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www.belgraveharriers.com |
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Secretary's Report to AGM 2009 |
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We have arrived at the final AGM of a decade for the club which has surpassed all hopes and expectations. At our AGM of September 1999 we could not have dared to dream that anything like this was in store. True, the seeds were being sown and we had already enjoyed several great triumphs in the British Athletics League, and oh so slowly we were starting to compete again for medals on the road and country. A sign of things to come came in the National 6-stage of October 1999, when Alan Mead assembled a remarkably talented squad of Freary, Lobo, Hurst, Miles, Barden and Evans. It was a team which may have been a little rusty and gun-shy but managed to return a laudable 4th place finish. Paul Freary noted after: “We now know what we can do, and what we need to do.” Four months later it all kicked off with a sensational win in the Surrey League on 2 February, 2000, when we went into the final match, 74 points down on Thames. We had that winning feeling again, and the building started in earnest for a tilt at the National 12-stage. We arrived at Sutton Park the following year with a tremendous team even minus the late withdrawal of Paul Evans. However, we still weren’t quite the finished article, running brilliantly from legs 2-11, but having disastrous runs to ‘top and tail’ – all of which culminated in a 5 second defeat. The tears flowed, but there’s no question that it was that heart-breaker which steeled our resolve, upped our club spirit, and meant we left nothing to chance. Since then, it has quite simply been a deluge: On top of six more British League titles, we have started winning elsewhere as well, in no small measure. How many trips to the engravers in all? 71! 34 of which are National titles. And with over 3 months of the decade to go, we hope our meter hasn’t quite stopped ticking yet. And if this decade has been good, the year since we last met has been no let down; a fantastic roll call of success and excitement, with a wonderful highlight of us producing a global champion. I shall give you a brief glimpse of these triumphs tonight, but first, I am sad to report the deaths of three esteemed members. Jack Brown, Eric Penny and Dave Davies had 168 years of club membership between them. Jack was a fierce middle and longer distance runner from the 1940s-60s who was capable of times such as 13:52 for 3 miles. Dave a city of London copper, was an ever present in our races in the 60s and 70s and served as a marshal at our home cross country and road fixtures and was one of our very few track & field officials. Eric was the son of Belgrave legend Arthur Penny. His days of running were mostly as a Junior but he always remained faithful to the club and as a terrific piano player carried the infamous Belgrave skiffle group, with a real talent for playing "boogie". ――― v ――― Our year kicked off with an exciting duel with Aldershot at the Southern 6-stage. We were down in 7th at half-way, but an exceptional debut from Dan Mulhare turned the race on its head to set up Steve Sharp and Phil Wicks to steal the race by a mere 11 seconds. Onto the National ‘6’, where we had a stronger team – a classic in fact, and had to leave out one of the finest Belgrave relay runners of all time in Jon Blackledge such was our strength. Notts and Newham ensured we could never relax, but the day was ours by 32 seconds. We won an intriguing battle with an ever game Herne Hill in the South of the Thames Champs, eventually prevailing by 12 pips, even though they closed in well ahead of us. New recruit and the latest in a healthy line of fine Australian runners we have welcomed this decade, Russell Dessaix-Chin won the race. The New Year kicked off with an encouraging performance at the Surrey County Champs and a bronze medal. Just two more big guns needed and we can claim that title. This gave us confidence to attack the Southerns with a vengeance and on a complete quagmire of a course our manager proudly announced a medal or some colour at the race’s end. Alas, when the sums were done, we were 4th for the second year running, but much closer to bronze, with the surprise package being Winchester who won. We were delighted to provide the individual winner though as Phil Wicks won a fine duel with Ben Whitby. Big hopes for the National were shot down in the week before with withdrawals and on the day itself, Simon Jones fell foul of travel woes and Russell hit blister trouble big time early on. He went into Zola Budd mode for the last 6 miles, slipping all over the place like a new born calf – how noble to stick at it. But we were 400 points lower than we should have been and 13th was frustrating. However, our day was not without its shining beacon, as Nick Goolab, one of our great ‘finds’ over the past few decades, left his rivals for dust in the Junior race, winning by 18 seconds over a field of 173. He repeated the trick a fortnight later at the Inter-counties. Few doubt that he can now take this form and flourish as a senior. The Surrey League remains an area of weakness as both Thames and Herne Hill are able to call upon many classy