Athletics News

Athletes are kept up to date with forthcoming training and competition information with our monthly news bulletin

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Scores Race 2023 Open for Entries

/ Dave Catchpole

Entries are now open!
Scroll down for entry details

The 2023 Scores Race, a unique race in Britain’s most easterly town, will take place again on Sunday 27th August 2023 with huge thanks to our sponsors RWE Generation UK, Birds Eye and Great Gabbard Wind Farm.

The senior race (16 years +) will start at 2:30pm, and the Junior race (9-15 years) will start at 2.35pm.

This will be the 26th Scores race, organised by Waveney Valley Athletic Club, taking in the historic scores in Lowestoft. Starting and finishing in the upper high street, competitors can be assured of a great atmosphere and plenty of spectators.

This demanding race comprises of 13 stepped and sloped scores over a course of approximately 4.75 miles and 401 steps (Senior Race) and approximately 1.4 miles and 254 steps (Junior Race).

A small section of the course is currently undergoing maintenance and may need to be rerouted; however we will endeavour to keep the course as close as possible to previous years and not miss any inclines!

A bespoke medal will be awarded to all finishers together with a Commemorative Scores Race neck warmer.

We are conscious about waste created by races and taking measures to mitigate this and reduce our carbon footprint. As such, there will be a table to leave your own (named!) bottle at the finish line so as not to use single-use bottles of water.

It goes without saying that this race wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our sponsors – Birds Eye (www.birdseye.co.uk), RWE Generation UK (RWE | Our energy for a sustainable life.) and Great Gabbard Wind Farm (A Better World of Energy | SSE Renewables).

Thanks also to graphic design support from Graphic Solutions, water from ASDA and portaloos from Sole Bay Waste & Recycling.

We are delighted that Christchurch is supporting us with race HQ again this year with (limited) changing facilities, bag drop and post-race refreshments. This is also where prize-giving will happen after the race .

Entries are non-refundable (except in the unlikely circumstance that the race is cancelled) and unfortunately cannot be deferred but transfers are available until midnight on 26/08/2023.

Entries

Enter at https://totalracetiming.co.uk/race/454
Entries are limited to 375 Seniors and 75 Juniors 

Competitors from Birds Eye please contact Tim Earl, Race Director (email hidden; JavaScript is required) before entering.

Marshals

This race requires a considerable number of marshals. If you or a friend/relative can help out we would love to hear from you. Please email email hidden; JavaScript is required

Senior Race details

The Senior race is open to all competitors over the age of 16 on race day. Prizes will be awarded for the first three finishers (male and female) and age group winners in 5 year bands from 40-70. There will be team prizes for affiliated Clubs and works/social teams.

The race is licensed by UK athletics, details at Runbritain.

Senior Race Map

Junior Race details

The Junior race will again be open to Juniors from the age of 9. Separate prizes will be awarded in the 9-12 and 13-15 age groups.

The race is licensed by UK athletics, details at Runbritain.

Junior Race Map

SWL XC Returns at Framlingham – Sunday 6th November

/ Dave Catchpole

Following on from the club email yesterday, if you’re considering entering an event this season please can you pass on your age on the 6th November 2022 to email hidden; JavaScript is required as this determines your age group for the year.

Info for next Sunday is as follows:

Date: Sunday 6th November
Race HQ: Framlingham Sports Club, Badingham Road, IP13 9HS.
Race Times and Approx. Distances:
Juniors (ages 11-16): 10.40am, 3km.
Under 11’s Fun Run: 10.42am, 800m.
Seniors (ages 17+): 11am, 8km.

Important Info:
– PLEASE CAR SHARE WHEREVER POSSIBLE. If the weather is poor next week, parking may be extremely limited.
– Toilets, changing, showers etc available at Race HQ.
– Hot drinks and cakes available- bring some cash!
– Under 11 fun run entry desk open from 9.30- 10.30am. This is a free event- medals to all finishers!
– Race start/finish area is a 5 min walk from Race HQ.

Next race in the Suffolk Winter XC League is at Woodton 13th March

/ Dave Catchpole

Last of the SWL XC races for this season, and also our nearest one, let’s have a big turnout. Club kit must be worn.

If you’re interested please do get in touch with the XC coordinator David Woods (email hidden; JavaScript is required) and if you’ve not already paid the £10 for the XC series at the start of the season, the single standalone race fee of £5 can be paid via this Stripe payment link

Date: Sunday 13th March.
Venue: Dairy Farm, Woodton, NR35 2NA – Access will be signed from the B1527. One way system to and from the car park so exit will be onto the B1332. Car share if possible.

