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7/10/08 CVC makes his mark-"Double Commonwealth Gold Medallist and former British record holder in both the Discus and the Hammer, Robert Weir has been appointed as heavy throws coach for UK Athletics (UKA).Weir who competed at three Olympic Games for Great Britain and won Commonwealth Hammer in 1982 and Discus in 1998 joins from Stanford University where he has headed up the men's track and field programme for a number of years.Weir, who has been a professional coach in the US for more than 20 years and who has been heavily recruited for many years to return to this country, is the first coaching appointment under the leadership of Charles van Commenee who was recently named as UKA's Head Coach. He will lead a focused development programme in heavy throws aimed at getting finalists in 2012."

So why did he not come back before ? Have UKA realised that the last attempt under Collins, with Regional Director's, paid loads for their degrees has failed. What happened at Stamford that made him available seems weird. Highly respected in the USA-

07/10/2008 Veteran coach Brooks Johnson resigned last month as head of USA Track and Field's high performance division. Johnson, in charge of the U.S. relay teams since 2003, said the resignation "has nothing to do with (baton) exchanges or criticisms."Both the men's and women's 4x100-meter relays dropped batons on the final exchange in qualifying at the Beijing Olympics. Johnson said the decision was a result of his coaching foreign athletes and consulting for other countries "that are a conflict of interest" with his former job. He earned a salary of $105,000 in the position.

Did Steve Perks get any recognition for coaching the winning Athens GB Mens 100m relay team. No medal for him, no honour. Maybe UK should look closely at coach recognition. Hopefuly CVC will.

06/10/2008 CVC "It would be silly of me to fly in and start implementing a blueprint for coaching straight away. Remember, I have been away for around four years now. The most important thing I can do right now is listen to the thoughts of some of the most experienced and respected coaches in the UK on how we can develop coaching.What I can say is that there will be a much greater emphasis on coach development and coach education. It has been undervalued and even ignored in recent years and it must be our emphasis."

Thank God for that. Shame that the Executives of UKA have failed to realise this- or maybe they will claim they had.

06/10/2008 I studied Economic History for a while, many years ago "South Sea Bubble.The House of Lords In 1720, in return for a loan of £7 million to finance the war against France, the House of Lords passed the South Sea Bill, which allowed the South Sea Company a monopoly in trade with South America.The company underwrote the English National Debt, which stood at £30 million, on a promise of 5% interest from the Government.Shares immediately rose to 10 times their value, speculation ran wild and all sorts of companies, some lunatic, some fraudulent or just optimistic were launched.For example; one company floated was to buy the Irish Bogs, another to manufacture a gun to fire square cannon balls and the most ludicrous of all "For carrying-on an undertaking of great advantage but no-one to know what it is!!" Unbelievably £2000 was invested in this one!The country went wild, stocks increased in all these and other 'dodgy' schemes, and huge fortunes were made.Then the 'bubble' in London burst!The stocks crashed and people all over the country lost all of their money. Porters and ladies maids who had bought their own carriages became destitute almost overnight. The Clergy, Bishops and the Gentry lost their life savings; the whole country suffered a catastrophic loss of money and property.Suicides became a daily occurrence. The gullible mob whose innate greed had lain behind this mass hysteria for wealth, demanded vengeance. The Postmaster General took poison and his son, who was the Secretary of State, avoided disaster by fortuitously contracting smallpox and died!

04/10/08 Looks like Wales could be the first to announce Standards for 2012 Commonwealth Games- standards have been submitted to the Sports Council of Wales, I gather, and all they have to is agree is the budget- the funding for the potential team. Not that hard, they are well funded centrally, so let's see proper funding in place from SCW so that Welsh Athlete's can compete Internationally. They saved a bundle of dosh by not sending an athletics Team to Youth Commonwealth Games , lets hope they do better for the seniors. The YCG start next weekend.

04/10/08 England Athletics have a new statement re how they will work with clubs and coaches. There is more on their site, but I cannot open the links. Wales will now to have to respond with a new strategy to replace the current , Collins view, based programme- Coaches and Clubs rule OK. I suspect the cull of the Collin's regime will continue, and Coaches and Clubs will become the focus- not Regional Performance Directors.

I think it called a re-shuffle, and this one looks like for the good of the sport.

03/10/2008 I must be the only person who actually has an interest in seeing what standards for competing at CG 2010 the various Commonwealth Nation's will announce. Maybe because I see the steps in International competition begin at these Games.It is of course not just standards , but size of teams . From what I hear Wales is well advanced- standards have been sent to SCW, so should have a response shortly. Quite why it takes so long I am not sure- cannot be that hard (I mean for all UK Commonwealth Nations). Being stupid, I would have thought announcing standards asap was a good idea, keep athletes motivated- the one's outside the regions Elite groups- and the one thing we all know is to expect the unexpected.

03/10/08 "In the five weeks since the Beijing Games ended, Australian sport has begun to cut its cloth accordingly. In China, the Australian athletics squad did not include a sprinter, male or female, and did not compete in the sprint relays.The follow-up came two weeks ago in Canberra, where the Australian Institute of Sport announced that it was cutting its track and field sprint programme altogether.A similar kind of review has taken place at one of the regional centres of excellence, the Western Australian Institute of Sport, where the entire staff has been made redundant and told to reapply for their jobs. "Times

2/10/2008 Dwain Chambers welcomed back by De Vos. And he will be allowed to compete for GB- was it only last winter the same person tried to stop him competing at World Indoors- or am I re-writing history. So what , at least Dwain will be allowed, no doubt because he has dropped his challenge to BOC.

2/10/2008 European Athletics is pleased to confirm that the Norwegian city of Bergen will host the first ever edition of the European Team Championships First League on June 20/21, 2009.

Situated on the south-west coast, Bergen is Norway’s second largest city behind Oslo but can boast a fine athletics tradition of its own having hosted the IAAF Golden League in 2004 when the Bislett Stadium in Oslo was closed for renovations.

Svein Arne Hansen, the President of the Norwegian Athletics Federation and Vice President of European Athletics said:

“The Norwegian public is delighted to have been awarded an event of this stature and I have no doubt they will come out in their thousands to support the event and make it a huge success”

“Athletics has a huge following in Norway and we have been looking forward to hosting a major European event for some time. The Team Championships is a new and exciting event with promotion, relegation and some innovative rule changes on display and I am sure it will have a big impact for the wider future of the sport”

Like the Super League, which will take place on the same weekend in Leiria, Portugal the First league will have 12 teams competing and promises to be a spectacular weekend of athletics throughout Europe.

The teams who will compete in Bergen are: Belarus, Slovenia, Romania, Turkey, Belgium, Hungary, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Switzerland, Serbia, and the hosts Norway who will be led by the double Olympic Javelin Champion Andreas Thorkildsen.

Russia, Great Britain, Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Ukraine, Greece, Sweden, Czech Republic, Portugal

Moldova, Israel, Denmark, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Armenia, AASSE, Albania, Andorra, FYR of Macedonia."

Sad to see Scotland and Wales do not have a place in this competition, but still come under the umbrella of GB. Surely within a European Competition, Wales and Scotland could be accepted as Individual Nations. What is happening in Ireland is that Northern Ireland is that athletes are making a choice , and many are deciding to compete for Ireland, knowing they will not be able to compete for Team GB at the Olympics/World Games(Though could compete for Ireland). Their choice. Athletes in Scotland and Wales do not have that choice, let's give it to them-now. I am sure many would rather compete for Wales or Scotland on the European circuit, even if it meant they could not run for Team GB in the Olympics. Neither country has, or will have, a massive presence in Team GB, so better to develop competition for these Nations surely for the good of wider sport. So maybe just European and Commonwealth, but would give a better chance of International competition than the present structure. Let's remember each Nation, Scotland and Wales do compete within Europe in one off matches. If Scotland, Wales, IOM , Channel Islands can compete in the Commonwealth Games as National Teams, why cannot the IOC accept that all the Commonwealth Nations can compete at the Olympics as Individual Nations. European Athletics should at least invite them to compete. I would be interested to see what UKA had to argue about it.

27/09/2008 ""We expect high standards from all competitors in terms of attitude, preparation and performance. But alongside this we hope the athletes enjoy the Games and it will provide a taste for future senior appearances - the buzz of the unique multi-sport environment that only the Commonwealth and Olympic Games provides - and the start of a long career in the sport." England prepare for YCG ( sorry was not a message from Welsh Athletics).

If you have a look and the new International Standards for Welsh Athletes to be able to compete, a few should be India at YCG . Of course saying is easy, delivery is their problem. Maybe because a few on the T&F committee are teachers-so they could not go, so therefore the kids cannot.

27/09/2008 With five weeks to go until the prestigious European Athletics Coaches Association (EACA) Conference in Glasgow (November 1st and 2nd), event organisers are advising that the event is close to capacity.Currently 280 delegates from more than 20 countries have booked up for the event which has a maximum capacity of 300. It is widely anticipated that the event will be full within the next fortnight. Scottish Athletics

27/09/2008 "Female athletes are at a "disadvantage" to their male counterparts because many of their world records are out of reach, says Veronica Campbell-Brown."BBC. Interesting was Flo Jo doped up or was a faulty wind recoder the problem.

"Griffith Joyner breezed to victory in the 100 before setting a world record of 21.34 seconds in the 200. This time nobody in the press box got to their feet and her news conference afterwards was tense as reporters drew attention to a physique which had altered significantly since the Los Angeles Games.
In the following year, when random dope testing was introduced, Griffith Joyner retired. Ten years later the American, who never failed a dope test, died in her sleep at the age of 38. The Guardian

25/09/08 Welsh Athletics Competition review. A mix of the Good and Bad ideas. They are persisting, along with the other Celtic Nations in changing the Celtic Games to U18 with U16 rotating events every 2 years. Whats the point and what a wasted opportunity. They had every chance to expand the number of Celtic Nations to 5 at least by including IOM and Cornwall. Instead just reduce the opportunities for the U16 kids- shameful.They also plan to close the Lousie Arthur League , a popular and successful league in West Wales. This League started as the BP league, based around Port Talbot area clubs, though other clubs could enter representing BP. It then became the Kate Willaims League and then was re-named as the Louise Arthur League in memory of a Young Carmarthen Athlete who sadly passed away . As far as I know WAA do not fund this league, and why are they meddling in a League that is so popular amongst the Young athletes and the clubs. It was named after Lousie Arthur for good reasons and WAA should back off . The Author of this, Mr Thomas,WAA, should listen, it seems despite asking for feedback he has ignored all from West Wales. It is not the fault of West Wales that they have a popular and successful league. Maybe look at it and try and replicate, not try and close it. Presumably it does not fit in with the UKA/WAA pathway to glory plan. Wake up, anything that is successful and works getting kids involved is good. The rest of the Competition Review is interesting and some positives.... (continued on Welsh page)

23/09/08 19 Days to go until the Youth Commonwealth Games. 19 Days for Welsh Athletics to reflect on a missed opportunity , for maybe one or two of the Welsh Young Athletes the chance for a YCG title. Read More

20/09/08 Life beyond London 2012 "Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro are the cities shortlisted by the International Olympic Committee to host the 2016 Olympic Games

If I was a gambler I would say Rio. Well 100% America no way, Tokyo to close to Beiing, Madrid to close to London- so we are off to Rio.

"At last we will get back to having someone with athletics coaching experience as our performance director. I am generally pleased with the appointment and believe he will try to bring some harmony and structure to coaching in the UK (and hopefully Wales). He has a good background in athletics having started as a throws coach and most people know about him coaching Denise Lewis and Kelly Sotherton. I met him several times when he was previously with UKA and found him communicative, knowledgeable and appreciative of what coaches at all levels were trying to do.

Those that know me will understand my philosophy of coaching. A broad, multi event and multi conditioning approach to developing young athletes plus fully recognising and rewarding all the coaches that contribute to developing the athlete. Neither of these two broad areas has been properly addressed.

What really interests me now is contained at the end of the BBC piece on CVC being appointed. It is that UKA are still searching for a head of coaching and development to work alongside CVC. This suggests a partnership or at least an inclusive structure for coaches at all levels. There is a good chance there will be a stronger focus on coaching and we may get a more seamless coach led development-performance pathway. Coaches at all levels will be recognised as crucial for the development of our sport, we get a better coach education programme, a coaching structure and reward for doing a good job. Coaching then becomes more attractive, we recruit more coaches, coaches do more for the sport and we have better retention. The whole sport gains.

I realise that many other people who are not coaches give invaluable time and effort and these should all be recognised. The problem we have had in our sport over the past 10 years or more is that the more we professionalise an over-bureaucratic top layer while doing little for those below, the wider the gulf becomes. This causes resentment and conflict leading to disillusionment, lack of passion for our sport and ultimately a lack of retention of many experienced and capable people.

I hope that changes at the top of UKA signal a new direction for our sport. We need to move away from over centralisation and over-funding of our governing bodies. We need to redistribute some of the existing funding to the local clubs and coaches and be imaginative in attracting new funding in order to provide all the opportunities that local youngsters (and older athletes) require to develop their talent across all events and disciplines of our sport. There is no point paying big salaries to performance managers/directors if there are few performance athletes!

It is to be hoped that Wales will change its structure. We need to get back to having a head coach with overall responsibility for coaches and development/performance. We need support for coaches and clubs across Wales to develop the talent that is undoubtedly out there. We need to make the clubs the centres of development at local level and entrust a greater level of responsibility on them (with appropriate support). We need to accept a degree of flexibility on how and when coaching takes place. We have to remember the excellent performance coaches across Wales stuck like a sandwich filling between professional development at one end and performance managers and others at the other end. UWIC cannot be the be-all and-all of athletics in Wales and Welsh athletics extends well beyond Cardiff. Athlete Development Centres should be developed within clubs and not promoted by a governing body outside clubs (no matter how good the content and how it is dressed up as a coach education tool it is not part of the club). Many initiatives have been tried over the years that have not fully involved the club and most have achieved little and this will be another one. Sell the concept to the clubs, offer support and funding, set up an appropriate competition structure to compliment the coaching and we could make far better progress. Support the core of any sport – coaching and competition.

I cannot speak for everyone but my views are probably representative of many in the sport. I hope that UKA are not just changing people but changing policies along the lines mentioned above. I hope that appropriate policy, structural and system changes percolate down to Welsh Athletics and help to create a successful and enjoyable sport for all involved."

18/09/2008 "Official confirmation of Van Commenee's new role will come at a press conference near Heathrow airport on Tuesday morning. The search to find a head of coaching development to work alongside him continues" BBC link.

18/09/08 Email received "I recently spoke to a English/Welsh Junior athlete who competes for Wales, his response was that he chose Wales because it was easier to get an International despite the fact that he is English, goes to English schools and only qualifies through parents.??? Commonwealth target...CO(Christine O-editor) is a competitive athlete and will persue any avenue to compete against the best...do we say she has done wrong for persuing excellence of competition. Would she gain financially from going to Nigeria athletics..That I do not know but would summize that UKA has a better package.Germaine Mason is Jamiacan... He has done it solely for money as he would easily be able to get into his National team and they dont pay athletes UKA did pay him.Athletics is a combination of events under one umbrella to make a semi team event (20 people on a bus doesnt make a team and thats what I liken athletics teams to) , it is dependant on individuals contributing in their own event unlike football a true team event where 11 players are on the pitch together.This IMHO(assume In my Humble Opinion- editor)is why athletes are independant competitors who should be hungry to compete Is CO guilty of this...YES Is this wrong...NO. She knew she was in with a shout and she voiced that with her conviction that one way or another she would compete.I appluad her for being competitive in a nation that frowns on winners and glorifies Eddy Edwards"

Dear Eddie:"At the closing ceremony the president of the Games singled him out for his contribution: "At this Games some competitors have won gold, some have broken records and one has even flown like an eagle." At that moment, 100,000 people in the stadium roared 'Eddie! Eddie!'. It was the first time in the history of the games that an individual athlete had been mentioned in the closing speech "

Its British and I am proud to be part of an eccentric Nation. No one else would have dreamt up cricket and baseball was started in Britain -"Although Baseball is now considered to have originated from England in the United Kingdom[1] around 1755, it was many years before it became a widely known sport. Forms of baseball or rounders have been played in the United Kingdom since at least the 17th century, and the traditional game of British baseball continues in Wales and Merseyside."

Losing the plot here, but Christine O did well as an individual-fair play to her. But as stated above she did not really care whether GB or Nigeria. I think this discussion is over- no more here, Forum please.

Am I really bothered-no-I am just going to chill out to Frank Zappa " Overnight Sensation". Classic album .

18/09/08 "Olympic 400metres bronze medalist Sanya Richards has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after her sprint double at the IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final last weekend.The 23-year-old Jamaica-born star became the first athlete to claim both the 200m and 400m titles with easy victories in Stuttgart.Richards won her third straight 400m title on Sunday, ahead of Beijing gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu while the previous day she triumphed over a strong field in the 200m. "Press Association.

18/09/08 Email received "I think the key, for now, is the ability of
hair testing to play a 'complementary ' role maybe this can be further explored as to in what way it may complement. As you know the AFL here in Australia are trialling out of season hair testing. Results will be used 'internally 'and will not be published (nor athletes identified for positive results) as I understand it. WADA and other agencies could benefit from this research however and I hope they would be in touch with the AFL. Perhaps something similar on a voluntary basis might be
trailed in athletics? If I was an athlete I would co-operate."

18/09/08 Email from the World leader's in hair testing: "Drug testing in sports is a complex issue with quite a few political, social and economic dynamics let alone the elements of science and interpretation. Steroid testing in hair has been accomplished for some years now by a laboratory based in France, and our own team have also been researching it for a while now, but I should imagine that there is a fair way to go before urinalysis could be replaced in this context. For example, I believe that WADA doping tests on a urine sample can cover some 130 diffferent performing enhancing substances. Now even if hair analysis could match that (which it can't at present), the volume of sample available from a urine-based process allows for that sort of extensive testing, whilst with hair, not only is the sample smaller in quantity, it also suffers some degradation when being prepared for analysis. This is one of the problems that needs resolving before it could overtake urine as the sports test of choice. That said, hair is beginning to play a growing complementary role to urine sports tests at present and is gaining stronger ground as more research and development continues."

17/09/08 Cyber Event Prize update- Jess Kaufman , Australia, winner of one of the £10 .00 age prizes has asked that it be given to some-one else in the UK "Whether high performers or not it is good to see the interest in multi-events. In regard to Jessie's prize money, if it is ok with you I will match that prize in aussie dollars and pass it on to her. Jess is happy with that and you can pass the £10 to a club or some other deserving athlete or ofcourse whatever you think is a good idea. The truth is Jess (and I) are just very interested to be a part of it and see the results."

So I will pass on her cash to an athlete who was under the age required for entry- Melys Edwards, 1997, Points 625. Wrexham AC.

Nice gesture, and hope more athletes will compete in the next Cyber Event in December. Its fun and easy to enter.

Jess is going to compete in the Pacific School Games- the event Welsh Schools were asked to attend, but blocked by some on the committee- huge shame, much like the blocking of Wales going to YCG. These Guys or Gals need to get real, if they want Welsh youth to develop. Both stopped for a few days off school- anyway I will leave it there, just makes me very sad.

Carmarthen Harrier Dewi Griffiths ran for Wales in the junior race in the 2008 World Mountain Trophy championship in Crans Montana Switzerland and finished in an excellent 7th place out of 74 competitors from 15 countries. Ahead of him was the winner Sindre Buraas from Norway, an Italian, three Turks and an American

16/09/08 Email received-about my views "Are you on glue....
Christine O peaked at the right time, tactically got it right and no one can ever say she didnt deserve her medal or backing by UKA. Richards cannot turn back the clock she can only look forward to London for her next chance.... Chance being the key word because she never took it in Beijing. Give Christine O the respect she deserves as an Olympic Champion."

Both may be past their best by London 2012, so that maybe academic. I would respect Christine O a lot more if she had not stated if not allowed to compete for GB she would compete for Nigeria at Beijing. That to me sums it up, I want to see a united GB athletics team, not individuals obsessed with personal glory. Hopefully the new Coach will manage both Individual desires and aims combined with National pride. Remember we the Tax payer pay for their opportunities-through Tax and the voluntary Lottery into which we all throw money away each week..

14/09/08 These comments sum up why I am not a fan of Christine Ohuruogu ""It's nearly the end of my season, and I'm exhausted. But I'm still glad I came," said the Londoner, who will return to Asia to defend her Shanghai title next weekend."It doesn't mean anything in the overall scheme of things," added Ohuruogu of her defeat by Richard. "I have got the biggest accolade in athletics."

What it means, and she should reflect more, is that the favourite for Gold in Beijing lost it tatically. Christine O may be exhausted,(Richards must be twice as exhausted then !!) but she needed to beat Richards to prove she was the best. She failed badly.This is whats what she's paid to do. She either wins or is tired, memories of last year.

14/09/08 "Britain's athletes failed to deliver any top-three finishes on day one of the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart."BBC link.

Marlon Devonish was last in the 100m in 10.38. I am afraid that UKA, if they are looking seriously at funding, need to thank Marlon for his contribution to GB Athletics, but say goodbye. I cannot see him getting any quicker over the next 4 years, and he needs to make way for the younger athletes, so no point selecting him for GB anymore. Whatever he feels " I haven't decided when I am going to retire. I'll see how next year goes, but I want to compete in the London 2012 Olympics. I'll be 36 by then, the same age as Linford Christie was when he retired. "(Daily Mail 08/07).

UKA need to be ruthless if they are serious about developing talent. They have a history of selecting Athletes long after they have peaked-Joice Maduaka for example. Her best 200m was in 1999. They need to select Younger Athletes, even if not quicker at that moment to bring them on. Selection needs to be about medium term develpment, not short term success.

11/09/08 Sometimes it all seems very sensible- Sport that is -"Fifteen volunteers were recently given the opportunity to visit Britain and attend the UK School Games as part of the International Inspiration programme.""Volunteer Hartley Ito of Palau said: “I don’t think there are words to describe how important International Inspiration is to me. I’ve met people from different countries, and learnt about different cultures and languages. It has touched me and helped me grow so much.”

That's what Sport is about- learning and developing as Young people-w ell even as Adults.

Pity Welsh Athletics did not work this out- sorry another snipe at the decision not to send an Athletics Team to the YCG. But they were seriously misguided. Its about competing, traveling , not just medals at the Youth level.

But then when you have some-one paid to a job, they have to invite Coaches to submit entries for the WDA "The Welsh Talent Development Academy (WTDA) is a Welsh Athletics Ltd support structure that was launched in April 2007. The WTDA aims to increase the number of Welsh athletes who progress on to the UKA World Class Pathway and continue to develop. The UKA World Class Pathway is focused on podium or top 8 success at Olympic and World Competitions.

Welsh Athletics would like to offer the opportunity for personal coaches to nominate an athlete they coach to be considered for the Welsh Talent Development Academy (WTDA). For detailed information on the WTDA process for 2008 please read the WTDA Information document. The WTDA Nomination Guidelines have been created to assist you in completing the WTDA Nomination form.

Call me stupid, but should not a Development Officer be traveling around and selecting athletes- not asking Coaches to nominate Athletes. Obviously I am missing that part of his paid role that involves effort and selection choices. But lets face it, they do no have a clue, so leaving it up to coaches to nominate- then go through the submissions and look at performances. They then will look at life style (?) and make their choices.

Not that it matters, most involved with the talent in Wales would probably run a mile from WTDA getting involved. What Wales needs, as UKA does, is a Head Coach, maybe Benke, get rid of the costs of these development people, and just focus on developing Coaching skills within the principality. Lets face it, their are some good youngsters in Wales(and GB), and they have always had some over the years. But very few carry on from mid-teens to Senior level. This is the problem that the sport needs to address, not creating TDA that focus on Athletes who will get the Podium places. If you do not keep athletes in the sport into their 20's, then nothing will happen.

Let's assume for example the 2 Development Officers Wales has-one UKA-cost the sport £100,000 p.a . Would that money not be better spent providing support to all the volunteer coaches, so, say, they could call on medical, nutritional and physiological support for their athletes when required.? Has no-one worked this out, it is a tough spot, and surely just looking at the drop out rate at Junior and Senior level, some-one should have worked out that the problems facing the sport are more to do with Injury than having TDA set up aiming for podium places ( a phrase coined by Collins).

Podium places will come- but only if we have the depth in fit, competing athletes. That is the main problem, and they should look at Coaches who have managed to get Athletes into medals at the Olympics- Linford Christie has coached a couple of Olympic medallists and most of his athletes have been fit enough for long periods-Joyce Maduaka kept going for many years as GB number one. Support the Coaches of Junior athletes and get them through the Teen years and into University still interested in the sport. Develop a decent Inter-University competitive structure and we might then be able to compete in all disciplines.

10/09/2008 Results from the First Cyber Event- disappointing number of entries, but some good performances. I will continue with this idea, hopefully more will enter. The Winner of the Neuff Athletics £25 voucher is Thomas Cusworth from Wales, Male 1992. Although we did not get the minimun entry number for age group prizes, I have decided to give a prize personally of £10.00 to each winner of each age group. So -Male-Lindsay Newton Smith, Australia, 1993 , B Williams,Wales, 1994,D.Gallanders,Wales,1995 and Female side Jessica Kaufman, Australia,1992, Megan Rogers, Wales, 1993, L David , Wales, 1994 and Manon Edwards,Wales,1995.

They should email me with their addresses and cheques will be sent. Thanks to all who did enter, and hopefully more will for the next event which is 14th December-24 December 2008-diciplines 60m, LJ, SP .

10/09/08 Steroid Profiling-it started in April, 2008 and was concluded at start Beijing. I quote a Minister-" The project involved the samples of 25 athletes from across a range of sports and the only difference between this trial and the normal sample analysis testing is that the samples are being tracked over a period of time to build up detailed longer-term profile of selected athletes. This type of project helps to detect anomalies in an athlete's profile which may need suggest the need for further investigation or targeted testing and is recognised by WADA as an essential part of an effective anti-doping strategy. I am assured that athletes selected for sample analysis were aware that that their doping control data will be used in anti-doping programmes for detection, deterrence and prevention of doping. They were requires to sign the UK Sample Collection Form to confirm that they have been so informed and that they give their express consent for their data to be used accordingly. I am unable to divulge any information about the athletes involved in the steroid profiling project,,,the identity of the athletes is only known by the National Anti-Doping Agency UK Sport."

I have requested sight of the form these Athletes signed- as not the normal doping test consent form. I think the normal form just says that you state have not used a prohibited substance and accept a test.

08/09/2008 I though Warner had a brain, but looks like, many successful, businessmen who get involved in things they like, he has lost the plot. Quoted as saying in Athletics Weekly " The British team’s performance in China was broadly similar to that in Japan – one fewer medal but four more top eight finishes, equal 8th in the medal table versus 10th in Osaka, and 6th place in the placing table on both occasions. Neither a triumph nor a disaster, and better than many pessimistic pundits had forecast earlier in the year – remember those saying Jessica Ennis would be our only medallist?"

"Many people have pointed out the very poor showing of the other major Western European nations in China. Italy, Spain, Sweden, France and Germany won four medals between them, the same as Great Britain. This shed a more favourable light on our results, but is really a great cause for concern. International athletics has for many years relied on Western Europe as the sport’s banker. How long can this persist if the region is not producing new superstars to cement its local appeal?

When did Europe dominate the Olymics-guess it means what you call Europe- however what action is the Chairman going to take-fire De Vos so at least there is only one non-athlete in charge .

08/09/2008 Provisional report from Combined Events suggest Megan Rogers,Wales, won the Under 17’s with 4299pts. Buts still no results. How hard is it ? Holding an event is great, but the results would help- Athletes did not know as they left yesterday. Imagine leaving a Cricket Match without knowing the scores.

5th: John McCafferty (6,422)
10th: Sean Tough (5,706)
12th: Nicholas Hobday (5,388)
13th: Craig McEwen (5,370)

5th: Alice Lennox (4,900)
6th: Laura McGawn (4,874)
12th: Eleanor Workman (4,250)
14th: Eve Carrington (3,895)
15th: Emma Lowry (3,801)

Full results should appear on the UK Athletics website in due course." Great- just the way to encourage participation.

The only 2 Welsh Athltes who competed- what is wrong with WAA, 2 out of the country, and not mentioned on the WAA website.

"Our BAG IT UP Bra Campaign for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was launched in Autumn 2006, to find 200,000 unwanted bras from around Yorkshire. All ladies have had bras that don't fit, that are uncomfortable or that are just unloved! 200,000 bras would guarantee a minimum sum of £10,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance!

06/09/08 As viewers of this site may recall I was invited to attend an interview to be CEO England Athletics- quite obviuosly was not short listed. But one of the things I suggested (had I been appointed) was that the web would be used to promote the sport. It appears that this was ignored- England Athletics is the most useless body in producing results. There is an Event going on again, but no surprise no results after day one Combined events International .These Bodies get central funding, the Internet is easy to use and if you have the results on the day, it takes minutes to upload. Why cannot England AA do it ? Makes a mockery of the UKA view that they are trying to expand the sport-get results up . It is really easy-we all know that. So these paid people need to be questioned as to why they consider results for meeting so unimportant that they cannot make the effort . Probably some-one will have to do something after so called hours- so they do the results and then bugger off to the pub. Pathetic.

07/09/08 The Guardian reported yesterday that the funding for the Athletes village was in jeopardy due to falling House prices. They have missed something though, as may have the Organisers. Sterling is in free fall at the moment- slumping from US$1.98 to around $1.75 at the moment. Sterling will fall further, I estimate to around $1.35 (maybe$1.20) as the UK Government induced recession kicks in. The Government will have to reduce interest rates from 5% to about 3.5% to kick start the economy and avoid a serious recession. Normally you would increase Interest rates to protect sterling, but if they do that they will be truly in a mess.This makes Sterling less attractive as an investment- hence the reason Sterling is going down- the clever boys know what is going to happen. Not all bad news makes the few things we export cheaper, so we should sell a bit more. What are the things we make, um celebrity TV shows.

What it does mean is that the property all for overseas $ based investors, has not really changed. When sterling hits $1.35 you can be sure that every $ investor will be clamoring to buy property in the UK, and the Olympic Village will be developed by an Overseas investor. I have seen Sterling move from parity to $2.00 twice in my business career and it will happen again. So a Punter from Overseas who piles into a flagging UK property market , with a weak pound, has the chance of making a small-well large fortune.

We will see an Olympic village built by an Overseas investor, when the time is right. And they will profit from the gain later. Gordie will probably give them a grant as well-just to make sure it happens.

Imported good will surge in price because our GB pound will buy less, putting more inflationary pressures on the system. Since we will be then in a classic recession, where companies cannot afford to pay workers more, despite spiraling cost we will be F*****.

Given we are already struggling with soaring food and energy costs the outlook is bleak. With a Government that it seems has lost control- the weakest PM I have ever experienced.

I could be wrong, have not played the money market game for years. But if I am correct, forget further funding for School sport- the coffers will be bare-suspect they are after Northern Rock anyway. Put it simply you have some money in the Bank and you bail out Aunty with a short term loan against her assets- and then realise Aunty had no money. It's called stupid-unless you loved your Aunt a lot..

06/09/08 Will they never learn "BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — The silver and bronze medalists from Belarus in the men's hammer throw at the Beijing Olympics were caught doping and could be stripped of their medals.Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan are still being investigated for doping offenses at the games by the International Olympic Committee.

"Listen, they were tested and it was positive. They were tested for the 'A' and 'B' sample," Lamine Diack, president of track and field's governing body, told The Associated Press on Friday.

The substance was testosterone, said another IAAF official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the IOC investigation was still ongoing.The Belarus Athletics Federation said Devyatovskiy and Tsikhan deny the accusations."

Ages ago I floated the idea that National Bodies should suffer if an National Athlete was allowed to compete who failed a drugs test at the Olympic-banned from next games- the whole team in that discipline-so in this case Hammer. The penalties must be so severe so that National Doping Agencies find the cheats before any games. If they fail, then the team in that event does not get invited to the next Games. Pretty simple.

05/09/2008 Post Olympic Blues-seems to be the message from the GB camp. OK others have underperformed Internationally, mainly due toa constant round of celebrations. But The GB team have underperformed post Beijing. Cannot really understand why, they should now be at their peak- cannot believe the GB coaches are so clever that they get Athletes to peak for a week. Bolt and Poell continue to drive on, which would suggest they are just better coached-or driven.

Maybe thats part of it- reports stated that Bolt and Powell had lunch to-gether for an hour prior to this evenings showdown- where Bolt had to really perform to beat his friend Powell. I may be wrong but I cannot imagine Craig Pickering, Simeon Willaimson, Harry A-A, Tyrone Edgar and Marlon Devonish sharing a sandwich on the day of a competition.

England Rugby should probably look at them- what a Seven's team they could be assumimg they could hold onto the ball.

I jest, the above are all good World Class sprinters, but the Jamacians have moved the game beyond the European level.

05/09/2008 Rooney ran a decent race(45.34) to come 2nd behind Wariner at the BMVD meet. Kwayke ran another disappointing 100m after her great final appearance in the Olympics-conditions were not that bad- Bolt and Powell both ran under 9.9. Not sure why she has gone off the boil so much. Christine O came 7th in 200m, 23.33 .

04/09/08 Email received " Just wondered what you think about the Area Development Centres being promoted by Welsh Athletics? The content is fine but should the delivery be done away from the clubs? Planned for non-club nights so, in theory, coaches can attend to learn new skills but will they and will children who would normally go to the club prefer the ADC session or vice-versa? The sessions do actually clash with the training nights of some clubs (not Cardiff, Swansea and Deeside) so will the likes of Brecon, Carmarthen, Menai and others be able to benefit?....read the rest here"

04/09/08 Email received"About the UKA saga I agree that sport and the promotion of sport is not just about medals and it is sad to see so much emphasis on the prospective medal winners in London. Sport, and more importantly involvement in sport, is a community objective applying to all levels. If we take track and field on a basic level it is to encourage participation for health, fitness and fun. On another level it is to provide stimulation via competition to those who want to challenge themselves to achieve something greater personally (whether that be personal best performances or to succeed in competition with others).
Competition is key to encourage all those kids with talent to stay in this sport that by and large takes many, many years to develop talented youngsters. School competition would seem to be where a lot of focus should be. Inter-school leagues should be promoted with A, B and even C grades of competition split between events so as not to overburden staff who provide officiating after school hours (so a middle - distance competition one week, field event next, sprinting event - maybe a mix but not too many events in each weekly programme). Local businesses and UKA might fund awards to the school with the most points etc. This would encourage schools to encourage (as I'm sure they do anyway) participation. C grade events could be for novices or less able kids who might not otherwise be encouraged to try out in competition (but who might be galvanised by the experience)."

03/09 2008 Cyber 3 Events results(200m,HJ,JT) coming in- Best result for all age Boys now Thomas Cusworth with 1835, and best all age Girls Megan Rogers with 1697. Still time to enter- closing date is 10th September. Some good age group performances-birth Years 1992-1995, full results on or after 11th September. This is about fun, and all results will be published here and Internation.ally- so send in your performances please as soon as possible.

03/09/2008 Apart from the below, interesting that every athlete however well or poorly they did said they would do better in London 2012. Has no-one explained to them that there might be some others coming through and they might not be competing.

Apart from that, as I have said on numerous occasions, the philosophy is wrong. Would UKA drop Powell because he came 5th in the Olympics, but just then ran the 2nd fastest time ever ? According to the UKA philosophy probably.!!

UKA is so fixated with London 2012, they have seemed to forget everything else. There are simpler goals on the way forward, develop Youth and Senior athletics within GB so that we get a dominant position within Europe in all events and all ages, with depth of talent. These are realistic goals.

But if you get people involved solely focused on London 2012- like the Chairman and Chief Executive according to their comments, then you will see the development of Youth sport stagnate- I have already had emails in saying they wished they had considered other sports for their kids after Warner's comments yesterday.

As a society we need to re-evaluate what sport means to us. I believe there are more fundamental issues at stake than producing Gold medallist's who then make personal millions through sponsorship deals. Most of us want our children to be involved in sport, and supported as they develop, because it is a healthy option- physically and mentally, develops skills that will serve them well in life well beyond their active sporting life. My experience of sport has been that on the whole Athletes(in the wide sport's word) enjoy competing, make friends, deal with success and failure in equal measure and develop as people. That is not to say people not involved in sport do not do the same, I hasten to say.

Since this site is on the whole about Sport- and specifically Track and Field- what do we actually want from the multitude of events that take place. Our kids to win, probably yes if they can, of course, perform well under pressure, be gracious in defeat and victory. Get a PB at an Regional or National age group final, or in the heats. For many just competing is a challenge, we should never forget that for many the experience of running in front of a crowd , however small or big can be a huge experience- normally enjoyable after the event.

The clowns who now run this sport of Athletics are mirror images of the current Government- too much talk, little action- float everything into the public domain and see what the reaction is- will they, won't they- whether stamp duty or funding athletes.

I dislike this form of Open debate- don't float the idea that you are going to score athletes and remove funding publicly. Sit down in a room quietly, make a decision and stick by it- quite how darling Darling is still Chancellor is beyond me - he has caused more chaos in the financial markets by his inappropriate remarks than an other factor, much like Warner/de Vos in Athletics.

Warner comes from a City background- so no wonder why he uses the stick and carrot approach, and de Vos did something in Manchester- cannot quite remember what. The Tweeedle Dum and Tweedle Dee of Athletics. And they have all their troops in the regions, a structure cannot really understand.

If they truly want to get performance going , yes employ a UKA Head coach and make sure the regions have Head coaches beneath him, not mates who sit in offices planning which kid should be funded.

But these sub-head Coaches need to work with the regional athletes of all ability. We do not need the marzipan layers in place, where in Wales we have an apparent duplication of roles- a UKA Development officer and a Welsh development officer- quite what the difference is I am not sure, and what they both do is unclear to most in Wales.

Get Coaches in place regionally with experience, who work with the club coaches to develop the sport- and we are talking about developing depth in disciplines not just focusing on a few individuals.

Coaches, with experience, not academics whose degree makes them think they know what they are doing.

