Saturday 3rd July 2010

GREAT Britain’s Mo Farah (10,000m & 5,000m) and David Greene (400m hurdles) have been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month Award for June.

Farah set a personal best time of 27:28.86 to win the European Cup 10000m race in Marseille and followed it up with an equally emphatic win in the 5,000m in Bergen at the SPAR European Team Championships.

David Greene set a European leading mark of 48.77secs during the United Kingdom national championships in Birmingham and won the 400m hurdles title in Bergen.

The month of June saw the outdoor track & field season get into full swing. Following major competitions such as the SPAR European Team Championships, European Cup Combined Events and a number of top one-day meetings, European Athletics is pleased to announce the nominations for the European Athlete of the Month for June representing 12 countries.

At the end of each month, a panel of experts produces a shortlist of the outstanding athletes and performances achieved by European athletes during that month, which is emailed to European athletics media and thousands of fans who have signed up to receive news from European Athletics.

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. In the unlikely event of a tie, Hansjörg Wirz, the President of European Athletics, will have the casting vote.
The voting will close on Friday 16 July at noon CET.

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. 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/athlete-of-the-month

Friday 25th June 2010

JESSICA Ennis, the reigning double World heptathlon and pentathlon champion has been forced to withdraw from the Aviva European Trials & UK Championships taking place in Birmingham due to illness.

The 24-year-old Sheffield athlete was set to compete in three events over the weekend with the high jump, long jump and 100m hurdles attempting to make history securing a remarkable championship treble success.

Ennis began to feel ill following a training session on Thursday and has been diagnosed with a virus and will now rest for the next three or four days.

Thursday 24th June 2010

THERE is now a NOKIA Smartphone App for the Athletics-leics.com web-site available for download via the Ovi Store.

The App gives ‘live’ up-to-date news information directly to your NOKIA Smartphone in ‘real-time’ with links to the main web-site stories directly to your phone so you can keep up-to-date whilst on the move.

The Smartphone App is now available for download for a one-off payment of £1 from the Ovi Store.

http://store.ovi.com/publisher/ATHLETICS-LEICS/

Wednesday 23rd June 2010

BRITISH Triathlon have launched the second year of their exciting talent identification programme called trigold. The programme is looking to recruit existing high calibre athletes, who have the drive and determination to move into the modern and dynamic sport of triathlon and become world champion triathletes.

In the first year of trigold, Katie Ingram and Adam Bowden have both successfully made the transition into triathlon, with Katie winning bronze in her first ITU Triathlon European Cup race in May.

Katie encourages any athletes who make the grade to consider moving to triathlon commenting: “Making the decision to move sports is never easy and will require a lot of courage, determination and support. However, moving to triathlon, which is such a dynamic sport, was perfect for me and I’m sure it could be for many more athletes. As an athlete I know how valuable a World Class support system is, and here at British Triathlon and with Barrie Wells’ support, everything is provided to ensure you have the best chance of success at World and Olympic level.”

The trigold programme is entirely funded by sports enthusiast and successful entrepreneur, Barrie Wells, who has also set-up the charity, the Wells Sports Foundation, to support sport at grassroots level. With the world class support of Barrie Wells and the British Triathlon support team, trigold is looking for both male and female runners aged between 18 and 30 years with a history of competitive swimming at club or county level to make the grade, and be keen to develop cycling skills for the highest level of competition.

The support that Barrie provides will enable British Triathlon to deliver a unique programme to the athletes so they can progress to the very pinnacle of the sport. Barrie Wells comments, “Watching Katie and Adam make the move to triathlon, and being a part of the success they have achieved, has been fantastic for me. The trigold programme represents an amazing opportunity for athletes, giving them access to the sort of support and training that will hopefully see them go onto be as successful as our current trigold stars.”

Director of Performance at British Triathlon, Heather Williams believes trigold has real potential to deliver a gold medallist commenting:

“The chance to win gold in any sport is a unique opportunity and trigold has the potential to bring high quality athletes into a new sport and develop them into gold medallists. The race for gold won’t be easy and will require 100% commitment from the athletes, but with the support of a World Class Performance team here in Loughborough and the full financial support of Barrie Wells, they will have everything they need to be on top of the podium."

If you think you have what it takes to become a triathlon World Champion, you are invited to apply for trigold at www.britishtriathlon.org/performance/page.php?article=&category=/performance/&folder=trigold/ before the 8th July.

