2021 is the inagural year for the National Athletics League (NAL), which replaces both the British Athletics League, and the UK Women's Athletics League. As well as the NAL, the club will also be taking part in the Southern Athletics League (SAL).
Richard Chiassaro, the well known Paralympic wheelchair racer, who is a world and British record holder, visited the club last Sunday to spend the morning coaching our Wheelchair Section. All the Bedford athletes enjoyed the session and learnt many skills from Richard. Aided by volunteers, Howard Darbon, who manages the Wheelchair Section, has also been constructing a new cabin to hold the section's equipment, just next to the stadium's first-aid post.
The club's Wheelchair section, managed by Howard Darbon, have acquired a wooden cabin that comes in kit form. This needs to be built, and the ground works prepared. Howard is ready to proceed and is hoping to start on Monday (26th April) with preparing the site. Howard is looking for around 6 volunteers to assist on Monday, and thereafter around 2 to 3 each day. Howard hopes to start at 10.00am , have a break for lunch and then continue to around 5 pm. It would be very helpful if the volunteers could bring any digging tools - forks, spades etc and wheelbarrows. If anybody is able to assist, please
After a fallow year in 2020 due to the pandemic, the English Schools Athletics Championships are due to make a welcome return this year. The dates and locations are as follows:
Membership payment is now due and will be required to continue to access the stadium and training.
The main fees for 2021/22 are as follows:-
Senior £175
Under 18 / Over 60 £120
Family of 3 or more 10% saving on total fees payable
Other fees apply for second claim athletes, athletes living or studying away from Bedford orwho study at the University of Bedfordshire. These can be found on the full list of fees.
WHAT TO DO
1. Let us know of any details that have changed. It is crucial that we have up to date contact details as well as emergency contact details and information on any medical and health related matters. If you don’t think we have up to date information please email
Alternatively you can complete a paper form and drop it in to the gate on training nights.
2. Make a payment by bank transfer. Please make a bank transfer for the full amount to the following account.
Account Name: Bedford & County Athletic Club Limited
Sort code: 40 24 20
Account: 01757210
Please put the first initial and surname of the athlete as the reference. Please email
Bedford and County will be taking part in the 2021 Eastern Masters Athletics Club (EMAC) Track and field League.
The EMAC League Match dates and Venues are as follows :-
To take part in the EMAC league you need to be 35 or over, and you also need to join EMAC as a second claim member, which costs £12. If you would like to take part, please contact the Men's Masters Team Manager,
The South of England Athletic Association (SEAA) have published their competition prospectus for 2021. This provides information about the Southern Championships, including the dates of the senior championships, and the various age group and combined events championships. You can read a copy here. The prospectus doesn't seem to tell you how to enter, but you can mark the dates in your diary, and then keep your eye on the SEAA website, which will likely provide entry information in due course.
The club has received confirmation from Fusion that we will be able to access the stadium through the side gate from next Tuesday, 30th March. This will be under the same terms as before lockdown. There will be bookable club sessions on Tuesday and Thursday 5.30 to 6.30 and 6.40 to 7.40, and Sunday 10.30 to 11.30 and 11.40 to 12.40. The stadium building will not be open and therefore there will unfortunately be no access to toilets.
We are trying to arrange for Pole Vault and High Jump beds to be available from the start of step 2, or earlier if possible, but cannot confirm this yet.
Contact
Our wheelchair racers who have all done remarkably well throughout the recent lockdown are eagerly anticipating the return to training on the track on Sunday 4th April. We have now received one set of rollers and two more are being delivered this coming week. This will enable all racers to have a set of purpose built rollers for their own use and will save having to use bricks and the like to prop up their chairs for indoor training.
Some other good news this week. Varun Bandi was nominated several months ago for an Award in an initiative promoted by the Bedford Independent newspaper. We are delighted to announce that Varun won the Young Achiever of the Year award - he has a habit of winning as he won the Disabled Sporting Star at the 2018 Sport Bedford awards and was also shortlisted in 2019.
Following England Athletics’ recent statement about the return of athletics, which you can find here, the committee have been actively planning the club’s reopening. We are excited and optimistic about the prospects for the 2021 summer season, and would like to offer members the following update:
Howard Darbon provides an update about the club's growing Wheelchair Racing Section:
It has been difficult for members of the Wheelchair Racing section to train in recent weeks because of the cold weather and the absence of proper training rollers. However, all that has changed recently with the good news that we have qualified to receive over £2500 from a Sport England grant which will enable us to purchase 3 sets of purpose built training rollers which will enable all members to train at home.
Are you interested in volunteering for Bedford and County? The club is looking for people to fill some key roles.
