WELL DONE MEL Congratulations to Melanie Purkiss who started the year hoping to make her mark at top level in the 400m. She certainly did that. Promising runs in the Commonwealth Games Trials saw her named in England's 4 x 400m Relay squad, but injuries and withdrawals saw her gain a place in the individual event. The rest is history - she reached the Commonwealth semi-finals and then was a key member of the 4 x 400m Relay squad that won the silver medal. More success was to follow when Mel was selected for the 4 x 400m in the European Championships, where they reached the final and finished a very respectable 4th.

A quick glance at the League results would suggest that the 2002 Track and Field season has been something of a disaster for Team Solent - both of our senior National League teams have been relegated and the regional league teams struggled all season against relegation. The fact is, however that the final positions were in many ways a triumph of hope over reality. With the high level of success enjoyed since our formation it was inevitable that, at some stage we would have comparatively "poor" results - remember we are competing in the highest divisions. A lack of depth condemned both the national league teams and, in the case of the men, led to a weakening of the Southern League teams. Faced with an incredible and wholly avoidable clash of league fixtures the Women escaping relegation to Division 2 of the Southern League was simply magnificent.

Great pleasure came from the promotion of the Girls National YA League team; with the boys also having a fine year they are assured of competing at a good level when the league teams are combined next season.

YOUNG ATHLETES DEVELOPMENT

Also as part of the UK Athletics Clubs Future programme the club ran a development programme for youngsters up to the age of l3yrs. Under the heading "Run Jump, Throw" it was designed to introduce youngsters to the skills of all athletic events. Over 6 weeks they covered sprints, hurdles, throws, jumps and middle distance with each session being led by our very best coaches in these disciplines. Several have subsequently joined Team Solent and we wish them long and happy athletic careers.

The overall winner of the Team Solent Grand Prix l00m, Will McGee, has been sufficiently impressed by the Club to join first claim. Next season he will be qualified to compete in Team Solent Colours.

Jade Lucas-Read has an unusual claim to fame - as a Team Solent member she has competed for Great Britain before making her Club debut! This was not down to any unwillingness to compete for the Club; she was simply not qualified in time for this season. We look forward to seeing this talented young sprinter compete next for us next

Without passing any comment on the disappointing season for the Men's British League team it is interesting to note that only two athletes, Peter Brend and Maurice Hicks, competed in all four matches for us.

The Club's sprint tradition has been added to again this year by the success of Darryn Campbell. Darryn, like many of our team members, has been with us through the age groups and this season has really come to the fore. Sub 49 seconds 400m have been backed by good sprinting over l00m and 200m. The future looks bright for him.

Its never too late, so say Mike Coker and Club Vice Chairman Vic Novell after winning medals at the recent European Vets Championships - well done boys

	TEAM SOLENT GRAND PRIX
	Backed by the UK Athletics Clubs Future programme and Brend Hotels the club revived its Grand Prix series this season. Three matches in the second half of a season which, thanks to a lack of thoughtful programming at national and league level, was in danger of fading away, ensured that there was competition for the club standard athlete. Unfortunately there was poor backing for some events - something that again raises the question, do some athletes really want to compete? However overall the series was a success and hopefully will be continued next year. Overall Winners; MEN l00m Will Macgee WSEH 300m Darryn Campbell TSoI 800m Russell Osbourne Soton 400H Jon Tilt Guild Shot Maurice Hicks TSoI WOMEN l00m Mel Rogers TSoI 300m Carol Dawkins TSoI 800m Ceri Mitchell TSoI Shot Vicky Foster TSoI

A photograph of the under-15 boys who won the team silver medal for
the Hampshire League 2001/2.
This group are from left to right Adam Justic, Alex Wall-Clarke, Jon Slade,
David Compton and Jordan Wickington.  The successful team are coached by
Peter Haynes.

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Hampshire County Cross Country Champs.

Congratulations to all those who took part in this years Championships. Our leading competitor was Tommy Davies who finished 2nd in the Under 17 Mens race and led our team (Colin Light 13th, Denham Elvin 16th & Paul Jastrzebski 18th) to the silver medal.

Other top 20 finishing places were achieved by; 

Under 15 Boys - 5th Alex Wall-Clarke, 15th John Slade.

Senior Women - 12th Camilla Waite.

Under 20 Women - 3rd Sam Stewart.

Under 17 Women - 12th Cherelle Elvin.

Under 13 Women - 14th Kira Elvin.

