Changes Ahead for the 2024/25 Season

Great News - Little Athletics NSW and Athletics NSW have formed a partnership for the 2024/25 season. This will mean that athletes need only register once to be eligible for all LANSW and ANSW events. Age groups and specifications have been aligned for a simpler system and better athlete experience. You can read more about the changes here

Season 2022/23 Launch - What a Great Day!!

Our 2022/23 Season Launch Day on 10th September was a cracker! 150 registered athletes and 45 trialists put in their best efforts for the first hit out, supported and coached by our wonderful Committee and Coaches.

There were some really impressive runs, jumps and throws by all of our athletes and participants, and some fantastic engagement by our parents, grandparents and guardians - we couldn’t run without you!

We can’t wait for the rest of the season…………………woo hoo!!!

Eastlakes Athletics Award Winners – 2021/22 Season

Congratulations to all our award winners this season:

Betty McKinley Award for overall Club Champion – Evan W and Alexia D

Mahaffey Award for Most Improved in Club – Evan W

Steadman Encouragement Award for displaying great attributes – Mia P

State Champion – Charlotte J

Regional Champion – Ryan M

Senior Club Champion – Jack B

Blackstock Award for best ANSW representation – Emma-Jean E

 

Age Champions:

Jack B

Hayden M

Lachlan B

Michellie R

Holly F

Jack W

Evan W

Lacy B

Ari J

Alina G

Alexia D

Lucas F

Charlotte J

George W

Christian A

Maeva C

Harry J

Skye P

Hallie O

Jack O

Jake E

Willon C

 

Most Improved by Age group:

Drew C

Kade B

Peter C

Ariel S

Amy O

Max H

Abigail D

Mackenzie P

Lachlan O

April F

Linkin N

Levi W

Isabella H

Grace T

Matthew C

Audrey P

Oscar L

Evander H

Charity F

Hayden C

Sienna F

 

Club Records for 2021/22

Charlotte J

Zed F

Alexia D

Mackenzie P

Lacy B

Michellie R

Kidha G

 

Multiclass Participation:

Eadie R

Ruby W

Hunter L

 

Parent Helper of the Year – Todd P

Age Marshall of the Year – Anita D

 

Special Thanks to Kelda B, Brian L, Wayne H, Drew C, Jack B, Eli B and our departing Committee Members Geoff W and Trish C.

Eastlakes Athletic Centre - President/ Secretary's Report 2021/22

It is with a tinge of sadness that I write my final report as President (and unfortunately also Secretary) this year for Eastlakes. Our family have been involved with the club since 2013 and having served on the committee during that time, I believe the time for me to step back is right.

Our year got under way later than usual in October, operating under very strict Covid-19 safety principles. To all those who helped us all stay safe I thank you. We would normally finish the week before State Championships, however we wanted to give all of our families the best value for their money and their time so the decision was made to press on for an extra 3 weeks. We were relatively lucky with the rain, only missing a few weeks, and also choosing to run in the rain on occasion to allow our athletes to participate (and run off the energy young kids have).

We also showed our success as a club in the representative field, with 28 of our 141 junior athletes attending the Regional Championships at Mingara. A fantastic effort considering we are a relatively small athletics club. This was surpassed by our efforts at State Championships where 11 of our athletes qualified for this honour. As a club, I can say we are proud of all of our athletes, and extremely proud when you represent the club at other carnivals.

We were fortunate, thanks to “super-coach” Tony Mahaffey to have a senior competition again this year with 6 Senior athletes. I put forward to all parents that if you would like to have a bit of fun, and get some exercise in, please consider joining our senior club and come down on a Wednesday night for a run, jump and throw.

First we give thanks.

To Craig and Michelle – without you both (and those hard-working kids of yours) this year many things would not have got done. I am so grateful that people with both your passion for your kids, and exercise, is so abundant and on behalf of the club I thank you both for the efforts you put in this year. For those that don’t know, the field is in the great condition it is because of Craig’s mowing and marking expertise. To our registrar and fill-in Zone Co Trish, you have also stepped up way beyond what any of us could have expected and again I thank you. To Mike, thanks for your efforts every week and right throughout the year. By taking control of our timing function it allowed both myself and Craig to get around and fill in as starters when needed. To Tony, thank you for all that you still do for the club way after your kids have stopped turning up. Your efforts in coaching and running our seniors program is greatly appreciated, along with your efforts on the grounds committee that needs your excellent co-ordination skills. To Wayne – what a super effort from you. You turn up all the time (even when we are not on – oops sorry mate) and do so out of a commitment to the club that cannot be questioned. To Kelda and Brian for stepping up and taking control of our canteen and barbecue that helps the club to make some money, and for all of us to fill our bellies on a Saturday morning. To Drew, there is not a better bell-ringer, thank you for all of the help you gave this year in timing, set-up and pack-up. A big thank you also for the effort Jack Barnes put in at Regionals and State Championships in helping out with activities and athlete preparation.

