Following the re-analyis of doping control samples for Denis Alexeev the IOC has announced the disqualification of the Russian Men's 4x400m Relay team. This elevates the GB & NI team to third place. Therefore Martin Rooney should receive a bronze medal as he ran the fourth leg.
It is with deep regret that we learn of the death of David Cocksedge whilst visting Thailand where he had previously lived for several years. He was a Surrey County statistician for many years and also edited SCAN. He was also a regular contributor to Athletics Weekly with particular emphasis on articles about promising young athletes.
(65) SURREY COUNTY MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS, RICHMOND PARK, 22ND OCTOBER 2016
Many congratulations to former Surrey president and cross country team manager Bill Lucas DFC, who was recognised as Britain’s oldest living Olympian in the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain awards on ITV on November 1st.
Bill competed in the 5000m at the London Olympics at Wembley in 1948 after just one year's training after serving in the RAF's Bomber Command for seven years and flying 81 missions, surviving unharmed. He was included in the section of the programme to congratulate Britain’s successful Olympic and Paralympic athletes in Rio this summer.
He was in remarkably good form considering he’s in his 100th year but he had to be helped on to the stage as he broke a leg when visiting his local library in Cowfold, West Sussex earlier this year, a few weeks after undergoing open heart surgery.
He showed he has lost none of his Chutzpah in a lively encounter with presenter Carol Vorderman, who said it was an honour to meet him. Bill responded: “Nice to meet you too.” Carol revealed: “ You’ve got a big birthday in January,” and amid cheers and applause from the audience Bill revealed: “I will be 100 on the 16th.” Bill interjected after Carol told the audience he was a bomber pilot in the second world war: “Hitler deprived me of my best athletic years so what did I do. I went out and bombed him.” amid much laughter from the star-studded audience.
Bill’s lifelong club, Belgrave Harriers, are organising a grand birthday party to celebrate his centenary on January 15th in Belgrave Hall.
An update from Tom Pollak, SCAA Chairman:-
Since this notice was posted Bill and Sheena have been seriously hurt in a road accident and have both been in hospital. On November 19th they were passengers in a Sport Utility Vehicle driven by a 94-year-old World War Two bomber pilot and on their way to a picture signing for bomber command. The driver managed to roll it over at a roundabout in Burgess Hill and while he and another passenger escaped unhurt, both Bill and Sheena had to be cut out of the wreckage by firemen.
Bill suffered a broken collarbone and Sheena cracked ribs and breastbone. After being treated in the emergency department at Brighton Hospital they were transferred to Horsham Hospital for recuperation and rehabilitation.
I went to see them there on December 18th and, despite their ordeal, they both seemed in good form and were looking forward to the January celebrations. They were in their own two-bed ward.
Happily, they were discharged just before the festive season and were able to spend Christmas at their home in Cowfold with neighbours and friends making sure they were able to cope. They were certainly happy to be out of hospital and in their own surroundings. Both sets of injuries are healing but Bill has problems with a swollen right leg which doctors are trying to resolve.
(68) TWO AFD ATHLETES FATALLY HIT BY A CAR WHILST ON AN EVENING TRAINING RUN.
Our condolences go to the families of Stacey Burrows and Lucy Pygott and our friends at Aldershot, Farnham & District AC following the incident on Tuesday, 8th November. Further details.
(69) SURREY U13/U15 SPORTSHALL, SPECTRUM, GUILDFORD, 27TH NOVEMBER 2016
We regret to pass on news of the death of Walton AC president Roy Lomax at the age of 88. Roy died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, 6th December 2016.
Roy joined Walton AC in 1948 and competed successfully as a middle-distance and cross-country runner. He officiated for many years as a starter and was Walton's President for the last 40 years. He served on the Surrey committee for many years and was a Life Member of the County Association.
(71) SEAA INTER-COUNTY CROSS-COUNTRY, HORSPATH, 10TH DECEMBER 2016
Surrey teams win medals in all eight age groups.
Individual victories for Dominique Corradi (U15G) and Jaden Kennedy (U13B). Other individual medal winners were Felix Vaughan (2nd U13B), Ricky Lutakome (3rd U17M), Niamh Brown (3rd U20W), Claudia Lance Jones (3rd U17W), Olivia McDonald (3rd U15G) and Maisie Collis (3rd U13G).
In the Senior Women's race there were also medals for Under-23 athletes where Steph McCall was 1st and Katie Bingle was 2nd.
(72) EUROPEAN COUNTY CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS, CHIA, ITALY, 11TH DECEMBER 2016
Phoebe Law (Kingston AC & Polytechnic Harriers) finished in 22nd place in the Junior Women's race and was the 5th British runner to finish. The team won the Gold Medal.
It is with sadness that we report that Brian died on 14th December 2016. We remember him as an athlete and as a technical oficial. His profile shows that he competed in the Pole Vault in the Main Surrey Championships from 1994 - 2010 having previously competed in the Surrey Cross-Country Championships from 1983 - 1986.