Races:
Junior Race 10:45am

Under 11’s 10:50am

Senior Race 11:15am

This is a working livestock farm so, please, strictly NO DOGS. The venue has a restaurant and farm shop. Please remove muddy footwear if you are visiting these. Free tea and coffee to runners at race HQ. The venue plan to be running a barbecue so bring some cash if you are going to indulge in proper burgers and the like. Course is suitable for spikes.

There are no changing facilities but there will be space for club gazebos (please ask at Race HQ for directions). Portaloos will be on site. Please use them.

Hot drinks and cakes will be served from the gazebo.

Further information email email hidden; JavaScript is required

Next race in the Suffolk Winter XC League is at Pakenham 6th February

/ Dave Catchpole

Date: Sunday 6th February 2022.
Venue: Nether Hall, Pakenham – Car Parking at Thurston Road, Pakenham IP31 2JZ
Please arrive early as there will be a little walk to the Start.

Anyone with a gazebo please tell the car park marshal who will direct you to the start finish area. IP31 2LH

Races:
Junior Race 1 lap course approx. 3km, start 10.45am £2 entry fee

Under 11’s Will be close to the start/finish area and will start 10.47am, no need to sign in, just turn up and run. Medals to all.

Senior Race 2 lap course approx. 8km, start 11.15am £5 entry fee.

There are no changing facilities but plenty of space for club gazebos.

Toilets and men’s urinal are provided, please use them.

Hot drinks and cakes will be served from the gazebo.

Next race in the Suffolk Winter XC League is at Haughley Park, Stowmarket 23rd January

/ Dave Catchpole

Date: Sunday 23rd January 2022.
Venue: Haughley Park, Nr Stowmarket, IP14 3JY.
Please note that the race HQ is in a different part of the Park, do not go in the main entrance but follow the runner signs to the car park.

Races:
Junior race (Age 11-16)
Approx. 3500m
10.40am. £2 Entry Fee.

Under 11’s Fun Run
Approx. 800m
10.42am Free entry

Senior Race (Age 16+)
Approx. 8000m
11am. £5 Entry fee.

There are no changing facilities but plenty of space for club gazebos.

Toilets and men’s urinal are provided, please use them.

Hot drinks and cakes will be served from the gazebo.

Next race in the Suffolk Winter XC League is at Woodbridge

/ Dave Catchpole
Date: Sunday 5th December 2021.
Venue: Sutton Memorial Hall, Sutton, IP12 3DZ
Races: Junior Race (Age 11-16) Single lap, Approx 3500m, 1100 Start, Entry Fee £2
                Senior Race (Age 16+) Single lap, Approx 8000m, 1115 Start, Entry Fee £5
                There is NO Under 11 Fun Run
 
Runners aged 16 may take part in either the senior or junior race and must pay the relevant race fee for that race. They should bear in mind that if they wish to complete the series and be eligible for individual prizes, they must complete 4 out of 6 of the senior or Junior races – not a combination of the two.
Junior runners MUST be at least 11 years of age on the day of an event to participate in the 11-16 race. This is to comply with our race permit conditions.
 
Further Info:
NO “Guests” are allowed to run in the event and all competitors must be fully paid up members of SWL Clubs.
Team Result Sheets, Plastic wallets and Envelopes will be available for collection by team captains in the Shufflers Gazebo. Woodbridge Shufflers BACS details are on the envelopes.
Both Races start a short walk from the Memorial Hall on a Narrow Track. Marshals or signs will point runners in the right direction. There will be plenty of marshals with VHF radios around the course and the First Aid Team have an all terrain vehicle capable of reaching all parts of the course.
 
ALL RUNNERS ARE ASKED TO BE KIND, COURTEOUS AND MINDFUL OF OTHER RUNNERS AT THE UNAVOIDABLE CHOKE POINTS AT THE START AND FINISH.
In particular, we ask runners to avoid warming up on the course in front of the start position then having to work their way back through other runners.
 
Facilities: The Sutton Memorial Hall will NOT be open this year and will be “Out of Bounds” to everyone other than for emergency First Aid use. Therefore, there are no changing facilities and runners are urged to arrive changed and ready to run. There will be NO refreshments available so runners should bring their own hot drinks if required and we ask that people disperse quickly once they have finished their race.
Portable Toilets and a 6 man Urinal will be available next to the hall and an “Accessible” toilet will be available on request. Car parking is limited and we ask that people lift share where possible.
All Clubs are welcome to bring their own Gazebos and we should be able to find space for them next to the Hall.
 
Seniors: If you wish to take part and haven’t yet paid the £10 entry fee that covers first claim members for all 6 races in the series (2nd claim members will need to pay per race entered), please do so here: https://buy.stripe.com/aEUfZn1SucvV7Qc4gg
Once paid you can run in all remaining races for that one entry fee.
 
