Law Trust IOM Cross Country League Round 1 – 16/10/22

Posted on By Anthony Brand

Entries have now closed for the first of four rounds of the Isle of Man Cross Country League, sponsored by Law Trust, which takes place at Port-e-Chee Meadow near Braddan Bridge on the outskirts of Douglas on Sunday afternoon. This round is organised by Manx Harriers, with race HQ being at Douglas Rugby Club. The first race gets underway at 1pm.

The course is largely on agricultural grassland which is fairly flat with one hill on each full lap. The senior races will be run over slightly reduced distances for the first round, with mileages likely to increase later in the season.

The senior, veteran and junior men’s race will be over three full laps of the course, a distance of approximately nine kilometres. The senior, veteran and junior women, and under-17 men, will race over two full laps, a distance of around six kilometres. Click on the links for full details of all race distances from under-nines upwards together with the course map.  The minimum age for competitors is seven years on the day of the race.

All competitors must make arrangements to collect their race numbers from the Sports Institute (upstairs room) at the NSC from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Friday. If you cannot attend you should arrange to have your number collected for you. Anyone who has not yet paid for their entry by bank transfer must pay when collecting their race number on Friday. Payment can be made by cash, or by cheque payable to IOM Athletics.

There is a large parking area at Douglas Rugby Club which should accommodate everyone on Sunday. An alternative is to park in the vicinity of the NSC and to walk up the road from Quarter Bridge.

Timetable and approximate distances are as follows:

12 noon – Course open for inspection

1.00pm – Under 9 Boys, 900 metres (1 short lap)

1.05pm – Under 9 Girls, 900 metres (1 short lap)

1.10pm – Under 11 Boys, 1,800 metres (2 short laps)

1.20pm – Under 11 Girls, 1,800 metres (2 short laps)

1.35pm – Under 15 Boys, Under 17 Women, 3,900 metres (1 short lap, one large lap)

1.37pm – Under 13 Boys and Girls, Under 15 Girls, Short Course, 3,000 metres (1 large lap)

2.10pm – Under 17 Men, Junior/ Senior/ Veteran Women, 6,000 metres (2 large laps)

2.10pm – Junior/ Senior/Veteran Men, 9,000 metres (3 large laps)

 

Please report to the start line of your race at least five minutes before the start time. Spectators please keep off the racing line and obey Instructions from marshals.

IOM Cross-Country League entry Information 2022/23

Posted on By Anthony Brand

We have decided to keep the major changes to the entry procedure for the cross-country league made last season, so please read the information below very carefully.

In recent seasons before last year, the numbers of competitors made things extremely difficult for the registration team prior to the first round, so the manual entry system has been replaced with an online entry system to bring the event into line with the majority of other events with big participant numbers.

The crucial things to note are that entries this season are ONLINE ONLY, and that entries will CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY 9th OCTOBER. There will be NO ENTRIES FOR ROUND 1 AFTER THAT DATE, INCLUDING ON THE DAY. There will be opportunities for those who don’t enter the first round to enter subsequent rounds prior to those events – more on that later.

Here is the procedure to enter (thanks to Manx Fell Runners for allowing use of their website to host the online entries):

  1. Go to this link https://manxfellrunners.org/iomxc-entry-2022-2023 – for families you will need to complete a separate entry for each individual. Please check age group carefully – details are on the form. For veteran athletes (35 and above) the category is based on age on the date of the first round (16/10/22). Entries will CLOSE at midnight on Sunday 9th October. There will be NO further opportunity to enter prior to the first round.
  2. Payment should be made to IOM Athletics, preferably by Bank Transfer. Details are: Isle of Man Bank, Sort Code 55-91-00, Account number 14347237. Details of entry fees are on the entry form. We would encourage entry for the full series. Please use your name as payment reference, or in the case of payment for a family, use for example ‘Kelly family’. The cut-off for online payments will be midnight on Wednesday 12th October.
  3. Race numbers must be collected from the upstairs room at the Sports Institute on the NSC perimeter road (the building by the entrance to the track) on Friday 14th October from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. This will be the only collection session, so if you are unable to attend you MUST make arrangements for someone to collect on your behalf. If you are unable to make payment by bank transfer (as in Paragraph 2 above) you must pay by cash or cheque (payable to IOM Athletics) when collecting your number.
  4. There will be NO entries, form-filling etc. on the day of the race – race day is for racing only!
  5. The online entry system will re-open prior to rounds two, three and four – more information will be posted at the time.

