A VERY LONG NEWSLETTER THIS TIME, BUT PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT AS IT CONTAINS A LOT OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CLUB ATHLETES AND PARENTS.

 

WICKLOW XC CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

Fantastic results from both Sunday’s at the Wicklow XC Championships, despite a very big percentage of our club athletes failing to attend. On day 1 we had barely 20% of our athletes in attendance, but despite this we got 7 individual medals and team medals in the Girls U10, U14 & U16 and Boys U16 & U18

Congratulations to our County Champions Ella Shanley, Richael Browne & Joe Prendergast, Silver medal winners Sarah O’Connor & Troy Scully and bronze winners Abbie Tyrrell & Paul Delahunty and well done to all who ran so well.

 

On day 2 we did a little better, but not much, and again we saw fantastic running from those who did come with County Championships going to Sarah O’Connor, silver medals to Abbie Tyrrell, Louise O’Riordan, Paul Delahunty & Troy Scully & bronze medals to Katy Lawless & Ella Shanley. A few more teams this time, with team medals, for every team we managed to fill, Girls U9, U11, U13, U15 & U17, Boys U17 & our Intermediate Men. Great running from everyone who took part, but disappointing for all the coaches who put so much time and effort in, to see so many athletes not taking part on either day.

 

Full results from both days are now on the sidebar of our website home page. Medals to follow!

 

 

 

COACHING DAY

 

We are holding a special coaching session on next Saturday 22^nd Oct. from 10-12 o’clock at Shoreline Track. This is open to all club athletes from U11–U16 (Born 2001-2006) and will cover Hurdles, Sprints, Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Putt, Javelin, Discus. Application form is now on the website and will close on this Thursday 20^th Oct. Don’t just turn up on the day please, as we will not be able to facilitate you. Each athlete can take part in two events only. Please list 3 events in order of choice and we will do our best to give you your first preferences. Cost for the day is €5. We intend holding a number of these sessions over the coming months, to help prepare for the Indoor season.

 

 

 

URGENT-------- UPCOMING COMPETITIONS

 

We are now looking forward to the first of the Leinster Championships, which will take place on a new course this year in New Forest Golf Club, Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath. This is the even ages event for athletes from U12-18 (U11’s can move up) and also for Novice & Masters athletes. We hope that lots & lots of our athletes will make an effort and turn out to run for Club & County on Saturday 29^th Oct. First race is at 12 o’clock, so athletes will need to arrive at 11am for check-in & warm up, as numbers will be big. Entry form is now on the website and closing date is this Friday 21^st Oct. There are absolutely no late entries accepted by Leinster, so get your names down right away and don’t wait until the last minute, as you might miss out. There will be open (non championship) races for girls & boys U10, with entries taken on the day, at the event. Start time for this is 11.40am.

 

The uneven ages event for U11-19 (U10’s can move up) and the Intermediate adults will take place on Sun. 13^th Nov. Venue has yet to be confirmed for this. To avoid confusion, entry form for this will only go up when the even ages comes down.

 

 

 

LEAGUE ROUND 5 : Friday 17^th Nov. in Rathdrum Rugby Club. Registration 6.30pm. First race 7 pm. This one is uneven Ages U/ 7, 9, 11, 13.& 15, but athletes can move up one age group. Entry form will go up after the Leinster events close, to avoid confusion.. Athletes must be registered to compete. Certs to all finishers. Medals are awarded at the end of the League to athletes who accumulate sufficient points by attending regularly. Athletes who compete in all 6 events get Gold, in 5 events get silver & in 4 events get bronze medals. A list of standings for the 2016 League will go up on our website shortly.

 

Please note that there will be no 6-7pm training on Friday 17^th, as coaches will be at the XC League. The 7-8.30pm training will go ahead for those who are not running in the league!

 

 

 

SOME ADVICE FOR RACE DAYS

 

Arrive on time, as late arrival puts unnecessary stress on everyone, especially the young athletes. Athletes should start their warm-up about 30 mins before their own race/event and they should complete their usual regular routine. Club coaches will generally take charge of the younger groups. Warm up should be done in runners not spikes, and tracksuits etc. should be left on throughout. Athletes should only take their gear off and put their spikes on while the race ahead of there is taking place and they should leave a top on until the last possible minute. There is absolutely no point in warming up and then stripping clothes off and letting your muscles get cold while you wait around. There is no support in a pair of spikes and it is very easy to spike yourself or someone else while walking around wearing them. Absolutely wonderful for racing in, but only for racing in………. wear them for the shortest possible time, not all day! Very long spikes are not recommended for children, as they may injure themselves or others.

