General

Merry Christmas

On behalf of myself and your committee I wish all Midland Masters AC members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope that you all remain injury free and attain all your goals during 2013.

EA Registration – MMAC Survey Results

The following is a report on the results of our survey carried out recently. It was not a scientific survey but I believe it conveys the views of most of our members.

Owing to the surprising announcement at the end of September by England Athletics about the increases in registration fees and a change in structure and the potential impact on MMAC, I quickly produced an online survey on our website seeking our member’s views. This survey ran for approximately 7 weeks and had a total of 147 participants.

The following questions were asked:-

1. Are you a member of a UKA Club? YES/NO
2. Are you a 1^st Claim Member to MMAC? YES/NO/YES track & field only
3. Are you happy to pay a registration fee to EA? YES/NO
4. Do you recognise the need to pay a registration fee? YES/NO/Please help us understand why you selected this answer
5. If you answered YES to question 4, what would the maximum amount be that you are prepared to pay? £7 to £10 /£10 to £15/ £15 to £20/ Other option
6. Do you agree to a two tier system? i.e. road runners pay less YES/NO
7. Are you satisfied with what you get from the registration scheme? YES/NO/Please help us understand why you selected this answer
8. What would you like to see EA provide out of this extra fee? To your Club/As an individual/Please help us understand why you selected this answer

The above questions were a ‘knee jerk’ reaction to the announcement and with hindsight would probably be either different or phrased differently. However, I felt it important to seek views immediately so that I could present the results at our November Committee meeting. Subsequently to the EA announcement, their own AGM was held where Clubs expressed strong views and as a result a series of Forums have been set up by EA.

Following are the results received to the questions giving both numbers and percentages.

Question 1 – Are you a member of a UKA Club?

136 answered YES (94%); 8 answered NO (6%) – there were 3 who skipped the question

Question 2 – Are you a 1^st Claim Member to MMAC

25 answered YES (17%); 113 answered YES (79%); 6 answered YES Track & Field Only (4%) – there were 3 who skipped the question.

Question 3 – Are you happy to pay a registration fee to EA?

97 answered YES (66%); 50 answered NO (34%) – No skips.

Question 4 – Do you recognise the need to pay a registration fee?

113 answered YES (77%); 34 answered NO (23%) – No skips and 108 comments.

Question 5 – If you answered YES to Question 4, what would the maximum amount be that you are prepared to pay?

52 answered £7 to £10 (44%); 19 answered £10 to £15 (16%); 16 answered £15 to £20 (14%)

31 answered ‘Other Option’ (26%) of which 68% wanted £5

Question 6 – Do you agree to a two tier system? i.e. road runners pay less.

144 answered NO (74%); 38 answered YES (26%) – there were 3 who skipped the question.

Question 7 – Are you satisfied with what you get from the registration scheme?

80 answered NO (56%); 64 answered YES (44%) – 3 skips and 104 comments.

Question 8 – What would you like to see EA provide out of this extra fee?

68 answered ‘To your Club’ (64%); 39 answered ‘As an individual’ (36%) – 40 skips and 113 comments.

General Observations

The overwhelming thing that stood out from the comments was the ignorance of members of either what EA is or does or where we as a Masters Club benefit. Even 1^st Claim status was not understood by all as a few ticked YES both for a UKA Club and MMAC, thus shifting the analysis slightly!

As we would expect, the majority of our members belong to a UKA Club (Q1) but the numbers claiming to be 1^st Claim members was too high at 17%, the actual figure being nearer 11% (Q2). The majority seem happy to pay a registration fee and do recognise the need (Q3 & Q4) however some did question what EA provides for the veteran/master athlete competing in only a few events per year. Others thought that a nominal fee was acceptable but not the large 4x increase. The majority 44% were prepared to pay between £7 and £10 (Q5) and as most members were against the two tier system (Q6) then an across the board registration fee of £10 seemed to be acceptable. It’s interesting that although members generally are happy for a registration scheme the majority are not satisfied with what they get from it (Q7), many not seeing any benefits particularly as veteran/master athletes. From the comments made this is mainly through a lack of understanding. Members wanted EA to provide more to the Clubs than individuals (Q8) but there was a range of comments from wanting more to be done for youngsters through to more for the older athletes.

