but his rags-to-riches story will quicken the pulse and lighten the step of the rest as they slog away on their winter training. If it can happen to him, why shouldn’t it happen to them too?” THOMPSON’S run here and in Christchurch and Rome is certainly why I took up marathoning at the earliest opportunity almost half a century ago and while I am still running marathons in 2024. His win qualified him to represent England in the Commonwealth Games at Christchurch where he more than proved that Harlow was no fluke but before his first international, not everything had gone to plan. “I tried to run 140 miles a week in preparation for the Commonwealths but I had a few illnesses and so I only averaged 87 miles a week between October and January but that was probably highly beneficial as I felt fresh for Christchurch,” he recalls. “When I got to New Zealand I remember doing a 20-mile run at five-minute miling and think I must slow down as it was not long before the race but I also remember doing 20x400m in 63 seconds and feeling good. I enjoyed being out in the sunshine and away from Britain during the three-day week.” Of the race, he says: “It was very warm all day but the race was around 5pm so it was cooling but I liked the heat and I felt very relaxed and in the zone. I remember sitting down chatting to someone pre-race and I saw him post race and he said I only spoke to you because you seemed so relaxed, I presumed you weren’t racing.” He passed 10km in (30:15) and held that pace (30:15) for the second 10km before running a vicious third 10km of (30:05), a time quicker than his actual 10,000m PB. He was well ahead of world record schedule but he eased back to (31:37) for that fourth 10km as he played safe and he also had to offset stomach cramps.

Though he eased back he smashed the British and European record with the second fastest time in history of (2:09:12) compared to DEREK CLAYTON’S world best of (2:08:33.6). CLAYTON dropped out in New Zealand while HILL was an injured 18th and outside (2:30) as THOMPSON won by over two minutes from Kiwi JACK FOSTER. “The course was super fast and the pace was quick from the off and my plan was to see how I felt at 30km but I got away before that at around 11 miles,” he says. “I was aware what the crowd effect was in the 10,000m when DICK TAYLOR beat DAVE BLACK and FOSTER was getting lots of shouts. So if I thought I was on my own the shouts would all be for me! I did ease down in the last 10km once I was well clear because I did not to want to risk blowing up but I’m sure I could have run (2:08). The first half was 63 and the second 66 so I thought I could go faster with more even pace.” Like all marathons, CLAYTON’S time was never ratified as a world best and the Association of Road Racing Statisticians believe due to the method of measurement, after much later investigation, CLAYTON’S run was around 400 metres short and many believe THOMPSON’S time was really an unofficial world best. THOMPSON ran (2:09) almost 50 years before the super shoes and was not a full-time runner. The shoes he wore back then had no carbon plates or super foam and were barely glorified slippers.

Some cynics have suggested THOMPSON’S run must have been short as he never ran (2:09) again but there is zero evidence that this multiple-measured championships event course was under-distance confirmed by the 10km splits and other runners times. THOMPSON was in awesome shape, the course was flat, the competition was intense and THOMPSON never got the same opportunity in the same shape in his career. He returned to the UK and enjoyed a huge response from the people of Luton and he also was in much demand for interviews.

