HASTINGS ATHLETIC CLUB

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Review of 2000

CHAMPIONS of 2000

Heartiest Congratulations to all of our County Champions

SUSSEX CHAMPIONS

Aaron Good 400m 57.96s

Aaron Good 800m 2:15.47

Aaron Good Pentathlon 2116 pts

Nicholas Smith Long Jump 6.11m

Frances O'Gorman Hammer 26.69m

Andy Hitch 400m Hurdles 57.99

Steve Standen 3000m S/C 10:08.9

Paula Coombs Hammer 33.59m

Celia Tambeh 3000m Walk 23:59.60

SUSSEX SCHOOLS CHAMPIONS

Kate Butters Javelin 27.84m

Mieke Howell 300m Hurdles 46.6s

SUSSEX VETERANS CHAMPIONS

Paula Coombs Shot Putt 9.65m

Paula Coombs Discus 28.01m

Paula Coombs Hammer 35.70m

Roland Garrad Triple Jump 9.78m

   

Team Managers Reports

LADIES MISS PROMOTION BY A WHISKER

Five points, or one win, was all that separated the ladies from promotion to Division 2 at the end of a marvellous season. I will not dwell on what might have been, but on what was achieved by a team full of fighting spirit and our almost legendary support both within the team and from our band of travelling supporters. Our first match at Parliament Hill was disappointing in terms of numbers of athletes, particularly in the juniors, and we finished last by just half a point. There were six personal bests achieved including a 20 sec improvement by Emily Loughman and a 5 sec improvement by Cheryl Heath, both in the 1500m. Match two at Tooting Bec showed the true potential of the team where we won by over thirty points to move up from 19th to 6th in the league. Another eleven personal bests included Club Records for Paula Coombs in the hammer with a new Sussex record throw of 38.50m and Jeannie Sanderson, 1.50m in the under 17 pole vault. The team built on this success with a tremendous win by 69 points at home to move up to fourth in the league. Nine more personal bests and another under 17 Club Record, this time for Frances O'Gorman with a throw of 27.13m in the hammer. Promotion could have been all but secured in match four at Barn Elms where we were up against the second and third placed teams. Unfortunately we were let down by a number of juniors not turning up and we struggled in fourth place. A further five personal bests were still achieved. Match five at Dartford proved another disappointment in terms of finishing position as we came fourth despite a reasonable turn out of athletes. Holidays deprived the team of a few seniors which probably made the difference between coming second in a closely fought match. The juniors showed their potential with seven personal bests including two excellent sprints by Francesca Gregory. Frances O'Gorman improved her hammer record to 27.46m. We went into the last match at Basingstoke knowing that promotion depended on our winning and other teams having a bad day. We did our part with a massive win by 61 points which included 24 wins and 17 personal bests. The juniors had an excellent day in the field winning every event except the high jump and the senior hurdlers won all bar one of their seven races. Unfortunately luck was not on our side and other results did not quite go our way and we missed promotion by a few points. I seem to bemoan the lack of juniors at many league matches every year so let us hope that 2001 will be the year when the juniors come up trumps. Roland 'Rat' Garrad Team Manager