Age groups for seniors are set by age on 07/11/2021. Juniors is age on 01/09/2021.
 
Rule reminder: The SWL is a team event and therefore runners should wear the same design club vest.
Those not adhering to this rule may be excluded from the team results for that specific race.

Suffolk Winter League XC Returns at Framlingham

/ Dave Catchpole
Date: Sunday 7th November 2021
Venue: Framlingham Sports Club, Badingham Road, IP13 9HS.
Races: Junior race (Age 11-16)
             Approx. 3500m
             10.40am. £2 Entry Fee.
             Under 11’s Fun Run
             Approx. 800m
             10.42am Free entry
             Senior Race (Age 16+)
             Approx. 8000m
             11am. £5 Entry fee.
 
All races will start and finish on the castle meadow. This is a 5 min walk from Race HQ. Please ask anyone wearing a hi-vis tabard or a Fram Flyers top if you’re not sure where you’re going.
 
Please note that runners aged 16 may take part in either the senior or junior race and they must  pay the relevant fee for that race. They should bear in mind that if they wish to complete the series and be eligible for individual prizes, they will need to complete 4 out of 6 of the senior OR junior races- not a combination of the two!
Junior runners to be at least 11 years old on the day of an event to participate in the 11-16 event. This is to comply with our race permit conditions.
 
Facilities: The clubhouse will NOT be used this year. 
Teas/ cakes etc will be served from a tent outside the clubhouse.
We will also supply a tent for team captains to use if needed. 
All clubs are welcome to bring their own gazebo/shelter- there is plenty of space for these.
Male toilets/changing facilities will be available in the changing rooms adjoining the clubhouse.
Female changing/toilets will be in the two changing rooms next to the main football pitch.
There will also be a toilet block open here providing male/female/disabled facilities.
Please follow car park marshals instructions when you arrive and hopefully we’ll get all vehicles on site.
 

Team Captains:
If you wish to take part and haven’t yet paid the £10 entry fee, please do so here: https://buy.stripe.com/aEUfZn1SucvV7Qc4gg

Age groups for seniors are set by age on 07/11/2021. Juniors is age on 01/09/2021.

 
General info: 
Please note that NO DOGS are permitted on the Sports Club playing field. They are permitted on the castle meadow.
Senior runners please be aware that when you are heading over to the start area that Junior races could already be in progress. In particular- the U11’s fun run will take place around the perimeter of the start/finish meadow. Please follow marshal instructions.
We’ve been around the course today and it’s in good condition- there are one or two sticky patches but they will just add to the fun I’m sure!!
The course is suitable for spikes but please be aware that there are a few wooden bridges/walkways to negotiate as well as a stone bridge and some stone steps!
Please listen to marshal instructions at all times when on the course.

Club response to the reducing of restrictions put on by the club due to the impact of COVID19

/ valley

To all club members

As chairperson of Waveney Valley Athletics Club, I would like to communicate the clubs’ response to the reducing of restrictions put on the club by the impact of COVID19.

We are now restarting senior & junior training sessions meeting the guidelines given to us by English Athletics. With the current 5+1 restrictions this reduces who can join the sessions so to help could I ask you to join the WhatsApp group relating to your running group colour (Lowestoft) or name (Beccles). Coaches can help members join the correct group and for the time being this is what the club will use for training session announcements and involvement.

Due to the current situation, Waveney Valley Athletics Club Seniors & Juniors membership fees will only be the English Athletics portion which is £15 for the rest of the 2020 year up to 31st March 2021. We still need to charge the English Athletics portion to maintain affiliation and the associated benefits.

  • Runners who have already paid the full WVAC membership fee so far, or choose to do so for this season will have their 2021–22 membership fee reduced by the difference for that year. Ultimately no member will be left out of pocket over the two seasons. Another option in this scenario would be to use this excess payment towards club kit should you require it.
  • For the seniors, any Suffolk Winter League XC fees will be paid for by the members who take part at the event for the 2020–21 season (should they go ahead) as this cost would usually come out of the membership fee.
  • The juniors will also be paying any track and field competition fees if or when events happen.

Second Claim members are invited to renew at a reduced rate of £10 for the year.

We feel as a club that this is the best way of overcoming the current situation with COVID19 and its impact on the club and our members.

If any runner is having difficulty paying this reduced fee please contact, in confidence, one of the committee members or myself to have a chat about how the club can help.

I hope you understand the route the club is taking and please have patience with the volunteers who are helping run our club and the added tasks they have taken on board.

Thank you for your time

Mike Illingsworth
Chairperson

The challenge is on!