For an informal conversation about the scheme please contact Simon Mills at simonmills@britishtriathlon.org or via phone on 07860 695 187.

Monday 21st June 2010

OLYMPIC champion Christine Ohuruogu has confirmed she will go head-to-head with America’s world title-holder Sanya Richards-Ross at next month's Samsung Diamond League meeting in Gateshead.

The duo will get top billing at the first of two British IAAF Diamond League meetings and will also race at the Crystal Palace Aviva London Grand Prix in August.

Loughborough graduate Nicola Sanders, the silver medallist over 400m at the 2007 World Championships, will also race, along with two other global championship medallists, Novlene Williams-Mills and Shericka Williams, who won silver behind Ohuruogu in Beijing.

Monday 21st June 2010

FORMER world record holder Asafa Powell and world silver medallist Tyson Gay will meet for the first time this season over 100 metres at the Samsung Diamond League meeting in Gateshead on Saturday 10th July.

Gay, the second-fastest man in the world behind record holder Usain Bolt, has changed his distance from the 200 to the 100 for the Gateshead meeting.

"I know that I have a pretty serious race lined up with Gay competing as well and I'll be going all out to make sure that I get a faster time," Powell commented.

"Myself and Tyson are clearly the two that are going after the world record but I truly believe that it's mine to lose at the moment."

American Gay, who has had a back problem, has yet to make his debut in the Diamond League series. The pair will face each other again in London in August.

"Racing against Asafa in London and Gateshead will mean that we are pushing each other to run faster and get closer to that 9.50 that I see as a real possibility and something that I'm aiming for," Gay said.

Bolt's world record is 9.58 seconds, set at last year's Berlin world championships.

Friday 18th June 2010

THE SPAR European Team Championships take place this weekend and you can watch the action live from Bergen, Norway, on BBC Two - Sat 4.45pm-7pm & Sun 2.15pm-5.10pm

Loughborough-based Martyn Rooney is aiming to replicate his namesake Wayne by winning a major tournament for his country.

Rooney, the fastest man in Europe over 400metres this year commented: “England are one of the best teams at the World Cup, we athletes are one of the best teams in Europe and if we perform together we know we can win.”

Team GB finished third last year and will have athletes on display that will capture the eye and have an impact on the destination of the trophy.

Great Britain were on several occasions the winners of the old SPAR European Cup men’s trophy and seven victories from that side of their team helped them to a very respectable third place in Leiria last year.

This year they are led by the 2010 World Indoor Championships 60m gold medallist Dwain Chambers in 100m and Mo Farah, an impressive winner of the European Cup 10,000m earlier this month, over 5,000m.

Britain also took both the men’s hurdles events with Andy Turner and David Greene as the do look for maximum points.

Greene, in particular, has matured over the last 12 months into Europe’s top man in the 400m hurdles and tops this year’s European rankings with the 48.96secs recorded at the Bydgoszcz European Athletics Premium Meeting two-weeks ago.

No one can one ignore either the talent and charisma of the 2009 World Championships triple jump gold medallist Phillips Idowu, even if his thunder since the start of the year has so far been stolen by France’s new superstar of the event Teddy Tamgho.

On the women’s side, British record-holders Kate Dennison and Goldie Sayers will be hoping to add important points in the pole vault and javelin.

www.bergen2010.org/

Wednesday 16th June 2010

THERE are several changes to the Aviva Great Britain & NI squads that will compete as this weekend’s SPAR European Team Championships in Bergen, Norway, (19th-20th June).

Jenny Meadows and Christine Ohuruogu have withdrawn from the competition with Meadows replaced by Emma Jackson.

Nicola Sanders will focus on the 4x400m relay and is replaced by Kim Wall who will take on the 400m individual race.

James Ellington will be replaced by Rikki Fifton in the men’s 4x100m, whilst, Richard Buck steps in for Robert Tobin in the 4x400m relay.

Wednesday 16th June 2010

PAULA Radcliffe will take part in a race set up to carry on the fund-raising work of the late Jane Tomlinson – despite the fact she will be seven months pregnant at the time.

Radcliffe has agreed to run in the Leeds 10km race on Sunday 4th July and to be a patron of the Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

The event was run for the first time in 2007, three months before amateur athlete Tomlinson died following a long battle against cancer and has become an annual fixture.

Radcliffe, 36, whose second child is due in September, warned she will only be jogging because of her advanced pregnancy but said she was overjoyed to be asked to take part by Tomlinson’s widower, Mike.

