Assorted Chat

One of the fairly hot topics in Scottish Athletics is the issue of age groups. Traditionally GB athletics has graded young athletes as Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 but at the end of last year Scottish Athletics, at the suggestion of Frank Dick, said that championships this summer will be for Under 18 Under 16, Under 14 and Under 12's would be in individual age groups. This will obviously cause problems in terms of GB championships. eg if Roisin or Rachel travels to the British Championships they will be U17 or U15 or U13 while back at home they will compete in U13, U15 or U17!!! And even within Scotland, only championships will be in the new age categories - eg the League will operate on U13 etc, so that the clubs making the final against English (U13, etc) clubs in the right age groups. It looks a total mess and there are suggestions that the SAL is looking at introducing the new age groups!
Different subject. I have been invited to speak to a group of librarians from around Scotland on 30th March about Clydesdale Harriers and its place in the community. We have always had a substantial place in the Clydebank and Bearsden communities but especially in Clydebank. We organised the Singers ports in the 40's and 50's and the Clydebank Highland Games in the 80's as well as many events in between. We brought the Scottish veterans cross-country championships to Clydebank and had a big part to play in the World Championships that took place on the golf course at Dalmuir; we also had the Scottish Schools Cross Country Championships here. We were founder menmers of the West Dunbarton Sports Council (I trust we have kept membership of this valuable organisation going).
New Year, new resolutions! Mine for the club would be:
1=. Recruit new members via school posters, school visits (we have lots of retired members), special events.
1=. Establish a presence at the track at St Peter the Apostle. We NEED a high profile in Clydebank and this is an opportunity to make good contacts with the school and to make it easy for youngsters to join the club. It is easier for the PE teacher to say come up to the school track tonight and ask for Mr/Mrs X than to say go to Scotstoun and find Mr/Mrs X for yourself.
2. A higher profile in national and local athletics: we need to have a regular attendance at County Association, District Association and so on if we are to progress.
3. More people - senior members, parents, friends, brothers and sisters - becoming either coaches or officials.
Finally for those who know him, Davie Panton fell at Christmas and broke his leg. he is back home and making good progress.