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Take advantage of the expertise in the club by contacting people on the coaching page for advice, a training programme, or where to go next.

Members of Athletics New Zealand (registered athletes) are reminded that insurance is available for travel abroad for any reason: to compete in the Olympics, the Boston Marathon, or just for a holiday. You can use this at a great savings on coverage and premiums and for a travelling spouse/ partner and children. Details here (under Petone United Travel).

During the club's Saturday afternoon runs and races, a creche is available for members with children who are not yet able to be left alone. A fee of $4 per child, per afternoon, is charged. At interclub races, other club members will be readily available to look after children while you race.

The away trips are occasions not to be missed. The main away trip is usually held to coincide with the New Zealand Road Relay where teams compete with the best in New Zealand. The emphasis, however, is not just on competition. Everyone is welcome and the more people that come away, the more fun everyone has. In the relay, there are plenty of teams submitted, from our A and B squads right down to the most social of teams, and so ability is not important. The trials for some teams are one of the highlights of the social programme.These social teams are not necessarily picked on running ability!

In 2002, the club had 16 teams with 104 runners in total going to the New Zealand Road Relay in the backblocks of Feilding (the floods cut back the numbers in the following year). Last year, in Nelson, we had 12 teams and 80 runners. Relays are a way of turning what can sometimes be quite an individual sport into a shared effort. A huge amount of satisfaction is gained when all the mutual support and encouragement are turned into good results in team placings.

In 2006, the club will have away trips to Taupo for the Taupo Cross Country races, to the New Zealand Cross Country Championships, to the New Zealand Road Championships, and smaller groupings going to the Buller Gorge half and full marathon and the Rotorua Marathon in late April. Like the trip to the New Zealand Road Relay, everyone is welcome, and our top runners appreciate the valuable backup that a large travelling contingent provides. Regardless of your ability, we want you there on our away trips. Remember, the more the merrier!

Usually the club hires vans for use over the weekend and books accommodation wherever we are going. The accommodation tends to be the motel unit style and the costs are very reasonable when split among many people. Depending on where we are going, we may fly, drive or go on the ferry. There is always scope for flexibility here, but we need to know whether you need a flight or a ferry booking or whether you prefer to make your own arrangements.

From the time that we arrive at our destination to the time that we leave, the emphasis is on having a good time. Of course, this means different things to different people, but there is always enough time on the away trips so that whether you like imbibing unwise quantities of the brown stuff, or mellowing out over a pleasant meal with some friends, there is the opportunity to do it. The main "good time" usually occurs on the evening after the event. Having too much of a good time the evening before the event can be detrimental to performance. However, for those interested in adding to the body of knowledge in medical science, experimentation is possible. But, be warned, there are some amazing feats that have gone down in the annals of Scottish that may never again be equalled.

Returning to Wellington brings the realisation that you've had a great weekend. As the ferry, plane or van disgorges its cargo of washed-out people, bodies are weak, but spirits have been boosted! Come along this year on an away trip and discover the antidote to 9-to-5 drudgery.

The walking section of Scottish is as old as the club. The chairman of the founding meeting of the club, Arthur Rowland, was one of New Zealand's three original Olympians who competed for Australasia in the Olympic Games in 1908, finishing 5th in the final of the 3,560m walk. A past club patron and one of Scottish's great characters, Fred Silver, while being a great runner, also won New Zealand walking titles in the 1940s.

In the 1970s, Peter Maunder, David Lonsdale and Robert Bennett led the race-walking revival in the Wellington Centre, competing in the finals of the national track competition.

Since then, our walking group has produced three internationals with James Hurring and Paul McElwee representing New Zealand at the world walking championships, and with Lyn Murphy representing New Zealand at the world walking championships and the Commonwealth Games.

The walking group is a very social and friendly group to belong to. Advice and encouragement is freely given, and a point of contact is David Lonsdale.

Scottish is not just about running and walking; it is also about having fun. After each Saturday's run or race, we generally head to a local drinking establishment for a drink or two. Also, you will notice a number of other social events listed on the winter programme including club dinners, away trips, a pancake breakfast and, of course, our end-of-season prizegiving.

Various other social activities are arranged during the season. To make sure you get the most out of Scottish, keep an eye on the club newsletter, weekly emails and this website.