It was not long before he was back racing though but a 151st in the English National wasn’t a true reflection of his ability but in April he won the Marathon to Athens event in a fast (2:13:51) with five minutes to spare and that was sufficient for the British selectors to take a then unprecedented step of picking THOMPSON for Rome without the need to contest the British Trials in June. In hot conditions in Rome, THOMPSON ran what he deemed as his most complete performance as he made it four marathon wins out of four. He stayed with the lead group in the first half before letting loose on the second half to win in (2:13:19, 90) seconds ahead of East Germany’s ECKHARD LESSE with former Olympic steeplechase champion and world cross country champion GASTON ROELANTS a distant third in (2:16:30). THOMPSON admitted: “I was relieved I was pre selected as otherwise I would have done five marathons in well under a year. I like racing in the heat and I prefer racing later in day and my training had gone really well.” Of the race, he said: “I saw others warming up and thinking why are they bothering in this heat and humidity? I just sat in the shade and read a book. I was determined to start gently and be last out of the track and first back. And that’s what I did. I gradually moved up and then the leaders were slowed at one point when a dog attacked them so that enabled me to catch the front group up. “About halfway, I felt strong and pushed on and by 25km it was down to me, LESSE and ROELANTS. Soon after they dropped off and it was just a case of running my own race and finishing well and I felt good all the way to the finish. There was a underpass with a steep climb and that hurt more than anything in my other marathons. The cobblestones hurt my Achilles a little and while I can run well in the heat, the humidity made it hard.” As he hit the stadium, looking incredibly easy, relaxed and happy, he acknowledged the crowd with a wave. “You go through the tunnel and all the noises stops and your on your own and it’s frightening as you know there are 40,000 odd people waiting in the stadium to cheer you. It’s a weird feeling and I’ll never forget it.” BBC commentator DAVID COLEMAN said of his arrival: “He’s striding out like he has just done two or three miles – he’s full of running celebrating all the way around the track – striding out – so fit so fresh, What a marathon man he is.” The following month he had one of his best non marathon results ever when he ran a course record (47:23) in the Walton 10 as he tied with SIMMONS. The night before he was at the Southern Counties Dinner Dance at the Victory club when the venue was bombed by terrorists and had to find alternative accommodation to stay before going on to the race. After the heights of 1974, 1975 was a quiet year in which he got married. He only finished 125th in the English National and also did a few trail races including finishing third in the Sierre-Zinal race in Switzerland.

THOMPSON went into 1976 as one of the Olympic favourites but he suffered leg cramps in the British Olympic Trials on a hot day and tough course at Rotherham and after sharing the lead with eventual winner BARRY WATSON up to 19 miles, he faded to seventh in (2:19:02). He did end up in Montreal but only as a spectator along with his wife MARGARET as he was invited by the British Athletics Supporters Club. The AW letters pages at the time suggested he should have been selected anyway but THOMPSON admits his break after 1974 with no recent world class form was a mistake. He recalls: “For Rotherham I just did too much running and was over trained and I remember in the build-up just always being tired and in the race I knew the rules were the top three went. My breathing was okay during the race though but my left thigh cramped at five miles and then the right one at 10 and there was nothing I could do. I felt like stopping… but!” He did come back late season in 1976 and ran (2:12:54) for second in Fukuoka passing Olympic champion WALDEMAR CIERPISNKI late on. That time would have placed him fifth in Montreal where the best of the Brits JEFF NORMAN finished 26th. He carried on good form if occasionally inconsistent and not quite to his 1974 heights and won the 1977 Poly Marathon in (2:14:32) ahead of HILL’S (2:16:37) and was second in the 1978 New York marathon in (2:14:12) to BILL RODGERS (2:12:12). He was fourth in New York in 1979 in (2:13:42) with RODGERS again winning in (2:11:42).

During this period his best run was probably a third place in Auckland in 1977 with a time of (2:03:31) but the course was found to be a mile and a half short (about eight minutes). He began 1980 with a modest tenth in Auckland in (2:20:17) (won by former world 5000m record-holder DICK QUAX in 2:13:12) and he was far from favourite when he lined up for his second Olympic Trials in Milton Keynes three months later. Again it was a star-studded field but this time he ran strongly all the way and won in (2:14:00) from double Commonwealth track medallist DAVE BLACK but like his British team-mates BERNIE FORD and BLACK, he dropped out in Moscow on a bad day for British marathoning. “I can’t remember much of Moscow but I know I did not enjoy it because of the political row and the pressure from THATCHER’S government who wanted the BOA to boycott and we only went there for a few days. I remember I wasn’t relaxed like I was in all my best races.” Shortly after he made the most of his extensive training – he thinks he may have over trained for Moscow – by easily winning the London to Brighton (over 87.3km) in a highly impressive 5:15:15 the following month having though also ran two sub-2:20 marathons in between! Often running 140 miles a week carrying on with regular 30 milers in his marathon training, he feels he could have done well at other ultra events but there were not so many bigger events as nowadays and he was unable to run the Comrades due to the political situation. He also recalls he may have raced too much and the day after winning the Birmingham Marathon he went straight into a five day stage race in Italy!

