Now the last few months have been pretty busy and I've not had much time to get any blogging in. So, with a week off, its about time that I caught up on last years Athletics Review blog and have a read. It was good to look back on what happened in 2014 and to see what I was looking forward to in 2015.
It has been a hectic year and a very productive one at that. We'll start with the most senior child and it's been great to see Dominic back competing again. He mixed his summer of athletics with his GCSE exams and was wise to concentrate on the exams first and let the athletics follow. He's had a dabble at all sorts this year in both track and field, with him taking part in the Youth Development League and competing for the seniors at Houghton Harriers. He's done the Hammer, Discus, Shot Putt and Javelin as well as doing relays, XCountry and any distance on the track. His highlight of the year was his 2nd place in the NE Grand Prix in the U17M category and was fab to see him go up and get his trophy from Steve Cram. The boy did lose a lot of confidence in the general clart on of Chester not being forthcoming on competitions and his move to Houghton has been a very positive one, both in improving his confidence and his performance. He is in a tough coaching group and they don't half put some work in, with it showing, especially in his XCountry performances. He's even come out of retirement in competing for the School and has competed in the English Schools qualifying competition.
Lastly, he's taken to being an Athletics Track Official and I enjoyed watching him on the perch at Gateshead a few weeks ago. I'm really proud of the way he's carried himself in both competition and as an official.
Then there's Philippa, who's had a barnstorming year at U13 with a host of medals in both track and field. Her titles include being NE Indoor Long Jump, Shot Putt & Pentathlon champion with outdoors including 70m Hurdles & Shot Putt champion, with silver in the High Jump. She's also been part of "Awesome Foursome" Houghton Harriers relay team that won at the NE Relays and also won the Boys & Girls Club Athletics Championships in Cardiff. She's also had a great season of multi eventing, including some great performances for Park View School and winning the EAP International Combined Events meeting in Hexham. She's also ventured outside the region to compete in the Northern Championships both indoors and outdoors, with injury hitting her in the 100m final, with her limping in 5th, but still managing to come 4th in the Shot Putt. Philippa has hit Grade 1 performances in 100m, 200m & 70m Hurdles, plus she's also been selected to be part of Park View School Elite Sports Academy and been nominated by her club in the Active Sunderland Community Sports Awards for Young Performer of the Year.
She's now moved up to U15, which I think is a really tough step up, especially for girls. So far, her progress has been great with a Grade 3 performance in 60m and some really encouraging times. However, as the photo below shows, she still hates XCountry and has now decided at the tender age of 12 that she's retired from all but School competitions, although time will tell if she can be persuaded back into action.
Lexie continues with her can't be arsed attitude to athletics, but deep down there's a sprint talent in there and she continues to do well, especially at 60m indoors. She's had a few dabbles in XCountry too and whilst she doesn't particularly like it, she manages to plod round just fine. The XCountry has seen all 3 kids compete at the same event and that's been great to see. Lexie has competed in the School XCountry events as well as doing Track & Field for the school and competing in Quadkids at Gateshead. When she can be arsed, she's got a real talent, but she's got to be in the mood - she's the Laurent Robert of athletics !!!
Last year I mentioned the Mrs having a dabble at trotting, but due to the fact it knacked her dodgy ankle, that has come to an end.
Then there's me - in last years blog I mentioned my target times for 5k, 10k & Great North Run. Sadly, all three are still targets and I didn't get anywhere near any of them this year, but you never know what might happen in 2016 ! I did still do the Great North Run but got injured at 8 miles and struggled for the rest, plus I didn't do as many 5k or 10k events as I'd done in previous years. That's largely due to most of the events I wanted to do clashing with events for the kids. However, I've kept up the coaching work and am now on my way to the Athletics Coach qualification. I really enjoy coaching athletics and it whilst it can be stressful at times, I've found it hugely rewarding, especially seeing the kids (not my own) competing and enjoying themselves as well as getting a little bit faster, jumping higher or throwing further.
So what will 2016 bring ?
Dominic moves up to U20 for competition this year and it's a big jump, but I'm sure he'll edge his way up the rankings with plenty more hard work. Philippa starts her indoor campaign at the end of January with plenty of competition coming in the Spring and then out onto the Track again in April. Lexie will be following suit with indoor competition and school XCountry on the horizon. As for me, there's lots of hard work to come to get the coaching qualification and I'm looking forward to gaining experience as an official, plus I might get some running in too !
Whatever the kids do, we'll be there to proudly support them and cheer them on. I'm really proud that all 3 of them love sport, especially athletics, as it keeps them physically fit and gives them a great experience of working in a team and competing. They're part of a great athletics club at Houghton Harriers and I'm really looking forward to another busy year.
