12 April 13 Lincs T&F League venues for match 1 and 2 have been swapped around - Match 1 (21st April) is now at Grantham, match 2 (19th May) is now at Lincoln. More details on the Diary page.

07 March 13 Athlete of the Month for February is John Ellerby for his excellent age-related time of 1:35 in the recent Sleaford ½-Marathon.

15 Feb 13 Athlete of the Month for January is Jake Richardson. Jake has been very consistent in this season's Cross Country and was 42nd in the U17 Northern Championships.

13 Jan 13 Athlete of the Month for December is William Tucker. William has performed consistently very well in this season's Cross Country events and was 1st U13B in the Lincs XC League.

30 Dec 12 Congratulations to all of the Grantham AC Newton’s Fraction team – the 2012 race is in the TOP-TEN HALF-MARATHONS as voted by Runner’s World readers (page 103, Feb 2013 edition). This is an excellent accolade for Grantham AC and a testament to the hard work put in by all the club members who help in any way to make it the success that it is, particularly those club members who work so hard throughout the year giving their time to the NF committee.

28 Nov 12 There was an excellent turn-out at our annual Presentation Night. Guest of Honour Chris Cohen gave an interesting insight to the "back-room" activities at the 2012 Olympics & Paralympics. A summary of the awards can be found via the links at the top of this page.

12 Nov 12 Yesterday three GAC members took part in the Remembrance multi-terrain 11k run over an undulating course through the scenic Fineshade Forest, south of Stamford.  Caryn Garner completed the course in a commendable time of 54.50 mins (100th overall; 4th Fv50);   Grace Plant 63.12 mins (169th) and Philip Garner 63.37 mins (174th).

06 Nov 12 Athletes from Grantham AC had a very busy weekend as they took on the challenge of the National Relays on Saturday followed by Match 2 of the Lincs league at Skegness on Sunday.

02 Nov 12 Athlete of the Month for September is Josh Brown for his 6^th place in the English Schools’ Combined Events Championships. Well done Josh.

Athlete of the Month for October is Jordan Seetul-Drew for his 1^st place in last weekend’s U11 XC race at RAF Cranwell. Well done Jordan.

20 Oct 12 A new Road Results page has been added to the club website. Click here or on the Results link at the top of this page or within the Road or the Results page.

19 Oct 12 Training sessions are CANCELLED on the following dates: 

1. Mon 29 Oct Meres Indoor Junior AND Senior cancelled

2. Wed 31 Oct Stadium Outdoor cancelled 

3. Wed 28 Nov Stadium Outdoor cancelled (Presentation Night)

4. Mon 17 Dec Meres Indoor Senior cancelled (Junior session will run as normal)

19 Oct 12 This year’s Presentation Night will be held on Wednesday 28^th November, 7:00pm for 7:30pm, in the Bar above the stadium foyer. There will be no training at the stadium that evening.

Guest of Honour will be Chris Cohen CBE. Chris has a long and illustrious association with athletics, having officiated at seven Paralympic Games, five Olympic Games and numerous World Championships, and is the ex-Chairman of the International Paralympics Committee.

Awards are made according to a range of criteria. The bulk of them fall into the following three categories:

Ability – best performance in specific events in each age group when representing the club;
Commitment – competing in at least two of the league matches available to each age group and to a very good standard;
Loyalty – turning out in all weathers to all matches of specific leagues, regardless of the results attained.

Award-winners will be invited individually in the next week or so, but ALL CLUB MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND so that we can all celebrate the club’s successes over the last 12 months.

 11 Oct 12 Louth Open XC Report 2012.

Grantham Athletic Club on top of the Wolds!

On Sunday 7^th October a number of GAC athletes took the opportunity to compete in the Louth Cross Country Open 2012. This course has always been challenging with the climbs associated with the Wolds countryside, 2012 lived up to expectation. William Tucker started the Grantham success, having moved up to U13 competition for the first time he came home to take third place over the 3.3km course. Next to represent Grantham was Jake Hornby in the U17 Men’s race. After a great season on the track, Jake was hoping to continue this into the cross country season. In the Louth sunshine he did just that, leading the race from start to finish well clear of the rest of the field. At the same time Mark Tucker and Mark Gray took on the gruelling 9.7km course in the Vet Men category. In the battle of the Mark’s, Mark Gray came out on top finishing in 21^st, whilst Mark Tucker came in 23^rd. Next to compete in the last race of the day, were the Junior Ladies, Naomi Collier and Sophia Tucker. This again represented a first for them as they moved up an age group and with it to the new distance of 6.1km. Naomi pushed out from the start to take on the lead whilst Sophia battled with three other athletes for third position. Naomi continued to set the pace going on to win, whilst in the last kilometre Sophia broke away to secure a deserved third place ending a successful day for Grantham Athletic Club.