But the first thing they need to do is sort out the crazy domestic competition structure in the UK. That will mean removing age completion for the U20 upwards, just merge into one Senior league. Part of the problem is that the existing structure favour's the larger clubs, sort that out and maybe we will see some development. And as already said get rid of some of the National Champs that Wales, Scotland and N.I have- just have one GB Champs. Get rid of the regional National age group Champs and have one Schools champs for the regions. So Schools Champs for the school kids , then the UK School Games,then just a National Senior Champs. Save money, avoid duplication of Championships and I am sure the Officials would be mightily relieved.

03/09/2008 "Kate Reed said: "I have pushed this complaint through because I would like an apology and also an explanation from UKA as to why I was treated so badly."I hope I can put in a better performance at the London 2012 Games. This hasn't deterred me, in fact it has inspired me. I wouldn't put my trust in the governing body ever again and I will deal with my own problems myself next time and not involve anyone else." BBC report.

Maybe though suggesting Morphine would help her was not the cleverest idea she came up with. An illegal drug and suggest she knew she was not fit to run. Doubt we will see her run again for GB. About as clever as getting on a plane and joking you have a bomb. I felt sorry for her about the training run the night before, but now this has come out I hope she is no longer funded. Even as a joke, she obviously was in pain, so why try and compete.

02/09/2008 Looks like the GB male sprinters should look for a new Job ""There will no doubt be some tough discussions," UKA chairman Ed Warner told BBC Sport."There's no point funding athletes who haven't got the ability to potentially medal in 2012."That probably rules out the Women 100m as well, and those doing the 200m will be under pressure.

The Warner/de Vos road show is unispirational- if Countries only funded medal likely's, it would be a dull competition. Not the entire point of sport, but arner/de Vos are hanging their hats high- so I assume they will be leaving when GB do not win more than a handful of medals. The trouble is that others want them just as much- and the USA is going to bounce back hard after Beijing.

But if UKA really believe in only supporting the best, then they will just reduce interest, depth of domestic competition and carry on the cycle of perceived under performance.

The major cost is the UKA organisation, not the athletes. Something they have addressed, but maybe we need to look at all those paid large sums of money so that they can fund athletes to try and get their kick.

It is not that hard- and get local coaches on their side (maybe pay them), work out Youth domestic competition and give general support might help. Despite what they say, it is not rocket science- we just want people to run,jump and throw to the best of their ability. Reducing the numbers of athletes funded will not help this, we need more who can focus on their discipline and not have to work nights to fund it. If that is what we want.

But do we want 15 and 16 year old athletes to belive they hve to run sub 10.00 sec and sub 11.00 to be considered worthwhile. Might as well tell them now to find another sport.

01/09/2009 It a new month and the Cyber International 3 events is underway. So far a fine performance by a young Australian, whose grand father Colin Smith was the Commonwealth Champion javelin thrower (representing England) in Cardiff in 1958 and was second in Perth in 1962. Lindsay Newton-Smith heads the 1983 boys(15) with a score of 1788. Keep the entries coming in .

31/08/08 North Wales had four winners at the UK School Games in Bath. Hannah Thomas (100m), Megan Rogers (300mH and the best time in the UK this year), Christina Hughes (Pole Vault) and Brea Leung (Discus with a personal best) .

01/09/2008 Kris Jones has a new Welsh website for hurdlers with up to date information and hopefully recruit new hurdlers to the sport.

31/08/208 Looks like Collins is on his way out- but do we really need Charles van Commenee. Sotherton may have been gracious, but the perform or die attitude is not really the way forward. Athletic,s problem is we do not have a central training centre, where athletes gather to be coached.

No Dutchman is going to make a difference-there is a fundemental problem. Personally I would fire De Vos, who has made no impression at all- other than have a wrangle over Chambers.

Maybe all involved in UKA should resign and we start again. I am not convinced they have a clue about developing and maintining the sport.

30/08/08 Hannah Thomas had good run in the heats of 100m at the UK School Games. Looks like she will win Gold. WAA will claim credit I am sure, but maybe they should reflect that this young woman should have been competing at YCG next month. Along with others from Wales. Not all glory for Wales, or the WDA- they picked some as future stars, ahead of others. One is not really performing, and the one left out has now given up the sport. Own goal.

30/08/08 "SOS for Welsh Sport.An urgent petition.
If you support Welsh football or rugby teams you need to read this and sign a petition.Register your protest at the ridiculous comments of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, with regard to his ambition to get a 'Team GB' soccer team to compete at the 2012 London Olympics."

I have been arguing this for many years(about athletics)-despite being English. Looks like finally people are waking up to what is going on.

27/08/2008 Apologies for all who disagree, but if you would like to see Wales have its own Team in the Olympics click here and sign the e-petition. Sport is about being proud, representing your country, not just money, somthing we need I think to reflect on.

I am now 50, so I guess I look back on the golden days of amateur sport. OK the world of sport has changed, and Bolt has not gone home to get his reception, popped over to Europe on the way back to run-and make some serious cash. I assume Christine O and the others appearing at Gateshead are chasing the filthy lucre.

It is a strange world when tax payers fund athletes, who if they do well earn good cash, thanks to their funding . I will work out this one day.

Anyway sign up and support Wales as an independent Nation- its what sport needs, more Nations competing, not just Athletes getting financial success. In case no one has worked it out sport is a receiver of cash, makes no contribution to the economy-London 2012 will take years to pay off. But the Athletes move fast into Stardom and make huge bucks- but not sure I would book Christine O," How to miss 3 tests and win World and Olympic Golds" is not going to be a best seller.

27/08/08 Former Pokagon resident wins six medals in USA Masters Track & Field Championships held in Spokane, Wash.-the young 75 yr old was the youngest in his age group-75-80. Times of 17.03 in the 100-meters and 36.05 in the 200-meters may not worry Bolt yet, but when he is 75 ?

27/07/08 Votes have started for up-and-comng European Junior up-coming talent. GB have 3 Women and 1 Male, so obviously vote for them-I have, Rooney in the Male section, Twell, Beesley and Nelson in the women's. I have voted in that order- totally patriotic, and a fan of all of them, Twell nipped it for me-just, Beesley is an amzing all round talent and Nelson a potentially great sprinter. But had to make a choice amongst the women and Twell got it for me-but hard choice between the three. Do vote and support our young athletes-well you could take a view on others, from other countries, but I hope not.

26/07/08 The First Cyber Combined Event Competion period starts to-morrow-27 August-10th September 2008 and the events are 200m, HJ, JT. Please enter results by the closing date of 10th September. Athletes already entered include some Australians- which include15yr old Lindsay Newton-Smith who is the Grandson of Colin Smith who was a UK national champion javelin thrower in the 60s and Commonwealth Games Champion in Perth 1962. There will be a Prize from Neuff Athletics of a £25.00 voucher for best overall performance, so please do enter-its free.

Results will be on this site and the European Athletics website, and I will make available to all National Bodies websites who enter. Results should be available on the 11th September.

25/08/08 Did not know this-Germaine Mason-"Not that Britain can claim much credit for it. He grew up in Jamaica, is coached by a Jamaican and went back there for the winter last year when Britain withdrew his Lottery support.

'Home's Jamaica but I feel very British and that's how it's going to be forever,' he said, a Union flag draped around his shoulder. Then his good friend and former national team-mate Usain Bolt wrapped his arms round him and you saw where his heart lies."

They got that one right- remove his lottery funding !!, or maybe the best thing they did.

25/08/08 If this was truly his comment as reported in the Scotsman, its bye-bye Collins "This is a sport that had a lot of issues that needed addressing and it would be nice to have everyone agree on a plan now. Better to come inside and help rather than sniping from the outside. If I was the chief executive of UKA then I would have sorted this out months ago. I think I should be judged on more than the medal count." The CEO has to fire him or resign- on balance, and its a tough one, I would get rid of De Vos, who has caused more trouble in his short employment than could be imagined.

Sorry Collins and the CEO- this should have been sorted years a couple of years ago. I am not sure what they have done except get more money- the Sport is not developing, and the strategy is fatally flawed.

25/08/08 Emailed this link to Radio 4 discusssing lack of Throws at Schools-interesting listening. Hope Brown heard it.

.25/08/08 Analysis of GB Athletics performance as % PB's. Any errors let me know.I have excluded the NH by Steve Lewis in the PV. ,which shows an average performance of 98.12%. This was affected by some performances that were expected to be well off PB's- Radcliife, Hollman,Tomlinson. Guess the big disappointments in terms of performance re PB's were Phillipa Roles, Zoe Derham, Mo Farah, Montell Douglas, Nathan Douglas,Greg Rutherford in the LJ final, Laura Turner and Simeon Williamson. The rest performed on the whole within 1% of their PB's.-with 10 Athletes breaking or equalling PB's. Lisa Dobriskey has run 4.00.64 in a BMC mixed race, not sure if this is an Official PB or not ?

24/08/2008 "Under a new Governement scheme to encourage Schools Sport, any School Child who does sport for 2 hours a week will get free chips for life." If they medal at School Sports days, they will get a free Flat screen TV to eat in front of.

Older Athletes will be given a financial prize if they medal at the 2012 Olympics, to help with the pressure of being a paid sports person and enable them to deal with the publicity and Sponsor offers that will flood in if they Gold in 2012. Hard life is it not.

Bring back the good old days where athletes competed for pride and not for financial reward, but those days are long gone-sadly-in most sports.

How about if they do not medal they have to repay their funding, now that would focus them. Why not, treat funding like a student loan, if you make no money wiped off, but if you get Global fame , then you repay ! I am semi-serious, they would give the money back, a pittance compared to what a Gold medallist would earn, and help the next lot coming through. An Interest free loan to help you make loads of money, I would go for that.

24/08/2008 Just been going through te perfomances in Beijing, still a bit more analysis to do, but some interesting Stats already- that I missed watching the BBC coverge. There were 3 British records- Helen Clitheroe in the 3000m s/c-9.29.24, Johanna Jackson 1.31.33 20K Walk and Goldie Sayers in the Javelin at 65.75. Several Athletes got PB's- the 2 above, plus Natasha Danvers 53.84 400mH, Lisa Dobriskey in the 1500m, 4.02.10, Germaine Mason 2.34 HJ, Martyn Rooney 44.60 400m, Andrew Steele 400m 44.94, Jeanette Kwakye 11.14 100m. Jo Pavey 10K 31.12.30, Kate Dennison , PV equalled her PB of 4.40.

Soon I will have a table of all athlete and thier performances re PB's just because I like stats sadly.

I guess several athletes have seen their last Olympics- Marlon Devenish, Paula Radcliffe, Lee McConnell , Andy Turner ,Donna Fraser ( who did not run in the relay)and Chris Tomlinson- the latter because he seems to have constant injury problems, and will have to face that soon- as will UKA.

Collins should make these sort of decisions sooner than later, he has a World Champs next year and needs to bring on younger athletes, not stick with the above who are unlikely to be competitive in 2012.

23/08/2008 Gordon Brown "And as we move up to it we want more and more young people in Britain interested in sport, and that is why we will be investing more in sport in our schools, as well as for our elite athletes." Easy words, let see the proposals.

I feel a Freedom of information request coming on- let's see if this was an off the cuff remark, or something planned. I think we all know the answer. Will be suggests in progress, have huge doubts that the Sports Minister is aware of Gordie's new promise.

Lets start by focusing on how we can develop Schools Athletics.The English Schools is an OK competiton, why not expand it to include all the Nations, and have more present- change some of the Selection rules, get the BBC involved and make it a true festival of UK Youth Athletics, make it a week event, where more young athletes can experience a Major Championships. Maybe all the youth Age Championships need to be dropped, and have one major Youth event- many events are replications of each other. I am not talking about teams of two from each Nation or region, but a major event where Kids who reach a minimum standard, can compete. We all know that there is talent out there, not always members of Clubs , so not going to attend AAA Championships. OK it will cost a bit of money, but Athletics needs to rech out and get more interested in the Sport. The UK School Games does not provide this, we need to see thousands involved, get TV coverge, and just who knows what could happen. If they can get 35,000 in Jamacia to watch Youth athletes perform, we should be able as well.

23/08/2008 No relay medals-how could Christine O not hand over in the lead, I thought she was Olympic Champion. Seem to recall she ran pretty poorly at the World Champs in the relay. She manages to Peak for the Individual final, then loses form.

Watch again- the commentators blamed Sotherton, but her split time was OK 50.4. One would have thought Christine O would have given them an advantage.

22/08/2008 The Nelson brother and sister duo had bad luck- Alex suffered an injury warming up for the 200m and Ashleigh was not selected for the women's 100m relay-a slight surprise given the poor performance of others in the GB Sprint team. Why take her out there if not to run, must have been frustrating ? Not really the way to bring athletes on, it was a long way, and I am sure she would have performed.

The inquest will begin, and I hope it focuses on the management as well as the athletes. Christine O knows(or should do)that she was lucky, Richards ran a crazy race strategy , and she was even luckier that her cavalier attitude in the relay did not cost GB a place in the final- every school kid knows that lesson, win, do not mess about and take it easy. She should reflect how bad it could have been if GB had lost out on an easy place, easy to giggle about a near disaster when you have scraped home, but when you are part of a team seeking gold, you need to make sure-emphatically. Maybe that's a problem, something the Jamican men,s team did not have a problem with- they appeared to be good mates-despite competing against each other for Global victory- .

""Now that Usain has done this, it might take us another 20 years to produce another athlete as outstanding as him, but we will," said Quarrie. "Because the seed has been sown now. There's kids running around Jamaica right now wanting to be Usain Bolt, and it's something we're going to have to channel in the right manner, so that we can maintain our position in the world in sprinting"

22/08/2008 Using a simple method of 3 points for Gold, 2 for Silver and 1 for Bronze, the GB Athletics medals have cost £3.31m each averaged, Cycling £651K ,based on funding from UK Sport. So far. UKA funding was £26,513,000. That's a lot of money. To be fair the figure are not that clear- you have to read the small print, and I cannot understand it. Talk of funding from regions to podium and other funding. Have a look, if you know what the figures mean let me know. But seems to be the figues based on run up to Beijing after Athens.

"Logan is trying to shake things up, but I think he's being too strong. British Athletics committed $1.12 million to relay preparation for '08, and neither of its 4x100-meter relays completed the race (the men, defending Olympic gold medalists, went out in the semifinals and the women in the final).....That said, it happens to the U.S. men more often than to most elite, medal-threatening teams. If there is a universal reason for this, it isn't self-evident, because sticks have dropped and held in every possible way. Efforts have been made in the past to conduct national relay training, but in the end, the brutal U.S. Trials system prevents coaches from knowing until the last minute who might be sent to the Games or the worlds."From Sports Illustrated

22/08/2008 Welsh Athletics claim they sent Medals to England Athletics to be presented to the Winners of the U17/U15 Combined events Champs held in conjunction with England AAA U17/15 Combined events. Pity no-one in the Welsh admin thought it worthwhile to make the trip with the medals, at least they would have got there. But that would be to simple.

20/08/2008 Tasha Danvers wins Bronze-the GB women are proving an inspiration to female athletes in the UK.That is a real positive.

There is still work to do, and UKA are going to have to negotiate for the piece of the pie with UK Sport.

19/08/2008 Christine O did what has not happened for a while -won a Gold medal in a Sprint- the first GB winner of Olympic Gold in the 400m. Superb performance, and one that other aspiring 400m runners will hopefully learn from- Speed endurance is the requirement, not just being quick. I never thought she would win Gold, but she did, and convincingly.Well done to her, a great moment for Athletics in the UK. And high jumper Germaine Mason got a Silver. So a good day for GB Athletics- with maybe more to come hopefully with Rooney in the Mens 400m final , Freeman through to the SF and Malcolm and Devonish in the 200m finals , Goldie through to final round and still Phillips to come in the TJ. Jade in the LJ final- if only she can kee it to-gether a possible medal, which would be great as she was dropped from funding- good luck, Girl. Tasha Danvers as well over the Hurdles has improved a lot since the Trials- if she can keep hurdling who knows.

19/08/08 The Paid people who decided to have the U17/15 CE last weekend, obviously did not take into account the Olympic timetable. Shame as the young athletes, I am sure, would have liked to watch the event. And Welsh Athletics failed to provide medals for the Welsh CE Champs held in conjuction. I would say poor administration, and that is generous.

17/8/08 Jeannete Kwakye superb 6th womens 100m, a joy to watch. Cannot be long until she is running sub-11.00. She took her chance and did exceptionally well.

17/08/2008 the Cyber 3 Event competiton is going ahead- only change is that the Prizes will be given to the Best each Age and Gender after the Final event in September. If I can get entries up to 200, then Individual event prizes will be re-introduced. Had an enry fom Australia as well as many from Wales and England, so come , enter it will be fun.

17/08/08 I have no particular comment re Radcliffe-except she appeared to deprive a fit athlete of a place, and is good with the tears-not an event I have much interest in- the few times I have seen her run, she is in tears. But seems she can decide what she wants to do re Paula PR. See below re weak UKA management. The BBC blog has a few strong opinions, more informed than I am on this event.

16/08/2008 England Youth Commonwealth Team. Pleased to see the talented Chelseas Cooper in the Team for LJ, following a 6.14m jump recently. Great talent, good all-round athlete. She has struggled with injury for a while, but is obviously fit and healthy now.

16/08/2008 UKA seem in a muddle- they flew Tomlinson out on a punt- these things do cost money, and he duly failed to progress to finals.

And to quote BBC Sport:Bit of controversy here from Kate Reed, who came 23rd in that 10,000m. She tells BBC Sport: "I've been having troubles with my fitness and pain in my calf - at one point I had my flight home booked - but I was all set to race and then last night the team booked a time trial for me to test my fitness! I don't understand why they made me do it, I'm new to international athletics so I just gritted my teeth and got on with it, but it took so much out of me and today there was nothing in my legs."

UKA response "After 10,000m finalist Kate Reed's comments to BBC Sport yesterday, a BOA spokesperson offered the following statement;

"The athlete has been on and off running for the last few weeks and has had immense medical support at the BOA Holding Camp in Macau and here in Beijing, including scans, manipulations and acupuncture. She was given a painkilling injection and asked to run 2000m at a reasonable pace, as agreed with her coach yesterday. This was to confirm she could actually perform in the race and if the painkilling injection worked.”

Now even I would think asking an Athlete to run 2000m the day before a 10k was a little silly. The wisdom of running an athlete with pain killing injections is dubious anyway, pain tends to suggest a problem. And whether the cost of flying Tomlinson out is worth the cost so he can sleep knowing he tried is also dubious. It appears they are either hoping for miracles, or have more money than sense. This I am afraid smacks of an organisation with no central control or sense.

16/08/2008 Tyrone Edgar continues to talk the talk:"Edgar finished seventh in 10.18 in a semi final won by Bolt jogging his way to a phenomenal 9.85 time.It meant Edgar’s involvement in the final would be as a spectator and he later watched as Bolt show-boated his way to a world record of 9.69.“I believed I could do it.I still believe in myself. I need to keep working on executing, train harder and focus on the World Championships in Berlin next year..

“I don’t want to be the best in Great Britain, I want to be the best in the world.”

Sorry Tyrone, dream on, it ain't going to happen-you saw the best in the World, from behind. Let's have a bit of realism, Bolt looks likely to reign supreme for a few Years, unless an Injury occurs. I suggest best in Europe would be a more realistic goal.

16/08/08 What is wrong with the GB women 100m spinters-apart from Kwakye. Turner ran such a poor time, hard to imagine how. And Douglas- the new British record holder, was less than inspiring. With a bit of luck Kwakye will break the British record in the SF- she is looking good. How Douglas could be-moan her fate by having a hard heat is beyond me, she could have been the fastest loser-at least on her PB. Trackside Phil leads them all into this" it's our first Olympics, we're young, great experience". Tell that to the Cyclists and Swimmers!!

So far the athletics has been a depressing experience for the Brits, and I cannot believe UKA are happy- if they are, then that is the root of the problem. Maybe they should spend time with the Cyclsts and Swimmers and learn how to motivate athletes. Track is not that hard, you just have to run faster than the rest.

15/08/08 Listening again to the post race interviews I am well confused. Edgar said the Olympics was his aim, but he only got there because Chambers lost his appeal. So the trials should have been a focus,maybe,for him. Williamson just said he was focussing on the Indoors and next year. Only Pickering seemed to be truly gutted. UKA need to look into this attitude-Pickering excepted .

15/08/2008 Pickering can think himself unlucky- that he was not in Heat 1, the only heat he would have qualified in the first 3.Simeon Williamson- what happened, easily within his capablity to have qualified. But two athletes also missed out who were faster than Pickering, so Naoki Tsukahara was lucky, but only got through due to Williamson's poor run. Edgar will now have to run a huge PB in the SF to get to the final- which looks like Bolt, Powell, Burns, Patton, Thompson, Dix, Collins,Obiwelu.,Gay.

We will see to-morrow. Looks like Powell and Bolt for Gold and Silver ( not sure which order) and Obiwelu for Bronze( though Collins always can suprise).

13/08/2008 "One way the IOC hopes to capture the youth market is to stage an inaugural Youth Olympics. They will take place in Singapore in 2010, and will have the same 26 sports as London 2012, but with fewer disciplines. "

Do the IOC really care, or are they just developing the "Olympic Brand ". Better ways, in my opinion are availble to develop Youth sport worldwide than another elite only event.

13/08/08 "Andy Murray has admitted to being "unprofessional" in the build-up to his short-lived Olympic campaign.He made the comments after following up his first-round singles loss by losing in the doubles with brother Jamie to Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra."I found out the day after my singles match I'd lost four and a half kilos since I arrived here," he said.

Um , not so professional then, even I would notice losing nearly 10 lbs in weight. Who is he kidding, and anyway in my opinion, Tennis should not be an Olympic Event- see enough of them .Does he care, doubt it, hope BOA did not pay for this jaunt- but of course they will of. Pay for a Sports Millionaire to play badly. I would love to know what it cost the BOA.

Benjamin left Jackson's group a year ago. Now Rhys Williams has left , not sure who Jackson has left, if any. Interesting experiment, that obviously did not work out. Doubt few could keep up with Jackson's work ethos, which is why he got where he did.

But the GB Swimmers have that ethic- well done to them , a really tough training regime. 40 years ago I was approached to consider training seriously for swimming with a view to going to the Olymics in 1980. I turned it down, why now I am not sure, but it was just impossible at the time-lived in Hong Kong, school in England with no swimming pool. And I lived for Cricket and Rugby. I was only 11, but must have had some speed in the pool. Far too small anyway.

Confused about this- she missed three tests- others are competing. OK the story looks bad, but where is the proof. Harshly treated probably in comparison to others.

10/08/2008 The Cyber event will tak place- just no prizes. If enough compete, then maybe for the next event the sponsors will be prepared to support.

10/08/08 Low level of response to the Cyber 3 Event means Sponsorship of prizes has been cancelled. Not sure why such a lack of interest, but there we are. We can but try.

09/08/08 At least the Greek Sprinters have the decency to fail/miss a test just before the Olympics.Consistent.

09.08.2008 Garth Loughran threw a decent 63.05(PB) at Welsh T6. Poor conditions, Steph Owens (U20W) threw 47.93. These specialist meets do work. well done to Richard Morgan. So lets see some other events develop this idea .

07/08/08 Doug Logan, USATF, seems like a bresh of fresh air "I do it because there are too many stories like the one related to me this past weekend by one of our elite athletes in Hershey, PA. This colleague of ours was training with one of the nine-year-old finalists for the Hershey North American Track and Field Championship. During a training run, this nine year old asked our athlete about steroids and said she heard that they would make her stronger. Nine years old!

I come from outside the world of track and field, which means that the day before I took this job, I had no friends ... and no enemies. I saw track as the general public saw it, not as 'track insiders' saw it. The insider/outsider viewpoints about where the sport is and what it needs can be vastly different. I feel the outsider angle is the one we most need."

I, and I mean this, truly hope he is not let down by any more USA athletes. If another USA athlete fails a drug test, then the funders in the USA are going to get tough financially. Maybe that's the right approach, the sponsors of the Sport should just say if you have anymore drug failures we will withdraw our sponsorship.

The IAAF/WADA must get tough and simply agree a lifetime ban for any athlete who cheats- none of this regional difference, just a simple lifetime ban from participating in any sport-ever again.

It cannot be that hard, any athlete funded or representing their Country signs a contract saying they do not use drugs and they understand what will happen if they do- never be allowed to compete in any sport ever again. No appeals, miss three tests or fail a test all the same- end of sporting activity.

I know people who have had their business careers ruined by a Judge, no jury, on the flimsiest of evidence. Cheating in sport is pretty clear, so just ban them. No more Dwain Chambers, Christine O, just banned-for life. Simple rules, simple penalties. No appeal because they signed a contract understanding the rules.

06/08/08 I do not look at England AA site that often , but saw this evening, because I was looking to see if they had announced their YCG team :

"After a series of successful international meetings in the early part of 2008.It is unfortunate that due to circumstances beyond our control we will not be sending representative to Belgium later in July.We are however looking forward to teams competing in the Home International at Stoke in September and Team England at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India in mid October.More details to follow."

6/08/08 Welsh Athletics are sending no paid staff to Beijing, and there are no proposed changes to Welsh Eligiblity, despite rumours.

"Ciara Mageean 800m &1500m
Gaby McNally Hammer
Curtis Woods 200m & 400m
Hannah Lewis 200m & Long Jump
Ben Reynolds High Jump & 110m Hurdles
Edward Mourbey Pole Vault

5/8/08 Email received “Interesting comment on BBC-failure of Young Athletes to develop. Just a blog, but raises many of the same questions raised here from time to time. There does some a big question on why talented Youngsters fail to develop, and at the same time many of the more successful were not perceived as future stars at a young age - good yes, but not Olympic athletes.

The seemingly eternal question is confronted once again. From performance directors, through coaches, the education system, and now seemingly also the condemned collective ‘young idiots’ in classrooms, All should apparently bare their share of the blame for the unfulfilled athletic promise of the talented young athlete. Perhaps, just perhaps what is missed by the many who offer considered opinion on the subject is that the ability to perform at the highest level as an adult, the ability to fulfill potential, whether in a sporting environ or indeed in any of life’s diverse settings is not dictated by access to funding, or whether more or less school based competition is experienced, or the whims of performance directors or even indeed whether coaches are paid or un paid. This writer would suggest that the drive to fulfill human potential is in reality to be found buried deep within the individual psychology of each physically talented human being, because that dear reader is what athletes are, they are human beings and each human being forms their personal criteria for supposed failure or success during the course of the development process of a unique individual life. Perhaps rather than clutching with elation at the amazing clocked times of the 14-15 year old and promptly projecting personal competitive expectation years ahead, a more accurate assessment of eventual youthful athletic development and attainment might be gleaned by listening to the spoken words of the potential talented individual concerned. The abilities to build ‘success’, to fulfill promise have already been created or indeed alternatively have not been created long before the age of 15 and certainly way before age 21 or 22 I would suggest. The balance of the nature v nurture debate is surely now long ago decided? The situation in terms of unfulfilled personal promise can indeed be addressed, but sadly not by extreme funding at an early age, or by education, or even by performance directors wearing numerous professional hats, and no not even by skilled technical coaches either paid or un paid. The only person who could possibly unlock the unfulfilled potential is the individual concerned. The facilitation required for the individual to be able to achieve the unlocking situation does not sadly lie within the scope of any known sporting environment and this is perhaps the greatest failure of all. The way forward is apparent to many in our society, however as few if indeed any, of those many, have ever competed in high level sport, they are not therefore on the parole of UKA or Sport England, and are therefore unknown to those who need the facilitation the most. That I would propose is the greatest crime of all inflicted upon those who are judged to have failed to fulfill expectation and is the reason so many of the young identified talent continue to fail to ‘push on’ in performance terms through adult life. This situation will not change until those who control sporting development realise and fully understand that the human raw material with which they work in the early years of the 21st century has in many, many cases an early life experience far removed from those of us born pre 1980 ish. The failure to recognise the impact of this ‘difference’ upon human performance potential amongst those who supposedly work in support of the young in sport, is perhaps the collective ‘sackcloth' we should all wear."

1/8/08 One is unfortunate-5 Russian athletes in Middle Distance events and 2 in throws, a huge concern.""fraudulent substitution of urine which is both a prohibited method and also a form of tampering with the doping control process". Looks like Radcliffe and Tullett may have been right when they held up "EPO Cheats out" signs at World Champs 2001. And 2 Romanians, following the dropping of 1 last year.

The IAAF appeared to have discovered this, which is rather worrying- suggests that our Eastern Europan neighbours have gone back to the successful " regime" of the 60's and 70's. Or did they ever change ?

"Russia's national head coach Valentin Maslakov claims political reasons are behind the provisional suspension of seven woman athletes by the IAAF for suspected substitution of doping samples."

Yawn- yes and Russia has such an well developed, advanced economy that they have created more Billionaires in the last few years than most countries would expect over a century, most of whom seem to find London quite an attractive place to live in.

These paranoid ex-communist States (if they are truly ex) are just the brash kids on the block, wanting to show off on the world stage. Strangely just like the Communist states they were. Little changes.

There is a solution for the UK- appoint Jermey Clarkson to manage UK Sport. He will brook no nonsense and uphold strong British values. Clarkson's brilliant team manger skills on Top Gear this week showed an undoubted patrioitic fever , sadly lacking in UK Sport generally. A manger in the spirit of wanting to win at any price(disguise an athlete), not to let the country down(drug free).

Clarkson to manage UK Sport and 2012 Olymics to fight the jolly foreigner !! and it would save money on the 2012 opening ceremony- a couple of Spitfires flying low over the stadium, going into a Victory roll.

More seriously, it is the last thing we need, the IAAF are already expecting doping failures at the Games which start next week, and these things just cast a shadow- we will doubt any great winning performance, and if the host Nation win lots of medals, questions will be in the back of many people's minds, given doubts have been cast on Doping control's at the games.

"Three Russian female athletes could be in hot water after missing a drug's test. Olesya Bufalova, Tatyana Veshkurova, a European Gold and Silver Medalist, as well as middle distance runner Svetlana Cherkasova were at a Portuguese disco when the officials arrived at their training camp .“When doping officers come through some athletes may not be around and there’s nothing wrong with that. The doping officers should technically wait for the absent athletes for 12 hours. In this case it was Saturday night and some athletes were attending to their personal business. I don’t know why such a small issue has become subject of so much discussion,” he said.(Valentine Maslakov)

As the athletes weren't present, the test could be automatically classed as positive but Russia's head coach, Valentine Maslakov, says the accusations are groundless.(27/12/2007).

"The first hurdle facing female athletes in next month’s Olympics will be proving they are women. Beijing has already set up a special laboratory and each woman will have to take a gender test....The Western press frequently hinted that some Soviet women athletes appeared to be very ‘manly’.(28/07/2008)

By the way the 7 were apparently Yelena Soboleva, Tatyana Tomashova, Yulia Fomenko, Darya Pishchalnikova and Gulfiya Khanafeyeva - were bound for the Beijing Olympics.

1/8/08 Geema Weetman in Shot Putt 10.20, 10.09 and 9.76 at the U23 CE at the weekend,according card. Her final score 10.09. I have asked UKA to explain, but no reply.

"C'est le comble que ce soit la France qui vous renseigne sur une compétition s'étant déroulée à Ashford !

29/07/2008 Cannot get full results for International CE at Ashford- even had French Athletics asking me for them ! If you have a copy please forward.

Welsh Athletics refuse to comment on whether they are paying for staff to attend Olympics- they claim to have no money to send a team to YCG, so assume they are not. With only 2 athletes from Wales attending, would seem pointless. Neither who train in Wales.

Interesting comment on BBC-failure of Young Athletes to develop. Just a blog, but raises many of the same questions raised here from time to time. There does some a big question on why talented Youngsters fail to develop, and at the same time many of the more successful were not perceived as future stars at a young age - good yes, but not Olympic athletes.

A correspondent on this site, who has been quiet for a while, knows far more that this than I do. Is it a mental thing- either think/told you are on the way to the Olympics and relax, or does the pressure of expectation to succeed build up. Or does actually World Youth/Junior success mean too much. I must admit to failing to follow that closely, I have not worked out how many Americans compete at these levels- probably not many, because by 18-20 they are often competing at World Senior level. But they have depth in Talent.

It seems to me that the challenges to develop depth in talent to compete at World Class level within Europe, will have to involve European Athletics. They must now take the initiative in developing competition for the U15-U20 age groups within Europe, on a broader basis than just the major team events, involve the smaller Regions. Have competitions for U15-U20 in which Wales, Scotland, N.I, can compete. Have regional French Teams, 3 from Switzerland Teams, break Germany up into easily identifiable regions and so on.

It might be difficult, but not impossible, but it should happen. One of the major problems we face is kids leaving the sport, the UKA selection policy on just a GB team fuels this within the UK. I am sure it is the same in other Nations. There are very limited chances for Kids to represent their Nation/Region internationally, and that should be the focus in the development of talent in depth. Money better spent than just setting up Competitions for the Elite Seniors.

It is not just the UKA who lose talented youngsters, other European Nations have the same problem. European Athletics have a huge opportunity to replicate the USA system of Youth development- they have some 50 States and their Youth Champs are a major event, that goes on for a week . Why not try and do this within Europe, there are at least 50 regions within Europe -maybe more. Make Athletics more of an inclusive age group sport within Europe, rather than an exclusive Senior club.

Then within the UK we could get rid of some events. There is no point in Scotland and Wales having School Championships and National Championships (NI as far as I know are involved in all-Ireland).Wales and Scotland should just have Schools events and one Senior event- which anyone can compete in if they get a standard-whatever age. That would save money, fund not having the National age group Champs into the Schools events, and will have increased numbers in one National Championship. The Regional National bodies could the fund teams to go to the England AAA age group Championships, if they get the standard, which would increase number's at those events. And also a European National Age group Championships.

29/07/08 "May 2002"- the first page archived by Web Archive for this site. But does prove I was doing UK rankings back then, at the start, because no-one else was doing it. Seems along time ago, sitting at a table making spreadsheets importable into a database. Not that good, compared to current, but it was unique at the time. Sadly the ranking results are missing-the database has been moved.

27/07/08 Chips and Champagne:-" Heidsieck & Co. Monopole is delighted to be teaming up with UK Athletics to be the ‘Official and Exclusive Champagne Supplier to UK Athletics and the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team’. The marque will be an important partner in helping to celebrate success in all aspects of the athletics arena, and this association joins two brands – UK Athletics and Heidsieck & Co. Monopole – who are both devoted to excellence and prestige in their field. "

26/07/08 GB Mens 100m relay team is not a team-yet. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Tyrone Edgar, Rikki Fifton, Craig Pickering, Simeon Williamson were named. But they have Malcolm and Devonish in the 200m as well. They seem to be angling for a place, who can blame Malcolm who was left out in Athens. But it is hard to see what to-day proved. Malcolm has never been the best starter recently in the relay- put him 3rd leg, Williamson 2nd leg, the first and last are the problem, well last not so much because it will be all over by then-I would sayEdgar,which leaves who is the best starter on a bend- I would probably take a punt on Nelson. So Nelson, Williamson, Malcom and Edgar. Not the team announced, but seems to me to be the guys who could deliver.

26/07/08 Email received "You may have heard about the facebook campaigns (Please Not the posts on facebook are not moderated and language could be offensive-Charles) and many athletes dissatisfaction with the way UK athletics is being run. One of the names mentioned but not a a lot - Perry Shrakes - Drayton doesn't get selected to compete in beijing despite winning the trials....but then get's taken on this Jolly to experience it all !! Just does not make any sense - like letting a kid in a sweet shop but putting masking tape over their mouth so they can't eat. Think I'd have told the people at Uk athletics where to go !!! And at least Rick Yates showed up Collins today - who had a minor faux par saying it was a mistake not to select him then back trackin

The IIAF state the following:# 3.2 'A' qualifying standard - individuals
The 'A' qualifying standard for individual events will be the more difficult standard. NOCs may enter more than 1 athlete, and a maximum of 3 athletes, per event only if all have met the 'A' qualifying standard. This qualification standard must be met between 1 January 2007 and 23 July 2008, with the exception of marathon events, combined events and race walking events, for which the qualification standard must be met between 1 September 2006 and 23 July 2008. These standards will be published by 1 December 2006.

# 3.3 'B' qualifying standard - individuals
NOCs may enter a maximum of 1 qualified athlete per event if he/she has met the 'B' qualifying standard. This standard must be met between 1 January 2007 and 23 July 2008, with the exception of marathon events, combined events and race walking events, for which the qualification standard must be met between 1 September 2006 and 23 July 2008. These standards will be published by 1 December 2006.

# 3.5 NOCs without qualified athletes
NOCs for which no male or no female athlete has reached the required qualification standards will be allowed to enter their best male athlete and their best female athlete for 1 athletic event each, with the exception of the combined events, 10.000m and 3.000m steeplechase. This applies equally to unqualified female entries from an NOC with qualified males, and vice versa.

So no need for multiple 'B' Standards, that's a UKA rule, dreamt up my Collins and the Selectors to encourage our young athletes !! It would also seem they could enter an athlete who has not reached the 'B' Standard for one event each.

Why does not UKA change the selection process, make the trials the Selection meeting- First passed the post goes if B standard reached, with others(up to 2) if A standard has been achieved. And send one Athlete to compete if no-one has reached the B Standard in an event.

Lots of talk about developing depth, but current UKA policy is stopping the development of depth. and Perry Shrakes - Drayton and Rick Yates have lost out.

Collins and the Selectors come across as rather severe Headmasters- introducing rules for UKA, not taking advantage of the actual IAAF rules to enter as many athletes as possible.

If it is considered worthwhile to send Sports people to experience the training Camp, surely money would be better spent on sending as many athletes as possible to compete.

They talk of numbers of Medals and Finals, but that is down to the day. I would rather see my money spent on athletes competing, however badly, than having a holiday in Macao learning about competing. Personally I would keep goals of the agenda, if that is all it is about then just send 12 athletes, or whatever Collins and his crew think will get to finals.

