running

MMAC Annual Open Relays 2015

MMAC Annual Relays

I am pleased to announce that our traditional Annual Open Relays will take place on the 26th April 2015 from the YHA National Forest Centre, Swadlincote. Full details can be found on this website on the dedicated page at http://wp.me/PDLtv-Fc and entry online will follow very soon.

For those of you on the ball with diary dates you will spot that the date does clash again with the London Marathon. We tried with all our might to avoid this date but because of other fixture clashes with the MCAA Relays and other Masters events your organising team are involved in, coupled with the potential venues being booked up and unavailable, we had to settle on the 26th April or nothing!!! Hopefully this will not affect us too much.

This event is for all affiliated runners (non-affiliated runners not allowed I’m afraid) and is open to non-MMAC members. Please disseminate among your fellow club colleagues and encourage a team entry. For individuals who cannot raise a team – don’t worry – please enter as an individual and you will be placed in a Composite Team on the day.

There is a possibility that a Race Walk Handicap will also take place at the same time, providing there are no major fixture clashes. Details will be published as soon as possible.

MMAC 10k Road Championships

Midland Masters AC 10k Road Championships

These are being held on the 7th September 2014 within the very popular Wilne 10k. The Race Organisers have contacted us to say that places are filling up rapidly and that those members wishing to enter our Championships should do so promptly and NOT risk being unable to enter. So the message is… Get your entries in NOW

NOTE: Entries are selling fast, revised closing date is midnight on the 20th August 2014

The best way to enter is via the new Wilne website: http://tinyurl.com/oh5j7t5

For multiple championship entries or people who don’t like entering online, runners will have to complete a paper entry form which can be found here:

Wilne-10k-2014-MCAA-MMAC-DAA-Entry-Form-C1

The list of entries for the MMAC can be found at: http://www.wilne.co.uk/2014_web/check-im-in/ – select ‘Race’ and type ‘MMAC’ then click search and a list will come up.  A personalised link is being developed so you can see MMAC number and age group.

MMAC 10k Road Championships

MMAC 10k Road Championships 2013

The MMAC championships are being held within the Wilne 10k on Sunday, 1st September 2013. Entries for the Open Race are filling up fast and it is highly likely the maximum entries will be reached well before the closing date. I urge all members who might be ‘thinking’ of entering to do so NOW. Full details on this website at http://tinyurl.com/prjb8ca Please make sure you tick the MMAC entry box and include you membership number.

A list of male and female members numbers can be accessed by going to the “Membership” page; click on subpage “Membership Renewals” or click on this short link http://tinyurl.com/d2prlmn

This is a popular, well organised race. Let us see a lot of support from Midland Masters. Get your entries in  today……………

London Marathon

The best of luck to all who I running the London Marathon. Remember those at Boston and make every stride count. Have a great time and enjoy the day.

MMAC Relays 2013 – Results

Results can now be viewed under the “Club Events” page, click on “MMAC Relays”, then “2013 Results”

STOP PRESS – World Records for Midland Masters

I am very pleased to report that at the BMAF Indoor Championships at Lee Valley, Day One, that two Midland Masters AC members achieved World records, subject to ratification. They are, David Oxland (M60) in the 1500m and Angela Copson. I have at this time no details of Angela’s performance but David ran 4:35.52 to achieve a very unexpected but pleasing victory. Congratulations to them both. I will leave it to David’s own words to describe his performance.

Last year M60 David Oxland’s successful clash with Nick Rose at 3000m was one of the highlights of the championship and so this year the prospect of the line-up in the 1500m, including Oxland, new M60 Dave Butler and the legendary Mike Hager was viewed with some excitement. In fact Oxland was on paper the under-dog this year having been well beaten by Butler and Hager in the cross country international at Belfast last November.

Butler lead from the gun and Oxland made no impression on a 10 metre lead for all of 7 laps by which time Hager was second but Oxland sprinted past both to achieve a new World Record in 4.35.52 taking exactly 1 second off the old one. With Butler comfortably inside the old world record as well at 4.36.04 and Hager inside the old British record, the trio would have taken the first three places in the M55 race as well.

Oxland said afterwards ” I had virtually given up with 150 metres to go when Mike overtook me but then I noticed that Dave was losing his fluency, after a superb bit of front running,and I decided to kick with 100 to go. I would have been happy just to beat these class runners and the World Record was an amazing bonus in my third year in this age group.”

PS: David went on to win a gold medal in the 800m on Day 2 being beaten by an Irish Guest runner whilst suffering from a cold made worse by the dry atmosphere in the arena.

The Colin Simpson Memorial Handicap

Our annual handicap, now renamed The Colin Simpson Memorial Handicap in honour of our late Treasurer, takes place on the 3rd March within the Centurion Grand Prix Race Series. The closing date for entries is strictly the 21st February 2013. For all details and entry form, please go to http://tinyurl.com/6thbsz7 

Members who are already registered for the Centurion GP series MUST fill in and send off the entry form for the handicap with the reduced entry fee or the will NOT be included in the results.

MMAC Cross-Country Championships 2013

MMAC XC Championships

Following postponement of our Cross Country Championships, we are happy to announce that we have re-arranged for the event to take place on the 3^rd February 2013. This date is the only one we could take bearing in mind other fixtures and existing commitments of the organisers/venue etc.

For members who cannot attend the re-arranged date will you please contact Irene Nicholls on irenenn@aol.com

Those members who will be able to attend on the new date, all the existing arrangements apply, please use your race numbers and age identifiers that were sent originally.

For the members who now find that the date is free for them, then please enter using the original entry form from http://tinyurl.com/axykg9r BUT send the completed form direct to:-

Irene Nicholls, Rainbow Cottage, 15 Meadow Lane, Alvechurch, BIRMINGHAM B48 7LH

We are aware that the new date will clash with certain other events but they are at a minimum compared to any alternatives and it do not clash with any large cross country events, regional or national.

Related articles

• MMAC XC Championships (midlandmasters.com)

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

Successful VLM Club Entries

I am happy to announce that the successful applicants for the Virgin London Marathon 2013 club entries are as follows:-

#83547 Andrew Hope and #83497 Tony Jeffs

Congratulations to them and wish them all the best in their training.

Note that we were only allocated 2 entries for 2013