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Staffordshire athletes blog their paths to London 2012 |
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Staffordshire athletes, who are aiming for selection to a GB Team, provide a monthly blog to track their progress over the next 9 months. So read on to hear about their quest and amazing sporting experiences.
Adam Burgess - Canoe Slalom (C1 and C2) October Blog... Posted: 21 October 2011
with a good run. This meant that I was last to start in the final and I think from hearing on the commentary that the times going in weren’t great caused me to get a little over excited to race. I only needed a repeat performance of my semi-final but I raced off the start line maybe a little too fast causing me to really mess up the first upstream gate, from then I was chasing it down the course to try and make up the time I had lost. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to and finished in 3rd, still respectable though and enough to secure my place at selection next year – job done.
Two weekends later I was racing up North in Teeside. The course there has been shut for a few years and had a lot of money invested into upgrading it. Although I think it was made out to be more exciting than on arriving it turned out to be, I decided by the end of the day that it was much better than before, and the ‘Archimedes Screws’ to pump the course were very impressive. There was more disappointment for me this weekend again with putting down the fastest run of the day, quick enough to win with the 2 seconds penalty I got for touching a pole. However, a judge gave me a second penalty which I believe to be very unfair; this put me down to 3rd place yet again. It is frustrating when things like that happen, that’s just slalom. Sometimes the decisions go your way and at other times they don’t. With 2 more domestic ranking races remaining I’m looking to get another win that has just slipped through my fingers on these 2 occasions now.
Last weekend was the grand opening of my club’s (Stafford and Stone Canoe Club) new clubhouse. To mark the occasion there was a head-to-head race in the evening for the spectators. This was a very exciting race in all classes with paddlers finishing within tenths of seconds from each other in all of the finals. I was the only person to be competing in 2 finals, racing the C1, and the C2. Greg and I won the C2s, but I only managed to finish runner-up in the C1’s. I had very little time to recover between runs, I was still getting myself strapped in to the next boat each time I was called to the start line. Despite my strap popping off as I raced off the start I was the fastest C1, but incurred a 2 second penalty for a touch which put me behind team-mate and winner Mark Proctor.
As well as all the racing I’ve been doing I’ve spent some time training on the Olympic course in London and I’ve also started my 2nd year of University at Nottingham Trent. I’m beginning to get back into full training with a training plan starting to come together now for a full kick off on the 1st of November.
Read more about Adam in his previous blogs
Joe Clarke - Canoe Slalom – K1 category
Despite all this planning training has been in full swing in the gym and out on the water. Temperatures seem to have dropped at last and the Indian summer is certainly long gone! Winter is certainly on it's way.
I knew that if I could deliver on second run then I would be in contention for the win. I laid down a clean fast run with everything going to plan and came home with the gold medal!
Next weekend 29/30th October is the British Open Championships where I will be racing to defend my title of British Open Champion 2010. Watch this space to see how I get on….
Finally I have just had my website revamped so pop over and take a look www.joe-clarke.co.uk
To find out more visit www.joe-clarke.co.uk
Kian Emadi - Track Cycling October Blog... Posted: 24 October 2011
minor final, but there my legs got the better of my head and I attacked very early in a ‘suicide move’. It meant that I faded in the last 50m and didn’t manage to win. The sprint was a mixed bag. I qualified well, in a PB of 10.350 seconds for the 200m time trial, which I was happy with. Unfortunately, from there I didn’t race very well, and a few little mistakes meant that I was knocked out of the competition. The last day of racing was the team sprint, my favourite event. I felt pretty good and our team ended up winning the bronze medal. I produced a nice individual lap time as well. This capped off an interesting championship for me, and hopefully I can take away the things on which I need to improve.
After the Nationals, I went on holiday to Tunisia with a friend from cycling, to enjoy my week off the bike. It was a really nice holiday with a lot of sun and relaxation. It was an interesting experience and all the concerns I had before travelling were unfounded. The hotel was really nice and clean, and the local people were friendly, if a bit enthusiastic. Upon my return, I found that my place on the British Cycling Olympic Academy had been extended for another year, which is always nice!
Now my training goes back to general fitness and strength, which means gym work and a lot of road miles. Hopefully the snow will hold off! I am also hoping to ride in the first of the Cycling Revolution series at the end of October. These are exhibition races with big crowds and a great atmosphere, and everyone enjoys riding them.
For more information visit:
October Blog... Posted: 20 October 2011
Since the last blog the Men's GB squad have been crowned European Champions in Israel. While I was not part of this squad it is a huge boost for the programme in the lead in to our preparation for London 2012.
During October, the squad have meet up at a camp at Lilleshall National Sports Centre to kick start the long hard commitment that we all now face in the hope of being selected. The camp was missing some key individuals due to personal reasons but even so the training was good and we even made use of the 2 mile up hill drive. At present the Coach has his squad of 16 in his mind and we have been told that if we want to move into that 16 we have to now prove ourselves. This can be done in our Super League matches and our own Internal High Performance League. I know that the chance I have of making the team is fairly slim, however I am determined to work hard and show what I am able to do over the coming months and hopefully prove that I'm able to bring something to the team in our quest for gold. I believe that I will try my hardest and if it is good enough then great but if it’s not then the team we will have will be fantastic and I will support them and know that I have become a better player because of it.
