Harris Blog
Hackney Schools Championships 12th October 2009
At the beginning of the year, l was asked to coach at the Hackney Schools Championships this October, week commencing 12th 1500 pupils from 67 schools are involved.
I persuaded Ty to help so we caught the 7.47am overland train to Finsbury Park, 106 bus to Brownswood Tavern followed by a pleasant walk through Clissold Park to the £40m Clissold Leisure Centre to report for 8.30am on Monday morning
We set up for Sportshall Athletics with all new equipment ready for 50 or so youngsters to arrive between 9 and 9.30am, so we had time to break for a quiet cup of tea before the fun started.
We were lucky to have two other coaches; an ex Algerian International 400m runner called Ismail and a black British football coach.
We taught Javelin or Chest Push, Standing Long Jump, Speed Bounce and Relays in the morning then we had a break when lunch was provided ( mainly vegetarian, I guess because of the background of the local population ) The children were seated on terraces which moved forwards electrically into the hall and were entertained during lunch break by motivational speakers Paralympic medallists, Dervis Konuralp, Darren Leach ( Swimming ) and Ian Rose (Judo ), a dance troupe depicting “The Olympics in 7minutes” and a display of either Judo or Wheelchair Basketball.
Then from 1.30pm to 3pm it was inter school competition time. Ty seeded the relays so that we had teams of similar abilities running against each other and we gave every team two runs and took their best time in order to produce a fair points result. After some rapid calculations, the top three schools each day were given their medals.
All participants received certificates.
Apart from Athletics , there was Wheelchair Basketball going on in the other half of the huge hall. Upstairs they had Swimming, Judo and Goalball ( for blind athletes with sighted participants being blindfolded ) and at the Stoke Newington West Reservoir, there was even Sailing!
On the Friday, we had all Secondary Schools with a larger proportion of “special needs” children, we also had greater numbers, so the seeding was difficult and we had to manipulate events a bit to make sure every child was included to which some of the more “pushy” teachers objected as they wanted their school to win despite excluding some of the less able children. We four coaches ensured that all was fair and poor Elaine had to rush through the calculations to see who had won the big trophy.
Stormont House in Downs Road won it and Sebright School Haggerston won the Primary Schools trophy. I was delighted for Sebright who were coached by Keith Clarke, who was the West Indies reserve wicket keeper I’d worked with 8yrs ago on a “community project” for Broadwater Farm Estate children in Downhills Park, Tottenham. A really “cool” man who has now become a teacher.
Just so that you all know, on the Tuesday, we finished a little earlier than usual, as we came out of Clissold Park, I spotted our 106 bus. Without hesitation,I sprinted up Green Lanes round the corner and jumped on waving my “freedom pass” with Ty trailing behind. The driver smiled, waved me on without checking my pass, waited for Ty who had to pay and got us to Finsbury Park in time for the earlier train home enabling me to meet my granddaughter, Emma coming home from school. Ty got his own back later in the week when he raced me up the steps to platform 6 at Finsbury Park only to find that the train was going to Hertford North. Fair do’s, I bought the tea while we waited for the next train to WGCity.
Last updated 02.01.10 - 22.19 Steve Harris
I see that Ricky Stevenson tonked Mo Farah in the Edinburgh Cross Country Race on 9th January by judging his race and finishing with some SPEED. How many of you distance runners train for a fast finish???
Last updated 10/1/10 - 22.25 Steve Harris
Comments are welcomed in response to Steve's blogs.
SteveHarris on Ben Nevis 7/10/09
South of England CC Races 30 January 2010
Congratulations to all of you who took part in the South of England Cross Country Races at Parliament Hill/ Hampstead Heath on 30th January. The conditions underfoot were very tough, much harder than we’re used to seeing at such events as the Edinburgh International Challenges on TV ! Our Northern friends reckon they’re tough but the course yesterday would have had them struggling.
Jim deserves a special mention for encouraging such a good number of young athletes to compete with Kate B having an outstanding run.
I cheered on the seniors when they reached the Kenwood end in the hope of giving them some encouragement at the quiet part of the course. My stars of the day were Heather D for a great run in unfamiliar surroundings and Alex H who judged his race well and was still overtaking at the end which I love to see.
To all of you including a couple of friends from Heathside and Shaftesbury, well done for competing and completing the race.
Last updated 31/1/10 - 22.41 Steve Harris
Comments are welcomed in response to Steve's blogs.
Coaching Update March 2010
We’ve had a busy week. On 15th March, some of us attended the Herts Development evening at Lee Valley where most events were on offer. Peter and Amy Rice attended the Throws session outside, James Taylor “floated” whilst Steve Harris took an advanced Long Jump session indoors attended by Hetty and Fay. These Development days have been very good and those coaches and athletes who have been, have enjoyed themselves and learnt some valuable tips by attending.
On 16th March, Ty and Steve were at Copthall Stadium from 9.30 to 3pm coaching sport with children of all ages who had various disabilities. Gemma Thompson, one of Barnet’s Sport Development Officers, obtained a grant to pay for the day and to set up two Boccia Clubs in the Borough. Ty and Steve coached Boccia outdoors in the sun in the morning and athletics after lunch.( Ty 100m and 200m, Steve Javelin ) The project was attended by the Deputy Mayor, various councillors and Kim Henderson in her role as Head of Sport Development in the Dept of Education.
In Oakhill Park on 17th, Jo Kent, Ty and Steve helped Rachel Osman, Barnet Central PDM, organise the Barnet Primary Schools Cross Country Champs in which 18 schools competed. There were six races for boys and girls which Foulds/Chrischurch Schools’ children dominated ( which is where Jo and Karen Bradley run an After School Club ) Our Club members results will appear elsewhere. We were pleased to receive a number of enquiries about the Club, some children came to the Sport Relief Mile which we organised in Trent Park on 20th March and we had three requests for our coaches to go into schools to coach both Primary and Secondary age children.
Last updated 31/3/10 Steve Harris Coaching Co-Ordinator
43rd Victoria Park Open 5,Hackney 27 March 2010
A pleasant morning, an easy venue to reach via A12 with views of the fast growing Olympic site on the left.
£200 winners prize went to Moumin Geele in 22.45, 2nd Edwin Kipyego 22.47, 3rd Simon Tonni 23.34 all N & E B
54 Chris Manning 28.54, 67 Yitzak Ben Aroya 0/50 30.07, 101 Michael Martin 32.12, 191 Ted Kimber 0/65 39.27, 257 Julian Tovey 0/50 44.57 295 completed the course
Everybody received a medal and a blue “duffle” bag. I had 9 youngsters in racing wheelchairs competing in the 2.6 mile race which the winner did in 15mins. There was also a 1mile race for children. I’m surprised that more of our members don’t enter this race as its suitable for all ages and standards in a safe park environment organised well by friendly proper running types with the bonus of a good café where you can have a bit of a feed afterwards.
Last updated 31/3/10 Steve Harris
Comments are welcomed in response to Steve's blogs.
Barnet Council Civic Awards11 March 2010
On 11th March, I was presented with a Civic Award by the Mayor, Brian Coleman and his mother in recognition of service to Barnet Borough in relation to sport for the disabled. Apparently I was nominated by an councillor ( unknown to me ) Anyway it makes a picture for the Website. Steve
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