A Trip Down Memory Lane.
Paula Williams and Ben Kruze
Team Stratford at Redditch on Wednesday for the Vets T&F final league fixture of the season together with volunteer officials, without who…..
Another mixed bag this week.

On Wednesday it was our Vet’s T&F team’s final league fixture of the season with just the Cup Final to come on September 16th. Hopefully we’ll have a full report next week.

Needless to say it was another wonderful team effort with the camaraderie off the scale. The team was once again expertly led by Team Manager Hannah Osborne and our wonderful group of volunteer officials enabled the night o run smoothly. It was good to see a couple of old friends, Cindy Brittan and John Turner, turn up to give the team moral support.

Last weekend saw Paula Williams and Ben Kruze selected to represent Midland Masters in the England Masters Inter-Area Challenge and they helped the Midlands team triumph in Women’s, Men’s and overall team categories.

Paula’s report made me smile. She says “my results were a mixture.” She competed in 7 individual events, winning 6 and coming 2nd in the other! Define mixture Paula.

There is an end of season round-up of the Heart of England League, a priority for our junior athletes. Paul Bearman reports that it was another extremely successful season despite the club being unable to field our strongest team in any of the fixtures.

We have a report on the recent Midland Area Race Walk 5000m Championships that we hosted at the Stratford Track. There is also mention of Paul Hawkins’ racewalking performance at the Vets AC championship, which were held on a closed road course at Battersea Park in London.

Miranda Maloney has sent in a superb report of her first ever Standard Distance Triathlon which doubled as a trip down memory lane, with the event taking place where she grew up in Buckinghamshire. Well done Miranda.

We have a reminder of the upcoming Club Champs, with details of how to enter. Don’t leave it too late. Finally there is an appeal from Paul Hawkins for someone to organise our Senior teams at the Road Relays in Sutton Park on September 23rd.

Take care.

David Jones. 
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Vets T&F League

A few photos below, courtesy of Max Ross and Toby Spriggs, from the final league fixture of this season’s Vets T&F League. Hopefully we will have a full report next week.
The penultimate race of the night saw a stunning victory for our men’s 4x100m relays team.
L to R: Drew Sambridge, Simon Curran, Alistair Webb and Max Ross.
The night saw a couple of imperious performances from Ben Kruze, comfortably winning his 800m and 3000m races.
It was a busy night for Donna Allen, including a wonderfully mature performance in winning her 800m race.
Paula Williams and official Mark Illingworth.
 England Masters Inter-Area Challenge

Report – Paula Williams

My results were a mixture. 

I was landed with the two horizontal jumps when I turned up because the athlete was injured. 

I’d landed at 1am on Sunday morning, having just arrived back from my hols and – let’s just say “I wasn’t feeling very well”. 

This competition was good fun as always and I was very proud to represent the Midlands.

There was a fantastic atmosphere and great team spirit.

It was lovely to see the familiar cap of Ben Kruze running around the track..

My Results:

I managed to win my events except for high jump and relay

Shot 12.38m
80m Hurdles 13.50s 
Long jump 4.48m
100m 13.53s
High jump 1.25m (2nd)
Triple jump 8.97m
4x100m Relay 5th 
Javelin 32.41m

Ben Kruze m35

3000m 8:59.32 (2nd – first was 8:53.74)
4x100m Relay

The final results saw Midland Masters win all categories with 1st place finishes for the women’s, mens and overall team.
 
 Noah Balchin winning the U17/20 800m with Milo Cullimore racing for 3rd place
Ella Smith winning the U15 200m
 Isabella Marriot finishing in the U13 relay
U13B 4x100m relay squad: Billy Sheppard, Reece Arnold, Kipp Stevens and Henry Sims.
Kipp Stevens with debutant Reece Yarnold.
Heart of England League

 

Report – Paul Bearman

The very competitive division one in the Heart of England junior league is a priority for the Stratford juniors and being unable to field the strongest team in any of the matches tested the strength in depth of the various age groups, but it also gave opportunities and experience for other athletes to compete and to sample some unfamiliar events.
 
After 3 close matches that rested on the final match, in appalling conditions in Kettering, the clubs’ main rivals Rugby & Northampton AC selected their “A” team and dominated the track with Stratford following in their footsteps in most of the events. However, in the field there was a more even contest across all the 7 teams with Stratford fighting their corner and picking up big points.
 
