The Lee Valley Athletics Network is up and running!
Date Published: 21/06/2010
In true sporting spirit, a group of London athletics clubs has formed the Lea Valley Athletics Network (LVAN).
The group, made up of the award winning, state of the art Lee Valley Athletics Centre, Enfield and Haringey Athletics Club, Woodford Green with Essex Ladies Athletics Club, Orion Harriers and Trent Park Running Club has received £80,000 in funding from England Athletics. The Network is tasked with pooling resources and increasing the coaching expertise within their local areas.
A cheque was presented to LVAN at Lee Valley Athletics Centre, by England Athletics’ Chief Executive Mike Summers following a day of races and medley relays by young athletes from the four clubs to celebrate the occasion.
Brian Hopkins, Duty Manager, Lee Valley Athletics Centre, said: “The presentation marks the end of a huge amount of work and preparation by the member organizations, all of whom were working together as a team for the first time. Secondly, and far more importantly, it marks the start of a very exciting time for everyone involved at the four clubs and of course ourselves at LVAC. We are now looking forward to getting started on our proposed projects”.
The aim is for all of the Network clubs to become much stronger in all areas such as coaching, officiating, competitions and maximizing the opportunities that will become apparent with the approach of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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Notes to Editors
The Lee Valley Athletics Centre is a centre of excellence for UK Athletics and is used by 22% of all UK athletes in receipt of Lottery Funding. It is home to three of the four British track and field medallists from the Beijing Olympics, including gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu.
LVAC is currently laying an exact replica of the Mondo FX track that will be used in the Olympic Stadium in 2012. The super fast track is currently installed in only ten stadia around the world and the UK’s two National Performance Centres will be the only training centres in the world with this track installed, giving LVAC’s athletes considerable advantage in their training and preparation for London 2012 or local, regional or national events.
Lee Valley Regional Park stretches 26 miles along the River Lee from Ware in Hertfordshire to East India Dock Basin on the Thames. The Park’s 10,000 acres comprise a diverse mix of heritage sites, nature reserves and open green spaces alongside world class sports facilities, attracting over 4 million visitors every year.
Lee Valley Regional Park is playing an active part in the London 2012 Games. The Lee Valley White Water Centre (just north of the M25, near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire) and the VeloPark and Hockey and Tennis Centres in Olympic Park will be owned, managed and funded by Lee Valley Regional Park in legacy. They join our existing sports facilities which include Lee Valley’s Athletics Centre, Riding Centre and Ice Centre to create a chain of sporting excellence across the region.
Press Information:
For more information, images and interviews, please contact Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Media Officers:
Jackie Tolland: 01992 709 933, (M) 07739 990 151, (E) jtolland@leevalleypark.org.uk
Michelle Rosenberg: 01992 709 830, (M) 07920 810 403, (E) mrosenberg@leevalleypark.org.uk
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