Senior Men's Track & Field Review 2000

I think it would be fair to say that a fantastic effort by a handful of athletes was responsible for our survival in division one this year. It was proven once again that there are no easy matches in division one, but a great team effort can beat great teams, The league season started at Parliament Hill with what looked to be our hardest match of the year, (IT WAS: Luton won the league and gained promotion, Swindon came third and just missed moving up to the national league, Woodford Green (their A team is in the National League) came ninth and the home team, Highgate relegated from the National League last season finished 13th.) For the first time in many seasons we scored well in the throws, but although, as usual we filled every event, we contrived to score zero points in five events. Despite this we gained an excellent fourth place. The "B" team were lucky enough to start their season with the scenic journey to Exeter, and some battling performances helped to overcome the lack of numbers. To keep within the confines of this page, the rest of the season followed in a similar vein with both teams hovering on the edge of relegation until the final match, which was luckily a home match for both teams. The "William Parker" was buzzing again with two mens teams competing (this includes many of our vets and young athletes) and well supported by our ladies and other team members, along with family and friends. A super day of athletics (well run by Hastings officials) was enjoyed by all, especially as the results meant that Hastings remained in both Division One and Five of the Southern Men's League. The biggest disappointment this year was the clubs turn out at the B.A.L. Cup, and our congratulations to the five athletes and three officials that turned up. What lessons can the club learn from the fact that following the withdrawal of our ladies team in the week before the competition seven of our men withdrew in the 24 hours before the competition!? The outstanding memory of 2000 for me, was to see one of our hardest working team members racing stride for stride with one of the world's greatest ever athletes in the Olympic Games. (it was some while after that I found out that he was carrying an injury, too!) Well done Sean Baldock, an inspiration to us all! On that note, many Hastings athletes excelled with another good haul of medals at the various regional championships, and the following top ten shows that standards are still rising. Hastings athletes can move into 2001 confident of the support of an enthusiastic committee and team of background workers, a tradition of being one of the friendliest and most supportive clubs in the country and a team spirit second to none! Now, of course, it is down to the athletes to do the training, sharpen up their competitive edge and win the events that will keep Hastings AC at the top! As usual, on behalf of the athletes we thank our coaches, officials, family, partners, friends and helpers for their support (or forebearance) during the year. My personal thanks go to all the athletes, officials and supporters that have helped me to enjoy the wonderful experience of being part of the Hastings team (as manager) over the last thirteen years, and as an athlete for thirty years. Mark Burgess

PROMOTED TO DIVISION ONE

Enthusiasm matched with competitiveness made the young athletes team one of the best for some years. They literally steamrolled the opposition, winning every match by an average margin of 50 points. Five "Man of the Match" awards with any amount of standards achieved proved that it wasn't just numbers but quality that prevailed. It has to be said also that the boys carried themselves with great aplomb yet made it quite clear that they were enjoying themselves. Real ambassadors for the club and town. Promotion to division 1 this year will hold no fears for these boys! Reg Wild

 

Veterans Report (Track and Field) 2000

In last years report I mentioned that 35 athletes competed for the club. Last season we were very well supported again with 29 athletes competing. Last season we hosted the first of the Vets. matches on a cold and wet May evening. There was only one men's winner but with a lot of top three places in most events the men came out on top. The ladies came a close 2nd. to Worthing. The second match was at Worthing. The men's team were greatly depleted and could only manage 4th. place putting them in 2nd. place behind Eastbourne after two matches. The ladies went on to win comfortably to overtake Worthing at the top of the table. Lewes was the venue for the third match. A new venue for vets. matches. Brighton and Hove emerged as winners and pushed the men's team into 3rd place in the league. The men gained a lot of points from the heroics of Wayne Martin but without any recognised sprinters the team was always going to struggle. The women, also short of athletes, gained a creditable 2nd. place which was enough to keep them on top of the league. It was evident at this stage that the men's team were not going to make the play-off places unless Eastbourne or Brighton failed to turn up for the last match. the women on the other hand needed another good performance to secure the league title and a place in play-off finals. Eastbourne was the venue for the fourth match and again this was a first on this new track. It seems that Hastings kept their best till last. Hastings went on to achieve their first 'double' of the season. The women won their league and the men came 3rd. just missing out on a play-off place. Owing to the unavailability of athletes the women were not able to compete in the play-off final in London. You may feel that I could have put more details of events and performances in the league report but this year really was a team effort and it would have been difficult to name just a few. I will mention though the top point scorers. M 0/40 Wayne Martin W0/35 Paula Coombs M0/50 Terry Manning W0/50 Margaret Walpole M0/60 Lionel Parr. Paula Coombs, Jeanette Hardwick, Dawn Mann, Wayne Martin, Ron James, Terry Manning, Roland Garrad, Robert Beaney, Dave Palmer, Dave Cousins were all asked to represent their county at the Inter-Counties match against Kent, Hampshire, Essex and Surrey but owing to other commitments only Dawn, Paula, Dave Cousins and Bob Beaney were able to go. Dave Cousins and Wayne Martin came 3rd. and 4th. respectively in the Sussex outdoor Vets Pentathlon. Many thanks for all the support the athletes have given to the club and a personal thanks to Paul Emerson who has been a great help. Dave Cousins

