Kilbarchan AAC Newsletter – December
Presidents’ Chat
Hello and welcome to our lates club newsletter for December 2022.
We’re coming into the cold nights now. Please ensure your athletes arrive with plenty of layers, gloves, and hats. It’s easier to take off layers when you are too warm than be too cold all evening. Also remind them to pick up any extra clothes they took off before they leave training.
Frost and ice – Generally, if it is icy underfoot the track will be closed on safety grounds. It’s a good idea to ensure you have a WhatsApp group with your coach (other means of communication are available) to check for any last-minute changes of plan or cancellation of sessions.
With the Christmas season coming the club organises some club member runs for its members. As always, we also need volunteers on the day to help steward routes and record results.
Track Stars Christmas Dash. 11am Sunday 18th December. Further details below. For the first time we plan to have an urn and offer tea / coffee for supporters / parents. If you wish to bring along some baking that would be appreciated.
Christmas Handicap 4.5-mile race is on the same day. Further details below. For the first time we plan to have an urn and offer tea / coffee for supporters / parents. If you wish to bring along some baking that would be appreciated.
Then on Hogmanay there is the Donald Crawford Cup 10.5-mile handicap race.
Best wishes, Jason Pender, Club President
Winters’ Coming
With Autumn and then Winter on us please check if your child coming to training, they have enough layers. It’s easier to take a layer off during training than shiver throughout the session. Gloves and hats, waterproofs, bright clothing for any road running. Be prepared be safe.
Club Xmas Events
Track Stars Group – Xmas Dash 11am on Sunday 18th December 2022
We ran this last year and it proved very popular.
Athletes collect their bib number and pins at the track equipment span.
Race starts at 11am at the park run starting line on the path to the right of the ON-X sports centre.
When athletes are finished, parents and runners make their way to the track where tea / coffee is available and spot prizes will be awarded for random finishers.
Parents invited to bring along some home baking to share with members.
Route is round the pavement section of the park run course approximately 1.2 miles.
Link for entries: https://kilbarchan-aac.class4kids.co.uk/camp/236
Club Christmas Handicap 4.5-mile race Sunday 18th December 2022
Entry via the Clas4Kids system. Link is here
https://kilbarchan-aac.class4kids.co.uk/camp/237
First runner away at 1.30pm on Sunday 18th December. Start and finish on the track. Slowest runner away first. Times based on your park run time. Age group 16 and above. If you haven’t run a park runtime this year, please email jasonpender64@outlook.com with your 10km estimated time.
All runners asked to bring an unwrapped present value £5 – £10 max. First runner home gets first choice of the presents. Trophy for the first place.
Tea / coffee and cakes available for runners / supporters in the span. Members / supporters / parents invited to bring some home baking.
We’re also looking for stewards to stand at key parts of the course. If you could let Jason Pender know and be at the track at 1pm latest.
Course:
Start on the running track at the On-X in Linwood, exit the stadium, turn left and follow the ‘right of way’ path to Brediland Road
- Turn left and follow Brediland Road for 0.5 mile to Moss Road.
- Turn left and follow Moss Road for 1.3 miles to Auchens Road.
- Turn left and follow Auchens Road for 1.3 miles to Craig Road.
- Turn left and follow Craig Road for 0.6 mile to Clippens Road.
- Turn left and follow Clippens Road 0.2 mile to Brediland Road.
- Turn left and follow Brediland Road for 0.2 mile and turn left on to the ‘right of way’ path back to the stadium (do not turn left along the access road in to the On-X Sports Centre).
- Enter the stadium and turn right and complete a full lap of the track to the finish.
Note: The race is mostly on quiet public roads. Please use the pavement when running on Brediland Road, Craig Road and Clippens Road. Where there isn’t a pavement, please follow the Highway Code and face the on-coming traffic, i.e. run on the right side of the road.
The right of way path has two sharp corners on it and is quite rough in places so take care on it!
Donald Crawford Cup – 10.5-mile Handicap Race Saturday 31st December
Entry via the Class4Kids system. Link is here https://kilbarchan-aac.class4kids.co.uk/camp/238
Course route is here https://kilbarchanaac.org.uk/donald-crawford/
We plan to use the Kilbarchan Scout Hall to meet and present the winners trophy at the end.
This race cannot take place without race stewards to follow the runners and direct at key points on the route. Please let jasonpender64@outlook.com know if you can help.
Athletics Technical Officials
Volunteering in athletics. As well as just helping with the clubs’ activities you could also become a Technical Official and help at competitions.
If you’d like to pursue officiating, please contact jasonpender64@outlook.com
Further information on officiating can be obtained on the Scottish Athletics website https://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/officials/ or by contacting Shona Malcolm, Officials Recruitment and Development Officer at shonamalcolm@scottishathletics.org.uk
Club Kit and Vests
Donna Matthews holds our club kit and can meet and greet you most Thursdays 7pm to 7.30pm at the track in the portacabin.
Further details on the club website including contact details https://kilbarchanaac.org.uk/kit/
Scottish Athletics Events Calendar
https://scottishathletics.sportserve.net/pages/event/athletics/athleticsfixturelist.aspx?pid=10000