Six month race famine to end Sunday 4th Oct

Six month race famine to end on Sunday

If it wasn’t for cancellations due to Covid-19, we would have enjoyed a fine day on Wednesday 23rd September for the Westmeath Schools Cross Country in Belvedere – nicely slotted in between two wet days, and we would have been nearly sunburned on Sunday 27th September in Greenanstown, Co. Meath at the Star of the Sea AC Open Cross Country, so we can only hope the weather is as kind this time next year for these two extremely popular events. The last race for many of our underage members was over six months ago, at the All-Ireland Schools Cross Country in early March or the Leinster Juvenile Indoors in February, so they should be very eager to end their race famine on Sunday 4th October and get back to competition again at day one of the Westmeath Cross Country Championships in Belvedere, with races for girls and boys under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years of age.

However, In line with Covid-19 requirements, there is a limit of 200 people allowed at outdoor events, so things will have to be done differently this year. One of the most important changes is that there will be no spectators. Every underage entrant may be accompanied by only one parent or guardian to make sure we keep under the 200 person limit at any time. If more than one parent arrives with an underage athlete, only one parent will be admitted and non-competing siblings or friends will not be permitted either. We wish it was a family outing like in previous years, but it won’t be, and every extra person on the course reduces our capacity to hold the event. Anyone not allowed entry must return and wait in their car.

Also, this year entries will be taken online only and there will be no entries allowed on the day. The link for online entries will be posted this Wednesday on the Club’s website and on social media and entries will close on Thursday night. Everyone that has entered will receive an e-mail before Sunday with a timetable showing admission times and start times for each race. Athletes must not arrive before the designated admission time and anyone arriving too early will be directed back to wait in their car. The e-mail will also advise everyone of the arrangements for cashless payment on-the-day, a reminder to all entrants and parents with them to bring hand sanitiser and practice social distancing, and once their race is over they must promptly leave the course so the next race can take place. When finished, the athletes can cool down away from the course.

It might all seem very strange and with less of a crowd, quieter and more subdued than previous years, but we’re appealing to everyone to please abide by the rules so we can hold the event safely for competitors, officials and parents. Everyone must take personal responsibility for their own behaviour and that of those they are responsible for, and do everything that they can to make the event safe for everyone present. The grounds in Belvedere are in excellent shape and we just hope for a fine day so everyone can enjoy it as much as possible. Day two will take place the following Sunday with races for juvenile uneven ages and for junior, novice, senior and masters.