second-claimers. Runners of this ilk don’t come to us second-claim, they come to us first-claim, but it is often difficult to get them out for the Surrey League, due to geography or other commitments. But excuses aside, we should really like to challenge for this title again – getting off to a good start is key, and last season the first race clashed with the National 10k champs which fired a lethal shot across our bows there and then. (Our six master-blasters placed second in that race, behind a fine Bedford squad). A barren March team-wise, was followed by an April sent straight from the angels. The teams we offered for the Southern and National 12-stages were exceptional, and we won those races by a combined total of over 9 minutes. Phil Wicks claimed the fastest time at Sutton Park for 11 years. So, a remarkable, almost dreamy winter with 6 titles, but one which we can see plenty of areas for improvement – over the country at least. Encouragingly, our runners are far more game about tackling the real ‘toughies’ like the Southerns, and 15 starters there was hugely satisfying. For the women, it ended up as a fairly sound winter. 20th place in the National 4-stage preceded a toothless start to the Surrey League, but they bounced back with great heart as the months wore on, eventually sealing a nifty 2nd place in the league. No team for the Southern, but a terrific 8th individual place for Catherine Bryson, who we were gutted to lose to injury for the National, where a spirited squad battled to 21st. And better was to come as Tilly Heaton, Sarah Murphy and Louise Cooper fought to an excellent third place at the London Marathon. On to Summer and in the British League we were sent to the naughty chair in 2008 and a first taste of action outside the top flight since 1986. How would we react? By falling like a stone thru the divisions? By failing to attract our guys to rally round and fight for the cause? Not a bit of it. In a fine all-round team display everyone had the same idea – the P-word. And in truth, after an interesting battle with Windsor, promotion was never really in doubt. We’re back where we belong, and it’s not inconceivable that we can have a real pop at the big guns again next summer. Our local lads really enjoyed their Southern League action and it’s goodbye division four, hello division three. The Rosenheim League squad, expertly managed by Hazel Mead, comfortably won their division but in the final had to battle with a Herne Hill team that was effectively their British League squad. Next year! In the UK Women’s League the standard was extremely high, and we were woefully short of bodies. The courage in the face of hostile fire was pretty inspirational with everyone doubling...tripling...quadrupling. So it’s back to division four, and the fight will be on find the extra athletes – the ones we do have are very talented. ――― v ――― Individually, it has been an outstanding year with plenty of breakthroughs. Phil Wicks has raised his game yet another notch as evidenced by his great turns mentioned above, all of which culminated in a performance to make the running fraternity really sit up and take note: a 62:51 at the Reading half-marathon, a mere 6 seconds down on Kenyan winner Kimutai. Goldie Sayers has had to endure a quiet summer after her Olympic heroics last year, but she is already looking ahead to having a real go at the European and Commonwealths next year. Belgrave enjoyed an absolute peach of a World Championships in Berlin. Finally, after some real frustration since his great breakthrough at Sydney 2000, Philips Idowu has been crowned a global champion – firing his best jump of the year when it mattered most – his 17.73m a world leading jump, and of course a club record. Dwain Chambers can be more than happy to have played his part in the classiest race of all time, running 10 dead to place 6th in the 100 metres final; but perhaps the best story of all for us came from the man not initially selected. Hurdler William Sharman fought his way into the squad at the 11th hour and carried on fighting all the way to the final where he recorded a spectacular 4th place. As one cynic in the media noted: “I wouldn’t have expected that from him in the final of the Bedford Games, let alone the World Championships.” We can all hope that Will, with his livewire personality, erudite turn of phrase and great passion for the sport goes on to seek global domination. One can’t help comparing him with Colin Jackson and John Ridgeon, and it is interesting to note that his time is quicker than both Ridgeon and Jackson when they scored silver and gold at the Rome World Championships in ‘87. Jackson was 0.17 behind the winner in Rome, Sharman .16 behind the winner in Berlin. Jackson then took a tenth of a second off his time to win the Olympic silver at Seoul the following year, before progressing to even greater times. A final individual mention must go to road relay ‘god’ Steve Sharp. In a recent statistical splurge from the webmaster, the Sharpman’s relay stats have been publicised for all to see. Steve hasn’t missed a major relay since he joined us in summer 2001: 32 races, 31 medals. An almost unbelievable achievement of quality, consistency, injury avoidance and club loyalty. He lines up for race number 33 on Sunday, and