Sprinter Kieran Daly, who has improved from 11.1 to 10.1s over 100 metres in his 4-5 years with Trackspeed1, has elected to leave the squad with immediate effect.
The most improved athlete in British sprinting in 2014 imparted his decision to coach John Powell yesterday (22nd) who, whilst unsurprised, expressed disappointment that yet again an athlete with a current steep improvement curve has elected to jump ship.
"It's frustrating," he said, "but at the end of the day we have a fantastic group of athletes this year who believe in the programme and are actively engaging already. 2015 still promises to be an exceptional year, and I'm already thoroughly enjoying getting stuck into winter coaching."
Daly will join coach Jonas Dodoo, based at Lee Valley. He will be the fourth Trackspeed1 member to transfer to that group over the years, following David Bolarinwa, Set Osho and Tunde Judun, who departed at similar peaks in their careers.
Powell's recent appointment as Chair of the Crystal Palace Sports Partnership has added to an already busy diary this Autumn:
"It's yet another hat to wear," he said, "but I'm happy to because the plans to demolish the stadium at the Palace are potentially disastrous for the sport. As long as it doesn't impact on my work with the squad, I will do everything I can to work with our partners to achieve a compromise that satisfies everyone's agenda."
Wednesday 22 October 2014
Thursday 16 October 2014
ACTION STATIONS FOR PALACE
Trackspeed1 UK Head Coach John Powell has wasted no time in kick-starting the campaign to save the training venue his squad have enjoyed for the past 38 years.
With Crystal Palace National Sports Centre's iconic stadium, along with the indoor track, staring demolition in the face in 2016, he and colleagues have had to act quickly to stand any chance of swaying official opinion away from current proposals.
Today (Thursday 16th) he meets with a representative of the Greater London Authority to whom he hopes to put a strong case to urge reconsideration of current plans, and on Monday (20th) a group he informally refers to at tis stage as the 'Crystal Palace Action Group' (CPAG) will meet to discuss next steps.
"We have to get key stakeholders sitting around the same table to form a solid cohesive approach to all this," he explained. "It's no good sitting in different corners complaining, because that will not get anything done.
"The key issue at the moment is that the rationale behind the plans for athletics at Crystal Palace is fundamentally flawed. The consultation that it is claimed has taken place has not - none of the athletics users knew anything about this , and are united as one against all the proposals for athletics.
"I must make it clear though that we do stay real with all this. We understand the stadium is a huge burden financially and is not itself an essential. We also accept the need locally for a new school, and see no reason why part of the site should not accommodate one.
"What we do not support is wiping out the indoor track which is crucial to dozens of athletes based there for training, let alone the competitions that still take place attracting hundreds of local sprinters, let alone the loss of an outdoor track too."
John has asked that anyone interested in being involved in the campaign contacts him urgently via trackspeed1@hotmail.com
With Crystal Palace National Sports Centre's iconic stadium, along with the indoor track, staring demolition in the face in 2016, he and colleagues have had to act quickly to stand any chance of swaying official opinion away from current proposals.
Today (Thursday 16th) he meets with a representative of the Greater London Authority to whom he hopes to put a strong case to urge reconsideration of current plans, and on Monday (20th) a group he informally refers to at tis stage as the 'Crystal Palace Action Group' (CPAG) will meet to discuss next steps.
"We have to get key stakeholders sitting around the same table to form a solid cohesive approach to all this," he explained. "It's no good sitting in different corners complaining, because that will not get anything done.
"The key issue at the moment is that the rationale behind the plans for athletics at Crystal Palace is fundamentally flawed. The consultation that it is claimed has taken place has not - none of the athletics users knew anything about this , and are united as one against all the proposals for athletics.
"I must make it clear though that we do stay real with all this. We understand the stadium is a huge burden financially and is not itself an essential. We also accept the need locally for a new school, and see no reason why part of the site should not accommodate one.
"What we do not support is wiping out the indoor track which is crucial to dozens of athletes based there for training, let alone the competitions that still take place attracting hundreds of local sprinters, let alone the loss of an outdoor track too."
John has asked that anyone interested in being involved in the campaign contacts him urgently via trackspeed1@hotmail.com
Friday 10 October 2014
FURIOUS POWELL SLATES "FACELESS BUREAUCRATS"
As the news of the proposed demolition of the Crystal Palace athletics stadium and indoor track spreads this week, Trackspeed1 UK Head Coach John Powell has slated what he called "faceless bureaucrats" who have come up with "half-baked proposals" with next to no consultation with key stakeholders.
"It would appear that plans are at a pretty advanced stage, and designs have already been drafted with a view to replacing the athletics facilities at the Palace with a new Primary School," he said.