With the revised scoring system now being aggregate points across the 3 age groups it was a great effort all round and as we always say, every single point/place really does count.
 
The unavailability of athletes gave the team managers a constant headache at every match trying to fill all the events and it meant the team managers juggled over 80 athletes throughout the season to fill the events and overcome stiff opposition, particularly from close rivals Rugby & Northampton and a resurgent Solihull & Small Heath
 
The high level of competition meant positions fluctuated from one event to the other and when the final points in the various age groups were totted up Rugby & Northampton claimed the top spot with Stratford runners up.
 

The final outcome

Club Points
Rugby & Northampton 2557
Stratford 2361
Solihull & Small Heath 2205
Wreake & Soar Valley 1373
Saffron AC 1341
Kettering 1068
Coventry Godiva 576

 

The matches couldn’t run without our officials (big point scorers in their own right) and on behalf of the athletes and the team managers a massive thank you for giving up their time and supporting the team.

 
Paul Hawkins

Race walks

Report – Paul Hawkins

Following its success last year, we once again hosted the Midland Area Race Walk 5000m Championships.

Although the numbers racing were relatively low it proved to be another good day with three races – a men’s and women’s 5000m and a juniors 2000m.

 

Kate Sergent was the leading Stratford AC athlete finishing 5th in 38.46.4 in only her second race at the distance. I also raced but wasn’t in good form and was disqualified with 400m to go for a technical infringement. 

 

I redeemed myself a little two days later with a much better walk in the Vets AC championship which was held on a closed road course at Battersea Park in London. In a very strong field I came ninth and first in my age group in 36.20.

A measure of the quality of the race was that it was won by David Annetts who is ranked number 1 on the All Time list for 3000, 5000 and 10000m distances in his V55 age category. His time was 23.32 with Olympian Ian Richards in 2nd place. 
Miranda Maloney
A trip down Memory Lane.
Calfman Standard Distance Triathlon
Report – Miranda Maloney

Sunday was my first attempt at a Standard distance triathlon.

The weather was perfect after such a wet Saturday!

I’ve done two Sprint triathlons before here in Stratford but they were a few years ago so this really was new territory.

I had chosen Cowman Events on purpose as the triathlon was being held on home ground for me.  I grew up in Emberton and Olney (Buckinghamshire) so it was all the feels on Sunday.
 
My nerves disappeared as soon as I’d racked my bike and got my wetsuit on. Everyone was really friendly and chatty and it was great to see so many normal people there. A handful of elites, but I’d say the majority were everyday athletes.
 
Swim was a mass start in the lake. They said they’d cleared the weeds but there were still loads left.  It took me a good 10 mins to settle in to a rhythm and I swam further than the required 950m as it’s clear I cannot swim in a straight line in open water! ( or in the pool with eyes closed if anyone saw the video on the SAC Triathlon page a while back ?)

On to the bike, which considering not all of my gears were working properly, I did pretty ok for someone who only started on a road bike about 3 months ago (Thank you Sarah Odell) but gosh, other cyclists whizzing past is more unnerving than cars! Also gentle inclines in a car become more like Larkstoke when on a bike!

The route was quite nice, going through various villages, including Gayhurst where it is said Guy Fawkes had conspirators for his gunpowder plot.
 
Back in to transition 2, bite of banana and glug of water and off for the 10k run.

I’m sure many of you are aware that I walk quite a bit of my runs and this was no different. I couldn’t feel my feet to start with which was ok really as my legs just went in to a ‘moving forward‘ motion of their own accord. Then came a muddy hill and lots of faster runners were coming up behind me so I moved to the side and cheered them on.
 
Running through the village was quite emotional…I ran past both houses I grew up in, the primary school I went to, the church I got married in, my granny’s cottage. All the feels, like I say.
 
The run was 2 laps; definitely mind over matter for those doing the 70.3 distance of 4 laps! Two was enough for me….this time.
 
Coming in to the park, I could see some of my family cheering me on with the all important cup of tea being waved at me.
 
