CLUB HISTORY
In the summer of 1965 a number of youngsters were training at the track and the parents got together and decided to form an athletics club but before they could register the numbers were swelling. The club was registered with the Northern men’s and women’s associations, for at that time they were two separate bodies.
The track then, was of cinder construction and was not always available to train on in the winter months so alternative arrangements had to be made. Cross Country was the primary training and as there was only a men’s x country association the girls had to find an alternative. It wasn’t long before a number of clubs in Yorkshire and Lancaster got together to form the Northern Women’s Cross Country and Road Running Association. The first meetings held at Spenborough were run on the old golf course area and the pit tips which now form the rugby fields.
As there were no track & field leagues at this time competition was gained by travelling to open trophy meetings in Yorkshire, Lancaster, Nottinghamshire and as far as Stoke on Trent.
The first English Schools success was from Sue Midgley in 1968, who also gained GB Junior honours the same year.
In 1969 funding was acquired from the then West Riding County Council to build a stand with a training area underneath to give the club indoor facilities during the winter months. This work was completed in 1970.
In the early 70’s the topic of conversation within athletics was the new ‘tartan’ surfaces which could be used all year round, Spenborough Urban District Council became very interested with this new concept so decided to check them out in Birmingham and Wolverhampton. The councillors were so impressed with this type of surface for the track that upon their return funds were raised to have the Spenborough track modernised. The new track was opened with a winter warm up meeting in 1974.
The late 70’s saw league competition set up, firstly for the men followed by the women's league. Both had success by reaching Division 2 but the ladies had greater success by reaching Div 1 and gaining a place in the National League. Shortly after this the boys and girls league were set up followed by the under 20 league.
While the track and field athletes made their mark in the leagues we must not forget the cross country runners who over the years had their success’s throughout the years. In the 1999/2000 cross country season the boys made a clean sweep by winning gold medals in the West Yorkshire Championships and also Yorkshire County Championships in the under 13’s, 15’s and 17’s.
Over the years the club has had a flourishing Road Running section influenced initially by the boom of the early 80’s which coincided with the inaugural London Marathon. For over 40 years the club has organised the Spen 20, a twenty mile road race noted for it’s arduous lap course. Over the years the Yorkshire 20 miles Championships is incorporated within the Spen 20. The club has been well supported over the years by the local sports manufacturers Mileta Ltd who have the noted brand Tog 24. Their director Mr Donald Ward took on the role as club President and with their financial support the club staged the well known Mileta 10 mile road race which recently was reduced to 10 kilometres. This race dates back 40 years.
The 2002/2003 season brought changes to the way track and field athletics was managed as the leagues gave competition to mixed teams of male and female athletes for all the age groups.
As with a number of clubs we have seen a decline in membership but the club is still committed to supporting and encouraging its members to compete on their behalf.
In 2005 the club achieved another benchmark by attaining Clubmark status, one of only three so far in Yorkshire thanks to the dedication by some of its committee members.
Princess Mary Athletics Stadium is the HQ and training facility of Spenborough & Dist AC.
The track is situated adjacent to Spenborough Baths on the A638 in Liversedge, approx 2.5 miles from junction 26 of the M62.
Training nights are on Monday and Thursday nights from 6.30pm to 8.00pm.
Training fees are payable each time you train. (See Membership page)
