The 41st Athletics Open 2017 was a Great Success!
Metro Blind Sport’s 41st Athletics Open was held on Sat 17 June 2017, the sun was blazing, the sky was blue, spirits were high and the event was clearly enjoyed by all. This year was enhanced by our new announcer Peter Scott, who not only had the gift of the gab but who also had improv poet skills to boot!
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You can listen to the whole podcast here DSN Podcasts – Speed of Sound (6th July)
We would like to thank all our amazing volunteers, officials and Peter, the host with the most. We can’t wait to see you all again next year with even more athletes getting personal bests!
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Hosted by London Borough of Tower Hamlets and GLL, supported by the Carmen Butler-Chariteris Trust, CGI Group, Olympus UK and Motivate East.
Metro Blind Sport – Welcomes athletes of all ages and experience throughout the UK to join us in our annual competition’s ‘41st year!
The morning Festival of Athletics will once again provide those new to the sport a wonderful opportunity to try out running, jumping and throwing in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, supported by Qualified Coaches. If you haven’t tried an event before and want to compete in the afternoon, or are looking to improve your performance this is the place for you.
The 2017 programme will be run under UKA/IBSA rules and is open to males and females of all ages. The athletics competitions are principally for registered blind and partially sighted people. Guest competitors are welcome but no medals or certificates can be awarded. Every competitor will receive a free T-shirt along with either a medal and/or performance certificate. Free packed lunches will be provided for all competitors, coaches, officials and volunteers. *Guide Runners may be arranged with advance notice, you will need to provide an estimate of your track times.
Festival starts 10.00am – 11.30, open to all ages, an ideal opportunity to access specialist coaching in track and field disciplines.
Competition starts 12.00 noon, listed below are all events grouped under the relevant age ranges. Results will be uploaded to Power of 10 the week beginning 19th June, photos will also be available during this time.
Event closes after final Medal Ceremony – 5.00pm
The track (Mile End Stadium) and the accommodation (Queen Mary University) are within walking distance of Mile End Tube Station (Central and District line).
- Athletes aged Under 12, 14 or 17 may take part in up to four individual events in any one day.
- Senior Athletes may take part in a maximum of five events. These will consist of either 3 track and 2 field, or 2 track and 3 field on the day.
- Electronic timing will be used on all track races.
- B3 and B4 athletes are reminded that competition rules do not allow any concessions to assist performance. (No Guide Runners)
- ALL B1 ATHLETES MUST PROVIDE AND USE THEIR OWN SHADES.
- Time permitting there will be a Fun Relay for all competitors during the afternoon including parents and coaches.
In order for as many events as possible to take place, it may be necessary to merge sight categories thereby ensuring the maximum number of individual ‘event requests’ are met. We recognise this could lead to a miss-match in functional sight levels, however our aim with the ‘Open’ is to always offer the widest range of opportunities for athletes to compete. We view this as a preferable option to cancelling events with low numbers.
Accommodation: This will be available on Friday and Saturday night at the aforementioned Queen Mary University of London. Please note there is a further reduction for those under the age of 18 – please request the separate form
Power of 10 – 2015 Results – http://bit.ly/2nvAYMV
Power of 10 – 2016 Results – http://bit.ly/2aty9Fy
Power of 10 – 2017 Results – http://bit.ly/2uXOLvj
Ian Francis – Event Coordinator , Roy Smith MBE – Meeting Manager
Athletic Open 2016
A Huge Thank You to all our Officials, Volunteers at this years 40th Metro ‘Anniversary Athletics Open’ 2016
Above: Photo of the Metro’s 40th Athletics Open-2016 Officials and Volunteers waving and cheering!
This year’s Athletics Open was amazing, experienced athletes striving and achieving personal bests, and those new to Track and Field enjoying developing their skills at the Festival supported by England Athletics Coaches. The atmosphere was awesome and never faltered, even at the end of the day when the thunder cracked and the rain pelted down. We witnessed heroic performances from the athletes, alongside our officials and volunteers!, as the supporters cheered and encouraged runners on through the deluge!
Check out the Photo Galleries, Short link here: http://bit.ly/291FM6W
Photographs by Chris Vaughan
Thanks to Haseeb Ahmad and his guide runner Reuben McGregor for presenting medals to our athletes on the day and for a great demonstration on how to run a 1500 and 5000 metre race, also to Richard Mann, master of commentary for sharing the day with all event goers.
2016 Event results download available below
Track Results: Track Results in word format
Field Results: Field Results in word format
Many thanks to our partners Mazar Trust, Motivate East, Tower Hamlets, Canary Wharf and Olympus UK for the funding to deliver this years event! To GLL for hosting us and all the Stadium team headed by Richard Houlihan.
