Jarrow and Hebburn Athletic Club

Race Reports – Dalton Park 10k and Derwent Reservoir 10k, 5k

Race Reports by Carl Smith, JHAC Senior Men’s Captain

Dalton Park 10k – Sunday 23 August

Three men ran the Dalton Park 10km: Andrew Laidler, Darren Parks and Garry Reay. This was the first race for all of the lads since everything has been cancelled due to this nasty virus. The start was staggered 5 mins apart in groups of 6. The weather was spot on for racing and it was a wind free dry and warm day, if only the same could said about the new route, which wasn’t the easiest of 10kms and definitely not a PB course. Andrew was first of the Jarra lads to be sent away and was the first home also in a impressive time of 35:45. Garry and Darren also had fantastic races with Garry winning his age category in a fantastic time of 38:34 and Darren running 39:39 which is also a remarkable time. Well done lads! It just goes to show that our coaches hard work and dedication and all the sweat you have been putting in is starting to pay off.

Derwent Reservoir Trail 5k and 10k – Sunday 6 September

Nine Jarrow runners traveled to Derwent for this Wild Deer event on what can only be described as a horrendous day, but a lot better the the 10 mile race held earlier in the year. The first race was the family 2.5km, which set off 9am, shortly followed by the first wave of the 5km in which we had Garry Reay, Andrew Thornton, Paul Emmerson and myself (Carl Smith) taking part. Our wave set away first at 09:10 then each wave every 3 minutes after. There were 2 Morpeth lads in the first wave of 6 and we knew it was going to be a little bit of a test. Me and Garry had already spoke and had an idea of a race plan but that seemed to go out of the window within the first mile. Everyone seemed to have the same idea to go out hard, hanging on to the lead Morpeth lad’s heels. I decided to go with him and before the first mile it seemed to pay off and I passed him and just hung on for dear life and put a bit of air between us. The first time I actually looked over my shoulder was the last 300m from the finish line and I was more relieved to know the end was near. Garry was hot on the Morpeth lad’s heels. It was the first time I have finished first in anything, so I was extremely happy and to my delight also seeing my training partner Garry finishing third (1st in his age category) added to the celebrations.

The 10km was also a really well organised event and was set away in waves. We had new member Rachel Breheny running, as well as Paddy Mcshane, Darren Parks, Brian Hurst and Richard Scott. We didn’t see the start as we were at the other end of the course, but at the half way point we got to see every one run and everyone looked really strong, Darren was somehow last to be set away by nearly a hour but gave a huge performance on the day. The final results for the 10km were also extremely good, with Rachael being first lady home and Darren and Paddy finishing second and third in their age categories. The day was a great success and the team ran amazing, so a huge well done to each and every one of you.

5km results

1^st Carl Smith 19:04

3^rd Garry Reay 19:25 (1^st age cat)

5^th Paul Emmerson (1^st age cat)

7^th Andrew Thornton

10km results

7th Darren Parks 39:21 (2^nd age cat)

11^th Paddy Mcshane 40:53 (3^rd age cat)

13^th Rachael Breheny 41:39 ( 1^st female and 1^st age cat)

15^th Brian Hurst 42:47

40^th Richard Scott 47:45

Race photos

Pitstop 5k / 10k at Croft Circuit

If you haven’t entered this race yet, we have a high number of entries into Croft 5k on Saturday 28 November. There are around 20 JHAC athletes entered as of the beginning of September, so don’t leave it late! There are outline plans for a Club social event after the race, following the cancellation of the Club annual awards evening – more info to follow soon.

Club Memberships 2020-21

Jarrow and Hebburn AC are delighted to announce that memberships for 2020-21 are now open.

Current members will be sent an email on 1 August 2020 with a link to pay their membership fees online.

New members need to complete a membership form return it by email to Secretary@jhac.org.uk and pay fees by bank transfer.

Returning members who have been away from the Club for over a year need to follow the same process as new members.

More information, including forms and fees, can be found on our membership page here.