Results:

U13 Boys 3^rd William Tucker 12.33

U17 Men 1^st Jake Hornby 19.59

Junior Ladies 1^st Naomi Collier 31.56, 3^rd Sophia Tucker 33.21

Vet Men 21^st Mark Gray 45.05, 23^rd Mark Tucker 45.42

Picture from left to right: Sophia Tucker, Jake Hornby, William Tucker, Naomi Collier

04 Oct 12 Results of the Mike Bundy XC League are now available: Teams Individuals

03 Oct 12 This year's AGM will be held on Thursday 18th October, 7pm, in the first-floor bar, Meres Leisure Centre.

07 Sep 12 Athlete of the Month for August is Helen Gilbert for her season's best performances in Shot and Javelin and for throwing the Hammer over 40m.

24 Aug 12 Details and entry form for the Mini-Games being held on September 12th (aimed at 8 to 11 year olds) are now available.

14 Aug 12
1. Grantham AC won the final Northern Senior League match last weekend and have been promoted. Well done to all our athletes and officials who played their part in the successful season.
2. We are currently also in top place in the Lincolnshire T&F League in all four sections – Boys, Girls, Men & Women. If we can get a good turn out in the final match (Sunday 2^nd September, Grantham) we stand a very good chance of achieving a clean-sweep across the four sections! So, please make a note of the date in your diaries and do your best to attend.

02 Aug 12 Athletes of the Month for July are Zoe Lucas (3rd in the recent Regional Combined Events) and Jac Heanen (1st in Hurdles and 2nd in Long Jump at the recent Northern Championships).

25 June 12 Josh Payne (U17M Pole Vault) & Hannah Payne (U15G Long Jump & 4x100m Relay) have also been selected for the Northern Inter-Counties T&F Competition on Saturday.

19 June 12 Congratulations to the following club members who have been selected to compete in the Northern Inter-Counties T&F Competition:

Aimee Kettle U17W 400m & Long Jump
Hannah Cook U15G 75mH
Illana McMahon U17W Pole Vault
Jake Hornby U17M 3000m
Josh Brown U17M 100mH, 100m, Long Jump & High Jump
Morgan Lee U15B Shot Put & Javelin
Oliver Williams U15B 100m, Javelin & Long Jump
Ryan Carley U17M Javelin, Long Jump & High Jump
Savannah Dowse U17W Shot Put
Tilly Ireland U17W 400m, Shot Put & Long Jump
Zoe Lucas U17W 80nH, 100m & High Jump

06 June 12 Athlete of the Month for May is Hayden Richards for his excellent U20M Javelin PB of 56.13m in the Lincolnshire T&F County Championships.

24 May 12 Lincolnshire Runner is closed until 6th June while it moves up the road closer to town. The new address will be 115C High Street, Lincoln, LN5 7PR, opposite Cycle Sport. There will be some opening offers for a few days. Don't forget to show your GAC membership card to get 10% off non-sale items.

03 May 12 Athlete of the Month for April is Catherine Payne for her PB and 2nd in age group at the Friskney 1/2 Marathon.

11 March 12 Grantham’s Local Success – Newton’s Fraction Half Marathon

On Sunday 11^th March Grantham Athletic Club organised the annual `Newton’s Fraction` half marathon attracting 400 athletes, with a range of ages from 18 to 73 years, from across England.  This popular, fast 13.2 mile race is becoming increasingly renowned:

`If you have negative preconceptions on the mention of Grantham, then forget them. Stunning scenery and first rate organisation made this my best race for years`

` My first time at this race, and it won't be the last! Very friendly, very well organised, enough challenges for everyone; beginner or seasoned half-marathon runner. Lovely, scenic course, very friendly and supportive marshals. Super technical t-shirt, super goody bag, went home very happy. The one you'd want to do again and again...`

Competitors, Runner’s World, 2012

Starting from the South Kesteven Stadium and spreading out into the Vale of Belvoir, the race includes two  ‘much feared and gruelling’ Lincolnshire hills at Woolsthorpe and Casthorpe;  the race can take as little as 1 hour 10 minutes or up to 3 hours to run. 

It was a fabulous day, the weather was stunning, the atmosphere was brilliant! The race itself was a good mix of road and canal path, as for the hills.... huumm...!!

