The Club welcomes all participants both young and old and is always on the lookout for the new
talent of the future. So if you would like to get involved in an active sport or think you have what it
takes to be a future champion come and join us.
The main club training sessions are every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
at the Down Grange track. Click here for more information
The club has a well established coaching team and boasts some international athletes competing
for their country. It also has a number of nationally recognized officials who you will see at a number
of the local and national meetings making sure all goes smoothly.
Good news everyone! Club training sessions will be returning from Tuesday 30 th March! We are looking forward to seeing you!
We know that some people will have been significantly affected by the latest lockdown. Tell your coach if you’re feeling below par or think you have lost fitness. They will help you by adapting your training to help you back to full physical and mental wellbeing.
We have extended the sessions to run from 6.00pm until 9.00pm to ensure that everyone has safe access to the track. Your coaches will advise you on your session times, but they are unlikely change much except for senior athletes .
England Athletics’ guidance makes it clear that we have to remain vigilant so we will be operating under similar conditions to before the last lockdown. As a reminder, here is a checklist for athletes and parents when attending training:
Check and follow the latest Government guidance : https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Carry hand sanitiser with you
Maintain social distancing
Only take part if you are healthy and not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms including:
a high temperature
a new, continuous cough
a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste
Let your coach know if you are returning from a COVID-19 infection
Ensure you have enough water for the session AND that you have eaten sufficient for the session AND with a suitable gap before training. Let your coach know if that hasn’t been possible
No socialising before and after the session
The toilets in the Maidenwell Pavilion will be open. Please try and avoid having to use them during your session ; try and arrive in sufficient time!
There are additional points for athletes requiring specific support. Let your coach know if you have other needs.
A flowchart on managing suspected cases of COVID-19 can be found on page 13 of England Athletics’ full guidance on Athletics & Running Training HERE
Leigh Henderson
COVID Coordinator
We’ve had a great response to our last appeal for coaching helpers – we have 5 new members of the team…all are working with running groups . So… here is a n appeal from Deborah our throws coach. Deborah has become a successful national level Master’s throws champion and so leads by example!
Are you an athlete’s parent or enthusiast who would kindly consider supporting BMHAC as a Throws helper/Coach Assistant? That is how I started out when my son’s athletic club put the word out for helpers, and I decided to offer rather than stand around in the cold waiting for him to finish his training ! I then gained the knowledge to support my son in Shot Put and in a short while he ended up breaking our then club record before he moved over to r ugby , where his passion lies. Javelin was my initial throws knowledge and passion from my young er days before injury put an end to it, but was I was able to return to throws as a parent and now a coach.
Look ing forward to having you work with our young BMHAC athlete s !
As Deborah sa ys , no previous experience required and you would be helping the Club achieve its ambitions as a national level athletic club . Interested to know more?
Email Leigh Henderson, Coaching Coordinator
leighhen@gmail.com
This is one of the biggest events in the BMHAC calendar, and it relies heavily on an army of volunteers to make it happen.
In 2019, the last time the race was held, we had a total of 130 volunteers. Our volunteers helped with marshalling, feed stations, registration, course marking, finish tunnel, parking, baggage, and more.
The event this year is scheduled for Sunday 20 June 2021. Already, we have 680 registered entrants that have pre-entered (as at 25 March).
If you are a club member that’s not running on the day, or perhaps a family member of a club member, or simply someone that wants to support running, I would be grateful if you could keep the date free.
Over the next few weeks you will be hearing about the help that will be needed, and to have the opportunity to volunteer.
Meanwhile, you might be interested in this short film that was released yesterday, announcing a change to our Hoppit start/finish field this year….
Tim Fowler – Race Director
By joining the BVA lottery you can support the club and other local good causes.
You must be aged over 16 to participate
Follow the link to join in: LOTTERY
Becky & Sue are running more disability athletics coaching sessions at the track on Tuesdays, Click
here if you want to find out more.
For those who missed Penny Metcalf’s Zoom session on mindfulness last week, she recorded the session. Penny has provided a summary below and the link is HERE
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Mindfulness is a way of knowing what is going on inside your head and being able to manage it better. This can help to manage stress at work and the uncertainty of the moment. It can also help with race anxiety when we can get back to racing.
Mindfulness is about developing your ability to focus and this will help improve your performance at work or in your running. It helps you to be aware of distraction and self criticism and be able to deal effectively with both. It will help us deal with disappointment when times were not quite what they used to be and that might be useful for a few of us and our young people when we return to competitive sport after lockdown and after injury, and for some of us – after both!’
The club is always looking out for extra helpers. So no matter how much time you can donate, we can use your support.
There are still some vacant committee roles, and other posts available that you may have the skills to either fill, or assist with when you can.
Even if you can just spare a few hours at a race or event, then your assistance will be welcomed.
For details of committee and other posts that need filling, please see here
For all volunteer examples where we hope you can assist, please see examples here
2020 has been a year like no other.
The club is proud of the hard work and commitment of all our members – athletes, coaches, officials and supporters.
Here is a link to two videos celebrating what has been achieved collectively this summer and recognises the effort you’ve put in to stay fit and motivated. A great job – keep it going!
Many Thanks to Sue for putting these together and thanks to all our members and their families for your continued support.
Part one HERE
Part two HERE
The Club welcomes all participants both young and old and is always on the lookout for the new
talent of the future. So if you would like to get involved in an active sport or think you have what it
takes to be a future champion come and join us.
The main club training sessions are every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
at the Down Grange track. Click here for more information
The competetion last year was tough but the senior men’s team find themselves back in Division 1
of the British Athletics League (BAL) .
The club has a well established coaching team and boasts some international athletes competing
for their country. It also has a number of nationally recognized officials who you will see at a number
of the local and national meetings making sure all goes smoothly.