The last night of training at Balerno High School will be Wednesday 15 December, and training will resume on Monday 10th January. Other groups should check with their own coach for training arrangements during the holiday period. We hope everyone doesn't get too unfit over the holiday period.....

Club Membership Fees

Here is a gentle reminder that the Harmeny annual membership fees are now due. These are £15 for an individual, or £30 for a family. New membership forms were distributed with the last Herald, but for those who might have mislaid it, a copy is attached.

Athletics Scotland Membership

Those of us who joined Athletics Scotland (The Scottish Athletics Federation registration scheme) last year will have received a renewal form. We would urge everyone to renew, and all new seniors who have joined the club are also required to join if they intend to compete.

There has been one significant concession to the many younger members who are trying athletics for the first time this year. The Scottish Athletics Federation has decided that everyone under 17 who is joining a club for the first time does not need to pay to join the scheme in their first year with a club. Everyone is still encouraged to join, but it is not compulsory unless you will be competing with the club. If this is your first year, then we would encourage you to join Athletics Scotland by filling in a form, but if you are under 17 write on it "new to athletics" and you won't need to send in any registration fee.

The Athletics Scotland scheme is run by SAF. Whether or not club members join is their own decision, However everyone is expected to pay the Harmeny club membership fee irrespective of the Athletics Scotland scheme.

A copy of the registration form is attached with this Herald.

Ideas for Christmas

If you, or your parents are running out of ideas for Christmas, or haven't even thought about it yet, we have a few suggestions and reminders:

Club Kit: If you haven't got your own running vest, or are growing out of an existing one, you should think about getting a new one. The current supplier does quite fashionable male and female vests, contact Maureen Jackson 449-5507 who can advise about sizes and prices. Last winter some of the older girls organised crop tops + running shorts sets. We hope to put in another order this December, but as these are made to order we will need to sizes and quantities in advance. Contact Kirsty or Jenny Robertson (442 - 1374 ) for more info. We also have club T-shirts in S, M, L, XL sizes at a very reasonable £8 – contact Bob Douglas, 449-6105.

Running Gear: On production of a current membership card you will get a 10% reduction on running gear and clothing at "Run and Become", the specialist running shop in Dalry Rd, Edinburgh.

Awards Night and Disco Party

Make a date in your (and your parent's) diary for Friday 25th February. Instead of the usual format of the Awards Night, we're going to have a disco party in Currie Rugby Club, preceded by the annual Club Champions and Thistle Awards. The disco party will be for all ages, ie parents are definitely permitted, and we will organise a small buffet. Tickets will be available in the New Year, but make a note in your diary now.

Competing in the Summer

We're heading fast into winter, but thinking about next summer. We have yet to meet with the various leagues to agree on the programme of track and field meetings for next summer, but we have registered an intention to join the McDonalds Young Athletes League, which provides a good programme of events for males and females in the Under 17, 15 and 13 age groups. We have also registered an interest in the national cup competition for girls / ladies (there isn't and equivalent for the boys for some reason).

Web site gets an overhaul

The Harmeny web-site has been getting an overhaul recently to get a few more things onto it, including the recent Harmeny Heralds. Those of you looking for Richard Sharp's picture last month (including Richard) will definitely find it there now.

Inter-Primary Sportshall Competition

Sometime in the New Year, probably in mid-February, we will be organising a Sportshall competition between the Primary Schools who feed Balerno HS and Currie HS in the Games Hall of Balerno High School. This is being done with the help of the Currie & Balerno Community Schools Partnership. We hope this will strengthen the links with the schools in our main home area, and boost recruitment of new members in time for the summer season. The schools will select the teams but we will inform members who attend these schools of arrangements as soon as possible so they can get in touch with the appropriate team organiser.

If this venture is successful we will organise more events through the main schools that we draw our younger members from. Parents, or seniors, who could help us with these events will always be welcome.

Cross-Country Season in full swing

East District League

Change of venue took the runners back to the playing fields of Pitreavie on Sunday 17th October. Conditions were good with the sun appearing during the races. In the U11s over a 1600m course with 20 runners, Colette Shiell was 6th in 7m 25s. Amy-Jo Shiell was 13th in the U13s race over 2400m in a time of 11m 15s with 33 finishers and Marbeth Shiell 4th in the U15 race in 10m 04s over 2400m with 22 runners.

The finishing positions for Harmeny athletes were:

U11 Girls: Stephanie Lyall 7th, Colette Sheill 8th

U13 Girls: Amy-Jo Shiell 10th

U15 Girls: Marbeth Shiell 2nd

U13 Boys: Tommy Ashby 3rd, Gary Alexander 6th, Greg Alexander 7th
Harmeny 1st Boys Team !!!!!!!!!!!

U15 Boys: Paul McDougal 7th

Congratulations to Tommy, Gary and Greg who won the Under 13 boys Team prize.

Indoor Fixtures

The SAF winter fixture list containing details of indoor meetings, including the various Championships should have been issued to everyone registered with Athletics Scotland, however additional copies can be provided. A booklet containing entry forms the various indoor championships is now available from SAF – contact Bob Douglas (449-6105) or the SAF office if copies are needed.