The club's membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March in the following year. Please assist the club by paying your membership fees promptly. Use this facility if you wish to pay membership fees for Scottish as a harrier (walking or running through the winter), or as a track and field athlete in the summer (or both), or as a squash player. Squash players, when you go to the on-line payment facility, click on the grade (select one) box and choose Squash Club (All ages) as your "grade."

Club and Membership fees for the 2006/07 season are as follows (new senior members get a $15 discount):

Grades	Senior	19 & under	16 & under	13 & under	Associate
Fee	$110	$50	$25	$25	$30

For juniors, ages are calculated as at 31 December (the registration year runs from 1 April to 31 March also). So if you are turning 14 on 30 November, then you have to register as M16/W16 (ie 16 and under) this year.

A reduced senior fee of $80 is available for members who do not wish to compete in interclub races. Of this fee, $25 will go as a donation to the Supporters Club to assist our elite and younger members to compete in out-of-town races.

Non-active members are encouraged to pay the associate membership fee as this will enable them to receive the club's newsletter.

The membership fees include Athletics New Zealand registration fees and entry fees for the interclub races and relays. It also carries on through the summer track and field season. The balance of the membership fee is used to run the clubhouse and hire venues during the season. Membership fees do not cover the cost of running the club, and so members are encouraged to help in our fundraising activities during the season.

Membership fees should be paid to the club's registration officers, electronically or posted in. They will then register members paying the full fee with both the Wellington Centre and Athletics New Zealand.

As a member of the Supporters Club, the member will receive a regular newsletter detailing assistance provided to Scottish members and reports from recent races. Please contact Charles Broad, if you wish to know more about the Supporters Club or to become a supporter.

In 2006, the club introduced a new design for the singlet, replacing the 1996 "thunderbolt" uniform. The standard tops cost $25. Members competing in interclub events are required to wear the club singlet and all members are encouraged to wear the singlet on Saturday club runs and races. Given the quality of the singlets and crop tops, members do not require much prompting to put them on. Plain black shorts are the usual accompaniment to the tops. Some women wear Scottish crop tops and bikini bottoms in the milder weather. Various other items of club clothing are available, including a club tracksuit and a smart black T-shirt. If you require an item of club uniform, please contact Adrian Shields.

Our temporary editor, Michele Allison, is keen to receive newsletter contributions. So feel free to express your views in a letter to the editor or recount your wonderful memories of a recent race you have run. (If you'd like to learn how to put together the newsletter and take over the job, please contact a grateful Michele via the Contacts page)

Api Williams looks after a weekly email going to club members. Forward any items to him for inclusion.

Paul Rodway keeps the database of members' physical and email addresses and phone numbers, and so please let him know if your address has changed. You'll find that you no longer get the weekly emails or occasional newletter if you forget to pass the change on to us. This year we will continue to email the newsletter as well as have it available to those who prefer hardcopy.

Therefore, keep an eye out for the attendance register and be sure to mark you name off for each run/race you participated in.

Scottish recognises that people usually join the club to move their running performance up to another level. To assist members meet their goals, Scottish offers a range of coaching services. (See the Coaching page)

Scottish has a designated coaching coordinator whose aim is to service the coaching needs of club members. Most importantly, the coordinator is there to ensure that coaching advice and information is available to all members. Look out for regular coaching items in upcoming club newsletters.

Over the years, the club has built up an extensive library. Increasingly, for those with access to the Internet, the world-wide web also provides a wealth of running information (for a few sites, check out the Resources page). Both these sources provide an excellent starting point for members wanting to understand more about running and training.

The club also makes available to members, at no charge, training diaries. Pick your diary up at a Saturday club run and record your training. Then, when you run a good race, you will be able to refer back to the training you did prior to that race and implement that winning formula again.

The club also intends to run several coaching seminars during the season. Look out for news of these in the club newsletter, in the home page.

The club's coaches are available to provide advice to individual members. If you wish, a training programme can be tailored by a club coach to suit your ability and goals.

Built in 1970, the clubhouse is used for a number of the club runs and social activities during the season. However, because of the need for a variety of run locations, the clubhouse does not get the use it deserves.

Club members are able to use the clubhouse at any time for training, with Sunday mornings being the most popular time. Access to the clubhouse is by a combination lock. Just remember to turn off the lights when you leave.