I am sure some of this is to protect their jobs, say 5 medals and if we get 6 job well done-for the staff. Self preservation, bit like I am sad to say, the attitude of the Men's relay team , who appeared to be trying to justify their right to be part of the relay team- seemed little real bonding, they are fighting each other for a place- hardly healthy. The Athens squad seemed better bonded, and as I recall paid tribute to the 2 who did not compete in the final- Malcolm and I forget the other. But they had team spirit. But maybe just an impression.

26/07/08 Money no object in GB "The programme, designed to enhance athlete medal success at the London 2012 Olympic Games by providing talented potential team members with an opportunity to experience the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, will see approximately 150 athletes and coaches from 33 disciplines spend seven days in Macau and Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games."

26/07/08 No sure what the GP proved, except that the GB Males 100m are out of their depth. If one gets to the final they will have done really well, cannot see it myself, and a relay success- well if the baton's are dropped who knows. Lisa Drobriskey looked good, Phillips Idowu less so though he won in the end. The Womens 400m was a non-event because there was no-one competing- just the GB 3, and it proved nothing, except thye have a good relay chance, though 4th leg is a problem. Surprised Donna Fraser was not competing, but I hardly ever seem to see her compete, but a perennial selection for Team GB.

Worst comment of the night "Andy Baddeley (Harrow) narrowly missed out on making a major impact in the evenings traditional event as he finished second in a dip for the line against Kenyan Shedrack Korir. The Dream Mile winner missed out by eight one-hundredths to Sherdrack’s 3.54:68. Baddeley said: “The race was wound up from quite a long way out – I was a little confused as to whether he (Shedrack) was a pacemaker or not.”

Andy you are funded not to be confused, and if you are confused, your UKA coach should not be.

25/07/08 Interesting news re N.I athletes, which I was not aware of. An Athlete born in N.I can apply for an Irish Passport(as can any individual) and then is able to compete for Ireland, whilst retaining a British Pasport as well. An Athlete in N.I who competes for Ireland cannot compete for GB & NI, although there maybe a period of eligibilty-i.e not run for Ireland and after a time period eligible for GB & N.I. But a N.I athlete who competes for Ireland, is still eligible for N.I in the Commonwealth Games.

It would seem that some in N.I have decided that the UKA regime of "pick and drop" for young elite athlete did not suit their requirements, compared to what Athletics Ireland offers.

So effectively N.I athletes are not really part of the UKA set-up-well they have a good alternative, and who can blame them for taking it. The UKA/Collins approach to Young elite athletes does not suit all, and England are suffering a fairly high burn out rate amongst Young athletes.

Scotland will be leaving soon anyway, yesterday's Vote show the disenchantment with the English Government in London, even though the PM is Scottish. A Scot running Britain rejected by Scots- that's a bitter blow I would have thought.

So we are back to England and Wales, the unhappy twins. Wales has only 2 athletes in the GB&NI team-lowest ever I think, but certainly for a while. WAA will claim 2 others are injured, but it is still a poor show, and little encouragement to the Athlete's in Wales. There are a few good Athletes coming through, maybe one or two with potential World Class that I can think of at the moment. One is beginning to suffer the injury problems that seem to plague Welsh Athletes at the moment- I can think of many youngsters suffering Injury problems at the moment.

WAA delivered the killer blow for many with the decision not to send a Team to YCG. I was talking to a talented young man in a supermarket of all places(injured) but also disappointed that he would not have been able to go to YCG if fit-he would have probably done alright. Young Hannah Thomas from North Wales would have had a good competition I am sure.

What WAA ignore is that due to their decision, many are not that bothered at the moment, they have exams to think about-and given they have been deprived of the chance of a Major International Meeting are not that bothered.

An organisation cannot sit their and develop a structure with no aim. WAA may think the Holy Grail is UKA, but they miss the point of Wales as a Nation, so maybe they should go back to that Green and pleasant land.

To be honest some-one with money and the desire should just set up a Rival Organiation to provide International Competition for the Welsh Youth- silly me, they have it Welsh Schools, but no money. Why- look at the WAA website, they are trying to control WSAA as well, and made several good attempts to wreck potential funding for WSAA - I know because I was involved in one negotiation which they knackered.

If they really want to drop the Celtics Games to one age group, rather than expand it to include the rest of the Celtic Nations,(and make it a more exciting competition-including Cornwall and Isle of Man) then I suggest they just drop the whole competition and use the money to support Welsh Schools.

25/07/08" On the day UK Sport published results from the first quarter of its 2008/09 National Anti-Doping Programme, its Acting Director of Drug-Free Sport, Andy Parkinson, has stated it would be ‘naïve’ to think the forthcoming Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games will be clean.Parkinson, speaking on the latest UK Sport Podcast, said:“By the end of Beijing we will see that there have been positive tests during both the Olympics and Paralympics – we would be naïve to think they would be a totally clean Games. Indeed, from an anti-doping perspective, if they were totally clean, particularly given the current climate, you might even say that the system has failed those athletes who are competing drug-free.” UK Sport Website

I think Parkinson is saying that Testing is not up to scratch. Well Mr Parkinson, look at Pubic hair testing- used "Down Under" and works. But what he seems to be saying if no-one failed a drugs test then the sytems are not working, in other words there can be no clean Games. So what % of Athletes do they expect to fail a Test- well we know Atthletes such as Marion Jones have cheated the system and never been failed a Test.

It is a weird world where the confessed drug user Dwain Chambers is banned, but UK Drug Free acknowledge that many athletes are probably using drugs to enhance performance at the Olympics. It does make you wonder . Ban a reformed person, but suggest many will be using performace enhancing drugs. And a suggestion that some will escape the Dope testing net.

Anyway BOA do not really care apparently- I picked up the fag end of an interview on Radio 4, where someone, I assume a BOA official, said , when asked, said that Medals were not important, it was performance.

Bollocks, it's about Medals and the Great British Public have no interest in whether Joe came 6th in the tiddlywinks competion, the Public are only interested in medals, and probably only marginally above any Football result. And its true, the Scots Women's curling team captured Media space because they won Gold a few years ago.

I will support Team GB in it's dying days as a national concept, but to be honest I am not expecting much- but will cheer on those involved in any event if they have a chance of winning- or get to final.

24/07/2008"The British Library would like to invite you to participate in our web archiving programme. We select and archive sites to represent aspects of UK documentary heritage and as a result, they will remain available to researchers in the future. "Scary, in maybe 50-500 years , people will look at this !" It's a thought.

23/07/08 "The Irish Schools team for the Schools Track and Field International in Bedford on Saturday (July 19th) has been named and includes a number of athletes from Northern Ireland (Ulster) including a number of recently clinched All-Ireland Juvenile titles"."

After the event "Ulster had a total of 8 girls and 8 boys in a total of 18 events on the team, all of which played their part in the overall success. Ulster athletes brought home the impressive total of 10 medals."

Ireland competes within Europe as a seperate Nation- and in the Olympics. NI athletics does not, can only supply members of a GB & NI Team.

The results above show that Ulster (N.I) contributed to the overall success of the Irish Schools Team. If I was a Northern Irish Athlete I would probably rather be included in an all Irish Team, competing within Europe, rather on the fringes of GB. Irish Athletes, from the North and South, have always made great effort to travel and compete in mainland Britain, normally with some success.

4 Northern Irish Athletes were part of the Ireland team that competed in the World juniors, having some success.

A United Irish team at junior level seems to be developing talent and producing Athletes who are getting PB's at World level. The Irish Yougsters compete in All-Ireland Competions, get selected for all Ireland teams and its working. So the next, logical step, is that the seniors do the same.

Northern Ireland withdraw from Team GB and allow their athletes to compete for All Ireland in European and World Competitions-including the Olympics. What will N.I lose, a small amount of funding from UKA, who gave most of the Picketts Lock debacle to England.

Ireland seem to be developing their Athletes quite nicely and developing a bit of depth. Wales , at the moment are just slavishly following UKA ideas and trying to promote a selfish, individualistic talent strategy, which is isolating many.

The combination of stating they have no cash, but can afford to offer highly paid jobs, to join the already numerous employed, makes you wonder what is going on.

The talented youngsters in Wales deserved the chance to go to the Youth Commonwealth Games- and several of them at the moment look like they could have medalled. They will have another chance when Wales announce Commonwealth standards for the Senior Commonwelath Games, if they send a team.

Some-one emailed me and said be positive for the sake of the youngster's in Wales- well I try, but the fact that WAA keep saying they will announce Commonwealth standards for the Seniors, but do not, just reminds me of the same we had with the Youth Commonwealth Games- the same prevarication. Instituionally thay have no interest in Wales as a Nation in Athletics, the mindset seems to be totally focussed on Team GB.

Well maybe soon, Team GB will be just Wales and England, and guess who the losers will be. Not England.

If I ran Welsh Athletics I would be negotiating my way out of Team GB- have Wales as an Independent Athletics Nation, sponsored by Brains who support the Welsh rugby Team- then we would see some real pride coming through- and the Welsh are not short of pride in their Nation. The Scots are leaving sometime soon anyway.

So would mean raising a bit of Private Capital/Sponsorship, well I would buy into that one, what could be better. See the Dragon walking proud at the Olympics. Team England could then wander around with the English flag, which I am sure would suit many in UKA fine. And wind the Welsh, Scots and Irish up, the best motivating force ever for them.

That's sport and should be so. Pride in one's Nation, and GB is not a Nation I can identify with.

23/07/08 Food Sponsor's-email received"I remember way back when YAL was sponsored by McDonalds.The athlete of the match award was a free burger every day/week.I remember my lad winning this - obviously taking advantage of the free McDonalds - together with his mates The local store must surely have wondered how come all the top athletes locally all come in for a burger 2 minutes after each other.After winning this award as an u13 he never really kicked on during his teens. I was never sure whether that was because he chose football as a first sport; or whether he was simply more advanced physically and mentally at a younger age; or whether it was down to the fact he was "supersized"."

22/07/2008 New event details received-"I would like to introduce The Big Fun Run series. This a 5Km series run being staged in 5 locations in October.You and all the runners you are associated are very welcome to take part in what is expected to be a great event organised by the same team that organise the Edinburgh Marathon."Please visit www.bigfunrun.com for more details.

22/07/08 What's the difference between Thanou and Christine Ohuruogu- both missed tests. Both will be at the Olympics.

Interesting comments from Ed Warner on the BBC website- seems not sure the BOA ban is 100% water tight. What would happen if Dwain went for a full trial and won- nightmare scenario

Merlene Ottey missed out on the mark needed by just 0.28 seconds to compete in another Olympics- her first was in 1980. She should be invited by the Organiser's anyway as a tribute to her success over 28 years. See the BBC for her record.

21/07/08 Email received "Isn't it Ironic that in today fast food age and an age when the likes of Jamie oliver are fighting to get healthy school meals for our kids - that UK athletics becomes sponsored by McCain's - great We hope it's Chips... well it is now.
Surely the wrong image for a Major Sport to be sponsored by a Fast Food company going into the olympics.
And they moan about Dwaine Chambers damaging the image of the sport."

20/07/2008 Congratulations to the Nelson's -Brother and sister will be in Beijing- Ashlee and Alex have obvious huge talent -wish them the best.

20/07/08"An enterprising group of athletics enthusiasts from the UK are hoping to create the first ever "Cyber-Multi-Events Competition" to encourage young people to participate more in athletics. " From European athletics site.

I am thrilled that European Athletics have decided the concept is worthwhile of mentioning -all we need now is entries. Free to enter and prizes for the winners.

That's us, so please enter- it will be fun, and more events will follow- hopefully with a real head to head final.

19/07/08 Welsh Athletics claim to have no money to send teams to YCG, they are also happy to reduce the Celtic Games down to one age group-because they have no money.Fine- but look at the jobs page. They want two new roles-Senior Physiotherapist - Wales-£34,268 - £45,690 p.a and Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach - Wales £34,268 - £45,690 p.a.

For the handful of athletes on the Welsh Development programme. Nice job if you get it- but could not that money be better spent within Wales to develop Athletics.

19/07/07 "In his summing up, Mr Mackay said Chambers' right to work was not a good enough reason to overturn the ban, while the last-minute timing had also worked against him."Many people both inside and outside sport would see this by-law as unlawful," said Mr Mackay."(But) In my judgment it would take a much better case than the claimant has presented to persuade me to overturn the status quo at this stage and compel his selection for the Games."

Judge says might be unlawful- but upholds a potential illegal by-law, which Chambers will challenge I am sure next year..

International Olympic Committee member Sir Craig Reedie added: "I think the IOC is moving in the general direction of the BOA's philosophy."The new rule that will come in post-Beijing will involve an eligibility penalty on any athlete testing positive."He or she will not go to the next games if there are sanctioned for six or more months."

They(the Olympic Organisations) had 16 years to sort this out- is it that hard to come up with a uniform policy.

I am no legal expert, but I would have thought if there was any doubt in the Judge's mind, which he appears to have expressed, then he should have issued an injuction against BOA.

At least the rule we have been arguing for the last 4 years might come inforce well "in the general direction". How hard is it.!!

When you get to the bottom
You go back to the top of the slide
And you stop and you turn
And you go for a ride
Then you get to the bottom
Then you see me again

Do you, don't you want me to love you
Coming down fast I'm right here above you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
Ain't no lover but you ain't no dancer

Do you, don't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast now don't let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You ain't no lover but you ain't no dancer

When you get to the bottom
You go back to the top of the slide
And you turn and you stop
And you go for a ride
Then you get to the bottom
Then you see me again"

Depressed , yes I am, thought Dwain had a case since if an American he could have run in the Olympics, annoyed, yes, because he had the talent.

"We are respectful of the Court’s decision in all aspects. The British Olympic Association (BOA) has rules which are not only recognised and understood by all Olympic athletes, but our Bye-law has been in place for 16 years at their request and for their benefit. I have to say that it is a matter of regret that Dwain Chambers – an athlete with such undoubted talent, a winner of the European Youth Olympic Festival 100m as a young man - should by his own actions have put himself out of the running to shine on the Olympic stage in Beijing.However, on behalf of the athletes the BOA will continue to send a powerful and important message that nobody found guilty of serious drug cheating offences should have the honour of wearing a Team GB vest at the Olympic Games."

UKA are a bit more triumphal "“We have always maintained our support of the bye-law and are delighted it has been upheld in this instance. We now consider the issue closed and look forward to Beijing and must all turn our focus to our final preparations with the athletes who will represent Great Britain. “

There we are it all over until the trial next year- if Dwain continues the court case. Could be shadows of a previous case-RIP GB athletics.

It seem unfair, because if Dwain was an American he would be competing, but his lost his arguement on the case he presented.

I really hope that now the BOA and IAAF will just sit down and work out a plan to ban all athletes who fail a drug test for life from any competition- then we will never have this situation again.

Dwain has now lost the only thing he wanted ,so maybe now he will spill the beans publicly on who and how he got into this mess. I find it incomprehensible that a talented British young man ended up in California all on his own.

Sadly Dwain will now be perceived as an Olympic Champion who throw it away- running 10.00 after all he has been going through, he could have been with Powell and Gay now, if the last 4 years was wiped out.

Silly boy, but Dwain, do us fans of your talent a full and frank account of how and who got you into this, I truly do not believe that you woke up one morning and thought "I'll cheat". Restore your dignity, its not snitching, it's telling the truth. There must be other who knew. Name them, please.

Anyway thats the end of this chapter. But maybe UK sport should sit down and work out how Dwain got through the net.

18/07/2008 Got a Sporting Injury in West Wales- contact The Injury Clinic. Yes, Emily is back there having pulled her hamstring in a training session. Looks like she will be off again for a month, just when we thought she was beginning to get back to full fitness. Mark is brilliant, and makes an effort to be available at short notice.

17/07/2008 Forum back up at 11.00 pm- thanks Simon, the best ISP ever, work's like me all night long.

17/07/2008 This site has been moved to a new server- unfortunately they forgot to move Forum pages. It will be back shortly. Apologies.

Big day to-morrow-will Dwain win his right to compete at Olympics. I am no legal expert, but the lesson to be learnt by all involved in UKA/BOA is that make sure laws are uniform. I would have thought Chambers will win, certainly every survey I have seen is in favour of him being allowed to compete. The crassness of the BOA defence can be summed up by this

"David Pannick QC, representing the BOA, said: "(Chambers) cannot show that sportsmen and women are significantly restrained in their trade by the by-law which only concerns eligibility for an amateur event, which takes place once every four years and for which there is no prize money."

Mr Pannick must have missed the huge amounts that athletes, such as Kelly Holmes have earnt by winning Olympic Medals- its amateur only in that no money is paid for wining-but the earning potential is huge.

Whatever the result, lets hope that the Olympic bodies unite on a common front that no athlete with a doping offence- whether tested positive or missed 3 tests, is allowed to compete again-no excuses..

We should reflect that Thanou of Greece has the same failure as Christine Ohuruogu- 3 missed tests. Thanou is booed in UK, Ohuruogu is a heroine ( though I think in Greece Thanou is still pretty popular.)

Can they actually sit down and agree this in Beijing- well I hope they will, forget the luxury living and nice hotels they enjoy at the Olympics, but actually sit down, all of them and sort someting out for the good of sport. Kick a ball around, have a swim, a drink at the bar(alcholic or non-alcholic), but just try and make time to address an issue that could be the one thing that will come out of China for the best- ban all Athletes who fail the Drug test criteria.

How hard can it be- the Drug rules are in place, all the Olympic Organisations have to do is agree that any athlete who breaks the rules is banned for Life from the Olympics.

Until they do this the BOA by-law looks illegal , and Dwain has every chance of winning, and should on International standards. Change those International Standards for the Olympics, and we will never have this unhappy episode again- OK Dwain and Christine would not be competing, but that's the price for a level playing field. Personally I would be happy with that-these Athletes have the potential to earn large sums of money and they should wise up that the Drug tests are not a joke, do not apply to them. Mixed messages from BOA re Dwain and Christine, never good, so lets hope Dwain joins Christine in Beijing.

And that if 2 athletes were in their position again, neither would be allowed to compete in the Olympics-whatever country they came from..

"Montell Douglas broke the British women's 100m record at a meeting in Loughborough on Thursday to seal her place at the Olympics."BBC 11.07 with a legal 2.0 wind.

13/07/2008 Christian Malcolm is back- best run I have seen him do for several years. If he can remain fit, who knows what could happen in Beijing.

13/07/08 Athlete's should just compete and not speak-the boring PR speak that they utter is normally dull and even the Juniors now are getting into it.

"Gutted, we could have done so much more. We’re better than any other country in the world at changing the baton and we didn’t do that today, we did it yesterday in the heat.”

12/07/2008" Under the governing body's selection criteria, athletes must finish first or second at the trials and have already achieved the qualifying standard for their event.The guidelines also stipulate athletes must have a proven record of top-eight finishes at Olympic or World Championship level - or the potential to achieve that in the future.UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins has set a target of winning five medals in Beijing next month and will select the athletes capable of delivering that haul on Monday. "BBC.

I wish could be more excited about UK Athletics development plans, but it is hard. There is a huge infra-structure in place, lots of well paid officials and all our GB dream is to win 5 medals. Millions of pounds being spent- for 5 Athletes to hopefully win a medal.Not exactly inspirational comments- hardly the stuff of Churchill !

BOA fund this jaunt to China- if they have any money left. I am not sure who funds the BOA, but who cares:

"The British Olympic Association (BOA) confirms that it will appear at the High Court tomorrow, Wednesday 9th July, for a Directions Hearing in respect of the case issued against the BOA by Mr Dwain Chambers.The Hearing will take place at 10.30am in Court 17.At the Hearing, the BOA will be represented by Robert Englehart QC and Adam Lewis, both of Blackstone Chambers, and solicitors Baker & McKenzie LLP, led by partner Tom Cassels."

Now that is going to cost- I used a Barrister once, and made petrol prices driving a Tank look cheap!! This looks like a £1m bill for turning up. Congratulations to the BOA.

What a waste of cash, but the Barristers are happy. You have seen Barristers in court, they wear a weird kit with hood down the back."The ‘bag’ that appears on the back of the gown has been a source of gossip for centuries. Often mistaken as a bag for the barrister’s fee, there are many colourful theories about its use. One suggestion was that since the barrister could not see the exact amount he was being paid, he would not let it influence how well he argued a client’s case.."

Well that is obviously wrong , never met a Barrister shy of charging huge amounts.

12/07/08 Looking at the BBC website blog Steve Cram has upset a load of people- guess he came out with some comment re Dwain. .

At least Jonathan Edwards had the balls to say he thought the by-law was possibly wrong.

12/07/08 Chambers wins Gold in 10.00, with Simeon Williamson 2nd with a PB and Craig Pickering 3rd. Its now down to Wednesday, but I hope Chambers wins that battle. Then maybe the BOA will understand they should work with other Olympic Associations and get a uniform policy worldwide. They should have done this years ago, this mess is of their making.

12/07/08 Just for fun , having seen the draw,here is my Trials Mens 100 final List in no particular order:

Devonish, Pickering, Chambers,Edgar,Fifton,Williamson,Aikines Ayreetey and Smith.

12/07/08 No real shocks in the UKA Trials-except Saunders not starting in Women's 400m. The Womens 400H will be interesting, how much are the leading contenders holding back .The 400m is a bit of a non-event as Saunders withdrew and Christine was never going to run- so Lee McConnell will probably be running to impress the selectors to get an individual place- a shame Christine O did not enter the event she will, presumably be running at the Olympics. In America, under their different system, neither Saunders or Christine O would be selected for an American team. The Womens 100m might be interesting, the mens 200m will be as Christian Malcolm needs to move up a gear to get an individual place- it seems assumed already that he will be in the relay, though did not run the best first leg in the European Cup I have ever seen fom him. I assume even if Chambers wins the 100m, which he looks like doing, and wins the Court case v BOA, unlikely he would be invited into the 100m relay- no-one in UKA seems to want him to get another Medal and it is highly unlikely any GB Male Sprinter will get an individual medal.

Dwan was , as always, pleasant in his interview on the BBC website- said all the right things, hopes conditions are good for all of them- I am sure he means it, but that wink says it all- barring a disaster he knows he will win. Harry A-A should learn from Pickering and keep quiet, he will learn that the media are always lookin for a quote-his job is to run, not pass comments.

But just going through the initial results, its the same names, nothing is changing at the top.

It all comes back to the way Athletes are funded- the funded will be top of the tree, the rest will struggle with work and training (as an email I had in stated a few bits below ).

It does seem that athletes can remain at the top of UK for long periods of time, there are not too many new faces creating an upset. Strange- the enviroment that created these athletes, seems unable to produce challengers every year or even every 4 years. It is more that Athletes suffer injuries and drop down-take Tim Benjamin, rather than some-one beating a "Tim Benjamin" at his injury free peak.

11/7/08 UKA Trials-Dwain Chambers 10.14 (w/s mising), fastest in the heats with Simeon Williamson 2nd fastest in 10.31,into a 2.2 wind. Why Dwains race was the only heat with a missing w/s is a mystery.

11/07/08 "Enter the IOC. If it still believes in the concept of the best athlete, it should expand its Olympic wild-card invitation system to any reigning world champion or world recordholder who failed to qualify at home for his or her event.Make-or-break Olympic trials create compelling story lines, but not always the truest test in the Games themselves. Every four years, no more than a handful of top athletes miss out in this event or that. If the IOC still believes in having the best athletes in every sport and every event, all it has to do is invite them."

From the USA- they have a tough first past the post selection policy- but an interesting point- should the Olympics allow the World's best "wildcards"- so if an athlete fails to finish a race due injury, invite them anyway. Probably not a bad idea, we do want to see the best compete. But it is mainly the USA, who have such depth in talent that they have the problem.

But GB have a problem- such poor weather yet again, athlete's are roaming Europe and elsewhere to get qualfying times. If the weather forcast is anything to go by this weekend could see winners of events not going to Beijing because not able to travel worldwide to get qualifying standards.So the USA model has some advantages-first pass the post, and then maybe let IOC invite the others who have achieved World Class times.

A current example of how the Drug Control Centre and UK Sport are working together is a Steroid Profiling project in which selected samples are subject to in-depth analysis to help build more detailed long-term profiles of athletes. Professor Cowan explains:“The sample analysis process is not simply about determining whether or not an athlete has committed an anti-doping rule violation. Through Steroid Profiling we can pick up anomalies in an athlete’s profile which might not necessarily mean prohibited substances are showing up at levels sufficient for them to return a positive test, but they provide information which might suggest the need for further investigation or targeted testing"

Is this acceptable- I always though samples where tested without knowing an Athlete's identity- only if positive was it tracked back. Will Athlete's of all Sports be happy to know that Big Bruv is mainting a Sample Profile of them. Not sure about this, it seems to imply that they will now-and maintain-records of athletes, identified by name and monitor their tests. It's so all new Labour, CTV cameras everywhere, stop and search for no reason, and from what I understand it Athletes will now have an individual database of their tests.

This is fundementally wrong, a breach of privacy and potentially an abuse- what happens if they found a female athlete , was for example, pregnant- have they a right to this knowledge.

If Athlete's are happy for this to happen, well up to them, but I would tell Big Bruv to take a hike.

Hair Testing is the way forward-works in the Land of OZ, but UK Sport will not use because WADA have not approved. Message- instead of building up an possibly "illegal" database of Athletes, persuade WADA to use hair testing. One Pubic hair will tell them everything an athlete has done-drug wise-for 6 months.

10/07/08 Ashlee Nelson won Silver WJ 100m- Megan Beesley looks well placed to go one better in the 400H. She is down to run the 400m UKA trials this weekend, but would seem a bit unlikely after 3 rounds of 400H this week- well hope so, she has plenty to offer and no need to compete again after the World Juniors. It will be interesting to see what her advisers suggest she does.

10/07/08 Huge issues here- the Freedom of Information of Act applies to Publicly funded bodies, but then claim exemptions from releasing information. As I gather UKA received at least £8.8m of public funding through UK Sport, but we are not allowed to see reports..

The Government need to review the concept of the FOI Act urgently- the Tax payer and the general public have every right to see reports which involve the use of our monies. Sport is not a matter of National security, the use of our monies is-and should be-publicly available.

Sport is about fun, National pride-yes, but on the scale of everyday Human endeavour pretty low down- I am unaware that the Amateur Sport's contributes any real income for UK-as a whole . If UK Sport can demonstrate any figures that show UK Sport does contributes to the GDP I would love to see them.

£10Bn and rising for the 2012 Olympics, with a Land Bank decreasing in value daily.

8/7/08 Ashlee Nelson look set for a Medal at World Juniors over 100m- not sure what colour though- some good times been run.

6/7/08 "At the Notturno di Milano meeting in Italy on Wednesday, the GB athletes took five victories to give them some much needed confidence going into next weeks Olympic trials.""Nicola Sanders (WSEH) with an impressive 50.88 victory in her one lap outing."

5/07/08 "Tyson Gay, reigning world champion at 200 meters, pulled up lame in Saturday's quarterfinal heat of the event at the U.S. Olympic trials with what later was called a severe cramp in his left hamstring.While there was no apparent damage otherwise, acording to his agent, Mark Wetmore, the mishap will keep Gay from running the 200 at the Olympics."I am very disappointed," Gay said."

4/7/08 "Today the British Olympic Association (BOA) announced the athletes and coaches invited to take part in Britain's Olympic Ambition 2012 programme.The programme, designed to enhance athlete medal success at the London 2012 Olympic Games by providing talented potential team members with an opportunity to experience the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, will see athletes from 33 disciplines spend seven days in Macau and Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games.Whilst there, athletes will visit the Team GB preparation camp in Macau, the Olympic Village and the Athletes Lodge. They will also have a press conference fronted by their mentors, Olympians like Denise Lewis, Ed Coode and Alison Mowbray. In addition participants will be given the opportunity to watch two competition sessions for their specific discipline.This programme's focus is based around providing sports specific event exposure and to replicate, as closely as possible, an athlete's overall Olympic experience.

What a load of crap- this will cost thousand's of pounds-well probably £100k's so that a few youngsters with potential Olympic status to have a look at facilites and how it works.

Hard one that- it is a competiton , and if we have youngsters aspiring to 2012 who do not understand what International competition is about, then they should not be there. Nice freebie, but who paid for it-the Tax payer? Money better spent on developing sport, but no doubt some highly paid Employee dreamt up this idea.

I am fed up with this 2012 Olympic obsession- reminds me of the Social Services approach to life- make sure the little darlngs know what is going to happen.

We really do have too many administrator involved who have little better to do than dream up expensive schemes to justif their jobs.

The Olympics is meant to be an Amateur Festival- turn up and compete if you are good enough. That seems pretty simple, and those involved in the Olympics maybe should sit down and realise they are ceating a monster of excess. Excess in every way.

4/7/08 Email received "I just found on UKa the link explaining the story behind the Spikes mag. Seb Coe seems to be behind this so the jury is out on wether this will be a true reflection on athletics in the UK. I don't see what his problem is with Linford Christie, and I don't think he really cares about developing athletics at grass roots-just below international standard.

That's where the champs are found. I know Uka try and make out everything is all great, fluffy and happy and that we are doing so well. When there are decent athletes dropping out of the sport left right and centre due to the lack of support at just below international standard.

Questionable selections of GB or England teams based on in my view (favoritism) and not hard figures or form. Stupid 'cut throat' selection policies that stop a developing athlete attending major champs just because they are a few hundreths outside of the standard or because they are 'too old'. If you are 26 and have not long been training fulltime and not been to a majors before, then can still be developing!

The disgusting treatment 'my view' of Chambers in this whole saga, that should be front page of this spikes mag, I might write to them and ask why this is not front page news. After all its whats people want to hear. Maybe they can explain there there is not a petition going around for Carl Myerscough or why it is ok for him to be selected for the Europa cup and Dwain not.

I read an article in the sun about Dwain, very good and I think he put his point across well. What the average person doesn't realise is that he was a 10.0x man before drugs and that he didn't really need to take them. He could be a used and a good advert to not take drugs and he could also point some fingers and help Uka catch some of these cheats which are still out there competing right now. But like you say, they just don't want to know. I hope he wins the case and goes. It will make my day if I hear that news.

These are negative stories but to taken seriously if the sport is to improve, they need to publish and talk about these issues. Removing the feed from their homepage wont stop people finding out, its in the papers everyday!

Maybe they can explain why someone ranked top 5 in the country holding down a fulltime job gets no support, or maybe they can explain why in the 'SOUTH OF ENGLAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS' there were only 2 participants in the mens 110m hurdles.....maybe something to do with the £12 entry fee and that's before you have travelled from Exeter to Crystal Palace!! ".

3/0708 "Although more would be nice, the UK doesn’t lack talented young athletes. Age group performances are going from strength to strength, and so long as we ensure and enhance the quality of preparation and coaching, there is a bright future for British Athletics"Collins

This is all about the "Funnel vision" . It is interesting, intellectually-I like this sort of thing, analysing trends,but I sell products. I think Collins summed it up in his first line-more would be nice. What I find strange is that UKA and some of the regions are making choices at an early age of who they will support. The burn out rate is very high at the moment- apart from those just getting injured. The pressure on young athletes to succeed, to focus on 2012 is unparralled in anything I have experienced in any sport in my now long life.The only thing I can compare it to is Germany prior WW2- and that is not exactly thrilling.

Lets get back to the basics-Athletics is an amatur sport(sic), the Olympics is a Friendly Games where Nations compete , and provide entertainment for millions throughout the world . Entertainment, friendly- just a bigger competition than the Schools sports day where it all began all those years ago.

Yes, Athletes want to win, that's why they compete .But it seems that the Heads of organisations are the ones who are really worried about success- they could lose their well paid jobs. Are we now seeing a sport driven to succeed by people earning 6 figure salaries, who have more to lose if they lost their jobs than the struggling athlete's on minimal funding who have given up a lot to try and compete at the Olympics.

We have a professionally paid staff looking after UK Athletics, most on above average salaries-some very well paid . We have some 60,000 Track and Field Athletes, of whom only probably 20 earn any decent money-maybe 50 on the average wage. UKA will not release figures, no surprise there.

But the figures that are available suggest a CEO of a Region is earning £55,000 (before performance bonuses) a UK Regional Director £60,000.

An Athlete on the fringes of GB team earns nothing-i.e selected once or twice. Well they have to work and train to try and compete for GB. Others get funded, miss drug tests and all is well.

If I ran the Sport I would be looking at developing depth in the sport- have at least a GB B team who could compete internationally-and would be asking European Athletics to allow the Home Nations -England, Wales and Scotland to compete as Independent Nations within Europe. N.I. should be with Ireland now, they are in most sports and Scotland will be independent soon. GB will therefore be England and Wales- and no prizes for guessing who the losers of this will be.

1/7/2008 " One thing that stuck with me this go round was how lonely doing poorly is… the lack of a coaching team is not noticed as much in the moments of greatness, but more so when those moments of the unknown approach and some emotional support is needed."Jesse Linscombe

1/7/2008 Welsh Athletics and Welsh Schools Combined events. Unusual in that Emily competed- never done a Combined Event before, but entered the U20 WSAA competition. She enjoyed it, a new experience and that's what it is all about sometimes, just enjoying the sport.

1/7/08 Note that UKA Athletics has not mentioned Dwain's runs , 10.05 yesterday after 10.06 at the weekend.. And they say it is not personal. They even have dropped the BBC feed. Sorry boys, this is childish- the guy ran a clean time- the court case is a against BOA is a seperate issue.

30/06/2008 The BOA/BAC are getting this wrong- getting Sports people to sign a petition to stop Dwain, and many were the same who said Christine Ohuruogu should be allowed to compete, despite technically committing a similiar offence. The BOA have failed in not getting all the Olympic Organisations to agree to a Ban after first offence- so on their own on this one.

We all want to see a drug free sport, so, as said before, get all Athletes/Sports people to sign a contract accepting that if they are found guilty of a drug offence, they will be banned for life- from ever competing again in any sport. The key is they must sign an agreement, a contract if you like accepting the rules.

This is the only way forward, but the hostility towards Dwain is unfounded- the by-law has been overturned- re Christine Ohuruogu and others. So it would appear that it is a by-law open to interpretation. The BOA (and I suspect UKA are in support) are yet again risking bring sport into disrepute.

They should just drop the by-law, work with the International community to develop a proper way of dealing with drug cheats-ban them from all sport for life. That is the only way. But taking on Dwain will end in tears, and I suspect Dwain will win- because of the ad hoc nature of the bye-law and the way it as been applied in recent past. The courts will look at issues of restraint of Trade, and the International scene. BOA are very isolated.

29/06/08 Dwain Chambers ran 10.06- so qualifies for Olympic selection. He will now take the BOA to court to overturn their Ban- which is unique to Britain. Dwain cocked up, no need to use drugs, he was good enough. He has though been honest and BOA need to avoid a costly Law case and let him run.

The BOA need to then work with other countries and get an agreed Drug ban in place.

The BOA bleat that they have limited funding(they posted losses of £1.3m lst year)- well this case could wipe them out if Dwain wins-which he should. Commonsense should prevail and the BOA need to accept they are out of tune Internationally.

BOA need to get off their High Horse attitude-use the same rules as the rest of the World. Sometimes it is better to admit defeat and address the problem- but Colin Moyniham seems determined to bankrupt the BOA, sadly an example of British arrogance and intransability.

Good luck Dwain, met him a couple of times and is a nice guy- just made a big mistake. If he was American he would be allowed to compete. He might just win a medal when he competes in Beijing.

28/06/08 A few years ago I suggested that the Celtic Games be expanded from 4 nations to 6 by inviting Cornwall and Isle of Man, maybe to 7 if Brittany were interested. I feel this option should be explored further to see if it would make the event more attractive to Sponsors, before the U16 competition is dropped.

27/06/08 WAA Track and Field committee minutes suggest that the U16 Celtic Games should be stopped ( for money reasons) , minimum standards for entry into Welsh Teams, and more.

I am so appalled about the attitude of WAA that I am going to get a petition to-gether to stop these people wrecking WAA for ever. So far stopped a trip to Australia for WSAA, No team for Youth Commonwealth Games and now this. Once I have typed it up, will be on-line.

27/06/08 The Cyber Event is coming together- Neuff have kindly agreed to sponsor one of the prizes, so please just join in- it is free, should be fun and involves no travel. In case you missed it a 3 event comp for kids born between 1992-5 over the Internet-200m, HJ and Javelin, held at any location between 27 August and 10 Sept 2008, Winner in each age/gender group wins £25.00. Simple.

27/06/08 WADA will apparently not allow this, but hair testing works and maybe could be more effective.

100m James Alaka
200m Chris Clarke
Richard Kilty
400m
Nigel Levine
Jordan McGrath
800m
Chris Smith
Rick Ward
1,500m Dave Forrester
James Shane
110m H Alex Al-Ameen
Edirin Okoro
400m H Nathan Woodward
High Jump Matthew Owens
Pole Vault Scott Huggins
Andrew Marsh
Shot Jamie Stevenson
Discus Curtis Griffith Parker
Brett Morse
Hammer Peter Smith
Decathlon Daniel Gardiner
4x100m Relay
Alaka Eugene Ayanful
Junior Ejehu
Kilty Dele Onifade
Olafunmi Sobodu
4x400m Relay
Chris Clarke
Robert Davis
Nigel Levine
Jordan McGrath

Women
Event
Athlete
100m Ashlee Nelson
Elaine O'Neill
200m
Shaunna Thompson
800m
Alison Leonard
Lynsey Sharp
1,500m
Emma Pallant
Steph Twell
3,000m
Jo Harvey
5,000m Emily Pidgeon
400m H
Meghan Beesley
Pole Vault
Jade Ive
Long Jump
Abigail Irozuru
Discus
Shaunagh Brown
Hammer Sophie Hitchon
4x100m Hollie Croxford
Torema Dorsett
Ashlee Nelson
Elaine O‘Neil
Anike Shand Whittingham
Shaunna Thompson

25/06/08 "Justin Gatlin isn't giving up his fight to earn a spot at the Beijing Olympics.The banned American sprinter's lawyer on Wednesday appealed a ruling made a day earlier by a U.S. federal judge in Florida that keeps Gatlin from competing in this weekend's U.S. Olympic trials."

