News
The Olympic Games 1948 and 2012
Did you compete in, attend or witness the 1948 London Olympics? Do you now live or were you born in North/West London?
The London Borough of Brent & Brent Artists Resource are compiling 20 oral Testimonies for a project by the visual artist Lorenzo Belenguer and they would be interested in hearing your story. Younger residents will also be invited to talk about their expectation and emotions towards the upcoming London 2012 Games. These interviews will form an exhibition at the Gallery at Willesden Green and be broadcast around the Wembley stadium area during the summer of 2012. If you are interested in participating send an email to: info@brentartistsresource.org.uk giving your name, full address and why you feel so passionate about the Games, before 15th of October.
Do please let the BMAF know if you are one of the successful 20 applicants as we would also love to hear your story and see your picture in the Gallery.
31/08/2010 09:11:32
BMAF 10 Mile Championships
Please note that entry forms are available for these championships on October 3rd at Oldbury Power Stations, Bristol. Download your copy now from the Fixtures page. We apologise for the delay in making them available.
24/08/2010 15:37:16
Relays at Horspath – 11/12 September
In conjunction with the combined events at Horspath, Oxford on September 11 and 12, it has been decided to add a series of 4x800m and 4x1500m relays to the programme. This will give our athletes an opportunity to fill in the gaps in the British records, and possibly even mount an attempt on the world record in one or two age groups. Read here details of existing records.
At the moment we are canvassing for interest, so there is no specific timetable set down. Meet Manager Bruce Charles has asked John Oldfield to coordinate the relay entries so that we can establish a timetable of events.
It would be appreciated if regional secretaries could publicise the relays within their area, and ask interested athletes to contact John directly - email Oldfield.jc@gmail.com. They can either organise a team of four themselves, or just enter individually and he will combine into teams cross-area.
Information needed is athlete’s name, region, age group on September 11 and email address.
Entry cost per athlete will be £2.
14/08/2010 20:32:31
British Masters' Medical Services Annual Conference
The eleventh annual charity fund-raiser (and social) will take place on the weekend of Oct 30/31 in the beautiful surroundings of Wortley Hall, Wortley, near Sheffield, organised by the British Masters' Medical Services and led by Dr Steve Peters. For further information click here.
09/08/2010 12:12:27
How to compete in international championships
We hope that all those who competed in the recent European Championships enjoyed the experience and achieved their goals.
For those who have ambitions to enter, here is a short guide as to how to go about it.
First of all you will need to be a member of the BMAF. If you are not yet, you will find here details of the affiliated area clubs of the Federation that cover the country. Membership of one of these clubs is your first requirement. When you are a paid up member you are then entitled to enter any of the International Competitions put on by the European & World Masters Organisations.
Details of these championships are also posted on the Fixtures page. Scroll down to the event you wish to enter. There will be a link for you to click on (usually saying 'Details') this will take you to the appropriate Championship website for all the information about the event you will need.
The BMAF do have a registered travel agent, Corporate & Sporting Events, that deals with members travelling requirements to championships.
Entering an International Championship has to be done through the Overseas Entry Secretary. The affiliate members (BMAF) of the World Masters Organisation have to verify entries and pass them on to the organisers. There are no qualification standards required. Equally there is no selection process (except for relays from those already entered); anyone that is affiliated and can afford to go is entitled to.
Entry Details & Entry forms converted into Stirling payments are also posted as links on the Fixtures page for each Championship.
Documents can be printed off completed and posted to myself. There is always a closing date which you MUST keep to.
We hope to have an online entry system in the near future but for time being it is a postal thing.
These forms & details will not appear until between 3 to 6 months before the championships. So, please keep checking with the BMAF website for updates.
That is about it, so please find your local area club, join up, and you will be eligible to compete for GB as a Master Athlete.
Kind Regards
Peter Duhig
42 Wimbotsham Rd
Downham Market,
Norfolk PE 38 9PE.
27/07/2010 11:44:41
British Masters at the European Track and Field Championships
At the start of Day 7, the 274 BMAF members have already collected 23 Gold, 25 Silver and 19 Bronze Medals despite the high humidity and a steady 36 degrees. Over 3,000 competitors from 41 countries have entered the 17th European Championships in Nyireghasa, Hungary. Their progress can be followed on web site www.evacs2010.hu.
21/07/2010 17:57:52
BMAF 5k at Horwich 20th June 2010
This is the eighth consecutive year that the British Masters have held their 5k road running championships at Horwich. Being in the middle of an unusually (for the UK) long spell of dry weather, the race conditions this year, were ideal.
Although this year, we did not obtain any British bests, (most of them are now exceptionally difficult to surpass anyway), the racing still produced a very high standard. Notably in the overall race, the third finishing positions were by men and women in the o/50 age group.
Overall winner and first o/35 was John Parker (CLC Striders) in a time of 15.37s, closely followed just 2secs later by an o/40 Jason Dunkerley (East Cheshire H) with the o/50 George Thompson (Border Harriers) just 3secs behind in 15.42s.
In the women’s race, first over the line was Sarah Cumber (Halifax H) o/35, stopping the clock at 18.35s with Sally Morley (Ilkley H) just 7secs behind and the o/50 Jill Harrison (Honiton H) clocking 18.48s.
