There are two important issues I wanted to flag to begin with.
First, thank you to the >1200 members and supporters who have signed our petition calling for Tooting track to be resurfaced-please do so if you have not already signed and do also share with your friends: http://www.hernehillharriers.org/wandsworth-council-confirm-track-is-not-at-risk/
Included at the above is some further detail on the status of the track. Following the launch of the petition Wandsworth Council have formally requested that Enable (who manage the facility) submit an expression of interest this month to resurface the track, to be followed by a capital bid. We have provided various information to Enable regarding the Club and our activities to inform the bid, and I am extremely grateful to my fellow track sub-group members Jade Johnson (Club Patron), Waldy Pauzers, Mandy Brown and Glen Keegan for their tireless work in getting the message out there.
The second issue concerns membership and EA subscriptions. All competing members must have an up to date EA registration-this is a pre-requisite to performances appearing in Power of 10 etc-and we have also issued a call for club subscriptions on a voluntary basis. Thanks to those who have paid your subscriptions to support our Club running costs. Please access both at:
http://www.hernehillharriers.org/membership-renewal/
It has been great to see an increasing number of events taking place, including some league competitions and trials for various national and international championships. Two of our athletes, Katie Snowden and Kristal Awuah, are aiming for Olympic selection, whilst a number of others have either secured, or are aiming for, qualifying performances for European U20 and U23 championships. The initial announcements for the London Schools’ squad to contest the English Schools comprises around one third HHH athletes. Well done to all who are achieving these very highest standards.
Whilst the emergence from the covid pandemic – albeit with some delays in the easing of specific restrictions following the recent upsurge in cases linked to the Delta variant-is enabling us to engage in a greater range of athletics activity, it is clear that the pandemic has impacted our sport in a number of ways which will take some time to recover.
Notwithstanding the real aspirations of our members to achieve the very highest standards they are capable of, we are currently in a bit of a transitional year in many respects, and along with other Clubs we are having to confront various challenges. These include providing sufficient qualified officials and helpers for events that we are hosting or taking part in, and also filling all events in league competitions. For both we are dependent on our membership, so please do put yourself forward either as an official/helper or competitor. With the former, there are also opportunities to shadow others to gain experience, and to attend courses to enable you to qualify. Please do come forward and help and/or compete in our team events.
Keith Newton, President, Herne Hill Harriers