He is appealing based on the fact his 2nd violation was in fact his first, as his first should not be counted- therefore a ban of 2 years. BOA should be watching this carefully, if Dwain blasts out at trials and wins , which he could, then BOA/UKA will be under threat of a law suit.The lesson UKA/BOA should learn is be in tune with International standards. Then there would not be a problem. UKA are just making it worse with selection of Myerscough for GB teams, and ignoring Dwain Chambers.

Institutional racism is a delicate subject- but the hatred from many towards the "setup"Linford , the failure to accept Dwain's admission of guilt and serving the accepted Worldwide penalty of 2 years makes one wonder about the sport in the UK. The many forget that originally UKA(of the then GBAthletics) found Linford not guilty. They bowed to pressure from others to ban him. UKA loss. Linford is a Star still, and loved by most . And from the reaction I saw to Dwain in Birmingham most applaud his honesty.

Must be gauling when others are fighting against a second offence to compete in Beijing.

25/06/08 The new Soundbite maestro of Athletics, CEO of WAA Matt Newman obviously has a touch of the Alistair Cambell's" “The weekend’s success is a clear indicator that the athletes who have been selected to the WTDA are benefiting from the support it provides. It is pivotal that our talented athletes of the future receive top coaching and sports science.“The progression of these athletes is testament to their commitment and talent but also of the new coaching team that has been put in place. I look forward to seeing them advance onto the UK Athletics World Class Performance Plan.”

The only flaw in this is that probably the best performance was from Bruce Tasker, in my opinion, who has been ignored by the WTDA for the last few years- unless he has suddenly "been " discovered by them. Bruce has been a top UK athlete for many years, I remember timing him once at a windy meet as a reserve timer(about the only time I did it)- for some reason we all missed the start after a false- he was not that pleased, he was 16 then.

Bruce is showing really useful speed over 200m for a man who was considered a 400m runner. Translate these 200m times into 400m and he will be a World medallist one day- well could be as a 200m runner if he keeps improving. The transformation was probably an Indoor 60m race he did- ran a quickish time for a big man who did 400m, chatted with him after and he had enjoyed it. looks like he is now mixing up the distances and getting better every race.

The Welsh coaches must love the slap in the face from Newman, who does not recognise the input they have made into these young athletes development- it is all about WTDA.

If I made such in considered comments in business, I would not have one. But keep spinning boyo's while you can, because the top always stops.

24/06/08 The England U20/23 results proves the point-many fewer turned up than entries. Just take U20W 200m only 18 competed, 100m 14. 14 in 400H (22 had entered). 16 in 800m and 1500m .

23/06/2008 Watched the European Cup this afternoon. It was interesting, a few new faces, some old names. What I found interesting was that some of the younger athletes had came through the collegiate USA system-some seem to still train out there.

UKA athletics really need to look at the whole University Athletics Scene in the UK- I am convinced that this is the time in life Athletes can develop full talent. Just look at the current UK eduction system- from aged 15 Mocks(and some real GCE's), 16 GCE's,17 AS levels, 18 A levels. So little time to really train if you want to do school work- and I would suggest education is very important -even if you want sport as an option. Injury could happen any time-at UKA are not that supportive, see Jade Johnson for example.

Linford Christie with John Humphries on Radio 4. Listen to it, Linford is articulate, he never cheated- and those who think he would have in Dortmund have an issue-along with Seb Coe. As Linford says how many Black Knights are there in Athletics- even Daley Thompon has not been Knighted. He was stiched up, and I believe this truly , he should be involved in UKA, and it is the loss of UKA/GB Olympics that he will not be at the Olympics,again.

Top guy, and UKA need people with his experience, enthusiam and willingness to give advice.

Hey,ho as we like to say, strange old world- the talented Jade Johnson, injury prone sadly, loses Funding, but Tomlinson keep's his. Phillips stated today he was going to change coaches for years- why did he not do it early- another weird one where he is now coached by the UKA Performance Director. If he had really been that unhappy with his coach for that long(as stated in his interview), why wait until he won the World Indoors- it makes no sense.

Not much does - looks like Christine O can decide what event she wants to run in- Emily Freeman has the best time, but relegated to 100m B Race- maybe a week was too late to let her run 200m, but from what Christine O said, she is telling UKA what she wants to do in preperation for Beijing.

Saunders, in my opinion will win this one between the two GB athletes. She has only just started her outdoor season, and her initial speed and stamina will place her over Christine O. Whether either can medal is another question, it is going to be probably the final to watch- I have Saunders Bronze and Christine O 5th. Saunders took it easy at Europena Cup over first 100m, if you recall the Indoor 400m she went through 200m a lot faster.

22/06/2008 Highland Cross results- a friend of mine(ex flat mate 28 years ago) came 169, which is a lot better than I could do-even if I as 30 years younger. Keep on trucking John(Andrew). ( Though I did beat him, up and over Arthurs Seat once- got him pissed the night before !!).

22/06/08 Comment received re U20/23, which I totally agree with- why Bedford a miserable track, with small stand and hard to get to from the West. "Read with interest your comments about the U23/U20's championships taking place this weekend. UKA staging them at Bedford makes about as much sense as those recent years they've put the senior trials on at Manchester- little. UKA bang on and on about how they want the juniors to be hitting certain targets, qualifiers, powerof10 marks and so forth, so what do they do? Put the main trials on at a venue which has little shelter and is often the subject of fierce swirling winds, having spoken to a few athletes its clear that Bedford is not a popular venue. What's the problem with staging this event at a venue more conjunctive to decent performances like Sheffield or Birmingham? It seems to work fine for the Under 17/15's; if UKA wants the times and performances they should start by giving them the track to do it on never mind the elite groups and talent initiatives and so forth, no one's going to run well with a 4m/s blast in their face."

21/06/08 Watched some of the Cup to-day. Jenny Meadows and Helen Clitheroe were superb, Edgar ran a good 100m- but lets be fair a long way off an Olympic Medal. Tomlinson disappointed, again. Strange to see Myerscough competing- one rule for one, one rule for Chambers. I missed Emma Anya's run- but seemed good. The GB Relay men got promoted to first, not their best effort, the women relay looked promising. Emily Freeman had a hamstring twinge, lets hope she will be OK. Saunders, an honest speaking, modest athlete did well in her frst race of the season. Rooney came through well, always looks slightky awkward to me as a runner, but no doubting his stamina and confidence.

21/06/2008 A quick look at AAA U20 Women entries, 100m 25, 200m 23,400m 27,800m 20, 1500m 26,3000m 15,100H 19,400H 22. SC 3,Walk 3, HJ 10, PV 16, LJ 10,TJ 13,SP 8,DT 9,HT 13, 15.

It's not working, is that the best UKA can do to attract young U20 Female athletes in an Olympic Year , World Junior and building up to London 2012 . I would be really worried if I was involved in UKA.

They have marginalized athletes with all the Regional Elite programme's- not increased participation. Time for a rapid re-think about strategy- of the entries, as we all know quite likely 25% will not attend.

UKA reckon its highly popular- well only amongst a dwindling few. And Bedford is a horrible track if conditions are not perfect.

21/06/08 "The Slovenian athletics association cleared long-distance runner Helena Javornik of doping charges despite two positive tests and asked the IAAF to lift a temporary suspension it imposed on her."

21/06/2008 "Despite all of the potential for great athletic competition at the highest level, there is a deafening roar that is louder than any cheers you will hear from any group of spectators who will attend the games and that roar is the sound of worldwide protest for the games being held in Beijing to begin with. It makes you wonder, in lieu of all of the worldwide protests to China's hosting the Olympics, how in the world were they ever awarded the games to begin with?"

Not that fmiliar with the story above, but since NX and Australia seem to be saying they will miss the opening ceremony to keep athletes away from the pollution, seems a weird choice of venue- well it always was, and why the IOC chose China will remain a mystery. But it will happen, lets hope no repeat of Munich.

20/06/2008 Cyber Multi-Events-The First competition will take place between Sept 1 and Sept 7.The events will be 200m, HJ and Javelin. Coaches will record performances and email in, trust is paramount. The best overall performances in each age group will receive £25.00 each Male and Female-Ages are 1992,1993,1994,1995- birth year between Jan 1 and 31 Dec.

Scores will be calculated as the usual Point Score sheets for Combined events in the UK. Athletes who wish to take part must register by 25th August. Full results will be on this site. Athletes should supply D.OB and Coach name and Coach email address. Open to all Athletes Worldwide. Winning Athletes will receive prize a month after the close of the event. This is an competition not held under any rules, other than that Coaches should declare accurate results for performances. Performances can be held at the Club track or from an event, as long as within the period. I reserve the right to question any unusual performances. If under 200 entries are received by the 25th August 2008, the event will be cancelled.

So just enter, it is free and easy just email me. Name, DOB,Gender Club, Coach and Coach email.

20/06/08 "HOPING TO recapture the form that won him a silver medal in the 100-metre dash at the World Athletic Championships in Helsinki in 2005, Michael Frater is approaching the upcoming Olympic trials with a sense of optimism..."

19/06/2008 One of the few things I do is type up the entries for the Welsh Schools Cup and Plate finals. A once a year job, and I just add the names and take to the printers. My third year and it always makes me reflect on two things:- typing the athletes names in each event you wonder which one will win-these are mainly School kids, not necessarily the best in Wales, it is a true team Schools event- the Schools as a Team go forward. Secondly the unpaid People who make these sort of events happen -unpaid Individuals from Welsh Schools Athletics Association and the Teacher at all the Schools who provide the kids with a chance to compete in a Welsh Team Schools Championship, and for most will be their first taste of an Athletics Championship. Some will remain in the sport and develop further.

This sort of event is true Grass roots stuff, often ignored, under funded, but without events like this what is the future of the sport.

In Wales without the individuals within the Welsh Schools Association, and other unpaid people who organise Athletics events in the principality it is hard to see how the sport would attract athletes. Probably true of the UK as a whole, Schools Athletics is the way kids get into the athletics, and the Sport Organisation's should not lose sight of this in the face of an obsession with London 2012.

Without the efforts of the volunteers who do the hard, un rewarded, grass roots stuff, there would be no sport. So next time UKA and the BOA have a meeting, reflect that the Billions being spent on London 2012, maybe throw a bit of cash to Grass roots- there will be athletics in the UK post 2012, which is after all just a couple of weeks in a lifetime.

For the young now it is 2016 and 2020, the Sport should be really aware of this. London 2012 is an event in an annual calendar of events. Lets make sure there is not a huge hangover post-2012.

Every year Athletes come along and join the sport- they will be to young to compete in London 2012, UKA need to realise this and work with grass roots to ensure that development continues . Life will continue post-2012, but not sure who is working on this.

18/06/08 Met Emily Freeman years ago in Cardiff at AAA- My Emily was a kit carrier. Impressed then, have followed her since and delighted she has made a big break through. Hard work through University and afterwards has paid off. I hope will now go further- though she has already done pretty well. But maybe as an individual rather than a member of the relay squad.

"Emily Freeman (Wakefield Harriers) moved into the ranks of GB’s elite women sprinters following an impressive sprint double in Leiden. Following a 100m where she won in 11.39, she then ran the best 200m of her life aided with perfect conditions to clock 22.72 (1.8m/s) to go to sixth on the UK all time list and top of the Power of 10 rankings"

18/06/2008 The more listen to The Old Flames, the more I love them. Check them out. And the squirrel that pops up is part of an internet Balloon race.Well, hell a bit tof fun and I earn't a tenner.

1 10.06 Tyrone Edgar
2 10.18 Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
3 10.18 Marlon Devonish
4 10.24 Dwain Chambers
5 10.26 Leon Baptiste
6 10.30 James Dasaolu
7 10.30 Mark Findlay
8 10.31 Christian Malcolm
9 10.32 Rikki Fifton
10 10.36 Simeon Williamson
11 10.38 Craig Pickering

17/06/08 Emily is on the University rounds- been to UWIC and to-day Bath. Interesting- UWIC no mention of Sport, Bath keen to promote Women in Sport- had no idea she was interested in Sport. The "Girls for Gold programme". Ok , Emily is still on the way back from injury, but neither Bath or UWIC knew she was even interested in Sport. Show's a different approach , Bath encourage sports as well as learning.

I have mentioned many times to WAA why do not have they have a programme to get Kids in Welsh Athletics to attend Welsh Universities- UWIC has great facilities. It is not just Athletics, across the Sporting board.

Welsh University fees are half the price for Welsh residents- why do not the Sports bodies in Wales use this to further encourgae Sporty kids to go to Welsh Universities.

WAA really need to work out a programme with UWIC to encourage Athletes to remain within Wales and develop talent- they have the Coaches, Facilities, but poorly marketed. This is a constructive criticism.

16/06/08 At least UKA knew what Christian Malcolm was planing this w/e- and it was not Swansea

15/06/08 Looks like WAA are now prone to exaggeration(See PR below)- the truth at Welsh Seniors- no Christian Malcolm, Iwan Thomas , Matt Elias- and Turner ran only in the Heats in a slowish time.

Why do they issue bullshit press releases- do they think the public will come and watch an event, and not complain when the star's are missing. The WAA are getting more chaotic by the month, someone needs to sort them out, because it obvious the current team are failing. Preferably some-one not from the Sport Council of Wales.

Maybe Mr Newman will re-consider his soundbite's- he does far too many, and usually obviously scripted by a PR officer.

And not many from other countries- so Open , but no-one was interested. Standards and numbers were disappointingly low- but since WAA decided not to send a Team to YCG, why should the younger athletes bother to enter.

That is the question Mr Newman should focus on- why should athletes in Wales bother.

"Britain's world champion Christine Ohuruogu won her first 400m race of the year , in 51.06."

12/06/2008 Welsh Seniors Champsthis w/e-they are promoting the return of Iwan Thomas and Doug Turner-I assume just a publicity stunt, though the return of Matt Elias shoud be a more serious run. Christian Malcolm is due to run, wth Rhys Williams and Bruce Tasker( described as rapidly improving though he was always pretty good -just the WAA who have not supported him).

Matt Newman, CEO, does his usual soundbit " Matt Newman from Welsh Athletics explained: “The field is very strong this year which makes the event a must-see for athletics fans, especially in the lead up to the trials for the Beijing Games.

“Not only will we see Olympic hopefuls such as Rhys and Christian but also up and coming talents who will be aiming to make their mark. Athletics in Wales has a long and illustrious history but the future is looking equally bright with emerging talents across a number of disciplines.”

It's as strong as who turns up- and 6 athletes do not make a Championship. This is the usual failure of marketing. If , before the closing date they had said so and so is running, I am sure many more would have entered. As it is, not the biggest field in the the world-entries are here, and unlikely all will attend. Why not state the events as well- make life a lot easier ? ( By the way Christian Malcom is not on start list as per WAA list)

Why do no event organisers just show who has entered , for what events, as they get entry forms. What's the problem with that? Easy enough, just a simple database. Athlete's will pick and chose events- well the clever will-the funded will know anyway who is competing.

Nothing wrong with transparency, it's not top secret and hardly life threatening.

I might just pop up to Swansea to see how the 41 year old Turner gets on, though more interested in watching Bruce Tasker have a good run. A guy who has a bundle of talent and seems to be-hopefuly- proving my argument that University and maturity is a good idea.

Matt, we have heard this byline a load of times, tell your PR woman(Is it the Sports Council of Wales woman) to come up with a new line. Maybe something like " the Athletes in Wales should have entered the Senior Champs to mix with some of Wales best talent"

PR = crap, if WAA had the slightest interest in the long and illustious history of WAA they would cancel the Party for the Empire Games and send the kids to India for YCG. Actions, not words, that would be nice.

12/06/2008 With great sadness I have just heard that Dwayne Stoddart has retired- huge talent, struggled to achieve in the UKA system that is so selective. The Man worked nights, days and still trained and did get his GB vest. Sadly injury has now forced him to retire. If only UKA was more interested in developing depth in talent- but, sadly for Dwayne his dream is over. A lovely man, great with the kids on his visit to Carmarthen, taught them so much, I hope that he will one day use his undoubted talents to help others in the sport of hurdles. Anyway his leaving message is on his site, the best site ever by an Athlete. Best of Luck, Dwayne,and your new family. The sport will miss you.

I normally hate making predictions,but I suspect Dwain will run sub 10 at the GB Trials if conditions are OK. We will wait and see.

Can't quite work this out - are UKA sponsoring the Bears, or what. Maybe some would could enlighten me because the UKA press release is hard to understand for a simple boy. Surely an Amateur sport is not giving any money to a Professional sport, though nothing would surprise me anymore.

10/06/2008 Carys Parry (Rhondda) set a new Welsh record in the Hammer with 66.93m to go 2nd in 2008 and 4th UK All Time – just 7cm off the Olympic B standard.

9/06/08 Been away , hence paucity of results, a wedding in London and a stay with my sister for a night. Met Mike, a friend of her's who is a musician as well as a Day worker. Cracking evening, the wine flowed , we chatted about music from the 1970's through to now.He gave me a couple of his albums, which I am listening to now. Good music if you like the progressive rock scene- which I do. They are called "The Old Flames" , link to the website . Well worth a listen to, I think you can download a few trial songs, or buy on line.

5/6/08 We are launching an International Run, Jump throw Competion-Internet based. Simply clubs worldwide who enter will be given the disciplines and a date for the event to take place. The event can then take place within 2 weeks- at the track or part of a meeting (Clubs will need to register to compete). Winning Club scores will be based on Club top 2 athletes entered over 7 age groups from 10 to16 (1 Jan-31 Dec)- winners will also be declared in each age group. All individual results will be published on this site. If your club would like to join in Email Me

5/6/08. "With competition for medals in Beijing this summer set to be the most intense in living memory, UK Sport and the British Olympic Association (BOA) today revealed some of the secrets behind their preparations for the world’s biggest sporting event.Whilst many commentators have been focusing on the role that factors such as pollution will play, the two bodies have singled out heat and humidity as the biggest environmental threats to success. UK Sport’s Research and Innovation Consultant, Dr Scott Drawer and the BOA’s Head of Sports Science and Research, Dr Marco Cardinale, have responded to the challenge by seeking out the UK’s leading experts in the management of thermal stress and the effects of travel and jet lag to ensure Team GB’s athletes line up in the best possible shape."

4/6/08" In a little over two weeks time, the SPAR European Cup, the world’s premier international athletics team competition, will take place for the final time in Annecy, France.In 2009, this will be replaced by a brand new competition known as The European Team Championships.This new championship will introduce some of the most innovative competition changes to the sport of athletics, in order to make the competition more intense, more media friendly and more relevant.Central to these changes is an expansion of the number of teams competing in the top divisions, which will increase from 8 to 12, while the overall winning team will be decided on a combined total of both men and women’s individual results.The competition will consist of the standard 20 track and field events for both men and women, meaning that 40 different results will combine to see an overall winning team crowned Champions of Europe!

The overall structure of the competition has also been made clear, with the top 12 teams taking part in the SPAR European Team Championships, the next 12 teams in the First League, the next 8 teams in the Second League and the remaining teams in the Third League.A number of the individual events have also been modernised to make them more exciting for TV viewers and spectators."

31/5/08 "More results from les Jeux Des Iles! Unfortunately the website results are a little behind, so I am just sending the facts: times and distances are hopefully going to be published soon on www.croji2008.com.

Anyway, the Jersey athletes achieved an unprecedented 12 medals in total:
4 I have already sent you, but the rest are as follow:

Zane Duquemin(16) GOLD in men's discus
Felicity Johnson-Deeley(15) 2 SILVERS, in 800m and 3000m
Girls' 4x400m relay squad SILVER
Stephen de la Haye (17) SILVER in men's high jump
Kathryn Rothwell(15) SILVER in women's shot putt
Nicola Milner(16) BRONZE in 800m
Lisa Luce(15) BRONZE in 400m hurdles

The girls finished 3rd in the Women's athletics team event and the whole athletics team finished 7th (out of 16) overall, which is a best ever finish. They have had the closing ceremony and the long journey home starts this evening. Hopefully, if the French fisherman do not blockade the port of St Malo, they will get back at 17.00 tomorrow, no doubt with quite a tale to tell! It has been an unforgettable trip, according to my very excited daughter!!

30/05/2008 "Last year’s dinner was by invitation only but was still a sell-out. However, this year’s event will be open to everyone and those wishing to attend should log-on to the Welsh Athletics website to get ticket details."

Touch of deja vu here, not hard to have a sell out dinner when by Invitation only. WAA are having another Glam evening to celebrate 50 years of the Empire Games. Not my birthday.

That's a weird one, celebrate 50 years of the Empire Games (now Commonwealth) and be the only Nation within the UK not to send a Team to the Youth Commonwealth Games. They appear to be oblivious to the irony. Hope they enjoy their evening- and forget the kids they have let down."""

"Welsh Athletics is in touch with many of the Welsh officials and athletes who took part 50 years ago, but in particular they are trying to locate those who have not been in recent contact. So any 1958 Welsh team members and Welsh officials who have lost contact with Welsh Athletics should call Karlijn Asveld at the Welsh Athletics office on 02920 644870 to receive an invitation."

Hey ho , lets have a Party, stuff the kids. It is far better to look back than forward.

30/05/2008 If I was a bit younger I would probably be interested in this ad- interesting software platform

29/5/08 "After battling it out at local and regional level, the best of Irish schools’ athletics talent will get set to compete at the highly anticipated KitKat All Ireland Schools Track & Field Final on Saturday, 31st May 2008 at Tullamore Harriers Stadium. This yearly event is the culmination of months of tough competition for schools’ athletes throughout Ireland, who have progressed through regional and provincial championships to secure their much sought after place in the All-Ireland final."

29/05/08 "BLACKHEATH and Bromley Harriers' pole vaulter Scott Huggins coped admirably with the wet and windy conditions at the CAU Inter Counties Championships at Bedford, writes Pat Calnan."

29/05/08 As part of the on-going process to evaluate and finalise the regulations for the newly created European Team Championships, which will come into force in 2009, European Athletics has chosen six Premium and Permit Meetings in which to test these regulations over the summer season.

28/05/2008 Best idea I have heard for ages- "It may be worth athletes and their coaches and any available club officials setting aside I session per fortnight to do a run jump and throw mini comp under rules (events to be decided amongst athletes/coaches) held at each athletes local track then presenting scores/performances on this forum at a given time with someone taking responsibility to correlate them.This saves on time, petrol, and could be a great fun thing to do given the scarcity of multi event competition and the cost of travel, it could be 3 to 5 events on a Saturday or Sunday morning, it would require total honesty by those doing the timing and measuring.You could invite multi eventers from all around the world to join in on a set date or dates within a certain week or week end.What do YOU think about this idea? "

It is Green, Cool and would be fun for the athletes. Add your comments on the forum- but this could be a way forward where Athletes could inter-act Worldwide over a 24 hour period.

28/05/2008 My reaction to Welsh athletics decision re my application is on the forum , I do not want to waste space here and take away from the Jersey Athletes success-below.

28/05/08 Report "Very happy to report that our Jersey youngsters are having an absolute ball in Guadeloupe, at the Jeux Des Iles competition. Thought you would be very interested to hear that the French Olympic Committee has invested 4 million Euros in the event........obviously talent-spotting!! Anyway, to results, which can be verified on www.croji2008.com or commented on at www.bbc.co.uk/jersey and www.thisisjersey.com:

Men's 5kg shot Silver medal to Zane Duquemin ( age 16) 16.29m pb. Have a look at the U17M rankings!!
Women's 400m Gold medal to Gemma Dawkins (age 17) 57.35s pb
Women's 1500m Silver medal to Felicity Johnson-Deeley ( age 15) 4min 47.95 s Women's 1kg discus Silver to Kathryn Rothwell (age 15) 37.02m pb.From the Isle of Wight, and fellow Hampshire athlete, Lizzy Lovegrove, won a bronze medal also in the discus with a pb throw of 32.02m. Not a bad haul which happened in the space of a hour yesterday!!"

27/05/08 My application to be an associate member of WAA was rejected "In summary of the decision, it was felt that the views expressed on your website were not in line with the company’s requirement that an associate status member “is prepared to support the objects of the company”.

Obviously not sending a team to the Youth Commonwelath Games is supporting the "objects of the company"-or not supporting some of the best Senior athletes in Wales.

26/5/08 Email in "An excellent analogy of the current situation in G.B, UKA promised big cuts but seem to be setting more and more staff on, De Voss and Warner are as quite as church mice so no one can complain about what they say or do given no one knows what they are doing ..even they don't by the look of things either.

Anyone caring to debate this subject in an open and frank manner are welcome to get it off their chests here;
http://athleticsdaily.proboards104.com/index.cgi"

26/5/08 Banner added to Canterbury clothing of NZ. Emily is very happy with the kit they sent her- it certainly seems to have helped by putting on after training . Have a look- baselayer is the range.

They rely on volunteers to recruit youngsters and guide them through skill levels at school, club, area, national and international levels with little or no expense to themselves.[uka]……

oh and get the volunteers to fund their own training and knowledge base…once you have achieved that and produced an athlete of some standing…they…

Then take these athletes, when they are older, mainly at university age, wrap them into the HPC cloak and declare to the world what a great job they have done in producing a great athlete.

They then can justify their system, their salaries and their expertise to their sponsor, - and where did it all start - mainly because someone, somewhere has been willing to give up their time at their own cost to encourage youngsters to take up the challenge of athletics and give them all the support they need to achieve their goal.

25/05/08 Athletics an amateur sport- lets for get it . Will some-one not just come out and say it has become professional- the winner of the 100m Sprint at london GP will win £25,000. That's not a bad sum for 9 secs of running. The Organisers can obviously afford these sums of prize money, though quite how I am bit confused about- how do the financial's work.

We have a sport where Athletics for the whole is under funded- but there seems to be loads of money to attract a few to compete- even in an event that has been rent asunder with drug scandals.

To be frank, the sport should just go professional- well admit it. Then we can all see Athletes in the UK benefit from the increased funding that will follow when UKA have worked out how to maximize their income stream and support Athletics development. Since we have a Professional- and expensive-structural Organisation, lets go the whole way, and then we will have more Athletes who have talent focus on competing and not have to work night shifts.

No wonder UKA love the youngsters, they are cheap to fund, live at home and are anxious to please.

25/05/08 Lee McConnell had a good run at FBK-Games, breaking the meet record with 51.66. A new World Junior record - Kenyan 800 m Pamela Jelimo in clocked a new world junior record 1:55.76.

25/05/08 Jodie Williams(U15) from Herts Phoenix AC ran 11.71 a CBP at SEAA U15/17 Champs. Results up shortly.

24/05/08 "CAMBRIDGE Harriers made it two wins out of two in the national young athletes league after another convincing success at Lee Valley on Sunday"

24/5/08 Email received "I am writing from Jersey, having just seen my 15 year old daughter and 38 other young sportsmen and women off on their journey of a (so far) lifetime to the Jeux Des Iles ( French Island Youth games) to be held in Guadeloupe between 25th and 30th May.

Ever since 2004, the Education Sport and Culture Department of the States of Jersey ( our local Government) has facilitated and subsidised our 12-17 year old swimmers, tennis and table-tennis players, gymnasts, sailors, rugby players, surfers and athletes in their participation in this fantastic event. Three years ago my son went to Crete; the year before the group went to Gran Canaria. They have also been to Corsica and Sicily.

The event is very well organised: the participants do not have to pay for food, accommodation or internal transport as these costs are met by the host island, and the youngsters are accommodated in tourist quality hotels. The competition is high-class with islands such as Barbados, Haiti and Cuba taking part. The only other English speaking island to take part is the Isle of Wight.

So, it is an amazing cultural and sporting opportunity for our children. My daughter, has been looking forward to this event for three years. It is possibly the "carrot" that has kept her in the sport of athletics. She is part of a small, successful but largely uncoached group of young throwers here in Jersey, all of them being top 10 UK ranked in at least one throwing event last year. Shadine Duquemin was ranked number 1 at both U13 shot and discus!!

This year, journalists from BBC Radio jersey and our local newspaper, The Jersey Evening Post are travelling with the group to give comprehensive coverage of the event, and they will be sending twice daily reports home. Such is the local interest in the event!!

If you have time and are interested, have a look at the Jeux Des Iles website: www.croji2008.com. It is a truly amazing opportunity for the youngsters!!!"

23/05/2008 Forum site back up-thanks to Slick Click who resolved the issue- well out of hours. Been with them for years, they are great, always available.

23/05/2008 "The documents include a 2004 letter from Lloyds bank about the Blairs new interest-only £297,000 mortgage on Myrobella and a letter from the Commons authority agreeing to pay the monthly interest bill. Much of the Additional Cost Allowance went on repairing constituency homes - one invoice from 2005 shows Gordon Brown spent £4,471 on renovating his kitchen. "

How do these people have time to run the country- they seem to be spending their time on fleecing the Tax Payer. Gordie has of course overseen a huge increase in the Tax burden on the Country- by stealth. He know thinks he can persuade us he has the ability to get us out of the mess he created- Gordie, my fuel bill just to get to work has gone up by £800 p.a, and I only drive 26 miles a day- and I have to because there is no public transport system left in that weird world outside of London- the Countryside.

Wish I could get a job where I could run a 2nd Home payed by the tax payer- well actually I would not because I have morals. Morals seem to be sadly lacking in the Political World- Get well paid, your wife writes a book, earns loads of money. Then you write a book and get more money. Why does anyone actually buy this crap- are we interested in what they have to say- Cherie Blair(Booth) got pregnant at Balmoral- too much information- guess the Scottish water got to them. Who wants to know this.

Maybe the same in Sport- expenses flying around . You cannot serve a Freedom Of Information Act on most of the Sports bodies-strangely, believe me I have tried. They are-or claim-to be exempt. Students of the legal sytem, will note that have incorporaed themselves as Ltd companies- to remove personal liabilty, but as select Ltd Companies- exploiting a loop hole in Company Law where they limit their liability (the directors) but have no real shareholders- no one owns shares in these now Ltd Companies.

So the Directors have some protection-and no real shareholders. Clubs within the Region have the abilty to vote at the AGM, quite what they can do is a mystery to me.

So I cannot make a bid for Welsh Athletics Ltd, because there are no shares to buy. I could not even set up rival Ltd Company, bcause UKA would not recognise it.

That's the UK way , protect institutions and keep it nice and cosy. Maybe it is time they opened up a bidding process to run Sports bodies- the Gov have done it with prisons, why not Sport. Then we might see some serious input of Cash-it is obvious that in many circumstances sponsors are not investing in the Sport because they have no faith in the administrators of the sport. You can only be a leech for so long, and businesses will no longer tolerate non-perfoming investments.

Business Investors want to see development in Sport- they invest to get a high profile (and so get a return). Not for fun. Brains brewery have supported Welsh Rugby for years- this year it paid off hugely. WAA need this sort of serious support and UKA must be concerned whether the Norwich Union support will continue post the merger.

No sensible Company will support a sport unless they think it is reaching all- and Athletics needs to really focus on whether they are interested in the whole of the sport or just the chosen few.

Or do you let a funded Athlete go off and trampoline about- and get badly injured. All for Athletes enjoying various sport, but if you are going to fund them, tell them just one sport- then up to them. It is not" lucky" to get injured in another sport, it should not have been allowed-if funded. Other sports have dropped Elite players for wandering off and going skiing.

UKA must use their money carefully, funded athletes must sign a contract: 1) They will concentrate solely on Athletics,2) train only in the UK unless overseas with a UKA approved Coach 3) Sign a contract that states if they miss a drug test or fail a Test they will never be allowed to compete in UK Athletics again.

23/05/2008. As I write 39 Athletes from Jersey are en-route to the Jeux Des Iles in Guadeloupe- the French Youth Island Games. Have a look, in French, but an English page available. A fantastic opportunity for the Youngsters from Jersey.

23/05/08 "Llanelli’s Caryl Granville is aiming to finish in the top two in the Welsh Senior Athletics Championships next month in Swansea even though she’s been out of action for the last four weeks with an achilles strain and sitting her A-level exams. Tipped as a star for the future, the 18-year-old is hoping to be back in training next week and - as well as the Welsh Championships - is also looking for a good performance in the English Championships that incorporate the World Junior Trials from 21-22 June in Bedford to be considered for selection in the World Junior Championships in Poland in July." WAA news.

She should get Gold at Welsh Seniors- I hear that Anwen Rees has a bad injury and may not be able to compete again this season.

23/05/08 Lost in translation "For Liu, his first heat on Thursday was a valuable chance to test the Mondo rubberised Olympic track surface for the first time."It reaches international standards," he said afterwards. "It is not too soft and not too hard."

23/05/08 Seems like a lot of athlete's are injured at the moment- well many I know. Google "Why do athletes get injured "and little info, lots of advic about drills etc, but nothing on why it happens.Obviously in contact sports people get hurt- thats the nature of the sport. I can understand why a triple jumper and long jumper get injured- hitting the ground hard constantly ( my undoing as a bowler with a now 30 year old back problem and I was only Medium paced at the best with a good following wind). But thats an impact situation. Throwers I can understand.

Why do so many runners get injured with regularity. I have no idea, but am beginningto suspect that over-training might be a cause. If you know, or have a theory, please let me know- I am beginning to question the wisdom of Young athletes training more than 2/3 days a week- and by Young I would mean up to the age of 18-20.

Young women seem to be injured in particular-which opens an interesting debate on the female time clock. Not just sport, but business, where women know that to succeed and have a family they have a limited time span. (I am no suggesting for a moment that women should have a family to be fufilled). But biologically it is a fact and on Radio4 the other morning a successful woman was saying that she had left it too late to have children -following her business career in the City and now bitterly regrets her life choice- not being able to have children, which was the only hurdle she could not overcome. Maybe that is why women will push themselves harder in sport(and business), they know that they have a more limited time to succeed (if they want children), ignore pain until it is too late and the sporting injury is severe, less likely to take time out to recover fully.?

I just repeat things I have picked up, I am certainly no expert, but it is an interesting area for debate.

22/5/08 EAA have not responded re query on early closing date for AAA U20/23- this Sunday. So if you want to compete, yo need to send your entry form in to-morrow at latest.Entry Form is here

21/05/08 Heard back from Drug Free UK- using hair is not a technique approved by WADA, so not able to use. I can understand that- you need to use an approved technique to ensure convictions. So I have mailed WDA asking the same question. It would seem this technique would be more effective, and half the cost of existing tests. I will wait to hear from them.

I had a really interesting email which supports many of the ideas I have floated. He/She agreed with the concept that Dwain was in the USA and "swamped by the pervasive drug culture that is obviously second nature in some training camps" and "I think it is clear that there are some (many?) athletes, coaches, managers/agents, doctors, physios that are simply thumbing their noses to the testing authorities because it doesn't matter to them that there is testing because the current testing protocols/regimes leave so many holes that it is easy to evade such testing. A hair test if it could be formulated for the various PEDS (and why not since the testing procedure is already in use and accepted as evidence in court) would really shake the sport up. Four tests per year for the top say 20 athletes in each event - if it were possible to get accurate results would the authorities take it up?"

The cost seem reasonable- about half of the current dope tests, though there would be an initial set up cost - but whatever the initial cost "it is clear to me that as society, not just within the limited confines of the particular sport, we cannot afford to allow the cheaters to continue to cheat and devalue the sport - which in turn devalues society".

We will see what happens- looks like a useful new test if WADA are really serious about stamping out drugs. Maybe it will be too thorough ?

BOA, Coe et al must have thought they could walked over Dwain, never though he would have challenged him. Coe might find that Chambers is as tough as he(Coe) was when competing, and the mighty Lords might rue the day they took on Dwain. They whinge that Dwain is discrediting sport- well they need to look at themselves and maybe realise that an isolated view is the problem- and probably illegal. Get the tests right and just ban all who fail- missed tests as well as drug failures. That's right all who missed three tests as well as those who failed drug tests-OK.

"I agree with your comment re: the early closing date for these championships. In some events, e.g. 3K Steeplechase, there have been virtually no meetings so far where athletes could attempt to achieve the qualifying time (National Junior League and most County Champs are 2K). I did raise this with EA by e-mail but got no reply."

20/05/2008 EAA U20/23 Standards/Entry form. Meeting 21 June Closing date 25/5/08. Seems a little early as some Athletes are only starting their season on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May. That is their problem, but obviously Athletes should start early in the cold.. It is not that hard to let Athletes enter up to 7 days before an event- it's called the Internet. Ring me if you cannot work this one out. Maybe though they do not want that many to compete- well seems designed like that .Or maybe they have enough already. I do wonder if UKA/EAA actually want to develop depth in sport in the UK.

20/05/2008 Tomorrow I will have been maried for 20 years, in 10 days I will be 50 . I spend about 700 hours a year on this site.So do me a favour for my wedding anniversary, celebrate my 50th by voting for Carmarthen and their initaive to support Athletics in West Wales.The prize would hugely help the development of Athletics in West Wales and would be therefore the best 50th present I could have-my daughter has had so much enjoyment due to West Wales athletics. Please, just click here and sign up and support the Club- it would really help .

17/05/2008 New link for MY MUSIC- a musical story spare you who are not interested. MY POLITICS will follow. Keep this main page clean for athletics news.

16/05/08 As predicted on these pages Dwain is launching a legal appeal against he BOC by-law. Again as suggested looks like Carl Myerscough will join in. I am sure others, like Janine Whitlock will look on with interest. BOC and UKA have got them selves in a mess. Dwain is not appealing, a I understand it, he is going to challenge the legality of the bye-law.If BOC lose, and looks likely they will could be an expensive loss- Myerscough and Whitlock could argue they have lost earnings due to their ban from the Olympics-could be more who will claim the same.

Dwain has played this well- he is a Sportsman. He has demonstrated that he is unable to earn an income from other sports- tried to get employment in American Football and Rugby League, but failed. So the only Sport he can perform in, for his country , will not allow him to compete at the Olympics, so removing his ability to earn an income.

I suspect he will win- if he loses this he will no doubt appeal to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport)- who have just announced that Oscar Pistorius can compete for a place in the Olympics, overturning the IAAF ruling, banning him.

