Wednesday 7th April 2010

ENGLAND Athletics want to hear your views about the future direction of Athletics beyond 2012.

They want to work with you to build a long- term vision for the sport – long after the torch of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has gone out.

England Athletics is holding local roadshows for affiliated clubs and networks. Don't miss this chance to find out more and have your say.
Consultation for Leicestershire & Northamptonshire:
The Houghton Suite,
Premier Inn Leicester (Braunstone South)
Braunstone Lane East,
Leicester LE3 2FW.
Monday 26th April 2010
Arrival and light buffet from 6.30pm; consultation 7.00 – 9.30pm

Please email Natalie Shaw to confirm your attendance: nshaw@englandathletics.org

Thursday 1st April 2010

THE British Olympic Association (BOA) has put Team GB on the path to 2012, by announcing that it aims to support a team of at least 500 athletes to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.



A team of that size would be the largest for Great Britain in over a century, and more than 50% bigger than the team that delivered a historic performance in Beijing in 2008. Most importantly, it would recognise the once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Olympic sport in Great Britain that results from competing in front of a home audience.



The announcement of the team’s size was made at a meeting of the National Olympic Committee, which also took the first steps in deciding the selection criteria that athletes will have to face.



Details of international qualification standards for each sport are expected to be released before the summer by the International Olympic Committee and the International Federations. Shortly after that, the BOA, in consultation with the National Governing Bodies of sports and athletes, will announce its own set of qualification criteria.



The process is expected to be complete before the end of 2010, giving both sports and athletes transparency about what they have to do to qualify to represent Great Britain in the 2012 Olympic Games.



Colin Moynihan, Chairman, British Olympic Association, said:
“There is no greater sporting event in the world than the Olympic Games and, as the host nation, we know that the selection of the athletes who will have the honour of representing Team GB will be of great interest to the British public. We won’t be taking any passengers with us and we will set exacting standards that ensure the athletes who represent Team GB are truly the Best of British.”

Andy Hunt, Chief Executive, British Olympic Association, said:
“This is an important step on the road to 2012. It’s over a hundred years since we sent a team of this size to an Olympic Games and the sporting world looked very different in 1908. The challenge we’re setting for British Olympic sport is to match our own ambitions - this is a once in a generation opportunity for us all and we want to produce the performances that will inspire our country and reflect the ideals of the Olympic Movement.”

Thursday 1st April 2010

WORLD 400 metres champion Sanya Richards-Ross has committed herself to competing at the BUPA Great CityGames in Manchester on May 16th.

The American superstar, voted world athlete of the year for 2009 after an unbeaten season, will make a flying visit for the innovative street meeting in the city's Deansgate.

Richards will compete in the inaugural Diamond League meeting in Doha on May 14th before heading to Manchester.

The 25-year-old, who married New Yorks Giants star Aaron Ross in February, will compete over 200m on a specially constructed track.

Organisers have already announced that American Tyson Gay, the former world 100m and 200m champion, and Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu will compete over distances yet to be confirmed.

Great Britain’s World heptathlon and pentathlon champion Jessica Ennis is also a confirmed entry to race over 150m.

Friday 2nd April 2010

JESSICA Ennis has been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month Award on the back of her stunning performance in Doha winning the Pentathlon gold at the World Indoor Championships with a personal best and championship record 4937 points.

The Sheffield athlete has also announced that she will compete in a specially arranged three-event challenge at the adidas Grand Prix in New York on June 12th.

Ennis will take on Olympic heptathlon silver medallist Hyleas Fountain in the 60 metres hurdles, long jump and shot put at the Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island.

The 24-year-old said: "Winning the world indoor title gives me a load of confidence heading into the summer, and now what a great opportunity it is for the multis to be included within the adidas Grand Prix's Diamond League structure.

"This meeting is known for producing great results and I'm excited to use the energy and support of the New York City crowd in making my US debut."

March was an action-packed month for European athletes, with the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, and the European Cup Winter Throwing in Arles, France, taking pride of place.

Europe claimed the most medals out of the Area Associations in Doha with an impressive haul of 30 medals, including 7 gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze.

Russia came out as the top European country with two gold medals, four silver and three bronze for a total of nine. Five European countries made it to the top 10 on the placing table.

Following this, European Athletics is pleased to announce that athletes from 11 countries have been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month award for March.

