St Pauls Athletics

GENERAL INFORMATION

ST PAUL'S HARRIERS & ATHLETICS MEMBERSHIP runs from April to March each year and entitles you to train with St Paul's and compete as a club member both locally and throughout New Zealand.  Competing as a registered club member is the best way to become a skilful runner (running is very much a skill to be learnt) and also provides benefit by way of cheaper race entry fees (locally) and shared transport both locally and outside Southland province.  Funds permitting, and at our discretion, we subsidise members to attend national and international competition (you must apply for this).  Remember that it's the club-trained athletes who do well in school competitions!

THERE ARE THREE COMPETITIVE SEASONS: winter harriers, summer athletics (track and field); and a spring road race season that transitions the two.  Members can choose to participate in one or two or all three of these seasonal competition calendars. 

YOUR COMMITTEE works hard behind the scenes to co-ordinate skills coaching and run events.  All of Southland’s athletics clubs work closely together and with schools to provide assistance at the coaching and competition levels. Clubrooms are used during competitions and are available for hire – see next paragraph.

ST PAUL'S CLUB ROOMS ARE LOCATED opposite the finish line of the Surrey Park athletics track. TOur Club rooms have a spacious, carpeted room with a superb view, a kitchen, and toilets/changing rooms. These are available for hire – contact a committee member, and we’ll take it from there!

ATHLETICS SOUTHLAND is our local Centre (RSO).  Athletics Southland is an effective organisation that gets results and is the envy of other provincial athletics organisations.  St Pauls members are well represented on the board of Athletics Southland.  There's a valuable resource of coaching articles at the Athletics Southland website.

CLUB CONTACTS:

CHILDREN'S WINTER HARRIERS PROGRAMME

ST PAUL'S HELPS TO RUN THE CHILDREN’S HARRIER PROGRAMME alongside the Southland seniors and masters programme: when a senior Saturday competition is on there is usually a shorter distance (or two) for the children.  Club colours are to be worn (it’s a colourful event – you’ll love it as a spectator). The same uniform and warm clothing comments and advice on cancellations that apply to our summer athletics programme also apply to winter harriers (see next section for details). 

SATURDAY HARRIERS RUNS ARE WELL ATTENDED BY JUNIORS.  Parents are welcome to join the runners - you don’t have to be fast!  

HARRIERS IS ESPECIALLY WORTHWHILE IF:

• You want to give your child good running skills and aerobic conditioning going into their summer sporting season (athletics, cricket, touch rugby – whatever).
• You want to introduce your child to the mental toughness that makes a good tri-athlete.
• You want to give your child something to do when rain cancels out their rugby or other team sport event (Saturday harriers is rarely cancelled).
• You want to have some family fun (and harriers is fun – it’s got drama); you can participate as a helper, a spectator. Or, like many parents, you can put your shorts on and treat the race as a fitness run. There's no need to be a club member since the public is welcome at most harrier events – just turn up and pay the small entry fee. 

THE MULTI- SEASON BARGAIN.......the same club membership registration fee that buys you a place in winter harriers lasts A FULL 12 MONTHS and means NO EXTRA COST for summer athletics. This applies to both juniors and seniors.

CHILDREN'S (JUNIORS) SUMMER ATHLETICS PROGRAMME

AGE GRADES: Each year's athletics season runs from October to March and all subs should be in by 31st October at the latest. Children’s age grades are the age of the child on 31st December of the current competitive season.

CLUB TRAINING NIGHT: Every Tuesday evening from 5.45 pm to 7.00 pm (approx) during Track & Field Season. Athletes learn the basic techniques of all events, and our coaches make these sessions fun for all.  

UNIFORM & AGE PATCHES: Gold T-shirt/Singlet worn with black shorts. Age patches are issued when registration fees are paid. Age patches must be attached to the front left of T ­Shirt/Singlet.

FOOTWEAR: Spikes may be worn only by athletes 10 years and older. Spike length is 6 mm. Spikes must be removed once events have been completed.

STARTING BLOCKS: These may be used by athletes in Grade 10 and 11, but are compulsory for athletes in Grades, 12,13, & 14 for races up to and including 400m. If wearing spikes, blocks must be used. All athletes 7 and up must use a crouch start.

CANCELLATIONS: Training nights are seldom cancelled. Check our Facebook page for updates.

PARENT HELP: Please remember that we all started out as new parents. Parent help is absolutely essential, and it’s great fun. To be able to run an efficient programme for your children, we need your help with coaching and behind the scenes organising. So don't be shy!  Any parent who may have been an athlete, please share your knowledge.  Even if you have no sporting or coaching experience, we still appreciate your help.  You will not be thrown in the deep end: on the job training is given.

SOUTHLAND TEAMS: Children who’d like to try for selection for Southland teams must compete at two inter-club meetings and championship meets to be eligible for selection.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Each athletics season runs from October to March and all subs should be in by 31st October at the latest.  Children’s age grades are the age of the child on 31st December of the current competitive season.  Subs must be paid before children can compete at inter club meetings. 

CHILDREN'S SECTION CONTACTS:   

Lilian Tudor  Mob 021 0233 0588 or Scott Cole Mob 027 393 5639

AGE GRADE JUNIORS, SENIORS, AND MASTERS

ST PAUL'S CATERS FOR AGE GRADE GROUPS which are: age grade 20 & under; age grade 17 & under; seniors (age 21-34); and masters (35 and over). So everyone has a peer group in the club.  On the local scene you get to take part in mixed age competition which works really well.

THOSE WHO WANT TO COMPETE AGAINST THEIR PEERS can compete at interprovincial, South Island, and national levels. The local clubs and Athletics Southland liaise closely with schools to maintain the very powerful interschool harriers and athletics tradition.  Also, New Zealand has a strong tradition in masters athletics – you can compete at South Island, national, and international level.

ATHLETICS HAS BENEFITS FOR SENIORS AND MASTERS because it motivates older people to maintain their fitness levels. A feature of both harriers and athletics is that you don’t have to take a long trip to an exotic location just to compete.Our sport is non-contact, but you do need to strengthen and stretch to minimise injury risk.