Cross Country & Road Running

The road running section although small plays an important part in the club's activities. It is, and has for many years been a very successful part of this club. This year the men have once again taken the team prize in the Hastings Half Marathon along with the Sussex Championship. Our ladies also featured in there with some very good individual placings. The London Marathon which is probably the most Prestigious road running events in the calendar saw our athletes put in some very good times. It's very noticeable that although few in numbers compared to some clubs when our athletes compete, they make their presence felt! The Sussex Grand Prix is a good barometer for how a club performs on the road and we have one of the best records in this event for individual honours. Last year was no exception with our athletes once again taking a lot of scalps and finishing at the top. Hastings is now renowned for it's organisational skills with the Hastings Half Marathon continuing to win acclaim, and our cross country events on the Bexhill Downs also very well received. Reg Wild

Committee Reports 2000

Secretary's Report 2000

The management side of the Club has once again been a hard slog this year, with all Main Committee members and the subcommittee members working hard to ensure the smooth running of the Club. We, over the year, have had some disappointments such as the cancellation of the New Zealand/Boardman Trophy and the fact that the Ladies Team (just) failed to be promoted to Div 2 despite all their excellent efforts. This, however has been neatly balanced by the resounding success of the YAL Team and the relief that the Mens A Team has managed to remain in Div 1. I know that I have not covered everyone who has been successful through out the Club be it on the road or X/C or track but I know that everyone has given of their best and deserves a big well done especially from all of us armchair athletes! Funds have been tight again this year, but we have managed, but not with out the help of the Fundraising Committee, I mention the members of this committee specially as most are not Club officers but are still willing to give up their time to keep the Club solvent!! Believe me when I say that we could not have managed without them. There are also other things going on outside the Club that are likely to affect us, during the next few years UK Athletics is proposing to bring in many changes, some good some not so good. The Club is being asked; along with all others for it's opinions on the proposals so watch this space! There only remains for me to thank all the Club Officers for their commitment throughout this year and to wish those not continuing our best wishes. Anne Wilson

FINANCIAL REPORT FOR YEAR 1999/2000.

It would appear from the difference between the opening balance of £9063. 25 at the 1st October 1999 and the closing balance of £7335.87 at the end of the financial year on the 30th September 2000 a deficit of £1727. 38 that the Club has had a bad financial year. However when the purchase of a Public Address System with Speakers, needed for home meetings, and useful for cross-country, at a cost of £1129 is taken into account, leaving a deficit of £600 we have not done too badly. The situation improves even more when coach hire costs of £420, appropriate to the 1998/1999 financial year are also taken into account. It is very difficult to accurately compare costs year by year because no two years costs are similar or alike!!! Nevertheless there are some key areas where comparisons between costs and receipts can be made. Our main outlay is the cost of track and hall sessions. which totals approximately £5,500. This equates to a need for a weekly income of over £100 a week in training fees. In the main "summer" months from April to July our income averages slightly more than that. In the remaining months and understandably in the winter, it averages somewhat less. However, when the profits from catering at home meetings is token into account, together with any contribution from the appropriate league for track hire, the Club are not far off breaking even in this area. Our major "loser" continues to be coach hire and transport to away matches. Our total costs for all forms of transport i.e. coaches, mini-buses, car hire and fuel is in the region of £3,200: the fares received were just over £1,000. A total loss, therefore, of over £2,000. It is Club policy that we significantly subsidise the fares of athletes who are prepared to compete for us. Ideally we would like to provide free transport, but we will need fairy godfather(s) or godmother(s) to achieve that. We are always interested to hear of any Company who are prepared to subsidise the Club or one of the Club's League Teams. Once again our finances hove been kept reasonable (as the treasurer, I must not appear too optimistic, the cup is more half empty than half full!) thanks to the sterling work of the Fund Raising Committee who raised in excess of £1,700 in the financial year. Please continue to support them and their fund raising events. Lionel Parr