The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe.

European Athletics names a male and female winner each month and features the athlete on the European Athletics website. Selections are based on votes by the public, the media and a panel of European Athletics experts, with each counting for 33.3 percent of the final vote.

No athlete who has previously served a two-year doping ban can be nominated for or win the European Athlete of the Month.

To vote click on the following link: www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4760&Itemid=208

Wednesday 31st March 2010

WORLD 800m gold medallist Caster Semenya has announced her return to competitive athletics despite the absence of a final decision on the controversy surrounding the gender of the South African by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

“I am of the firm view that there is no impediment to me competing in athletics competitions,” Semenya said. “I hereby publicly announce my return to athletics competitions. My coach, agent and I will work closely together to identify and prepare for a limited number of athletics meetings over the course of the coming athletics season.”

Earlier this year there was confusion over whether Semenya could run again.

Her coach Michael Seme had announced she would be participating in races again, but the South Africa Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) said she could not run until the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) gender verification test results issue was finalised.

Sascoc had said Semenya was not eligible to “run in any sanctioned meeting or race”.

The IAAF refused to comment on her statement, Communications director Nick Davies said: "We won't comment until we have resolved the case."

Semenya was adamant that she had done nothing wrong and contended that the IAAF process was taking too long.

Wednesday 31st March 2010

AUSTRALIA's Gold Coast is formally bidding for the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

The Queensland government, the Gold Coast City council and the Commonwealth Games Association have signed the bid documents.

Premier Anna Bligh says $11 million has been set aside for the bid and hosting the Games could cost more than a billion dollars.

"I'm very excited about this bid - I think it is an opportunity for us to be promoting the Gold Coast in every Commonwealth country," she said.

"As we go through the bid process I believe we are very well placed to win this bid and that gives us the chance over the next 8 years to grow the Gold Coast's ability."

Mayor of the Gold Coast Ron Clarke says a lot of the infrastructure needed for a Commonwealth Games is already planned or in place.

"The convention centre, more particularly we have a potential great site for the village at Griffith University there," he said.

"We have the aquatic centre at Southport, and of course Carrara.

"We have the main stadium due and so most of our facilities we have them up and ready and so we have a great advantage in that way."

Councillor Clarke, who has competed in three Commonwealth Games, says the Gold Coast is the ideal venue.

"The weather is just superb and if everything's fair, and I was an athlete, this would be the best place on earth to run an event like this and the Gold Coast will be ready for it."

The State Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek backs the Gold Coast bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games but wants to see the financial details.

Mr Langbroek says the Games would be a huge economic boost for the Coast and the state.

"It's important that governments provide all sorts of resources, not just schools and hospitals," he said.

"But it's the Premier who's been saying we need to privatise and sell off Queensland's assets because of schools and hospitals.

"This is another matter some years away that the Premier has assured me and needs our support for it to be a successful bid that we can afford.

"So I'm looking forward to a costed business plan that we're going to support."

Australian Commonwealth Games Association head Sam Coffa says the Gold Coast has a good chance of hosting the 2018 event.

The main rival is expected to be the Nigerian city of Abuja.

Mr Coffa says Queensland has a good track record.

"Many of our Commonwealth colleagues fondly remember the people of Queensland who hosted the outstanding 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games and I am sure this will stand us in good stead with our 2018 bid," he said.

Tuesday 30th March 2010

WORLD and Olympic 100 metres champion Usain Bolt will go head to head with fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris this summer.

Bolt lit up a chilly and rainy night at the event last year with a fine winning time of 9.79 seconds on what was his first-ever appearance at the Stade de France.

The 23-year-old's participation this year had been in doubt but it has now been confirmed he will line up for the 100m in the French capital on July 16th.

"His potential remains an enigma; nobody knows what he's capable of," said Laurent Boquillet, head of the Paris meeting.

"He is in a class of his own, but his presence should electrify the rest of the race. We may see other athletes benefit from the high pace to score some very big times."

World bronze medallist Powell was responsible for Bolt's last defeat over 100m - in Stockholm in 2008.

The Diamond League gets underway on May 14th in Doha, Qatar and will make two stops in the UK: in Gateshead in July and London in August.

Tuesday 30th March 2010

THE Leicester Marrow 5k and 10k and Fun Runs are taking place on Sunday 6th June in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust organised by the University Of Leicester.

