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Derbyshire County Championships 2008
The 10th staging of the annual joint Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Track and Field Championships took place at Harvey Hadden Stadium on 10th and 11th May.
The superbly organised event was attended by over 50 AVAC athletes taking advantage of the ideal warm and sunny conditions with medals and county titles at stake. Sadly, entries in some age groups were poor, and it was a shame that not more athletes from AVAC and other Derbyshire clubs entered. However those that did were rewarded by an excellent weekend of athletics with many significant pb's, club records and Championsip Best Performances in some cases.
One such athlete to set a new CBP was Sam Stone in the Junior Mens 110mH, taking .4 of a second off the previous record. Tamara Armoush and Alexandra Turner both dipped inside existing CBPs in the U17W 1500m and 800m respectively but both had to settle for 2nd places to in form Rotherham Harrier, Abbie Vernon.
Perhaps the most exciting race of the weekend from an AVAC point of view came at the very beginning of the weekend with Claudia Rogers and Emma Komocki battling it out in the U17W 300m H. Stride for stride to the line it was Emma that was judged slightly ahead at the finish with both girls recording the same time which was only .1 of a second outside the previous CBP. Both girls went on to further success with Emma winning the 80mH and Claudia the 300m.
AVAC high jumpers had a good weekend with Michael Bosworth, Emily
Butlin and Arran Smith all recording significant pb's.
A small piece of AVAC history was made by Senior, David Feeney, who
became the first person in the clubs history to dip under 11 seconds for
the 100m, recording a wind-legal 10.9 seconds.
Zach Hooper continued his successful season by getting two English Schools qualifying times under his belt. He took gold in the 400m and ran strongly in the 800m for a silver. He had quality athlete Josh Moody in his sights in the longer distance and pushed him all the way in what is a relatively new event for Zach.
Full results can be found on
www.dcaa.org.co.uk.
Easy Win for AVAC
In the first match of the season in the National Young Athletes League on May 4th, our team cruised to an all too easy victory. Hosting the Midlands Div 1 East match ourselves at Moorways in almost ideal conditions, the match quickly became a one-horse race. Sadly the other competing teams were only able to field far from complete teams which often left our athletes competing on their own or with little opposition.
Rest assured, the remaining fixtures will be a lot more exciting and competitive. Well done to all athletes including those who made their league debut and far too many wins and PB's to mention here this time.
Thank you to every team manager, official and the results crew who
did an excellent job of hosting this event.
This year the League is not awarding Athlete of the Match awards or
T-shirts - sorry, this is outside the clubs control.
Final positions were 1st AVAC 460.5 pts, 2nd Leamington C & AC 174 pts, 3rd Nuneaton 166.5 pts, 4th Sparkhill 107 pts.
Check the current league standings and League info at www.natyal.co.uk.
Medal Near Miss for Feeney
David Feeney narrowly missed taking a medal at the British University Sports Association (BUSA) Championships in Bedford at the weekend.
Although better known as a Decathlete, David contested three individual events, representing Loughborough University.
Competing in the 110m Hurdles against a quality field, David finished
in 4th place in 14.77, with only 7 one-hundredths of a second separating
2nd and 4th places. David also competed in the shot putt where he
finished a creditable 6th place with a PB throw of 13.31m. He also
achieved another PB in the discus of 39.03m to make the final where
unfortunately he recorded 3 no-throws.
Derbyshire Mini League
The second match in this league is on Saturday 24th May at Moorways Stadium, Derby. Info / entry forms are now available from training and can also be downloaded here, and here.
This is a fantastic league for beginner and experienced 9 to 14 year olds alike. The first match in April was probably the best attended match in the leagues history and resulted in some excellent competition for the Counties young athletes. Never competed before? The League is an ideal starting point with many athletes having taken their first steps in track and field this way.
AVAC are currently topping the leader board so help to keep it that way! It's easy to take part. Complete the entry slip with the events you want to do and return to training. Turn up on the day, pay £1 to team managers, then run, jump and throw!
Please note that all members are expected to take part and training for all but pre-arranged U17+ coach-lead groups is CANCELLED on this day.
Schools Athletics
Athletics within our regions Secondary schools is getting under way. Athletes (Year 8 and above) who attend an Amber Valley school should note that district trials to make the AV school team for the County Schools Final at Moorways on Saturday 14th June is on 13th May at the Ilkeston track 4 - 6pm.
Please see you PE teacher to register your interest. This is the first step on the way to being considered for one of the pinnacles of the track and field season, the English Schools Finals in July. Sorry - we currently have no info on Erewash school arrangements - again, see your PE teacher.
The Derbyshire Schools Combined Events is on 21st and 22nd May at Moorways, 4.30pm onwards. Anyone interested must register their interest with their PE teacher as there is a closing date for entries. Year 8 and above.
