Congratulations to Jasmine Wilkins, who set a new Senior Women's and Under 20 Women's 60m Club Indoor Best of 7.65 seconds on 6th December at Cardiff!

Three Bedford and County athletes won awards at the Bedford Borough Sports Awards this week!  Congratulations to:

• Gracie Wall, who won the Junior Sports Personality Award
• Sean Chigumba, who won the Junior Disability Sports Personality

and

• Varun Bandi, who won the Senior Disability Sports Personality

A number of our other athletes were also nominated for awards.

Tia Wilson was 34^th in the Euro U23 XC Championships in Brussels  on Sunday. Although Tia was not one of the scoring members  of the gold medal wining British team, it was nevertheless an outstanding performance.  Tia completed the 7K course in 28:58.  Well done to Tia on an excellent run!

We have just received our allocation of guaranteed places in the London Marathon. Bedford and County have been given 2 places this year, which is excellent as it’s only been one for the last five years or so.

If you are a member of Bedford and County AC and would like one of the two places, please apply as soon as possible, and no later than 16th December.

To apply, contact Tony Forrest:

• Text or WhatsApp: 07769 707651,
• EMAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Preference will be given to members who have already applied unsuccessfully to the London Marathon ballot,  but others can also apply, and will be considered if fewer than 2 applicants satisfy the above criteria. The places will be allocated at the Christmas Handicap on 17th December.  If there are more  names than places then a ballot will be held at the Handicap.

Congratulations to Tia Wilson, who has been selected to run for the Great Britain Under 23 team in the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels on the 10th December.  Good luck for the race Tia!

The Eastern Athletics Association have been invited to send Senior and U20 teams to compete in an Inter-Area match that is being held at the London International Cross Country at Parliament Hill on 20th Jan. Everyone who competes will be automatically entered into the UK World Trial and UK Cross Challenge.

Athletes must have eligibility to compete for one of the seven counties affiliated to Eastern A.A.  (See https://easternaa.com for more information).  Please note that World Athletics age groups apply (anyone who will be 20 within the year of competition shall compete as a Senior).

Athletes wishing to be considered for selection should email Trevor Bunch by Sunday 17th Dec on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

It's that time of year again! Please get your entry in for the 2023 Bedford and County Christmas Handicap which takes place on Sunday 17th December at 10:30 a.m.

To enter, contact Tony Forrest:

• Text or WhatsApp: 07769 707651,
• EMAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Registration before the race and prize-giving after the race will both take place in the Sports Hall at Bedford International Athletics Stadium.  Please enter soon so that Tony can suitably handicap you.

As well as being a lot of fun, the Handicap is run in memory of late club stalwart, Pete Dancer. Pete made a huge contribution to the club over many years, including as an athlete and a coach. There is no entry fee as such, but please make a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer UK charity in memory of Pete if you intend to run. To do this, go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/bedford-and-county-ac-1701624065886?newPage=true - please give generously.

There will be some refreshments and prizes after the race.  The overall winner takes home the Pete Dancer Memorial trophy, and there are also prizes for the fastest man and woman, the best fancy dress, and of course the much sought-after wooden spoons for the last man and woman to finish.  Rumour has it that the Chairman and Treasurer may be battling for these!

The Christmas Handicap poster mentions bringing a wrapped prize with you, but you no longer have to do this as the donation to Pancreatic Cancer UK replaces that requirement.

Please note that all entrants must be 15 or over (this requirement may be waived in certain circumstances).

It's that time of year again! Please get your entry in for the 2023 Bedford and County Christmas Handicap which takes place on Sunday 17th December at 10:30 a.m.

To enter, contact Tony Forrest:

• Text or WhatsApp: 07769 707651,
• EMAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Registration before the race and prize-giving after the race will both take place in the Sports Hall at Bedford International Athletics Stadium.  Please enter soon so that Tony can suitably handicap you.

As well as being a lot of fun, the Handicap is run in memory of late club stalwart, Pete Dancer. Pete made a huge contribution to the club over many years, including as an athlete and a coach. There is no entry fee as such, but please make a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer UK charity in memory of Pete if you intend to run. To do this, go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/bedford-and-county-ac-1701624065886?newPage=true - please give generously.

There will be some refreshments and prizes after the race.  The overall winner takes home the Pete Dancer Memorial trophy, and there are also prizes for the fastest man and woman, the best fancy dress, and of course the much sought-after wooden spoons for the last man and woman to finish.  Rumour has it that the Chairman and Treasurer may be battling for these!

The Christmas Handicap poster mentions bringing a wrapped prize with you, but you no longer have to do this as the donation to Pancreatic Cancer UK replaces that requirement.

Please note that all entrants must be 15 or over (this requirement may be waived in certain circumstances).

Congratulations to Howard Darbon, who won the Contribution to Wheelchair Racing award at England Athletics’ East Region Volunteer Award evening.
The citation for the award explains how Howard initially came up with the idea for a wheelchair racing section at Bedford and County after a wheelchair charity race at the stadium, and then inaugurated the section with two coaches and one athlete in 2018.  The wheelchair racing group now has 8 athletes - all with racing chairs- and a storage shed, and last year Howard obtained further funding for two professional wheelchair racing chairs.

Sprinter Jasmine Wilkins, presently studying at Birmingham University, has been selected to represent her uni at the prestigious Ivy League series of competitions in America next April.

The trip will involve at least two competitions spread over a two week period, the trip also includes a few days for sight seeing in New York and Boston and visits to the Ivy League Universities.

This selection is all most unprecedented for a fresher student in her first semester.

Congratulations to Bob Kingman, who set a new M50 Club record for the Pole Vault on 23rd September at the Biggleswade Open in Sandy.  Bob's new mark is 3.90 metres.

Congratulations to Ed Blythman, who set a  PB of 31:13 whilst finishing an excellent fifth in the Brighton 10k on Sunday 19th November.