The Bay Sheffield Carnival is the South Australian Athletic League's (henceforth 'SAAL') major event.
It began in 1886, and a list of its 'main' event winners may be seen along a concrete path at the south end of Colley Reserve, Glenelg.
It involves running events over a two day period after Christmas day, with, for SAAL members (men and women), races over 70, 120, 550, 800 and 1600 metres, for 'under 17', 'under 20', 'open' and 'over 35' age groups.
As an example of the size of the Bay Sheffield programme, for the 2009 programme there were:-

• 88 heats and semi-finals and 20 finals and their presentations for SAAL events
• 4 'invited' finals and their presentations, 3 of which were for S.A.M.A., 1 for ASA All School Champions

In the Athletic League's 2011 Bay Sheffield Carnival S.A.M.A. will, as for 2010, have three events, namely:-

• a Womens 120M sprint (8 starters)
• a Mens 120M sprint (8 stareters)
• an 800M race, open to men and women (limit is 19 starters)

THE S.A.M.A. EVENT SPONSORS: SportPower Glenelg for the Mens 120 Metres event, for the Womens 120 Metres event and Joggers World for the 800 Metres event.
They very kindly provide the trophies for those 3 events.

The three races will be in the one time block on the second of the two days of the Carnival. Last year the Womens' sprint was first, the Mens' sprint next and the 800M race last.
The date for our 3 events will be that of the second day of the Carnival, the 28th of December.
The time of day of the S.A.M.A. first event will be available in mid-December, after SAAL has received all its own members' Carnival entries and can finalize the times of events for the whole two days (quite a task, considering that there are hundreds of entrants, scores of heats and finals, and the whole programme runs right on time!).

Please be reasonably sure that you will be able, warmed up, with race colours (got from the 'Colours' tent before your race), worn over your S.A.M.A. singlet), and ready to start on the actual date, at the advertised start time (see Where, and When).
For all Club members who would like to enter their names for any of the three events, but are put off by the selection process, please remember that not all members faster than you, or with more times than you, will necessarily enter. They may be working on the day of the events, injured (we hope not) or may be away from Adelaide at that time.

Entries may be made at S.A.M.A. Wednesday night competitions (starting on 19th October). A sheet of paper with appropriate columns will be at one of the night's event entry tables. Enter your name, Club number, a phone number for contact (eg. for event changes, query as to times, etc.) and age on the day of the Club's Bay Sheffield (the carnival race commentator loves to draw attention to our older entrants).
If you intend entering, please, if you can, make your entry in the first few competition nights. For all Club members who would like to enter their names for any of the three events, please remember that not all members faster than you, or with more times than you, will necessarily enter. They may be working on the day of the events, or may be away from Adelaide at that time.
If for any reason you find that you will not be able to run in the event you have entered, please advise either Paul boyce or John Hore as soon as you can (phones 83792539 (Paul) or 0417858882 (John)).

SAAL does not provide starting blocks. SAAL sprinters use their own blocks. Please bring your own blocks if you have them. If you do not have your own blocks, you may borrow a set of the Club blocks, but you must collect them prior to, or on, the last Summer Competition night and return them on the first Competition night in January.
If you are a country member and not able to be in Adelaide, contact Paul Boyce (83792539).
The SAAL start marshalls will remove all sets of blocks from the sprint lanes immediately after each race's start. Ideally ask a Club member or someone else to grab your blocks when they are removed (without obscuring the officials' view of the runners in the 8 lanes!) and bring them to where the main group of Club supporters are sitting (usually near the north east corner of Colley Reserve) or to your 'safe spot' where someone can watch them.

S.A.M.A. REQUIREMENTS

• Anyone starting in one of the S.A.M.A. races in the Bay Sheffield must, at the time, be a financial member of the Club.
• Each entrant must be at Colley Reserve early enough to warm up, collect a race colours vest or singlet from the Colours' tent and then be close to the race start point five minutes before the official start time for the event
• For a reasonably full description of what to expect, and to do, on the race day, a copy of entrant information notes will be available on Summer Wednesday competition nights for first time entrants
• Each starter must obey the starter and start and other marshalls, and other SAAL requirements as contained in the above entrant information notes
• As organizers of our three events, we would very much like to have handicapping such that all finishers cross the line together

SAAL REQUIREMENTS

• Each of our two sprints caters for 8 runners. SAAL would prefer that each lane has a runner ready to start
• The 800M event caters for up to 19 runners. SAAL would prefer that all nominated runners are present and ready to start
• Each runner must be the person advertised in the Carnival Program booklet
• SAAL has the BaySheffield as its major event for the year, and wants all the Carnival's events to feature strong running and closely contested races
• SAAL wants our sprints to have our best (ie. fastest) available sprinters, and it (and our Club) would like all the 800M event entrants to try their best from start to finish

Over the last 3 years our 120M events have had all had less than 1.5 seconds between the first and the last finisher.
Our 2009 800M had all save three runnners crossing the finish line in less than 5 seconds but in the three preceeding years up to 25 seconds separated the first and last finishers, with other finishers spread over that time interval.
We usually have several years of times for Club sprinters, but far less times for 800M entrants, sometimes NO times!. To complicate 800M sprinting, we have virtually NO times for entrants over distances between 600M and 750M, a real problem since all save the back marker will race over a distance in that range. Some runners have a fixed pace over that range, while a few can really fly as the distance to race shortens!
This year a selection aim will be to:-

• Select the fastest 8 entrants for both sprints (SAAL request)
• Give preference for the 800M event to those entrants for whom the most 800M times are available. If they also have 400M times, so much the better.

We would like at least 3 volunteers to help the Athletic League with track preparation at Colley Reserve for about one hour starting at about 9 am. either on the first or the second day of the Bay Sheffield Carnival. While it makes for a long day, it at least gives you the chance to choose a good parking location before all such are gone.

Ask Paul Boyce or John Hore at Summer Wednesday Competition nights, or on phones 83792539 (Paul) or 0417858882 (John).
To check the event start times (remembering that they will not be set until December), contact either of them, or the SAAL. about 20th December.
The SAAL office telephone number is 84436177 and its office hours are 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday, Thursday and Friday. In December their office staff are very busy.
The SAAL web site is www.saal.org.au . However, it is not likely to have the event times, since the SAAL office notifies the SAAL event entrants by mail or e-mail.

The South Australian Athletic League conducts its events on time, and expects its members to make this possible by observing the League's rules and procedures.
THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED BELOW ARE THERE TO ENSURE THAT EACH EVENT STARTS AT ITS PROGRAMME BOOK TIME.
As invited entrants in their meetings we must also observe those rules and procedures.

THE S.A.M.A. EVENT SPONSORS: SportPower Glenelg for the Mens 120 Metres event, for the Womens 120 Metres event and Joggers World for the 800 Metres event.
They very kindly provide the trophies for those 3 events.

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