News
January 2023 Newsletter
Published Sat 14 Jan 2023
The next big event on the calendar starts this Friday afternoon in Dubbo: the NSW Country Championships. We belatedly found out that Athletics Wollongong is the reigning event champion, taking out the pointscore club competition there known as The Hooper Cup. Though it hasn't been officially announced yet, rumour has it there may well be another trophy the club will be presented... Be there on Saturday to be part of the celebratory group photo that will surely grace the Facebook page for the next few months.
Also on Saturday will be a club dinner at the Milestone Hotel. If you'd like to be a part of it, indicate your interest via athleticswollongong@gmail.com ASAP, if you are yet to do so. Sharon Stevens (Kailee's mum) is arranging a booking for 730pm and we're hoping to see a big turn out there.
For those making the trip, safe travels and best of luck. For those unable to do so, we'll be posting daily reports to the club Facebook so that everyone can follow along and pass on your congratulations.
The final club fundraiser for the season is the Australia Day Aquathon, where we're once again asked to help out at athlete check-in. Anyone who would like to assist early on January 26th at Wollongong Harbour are welcome to submit their interest now to athleticswollongong@gmail.com. Time required is likely to be 6:30am 'til around 9:30am/10am.
This will be the last opportunity for those hoping to qualify for financial assistance from the club to attend the National Junior and Open Championships in Brisbane. There are only limited positions available, so be sure to be in contact soon.
AW members are also encouraged to enter the event's new Blue Mile 5 Fun Run. To get 15% off the entry fee for this race, use the special code AWBM52023.
The new year brings a new age group for many of our members. For those under 30 years, age is determined as at 31st December in the year of competition. With the calendar turning to 2023, all open and junior athletes had their age calculation go up 1 year.
As an example: if you were born in 2007, you will turn 16 this year. At AW Wednesday meets, with our two-year divisions, your performances will now count for the Under 18 division. That is, you are now considered to be 16 - regardless of whether you've had your birthday so far this year, or not - and thus are not under 16. You have 'graduated' from Under 16s, where you competed for the first half of the season, into the Under 18s for the remainder of the year.
(A 15yo in U18s sounds scary to some but, keep in mind, that the group only comprises of 15 year olds turning 16 and 16 year olds turning 17; anyone older has also moved up an age group. It's only a one-year 'disadvantage' and it balances the one-year 'advantage' enjoyed by graduates for the first half of the season. With points being retained from the first half, it all kinda works out in the end).
This methodology is used at all Athletics Australia-affiliated competitions. AW follows it also, so that our members use the same weighted implements/jump the same hurdle heights/run the same distances on a Wednesday, that they would on a weekend at an ANSW event.
Note that Masters athletes (i.e. those 30+) have their age determined by birthdate. This is because competition is held in age ranges (e.g. 40-44) and - unlike in Juniors - it is generally an advantage to be younger. If a 39yo was winning events and setting records in a 40-44 age grouping, it would not be appreciated by the other competitors!
Registration - it's not too late!
We're only halfway through the season and with all the major Championship events to come.
If you know of any university students moving into the area for study, we're keen to help them participate in local track and field. Athletes new to AW and attending Wollongong Uni can contact us for a registration discount code that will take $40 off membership costs.
Those still attending school also now have access to a new Active Kids voucher. These are provided by the State Government to help pay sports club registration costs. Apply for a voucher, use it during your online registration, and you can receive $100 off your membership. Athletics Wollongong even offer a Community membership/uniform bundle to get the most value from your voucher.
Finally, Little A's members can still take advantage of the Dual membership scheme. It's just $20 for a returning member, while first-year members also eligible for a Dual registration, can receive a discount code that makes it free.
The first of the NSW Championships to be held will be those for the Masters, being contested at Campbelltown on February 4th and 5th. Later that month sees the Juniors at Sydney Olympic Park, on Feb 24th - 26th. The following weekend it's the turn of our Open and U23 athletes.
Note that there are no performance standards to participate in any of these events. Also, unlike Little A's, there's no need to progress through a series of qualifying events first. It's just a matter of entering the Championships online via the ANSW website.
There's plenty more in store at Athletics Wollongong's Wednesday Meets for the remainder of the season.
The first special event to be held is this Wednesday's Turkey Run. This tests the ability of athletes to judge pace, with the winner being the participant with the least time difference between two 80m repetitions. Also on this night will be a world record attempt at the 600m age record by club member Harry Keats. Come out and cheer him along!
The Chocolate Run (a handicapped 800m race) wasn't held during our Christmas Special, but rest assured that it will return for our Pointscore Season Finale: as will the 60m Skins Champion of Champions. The Skins are a series of handicapped 60m races, with the last of those across the line eliminated from the running and the remainder quickly returning to their start position for the next round. It's a test of fitness as much as speed - not to mention the prizemoney! Club member Anthony Howlett is putting up a purse and he would like you to come and take his cash.
New this year are the revamped Region Championships. These will be held over a week, with each of the resident Beaton Park clubs hosting one meet. It'll be the culmination of the track and field season for our social athletes, while it will also be a great final hit-out for those going to Nationals. Best of all, everyone will have the opportunity for a final crack at a season best in each and every event.
Probably the biggest upcoming event to be held on a Wednesday is the 200m Zoom. The Zoom has gotten progressively larger in each of the last few seasons, going from an in-house event to one that draws competitors from further afield. This year we take a further step in its evolution: permit timing.
Club member Peter Gandy - through his company Process Integrations - sponsors the 200m Zoom. Peter was the club's first Commonwealth Games rep and the first to be selected in an Olympic team. His distance of choice - and an event he was Open National Champion in - was the 200m. To further encourage the next generation of local sprinters, we are presenting the 200m Zoom.