Please note that the track at Monkton Stadium remains closed,. The Club is busy planning the safe resumption of athletics sessions at the Stadium and is in dialogue with South Tyneside Council, but this may be several weeks away. Training sessions are currently being delivered by Club coaches under Covid-safe conditions in local parks and public spaces. If you are a current member, please contact your coach for information on these. If you are a new member, or are interested in joining, please email Secretary@jhac.org.uk for information on coaching groups.

Club training and activity – Covid-19 update (01/06/20)

England Athletics have updated their guidance documents to reflect the new Government rules allowing groups of up to six people from different households to meet outside. This means that groups of up to six athletes can meet for training runs and that coaching can take place in-person with one coach and up to five athletes. Social distancing rules still apply, so people need to maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from others at all times before, during and after the activity.

Monkton Stadium and other South Tyneside leisure facilities remain closed to the public, with no date set for reopening, so no track or field training is currently taking place. Information will be shared with members and on the Club website as soon as we receive an update from South Tyneside Council.

No formal Club sessions will take place until further notice, but individual coaches may be able to set session plans for their group or coach small groups with fewer than five athletes at a time. This is entirely at their own discretion and members should not put pressure on coaches to do this. The Club Committee plan to meet early next week to discuss next steps, but in the meantime, we ask all our members to train safe and in accordance with the new rules.

Read the guidance on the England Athletics website here.

Club Memberships 2020-21 – Update

Club memberships are normally due for renewal from 1 April each year. Due to the ongoing situation with the Coronavirus pandemic and the suspension of all training, activities and competition until the end of April at the earliest, these arrangements are likely to change.

England Athletics are reviewing their position on the payment schedule and pricing structure and will communicate their decision with clubs next week (Week beginning 30 March). Until we know what their position is, we will not be able to confirm what our membership arrangements and prices will be for 2020-21. The Club Committee recognises that with competition and training sessions suspended, and the closure of Monkton Stadium, that members will not receive the full benefits of their memberships this year, so a reduction in price is one option being considered. It’s important to note however that our costs remain the same, so we have to balance the needs of members and the Club. Our priority will be to protect members who are struggling financially in the current circumstances and we will try to be as fair and flexible as possible. Jarrow and Hebburn AC have also been in contact with England Athletics to share our concerns about the impact of Coronavirus on our Club and to suggest ways that EA might be able to support us. Their latest FAQ here provides more detail.

Jarrow and Hebburn AC will therefore await EA’s update and will contact all our members to set out the new membership arrangements and pricing. Please do not make any payments or send membership enquiries to the Club until we have been in touch. This communication may not come until after 1 April, but please do not worry, no one will miss out. Details will also be posted on the website and Facebook.

One thing that all renewing members can do in the meantime is to log into their My Athletics Portal and make sure that all their details are correct and up to date, including emergency contacts and correct email address. If your email address is incorrect in this portal, you will not receive emails from the Club, including any relating to memberships.

Thanks again for your patience and understanding.

Important update for all members – Suspension of Club training and activity – Covid-19

Please note that this advice is now out of date – Please refer to the most recent post above for the current information

The UK Government has advised that everyone in the UK should now avoid all ‘non-essential’ contact, which includes going to sporting events and social venues. England Athletics have updated their guidance to clubs and recommend that all face-to-face activity, including training sessions, be suspended until at least the end of April. Please read the statement in full here.

The Committee of Jarrow and Hebburn AC have therefore taken the difficult decision to cancel all Club training sessions, meetings and face-to-face activity until further notice. This decision has not been taken lightly and is being done in the interests of our members and the wider public.

Please note that the EA statement says: ‘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.’ The Club therefore recommends that individual members continue to exercise and maintain their fitness levels whilst training sessions are suspended. I’m sure coaches will be able to advise on training plans during this time, particularly for athletes who are training towards a future race or competition.

In light of the announcement from EA, the Club expects all remaining races in March and April to be cancelled, including the Good Friday Relays, North Tyneside 10k and all track and field meetings, but we will keep our members posted.

Thanks to everyone for your patience and cooperation at this testing time. Please stay safe.

Jarrow and Hebburn AC Presentation Evening 2019

Jarrow and Hebburn AC invites our members and guests to the annual Club Presentation Evening, which takes place on Saturday 9 November 2019 at Hedworth Hall in South Shields.

