WIMBORNE ATHLETIC CLUB was established in 1982 and is run to promote and encourage participation in recreational and competitive athletics in Wimborne and the surrounding areas. Its principal aims are as follows:

To provide a safe and structured training environment to encourage children, teenagers and mature athletes to enjoy the activities and develop their potential.

To organise and run training sessions which enable its members to attain and maintain competitive fitness levels.

To liaise with schools, parents and other local clubs to increase awareness of athletics in the area and offer an appropriate club structure where athletics is sustainable.

To offer competitive opportunities for athletes.

To build up a social structure within the club which has the merit of team building as well as providing opportunities for fundraising.

The coaches and officers of the Club are largely comprised of individuals who were athletes or have/had children at the Club as current/previous athletes, and the Club is run on a voluntary basis.

The Club is managed by an Executive Committee, elected annually at an Annual General Meeting, and working within the Club Constitution and Rules.

The Executive Committee meets at least bi-monthly.

Wimborne AC is affiliated to England Athletics, South Of England AA and Dorset County AA.  All members are individually affiliated to England Athletics by the Club.

The elected Club Officers for 2007 are:

The Club endeavours to provide its members with opportunity to participate in the widest possible selection of events across the athletic spectrum. To this end, it attempts to recruit, retain and develop a cross section of coaches who understand the needs of both the Athletes and the Club and are committed to maximising potential whilst ensuring that the ethos of enjoyment is always at the forefront of all activities.

Coaches are available for all the main track and field disciplines and hold various coaching level qualifications. It is now a requirement of UK Athletics that all coaches are screened by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Whilst the Club actively supports and encourages parents and helpers to become qualified coaches, it also recognises that certain individuals will freely give up their time to assist the Coaches without the pressure of qualifying as a Coach. The Club is, therefore, supportive and grateful to any person who feels they can make a contribution of their time, however small, to help the Club deliver its coaching aims.

The current list of the Club’s Coaches are:

Sprints / Hurdles	Ed Arnold,  Roy Welch,  Steve Snook,  Karyn Light
Pole Vault	Dave Pearson,  Trudy Carter
Long Jump	Lorraine Winton
High Jump	Peter Impett
Throws	Glyn Davies,  Tim Watton
Middle Dist / XC	Jim Bailey,  Ian Kennedy,  Jon Braund,  Craig Dixon,  Kim Jolliffe
Juniors	Steve Henderson

The Club is essentially funded by the annual subscriptions of its members plus track fees levied at each training session. Other sources of funds are donations, grants and social events. The majority of its expenditure is accounted for by the hire of indoor facilities at the QE Leisure Centre and Track expenses at Ashdown. Equipment also has to be purchased and replaced and fees have to be paid for affiliation to Athletic bodies and leagues. The Club endeavours to keep its running expenses to a minimum and attempts to break even on a year-on-year basis.

Structured competition in athletics commences at UNDER 13 level although there are a limited number of opportunities to compete at UNDER 11 level on a friendly basis. Age groups for both sexes follow this pattern: UNDER 13 – UNDER 15 – UNDER 17 – UNDER 20 – SENIOR. Competitors must be under the age limit on 31 August in the year in which they are competing. In effect, this means that they compete for two seasons at each of the junior age groups.

Wimborne AC currently competes in the Young Athletes, Southwest and senior mens and womens leagues.

Dependant upon venue and numbers, the Club may provide transport to and from competition venues. Athletes and parents wishing to avail themselves of such transport (usually coach or minibus) are asked to pay a contribution towards the cost. Parents able and willing to car share to such competitions offer a more economic prospect for the Club, enabling limited funds to be redirected.

Membership of the Club is a pre-requisite for competing for the Club. Athletes representing the Club at competitions are required to wear Club colours; club vests available from the Treasurer at subsidised prices. Athletes are required to conduct themselves in a professional manner when travelling to and representing the Club at such fixtures. The Club also trains for and competes in the indoor SPORTSHALL series run during the winter as well as several locally run cross-country fixtures.

The Club currently runs two principal training sessions per week.

Saturday 10:00 – 11:45 at Queen Elizabeth Leisure Centre. All age groups and covering a selection of events with particular emphasis for younger athletes on enjoyment and variety. Essentially, an outdoor session but with the option to use the main hall in adverse weather conditions. All year round training.

Monday 18:30-20:30 at the Ashdown track. For Athletes who have decided to specialise in particular events. Opportunity to train at a competition accredited facility. All year round and under floodlights in winter.

The Club makes a charge of £1.50 ( £2 from October 1st 2007) for each training session attended to help cover the cost of hiring the facilities.

The senior roadrunners meet at Queen Elizabeth Leisure Centre in Wimborne on Thursdays at 6:30pm. Usual distance 4 - 7 miles.

Athletes are expected to take personal responsibility for their conduct and behaviour at Club training sessions. They are expected to dress appropriately dependent on weather conditions and participating events, bring adequate drinks and ensure they partake in the warm-up routines to minimise the chance of injury.

The Club has spent many thousands of pounds over a number of years to provide a selection of equipment for Athletes to use in Club sessions. Please help us to ensure that all equipment is kept in good order and used properly for the reason intended. Save time and help coaches to set up and put away equipment. Do not take equipment away from either of the training facilities unless you have express permission of a coach or authorised official.

The Club’s presentation evening is usually held in November and offers the opportunity to reward athletes for good performances and recognition of individuals for their contribution towards the success of the Club over the previous year.

Additionally we aim to run further social events for the enjoyment of members and as a boost to fundraising. Athletes and parents are requested to submit ideas for such events and assist with organising and running them.

In addition to the Track and Field disciplines, the Club has a Road Running section. This group consists of mixed ages and abilities and meets regularly for training sessions. Teams are entered for various (mainly local) league races, but many also choose to travel farther a field, occasionally abroad for special events.

Race distances range from 5k to Marathon and beyond.

The section organises the very successful WIMBORNE 10 (mile) race each year, which attracts strong athletes from a wide geographical area.