He bowed out his marathon career at London – his last one involved a charity challenge from JIMMY SAVILLE with him being the last off the start and seeing how many he could over-take. Weaving and sidestepping through the field he ran around three hours and passed many thousands. At the end of a long and successful marathon career he can boast a resume that saw him win an European and Commonwealth title, two British championships, a win in Paris and Auckland, a second in Fukuoka, New York. Rome and Geneva and also domestic wins in the Polytechnic, Manchester, Potteries and Birmingham Marathons. Now retired, he lives in Devizes in Wiltshire. His wife MARGARET once held the British marathon record at the same time as him in 1975 (aged just 21 in her debut) and she’s still a top master in her age group having run for England and but for recent injury was looking forward to joining the W70 ranks this summer. Now he is content to support her at the bigger events such as the Masters International. “I know my place,” he chuckles. THOMPSON, who was just 24 when he set his record – the youngest UK marathoner to set a PB in the all-time top 30, has not competed much recently due to health issues but he did run in the British Masters cross-country in 2022 in the M70 category.

Modest and unassuming, and with no ego, no one at Tonbridge realised the once very best runner in the world was finishing 113th out of 131 runners in the vet women and M65-plus men’s race. He recalls one cross-country league, he was chatting at the back of the field with a fellow competitor and they talked marathons and his rival almost fell over when THOMPSON mentioned his (2:09) PB! His club Devizes Running Club, though, do know how good he was in the past and presented him with a special trophy to commemorate the 50 years anniversary of his Commonwealth gold.

THOMPSON says: “I always loved running and enjoyed the physical well-being plus the travelling and meeting lots of people. I ran for a long time before I had success so I knew I would carry on after the success. The whole experience was positive and I never got stressed by running or competing and never treated it as a career. I always enjoyed other things such as books and music and just focused on sport as one part of my life.” Before I spoke to him his previous parkrun was a (61:03) effort at the Quakers parkrun in February where he was the official tail-walker (just behind his wife). I wonder how many of the 200 parkrunners that day realised that the former world No.1 marathoner was behind every one of them?

NATIONAL WORLD ACQUIRES ATHLETICS WEEKLY LIMITED – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently.

New ownership for AW as the brand heads into an Olympic summer of track and field athletics. National World, the British multi-media company, has bought Athletics Weekly Limited as part of its strategy to focus on higher-value, specialist content.

Previously owned by 21six Investments Limited, Athletics Weekly is the leading global content platform for athletics with content ranging from the sport’s grassroots through to the elite professional level.

AW publishes online, via social media platforms, newsletters and a monthly print magazine. The acquisition extends National World’s sports coverage beyond football focused content and brings with it the authoritative voice of respected writers and commentators across the sport of athletics. Commenting on the acquisition, the Group’s Chief Operating Officer, MARK HOLLINSHEAD, said: “The addition of Athletics Weekly continues our strategy to focus on unique specialist content with higher-yielding advertising and multimedia brand partnership potential. “We’re delighted to welcome AW’s publisher, WENDY SLY, an Olympic medallist in her own right, to our sports coverage line-up. AW will sit alongside our growing stable of sports vertical platforms, which  includes 3addedminutes.com and totallysnookered.com.

“The acquisition creates an opportunity for us to extend this world-famous market-leading brand into new media channels, including video, events and podcasts. “With the Paris Olympics upon us and with athletics as the number one Olympic sport, we look forward to a successful summer of sport recorded through the eyes of AW.”

“THIS IS SHOW TIME” SAYS COE ON THE WORLD ATHLETICS ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIPS – The following article was published on the Athletics Weekly website recently..

SEB COE tells AW about a new event that is poised to make a big impact at the end of the 2026 season. The World Athletics Ultimate Championship has been around a year in the making and some of the details are yet to be finalised. It is due to unfold in Budapest in mid-September 2026 where it will form the climax to the track and field season. It will be fast-paced, innovative and both athlete and fan-friendly. “This is show time!” says World Athletics president SEB COE. “This is three nights. Three hours. Four hundred of the top athletes. Sixteen in the track events. Eight in the field. Straight final in the field. Semi and final in track. It will not have every discipline but all the marquee events will be there.” The concept for the event is fill the void during a year when there is not a global championships and to give athletes and fans a big end-of-season meeting to look forward to. It will be staged over three days with a $10 million prize pot, which means winners will earn $150,000 each. “We want it to be fast, free flowing and well organised,” says COE. “The prize money pot is significantly higher than we’ve had in the sport before. Every athlete who wins will walk away with $150,000 but there will be money going through the ranks so everybody will leave the championships with something. We want it to be a new model and it will be something that gives athletes more skin in the game. We can also be more in control of the product.”

