Jack Goodwin became the first Bedford and County athlete to return to action on 31st March.  Competing in the Comeback 5000m at Battersea Park, Jack clocked  an excellent 14:13.96 to finish seventh in a very high quality field in what has his first track race for three years.

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.

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.

In line with England Athletics guideance, and eased government restrictions, Stadium and Public Space Training Will both resume on Tuesday 30th March.

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to book a slot at the stadium, or click here to find out how to book public space training.

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:

• We believe there will be considerable opportunity for competition this summer, including open meetings, leagues, championships, road races, and Park Runs.  We think that competitions will operate with some restrictions in place at first, but expect these to ease, and then lift as the year progresses.
• Public Space Covid Secure Training (off track training) will return from Tuesday 30th March – the public space booking system will reopen from 23rd March.
• The club are working with Fusion to reopen the stadium for training as soon as possible.  Many Fusion staff are furloughed, and they are currently working out their own plan for a return.
• Our reasonable best case scenario is that we may be able to return to training at the stadium on 30th March, initially administering access to the stadium ourselves, with Fusion staff returning at some point during April.  However, whilst we are reasonably optimistic, we do not control the timeframe.

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.