COACHING NEWS UPDATE MID MAY 2006

Forget about the track being ready by the end of April!!!! Progress is taking place but it looks no better today than a week ago, so I would say at least another month while the great British workman is probably fitting kitchens somewhere else, if the way my house was built is anything to go by.

However, the Development Plans became public today, Thursday, so I went along to view them; but at this point they are only at the pipe dream stage, although to be fair, the land across the road near the big new Tesco's (ex Big W, ex Co-op) is earmarked and the fund raising is in hand. It will include the only 50m swimming pool west of Bath and lots of other facilities, but as yet, no running track. This is only because the ground currently guaranteed is not big enough, but there are plans to negotiate for further land, and CAC are putting their case forward for the necessity of a track. Meanwhile, even assuming the project raises the required £100million, the current facilities will continue to be in use until 2011.

UKAthletics Ltd are setting up a Members Council that will meet four times per year. The Council will include representatives of just about every aspect of our sport. The Council will contribute to overseeing the strategic direction of UK Athletics and bring the perspective of coaching athletics to the meetings and any other meetings/forums that they may be required to attend.

They are currently asking for nominations for 5 coaches of at least Level 2, from across the UK. If anybody would like to be nominated or would like to nominate somebody else, I have an application form which must be completed by 16th June

Since this appeals to me, I shall be seeking nomination, but don't let that put you off, I still need five coaches to be referees, so if anybody wants to back me I would appreciate it.