Author: Dave Catchpole

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.

Phased restart of WVAC Training in line with Government Guidelines

/ Dave Catchpole

With recent lockdown restrictions being eased slightly allowing groups of up to 6 to meet in open spaces the club has been working behind the scenes to facilitate a limited return to training within guidelines set by England Athletics.

With this in mind Beccles sessions will restart this Wednesday 10th June on a basis of 5 runners to 1 LiRF across 3 Base Camp sessions and 1 Altitude session, this is following a soft launch of an Altitude session last week.

Lowestoft will soft launch a week later on Tuesday 16th June with one session in each group held at Normanston Park on a 5 runner to 1 LiRF basis, runners taking part will be first come first served. After the 1st session there will be a review and possible changes if needed which will then lead into more sessions the following week. On week starting 22nd June sessions hopefully will be held on both Tuesday and Thursday depending on guidance at that time.

For this to work it’s essential that everyone abides by the 2m social distancing rules, as if any of us are seen to be disregarding this rule by members of the public it could lead to a backlash against the club – you are all ambassadors for WVAC.

For anyone that doesn’t feel confident with coming back to limited group sessions, your group coaches will be able to advise on a suitable session plan you can carry out yourself so you don’t miss out.

It’s anticipated that lockdown will be relaxed further from July, with this in mind anyone wanting to take part in sessions from 1st July will be required to have renewed their club membership.

For those who have already renewed their memberships, we are very thankful.

Membership remains at £32 for the year. This includes the UKA affiliation fee, although UKA had previously intended to raise this to £16, they have retained the previous years £15 fee. Although we’ve lost a couple of months of the race season already, it’s important to note that the same fee is incurred whether a member joins or renews in April or in October, the half-yearly membership the club usually offers new members only still incurs the same affiliation fee which results in the club receiving less for our own club funds, funds that allow us to offer paid entry to the XC Winter League (£5 per race). 2nd claim membership remains at £20 for the year.

It would be greatly appreciated where possible for forms to be sent electronically and membership payments made via BACS so the group coaches do not have to handle paper forms and cash etc.

Important note: Due to the extraordinary circumstances that led to the delay in renewals we will not be applying a penalty fee to any late renewals.

Details on renewing membership can be found here: waveneyvalley.org/seniormembership/

WVAC

‘Don’t Pass It On!’ Lockdown Relay

/ Dave Catchpole


On 31st May we will be joining Norfolk Gazelles and 25 other running/triathlon clubs in Norfolk and Suffolk for the ‘Don’t Pass It On!’ Lockdown Relay!!! Get involved if you can, it just requires being able to go for a walk/jog/run for 1 hour between 6am–11pm..

Oh and carrying a ‘baton’ of your choosing while you do it!

So far we have 38 members taking part, if you can spare an hour, then please join in. This relay is not about how fast you are, it is about taking part! You can run or walk the 1 hour slot, we just need the distance covered in that time to go to an aggregated total.

If you’re interested please get in touch with Dave here

https://www.norfolkgazelles.co.uk/virtual-relay.php

This is a charity event raising funds for the Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity and Nelson’s Journey, donations are not mandatory to take part.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Norfolkrunningclubs

Le–Jog Running Challenge

/ Dave Catchpole


On 16–17 May, Led by Matt Jeffries, runners from Waveney Valley AC and 6 other running and triathlon clubs will be taking part in Le-Jog, to run the total length of Britain in a 24 hour period, Lands End to John o’Groats, an accumulated distance of 874 miles between the team of 50 participants!

Adhering to government guidance all runners shall run a solo effort, covering a minimum distance of 17.48 miles each over the 24 hour period (12:00 16th – 12:00 17th May).

Fundraising for Raise a Rainbow

The Raise a Rainbow appeal will support a range of hospital projects, the first of which is a new bereavement suite and a children’s play area. Charity funding is used for the important equipment, projects and the vital extras that fall outside the remit of National Health Service funding.

The Raise a Rainbow Appeal will directly help people who need it most. The rainbow was chosen because it symbolises hope – the message is that together, we can make the James Paget even better for everyone.

https://www.jpaget-charity.org.uk/Fundraisers/lejog-running-challenge

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

COVID-19 Coronavirus: Suspension of club training sessions

/ Dave Catchpole

Following this mornings update by UKAthletics and following on from the Government position all WVAC training sessions have been suspended upto and inclusive of Thursday April 30th 2020.

England Athletics have advised “…As a result, England Athletics advises that all face-to-face activity such as club training sessions, events, competitions, club committee and face-to-face meetings, athlete camps, running groups and social events should be suspended until at least the end of April.

The decision has been taken in the interests of athletes, runners, officials, coaches, volunteers, supporters and the wider athletics and running communities. This decision is also in alignment with actions taken by the home country athletics federations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and is similar to action taken by other sports.

Where possible, athletes and runners at all levels are encouraged to maintain their own personal fitness and keep active during this time, while following government guidelines about safe distance and safe exercise environments.”

We will monitor and extend the suspension should this be required.

The advice is to maintain fitness where possible whilst maintaining Social Distancing, coaches can advise on suitable solo sessions if requested.

WVAC

SWL XC Winter League Results – Pakenham and Woodton

/ Dave Catchpole

Well done all of you who took part in the rearranged SWL XC Pakenham fixture, along with the Woodton fixture the week after.

Results haven’t yet been uploaded to the SWL website, but can be viewed here for the time being:
 

These files also contain results from the previous four rounds.

There’s a photo gallery for the Pakenham XC here, the Woodton XC Seniors here and also the Juniors here

Wymondham NYD 10k & NYD parkrun

/ Dave Catchpole

On New Years Day four runners were representing the club at Wymondham 10k running in wonderful weather on a undulating course with the fastest WVAC runner being Ant Croucher in 47:09. Phil Acton 48:36, Peter Lang 59:46 & Dee Acton 1:06:56.

Also in force 72 club runners took part in special NYD Parkrun at Lowestoft, many thanks must go to Rob Fawcett and his team for both arranging and volunteering on the day. Five runners got PB’s being Chris McAllen, Leon Neeve, Mary Jones, Rachel Collins & Denise Osborne, well done everyone.