The club also hires out the clubhouse to other groups and for parties. Therefore, if you are looking for a venue for your "birthday bash," contact David Lonsdale to make a booking.

In the summer, the club competes in the New Zealand National Track Competition. This provides members with a great opportunity to test their skills in field events and, of course, to compete on the track (some of the results are listed on the Results page). The 1999/2000 season was the first time that children were able to enter the children's meets as members of Wellington Scottish.

Besides the NTC, members can join the other Scottish members who compete on Saturday afternoons at Newtown Park. Keep an eye out for the Athletics Wellington summer programme which is produced around October each year.

The winter programme which the club has put together is designed to provide a balance between club runs, races, social activities, cross-country and road running. Generally, all events are held on Saturday afternoon.

The age rules of Athletics New Zealand apply to harrier events. You become a master (veteran) on your 35th birthday. For the junior grades, M16 or W16 in 2006, for example, means that you are still 16 on 31 December of this year (hence 16 and under).

Club runs (which are discussed in the next section) are more frequent at the beginning of the winter programme so that members can improve their fitness prior to launching into interclub races.

The races in the first half of the winter season generally involve cross-country running with distances starting at about 5k (for seniors) and increasing to 12k for the senior men at the Wellington Cross Country Championships. Distances for juniors, masters men and women are usually much less than 10k.

The road races in the second half of the season are generally held over flat and measured courses and are a good opportunity for personal best times.

The club also has a number of combined club runs with other Wellington harrier clubs. These runs always create an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere in which to run.

Club runs are an opportunity to run all over Wellington with groups of similar ability to you. Club runs are noncompetitive; you simply select the group which fits your desired pace and distance.

When you arrive at a club run venue, refer to the listing of packs displayed for the types of runs available. If you have any questions, speak to a senior club member and she or he will be able to help you. However, if in doubt, choose a lower pack. It is better to move up through the packs, not down. Also, the leader of each pack has a responsibility to look after each runner and so you won't be left behind!

Club runs are held at a variety of venues throughout the Wellington region. You will get an opportunity to see places you would never otherwise get to see. If transport to out-of-town runs is a problem, talk to your team leader and she or he will usually find someone to give you a ride.

Handicap Races

Interclub Events

Le Gaye Cup (Island Bay)
Novice Cup, Galashiels Trophy (Eastbourne)
Baudinet Cup (Titahi Bay)
Ballantyne Cup (Lower Hutt)
Tanadees Cup (Evans Bay)

Shaw Baton Relay (Battle Hill Reserve, Pauatahanui)
University Relays (QEII Park, McKays Crossing)
Battle Hill Cross Country Races (Pauatahanui)
Vosseler Shield (Mt Victoria)
Dorne Cup (Trentham)
Wellington Cross Country Championships (Waikanae)
Bays Relay (Southern and Eastern bays)
Carterton Relay (Wairarapa)
Wellington Road Championships (Trentham)

Handicap races are structured so that each competitor, of whatever ability, has a chance of winning the race. In the normal open handicapping, the slowest runners start off at scratch (or when the gun goes) and faster runners may start up to 20 minutes later. If the handicapping is spot on and everyone performes to the handicapper's expectations, we should all finish together in a tight bunch at the end of the race. The following notes briefly describe the club's handicap races.

Le Gaye Cup (Island Bay)
This handicap race (walkers and runners) is run slightly differently from the other handicap races throughout the season. It is a sealed handicap, meaning that everyone's handicap is unknown before the start of the race. We all start together and the handicap is added to the finishing time. The person with the lowest total time is declared the winner. This 4.8k road race has one short, sharp hill approximately 1k into the race (up Severn St South and down Robertson St). The remainder of the race is flat, curling back past the start and finishing on Mersey. The J-team race is around the Medway, Humber and Mersey Streets area. (One of my puzzles is the spelling of the name Le Gay. It's spelt this way on the cup, but most of the club's written historical material refers to Le Gaye. We need an historian to sort this one!)

