2009/10 AV Shield - North West Region
Round 4 - Aberfeldie
Thursday, 29 October 2009

Still waiting on team results from Round 5, but I am pleased to say the team results are finally in from Round Four that was held on Thursday, 29 October 2009 as a twilight meet at Aberfeldie. The club's Division 2 men earned their first points of the season, our 40+ men division won their first meet of the season, our U20 men and U14 girls finished in second place, the U16 girls had their best result for the summer coming third as did our U16 men in coming fourth. These results have seen our 40+ men move to the top of their ladder on percentage, our U14 women and U20 men now third on their ladders and the U16 girls are just one point off the top four

The club's best turnout of the season meant we were we able to field our strongest U16 boys team in years and enter six relay teams - a long time since that has happened at the club. With a surplus of junior athletes we were able to bolster the older age groups. Thank you to U14 girls Leah Polycarpou and Amber Dominutti who both competed as U16 athletes for certain events to help the older age group earn extra points. Also to Philip van Dueren (40+) who threw as an Open age athlete in the Discus and Javelin, throwing heavier implements than in his own age group. As more athletes qualify for the finals, we will look to continue this in the coming weeks

Competing for the first time in summer competition were Guillame Roux and Tim Holloway from the Brian Delaney group and both ran well in the 1500 m. Returning from last season were Luong Dao and Coburg Little Athletes Lila Burns (U14) and Hewitt Hunter (U16) with Matina Konstantinakos as a "graduate" of Coburg Little Aths. Making their debut were Chelsea Wright (U16) - third in the Javelin - and from Coburg Little Athletics Bethanie Barbour (U14) was second in the 2000 m Walk. Also making their debut for the club were Holly Simmons who finished top ten in the 1500 m, Tyler Guerin (U14), the sister of talented middle distance athlete Alana, who knocked off big sister in the 400 m and Shane Wilson (U16) won the 2000 m Steeplechase. Finally, Damian Burton (40+), father of promising sprinter Xavier (U16), showed where the good genes come from with third place in the 3000 m Steeplechase

Doing well were Leah Polycarpou (U14) who won the Steeplechase, Tim Erickson (40+) who yet again took out the 2000 m Walk, Steven Marsh (U20) won the 400 m while Phil Curtain (40+) and Stephen Wright (40+) won the Javelin and the Triple Jump respectively. Curtain backed this up with second in the Discus, Amber Dominutti (U14) was runner up in the 1500 m, Philip van Dueren (40+) was second in the 3000 m Steeple and Tom Clarke (U16) came second in the Discus. Stephen Wright (40+) was third in the Discus and Rory Smyth (U16) was third in the Triple Jump

Several club records fell by the wayside. Well done to Philip van Dueren (50-54) who set the men's 3000 m Steeplechase mark at 12:08. Debutant Shane Wilson (one of the most exciting male middle distance prospects from Coburg Little Aths) broke a 28 year old U15 boys record for the 2000 m Steeple. Leah Polycarpou broke the girl's U14 record for 400 m while Maddy Black did the same for the U13 girls, both records that go back 23 years. Another debutant, Bethanie Barbour, broke the girls U13 record in the 2000 m Walk. Athletes will no doubt have read of these exploits which were published in the Moreland Leader recently

Well done also to the five daring and bold Coburg Harrier mums who distributed leaflets for our Run for Tanzania fun run. Through their efforts, we had more than 90 people enter and over $1,000 was raised towards health projects in Tanzania. And a shout out to Charles Clark who despite being unable to run through a hamstring injury he picked up at Williamstown was at Aberfeldie supporting his clubmates and we wish him a speedy recovery

Our next round of competition kicks off with Round Six this Saturday afternoon starting at 1:00 pm at the Meadowglen International Athletics Facility in Epping. On the program (as attached), the sprinters can enjoy the 100 m, 400 m and 4 x 100 m Relay, middle distance athletes can enjoy the 1500 m and Steeplechase, while the 2000 m Walk will run concurrently with the sprint hurdles from 1:00 pm sharp. The jumpers can enjoy the Triple Jump, while the throwers have the Javelin and Discus. For our juniors coming from Coburg Little Athletics, other than the Walk and Hurdles, the 100 m for women is at 1:30 and the men at 2:00 pm

The Coburg Little Athletics Trivia Night is from 7:00 pm this Saturday night after the Epping meet. Like our own trivia night, there will be nibbles on the tables and drinks are BYO. It would be great if we could field a full table of the brightest (and not so brightest) Coburg Harrier minds to take part. Let's improve on our second placing at last year's event. The team from CLAC were generous supporters of our own trivia night so let's be sure to get behind theirs

I am pleased to advise free throws coaching will proceed at the track from 6:00 pm, this Tuesday, 24 November 2009 at the Coburg track. As a decathlete, Colin Carbis will also be able to advise on High Jump technique, in fact pretty much the whole spectrum of events. If you want some beginners tips or want to improve on that technique, these sessions are highly recommended

A note for our Coburg Little Athletes and/or parents. Did you know that if your Centre has thirty or more AV registered athletes the Centre could win $1,000 worth of equipment? So if you have a friend at your club interested in signing up, please encourage them to do so. What's more, if we can get sixty athletes from the centre, we get two entries in the draw. If your mates enjoy athletics as much as you do, have a chat to them about AV comp today

Finally, a get well goes to Guillame Roux who is recovering from a nasty motor bike accident. Hope your arm and ribs heal well and that you're back running soon

DATES TO REMEMBER

Saturday, 21 November 2009 - Athletics Victoria Shield Round 6 at Epping from 1:00 pm. Melways 182 J10. Coburg Little Athletics trivia night at the Coburg track from 7:00 pm
Tuesday, 24 November 2009 - Free throws coaching at the Coburg track from 6:00 pm. Other events can also be provided for
Saturday, 28 November 2009 - Athletics Victoria Shield Round 7 at Williamstown from 1:00 pm. Dinner afterwards in Williamstown

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