To me, not that I study law, it seems pretty simple. BOC have a unique bye-law. If Chambers was American he would be eligible to compete. Derek Pound has come out saying he thinks the BOC bye law is not legal. those so anti him competing should be nervous.

The BOC have a chance to just back down and avoid expense, admit badly advised and sue their lawyers. Or they can fight this, lose maybe many millions. The BOC operates like a club, they have a view on the Olympics, that's fine. But the world has changed, athletics is not a gentlemanly past time- these Olympic athletes are earning serious money.And when it gets serious, the Lawyers get hungry.

I am not sure the BOC actually have the reserves to get sued and lose, so its going to be a rock and roll ride for the next few months. I am sure the BOC will try and delay any court case post Beijing- Dwain's lawyers of course will be prepared for that.

It is an example of poor Governance- rule one in life is do not be exposed- and the BOC have, by their bye-law. Did they not see what the rest of the world do. Of course ,as argued below, it should be tightened up and changed worldwide-but taking a lone view is always potentially risky.

Dwain caused this- and that will never be forgotten. I hope the rules will be tightened up Worldwide so we never see this again. If the World had a common strategy, then we would not be talking about this issue so often. I am not trying to absolve Dwain from guilt, he cheated- and thats depressing for all involved. But we must seen to be fair and in accordance with worldwide practices, until they are changed.

16/05/08 Drug testing- this is an interesting fact emailed into me -Body hair -either chest or axillary hair can be tested. Testers can also use pubic hair (the slowest growing hair, I am told)."The composition of body hair is different from head hair in that it contains more "resting phase" hair and less "growing phase" hair - head hair is the reverse. The analysis of a 3cm section of body hair will tell you what drugs someone has used in approx. the last 3 months."

Now that's interesting, will stop the "cheating" Conte referred to about athletes stopping and starting . Why are the authorities not doing this- maybe it is expensive to analyse, but would seem to be a serious answer to the problem. And probably more pleasant for the athletes.

15/05/08 The Dwain Chambers/Conte letter in full. I must say it is an extraordinary letter- probably one I would rather not have seen published in a way- I added because its in the Public domain already. What Dwain did is interesting and I applaud Dwain for finally coming out into the open- I have been suggesting this for years, even if he read's the site.

I found the bits about how Athletes cheat using devices like filling the mobile phone up, the use of "wake up" drugs, undetectable scary. Sport has to address all these issues seriously, I had no awareness of the following "Modafinil was used as a "wakefulness promoting" agent before competitions. The purpose was to decrease fatigue and enhance mental alertness and reaction time. A 200mg tablet was consumed one hour before competition. Liothryonine was used help accelerate the basic metabolic rate before competitions. The purpose was to reduce sluggishness and increase quickness. Two 25mg tablets were taken one hour before competition. There is no test available for liothryonine at this time. "

I had always assumed most drug use was to help with training recovery periods enabling harder and more frequent training. These drugs Liothryonine and Modafinil must be well know to Elite athletes worldwide. How many have therefore used them ?

Is the sport actually so tainted that since the tester's are always going to be behind science it is always going to be a catch up game-and this is for Athletics an amateur sport .

Maybe we have to just accept that training of the Elite is always about making the body do unnatural things and reluctantly accept that there is nothing much different between an athlete using drugs as compared to an athlete using financial resources to train at Higher than natural(for that individual) altitude- .i.e. mimicking the effects of using drugs.

WADA have to make a choice- either just let them get on with it or come out with a policy that any drug failure (missing tests or being found guilty) results in a Lifetime ban - no excuses. They will run the risk of a test case against them for preventing an Athlete earning an Income, but the National Bodies will have just to cover themselves by getting all Sports people to sign a contract accepting the rules. Athletes will whinge and say that their drinks might get spiked, but they will have to just make sure that an athlete can have their drinks secured if they are that concerned. If Athlete's will really stoop that low, then we have a very poor state of affairs and people involved who should do something else- like rob banks. Surveillance cameras are cheap, that will solve that.

But the need to do something, Dwain's admissions show's a maturity and willingness to help- a bit overdue, but he has done it. Let him run in the Olympics, but lets see the rules toughened up substantially, or just drop the whole anti-drug programme. There can be no half way house, no 2 year bans or appeals. Missed tests-guilty, Failed tests guilty- life time ban. That's what I would like, but I am not the one who could be sued by an outraged athlete Dwain is one of the few who has put his hands up and admitted guilt- more than the authorities actually knew. After reading this letter 3 missed tests would seem generous- make it one missed test and then another within 24 months banned-for life.

Drastic and harsh action is needed to clean up the Sport- and if it means a raft of athletes are removed from competition- so what. A deterrent can only work if it it is really harsh, so make it such. Conte is more or less saying WADA do not have a clue.

A large part of the problem in Athletics is that it is a statistical sport- it is easy to compare the best against History because we have records. Records are there to be broken, obviously, and that is the driving force in almost all commentary and ranking tables. Rarely do you listen to a commentary that does not mention a World, a British or a League Record. Any report will state, even at the lowest level, how many Records were broken. This means that athletes are constantly been driven to break records, to prove they are the best ever- been there, thrilled when my daughter broke records-winning is not enough, but easily compared to previous athletes- "Well they won, but in a slow time, the record is..." You know what I mean.

So to be the Man/Woman, walking Tall you need a Record. Then your there.. no wonder people decide to cheat- the financial rewards are there.When you have sponsors offering huge sums for a WR at a competion...just winning a competion is not enough.

15/05/08 Watched the Global Village doc just now- too late last night- felt he tears welling up, brought back so many memories of the 1970's, you really should try and watch it. Listened to the Band in 1974/5, and from time to time since- have their albums. It is a wonderful snap shot of now and then as they reformed last year for a gig. Bought it all home, the hopes and dreams some of us had in the 1970's. Whilst never actually living in the commune, I was a part time roadie for another band, Here and Now, played with Steve'The Fish' Hillage and Daevid Allen of Gong. We toured in a Bus, played free concerts, even in a sand pit under the Nottinghill flyover as I recall. Free gigs, we used to collect food- mainly rice and lentils at the gigs. They lived in a similair ramshackled house- some-times in Nottinghill then in Kingston. My job ,when about ,was normally lifting speakers, drums and turning off devices that would cut the power off in the sound got to loud in CommunityHalls- involving balancing chairs on top of each other- ladders could have been too simple and we did not have any. Everyone was beautiful, the girls floated around the stage mysteriously unavailable. They are still around tried to set up a gig in a Castle in Wales a few years ago, but came to nothing sadly. Wonderful times, and I still beleive in the values- and that comes acrss in the Global doc- several now very successful, but still believe. Yesterday, but yesterday was 32 years ago.

A golden period- but we also had the IRA bombings, Miners Strike and and economy lurching into disaster. Who remembers the IMF moving in to rescue GB.

Nothing to do with Athletics, except the message is maybe be true to yourself- it works.

15/05/08 Weird things- one of the Bands I have a vinyl still is Global Village Trucking Co- well the only one is a double featuring them- and the BBC have a doc on them, I must be old. On BBCi for a few days.

15/05/08 I get loads of emails re new ideas about sport. This one looks good- with 2 daughters, I am huge fan of any iniative to get girls into sport- Sportsister. General female sport's site, "Sportsister has been set up to become a voice for women’s sport in the UK.We want to make sport attractive and appealing to women. We don’t want females to feel intimidated by sport.We want sport to be accessible for all, whether you are a competitor, an interested spectator, a keep fit fan or simply someone looking to get involved.We want to present the sports world to you in a female friendly and supportive manner."

14/05/2008 Lets be Radical. Disband the current UKA and replace it with Elite Athletics UK. This body will deal with all the Elite and viewed as potential elite athletes.UKA will exist as a small organisation responsible for overall governance- a couple of staff at most.

Elite Athletics UK will employ those it considers necessary to provide support to UK Elite athletes(within its budget)- its sole focus and therefore providing teams for GB. England Athletics closed, replaced by a committee from the Areas set up within England , to run the English AA champs and select the English Teams.

Since the organisation of most major UK athletics events is outsourced to Fast Track, that will continue. Tenders however would be put out for any organisation interested in organising events and tenders accepted not only on ability but creative input.

The Central Funding for Athletics in the UK will be then divided between the areas comprising GB pro-rate, based on numbers of athletes who are active members of clubs. The New Regional Bodies created- ,East Midlands,London, North East,North West,South East,South West,West Midlands,Yorkshire and Humberside and the nations Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will therefore receive considerable increased funding.

They will be responsible for the development of Athletic within the regions- responsible to the athletes and coaches within the region, through fair election of non-execs, since most are Ltd now.

Why do this- because it is apparent that UKA is singularly focus on the Elite building up to 2012. As a result it would seem the Regions- through development officers are focusing on the same small group-their Elite.

UKA is now a misnomer-well always has been - teams compete as GB & NI- it is now all about Elite, and as such is causing loads of issues within the sport.

Totally ineffective governance, I suspect using the "umbrella" of developing Athletics to ensure funding for the Elite- no Government would fund a sport that actually admitted it was only interested in them-the Elite. So many thousands spent on providing ranking tables, playing the game, talking the walk and doing nothing at grass roots level to develop depth in talent. Has UKA ever made comment about the loss of playing fields- if so missed it.

Other sports are doing so much to encourage athletes, keep them interested and encourage them. UKA is the Sloan ranger of sport, thinks it is so important, all that matters, the Blue Riband event in the Olympics.

A casual look at the Regional Champs shows the problem- 2 or 3 U20 athletes competing in a few events, maybe 20-30 as U15. Where do they go ?

In my opinion it comes back to lack of development within Universities- the time as one of the people on the Forum said they have time to make a choice. UKA as far as I can gather has little involvement in University athletics. Have a look at the USA University Athletics scene- just Google it. Loads- I get 20 comments a day about USA College/University athletics. From the UK none.

Athletics must be unique in its total failure to develop depth in events, and to conclude when you have a paid talent Development Officer in a blanket finish of a race not to talk to the 2nd and 3rd and encourage them , just about sums it up.

P.S Rember Jilted John-"Gordon is a Moron" now on You tube. Now what make me think of that- 1978- little did we know then what we now know. Strange world.

13/05/2008 Any other County results let me know. I am off to bed having listened toWales best ever rock band "Man" all evening- back in the 1970's, Deke Leonard. Rolled into a bit of Hawkwind"Silver Machine", they played at my Uni freshers ball- not that I was there that long-Uni that is, loved Hawkwind, I think I did some "free poetry" before they came on stage- but it was 1976, ,I was 18 , so forgive me if you were there. Doubt you were unless, very old like me.

13/05/08 "The second paragraph of the attached leaflet explains how the Standards were revised in October/November 2006.

I know there are some anomalies eg in the Under 15 Girls 3000 metres the grade 2,3 and 4 times are superior to those for Under 17's. I put this down, in part, to the fact that Under 17 women can do the 3000 metres in the Young Athletes League. Hence there are a greater number of performances but many of a lower quality of athletes trying to get a point for their club. In the Under 15 age group I believe the smaller number of performances were from athletes who had a wish to contest the event and so the performance level is higher."

Looks like I am on the right line-standards are down to the numbers of athletes doing the events- so I guess they take % view. Bit like the old way of doing A levels- top 5% marks got an A, etc. Don't have a huge problem with that, if the case, a standard should mark the the top % -. If there are anomalies, due to numbers competing as I understand it. Shame this does not go on to Olympic, World Champs,Euro Champs where we take the best 2 in each event and they compete- forget amy qualifying standards. Then we will give athletes experience and who knows, some may rise to the challenge.

A GB Team, or a regional English, N.I, Scottish or Welsh Team should be funded to have a full team at all levels. That is for any International Match- whether Junior or Senior. Funding therefore should be in place to make sure that all the components of GB had a full youth team at Commonwealth Games-that would include Jersey and Isle of Man. So costs a few quid, but is not that a better use of money than pouring cash into elite athletes for London 2012- who could- hopefully not-be injured that year- we have all seen it happen.

UKA seems to be placing their bets on an increasingly small number of athletes. I believe this is wrong-as a taxpayer, if nothing else. I would rather see all Nations well funded to compete as Nations-then let a GB team be selected. What we are seeing is a huge amount of cash being spent on selected athletes-the gamble. It is fundamentally unfair, depriving other athletes of opportunities- within the regions who cannot afford to send Teams when they have a chance-like the Commonwealth Games, and depriving good English athletes the chance to compete as a B Team. Other sports manage this a bit better, but it would be hard to have a Welsh B Rugby Team of 7 players against 15. But they do play 7's, so maybe should wake up and have international competitions where you have just 7 in a team ?

Cut down the events and have a full head to head competition in selected events-which could revolve. You would have more TV coverage as would take less time. Pretty simple to me.

Athletics in the UK has a huge chance to implode and isolate many. They have got to forget the obsession with the Olympics and focus on grass roots- the public(general) are not that bothered. The people obsessed with the Olympics are those paid in UKA and the few athletes who hope to compete. UKA forget that there are many more who compete every week, not that bothered about competing in the Olympics- they may or not have the talent, but for many other things are more important- athletics is just fun, competitive, yes, but not the only thing in their lives

UKA and UK Sport need to be very careful how they deal with young athletes. There is no real money, no pension plan, and sport is brutal in dropping support- even in the professional arena.

The rewards can be great , even in the Amateur sport- even if not financial- but real care is required. The obsession with funding athlete's " who have the right lifestyle " is potentially hugely damaging- a subjective opinion by an individual empowered about what young people should do. Youngsters need to grow up, make mistakes and live life. Or we might as well have robots competing.

13/05/08"How do they decide on these standards? I am a bit confused as if you look at the figures below they expect Junior Women to run at a faster pace the further they go. For example Grade 2 1500m - 3mins 12 secs per km / 3000m 3mins 30 per km / 5000m 3 mins 13 secs per km.

It would appear that the standards for 1500m and 3000m have been reduced but the standard for 5000m improved."

I have no idea but suspect that it is due to numbers involved in reaching certain standards. I will ask the question.

13/05/08 Ashlee Nelson delivered in Italy with a win and PB "Nelson won her heat with 11.51 and continued to win the final with 11.37 (+2.0), inside the Olympic B standard for 100m". Since breaking Katharine Merrys U15 record she hs been relatively quiet- but this performance shows she has come of age- and I think she is still just 16. Huge Talent. The Nelson's could be a brother/sister duo at Bejing- shame not a mixed sex relay.

12/05/08 Email received "A surprise guest presenter at the Lancashire Champs was Panther from the Gladiators ! Panther was at the track she graced so successfully during her athletic career to watch her sister compete. A queue of autograph seeking youngsters were soon seen around the mighty Panther's legs. I did not see the same queue forming after her alter ego, Kara Nwidobe, had thrown the discus 55m.

Methinks we need more athletics, at all levels, on TV then those youngsters could have asked Kara for her autograph. "

9/05/08 Jamie Baulch, World Champion 400m, GB and Wales, has set up an amazing project- aimed at Schools in Wales :

"A fabulous fundraising formula for your school. Fun, fitness, and famous sports personalities complete the event day package for all schools needing to raise funds. Super Schools Wales will also be offering prize incentives for schools and pupils on a monthly basis provided by our partners (as seen below). The biggest incentive and reward for Super Schools Wales is to provide the vehicle to encourage more children to take part in regular exercise through the enjoyment of sport."

I am a huge admirer of Jamie- as a person, athlete and for the energy he is putting into getting Kids involved in sport.

We should really appreciate what some are doing for sport- Jamie with Super Schools, Katharine Merry, Darren Campbell and Linford in the Street athletics programe.

They all trained in Cardiff with Linford-I met them through the group inviting Emily to train with them as a youngster as a birthday present. Top people.

"Street Athletics is an amazing project now in its third year. It has seen thousands of young people taking part in races across the country. For us it began on the streets challenging other kids from other estates to race against us, if we hadn’t done that we wouldn’t have got where we are today. You don’t need anything to come and take part…. just a desire to get involved and realise your ambitions and dreams!"

They really are giving some-thing back to all - the Elite as well as getting kids involved.

Only 3 weeks to go and I will be 50- frantically trying to re-discover my youth, going through how so many music albums, and I have few hundreds, to find that one that means something. That something that sums up my youth, could be Lennon, could be Floyd, but my selection ends up with the "Sex Pistols"- why , because along with Jack Kerouac, a writer, they challenged my perceptions of life. Tied with Patti Smith, my all time love. Patti is just endless, the Pistols just a short period.

But this is a good Pistol song:"Pretty Vacant" went along with the "Stuff the Jubilee badge in 1977" . Who remember's all those street parties- flags and "God save the Queen". Elvis died, remember some stupid morons chearing that Elvis was dead. We had a bit of a rough and tumble that night- might of been Johnny Rotten or some-on else that said Elvis was cool- ended the Punk movement and then the upper class clowns jumped onto the scene- posh safety pins and bondage gear .

"Theres no point in asking us youll get no reply
Oh just remenber a dont decide
I got no reason its all too much
Youll always find us
Out to lunch !

Dont ask us to attend cos were not all there
Oh dont pretend cos I dont care
I dont believe illusions cos too much is real
So stop your cheap comment
Cos we know what we feel

Were pretty pretty vacant
Were pretty pretty vaycant (altered)
And we dont care"

Pretty simple to play, just a few cords, turn the amp up and hey you are a Punk band.

9/05/08 I must apologise to the WTDA Manager(see below) Brett Morse is of course on the UKA Elite funding programme. My mistake.

8/05/2008 So China might head the Beijing medal table having spent £1bn plus, compared to the UK 98m, and I am not sure what USA spends, on Sports development. So I heard on Radio 4. I m not really sure what to make of it. The population of China is huge; so maybe it equates to per capita-there are 1.35bn in China as opposed to 60m, but actually £1.0bn is therefore close to £98m, except this is spent in China on a few, sorry did I say, that in the UK is also spent on a few.

"Money, get back.
Im all right jack keep your hands off of my stack.
Money, its a hit.
Dont give me that do goody good bullshit.
Im in the high-fidelity first class traveling set
And I think I need a lear jet.

Money, its a crime.
Share it fairly but dont take a slice of my pie.
Money, so they say
Is the root of all evil today.
But if you ask for a raise its no surprise that theyre
Giving none away."

You will be thrilled to hear Band I never did meet- I know I tend to mention those I did, but just one of my fave albums, listened to it cocooned in a single cell at the Catholic monastry I attended, the smell of high incence floating around.

8/05/2008 It happened Sunday at the Eugene Marathon. A guy who had just finished running 26.2 miles — and looked as if he’d crawled out of a Maytag spin cycle — stood there in the morning sun, water bottle in one hand, banana peel in another. Utterly spent.“Do you have,” he started to say, then, exhausted, paused to gulp more breath. “Do you have a compost bin for my banana peel?”

8/05/2008 Oostburg's Kenton Rauwerdink, a junior at Carthage College, is quite the well-rounded track and field athlete.So versatile is Rauwerdink, he's excelling in the 10-event decathlon for Carthage. Last weekend, he won the event, scoring 6,104 points, at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Outdoor Track & Field Championship at North Park University in Chicago.Rauwerdink, an exceptional middle-distance runner and long jumper in high school, has broadened his athletic repertoire significantly. The college junior has also become a top-notch javelin thrower, hurdler and high jumper.

8/05/08 The Welsh Talent Development list continues to be-wilder. Unless I have missed new additions neither Brett Morse of Garth Loughran were included. It must be a surprise to the UK Wales TDA Manager therefore that these two were selected for the GB U20 team at Loughborough interntional. But probably does not mean they are potentially World Class, a few Welsh athletes who are GB athletes are not involved in the WTDA.

This really should not be a surprise-talented athletes and committed to the sport. One has to just wonder where the WTDA Manager is coming from- but they probably have the wrong "Attitude"- or what I have been told about others" Lifestyle".

Weird, when we have Welsh Athletes representing GB but not considered good enough for WDTA.

I would have had these guys high on my list of talent- there are few more in Wales ignored. Not my job, and it seems failing to spot talent is not a problem.

7/05/08 Not going to be able to keep an eye on de Vos. Having received an application package yesterdy, to-dy got an email saying as follows "Please note that one explicit requirement of the post as stipulated in the advertisement is "experience of athletics at the highest international level, either as a competing athlete and/or as a coach to such athletes". This is required to complement the existing Board members backgrounds and experience.
We would not consider applications in the absence of this key criteria."

I would personally look at non-execs who can make a contribution- all very strange, thought UKA was full f Coaches. No wonder de Vos keeps firing off, no-one to hold him back.

6/08/08 Has Athletics Weekly become the mouth piece for UKA -every time I go on the UKA website another quote from UKA published in AW. Fine, but does question the independence of AW.

"My job as Chief Exec is to ensure that UK Athletics is delivering for its many stakeholders, which means listening to an extraordinarily wide variety of opinions and competing priorities. As Churchill famously described the USSR as a puzzle inside a riddle wrapped in an enigma, so athletics could be described as a passion inside confused structure, wrapped in multiple and vastly differing disciplines"

Niels de Vos may read to much- Churchill was fighting a war, sport is bloody simple- unless de Vos is really been cute with the enigma code "The '"Enigma machine" was a cipher machine used to encrypt and decrypt secret messages. More precisely, Enigma was a family of related electro-mechanical rotor machines, comprising a variety of different models." The aim was to make sure no-one knew what was going on- well from the German point of view

So is de Vos saying UKA have a secret code for acheiving International success-that no-one understands- not sure that they are that clever. Maybe de Vos is not that aware of the Enigma code, maybe he is, and UKA have a progamme wrapped up in code that no-one is meant to know.

" I went to a party at the local county jail
All the cons were dancing and the band began to wail
But the guys were indiscreet
They were brawling in the street
At the local dance at the local county jail " 10CC

Senator Mitchell ( no known relation)"US Senator George Mitchell published his independent report into the illegal use of performance-enhancing substances by baseball players.

Mitchell, who also served as US special envoy to Northern Ireland and was later chairman of The Walt Disney Company, spent 20 months investigating the history of doping in baseball and his damning 409-page report highlighted the sport's head-in-the-sand attitude to steroids and human growth hormone."In most clubhouses there is a code of silence," Mitchell told BBC Sport."It's almost worse to point the finger at someone for using drugs than it is to use drugs.

3/5/08 I am going to be 50 in 28 days- my family think I having a mid-life crisis- maybe I am. The only positive I can think is that old age gives you the confidence to say what you like, without a care. I still listen to Billy Bragg( he wrote this song for the late Kirsty MacColl: "Jean MacColl and her family are seeking justice for Kirsty's tragic and untimely death. See .justiceforkirsty.org for details.

I was twenty one years when I wrote this song
I'm twenty two now, but I wont be for long
People ask when will you grow up to be a man
But all the girls I loved at school
Are already pushing prams

I loved you then as I love you still
Tho I put you on a pedestal,
They put you on the pill
I dont feel bad about letting you go
I just feel sad about letting you know

I dont want to change the world
Im not looking for a new england
Im just looking for another girl
I dont want to change the world
Im not looking for a new england
Im just looking for another girl

I loved the words you wrote to me
But that was bloody yesterday
I cant survive on what you send
Every time you need a friend

I saw two shooting stars last night
I wished on them but they were only satellites
Is it wrong to wish on space hardware
I wish, I wish, I wish youd care

I dont want to change the world
Im not looking for a new england
Im just looking for another girl "

One of the great Pop songs in my opinon- for what it is worth. Not really a pop fan, more a hippy-punk(they did exist), but that was a long time ago.

The tragedy of old age is that youth went so fast-one day I was watching the Clash in 1977 and suddenly its 2008 and I can't pogo any more. It like a movie, in slow motion, still have my "Stuff the Jubilee" badge, as well as one of my prized possesions- my Miners Coal strike badge from Thatcher's days- given to me by some Miners heading South from Yorkshire on the same train as me-3 miners and a stockbroker, we had a few beers, bunged them £50 -I was single and well off then- and had a laugh. Not sure they had been to London before.

The days when snooker was so dull because the balls were all grey- think about it if you are young.

So being just about old, popped around for a coffee with a friend, living in a small community we do this sort of thing ad hoc. Always interesting, we chat about life and the way the world is-and was. So we chatted about the Olympics-"How many stadiums built are in constant use"-my reply " None" Athens, no, Sydney no, Barcelona no". Next "but at least Swansea have built a multi-purpose stadium" "No, they have a new Footie/Rugby stadium, but also built a new Athletics track". "But surely that would be easy- the seats would move back to expose the athletics track"-"if only".

Another coffee and then the next round. "So why does Wembley not have an athletics track", " good question, it would have made sense"

"In other countries the clubs are multi-disciplined- they share facilities". " Correct, when I was a kid I played for AJAX in Holland, cricket for the U11 in a facility that encompassed all sports under the AJAX club-hockey,tennis,athletics-so why do we not have it here-Football clubs like Manchester Utd could include Sale and provide serious support at the cost of a players weekly income. In West Wales Tesco's came in and moved a rugby club to new facility- huge opportunity for all the sports to get a decent multi-purpose facility- but the Clubs would not talk, and the Council just rolled over- lost opportunity there."

So we go on- moved onto the loser -Gordon Brown , the only PM I have ever heard say he was learning the job- um, so why did you demand it then Scot boy.

So getting old is OK, sit around drinking coffee and putting the world to rights.

I am depressed about what is going on- Politically and Sport- but that's life, and I recall my Grandmother saying thinks were getting worse. My Step-Grandfather used to scare me every time I stayed there(in 1960's) as he reckoned Nuclear war was imminent.

"White Mischief", the film, met one of those involved in real life in his late life - my Grandparents were out there in Happy Valley for a while. I am not sure we have ever recovered as a society from the brutal murder of a generation during WW1, and the 1920's orgy of excess was mirrored by the post WW2 1960's.

So you can understand why my family think I am having mid-life, the book will follow.

3/05/08"With apologies to readers for repetition, I’d like to highlight an advertisement elsewhere in this week’s Athletics Weekly inviting applications for a new Non-Executive Director of UK Athletics. This will be an important appointment and I’d hate to think of the perfect candidate missing the ad because the pages of his or her magazine were stuck together with energy gel.After Zara Hyde-Peters’ recent departure from UKA to become Chief Executive of British Triathlon, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is now the only former elite athlete on our Board. As with all similar organisations, the Board’s work requires a wide range of skills and, as Chairman, I’m keen to ensure that we always have the right mix.So, our search for a new Non-Executive is focused squarely on someone with experience of athletics at the highest international level. This could be as an athlete who has competed in major championships, or as a coach who has worked with athletes of that calibre. " From UKA site.

Now I have an issue with UKA-that they should a non-ex having experience of Athletics at International level. A non-ex should be apart from the system- some-one who is distanced from the corporate body. Warner should understand this, as a corporate man. I will apply, and urge all you who care to apply as well.

3/05/2008 Listening to the BBC "You and Yours" looks like the 2012 legacy funding is failing to deliver. Loads of sports are suffering as a result of the funds been ploughed into the 2012 bid. Sports are suffering funding- John Whittingdale MP is one of the more articulate. He reckons Sport is losing £500m as a result of the London 2012 bid. 150 Gymnasts in Wales have been kicked out of a facility so that the elite 15 can use it- that makes no sense.

Discussing this issue with friends there is little doubt that all would like to see one permanent site for the Olympics- so we can stop the excess expenditure on building new sites, avoid the politics and the bidding war that goes on.The Green Olympics- avoid the huge carbon cost of building new facilities every 4 years

What could be wrong with that idea- nothing, except the weird idea that hosting the Games brings tourists in. No evidence that it has a long term effect- OK, maybe a few for the Games, but does it actually make a difference. Of course it does not.

Email everyone at the IOC and lets just stop this nonsense once and for all. Take the Olympics back to its home, Greece, work out sensible funding from the media and participating countries, and job done. Spend the savings on Worldwide sport- just think what £10bn (London Cost) could do to encourage sport participation worldwide- thats £1.52 for every person in the world. Or like giving a ball to every single person in the world. 6.6 billion balls being used-. A pair of trainers for every family of 4, 1,000 new Athletics tracks. Just think about it please.

1/5/08 Who is Aviva ?Aviva National Championships Incorporating the Team GB Selection Trials- well Aviva mission is "Our purpose is to bring prosperity and peace of mind to our customers.We will do this by realising our vision:

One Aviva. By working together across our businesses, we will optimise our performance in the global marketplace and maximise the value we can generate for all our stakeholders."

I used to write this crap in the 1980's-" The change to Aviva is part of the group’s planned journey towards being recognised as a world-class financial services provider.The Aviva brand brought together more than 40 different trading names around the world and created further opportunities for the group to harness the benefits of its size and international capabilities."

I am now feeling a bit queasy - they also state they have been round for 300 years- so just post South Sea Bubble (1711)."

Gordie has admitted he is learning to be PM- made me feel so much happier. I thought he had spent years saying he should have been PM. Bliar must be laughing all he way to his bio.

It will be no surprise that London 2012 will cost BN£15- that is about £2.05 per population of the world. That's a lot of cash , and since the banks are ripping cash out of the money supply, Governement's will just have to print it-as UK have done to the tune of £100 bn. Unless I have forgotten my basic economics, this is hugely inflationary and will cause a few problems.

What Gordie seems to have forgotten is you have to pay your debts. As will the London 2012 bid.

30/04/08 GB Bejing site launched"In 100 days some 300 Team GB athletes will be walking in to the Opening Ceremony of the XXIXth Olympiad. You can follow Britain’s finest athletes on their journey to the greatest sporting event, the Olympic Games, through our new website: www.teamgb.com".

My view- London should be the last roaming Games -Recent event suggest that a different approach is needed for the
hosting of the Olympic Games, a festival of Amateur Sport. I suggest that a permanent location is sought for the Games for the
future- possibly Greece.The huge sums involved in Countries bidding for the Games, let alone hosting the Games, make a mockery of the Amateur status of those who compete.A permanent location would remove the bidding costs to the benefit of all Nations. A static World Class Sports venue therefore would enable Countries to focus funding on the development of sports within their Nations removing them from the need (wasteful for all but the winner) to compete to hold the Games.If, as I suggest, Greece, was the chosen permanent location( for good historical reasons) then funding could be directed towards developing this single facility to ensure that it was constantly improved rather than bidding to create a new venue.

It is obvious in the "greener" world that we are all striving to live
in that the development of a new site every 4 years is a total waste of resources- I dread to think of the Carbon footprint involved in developing a new Olympic site every 4 years.

Funding would be provided by the Media companies who cover the Games,Sponsors and with each Country making a contribution based on ability to pay,far less than bidding for the Games.

I am sure that this stability would enable the Amateur Games to
develop successfully and for Sport to be developed within all Nations, with a huge saving in wasted money.

It could therefore be the venue for the all World Championships, apart from the Winter Sports.The Commonwealth Games could be held there- given Royal connections, no reason why Greece should not be part of the now extended Commonwealth !

We need to re-think the strategy of wasting huge resources in
developing venues, when one permanent facility funded by the
International community, could provide a central location for major International events. The opening and closing ceremonies could be bid for by Nations, if they really feel this is so important.

Now that our annual track event is hosting final selection opportunities for the European Cup and the women’s 10,000 metres trial for Bejing, UK Athletics have agreed to us changing the name of the event from St Mary’s Relays to St Mary’s Classic.

Date: Wednesday 4th June 2008, starts 4.15pm, finishes 8.15pm.
Location: St Mary's running track, Twickenham campus"

30/04/08 People Power wins- St Mary's classic re-scheduled (see an article down this page below). "I am writing to inform you and your colleagues, following your comments and our discussions with other key people, that the St Marys Classic event will be held on the 4th June. We will be putting an update on the website tomorrow morning."

30/04/008 Re Compression clothing (see blow) The compression kit is designed for post training use to help remove lactic acid and improve blood flow. For training Canterbury have a baselayer product. My error in suggesting inadverntently that compression clothing should be worn for training.

28/04/2008 Lancashire County A. A. Combined Events Championships Lancashire Schools’ A. A. Combined Events Championships- An Open Combined Events Competition
Blackpool 26th & 27th April 2008- first time I have seen this sort of Combined Event iniative at County level. Good Idea to have a combined Schools and County event. Fits in with the thinking on the forum regards a Combined Events National League and Final.

26/04/2008 I have spent some money over the years on kit for my daughter. After all the problems she has had with growth related/muscular problems, been looking at compression clothing, bought her some from another manufacturer. Just had the first freebie( I am ever honest) from Canterbury of NZ. Em's first impressions she really likes it- time will tell, and she is going to give it a thorough try out. Obviously has good credentials, see below, but seems the sort of kit Athletes should look at. Em's is into the sciences, quite anayltical, so should be a interesting trial.

"The Future of Performance:IonX™ - Ionised Energy Fabric™ performance apparel and compression support delivers ionic energy to the body through a negatively charged electromagnetic field.Electomagnetic fields saturated with negative ions have been used for decades by international militaries, international space programs and by olympic athletes to increase alertness, attentiveness and give an overall sense of well-being.A double blind study conducted in the Sports Technolgy Laboratory at Loughborough University in England concluded that IonX™ represents a revolutionary apparel technology."IonX™ represents a revolutionary performance apprel technology. A study conducted in the Sports Technolgy Laboratory at Loughborough University showed a significant increase in repetitive, short duration, high intensity exercise performance (power output) in both competitive and recreational athletes when wearing IonX™ versus non-ionised control garments. This improvement is likely to be functionally relevant to all team sport players or indeed anybody undertaking repetitive bouts of high intensity exercise during training or performance"

26/04/2008 "The junior runners of Sidmouth Running Club travelled to the Brickfields athletics track in Plymouth on Sunday, for the first South West Athletics League fixture of the season.

This is the first time the club has competed in a full track and field event. Whilst we are principally a running club, the event gives an opportunity for our athletes to try out different field events to complement their running. "

23/04/08 Women's World 100m record Shattered, and Men's. Some mistake me thinks. But loads of UK athletes attended. 100m Dash 1 Sandoval, Victoria Unattached 8.38 . Anyway it was not obviously- well not sure what distance these ran. Well a weird meeting, Rooney won 400m, Christine O 5th in 200m. Work them out for your self. There must be some thought process going on. Since Americans cannot spell, seems they also cannot time. Maybe I cannot read, which is possible as the new reading glasses are annoying.

But it's good to see UKA are still sending athletes to California-hopefully under some supervision, and guess a reflection on the appalling facilities in the UK-obviouly a High performance centre in Birmingham built at huge cost is not good enough. I thought there was a decent facility in Portugal- but hell, that is to near to home. Flights to Lagos cost £25.00 if you book well. The training ground used by GB for the Barcelona Olympics.

What the hell, UKA know what's best, and they will continue to do what they can for the Elite- forget the rest. UKA are meant to be developing depth in the sport,that's a joke, they are just focusing on the few. Banks just did that, bad judgment call.

23/4/08 Dyfed Schools relays to-day-could not stay to watch, but saw a load of kids and parents there. Made me think, so many there, get a few athletics stars down to these sort of meetings and maybe a few more would carry on in the sport. The sport needs to use these School meet opportunities.

UK Athletics' (UKA) review into the structure and systems of competition for youth and junior athletes has concluded and Jack Buckner has presented his initial recommendations to UKA Chief Executive Niels de Vos and to the new CEO Policy Forum comprising the four Chief Executives of the Home Countries.

The final step prior to finalising and publishing the conclusions of the independent review, was to collate the results of the nationwide club survey into the suggested revisions to the current age groups. The results of this survey indicate an overwhelming desire amongst the UK’s clubs to retain the existing age group system, therefore there will be no proposal to change or amend age groups for the 2008/09 season or beyond.

The CEO Policy Forum will now consider the competition specific recommendations within the Competition review with a view to publishing a shared way forward document in July.

“When we look to make important changes in the sport it is important to consult and to listen to our stakeholders. When I took up my post last year I had a bulging post bag from clubs opposed to the suggested age group changes, and a fear that they would be imposed unilaterally. This was never the intention – the competition review was an independent review commissioned by UKA to consider the options open to the sport, for clubs to consider and respond to.”

de Vos and Gordon Brown have a lot in common- fighting a losing battle for survival .The Libs said "You used to be a man of principle, but if you won't deliver on poverty, what on earth is the point of this increasingly pointless prime minister?"

de vos should answer the same question, so far he has brought the sport into disrepute with regard to Dwain Chambers affair and now has had to back down. Not a great start to his job in UKA- bet he wishes he was back in Manchester.

22/4 Joe won, the Governement have bankrupted themselves, and life goes on. Had a letter published in the Telegraph yesterday- about money not athletics.

20/04/2008 Discovered this website "I spoke at an elaborate charity dinner at Windsor Castle on Wednesday 12th of March. The dinner was in aid of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and was attended by HRH Prince Edward as well as a host of sporting celebrities including Dame Mary Peters, Sir Bobby Charlton, Linford Christie, Mike Gatting, Mark Selby, Torville and Dean, and many more." From Stephen Miller's site- check it out- Stephen has represented Great Britain for over 10 years, competing in 3 Paralympic Games, 3 World Championships and 2 European Championships.

20/4/008 Couple of results in to-night- I am sitting up to listen to the Big Fight later-Welsh Boy to win, best of luck to Joe Calzaghe

My mother stopped me from boxing at School - sort of liked it, though would have been a batam weight then, was tiny.

19/4/08 Email:"the entry list are up now for jav feest 6 .So far there are currently 59 pre entries and this is the best that the jav club has ever had. Everyone who hasn't entered yet, can still enter on the day. The timetable is published on the site, however, keep checking because there could still be some adjustments as the more athletes obviously the more time each age group competition will have to have ."

The Sport has got to change- the Amateur idea is over, nice while it lasted, and Athletics has hung onto amateur status for a while longer than most other sports. Cricketers can go to the IPL and earn £700,000 for a season- makes salaries in England and Wales look poor(for cricket) where a player might earn £60-70,000. Footballers, in different league again, Rugby players can earn in excess of £100,000 easily.

Few Athletes earn anything- the best might get £25,000 in funding, so unless you win an Olympic medal tough .

Track and Field Athletics claims to be the premier Sport at the Olympics, but unless they make some radical changes they will not have the best competing, because the best sports people will go and do some-thing different.