/ Natasha Pullum

So whilst our athletes are in lockdown and missing the start of the Track and Field season, they have been busy undertaking other challenges! You may have seen our athletes on our social media pages with the launched of the T-Shirt Challenge, this was the simple task of dressing themselves in a t-shirt – whilst upside down! We have had lots of athletes email us their videos, surprisingly all successful attempts too. Very entertaining, so please keep them coming in.

Next up we have the Relay Challenge. Our athletes are now taking part in pass the baton (well banana!)
If you would like to take part in our relay challenge, the details are below.

Please use a banana as a baton wherever possible
Only an arm allowed to be visible at the start exchange (to receive)
Your arm must extend before you go out of shot 
Only one athlete in the relay 
No longer than 3 seconds 
Record in landscape (not portrait)

Please email your entries by Friday 15th May, so they can be edited together.

Suffolk Winter League XC results 2019/20

/ valley

The full and final results of the Suffolk Winter League 2019/20 are now available and can be viewed here in Excel format:

https://www.waveneyvalley.org/wp-content/xc-temp/SWL-Juniors-2019-20-Final.xls

https://www.waveneyvalley.org/wp-content/xc-temp/SWL-Results-Sen-2019-20-Final.xls

http://suffolkathletics.org.uk/suffolk-winter-league/    in PDF format

A brief summary of the league follows…

Seniors

69 Waveney Valley seniors represented the club over 5 events in the 2019/20 Suffolk Winter League. This was a fantastic turn out for the club, and it is also great to see several members finishing in the top 3 within the individual categories.

Our combined Waveney A team secured 6th place overall, with our B team claiming 4th place and our C Team 3rd place, of the 19 teams that competed.

The following athletes participated in 3 or more events in the league to help secure the clubs fantastic set of results;

Faith Brown, Lauren Finch, Lore Lambein, Emily Harding, Rosemary Plant, Debbie Foster, Helen Armstrong, Natalie Brown, Sarah Norman, Caroline Clamp, Carolyn Gosling, Sarah Bradley, Alison Cooper, Ann Millett, Mary Jones, Ben Ford, Dominic Oliver, Oliver Hogg, Tim Earl, Chris Pimlott, Paul Wright, Rob Reid, David Woods, Peter Lang, Alan Bradley, Karl Brady, Mike Bretton, David Doddington, Robin Jones, Stuart Smith, Bill Kingaby, David Mower and Tony Millett.

A big thank you to all who competed and represented the club!

Juniors

11 of Waveney Valley’s juniors represented the club over 5 events in the 2019/20 Suffolk Winter League.   Our Waveney A team claimed 6th place overall, with our B team claiming 12th place, and our C team claiming 16th place, of 32 teams that competed in the series.

The following athletes participated in 3 or more events in the league to help secure the clubs fantastic set of results;

Louie Wright, William Browne, Cameron Wedon, James McAllen, James Burgess, Cohen Copeman and Zak Barber (who second claims for us).

A notably mention to James McAllen who tied with the same amount of points as the athlete awarded 1st place.

Finally a massive thank you from all at Waveney Valley to Paula Hazell who has acted as the clubs Cross Country co-ordinator for many, many years and now hands over the reins to Jon Wedon.

Thanks Paula for all you have done for Waveney Valley!

 

 

COVID-19 Coronavirus: Suspension of club training sessions extended to 31st May

/ Dave Catchpole

With the additional restrictions recently put into place, England Athletics have now extended the suspension of all club athletics activity until 31st May.

As of 23rd March, the only permissible reasons to leave your home are as follows:

  • To shop for basic necessities and that should be limited to once a day
  • To take exercise once a day – but alone or with those you live with, no gatherings of more than two people
  • For medical reasons or to care for a vulnerable person
    To travel to essential work if that cannot be done at home. Further guidance to employers is pending.
  • Club coaches can be contacted for virtual session plans, you can either do these on a treadmill, as a solo runner or with household members providing social distancing guidelines are adhered to.

Full details on UKAthletics position here:
https://www.englandathletics.org/…/n…/coronavirus-statement/

Beccles group have started a Strava art contest, Lowestoft group are welcome to join in and all to submit your solo Strava art attempts (screengrabs from other activity platforms welcome) to the email hidden; JavaScript is required email address.

A note on membership renewals – Very much appreciate those of you that have already submitted renewals (or advised they are not renewing) have done so, whilst renewals are still welcomed for the remainder of the coming year, given the enforced lockdown does now extend to the end of May if anyone prefers to hold off their renewal til club activities resume they can do so without penalty. Please though do let me know by emailing email hidden; JavaScript is required of your intention so that I can mark accordingly.

To reiterate, there will no longer be a penalty applied for renewing late as current circumstances are unprecedented in post war times.

WVAC