Athletics Clubs on the Isle of Man
Isle of ManAthletics represents all the Athletics clubs in the Isle of Man. To find the most suitable for your needs take a look at what each offers. Memberships generally run April to April and will include your UKA Membership. 1st claim membership of Manx Harriers, Western or Northern means you can be selected for the YDL and Northern League composite Team IOM.
Manx Harriers
Manx Harriers was founded in 1991 with the amalgamation of Boundary Harriers and Manx AC. The clubhouse is based at the National Sports Centre in Douglas. It is here that the Isle of Man’s only all weather track was laid in 1991 and opened by Steve Ovett. This was one of the factors influencing the merging of the two main clubs on the Island to make better use of the NSC facilities, share resources, and hopefully also to improve the standard of Manx athletes in the future. Boundary Harriers had been based in the same area before the multi million pound development was built. Manx AC athletics events were previously based on a grass track in Tromode, Douglas.
The club has changed a great deal over the twenty years. Manx Harriers is a much bigger club with more members and a wider range of athletics events including road running, track & field, cross country and racewalking.
Western AC
Western AC was formed in the spring of 1980. The late Dave Phillips took it upon himself to train children at Long Jump as the then newly built Queen Elizabeth II High School was the only School on the Island with a tartan run-up for the Long Jump.
Due to the enthusiasm and interest and volume of children in the West of the Island it seemed appropriate to start a local Club, realising they had the best facilities for athletics on the Island at that time with the completion of the Queen Elizabeth II High School. These fine facilities became the choice of venue four years later for the first Inter-Island Games.
As Dave waited at the Royal Hotel for the bus to go back to his home in Douglas he came into contact with Brian Maddrell and Gordie Brew. Over a few pints Western AC was formed.
Northern AC
The club was originally started in 1974 by Mike Boulton. On his return from the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand as a swimming official Mike found the Ramsey Swimming Pool closed for repairs. Trying to keep those children involved in swimming interested in sport, Mike organized a series of cross country events. The events involved half mile runs around Mooragh Parks miniature golf course, which in those days was on the current rugby pitch. In the spring of 1975 a sponsored run was organized to raise money for the cross country trophies. The run was so successful that enough money was raised to give a trophy to everyone that took part. The presentation was held at the Viking Hotel and this was when some of the parents of the children, along with Mike, got together to form the Northern Athletics Club. Some of these included; George Holland, Cathy Christian, Carol Lee and Rose Mazzone.
Manx Fell Runners
A small Fell Running club on the Isle of Man. Promoters of the IOM Mountain Ultra (formerly Manx Mountain Marathon) and the Manx Fell Running League. Races are usually held each month throughout the year with the Winter Hill League taking place between October and December.
Veteran Athletes Club
The IOMVAC was formed in 1980 for the encouragement, promotion and development of Amateur Athletics in the Isle of Man among Veteran men and women.
IOMVAC is the only athletic club on the Isle of Man affiliated to British Masters Athletic Federation and membership of IOMVAC allows athletes to enter British, European and World Master Championship events.
The Club organises the Isle of Man Marathon and Half Marathon Championships each year along with the End to End Walking event. It also organises the Open 20 Mile Running race, the Veterans’ 1 Mile track race and handicap 5k walks and 10k runs in Spring and Autumn.
To be considered a Veteran you must be over 35 years of age & provide proof of age.
If you are already a member of an athletics club and want to change your first claim affiliation, information is available on the England Athletics website including the Change of First Claim Club and Exemption Application.