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News Letter
News Letter for the 10th December 2001
TO ALL FAMILIES 10th December 2001

WELCOME
Welcome to everyone. Even if the weather is still wet, we still arrange some sort of programme. Actually, there may be instances such as last Monday when a cancellation notice over the radio advises that Council's parks are not available. This especially applies to grass fields and activities such as athletics or cricket elsewhere in the city. However, this notice does not really apply to Porritt Stadium because of the all-weather track - however, we would still take care to not damage the inside of the track.

RAFFLE
The club has organised a raffle, something we now need to do to help club travel funds and pay for the increased charges at Porritt Stadium [the $2000 bill has arrived]. The prizes are gift vouchers for The Warehouse at Hillcrest, and it will be drawn before Christmas. Printing of the tickets were kindly sponsored by John Walker Printers, Norton Road.

TRAINING
Hamilton Hawks have invited our 12-14 year olds to their coaching sessions on a regular basis. In addition to the coaching at 5.30-6.30pm on Wednesday nights, there is also regular training at 10.00am on Sunday mornings which I highly commend.

TRANS TASMAN
Part of the Trans Tasman competition is a competition against Waikato / Bay of Plenty 10-11 year olds at the Papamoa Sports Ground on Monday 14 January. (the same place as the recent Ribbon Day). Though the emphasis is on 10-11 year olds, Papamoa Club also organise events for all the other age groups, very similar to a Ribbon Day. The competion commences at 1.00pm and finishes before 4.00pm.

COACH EDUCATION
Six club parents attended the long jump / triple jump course held yesterday. The water across the track at Porritt Stadium meant that it was transferred to Fairfield College. We went through stretching exercises, and with the assistance of a video and quick training exercises, were shown the various components of the long jump. The last 30 minutes were spent on training for the triple jump. It was extremely good value.

RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Last Saturday was the Waikato / Bay of Plenty Relay Championships at Porritt Stadium. However, the rain did not help matters at all - there were not any field events, and at lunchtime the decision was made to cancel the afternoon programme.

Fairfield set up the grounds, and assisted where needed. Thanks to Dianne Larsen and Jo Davidson who ordered and picked up all the items for the shop, Joe Teinakore who at short notice started running the barbecue (because another club did not have their parents available), and Graham Brown and another club parent who also at short notice did the manual timekeeping. This timing was especially necessary as the electronic timing failed for a spell because of the weather.

The children did well in the rain and we had a team in every medley relay. Thanks to Margaret Holcroft, Catherine Walker, and Craig Walker for organising the teams. For those who do not know the background work, clubs are meant to have their teams into the relay office by 10.00am and with all the team members in order of running. Fairfield's list was the only one in before this time - the late arrival of lists from other clubs put the organisers under a lot of pressure, even to the extent that some races were ready to start without any list or cancellation from other clubs.

The 4x100 relay races will now be at the Waikato Championships on 9 March next year. Keep that date open if you are a team member.

RIBBON DAY
This Saturday, the ribbon day is at Owen Delany Park in Taupo. There is a large grandstand (this is also the international cricket ground) and therefore we will not be taking the club tent. The map overleaf shows its location at the north-eastern part of Taupo. For those viewing the newsletter on e-mail, go over the control gate bridge, turn left at the roundabout at the top of the business area, and then head north along the eastern side of the river for about three kilometres (past the high school, past the bungy jumping, past the golf course on the right, almost into the countryside) and it is on the left-hand side. It is well signposted. Afterwards, you might want to soak in the AC Baths, De Bretts, shop, or take in some of the other attractions of Taupo.

FAIRFIELD RIBBON DAY
Our own Ribbon Day is the first of the new year, on 2 February. The attached sheet shows the information that has been given out to the other clubs in the Waikato / Bay of Plenty. Assistance will be required from up to 20 club parents to help run the event.

We will also be hosting the Waikato Triple Jump Championships for the 13 and 14 year olds. We have not yet received entry forms for this event to pass on to our 13/14 year olds. Therefore, please tell the Club Captain now if you want to enter and we will make sure that you do not miss out. If it like last year, there will not be any more than seven competitors in each of the age groups.

CLUB PROGRAMME
The final club night of the year will be next Monday, with usual supply of lollies for the children. No-one misses out as the lollies are placed on the track for the children to pick up during their races. Club nights will resume on 28 January (Auckland Anniversary Weekend).

OFFICIALS COURSE
A reminder about the rules update for officials at 7.30pm tonight in the office at Porritt Stadium.

Cliff Thomas
Club President

THE BARBECUE IS KINDLY SPONSORED BY THE 'MAD BUTCHER', CHARTWELL SQUARE. FRIENDLY STAFF, A WIDE SELECTION OF GOODS, AND THEY PROVIDE EXCELLENT SAUSAGES TOO