| NEW CHALLENGE
FOR ROAD LEAGUE RUNNERS
The UK Athletics Road Running Grand Prix will this year be held in conjunction with the
Nottingham Half Marathon in September.
The Leicestershire Road Running League has been accepted for the Grand Prix, which means
that the winning Men's and Women's teams from the combined Winter and Summer League
programme will be entered into this competition.
Winners of similar leagues throughout the UK are also taking part and cash prizes will be
awarded to the first three men's and women's teams in the competition.
Inclusion in the Grand Prix should enhance the status of the Leicestershire Road Running
League and provides an extra incentive for clubs to achieve success.
LRRL Chairman Ramon Howe is county co-ordinator for this competition. Further details will
be available in March.
LIVINGSTON RELAYS RECREATED
The Livingston Relays, last run in Leicestershire the mid 1990s, are to be resurrected.
LRRL has announced that the restructured event will be held on Easter Sunday, 20 April, on
Loughborough University campus, hosted by Charnwood AC.
The new race will have a 3.3 mile lap on traffic free roads and will
include both a Ladies' and a Veteran Men's competition as well as The Senior Men's event
for the Livingston Trophy. The Men's races will comprise of 4 legs and the Ladies 3 legs.
As well as local clubs, other clubs in the area and further afield
will be approached to take part, including past winners Coventry Godiva, Derby &
County AC, Tipton, and Birchfield.
The Livingston Relays were first run in 1928 when Leicester shoe machinery magnate S H B
Livingston presented a cup for an annual road relay race, restricted by invitation to
Midland clubs. It was originally run from the County Cricket Ground in Aylestone Road into
the County and back via Blaby, Cosby, Whetstone and Enderby.
In 1940 wartime restrictions forced the start to be changed to Avenue Road Extension where
the Relays remained until 1975 when the start was moved to nearby Greenhill Road. Safety
considerations dictated a further move in 1976 to the Holwell Works at Asfordby. When coal
began to be mined at Asfordby the Relays were moved yet again to Gartree Prison, though
they returned to Asfordby in 1989.
Many international and champion runners have taken part in the relays but it was not won
by a local club until 1949 when Leicester Harriers were the winning team.
SECRETARY'S LETTER TO ALL LEGION MEMBERS
I should like to update members, particularly those new or relatively new to the club who
will be unaware of our past history and perhaps unclear how other Sections of the club fit
into the scheme of things, on one or two aspects of the OWLS.
The Club was formed in 1982, out of a football club attached to the British Legion here in
Wigston hence the name Oadby & Wigston Legionnaires AC. Its principal aims were road
and cross-country running. The Club soon became very successful, attracting new runners
and coaches.
By 1990, emphasis was placed on developing new young talent, both boys and girls, and two
new sections were formed to cater for these youngsters and to further develop those more
mature athletes willing and capable of improving their performance. Thus, a need for track
based training and racing was created, away from the British Legion (licensed premises),
and Saffron Lane track began to be used extensively at this time. Alternative training
nights were established at Parklands Leisure Centre, subsequently re-located to Guthlaxton
College.
Even at this stage in the early 1990s, the name of the Club was becoming inappropriate,
and as the Club became more successful, it came to be known simply as the
"OWLS".
At the Club AGM in 2001, a mandate was received from the members to change the name to
"Leicester Owls AC". Midland Counties AA have not given approval to this change,
on the grounds that no two clubs shall carry the same "town" name, quoting
confusion with Leicester Coritanians as the example.
We are vigorously disputing this issue with MCAA and intend to continue to press for a
change of name, even If we accept a different style, such as "Owls Leicester
AC".
Meantime, the club continues to thrive. The Legion Section continues
to attract new members and to improve its performance. However, the overall standing of
the Club in the local and national scheme of things is undoubtedly dependent on the
continued success of our performance athletes training from Saffron Lane and Guthlaxton
College, and our youngsters, both boys and girls. These athletes have commonly been
referred to as the "Guthlaxton Section" and the "Girls Section". Those
of you who follow the local athletic press and attend Club Presentation nights will be
aware of the quality of athlete we possess. Our success in the recent Men's Leicestershire
County cross-country Championships is evidence of this.
These two vital sections of the Club cannot continue to thrive without the support of
coaches and administrators, and at the present time those acting in that capacity are very
stretched. There is a natural tendency for members of the Legion Section to isolate
themselves from the Club as a whole, as they are self-sufficient and blessed with an able
and enthusiastic controlling committee. Many members' horizons do not go beyond the Legion
Section, and indeed that is a very natural position for them to take.
However, I am sure there will be others amongst you who feel you would like to support the
development of the Club as a whole. If you have a desire to help maintain the success of
the Club and if you can commit yourself to a few hours per week working with other
Sections, then your input would be greatly appreciated.
It is not just the actual coaching and supervision of athletes which is a problem, but all
the other aspects of running the sections. The Club requires help in matters of
administration, recruitment (particularly in
Schools), applying for grants from Sports Councils and the like, working towards
identifying and creating a clubhouse, transport to and from races and a variety of other
roles. We need to be represented on meetings of Leicestershire Active Sports, Leics. &
Rutland AA, Saffron Lane User Groups, City Council Lottery Funding groups and a variety of
other relevant organisations.
My message is if you feel, as I do, that we must support the efforts of those in the Club
who strive to develop the Club and the talent within it so that we are recognised as a
premier club, then please consider whether you can make a positive contribution beyond the
Legion Section.
All you have to do is talk to me, and I will see where you might best contribute.
Ramon Howe
Secretary -Oadby & Wigston Legionnaires AC January 2003
Jenny Clark
148 South Knighton Road
Stoneygate
Leicester LE2 3LQ
OWLS NEWS EDITOR
Phone:0116 270 3462
Email: [email protected]
OWLS CONTACT NUMBERS
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