by Dave Smith
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Hillingdon Athletic Club will be held on Wednesday 31st March 2021 at 7.00pm via Zoom (details to follow).
All club members are entitled to attend and to vote.
If you wish to place an item on the agenda or make a resolution, please notify the Club Chairman Dave Smith in writing by 10th March 2021 at the latest. All resolutions will require a proposer and seconder.
Elections for the following positions will be held at the AGM. If you wish to be nominated for any position, please notify the Club Secretary by 10th March 2021 at the latest with details of your proposer and seconder.
- Chairperson
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Auditor
Chairs of the following sub-committees:
- Competitions: Seniors and Veterans
- Competitions: Juniors
- Coaching & Development
- Race Promotions
- Clubhouse
- Communications
The Club Chairman can be contacted via the email :- davidalan.smith2@gmail.com
The Formal Notice for the AGM will be sent out on or around 16th March 2021
Dave Smith
Club Chairman
by Dave Smith
Please find below a joint cross country “Equalisation of Distances” statement on behalf of ECCA and the 3 Areas which has been placed on the SEAA website.
The SEAA is keen for all athletes to make their views on XC distances known to UKA by answering the on-line survey. We urge all to complete the survey – if you put 0 (zero) into the question re distance that events should be equalised at, you can then proceed to the later questions and add your comments there.
Alternatively, could you please email DAN ISHERWOOD – disherwood@englandathletics.orgto voice your concerns and views. He has agreed that he will feed any views, sent directly to him, into the subsequent discussions. The survey is available at
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/crosscountryequal.
The Cross Country representatives of the Northern, Midland & Southern Areas and the English Cross Country Association held their inaugural meeting, on the 14 th January 2021. This is the first of a series of meetings aimed at delivering a unified response on behalf of the sport of cross country through the sport’s major competition providers and in particular within the coming discussions with UK Athletics and England Athletics over the controversial issue of equalisation of cross country distances.
It is worth emphasising that these organisations have been organising the Area and National championships for the sport of cross country for many years. They do this without any support or input from either UKA or England Athletics. None of the athlete registration fee income or the club affiliation fee income paid to England Athletics is routed directly into the sport of cross country.
The events, the selection and development pathway for athletes and representative teams are all organised by volunteers and funded by event entry fees. The people involved also voluntarily organise and deliver local leagues and County Championships in their areas. The sport is in the ascendancy in terms of numbers and local events.
We know, from contact with our championship competitors, that the vast majority have made it clear over the past two or three years that they are not in favour of equalising distances. Northern Athletics will be carrying out its own survey over the coming weeks to ascertain the views of its affiliated clubs and their athletes.
Our unified group look forward to considering the results of the recent UKA survey but we are, however, convinced that that survey is flawed and the questions skewed to obtain a certain result. Both the ECCA and the Areas had been asked to comment on the proposed survey prior to its launch. Our concerns regarding the questions were sent to Donna Fraser and requests were made that the survey be sent only to the people involved with cross country. The detailed e mail on the questions from the ECCA was not acknowledged and no reply has yet been received. The reply to Northern Athletics from Donna Fraser stated that equalisation was not a matter of whether but how. The survey then went out without our concerns being considered. We are concerned this unfortunate approach may be indicative of the future.
The survey is biased, as it only allows respondents to state how equalisation should be achieved not whether it should happen. We know that this has caused many of those, who wish to state their views, not to complete the survey. We are also concerned that, in the first week or so of the survey being live, it was possible to make multiple submissions; and whilst this now appears to have been corrected, we believe this could invalidate the survey results.
We also know that many of the athletes who we would have expected to have received the survey link have not done so. The above reasons justify our position that the survey is flawed. It is apparent, from the extensive views expressed on social media, that the “pro and anti-equalisation” camps do not agree but we are encouraged that many successful and experienced cross country runners and coaches have outlined genuine concerns, about athlete welfare, retention and development, as these are key concerns for us – particularly for female athletes.
