Track & Field

Crookham Common Athletics Track

The club has year-round use of Crookham Common Athletics Track, located behind Thornford Park at the eastern end of Greenham Common.

Coaching sessions are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays – see club programme for details.

Club Programme

WHERE WE COMPETE

TRACK & FIELD SUCCESSES 2023

With a change in league structure allowing 6 teams per match, Newbury AC only had four Southern Athletics League fixtures to contend with in 2023. Excitingly, after the final match, the club were sitting in a promotion position, however a late season rearranged match went against our favour, meaning Newbury missed out on a place in Division 1, but congratulations should be given to the whole squad for ensuring their highest ever SAL league finish in third place.

The season started with our home match at the refurbished Andover track. A strong performance, particularly by the junior members of the team (many of whom were making their senior debuts) meant we started the season with a win and maximum league points. A tougher second fixture in Abingdon still produced good results, and the new complicated league scoring system meant that even though we finished third on the day, we were given the points of a second place finish.

July saw the club take a trip down to Bournemouth, where we met the overall league champions Winchester, who took a comfortable victory. The remaining five teams battled for position all day, and in the end just 21 points separated all five – with Newbury happy to take third place overall. The highlight of the day came in the men’s pole vault, where ToluAyo-Ojo became the first ever Newbury athlete to clear 4m, although being only second claim it sadly won’t be listed as a club record.

The season concluded in Perivale, where it was a day for maximising points with a small squad in the hope of keeping the promotion dream alive. It was a successful day, with another match win, and a nervous wait for the (ultimately disappointing) news from elsewhere.

Over the league season, we had 47 athletes competing in the league (45 in 2022), with 12 of those making their Newbury AC senior debuts. We had 18 A string victories, and followed that up with 27 wins in the B string.

Away from the league, our star performer this year was sprints coach, Simon Barrett – making the most of his first season in a new age category, V70. His major successes came in international competition – anchoring home the 4x200m relay team to a new British record to claim the world indoor title in Torun, Poland in March, as well as claiming a silver and bronze in the individual 200m and 60m. Even better than this, Simon picked up five medals at the European Masters Outdoor championships held in Pescara, Italy; winning gold in the 400m and both relays, with a silver and bronze in the 200m and 100m respectively.

Also in the masters categories, Craig Beecham picked up a silver medal in the long jump at the World Masters Indoors, but sadly injury prevented him from challenging too hard for the European outdoor title, whilst Bob Broadbridge claimed the bronze medal in the British Masters V60 weight throw.

Izzy Fry showcased the Newbury vest at the senior British Indoor Championships in Birmingham in February, missing out on a medal by less than a second, but settling for 5th place in the 3000m. Unfortunately for Izzy an injury sustained shortly after this meant this was a disappointingly early end to her promising-looking 2023 track season.

Under the guidance of Craig Beecham, two young Newbury jumpers made it to the English Schools championships. Waheeda Wasterfall finished 8th in a competitive U17 triple jump, while George Down picked up an injury on his first jump, ruining his chances of the strong result he was hoping for in the U17 long jump. Second claim thrower Finn Hanhamjust missed out on a medal finishing fourth in the U20 hammer.

LATEST TRACK & FIELD NEWS

October 16, 2023

European Masters Athletics Championships

With the British summertime and athletics season firmly behind them, six of Newbury Athletic Club’s more experienced athletes took to the sunnier climes of Pescara, […]
August 26, 2023

Southern Athletics League – Perivale

Newbury AC entered their final match of the Southern Athletics League in Perivale on Saturday knowing that a strong performance could see them promoted […]
July 18, 2023

SAL round 3 – Bournemouth

Newbury AC continued their strong start to the Southern Athletics League season with a trip to Bournemouth on Sunday, with a mouth-watering clash that […]