The club is taking advice about COVID-19 from Athletics Wellington and other sporting bodies, as well as, of course, all official government announcements. At this stage the Waterfront 5km series and the remainder of the Track and Field season are cancelled. More information below.

Options for the week 

  • Tuesday 5.30pm, Waterfront 5km = cancelled.
  • Wednesday 6.15pm, Newtown Park Track workout. Meet 6.15pm for 6.30pm start, lead by Andy and Rowan, shorter distance track reps.
  • Saturday, 8.00am, Newtown Track workout – contact Chandima for info, or check Facebook for details. Longer track reps with a focus on building towards major events.
  • Saturday, 8.00am, Lower Hutt 5km Parkrun, Porirua 5km Parkrun, Kāpiti Coast 5km Parkrun.
  • Saturday 9.00am, Martinborough Round the Vines Half Marathon, Martinborough Square = postponed
  • Sunday 8.30am, Scottish long runs. Contact Ben Twyman or Danielle Trewoon for details or check Facebook.
  • Sunday 9.00am, Xterra West Wind, Meridian Wind Farm. (Still going ahead but keep an eye on the Facebook Page for possible cancellation)

Results

  • Novelty distances track and field meet at Newtown Park. 3000m Walk: Daphne Jones 22.31.26, Ray Marten 22.41.74. 800m: Peter Stevens 2.13.55. 1000m: Hiro Tanimoto 2:39.68, Geoff Ferry 2:49.29 (and 7th best in NZ so far for 2020!). 2000m steeplechase: Stephen Day 6:52.80. 3000m: Bert Prendergast 8.48.09 (19 second PB), Geoff Ferry 9.18.36, Liam Jones 9.31.06, Grant McLean, 9.33.18, Stephen Day 9.49.37, Oliver McLean 10.04.21 – Results.
  • At the WHAC Honest Ten Hiro Tanimoto was back and ran 33.23, Betty Harp ran 44.18 – Results and photos
  • Waterfront 5km PBs to Lucy Fauth, Jaime Vessiot, Hermaleigh Townsley and Fiona Macmaster- Results and photos

Upcoming events

Wellington 5000m Championships, 28 March, Newtown Park

Cancelled

Centennial Cup, 4 April, Island Bay 

Scottish management committee will meet next week to discuss whether (or how) this and other small club events will proceed.

Shaw Baton Relays, 25 April (ANZAC Day), Battle Hill Farm, Pauatahanui

At this stage we anticipate Olympic Harriers and Athletics Wellington will cancel this event as it is larger than 500 people – but we have not heard formally yet. 

Notices

Calling all new members!

We want to help you meet some new running friends. This Saturday (21 March) come to Newtown Park at 8:15am for an easy run and a coffee with us. You’ll be introduced to a few of the people who you can run with and also a chance to talk to others who have joined recently on what ‘running club life’ is all about. Meet at 8:15am at Newtown Park. We will aim to arrange a few more of these in the coming weeks but if you can make this one it would be great. Please get in touch via our Facebook group if you have any questions. Everyone welcome.

COVID-19 Update from Athletics Wellington and Athletics NZ

Athletics New Zealand have provided some guidelines:

  • For any club runs, we need to know who attended so that any contact tracing can be conducted within 14 days should that be necessary.
  • While this is intended to cover our official runs, we know that our syllabus consists of formal and informal runs.
  • For our formal pack runs and events, those Saturday runs like McVilly or Centennial etc, we will have someone appointed. Guidelines are that we have one person recording attendance to avoid multiple people sharing a pen/pencil.
  • For our informal group runs, where the club are not directly organising (e.g. Trail Queen Thursdays, Monday Kupe, Sunday Long Runs etc) please note – perhaps in your strava files – who participated.

This will allow us, with your help, to meet our contact tracing obligations should they be called upon.

And a message from Athletics Wellington to the Athletics Wellington Community:

I’m writing to you to let you know what we will do around Covid-19 and putting the safety of our people and athletes, at the forefront of our minds.

As it’s a very fluid situation that changes hourly we will follow what other local sporting codes do around events and gatherings in terms of postponing or cancellations.

The safety of our community is paramount and as was quoted today by a football manager in the UK “football (or any other sport) is the most important of the least important things”.

Please keep to social distancing and follow hygiene principles as per the current guidelines during events and gatherings.

We also as a community need to follow expert advice over the coronavirus threat instead of regretting anything that is suspended or cancelled

We will advise as to any changes in the current stance as early as possible.

We encourage you to be kind to one another in times like this and make sure you check in on your friends and family.

Hamish Girvan, Chair Athletics Wellington

Scottish AGM

Last week Scottish held its Annual General Meeting. Here is a link to the president’s report (Michael Wray) and the former programme manager’s report (me) and the minutes from the 2019 AGM.

Here are some quick highlights from the meeting – the club’s membership grew last year – to 255. Financially, the club made a (very small) profit of about $200, but more importantly, it has $175,000 in assets, which leaves it in a very strong financial position. Club members were very visible around Wellington and New Zealand both for the large numbers taking part in events and camaraderie and for their successes at races. The club calendar/programme is continuing to evolve into a diverse full-year programme rather than a traditional harriers winter programme. This is creating some challenges but also opportunities.

The AGM is a chance for club members to say what they want from the club. But, for most people, it’s not very convenient or fun. And it’s not the only chance you get to have your say. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for the year ahead feel free to ask them here, or privately of the someone on the club management committee. At any time of the year. We’re always keen to hear your thoughts.

Athletics Wellington Awards

Athletics Wellington is calling for nominations for its Annual Athletics Awards.  Please nominate someone you know who deserves special recognition. The Awards ceremony is to be held on Thursday, 7 May 2019 at Newtown Park.

Events calendar

Keep in touch with the club: