Houghton Harriers & Athletics Club

competitions

Athletics competition is organised in the following age groups:

Minor Athletes

• Under 11 girls and boys aged 9 to 10 (years 4 and 5)

Competition in this age group is limited. The club do strive however to identify available competition to give these athletes as much experience as possible.

Young Athletes

• Under 13 girls and boys aged 11 and 12 (years 6 and 7)
• Under 15 girls and boys aged 13 and 14 (years 8 and 9)
• Under 17 women and men aged 15 and 16 (years 10 and 11)

The main focus of the track and field season is the uk:athletics National Young Athletes League. This is a league run on a 'round robin' basis over 5 meetings between May and July.

Athletes are actively encouraged to compete in the North Eastern Counties AA Track and Field Championships held in May each year. Further competition is available in the 6 North East Track and Field League meetings held on Wednesday evenings over the season and in open meetings organised by a variety of clubs in the area.

Athletes in the Under 17 age group may also be eligible to compete in the National Junior Athletes League and if required in the North East Senior Mens League fixtures.

During the winter months a small, but growing, number of young athletes compete in various road and cross country races. The main competitions are the Start Fitness sponsored North East Harrier League, a series of 6 cross country races held at different locations throughout the region and the North Eastern Counties AA Cross Country Championships.

Junior Athletes

• Junior women and men aged 17 to 19

During the track and field season, this group compete in the uk:athletics National Junior Athletes League. This operates on a similar basis to the Young Athletes League.

Junior athletes are also encouraged to participate in the North Eastern Counties AA Track and Field Championships, North East Track and Field League and open meetings as detailed above. The same road and cross country races are also available at this age but currently no Junior athletes compete in these.

Senior Athletes

• Senior women aged 20 to 34
• Senior men aged 20 to 39

The Senior Men compete in Division Two of the NEHL in the winter, and much of the training schedule is geared to producing success in these races. The team also concentrate on local relay races, but there is plenty of opportunity to try new races and there are pleasant Sundays spent racing in rural surroundings followed by a good pint. Annual trips away include the Nidd Valley Guy Fawkes 10 and the Northern 12 stage Road Relay.

During the summer those interested in track and field transfer their attentions to Division 3 of the Northern Track League. There are four league fixtures, with venues ranging from Carlisle to York. These fixtures give everybody a chance to compete, officiate or support.

Veteran Athletes

• Veteran women aged 35 and over
• Veteran men aged 40 and over

Veterans tend to compete mostly alongside their senior colleagues as described above. However, there are various dedicated competitions for vets throughout the year, which our athletes also compete in.