"I understand there is a display going up as of Monday in the sports centre indicating what the plans are, with two public consultation events later in the week. That is all very well, but we shouldn't have got anywhere near this stage without proper consultation with the people who work from here, and a check on the reality of how much use the stadium and indoor track actually receives.
"I have spoken to a number of people since this news hit my radar earlier in the week. John Regis MBE is still the British 200m record holder, and he both trained and competed at Crystal Palace. He was oblivious to the proposals, and was outraged - horrified - when I told him what the plans are."
Regis runs a highly successful athlete agency "Stellar Athletics" which manages some real sporting legends worldwide. One of their most recent acquisitions is Crystal Palace-based Kieran Daly (22), coached by John Powell, and who was the most improved British sprinter over 100 metres in 2014. Daly follows in the footsteps of dozens of international athletes developed within the Trackspeed1 UK stable over many years - based at Crystal Palace.
They have included such household names as Phillips Idowu, Joice Maduaka, James Ellington, Olympians Dwayne Grant, Chris Lambert and Andy Matthews, not to mention outstanding youth talent such as triple European Junior medalist David Bolarinwa, World junior bronze medalist Wade Bennett-Jackson, and a roll of honour a mile long at national and regional level.
"I have attempted to contact Lord Sebastian Coe too," Powell continued, "surely he will have something to say around the Olympic Legacy issue - as I have already stated on this blog, the impact on South London, where there is a wealth of sporting talent, will be disastrous.
"The GLA apparently ay they have consulted widely on this already. Well I'm President and Chairman of Belgrave Harriers and we have heard nothing. And speaking to a representative of the South of England AA whose offices at the Palace stand to be demolished - the news came as a complete shock to them!
"Let us be clear on what these plans imply. Crystal Palace is the ONLY athletics track in London that has a comprehensive transport hub on its doorstep. It is the only purpose-built stadium in the Capital bar the Olympic Park, and the only other indoor facilities are at Sutton, Lee Valley, or West London, all of which are served by the minimum of public transport service, and which lie in hugely congested traffic areas.
"The under-use argument is completely flawed. In truth a lot of people who use Crystal Palace find other ways to access the track because of the ridiculous mission you have to undergo to travel from main reception to the stadium. On occasions I have had to allow an additional half an hour for repeat trips to my car to take equipment to the track such is the distance between the facility and external access.
"I do sympathise with local management to a degree though - I am sure if they had been given the financial backing to invest in and market the athletics side of their business there they probably would have done. Instead the place has been left to rot.
"I understand there is a small action group being formed at the moment, and I have every intention of playing a prominent part in that - along with any other efforts that can be made to reverse what I regard to be one of the greatest threats to the progress of sport in London and the UK in modern times. These plans must be stopped."
"It would appear that plans are at a pretty advanced stage, and designs have already been drafted with a view to replacing the athletics facilities at the Palace with a new Primary School," he said.
"I understand there is a display going up as of Monday in the sports centre indicating what the plans are, with two public consultation events later in the week. That is all very well, but we shouldn't have got anywhere near this stage without proper consultation with the people who work from here, and a check on the reality of how much use the stadium and indoor track actually receives.
"I have spoken to a number of people since this news hit my radar earlier in the week. John Regis MBE is still the British 200m record holder, and he both trained and competed at Crystal Palace. He was oblivious to the proposals, and was outraged - horrified - when I told him what the plans are."
Regis runs a highly successful athlete agency "Stellar Athletics" which manages some real sporting legends worldwide. One of their most recent acquisitions is Crystal Palace-based Kieran Daly (22), coached by John Powell, and who was the most improved British sprinter over 100 metres in 2014. Daly follows in the footsteps of dozens of international athletes developed within the Trackspeed1 UK stable over many years - based at Crystal Palace.
They have included such household names as Phillips Idowu, Joice Maduaka, James Ellington, Olympians Dwayne Grant, Chris Lambert and Andy Matthews, not to mention outstanding youth talent such as triple European Junior medalist David Bolarinwa, World junior bronze medalist Wade Bennett-Jackson, and a roll of honour a mile long at national and regional level.
 |
| John Regis MBE - one of the dozens of household names from the world of Athletics who have both trained and competed at the iconic 'spiritual home' of UK track and field in past years. |
"I have attempted to contact Lord Sebastian Coe too," Powell continued, "surely he will have something to say around the Olympic Legacy issue - as I have already stated on this blog, the impact on South London, where there is a wealth of sporting talent, will be disastrous.
"The GLA apparently ay they have consulted widely on this already. Well I'm President and Chairman of Belgrave Harriers and we have heard nothing. And speaking to a representative of the South of England AA whose offices at the Palace stand to be demolished - the news came as a complete shock to them!
"Let us be clear on what these plans imply. Crystal Palace is the ONLY athletics track in London that has a comprehensive transport hub on its doorstep. It is the only purpose-built stadium in the Capital bar the Olympic Park, and the only other indoor facilities are at Sutton, Lee Valley, or West London, all of which are served by the minimum of public transport service, and which lie in hugely congested traffic areas.
