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Club History

Wymondham Athletics Club (WAC) has a long history as a running club in Wymondham. putting on  events for the wider running community. It started as a jogging club and has progressed to having 5 different groups for all abilities Regularly entering and competing in local events. 

1978 - 1987

1978 - Club formed in May as Wymondham Joggers by: John Dunsire (chemist), Chris Croton (GP), Brian Harvey (Sports teacher). It was about jogging for fitness and fun - NOT competition! (There were only 2-3 road races in Norfolk at that time. Up to 100 attended, 15-20 mins jogging 3-4 times a week. 

1980 - Average attendance down to 10-15, about 30 names on membership list.

1981 - First London Marathon announced and jogging for fitness was changed to racing. This is mainly down to Eva Osborne challenging everyone. For lots this was their first race! The 15 members started to see racing as attractive. 

1983 - Our first Wymondham race! Sun 13 Feb, 10 m, 61 finishers!

1984 - General meeting held, first committee formed. 

John Wood - Chairman

Mike Gibbs - Secretary

Colin Jeffs - Treasurer

Stuart Colledge - Club coach

Admin started with records kept in school notebooks and a few funds in a tin cash box. A newsletter, fixture lists, club info etc. Stuart started organising interval and hill training.

1986 - Affiliation to Amateur Athletic Association (AAA), the club was officially a running club and no longer a jogging club. We devised and introduced the Swanton Morley Road Relay and organising two road races each year.  

1988 - 1997

1988 - Celebrated first 10 years, with a party and disco and souvenir mugs. Featured in "Today's Runner" magazine at the time described us as a 'New breed' or 'citizen' running club - proud to be different from trad athletic clubs. Welcoming all abilities and runners with all kinds of running interest. From fun runs  and cross country to road races and relays.

 

Our 100th member joined! 

1989 - First Wymondham 20. 350 finishers in second year. Reputation for high quality races - 'best in Norfolk'

 

 

1990 - Club trip to Holland for Lauwersloop relay (and next 5 years), Our best placing was fourth out of 69 teams. 

1991 - Club rules introduced such as the Chair can only serve 3 consecutive years

1991 - Richard Jackson became the chair

 

1992 - 9 Names were proposed with a name change to WAC 'Joggers' dropped after 14 years!. A club kit was introduced, along with the logo and club colours.

Track and Field was encouraged with sessions at UEA. The membership grew to 60 juniors and a total membership of over 150. 

1994 - Eva became chair and introduced our first ladies 5k. Only the second such event in East Anglia. 

 

The Junior membership was unfortunately not sustainable and was suspended. 

 

The veteran membership thrived with the women reaching the top levels of regional competition.

 

1995 - The spring 10miler. 5 successful races were organised a year.

1997 - Peter Clarke took over as chairman

1997 - First awards night "Grand Social"

1998 - 2007

1998 - New course for the 20 miler to start in the town centre

 

1998 - 20 Year Anniversary, with junior sports, egg & spoon race, rounders, volley ball, tug o' war, relay race and junior tough guy

 

 

2008 - 2017

2011 - Tracy Stevens becomes Club Chair

2011 - Introduced a beginners running group lead by Ian Sturgess

2012 - Ron Marsh was a torchbearer for Olympic Torch Relay around Filby in Norfolk​

2013 - WAC website created

2013 - Race entries went online for NYD10K and 20 miler

2013 - Kim Reader became head coach after Ron Marsh retired

2018 - 2027

2019 - Tony Beales became the chair

2021 - Andrew Lane became the chair

2023 - Katie Whitmore became the chair

Club Kit

First WAC Kit.jpeg
1992 WAC Kit.jpeg
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Runners of the Year

Senior Runners of the Year

Year
Female
Male
2025
Dani Gilbert
Kev Simpson
2024
Harriet Carr
Kev Simpson
2023
Harriet Carr
Gareth Seville / Rob Stratton
2022
Matt Webster
2021
Matt Webster
2019
Kyle Brooks
2018
Kirk Bagge
2017
Peter Harvey
2016

Vet Runners of the Year

Year
Female
Male
2025
Kim Powles
Todd Lake
2024
Claire Brown / Jo Rayner
Kevin Denmark
2023
Alison Armstrong
Graham Walsh
2022
Claire Brown
Keith Blake
2021
Sharon Hurren
Kevin Holland
2019
Alex Smith
Kevin Frazer
2018
Cat Cummings
Mark Banfield
2017
Cat Cummings
Stephen Dady
2016
Alex Smith
Jack Gillick
Year
Female
Male
2025
Lisa Greengrass
Tony Beales
2024
Jet Watkinson
Matt Webster
2023
Jet Watkinson
Matt Webster
2022
Adrian Hall
2021
Keith Blake
2019
Tony Beales
2018
Tony Beales
2017
Adrian Hall
2016
Martin Stringfellow

XC Runners of the Year

Newcomer of the Year

Year
Female Newcomer
Male Newcomer
2025
Ella Woodcock
Neil Green
2024
Lacey Bareham
Kevin Simpson
2023
Hannah John
Chris Bullock
2022
Maria Lewis
Ross Palgrave
2021
Kathryn Heaney
Matt Webster
2019
2018
2017
2016
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