Summer

• Sumner Running Club’s Track & Field Information Pack: Junior Athletics Info pack

• For the latest news on the 2011/12 Summer Athletics season, click here

• Summer Athletics 2011/12 Registration Form:  Junior T&F Registration Form 2011

Summer Athletics

Our aim is to provide a safe, friendly environment for your child to develop their athletic potential. We have a philosophy that rests on individual improvement and diversity of experience.  This means we make the focus participation in all disciplines, and improvement of individual “personal bests” whether that is at novice or national level.

The lifelong benefits which come from involvement in athletics can start here and we hope your children enjoy the challenges and achievements they will encounter.

Club Background

The Sumner Running Club was originally a cross country club based around the needs of senior runners in the area.  In 2000, Jo Chalmers had three junior athletes who wanted to compete in track and field and approached the club for them to run under the club banner.  Since then, the children’s section of the club has grown hugely and has become a major part of the running scene both in Summer and Winter competitions.

Despite the name, there is no requirement to live in Sumner or the immediate environs, and our current members come from all parts of Christchurch.  There are club members who compete in multisports, triathlon, orienteering, ultra-running, offroad running, as well as the traditional disciplines of cross country, road racing, and track and field athletics.

While this information has been put together for children’s athletics, we have strong senior and masters groups.  If you are interested in competing in track and field as a senior or master please contact Lockie Campbell (see below for contact details).

Club contacts, notices and other general information can be found on this website.

Registration Options

There are two options available to you when you register your children:

1. Enrol them as registered members of the club; or
2. Enrol for weekly training sessions.

We encourage athletes to enrol as members so that they can compete on Saturdays but realise it is not always a possibility. The conditions of each option follows:

Option 1 - Registered Club Athlete

Your child is a registered member of the Club and of Canterbury Children’s Athletics.  Registration entitles them to compete on Saturday mornings at QEII, at the Canterbury Championships, and the South Island Colgate Games.  They are also eligible for Canterbury age group selection.  A number of interprovincial meetings are held each year with Saturday performances counting towards selection.

Training

Training is twice a week.  This occurs on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5pm to 6.30pm at Ferrymead Park (opposite the Heritage Park).  There may be occasions where training occurs at QEII,but prior notice will be given of this.  Older athletes are likely to be on a specific training programme for their specialist events which will involve a greater number of days training.

Training begins in term 4 and will run through to the end of the schools athletic season which is usually the South Island Secondary Schools Champs in April.

Saturday Competition

This takes place at QEII stadium between 9am and 12.30pm.  The programme runs in age grades (7-14) and provides an opportunity to compete in four events which alternate on a weekly basis.  Our expectation is that the athletes compete in four events each weekend.  The club has a long jump duty to perform each week and the parents of the Saturday athletes are expected to help with that duty on a rotation basis.

Athletes 15 and over compete in the afternoon and need to see Lockie for further details.

Athletes are required to wear Sumner Club Uniform when competing.  Running spikes can be worn by runners 10 and over.

Cost of Registration

$95 for the 2010/11 year.

Option 2: Weekly Training Sessions

If your child requires athletic coaching but will not be competing on Saturday, then they can attend the coaching sessions on Thursday evenings.  There will be approximately 20 sessions which will cover sprints, middle distance, shot put, discus, long jump, high jump, hurdles, relays, and will include a number of club competition nights.

A Run-Jump-Throw programme will operate for the younger athletes.  This programme was developed by Athletics NZ and covers all track and field events.  It is a great introduction to the techniques required and allows children of all abilities to develop the necessary skills for later competition.  This programme has been copied by the Australians(!) and is being used in a number of primary and secondary schools.

Achievement levels will be recognised at the end of season prizegiving with either Run-Jump-Throw certificate levels or Athletic New Zealand’s 5 Star achievement awards. Performances on competition nights will go towards this grading.

Training

Thursday nights, 5pm to 6.30pm, at Ferrymead Park (opposite Heritage Park).  Thursday training will run term 4 of 2010 and term 1 of 2011.

Cost of Enrolment

$80 for the 2010/11 year.

Club Contacts

Club President

• Alistair Cory-Wright – 10 Celia Street, Redcliffs, Christchurch, telephone 384 7911, email jean.al@xnet.nz

Club Captain

• Marty Lukes - Albert Terrace, Christchurch, telephone 332 9363, email martin.rachel@slingshot.co.nz

Coaching Co-ordinator and Registrations

• Lockie Campbell –  225 Mt Pleasant Road, Mt Pleasant, Christchurch, telephone 384 3639/027 657 1010, email julio@es.co.nz