A special mention must also go to our Senior Men's competitors - Jim Joyce, Peter Haynes, Trevor Gregory, John MacInnes and Peter Dean - they may all be veterans but at least they turned out and competed!

The beginning of a bright and hopeful New Year is, surprisingly, the busiest time for those responsible for looking after our Track season. As you read this Sandra White and Coral Rogers are sinking under a pile of provisional fixture lists, booking confirmations and League reply slips. Co-ordinating the constant flow of correspondence from the various Leagues is a thankless task made almost impossible by the total lack of planning or structure of our League system as a whole. Let me try and show you some of the problems.

The Leagues we are involved in are The British Athletics League (BAL) - Senior Men, UK Women's League (UKWL) - Senior Women, Southem Men's League (SML) - Senior Men, Southem Women's League (SWL) - Senior Women/Under 17 Women/UIS Girls, National Young Athletes League Boys (NYAL B) U17/U15 & U13 Boys. National Young Athletes League Girls (NYAL G) - U 17/U 15 & U 13 Girls, Wessex League (WL) - U17/UlS/U13&Ull Girls& Boys

Administration - each League is totally separate from the others, they all have their own rules, point scoring system, fixture dates, Affiliation Fees, AGMs et seq.

Fixtures - the BAL have 4, UKWL 3, SML 6, SWL 6, NYAL B 5, NYAL G 3, WL 3 plus a final. The SWL have one fixture each month, the SML ends by August while both the NYALs finish by July

In the BAL & UKWL & NYAL G you meet the same teams each match, in the SML, SWL, NYAL B matches are between different teams at each fixture whilst in the WL you can meet the same team twicc and others not at all! Frequently there are fixtures for more than one League on the same day or weekend. 

The BAL, UKWL, SML, NYAL B & Ci award League points depending on your position in a match whilst the SWL and WL determine your League position by the number of match points that you score.

Officials - These are the track and field judges. The BAL provides its own officials. In the UKWL, SML, SWL, NYAL B&G & WL competing clubs are required to provide a minimum of4 officials. The UKWL will deduct match points for failure to provide enough officials, the NYAL B & Ci can deduct points (depending on the whim of the host club), the SML, SWL & WL do not impose penalties

Eligibility - Athletes who compete in the BAL must miss at least 2 SML fixtures, Senior Women's athletes can compete in both the UKWL & SWL, there is no bar on young girls competing in both the SWL and the NYAL Ci however the fixtures are often run on consecutive days.

I am sure by now you have given up the will to live never mind continue reading this.

This disgraceful montage of rules and regulations is supposed to be "organised" athletics (a similar situation is now also arising in respect of Cross Country and Road Racing). It all adds up to situations where, on the weekend of 18119th May this year we, as a Club, will be required to turn out a British League Team, a UK Women's League Team, 2 Southern Men's Teams, a Southern Women's Team and a NYAL Boys team plus 20 officials and 6 team managers. All will be at different venues.

Why?

Because there is no centrally agreed fixtures structure or policy. The motto of each of the Leagues must be "vive Ia difference". Attendance at any of the AGMs is depressing; there is little acknowledgement that the other leagues exist much less any real willingness to co-operate. How else can you explain the situation where our Women this season have been rewarded for reaching the UK Women's League Div I National League by having that League and the Southern Women's League clash 2 of their fixtures. We will fight this stupidity but I am not optimistic that good sense will prevail. Imagine, in football, Canvey Island, having reached the 4th round of the FA Cup, being told they have to also fulfil their Ryman League fixture on the same day it wouldn't happen because there is an agreed protocol and the football authorities wish to see clubs prosper and fulfil their potential.

At the recent UK Athletics Conference the delegates voted overwhelmingly for change and a League system that flows down through abilities and ages. Sadly that vote has no legislative authority the Leagues cannot be required to take any notice and indeed some have responded with predictable contempt and self-interest to any suggestion of change. Hopefully that very arrogance will see changes come about, there is a growing feeling amongst clubs that the constant unrealistic demands of the various Leagues is one of the reasons all are failing to attract sufficient new participants into our sport. This together with the determination of UK Athletics to restructure athletics will hopefully sound the death knell for the current system - I for one will not be sorry and neither, I suspect, will Coral and Sandra.

What do you feel? Team Solent and all other Clubs are likely to be consulted on any future structure. If you have views on this we would like to hear from you - please either write to the Secretary or post your comments on the Clubs Website message board.

	For the latest athletics development update please click on the link below.         SOUTH REGION SEPTEMBER 2001    For details on UK sports coaching courses, September - December please click here.        For a Level One Coaching Course application form please click here.