Conclusions

More education for our members on what EA provides and why we have a registration scheme in the first place is required. I can reply to some of the concerns expressed on the survey to explain or allay their fears and misunderstandings.

This was not a scientific survey and only 22% (147) of the potential 652 members on email/internet actually took part. But it is a guide as to how our members feel. The bottom line is that most are happy to pay an increase up to double the current fees providing it is across the board i.e. road runners and track & field pay the same.

Tom Morris – 23rd November 2013

Appeal from Birmingham Cross Country League

An important appeal from Chris Holloway of Tipton Harriers who is researching into the history of the Birmingham Cross Country League. I reproduce his letter below…..

I am starting to research the development of the badge used for the various awards in the Birmingham & District XC League over the years to record for posterity.

I would like to ask for help on a couple of fronts from your more “senior” members.

Firstly I am seeking examples of Midland club badges that have included a “wooden gate” as part of the design.

I seem to vaguely recall that older clubs such as Small Heath Harriers or Lozells Harriers may have had this. There may have been others. If so does anyone have a good quality drawing, photograph or picture (or could take one/scan one) of each badge for me?  The badge may be on a letterhead, vest, blazer tracksuit or other item of memorabilia.

My second appeal is to try and trace the various specific designs used for BDXCL medals over the years since 1925 when the league was formed. I understand that the basic design was probably standard across all divisions and placements (1^st, 2^nd 3^rd etc). I have examples from the 1930’s & 40’s but would like to obtain any other variations that may have existed.

What was the badge like in the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s & 90’s and up to the present day? Did it in fact differ?

Ideally I want to obtain good quality digital photographs that show the detail of each medal.  I can take photographs if I can borrow the medals so if people are willing to lend them to me I would be very grateful to know.

If any of our members can help please contact Chris direct on tipton.harrier@yahoo.co.uk

Perfect Christmas Present ….

Received in my Inbox this morning: –

Dear Secretary,

Re: Book titled My Brother Jeffrey’s Favourite Little Books featuring Who Ate All The Paella?  Stories from the World masters Athletics Champs 2005.

I’ve been down to my last 100 or so copies for a few years now, so have decided to try and safely dispose of them to the good homes of new Masters or those who missed out first time round.  The deal is £4.50 for one, £3.50 every other copy inc. p&p and for every copy sold I will re-imburse your association with £1 per copy for your help. Please note that any money is only going towards off-setting the original print costs (it wasn’t half as cheap then as now!)

All I need from prospective buyers is cheque payable to Kevin Archer, their contact details, any dedication they want in the book and confirmation of their association so you get re-imbursed.

My contact details are:-

Kevin Archer 3 Lower Saint Edmund Street Weymouth Dorset DT4 8AJ Tel: 01305 830096 evenings, 07453698759 day, email kevin_archer45@hotmail.com. That’s kevin (underscore) archer.

About the book.  An attempt at humour with the back drop of the World Masters Athletics Champs.  I got injured there so started writing stories about the characters and just added all the corny jokes that came to mind, but funnily enough not the one about the Chiropodist who only ever ate corn flakes for breakfast!  Characters from all the Associations appear in one guise or another, so your area is represented, including a true but funny piece on the birth and death of Antrim Harriers contributed by Terry Eakin.  The original press and peer reviews in the book are so good I could have written them myself!

So don’t miss out on possibly the best stocking filler since………(buy the book to reveal!)

Alex Rotas Photography

Photographic Exhibition

The Photographer, Alex Rotas, has an Exhibition of her photos that she took at the European VAA Track & Field Championships last August plus other action photos now showing at Aston University, Birmingham, (main building on the Aston Triangle, lower foyer),  from 1 Nov-January.

Please visit Alex’s website at http://www.alexrotasphotography.com

Membership Subscription Reminder

We are now collecting 2013 Subscriptions and I would appreciate receiving  your renewals. Please see the “Membership” page, sub-pages “Existing or Lapsed Members”.

We are currently freezing the membership rates for 1st Claim Members awaiting any further developments with the England Athletics Registration increases.