We accept, as is their right, that some organisations (Scottish Athletics and Essex County) have taken the decision to equalise distances to 10Km. However, many other organisations and leagues have decided, after consulting all their members, to retain the unequal distances for Senior, (including European Athletics) Junior & U17 age groups. Early indications are that both Wales and Northern Ireland are not yet convinced by the equalisation aims. In addition, emerging analysis, which compares the results and performances of equalised distance events with the unequal distance events, shows that the equalised distances impact adversely on the performance of the female athletes and as such appear unfair to female performance.
We urge all those who love the sport to complete the survey and make your views known especially in the box provided for further comments.
Our unified group will continue to represent the majority views of those in the sport and we look forward to the open debate and discussions as promised over the coming months. We will continue to discuss at subsequent meetings the need to ensure our sport of cross country does not have imposed upon it rules which are against the wishes and feelings of the majority.
ECCA and the Area Associations
by Martin Bateman
The provisional date for the 2021 Hillingdon 20 is Sunday 5th September 2021. Entry details will be posted in the spring. Club members please save the date. Plenty of help will be required to put on the race.
by Lyndsey Browne
**No consumption of alcohol is required in this latest challenge**
About thirty years ago (yikes!), myself and brother-in-law Phil Talbot used to organise the Rayners Lane Tuf Ten; ten Km, 10 pubs, ten drinks, curry to finish. The latest Virtual challenge is a homage to this.
As quickly as you can, you need to go to 10 places where you can (normally) drink an alcoholic drink without needing to have a scotch egg or a substantial meal.
E.g.
Pubs – Yes
Boarded up pub – No
Sports Clubs with a bar – Yes
Supermarkets – No
Restaurants – No, unless you can enjoy a drink in a bar without having to eat (like the Miller & Carter near the clubhouse)
Your time and distance starts when you leave the first pub and finishes when you get to the tenth. I am fully aware they are shut, you just need to go to the door/entrance.
You need to submit to gavin.collett@jti.com your time and the distance in miles covered, along with your date of birth.
I trust you all implicitly, but I do reserve the right to ask you your pubs/route.
Please adhere to Government guidelines at all times.
You have until midnight on Sunday 17 January.
It’s all in the planning this one; Martin Searle, Andy Wood, fire them computers up, get them maps out.
It’s looking as though we will be without real races for a little while longer, so I am proposing to do a Virtual 10 miles towards the end of January and a Virtual Half Marathon towards the end of February; just a bit of prior notice if any of you want to adjust your training for a few longer runs.
Stay safe everyone, miss you all.
Cheers / Prost / Santé! / Sláinte / Salute / Cin cin / Na zdrowie / Saúde / Salud / Iechyd da / Sei gesund
Gavin
by Dave Smith
I’ve posted the updated guidance from EA issued on 5th January below. This necessary, but regrettable, guidance means that club activities for all adults and junior members are affected. The mental and physical health of all our members, their families and loved ones is the priority through these difficult and challenging times so please read and adhere to the guidance until further notice.
Following the UK Government’s announcement on Monday 4 January of a new national lockdown, regrettably guidance for athletics and running must reflect these enforced Covid-19 restrictions across England.
As a result of everyone being required to stay at home, except for specific purposes as outlined by the UK Government’s guidance, the impact on our sport includes the following with immediate effect and until further notice:
The suspension of all face-to-face indoor and outdoor club / group activity.
The suspension of all indoor track and field competitions.
The suspension of all outdoor competitions including track and field, cross country, road, trail, fell and multi-terrain running.
The suspension of all face-to-face coaches’ and officials’ education.
The suspension of any other face-to-face club / group training sessions, events, athlete camps, running groups or other social events as well as club committee or other meetings.
Indoor gyms and facilities will remain closed.
The UK Government has confirmed that elite sport is able to continue in line with the strict protocols and measures that are in place. Similarly, organised outdoor sport for disabled people can continue and we will provide further details on this once we have the required information from the UK Government.