As always Ian Francis deserves a huge pat on the back for going above and beyond for our members, friends and partners and to Roy Smith who has helped keep the Metro Games ( Athletic Open) alive and growing year by year, both Ian and Roy move mountains to make the Athletics Open the successful event it is today.
Finally thank you to all the Athletes who took part, without you we wouldn’t have such a wonderful highlight to the year. We hope to see more of you in 2017.
Metro Blind Sport are excited to announce that their Annual Athletics competition is celebrating its ‘40th’ birthday and will be held on 25th June 2016, incorporating a Festival of Athletics for vision impaired people, their families and friends.
Above: Photo of Under 18 and Guide runner and a relay event – Metro Athletics open 2015
Event Details
Venue: Mile End Stadium, Rhodeswell Road, London E14 7TW
Festival starts 10.00am – 11.30, open to all ages, an ideal opportunity to access specialist coaching in track and field disciplines.
Competition starts 12.00 noon, listed below are all events grouped under the relevant age ranges. Results will be uploaded to Power of 10 the week beginning 27th June, photos will also be available during this time.
Event closes after final Medal Ceremony – 5.00pm
Under 12 (Age at 01.01.2016) – Boys and Girls (4 events only)
60m, 100m, Standing Long Jump, Ball Throw, (For B1 athletes only – called 60m),
Under 14 (Age at 01.01.2016) – Boys and Girls (4 events only)
100m, 800m, Long Jump, High Jump, Shot, Discus, Javelin, (For B1 athletes only – called 60m),
Under 17 (Age at 01.01.2016) – Boys and Girls (4 events only)
100m, 800m, Long Jump, High Jump, Shot, Discus, Javelin, (For B1 athletes only – called 60m),
Senior Ladies and Men (18 – 34)
100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Shot, Discus, Javelin
Vets Ladies and Men (Over 35)
100m, 800m, Long Jump, Shot
Entry: FREE including pack lunch, T-shirt, Medals/Performance Certificate.
Hosted by key partners for the 40th Metro ‘Anniversary Athletics Open’
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets and GLL, generously supported by the Mazars Charitable Trust, Motivate East and Olympus UK.Entry and Accommodation Form 2016
The Festival of Athletics (Endorsed by England Athletics) will again offer those new to the sport a chance to try out running, jumping and throwing in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Qualified England Athletics coaches will be on hand to advise and guide you. All ages and abilities are very welcome so come along and try!
This year coaching and advice will be available to adults and young people, who are either interested in trying a new event or improving their technique. If you haven’t tried an event before and want to compete in the afternoon, or if you are looking to improve your performance in an event, this is the place for you.
Competition will begin after the Festival and we will again be joined by a UK Athletics talent spotter looking out for future Athletics Stars! Events will be held for Under 18’s, Senior’s and Veterans.
Entry to the Festival and Competition is Free and there will be souvenir
T-shirts and catering. Results will be ratified for Power of 10 rankings for classified and non-classified athletes. For further info on the classification process please contact British Blind Sport via their website or British Athletics (Parallel Success) Classification link
With new features to look forward to including Audio Commentary and a special guest presenting awards and trophies, we hope to see a record number of Athletes in our Anniversary Year!!
If you are a member of a local society or VI group and want to join us, please let me know.
Athletics Open 2015
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Above: Photos from the Metro Athletics Open 2015
Visit our Athletic Open Gallery Click here.
I just wanted to say a personal thank-you on behalf of Metro Blind Sport Staff and Trustee’s for all your hard work at the Athletics Open on Saturday.
I have been receiving tweets and emails from athletes saying what a great time they had, one group from Berkshire shared a group photo proudly displaying their major trophy haul. I also had many, many thank you’s on the day with comments like “Fantastic event” and “thank you so much for the opportunity to race”.
To see you all guiding, chatting, shouting from the side lines and generally mucking-in wherever needed was so nice to be part of. You all helped to make a difference, I hope that some or all of you will be able to come along next year and support us again for the big 40!!
All the Best, Ian Francis
Below are the names of the trophy winners here:
Senior men: Rojimon Cheriman
Senior Women: Ruth Stacey
Junior men: Andrew Pettigrew
Junior women: Kali Holder
2015 Results
Track Results: Download TRACK RESULTS 2015 – (Word)
Field Results: Download FIELD RESULTS 2015 – (Word)
2014 Results
Track Results: Download TRACK RESULTS 2014 – (Word)
Field Results: Download FIELD RESULTS 2014 – (Word)
Visit our Athletic Open 2014 Gallery Click here.
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Below Infosound talks to Roy Smith about the Athletics Open