You can still take part even if you are the only person from your school wanting to do so, you do not have to be part of a team.
National Junior League, Match 1 27th April
A winning double for Tamara Armoush was the highlight of a very creditable performance by Team CDAV, the joint Chesterfield & District and Amber Valley AC team, in their first match as members of the elite Midland Premier Division of the National Junior Athletic League.
The Amber Valley U17 was expected to do well in her favoured 3000m, but also ran away with the 1500m steeplechase, in her debut at the event. The newly promoted team came fifth of eight in the match, at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, which saw the second and fifth teams separated by only 21 points, leaving the Derbyshire team to rue 'what might have been' if they had managed to fill a few more events.
AVAC athletes gave solid performances against some stiff opposition. Sam Stone took maximum points in the 110m hurdles to lower his PB again. Zach Hooper, in his first NJL, showed his potential at 800m by winning the 'B' string 800m with a time just enough to break the existing club record and one which would have given him 2nd place in the 'A' race.
Alexandra Turner took 2nd place in the 'A' 800m, and in her first
ever 1500m steeplechase, came in 3rd place to Tamara's win with 1st
place 'B' string. 3rd places came from Louise Feeney in the 'A' 400m
hurdles and Claudia Rogers in the 'A' 400m.
Match result: Birchfield H 490 points, Mansfield 400, Cannock & Staffs
393, Nott's AC 384, Team CDAV 379, West Wales 354, Cardiff 331, Tamworth
287.
Road Success
Congratulations to Richard O'Sullivan for coming home in the London Marathon in 252nd position in 2hr 43.07.
Gary Bostock lowered his own course record that he set a few weeks previously in the Derby Midweek Training Race series. At the 16th April race he set a new record of 4.27 mins for the one mile course.
Mini League Match 1, 19th April
AVAC got this years track and field Mini League off to a flying start by winning the first match in convincing style. Leading the inter-club competition for 8 to 14 year olds from the first events, their overall winning margin was over 100 points from Derby AC in second, and newcomers 2DASH (based at Mount St Marys College, Spinkhill) in third.
This years league features a slightly different scoring format whereby the best two performances from each club gain team points towards the overall score, thereby rewarding performance and strength in depth. The club had many individual winners but the lower placings are just as vital for gaining team points.
At U15 Michael Bosworth (800m and 80mHurdles) and Tom Bridge (shot and discus) both came first in two events, whilst Jessica Turner (800m), Kiera Gee (100m) and Emily Butlin (HJ) all had one win a piece.
At U13 Dominic Hare (75mHurdles) and Emily Heappey (200m) each had wins with a brace of second places going to Rory McColgan (75m Hurdles), Molly Mee (800m), Jack Newton (shot), Imogen Cresswell (shot) and Hannah Blount (LJ).
AVAC's U11's topped every event except one, with two wins each for Jethro McGraw (150m and 600m) and Megan Bruce (80m and 150m), whilst Sharnie Richards, Joe Reeve and Niamh Emerson all came first in high jump, long jump and 600m respectively.
To round off an excellent day all six 4 x 100m relays were won by
AVAC which is very encouraging.
Well done to every athlete who took part in the very cold and windy
conditions, and thank you to all team managers, officials and helpers.
Full results can be found on the Derbyshire Athletics website www.dcaa.org.uk
Tennis Centre Closure
The Tennis Centre at the Rutland Sports Park will be closed for an approximate 6-week period in order for re-surfacing work to take place.
Club training will continue as normal except that all groups (including
the Recreation Group) will be using the outdoor track. All athletes must
come suitably dressed for the weather as there is no indoor option.
Training will go ahead in all weathers.
Registration and payment will also take place at the track.
UK Sportshall Final, Birmingham NEC, Saturday 12th April
What an eventful day! After just 45 minutes of the programme all track events had to be stopped as athletes were slipping and fall over due to the surface of the floor, so the competition carried on by everyone taking part in field events.
There was only the U15 girls team representing Derbyshire and they
didn't let us down, the team was: Yasmin Spencer, Natasha Illingworth,
Paige Collings, Sarah Tomlinson all from Chesterfield A.C. and Jodie
Wills, Abbie Langley and Kelly-Jay Payling from Amber Valley A.C.
A big congratulations to Sarah for winning gold in the Speedbounce, and
to Yasmin who won gold in shot putt and the bronze for coming 3rd in the
all-rounder competition.
Congratulations are due to the whole team who came home with gold and the trophy for winning the U15 girls competition and it is apparently the first time in 25 years that any Derbyshire team have ever won the UK Sportshall final.
