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.
JRW - 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
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
1998 - 2007
2008 - 2017
2018 - 2027
Club Kit