Novice Cup, Galashiels Trophy (Eastbourne)
There are two sections in this race, one for past winners of club trophies (Galashiels), and the other for those who have yet to win one (Novice). This 5k race is run over a variety of terrain, including roads, an uphill bush track and Days Bay beach. The walk heads along the roads to the south. Running race records: Men: Dave Hatfield, 15:26 (1981); Women: Melissa Moon, 17:59 (1995); Junior men: Todd Stevens, 16:06 (1989); Junior women: Tessa Hunt, 20:39 (2004).

Baudinet Cup (Titahi Bay)
The seniors' 9.8k race is the most challenging, but also the most rewarding, and most popular, of the handicap races (click on map for enlargement). The race is run over a mixture of road, farm tracks and beach. The race has a tough hill at 7.5k and then finishes with a fast down-hill section and a return to the beach. A memorable race in the yearly calendar.

The under 20s have a sealed handicap 4k race down Te Pene Avenue and up Main Road, starting on Toms and then going to Tiriti Road. J-Teamers have their own race of about 2k. A 6k handicap road walking race is also held in this area (competing for the Cole Land Cup).

Ballantyne Cup (Lower Hutt)
The senior distance is now a measured 9.0k. Essentially the same course as last year except the start is a bit further north. The under-20 race is 2 laps of the Railway/Ewen Bridge circuit (5.25k), while the under-14 race is 1 lap (2.62k). Walkers: same as under-20 race, but you stay on the top of the stopbank on the Strand Park side (about 5.26k). Probably the best shoes are road shoes - there is lots of asphalt. Map Pack a polyprop as we have often run into a southerly at this event.

Tanadees Cup (Evans Bay)
This flat 8k (4k for under 20s) race is held over an out-and-back course on the footpath from the Zephyrometer on the corner of Evans Bay Parade and Cobham Drive in Kilbirnie to Oriental Bay and back. In 2007, we meet at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre.

Shaw Baton Relay (Battle Hill Reserve, Pauatahanui)
A six-person relay (four per team for women), with laps of 2.1k. This is a fast and furious run, and a great event for meeting new club members and supporting them as they complete their leg of the relay. In recent years, Scottish has had almost twice as many teams as any other club. This relay is run on farm land, and there is usually one quite steep hill in the race and, of course, the inevitable pond, a favourite spot to watch you club mates dowsing themselves.

Battle Hill Cross-Country Races (Pauatahanui)
These races cover much the same ground as the Shaw Baton with a few extra hills and paddocks thrown in. 5k for the adults, and a flatter 1.5k for the under 11s.

Vosseler Shield (Mt Victoria)
This race of 10k for men and 5k for women (less for juniors) is run through the town belt of Mt Victoria. It is a demanding race with a lot of hills, and there is a variety of terrain including grass, bush tracks and road. Although this is a hard race, it is one you will feel great satisfaction on having completed it (the first and last stretches are uphill!).

Dorne Cup (Trentham)
This race of 8k for men over 20 (shorter distances for other grades) is run over a flat course in Trentham Memorial Park. Although the race is run on grass, underfoot is normally firm. This is a fast course, with most people posting a good time for the distance. Definitely recommended for all runners.

Wellington Cross-Country Championships (Waikanae)
This is the final cross-country race for the season. It is 12k for senior men, 8k for masters men, 6k for all women and 3k to 8k for junior grades. The race normally involves some mud and a couple of fences. Always an enjoyable race for people who like running off-road. This race is the culmination of the cross-country season to see who will be this year's Wellington champions.

Bays Relay (Southern and Eastern Bays)
From Island Bay to Evans Bay in five laps with distances from 3.9k to 4.8k. The Scottish mens A team won their division in record time in 2000 and each year since.

Carterton Relay (Wairarapa)
This 3x7k relay around the Belvedere Block west of Carterton has been going in a low-key way for a couple of years. The club is keen to see greater support for this event and to use it was a tune-up for the New Zealand Road Relays early in the following month.

Wellington Road Championships (Upper Hutt)
The last local interclub race of the year, this race is 10k for all men and senior women, 6k for masters women, and 2k to 6k for juniors. The race is over a flat course, around the New Zealand International Campus in Upper Hutt, usually resulting in a fast time. The courses are around the two blocks surrounded by Somme Rd, Messines Ave, Freyberg Rd and Pinehill Crescent, including the link Gallopoli Rd, in the map below. This is a good race to see how much you have improved throughout the season and to chase that PB. The club organises the Road Champs on behalf of Athletics Wellington.