Radcliffe said: “It was such a big honour for me to be a patron of Jane’s appeal. She was such an inspiration to me.”

Wedensday 16th June 2010

EUROPEAN Athletics have announce that Great Britain's golden girl Jessica Ennis and Norway's Olympic, world and European champion Andreas Thorkildsen have been voted as the European Athletes of the Month for May.

Ennis continued her run of impressive form this year and dominated the proceedings in May at the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge meeting in Gotzis, earning a total of 6689 points. Ennis has proven to be unstoppable ever since winning the Heptathlon world title in Berlin last August. It is a testimony to her consistency that she has been voted European Athlete of the Month for the third time this year.

Norwegian Javelin icon Thorkildsen once again holds the mantle of world leader this outdoor season after throwing a huge 90.37m at the Florø Friidrettsfestival in Norway. Earlier he started his 2010 campaign with an emphatic victory at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai.

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% of the final vote.

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

Saturday 12th June 2010

THE (IAAF) International Association of Athletics Federations have announced a two-year deal with Samsung to be the title sponsor of the Diamond League, with a third-year option for the South Korea-based consumer electronics company.

The league will be rebranded the Samsung Diamond League in time for the Lausanne meet in July.

The IAAF, track and field's world governing body, did not release financial details.

The Diamond League, which started in May, is the successor to the Golden League. The Doha meet in May was the first of 14 around the world.

Samsung is also an International Olympic Committee sponsor through 2016.

Tuesday 8th June 2010

UK ATHLETICS have announced the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland teams to compete at the European Team Championships in Bergen, Norway from 19th-20th June.

The teams features a huge contingent of Loughborough athletes with Leon Baptiste (200m), Martyn Rooney (400m), Chris Thompson (3,000m), Andy Turner (110mH), Michael Bingham (4x400m), Chris Clarke (4x400m), Steve Lewis (pole vault) and Alex Smith (hammer) in the men’s squad.

Former European indoor champion Nicola Sanders (400m) makes a welcome return to the women’s team and will line-up with Barbara Parker (3,000m steeplechase), Elaine O’Neill (4x100m), Kim Wall (4x400m), Steph Pywell (high jump), Kate Dennison (pole vault), Rebecca Peake (shot), Goldie Sayers (javelin) and Sarah Holt (hammer).

UKA Head Coach Charles van Commenee said: “This is a good solid squad with a blend of proven international performers and younger athletes who will be looking to make a name for themselves in a year of European Competition.

“We have deliberately not selected any juniors to the team. The European Team Championships is the same weekend as their trials for the World Junior Championships and it is important that these young athletes focus on their age group competition as part of their long term development.”

