News

New Athletics Development Officer

Isle of Man Athletics is pleased to announce the appointment of Mikey Haslett as Athletics Development Officer.

Athletics has long played a central role in Mikey’s life since he found his passion for jumping over things 20 years ago. Over the years Mikey has represented the Island at several Island Games and has even held on to a few Island Records in his favourite events the 400m Hurdles and 4 x 400m relay. A degree from Cardiff Met in Sports Development combined with Mikey’s experience at Manx Sport & Recreation and his passion for all things Athletics mean that we are particularly excited to have him on board.

Commenting on the appointment Isle of Man Athletics Chairman Anthony Brand said; “We are delighted that Mikey is joining Isle of Man Athletics to continue aiding the growth of our sport on the Island across all capabilities and circumstances, taking it to the next level. His enthusiasm is infectious so we’re excited for the future. We are extremely grateful for the support The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation, Isle of Man Sport and the athletics clubs are providing.”

John Nugent from The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation said: “We are delighted to be able to continue to support Isle of Man Athletics over the next 2 years in developing and expanding athletics across the island. One of the objectives of the Foundation is to encourage young people to get involved in sport, who may not normally have the opportunity. Isle of Man Athletics have shown us a clear plan to develop this in the future.”

 

Mikey can be contacted by email on: ado@iomathletics.com

 

Assistant Chair Required

As part of Isle of Man Athletics ongoing development and growth strategy we are urgently seeking a new key team member.

Working on the Executive Committee, the Assistant Chair will provide the support and management for the planning, implementation, funding and supervision of the IOM Athletics Development Plan.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Management of the IOM Athletics development plan within the Exec Committee/ADO for all of each of the deliveries, claiming funds back from IOM Sport and any changes, reviews, updates that are needed in relation to the objectives.
  • Dealing with all correspondence with IOM Sport.

If you think you would like to volunteer for this key role please email chairman@iomaa.info.

A full handover will be provided.

If this role isn’t for you but you would like to volunteer some of your time to assist the IOM Athletics then please get in touch.

Isle of Man Athletics Cross Country League – Round 2

The second round of the Law Trust sponsored Isle of Man Athletics Cross Country League is hosted by Northern AC and will be held at their traditional venue of Crossags Farm in Ramsey on Sunday 3 November. 

There is no parking at the venue itself – competitors and spectators are asked to park at Ramsey Grammar School (East or West) and walk up the lane across the golf course.

The timetable is as follows:
12.45pm to 2.00pm – Registration
2.00pm U9 boys & girls – 2 small laps – 860 metres
2.10pm U11 boys & girls – 3 small laps – 1290 metres
2.25pm U13 boys & girls & short course – 1 small lap, 1 large lap – 2600 metres
2.35pm U15 boys & girls, U17 women – 2 large laps – 4660 metres
2.35pm U17 men, U20, senior, veteran women – 3 large laps – 6990 metres
2.35pm U20, senior, veteran men – 4 large laps – 9320 metres

Here is a course map.

You are advised to arrive early to allow time to check out the course before the races. Barista Express will be on site selling hot and cold drinks and food.

If you have already paid for the series and have your race number there is no need to attend the registration desk, just go to the start line five minutes before your race. If you have lost your number and need a replacement there will be a separate desk at registration.

If you did not register prior to Round 1, you need to complete a registration form and pay at the desk on Sunday. Blank forms will also be available at registration.

 

David Griffiths.

 

Isle of Man Athletics Cross Country League – Round 1 – Results & Report

Here are the results from round 1 of the Isle of Man Cross Country League sponsored by Law Trust held at Castle Rushen High School on Sunday 13 October 2019.

On a weekend when the international athletics headlines were dominated by two extraordinary and somewhat controversial Marathon world records, the local Law Trust-sponsored cross country season got underway on a day of continuous heavy rain at Castle Rushen High School in Castletown. This first event of the season was organised by Manx Harriers.

The Isle of Man’s best-ever cross country runner Keith Gerrard summed up cross country perfectly last week when he wrote that it “brings together endurance runners from all distances and tests them over natural and unpredictable terrain. First person from point A to point B on two legs wins – sport doesn’t get much purer or demanding than that! Time is irrelevant – it’s all about beating as many people as you can whilst learning about yourself in the process. I always prefer a muddy course, where no kind of ‘special shoes’ can help as you sink in to the quagmire.”

