The beautiful south
The beautiful south
Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 18/06/23–
KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
18 June 2023
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If members fail to pay fees, the cost of the monthly track pass will need to be increased for everyone.
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Kudos to all the dads out there who spent their special day either long running, competing at today’s SAL (Southern Athletics League, results below) fixture at Mile End, or officiating at same. However, from Runners’ World we learn that the really super dads are those who combine racing with looking after the kids. It’s not enough merely to trot round parkrun toting a sprog in a buggy these days. No, you have to run a half marathon while pushing a stroller (for that is how the American Runners’ World refers to push chairs). The Superdad they reported on this week was one Jacob Sommer Simonsen, who ran 1:08:04 at the Aarhus Half. The challenge is out there, Kent AC dads.
Back to SAL. With all the key players being down the boozer at the time of writing, a detailed results report is not likely to appear here before our bed-time deadline, but here’s a brief resumé:
Phil Marsden, volunteering today, reports:
‘We won! On our birthday. A full report to come next week, but basically we turned out for our athletes, and called up an Olympian (Conrad Williams) for the occasion. All credit to Ian Ellwood.’
GATEKEEPERS REQUIRED
We now need volunteers for the gate on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers can sign up here, and read more about gatekeeping duties, and its rewards, below: ‘Win A Track Pass’.
SITUATIONS VACANT
We really need members to step up and help out with the following roles at the club:
Joint Club Secretaries
Joint Comms Managers
H&S work
Men’s XC Manager
Trophies Secretary
Only some of this work has future cover, and then only temporarily, so and more help is needed both in the short and longer term. Dan and Amelia, who did so much before they moved overseas, will happily advise on what’s involved.
The club tries to work on the principle that lots of people take on a large number of small roles.
The great response for volunteers at the Coronation Games shows that can hold true.
I hope our wonderful membership will be similarly generous in helping with these tasks.
Len Reilly
Co-president
HAPPY 125th BIRTHDAY TO KENT AC
Many happy returns to Kent AC, my how we’ve grown…
We are Lewisham’s longest-established sports club, with continuous association with the borough (Millwall FC is older but started on the Isle of Dogs; Catford Cycling Club is older but isn’t based here). We’re looking good for our age: bigger, stronger and ever more ambitious, thanks to our dedicated coaching team and some super-talented athletes, junior, senior and veteran.
Kent AC was first heard of on 1 July 1898 in the newspaper report reproduced below and thanks to Neil Gordon-Orr for sourcing, of the amalgamation on 18 June 1898 at the Black Bull, Lewisham (now the Fox and Firkin) of West Kent Harriers and Lewisham Hare and Hounds.
Save the date for the weekend of 16 September for a jamboree of birthday activities (still evolving) to include:
A dinner and dance
A club championship
Presentations
Events at the track
A Sunday run visiting our previous headquarters
Len Reilly
Co-president
SUMMER RUNNING
As well as all the fabulous summer socials we have locked in, another date to add to your calendar is the British Milers Club track meet at Tooting Bec track on 26 July.
Find out more info and sign up here.
Plus we now have our next Assembly League location confirmed…hopefully local for many in Eltham.
21 June – Dulwich relays
27 June – Track social
6 July – Assembly League, Sutcliffe Park
9 July – SAL, Stevenage
25 July – Track social
3 August – Assembly League, Victoria Park
19 August – SAL, Thurrock
29 August – Track Social
3 September – The Big Half
7 September – Assembly League, BPP
16 September – 125th Anniversary Dinner
LET’S MAKE IT OFFICIAL
Athletics needs more officials, and volunteering in this way is a wonderful way to give back to the club.
This is a great opportunity to help get club events’ results on Power of 10. And it’s fun.
It’s a straightforward process that the club will pay for, with more detail on available courses here.
Please contact Len Reilly for more info.
It would be great to see a few more people put their names down to help out!
JUNIORS NEWSROUND
EASYFUNDRAISING
Over 7,000 brands pay easyfundraising a commission when you start your shop through their platform, so you can raise FREE donations for us no matter what you’re buying. These donations really help us out, so please sign up if you haven’t yet. It’s easy and FREE! You can get started at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/kentac
You can also install a helpful Chrome extension, which prompts you to donate whenever doing any online shopping – really handy
WIN A TRACK PASS
To be added to the rota simply email Jacqueline or Laurie
We only need each track attendee to volunteer a couple of times a year to spread the responsibility fairly.
T&Cs for the track pass draw:
All volunteers for the current month will be added into the hat for a draw each month.
The winner will win a free pass for the next calendar month.
Names will be automatically drawn from https://namepicker.net/ (or similar alternative)
The winner can either chose to:
use their free pass within a calendar year
allow their free pass to roll down to another volunteer
annual pass holders can nominate another club member if they cannot make use of the pass themselves
No refunds/discounts will be provided in place of the free monthly pass.
Volunteers will only be eligible to win a pass once every three months.
TRACK, TRACK, TRACK
Buy your track pass here.
The usual track times are:
Tuesday 17:30 – 20:30
Thursday 17:30 – 20:30
Sunday 09:00 – 11:30
Please note that individuals are permitted to do their own sessions during club opening times, but coached group sessions continue to take priority.
Track Pass – Juniors
Please purchase your £5 junior monthly track pass in advance here. When purchasing the track pass can parents/guardians please enter the athlete’s name when completing the transaction
Please see a helpful FAQs guide here
Ladywell Arena now has new opening hours dedicated to the public. While during these times the Kent AC track pass is not valid, members can pay for an individual session.
Session times are:
Monday: 07:00 -15:00
Tuesday – Thursday: 1300 -1700
Friday: 07:00 – 15:00
Saturday – Sunday: 09:00-15:00
Price:
Adult resident: £2.70
Adult non resident: £3.00
Junior (U16): £1.30
The Kent AC track pass continues to be required for training on Tues/Thurs evenings and Sunday mornings.
Track staff have encouraged people to double check the opening hours before their training session, as they may occasionally be closed for school sport days and football friendlies. Hours can be checked here. This will likely suit members who can’t make training sessions but would like to train in the morning/lunchtime/evening.
Pay as you go fees can either be paid via cash to the desk or using the Better app (note: staff are working to add the sessions to the app).
KEEP US UPDATED
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