 

We know how easy it is to get carried away during a race and while love to hear everyone cheering on our athletes, in keeping with the ethos of our club, parents, coaches & supporters should try to ensure that we are always being supportive of all our athletes and not critical of how they are performing. Not every race will go to plan, but they are all out there doing their very best, so lets leave the race analysis to the coaches/athletes at the next training session and just be there for them offering your unwavering support and encouragement! Please note that running beside an athlete during a race is termed pacing and you will most likely get the athlete disqualified if you do this.

 

 

 

 

PLEASE READ AND INFORM/REMIND ATHLETES:

 

We are asking once again that athletes make sure to use the toilets before coming down to training as it causes huge problems if a coach has to leave a group to bring them up, during the session. On this note, we remind athletes that the toilets and changing rooms must be left as we find them and not in a mess. Recently we have had a lot of tissue etc. thrown about and water everywhere, coinciding with athletic club’s use of the facility, and this needs to stop. Shoreline have the right to refuse access to groups who do not respect the track and other facilities. Please remember that the building is not our club house, it is a business premises and athletes are asked not to gather in the reception area or just outside the front door, as this interferes with other customers access. We now have access to the container nearest to the track for check-in on wet evenings, so please go directly there to check-in, if it is raining. You may leave your bags here on wet nights.

 

 

We remind you once again that all athletes are expected to attend training regularly and need to bring water with them to all sessions. They should wear proper runners and tracksuit, shorts or leggings please. If wearing shorts, please bring tracksuit bottoms to wear over them for warm-up & cool down as the evenings are getting very cold now. Always bring a light rainjacket to all training sessions, as we do not have indoor facilities if it rains!

 

 

Athletes who may need an inhaler, should always make sure to bring it with them. You should not share other athletes inhalers, as they may not be the same medication/dosage as yours.

 

 

Athletes who are not fit to train due to injury or illness should not attend training sessions. Athletes who arrive and are not fit to train will be sent home, as it is far too cold to stand around on the track waiting for the session to end.

 

 

NB: Groups 1 & 2 are required to attend a minimum of two sessions per week to enable them to keep up with the training level and stay with their group. This has been agreed by all athletes/parents before joining this group. Training sessions take place on Tues/Wed/Fri from 7-8.30pm. While we hope you can do all three, if only doing two nights, it is better to do Tues/Fri or Wed/Fri if at all possible, rather than two nights together with 5 off. We also have an organised Sunday morning run at 9.15am, which is a very important part of the training week. If you cannot make this, you will need to do the run yourself later in the day.

 

 

So far this season the attendance on Fri nights & Sunday mornings is poor and we really need to see a huge improvement from here out. All athletes & parents are welcome to join us on these Sunday runs, however young children need to be accompanied.

 

 

Parents and brothers/sisters are not allowed inside the track during training sessions, but are welcome to watch from outside the fence. Please note that the Outdoor Gym Equipment is for age 14 up only and children should not be allowed to play on this! (Health & Safety)

 

 

 

LEINSTER PERFORMANCE SQUAD

 

 

Congratulations to GAC athletes Alana Ryan  Sprints, Alex Campbell TJ, Ara Freeman Sprints, Ben Mooney  Sprints, James Vance  LJ, Josh Pyper  Sprints, Louis Lalor  Hurdles, Niamh Conroy  Sprints, Rachel Casey  Walks, Rachel Whitten  Javelin, Sophie Nicholson  HJ, who were selected for the Leinster performance squad for the 2016/17 season. They had their first session last Sat. in Santry with the second one coming up on Dec. 3^rd in Athlone covering all events except endurance, which is organised separately. A developmental squad, open to all athletes aged 12 yrs +, runs on the same day from 11am-1pm. The Dec. 3^rd session for this one covers Hurdles, Middle Distance, Javelin and High Jump and costs €5.

 

 

 

 

CLUB SHOP

 

The club shop will be open on Tues. 25^th Oct. from 4.40-5pm and again from 7-8pm only. We have club singlets, shorts, t-shirts, rainjackets, hoodies etc. available. Unfortunately the new batch of smaller singlets are not due to arrive until the 31^st Oct., but they can be purchased on the 25^th and we will deliver them as soon as they arrive. Athletes should have either a club singlet or T- shirt for competitions. All other items are optional. We also have a small number of secondhand spikes for sale at very reasonable prices.

 

 

 

AAI REGISTRATION CARDS

 

We have a large number of athletes registration cards which have still not been collected. These have the athletes Life No. and will not be replaced, so we don’t want to give them to young children in case they get lost. A lot of them were given out at the Awards night, but for those who haven’t received them yet, we will have them at the gate this week, so please ask when you are dropping off your child, if you have not collected them previously. Cards for recently registered athletes will not be available yet.