The evening is to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our athletes, and show appreciation to our dedicated coaches and volunteers. It is also a rare opportunity for club members of all ages and from all training groups to meet, catch up and socialise, including many of our new members who have joined this year.

Tickets are priced £9 per person for full members and £5.50 for mini athletics, and can be bought in person at the clubhouse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Members can also pay by bank transfer and can either arrange to collect their prepaid tickets from the clubhouse, or on the evening. Buffet dinner will be provided. Places are limited and will be issued on a first come, first served basis, so please don’t leave it until the last minute to get yours.

Award nominations are now open online and will close on Sunday 3 November. Please follow this link to the nomination form and read the instructions at the top of the nominations page.

Please can all winners from last year’s awards kindly return trophies to the club as soon as possible to allow us to get them engraved.

It promises to be a fantastic evening and we look forward to seeing you all there!

Minors Cross Country Results 2019

Well done to all 171 young athletes who braved the wet and windy conditions on Sunday 20 October to participate in the Minors Cross Country at Bedewell Park, hosted by Jarrow and Hebburn AC.

Full results are now available here:

Individual results: Minors XC 2019 individual results

Team results: Minors XC 2019 team results

Overall team results: Minors XC 2019 overall team results

The Club wishes to thank our volunteers and marshals, many of whom were on site from early morning setting up the course, to our race officials, first aiders, to South Tyneside Council for their support and advice, to the parents and carers, and to all the children who took part.

North Eastern Cross Country Championships 2019

The North Eastern Counties Athletic Association Cross Country Championships will take place on Saturday 14 December 2019 at Alnwick. The 2019 Championship commemorates 25 years since the first European Championships were held in Alnwick.

The junior races start at 11am with the under 13 boys championship (3 km). Unlike the Harrier League, the men’s race is before the women’s. The Senior Men’s Championship starts at 1.15pm and is 12 km (7.5 miles) in distance, whilst the Senior Women’s Championship starts at 2.10pm and is 8 km (5 miles) long. The first six finishers count as team scorers for the men, and the first four finishers for the women.

Entries must be submitted online by clubs by Friday 22 November 2019. There will be no late entries. Please can everyone who’d like to run inform captain Claire Simpson by Monday 18 November.

Entry fees: Under 13, 15, 17, 20 of both genders £5. Senior Men/ Women £6. No team fees. Fees must be paid to the Club in advance of registration, either by cash to club coaches, captains or committee members, or by bank transfer.

For more information on race times and rules, please read the North East XC Prospectus.

Cross Country Fixtures 2019-20

Cross country fixtures for the 2019-20 season have now been released. Harrier League entries are paid for by the Club, as long as members compete in at least one fixture during the season. You get one number that you have to look after and wear at all six Harrier League fixtures, plus the Sherman Cup. Registrations for the North Eastern, Northern and National Cross Country Championships are separate, individual races and you get a separate number for each. The Club does not pay the fees for these. Details on how to register and pay will be shared with Club members once entries open.

Start Fitness North East Harrier League
Saturday 28 September 2019 – Wrekenton
Sunday 6 October 2019 – Druridge Bay (Cancelled)
Saturday 26 October 2019 – Lambton Estate (New course)
Saturday 23 November 2019 – Aykley Heads
Saturday 4 January 2020 – Sherman Cup, Temple Park
Sunday 9 February 2020 – Thornley Hall Farm, Peterlee
Saturday 29 February 2020 – Alnwick Castle

For more information on race times, venues, packs and results, please visit the Harrier League website.

Minors Cross Country
Sunday 20 October – Campbell Park / Bedeswell Park, Jarrow
For more information visit the Minors Cross Country page on the Jarrow and Hebburn AC website.

North Eastern Cross Country Championships
Saturday 14 December – Alnwick
For more information download the North East XC Prospectus

Northern Cross Country Championships 2020
Saturday 25 January 2020 – Camp Hill Estate Bedale
For more information visit the Northern Athletics website.

English National Cross Country Championships 2020
Saturday 22 February 2020 – Wollaton Park, Nottingham.
More information will be available on the English Cross Country Association website soon.