“I am particularly delighted to see Nicola, Jade and Jo returning to the team and the current form of Mo Farah and a number of others means I’m anticipating some excellent performances. 2010 is an unusual year with a very early start to international competition, but I have confidence in the team to at least equal last year’s third place.”
Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Teams:
(Athletes individual coaches are listed in brackets.)
Men
100m: Dwain Chambers (Daniel Plummer) - Belgrave
200m: Leon Baptiste (Michael Khmel) – Enfield & Haringey
400m: Martyn Rooney (Nick Dakin) - Croydon
800m: Michael Rimmer (Norman Poole) - Liverpool Harriers
1500m: Colin McCourt (Craig Winrow) – Bournemouth
3000m: Chris Thompson (John Nuttall/Mark Rowland) – Aldershot Farnham & District
5000m: Mo Farah (Ricky Simms) – Newham & Essex
110mH: Andy Turner (Lloyd Cowan) – Sale Harriers
400mH: David Greene (Malcolm Arnold) - Swansea
3000mSC: Luke Gunn (Bud Baldaro) - Derby
4x100m: Leon Baptiste (Michael Khmel) – Enfield & Haringey, Marlon Devonish (Tony Lester) – Coventry Godiva, Tyrone Edgar (Darrell Smith) - Newham & Essex, James Ellington (John Powell) – Belgrave, Jeffrey Lawal Balogun (Clarence Callender) – Kent, Craig Pickering (Malcolm Arnold) - Marshall Milton Keynes
4x400m: Michael Bingham (Tony Lester / Ken Harnden) – unattached, Chris Clarke (Nick Dakin) - Marshall Milton Keynes, David Greene (Malcolm Arnold) – Swansea, Robert Tobin (Todd Bennett) – Basingstoke & Mid Hants, Conrad Williams (Linford Christie)-Kent
High Jump: Tom Parsons (Fuzz Ahmed) - Birchfield
Pole Vault: Steve Lewis (Dan Pfaff) – Newham & Essex
Long Jump: Chris Tomlinson (Frank Attoh) –Newham & Essex
Triple Jump: Phillips Idowu (Aston Moore); - Belgrave
Shot: Carl Myerscough (n/a) - Blackpool Wyre & Fylde
Discus: Brett Morse (Nigel Bevan) - Birchfield
Javelin: Mervyn Luckwell (Esa Utriainen) – Marshall Milton Keynes
Hammer: Alex Smith (Shane Peacock) – Sale Harriers
Women
100m: Laura Turner (Linford Christie) - Harrow
200m: Emily Freeman (Brian Hall) – Wakefield Harriers
400m: Nicola Sanders (Tony Lester) Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow
800m: Jenny Meadows (Trevor Painter) - Wigan
1500m: Hannah England (Bud Baldaro) - Oxford City
3000m: Emma Pallant (Mick Woods) – Aldershot Farnham & District
5000m: Jo Pavey (Gavin Pavey) - Exeter
100mH: Angelita Broadbelt Blake (Michael Afilaka) -Thames Valley Harriers
400mH: Eilidh Child (Stuart Hogg) - Pitreavie
3000mSC: Barbara Parker (Sean Burris/John Nuttall) – City of Norwich
4x100m: Emma Ania (Lloyd Cowan)- Shaftesbury Barnett, Katherine Endacott (Linford Christie)- City of Plymouth, Emily Freeman (Brian Hall) – Wakefield Harriers, Joice Maduaka (Loren Seagrave) – Woodford Green with Essex Ladies, Elaine O’Neill (Self-coached) – Woodford Green with Essex Ladies, Laura Turner (Linford Christie) - Harrow
4x400m: Eilidh Child (Stuart Hogg) – Pitreavie, Jenny Meadows (Trevor Painter) – Wigan, Christine Ohuruogu (Lloyd Cowan) – Newham & Essex, Nicola Sanders (Tony Lester) Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, Perri Shakes Drayton (Chris Zah) Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets, Kim Wall (Tony Lester) - Basildon
High Jump: Steph Pywell (Fuzz Ahmed) – Sale Harriers
Pole Vault: Kate Dennison (Steve Rippon) – Sale Harriers
Long Jump: Jade Johnson (John Herbert) – Herne Hill
Triple Jump: Nadia Williams (Keith Fleming) – Shaftesbury Barnett
Shot: Rebecca Peake (Geoff Capes) – Sale Harriers
Discus: Phillipa Roles (Maggie Lynes) - Swansea
Javelin: Goldie Sayers (Dan Pfaff) - Belgrave
Hammer: Sarah Holt (John Pearson) – Sale Harriers

www.bergen2010.org/

Thursday 3rd June 2010

WORLD record-holder Haile Gebrselassie, widely considered one of the greatest distance runners ever, will make his debut this November in the ING New York City Marathon.

Gebrselassie will compete on Sunday 7th November in his first marathon in the United States.

"It is New York, and I was dreaming to run here in New York for many years," Gebrselassie commented. "If you look at the organization, the participants, from where, which country, that's why I'm thinking to win here."

Gebrselassie will be challenging a field that's expected to include defending champion Meb Keflezighi and Arata Fujiwara, who set the course record while winning the Ottawa marathon on Sunday. Fujiwara will try to become the first Japanese runner to win in New York.

Gebrselassie typically runs the Berlin Marathon, where he set the world record of 2 hours, 3 minutes and 59 seconds in 2008. That race falls in late September, and the recovery time after it has always prevented him from running in New York in early November.
This year, he's skipping Berlin for the Big Apple.

"It is pretty much a thrill of a lifetime for us to host Haile in the marathon," said Mary Wittenberg, president of the New York Road Runners. "We have looked forward to this day for literally years. Haile represents the very best of our sport and more."

Monday 7th June 2010

BRITISH record-holder Goldie Sayers will line-up at next month's Super8 event at the newly refurbished Scotstoun Stadium on Wednesday 7th July.

The Loughborough graduate, fourth in the Olympic javelin in 2008, was due to captain London North in last year's event but was forced out by a back injury.

