The Norths committee are very pleased that Scott McTaggart has agreed to take on the role of club captain for the remainder of the 1999-2000 season. Scott hopes to provide a focal point for Norths athletes at the track, and you will probably find him chasing after you to join a relay team. Take the time to have a chat with Scott. In particular, let him know of any suggestions, queries or worries you have regarding the club and/or your athletics.
A warm welcome to new members of North Canberra. We hope your athletics is proving rewarding. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact one of the committee.
Jennifer Webster Open
Philli McGilvray Open
Heather Harding U14
Anne Southgate U14
Alice Coddington U14
Mark Gaykema U16
Joel Pearson U18
Henry Hutchinson U16
Jeremy Reading U16
Adrian Coogan U18
Utah Nirvana Open
Amy Hathaway U18
Thomas Hathaway U14
Brandan Galic U14
Katrina Reading U18
Fiona Daly U18
Clinton Bebb Open
Nicholas Schofield Open
Kate Shea U16
Harrison Schofield U14
It is with regret that we farewell long-time member Susan Hobson, who moved to Perth with her family at the end of 1999. We wish Susan all the best as she strives for Olympic selection and we’ll all be cheering her on if she makes it.
Also a temporary farewell to Nick Barton who is heading off to New York for a couple of years, thanks to an Australian government posting his mum is taking up. Have a great time, Nick!
With the renewal of our sponsorship from Ainslie Football Club again this year, the financial footing of the club remains strong. The committee has decided to extend its sponsorship this season to cover athletes who chose to go to either the national underage championships or to the Pacific School Games.
NC does not normally provide sponsorship to school events, but we know a number of athletes are choosing the PSG in preference to other competitions as it comes around only once every four years.
While our financial position may be good, we believe it fair that athletes receive only one subsidy for underage events this summer – either the underage nationals or the PSG. The exact level of subsidy will be determined when we know how many members are likely to request support. So please let Ian Mackenzie or one of the other committee members know fairly soon if you will be seeking support.
Like racehorses, junior athletes have an official birthday! Horses have 1 August, athletes have 1 January. If you were born in an even year (1980, 1982, 1984, 1986) you have just moved up an agegroup. This doesn’t matter too much on the track, except in hurdles events, but it does in the field where it is possible you should be throwing a heavier weight.
Officials at interclub are showing distinct signs of coming to life and clamping down on athletes not wearing the correct club uniform. Some athletes in the long and triple jump competitions have already lost their points for incorrect attire. So be warned – rampaging officials are likely to crack down even harder as the ACT championships approach.
As a relatively new member on the Norths committee I was curious to know the names of all our life members. Ian Mackenzie (the latest in the line) came up with the list which I thought others may be interested to know:
Jack Pennington Graeme Small Terry Monroe Robyn Whyte Geoff Moore Michael Thomson Nigel Crew John Harding Ian Mackenzie
In future issues of Norths News I will endeavour to bring you a short article on each of these members who have all given a considerable amount of their time and energy to our club.
- Dudley Scoullar
Despite my best intentions, the current summer season is almost over and yet I haven't managed to catch up with many NC members this time round. However, as many of you will know, we as a Club are obliged to provide a certain number of officials for each interclub competition. To help fulfill this commitment (and to help me keep fit in view of my spectator status), I am usually to be found (that is, if you want to climb a lot of steps) in the photofinish tower above the finish line. But those of you who avidly read the last issue of Norths News will at least know what I look like together with a little bit of my background.
As noted elsewhere in this issue, the committee has appointed Scott MacTaggart as club captain. I thank Scott for taking on this important role, which we see as a focal point for members who are competing on particular days and want a friendly word of advice, encouragement or information. It should also help athletes who want to form relay teams competing under the NC banner and generally help improve club spirit.
One thing I would like to remind all members about – we do get significant sponsorship funding from the Ainslie Football and Social Club each year. I encourage NC members to return that support by visiting their premises, at either Ainslie or Gunghalin locations, for dining or other social outings whenever possible. And, if you haven't yet taken out a membership at a nominal annual fee, I also encourage those of you who are eligible to do so.
Despite the appointment of a club captain role within NCAC, I still hope to meet as many members as I can during the remainder of this season. One way you should be able to catch up with me is by attending this year’s Club presentation night and AGM - planned for Thursday evening, 13 April at the Ainslie Football Club premises.
I wish you all good running, jumping, throwing and walking, with hosts of PB’s, during the loads of events coming up over the next couple of months.
As promised in the last edition of Norths News, the results of North Canberra athletes at the December All Schools championships are included in this edition. Holly Smith (U14) came 6th in her heat of the 800m in a time of 2:25.74, then followed this up with an excellent 5:06.76 to finish halfway up the field in the 1500m. Marnie Ponton (U16) ran the 1500m in 5:07.6 and clocked a time of 10:57.52 in the 3000m. Sian Macdonald(U16) jumped 1.60m in the high jump for 17th place, but when you consider 8th place in the event jumped 1.64m, Sian was pretty competitive. John Jakeman (U16) competed in the 100m, 200m & 400m for times of 11.74, 23.68 and 52.97. We had two other Under 16 boys competing -–Nick Barton jumped 5.89m in the long jump and 12.17m in the triple jump – not Nick’s best jumps, but we’re sure the experience will help him in the future. Jeff Boreham threw 41.96m in the javelin. Connell O’Neill had one of his best national championships, coming 7th in the hammer with a throw of 54.81m.
Rohan Walker had his best-ever decathlon competition, coming second in the NSW championships with a final tally of 6722. A great effort just 6 months after knee surgery.
NC runners dominated the ACT 5000m championships held on 25 January, taking out 3 of the top 4 placings. Scott McTaggart won in a smart time of 14:29.94, with Erwin McRae 3rd and Adam Leane 4th. Louis Young was the fourth NC athlete home in 8th place. Marnie Ponton was winner of the U18 women’s 3km title in a time of 11:45.87.
A number of athletes have been participating enthusiastically and registering some good times and distances, and their efforts are bringing in the points – the leading pointscorers to date are noted on the front page of the newsletter.
In great news just to hand as this column is being typed (isn't the internet a wonderful thing!) – Susan Hobson has run an Olympic qualifying time for the Marathon, coming 10th in the Osaka Marathon on 30 January in a time of 2:32.37. Fantastic!!
The annual awards presentation night, following the AGM, will be held at the Ainslie Football Club at 7.30pm on Thursday 13 April. We'd like to see a really good turnout this year, and to that end the committee promises to see the formalities of the AGM completed efficiently.
Last year's season wind-up proved very successful with AFC putting on a very tasty light supper for those who attended. This year, in addition to presenting season awards, we also plan to present subsidies to those athletes who have just returned from national championships or are about to go to the Pacific School Games.
Congratulations to John Harding, who very deservedly, has been chosen to carry the Olympic Torch on its journey through Canberra. When John has final confirmation of the leg of the relay he will be running, we will let you know where to see him. That will be one great photo-opportunity for the Olympic feature edition of North News. More about that in the April newsletter!
In October we were congratulating Cade McTaggart on his wedding; in December Shaun Creighton's engagement was announced. This time it's Adam Leane who has announced his engagement to Liz Hickey. Who will be next? Sports TAB are thinking of running a book on us. We wish Adam and Liz all the best for their future together.
