Presidents’ Chat

Hello and welcome to our latest club newsletter for May 2023.

The open graded competitions on 11^th April and 9^th May were a great success and my thanks for all the volunteers and officials that made this possible. We’d expect more of our own club athletes to support Linwood events as that’s why we organise them. If you don’t compete you will not develop as an athlete. We’re planning to organise another OGM on Tuesday 8th August so watch this space (3000m / 100m / 800m). Hope to see you all enter.

We mentioned that some budget had been allocated for the track to be re-laid and initial quotations have been received. Update is that it looks this will get the goo ahead from March 2024. My thanks to John Rodger and Jim Goudie who are in the thick of discussions with Renfrewshire Council regarding this.

The issue of Track Mark certification is still being worked on and pursued. This is currently preventing for any field event results at Linwood being put onto the Power of 10.

Indoor track: We are responsible for the maintenance of our indoor centre so it is our members that need to look after it. Can I ask that you don’t put anything down the toilets that shouldn’t be, especially plastics, wipes and sanitary products as we recently had to call in a plumber to unblock the pipe works!

If there are any maintenance issues / breakages please note them in the book at the entrance so we can address them.

Road runners, we have arranged a club race for you on Wednesday evening 14^th June. The annual Sustrans Trophy Handicap Race will take place with the slowest runner getting ahead start on the faster runners. The aim is to beat your handicap to win the Sustrans Trophy. Further details on the club web site. This needs to be pre-entry so I can work out the handicaps for all runners. We are also looking for volunteers (preferably on a bike) to stand at the route turning point on the cycle path.

Best wishes, Jason Pender, Club President    Jasonpender64@outlook.com

Club Sustrans Trophy Handicap 4.6 mile race

Exciting race with slowest starting first and the fastest chasing. Handicaps based on your park run times so you should finish together. Free to enter. Come support the club.

Trophy for first home. More details on the club web site here https://kilbarchanaac.org.uk/2023/05/sustrans-4-6-mile-club-handicap-race/ 

Winners

Year	Winner	Net Time
2023	?
2022	Stuart Fratson	00:37:56
2019	Michael McEwan	00:27:20
2018	Robert Snodgrass	00:31:28
2017	Jennifer Rooney	00:32:57
2016	Siobhan Inglis	00:38:49
2015	Norman Groves	00:33:26
2014	Max McFarlane	00:46:06

Route Details

First athlete away at 7.30pm. Runners are asked to arrive just after 7.00pm. Pre-entry so handicaps can be worked out.

The route

Running on the cycle path and starts on the viaduct in Bridge of Weir and runs to the outside of Kilmacolm about turn and comes back to the start. Slight uphill slope first half and downhill for the return. There will be a volunteer waiting at the return point who you must go round behind him / her.

Entry system is the Class4Kids here https://kilbarchan-aac.class4kids.co.uk/camp/251

Please enter your name and then send your 10km or Park Run times to me at jasonpender64@outlook.com

Linwood Open Graded Meetings

The club is organising a new open graded meeting on Tuesday 8^th August. Entries will open 14^th June. These are competitions open to other clubs as well as our athletes. It is pre-entry only so there will be no training on these evenings.

Events are:

• 3000m – two heats
• 100m – ten heats
• 800m – nine heats

Each race is sorted according to the athlete predicted time so irrespective of your age and sex they should be running against someone with a similar predicted time for the event.

The entries will open on 14^th June and the link will be posted on the club web site and Facebook.

Volunteers wanted – see tasks below.

Like with all competitions it wouldn’t be possible without technical officials which have been organised, but we also need other people to volunteer to help. Please contact Jason Pender 078 111 09 736 if you are available to help. Tasks that need done on the day are as follows:

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