The age group categories were very competitive. In the o/40 section Silver and Bronze medals were decided by just 2secs.with R Palmer (Luton H) losing out to J Herbert (Werrington J). The o/45 Gold was secured by A Woods (Bristol & W) with a 2 second gap from R Alsop (Herne H.H) in a time of 15.57s. Martin Ford (Cheltenham H) was closest to a o/65 British best, missing out by 17secs, behind him just 3secs separated the 3 athletes vying for the two remaining places, with P Hall (Barrow Striders) being the unluckiest athlete in the race, missing the Bronze by 1 sec. P Giles (Hercules W) took Silver in 19.11s with G Howard (Ilkley H) 19.12s.
In the Male Team Competition, Gold medals went to Bingley Harriers in the v/35 section. In the v/40 age group they had to settle for Silver, as Salford pipped them by just four seconds on aggregate for Gold, with Wilmslow taking Bronze. Bristol & West AC took Gold in the v/50, with Salford the Silver and Long Eaton, (Bronze). The v/60 team winners were Oxford City, followed by Clydesdale Harriers, (Silver) and local club Horwich RMI, (Bronze). The v/70 Gold team medals were taken home by Sale Harriers.
The Women’s team competition was sparsely contested with only Altringham v/45 Ladies taking home their deserved Gold Medals.
Finally I would like to thank Horwich Town Council for hosting the race, plus all the officials, marshals etc. involved with the event and yourselves the athletes, for travelling and competing.
I have to offer my apology for the delay of the presentation on the day, we encountered some problems with the results and I am working hard to eliminate these gremlins for next year. I will insist that the problems are ironed out, before we confirm our venue for next year.
We still have Burnham Beeches (Half Marathon), Goodrich 10k and the 10 mile at Oldbury to contest for medals this year, details are on the fixtures page and in our magazine.
Mel James. Road Race Secretary.
08/07/2010 11:26:11
European Health Insurance
All those travelling to the European Championships in Hungary are advised to check that their health insurance is up-to-date. European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) have an expiry date.
The NHS phone line for renewals etc is 0845 6062030. This is an automated service, but appears to be pretty efficient. Alternatively, the web site is: https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do. Delivery is said to be “seven to ten working days”.
05/07/2010 17:35:16
Croatian Open Championships
Bridget Cushen reports that she "accidentally deleted from my Spam file an enquiry on the Croatian Open Championships. If any member has not had a response to their enquiry, please re-send your email - sorry!"
25/06/2010 18:24:59
17th European Veterans Track & Field Championships, Nyiregyhaza, Hungary
Entries have now closed for the above. 3117 competitors from 41 countries have entered 6500 events. To access more information and check out your opponents, go into www.evacs2010.hu. It is user-friendly. We wish our 274 competitors and their families a successful and enjoyable visit to that lovely country.
21/06/2010 11:37:12
2011 International Meetings
2011 promises to be a big year for Overseas Entries.
16-20th March. The European Indoor Champs in Gent, Belgium will be very popular being so easily accessible. Entry forms will be available ASAP.
13-15th May. European Non Stadia Championships are at Thionville, Northern France. We expect another big entry for this being as we only have to cross the channel.
6-17th July. World Track & Field Championships are to be at Sacramento, California, America. Again a large entry is expected as we know American masters usually put on a great competition with lots of extras.
See the Fixtures page for further details. Please help by completing forms fully and clearly every time! Thank You.
Peter Duhig
Overseas Entries Coordinator
16/06/2010 10:28:25
Weights Pentathlon Scoring Tables
On the Laws/Rules page, you can find Excel spreadsheets for the calculation of Weights Pentathlon scores and a points table generator. These have recently been updated as the WMA has changed the age grading factors. Thanks go to Chris Melluish for the work he has put in creating and maintaining these spreadsheets.
10/06/2010 11:50:53
Croatian Masters' Championships
We have received an invitation from the Croatian Masters to their Open Track & Field Championships in Osijek on 28/29 August. Age groups 35 through to 80-plus.
Events:
Saturday: 100 m, 400 m, 1500 m, long jump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, 4x100 m
Sunday: 200 m, 800 m, 5000 m, triple jump, hammer throw, javelin throw, weight throw (gira), 4x400 m.
Entry fee 15euro, limited to two events plus relays. Members who are interested in competing there can get further information from Bcushen@aol.com. Tel 020 8683 2602.
24/05/2010 15:53:34
Reclassification of Bruni handguns
Here you can read a letter which has been sent to all the Starters in the country, and is being mailed to Clubs and to various key people!
UKA has reacted swiftly to informing people of the sudden Home Office Public Announcement on the amnesty period for Bruni handguns. The other point is UKA is working furiously to find a replacement!
Expect further guidance as soon as there is feedback from the Home Office, any questions in the meantime please do not hesitate to contact David Brown or Cherry Alexander, UKA Head of Competition & International Relations.
23/04/2010 16:00:07
Earlier news items
If you have some news you wish to pass on to masters athletes, send an email to webmaster@bvaf.org.uk.