Southampton Athletic Club

Last updated

Southampton Athletic Club
Southampton Athletic Club logo.jpg
Founded2010
GroundSouthampton Athletics Track
LocationThornhill Road, Southampton SO16 7AY, England
Coordinates 50°56′30″N1°25′06″W / 50.94167°N 1.41833°W / 50.94167; -1.41833
Website official website

Southampton Athletic Club (Southampton AC) is an athletics club based in Southampton, England. It is based at the Southampton Sports Centre. [1] It's men compete in the British Athletics League National Division One and women in UK Women's Athletic League Division 1. The club also completes in the Southern Athletics League.

Contents

History

The Athletics Track in 2012 Southampton Sports Centre, athletics track - geograph.org.uk - 2910205.jpg
The Athletics Track in 2012

The origins of the club have been littered with various clubs and amalgamations, starting with the creation of two clubs; the Southampton Amateur Athletic Club (founded in 1880) and the Southampton Harriers (believed to be founded in 1884 based on their second annual sport event in 1885). [2]

The two clubs merged in 1893 to become the Hampshire Amateur Athletic Club, with the annual sports events taking place at Westwood Park [3] but due to confusion with the Hampshire Amateur Athletic Association the club reverted back to the name of Southampton Amateur Athletic Club on 15 February 1932. [4] A ladies section was added on 14 December 1949. [5]

On 1 December 1970 the club amalgamated with Eastleigh A.A.C. to become the Southampton and Eastleigh A.A.C., [5] followed by Southampton City AC in circa.1988, around the same time that a new club called Team Solent were founded. [6]

In November 2004 Southampton City merged with Team Solent, resulting in another name change to Team Southampton. [5] One final amalgamation took place on 1 April 2010, this time with Southampton Running Club to form the present day name. [7]

Notable athletes

Olympians

AthleteClubEventsGamesMedals/Ref
Harry Simmons Southampton AAC high jump 1928
Dave Dear Southampton & Eastleigh A.A.C. 4 × 100 m relay 1972 [8]
Donna Hartley Southampton & Eastleigh A.A.C. 200 m, 400 m, 4 × 400 m relay 1972, 1976, 1980 Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg [9]
Christine Benning Southampton & Eastleigh A.A.C. 1500 metres 1984 [10]
Todd Bennett Southampton & Eastleigh A.A.C.
Team Solent		400 m, 4 × 400 m relay1984, 1988 Silver medal icon (S initial).svg [11]
Kriss Akabusi Southampton & Eastleigh A.A.C.
Team Solent		400 m, 4 × 400 m relay1984, 1988, 1992 Silver medal icon (S initial).svg Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg [12]
Paul Harmsworth Team Solent4 × 400 m relay1988 [13]
Roger Black Southampton & Eastleigh A.A.C.
Team Solent		400 m, 4 × 400 m relay1992, 1996 Silver medal icon (S initial).svg Silver medal icon (S initial).svg Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg [14]
Mahamed Mahamed Southampton AC marathon 2024 [15]

Commonwealth Games

AthleteClubEventsGamesMedals/Ref
Alan Drayton Southampton & Eastleigh A.A.C.decathlon1978
Dawn Gandy Southampton & Eastleigh A.A.C.800 m1994
Melanie Purkiss Team Solent4 × 400 m2002 Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Grace Clements Southampton ACheptathlon2010

References

  1. ↑ Franklin, James (7 February 2014). "Darren Campbell backs £200k bid to get Southampton Sports Centre back on track". Daily Echo. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Southampton Amateur Athletic Club" . Hampshire Independent. 4 September 1880. Retrieved 26 March 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ↑ "Hampshire Amateur Athletic Club" . Sporting Life. 5 April 1893. Retrieved 26 March 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "Southampton Club Drops County Name" . Hampshire Advertiser. 20 February 1932. Retrieved 26 March 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. 1 2 3 "Club history". Southampton Athletic Club. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "Black Magic" . Belfast News-Letter. 19 September 1986. Retrieved 26 March 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ "Club Info". Southampton Athletic Club. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  8. ↑ David Dear at Power of 10
  9. ↑ Donna Hartley at Power of 10
  10. ↑ Christine Benning at Power of 10
  11. ↑ Todd Bennett at Power of 10
  12. ↑ Kriss Akabusi at Power of 10
  13. ↑ Paul Harmsworth at Power of 10
  14. ↑ Roger Black at Power of 10
  15. ↑ Mahamed Mahamed at Power of 10
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