John Blackie Receives Top Award
7:27am Monday 31st October 2011 in Athletics By Pat Calnan
John Blackie has been named England Athletics Development Coach of The Year for 2011. This follows on from him winning the London Regional Award. The Blackheath & Bromley coaching coordinator runs the Bees Academy which now has more than 400 children attending weekly training sessions. The aim is to introduce youngsters in school years 4 to 7 to a broad spectrum of Athletics events and develop their skills in a fun environment. The Academy also provides the opportunity for youngsters from the age of 16 and above to assist in coaching sessions. As well as running the Academy John coaches many older athletes who have enjoyed huge success from County through to International level. For further information of the Academy visit www.thebeesacademy.com.
As recipient of the award John receives two tickets to next years Olympic Games and he will not be the only Club member attending the event. Julie Asher Smith, one of the Club’s hard working officials, has been offered a role in the Technology team at the London 2012 Olympics. Over 250,000 applications were received for London 2012 Games Maker positions so her appointment is a notable achievement. She will be part of a team who provide the competition results and the work may include timing events, operating equipment, monitoring results data or operating scoring consoles.
More good news has come from America with the news that Alex Bruce Littlewood has been named Southland conference Athlete Of The Week following his top 6 finish in the Crimson Tide Classic 5 mile cross country at Tuscaloosa, Alabama last week. The Southland area covers university teams across Texas and Louisiana.
Yet more celebrations came with the selection of four Club members for the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International at Bella Houston Park, Glasgow on the 26th of November. Alex Gibbins, Keith Ewing and Alan Camp have been picked for England while Paul Ross Davies has been selected for Wales.
The highlight of last weekend was the 100th annual mob match between the Club and Orion Harriers.at Chingford. With Ranelagh Harries and South London Harriers also fielding teams, plus a number of guests, nearly 200 runners toed the line for 7.5 miles of cross country. First home for the Club was Jamie Darling in third place with junior Will Mercer 4th and Glen Turner 6th. Eighth placed Peter Tucker had been in second place but he took a wrong turning and lost ground. First woman for the Club was Rosie Ferguson in 81st with Lisa Page 82nd, and Julie Reynolds 93rd.
Unfortunately despite these good efforts it was not enough to secure victory as the hosts won with 1712 points to B&B’s 2898. The race featured the latest in the Bennett Cup Handicap series of races, the results of which will appear on the Club website. Mel Kane who was 100th in the Orion race had been in action the previous Wednesday finishing 11th for Brunel University in the London Colleges League fixture at Parliament Hill.
A small group of Club members ran the Beachy Head Marathon over the Seven Sisters at Eastbourne. This is a multi terrain event so times are not quick. First home was Nick Kinsey in 4th place with Mark Skelly 130th, Mat Newins 131st, Ian Montgomery 195th, Martin Blunden 357th and Colin Poole 418th.
Andy Tucker was the Club’s first athlete home in the latest Bromley 5km Parkrun at Norman Park. He finished in 7th place in 18.28 and then competed in the mob match in the afternoon. Youngster Niamh Bridson Hubbard was 25th, Scott Bulmer 60th, Megan Beaman-Browne 127th and Sarah Hayes 222nd.
In the previous weeks race Andy Tucker was 8th with Steve Pairman 10th and youngster Jessica Keene 14th. Jessica’s time of 19.39 represented nearly a minutes improvement on her previous best and broke the J14 record for the course by 40 seconds. It was an 82.9% age grade performance.
Track and Field Secretary Mark Purser was 42nd in the latest 5km run at Lloyd Park in 29.40.
Shaun Lightman and Peter Hannell were in action in the first of the Cambridge Harriers Walks League races in Bexley. Over a 5km course Shaun finished in 7th in 29.39 while Peter Hannell was 8th in 30.31.
Blackheath & Bromley caters for all ages, abilities and disciplines. For further information on your particular interest please e-mail enquiries@bandbhac.org.uk Alternatively leave details on the Club answer phone service on 020 8462 3115.
For all the latest Club news visit the website at www.bandbhac.org.uk
