suekb2015

Sylvester Stein

We have been informed of the death on 28th December of British Masters Athletics Federation’s first President and former Chairman, Sylvester Stein, aged 95. He enjoyed good health up to the last moment and sang on 24th. His funeral is on 14 January. Our condolences go out to his wife Sarah, children and grandchildren.

Sylvester Stein Orbituary:

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/03/sylvester-stein

Today is the day…

From today you will be able to log into the new OpenTrack system (AREG is no longer available). If you are new to the system, and have not been transferred over from AREG, you will have to register. The system is not fully all singing and dancing yet but you can, if you are an existing member, check your details and view the BMAF magazine (or pay a subscription of £10 to receive a printed copy).

To log in:

1. Go to http://www.bmaf.info/
2. Click on MEMBER LOGIN (top right hand of screen)
3. You will see ‘Access to OpenTrack: Click here’ part way down on the left hand side of the page
4. Click ‘Login/SignUp’ top right of screen
5. Enter your email address, if you have a Hotmail, Outlook or live.com address a message will appear above the login which you should read, before proceeding, and follow the instructions provided otherwise you may not receive important email messages from the site.
6. I found, at this point, because my email address was already registered in the system but it did not recognise my password from AREG, neither Login or SignUp worked so I had to click ‘Forgot/need password?‘ (top right of login) to reset my password.
7. Then received password reset instructions into email which worked fine.
8. You can view Masters Athletics magazines from the page you are on once logged in. To subscribe to a paper copy or check your personal details click ‘My Home Page’ top left.

Please note, Membership queries (not technical queries to do with the OpenTrack website) should continue to go to the our acting area club membership secretary Irene Nicholls (irenenn@aol.com).  Other assistance will be provided by the BMAF support team Peter Kennedy/Alex Rowe via the email address memsec@bmaf.org.uk

MMAC XC Champs Entry

Please note that, due to the changeover from the AREG system to OpenTrack, AREG is currently unavailable for entries. If you have not yet entered the MMAC Cross Country Championships, 17th January, Aldersley, Wolverhampton, and would like to – please use the attached form below for postal entry. Closing date is 9th January.

MMAC XC Entry Form

AREG system to be replaced by OpenTrack

The BMAF is moving its membership management and competition entries over the next few months from AREG to a new system called OpenTrack. This will be used by the members of all BMAF area clubs for management of their member data.

The system will include:

• An online membership system for BMAF area clubs and registration system for open/overseas competitors
• A competition entry system for both BMAF national and area club events
• A payment mechanism for members subscribing to printed copies of a magazine
• A mechanism for automated email communications with members/competitors
• A database of records and rankings, including tracking of records ratification
• An online help facility and user guide for the software covering the functionality and its usage by each type of user

Not all the above functionality will be introduced immediately. The timetable for changeover is:

07 Dec 2015 – 01 January 2016:

OpenTrack accessible to BMAF members and open competitors: – to review their member data in parallel with AREG – to update their member data in parallel with AREG (from 15^th December only) – to read online copies of Masters Athletics magazine (Members only) – to subscribe to printed copy of Masters Athletics magazine

AREG continues to be used for all its existing purposes but any member data updates will be transferred to OpenTrack on behalf of the members

02 – 03 January 2016

AREG unavailable whilst final changes to AREG data and current competition entries are loaded into OpenTrack

04 January 2016 onwards:

OpenTrack to be used for all existing functions of AREG but new functions will be progressively introduced during 2016 for the benefit of members, membership secretaries and competition organisers

Membership queries should continue to go to the BMAF area club membership secretaries (MMAC irenenn@aol.com).  Other assistance will be provided by the BMAF support team Peter Kennedy/Alex Rowe via the email address memsec@bmaf.org.uk

When you wish to use OpenTrack go to the BMAF website http://www.bmaf.org.uk MEMBER LOGIN and follow instructions shown there. We recommend that you try out the access to OpenTrack, when it is available so that you can see how simple the access is, and review the accuracy of your data which has been provided by all the membership secretaries.

For details see attached document OpenTrack startup

More information, relating to the use by MMAC members, will be provided as and when it becomes available.

Reminder that there are now two options for receiving your British Masters magazine, see attachment here Masters Athletics Magazine for details.

Calling Birmingham runners for Channel 4 documentary

I am working on a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary about air pollution and looking for a running group to film in Birmingham.

Air pollution particularly affects those who are slightly older, so I’m keen to speak to a running club that specifically caters for older runners, or has a good number of older members in the Birmingham area.

We’ll fit them with a pollution monitor and find out what levels they’re exposed to. In London they have a veterans/masters running group, so an equivalent in Birmingham would be super.

I’d be very grateful if you could pass this onto your network to see if anyone is able to help.

