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Athletics

The University of Essex Athletics Club is open to runners, jumpers and throwers of all abilities; from international athletes and BUCS Champions to those who only run for the bus. If you own a pair of trainers, you’re in.

We have many training sessions available whether you just want to improve your fitness, smash your personal bests or compete against others.

We have various exciting competitions for you to get involved in including Essex League, London Colleges League and British Universities Championships for Track & Field and Cross Country Races.

With regular training sessions, competitions, socials (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and volunteering events, there really is something for everyone.

Make sure you follow our social media accounts for regular photos and updates! 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UoEAthletics,
Twitter - @EssexAthletics
Instagram - @EssexBladesAC

If you have any questions, feel free to message the club on any of these accounts and a member of the executive committee will be more than happy to help.

Training Times
 

*For the Monday Just Play session we meet at the Sports Centre for 4:30 pm to take the safety bus to the track. 
*For the Monday Track and Field session we meet at the Sports Centre for 6:00pm to take the service bus to the track.
*For the Wednesday Track and Field session we meet at the Sports Centre at 6:00pm to take the safety bus to the track.

Remember to bring £2 for the safety bus return journey.

Alternatively, you can meet us at the track.
The address is 7 Circular Road North and is just a short walk from Colchester Town train and bus stations. It is a 15 minute bike ride from campus.

We normally go for coffee or brunch after the Park Run each week and everyone is welcome to join!

Competitions

We provide a variety of competition opportunities to suit athletes of all abilities.

We compete in:
- Essex Cross Country League
- London Universities & Colleges Athletics (LUCA) Indoor & Outdoor Series
- British Universities & Colleges (BUCS) Indoor, Outdoor and Cross Country Championships

In 2015/16, we also hosted our first ever Open Meet, the Internal Students Association Olympics and Derby Day!

A full fixture list and club records can be found in the resources tab.

Socials

We are a friendly and welcoming club that enjoy regular socials, which all our members (old and new!) are welcome to come along to.

Every Wednesday we have a themed social for Sports Fed. 

We have regular club meals, post Parkrun brunch, volunteering events and non-acoholic activity socials.

We also enter into Just Play Tournaments and have termly general meetings. 

Club aims

To provide training, competition and social opportunities for our members who are runners, jumpers and throwers of all abilities.

Club Objectives

The Strategic Plan provides focus to:

• Increase training opportunities from two weekly track sessions and ad-hoc campus fitness sessions  offered in 2015 to provide transport to the  track and three additional regular structured sessions on campus by the end of the 2015/16 academic year.

• Increase  the number of competitors from 32 in 2014/15 by 25% to 40 in 2015/16 with the aim to field  full male and female teams in each cross country race and a relay team in each track and field event. 

• Double social opportunities from 8 themed Sports Fed socials and 4 alcohol free events in 2013/14 to 16  themed Sports Fed socials and 8 alcohol free events plus the introduction of  5 volunteering and fundraising events in 2015/16.

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment

Other info about us

• In 2016 we achieved Gold Standards.
   
• We won the university's award for 2016 Club of the Year!
   
• We won 2016 Derby Day against the University of East Anglia. 
   
• We are just one of 53 accounts to be followed by BUCS Sport on Instagram @EssexBladesAC
   
• Sprinter and BUCS 60m Champion, Adeseye Ogunlewe competed for Nigeria in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Ade is currently the fastest man in Nigeria following his 100m victory in the 2015 National Championships.