News: April 2021

As lockdown eases Sunday 6th June will see the delayed return of the Herts Half Marathon and 10k which all starts and finishes at Knebworth House. The routes take in not only the impressive grounds but the surrounding countryside too. The organisers have kindly offered the club 2 free places, these can be for either race. If you are interested then you must be a fully paid up 2021 SNHAC member and training regularly with the club. The places will be allocated to the first 2 people to email snhacchair@gmail.com .

In addition the organisers are also on the look out for volunteers to help marshal the event. In return for a morning's volunteering they will either give you a free place for next year or will donate £30 per marshal to the club. Marshals will be needed between approximately 7.30am and 12.30pm. Again, if you are interested please email snhacchair@gmail.com stating if you would want the free place or the donation to the club.

During the Pandemic the Club has had to change the way it has functioned for many years. Queuing to register and paying cash to use the track was no longer an option. Just before the Pandemic forced ‘lock down’ Stevenage Community Trust helped the Club find a company who were prepared to provide the Club with a Computer for the Office. Formula One Autocentres Ltd provided the Club with a reconditioned computer, monitor, mouse and then kindly set it up. This meant the Club were able to start the move to a safer more secure way of operating.

The pandemic has yet again forced the Club to review the way it operates. Taking cash and relying on a volunteer to ‘man the office’ at all sessions is no longer a viable option. England Athletics advice to all Clubs – no cash. The next move Embrace Technology!

We are now in the process of setting up an Online Shop where all Club transactions will take place. Thanks to a grant just announced from Stevenage Community Trust the Club has the funds to add a new section to the website. Hopefully by early July membership, track fees, SNHAC clothing, entries to the Club Championships, tickets for awards night will all be possible via an online shop. A card machine will be available at Home matches to pay for refreshments.

Later this year it is hoped that WiFi will be available at the stadium, making matches and photo finish easier to run.

Photo Finish, Hardship Funding, Coaching Courses, Disability Athletics Equipment have all been beneficiaries of Stevenage Community Trust generosity in the past and yet again the Trust is proving valuable support for the Club and the Community.

Christopher Westcott was delighted to be able to get back to racing on Good Friday at the St Albans 10k. The event was extremely well organised with plenty of social distancing and runners setting off in predicted finish order using a grid style. This meant very minimal overtaking through the run keeping everybody safe. Spending the Lockdown period pounding away on the cycle paths of Stevenage certainly seems to have been beneficial as he clocked a new Personal Best of 34:50, finishing in 26th place (based on chip time).