One further thing to note is that there will as usual be a Short Course race option for U20, senior and veteran athletes. You enter as normal stating your age category, then it’s up to you on the days of the races whether you run the short or long course.

Island Games Guernsey 8 – 14 July 2023

Posted on By Anthony Brand

After a two year delay the Island Games is being held in Guernsey from 8th to 14th July 2023.  We are now well into the qualification period which started on 1st Jan 2022 and will run until early April 2023.  The exact date will be confirmed later and will be based on when our entries have to be added to the Island Games system.  The Island Games Association of Mann (IGAM) have always been very generous to IOM Athletics, allowing us to push the deadline as far back as possible to allow the outdoor athletics season to start so our athletes have the maximum opportunity to gain the qualification standards. Selection will take place in April 23.

The entry standards are published here: http://www.iomathletics.com/competitions/island-games/

I have as usual indicated that we will be taking a team of 30 – made up of a Team Manager, 2 Assistants, a Sports Therapist and 26 athletes.

Whilst nothing has yet been finalised by IGAM, the plan is to fly direct from the Island to Guernsey on Friday 7th July, returning on Saturday 15th July.  I have put our accommodation preferences into IGAM and we wait to hear from Guernsey , who do the allocation, as to where they allocate us.  Following a report from IGAM, which highlighted some serious issues with the tented village, I have decided to move away from that and into a hotel.

Unfortunately, all this comes at a cost with estimates currently coming in at about £2000 per person.  This will be reduced by the Government grant (approx. £180 per person based on IOM Team size) and by any funds IOM Athletics can raise. I estimate the final cost to the athletes to be around £1200-1400!!  IGAM have confirmed they will have received all the quotes by our next meeting (next month) so I will have a clearer picture then.

I am acutely aware of how expensive the Island Games has become but please be assured that I am doing everything I can to reduce these costs and still provide our athletes with the very best opportunity to perform at the highest level and have a positive experience that will stay with them for many years ahead.  If anyone has any contacts that would be interested in sponsoring the team, please let me know.  Petra has kindly agreed to lead a fund-raising committee, so please get in touch with her if you’re willing to get involved. Funds will be required immediately on selection (Apr 2023) so you have a little time to start saving!

Once again it has been indicated that Anti-Doping testing WILL take place.  Compulsory Anti-doping training will be provided at a later date by IGAM but please take the time to make yourself aware of the latest rules and regulations and start your diaries now (if you aren’t already doing it) covering what medicines you’re taking and confirmation that you have checked that they are suitable. You can check here: https://www.globaldro.com/uk/search

If you are looking to put yourself forward for selection (even if you haven’t yet achieved the standards), please let me know initially by messaging me and then following up by providing the Declaration of Intent form as soon as possible.  Please detail the events you are looking to compete in and any standards you have already achieved. If I would be expecting you to be going and you’re not then please also let me know so I can get an accurate picture of numbers and exclude you from the plans.

Full details of the Selection Policy & Declaration of Intent are published here: http://www.iomathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IG_Selection_Policy-Guernsey.pdf

I am planning to have a meeting for all interested parties once the full details are known but If you need any further information at this stage, please get in touch.

Northern League and YDL Registration Forms

Posted on By Anthony Brand

If you are interested in competing in either the YDL or Northern League this season please complete the appropriate form.

Please return completed forms to: Petra Atchison, Northern League Team Manager, Ballasaig Farm, Maughold, Isle of Man IM7 1BJ or grantandpetra@manx.net no later than Friday 25th March 2022