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Braintree & District

Athletic Club

Introduction

Braintree & District Athletic Club was formed in 1977 and was originally based in Robswood, off Cressing Road, in Braintree. In 1990 the club moved its base to the new Athletics track at Tabor High School in Panfield Lane, where it remains to this day.

Thanks to an influx of new youngsters inspired by the Olympics and the development of the endurance section, the club has more 350 members and there are numerous coaching and competition opportunities for everyone.

Under the Chair of Derek Mennell, Braintree & District Athletic Club has also widened its approach in the wider athletic community through networking and development and also by involvement with the local community, for example through schools, local businesses and Braintree and District Council.

Under our team of experienced male and female, UKA Level 1 to Level 3 qualified coaches led by British Athletics Coach Tutor and Assessor Simon Mennell, the club’s athletes are flourishing and we have many athletes who are county representatives and highly ranked in the UK in all disciplines from Sprinting, Jumping and Throwing, Cross Country and Road Running.  Nevertheless, all standards are catered for from complete beginner upwards.

We have a friendly, sociable and safe environment for all our athletes and most of all, we encourage respect, equality and support for everyone.  Athletics is great for fitness, wellbeing and also for meeting new friends. Come and give us a try, and you will be made very welcome.

The club competes in a number of Track and Field leagues at Senior and Junior Level, for example, in the Southern Athletics League, the East Anglian League, the Eastern Young Athletics League and it’s athletes compete in Essex and Regional competitions, while our top athletes compete up to national level. For our Endurance athletes, there numerous road races to enter and for the more adventurous, the club competes in two cross country leagues in junior and adult age categories. The club hosts Cross Country Events in the Essex league and Mid-Essex League and we also host an annual road race for runners of all standards:  “The Braintree 5”.

The club would not function without its many volunteers, Officials, Coaches, and various officers and supporters, all of whom make this a thriving, positive, growing and successful club in our community.

The club is an approved learning centre for the Children’s University which is set up to provide children between the ages of 7-14 with exciting learning opportunities out of school hours. If children attend a Club training session, the coach can sign their “learning passport” and it will count as hours towards their final achievement level. More details of the Children’s University can be found at: http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk

There is no better time to get involved in the sport of athletics, as a coach, competition official, as a volunteer, or as an athlete. Be part of it!

New members are welcome to the club, either as beginners or more experienced athletes. Coaching for both running and field events is undertaken on Tuesday and Thursday evenings where athlete’s needs are met individually in a safe, supportive environment. See our Training page.   Particular guidance for prospective under 18 athletes is given on our Club Membership page.

If you wish to run, are over 18, have a little experience and want to build up distance, why not join the Endurance Group on Thursday nights 7:15-8:15 pm to help you get fitter or faster.  Otherwise if you want to take the first steps to enjoy running and getting into shape, then check our training page for our next Couch to 5K  group course.

Whatever you want to achieve in whatever discipline, we can help you to start gently and work up to whatever you want to achieve. See our Training page.

Just Looking for overall fitness?: Many hit the streets and our road running group cater for this. However, one’s endurance is greatly enhanced by taking part in cross-country. The undulations and hills power up your legs, and having to cope with the differing pace caused by changes in terrain gives your heart a boost. The discipline also builds lower leg strength. Your foot mark changes with every step because the ground is uneven and sometimes very unstable, too. It means lower limbs and stabilising muscles become very strong, and you develop a greater ability to absorb shock. Keeping the momentum going on a soft surface is hard work, so you are building muscles that will give you great strength and power. The payoff for runners opting to take a bit of pain going cross-country in winter is clear: there will be considerable fitness benefits, which ultimately make you stronger and faster by the time the summer comes around and you will be ready for some of our other activities. It is a great team sport and you will find that successful endurance athletes from any country all have cross-country events on their records. Come and give cross-country a try. It is for all abilities, often scenic and isn’t all mud and water, but far more fun when it is!

Braintree & District Athletic Club
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Braintree Leisure Centre
Panfield Lane
Braintree
Essex
CM7 1FF

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