Norwich Union Star:track Summer Athletics Week

Monday 2^nd to Friday 6^th August 2010

Held at William Scholes Playing Fields Track, Gatley.

See all the photographs here.

This was our seventh year of staging the AVIVA ACADEMY STARTRACK Sessions and they are getting more popular every year. We had 45 youngsters take part aged 7-15 years, all from the local area, this was an excellent turn out. Each youngster on the scheme received a ‘Goodie Bag’ – a useful backpack containing T-Shirt, Cap, Water bottle, Sweat Bands and Athletics Activity pack - great value for money. These sessions was funded with help from UK Athletics & the Manchester Athletic Network supported by England Athletics.

As a club we managed to raise funds to enabled basic maintenance work to be carried out at the track and also to allow everyone access to the sessions.

This year Monday through to the Wednesday was fine and sunny so we were able to use the William Scholes Track at Gatley and we covered Javelin, Shot Putt, Discus, hurdles, mini hurdles, triple jump, running over 60m, 75m, 80m, 100m, 200m, 400m 600m, 800m and the standing long jump and the new vortex howler.

Thursday saw us on the track at William Scholes Playing Fields for the ‘Mile Challenge’ Event organised by UK Athletics to raise funds for the Athletic Foundation which helps support athletes competing in the 2012 Olympics. All the youngsters took part with the younger Athletes completing the Mile in relays of four over 16 laps with a rest of 3 laps in every four - the older Athletes completed the four laps in one go. All the youngsters really enjoyed the challenge and we raised in excess of £35 for the Athletes:foundation.

After the main event the youngsters had enough energy to have a go at the Long Jump, Triple Jump and some more sprints and throws.

On our final day, Friday, we were very fortunate to have the help of Tina Beresford, from QUAD KIDS who came along to assist with the session courtesy of Quad Kids & England Athletics. Tina came along to hold one of the new athletic competition formats for both Schools and athletic club use, for youngsters from year 3 up to and including year 9’s. Should you fancy looking at this please go to the website at http://quadkids.org.uk/& http://academy.uka.org.uk/

The weather was great and everyone really had a great time. At the end of the session Steve Yates, Manchester Harriers and A&C Club Chairman gave out all the STARTRACK Awards & the medals for Quad Kids to the winning youngsters, to reward the effort and ability shown by every youngster who attended the course.

Every youngster taking part was encouraged to come along and join Manchester Harriers & A.C. They were given information on our activities and where and when we meet. As a Club we hope to encourage more youngsters into the sport and help them achieve a healthier lifestyle.

The Club could not do this without our Coaches, Officials and Helpers all of whom are unpaid volunteers who give up their time to help promote Athletics within the Stockport and Manchester Boroughs. So, a very big thank you to everyone who helped to put on this STARTRACK week, we could not do it without them.

Debbie Beresford - Girls Team Secretary & STARTRACK coordinator