Big plans for Little Athletics in Kyabram

By Myles Peterson

Sep 20, 2021

Looking ahead: Kyabram Little Athletics committee members Nikki and Luke Greenshield, Mandy Woods, Kylie Kilpatrick, Siobhan Thompson, Brooke Cleveland, David Green, Kellie Parsons, Michelle Taylor, Kerryn Locke and Claudia Moore pictured with some athletes ready for the 2021-22 season to begin.

Jump to it: Past ‘little athlete’ and employee Keeley Genio, a hurdler himself back in the day, with president Claudia Moore, who was an athlete when the centre first opened in 1994, showcasing the new hurdles and stickers.

The region’s Little Athletics president, Kyabram-based Claudia Moore, has big plans to bring the state championships to the area and further improve local athletics facilities.

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“Ideally, (hosting the state championships) would be fantastic,” she said.

“For once we would not be the ones travelling. If you consider our region, we span from Bendigo through to Albury to Seymour — we're the ones that often have to travel to Melbourne and it would be great to have the competition out here.”

On top of the push for more locally-based state competition, Ms Moore has been working to improve facilities and equipment in Kyabram, recently acquiring new hurdles, sourcing funding for new high-jump equipment and laying plans for a synthetic track.

A grant from Budget Direct enabled the purchase of around 50 new hurdles and the Kyabram club is looking to build on the grant by offering individual sponsorship of each hurdle.

“From this we have been able to have Empire Signs Group jump on board to sponsor us and we'd like to offer local businesses and past and present families the opportunity to mark their name on a piece of history,” Ms Moore said.

Describing itself as the “foundation for all sports”, nationally Little Athletics attracts some 100,000 five- to 15-year-old boys and girls annually, competing in a range of track and field events. Many participants also play other team sports and use the training and competition to hone their skills and fitness, according to Ms Moore.

Kyabram's Little Athletics operates competition on Wednesday afternoons with the prospect of participants going on to compete at regional, state and national level later in the season.

“We often have athletes competing in the regional event — the Northern Country region — and then if they are successful there and win first place, occasionally second and third, they may progress through to the state championships and compete against athletes from across Victoria. From there they may be picked to go to a national squad,” Ms Moore said.

With COVID-19 restrictions lifting and plans to return to a semblance of normal life over the next two months, the club is now looking towards the 2021-22 athletics season and is calling on new and returning members to get in touch.

The club offers a two-week free trial competition to new members.

“Just fill in the form. Basically that entitles you to two free nights of trialling. After those two weeks of trial they can then decide whether they would like to become a paid member,” Ms Moore said.

Inquiries about participating or sponsorship can be made by visiting facebook.com/KyabramLittleAthletics or emailing kyabram@lavic.com.au or by contacting Claudia Moore directly on 0409 886 929.