Announcements

Waratah Run Series XCC Festival Day
Posted Wednesday 31 May 2017 by Michael Gentle
This weekend Saturday 3 June is Waratah Run Series XCC Festival Day. This is a new cross running event to the calendar. It is not a state championship just an event to bring the NSW running community together. The event is at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park. Great courses, food and heaps of other things to do. More details at http://www.nswathletics.org.au/Competitions/Waratah-Run-Series/xcc-festival-3.

PROGRAM
9am - 12pm: 1.5km Kids Races
12.30pm: 3km Race (1x 3km loop)
1.15pm: 6km Race (1x 6km loop)
2.15pm: 12km (2x 6km loop)

Entry is cheaper online and cheaper for members. The events are open to everyone.

However if you do not where Horsley Park is or you just want a simple run at Scarborough Park we will run a 2 km run at 1:30pm and a 4 km run at 2:00 pm at our usual venue, Hawthorne Park Ramsgate. These are not competition races so they will not affect your handicap or get you valuable points.

Hope to see you at either venue for some great running fun.

Colin Wilson
SGDAC Committee

Annual General Meeting and Awards: 10 June 2017
Posted Thursday 18 May 2017 by Michael Gentle
The Executive Committee of St George District Athletic Club, and its members, cordially invite you to our Annual General Meeting and Awards afternoon.

This will be held on Saturday 10 June 2017 from 2:45-4:00pm at Syd Frost Hall, Hawthorne St, Ramsgate (Scarborough Park). This will be at the conclusion of our club championships. Please note the earlier race time of 2pm for the Division 1 and 2 combined race, which doubles as our Women's Championships, which of course all are welcome to compete in.

Please bring a plate of food to share afternoon tea with your club mates.

St George is one of the oldest continuously running athletic clubs in NSW, and our members have included twelve Olympians such as Edith Robinson, Basil Dickinson, Daniel Batman, and the great Albie Thomas OAM (four-time world-record holder). Our current ranks include dual Olympian Ben St Lawrence, National representative and title holder Bridey Delaney, and Paralympian Nicole Harris. We also have a fantastic group of throwers, with Mitchell Pepper (Cth Youth Games), Matt Rees (Youth Olympic Games finalist and IAAF Under 20s competitor), and Grace Robinson (Cth Youth Games record holder, Youth Olympic Games finalist).

At the AGM, all Committee members are required to stand down from their positions and can seek re-election. Registered and financial club members are also welcome to stand for the positions. These include President, Treasurer, General Secretary, Distance Secretary, Track Secretary, and also 7 General Committee positions.

If you are interested in nominating for a position but are unsure what is involved, talk to any of the committee who you will find at club race days and volunteering at events the next two Sundays. We welcome your feedback, involvement and input. If you are unable to join the committee, but wish to be more involved, there are many roles that greatly assist the club without the requirement to be a committee member.

A nomination form is available by contacting Dave Kistle, General Secretary (email [email protected], phone 0438 246 363, or post). Copies will also be available on club days at Scarborough at the hall.

The nomination form can also be downloaded here.

They require a nomination, a seconder, and an acceptance. They are to be returned to Dave Kistle, General Secretary, by email, post, or by hand. For planning and administrative purposes we are accepting nominations until 11:59pm on Sat 3 June 2017. (Yes, that's for emails).

We look forward to seeing you there to help celebrate our successes.

Dave Kistle
General Secretary

"Albie Thomas" Bayside Fun Run
Posted Tuesday 2 May 2017 by Michael Gentle
The Bayside Fun Run is on Sunday, 28th May and follows the foreshore around Botany Bay.

This a great event that celebrates the life of Albie Thomas whose efforts started this fun run. Albie was a multi-Olympian and world record holder. In memory of his achievements and services to running, the event is now named after him.

Monies raised go to the Knights of St George Heart Association to help in the purchase of equipment for the Cardiothoracic Unit at St George Hospital.

There are two runs, a 2 km starting at 8:30 am and 5 km at 9:00 am. The runs start in Peter Depena Reserve at Dolls Point.

Registration can be completed online through the link at baysidefunrun.com.au

Entry fees are:
2 km $15 for Adults and $10 for 18 years and under
5 km $25 for Adults and $15 for 18 years and under

On the day entries will be $10 extra for each category.

This will be an enjoyable day and we look forward to seeing you on the 28th May.

Colin Wilson
SGDAC Committee

Albie Thomas Memorial Race Day
Posted Sunday 2 Apr 2017 by Michael Gentle
Sat 8 April 2017 Ramsgate Scarborough Park - Scratch Races
1 mile(1.6 km) Race Starts 1.30pm, 2 mile(3.2 km) Race Starts 2.00pm, 3 mile(4.8 km) Race Starts 2.30pm, 5 mile( 8km ) Race Starts 2.30pm.

When 21-year-old Albie Thomas of Australia burst on to the international scene with a fifth place in the 1956 Olympic 5000m, coach Percy Cerutty considered him the "best runner, technically speaking, in the world today."

Albie Thomas 1956 Olympic 5000m Final
Albie Thomas (179) competing in the 1956 Olympic 5000m Final


Thomas was one of the leading members of Australia's great era of distance running in the 1950s-60, a close friend of Herb Elliott, whom he twice helped pace to world records at 1500m and one mile. Fifth in the 5000m at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne (behind Kuts, Pirie, Ibbotson, and Szabo), Thomas then won silver (3 miles) and bronze (mile) in the 1958 Commonwealth Games, at that time almost as strong as the Olympics in distance running. Those races were won by Halberg and Elliott.

Albie Thomas & Dave Power
Albie Thomas & Dave Power


Dave Power: "An extremely bloody tough competitor." Thomas was a tough competitor he will always be remembered as a double world record-holder and as one of Australia's all-time great runners.

Albie Thomas: "I think I competed in the best era," he says nostalgically. He talks fondly of "Gentleman John Landy" and "Gentleman Ron Delany."

Kim Delaney
SGDAC President