Competitor, Runner’s World, 2012

This year’s winner was Geoff Knight from Boston in 1 hour 13 minutes.  First woman home was Tanya Taylor from Nene Valley Harriers in 1 hour 32 minutes.  The race has prizes for all age groups and teams. The full results can be found at www.granthamac.com/nf/results.htm

So successful was this year’s race that it now features in the Runner’s World magazine rankings – one of the Top Ten Races in the UK for March.  Athletes reviews rate the event at 95% (out of 100%) overall and 96% of reviewers would do this race again.  The scenery, local facilities, value for money and the organisation of race are rated highly.

Whilst the main race was underway the Little Apple fun run took place.  This year over 120 fun runners and walkers completed the three kilometre course.  First young male home was Jake Hornby from Grantham AC in 8 minutes 59 seconds; and the first young female was Letitia Barrowcliff, also from Grantham AC, in 11 minutes 31 seconds.  The runners’ entry fees and the sponsorship they raise will go towards donations for two local charities – St John’s Ambulance and Help for Heroes.  Over £400 to-date will be donated this year.

On the day over 700 people experienced the Newton’s Fraction and Little Apple whether it was as runners and volunteers participating, spectators cheering and encouraging, or organisers planning and running the day. It’s clearly a local success story.

08 Mar 12 Athlete of the Month for February is Jake Hornby for his excellent performance in the U15 Boys race in the English National Cross Country Championships (58 out of 366).

03 Feb 12 Club records for 2011 have been updated. The list is now closed.

13 Jan 12 Athlete of the Month for November is Josh Lord for his hard work, good results and return to competition after injury.

06 Dec 11 Lincolnshire Sports Partnership Photograph competition:
Poster   Rules    Entry form

05 Dec 11 Presentation Night was held on Wed 30th November, with Guest speaker Dr. James Hopkinson, Squad Doctor for the 2011/12 GB Short Track Speed Skating Team.

02 Nov 11 Athlete of the Month for October is Sophia Tucker for her very good form in cross country and for her long-standing overall commitment to various club activities.

22 Oct 11 Athlete of the Month for September is Josh Brown for his 7th place in the recent English Schools' Combined Events Championships. Well done Josh.

09 Oct 11 95 girls and 124 boys from 19 primary schools took part in the Mike Bundy Cross Country League. Results: Individuals   Teams

26 Sep 11 This year's AGM will be held on Wed 19th October, 8:30pm, in the Meres Leisure Centre. Nominations for officers must be received by 28th Sep.

26 Sep 11 U11 County Sportshall is being planned.

08 Sep 11 This year's Club Meal will take place on Saturday 8th Oct at Grantham Ask (George Centre). Please contact Adam Madge to reserve your seats.

07 Sep 11 Athlete of the Month for August is Millie Cooper - she is the North of England U17W 80m Hurdles Champion. Well done Millie.

10 Aug 11 Athlete of the Month for July is Jac Heanen for his 8th place in the English Schools' Long Jump Championships.

07 July 11 Athlete of the Month for June is Arthur Short for his excellent VetM result in the Woodhall Spa 10km road race.

02 June 11 Athletes of the Month for May are Mark Gray and Josh Brown for their excellent performances in the recent Combined Events Championships.

23 May 11 There were some excellent performances from our club athletes at the weekend's County Combined Events Championships held at Boston:
Tilly Ireland won the U15G Pentathlon, with Zoe Lucas a few points behind in 2nd place. Hana McMath and Aimee Kettle competed for their schools.
Josh Brown won the U15B Pentathlon.
Mille Cooper was 4th in the U17W Heptathlon.
Amelia Wood was 2nd in the U20W Heptathlon, as was Judith Jagger, VetW.
Finally, Mark Gray was 2nd in the SenM Decathlon.
Two of our 2nd-claim members, Chelsea Brockett (U20W Heptathlon) and Stephan Brockett (U20M Decathlon), won their respective events.

06 April 11 Athlete of the Month for March is Naomi Collier for finishing as 3rd lady in the Grantham Cup.

20 March 11 Today's Newton's Fraction half-marathon attracted a record number of entries (460) and nearly 400 turned up and completed the race.

04 March 11 Wednesday training fees for the 7-8:30pm sessions at the stadium will rise to £2 in April. The 6-7 session will remain at £1.

03 March 11 Athletes of the Month for February are:
Savannah Dowse, Winner in age group, Regional Sports Hall Shot Put Championships;
Catherine Payne, 1st in age group, Sleaford half-marathon and Peterborough 10-mile.

03 Feb 11 Athlete of the Month (January) is Jake Hornby, who finished in 3rd place in his age group in the Lincolnshire Schools' XC Championships.

