Well done to the eight athletes who have so far submitted your performances for the virtual 2km Battle of the Regions. Some very good performances.

There were 34 of you who entered from the East, so I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of you perform.
Remember you have until midnight on Sunday (21st February) to submit your performances.
When you provide information on your performance please take care to ensure you use your name (not your parents’ name) and you enter the correct age group before you submit your performance.
There have been a number of errors with both of these so far leading to the race organiser having to delete incorrect records and corrected records having to be submitted. Below is a final reminder on how to submit your performances:

To submit your results you need to do the following: 

You need to re-visit the page link you were supplied with to enter this event https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2021/GBR/v2kbotr/

When you click this link you will go to the page shown in the screenshot below. You will see top right of the screenshot below ‘ABOUT’ & ‘LOG IN/SIGN UP’

Click ‘LOG IN’ with the username and password you created or have used from previous entries on Open Track

When you have logged in you will see extra yellow buttons as with the screenshot below

Click on either option which you prefer

Then add your information, 

Best of luck to those of you still to do your performance and upload your result. Let’s show that East is the strongest region! Any questions please ask.
Kind regards

Steve Mitchell(East Wales Welsh Athletics regional coordinator for endurance)

• Sport Wales Be Active Wales Grants (Protect and Progress) can be found here: https://www.sport.wales/beactivewalesfund/

• Details of the Welsh Athletics Club Modernisation and Development Grant 2021 can be found here: https://www.welshathletics.org/en/blog/post/the-launch-of-the-2021-modernisation-and-development-fund

Many thanks to Darran Williams for his hard work in putting together these results.

Congratulations to all the winners, and to everyone who entered.

All Results

Category Winners

Medal Winners

Please ensure that you stay safe, and help to keep others safe by adhering to the latest Government Guidelines relating to exercising.

Sport, exercise and outdoor activity

Can I leave home to exercise?

Yes. Exercise is important for physical and mental health, and you can leave home as often as you like to exercise as long as you do so from home and alone or with members of your household or support bubble (and/or a carer).

What kind of exercise is permitted?

There are no legal limits on this, but in practice this is constrained by other restrictions at alert level 4, such as the closure of leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools. As one of the purposes of the restrictions is to reduce pressure on the Welsh NHS, we also ask people to avoid activities that involve a significant degree of risk (for example swimming or other exercise at sea, or in lakes, rivers or other waterways).

Are there any limits on how far I can run or cycle for exercise?

There are no limits on the distance you can travel during exercise, though the nearer you stay to your home, the better. You should exercise alone or with a member of your household or support bubble. Your exercise must start and finish from your home, or the home of the members of your support bubble.

Does taking a walk count as exercise?

Absolutely. All time spent outdoors is beneficial, as long as people avoid interacting with people they do not live with.

I use a wheelchair or mobility scooter to get about. If I want to go out, does this count as exercise?

Absolutely. All time spent outdoors is beneficial, as long as people avoid interacting with people they do not live with.

Can I drive somewhere to exercise?

Exercise should be undertaken locally – from home or as close as possible to the home.  In general this must not involve people driving to a location away from home for this purpose.  No journeys of any significant distance should be taken, for example, just in order to exercise in the countryside or at beauty spots. This is the law and not just guidance. Police can fine people who travel beyond their local area to beauty spots.

People with specific health or mobility issues may, however, need to travel from their home in order to be able to exercise.  For example, some wheelchair users may not be able to start to exercise immediately outside their homes for practical access reasons, and may need to drive to a suitable flat location, such as a park, for this purpose. In these circumstances the journey should be to the nearest convenient accessible location and no long journeys should be undertaken unless absolutely necessary.
The need to carry sports equipment isn’t regarded as a justification on its own for driving in these circumstances.

The need to carry sports equipment isn’t regarded as a justification on its own for driving in these circumstances.

Can I do other things while out for exercise?

Yes, as long as they are also permitted, and do not involve gathering with people from other households outside a permitted support bubble. Combining exercise with walking a dog or going to a shop to buy food, for example, is considered to be reasonable.

Leaving your home to exercise should not be used as an excuse to undertake other activity which is not permitted. The purpose of leaving home is to exercise. Going for a walk and then having a picnic or spending a prolonged period on a park bench, for example, is not considered to be exercise and is not intended to be a reasonable excuse.

https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions#section-58322

Thank you for helping to keep us all safe.

The first training day since COVID took place in Parc Bryn Bach on Saturday 28th November and everyone who took part was delighted.

Liz Davies sent this message via Facebook
“A huge thank you to Steve, Deb, Dave, Luke and all the other East Wales coaches who made today happen. Great to see athletes across the region training together again”

Find the session notes from Coach Steve here:

Nominations now open for the Welsh Athletics Awards for 2020. See: https://www.welshathletics.org/en/blog/post/live-the-2020-welsh-athletics-awards

Please note:  the timeline for nominations is extremely tight (with nominations closing onSunday 29^th November) so it doesn’t give you much time to get the word out and get nominations in!

Direct Link to the Nomination Form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=1-RDfO1nXUekdsPXx6hqNipqiQc4DehLqV9DjC_PviNUNFVLRDhPU1BSRkJIRVhTSDE2MVBaSVFCTC4u

EWRAC Chair Joyce Tomala has expressed condolences on behalf of the region following the death of JJ Williams.

“It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing of JJ Williams. 
The athletics community of East Wales would like to extend our sincerest condolences to his family; Wife Jane , sons James and Rhys and daughter Kathryn.”

Massive congratulations to Natasha Cockram who stopped the clock in 2:33.19 to claim a maiden title and prove her place as the top British marathoner on the day. This was particularly impressive as a mysterious ankle injury had affected her preparations for the marathon showpiece. Read the full story here:

https://www.welshathletics.org/en/blog/post/natasha-cockram-storms-to-a-maiden-british-title-in-london

East Wales Track & Field Officials Secretary 

East Wales are seeking to appoint a Track & Field Officials Secretary to continue the excellent work established by the late Linda Cushing. 

The appointment is on a voluntary basis and the term of office is initially for one year, renewable at the East Wales Region Annual General Meeting; generally held in June each year. The terms of reference are set out below.

If you are interested on taking on this role please contact Chair@eastwalesathletics.co.uk by Monday 24^th August 2020.  

Terms of Reference:
a) Attend East Wales Regional Meetings (either in person or via video link)
b) Represent East Wales Region at Welsh Athletics Track & Field Officials committee Meetings (either in person or via video link)
c) Promote, East Wales officials’ education and personal development.
d) Assist with maintaining a register of East Wales Officials, in conjunction with Welsh Athletics Officials Secretary.
e) Liaise with Welsh Athletics in all matters relating to officials, including courses and the deployment of officials.
f) Promote Officials’ Conferences.
g) Update officials on all officiating developments.
h) Assist with the implementation of the strategy for recruitment and development of new officials, and the retention of officials within East Wales.
i) Nominate officials of the appropriate levels for regional events
j) Assist with the appointment of officials, including Chief Officials, for all regional Championships and events promoted by East Wales, including joint promotions.
k) Establish links and liaise with Clubs within the Region 
l) Notify clubs of requirements for officials at regional events