A massive thank you to all of our parents that put their hands up to be age marshals this year. Week in and week out, you recorded and assisted our athletes to enjoy themselves and do their best. I ask that you always take the opportunity to be part of our club when you’re there with your kids.

To anyone I have missed I apologise profusely and I want you to know I thank you too.

Now the plea for help.

We have an outstanding family-oriented club that really supports our kids to be their best. Clubs cannot operate continuously without parents putting up their hands to do something for the club. The more people who step up to help the less everyone has to do. I encourage you all, but especially those of you who you know your kids are going to want to be coming to Little A’s for a long time, to get on the committee and take on a role. We have simplified down what needs to be done and if we can get every role covered, the leadership team will make sure the necessary stuff gets done and the committee can put their energy into how we can make our little club even better. Please, please, please……. Just do something for your kids sport. Without mums and dads putting up their hands to help, our kids will not have the opportunity to do the things they love. The club really needs you now.

On a final note, congratulations to all of our athletes for your efforts. From the tots who just love to come and have some fun (and I will definitely miss that) right up to our Australian Representative athlete in Ashlyn Blackstock, I wish you all the very best to what your futures hold and hope that you can make your own dreams come true – whatever they may be.

I have truly enjoyed my time at Eastlakes Athletics and made some great friends, and I will always have time for the club if they need my help in any way.

Geoff Whiddon

President

Region 2 Regionals and Country Champs

IMPORTANT UPDATED INFO re Regionals and Country Champs!

Region 2: This year there will be NO ZONE carnival for our region (Region 2). Athletes will be able to submit an expression of interest for the Regional Carnival to be held at Mingara 4-6 Feb 2022. We will shortly have application forms - these need to be submitted to us by 18/12/21. We encourage ALL eligible athletes to express an interest

https://lansw.com.au/zone-championships/

Country Champs: This year at Maitland track 21-23 Jan 2022. We understand eligible athletes will be ages U9 right through to Masters. REGISTRATIONS OPEN WED THIS WEEK 1/12/21 at https://www.nswathletics.org.au/.../&cat=2643-2644-2697...

NOTE - Athletes 12 years and above MUST be dual registered with ANSW - this is FREE if you are registered with LANSW. Refer our earlier post or our website https://www.eastlakesathletics.com/membership

Blackstock and Barnes dominate ANSW Back on Track and Nitro

After club on Saturday 6th November 2021, two of our seniors headed to SOPAC to compete in Athletics NSW Nitro Event as part of the Men’s and Women’s Hunter Teams. Jack Barnes won his 800m and Ashlyn Blackstock won her Shotput event. Congratulations to all the athletes and to Sam Jones and Vanessa Price for pulling the teams together. Both Hunter Teams took the gold in their competitions! Well done everyone!

Blackstock first from left

Big Crowd for our Season Launch

Saturday 30/10/21 saw our 2021/22 season launch and, despite the COVID restrictions, was one of our biggest in recent years. It was so great to see all our returning athletes again and even better to see over 50 NEW athletes join the club this year. What an awesome season this will be!!

Eastlakes Athlete awarded Lake Mac Rising Sports Star 2020

On Saturday Feb 8th, after a tidy little win in Discus at Regionals, our U17 Girls athlete Ashlyn Blackstock attended the new look Lake Mac Awards. Ashlyn was a finalist in the Rising Sports Star Award for achievements in athletics during the past 12 months.

The competition was tight with 11 young athletes being named finalists. In the end judges could not decide between the two winners: Ashlyn Blackstock and Riley Pockett and they shared the title of Lake Mac Rising Sports Star 2020.

Congratulations Ashlyn on your award. We already knew you were a star just like all of our awesome athletes at Eastlakes.

Ashlyn Blackstock and Pat Conroy MP with her winners certificate at the Lake Mac Awards.

Ashlyn Blackstock and Pat Conroy MP with her winners certificate at the Lake Mac Awards.

36 Eastlakes athletes bound for the Region 2 Championships

After some brilliant performances at the Zone Championships in December Eastlakes LAC has 36 athletes qualified in 92 events at the Regional Championships (Region 2) to be held at Glendale on Feb 1 &2.

Highlights from Zone include:

25 1st places

22 2nd places

28 3rd places

21 4th places

Ashlyn Blackstock broke the U17 Girls Discus record in her first of 2 years in the age group

Matilda Granato broke the U12 Girls 80m Hurdle record and we didn’t even realise.

