Coaches Report 2006-07

 

Coaching Sessions on both the early and late slots have been very well attended throughout the year and when combined topping around 40 runners on at least one occasion. Long gone are the days when we had numbers in single figures.

 

Congratulations to Ian Pitt who has gained his Coach Level 1 award and in doing so brings our number of qualified and active coaches to three. Tony is on the brink of gaining his level 2 award and I am still part way through my level 3. However I must also thank the more experienced members of the club who have given their time in encouraging the newer members and helping the coaches, especially at the early sessions..

 

With the increasing size of our club it is becoming more difficult for only three coaches to cope effectively and offer adequate coaching and I would like to see at least another two members go down the coaching path and ideally at least one of these to be a female. So if you feel you could help in this way the club is willing to pay for your training.

 

As the dynamic of the club has changed in the past two or three years it has become apparent, from a coaching point of view, that the present set up is perhaps not serving the club in the best way to encourage a more seamless and integrated progression for members and to make best use of the three coaches we have so the coaches have discussed some changes that you might like to consider.

 

More of that later but I would now like to move on to the Coaches award for this year. There have been a number of very strong contenders trying to catch the coaches eye this year but the person who fits the award best was in the beginners section just over a year ago, won our London Marathon ballot and since then has gone from strength (hill reps) to strength (more hill reps). The coach’s award this year goes to Caroline Brogan.

 

 

Club Championship

 

First apologies for the lack of championship updates throughout the year, in defence I do require input and submissions from you and very little data appeared readily to hand until the last few weeks. My apologies also if your name does not appear in the championship table. The main reasons for this are that you have overlooked paying your club dues for the year, (I was asked that only paid up members be included), you have not run any races this year or if you have I have not been able to find them or knew about them.

 

After much digging and delving (there was no bribing) I have managed to come up with our champions for 2007. Dealing with the men first as they are less interesting. In the first half of the year Ewan Barnfather seemed to be running races here there and everywhere and looked to be a certain champion, however a new arrival in the Barnfather household curtailed some of his activity later on and in the end Ewan has finished up in third place. This left the field open to two old hands to contest the number one spot. Both of these ran the West Highland Way and both have run a goodly number of races throughout the year and in the end it came down to the last race of the year our own Run with the Wind 10K. So first of all congratulations to Tom (Wilson) on achieving second place in your inaugural over 60 year - perhaps holding back in your races so as to set a slow PB benchmark cost you the few points required to achieve the number one spot. Anyway let us salute our men’s champion for the second year running - Tony Thistlethwaite.

 

Now for the ladies and the number of ladies appearing in the championship table far outweighs that shown by the men and it is great to see so many new names beginning to make an impact. Concentrating on international duties Elaine (Calder) has not been able to run as many races as usual and has consequently slipped down the list a little bit. However her achievements at representing the club at International level undoubtedly make her our International Champion, congratulations on your achievements throughout the year Elaine. Last years champion Rosie (Bell) has “eased off” a little this year, if you call running an excellent WHW “easing off”, but has still managed to achieve third place. Moving up several places and into second spot is one of the founder members of the club Dorothy Lucas. Congratulations Dorothy. As an inspiration to all our beginners as to what can be achieved (she was a beginner herself last year) our new ladies champion I’m very pleased to announce is Caroline Brogan. Congratulations Caroline.