Welcome everyone to our AGM. Our club has now been going for nine years and continues to provide the opportunity for many young athletes to train and compete up to national level.

The club continued to provide competition in the Wessex and UKA Young Athletes Leagues, Hampshire and Wessex cross country leagues, Southern Road Relays and county track & field and cross country championships.

Developments at Noadswood Sports College continue to progress, albeit slowly. The track and sportshall facilities have been improved. The recent announcement that the college will soon be providing an all-weather, floodlit secure multi-use court that will be suitable for training is most welcome. Providing the storage problem which I believe is only short term, can be overcome, all the club’s equipment will be stored at Noadswood.  

The coaching programme progressed well with most events again being catered for during the year. Unfortunately we have lost the excellent services of our under eleven’s coach, Pete Schreiber. Jess Martin and Steph Smith have recently taken on the role. Lindsey Atkinson will also join as a sprints coach depending on her availability from University. Catherine Smith has completed the level two course and will no doubt become more involved in the club’s endurance and throws training. A big thank you therefore to all our coaches who have given up much of their free time to coach throughout the year.

The club’s development programme has been updated and progress has been made in all areas, especially school/clubs links. However facilities for athletics still need improvement and this continues to remain part of the club’s objectives.  

The club finances have continued to improve to which as a result allowed us to start updating and adding to our equipment. I should like to thank Phil for looking after our finances and Karen for auditing the club’s books. A big thank you also to Cathy and Sharon for keeping the register and collecting the training fees.    

At the county track and field championships the club’s athletes won eight medals plus gold in the multi events. At the English Schools finals, Chrissy went on to come third in the high jump.  I would like to thank Dave and his team for all his efforts as track and field team manager. The cross country season was disappointing with only a fifth team place in the U13 and U17 girls Hampshire Championships.
 
The club continues to support school athletics within the New Forest and has supported existing events as well as starting new ones.

So a big thank you to everyone who helps makes our club so successful, athletes, coaches, officials and helpers. I’m sure our athletes appreciate all the efforts made on their behalf.