I felt such a great sense of achievement coming across the finish line, and even more so when I saw my time. I’d mentally given myself 5hrs to complete it and came in at 4:07:56.
Please read all of this information carefully
 

STRATFORD UPON AVON AC
 
2023 TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
Sunday 10th September 2023 
  
Registration starts 9.15am : First Events at 10.00am 

 
The Club Championships is licensed by UKA and led by our volunteer trained officials, supported by the club coaches and parents, which means results can be submitted to the Power of10 where the results will be posted.  
 
The Championship are run on a Multi Event basis; however, athletes can choose to compete in a single event and just the points from that single event will still be included in the championship. 

  • Junior athletes (U11, 13 ,15, 17 & 20) can only do a maximum of 5 events. 
  • Senior competitors i.e. Under 20 plus can compete in as many events as they wish, and we are pleased to be running the 5000m which is a race that will be included in the Shakespeare Race Series. 
  • To be included in the Club Championship competition, Junior athletes (U11, 13 ,15, 17 & 20) need to compete in 2 events i.e., 1 Track and 1 Field.  
  • Separate from the main competition, Junior competitors are allowed to compete in the other Track or Field events in the programme to either set a Seasons/Personal Best or try for a new one. Competing for PBs will be limited to 3 events. 
  • Please note Under 13s and 15s can only compete in either the 800m orthe1500m not both. U11s can’t compete in either. 
  • Points are allocated to the 2 nominated track & field Championship events to make up an individual athletes score in their respective age/gender group (see points scoring tables attached).  

 

  • Relays will be organised on the day. 

 
For the Championship and depending on the respective age group all athletes choose: 
 
One track i.e.75/150/100/200/300/400/600/800/1500/sprint hurdles/5000 

One field i.e.  LJ/TJ/HJ/SP/DT/Hammer/JT/Howler  
.  
Outline Timetable :-  10.00-12.30 male track, female field :  1.00-3.30 female track, male field   
 
To enter go to https://www.riderhq.com/events/p/ns9262ee/enter

 and follow the instructions to complete your chosen events. 
 

 
 

The deadline is 4th September at the latest (no manual forms will be accepted) Please keep a copy of your events for your reference. 
 

  • The scoring charts and timetable are attached but please note timings may change and a revised timetable will be issued nearer to the competition date if necessary. 
     
  • The field events will run concurrently and be open for a specific allotted timeframe so that athletes can focus on the track but then go to their field event. If events clash the Track events take priority over Field events and the Championship events take priority over Personal Best events. Athletes will be able to go back to their field event after the track event within the allotted timescale. 

 
Athletes can wear spikes and should wear a club vest or club T shirt but if not, athletes should wear an appropriate plain white or yellow T shirt (not football shirts etc). You can purchase club kit from https://www.stratfordac.co.uk/shop/but please don’t leave it until the last minute. 
 
Parents/Carers: The Club Championships is a collective effort between everyone (not just the regular volunteers) involved in the club and the success of the event for the athletes relies on people helping on the day.  
 
For the younger juniors a parent/carer will be required to accompany their child and be responsible for them during the competition and to get them to their respective events. 
 
As in previous year’s there will be fun Novelty Events for everyone at the end of the event and we will be having a Tombola. 
 
If you have any queries, please contact your respective Age Group Leader or coach. 
 
 Paul Bearman

Please enter via

https://www.riderhq.com/events/p/ns9262ee/enter ASAP
 

Road Relays

An appeal from Paul Hawkins
 

Our Road Running teams seem to be going from strength to strength as seen in the Hilly 100 & Warwickshire Road Race League successes, not to mention individuals doing so well.

We have traditionally taken part in the Midland Road Relays held in Autumn and Spring at Sutton Park. The next event is on 23rd September, entries are open new but close on 10th September so we have a bit of time. All the details are on:

https://midland-athletics.co.uk/latest-news/mcaa-6-4-ya-road-relay-championships-saturday-23rd-september-2023-entries-are-now-open/

It’s a 6 stage relay for men and 4 stage for women, the Spring relays are over 12 and 6 stages but that’s for the future. 

 

I’m sure many of you have done these before so will know how much fun it is as well as being competitive. 

 

There are also junior races and one of the junior coaches is organising our junior teams so no need to worry about that.

 

So this is a plea for help, would anyone like to organise the Stratford AC senior teams? There’s not too much to do, get names in, do the entries and be there on the day but if we are going to have teams in we need to get organised.