What a way to go out as well because for some of the team this was
their last Sportshall competition, so we wish good luck and goodbye from
Sportshall Athletics to Yasmin, Sarah, Natasha, Jodie and Abbie.
There was also an individual competitor who got through in his own
rights for shot putt, Tom Bridge from Amber Valley A.C. - well done for
getting through to the UK finals and congratulation for winning gold in
the U13 boys shot putt.
A big thank you goes to Nigel Smith, Trevor Jolly, Don Spencer and Neil
Collings for being Officials on the day and Judy Payling/ Nigel Smith
for being Team Managers.
Successful Star:track at Ilkeston
Over 50 young athletes got their Easter holiday off to an active start by taking part in the 2-day Norwich Union-sponsored 'Star:track' athletics scheme.
Star:track is one of UK Athletics' flagship programmes aimed at young athletes to introduce athletics in a fun and exciting format. This is the first time that a Star:track scheme has been run from at the Rutland Sports Park and was organised by the Amber Valley and Erewash Athletics Development Group.
AVAC played a large part in the organisation and delivery of the scheme with AVAC coaches leading the activities on both days. Each participant received a Star:track goodie bag and the response from them and parents has been very positive.
It is hoped that many of those who took part will continue with athletics by coming along to club sessions and getting involved with our coaching and competition programmes.
Records Falling as Season Kicks Off
With barely two weeks into the track and field season, several new club records have already been set.
Starting at the youngest age group, Megan Bruce lowered the U11G 150m record which has stood since 2001, at the Scunthorpe Open.
Jethro McGraw broke the U11B 600m record at the clubs' Trials Day. Tom Bridge has set about the U15B throws records increasing the shot record by half a metre at the Nott's AC Spring Spruce. Emily Butlin equalled the U15G high jump record by jumping 1.45m at Wigan.
Two records fell at the 'On Camp With Kelly' invitation races - Rob Love broke the U20M 1k record and Tamara Armoush lowered her own U17W 1500m record by 2 seconds. Finally Richard Szarkowski increased his own Senior Mens pole vault by 10cm at the Spring Spruce.
Well done to all.
Club Kit
As you all know track n field season is now here, just a little reminder to all our Athlete's, if you are taking part in any competitions, you must wear the club colour which are for the ladies yellow n navy vest or crop top, navy shorts or hot pants and for the men its yellow n navy vest and navy shorts.
If you need any clothing you need to contact Judy Payling either at the club on coaching days or e-mail on leepayling006@aol.com or tel: 01773 606285.
A list of the clothing available and prices will be up on the two notice
boards this week.
Don't Forget......
Mini League on Saturday 19th April at Moorways. There is NO TRAINING at Ilkeston on this day as all athletes should take the opportunity to compete in this friendly and informal league. Athletes must return the yellow entry form at training to be entered.
Entry details can be downloaded here, and a programme here.
Derbyshire County Championships - a fantastic weekend of athletics for U13's through to Vets, at Harvey Hadden Stadium, Nottingham. Remember that the closing date for entries is 18th April (not to the club). Make sure you enter! Entry forms can be downloaded from the County website www.dcaa.org.uk
Membership renewals are DUE NOW. Existing members have until 1st May to
renew. Forms can be downloaded
here. You must also sign and return the
Athlete Code of
Conduct.
Trials Day at Ilkeston
Just when we thought Spring was here, the rain and cold returned for the club's annual pre-season in-house trials on Saturday 5th April.
This was our young athlete's chance to see what track and field competition is all about, and an opportunity to make an impression for team selections for the forthcoming league matches. Results can be downloaded here. Sixty six 8 to 14 year olds braved the awful conditions!
A special thank you to every coach and parent, and official who helped on the day - if you've enjoyed officiating there's still time to enrol on the UK Athletics Track Judge and Timekeepers course on Saturday 12th April at Moorways. Phone Paul Smith 0115 9327468 for details.
AVAC Athletes Shine at Borough Cross Country
The annual cross country event for Amber Valley Primary Schools took place at Charles Hill playing fields, Loscoe on 1st April.
The event organised by Amber Valley Borough Council's Sports Development Unit with considerable input from AVAC, saw club runners finish in medal positions. Of particular note were Niamh Emerson winning the Year 3 / 4 girls race, Jethro McGraw winning the Year 5 / 6 race with Jayson Fenwick taking bronze, and a fine tussle between Robyn Allan and Molly Mee in the Year 5 / 6 girls race with Robyn taking gold in a determined push to the finish line.
Organiser Julie Feeney would particularly like to thank all those club colleagues who helped stage this exciting event, including Judy, Jim, Dawn, Sarah, Deana, Anita, Kelly-Jay, Jennie, Louise, Michael, David, Rosie, Lorna and Scott.
Site last updated: 14th May 2008
Visitors to this site since April 2003