While it will be a regular Wednesday to the extent that everyone will have the opportunity to run, jump and throw as normal, there will be a few differences:
- the club will be exclusively hiring the track, meaning that there will be no need to pay entry at the Leisure Centre front counter that week
- participants will have to enter the sprint events online via the club website, prior to the night, for seeding purposes
- there will be a $10 cost for sprinters to participate, though club members will be forwarded a discount code so that it is free for them if they choose to apply it
- timing gates, supplied and operated by Wollongong City Little Athletics Club, will be in use
- we will have a wind gauge accurately measuring the conditions
- we will have the appropriate officials so that times attained on the night will count for qualifying purposes for selection in the NSW team for Nationals
- the 200m Zoom will have prizes! $100 to each of the fastest male and female Zoomers via Process Integrations. $50 to the fastest male and female AW Zoomers, courtesy of AW Life Members. So that everyone is encouraged to participate and has a chance to win, there will also be lucky lane draws for $50 prizes and for sports packs.
It will be a great night and we want to see the biggest turnout by our members this season. Entries will open soon. Once they do, another email will go out, alerting members and giving out the discount code. Get excited!
Beaton Park played host this weekend to the Illawarra Track Challenge. Over 30 Athletics Wollongong members were part of the action, including participating in the 60m and Mile State Championship events. Well done to the following medallists:
- Tim Bradford (1st 35-39 Men 60m)
- Charlize Colwell (2nd Para Women 60m)
- Peter Gandy (2nd 60-64 Men 60m)
- Liz Lobb (1st 35-39 Women 60m)
- Nicole McHenry (2nd 45-49 Women 60m)
- Justin Miller (2nd 35-39 Men 60m)
- Kailee Moore (2nd U20 Women 60m)
- Emma O'Sullivan (1st 45-49 Women Mile)
- Ginger Siasat (2nd U14 Women 60m)
The Athletics Wollongong Gift has been run and won for another year. Once again, we express our gratefulness to Trueflow Plumbing, who put up the prize purse.
Taking out the 2022 version was Lucy Schofield, who only entered because of her mum's strong encouragement; hopefully that earned mum a percentage of the $100 first place prize! Second across the line - and taking home $30 - was Ezekiel Curtis, with our backmarker in the final, Miller Siasat, making up a nearly 30m headstart and rocketing home for third place and $20.
Debuting this year was a pick-your-team 4x400m relay that proved extremely popular. Winners were determined by lucky draw with the 'pink' team taking the chocolates (funnily enough, along with Kristin Mercer, the pink team comprised of the Roses - Alison, Charlotte and Hamish; it was meant to be!). Line honours went to the yellow Velocity team, proving tough to run down.
Though we were down our BBQ Captain Ada, the Swinbourne family - along with Sally Parsons - stepped up to the (hot)plate and served up egg 'n' bacon rolls and sausage sangas, free to members and their supporters.
It was such a good night that I'm sure that everyone is almost looking forward to the season being over: when we'll hold our next Special!
Beaton Park has been busy making improvements to the facility. There was, of course, the line re-marking that corrected the hurdle positions. They were also able to repair the lighting in the home straight. The sandpits have been topped up and there are new high jump covers in position. The new covers were necessary due to people putting holes in the old ones with their spikes! Note that the covers must be removed before use. If you see anyone using them without doing so, politely give them some guidance.
Wollongong Tennis Club are sponsoring our club this season and AW will earn a percentage of the money spent at the bar and bistro by our affiliates! (Ensure to note us down on your membership form).
Tennis Club memberships start from as little as $10 for 1 year and $5 for age pensioners. To join up, lodge your membership form, either available at the venue or online here: https://bit.ly/3RMXaMK. If you're an existing Tennis club member, ask them to affiliate your membership with us.
*NB - we don't receive any rebates during December or January.
One area that Athletics Wollongong could improve upon is the number of accredited officials associated with the club. With people knowing the correct way to officiate an event, it means that our participants will have a better experience - and that there'll be no surprises if they were to compete elsewhere under stricter eyes. While we very much do NOT want to change the relaxed and social feel of our club meets, more educated and experienced helpers there can only be a good thing.
The good news is that gaining accreditation these days comes at no cost, and can be done in your own home in your own time. For more information on the Scheme, or to begin your online learning, see: https://www.athletics.com.au/officials/australian-athletics-officials-education-scheme-/.
You can help the club whenever you make a purchase at rebel Sport. Just drop our name at the checkout and the club could receive 2% of your purchase price to buy prizes or equipment for our members. Note that we don't receive a record of what those purchases are, nor who has done the purchasing: no shaming of shopaholics!
Coming Dates
- 18th January - Athletics Wollongong, Round #12
- 20th - 22nd January - NSW Country Championships, Dubbo
- 21st January - NSW Milers, Narrabeen
- 25th January - Athletics Wollongong, Round #13
- 26th January - Australia Day Aquathon
- 29th January - Campbelltown High Velocity
- 1st Febrary - Athletics Wollongong, Round #14
- 2nd February - NSW Milers, Bankstown
- 4th & 5th February - NSW Masters Championships, Campbelltown
- 8th February - Athletics Wollongong, Round #15
- 11th Febrary - 5000m State Championships, SOPAC Warm-up
- 15th February - 200m Zoom, Beaton Park
Contact Details
Email davidrosswollongong@hotmail.com with athletics news to include in our regular Illawarra Mercury column. Send other enquiries to athleticswollongong@gmail.com.
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