Good luck to the Lasswade athletes competing in the East District XC Relays in Livingston today. We have a good turn out from the Young athletes with 3 teams in the Young Females and 2 in the Young Males races. There are also one senior women’s team and one Master’s Men’s team also out in action.
Live Results: https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2023/GBR/edxcr/
We’re urgently looking for volunteers to join the team to help organise the Lasswade 10 Road Race on Sunday, 3rd March 2024. The road race has been one of our major fundraisers in the past and with the cuts in funding that many organisations like Lasswade AC are facing in the current climate, it’s vital that we boost club funds by making sure that this event happens in 2024.
Please email chair@lasswade-ac.org.uk if you can help or speak to Keith or Kirk at training nights.
A wee bit late, but we’ve only just got the final results from the league for the 3rd fixture back in August.
This is a great result for Lasswade and tops off a great season having also won the CSSAL Division 3 League too. As always, big thanks to all the officials and parent helpers who have volunteered their time this season.
The Forth Valley League really is a great league for all young athletes starting out in athletics and a lot of Scotland’s top athletes started out by competing in the FVL (Fun fact: Edinburgh’s Josh Kerr, winner of the 1500m at the recent World Athletics Championships had his early track races as an Under 11 in the FVL!).
The Bluebell Trail Run, is a well established annual event, Scottish Athletics licenced.
It is organised for Midlothian Young People’s Advice Service (MYPAS), registered charity (Scottish Charity No: SCO29543) as a fundraiser.
MYPAS promotes the positive mental health and wellbeing of young people in East Lothian and Midlothian and delivers a free and confidential School Counselling Service in every primary and high school across East Lothian and Midlothian.
BLUEBELL TRAIL RUN, SUNDAY 12TH MAY 2024, Dalkeith Country Park
Participants can enter:
Entry is free for children attending East and Midlothian high schools.
Race village includes catering, parking and toilets. Bespoke medal for every runner.
Registration will open once the Scottish Athletics licence is approved. 2024 prices will be unchanged from 2023.
Alison Binns
MYPAS Board Member (and Lasswade AC Assistant Coach)
In the absence of the Indoor League this year, take a look at the New Year Sprint competition which is being held at Grangemouth on Saturday, 6th January 2024.
For athletes aged 9-15 years, there is a 90m, 200m and 800m handicap race (which means that “slower” runners get a bit of a head-start over the faster runners).
For athletes 16 years and over, there are handicap races up to 1500m including the main event, the 110m Open Handicap which has a top prize of £4000 ?.
A number of Lasswade athletes have already signed up so if you’re interested or would like more information, please speak to any of the senior sprint squad.
https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=12274
Closing Date: Wednesday, 15th November.
Unfortunately we had to postpone our parents night which was due to take place via Zoom last Wednesday evening. We’re now looking to reschedule this for Wednesday, 27th September at 7pm.
You can still sign up for this by completing this form. The Zoom meeting joining details will be sent closer to the time.
The meeting will cover:-
The nights are drawing in. The leaves are turning colour. Birds will be migrating soon. Put all this together and it can only mean one thing – Cross Country is approaching!
For full details on the season please visit our brand new Cross Country Guide & Fixtures page. This also has links for athletes to declare their availability to the club, who will then submit the entries. Please note each link takes you to the same form, meaning you only have to declare once.
For the meetings on later dates we will canvass interested parties again, prior to submitting our entry. We will post reminders on social media throughout the season.
The good news is that ahead of the World Indoor Championships which is being held in March 2024 at the Emirates Arena, the track facilities are undergoing a significant renovation to prolong it’s lifespan and giving us access to World class facilities almost on our door step. Unfortunately, the bad news is that the SAIL Indoor League will not take place this winter, along with many of the indoor open and Championship events.
Scottish Athletics are looking to draw up a Plan ‘B’ for the indoor season so please check that Scottish Athletics website to see what they come up with.
There was a great buzz around the track on Thursday night as over 80 athletes turned out for the 2023 Club Competition.
A busy night was in store – entries for all the field events were up on last year’s numbers which goes to show the progress the club has made in the last year especially in the field events. As an example, last year just 4 under 11s took part in the long jump. This year, it was by far the most popular event with 17 athletes taking part and they certainly kept the officials busy. Out of 51 jumps, only one was a no-jump!
17 teams assembled for the final event, the 4x100m with the winning team comprising of Moray, Mia, Nathan and Kieran taking the honours. There were a few last minute substitutions so a big thank you for the athletes who were coaxed on to the track at short notice.
It goes without saying, this event doesn’t happen without the support of our officials and volunteers who gave up their time to help run this event; the coaches who take great pride seeing their athletes perform and the parents who bring their athletes to the track. It would be fantastic to see some more athletes progressing to league competition next summer and if they can’t wait until then, at the cross country races which are coming up soon.
Special mention to Andy Sobik and Susan took the lead in setting up on the day, arriving at the track at 2pm to ensure that everything was ready to go at 5pm for the start of registration.
As well as all the event winners, there were presentations to Alison Chalmers (Welfare Officer) and Andy Sobik who is hanging up his stopwatch and stepping back from coaching. Over the years, Andy has been involved in pretty much every club activity there has been – coach, team manager, committee member, event organiser, handy-man to name but a few. Fortunately, Andy will still be involved with the committee and other assisting at future club events. Alison Chalmers, our outgoing Welfare Officer has been involved with the club for over 20 years and hands over to Susan.
Finally, whilst there were many impressive performances on the track, the biggest surprise of the night came from the adjacent football pitch where not a single ball landed on the athletics track!
Photos courtesy of Barry Munro
