Summer track season upon us
The wait is over and the Palmerston North Athletic and Harrier Club track season will begin on Tuesday at 5.45 pm.
Although the popular First Fundamental Movement and Run Jump Throw sessions will not start until after the school holidays, on October 16, children 7 and under are welcome to take part in earlier meetings. Ashhurst will commence its seasons on Tuesday October 16 and Feilding a day later on Wednesday October 17.
Some big celebrations are about to happen at the Palmy Parkrun.
On Saturday next week, it celebrates its 50th event, then on Saturday October 26 it celebrates its first anniversary.
Congratulations to the organisers of this venture and it is great to see they continue to attract great numbers to what must be one of the most scenic race venues, along the Manawatu¯ River.
The round of annual general meetings is complete, with very much business as usual. At the Athletics Manawatu¯ Wanganui AGM, Brian Curry was elected centre president.
Vanessa Story takes over from George Mcconachy as coaching coordinator and joins Mcconachy and Alec Mcnab as a track and field selector. With the passing of Arthur Eustace during the year, the Palmerston North Athletic and Harrier Club elected long-serving club member John Strawbridge as their patron. In the only other change, Liam Woolford becomes harrier club captain.
A plea to users of the Manawatu¯ Community Athletic Track: Please ensure your footwear complies with track regulations.
Spikes should be the pyramid or Christmas-tree type and should not exceed 6 millimetres in length. If you are doing drills these should be completed in flats and not while wearing spikes. Unfortunately, our newly resurfaced track is showing signs of damage, which can only be attributed to the use of incorrect footwear.
It is great to see members of the Feilding Moa Harriers travelling to Christchurch to compete in the Athletics New Zealand Road Relay Championships – the Takahe to Akaroa Road Relay – on Saturday October 6.
Rob Dabb, Paul Wasley, Darren Parlato, Robert Biggart, Lorraine Edgar, Scott Whitley, Kevin Rolls and Brad Pearson will compete in the senior men’s event, while the under-20 junior team is: Liam Wall, Andre Le Pine-day, Samuel Phillips, Benjamin Wall. Luke Brown and Luke Scott.
The senior relay comprises eight legs, starting at the Sign of the Takahe and finishing at the Akaroa Domain. Laps range from 10.4km to 6.8km.
The junior relay is six legs, starting at Allandale and finishing at Cooptown. Its runs laps 2 and 5 on the senior course, with distances ranging from 4.1km to 10km.
A few important dates to put on your calender
October 25: Central Teams’ Competition in Hastings, October 26: Palmerston North Ribbon Day and Trans Tasman Selection Trial, November 3: Central Teams’ Competition in Palmerston North, November 3: Feilding Marathon.