Congratulations to the 5 GAC athletes who competed in the Northern XC Championships:
U17W Naomi Collier finished in a creditable 8th place, with Sophia Tucker 53rd.
U15B Jake Hornby finished in 64th place.
Sen Man Athur Short finished in 228th place & Phil Hall was 449th.

17 Jan 11 Well done to Millie Cooper who has won the U17W 60mH at the NoEAA Indoor Championships at Sheffield in a time of 9.16s. Naomi Collier finished 3rd in the U17W 800m and Joe Madge ran the U20M 400m in 52.24s.

12 Jan 11 Our U17W won team GOLD at Sunday's Lincs Cross Country Championships:
2 Naomi Collier (SILVER), 6 Polly Atherton, 8 Sophia Tucker. Results and photos.

Nov 10 Athlete of the Month is William Tucker for his excellent recent cross country performance: 7th overall as a year-5 racing against year-6 boys in the Mike Bundy XC League and finishing 2nd as a 1st-year U11 in the Lincs XC League at RAF Cranwell.

21 Oct 10 A record turnout of club members (almost a 1/4 of the current membership) at last night's AGM voted unanimously in favour of the new Executive Management Committee structure which will hopefully allow more fresh blood to get involved with the day-to-day running of the club.

10 Oct 10 Ex-Grantham AC athlete Vikki Hubbard has just finished 4th in the Women's High Jump in Delhi with a height of 1.83m. She tried the next height of 1.88m, but only three other ladies managed to clear it. The winning height was 1.91m. 

Coached originally by the late Mike Bundy at the club when she was a teenager, Vikki moved on to Birchfield Harriers to gain more experience and to get UKA funding. 

Vikki's mum and dad, Lynn and Trevor (who are still club members), will no doubt be just as pleased as we all are at the club. 

Well done Vikki, and best wishes from GAC.

09 Oct 10 The Mike Bundy Cross Country League. This was its 15th year and it continues to grow in popularity. In 1996 eight schools competed (Allington & Sedgebrook, Cliffedale, Gonerby HF, Great Ponton, Isaac Newton, St. Mary's, The National and St. Sebastian's) and we are particularly pleased with the loyal support of those schools.

This year 17 schools took part, sending 120 boys and 94 girls to compete.

The medals were eagerly contested, with eight schools staking claim to individual and team awards:
Individuals
Girls:1. Holly Sparks (Grantham Prep), 2. Chloe Baxter (Cliffedale), 3. Letitia Barrowcliff (Huntingtower).
Boys: 1. Ben Whinney (Harlaxton), 2. Ethan Richardson-Cole (Cliffedale), 3. Kyle Seetal-Drew (Dudley House).

Teams
Girls: 1. Cliffedale, 2. St. Mary's, 3. Allington & Sedgebrook.
Boys: 1. Cliffedale, 2. Ropsley, 3. St. Mary's.

Through the South West Lincolnshire School Sports Partnership, Les Stewart and his squad of Kings boys were a great help in matches 1 & 2 setting up / dismantling the course and taking charge of the team warm-ups (I don't think that I've ever seen a Jag loaded-up with 100 muddy cross-country stakes on the back seats!).

Finally, Grantham AC is particularly grateful to KGGS, Central School (by its old name) and Leisure Connection for their continued support of the league. Without the generous use of their facilities the league couldn't take place. Results: Teams   Individuals

19 Sep 10 Details of the forthcoming AGM (20th October) and proposed changes to
the committee structure are available via the AGM page. 

11 Sep 10 The results of the final Lincs T&F League match can be viewed on the
Grantham Journal web site. At the meeting Arthur Short won the County Championships
10km race and Matt Smith was the U17M 5km County Champion.  

08 Sep 10 Athlete of the Month for August is U17M Oliver Dove for his excellent
performance in the recent North of England Championships and the new club
record of 1.82m for the High Jump. 

29 Aug 10 Grantham AC members made up a third of the team representing Lincolnshire
in the North of England Inter-Counties match at Gateshead International Stadium on
Saturday, 28th. August. In spite of a long day which entailed leaving Grantham Stadium
at 6.00a.m. and returning at 10.30p.m., the athletes acquitted themselves well in helping
Lincolnshire achieve their highest placing of 4th. in this annual fixture. The Lincolnshire
team were first in the aggregate competition for points scores compared with
county population in both the male and female sections.
 