Sayers commented: "Super8 is a superb concept and I was gutted not to be able to make last year's inaugural event.

"The combination of great domestic level competition with overseas athletes taking place gives us all the best possible competitive build-up (to Barcelona) and I'm looking forward to taking on the other cities for the London team this year."

Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medallist Tasha Danvers will captain the London team, with the United States World indoor hurdles champion Lolo Jones also confirmed for the event. Long jumper Chris Tomlinson will captain the Gateshead team and will take on world champion Dwight Phillips as part of his preparation for the European Championships.

Tickets are available on the following link: www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/170044ADB1077C0B

Wednesday 2nd June 2010

FIVE British athletes are amongst the nominations for the European Athlete of the Month Award nominations for May.

The month of May has traditionally signaled the start of the outdoor track & field season in Europe. Following major competitions such as the European Champion Clubs Cups and the start of the European Athletics Outdoor Classic Meetings series, European Athletics is pleased to announce the nominations for the European Athlete of the Month for May representing 12 countries.

American-based Michael Bingham produced a superb European season lead over the 400m with a time of 45.14secs in Atlanta.

Mo Farah improved on is own British 10km record on the roads clocking 27:44 to win the Bupa London 10,000 race.

Double world champion Jessica Ennis dominated the proceeding at the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge meeting in Gotzis, earning a total of 6689 points to secure victory.

British teenager Jodie Williams ran a United Kingdom national 100m junior record and European Youth best of 11.24secs in Bedford and clocked an impressive European-leading 22.79 in the 200m at the McCain Loughborough International.

Steph Twell, the former European Athletics Rising Star winner, registered the European-leading time in 3,000m (8:50.96) in Watford and was second best in the 1500m with 4:06.10 at the opening IAAF Diamond League meet in Doha.

At the end of each month, a panel of experts produces a shortlist of the outstanding athletes and performances achieved by European athletes during that month, which is emailed to European athletics media and thousands of fans who have signed up to receive news from European Athletics.

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. In the unlikely event of a tie, Hansjörg Wirz, the President of European Athletics, will have the casting vote.

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.

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&mosmsg=Item+successfully+saved.

Wednesday 2nd June 2010

LEICESTERSHIRE Athletics Club Network “LEICESTERSHIRE VISION 2020” has gained funding through the England Athletics Networks scheme to develop athletics in Leicestershire through partner clubs involved in the Network (currently eight).

The network is ready to recruit the services of a highly motivated individual to drive forward the vision created within the plan and to work towards the sustainability of the plan in the long term. Able to communicate at all levels the successful candidate will need to liaise with both professionals and volunteers in all sectors of the athletics/council/schools communities.

Funding for the network has been secured up to 2013, providing an approximate 30-month contract, which with the addition of other expected income streams from partners, provides an excellent opportunity to deliver real change. A minimum of a UKA level 2 coaching qualification will be required. An active knowledge and interest in England Athletics “Run in England” scheme as well as the Leicestershire Road Running scene would be an advantage.
Responsibilities.

Working to specific agreed outcomes for the clubs within the network, the job role will be a highly varied one. Whilst primarily delivering the objectives and outcomes of the Network bid document, a creative mind to spot opportunities to push forward the development of the Network will also be required.

Coach development is at the heart of the Network plan and a major role will be to highlight and create opportunities for coach development /mentoring and education and with the support of England Athletics staff to deliver these on an ongoing basis to the coaches/potential coaches within the member clubs.

Another key feature will be to achieve the bid requirements of setting up and organising events such as Sportshall and Quadkids for grass root members while looking for opportunities for mass participation for all ages.

The successful applicant will liaise with member clubs and school Sports partnerships to identify opportunities, creating close links with local councils to ensure that the Network is properly represented at this level will be key to the role.

The Network is keen to develop further after the agreed funding period and an ability to secure on-going funding beyond that time is crucial.

Regular contact with the Network committee will be required where clear KPI’s will be monitored. Monthly reports of progress will be required by the committee and Quarterly reports to England Athletics.
A detailed copy of the plan will be available to candidates to study before interview.

At this stage it is envisaged that for the 30 month self employed contract would generate an income of £23,000 p.a. (based on a 37.5 hour week). There will be a requirement to have their own transport and be flexible with working hours, as weekend and evening work will be required.

A full job description is detailed below, to register your interest for this position please apply to David Wheeler by email to david.wheeler2@sky.com. Please include a full curriculum vitae and a brief description as to the reasons you believe you can make a difference to developing athletics in Leicestershire.
The closing date for applications is 18th June.

