Training starts Tue 16th April at Vandyke usual time.

Reminder for subs: The annual subscriptions are well overdue; please can you pay promptly to avoid you child being sent home from training as they will not be insured. Thank you for those that have already paid. Membership forms are available at training or the LBAC website.

Bedfordshire Network Sportshall 24th March Biggleswade: Saw a fantastic turnout of 28 athletes competing hard against stiff opposition. Our under 13 girls going into this league event in last position came through to win the league showing what a great performance they and all the under 11 athletes and U13 boys had. This puts us in a strong position to build on for next season’s winter sportshall events. Resourcing correct equipment to train with is underway. The under 11’s will be able to hone their skills throughout the summer in a number of Quadkids events that Bedfordshire Network clubs are putting on. We host the 14th July event. But will hold it at Biggleswade’s track for logistical reasons to allow us to transport organisers and athletes to Cambridge as it clashes with EAL.

22nd March 7.00pm Annual presentations and quiz night – Cottesloe School: I hope you all enjoyed the presentation and quiz night? My team were robbed in the quiz! As we didn’t have a junior in the team so we defaulted Well done to Zara Butler and her team on winning – there is a shield but last year’s winners failed to return, will resolve soon.

A Fantastic turn out to celebrate the achievements of all the athletes this year, with the following taking the main prizes on the night.

Track and Field:

Champion Girl – Sarah Plummer, 2nd place tied between Chloe May and Jade Lindars

Champion Boy – Jordan Clay, 2nd place tied between Tom Boozer and Patrick Clay

Cross Country:

Champion Girl – Chloe May, 2nd Sarah Plummer, 3rd Melissa Chapman

Champion Boys-Kieran Philpott and Charlie Mead, 3rd place tied between Max Rose, Dominic Grimshaw and Henry Mead

Best Newcomers:

Girls – Ellie Rabbitts

Boys – Kieran Philpott

Bedfordshire Open Track and Field Event 6th April: A number of Athletes competed at the first Track and field event of the season last weekend and PB’s were gained in abundance from first time competitors for the club by Sophie Bell on the back of late night watching one direction, to more seasoned athletes of Scott and Sadie Towell, Zara Butler, Sarah Plummer, Mckenna Keefe and Jordan Clay.

A great opportunity to blow out some cobwebs and prove their winter training had paid off with fast times, longer jumps and getting used to competition in readiness for the first East Anglian League (EAL) event on 12th May at Luton. Well done to you all and Fiona competing in a number of events making the team selection for EAL!

Parent Volunteers – Your child’s club still needs you!  The updated roster can be found HERE. Please make sure you are able to attend on your given dates. Athletes training will suffer if not supported. Thank you to those who have contacted me to make changes where you are not available.

Additional help needed Tuesday 16th April at Vandyke:  We need a number of parent volunteers with Shovels, Spades, Rakes and Weeding gloves on the first Tuesday back after Easter 16th April, to prepare the sandpits to make them safe for training. Those volunteers should not be part of the coaching team as training will take place on the track. This is our first opportunity to prepare the pits as the School do not do this. There will be No horizontal jumping until the pits have been prepared.

All the below admin tasks are still vacant! In order to assist with the on-going admin we are looking for volunteers to cover a number of admin tasks for the club:

· Co-ordinate entries for the summer track and field events (Training and support will be given and there will be a team of helpers at each event).

· Summer events coach (transport) coordinator (only two coaches to book and coord who is traveling by coach and collect monies on the day)

· Kit order coordinator – (new order forms and options for online ordering have made this task easier)

· Coaching Assistants

· Membership secretary –(this task is nearly complete for this year, just new members and those still to join this year to take on)

· Sportshall/Quad Kids event reports (A parent of an under 11 year old would be suitable for this task)

Training and support will be given for all positions. Please talk to Nick to discuss the task you would like to take on.

Dates for your diary:

Track and Field

Sunday 12th May East Anglian League Luton – (Self drive)

Sunday 26th May County Championships Luton – (Individual entry by 10th May see entry form)

Sunday 23rd June East Anglian League Braintree (Coach)

Sunday 14th July East Anglian League Cambridge (Self Drive)

Sunday 1st September East Anglian League Bury St Edmunds (Coach)

Further details will be published nearer the dates.

Quad Kids (Under 11’s only) Held from 9.30 – 11.30 allows time to travel to EAL* meetings afterwards

*Sunday 12th May Biggleswade (self drive)

Sunday 9th June Ampthill (selfdrive)

*Sunday 14th July Biggleswade (LBAC Hosting this fixture) (Self Drive) Parent Volunteers needed

Youth Development League

We are also competing in the Youth development league (YDL) for our U17 and U20 athletes in a composite Bedfordshire team meeting dates are:

Saturday 28th April Battersea Park

Sunday 2nd June TBC

Sunday 30th June Sutcliffe Park

Sunday 28th July Sandy Sports Centre