Driven by data, World Athletics says athletes will wear national vests because this is proven to interest spectators. The event is likely to include some innovations, too, with the global governing body’s innovation team “working foot to the pedal” right now. But COE adds: “We think it will be a compelling and attractive format and we have innovative thoughts that are being road tested at the moment. They might make it into the championships but you have my commitment that they won’t make it in if they don’t pass the road test. People will be watching track and field athletics and not something that is all bells and whistles with no substance.” Speaking from Budapest, COE is clearly enthused by the concept and says it is only the second time in his spell as World Athletics president where he has had a “clean sheet of paper” to create something. The first occasion was when he started his role and re-wrote the governing body’s constitution and brought in the Athletics Integrity Unit.

“The last new format that we introduced was in 2014 with the World Relays and I often laugh that the first time it appeared on my agenda in my first (IAAF) council meeting was in 2003, so it took more than a decade to happen,” says COE. Speaking to AW alongside COE in Budapest, World Athletics chief executive JON RIDGEON said: “The vision for this event is that it is the most important event of 2026. Of course athletes will do area championships and Diamond League and everything but this will be the big championship focus of 2026. “Our ambition is that when athletes look back on their career they will say that they won the World Championships and Olympic Games but also the World Athletics Ultimate Championships too.”

RIDGEON adds: “By embracing innovation and breaking away from traditional models, we are looking to reach a broader audience, particularly younger fans, and elevate the entire sport. There will be a strong focus on television audiences, with an aim to reach the biggest global audience possible. We also want to enhance the viewing experience, both at home and in the stadium, so we are looking at what new competition innovations can be introduced, all of which will be thoroughly tested in advance. We truly believe this will be a game changer for our entire sport.” On the development of this new event, COE added: “The best part of a year gone in behind this. We’ve spoken to the athletes, the athlete representatives, the shoe companies and of course broadcasters.” He continues: “We are ostensibly delivering this to broaden the appeal of the sport and get more young people in. We want to get what we call the ‘big eventers’ in who watch the Super Bowls and the cup finals and the Champions’ League and Wimbledon and things like that. But at the same time, we want to bring in a young audience as well.”

Why Budapest? The fact they staged a superb World Championships in 2023 helped them earn the right to stage this event. “They understand the sport and know how to promote it,” says COE. “The organising committee are tried and trusted. They are a city that wants us here and they are a safe pair of hands.”

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS ON INSTAGRAM – Since the account was setup, there has been an amazing amount of Videos and Photographs contributed with many comments. There is 1 post this week.

Photograph of DAMI ADEKUNLE and KAYIKUNMI ONIDIJI after their Under 13 girls sprint wins at the Eastern Young Athletes League on 2 June at Sandy.

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.

THE FOLLOWING IS CLUB INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS

SBH 2024 SUMMER FIXTURE CARD – The 2024 Summer Fixture Card is now published on the SBH Website, in which you can Access/Print a copy for future reference.
The Information on upcoming fixtures will be published in the SBH Weekly Newsletter, plus the majority of fixtures Information can be found on the SBH Website under the ‘Fixtures and Results’ section.
Link to Fixture Card – A SBH Summer 2024 Fixture Card Front Sheet Re-Issued 10-03-24    B SBH Summer 2024 Fixture Card Fixtures Re-Issued 30-03-24 – 8 May LICC Fixture Cancelled

STONEX STADIUM MEMBERSHIP – To use the StoneX Stadium facilities for training, SBH members are required to pay a fee. You can register as a member (which is free) which then entitles you to a discount. This is the link to the form to apply for membership – SBH StoneX Membership 2024-2025  The entrance fee on the membership form, cover the period 1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025.