Their aim is to have at least 500 runners compete with the hope of raising a whopping £10,000 for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

For all running fanatics there's a 10km course and for those of you who fancy a more relaxed time there is a 5km course.

Race entry fee is £10 and each runner will receive a T-Shirt, medal, certificate and Goodie bag!

The Anthony Nolan Trust is the charity that maintains the national bone marrow register, providing donors for people with diseases such as leukemia where the only hope of survival is a bone marrow transplant from a donor. They receive no government funding.

This can cost the Trust up to £70 to recruit each potential bone marrow donor to the register, tissue-type each sample, and maintain the donor's records. They therefore continually rely on financial support from individuals and companies to continue their life saving work.

Entry forms and a copy of the sponsorship form can be found on the event website: www.marrowrun.co.uk

Friday 26th March 2010

AMERICAN sprint star Tyson Gay is set to compete at this year’s BUPA Great City Games in Manchester on May 16th.

Gay will join a stellar line-up for the event that attracted the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt of Jamaica last season, as Great Britain’s double world champion Jessica Ennis, and fellow countrywoman and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu are also confirmed.

Gay, the world silver medallist over 100m from the Berlin World Championships last summer, and the second fastest man over the distant, is yet to decide on which event he will race in.

However, the American said: “I’m really looking forward to coming to Manchester for the Great CityGames. Taking athletics out of the stadium and on to the streets is an idea that has caught people’s imagination, including mine.”

Men’s races on the cards are 100m, 150m, 200m, 110m hurdles and 200m hurdles, while the women’s programme has races over 100m, 150m, 200m and 100m hurdles.

Ennis, who recently won the world indoor pentathlon title – adding to the heptathlon gold medal she won in Berlin last year, will compete over 150 metres on a specially-erected track in the city’s Deansgate. and she is looking forward to running.

“A flat-out 150m against world-class opposition will be a perfect preparation for Jessica and I know she intends giving it everything on the streets of Manchester,” said Andy Caine, elite athletes manager for the meeting.

“She is the first big name to commit herself to the 150m and I can confirm we have still to add another couple of top athletes to the field.”

Last year Bolt set a world record of 14.35 seconds over 150m despite the cold and rainy conditions.

www.greatrun.org/citygames/

Thursday 25th March 2010

DOUBLE world champion Jessica Ennis is set to headline Manchester's BUPA Great CityGames on Saturday 16th May as a part of her warm-up for the Barcelona European Championships.

Britain’s golden girl will be following in the footsteps of one of her admirers, superstar Jamaican Usain Bolt, who last year set a world 150m record on a specially laid street track in the north west despite the very wet conditions.

This hugely popular event in Manchester features the BUPA Junior and Mini Great Manchester Runs and the BUPA Great Manchester 10km over the weekend that will be televised live on BBC2.

www.greatrun.org/citygames/

Thursday 25th March 2010

BBC television will face a tough battle this summer with Sky Sports for the exclusive TV rights to show Usain Bolt’s seven-race schedule in athletics’ brand new IAAF Diamond League competition due to start in Doha on 14th May.

The BBC will broadcast two of the 14 meetings, in Gateshead and Crystal Palace, as part of its six-year deal with UK Athletics, however, some of the meetings clash with the biggest sporting event in 2010, the staging of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa including England’s group opener against the United States on June 12th.

Sky Sports have now stepped in with a rival bid against the BBC for UK rights to the remaining 12 Diamond League events.

Global superstar Bolt is currently the highest commodity in the sport and is the reigning Olympic and World 100m and 200m sprint champion and World record holder in both events.

The BBC have come into some criticism for not broadcasting the recent Doha IAAF World Indoor Championships, which were only available on ESPN pay-for-view and via the internet courtesy of the Daily Telegraph.

www.athletics-leics.com/iaaf-diamond-league.html

Monday 22nd March 2010

LONDON 2012 Olympic organisers have increased the number of tickets available to the public by 300,000 to eight million.

In the first major announcement on ticketing, the London 2012 organising committee (LOCOG) revealed the increase in the number of tickets from 7.7m to 8m and a rise of 500,000 to 2million for the Paralympics.

LOCOG also revealed 75 percent of tickets, which will go on sale from spring 2011, will be available directly to the public via a ballot with pricing details to be issued later this year.