It is weird that the sport that probably is the harshest on drug abuse, is the lowest paid in terms of rewards. Not hard to see where an all round talent will go- have to constantly piss in a jar for no money or play sport for real money- crude but the truth.

Athletics needs to have a radical re-think, not play around with selecting a few kids for support and encourage them to get to London 2012. All those who get to London 2012 will not medal, well, if more than a few , in Track and Field do it will be a major achievement.

So they will then reflect on 10 years of training , 5 times a week, some from the age of 14 and they got to the Olympics in London, but did not reach a final, maybe not even a S/F or medal.

People will be impressed, well done, but what has the athlete who did not medal got out of it-a sense of achievement, but financially nothing. Absolutely nothing. 10 years of work, and walk away with nothing-dropped by UKA, no-one know's you other than as the girl/boy who ran in the Olympics but did not win.

Athletics has got to let the best earn money-not the top 3 or 4, but say the Top 20. OK a radical re-think, but if you want to keep athletes in the sport they need rewarding, up to a decent level and in depth.

UKA will say they have no cash, and an amateur sport. It is sham -amateur at the moment anyway, so UKA need to get sponsorship involved where the top 20 in each discipline can earn say £30,000 per annum basic, with top ups for success.

This will require UKA to make Athletics meetings more exciting on a regular basis to attract TV and spectators. The onus is on them, and unless they do something soon , Track and Field will slide away and become a minority sport- well already on the BBC Sports Links as another sport.

Those in UKA are well paid-some very well paid. But the Athletes should be up there as well financially. The cost of this would be serious - £17m, so they would need to really get Sponsors involved.

But the Banks can throw away Billions in Speculation, so should be an easy touch- especially for the throwing events-now as every-one hates them. RSB rumoured to have a £10BN rights issue, the fees alone will be £100m minimum. Thats probably conservative. Normally a right issue is 1% of monies raised, plus the lawyers, accountants.

The World population is estimated at March 2008, to have reached over 6.65 billion

So RBS want £1.54 for every person in the world. Because they speculated. And more Banks will follow suit.

I feel awkward about a sporting event that takes £1.54 per person in the World- propaganda will say its just a game, but bull shit, how many times will we idolise sport and then just believe in it. Roy Harper said it better in his classic album "HQ". Can we have a saviour please. Where are the answers:

"When an old cricketer leaves the crease, you never know whether he's gone,
If sometimes you're catching a fleeting glimpse, of a twelfth man at silly mid-on.
And it could be Geoff, and it could be John,
With a new ball sting in his tail.
And it could be me, and it could be thee,
And it could be the sting in the ale.........sting in the ale. "

16/4/2008 Edited email received bout CE "Have to concord with your comments of 16th april. Found welsh forms only to discover they are not "open".
.Cant really understand the desire to maintain few competitors in a niche of the sport which seems to be getting lip service about encouraging young athletes not to specialise and yet little chance to compete across all events.
Although I dont always agree with you keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!"

If everyone agreed with my views the site would be pointless- it's all about debate. I am as alays happy to print ll comments bout the comments on this site.

Anyway my lack of knowledge about Aston Moore has been improved by an email received:

"Aston Moore is a former GB triple jumper who competed at a number of Major Champs.He currently sits 12th on the GB All Time List with a jump of 16.86 set some 25 years ago."

Lets hope it all goes well in Beijing, but would love to get a contact for John Herbert.

16/4/08 ""John Herbert has been instrumental in developing Phillips to be a genuinely world class competitor and I am sure any success Phillips enjoys in Beijing will be due in no small part to John."

I woud say he did pretty well, but Aston Moore, who I have never heard of, but that means little , obviously as " UK Athletics's senior performance manager for field events, Aston Moore." will make him better. So if Phillips does not win Beijing Gold will be all Mr Moore's fault. That's cool. Then he can leave Moore and go some-one else.

I don't know whats going on, but seems very strange months before Olympics to leave your coach ojf 10 years .Mr Herbert -would love to hear from you- if you know him ask him to contact me .

16/04/08 No wonder this country is in a mess. Banks lend recklessly to make money, and now the Bank of England are going to swap their dodgy mortgge assets for Governement paper. Just so the Banks can go on lending. Who cares if they lend or not and whether they make a profit. Banks have too high regard in this country,strong arguement for a Central lending non-profit Bank. Same Governement Clowns who have managed to mislead and to end up with a quadrupling the cost so of the 2012 Olympics. This is a bankrupt (interms of ability )Government - did they really not know the true cost of the Olympics and what the Banks were up to. They like Banks making huge profits because they like Banks (they are big and clever and mysterious- no-one nows how they work, including most who work in them)- why is the question- I dislike Banks and banking. No service, lie and make as much profit as possible, no negotiation. One would almost thing they were working as a cartel, well they all whinge to-gether suggests they are. A base rate cut and yet I will not get it for 6 weeks- great. Rates go up, strangely they go up the next day- funny that.

16/04/08 WAA(welshathletics) entry Forms. The U20(12/7) and Senior(15/6) are Open- Swansea and Deeside. Quite why the rest are not I am unclear- WAA happy to send Athletes to England AAA (open all ages), but not for English, Scottish and anyone else to compete in Welsh Age group Championship. I believe same people involved who decided not to send a Welsh Youth team to the Commonwealth Youth Games- the picture emerges. The Track and Field committee are to blame, and led by volunteers it would seem. Strange world we live in where volunteers appear to make more important descisions than the paid staff. WAA should be emabarrassed- or the leadership of the organisation at least questioned.

15/4/08 It seems that the Sportshall Track was stopped after an athlete appeared to break her leg(according to people there). In this day and age of Health and Safety how could this happen. Quite why the event continued at all is a mystery. As usual no-one will lose take resposibility- looking at the UKA website it would be hard to realise there was a problem.

14/04/208 Picking up a story that all Sportshall Final Track events had to be cancelled due to slippery suface. IHow embarrassing for UKA and the Sportshall concept. Bet the sponsor was thrilled.

Some sense at last-Dwain has been castigated for being a fool-we all know that. Talented, super talented-better pre his huge error. Later this month he will have told all to UK Sport doping agency. Then he will be allowed to compete in Europe, well tricky to stop him. The BOA will have to overturn their one off ban as is out of line with rest of World(ROW). Dwain will then compete in Beijing and win a medal- as will Carl Myerscough. GB need to stop being too self righteous, lets just be in line with the rest of the world.

When WADA come out with an International lifetime ban, fine, that will be the rule. But I doubt the legality of BOA having a by -law which is at odds with ROW.

This should be challenged- decency says that it should be a level playing field- if Dwain was an American he would have done his time and be competing. So lets get real, first offence in USA not an Olympic ban.

No one will condone what Dwain did, but he should be treated the same as his main Competitors.

I have met Dwain few times, not that he would know who I am-so this is not a plant for him. Last time I literally bumped into him he had no idea who I was- which is how I like it. No-one knows me, well just a couple of you may, but I am anonymous.

10/04/2008 Seem some support for the idea of a permanent Olympic Site. No bidding wars, no huge development costs. It makes sense- what did UK spend on the bidding process, £35m as I recall and now a 10bn expenditure to develop. Do I or you care where the Games are held, probably not. We want to see Athletics, Rowing, Boxing and Tiddlewinks held at a venue-where it is matters not a jot. So all that wasted Cash used in the bidding process, building stadia for all the sport's, could be utilised in a different way- just maintain a Venue, and the then huge profits could be used to develop Sports throughout the world.

In this idea GB (and others in proportion to GDP) might have to support to the tune of say £50m- that would leave the huge profits to be used for development of all Olympic sports worldwide. Now that's a good idea, use resources to fund Sport not just play a game to say "we had the best Olympics." The Olympics should be for sport, not for countries to try and outshine each other. Seems a no brainer to me.

Obviously all the IOC members who get wined and dined would miss out. That would really gut me.

So lets get real, have a permanent Olympics in Greece the home of the old Olympics. No waste of cash and all profits directed to fund the Amateur Sports that make up the Olympics.

10/04/2008 The International Olympic Committee has formally stripped Marion Jones's relay team-mates of their medals from the Sydney Olympics eight years ago.

09/04/2008 Lord Moynihan, Chairman of the British Olympic Association, has been invited to join the International Relations Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).Lord Moynihan said:“It is a great honour to be invited to join this Commission. Developing improved international relations is a vital part of the IOC’s role in fostering and promoting the interests of the sportsmen and women represented by the Olympic Movement and the values of Olympics, the appointment represents a further step forward in the strong relationship between the IOC and the BOA..."

Lord M is not a huge fan of Dwain Chambers , so he (Dwain) will have to sue BOA.. Neither is Lord Coe. Not a huge fan of the Lord mob- time we got rid of this ridiculous title. "The etymology of the English word lord goes back to Old English hlaf-weard (loaf-guardian) – reflecting the Germanic tribal custom of a superior providing food for his followers. "

09/04/2006 The Olympics will go ahead in Beijing- and on reflection this is not a problem that should involve athletes- the IOC need to focus on who they grant the Games to in future. The tangled world that the IOC work in is a mystery to me- but the IOC is made up of loads of countries and I guess loads of different inputs. But the IOC maybe should think more carefully.

I will remain disillusioned with China hosting- part political and part the poor conditions. Hosting of the games is a financial circus, that suits IOC given money generation. Maybe just a strong argument that the Games should be held in one venue for ever- and Greece would be the logical place. Would save bidding countries a load of money. Now if they did not have to bid, there would be more money to support the Games in a permanent venue.

The costs of all sports in having moving venues are scary- that is cash that could be used for Sport development. That is when new venue have to be built jut for one event. Rugby and cricket seem to be able to do this using existing facilities-which are devolved on a commercial basis.

Surely no-one really thinks that spending billions on an athletics track, which lets face it will hardly be used afterwards, is worthwhile. Manchester- sold off to a Footie club. The harsh reality is that there is no need for massive Athletics stadiums, because we do not have the audiences.

Half a brain, the guy who make decisions, would have had Wembley, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff multi purpose. Cardiff spent a fortune on the Millennium, great stadium for-rugby and rock concerts. Did no-one with half-brain think that it could also of been a fantastic athletics track. Oh, no, that would have been simple. Instead they have now knocked down the rather grim Leckwith Athletics track and built a new one down the road. Which will be used 6 times a year for Competition- well currently maybe 3 times.

So why do not these guys get to-gether- sit down and say lets develop a multi-purpose stadium. Its not hard-retracting seats which cover the track when rugby played, withdrawn when athletics meeting on to make the track.

That seems too easy, just build separate venues and spend money-our money-do they not think. Why not ?

But half brain would rather spend 1.5 million at UWIC, NIAC developing a fantastic Indoor facility and then another fortune developing an Athletics stadium as far away from the NIAC as possible to be considered Cardiff. Yet just outside NIAC in Cardiff is an Outdoor track- not the best- but why not have developed that as the Cardiff Track-too sensible I guess to have the Indoor and Outdoor facilities next to each other.

This is not Sport Organisation problem- it is a Government issue- should not the Minister of Sport actually sit down and think and then plan. It is not that hard. Well maybe it is.

It happens on local level-Carmarthen where I live has outdoor track, one rugby club did a deal with a Supermarket chain to move. So they have a new ground- and an Indoor facility, the athletic track has no Indoor facility- yet only 400m away. The Leisure centre has expanded by double recently, but again no Indoor facility for Athletes to train- and this is adjacent.

Half brain has failed again-and does through out the country. And we-the taxpayer's let them.

08/04/08 Love this from Australia "However, there is concern in some circles that Australia’s finest runners may not be fine enough.“I heard America’s 137th fastest 100 metre sprinter was sympathetic to Tibetan independence. If the protesters recruit him, no Australian runner will be able to hold him off,” said one police insider."

Personally I have a sympathy with the Tibetan's, but not just for Tibet, but never felt China should have the Games. Loads of reasons, lived in HK years ago just ,about as state of war in the late 1960's, People disappeared, English fell of balconies , its a nightmare of state. Sport is sport, but also about playing by the rules of life, and the Totalarian state in China desereves no support. The intelligent in the World know this. Athletes can go and compete and claim that sport is above politic, but in this instance it is not. The IOC can bleat as much as they like, but even thick skinned must have realised there is a problem.

OK tough call for those who have trained for years to compete- but we all have to make choices in life- and this is a big one. It's nothing like Russia, this is a really serious choice -between good and evil. China is evil, a nasty regime, that supports North Korea and its Nuclear development programme. Clever enough to suck in Western capital, but not for the benefit of the general population in China.

The Moscow rebel's will be on TV saying Sport is above the body politic, but in this instance we have a pathetic Governement who is doing nothing, because trade is so important. XXXX trade, lets get some principles in life- once we lose those we might as well all just go back to the caves.

I left the City in 1988 because it had become apparent to me that the concept of raising cash for business had become replaced by greed. It was obvious then that it would go pear shaped, just took 20 years for it to catch up- could have played the game, made millions, but whats the point. I recall discussing Banking problems back then, in NY where I worked. That was 1984. And that is true. And know is.

07/04/08 West Wales have a League - the Lousie Arthur and then a Final of that League the Gerald Codd. Emily competed in it as U13, just had the records through ready for this season. Made me think, why not set up a database of local leagues- easy enough to do- and have a page of different leagues BP. Not Nationals or Championships , just leagues. Its just a thought, if you know of local league records email them in. Anyway the Lousie Arthur and Gerald Codd records are as below:

Leagues like these are the starting point for Athletics - involvement at a local level. They should be developed and supported, its how kids get involved and then develop an enthusiasm for the sport. They tend to be the first point of call for School kids, many at Primary School level.

Has no-one thought of using these local Leagues, cut down the number of matches to say 3 and then have a GB final of the Local Leagues. Now that's a thought, the kids would only have to travel away a long distance for one glorious final, rather than flog the motorway' for the NATYAL, which I personally think probably puts more kids off the sport than any other idea. It would be maybe better if they were paid to be accommodated over night if they had to travel more than 100 miles, but that is not happening.The rigours/distances of the NATYAL do not fit in with education at GCE level, especially for the clubs who have to travel long distances. So you see strong teams at home matches, weak teams when they have to travel long distances.

Now I believe travel and experiencing life is as important as classes, but flogging up to Solihull from Carmarthen and V.V,would hardly go down as a life enhancing experience. Now going to India as a Welsh Kid would have been- but as we all know that's not going to happen.

It appears a paradox in the sport that the kids are expected to compete in T&F pretty much every w/e, but the Senior GB athletes compete relatively seldomly. Now why is that ?

4/4/08 "UK Athletics has teamed up with the IAAF to announce the launch of a new campaign to promote athletics as part of broader plans to take the premier Olympic sport to a wider audience. ‘SPIKES’ an exciting new athletics magazine and website, which will have a strong contemporary voice and will celebrate the inherent drama and human stories of the sport, will be launched in July and will appeal to athletics fans old and new."

That will be interesting- can hardly wait. Poor choice of name though, Spikes sounds like Sprints- I know many athletes wear spikes- well I assumed Pole Vaulters did not, but maybe wrong there, but I am sure Marathon runers do not. Can't see how Shot putters do, but I am just niave.

Anyway given the lack of news a chance to plug a few people I have met recently and said I would. The ever young Patti Smith came down to Laugharne last week-end, love her have done since I was 17 so that was a thrill- she signed a picture I had been given by her ex-drummer(a friend)in 1980 of the band who played "Horses . She had a guy called Patrick Wolf on stage with her. I saw Patrick last Sunday playing with her. Having no knowledge of him, checked his website, and thought not for me. Thankfully I went to see him on his sole show-(Friday last)- an amazing musician, and according to NME he will be working with Patti . I told him in the pub his website was not a true reflection of his huge talent- he took it well. Nice guy and hugely talented.

Gardening is my life- well growing veg, did that before Mr James Oliver was in nappies. Anyway love the tools for the job, and being a bit into the cosmic things in life , just been given some new gardening tools-Copper based, slugs hate traces of copper, and they are a work of art. Spend last night rubbing teak oil into the handles.Now you don't do that with Steel. Rather expensive compared to steel tools, but an early 50th birthday present, had some for my 45th as well. they are amazing, a delight to use and keep those pesty snails and slugs away- really. Anyway if you have any interest in gardening they can be bought from PImplementations.

That's the plugs done- but if you bought a copper tool from Implementations, listened to Patti Smith and Patrick Wolf, life would be that much better.

2/4/08 How long have I been urging Dwain to name and shame -feels like many years now "PIt is believed Chambers, who won a fine silver medal in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships last month, is willing to supply this information, and co-operate in any way he can,.".

Let's face it UK Sport/BOA need to sort this out- the last thing the BOA need is a legal challenge- which appears to have good legal grounds. So Dwain has a chat, they agree and the few banned athletes on first time offences compete at Olympics in Bejing .(I think only have Myerscough and Janine Whitlock).

Bye bye De Vos, Lord Moynihan, Dave Collins might find himself in a difficult position as could Coe and maybe even the Chairman. All because De Vos decided to try and stop Chambers competing at trials for World Indoors. He should go anyway. What's the word, bringing the sport into disrepute.

If it does happen, will the BBC fire those involved in Athletics Commentary whose views have been pretty terrible- well supportive of De Vos re anti Chambers.

Now I could be available, nothing planned yet- but I would not go to China on principle- they funded the Mugabe regime as well as North Korea. I have principles.

2/4/2008 McLain took home the title in the triple jump for the second consecutive year with a winning jump of 46-7 1/4 — her personal best and the best by an American this year. The win also earned her the title of the first ever female to win the same event twice in indoor track for Stanford.“It didn’t feel like that good of a jump,” said McLain. But after seeing the mark she knew it was “exactly what [she] needed to have an Olympic A standard.”

An Inter American University competition- like most of the action in the USA at the moment. I am not aware of any serious University Indoor Competition in the UK this year- well any year. A few GP, a fresher's Match in Scotland. I get results from USA Universities on a daily basis. We need to get real in the UK and get Universities competing as University teams- we have enough.(Universities that is). We could of course develop University International Comps, very few I am aware of other Uk universities compete in other than the World Student Games(which is an Individual comp). I know Loughborough have the odd match, but how many others do anything Internationally?

2/04/2008 Is WAA sexist or was this a badly written report "The long, undulating but fast course at the picturesque venue at Strathallan School found the young Welsh team wanting as only boys team captain Jonathan Hopkins (Brynteg- Glamorgan Valleys) gained a top 10 placing..... (girls)they packed well behind 10th place Ffion Price (Llandrindod- Powys).

Now if I had written " Ffion Price and Jonathan Hopkins finished in the top 10 at..." get point, and Girls should always feature first because they are women and I am a gentleman. Top 10 is top 10.

Little things, but these people are paid to promote athletics. And these little slip up's upset people.

1/4/08 What makes Coe comfortable "Last year IAAF vice-president Seb Coe told the BBC he would be "uncomfortable" with Thanou being awarded any of Jones' medals." Thanou missed 3 drug tests. Did not Coe support a British athlete who missed 3 tests ? Then won a World Gold medal.

1/4/08" The European Athletics Indoor Championships is the most important event in the European Athletics event programme next year and I am very delighted that the Italian city of Torino will host the next celebration of the event in March 2009." A newsletter re this event in PDF format.

"Radical proposals to overhaul our sport and make athletics fit for the 21st century have recently been proposed. Although no final decisions have been made, the IAAF appear to be determined to drive through a range of initiatives covering facilities and competition. According to IAAF spokesman, Olaf Priol, the following are being seriously considered:

1)Outdoor tracks to be reduced from 400m to 300m so that they can fit in to most football stadiums without too much interfernce, if any, to spectator seating. This will be beneficial for staging major championships as it will prevent expensive new athletics stadiums having to be constructed and becoming white elephants after the event or having an unappealing (to football) athletics track around the pitch. A new 300m track could be laid in a stadium such as Wembley in just a few months and dismantled in a few weeks thus making a conversion easily possible in the football off-season. Existing 400m tracks would continue to be used for the foreseeable future but 300m tracks would gradually be phased in.
2)Standard stadium events for both men and women will be 100m, 300m, 600m, 1500m, 3000m, 100m Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot, Javelin, Octathlon (100m, LJ, SP, 300m, 100mH, HJ, JT, 1500m) and 4x300m. Discus and hammer will be taken out for safety reasons as well as to avoid expensive and unsightly cages. Pole vault is out, again, because of safety and expense. All track events above 3000m will in future be held on the road. Some track events have been taken out so as not to spread talented athletes too thinly across too many events i.e. no steeplechase or 300mH – athletes will have a flat 3000m or 300m. Mens sprint hurdles will be reduced from 110m to 100m and have less flights as it is not possible to fit a 110m straight in most football stadiums. The IAAF want all countries, irrespective of size and wealth, to be able to compete on as equal a footing as possible (pole vault in Tanzania or hammer throwing in Bangladesh are not likely to be of world standard!). Also, with the maximum distance reduced to 3000m there is a more level playing field for endurance runners where living at altitude will not be such an advantage.
3)Events no longer classed as standard would continue in seperate championships but not as part of a full track & field athletics programme.
4)There are, apparently, going to be changes to event rules, competition format and presentation. Examples of these are long jump to be measured from take-off so avoiding no-jumps, changes to the specifications of throwing implements and more use of music and special lighting effects.Grand prix meetings will contain most, if not all, of the standard events rather than rotating them as is done at present so that the public can see the best in the world competing in their best event on a regular basis.

The above, according to Olaf Priol, are “Probably the most radical proposals ever seen but in order to compete against other sports we have to adapt and change”.

1/4/08 Re the below, another Welsh Rugby player made the point to-day that Welsh Schools always used to beat Welsh Youth. Brains not just brawn. His concern was also the physical pumping up of teenagers, without the full development of thier cardio-vascular system. Interesting thoughts.

This is a BBC advert-- have a look. I earn something per view, this is all such fun.

31/03/08 Laugharne festival is over, saw Patti Smith who as some will know is some-one I adore-musically. She was superb. Also went to the Stradey Stories- a talk of a Rugby club-Llanelli- with Roy Bergiers and Barry Llewellyn, part of the team that beat the All Blacks. It was interesting, and for me Barry Llewellyn made, as I understood, an interesting point that Rugby players should be allowed to mature- through college/university- before being pressured at the top level. Well I think that is what he was saying- it was a long weekend.

I am more and more convinced that UKA are pushing kids to hard too soon. The more I here about the pay back for getting funding- its tough, too tough I think for many developing Teenagers . Teenagers have enough pressure just living and getting ready for adulthood.

28/03/08 World cross country championships at Edinburgh. on Sunday 30 March 2008.The world cross country championships are being held in Hollyrood Park Edinburgh this weekend.70 countries will be taking partCarmarthen Harrier Dewi Griffiths is the only Welsh athlete in the GB and NI team (18 seniors and 12 juniors).Dewi competes in the junior (under 20) championship at 1.30 pm The event is on BBC Television (BBC1 1-2pm; BBC2 2-3.30pm).

27/03/2008 Why does athletics have the concept of developing an Elite group. ? Most sports- the professional sports -seem to develop their talent from within a club structure, they recruit talent, develop it (and discard). If the talent is good enough they then progress.Athletics, it would seem, operates in a completely different way. Is this right-a centrally funded sport-where paid individuals select individuals they consider "the best". So the tax payer is funding this concept, of paid officials selecting amateurs. Forum for more

27/03/2008 It's not too late to get involved with the Ty Hafan Charity Shield. We are holding two regional ‘Charity Shield’ tournaments in 2008, you could join us in Swansea on Sat 8th March or Cardiff on Sat 5th April…….full details at www.tyhafan.org

27/3/2008 Strange day- Emily passed her driving test and just realised that means no more driving to Track for training- weird feeling after 9 years- she started at age 8. Now she's on her own.

22/3/08 " Germans lose their marbles crown.
Competitors at the annual World Marble Championships celebrated long into the evening after a British team beat the Germans for the first time in years." Better than 2003 when report stated "Too much beer has been blamed for British teams losing the World Marbles Championships to Germany - for the second year in a row:"

22/03/08 Alex Nelson, great talent is this realistic " “All my training is geared towards Beijing qualification, then hopefully to go out there and to do as well as possible. A medal would be amazing, but so to would be to show significant improvement. I feel I am young enough yet to make a few major championships over the coming years”

A medal is not a possibility for any GB athlete in the sprints- and a huge improvement would be required for Alex to qualify for Bejing- unless GB are going to take a huge team. Who is fuelling this sort of unrealistic dream ? 2012 should be his target, in my view- another athlete being fast tracked to implosion.

Hope he proves me wrong, but doubt it. In a way hope he does not, we have a history of pushing Talented young sprinters too fast. He is not ready surely, just give him time to develop fully as an athlete before putting into the hotbed of the Olympics. It will come, if his talent is nutured and protected.

21/3/08 Interesting point raised in reply to my entry below re Sports dedication:

"Problem is for governing bodies is that they always have to justify funding and an amateur approach just does not fit. Personally I do not feel anyone should be funded under age 18 because prior to that, one is almost certainly only funding the dreams and asperations of parents or carers. After 18 funding should be given according to adult competition performance, nothing else, whenever the performance comes, at whatever age."

21/3/08 Great start to the season . From UKA site "Promising Hammer thrower Sophie Hitchon has begun 2008 in dazzling style with a Junior record set at the final UK Throws programme event, for this winter, held last weekend in Birmingham.Hitchon, 16, (Blackburn) shot to the top of the Power of 10 Rankings for her age group as well as surpassing the previous record set by Rachael Beverley in 1998. Her 59.74m beat the previous best of 57.97 by more than 2m. The mark also surpasses the IAAF qualifying mark for this summer’s IAAF World Junior Championships. Hitchon then went on break the 59m line again on Sunday with 59.49m at the Blackpool Open Meeting.“This was an amazing start to the season, it still being only March. Last year Sophie started at 47m, before improving to 54m, so that augers well for continued improvement through 2008," said Event Coordinator Malcom Fenton."Sophie is also still 16, so has another two years in this age group after this one. I cannot really put a limit on her potential, as we have not seen her like before. Mention must also go to her highly supportive parents, her coaches, and the system that has assisted her."

20/03/2008 "NO DOPES HERE!I had to scratch my head when I was contacted by Katy to do a blog entry for the World X in Edinburgh. Its not that there is nothing to write about, its more a case of where to start!..." from Scottish site.

Bless them, will no doubt include banning anyone from Tibet, Human rights activists and anyone else that does not agree with the state. Prince Phillip will not be at the opening ceremony.

20/03/08 Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde AC Open Medal Meeting kick off the Outdoor results-see opposite. Please email any other results you find or produce throughout the season-thanks.

20/03/2007 James McIlroy's retirement due to financial worries and an email discussion about Emily's plans this summer ending wishing her well in her hobby" prompted some thought. I can see why Emily's approach to Athletics could be considered as a "hobby", though athletics is a sport. It is something she does because she enjoys it, she trains when she can- and always has done so- since first in the sport. So she is not deadly serious about it, does not train every day-far from it- but enjoys training, keeping fit and competing- when she does. So I guess her approach could be treating Athletics as a hobby that she enjoys when she has time for it. So rightly people will argue she does not have the 100% commitment required to succeed at the highest level- and get support. She has some talent, you don't break a long standing Welsh record without it, and coming 4th in UKA Indoors over 60m and 200m shows some talent. The difference between 4th and medalling is probably down to lack of effort on training, but it is a hobby in this case.

To go to a higher level-GB International you have to have more than talent, you need total dedication to that goal-on the whole. That involves a lot of work, training, weights and the rest, which do not appeal to all. And you need support from your funding body.

So to go back to the beginning James McIlroy has packed it in. He probably will now enjoy running as a hobby, get a well paid job and relax-pressure off, maybe even enjoy the sport again(not that i have any knowledge he stopped enjoying running, just financial).

How are UKA preparing all the Young Athletes they are championing for this eventuality. The sport has limited earning capacity for the athletes- I know enough who have struggled on for years, but a combination of lack of funding, no help with injuries has forced them out of the sport. Post competing there is no support for them, no pension plans, nothing to thank them for years of dedication.

The sport is amateur, but if you succeed the rewards can be very good- but you have to succeed at the highest level-Olympic medal, or possibly be in a high profile event-such as the Male sprints. I have no idea how much people like Darren Campbell or Katherine Merry have earnt from the sport, would not dream of asking- they deserve what they got. But for each of them, there will be a large number who have tried, trained and left the sport in debt.

Maybe therefore a hobby approach is the right one, just do it, enjoy and see what happens. I have always said to Emily, if you want to, try and represent Wales in a Commonwealth Games, that would be fantastic. If anything happened after that, and you wanted to, then your call. That's the time to make life choices. Not before.

I truly believe this is the right approach in an amateur sport- we cannot have Paid Development Officers telling kids to train day and night to get on a GB programme, with no guarantee of a career in Sport.

If the Sport want's to go Pro, have proper , paid training programme's where athletes are paid to train-fine- they then realise the situation. But until that happens athletes should continue to focus on their education-which will enable them to survive economically-and not on training full time.

If UK Athletics really thought about it they would encourage kids to go to University- offer them some funding- and get them developing academic skills as well as Sporting skills.That would require a development of a really competitive University League.

But it would seem UKA are more interested in picking up young kids, building dreams, and of course will not help once those dreams are shattered for whatever reason-failure or injury.

So the hobby approach is probably the right one. And if the Regions stopped worrying about Olympics and went back a step to the Commonwealth Games as they way forward, things would improve. Welsh Athletics should be, for example focused on the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India and the 2014 in Edinburgh- as a National body that should be their concern. I see no reason why UKA have Performance Director on a Regional Body- they have already local development officers. Get the local Regional bodies to focus on their regions athletes, get rid of the UKA Performance managers. All you need is one in Central Development Manger monitoring the whole thing.

It's not hard- went to a Schools's meeting to-night. The Schools Bodies monitor all primary school results- then compare with GCE's. That show them a % improvement compared to the rest of schools. UKA could do this easier enough- take athletes at U13 and compare improved performances with either U17/U20 performances- that would show you who is improving the most. And would show you which coaches/clubs are improving performances the most.

They have the stats through Power of 10-funded by UKA- but is anyone at UKA actually analysing them- doubt it.

UKA works-it seems on bunch of individuals who make choices based on their pre-conceptions- which involve "lifestyle" the favourite. That means commitment.

I would be focusing on keeping kids in the sport, develop a serious University Competition structure, where athlete's are mature enough to develop- and get educated.

Dreams are important- but for every realised Dream, there are a 100 or more shattered dreams- and if that dream is the whole basis of your life, very damaging.

19/03/2008 "The Swedish Olympic Committee stated today that Klüft must qualify for the Olympic Games and show top form within the next three months - a tall order for Klüft, but not an impossible one for a woman who has jumped 6,97m in the long jump and stated she's breached the 15.00m barrier in the triple jump in practice.Klüft's official best at the hop-skip-and jump event is 14.02m, but it's best not to be fooled into thinking that a woman on a mission to show the world that changing events has not changed her desire to have fun and compete well will not succeed where she puts her mind, her focus and her willpower."

19/03/2007 Apologies site home page missing- somehow the index page was over-written with blank page.

As regular readers will know, I never thought they should have been given them, their involvement with N.Korea and lack of Human rights in China and Tibet, should have lead the IOC to say we will think about it when you have resolved these issues. From an Athletes point of view, how could the IOC give to one of the most polluted Cities in the World.

18/3/08 Email received "Even more reason to argue that Neil De Vos's position (and those of his lackeys Cram, Jackson etc.,) are untenable. Let's have people who represent the sport rather than their own egotistical opinions."See attached article on BBC site

16/03/2008 All's seems not to be well within WAA- it would seem that some Coaches feel that the Performance/Talent managers have a touch of "arrogance" and do not fully understand the "Coach/Athletes relationships".

The sooner Athlete's get to-gether and demand better contracts with the firm who make the money, the better .

13/03/2008 New idea for Combined Events competitions-view the PDF,click here to see at Google Docs and post comments, or join in forum debate.

13/03/2008" If I ran my business on the same way I would be bust- ignore my clients and just send them the odd email. These Organisations claim to be about development, well get off your arses and do something for your salaries. See Welsh athletics page on this site" . If there are any Welsh athletes left, I am sure they will compete in the Outdoors as they watch the rest of youth GB get ready for the YCG.

13/03/2008 Email received:"Athletes work in cycles...macro micro meso....etc a 2 year ban for a drugs offence wouldnt even scratch the surface of an elite athletes cycles.... I've got an idea ...if everybody gets a ban this year they have 3 years to top up on the drugs then come back in an Olympic year 2012 a year after the ban is over saying how clean they are (without all the testing everybody who stayed clean had) drugged up to the eyeballs and perform out of their skin. Get a medal make loads of money...common sense.."

I am anti-drugs, as we all are I think. But I tell you UKA and the clowns are looking like the Sheriffs trying to drive a guy out of the town.

And that is unfair- Dwain is a human, made an error, badly advised and I believe mentored by UKA, now being hounded-viciously.

Anyway Lordy Moynihan, ""But if anyone is implying there is a way I can sit down with him, somehow select him and ignore the by-law then forget it. Completely."

So lordy if you lose give up your title ? guess you will not. But you had to fight for a few years to get what you thought was right, did you not ? We remember. Google it.

11/3/2008 Email received"Just wanted to say thanks for talking a lot of sense about the Dwain situation: No-one is more anti-drugs than me, but the rules are the rules and he was clearly free to compete and I am delighted he did well! and performed far better than some other athletes! If people are naive enough to think Dwain is the only way to blame then that just about sums up UK:A doesnt it! ....its a shame we dont have less cram and edwards and more common sense!"

10/3/2008 Email re English Schools XC "Why on earth was the course so narrow on Saturday, all that space in Sefton Park and the course is so narrow. You only have to look at so many poor performances through all the age groups from athletes who should have been closer. How do you expect people to pass when there is simply know where to go, if you were in the mass of people early in the race then your race was over. Earlier this year at rounday park Leeds for the northern championships, the course was superbly laid out, if an athlete wanted to go passed someone the course was so wide it was not a problem.
You have spoilt a very good occasion with someone not using there nogging. Come on this should not happen."

9/03/2007 Tomlinson adds another silver to GB tally. Dwain continues to get the cold shoulder, despite winning silver. It seems that the commentators will not let this one go - Cram,yet again," The time has come to draw a line under the whole Dwain Chambers saga now he has won silver at the World Indoor championships.Im pleased the whole thing has come to and end; he can get on with what he wants to do and the sport can move on .Chambers was the centre of media attention in Spain.Is this the end of Chambers? I don't know. He's said he wants to go away and have time to think so we'll have to wait and see .Despite his performance, it looks likely that it could be the end of his athletics career." From his BBC column.

Mr Cram should start reading the business pages- cheats and liars allowed to continue in business after serving their time- often people who have stolen money from people who entrusted it to their care and are left with nothing. Dwain hurt no-one, apart from himself. I guess his winnings from the w/e will be confiscated to pay back the money he won as an admitted drug cheat.

Mr Cram, in fact no-one, will say or question why he was allowed to go off the radar and train in California- that is the big question-how did he get into the mess he did, and who in UKA was monitoring him.

So Dwain was daft, but surely some-one in UKA should have been keeping tabs on him. Or did he just say I am popping away for a few months, see you- and UKA continued to fund him without questioning what he was doing.

7/03/2008 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships
Venue: Palau Velodromo Luis Puig, Valencia
Date: Fri 7 Mar- Sun 9 Mar
BBC coverage: BBC TV, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBCi and BBC Sport website.

"Sprinter Dwain Chambers has insisted he is ready for the world indoors 60m, despite not having raced since winning the British trials on 9 February. "

Who stopped him running-UKA or the BBC . Dwain is a human being, made a mistake, but is back under the rules. I am as nervous for him as if my daughter was going to run in a heat-I want to see Dwain Chambers, GB,World Indoor Champion. He can do it.

The BBC should get off his back, what is it to them -they are a paid broadcaster- by us. The anonymous opinions of the BBC, shelter the people who make them, so stop repeating the same crap about drugs- that is history. Lets all support a GB sprinter going for Gold.

6/03/2008" India expected to dominate Kochi, Mar 6 (UNI) The 83-member Indian team led by long jumper Anju Bobby George would not be tested much as the other seven nations are fielding relatively junior athletes for the first two-day South Asian Athletics Championship at the new synthetic track at the Maharaja College Ground here from tomorrow."

6/03/2008 Scottish YCG Standards- link is now working, apologies for error earlier, fingers and brain sometimes fail to connect. Anyway have a look, and those in Wales rue the fact we have an organisation who.. forget it, bored with them. Now Emily's Great, Great Grandfather was Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkneys- so heritage there, trouble is she loves Wales, supports them in Rugby against me, and has huge pride in representing the Country she has lived in since the age of 5 and has a Welsh mother. She speaks Welsh, has represented Wales. What more can you do to be Welsh- have an Athletics body who want the kids to get on and provide competition for youngsters, or at least set standards for the adventure to India.

Wales is running around it seems to find any athlete with the most tenuous link with the principality. If that is the role of WAA, they might as well move to England. WAA should just focus on the real Welsh athletes- have some pride, and forget the mercenaries.

5/03/2008 Pound states "The rule that prevents Dwain Chambers from going to the Beijing Games will not stand up in court, says the ex-boss of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).Dick Pound believes the British Olympic Association (BOA) by-law that bans drugs cheats from competing for Team GB does not comply with Wada legislation. " From BBC

If Pound has reservations, then BOA and UKA should be worried. Pound is a bright guy, and would not make such a statement lightly. When BOA lose a legal challenge the floodgates might Open to litigation- Linford banned from Olympic venues when his athletes were competing, Myerscough, Whitlock just to start with.

Steve Cram has become a bit boring as well, shame as I used to think he was OK. They all should turn up in Crusader outfits, flashing their swords of righteousness. Like Politicians, no-one has ever done anything wrong. I have done plenty wrong in my life, learnt from mistakes and hopefully am now half sensible- well too old now for redemption.