It has been a hectic year and a very productive one at that. We'll start with the most senior child and it's been great to see Dominic back competing again. He mixed his summer of athletics with his GCSE exams and was wise to concentrate on the exams first and let the athletics follow. He's had a dabble at all sorts this year in both track and field, with him taking part in the Youth Development League and competing for the seniors at Houghton Harriers. He's done the Hammer, Discus, Shot Putt and Javelin as well as doing relays, XCountry and any distance on the track. His highlight of the year was his 2nd place in the NE Grand Prix in the U17M category and was fab to see him go up and get his trophy from Steve Cram. The boy did lose a lot of confidence in the general clart on of Chester not being forthcoming on competitions and his move to Houghton has been a very positive one, both in improving his confidence and his performance. He is in a tough coaching group and they don't half put some work in, with it showing, especially in his XCountry performances. He's even come out of retirement in competing for the School and has competed in the English Schools qualifying competition.
Lastly, he's taken to being an Athletics Track Official and I enjoyed watching him on the perch at Gateshead a few weeks ago. I'm really proud of the way he's carried himself in both competition and as an official.
Then there's Philippa, who's had a barnstorming year at U13 with a host of medals in both track and field. Her titles include being NE Indoor Long Jump, Shot Putt & Pentathlon champion with outdoors including 70m Hurdles & Shot Putt champion, with silver in the High Jump. She's also been part of "Awesome Foursome" Houghton Harriers relay team that won at the NE Relays and also won the Boys & Girls Club Athletics Championships in Cardiff. She's also had a great season of multi eventing, including some great performances for Park View School and winning the EAP International Combined Events meeting in Hexham. She's also ventured outside the region to compete in the Northern Championships both indoors and outdoors, with injury hitting her in the 100m final, with her limping in 5th, but still managing to come 4th in the Shot Putt. Philippa has hit Grade 1 performances in 100m, 200m & 70m Hurdles, plus she's also been selected to be part of Park View School Elite Sports Academy and been nominated by her club in the Active Sunderland Community Sports Awards for Young Performer of the Year.
She's now moved up to U15, which I think is a really tough step up, especially for girls. So far, her progress has been great with a Grade 3 performance in 60m and some really encouraging times. However, as the photo below shows, she still hates XCountry and has now decided at the tender age of 12 that she's retired from all but School competitions, although time will tell if she can be persuaded back into action.
Lexie continues with her can't be arsed attitude to athletics, but deep down there's a sprint talent in there and she continues to do well, especially at 60m indoors. She's had a few dabbles in XCountry too and whilst she doesn't particularly like it, she manages to plod round just fine. The XCountry has seen all 3 kids compete at the same event and that's been great to see. Lexie has competed in the School XCountry events as well as doing Track & Field for the school and competing in Quadkids at Gateshead. When she can be arsed, she's got a real talent, but she's got to be in the mood - she's the Laurent Robert of athletics !!!
Last year I mentioned the Mrs having a dabble at trotting, but due to the fact it knacked her dodgy ankle, that has come to an end.
Then there's me - in last years blog I mentioned my target times for 5k, 10k & Great North Run. Sadly, all three are still targets and I didn't get anywhere near any of them this year, but you never know what might happen in 2016 ! I did still do the Great North Run but got injured at 8 miles and struggled for the rest, plus I didn't do as many 5k or 10k events as I'd done in previous years. That's largely due to most of the events I wanted to do clashing with events for the kids. However, I've kept up the coaching work and am now on my way to the Athletics Coach qualification. I really enjoy coaching athletics and it whilst it can be stressful at times, I've found it hugely rewarding, especially seeing the kids (not my own) competing and enjoying themselves as well as getting a little bit faster, jumping higher or throwing further.
So what will 2016 bring ?
Dominic moves up to U20 for competition this year and it's a big jump, but I'm sure he'll edge his way up the rankings with plenty more hard work. Philippa starts her indoor campaign at the end of January with plenty of competition coming in the Spring and then out onto the Track again in April. Lexie will be following suit with indoor competition and school XCountry on the horizon. As for me, there's lots of hard work to come to get the coaching qualification and I'm looking forward to gaining experience as an official, plus I might get some running in too !
Whatever the kids do, we'll be there to proudly support them and cheer them on. I'm really proud that all 3 of them love sport, especially athletics, as it keeps them physically fit and gives them a great experience of working in a team and competing. They're part of a great athletics club at Houghton Harriers and I'm really looking forward to another busy year.
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