A 'sign up' registration scheme has been launched issuing more information to the public about the process of applying for tickets next year.

LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton said: "Right now, we're asking people to sign up on the ticketing website and make sure they're in the front row for information.

"Ticket sales make up a significant part of our income, but at the same time we are completely committed to ensuring our events are accessible, that tickets are affordable and that our venues are packed to the rafters with sports fans."

Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister, said: "Watching an Olympic event in your home country is a once in a lifetime experience.

"That's why it's critical that as many tickets as possible end up in the hands of the general public.

"With 10 million tickets going on sale next year people will have even more of a chance to get the ticket that makes their dream come true."
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "With less than 900 days to go to the London Games excitement levels are starting to pick up pace and there is understandably huge interest in tickets."

www.tickets.london2012.com/

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

THE Loughborough Students Athletics Club are staging an Open track & field meeting on Saturday 24th April at the Paula Radcliffe Track on the university campus.
Events:
Track
(Start at 13.00pm)
Men & Women: 100m, 200m, 400, 800m, 1500m, 400m Hurdles,
3000m (combined), 110m Hurdles (Men), 100m Hurdles (Women),
Field
(Start at 12.30pm)
Men & Women: High Jump (SH 1.70m Men, 1.50m Women), Long Jump, Shot (combined), Javelin (Combined),

Closing Date for entries: Thursday 22nd April.
NB: This is essentially a Senior Competition, therefore Intermediate is the youngest age group eligible to compete.
Entry fee: £7

Entry forms are available on the following link: www.loughboroughathletics.com/fixtures.html
If entering less than 72 hours before the meeting, please pay on the day.

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

THE Charnwood duo of Hannah Whitmore and Gemma Steel spearhead the sections to represent Team England at the Home Countries International featuring teams from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales that takes place this Saturday 27th March at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield.

The duo will be joined by Loughborough student Natalie Gray and former British steeplechase record-holder Hatti Dean in the senior team.
Full England team selections:
Junior Women
Joanne Harvey (Exeter H)
Laura Parker (Wells City H)
Naomi Taschimowitz (Taunton AC)
Eleanor Wimshurst (Bristol & West AC)
Junior Men
Thomas Bishop (Derby AC)
Andrew Coombs (Tonbridge AC)
Matthew Jackson (Warrington AC)
Richard Peters (Bristol & West AC)
Senior Women
Hatti Dean (Hallamshire H)
Natalie Gray (Medway & Maidstone AC/Loughborough Students)
Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC)
Hannah Whitmore (Charnwood AC)
Senior Men
Tom Humphries (Cannock & Staffs)
Darren Deed (Bedford & County AC)
Ashley Harrell (City of Norwich AC)
James Walsh (Leeds City AC)

Also in action are Teams from the Midlands, North, South and the Combined Services in the four races.

Thursday 18th March 2010

BARCELONA has been chosen as the host for the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships, an event which will provide the perfect postscript to this summer's European Athletics Championships, which will be staged in the city through 27th July to 1st August.

The Catalan city can lay claim to a fantastic athletics heritage, which will be cemented further this summer when it becomes the first Spanish venue for the European Athletics Championships.

In addition to hosting the memorable 1992 Olympic Games, the 1989 IAAF World Cup and the 1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships were also held in Barcelona.

The 2012 World Junior Championships will be the first time that this particular championship has been held in Spain.

Up to 2000 athletes from as many as 200 nations are expected to compete.

In addition to world championships - the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships were held in Valencia and the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships are to be staged in Punta Umbria - Spain has also staged many of European Athletics leading events, the country's most notable recent promotion being the 2007 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Toro.

Tuesday 16th March 2010

LONDON has entered the bidding to host the 2015 IAAF World Athletics Championships.

The 2012 Olympic Games host city will discover in November of this year if the bid is successful.

The award of the 2015 World Championships to the United Kingdom capital would have ramifications on the future of the Olympic Stadium, which has been the subject of interest from Premier League football club West Ham.

The London Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the showpiece event in what is poised to be a golden decade for sport in the UK.

Last summer saw cricket's World Twenty20 tournament take place and this year, golf's Ryder Cup will be held in south Wales.

In 2013, the Rugby League World Cup will come to the UK, while in 2014 Glasgow will host the Commonwealth Games and Gleneagles will stage the Ryder Cup.

