News

Unfortunately, we were informed by Stevenage Borough Council that the water supply at the stadium has still not been sorted out and therefore they are unable to open the track. We are hoping for a rapid resolution to this issue that has prevented us from starting back training and have been told that if the supply cannot be reinstated during next week the council will look at installing outside temporary toilets so that the track can be reopened. Provisionally, therefore the hope is that training can restart on Tuesday 1st September. Please remember that due to ongoing restrictions linked to Covid-19 sessions will be by invite only and should the 1st be confirmed we will be sending out invites to members who completed the return to training survey during the latter part of next week.

We will not be able to accommodate new members at the moment due to limits on the track but hope to restart new member induction later in the autumn.

Unfortunately, the council are still awaiting further tests to be completed on the water system at the track. We will update here when we have any further news.

We had hoped that we would be able to get back on the track for training within the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, we have been informed this morning by Stevenage Borough Council that a compliance issue with the water means the reopening will be delayed again. We hope to hear early next week how serious the problem is and will update on both the website and Facebook.

The East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity, the charity that supports four of our local NHS hospitals; Lister in Stevenage, Hertford County Hospital. The New QE2 in Welwyn Garden City and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre is organising a big fund raising event.

During the pandemic, they have worked to support our local NHS Heroes through our Here for Each Other urgent COVID-19 appeal and have been overwhelmed by the support of our local community. Whilst they are aware that the pandemic is not yet over, they are turning their thoughts to fundraising for other vital projects across our hospitals. Due to COVID-19, they have sadly had to cancel all of their other events for the remainder of 2020.

On the 5th July 2020, the NHS turned 72. To celebrate this milestone and to shine a light on our fantastic NHS the charity has teamed up with Garden House Hospice Care to create a virtual cycle ride event, which they would like to invite SNHAC members to take part in.

More details can be found at https://www.enhhcharity.org.uk/Event/hertshealthride​ .

Over the next few weeks coaches and athletes face the challenge of moving from home training, Zoom and Park sessions to a slow transition back to the track. The last park session in Shefford for the pole vault athletes took place Sunday as lead coach Beth Harris will be completing her move to Nottingham at the beginning of August.

Shannon Rapacchi will be coaching the Club’s beginners with the more experienced athletes moving to a new coach once Lee Valley reopens.

The endurance and horizontal jumps groups were working hard at Ridlins Park on Sunday and will remain there until the track reopens, hopefully the second week of August.

However, for many athletes, park sessions will continue. Limited numbers on the track each session (25 athletes), mean those athletes in the larger squads, Combined Events, Sprints and Endurance may only have a track session once a fortnight and will still be doing park sessions at other times. For those self - isolating for health or family reasons a local park or the garden may still be the training venue of choice for the foreseeable future!

The need to work in clearly defined ‘bubbles’ on specific areas of the track, 2m self-distancing at all times will be a new experience for all.