U7 athlete Arli-James Poole won four Gold medals from four events.

Our Senior Boys 4 x 100m relay team made up by Logan Ferguson, Reece McManus, Kedha Gray and Liam Granato won their event to the joy of the whole crowd. It was a very exciting race and we can’t wait to see what happens at Regionals for the boys.

Again the best part about our athletes performances at Zone was the way in which they supported each other and the sportsmanship they displayed throughout the competition.

Good luck to all of our athletes for Regionals!

relay team.jpg

Eastlake's Athlete wins one of four annual McDonalds Scholarships.

At the Little Athletics NSW State Championships held at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre in March four talented athletes were announced as McDonald’s scholarship winners and presented with $500.

A total of four scholarships are awarded each year:

One for an athlete from Regions 1 & 2

One for an athlete from Regions 3 & 4

Two for athletes from within the Sydney Metroploitan area

To be eligible for the scholarship program athletes had to be of a State Championship standard and be in the U13 age group or above - Zone Co-ordinators from each of the 23 Zones are asked to nominate one candidate to LANSW. Ashlyn Blackstock was nominated by Lake Macquarie Zone and was awarded the scholarship for Regions 1 & 2.

When asked how she felt about the scholarship win she said “It felt good to be named a finalist, just nominated really, and be there with some really talented athletes. The win was unexpected and cool.”

Congratulations Ashlyn!

Eastlakes Presentation Night 2019: some new names, some old faves and a stack of PBS!!

Another great season came to a close in March this year and we celebrated all of our athletes at our annual Presentation Day in April. There was a lot to celebrate in the 2018-2019 season for the club from PBs to State Champions. Here’s a quick run down of some of our highlights:

·         141 Athletes

·         18 days of competition (less than normal due to date changes for LANSW events)

·         1,461 personal bests

·         Club records broken 14 times

 We had 40 athletes compete at Zone and from that group, 31 went on to compete at Regionals with 12 qualifying from there and competing at the State Championships.

More important than any of these facts and figures however was the sportsman like conduct of our athletes, both at home and at the various inter-clubs and championship events. The encouragement and cheering that came from our athletes for their fellow club mates was just awesome to see.

Eastlakes awards trophies to Age Champions (over all point score for the age) and Most PBs per age/gender group, best performances at Zone, Regionals and State and there are our four major awards:

Mark Steadman Encouragement Award - Athletes can be nominated for this award. Nominations are made by Age Marshals and voted upon by the committee. The athlete who receives this award will be one who has shown amazing perseverance, resilience and commitment, and deserves to be recognised for their efforts.

Senior/Dual - Registered Athletes

Eastlakes Athletics Centre Outstanding Performance Senior Athlete - This award may not be presented every year. It is awarded to a nominated Senior/Dual Registered athlete who has had an exceptional year in Athletics NSW events. Athletes are to be nominated, a list of their achievements is to be provided to the committee, and a voting process will take place. Please note a nomination does not guarantee that the award will be presented.

Tony Mahaffey Outstanding Improvement Award - This is presented to the athlete who has achieved the most Personal Bests across the entire club, during the season.

Betty McKinley Club Champion Award - This is awarded to the athlete who has achieved the most points overall across the season, adjusted for the number of events available for that athlete to enter.

This season’s winners of our four major awards were:

Mark Steadman Award - Liam Granato

Outstanding Performance by a Senior Athlete - Ashlyn Blackstock

Tony Mahaffey Outstanding Improvement Award - Mason Granato

Betty McKinley Club Champion Award - Fleur Eather

Congratulations to every one of our athletes who made the 18/19 season great!

Bella Ferfoglia: 10 awesome years with Little Athletics!

At our Presentation Day back in April it was our pleasure to present Bella Ferfoglia her Ten Year Athlete Service award. Bella joined Eastlakes Little Athletics in U7s back in 2009 and she made her presence known right away. Entering the zone championships that year Bella won gold in both the U7 girls shot put and discus events. In her ten years with Eastlakes she has remained undefeated at Zone and Regionals in both events and broken many club records as she journeyed through each age.

Bella has added to her successes over the years at Zone and Regionals with a State Championship medal tally across the years 2011-2019 of 12 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze. She was selected as a member of the NSW State team in 2015 and won silver in shot put and bronze in discus at the Australian Little Athletics Championships. In 2017 she was invited to the National Little Athletics U15 Camp at the AIS.

Bella’s proudest achievement was coming back from serious injury in 2014 and winning gold at State in U12 girl’s discus and shot put.

Even with all her successes still nothing beats a PB. Bella, keep chasing those PBs and throwing those big throws!