"The under-use argument is completely flawed. In truth a lot of people who use Crystal Palace find other ways to access the track because of the ridiculous mission you have to undergo to travel from main reception to the stadium. On occasions I have had to allow an additional half an hour for repeat trips to my car to take equipment to the track such is the distance between the facility and external access.
"I do sympathise with local management to a degree though - I am sure if they had been given the financial backing to invest in and market the athletics side of their business there they probably would have done. Instead the place has been left to rot.
"I understand there is a small action group being formed at the moment, and I have every intention of playing a prominent part in that - along with any other efforts that can be made to reverse what I regard to be one of the greatest threats to the progress of sport in London and the UK in modern times. These plans must be stopped."
Monday 6 October 2014
POWELL FURY OVER PALACE PLANS
Trackspeed1 UK Head Coach John Powell has hit the roof after finding out third hand about proposals that could see the entire athletics facility indoors and out at Crystal Palace demolished!
The proposals, which are open to public consultation next week on 16th and 18th October, will see the indoor track taken out and landscaped outside a new format leisure centre, and houses or schools may occupy the stadium site.
"I am incandescent," raged Powell, "as YET again a consultation process has been set up with absolutely no reference to the users of the centre. And to make things worse, the opening words in the consultation paper say that the indoor track is poorly used!
"I have been a user of the centre as athlete and coach for 40 years, and I had to hear about this from a journalist. Apparently the proposals are buried on a local government website.
"It is typical of the way discussions on the future of the Palace have been handled over many years - someone comes up with some ideas, and pays lip service to any meaningful consultation. Heaven forbid the users of the place should be asked for their views.
"The athletics side of Crystal Palace has been largely ignored by management teams for many years now, which is why it has deteriorated steadily into a dreadful state of repair. I don't entirely blame them as there has never been the investment or financial will by anyone to stop the rot. But this news now is a joke.
"They say the facility is under-used. Really? Well tell that to my squad of 20+ athletes, Donovan Reid's squad, South London Harriers whose main base it is, and the many other coaches that use it either regularly each week or occasionally. On a Tuesday evening, for example, the track is packed!
"Crystal Palace is the only athletics facility in London with an indoor facility that is served by more than one bus route. Lee Valley has one bus route, or you have to drive. Sutton is the same, and it would take an age by road to either venue for the majority of Crystal Palace users.
"I thought all the current strategic approaches by governing bodies, and in the spirit of Olympic legacy, was to increase participation in athletics and promote sport? Well you could have fooled me with these proposals, because half of my group will be out of a training venue if these ideas come to fruition.
"I will go to one of the two consultation sessions set up and voice my views, but I note they are set for either a training time or a Saturday when people are either coaching or otherwise engaged. And I am sure my views will be forgotten seconds after I have voiced them. Joke!"
Read the "consultation" paper at http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix6/p1838870106.aspx
The proposals, which are open to public consultation next week on 16th and 18th October, will see the indoor track taken out and landscaped outside a new format leisure centre, and houses or schools may occupy the stadium site.
"I am incandescent," raged Powell, "as YET again a consultation process has been set up with absolutely no reference to the users of the centre. And to make things worse, the opening words in the consultation paper say that the indoor track is poorly used!
"I have been a user of the centre as athlete and coach for 40 years, and I had to hear about this from a journalist. Apparently the proposals are buried on a local government website.
 |
| John Powell - fuming at the proposals. |
"The athletics side of Crystal Palace has been largely ignored by management teams for many years now, which is why it has deteriorated steadily into a dreadful state of repair. I don't entirely blame them as there has never been the investment or financial will by anyone to stop the rot. But this news now is a joke.
"They say the facility is under-used. Really? Well tell that to my squad of 20+ athletes, Donovan Reid's squad, South London Harriers whose main base it is, and the many other coaches that use it either regularly each week or occasionally. On a Tuesday evening, for example, the track is packed!
"Crystal Palace is the only athletics facility in London with an indoor facility that is served by more than one bus route. Lee Valley has one bus route, or you have to drive. Sutton is the same, and it would take an age by road to either venue for the majority of Crystal Palace users.
"I thought all the current strategic approaches by governing bodies, and in the spirit of Olympic legacy, was to increase participation in athletics and promote sport? Well you could have fooled me with these proposals, because half of my group will be out of a training venue if these ideas come to fruition.
"I will go to one of the two consultation sessions set up and voice my views, but I note they are set for either a training time or a Saturday when people are either coaching or otherwise engaged. And I am sure my views will be forgotten seconds after I have voiced them. Joke!"
Read the "consultation" paper at http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix6/p1838870106.aspx
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