Many thanks
Tamanna Rahman
01865 596 233

MMAC Open Relays 17th April

The Midland Masters Open Relays, held at the National Forest Cycling Centre Swadlincote on Sunday 17th April 10:30am, are open to all UKA registered masters athletes (you do not have to be an MMAC member to compete).

The venue is next door to Conkers, a fun woodland park with activities for all the family, so do bring the children and grandchildren along. Refreshments and accommodation are available (see details attached below) and the course is all on shale path (so not too hard on the knees or shins!).

Do not worry if you cannot get a team together – enter as an individual and composite teams will be made up on the day. Team Captains/Managers should put team entries in at http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2016/mmacr16e.php and the closing date is midnight on 8th April (so plenty of time to get your teams sorted!).

For details see: MMAC Open Relay 2016

BMAF Masters Athletics Online, or in print…

Masters ATHLETICS online December 2015

You will be able to view the new publication during next month, however, you will need to access the BMAF website to view.

You can still receive a printed copy. The reason BMAF had to cease production of “Masters Athletics” earlier this year was due to costs that had escalated to more than £20,000 a year, this expenditure could not continue. It was therefore decided to go online, with an option for members to purchase a printed copy at £10 for 12 months, please see attached:

Masters ATHLETICS

Colin Simpson Memorial 5 mile handicap, 7th Feb 2016

Please find attached below entry form for the Colin Simpson memorial run, this year part of the Centurion Grand Prix 5 mile series. If you  have already entered the series there is no extra cost but the form should still be completed and returned by the closing date of 29th January.

Colin Simpson Handicap 2016 Flyer Final 291015

Midland Masters AC Cross Country Championships 2016

Our 2016 Cross Country Championships will be held for the fourth year running at Aldersley Stadium, (Aldersley Leisure Village) Aldersley Road, Wolverhampton WV6 9NW on Sunday, 17^th January 2016. Once again our very good friends at Wolverhampton & Bilston AC have agreed to organise the race on our behalf despite their own heavy schedule of races and our thanks go to them for doing so.

To enter please go to http://areg247.co.uk Login with your username and password*, click on “Competition Entry”, click on the radio button against MMAC Cross Country Championships, accept the terms and conditions then click on “Choose Competition”. Click the box and enter an approximate 6k or 8k time for your appropriate age, then click on “Submit”. Check that all the information is correct and click “Buy Now” and follow the instructions to pay.

* Members who have not used the online entry system before or have forgotten their login details should contact the Membership Secretary on irenenn@aol.com and your username and passwords will be sent to you.

For the members who do not have internet access, please send a cheque made payable to “MMAC” to MMAC XC Entries Secretary, Rainbow Cottage, 15 Meadow Lane, Alvechurch, Worcs B48 7LH. You do not need an entry form. Receipt of a cheque for entry infers that you accept the terms & condition of entry. If you want an acknowledgment please include a stamped self-addressed envelope.

The entry fee is £9.00. Start time 11.30am.

The usual individual and team awards will be presented dependant on the number of entries and we reserve the right to make amendments.

Teams are as follows:-

All ages on day ….

8k Race: M35-44 (first 4 to count); M45-54; M55-64 (first 3 to count).

6k Race: M65+; W35-44; W45-54: W55+ (first 3 to count)

Please pick up your race numbers on the day.

Closing date for entries is strictly midnight on the 9^th January 2016.

No entries will be accepted after the closing date or taken on the day. There will be no exceptions.

 IMPORTANT: Please note that on the 1^st January 2016 members who have not paid their subscriptions for 2016 will have their ‘Membership Status’ set to ‘Not Confirmed’ and will NOT be able to enter ANY competitions on AREG until their subscription is paid and their ‘Membership Status’ set to ‘Confirmed’.

If you intend to enter the Cross Country Championships then please make sure subscription payment is made in plenty of time.

DO NOT LEAVE PAYING SUBSCRIPTIONS UNTIL THE 9^TH JANUARY

London Marathon Place

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2016

The Club has been awarded 1 place for the VMLM

CRITERIA FOR APPLYING FOR A CLUB ENTRY.

1. The member applying must be a First Claim Fully Paid Up Member 2015.
2. Priority is given to members who have not received an entry before.
3. Evidence of ‘rejection’ must be supplied

In the event of not getting enough applicants then 2 may be waived.

Entries via the VMLM Ballot will have heard if they are successful in October. If you are a 1st Claim Member to MMAC and wish to apply for a Club place then please send evidence of your rejection to the Club Secretary at irenenn@aol.com

Other Club members should apply through their Open Clubs.

Applications must be received by 31^st December latest as we have to formally apply by 22/01/2016 to qualify.