Team scores:-
I. Yorkshire 702
2. Lancashire & Isle of Man 662
3. Merseyside 485
4. Lincolnshire 434
5. North East Counties 410
6. Humberside 405
7. Gtr. Manchester 229
8. Cumbria 57
9. Cheshire 22
10. Derbyshire 0
 
Grantham athletes gained first places in:
U17 Women's 80m. Hurdles - Millie Cooper,
U15 Girl's 75m. Hurdles- Alice Macgowan, 
U17 Men's High Jump-Oliver Dove and 
Senior Women's Javelin-Helen Gilbert.

Personal best performances were achieved by: 
Naomi Collier U17 Women's 300m., 
Oliver Dove U17 Men's High Jump, 
Jac Heanen U17 Men's Long Jump and Triple Jump. 
Helen Gilbert had a season's best performance in the Senior Women's Shot.
 
Grantham AC results:-
Under 15 Girls
Alice Macgowan - 100m. 6th. 13.48s., 70m. Hurdles 1st. 11.61s., Long Jump 5th. 4.52m.
 
Under 17 Women
Millie Cooper  - 80m. Hurdles 1st. 11.75s., High Jump 4th. 1.45m., Long Jump 6th. 4.81m.
Naomi Collier - 300m. 3rd. 43.87s., 800m.2m.21.66s.
Sophia Tucker - 1500m.  6th. 5m.32.34s.
 
Senior Women
Helen Gilbert - Shot 3rd. 9.96m., Javelin 1st 28.41m.
 
Under 15 Boys
Josh Brown - 80m. Hurdles 6th 14.22s., Javelin4th 30.78m.
 
Under 17 Men
Oliver Kiy - 100m. 6th 12.35s., 200m .5th .25.16s.
Oliver Dove - 100m. Hurdles 5th 15.42s., High Jump 1st 1.80m.
Christian Dove - 400m. 5th. 60.84s, Javelin 7th 28.99m.
Jac Heanen - Long Jump 4th 6.14m., Triple Jump 12.22m.

27 Aug 10 15 year old Millie Cooper competed in the England Athletics Under 17 Championships at Bedford International Stadium on Sunday, 22nd. August.

In her heat of the 80m. Hurdles she gained second place in a time of 11.96s. which gave her automatic qualification for the final. In a high quality final in which the winner equalled the championship record of 11.02s. Millie was placed eighth in a time of 11.91s.

 

Congratulations go to Vikki Hubbard who has been selected for the England Athletics' team to compete in the Women's High Jump in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi from October 6th. - 14th.

The final match in the North of England League was hosted by Grantham A.C. at the Meres Stadium on Saturday, 31st. July.

 

Holidays, injuries and a conflicting road relay affected the number of athletes competing for the club in the middle distance events but did not prevent the club winning the match by a resounding 87 points.

 

Grantham went into the match with a two point lead on league points over their nearest rivals Wombwell. With Wombwell only managing a 4th. place in this final match Grantham are division champions and gain promotion to division 3 for next year's fixtures.

 

Rebecca Hall improved her club record in the Shot to 11.49m. Personal best performances were achieved by Millie Cooper in the Long Jump, 5.04m.,and High Jump 1.49m; Sarah Garner in the Hammer, 23.71m; Jac Heanen in the Long Jump, 6.09m. and Mark Gray equalled his pb in the Pole Vault with a clearance of 2.50m. The Women's 4x400 Relay set a new club record of 5m.57.3s.

 

Season's best performances were gained by Helen Gilbert in the Shot and Hammer, 9.65m. and 38.01m. respectively, and Phil Garner with a a throw of 27.13m. in the Discus event.

 

The final Lincolnshire League match will take place at the Meres Stadium on Sunday, 5th. September. This match will also include the County Championships for 10k. and 5k.

Just to let you know that I finished the London Marathon in 3.55.35 which I was pleased with as my target was 4 hrs!!  It was hard to get into the stride for the first five miles due to volume of runners and in narrow stretches around Greenwich but the crowds were fantastic, largest I have ever seen for the London Marathon.

 

Dave Eldridge

Other GAC runners (well done all of you!):

Arthur Short MV40 3:14.22
Algie Audas MV50 3:15.26
Alison Marvel WV45 4:23.56
Martin Neal MV40 4:26.52

Hi
Phew that was hot and tough ,but I am really chuffed as I wanted to run 3:15 to get a good for my age automatic entry next year, once again the day was brilliant and the crowd seems to get bigger than ever each year. Well done to all the others . 
Kind Regards
 
Algie photo

 

I agree with you about the size of the crowds - largest I have ever seen.  My time was slower than I expected but it was the most enjoyable London I have done so far.   I had a great time and felt really good all the way round, despite the heat.

 

See you at the track in a couple of weeks!

 

Well done again.

Best wishes

Alison