JAMIE BATH MEMBERS MASSAGE SERVICE – Since joining SBH he has been working closely with TY HOLDEN in his quest for Athlete and Athletics Development. To help support the club members he has (with the club’s support) set up a Members Massage Service available on club nights at a small charge of £15 (as compared to outside masseurs who charge £60) to simply cover materials and insurance.
Please contact JAMIE at jamiebath@live.co.uk or text him on 07902 592561. You can also see him on training nights for availability.

GEORGE HARRISON MBE MEMORIAL DOCUMENT – The document has been put together with contributors from LISA WEBB, MARTIN ROCHFORD, NADEEM SHAIKH, RACHEL FELTON, LIAM and JAMIE DEE, JAMES LOVELL, EMILIA ECONOMU, ALAN WELLER,  KAREN HARRISON,  TIM UNDERHILL, GLEN WATTS, JOANNA WINFIELD, SHAUN CLIFFORD and EUAN MACKENZIE – Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Memorial To George Harrison From Friends And Members 20 April 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.

SHAFTESBURY BARNET HARRIERS NEW CLUB KIT – They are now available to purchase from our club kit supplier, Supreme Sports – click on the link for the full range – https://www.supreme-sports.co.uk/webshop/schools-and-clubs/shaftesbury-barnet-harriers/
By opening the link, you will be on the front page, which displays the men’s items. Click on SBH LADIES for the women’s items, or click on SBH KIDS for the young athletes’ items.

CLUB HOODIES– With well over eight hundred hoodies already in circulation, this is your opportunity to join the club. The bright red hoody is made to order and has your name embroidered on the front along with the club badge and has the Club name on the back. We now have 2 styles, the original pull over style at £37 + P&P or the new one with a full zip at £40 + P&P.
Here is the link to the Supreme Sports website which if you click on it, will take YOU to the new Club Hoody and allow you to then view the full range of Club kit online – https://www.supreme-sports.co.uk/webshop/schools-and-clubs/shaftesbury-barnet-harriers/

ACCESS TO SBH CLUBHOUSE – The new Keyholders to the outside door are TY HOLDEN, CLYDE GORDON, NEVILLE THOMPSON, GREG THOMPSON, COLIN GODFREY and YAMILLE ALDAMA who all use the Clubhouse outside of normal stadium opening hours. GEOFF MORPHITIS and DAVE BEDFORD will also have a key. All other key fob holders can continue to gain access to the clubhouse via the (New) West Stand Entrance and the Trackside Door to the Clubhouse.
Link to note and details for further information – SBH Club House Door 20-01-23

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 published. Also, I would appreciate if you could send me any photographs, which I can then publish on the website and newsletter.

FACEBOOK – Photographs can be found on the SBH page.

CAN YOU HELP PLEASE – 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.

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 MIDWEEK JUMPS CLUB AT STONEX STADIUM – The current arrangements until further notice are that Pole Vault training is on Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 18.30pm to 21.00pm. High Jump training is on Wednesday’s from 18.45pm to 21.00pm.
Please contact the session administrator CLYDE GORDON at clydeg67@hotmail.co.uk in advance and let him know if you are planning to attend.

SBH TRAINING AND COACHING – Please see the 2024 Summer Fixture Card, which gives full details of Traing and Coaching – A SBH Summer 2024 Fixture Card Front Sheet Re-Issued 10-03-24

POLE VAULTERS REQUIRED FOR 2024 – To all athletes young & old – are you aware of the SBH Pole Vault sessions held at StoneX Stadium on Monday & Wednesday evenings from 18.30pm. We have room to coach more of you, why not come along and watch a session and the get involved – give it a try NOW.
Please contact the session administrator CLYDE GORDON at clydeg67@hotmail.co.uk for more details.

STEEPLECHASE TRAINING AT STONEX STADIUM – Check with your Coach for details of training times.

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

STONEX STADIUM – Main Switchboard telephone number is 020 3675 7250.

STONEX STADIUM AWARDED TRACKMARK STANDARD – Congratulations on achieving the UK Athletics Quality Assurance Standards for StoneX Stadium. This is the letter from UK Athletics and certificate showing all area that achieved compliance – StoneX Stadium Award Letter 09.11.21StoneX Stadium Certificate

ALAN WELLER – SBH NEWSLETTER EDITOR AND WEBSITE MANAGER