EA Registration Survey

Survey now closed. Report on results coming shortly

EA Registration Survey

The announcement a few weeks ago that the England Athletics registration fees were being increased from £5.00 to £20.00 for track & field athletes and to £10.00 for road runners has sent shock waves through the UKA Clubs and the regional Masters Clubs including our own. Just look at the increase, a four fold increase in one go! How can that be justified? It affects Midland Masters because we register our 1st Claim members with EA as do the UKA Clubs with our other members. We have already had to pass a resolution at this year’s AGM to increase our own subscription, this was announced in plenty of time for 2013, standing orders have been altered and already 2013 renewals are coming in. Now another change!

New members joining us between the 1st October and 31st December continue membership to us through all of the following year. If they have to be registered, we pay immediately but we have to pay again to cover them from the 1st April. Currently we only ask for one £5.00 and we absorb the other payment. At £20.00 we will no longer be able to do this.

Another issue is whether road runners should be singled out for a lower payment. By and large road runners compete all year round. An athlete who for example only competes at shot put in the summer months, has to pay double the road runners registration. Is this fair?

We are seeking your opinions. Please take time to fill in the online survey. Please click on the link below

Take the survey by clicking HERE … Take Our Survey!

Also please feel free to start a discussion using the ‘Comments’ below. And don’t forget the post ratings above…..

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If you have difficulty opening the Survey from the above link, please try this … http://rockontom.polldaddy.com/s/ea-registration

London Marathon Club Entries

Latest News

The Virgin London Marathon Club Entries have now been applied for and all our member’s applications for a place are in. I have received 11 applications, which were all allocated a number as they were received. Our President had this list of numbers and has arranged to draw them out in a particular order. He did not know names. As soon as I know how many entries we get then I can announce the lucky participants, this should be within the next 7 – 10 days.

Tom Morris – Secretary

Related articles

• The spring marathon build-up (foot4ward.co.uk)
• 2012 Miles – Day 270 (London Marathon Confirmation) (thrivecardiff.org)

40th Anniversary Celebration

40th Anniversary Celebration
Our celebrations took place yesterday at the Tamworth AC’s headquarters. An afternoon of fun and frolics was planned by a small team headed by our current President, Adrian Lloyd.

The weather was kind and the forecast of light rain fortunately didn’t materialise. John Walker, our Road/ XC Secretary, organised a “Torch” Relay from Halesowen ( the place where it all began) to Tamworth, timed to perfection, arriving at the start of the meeting and ending with a lap of the track consisting of a genuine Olympic Torch and plethora of past Presidents.

Seconded at the last minute for timekeeping duties with fellow past President, Derek Fellows, we were grateful that our tasks were not too onerous. The show kicked off with a two- man Paarlauf, 12 minutes in duration. What a pity only two teams participated because once everyone had ‘sussed’ out how it worked it proved to be quite a close fought contest. A mixture of techniques was used, run 300m; jog back 100m or run 200m; jog across grass, adding to the interest.

On the track, 1 mile handicap races followed both for race walkers and runners, whilst field events consisted of long jumps and shot put plus welly wanging, the latter proving the most popular! Obstacle races and family shuttle relays rounded of the track events and a demonstration of tug- a – war being the afternoon’s highlight.

After all these efforts everyone fed themselves on jacket potatoes with various fillings and a substantial buffet.

Presentations to the winners were then carried out by Sue Kneill-Boxley, one of the organising team who sorted all the obstacle races, bouncy castle and who contributed in such a tremendous way.

With darkness falling, our Treasurer, Martin Wilkinson, and small team prepared the firework display. Wow! What a way to see off our 40th year, a really beautiful display and I’m sure Tamworth enjoyed it too!

The evening was rounded off with music and dancing.

All in all a very enjoyable and entertaining day. Congratulations to Adrian and his team for organising such a great event.

I’m off now with a little break with the family in Cornwall, so the full report with pictures will appear on the dedicated page in a couple of weeks, my apologies for this delay. But I thought it important to get this post uploaded.

Please feel free to make comments on this or the dedicated page and I’ll do my best to get them all approved before I am back in action.

Tom Morris – Secretary
1st October 2012

40th Anniversary Celebration

The programme has now been finalised although it will have to be remain flexible depending on the weather etc.

Full details can be seen on the dedicated page on this website, a quick link to it http://tinyurl.com/d3fat8x 

Please take a look and download the programme.