LBAC is a small club with limited facilities and therefore it’s particularly noteworthy when athletes gain county or national selection. Various club athletes have recently achieved such recognition and their achievements are detailed below. Congratulations to each of you, be proud of your achievements.

Each year, Beds AAA (Bedfordshire Amateur Athletics Association) awards county badges to athletes that have been selected to represent the county on at least two occasions over two or more seasons. In recent years, badges have been awarded to Jordan Clay, Billy Mead, Brian Foulger and Rebecca Davis.

For 2014, two further LBAC athletes have received county badges:

Shea Minty – receives his badge having represented the county in the 1500m in the 2013 Southern Inter-Counties, and at cross country in the 2013-14 National Inter-Counties, where he was a very creditable 61st out of 301 finishers.

Sarah Plummer receives her badge having represented the county three times in cross country over the last two seasons, emphasising her great consistency over the period. The events she was selected for were the National Inter-Counties in 2012-13 and both the Southern and National events in 2013-14.

On Saturday 13th December, the 2014 Southern Inter-Counties are being held at Oxford, and we are pleased to report that two LBAC athletes have been selected for Bedfordshire, with a third on the reserve list:

Dominic Grimshaw has been in great form in the Chiltern League U11 races this season and this has been recognised with him being selected to compete at the older U13 age group. All being well, this could be the first of many county selections for Dom.

Ellie Rabbitts has been selected to compete for the U13 girls, a recognition of her consistent finishes in the Chiltern League over the last year.

Sadie Towell has been selected on the reserve list for the U13 girls. Selection would be a deserved reward for someone that competes regularly for the club.

We wish them all well.

Last, but by no means least, Gail Duckworth travelled to Nottingham on 22nd November to represent England in the Masters Home Countries Cross Country International. This prestigious event sees masters athletes selected to represent their home country in this annual England vs Scotland vs Wales vs Northern Ireland vs Republic of Ireland fixture – it is the pinnacle for most Masters endurance athletes.

Gail has been a world champion, set British records, and been selected for the Home Countries previously. However after experiencing serious injury problems in recent years, most of us are surprised to see her running at all, never mind at national standard! This is great testament to Gail’s ability and dedication, and we’re proud to have her as Club President.

Gail was the third English scorer in the race, finishing 9th out of 19 competitors in the 55 to 59 age group, which helped England secure silver medals behind the Republic of Ireland. Despite this brilliant achievement, Gail will probably tell you that she still isn’t back to full fitness!