HISTORY OF THE CLUB

Barnet and District Athletic Club is a longstanding one, having it's roots way back at the end of last century. The present club was officially formed in January 1967, with the amalgamation of Hampstead Harriers and New Barnet AC. Currently the membership totals just under 300, comprising people of both sexes, and with an active age range from 7 to 70 years old. This later fact is significant, in that there is a very active Veterans Section. The club were the 1992 World Vets over 50 10km team champions, and the 1993 National Vets over 60 10 mile team champions. The club's young athletes compete in track and field in the summer through the Eastern Young Athletes League, and opportunities are available for competition in Open and Championship events. The Senior Men compete in the Southern League (track & field) and the Women in the London Inter Club Challenge. Senior members may also compete in the summer Mid-week Road Race League. During the winter months cross country and road racing opportunities abound as the Club competes in the Metropolitan (Senior), Chingford (Senior) and North West London (Young Athletes) Leagues, in addition to the numerous Championship and Open races and relays. The club is very involved in Sportshall Athletics (indoor athletics for the younger age groups). The club encourages non-participants to become Supporter Members at much reduced rates. This enables them to attend social functions that are organised each year - discos, parties, quiz evenings, barbeques, etc.

THE CLUBHOUSE

The club has it's base at a Clubhouse in Victoria Road, East Barnet. The premises consist of a hall and kitchen area - which is on a long-term lease from the London Borough of Barnet (currently sub-let to a nursery on a daily weekday basis), and a separate shower/changing blocks for men and women - which the club had built in 1986. The clubhouse is used for some of the training sessions, and for most social and official club functions. It's location is very handy for Victoria Park, which is the venue/start of several of the club's races. Also nearby is Hadley Wood, which is used for several of the club's cross country races, and Trent Park [Location map of Trent Park], which is also used for training and for the club's league cross country fixtures. Further afield, the roads and footpaths of the surrounding areas of Hertfordshire provide endless scope for long distance training, and are all accessible from the clubhouse as a base. Various standard training routes used by the club's athletes have been measured. [Location map of Clubhouse]

THE TRACK

The club is based at Barnet Copthall Stadium, where its track training and fixtures normally take place. Details of the club's training sessions and coaching staff are available. [Location map of Copthall track]