The UK Government has confirmed that individuals can exercise with one other person either from their own household OR outside their household. This is limited to one occasion per day and the individual should not travel outside of their local area
Virtual training sessions can be delivered by qualified coaches
Virtual competitions can still take place. Click here for a list of virtual road races
England Athletics will continue to coordinate the Weekly 30
Anyone taking part in any virtual activity should at all times observe the above restrictions.
We are currently seeking clarity from UK Government on 1:1 coaching and will provide an update as soon as possible.
by Lyndsey Browne
So the next in our series of Virtual races for you is the Lido Relay …. Although it is not being held at the Lido and it is not a Relay!
Between Thursday 31 December and Sunday 3 January (four days), you need to submit three times to me (gavin.collett@jti.com), along with your date of birth.
2 miles
2 miles
1 mile
How you do this combination is entirely up to you.
It can be one run of five miles, just giving me the separate splits for 2 miles, 2 miles & 1 mile.
It can be 2 miles on day one, 0 miles on day two, 2 miles on day three, 1 mile on day four. (2021, get it? Humour me, I’m not going out much these days).
So the only criteria really is that only one of your runs can be one mile continuous, you cannot run 5 x 1 mile for example. Shorter distances this challenge obviously, so any ages can enter if you want to get all the family involved.
One mile = 1.60934 kilometres
Two miles = 3.21868 kilometres
Deadline is midnight on the evening of Sunday 3 January.
It’s looking as though we will be without real races for a little while longer, so I am proposing to do a Virtual 10 miles towards the end of January and a Virtual Half Marathon towards the end of February; just a bit of prior notice if any of you want to adjust your training for a few longer runs.
There will also be some other shorter challenges in between, some of which may involve a bit of planning!
Happy New Year everyone! It’s got to be better than the last one.
by Martin Bateman
This event is a straight copy of the trail quests that we hosted as a club earlier this year.
The aim is to find 12 hidden festive images as quick as possible, located in and around a number of green spaces in Hillingdon. The time starts when you find the first location and ends when you find the last one. They can be found in any order.
There is no time limit, however there will be a time penalty of 15 mins per unfound image. Please take a photo of each image you find and share your time if you are in our facebook group, or email me at mbateman@hillingdonac.co.uk. A pic of yourself during the quest will be good too. If you do it on a bicycle or walk please mention that when posting your time and images.
This event runs from 7am Sunday 27th Dec to 4pm Thursday 31st Dec.
Current Covid Tier rules should be followed during this event including only mixing with max 1 person not from your household. Festive Quest Map and Clues to print.
Come prepared for mud!
by Dave Smith
Following the UK Government’s announcement on Saturday 19 December of new Tier 4 areas, further details have been released by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Sport England as to how sport and physical activity is impacted within this specific Tier:
Organised outdoor sport for under-18s (including those who were under-18 on 31 August 2020) and disabled people is allowed. Indoor sport for under-18s is only permitted for education or to facilitate childcare that enables parents or carers to work, seek work or take part in education.
Organised outdoor and indoor sport for over-18s is not permitted.
People can exercise outdoors or visit some public outdoor places, such as parks, the countryside, public gardens or outdoor sports facilities. They can continue to do unlimited exercise alone, or in a public outdoor place with their household, support bubble, or one other person.
Outdoor sports facilities are allowed to open and can be used by individual households, bubbles or two people from different households. This applies to outdoor track and field provision where it is open locally
There are no exceptions for disabled people taking part in sport or physical activity indoors.
Competition licences within Tier 4 areas are suspended.
I would like to thank runners, coaches, leaders, officials, administrators, volunteers, and parents for your continued support, patience and understanding whilst adhering to the guidance issued in accordance with the UK Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
I would like to wish you and your families a merry xmas along with a happy and healthy new year and hope that we can all be back together as a running community early in 2021.
On behalf of HAC Management Committee.
by Dave Smith
EA advise that in Tier 3 outdoor organised coached activities for adults and children, carried out within a COVID secure environment, are allowed. Numbers are not limited in such groups but coaches must not exceed a ratio of one coach to twelve runners. Runners should avoid socialising before and after the session. Unorganised and non coached activity is permitted but are required to follow the rule of 6 and socialising before and after should be avoided. If running on the road you should avoid running into tier 1 or 2 areas.
