Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club
Athletics club in England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
City of Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club is an athletics club based in Essex. The club has one track, which is based at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre athletics track in Garon Park on Eastern Avenue, Southend-on-Sea. The club is affiliated to UK Athletics, England Athletics and the Essex County Athletic Association.[1]
| |
| Founded | 1905 |
|---|---|
| Ground | Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre (athletics track) |
| Location | Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, Southend-on-Sea SS2 4FA, England |
| Coordinates | 51°33′13″N 0°44′08″W |
| Website | official website |
History
The formation of Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club took place over 100 years ago in 1905 when it was known as Southend and County Harriers (or Southend Harriers for short). The club was primarily a cross country club and held its first run on 7 October 1905 from the club's headquarters at the Blue Boar Hotel in Prittlewell.[2] Within the first decade the club had become "A leading club in athletics".
In 1937, the Southend Harriers merged with another club called the Leigh-on-sea Harriers (founded 1912).[3]
In 2005 the club celebrated their centenary and in the same year the Senior Men were promoted to the British Athletic League. The club is based at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre, Garon Park, where it moved to in 1996 from its old home of Southchurch Park and in 2015 celebrated the opening of their Club House with a picture-window view of the athletic arena. The Leisure Centre is also home to many other sports such as: cricket, indoor and outdoor tennis + football, and golf.
Notable athletes
Olympians
| Athlete | Club | Events | Games | Medals/Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Harmer | Southend Harriers | 400 metres hurdles | 1908 | [4] |
| Henry Harmer | Southend Harriers | 100 metres | 1908 | [5] |
| Martyn Lucking | Southend AC | shot put | 1960, 1964 | [6][7] |
| Christina Persighetti | Southend AC | long jump | 1960 | [8] |
| Ann Wilson | Southend AC | 80/100m hurdles, long jump, pentathlon | 1968, 1972 | [9] |
| Peter Marlow | Southend AC | 20 km walk | 1972 | [10] |
| Sarah Wilhelmy | Southend AC | 4x100 metres relay | 2000 | [11] |