Special credit must go to Mark Searle, president of Feilding Athletics, for helping establish the new club. ♦ This weekend a number of Manawatū athletes are travelling to Taupō to compete in the North Island cross-country championships. The central location is a popular venue for athletes from all points of the North Island to converge and compete, with the added attraction of a recovery session in one of the nearby hot thermal pools adding to the appeal. ♦ The dates for this year’s winter track series have been confirmed, with Masterton hosting the first day’s events on Sunday, July 11. The events are the 100m, a distance option of 1000m, 3000m, 5000m, 1500m, 400m, or a 2x200m relay.