"US sprinter Mike Rodgers says it would give him a lot of satisfaction to beat drugs cheat Dwain Chambers at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia". Will give me a load of satisfaction if Dwain beats him, another loud mouthed American claiming to be cleaner than clean.Sure he is, but Male sprinting is becoming more and more like a heavy weight boxing competition, which I am sure the promoters love. And if it all means more watch, good. Hope Dwain gives him a beating- 1/100th will do the job nicely. Any GB fan(or Official) who hopes Dwain loses is not a fan, Dwain is the best in GB- fact. Yes, I do understand that drugs help you train harder, improve Heart capacity etc and effects may continue long after drug taking stops, but the rules are the rules as at present.

I hope Dwain then wins the legal battle and goes to Bejing. Not because I condone Drugs, but because I dislike the pomposity of the establishment more.

Bet the TV viewing of the World Indoor champs is a bit higher than normal. Then a half -brained UKA would ask Dwain to tour the UK, competing in events, well publicised, and attract more to watch the sport. As the old saying goes All publicity is good publicity, and UKA have a chance to actually use the Dwain episode to their advantage, if they got off their high horse and though for a few minutes about the future of the sport.

The future is a Pyramid structure, but UKA's , and all the others who think the peak is the goal are wrong. They need to widen the base of the Pyramid and make the gradient smoother. So instead of starting with say, 10,000 which after a few steps is 10, we need to see more steps and end up with 100 within site of the summit, and then take the last couple to the peak, the other's waiting to take their place. The Power of 100 should be the aim not the Power of 10.

Does anyone in UKA actually sit down and think how can they make the sport more interesting for the public. Seems to me because the Olympics highlights, strangely with Track and Field, which is where all the money is spent on the stadium, used for Opening/Closing and Track and Field, they reckon that is a justification of the Sport of Athletics. Attendances outside of the Olympics would suggest otherwise.

I have no answer-strangely for me, but not privy to attendance figures. I know kids get fed up with pointless traveling in pointless leagues won by the biggest clubs-spending a day to compete for a small part of the day is a pretty pointless pursuit, and it s noticeable that even the athletes rarely watch the whole days completion avidly- they will support friends, but spend the rest of the day tex ting, messing about or wandering off.

But maybe be radical- dismantle the whole system. Re-think- how about splitting the disciplines. Have competitions for Sprints, Middle & Long distance and field events. All ages at at Meetings.

So a Sprint meeting would have 8 clubs competing across all ages from U13 to Seniors ( though England would probably hold out for U15 to Seniors. Good for the kids, good for the spectators, especially if Dwain was running for his club Pickering for his etc. Have relays from mixed age groups, so a 4*100m would have 1 senior , 1 U20,1 U17, 1 U15. Medley relays as well, and mixed sex relays. More would come and watch, and imagine how an U15 kid would feel being part of a relay team with a GB sprinter.!

I have added the above to the forum pages- so log in and agree or disagree- but please do some-thing.

5/03/2008 If you can be bothered the Carmarthen Harriers would appreciate your vote - it would be much appreciated in West Wales.

"The Norwich Union Community Sports Fund is well under way and we've produced a bespoke voting leaflet to help Carmarthen Harriers toget more votes.Just print as many leaflets as you want out and then hand to friends, family and the general public to complete. The leaflet is already populated with your initiative's name, and all you need to do is get people to fill in their personal details and hand back to you, someone else you may have nominated, or post to the freepost address at the bottom of the leaflet. Mandatory fields have been marked and unfortunately if these are not completed we will be unable to accept the vote. All forms need to be received before the closing date of 14th September, so please leave ample time for postage.It has been designed in full colour, yet will print out black and white if you prefer. Simply select the appropriate option in your print settings."

I would be grateful for your support- helps my Daughter's club and the young athletes . I know it needs a stamp, but hopefully, whatever you think of the site, you will do this one thing for me. Thanks, Charles,athleticsresults.co.uk.

6/03/2008 "Following the resignation of Mike Winch as Vice President of the UK Members Council (UKMC), the process of recruiting his replacement has now been outlined by President Lynn Davies.The current Council Members, as guardians of the sport of athletics, will co-opt a Vice President to serve until 2009, when Mr Winch’s term of office was due to come to an end. This person could be an existing member of the council or a member of the wider athletics family. Whoever is co-opted to serve will then be eligible for election as Vice President before the 2009 AGM.Lynn Davis, who will step down as President in 2011 said:“There is a fantastic opportunity here for the UKMC to think ahead and co-opt someone who would be a good candidate to succeed me post 2011. This person will then have the opportunity to play an instrumental role in the sport at the London Games in 2012 and beyond.“The next step is for us to nominate people who we think would be appropriate to invite to be co-opted as Vice President and then it is likely we will form a sub-committee to consider those nominations and get things moving as quickly as possible.”

The key to this is Lyn Davies comment " The next step is for us to nominate people who we think would be appropriate to invite to be co-opted as Vice President".

4/03/2008 News jut received that another Young athlete has left Athletics, pursuing another Sporting interest. An AAA's and English Schools Champion, just the sort of person UK Athletics should not want to lose. I know some of the reasons, but private so will not repeat here. But the usual story of a lack of support from UKA, and realisation that , in the discipline the athlete was in , UKA were more interested in Athletes nearer 30 than teenagers. Really sad, watched the person on and off for many years- the family were at Kelvin when Emily broke the long standing Welsh U13G 60m record- that was a few years ago . The athlete's father has been a great supporter of this site-agrees and disagrees, which is good. His parting message to me "keep the pressure on the balloons that seem to run athletics in the UK".

"When I get to the bottom
I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and turn
and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Do you don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me tell me come on tell me the answer
and you may be a lover but you ain't no dancer "

On a musical theme, I am in heaven- the women I adore, my rock goddess, is coming to Laugharne-Patti Smith. A long story all to do with being 18 when she released "Horses", friend who played in the her band- late 1970's at Hammersmith Odeon, and to cap it all Deke Leonard will be around as well- the guy behind the best Welsh band ever(I am English) Man, who I saw at the Roundhouse in London on their last ever gig-1978. Well they did a few more last nights, but Deke is Man. End of March, 30 metres from our house, how good is that. Others appearing are Will Self, Howard Marks and the Allen the bad sheriff in Robin Hood

Ticket's booked. Come and enjoy the fun. But don't expect any updates that w/e, well who knows !!

4/3/08 "Athletic Federation of Pakistan (AFP) here Monday named its 52-man contingent to take part in the SAAF Athletics Championship being organised from March 7 to 9 at Cochin (Kerala), India. The party comprises 26-member men, 13-member female teams and 14 officials, said Khalid here Monday. "

3/3/08 Info received from Forum re Welsh 5K race "Who would have thought it welsh athletics cocked up yet again, the course was 250meters short, everybody ran crazy fast times, despite jogging for the first 2k! it was a international race also between wales, eng and scotland, so all of the uk got to see the cock up!!well done wales!!" Unconfirmed, but if so memories of the NIA at UWIC being measured short. No Welsh jokes please.

3/3/08 Ed Warner, through UKA favourite voiceprint, Athletics Weekly states "Nothing in Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams's expose of BALCO is any longer novel - the book itself is now in an updated paperback edition and the pertinent facts well known. However, the two investigative journalists' book still punches a shock with the sheer scale of deception by athletes, coaches and their 'nutritionists'. Required reading indeed - as an aid to understanding the recent past as a warning for the future."

Mr Warner cannot be surprised about Human failings,deception and greed-many in the City business world have been found guilty of the same.

3/3/08 Only the WAA could state this " Last year’s dinner was by invitation only but was still a sell-out. However, this year’s event will be open to everyone and those wishing to attend should log-on to the Welsh Athletics website to get ticket details.“We anticipate a huge demand for tickets” said Welsh Athletics CEO, Matt Newman. “I advise anyone wishing to attend to get their requests for tickets in without delay, as I believe that they will sell like hot cakes”Newman continued: “All of the awards normally made by Welsh Athletics throughout the year to officials, clubs, coaches and athletes will be made at the dinner, making the occasion even more important. It really will be the event of the year”.

I am available to explain the diffence between a sell out and an invitation only event- a small fee, of say £500.

SELL LIKE HOT CAKES - "Hot cakes cooked in bear grease or pork lard were popular from earliest times in American. First made of cornmeal, the griddle cakes or pancakes were of course best when served piping hot and were often sold at church benefits, fairs, and other functions. So popular were they that by the beginning of the 19th century 'to sell like hot cakes' was a familiar expression for anything that sold very quickly effortlessly, and in quantity." From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997)

3/3/08 The Olympic Council of Ireland will take legal advice on its options concerning Cathal Lombard's possible qualification for the Beijing Games.Self-confessed drugs cheat Lombard claimed a shock win in Saturday's Irish Cross Country Championships in Belfast"""Defending Athletics Ireland's decision to offer Lombard a place at the World Cross Country Championships, national team manager Patsy McGonagle said that the Cork man was now in "good standing" with the doping authorities."The situation now is that he has served his ban, he has served his time and he now is coming back although he's not going to the World Cross," said McGonagle. Read more on BBC

3/3/08 Blackpool suffer an Indoor shrinkage -email received " If you remember back, the lack of facilities for athletics really gets under my skin. So you can imagine my delight this weekend when I noticed that the 60m track at Blackpool ( the only indoor track in Lancashire ) has been reduced to approx 52.5 m due to a climbing wall being erected at one end. This also effects the pole vault who do not appear to be able to clear a vault without being at risk of coming down on the fence erected to keep people off the climbing wall !"

2/03/2008 According to a report in the Independent David Collins is getting involved in the murky world of should he or should he not ""If Dwain medals I'll be pleased, but on a personal level," Dave Collins, UK Athletics' performance director, said after finalising the Great Britain team in midweek. "It'll be tinged with a lot of frustration and disappointment that we have athletes who should be given longer bans but who circumstances force you to pick, when I would rather use the event as a development opportunity for younger up-and-coming committed athletes."

Collins, de Vos et al seem to ignore a simple fact- the rules re drug bans. Quite why they are so uptight now is a mystery to most of us. They know the rules,hopefully, and instead of whinging they should let UK Sport liase with WADA. This is not an Athletics issue, it is up to WADA, and UKA and those employed, should foucs on their jobs-delivering results for UK(GB). Stop whinging about lost opportunities for others, just focus on medals. That is what they are paid to do

"As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “I have been to the mountain top…” - it does not matter what happens next. The movement began long ago. It was a great day when people decided that the freedoms of others could not be taken, and that the lives of others are the responsibility of us all, yes, the movement began long ago."

Ok, he is in North America. But with all the trouble going on in UK athletics, lets think. I guess(randomly) 20% of Track and Field Athletes are not White- is that % reflected in Officials and Administrators in GB- lets reflect. Maybe I am wrong, but rarely have I seen a non-white Administrator or Official in the Sport.

Forgiven a bit too strong- but they should be used- as athletes and speakers. I still think if Dwain will spill the beans about who got him into doping then he should be allowed to run in Olympics. The authorities need to know who is getting athletes into doping. That would be a sensible way forward- Dwain gets to the Olympics without a court case against BOA(which he could win), and UK sport understand the problem and who is getting the athletes involved.

28/02/08 From BBC site"Athletics chiefs have brought the sport into disrepute by their mishandling of the Dwain Chambers affair, according to a former UK Athletics (UKA) official.Chambers has been at the centre of a damaging row about the eligibility of athletes returning from drugs bans.But Mike Winch, who quit as UKA vice-president last week, told BBC Sport that the governing body was guilty of "hypocrisy".BBC Sport contacted UKA but it declined to comment on Winch's criticisms."

Much as I have been saying- huge error of judgement by de Vos and he should do the decent thing-resign.

27/02/2008 The Sport of Athletics is doing themselves no service with banging on about drugs. Tour de Force Cycling had a problem, and I would never believe a results anymore. Athletics is heading down the same road, bit it is the organiations who are causing the problem. lets shut up about it, get the doping officials to do thier job-quietly, and any one who beaks the rules, having signed a contract to protect the sport, is banned. In the future, not historically. Stop looking backwards and stop talking about it. Athletics seems to love talkingabout doping more than any other sport, and maybe some of it is because people who are beaten find it easier to blame drugs rather than some-one migt be better.

If this carries on I will just change the name of the site to tiddlewinksresults.com, because the enjoyment of athletics as an International Sport is disappearing fast. A few athletes use drugs to boost their talent, but reading the press you would think every athlete is using them. What a mess. And all because Dwain is the quickest in the UK over 60m. Drug free. And was Drug free. Using Drugs-not the quickest. End of story. How to wreck a sport in an easy lesson , as simple as the Governement losing £50bn over Northern Rock. Hark back to the old days where if you cheated- financially in the City or in Sport, some-one would just tell you in the ear to piss off. And you would never work again.

27/02/2008 From forum "Well Jav fest 6 is on in Milton Keynes on the 19th April. It is £5 per entry, however, no additional costs if an athlete wants to compete in 2 or more age groups. The timetable and directions are up on the site and I believe James Everard is phoning up some hotels for people who want to stay the night before to see if he can get a group booking as it will work out cheaper. Its a wonderful event from what I have herd and so many pb's and even national records have been set in this competition. And plus no need to worry about any runners jogging past! Warm up lasts for about 20 minutes which is good. Like mentioned it is all advertised well on the site thanks to James and will look forward to seeing some throwers there on the 19th!

26/02/2008 To-day I had a conversation with the founder of MySport, Hugo de Pree. It as interesting site, different from the Elite mentor site set up by Katherine Merry,Darren Cambell and Linford Christie,and potentially a very useful site.

When you log in you basically have the opportunity to create complete diary of your athletics life. The athletes data pages are good , the sort of thing every coach would dream of having. Record training, results, diet and nutrition. It seems that Coaches can inter-re-act with their athletes and set weekly/monthly training schedules (snapshot of schedule). There are forum links, articles on Plyometrics ,Fitness regimes, Circuit training and more. Videos are also on the site to show specific disciplines..

MySport goals are "MySport delivers the world’s first “online training ground” for athletes, coaches, parents and their support network (physio’s, nutritionists etc) – enabling them to plan and manage their individual sporting development to achieve their highest potential. The free service supports anyone at any level who has an athletics ambition, in helping them achieve their goals. MySport provides our users with a suite of tools and functions to help them plan, set goals, organise, record, communicate and share any/all of the information and resources related to their athletic training and coaching…making coaches more effective and helping athletes improve performance."

When I first emailed My Sport I was ready to be critical- was this just another UKA backed iniative. They are not financially backed by UKA,(at present) and I must say that having been through the demo of Athlete's pages on My Sport I am really impressed. This is a huge resource available free for athletes,coaches and parents.

The potential is huge- if the site develops so that Coaches can put up programme's for their athletes, if everyone records the training correctly, if people use the forums and contribute then we really could see a hugely worthwhile addition to the sport of Athletics on the Internet. It could enthuse Coaches, athletes and supporters and maybe then we will see the desperately needed development in the strength and depth of Athletics in the UK.

And I say, maybe boringly again, we need to develop depth- we need races at all ages where 4 or 6 are competing for Gold, not just the Best winning easily. We cannot( and would not want to stop the Star) but all involved need to work to-gether to raise depth of standards across the sport-not just support the very talented, and as we all know ultimately none of us know who the Best will be.

The Government is wasting millions a year in producing reports about obesity, the need to encourage sporting activities amongst the youth,-we must have more experts producing reports on obesity that UK Sport have Paid Coaches- and that's saying something. A Government who happily bung £25bn into a Profit orientated company-Northern Rock, a secondary Bank at best, but will not invest in the basics of UK.

I have said it before, give me £1bn and I will develop a good sports all weather facilities(Indoor and Out)within easy reach of every kid in the UK. Of course this would be a Nationally owned facility, but Mssrs runandgrabbit in conjunction with City Bank Letsmakerealmoney assure me that a sale could be made within a few hundred years that would assure Tax payers suffer no loss. Sound's pretty good to me and on a salary of £1m a year, do I really care. Well I say £1m, but then there are the expenses on top, taxi's , air miles and my family to employ.

So say £1.5m a year- but I would deliver a UK Sports facility rather than chanting in the House of Commons to the Hymn of Gordi.

26/2/2008 "New Zealand's three premier track and field athletes will all compete at the world indoor championships at Valencia in Spain next month.World shot put champion Valerie Vili will follow up her competition in the Australian championships in Brisbane this week with her second appearance at a world indoor championships.She will compete over the first days of the event, which runs from March 7-9.Nick Willis will compete in the 1500m, while Kimberley Smith will also be contesting her first world indoor championships in the 3000m".

26/02/2008 Williamson got 2nd spot for GB at Indoors. The BBC (now to be known a the Big Biased Corporation) manages again to get a dig in at Chambers. I listen to Radio 4 but they are taking news into a new realm- soon we will here the weather men question the elements- are you sure you are right, they will say. Questioning people is appropriate, but some BBC journalists are taking such a high road, where one begins to wonder what is spurring them on. Being smart is not always the right thing to be.

25/2/2008 A few records at U20-17-15- some good performances in the Women's sprints.

24/02/2008 Gent, Belgium - Tia Hellebaut was flying high in the High Jump in Gent on Sunday. The reigning European champion ceared 1.92m, 1.95m and 1.98m by large margins to the great delight of the home crowd in the Topsporthal. And two of her attempts at 2.01m only saw very narrow misses. Jaysuma Saidy Ndure set the crowd on fire when he moved into highest gear in the men’s 60m to set a new personal best of 6.55.Hellebaut’s 1.98m on her way to the Pentathlon in Valencia

24/02/2008 Added the Amy/BAL/LTAd debate to forum-all posts under my name, but just copies of the emails I received. Join in.

24/02/2008 Email in "Re Amy Spencer - time certainly flies as you get older!! Actually the link with Belgrave was not irrelevant in Amy's case as Belgrave wanted her for the points she could score not the individual development which she could have had by competing locally - the more so since her previous club were
competing at a much higher level than Belgrave's ladies team!! This is the problem with some larger clubs: they do not facilitate individual development but simply want points fodder. It then becomes a struggle between which clubs can pay the most rather than where the individual athletes' interests lie. There was nothing Belgrave could offer her (apart from money) that she could not have received with her local club. From Belgrave's viewpoint they had the prestige of having one of the nation's
potential future gold medalists in their team.
The reason for the development of the UK Challenge was because the BAL no longer provided athletes with a good level of competition. With regards to championships I agree wholeheartedly with the email - all athletes should be
championship orientated. As a member of a club which has lost athletes to so called larger clubs, what saddens me is that athletes who went looking for better competition ended up competing at a lower standard for a larger club. I could name them but there's not enough room on the site.
With regards to there only being three or four League matches a year and their importance being as minor as implied in the email, why is it that larger clubs actively try to poach athletes, rather than waiting for athletes to approach them? I have seen this at first hand and am aware of clubs who have had to respond formally after a larger club spoke to a talented young international to try and get him to switch clubs. The lad
said "no", so the club rang his parents who said "no", they spoke to his coach who said "no" and only desisted when the lad's club formally complained in writing.
If larger clubs were interested in LTAD they would not poach but they're not and, while some athletes may benefit from competing in BAL, good coaches at all clubs recognise when that situation arises and advise accordingly. What they don't need is outisde clubs providing,what one athlete told me was, "An offer I couldn't refuse" to turn out for a club 200 miles from where he
lived but which, in reality, presaged the end of his success as an athlete.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

24/02/2008 No results from England U15/17/20 or the GB C.E U20/23. Bad show really in this day and age- not hard to do. Should be instant- B'Ham has broadband, just needs to be organised-better than I did(well thought I had)- but England AA have more money than me.

24/2/2008 Email in re Road running"The Modernisation plan was the Foster report which established England Athletics and removed governance from the AAA of E, SEAA etc. As a reward for implementing Foster athletics received £4m a year from the lottery etc for 4 years. Part of this was paid to Scotland and Wales. Apparently after 1.4.08 Scotland will no longer receive this money. Scottish Athletics and England and Wales have for some years charged a £2 unattached levy for road etc races (or do Wales charge £1). This has been a major source of income for the sport. Following pressure from major charity races and competition from the Association of Running Clubs the proceeds of this £2 levy will be left with race organisers after 1.4.08. In its place races will pay for a race licence which is some 60% cheaper than the proceeds of the levy. Now Scotland faced with the loss of an important source of income from the Sports Councils is going back to taking all the proceeds of the unattached levy for itself.
UKAthletics now needs to let all of us know the content of the
recommendations of the Audit Commission report. Presumably Wales has also lost an important source of income. What about England ? It all illustrates the stupidity of athletics in getting itself so dependent on volatile state funding and unreliable politicians" .

24/02/2008 "Whoever wrote the email with regards to Amy Spencer and league competition should get their facts write on a few counts! Amy went to university over 5 years ago! She has since left university and is now in full-time employment. The link with Belgrave is irrelevant to this issue. I think you need to look at a couple of things here. Backley and Holmes being members of lower league clubs is not an issue for them as they would never have required league competition as they were so far above that standarad that grand prix meetings would have provided planty of competition. However, for athletes below this level of competition, leagues can provide a good competitive opportunity - it is only 3 or 4 matches per year and some people seem to forget this - championships are far more important!
Secondly, leaving a club doesnt mean leaving a coach. They are two entirely different issues. So it's not turning backs on the coaches who brought them success in the first place. It is simply a case of an athlete looking for the right level of competition to assist them in their longer term development - right level for right age and ability - thats where LTAD comes in"

23/02/08 From AW " Well-known coach steps down from role after four years but has strong message for governing body.UK Athletics’ vice president, Mike Winch, has resigned from his role, partly in disgust over the governing body’s handling of the Dwain Chambers affair.Winch, a former Commonwealth shot put silver medallist, issued a fierce parting shot, accusing UKA of having “no one in senior management who knows the sport”.

23/02/2008 Email received "Amy Spencer announced about 18 months ago that she was going to University, spinning a line that it was always her ambition. Unfortunately, there was a lot of x pressure on Amy and it didn't help that she was bought by Belgrave for competition purposes although she continued to live in Wigan. Athletics is a long term development sport but large clubs look for short term success by poaching athletes from smaller clubs and using them as points fodder. It should be noted that two of our most successful international athletes in recent years, Steve Backley and Kelly Holmes, both belonged to Southern League (division 3) clubs, not the larger clubs.
The higher competition rule was meant to allow quality athletes to stay with their own clubs while providing access to "higher competition". Unfortunately, some large clubs use it as a means of poaching athletes away from the very coaches who brought them success in the first place. Ironically for some athletes who compete in the BAL the competition in some of the regional leagues is actually stronger."

23/0/008 I am happy,beat the French in Paris" And did those feet in ancient time walk upon England’s mountains green?And was the holy Lamb of God on England’s pleasant pastures seen?And did the countenance divine shine forth upon our clouded hills?And was Jerusalem builded here among these dark Satanic Mills? Bring me my bow of burning gold!Bring me my arrows of desire!Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!Bring me my chariot of fire!I will not cease from mental fight,nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,till we have built Jerusalem,in England’s green and pleasant Land.

.Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

The Land Of My Fathers

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi, The land of my fathers, the land of my choice,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri; The land in which poets and minstrels rejoice;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd, The land whose stern warriors were true to the core,
Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed. While bleeding for freedom of yore.
Cytgan Chorus
Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad. Wales! Wales! fav'rite land of Wales!
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau, While sea her wall, may naught befall
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau. To mar the old language of Wales.
Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd, Old mountainous Cambria, the Eden of bards,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn i'm golwg sydd hardd; Each hill and each valley, excite my regards;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si To the ears of her patriots how charming still seems
Ei nentydd, afonydd i mi. The music that flows in her streams.
Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwald tan ei droed, My country tho' crushed by a hostile array,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ac erioed, The language of Cambria lives out to this day;
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad, The muse has eluded the traitors' foul knives,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad. The harp of my country survives.

23/02/008 Christie will not be torch bearer Linford Christie
Christie won gold at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992
Controversial former sprinter Linford Christie will not carry the Olympic torch when it comes to London in April.Christie, banned by the British Olympic Association after failing a drugs test, was invited by Mayor Ken Livingstone.A Greater London Authority spokesperson denied the Mayor himself had taken the decision to contact Christie.But Christie's agent Sue Barrett told BBC Radio 5 Live that she had a letter signed by Livingstone inviting Christie to be one of 80 torch bearers.

What load of bollock's-the then UKA did not find Christie guilty of an offense. Fantastic guy, who I have the upmost respect for, done more for youngsters in this country than many others.He , we must remember, failed a so called drug test after he retired-a silly bet with his squad to run again.UK did not find him guilty

The BOA are becoming increasingly isolated, and maybe could have a judicial case go against them.The Commonwealth Games comittee are much the same, will not accept Cornwall as an independent Sports Nation,even discuss.

22/02/2008 I like stats , have to as I earn my income from businesses that needs to convert hit rates. I also monitor this site, and the strange(or may be not) is that the Youth Commonwealth Games link is consistently the 3rd most followed link- athleticsdata top at 975,news archive 2nd at 735,YCG 3rd at 670 with Power of Ten 4th at 577. Then the links to results. Total hits over the week 16180 for the home page. Pretty standard link % hits, though I am slightly surprised that News archive and YCG feature so high. But a lot of hits, my business sites selling stuff get about 8000 hits a week and generate good income. The Chambers debate is pretty high up as well.

The conclusion is that you are truly interested in the sport- this site may not be the flashiest around, but simple , I hope.

Athletics stats will show, sadly, a drop out of athletes from the sport. I cannot get any serious data, none is available but there is no doubt that the sport is losing athletes for several reasons-1) Focus on 2012- so young athletes excluded from programme's re dropping out- 2) The pressure on young athletes to perform for 2012 is making them leave the sport.

One person told me recently that several athletes(very talented) have dropped out because of the pressure- in one moment(in terms of being funded,) dropped suddenly from support.

Athletics is losing the plot, no-one can be sure who the stars will be. Remember Amy Spencer ? Great talent, where is she now- BBC young Sports personality as I recall. Last time I saw Amy, and had a brief word, she was obviously stressed by the high expectations. She ran very well, but never saw her run again. Sadly, coz Amy was great. Beat Emily Freeman easily.

Emily Freeman though is I think a good example- little focus on her, but has come through form being Northern Champ, University Champ and has many few GB vests, and looks a good prospect for the future.

With the Olympic Trials coming up this year, the sport need to focus on getting as many as possible to get the standards to be invited. The more who compete the better, and if you come last, so what, some one has too.

The Athletics Organisation's should focus on keeping numbers involved not just individuals.

20/02/2008 Dwain Chambers will wait until after the World Indoor Championships in March before deciding whether to appeal against his lifetime Olympic ban. BBC Link

20/2/2008 Pickering stops Indoor season due Illness and Injury, following 5th place at AAA Seniors" "Craig has drawn the line on his indoor season," said his coach Malcolm Arnold."He was just getting over the virus which kept him out of Birmingham when the knee problem came to light and it's now affecting his hamstring."His doctor said it would be a miracle for him to get fit enough to run in Paris on Friday."

20/02/2008 England Youth Comonwealth Standards added- view slightly different from the Welsh AA, who think kids should not compete because out of season and interrupts school -"Selection for the Commonwealth Youth Games will be primarily aimed at those with realistic medal aims. The Games are taking place in India and therefore involving considerable travel, time zone changes and acclimatisation issues. This provides a great opportunity for learning and gaining experience of dealing with these issues. In light of this, the selection panel may also consider exceptional cases that are judged to have long term development potential and use this event to assist them in gaining competitive experience under more trying travel and competition conditions"- little wonder many Young in Wales are leaving the sport, or do not see it as a serious sporting option.

19/2/2008 Looks like Dwain is thinking of taking BOA on re his Olympic ban. Why not, UKA are treating him so badly, if I was him I would-only organisation I am aware who will not let athletes compete after a ban in the Olympics. Another results for Mr de Vos. And yet they let another compete after breaking rules recently. These thinks have a habit of haunting people for some time.

17/20/2008 Another comment re Dwain"Like many I am dismayed at UKA in turning their vengeance towards Chambers. How come, after he has served his 2 yr ban, got selected for the GB team in 2006 how can can they do this now?. If the rules
are wrong change them...quick. But UKA cannot backtrack on their OWN rules. Since Dwain has served his ban he cannot be blamed for UKA's current sluggishness to change the rules. Neither can they change their approach towards him just because they have had a change of 'leadership'. Under their own 'rules' Dwain's case is history, unpaletteable as it may be.. UKA need to get a watertight set of rules in quick and make sure it ties up internationally ASAP. In the meantime they can stop this persecution of Chambers because of their own stupidity. I am also a bit disappointed at the lack of challenging questioning on this issue from BBC TV's coverage of recent Athletic events."

16/2/2008 Kent League XC results Men and Womenof today added- see XC at below Indoors. NU GP-Simeon Williamson seems to have a habit of running out of centre of lane to left of lane- maybe lost him the race. Fine run though.

16/2/2008 Cannot believe that Dwain Chambers was ignored for The NU Grand Prix. Shows how pathetic and personal UKA are being,despite claims nothing personal.

16/02/2008 Neil de Vos will no doubt resign soon- he has caused a huge issue with the sport of athletic's over Dwain Chamber's and I cannot see how he can keep his job. He can spin it as much as he wants, but he has been quoted so many times that he did not want Dwain to run for GB, lost that one. Not sure he will win the ban on Drug failed athletes not competing on the Euro circuit. But as an email said Dwain could just sue for the next few years, though I think he would rather run clean and win.

I am saddened to see so many ex-athletes jumping on the "Dwain should never run again" band wagon. Reminds me of the Linford should not be allowed to coach crusade a few years ago.

Athlete's should actually have the guts to turn around to UKA and sort this out. UKA seem to be able to bully athletes into towing their line, coz it seems athletes are so worried about their selection for GB they will just go along with obvious injustice.

Athletes should turn around and tell UKA that they want to be involved, get decent contracts, not be bullied or threatened. An Athletes Union is the way forward- not just let UKA dictate .de Vos has created the opportunity now, and athletes should seize this opportunity and get some power , and so be involved in the future of the sport. But if athletes want to train 24/7 and let UKA dictate thier future, fine, but maybe they should think. No other major sport does it, and athletics is an amateur sport in name only. Where is the Will Carling in athletics?

15/2/2008 From Carmarthen Harriers re Norwich Union Community project-"Carmarthen Harriers initiative has had 212 votes recorded as of 14 February 2008.This qualifies the club to a bronze award (£1000) .The competition runs until 14 September 2008 and the Harriers aim is to have at least 2000 votes .Many thanks to you and all your friends who have voted for us so far .If you have not yet voted, please vote now and get all your friends to vote as well -http://www.joinourteam.com/".

Any other club also seeking NU funds under the scheme wanting publicity here, just email me.

13/02/2008 This Sunday sees Final of Inter City Challenge- finalists are: TEAM EDINBURGH v TEAM BRISTOL v TEAM SHEFFIELD v TEAM LONDON NORTH v TEAM LONDON SOUTH v TEAM BIRMINGHAM v TEAM CARDIFF v TEAM MANCHESTER.

5/2/2008 On Track athletics has teamed up with Sports Psychology Consultant Rebecca Symes to offer visitors of On Track Athletics weekly tips on Sports Psychology. Rebecca has worked with a range of clients from the world of sport and business- click here to see the pages

5/2/2008 So Chambers will run- hope he wins, that will get UKA even hotter under the collar. They started this with trying to stop Chamber's competing for GB, and so have only themselves to blame.

5/2/2008 So I am no the only one :"The old Chambers debate, I am against drugs 100% like most are, but people forget that before he was on the juice he was a 10.0 man, won the world juniors in a WJR I think. So he has natural ability. He is clean now as they have tested him a few weeks ago I understand and they will probably test him like mad for the coming months. I know from the publics view he is a drugs cheat and should be out of the sport, but him competing at the AAAs will cause a few of the people around 6.6 to raise their game, our sport lacks depth and participation levels and if he’s clean. Let him run. I do however think that he should take back the comment that you need drugs to succeed as it sends out the wrong message to up and coming athletes. He didn’t need drugs to succeed, should have stayed in the UK. He has the natural ability."

UKA are not saying he has been tested, did not see any around at B'Ham games, but maybe UKA did not want him tested, though I think it is UK sport who do the testing- will have to ask them.

If the UKA rules were applied to life, no one who went to prison would be able to get a job !! Madness.

3/2/2008 Dwain looked good-will be a good competion next weekend between him and Craig Pickering. Whatever UKA feel, this should happen.

2/2/2008 At Birmingham Games, but promised Broadband signal switched off- so unable to broadcast. Just seen Dwain Chambers win SM 60m in 6.60 secs.Many apologies, but outside of my control and frustrating for me as well.

30/01/2007 Please vote for Carmarthen Harriers to win £1000, £12,500 or even £50,000 from the Norwich Union Community Sports Fund. Click here for how to do. Nearly there, and it would help a Regional club with limited facilities. Will add an appeal from any other club seeking funding from Norwich Union Community Sports Fund.

" The solution to this lies in the current school age generation and the opportunity for athletics to re-position itself in the build up to London 2012 and Glasgow 2014. UK Athletics’ Norwich Union meeting at Crystal Palace can still produce a roar that is heard a mile away as can the International Indoor Curtain raiser held each year at Kelvin Hall - but below these set piece spectaculars it can be hard work to engage a youth audience that has many other options on its time. What they are watching needs to be :

* relevant (national or city teams that stir peoples passions in a way clubs do not

* stars (and as a lesson in how to make something out of nothing, I would say ‘darts’)

* entertaining (the major team sports, including cricket have re-modelled their basic product to create maximum excitement)"

From Column by Geoff Wightman, Chief Executive of Scottish Athletics, as seen in Athletics Weekly Magazine,from copy on UKA site.

You might see a similarity with the cricket analogy fom above, from my fan letter published in European Athletics news:

"Yet there is no use in living in the past, (something athletics has been particularly good at!) While Cricket has introduced floodlit matches, limited over matches, one day Internationals -changes that have bought fresh air into what was becoming a stuffy sport – athletics has been slow to change its approach to the modern sporting world".

0/01/2008 If you know an athlete competing at Birmingham Games, and cannot be there, email a message of support and we will try and get it announced . Or any comment, during the Games,whilst Live broadcast is going on, this should be truly inter-active experience for those who cannot attend but want to follow the Birmingham Games

29/0/2008 Just turned down 2 tickets for England V.Wales at Twickers because committed to the B'Games broadcast. Will watch over the Internet instead whilst doing the broadcast. So please do tune in, or will be really depressed !!

27/01/2008 Birmingham Games Timetable. Still on schedule to be there to stream the Commentary live over the Internet. One of the most enjoyable Indoor meetings, so hopefully you will listen.

Late trial, but Eddie and the Hot Rods are on line now- you just missed theclassic verion of "Gloria"- well, might repeat later.

27/10/2008 NEAA U17/15- though on site as 2008 says 2007 on results ?? Maybe not be correct. Let me know, I do not have the time to check every result.

27/01/2008 If you, or your kids, are concerned following the chicken debate, have a look at this RSPCA website- they approve certain farms-click supportchickennow. Tells you the places you can buy freedom foods.

26/10/2008 6 Nations Rugby looms- so betting time. After a small win at World Champs we(both of us) have gone for England winning at 5/2, Italy 3rd at 16/1 and Wales 5th at 9/2. Time will tell, but I have feeling Italy will finally surprise. As long as England win, bet covered.

25/01/2008 "WAA have taken the covers off the coaches cultivating Wales up and coming". Link here. Looks like a PR re my comments about Wales employing a Swede who is coaching a Scot-see below. It all sounds very sweet, a big love -in. What I fail to understand, and I must be truly thick, is how the CEO of WAA is talking about Cardiff attracting World Class athletes to Cardiff " Newman continues, “Wales has punched above its weight in athletics in recent years. These appointments will help us to realise our full potential and move us closer to a fully operational high-performance centre in Wales. The profile of these coaches is already attracting world class athletes from other home nations, which will accelerate the inclusion of Cardiff to the top table of UK athletics”. Now I assume he is not talking about Cardiff the running club,(though some might in North and West Wales(sic))but the University facility at UWIC, the NIAC. Fine, if NIAC want to develop a premier UK sports training facility attracting athletes from all over the UK that is great. But what does that have to do with WAA role within Wales. WAA, according to its Articles of Association is in existence to develop Athletics within Wales. I cannot find the bit that says they are funded to develop a Training centre for all athletes within UK and, from the sound of it, compete with Scotland, England and Northern Ireland to attract athletes.

I am not the only one confused within Wales - the strategy appears to be confused, from the outside, and what is happening is WAA are marganalising athletes, which I would argue is against the purpose of WAA- well possibly in breach of UKA guidelines re "no athletes should not be discouraged".(Its deep down in UKA policy documents.)

The choice not to send a Youth Team to the Commonwealth Games, according to a copy of a letter I have now received from the Welsh Assembly, was"based solely on athletic development". Weird one that, develop Youth Talent by not sending a Team to the Youth Commonwealth Games. "These decisions were made solely in the best interests of the athletes concerned".

Well they may think so, but several I know are not so keen on the sport anymore- well done WAA , another success story.

Enough of Wales, whats happening in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland- let me know.

21/01/2007 The Radley A.C. Annual Track and Field Open Meeting will be held on Saturday 22nd March 2008 at Tilsley Park, Abingdon. Download entry form here.
This year we are pleased to announce that there will be electronic timing with Photo Finish on the track and there will be electronic measuring for the long throws events on the field.

19/10/2008 Welsh Athletics Coach from Sweden is also coaching a Scottish athlete "Baillie hopes the new-found independence he enjoys in Wales, where he is working with Swedish coach Benke Blomkvist, can inspire him to recover the momentum that bubbled in Melbourne." Why is an employee of WAA coaching a Scot- no problem is unpaid, but if you are a paid Coach of a National Organisation. Seems a bit strange.

19/01/2008 MCAA have announced the FIRST Athletics Results Live Internet Broadcast on their site. This will be a first in the UK, to my knowledge, full coverage of the 2 Days over the Internet, so bookmark it and tune in. This a project I have been working on for 6 months, I am paying for it, though NIA have been kind enough to provide free Internet access and MCAA in allowing. This is the way forward, and could be used by any Athletics meeting which has Access to the Internet.(Which can be done through a Mobile phone.) So any meeting in the UK could have Live coverage-clever eh. Still working on the actual pages, but click here and you can listen to my favourite music by clicking on listen. In theory if you follow this link, the music/commentary will start automatically. Any problems, please let me know, this is a big experiment for me.

