News Archive, November-December 2006 Back to News From the Track
19th December 2006- High Jump Training and Championship Entries
Just a wee note for those who attend Ian McEwan's high jump training at the Greenhills Playbarn on Sundays. There is no session for the next three weeks, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve or 6th January (date of the second Indoor League meeting). Ian shall advise when the sessions will start up again and I will post information here as well.
Please also note TOMORROW, 20TH DECEMBER is the closing date for entries to the Indoor District Championships on 13th and 14th January and the Senior Championships on 20th January. The best way would be to enter by phone now on 0870 145 1515. I'm in for the Senior event. Who else is?
Finally, another get well message to Frank Smith from all at the club. Have a merry Christmas and hope you will be back round the track again before too long.
7th December 2006- Fresh Cash Injection
The club has recently received a donation of £250 from Royal Bank of Scotland as part of their Community Cashback Awards Scheme. Bank employee and Whitemoss coach Alan Potts is pictured presenting the cheque to a no doubt delighted treasurer, Angela Mitchell. Incidentally, donations, large or small, from parents or their employers are always welcome. Rest assured funds will be put to profitable use.
"Say cheese."
(Thanks to Euan McMurtrie for this photo)
4th December 2006- Indoor League Bus Times
The team bus leaves the John Wright Sports Centre this Sunday (10th) at 8.30am. It's best to be there at 8.15am for leaving at 8.30. Be sure to check with your coach by this Thursday to see if you are selected and what events you are pencilled in for.
3rd December 2006- Upcoming Events
There are plenty competitions coming up in the lead up to and during the Christmas holidays.
This Saturday (9th), the West District Cross Country Championships are on home territory at the Showgrounds, East Kilbride, next to East Kilbride Thistle's football ground in the village. The base however for entries etc is the John Wright Sports Centre. Competition details, including race times for anyone competing, are on the Scottish Athletics website. Click here to go directly there, click "Calendar" at the top of the page then scroll down to 9 December and select "Scottish Athletics West District CC Championships". Going by our current weather, it could be a mud bath with anyone proficient in swimming standing every chance of success.
The following day is the first Indoor League competition at the Kelvin Hall. I will print details on this page this week (bus times etc).
In addition, don't forget there are some Indoor Open Graded Competitions in December and January, ideal preparation for the Indoor Championships in the New Year. A variety of events are on offer at these meetings and they give a chance to try events against athletes of a similar standard without the pressure of gaining points or racing for medals. The first Open Grade is Wednesday 13 December. Click on the "Events" page and follow the link there for entry forms. See you there.
27th November 2006- UK Awards Outcome
So much happening at the moment, I can hardly keep up.
Sadly, Whitemoss didn't quite manage to take the UK Club of the Year Award for Juniors in Birmingham on Saturday, the honour going to Slough Juniors. No announcements were made as to who was runner up and third. Nevertheless, to be ranked at least third out of all the clubs in the United Kingdom is fantastic. It's something Whitemoss could not have dreamed of a few short years ago. Maybe in 2007 we will take the top award.
Undeterred, four of our number made a weekend of it in the Midlands and indulged in some networking with some well known faces from British Athletics. Click here to view some photos on Euan McMurtrie's site. I believe my "Trackside Tales" colleague has his own take on events in his column.
21st November 2006- UK Awards and Glasgow Open Grades
Further to the news item below, Stuart McCord (current chairman), Keith Stoddart (former chairman and current Mens League manager) and Euan McMurtrie (secretary, pictured elsewhere on this site in a slightly different context) shall be attending the UK Athletics Awards in Birmingham this Saturday (25th) to hopefully pick up the UK Club of the Year for Juniors award. As written below, Whitemoss are on a shortlist of three clubs from the entire United Kingdom. The scale of this achievement should not be underestimated. In the last three out of over 1000 clubs, it takes some doing. Needless to say, let's hope the top prize can be secured.
On another note, the Glasgow City Council Open Grade fixed for Wednesday 27th December has been moved to Thursday 28th December. Either follow the link on the Events page or pop into the club portacabin on a training night for entry forms. Iain McEwan has mooted the possibility of the club running transport to the competition on the 28th. Any details shall appear here well in advance.
19th November 2006
Some of you may have become aware that the seniors coach, Frank Smith has taken unwell recently and been in hospital twice. As a result, he has requested to resign his position as coaching co-ordinator. Euan McMurtrie has taken the post in the meantime. I'm sure everyone at the club wishes Frank a speedy recovery. Get well soon.
12th November 2006- Shortlist for UK Athletics Award
We have received the most fantastic news that Whitemoss has been shortlisted in the final three for UK Athletics Junior Club of the Year together with Slough Juniors and Stratford Upon Avon AC. The awards dinner is at the NEC, Birmingham on Saturday 25th November. Whether the club wins or not, to reach the final stages for an award serves as more than a just reward for the coaches for the time and investment made and also the athletes for their work rate and performances at competitions. Tickets for the Awards dinner are £25 and can be obtained by emailing congress@ukathletics.org.uk or phoning 0870 998 6798. Be sure to check the site and forum for the outcome.
5th November 2006- Scottish Rankings
Scottish Athletics have recently published the 2006 summer season rankings and the list contains its fair share of Whitemoss members, past and present. The following current members appear.
Under 13 girls- Nicky McMurtrie, 1st in javelin, shot putt and discus and 2nd for pentathlon. It is worth noting that Nicky's javelin effort broke a record which had stood since 1994!
Under 17 girls/women?- Laura McCord, 3rd for 1500m steeplechase
Under 17 boys/men?- Ryan Grant, 1st for octathlon and decathlon, 5th for high jump
Ryan Holmes, 4th for 200m
Under 20 men- Billy McGill, 3rd for 400m
David Robertson, 4th for pole vault
Craig McEwan, 4th for decathlon
Senior men- Allan Scott (Commonwealth Games Representative and honorary lifetime member), 2nd for 110m hurdles
In addition, former member Erin Leggate, now of City of Glasgow AC, is ranked 3rd in the high jump for 2006. Well done to all of the above.