Those words were certainly apt on Sunday as the heavy rain left lots of standing water and several muddy sections on the south side course which followed the perimeters of four agricultural fields close to the school. Despite the dreadful weather there was a superb turnout of 243 athletes across all categories, a tribute to their dedication and that of all the officials.

It was a delight to see new winners of the two senior races. Orran Smith (Western AC) and Carly Craig (Manx Harriers) deservedly took the honours, having both achieved many high placings over the years but never top spot. Smith was in a class of his own in the three-lap Senior Men’s race, winning by two-and-a-half minutes and proving what a fine all-round distance runner he is. Great credit goes to U17 athletes Ieuan Owen and Corrin Leeming who ran in close company with the senior winner and pushed him hard throughout their shorter two-lap race.

Behind this leading trio there was an epic contest for second place in the senior race amongst a group which initially comprised ten athletes before fragmenting in the latter stages as they splashed round the sodden fields. The value of good pace judgement in the tricky conditions proved crucial with Sam Looker, Matt Callister and leading junior Luke Phair breaking away from the pack to take second, third and fourth places respectively. Cross country newcomer Phil Knox was impressive in fifth place.

Carly Craig led throughout the two-lap senior women’s race but was pressed hard by junior Phoebe Coates for much of the race. An Island Games track medallist back in 2001, the Manx Harriers athlete is a fine distance runner and proved it again with a strong and controlled performance. Middle-distance specialist Coates took the runners-up spot and the ever-consistent Laura Dickinson got the better of a race-long tussle with Eleanor Gawne to take third.

There was equally impressive racing throughout the younger age groups, and with many of the age categories out on the course at the same time there was plenty of action during another cloudburst. The U13 boys and girls and U15 girls raced together over one full lap of the course, and the fastest of these athletes was Macy Hillier who took victory in the U15 race. She had to give everything she had to stay ahead of the ever-competitive Ella Crowe, and the battle between these two fine young athletes will be a feature of the season.

Charlie Teare took the honours in the U13 boys’ race with an 18-second winning margin over Jake Crowe, with Samuel Corkill narrowly beating Oliver Condon to third place. In the girls’ race it was Lola Bass to the fore, with Mikhaella Harris and Belinda Dennett completing the top three.

The U15 Boys and Short Course competitors also raced together over one short lap and one full lap, and the leading athlete here was Ryan Corrin, an athlete with plenty of cross country ability. He took victory in the U15 race by a 32-second margin from Gethin Owen.

28 athletes took advantage of the Short Course race option, including no fewer than 20 women. Fastest of all was Island Games 400 metres champion Ashleigh Lachenicht who is also a quality cross country runner. She finished seven seconds clear of the first male finisher Saul Bradley.

The youngest competitors had begun the afternoon’s action, with the under-nine and U11 races proving as fast and exciting as always. The U9s raced over one lap of the main field, with Timothy Perry and Issy Kennaugh, both of Northern AC, taking the first two victories of the day.

In the U11 races two Manx Harriers athletes took the spoils, with Charlie Arculus and Abi Clayton first home in their races after two laps of the main field. There was an exciting finish to the girls’ race with Summer Craig just a couple of strides behind the winner. In the boys’ race only two seconds spanned second to fifth places.

Distances were:

Under 9 Boys, 800 metres (1 short lap)
Under 9 Girls, 800 metres (1 short lap)
Under 11 Boys, 1,550 metres (2 short laps)
Under 11 Girls, 1,550 metres (2 short laps)
Under 13 Boys & Girls, Under 15 Girls, 2,780 metres (1 full lap)
Under 15 Boys, Under 17 Girls, Short Course, 3,580 metres (1 short lap, 1 full lap)
Junior, Senior, Veteran Women, Under 17 Men, 5,710 metres (2 full laps)
Junior, Senior, Veteran Men, 8,440 metres (3 full laps)

  • Many thanks go to organiser Andy Fox and his team of helpers for putting in a real shift on such an unpleasant day, and also to Castle Rushen HS and the landowner.
  • Video footage of all the races has been posted on the manxathletics.com Facebook page.
  • Round Two of the series takes place on Sunday 3 November and will be hosted by Northern AC at Crossags Farm in Ramsey.

David Griffiths
15 October 2019