19/01/2007 European Athletic sex the sport up-5-minute Interview with Stefano Baldini :

From the passion coursing through each answer of this weekend’s 5-minute interview it could only describe the life of a true red blooded Italian! A man who loves all the best things in life: great sport, fine wine, good food, fast cars, sharp suits, pretty women and of course his family. This 5-minute interviewee could charm the Leaning the Tower of Pisa back to being vertical, but he is not just talk and those sparkling blue eyes… a devoted
father, and an Olympic Champion, this is an endurance athlete with determination of steel! Yes ladies and gents, it is that time again, so go whip yourself up a perfect cappuccino, break out the Bistecca Fiorentina and prepare to spend the next 5-minutes getting to know the George Clooney of Italian athletics, the
passionate, suave and distinguished, Olympic Marathon Champion… Stefano Baldini!

18/01/2008 Just heard one of the best Jazz albums in an age- Herbie Hancock, River The Joni Letters. Magic-truly wonderous. Buy it and it will make you just float away-well did it for me.

18/01/20082 Dwain Chamber "The confirmation of his non-appearance at Pickett's Lock will please UK Athletics, which had said it was ready to stop Chambers's plans to make a competitive comeback.It was considering a change to their selection policy so that any athlete disqualified from the Olympic Games because of drug offences, can no longer represent Great Britain at any level, such was UKA's desire to prevent Chambers from returning to the squad.But he cannot legally be banned from running on the athletics circuit as that would be viewed as a restraint of trade."

OK , Dwain was stupid, misled and paid the price. Why is he being hounded, where other athlete's are not. Others have failed tests, Dwain who was honest in the end, is being given a real hard time- not suggesting he should be absolved, but at least he had the guts to own up. Maybe he should do more and name and shame. Met him a few times, seemed a decent enough guy.

How can UKA change rules, after another has been allowed to compete at Olympics- must be more than we know, maybe UK sport should state the case fully against Dwain. It's a weird one -Dwain knows he cannot compete in Olympics, but why not let hin compete in the UK ? Can of worms for UKA- personally I would like to see a clean Dwain run and push standards up if he can. If that is what he wants to do. I would love to see him run clean.

17/01/2007 Information I have received suggests Welsh Athletics returned about 100 entry forms as late. Now, on the basis that most athletes enter 2 events, loss of income of about £1500. So Welsh Athletics can afford it? Seems a question mark over Post/delivery to the WAA Office . Any normal organisation would take any business, well I would. It is hard enough to earn cash at the moment, and I run a business for profit. But I guess it is easier if Income is not an issue. But 100 or so athletes rejected, and since many who had entered did not compete a pretty poor W/E in terms of numbers. The 100 rejected as late would probably have competed, many enter early several events and make a choice at the last minute.

Maybe in future if only one entry in an event, just email a Gold Medal and save the athletes the hassle of travelling.

On line entry forms would resolve some of the issues the issue, or accept proof of postage.

16/1/08 Birmingham Games- I have been given permission to broadcast the Birmingham Games live- both Saturday and Sunday-over the Internet. More details nearer the time.

16/01/2008"Crowborough Runners are making one last, desperate bid to ensure the oldest surviving cinder track in Britain is replaced with a facility worthy of the 21st Century.The club's out-dated and dilapitated home is close to being condemned for health and safety reasons with the town council planning to dig it up and grass it over." What a mess, 2012, and we cannot even afford to keep a track going, it is becoming a farce (2012). Money for the select, but as I have mentioned many times, no desire to invest in the long term future.

16/01/2008 WAA is obviously cash rich, having had more emails about enteries refused. Did it not ocur to them to look at Postage date and be reasonable. But what is extra income when you have paid for the event anyway- a bonus !! Sums up the lack of business sense in the organisation- new CEO, but gets worse-well never heard of athletes being refused before..

14/01/2008 Email received" I went to UWIC on Saturday,managed to park my car 20m from the door and was surprised by the lack of bodies.I was told that some of the entry forms arrived late,christmas post etc and the jobsworth at the WAA refused to budge on the closing date.What is wrong with these people.Apart from the lost revenue,is this the way to encourage young athletes. These people are to athletics,what King Herod is to mothercare."

and another "A very costly weekend for those needing overnight accomodation. I was appalled to have to pay entry fees on both days...I have athletes across both age groups and to be made to pay for the athlete who was not competing was totally
unacceptable. Please don't let me hear the excuse for anything that Welsh Athletics are short of money. I am beginning to realise that if you are significantly far away from Cardiff that you need to be VERY RICH to keep your kids competing at this level "

Looks like WAA need to learn and think- don't charge a young athlete who competed on a saturday because her sibling is competing on Sunday- that makes sense. And let people enter on-line-I offered to set this up 4 years ago when it was hard- it is now easy. It was a rather low key meet, not sure there were any enteries in the U20 from outside Wales, but could be wrong. Shame as the U20 was on the whole a pretty poor competition depth wise. Need to learn how to market events.

14/01/2008 "The first English Athletics Championships of the New Year were so crammed with excellence and capped by excitement that, if their quality is repeated over the coming months it will be the spectators and officials – never mind the athletes – who will require heart rate monitors."

13/01/2007 Well it as nice to be at an Athletics meeting in Cardiff, even though low numbers for U20's. Could have been OK until some Club Coach came up to Emily after getting a Bronze medal and said something like " Hope you are not going to quit, train hard and you might do well in the Summer". Uncalled for and unrequested comments, lucky I was not present, asI have had reports of this behaviour before. Emily ( and a friend of hers was included in this) has been out of the Sport injured for a while, just started training again. But maybe he meant well !

12/01/2008 Just received Manchester Winter Varsity match reuslts from 21 November.Other meetings will be held on 16, 23 and 30th January.

11/01/2008 I have been made aware that there has been an issue with logging into the forum- "general error Username already used". I have I hope resolved this to-night, so please log in-apologies for all who have had frustrated attempts. If you are still unable to log in, please let me know.

11/01/2008 Marion Jones has paid the ultimate price- she cheated, lied,duped thousands of young female athletes who admired her, but I still feel for her- 6 months in prison. Silly woman, all coz she lied-millions lost and she could have done it anyway without cheating. Imprisoned just because she wanted to be the Olympic best and then lied to the Federal authorities.

What a down fall, so if anyone feels tempted to cheat be aware-just say no-Prison is a harsh place-well not some-where I ever wanted to go . And if you do and get caught, put your hands up-name and shame. Hollywood will probably make a film about her- the Rise and Fall of a Cheat. Poor girl.

11/1/2008 Interested in Pole Vault - have a look at this USA website- www.polevaultsummit.com.

11/01/2008 WAA have done well- letters have been sent to all Athletes who have the qualifying standards for AAA Age Championships. Well done to James Thomas,the Welsh Talent Development Manager, this is the sort of pro-active approach that we have long suggested, and good to see it has now happened. Let's hope the athletes in Wales who have been advised that they have standards will now enter. Bring the flags, lets see the Stadium awash with the Dragon. Everyone bring a National flag, lets make the Championships a colourful,Partisan, friendly event. I am sure the athletes would appreciate it.

11/01/2008 Wales announce Celtic XC Team:Wales has selected it's Cross Country team to compete in the Celtic Nations match held prior to the World Cross Country Championships in February.The Teams are:Men Afan Humphries (U23),Dewi Griffiths U20)Craig Peters (U20)Ieuan Thomas (U20)Ricky Challinor (U20)Jonathon Hopkins (U17)Josh Harries (U17)Nicky Morrell (U17)Charlie Hulson (U17)Women:Emily Kendrick (U23)Bethan Strange (U23)Chloe Rodham (U23)Jenna Roberts (U20)Bethan Woods (U20)Elinor Kirk (U20)Alaw Beynon-Thomas (U20).

10/01/2008 The Univeristy debate (see below) is on the forum-please look and state your views. Log on and join in, that's what the site is all about. A chance to state your views, and no-one will know who you are, unless you want them to know. A forum entry "Regarding the editorial on whether UKA encourage/tell athletes to go to certain universities I would like to raise a few points that I have expressed before to UKA and Welsh Athletics..." Its on the forum.

9/01/2008 A good discipline specific site The Javelin Club - well worth a look at, for all interested in the sport of Track and Field. Have a look please, hard work goes into these sites and I know that visitor stats help to make it feel all worthwhile.

9/01/2008 The Welsh U20-U13 Champs will take place this w/e. Several will not be there as clashes with AAA CE, but WAA managed to focus on only 3 athletes-one 14 years old. Good luck to them and hope they succeed in the PR billing by WAA. Low key, well the year will be because WAA have managed to make sure they are the only Home Nation to not attend the Youth Commonwealth Games . No surprise that many are not that bothered really. WAA seem incapable of understanding that for some the challenge of getting to India would have been a real motivating force- getting a minor Welsh vest is for many not an issue- they have them already. So expect no fireworks from those who have a longer term plan, if they attend. The U16 will have the chance to compete in the Celtic Schools Indoor International, so they will be focused no doubt- an honour. But for the rest it will be so what, why are we not competing to go to India.

The end of season rankings will be the judge, but that will not happen this w/e, the better performances will come in February once athletes have settled down after XMAS and the appalling weather conditions have hopefully calmed down. The favoured near an Indoor facility will feature, the rest will just have to brave it out.

What Sport often forgets is that athletes do this for fun- how anyone in their teens trains 3-4 times a week and does exams is beyond me- and have a life. Maybe having a life is just work, not a philosophy I would subscribe to.

9/1/2008 I had heard this last year,but for various reasons ignored. But I am now hearing from several other sources that UKA/Regional Sports bodies are guiding Athletes into Universities. Guiding or telling them which one to go to- I am not sure what the difference is. So Combined Events, Brunel, Sprints Bath or Birmingham. This is surely dangerous, I am aware of at least one athlete who was persuaded to go to a University on the World Class plan, then dropped the next year. That is totally wrong. Athletics is a tough sport and athletes' should be encouraged to pursue their academic career in conjunction with their Athletics development, unless UKA want to underwrite their earnings-which they will not. Emily Freeman , GB athlete went to London Uni, not a renowned Sporting University, she has done well. If the Performance directors are now going to get involved in where athletes are educated, well that's an interesting development-are they also qualified educationalists. Who pays the Universities ? Are UKA/UK Sport picking up the bills ? I think we need to know what is going on.

Youngsters believe in themselves often irrationally, and any organisation that fuels anticipations should be very careful. Us that are older and ,maybe, wiser, know the fickle nature of sport, and business careers. Strong Health(i.e. potential careers)warnings should be issued to all athletes, as well as giving the encouragement they need. So go to a University to get a good degree, and develop your sporting success-not vice versa.

3/1/2007 Nike Running Ad- Asked to run it, interesting advertising idea. And yes I get 10 cents for every legitimate click- I have sold out !!

3/1/2008 Email received "With my friend Barry Watson (Ex Olympic marathon man and founder of South Kent Harriers) I am contacting running clubs and associations to inform you of the fourthSomme Valley Poppy Marathon in Picardie, France. The event is planned for the 14 September 2008 which I know seems a long way off at the moment, but perhaps for your planning and organisation its better to have this information well in advance. The event is unique in France, that is to say 'a charity based event'
You can find a lot more information on our web-site, which is in English and French. (It will be completely updated for 2008 by end December 2007))

www.somme-marathon.com

The 4th Somme Marathon will be run on Sunday 14 September 2008.Our Marathon will begin in the town of Albert and runners will be able to choose between four different races .The full marathon, half Marathon, 10kms, 5kmsPlus in 2008 hand bike, for able and disabled athletes, will participate in the half marathon (see web- site for more info)The full and half marathon will take participants over the hallowed ground of the WWI battlefields ,going by sites where soldiers marched and fought in such
difficult conditions between 1914 and 1918running past the Lochnagar Crater, the Thiepval Monument and the Newfoundland Memorial Park, Canadian Monument, all in
a bid to raise money for Charity."

2/1/2008 Gatlin ban reduced to 4 years following his assistance with USA Anti -Doping agency. Not a bad idea, if an athlete helps expose how doping happens reduce their ban. He will still miss 2008 Olympics.

Gatlin apparently may be appealing, arguing his first offence should not be taken into account.

2/1/2008From Organiser Barbados Relays-" Regretfully I must inform you that The Government has announced that the National Stadium will be under repairs as of January 2008 and will be unavailable for use until March. It will be impossible to host the relay Fair since there is only one stadium in Barbados.Please inform anyone that you have sensitized and perhaps they can plan for 2009." So no Trip this year, will try again in 2009, though might be tricky with A levels looming.31/12/2007 Birmingham Games Entry Form- closing Date 11th Jan 2008.

31/12/2007 England Athletics U20/17/15 Champs Entry Form-closing date 28 Jan 2008

31/12/2007 16 year old Craig Robertson of Gala wins 2008 and 139th New Year Sprint in tight finish. Full results.

29/12/2007 Love this quote "It's taken me a long time and a lot of effort to become a boring old fart, and I wouldn't want to have to start again"

28/12/2007 Scotland's Lee McConnell has quit the 400metres hurdles and set her sights on Olympic glory in the flat one-lap event.

Lee is a world class athlete, a wonderful runner and should be representing GB at Bejing. I am sure she will be there.The hurdles was a distraction.

27/12/2007 "The 2008 and 139th New Year Sprint is due to be held at Musselburgh Racecourse, 6 miles east of Edinburgh, on Friday 28th December and Saturday 29th December 2007.The heats of the New Year Sprint, and all rounds of the supporting events, will be held on the Friday. The Sprint semi-finals and final on the Saturday will be incorporated into the traditional Christmas National Hunt horse-racing meeting. The Sprint final is due to be televised as part of Channel 4's coverage of the day's events.The first prize of £4000 makes the Sprint by far the richest race in the professional calendar, reinforcing the event's position as the sport's premier event.The Sprint is supported by a series of Open foot-races up to 1600 metres and Youths foot-races up to 800 metres. A 120 yards backmarkers invitation will give the crowd further opportunities to see the fastest performers in action.The promoter is putting up a £5000 bonus for the scratch runner in the backmarkers event who can beat the World Professional Record of 11.14 secs over 120 yards (approximately 110 metres) set by the great George McNeill back in 1970. "

24/12/2007 Olympian Ambitions-For Beijing, a smooth Games will take a lot of things—including ("China")winning more than anyone else. From Newsweek Online.

China might just do this- as the article says they were 3 Gold Medals short of the USA in 2004, although 40 medals adrift overall. But if they have improved in Track and Field this could all be reversed. Would not bet against it. GB will do will to improve on 10th place overall, probably slip a place or two.

22/12/2007 Just discovered the Welsh Pole Vaulters site. Have a look if you are interested in this discipline

22/12/2007 "Athletics club members now have the chance to enjoy a series of benefits linked to UK Athletics major Events through Track Pride, a new scheme launched this month.Track Pride aims to put athletics clubs at the forefront of the action in an exclusive offer to watch the best athletes in the world. If you are a club member you can earn money for your club as well as be in with a chance to win a selection of prizes, including signed GB & NI team kit.Track Pride kicks off at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on 16 February 2008, and with every ticket you purchase for this event you will receive £2 cash back to your club. "

A Fast Track iniative, but one I cannot follow. Maybe some-one can explain it to me. £2.00 is not going to persuade me to go to an event- thought they were always sold out anyway- seems this is not so. I am not a club member anyway, as most Parents are not. The point of this escapes me, but I am sure it is a cunning plan. If the plan is to get more young Club athletes to watch, great, but we(Parents) still have to take them there. If a club arranged a trip, then say 10 club members times £2.00 will not cover the petrol. Weird marketing gimmick.

21/12/2007 Entry List for Welsh Junior Champs A good idea from WAA to publish entries. I have ordered by clubs, but not maybe 100% -the PDF converter may have missed a few- if so apologies to those missed.

21/12/2007 Looking at the Indoor Diary I am missing results from Scotland-first Scottish Indoor League and Falkirk Open. Unlike the Scots, normally pretty efficient- if you know where result can be found ,please let me know.

Difficult one this, my initial reaction was to give Oscar Pistorius the chance to run against able bodied. But the more I read about it, the more complicated it becomes. Oscar Pistorius would not beat Able bodied athletes at the Olympics. But I am coming round to the view that allowing athletes to compete with artificial aids , could cause a problem as the technological development of artificial limbs continues. It is a really difficult issue, but the risks of allowing athletes to compete, disabled but using artificial aids, is probably a dangerous- move-on balance.

20/12/2007 PITREAVIE ATHLETICS CENTRE OFF TO FLYING START. "The new indoor facility consists of: a sprint track; long jump area; throws area; high jump; pole vault; warm up area; changing rooms and strength and conditioning suite. Athletes are now able to train year round whatever the weather.The £2.3 million project has been funded and delivered by Fife Council, with the generous support of a £500,000 Lottery award from sportscotland and a grant of £30,000 from the Dunfermline Common Good Fund. The new facility will initially be managed by the Council and then by the new sport and leisure trust 'Fife Leisure' as from 1st April 2008."

Congratulations to Fife Council who have had the vision to support Athletics in their region. I am sure it will rapidly show results, the Indoor Facility in Swansea has seen a dramatic improvement in results from local Clubs Swansea and Neath.

With the Freezing conditions the athletes must be over the moon. Took Em's down to the track this evening, no way they could train on the Track, frozen with visible frost all over. Apart from the risks of Injury to the athletes in the extreme cold. So instead in the small local School Gym, hardly ideal with Welsh Champs looming up in 4 weeks time.

If other Councils were as inspired, then we could see Indoor facilities develop all over, assuming the Lottery still has some Cash left, the cost is not huge. Even if a Council paid the whole lot, not that big a deal- £2.3m is hardly a huge sum given the budgets of most Councils. Give a life expectancy of at least 20 years, then the cost is £115,000 per annum. In Carmarthen with 100 club members, plus a further 200 athletes within the West Wales region, that would be £383 per athlete. Others would use the facility, and fees would be paid, though maybe would only cover the running costs. Is £383 a lot to get and keep kids in sport- ' think so, that's the cost of traveling to one English Championships for the athlete. In the case of Carmarthen the cost could be shared with Pembrokeshire and Ceridigion, so the cost figures are even more achievable.

There must be any areas where this could be done- Newbury could tap into Oxfordshire,Berkshire and Wilts. And so on. It really would not be that difficult if Councils took a pragmatic view.

The social and economic benefits are of course harder to quantify, but Society wants kids to participate more in sports, and running, throwing and Jumping are the Initial activities most kids can do and the basis of all sports.

This must be the way to develop talent- provide the right conditions and Sports people will emerge. But don't expect many to keep going to a Track to train in Freezing and Wet conditions. A credit to all those who do. Just because that is how it was, is no excuse. Lets try and improve things, and therefore increase the numbers participating in both Athletics and all Sports. The more involved in Sport, then the better chance GB as of getting up the International Ranking tables.

Focusing cash on the few perceived elite, will, as I keep saying, reduce numbers in the medium term. They always say" if it aint broke then don't fix it". Athletics in the UK is broken, the CE of UKA admitted recently GB lacked depth of Talent(numbers). So lets try and fix it, starting at the bottom of the pile, the Young ( the Under 11's and work to keep more of them in the Sport.

Develop the physical Infrastructure, then the Coaches and the athletes will follow. The best Coach in the World can do nothing if they lack the Facilities to train their athletes consistently due to weather conditions.

My wife , like the other 25m got a letter re the loss of Child benefit data. I guess that letter cost £1.00 to be sent. So £26m wasted. That's 10 Indoor facilities. I would hazard a Guess that the Government waste on average £2.0m a week on various errors and long drawn out studies that end up doing nothing. So that would be 50 Indoor Facilities.They probably spend £100m telling the Youth to be more active, but do little to develop the infrastructure. Another 50 Facilities.

19/12/2007 Picked up to-day that the £9.6 bn (3*times over original bid for Olympics) has not included the £2bn for holding the event, which the Organisers claim will be funded by Sponsorship, Ticket Sales and TV rights. So total liability of UK is now £11.6Bn. Now that's a load of money. It will over-run, so the actual cost to UK ( that's us) will be near £15bn I estimate, based on Labour Government record of allowing over expenditure- could be more since they think nothing of dropping £26bn into a Public Company-Northern Rock, which looks increasingly likely they will struggle to recover for some time-if ever.

I struggle to understand how they get away with it- a company with shareholders would never get away with such reckless expenditure. Lord Coe was stated saying that it is all worthwhile, the British were becoming increasingly enamored with the London Olympics. Nice world he lives in, most in UK are struggling to pay the mortgage and get their kids educated-worried about their pension, paying the bills.

Lets face it, the Sport Organisers are on the whole White Middle class and happy to organise a party for them and all the Corporate bodies , who will have their corporate events. Mega bucks for the Corporate Hospitality companies, who drive prices up, so that real sport fans will be unable to attend. It means nothing to the majority of us, who would be as as happy to have watched the Olympics in Paris . And since the costs are so huge the organisers will have to maximize income- London 2012 will never be the Peoples Games.

Try and get a ticket to a 6 Nations Game, forget it- they are all sold to the Hospitality Companies, with about half going to clubs. So if a follower of Rugby, but not in a club, forget it. The best price I got was £500 for a ticket to see Wales V. England. So the cost for 6 of us was £3000. I will stay at home.

Gone are the days when we could turn up and get a ticket for a fiver, and that's the way sport has gone- maybe I am tight, but Sport is being removed from the ordinary person.

So Lord Coe, I know already I will not get into the Athletics at London 2012, I will not pay £150 or £200 a ticket. So all these people you claim are getting behind the Olympic's -who are they ? Now that's a question.

It will be the same crowd of people with money, the same who hire tents at Glastonbury at vast expense. The people who think they need to be seen at events.

17/12/2007 Two Medical Officers, one to undertake the Chief Medical Officer Role .Salary circa £100,000 (with additions for Chief Medical Officer role).Supported by the Lottery Sports Fund via UK Sport the Performance Department at UK Athletics delivers the World Class Performance Plan (WCPP) in pursuit of podium places at Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship level.

OK Athletes need Medical suport,and Doctors are well paid. But do UKA need two full-time- I though most Sports used Doctor's services as required.

The report on Chrisitine Ohuruogu appeal is out. "A further matter contributing to the ‘significant mitigating circumstances’ judgement, surrounded the apparent insufficient training and instruction to athletes at the time. The Panel felt that more could have been done at that time to impress upon athletes the vital role of no advance notice out of competition drug tests in the fight against doping in sport ".

Pretty weak defence to me,everyone I knew then was aware of the rules. . Read report here.

15/12/2007 "The New Zealand track and field community is abuzz following a sensational sprinting performance at the secondary school nationals in Wanganui.15-year-old Westlake boys' student Frazer Wickes, running in the junior 400 metres, smashed a 33-year-old record and also beat the senior boy’s record.With his nearest rival 30 metres behind him Wickes strode into the record books becoming our fastest schoolboy ever over 400 metres.A seriously good time for a 15-year-old, 47.79 seconds is good enough to qualify for the world juniors." Good link with a video of about him.

15/12/2007 NOEAA have held their 2nd Open, which a good field . Well done to them for providing regular Indoor Competition for their regions athletes- and very prompt results.

15/12/2007 Pound and Conte have had a meeting- but nothing much forthcoming. Not sure this is correct- I would have thought an early statement by Pound would clarify what appears to a suggestion by Conte that many athletes have evaded the system. This needs cleared up fast, or else we risk the danger of suspicion being cast on many athletes who perform well, but have not cheated.

15/12/2007 Football has never done much for me-been to one match in my life aged about 8, and did not enthrall me. Still cannot see the attraction, but millions say I am wrong.

And millions it is for the Italian appointed by FA to manage England- £25m contract plus his retinue and no doubt some nice little bonuses if England end their losing streak since 1966. Remember that well, but probably because I was in Holland and they were delighted to see Germany beaten- no HD TV, just a small Black and White TV.

The excesses of Football in terms of pay make me quite sick, cannot understand why the fans actually pay the huge sums to watch the Games. As I gather from friends who enjoy the sport, there are a few English players in the Top division.

The day English Cricket or English Rugby appoint a National manager from overseas, I will stop following these sports. And Athletics, which thank God is still a pretty unspoiled sport , and those employed are on the whole British and few Overseas athletes run for clubs.

I hope that the sports above continue to employ managers from within UK and that they do not allow overseas athletes to dominate the National scene- in terms of numbers.

I would of course not select any player for any National team who joined an overseas club, but guess I am just uninformed and and becoming a traditionalist- a strange place to find myself, but my age is moving on, and it seems with age one does become increasingly nostalgic for the days when Players wanted to represent their country for pride alone.

Athletics has that, which makes it such a great sport, a competitive sport, but where athletes respect each other- and that is the back bone of the sport. Bad behavior must be stamped out , no room for poor manners, shake hands whatever the result.

I had to do it when beaten by the Head Master at School- so not too hard if you win or lose a race.

These things are so important, far more than money. Sport is about competing, aggressively, but always showing respect to your fellow competitors. Those that do are the complete sportspersons and worthy of respect. Once that fabric of sporting behavior starts breaking down, then Sport is in a mess.

When we get to the point we cannot find UK talent to manage UK Sports teams, then we are already on that slippery slope, where Sport is more interested in winning at any cost, rather than developing talent to not only compete but go onto to coach and manage.

One regional Athletic's body has appointed an Overseas Event Coach already- may be more have, I do no look that closely at all appointments. But that one appointment has already caused a bit of disillusionment amongst the Club coaches in that region, hardly the best way to persuade Volunteers to keep on going. And that feeds back to the athletes.

Athletics in the UK needs to be aware of the need to develop athletes,coaches and management from within the UK. If in a desperate gamble to win Medals in London 2012, they are prepared to destroy the natural development of the existing System in pursuit of the Fool's Gold, then they will rue this in the years to come, and will leave a legacy of destroying the sport in the UK. No sign this is actually a plan, but one crack and the dams could break.

No athlete in the UK should have an Overseas Coach-we have seen what can happen, and it is unacceptable. Personally I would not allow any athlete to train overseas and be in a GB team, but maybe that is a bit radical- students do go to overseas Universities.

I do however think the idea that if any member of a National Team is found guilty of a doping offence, that National team is DQ, is not a bad idea. Would concentrate the minds of everyone involved, and the cheats might actually worry more about the embarrassment of DQ their Nation- they are obviouly not that worried about Individual embarrassment.

13/12/2007 Shifting Racial and Ethnic Demographics at Los Angeles Public High Schools from 1980 to 2006: Implications for Sports Teams and the Median Consumer.

12/12/2007 An Apology. I have broken one of my cardinal rules by embarrassing a Young Athlete. I wrote recently a small comment on the Schools Int Combined Events where I stated that if an certain athlete had been selected Wales would have won convincingly. I failed to mention that one of the Wales Team suffered a serious Hamstring injury competing, Jamie Gutteridge , and was unable to finish the event. That was not the intended point, but I gave the implication that Wales did not win because another athlete was not selected,a badly written aside. Careless,and I am mortified that I have caused unintentional offence. I have apologised to Jamie, who has had the good grace to accept. In no way was I suggesting that Jamie let Welsh Schools down. I wish Jamie a speedy recovery from his injury.

12/12/2007 Welsh Indoor Champs timetables announced. The U20 and Seniors are "Open". So come on down to the NIA in Cardiff if you fancy to compete against the Welsh best.

11/12/2007 AAA Standards updated to include Seniors and all ages. Grade 1 to 3.Why not have a Grade 0 for the scratch performers. Or even -1. Just a thought.

1. Joe Calzaghe 177,748 (28.19%)
2. Lewis Hamilton 122,649 (19.45%)
3. Ricky Hatton 85,280 (13.53%)
4. James Toseland 84,570 (13.41%)
5. Jason Robinson 67,061 (10.64%)
6. Paula Radcliffe 34,895 (5.53%)
7. Jonny Wilkinson 30,302 (4.81%)
8. Andy Murray 13,242 (2.1%)
9. Justin Rose 10,227 (1.62%)
10. Christine Ohuruogu 4,481 (0.71%)

It was a Public vote, and the 10th place for Christine Ohuruogu, and low number of votes for her says something-a message athletics and UK Sport needs to listen to. The public are not thick, and a tarnished athlete was never going to win. What we never know is how many votes Nicola Saunders would have got if she had won the World 400m. Probably a lot more. Why- because Ohuruogo had damaged her reputation with the British Public, not that bothered about the details of how and why- they just know she failed a drugs test- the fact it was due to missed tests is probably not understood by most who do not follow the sport that closely. As a Sporting friend, who does not follow athletics closely, said " She would never have been allowed to compete at the Olympics if she was not World Champion " That is a public perception, rightly or wrongly. I am sure that is why her vote was so low.

Interesting that the top three arguably risk their health seriously for sport- as does Zara Phillips who won last year.

It may be that the overturn of Christine Ohuruogu's Olympic ban will back fire badly on the sport of Athletics.

I had a rare chance to listen to a debate on Radio 4 about the London Olympics. The points were interesting. We all know that the London Bid is now going to cost near 10 Billion rather than the 2.8 Billion we were told originally. . So the Government will fund- or is the Lottery funding. That was the interesting point- I had forgotten that the present Government had already raided the Lottery fund- it is no longer doing solely what was originally set up for- the Arts,Charities, Heritage and Sport. Now it is being ripped for more money to fund one Sports project, and the other activities will suffer further.

Part of the pitch of the London Olympic bid was the legacy of Sport that would be created- as I understood a legacy of developing sustainable youth sport for the future. There will be no money for that, it now seems. Instead a total focus on developing athletes(across all sports) for this single event, in the hope that GB will do well. Looking at other recent Olympic host countries there is no proof that hosting the Olympic's has increased sports involvement- in fact almost the reverse seems true- Australia is struggling with Athletic's participation from what I hear from Down Under.

But what is the point of doing well at London 2012 if the net result is that we end up with no more Kids participating in Sport.

In the last two years since London won the bid for the Games I have not received a single letter suggesting any Sporting iniatives available for my children. I am not aware of any new sporting iniatives at my kids school( though they are pretty good at Sports, so maybe not typical , but I have not heard of anyone saying that they have had a School driven iniatives to increase sporting opportunities). So not sure what all these Regional Sport Development Officers are doing.

I have had , recently, a letter apologizing for the loss of our records ( re child benefit). That must of cost £10 million alone- just to say sorry, we lost them, but don't worry. Great.

The only Sporting iniatives my youngest has picked up(off the Internet) was from the British Divers club- she went along for a free scuba session at the local pool-3 attended(her and 2 friends she dragged along). The only people who seem to be actively trying to get kids involved in athletics are Linford Christie and Darren Cambell through the highly popular Street Athletics concept.

Participation in Sport should be free- the government bang on about it all the time. It is not, join a club cost money in membership fees, then entry fees, travel costs plus the kit. Now if the Government were serious, why not fund all the kids until 16 to join a bona fide club and compete. Club's recover the costs from the Government. The clubs then could spend scant resources on attracting kids into sport, knowing that they would get an income from every kid who joined and competed, say at least once a month ,and it would cost the families nothing. For say Athletics, pay the Regional Bodies for every Athlete who attended Region Championships ( and the associated running admin costs) so that we would see bigger meetings. Same would apply for other sports.(Until 16 years old.)

The Government could also fund regional Sport days for Schools, staged in a location where kids could see and meet sports people from all disciplines. I have always wanted to play lacrosse, but never an option. So show them the main sports, other field sports, but also Darts, Pool even Tug of war. The popularity of the Indoor Rowing Champs has shown to me that sport can appeal to all sorts, even the least sporty seem to like the rowing machine.

If it cost the Government £500 million a year would be money well spent. They must spend far more on trying to control the bored youth.

10/12/2007 Scotland Athletics really does not seem interested in Combined Events- no coverage on the News page. Despite Glasgow hosting the Schools International CE-strange. They profess to , when under pressure on the Scottish Forum, but signs are they are really not bothered. Sad.

8/12/2007 Schools International Results added- thanks to Gary Condie and the Scottish Schools Team.Welsh U18 Men came 4th, but one athlete did not score. If Josh Madden had been selected, by my calculations they would have won easily. David Guest , yet another superb performance.

Katerina Thompson (U16 Girls) performed well- 3769 points. Looks like one to watch. A convincing Points tally over the rest of the field.

That is Scotland, Wales seem to have forgotten SPAR Sprints, or maybe SPAR gave up on Wales.

6/12/2007 I have added a 2nd Indoor Fixtures Link- this is not a PDF, but an HTML Page and has links against each meeting for results.You can add results if I have missed them. Click edit bottom left document. Each meet has pending against it. Click on that and replace the "www.google.com" with hyperlink to results-i.e" www.whateverresults.co.uk/file name" . It's not too hard, and don't worry if you make an error , I have a backup.

5/12/2007 "UK Sport has revealed radical plans for an independent anti-doping body to be established before the 2012 Olympics." NADO, (the new agency) funding will increase from £4.0m to £8.0m.

That's a lot of dosh. If that funding is required to clean up sport, fine, but I would suggest Peer pressure is used. So if a Club member is found guilty, then that Club/team is DQ from that years competition. So if say a Welsh T&F athlete found guilty,then Wales DQ from Commonwealth Games for example- the whole Team for that disipline. and so on, if a GB track and Field athlete fails a Test ,then GB DQ. And if a Footballer, the same- Team out of the League.

Radical maybe, but I happen to believe Athletes know the cheats, so this would focus all minds. Make sure the cheat does not compete.

5/12/2007 UK Athletics today announced that the Norwich Union UK Championships, which act as the selection meeting for the 2008 Olympic Games will return to Birmingham next year for the first time since 2003 .

5/12/2007 Call me cynic then "Another popular workshop was the media training session led by the communications team. Not least because our athletes are beginning to realise the responsibilities upon them, not least related to their media profile and how their performance in interviews can be as telling about their attitudes as performances out on the track".

What a load of the Golden ****. I watch athletes to see how they perform. I have no interest in their views(well very limited)-sorry. If UKA really believe how they perform in front of a camera is as important as competing, then they have truly lost the plot. These are low paid workers, who enjoy sport.

UKA seem determined to control every aspect of an Athletes life. I say bring back the characters, the one's who loved the sport, did not see it as too important , just enjoyed competing. UKA are very successfully taking the fun out of the sport, and making it a job. If so pay them then a decent wage.

A military approach to sport, something, since I grew up in a military background, I have some knowledge of. For very good reasons the military remove individualism, replaced with strong discipline-, lives are at stake. Sport thrives on the Individual, the talent. Any proof look at the Barbarians beating South Africa, the Ba'Ba's were a collection of Individuals, who proved that let Individuals play they could win. Makes a mockery of the theory of Sport, and whether SA played a 2nd team , they did not want to lose. They did.

4/12/2007"The news that Glasgow has been chosen to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games effectively ended Wales’ hopes of achieving a similar feat until at least 2022." IC Wales about Athletics. The link had been changed, so in case you missed repeated here.

3/12/2007 Thanks to all who emailed results in from the Indoor Meetings over lat week-end.

2/12/2007 This is a Test Link to a Live Streaming Commentary page- to be tested next Saturday at UWIC. At the moment it will just play Music, but on the 8/12 should be the Live commentary from the UWIC Open. Any probs please let me know, as I would rather sort them now then next Saturday !! The test Music Stream will only be on between 9.00 pm and 10.00 pm to-night..

So he ran a marathon that was not approved by IAAF for Olympic Qualification."Spencer Barden, UK Athletics Senior Coordinator for Endurance said: “It’s obviously very disappointing for Tomas, but we’re working closely with him to identify another opportunity between now and the end of the qualification period.“We would urge athletes targeting races to aim for qualification that it is always worth keeping us informed of their plans. Dublin was not on the list of qualifying marathon courses for 2007, and it is important that athletes research the events before committing their preparations.”

Hang on a sec, UKA are in charge, so are athletes just doing random things. Surely the paid Managers are meant to make sure these things do not happen. Or is there no communication going on with athletes/coaches. If so, what the hell are these people doing. Another job on the line, if UKA was run as proper business. But of course it will be the athletes fault.

. No-one in UKA seemed to think they should make sure C.O dd not miss a 3rd test, and no-one seemed to think of telling Mr Abyu this was not an approved race. Athletes of course run marathons every week, so no problem.

1/12/2007 OK we will be a smaller widget business, but having one in the Widget Olympics is more important to me, much better than having a firm with lots of experienced widget makers..read more..

1/12/2007 Link to Official Youth Commonwealth Games 2008-314 days to go. Welsh Athletes don't look, you will see what the WAA have caused you to miss.

1/12/2007 "World 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell will open his Olympic year campaign by training and then competing in two high-profile Australian meetings.The 25-year-old Jamaican will race in the Sydney Athletics Grand Prix on 16 February, and five days later at the IAAF World Athletics Tour meet in Melbourne (21 Feb) "

That's good news, talk of empowering local bodies-including Schools Organisations. Does this mean he will remove all the UKA Regional Directors and let the Regions get on with the running of the Sport, without this duplication of effort. I will email him, now.

30/11/2007 I am now completely confused by the WTDA, seen the recent list, good luck to all those on, but many seem to be missing.........

29/11/2007 It has been pointed out to me that a UK World Champion athlete gets £25,000 p.a from the Sport ( But I assume they can earn from other sources as well). Does not seem a huge sum of money though, in the context of administration salaries.

28/11/2007 "AMERICAN Tyson Gay, who on Sunday was officially crowned the male World Athlete of the Year, has warned that next year will not be a one-man spirit show, adding he believes Jamaican Asafa Powell will be 'mentally ready'.Asked what can be expected of their clashes Gay, who recently won the United States' Track & Field Jesse Owens Award, replied: "I believe a lot of fast times. I really believe Asafa is mentally prepared for 2008, considering his 9.74 and my 9.84."From Gleaner

27/11"The BOA ban was not designed to ban for life people who missed three tests in five years, provided they had good