Job Description:
Key Result Areas
Increased Membership of the network clubs
Ensuring junior sections are improved and increased
Sharing of facilities between member clubs
Provision of competitions
Transfer of knowledge between clubs
Raising coach standards
Developing strategies to develop athletics in partnership with local schools
Situational Demand
Coach Marketing
Delivering coaching sessions
Working to improve coach education
Sharing good ideas
Agreeing best practice
Develop a coach network
Linking to EA schemes such as the ‘Flying Coach’ and Run England
Ensuring athletes with potential get the best coaching
Organising Events
Quad kids
Sports hall
School initiatives
Member Club initiatives
Leicester Road Running League
Networking
Leicester Road Running League
Leics’ and Rutland Athletics
Member Clubs committees and general membership
England Athletics
Schools sports Partnership
Local Authority
Strategy
With others, develop a plan to deliver the aims of the partnership over the next two years. Be the key person in the implementation of the plan.
With others work on a plan to secure additional funding in order to develop the aims of the network beyond 2012.
Administration
Use an online diary system
Produce a monthly report
Deal with network correspondence
Efficiently diary plan
KPI’s
Network Membership increases in all aspects
No of events increases
Feedback on quality of events is good
Club coach numbers increases and become more qualified
Attendance at events increases
Results of a 6-month customer survey
How many visits made to potential clients
Behaviours required for success
Problem Solving
Anticipates problems and proactively finds a resolution where possible
Works in an equal and participative manner with others to resolve problems and issues
Isolates key issues at an early stage
Formulates own and others’ ideas into a workable solution
Results Driven
Proactively reviews progress against targets
Suggests alternative options for others to try to achieve greater success
Makes timely decisions within own area of responsibility
Tactical
Uses information and resource effectively to build support for the Networks position
Uses objections positively to overcome them and win others over
Manages contacts effectively to build support for position
Uses relationships with others to gain information
Self Management
Takes responsibility for own actions and decisions
Meets deadlines
Prioritises tasks efficiently and logically with the minimum of support
Completes relevant tasks and ensures work is up-to-date
Support
Identifies opportunities to help others and offers support
Displays empathy when dealing with others
Considers the needs of others and acts with courtesy
Responds positively to requests from others
Shares relevant information with related parties
Displays an understanding of the pressures and restrictions that colleagues face
Supports the team
Continuous Improvement
Demonstrates active interest in learning about the new role
Reviews own achievements and can appreciate what is going well or not so well
In conjunction with the Network team sets development goals and implements action plans to improve them
Demonstrates a deep understanding of the network bid and a willingness to take it forward
Supports the need to change
Skills required for success
Moving people
Plans, structures and executes tactics to influence others
Convinces others that own position is correct using relevant resources and knowledge
Structures negotiations effectively using tactics, fall backs, tradeables and bargaining zones
Structures a conversation with others in a logical fashion which moves them from one viewpoint to another
Gain win/win result
Gain compliance
Gain agreement
Profit improves
Encounter less resistance to plans
Organisation
Manages work schedules to ensure deadlines are met
Prioritises effectively considering individual, team and business targets and objectives
Evaluates options and methods
Monitors that plan is followed by those responsible
Reviews progress against a plan or work schedule
Time is used productively
Resources and people are managed efficiently
Time is not wasted on ineffective options or methods
Relationship Development
Builds rapport with others
Networks effectively to build up a list of contacts
Interprets peoples’ motives and methods
Analyses and draws accurate conclusions from the behaviour of others
Manages conflict proactively
Internal and external relationships improve
People are better understood
Knowledge is gained to use in future influencing & persuading
Conflict is channelled productively and positively
Communication
Listens actively using appropriate acknowledgement gestures
Questions others effectively to channel thinking and understanding
Summarises and paraphrase concisely and accurately to clarify agreement
Delivers effective presentations
Issues, needs and wants are fully understood
Verbal communication is more effective
Relationships ultimately strengthened
Target setting
Identifies exactly what they are trying to achieve from a project, Interaction or customer
Identifies future goals and turn these into SMART objectives/targets Business and Individual goals are aligned
Planning is more effective
Success is measurable
Creating Impact
Uses their body and voice to create impact when they enter a room or make a telephone call
Projects their voice effectively so that they can be heard clearly by all relevant people
Speaks in an effective and structured manner to large and small groups of people
Uses visual aids appropriately and in a timely fashion
Message has more impact and therefore encourages more action
Communication is made more effective
Sales improve

Wednesday 2nd June 2010

USAIN Bolt is the fastest man on the planet and a sportsman like no other. But what makes him so much faster than any other man in the history of the human race?