his loyalty will be tested to the full for the National 6-stage next month as it is in close proximity to Maria’s due date. We have kindly offered to transform the club tent into a delivery suite should the need arise. ――― v ――― In race walking, it has been an erratic year team-wise where we have not been very successful, with only a second in the National 50kms springing to mind. Individually, things are more positive. Our President has kept the flag flying throughout Europe with golds, silver and bronzes in the various European and World Championships events he has competed in over the season. Undoubtedly one of the most active Presidents we have had. Maureen Noel regained the National 50kms title at Stockton and also won the BMAF 30kms. Alex Wright has been the star of the year with personal bests, and wins in the SEAA 10kms U 20, and 2nd in both the Inter Counties 3kms and UKA 5kms. Mark Culshaw was 2nd overall in the 5kms in the World Out Games in Copenhagen. Unfortunately our team appearances have been very disjointed. With a small number it is difficult to get sufficient out regularly and some of us are not getting any younger. ――― v ――― Onto general matters, it has been an excellent year too for our beloved Belgrave Hall, which has had an entirely new central heating system fitted, thanks to a London Marathon grant, and an overdue spruce up in general to compliment the new kitchen. We have seen an immediate uptick in lettings, including one very lucrative pilates contract, and the hall can longer be considered a drain on our resources. It was jammed to the rafters after the South of the Thames last December and the Belgrave Bolt this August, and provides a great arena for the annual "Flyder Cup" in darts. The intention now must be to up its usage as a headquarters and centre for running excellence. We have done the hard part, securing ownership of extremely valuable property within a few hundred yards of one of the world’s great running oases – now to remind the world of that fact. ――― v ――― With all these positives it would be remiss of me not mention the flip side of the coin, namely our ongoing struggle to attract local athletes, and the ever aging and dwindling supply of our committee, officials, marshals and volunteers which is becoming at best an inconvenience, and at worst an embarrassment. Our weakness in the road and country section would appear to be a lack of weakness. With neighbouring clubs getting all the run-for-pleasure athletes, Belgrave has got left behind this decade. The average, run-of-the-mill, jogger has an almost complete blind spot when it comes to Belgrave. It’s the old, old problem. Our excellence is a turn-off for many. Yes, we regret that – but do we apologize for it? Of course not. Do we pine for those we fail to ensnare through our own short-comings? You bet. I am reminded of the line from the ‘The Godfather’: “Would you rather be loved or feared?” If we are more of the latter than the former to the outside world then so be it. Our record speaks for itself. 15 years ago we had hundreds more members, but were doing absolutely nothing at the major events. We have been so focussed on winning those 71 titles this decade, that we have been unable to attend to the problem of “Joe runner” not being attracted us. “I could never join them,” he thinks, “Everyone will laugh at me.” With problems such as these the most important thing is recognizing they exist, and we do, we really do. It is perhaps the great issue of the day: for us to attract new members of ALL abilities, ESPECIALLY those within a 5-10 mile radius, and for us to inject some young blood into the running of the club, and enable some of our more senior club members to enjoy their memberships without having to perform endless crucial tasks to stop the whole deck of cards from tumbling down. We will never, ever stop welcoming athletes of all shapes, sizes and ability. But our marketing and recruiting tactics must improve. People don’t seem to realize that Belgrave is not just about the elite. As a young lady who left us this week for a weaker club stated, the comment she always got when she said she ran for Belgrave was: “oh, you must be good.” A chum of mine in the club is able to say at cocktail parties he’s Belgrave’s B-string 400-metre runner... and end the sentence there. He doesn’t have to add that he’s some 17 seconds behind our top guys, and is in one of our lower teams. He dons the claret and gold with pride, has trained under Bob Bridges for nearly 20-years, and is as an integral part of the club as those 46-second guys. In short, he “gets it”. But, unfortunately, his understanding of the way we work is in the minority. But let us not get downbeat on such issues tonight. They are for the future. For now we should all raise our glasses and celebrate what we’ve achieved in this, the most splendid decade of our existence. The 2010s will bring more challenges, but I have every confidence that we can meet them with all the ingenuity and positive attitude that we’ve shown since 1887. There are 71 reasons to celebrate tonight, and whatever our problems or short-comings, tomorrow - is another day! Thank you. Will Cockerell, Honorary General Secretary, Wednesday 23 September 2009 |
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