McCain Athletics Networks 

- boosting our athletics clubs

To all Athletics & Running Clubs within an approximate 35 mile radius of Ipswich, Suffolk

Dear Sir or Madam                                                                                                                          12th December 2008

Invitation to the creation of a local Athletics Network

7:00pm, Thursday 15th January 2009 - Stowmarket Football Club

You may be aware of a recent England Athletics announcement of their new ‘Athletics Networks’

scheme. This is a scheme designed to bring local athletic and running clubs, local authorities,

schools, higher education providers and other local partners from our community together to pool

resources and benefit athletes in our community.

With a view towards the 2012 London Olympics, England Athletics is prepared to invest up to

£50,000 per annum over a 3-4 year period in Athletic Networks with the objective to:-

Grow and sustain participation levels in athletics;

Improve the quality of experience for all participants;

Improve levels of athlete performance; &

Lay the foundations for the next generation of champions.

Where much good work has been achieved in rural East Anglia in recent years, this is an unique

opportunity to collectively work together in developing the strength of coaching, improving the

quality of school/club links, welcoming children to athletics outside of schools, opportunities for

volunteers, improving the quality of local competition and create a base for talent development.

In order to take advantage of this opportunity, your club or organisation has been invited to a

meeting to discuss the details, explore possible involvement and help agree a process towards the

creation of an Athletics Network. A representative from England Athletics will be present at the

meeting to explain the scheme in more detail. In the meantime, more information can be found on

the England Athletics website.

With the next round of Athletics Network applications to be submitted early 2009, it is vital to the

success of the creation of an Athletics Network if a maximum of 2 representatives from your

organisation is able to attend. Please reply to Tania Spurling by Friday 9 January to confirm

whether you are able to attend and to provide names. In the meantime if you have any query please

contact Tania.

I hope to see you all in the new year.

Yours faithfully

Richard Nash

Chair

Suffolk Athletics Development Group

Location of Stowmarket Football Club

Address: Greens Meadow

Bury Road, Stowmarket

Suffolk, IP14 1JQ

Directions:

By Car: (Heading along A14 towards Bury St Edmunds)

Exit at signposted Stowmarket turn, at first roundabout take first left towards Tesco Superstore along A1120. Continue on the A1120, at the Tesco roundabout take first left again down towards Muntons & TDG over the river and railway track. As you approach the traffic lights keep right and turn right at the bottom onto the A1308 (Needham Road), passing TDG and Cedars Hotel (on your right). At next roundabout take third left into Gipping Way. Follow Gipping Way, over the crossroads passing Hopgoods (on your left) and Barnards (on your right) until you come to a roundabout, at the roundabout take second left into Bury Road, follow Bury Road, and Greens Meadow will be situated on your right.

By Car: (Heading along A14 towards Ipswich)

Exit at signposted Stowmarket turn after Tothill Services and Narey's Garden Centre. Follow slip road down and under fly-over. At roundabout take first left, and Greens Meadow will be situated on your left. 

If junction is closed, turn off at the next junction and follow directions from Tesco’s as in previous paragraph