Les Davies trophy meeting:

Hi Everybody. Apologies for not getting this out last week. The most urgent info is that we are definitely competing in the Les Davies trophy meeting this coming Sunday (5^th) at Aberdare (not Saturday at Newport as I told someone yesterday!!). This is for U11/13/15 age groups and is against the teams from the South East Wales League (Newport, Cwmbran, Cardiff etc) and will make up for not being in the plate final two weeks ago. Les was a founder member of our club and President for many years so it is important that we support this match. Please ring or email asap to confirm that you are coming.

The details are very similar to our Louise Arthur League – timetable . There are up to 6 athletes per event (with the best two to score). Transport will be provided but please email back or ring us (O1874 623852) or Linda to confirm that you need transport. We will start the bus at Builth if required (please ring!) but initially it will go from Brecon Leisure Centre at 9.30am.

Cross Country

Gwent League dates are now on their website at www.gwent-league.org.uk (Google Gwent Cross Country League). The first fixture will probably double up as the East Wales Championships but there has been no confirmation of this yet. Our junior representation has been extremely low over the last three or four years so it would be nice to see a little more commitment and ambition – Brecon AC has produced a large number of regional and international level athletes over many years. Our local schools league will restart at the end of September – dates/venues will be on our website (or should be on school noticeboards) soon – this can be a nice easy way to start the season and for established athletes is useful speed training. Other championship dates and selection criteria etc will be on our website soon and we will email fixture lists to the endurance list.

Winter training starts for all groups on Monday 13^th September. Sprint/Jump/Throw group in the leisure centre hall at 6pm, Endurance group in the high school dining hall at 6.15pm and U11's in the high school gym at 6.30pm.

Presentation night – Monday 20^th Sept will be a slightly shortened training night and we will have a presentation night giving awards for ability/loyalty etc over the last year. We haven't had a presentation night for at least two years because athlete turnout has been so poor but obviously it was much better this year so we have reintroduced it. It should take at most an hour and will probably be in the leisure centre cafe but I haven't had this confirmed yet.

The new vest is still at the design stage – we intend to introduce it as early as possible this winter but don't want to rush anything through. I am going to try and visit WASP in Welshpool in the next 2 weeks to see what they can design for us. To reiterate though, the old vest will still be usable and will be phased out although by next summer it may be necessary to have everyone in the same vest on the track.

Coaching courses – there are details about current coaching courses available on our website – please consider this as an option even if you only want to help another coach but would appreciate a bit of background knowledge etc. Contact Satu for further details and registration onto the course etc

Congratulations to those athletes who sat their exams this summer – it wouldn't be fair to mention individuals but I've heard of some fantastic results – I'm sure that the discipline of training/competing etc is carried over into life into exam preparation.

Also congratulations to those members who have had a very successful finale to the season recently – Ffion and Rhian Price, Adam Jones and Satu Haikala have all represented Wales on the track in the last 6 weeks and have set some very impressive race times and/or pb.s.

The Monday and Wednesday running groups have suffered from holidays and inclement weather in the last few weeks and numbers have dropped off briefly. Please push these with people of all standards so that we can get back to a decent turnout before it gets too cold. It really is very sociable and nobody will be left on their own at the back etc. Monday is 6.15pm from the track car park and Wednesday is 7pm from the Leisure Centre foyer. There is also the women only beginners 'lifestyle' group on Wednesdays at 7pm from the leisure centre foyer.

The Brussels Eurocross (cross country) event is running again this Christmas on the weekend before Christmas – up until 4 years ago we used to take groups to it – it is a trip run by Centresport travel leaving on the Saturday morning, race on Sunday and return on Monday. There are cross country races for all age groups inc masters as well as a 'around the park' 10K road race/fun run which has runners of 31 min standard through to about 2 hours (pushing prams etc) i.e. something for everyone. Accommodation was always in a 4 or 5 star hotel and there is plenty of chance to see Brussels Xmas fair/lights etc – the old quarter is quite spectacular and less commercial than here. Cost would be about £150 which includes all travel, most food and race entries etc. Contact Satu asap if interested.

Goodbye to … Rosie Richards who has resigned after many years of membership. Rosie has gone to live and work in London but for many years was one of our best juniors running for Wales on many occasions. Rosie was also undoubtedly our most loyal and committed member for many years , turning out throughout the summer and winter and taking part in cross country, fell running and track where she successfully tackled a whole range of events including hurdles, steeplechase and high jump as well as her preferred middle distance. Good luck Rosie.