LVAC Fab 5
Lagan Valley Athletics Club has been organising summer Thursday night competitions for the last 30 years.
LVAC Fab 5
Lagan Valley AC have been organising summer Thursday night competitions for the last 30 years. The popular long-standing series has been a firm favourite in the athletic calendar and have provided a competitive and fun environment for athletes young and old, from across the country and beyond. They have been the starting point for many of Northern Ireland’s top sporting stars.
The format comprises of 5 competitions spread over the summer months. All track and field events are catered for all athletes throughout the series.
Entry for the events are online. Details for the 2024 Series below.
FAB 5 2024 – Meeting 2
This year we have exciting new innovations. After 34 years the Age Categories undergo a major change with a new qualifying date of 31st December and an additional category.
Medals will be there to be won in 6 categories, U10, U12, U14, U16, Under 18 and Senior.
This year a new online entry system will be in use, speeding up registration on the night. All entries must be made before the closing date – NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE NIGHT.
MEETING DATES:- Meeting 1 – 11th April 2024
– Meeting 2 – 9th May 2024
– Meeting 3 – 23rd May 2024
– Meeting 4 – 25th July 2024
– Meeting 5 – 22nd August 2024
ENTRY FOR MEETING 2 AT LINK BELOW – 9th May 2024
– please make sure payment is completed via the link at the end of the entry process – If payment is not received your entry will be withdrawn. Your entry will be confirmed via an email – (check your junk mail)
INFO FOR ATHLETES / PARENTS / COACHES
- For up to date information check out our LAGAN VALLEY FAB 5 SERIES FACEBOOK PAGE via link below.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Track events will go unseeded and athletes will be lined up in heats prior to their event on the start line. Warm up for sprints can take place on the back straight with athletes approaching the start team in an anti clockwise direction (ie. Not down the home straight)
- We anticipate approx. three minutes between each sprint race as we require this time to facilitate the electronic timing. It is important that athletes are aware of the time of their event and that they report to the start team at least 5 minutes before the start time. There will be no opportunity for athletes who turn up late for their race.
- The use of starting blocks will not be permitted for Under 10, 12 or 14 athletes. Older athletes will be required to set up blocks quickly, if required.
- All 600m and 800m races will use a curved line start and will inevitably have large fields so we would stress the need for care at the start.
- Some of the field events will be split into Pool. For medals purposes the results of the pools will be combined.
- Registration will take place in the Les Jones Room which is situated on the first floor of the Athletics NI building which is on your left at the bottom of the driveway leading to the track. Athletes bib numbers will be displayed outside the room and tables inside will be divided into Alphabetical order according to surname.
- Numbers should be worn prominately on the front of the athlete.
- In sprint races runners should stay in their lane after the finish and turn and face the judging stand so that the numbers can be identified.
- For those unaccustomed to track competitions the meetings use an electronic timing system which makes use of beams placed, on stands, either side of the track at the finish line. It is vital that these beams are not touched and that athletes having finished their race do not return back across the finish line (thus breaking the beam and being recorded twice by the camera). Exit from the track is via the gate at the end of the straight beyond the finish line.
- Access to the track, ie the area within the fence, is for athletes and officials only. NO PARENTS or COACHES allowed. Breach of this could result in your athlete being disqualified from the competition. Repeated incidents from a club could lead to the whole club being disqualified from the series.
- Please remember this event is run completely voluntarily by Lagan Valley AC, supported by ANI officials. Please show respect to all and follow directions given. Any form of abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and again may result in disqualification from the series. Please refer to the UKA Codes of Conduct.
- Parking at the Mary Peters Track is fairly limited and with the numbers expected we envisage it being beyond capacity. There are approx. 50 spaces available in the main car park trackside with a further 10-12 on a small area just above track and another 80 in the top car park just inside the entrance gate. The whole area including around the track is a public park and so we have to share the facility with walkers and trail bikes . There is car parking at Malone House open until 8pm which is an approximate 10 minute walk away from the track however it will be dark when you are returning. If it is necessary to use on-street parking in the area around Old Coach Road please be aware of the needs of the local residents. As someone who lives in close proximity to a major sporting venue (not to mention a large church) it is something which I am acutely aware of. If possible I would encourage you to consider car sharing, even for the latter part of the journey.
- Medal presentation. It is hoped that we will be in a position to present the medals shortly after the conclusion of each event however given the fact that there will be non-stop competition for at least four hours we would ask for your patience. Trying to rush things can cause mistakes which can be a cause of great distress especially with younger athletes.
Many thanks for your understanding and good luck to all the athletes competing.
Lagan Valley AC