Report of the fund-raising Sub Committee for the year 2000

Again it has been a very busy year for the fund-raising sub-committee. Our main activity in the year 2000 has been with the selling of refreshments. The sub-committee has made a good profit for the club by selling teas, coffees, bacon rolls, hot dogs and the like at the track at William Parker and at our home cross-country meeting at Bexhill. Socially we again held a Barn Dance including a Ploughman's supper in September at the Langton Hall in Battle. Everybody had a great time dancing with the assistance of the Catsfield Steamers. It was also very profitable, making £495 for the Club. Two quizzes were also held. one in April and the 2nd one in December. The quiz in December was an Entertainment Quiz superbly organised by Robert Walpole and attracted a record attendance of 13 teams. My thanks must go to all the members of the fund-raising sub-committee who have assisted me during the year, namely Roy Cutting, Jean Wild, Jan Fuller, Margaret Walpole, John Butters and Sheila Evans who sadly is no longer on the committee. If any one else would like to join the fund-raising sub-committee or has any fund raising ideas, then please contact me on 01424 431278. Paul Emerson

Hastings Athletic Club Fixtures Committee

This season has been yet another good one for the club, and it is interesting to see in the press all the different and varied venues that are being attended. This has partly been the responsibility of the fixtures committee, but also has been due to the various team managers across the events. As a committee we try and do the best for everyone, but we also need your help. Whilst we have a great deal of the fixture list laid out for us during the summer, with the various leagues we are in, it is not the same for the cross country and road running season. There are problems with obtaining information from the leagues at an early enough time, for instance the Sussex Grand Prix don't arrange their fixtures until the turn of the year, so we can not include that with any fixture list. Similarly, we all fall down the same trap; details of fixtures are not passed onto to us, so how can we tell you if we do not know! So please if you know of events that the club will take part in or are likely to take part in let us know. The summer fixture list is almost ready for publication; you most probably will have it before you read this. Once again it is very extensive, catering for the two men's teams, the ladies, young athletes and veterans, and for this year, we are entering the Sussex u13 league. Again if there is anything you know that we don't, please tell us. You may have noticed some changes to the fixtures from last year. Unfortunately due to lack of support from several other clubs, we cannot hold the Hastings Namesake and Boardman Trophy events this year. Due to the congestion at the start of the season we have decided to hold the club championships later in the season when there is not so much on, so please check the date and come and support the event. As we are limited to six home matches we have to try and use the six events wisely, and at the time of writing we have five firm events and a sixth date, which we are deciding, how best to use it. On home fixtures, can we ask, even if you are not competing, that you try and come and help on the day. Why not try and tempt your family to come along and give a hand, Jean and her crew are often there to hand out the teas! We are often setting the track and field up from 9 o'clock, so there will always be plenty of little jobs for you to do on the day either before competition or during the afternoon/evening. Do not worry if you do not feel confident, there will always be someone there to help you and show you the way for the first few times. Can I finally thank Anne, Bob, John, Reg and Paul for all their help during the past twelve months. Steve Roberts

ATHLETICS DAY FOR THOSE WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY 2000

On the 31st of May 2000 at the Grove School, St Leonards on Sea the AC and the East Sussex Sports Association got it together and made a great day possible for 100 people with a learning disability. This was particularly significant in an Olympic year when the games in Sydney did so much for our sport. The AC provided athletes and mums to run events and collate scores which for many was the fourth year in a row they have been able to help. For some it was their first experience of working with the disabled and I hope it gave them an insight to this work. The rain held off, and with Anne Wilson and Margaret Garrad keeping Digger on the straight and narrow the games were started. Roland and Joanne Evans got the races underway whilst Cass and his team of helpers caught the finishers and still managed to get some times for them. In truth, there where lots of helpers from the AC and I cannot recall them all, which is a pity because without their help we would have not had a games at all. I must mention Jean, our Chairman's wife who managed to sell lots of tea and Mars bars, and brought a big smile to the day. You too can help if you wish. This year on the half term Wednesday in May we will attempt to do it all again. Please try to come along and help if only for a short while. Those less able really do enjoy the day and without your sort of help this could not happen.

 

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