To find out more visit
Claire Nixon - Water Polo October's Blog...
GB beat the Ukraine 21-8 in the penultimate European championship qualifier. I have since travelled to Israel to play in the final qualifier. Despite the weariness from travelling we won this game 21-3! I also scored my first senior goal which was the first of seven that evening. The team played really well and winning the game meant we qualified for the European championships in Holland, 2012 for the first time in fifteen years.
Read more about Claire in her previous blogs
Mark Proctor - Canoe Slalom, C1 category October's Blog...
It's also been annual review time. A time which can be stressful for people. It's when you find out if you've made the cut for the national programme and what support if any you will be getting over the next 12 months. For me it was fine. After making the grade at the senior euros (9th) and u23 euros (4th), I knew what funding and support I'd get as there are certain results which guarantee you certain levels.
Back to training. And I'm not actually doing that much paddling. Only 7 times a week to be honest, this time last year I was doing more like 11 sessions. But a place where I see myself making more gains and this helping my paddling is in the gym. This is where I'll be spending a lot of time this winter! Nearly everyday to be honest! Hopefully in my next blog I'll be reporting how I'm lifting more than ever!
Read more about Mark in his previous blogs
Michelle Ross-Cope - GB Runner
October's Blog...
really frustrating but nothing to worry about at the moment as I still have time to compete.
As I previously mentioned I am taking it week by week with training and will possibly run a marathon in late November or December. However, I will be doing the London marathon next year.
During the next few weeks I'm aiming to do some shorter races and have decided to compete at the Great South Run, on Sunday the 30th of October. This is an event I enjoy, its 10 miles, however in the previous years I have done it, it has been like running into a car wash! Running along the sea front with the waves crashing over and extremely strong winds. So hopefully this will be 3rd time lucky and the weather will be nice!
Over the last few weeks all my morning runs seem to have been run in the dark, the joy of winter I guess! Having recently moved house I was enjoying the trails in the morning, however I seem to be looking for runs where it is well lit now! It is quite daunting to go out in the dark, but I get such a great feeling running home in the lovely sunrise. The reason for going out so early is due to my children and getting them to school, it also gives me recovery time for my lunch time session or going to the gym.
I run because I love it and it is a big part of my life, going back for the last 20 years I would never have dreamed of running for GB, but if you put the hardwork and determination in you can live your dreams, until next time ....
To find out more visit: http://www.rosscoperunning.co.uk/ twitter@rosscoperunning
October's Blog...
day I have a six pack it’s like getting instant abs, however you do have to put the effort in to get them. Besides that I’ve enjoyed catching up with friends and family but to be honest I’m ready to start training again.
I’ve had a few photo shoots over the last week one was for a fitness article going in the Sentinel and one with an exceptional photographer Michael Swallow. It was actually hard work being a model; he had me in freezing cold water and cycling and running up and down the Cat and Fiddle. It was cold but I do believe we got some super shoots I’m looking forward to seeing them.
I’m also looking forward to November as I’m spending some time in Australia in a place called Wollongong it’s about 40mins south of Sydney. Here I will start to build my training base and check out my training location for next year. Bring it on sun, sea and a little surfing. Hopefully I will have some good stories to share when I’m back!
To find out more visit:
September/October's Blog...
provides me with the best training facilities, 50m pool and much more all on one site. I just can’t believe I am here.
Last weekend I took part in my first competition representing Loughborough University, this is the first meet of the season, it provides a chance to get early race practice and concentrate on getting all the technical skills right. At this point of the season I am in hard training and not expected to hit personal best times. However I achieved a 7 second personal best time in 100m backstroke, not one of my events and to my surprise I finished 3rd behind two British Swimming World Record Holders. How bril is that......
On the 7th of October I travelled to London with the National Squad and visited the Olympic venue. The security was extremely tight, prior to entry we had to endure a 30 minutes health & safety talk, then we had to go through an airport style security system which also involved palm print scanning, this was to enable access to other parts of the venue. We were given an escorted tour around the aquatic centre showing us the Call Room; this is where swimmers congregate before an event, training pool and athletes areas. The 17,000 spectator seating was absolutely breathtaking, I just can’t imagine what the atmosphere will be like when its full of spectator all cheering the athletes on... it made me feel so very excited. I just hope I can be one of the home nation athletes to experience this once in a lifetime event.
On Thursday 20th October I will be flying to Berlin to represent GBR in one of the World Cup series. I will be competing in the 100m Butterfly, 50m and 100m freestyle events. I am looking forward to this competition, as it provides an early opportunity to compete internationally against other nations. I have also been informed that Ian Thorpe is down to compete, this will be his first international competition since his official retirement back in 2006, all part of his plan to make a comeback ready to compete at next year’s Olympics - this should be very exciting to watch.
Due to my move to Loughborough ITC, I now have a new training schedule. My dry training programme has increased significantly, almost doubled since my last blog.
Read more about Emma in her previous blogs
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