Over 18’s living in tier 3 can travel within their own specific tier 3 area to train or compete. Over 18’s living in a tier 3 area cannot travel into another tier 3 area, nor into a tier 1 or 2 area, to train or compete. As far as we understand all 32 London boroughs are one tier 3 area.
Under 18’s can travel across all tiers to train at their club and/ or compete.
Volunteers (including coaches, leaders and officials) may travel across all tiers where necessary to enable participation to take place. This should be kept to an absolute minimum
In tier 3 you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues. In view of this and with great regret the clubhouse will be closed from Wednesday 16th December.
YOU need to do what YOU feel is right and safe. When making these decisions please consider your safety and the safety of others.
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a happy and peaceful xmas. I look forward to seeing you all back at the clubhouse when the virus has reduced and restrictions have been lifted. Stay safe.
by Dave Smith
If you have no intention of running with Hillingdon AC on Christmas Day, there is no need for you to read this marathon length message. May I wish you, on behalf of myself and Hillingdon AC, a very Merry Christmas and a Much More Normal New Year!
Forename & Surname:
Date of Birth:
Email:
Predicted current 5K time:
Telephone No:
Emergency Contact No:
Confirm paid-up HAC member: Yes / No (delete as required)
A volunteer Hillingdon AC team have been working extremely hard behind the scenes for the last fortnight to explore the possibility of staging the Hillingdon AC Christmas Morning Road Race. The compromise we have reached will not be universally popular or of interest to many, we are aware of that, but we truly believe we have come up with an alternative (under the current regulations) that allows us to maintain a club tradition that dates back to the early 1950’s. There are quite a few differences from the normal race.
Friday 25 December 2020
Hillingdon AC Christmas Morning Road Run
10.00am start
2.7 miles one lap route on pavements and footpaths in Uxbridge
Start/Finish at bus stop on Park Road, Uxbridge, opposite North Common Road
Route: Clockwise, Park Road, Swakeleys Roundabout, A40 Western Avenue, Hercies Road, Honeycroft Hill, Park Road.
The route will not be marshalled
For insurance purposes, paid up Club members only, aged 16 or over on day of run
Pre-entry only to Gavin gavin.collett@jti.com, by providing the information requested in bold at the beginning of this message. There is no charge for entering. If you have not entered in advance please do not attend the event, you will not be able to run, there will be no exceptions to this rule
Entry will be limited to 48 on a first come first served basis, who will be seeded into waves of six according to predicted current 5K time. Please be realistic and do not put don’t know or any other unhelpful comments!
The waves (maximum of eight) will start at one minute intervals, the fastest starting first. If you miss your starting group then you will not be able to run
No numbers will be worn
The run will be hand-timed and a result produced
The stadium & leisure centre car parks at Uxbridge will be shut, so parking is your own responsibility in residential roads nearby, either side of the A40. It is your responsibility to check local parking restrictions, but many do not apply on Christmas Day according to the Hillingdon Council website
There will be no toilets or changing facilities, the stadium & leisure centre at Uxbridge will be shut
Spectators are discouraged from coming to the start/finish area to help with social distancing. However, some volunteer stewards are required for the start/finish area. Please contact Gavin
Do not travel to the event if you are showing any symptoms of Covid-19 as outlined by the NHS
Respect social distancing guidelines at all times, including keeping a 1m+ distance when running
Be aware of other users of the area and give way to them where necessary, we do not have priority on any part of the course. In particular be aware that the footpath narrows for a while just before turning right into Hercies Road
Avoid spitting and nasal clearance
If you experience COVID symptoms soon after the event, then please make this known through the Government’s Track & Trace system
Further instructions in the form of a full race briefing will be sent to entrants prior to the event
You take part entirely at your own risk
This run is obviously subject to cancellation or change depending on rules & regulations of the Government, Local Authority and England Athletics at the time.
The route can be viewed here https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3742804075
Did you know?
This very course was used for the race in 1965 before it transferred to the “normal” course from the clubhouse!
