September 24, 2009 Clubmark honour presented to MAC
The Clubmark accreditation, presented by scottishathletics, the governing body for athletics in Scotland, has been granted to the Motherwell club, which will have greater access to a wide range of benefits such as additional funding to assist its development.
The Clubmark award will also help attract more members and popularise the sport, especially in the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
'Fantastic honour'
"The athletes, parents, coaches and committees have all worked very hard to achieve this recognition and it's brilliant to see their efforts being rewarded.
"Clubmark will enhance our performance and reassure parents and athletes that Motherwell Athletics Club is one of the best-run clubs in the whole of Scotland.
"The club's emphasis is still on enjoyment and personal achievement. We?re rapidly expanding and new athletes of all abilities and ages are always welcome."
Jamie McDonald, scottishathletics Development Manager, added: "Motherwell Athletics Club fully deserves this award as it has clearly proven that it is a club with vision, ambition and a strong structure.
"It is clear that the club committee has fully committed to being one of the best managed clubs in Scotland and by achieving Clubmark has demonstrated high standards of practice in all areas of its operations."
Yvonne Murray Mooney, Senior Athletics Development & Events Officer for North Lanarkshire Leisure, added: "This is a tremendous achievement and well deserved.
"This award is recognition of all the hard work the volunteers within Motherwell AC have put into the club over the years. It also sends out a positive message to any new members and their families that Motherwell AC is a forward-thinking and progressive club and a great place to enjoy athletics."
September 23, 2009 AGM date fixed
The club's annual general meeting will take place 8pm on Tuesday October 20 in the Clyde Room at the Water Sports Centre in Strathclyde Park.
All positions are up for re-election and nominations are open. Please contact Jill Strachan.
In addition, the club would like to recruit someone to the role of T&F Administrator.
This person would organise fliers to be distributed to athletes before each fixture with time, date, venue, events, travel arrangements, team selection and what to bring.
The role could be done by two people.
September 14, 2009 Nail-biting end to championship season
After confirmation of the times from Cumbernauld, two titles remain up for grabs going into the Hamilton 5k on November 1.
If Jo Clark beats Phyllis Hands, she will win the Women's Championship, assuming both run in the remaining relay race.
League 2 will be claimed by Nick Hughes if he beats Robert Owen.
The following are confirmed winners:
- Men's Championship and League 1 Graeme Kennedy
- League 3 Phyllis Hands
- League 4 Jane Wedlock (maximum points)
- League 5 Pat Allen (maximum points)
September 13, 2009 MAC runners make mark on Cumbernauld
Graeme Kennedy, who had the club championship wrapped up some time ago, was fourth overall in the race and Clare Barr clocked a time of 44.12, a PB over the distance.
Other runners were (times tbc) - Nick Hughes, 40.28; Benny Hands, 41.00; Jo Clark, 41.58; Robert Owen, 42.12; Roddy Quinn, 42.30; William Martin, 43.52; Phyllis Hands, 44.33; Mae McIsaac, 45.50; Richard Martin 45.55; Elizabeth Martin, no time; Pat Allan, 49.41.
Check the championship and leagues going into the final event, the Hamilton 5k on November 1 (see item below).
September 13, 2009 Hamilton 5k included in championship races
The Road Runners' sub-committee has agreed the Hamilton 5k will still count as the last championship race, despite it being on November 1, the day after the championship season formally ends.
Runners can score five bonus points by participating in the Lanarkshire AAA road relays at Drumpellier on October 17 (date tbc).
These points count towards the overall championship but not the leagues.
September 12, 2009 What goes round, comes round in Parlauff event
The event was won by the "guest" team (because there was no official handicap time for them) of William Arthur and David McIsaac in a time of 16mins 20secs.
First official team home in a time of 17mins 04secs was Stephen Riley and William Martin, followed by Phyllis Hands and Roddy Quinn in 17mins 47secs. Dougie O'Hare and Michael Wedlock were third on 18mins 04secs.
Next were Baver Bari and Brian McLinden; Angela Downie and John Hughes; Anne Hughes and Benny Hands; Catherine Wotherspoon and Richard Martin; Carole Munro and Elaine Jamieson.
More pictures here.
This was the last track session of the year. The first cross country training session is on Saturday September 26.
September 12, 2009 Throw enough mud and it sticks
So who do these mucky pins belong to? Here's a clue - his job in public relations includes helping folk who've had mud slung at them.
Click on the picture and see more of the person on top of them.
The owner took part in today's Salomon Turbo X event at Mugdock Park, near Glasgow, which he described as "magic, stunning day ... totally caked in mud from waist down".
Another MAC runner, Alan Tait, has described it as like "running the Chatelherault loop and then deciding the path is a bit boring so you will take a short cut through the woods".
September 12, 2009 No change in SA fees
The annual general meeting of Scottish Athletics has decided to hold membership fees at their current level.
The 2010/2011 levies will be £15 for a senior club member; £8 (first year free) for a junior club member under 21; £15 (voluntary) for a coach/official; £15 for a friend/supporter; £30 for a family; £27 for an unattached senior member and £8 for an over 65.
Non-members' race levies were held at £2.
The club maintained its representation on the board of directors when Mark Coyle was re-elected for a third year.
September 8, 2009 Club honours still up for grabs
The RRs' championship and league tables have been updated following the Glasgow Half Marathon at the weekend.
Some of the leagues have been settled but others are still up for grabs.
In the women's club championship, if Jo Clark wins the final two races, she will overtake Phyllis Hands and Elaine Jamieson.
League two is between Nick Hughes and Robert Owen with Jo again a contender.
The penultimate race race is the Cumbernauld 10k on September 13.
The final race on the schedule is the Hamilton 5k, the date of which has now been fixed for Sunday November 1.
This means that the race falls outside the club championship season, which, according to the rules, ends the previous day, October 31.
The road runners' sub-committee is discussing this and a decision will be given soon on whether or not it will be eligible for points.