In 2015, England is already playing host to the Rugby Union World Cup, while the football World Cup could follow in 2018 - if a bid is successful.

The 2019 cricket World Cup will be played in England, completing a remarkable 10 years of sport.

Tuesday 16th March 2010

UK Athletics have announced the teams to represent Great Britain at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships that take place in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Sunday 28th March.

European Indoor 3000m champion Mo Farah, having won the McCain Cross Challenge final and trials event in Cofton Park, Birmingham, heads the men’s team.

Hayley Yelling, who returned to competitive action last winter to be a surprise, yet convincing, winner at the European Cross Country, leads the senior women’s team that includes Loughborough University student Stevie Stockton.
Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team:
(Individual athletes coaches in brackets)
Senior Men
Mo Farah (Ricky Simms) Newham & Essex Beagles
Mike Skinner (Andy Hobdale) Blackheath & Bromley
Andy Vernon (Nick Anderson) AFD
James Wilkinson (Phil Wilkinson) Leeds City
Senior Women
Faye Fullerton (Georgina Fullerton) Havering Mayesbrook
Freya Murray (Steve Jones) Chester Le Street & Dist AC
Stevie Stockton (George Gandy) Vale Royal
Stephanie Twell (Mick Woods) AFD
Hayley Yelling (Conrad Milton) Windsor Slough, Eton & Hounslow
Junior Men
Tom Farrell (Andy Farrell) Border
Richard Goodman (Geoff Williams) Shaftesbury Barnet
Callum Hawkins (Robert Hawkins) Kilbarchan
Jonathan Hay (Mick Woods) AFD
Ben Norris (Andy McNeill) Notts
Ronnie Sparke (Richard Thurston) Woodford Green and Essex Ladies
Junior Women
Kate Avery (Robert Ashwood) Shildon
Emelia Gorecka (Mick Woods) AFD
Annabel Gummow (Chris Wooldridge) Bristol & West
Sarah Inglis (Steve Cottom) Lothian
Beth Potter (John Nuttall) Victoria Park City of Glasgow
Hannah Walker (Mike Dunphy) Dacorum & Tring

www.wxc2010.bydgoszcz.pl/

Saturday 13th March 2010

THE parents of Madeleine McCann have joined 450 runners to take part in a 10km charity run for missing people.

Gerry, 41, and Kate McCann, 42, from Rothley in Leicestershire lined up at the first ever Miles for Missing People in London's Hyde Park, alongside other families whose loved ones vanished.

The couple wore matching white T-shirts bearing a picture of their daughter and the words "Don't give up on me".

The McCann’s were on holiday with their three children in Praia da Luz, Portugal, when Madeleine went missing in May 2007.

Kate McCann commented: "Gerry and I know the pain that having Madeleine missing has caused us, but sadly we are not alone, there are thousands of families across the UK waiting for news.

"That's why Missing People provides support for missing children, vulnerable adults and families left behind, and we want to do all we can to help them."

www.findmadeleine.com/

Wednesday 10th March 2010

A Physical Preparation for Road Running Clubs workshop will be held on Wednesday 14th April at the Saffron Lane Sports Centre, Leicester.

Led by certified strength and conditioning specialist Pete McKnight, it will be a general workshop on physical preparation in the club environment.

This will be a general workshop on physical preparation in the club environment The workshop will focus on conditioning for senior club athletes in the road running club environment and he will give helpful advice on how to carry out conditioning exercises whilst at your training venue or at home with limited or no equipment.
Subjects to be covered:
 Warm-up and drills
 General conditioning (using limited equipment)
 Core work
 Importance of planning and progressing
 Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD)

The workshop is free of charge & available to all coaches, group leaders & interested athletes.

For more information or to book on either workshop please contact Helen Pearce 07968 498705 or hpearce@englandathletics.org

Tuesday 9th March 2010

LIVE coverage of the IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships that take place this weekend (12th-14th March) in Doha, Qatar, is only available on the internet or via pay-for-view on ESPN via satellite or cable.

The Daily Telegraph via their web-site are providing free live streaming of the event – however, there will be no live television coverage available on the BBC or British Eurosport, but there will be live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Live coverage on the internet via the Daily Telegraph is available on the following link: www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/7316597/Watch-live-athletics-World-Indoor-Athletics-Championships.html