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The things we do together

As well as being great company, sharing one another’s experiences, and supporting each other, Scottish harriers join together for a variety of running experiences including:

Pack runs Training runs for groups of athletes, with adult guides (Jennie mainly, and volunteer caregivers). They are usually about ¼ - ½ hour duration.

Races and relays Club and interclub events in which each J-Team runner usually races 1.5 – 2k in distance.

Skills sessions A range of activities with even more emphasis on fun and techniques to assist your improvement in running.

The way we organise ourselves

Saturday running and walking programme All athletes meet at the venue set down in the programme for each Saturday. Some events start and finish at the clubrooms, while others are based in various parts of Wellington. On club days, we start running or walking at 2pm, so be ready to leave at that time.  Bring a change of clothes, a towel, and a waterbottle. Showers are available in the changing rooms. Sometimes a raffle is run.

Scottish provides opportunities for runners and walkers of all abilities and ages from about eight years to eight or more decades. Your families are most welcome to join in. We are a family club, and a crèche is available.

Afternoon tea is available at all club days, after the runs and walks finish. Messages are shared then, and there is a prize-giving on race days.

Uniform Our T-shirt was designed especially for the J Team by a talented graphic artist. Wear it on Saturday runs, and especially at the interclub events. For new members, the cost is $28. Optional adult style singlets in small sizes are available at $45. You will need to wear your own black shorts, particularly at interclub events. T-shirts are available for purchase from Adrian Shields.

Subscription The subscription fee is $40 and it covers 12 months (ie winter cross country and road running, and summer athletics). This fee covers a subsidised contribution to the running of the club and entry in the interclub events. You need to pay this before you can win club trophies and cups.

Membership form Membership forms are available from the clubhouse. Fill one in and give it to the registrar Loretta with your subscription fee. 

Summer athletics

The North Island Colgate Games for children aged up to and including 14 years are to be held next January. Interclub races and field events are held approximately every 2-3 weeks, mostly on Sundays throughout the summer.

The races

Under 14 grade athletes can compete in several races throughout the season, including handicap races. Cups are awarded for the best performances in many of these races, see club programme.

Open handicap races Everyone’s running form is taken into account at the time of each open handicap race, and each athlete is given a time handicap, with the slowest athletes starting first (on "scratch") through to the fastest athletes starting last. This gives everyone an equal chance of winning. The winner is the first person across the line, and so you should aim to improve on your own form, with everyone else there around you helping to keep you trying your hardest.

Sealed handicap races Like in the open handicap, everyone is given a time handicap. But the handicaps are known only by the club handicapper. Everyone starts on scratch, and after the race is over, the handicap winners are revealed.

Open (interclub) races and relays

These are held so athletes from several clubs can compete together at one venue. Bring your family to cheer you along.

Cross country relays
Shaw Baton Relay, at Battle Hill, Pauatahanui
University Relays, at Queen Elizabeth Park, Paekakariki

Cross country races
Vosseler Shield, Mount Victoria
Dorne Cup, at Trentham Memorial Park
North Island Cross Country Champs, at Spa Park, Taupo
Centre Cross Country Champs, Waikanae

Road races
Centre Road Champs, Upper Hutt
Individual athletes compete in other road races held at various venues around Wellington.

The North Island Cross Country Championships are open to all North Island clubs, and many Scottish athletes make it one of the main running trips away from Wellington, together. Young athletes compete in separate races for similarly aged runners, under 10, under 12, under 14, and so on.

Interclub dates and starting times Listen for announcements at message time on club days leading up to each event. You can also find out about events from the club newsletter “On the Run,” in the Thursday DomPost, or from this website. It is advisable to arrive at the venue in good time, at least 15-30 minutes before the start of the race to warm up.

Relays usually involve teams of four athletes. Races have two parts to the competition: individual placings and team placings. The fastest four athletes from each club have their individual placings added together. The winning team is the one with the lowest total of their four placings.

Communications

Club programme The winter programme is available from the clubrooms.  Look out for the bright yellow folded card.

Club newsletter “On the Run” is published several times during the season and is available in hardcopy from the clubrooms or by email.

Email/phone messages J-Team coordinators will send out emails to the team members. If you don’t have email, please supply your phone number for any messages. The phone numbers of our coordinators are listed below. By supplying your email address, you can receive all club communications, some of which will be useful to you.

Race entry book A book listing the races is kept at the clubrooms. Write your name down for each event you wish to race, so the club can enter you into those races.

Club championship trophies

Club champion You need to race in three races, the Dorne Cup, the Wellington Centre Cross Country Championships, and the Wellington Centre Road Championships to gain maximum points that count towards this award. Points are given according to the club order of finishing in each of these races.

Club cross country champion This award is made to the first Scottish athlete to finish in the Wellington Centre Cross Country Championship race.

Attendance badge This is awarded to any athlete who attends every run from Opening Day until Closing Day. There is an attendance book available at all club runs for you to tick each time you run. If you are out of town on a Saturday and run with another harrier club, please ask for attendance confirmation from that club. You can then show the letter to the Scottish Club President.

A link to try

You might like to check the US Runners' World kids' site for ideas of the kinds of things we could put here on our running site.

Help for the young champions

In 2008, the club is looking to consolidate on the start made over the past two years to foster running among the under 14-year-olds. The impetus is two-fold:  

• A community responsibility to foster participation in sport for the young; and
• To build a stronger club with a club membership base for the future.

A small group is pursuing ways to make this happen for the club. Organising and “training” the children in basic running skills take a considerable amount of adult participation. The group will need assistance during the year. Please make contact (see below) prior to, or on, opening day, if you can volunteer your time or expertise. Even an hour contributed on just one club run day will be valuable. A word of warning to you club champion types - we will need you at times to act as heroes and role models.

This programme starts from open day around 1 April. Locals primary schools are being provided with flyers in early March. If you have children that fit the bill, whether they are your own or your next door neighbour’s, bring them along. This year will be good with plenty of fun, non-competitive, no mountain climbs and lots of supervision. Skills training will be included, but not at the expense of having fun. 

To volunteer, contact the J-Team coordinator: Jennie Liddell   021-222-8235

Safety guidelines for our J-Team

Wellington Scottish Athletics Club aims to provide safe, fun, developmental running opportunities for our under 14-year-olds. To do this we encourage parent/caregiver involvement and follow the procedures detailed below:

1. A minimum of two adults per J-Team run to ensure a front runner and a sweeper (frequently there has been a 1:5 adult:child ratio)
2. Running distances are consistent with the recommended guidelines from Sport Wellington (races a maximum of 2.5k)
3. Children wear running gear appropriate for the weather conditions
4. Parents should be available to pick up children at 2:45 or have made alternative arrangements
5. Courses are flexible enough to alter the course (except for interclub days) pending weather conditions
6. Parents are asked to alert us to any such pre-existing condition or any relevant passing illness

What children should bring to each run:

1. Something warm to put on after the run
2. Jacket if it looks like rain
3. Polypropylene, or similar, if cold
4. Drink bottle with water

Wellington Scottish Athletics Club, PO Box 6239, Te Aro, Wellington 

Clubhouse, Prince of Wales Park (map), Salisbury Terrace, Mt Cook