Midland Masters Athletic Club
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Latest News
The latest in an occasional series of articles written by ex-coach and member, Clive James, is now available by clicking on the “Performance Improvement” tab and then clicking on the link to read (and/or print) the PDF version.
Our latest edition of the “Midland Master Athlete” #229 is now available online on the “Newsletter” tab. This edition includes an entry form for our 10 mile Championships (closing date is strictly 30th November) and for our February Handicap race as well as a form for our cross country championships in January. Details for all these events appear under the appropriate pages on this website.
Membership subscriptions are steadily coming in and the introduction of a members standing order option will hopefully help with the admin side. For details see our latest Newsletter or click on the “About Us” tab and go to “Annual Subscriptions”.
Please consider subscribing to the email notifications when new posts are put onto the website thus keeping up to date with what’s happening.
Yesterday I attended the launch of the Olympic Sculpture, “A Sporting Chance For Peace”, by one of our members, Donald Brown. After an excellent presentation by Donald the project was launched by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Anita Ward.
Lord Mayor of Birmingham & VIP Guests. Donald is on extreme right.
Everyone who attended then placed a ‘peace’ of clay onto the sculpture, see photos. After visiting several cities around the UK the resulting frame of clay will be lovingly made into a sculpture, eventually in bronze.
The start of the sculpture
For more details, please go to http://www.thestruggleforchange.co.uk/uk.html
Of interest to Marathoners
http://www.sightsavers.org.uk/[visionindia]/vision_india/17119.html
Run Mumbai! Win a place in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon with Sightsavers.
Win the chance to be flown to India and run in one of the world’s most popular and challenging marathons with Sightsavers and partners Skywards and Standard Chartered.
Sightsavers, which prevents and cures blindness in developing countries, has
teamed up with Skywards, the frequent flier programme of Emirates and Standard Chartered, the chief sponsors of the Mumbai marathon to give runners the chance to take part in the epic run on 15 January, 2012 with free flights to and from the event.
This is a fantastic opportunity to run 26.2 miles through the city known as the ‘nerve centre’ of India, before visiting a Sightsavers’ project near Mumbai and observing their life-changing work first hand.
A quarter of the world’s blind people live in India, so Sightsavers is offering a place in the marathon to help raise awareness of their Vision India campaign, which aims to raise £1 million to deliver eye care services to some of the poorest people in the country.
Sightsavers’ Development Manager Katrina Scaife ran Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon last year while working with Sightsavers in India. She said: “Running the marathon in Mumbai was one of the best things I’ve ever done. The marathon is one of the most amazing races a runner can do – it’s the only opportunity you’ll get to run across the Bandra Worli Sea Link bridge, with Mahim Bay on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other – it was simply incredible. My advice for runners looking to enter is to make sure you’ll be marathon fit by January, and think about the climate.”
Standard Chartered, the chief sponsors of the marathon, has donated the two places. Flights have been donated by Skywards, the award-winning the frequent flier programme of Emirates Airlines.
The place can be won in a draw on the Sightsavers website, by simply entering some personal details: http://www.sightsavers.org/sm_form/MumbaiMarathon.html
All entrants must be over 18 and be able to travel from an Emirates airport. The competition closes on the 27 November 2011. For full terms and conditions please visit http://www.sightsavers.org/runmumbai.
News & Reminder
We are sad to announce the recent death of John “Harry” Haden, member #M0013. Funeral details are on the “Notice Board” page at http://tinyurl.com/63nbz82
We have extended the closing date for our 10 Mile Championships until the 30th November. This is to allow the details and entry forms to appear in our latest Newsletter due to be published shortly so that non internet users can be notified. All the details and entry form appear on the “Championships” sub-pages.
Fixtures Updated
Our fixture list has just been updated mainly for the BMAF dates for 2012. Some of these are provisional so it’s very important for you to note this in case of any future changes of date.
Please click on the “FIXTURES” tab for a full list.
Oh! Don’t forget to partake in our ‘social’ Poll in the previous post.. two clicks is all that’s needed… simples! And it will help us tremendously.
Also, spend a few minutes answering the BMAF Road Questionnaire
Related articles
- BMAF Road Survey (britishmastersaf.wordpress.com)
Colin Simpson R.I.P.
It is with sad regret that I have to inform you that Colin died this morning after suffering an heart attack last Friday morning. He had been in the Intensive Care Unit at Heartlands Hospital since then. Margaret has all the family with her. Colin was a one off and we will all miss him greatly.
Colin has been the Midland Masters AC Treasurer since the Club was founded as Midland Veterans AC in 1972 and without him the club wouldn’t be what it is today. Next year will be our 40th Anniversary and I know Colin was looking forward to our celebrations. Masters athletics in the Midlands will be worse off with his absence. He wouldn’t suffer fools gladly but we on the committee loved him to bits.
He was well known in the Midlands during his competitive days cleaning up most of the prizes at the many handicap events that existed at that time. Being a member of Small Heath Harriers he turned out in numerous track and relay races and performed to a very high standard.
Colin Simpson 1929 – 2011 R.I.P.
The funeral will take place on Monday, 1st August 2011 at 2.30pm at Robin Hood Crematorium, Streetsbrook Road, Shirley B90 3NL
There will be family flowers only please. Donations for the British Heart Foundation & the Royal National Institute for the Deaf should be sent to: –
Thomas Bragg & Sons Funeral Directors 562 Stratford Road Shirley Solihull B90 4AYFor tributes, please click on “Comments” below.
Forthcoming News
Within the next few days, I hope to have some interesting news for Midland Masters Members. Please keep checking this website for updates…..
Jo Ogden
We have just heard the sad news that long serving member Jo Ogden died of cancer on the 30th May 2011 in Lincoln Hospital. Jo joined MVAC, as it was then, in 1989 and still holds 6 Championship Best Performances in our Track & Field Championships, the earliest from 1990 and the latest from 2003. In recent years her health had deteriorated but she was always looking forward to competing again, maintaining her competition licence with England Athletics.
Colin Simpson writes:
“I was sorry to learn of the death of Jo Ogden. We corresponded for many years, particularly after she moved to Sleaford at Cranwell Village.
We shared a common hatred of the EU and she gave me a supply of stickers with “GB out” emblazoned prominently. After she moved to Sleaford, she complained that she could no longer practise her javelin throwing because the ground was too stony and it bent the point of the javelin!
A charming woman”. CS
Her Championship Best Performances are:
W60 Javelin 28.82; Solihull 1990 W60 Hammer 26.14; Solihull 1992 W65 100m 15.4; Solihull 1993 W65 200m 31.2; Solihull 1993 W65 Javelin 31.18; Solihull 1993 W75 Javelin 22.69; Solihull 2003R.I.P.
Loughborough University Sports Development Centre
Image via Wikipedia
This may be of interest to some of MMAC members — Loughborough University – Sports Development Centre – Mozilla Firefox http://ow.ly/5pkZP
Latest article from Clive James – Performance Improvement
Latest article from Clive James – Performance Improvement « Midland Masters Athletic Club – Mozilla Firefox http://ow.ly/5lFvM
Midland Masters Athletic Club 