Who better to investigate than athletics legend Michael Johnson, the man Bolt has dethroned as the world's fastest human ever.

There is a welcome repeat of the BBC programme to be shown this Saturday 5th June where Johnson travels to Jamaica to meet Bolt and explore every element of the 23-year-old's story from the suspicions of drug taking and the burden of singlehandedly carrying athletics to how Bolt is dealing with the constant worldwide media attention.

’Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Who Has Ever Lived’ – is on BBC One at 12.15pm on Saturday 5th June.

Tuesday 1st June 2010

OLYMPIC 100 metres gold medalist and world record-holder Usain Bolt has withdrawn from the IAAF Diamond League meeting in New York on June 12th because of an Achilles tendon injury.

The Jamaican has been advised to take between two and three weeks off because he is suffering from an inflamed tendon.

The meeting, which will be held at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island, is the fifth of 14 stops on the Diamond League circuit.

Bolt narrowly failed to break Michael Johnson's world record in the 300m at the IAAF World Challenge in Ostrava last week.

Thursday 27th May 2010

WORLD record-holder Paula Radcliffe insists that becoming pregnant for a second time will not affect her attempt to win Olympic gold on home soil and the Loughborough University graduate also plans to compete well into her 40’s.

Radcliffe is taking time out from competing after announcing earlier this year that she is expecting her second child in September.

The 36-year-old has so far been unable to translate her city marathon success into Olympic success.

Radcliffe set the world-record of two hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds in the London marathon in 2003 but was forced out of the Athens Olympic marathon due to dehydration and the after effects of a stress fracture of the femur prevented her from challenging for a medal in Beijing. In Sydney 2000 she finished just outside of the medals in the 10,000m.

Radcliffe, now resident in Monaco, has been besieged by injury problems over the last 12 months. She had an operation on her foot to remove a bunion last March before a knee problem caused her to finish a disappointing fourth in her bid to win her fourth New York Marathon.

But she insists that taking time off means she will go into London with the best possible chance of realising her Olympic dream.

"I have not had the chance to go out there and do myself justice in an Olympic marathon yet," said Radcliffe, who was speaking at an event to promote Race for Life.

"I have not been able to get to a race injury free yet. Hopefully all this rest will help me have that chance now."

The heartbreak of failure in Athens and Beijing, and the fact that the race will be in London, means Radcliffe is more determined than ever to realise her full potential and win gold in 2012.

"I have a massive desire to win gold in 2012," she said. "The fact that it is in London on home soil makes you want to go out and perform well. There is also a huge motivation because of what happened to me in Athens and Beijing."

Radcliffe added: "As soon as 2012 is finished then that's not me finished. I want to keep going hopefully.

Paula Radcliffe is the Tesco ambassador for Race for Life, helping to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

For more information visit: www.raceforlife.org/tesco

Thursday 27th May 2010

AMERICAN superstar and World indoor champion Lolo Jones has confirmed that she will take part in this year's Super8 meeting at the newly-refurbished Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow on Wednesday 7th July.

Jones, who was defeated by Britain’s heptathlete Jessica Ennis over the 60 metres hurdles at the Aviva International Indoor Match in Glasgow back in January, will be allocated to a city team for the competition.

"It's going to be great competing at Super8 in Glasgow and it's an honour to be invited as one of the overseas competitors," Jones said.

"The last time I competed in Glasgow I really enjoyed the experience. The crowd was brilliant, really enthusiastic and energetic, and I hope Glasgow's athletics fans enjoy Super8 as it's a fantastic competition for spectators.

"I think the city v city format will encourage some healthy rivalry between the British athletes and encourage people from different areas of Britain to really get behind their respective home-town teams."

Jones will also compete in the IAAF Diamond League Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead, that takes place three days later.

Tickets cost £5 for adults, £1 for concessions and £8 for a family ticket of 2 adults and 2 children. Tickets are available by visiting www.uka.org.uk/super8 or on the Ticket Hotline 08000 55 60 56.

To visit Lolo Jones official web-site click on the following link: www.runlolorun.com/