Kip fit and healthy at Newbury Athletics Clubs
New Athletics Club on the block
Westbury: Newbury Athletics Club, a new athletics clubs that was just recently registered introduces themselves to us. Chairman of the club, Ivan Geudart explained: “We as runners have decided that instead of running for other clubs, we should just start our own club in the community.
“We realised that children are only doing sports when there are sports days at schools so we want to develop them in sports so when school is done with sports then we will continue it throughout the year.”
According to vice chairman of the club, Joel Oliphant, the club formed last year in August and was officially registered in November.
“We are not only saying that it’s only for the Westbury community but for anyone who would like to join. At the moment for are about forty members excluding the juniors. We approached the schools but need to go back to them when the schools reopen.”
“We went to the interzones and our children are good when they run amongst each other but when they run in regionals then they lose because they do not train, they do not have the guidance,” added Geudart.
Principal Monty Sandowns of Dowling Primary School said: “what I can say is that I’m very impressed with the fact that they started off this running club in the community because these are things that will benefit our children, especially at the high schools.
“We know that we face challenges in our community with substance abuse but I’m part of this running clubs so that we can make a difference in our community. The idea is to promote sports in our community because when the youngsters are not busy, they start getting into mischief so this will keep them busy.
“The runners use the school as a meeting ground, and the athletes park their cars on the premises when we are running so we at the school support this initiative.”
One of the members of the club, Priscilla Mackay shared: “It was always my desire to be part of a running club but I did not know how to start so I’m so thankful for this club because I’m part of the aerobics club and saw the runners, I was hesitant to join them because I know that the marathon runners and I have no experience but once I joined I realised that they so patient with a person.
I only started a week before Valentine’s day and the Friday I completed the Valentines Day 10K race, so we can do it. I want women from our community to rise up and join us because we have a lot of stress but running relieves us from it.”
The club has training on Saturday at 6 am, Sunday at 5 am, Tuesday they have hill training and Thursdays they have speed training. There is no age limit but the group looks to work with children as young of nine years old.
“We would like to thank the SGB and management of Dowling Primary for allowing us to use their premises,” concluded Geudart. On March 21, the club with be having a 5K run to raise funds. If you would like to know more about the club, contact Ivan Geudart on 074 563 8647.
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