Welcome to the information page for Southport Waterloo AC, serving athletics in Sefton, North Liverpool and West Lancs. We are based at Litherland Sports Park. 

We are a members' club, affiliated to UK Athletics and the North of England Athletic Association. Everyone is welcome and membership is available from 9 years of age to senior. We have been awarded England Athletics Clubmark accreditation which signifies our commitment to being a safe, effective and child-friendly athletic club.
We cater for a wide range of athletic disciplines: Track and Field, Road Running, Cross Country, Sportshall Athletics and have members who compete in Fell Running and Triathlons. 

The purpose of this page is to give you as much information as possible about the Club. Lots more information is available on other pages but if you can't find what you are looking for, just ask one of our coaches or contact the Secretary, Ron Scott, 01704 566995. 

The Club has representative teams at all age levels from under 13 boys and girls through to senior men and women.  Summer competitions include:

All these leagues provide competition for both male and female members.
For most league meetings, team managers select two athletes per event to cover the complete track and field programme, with each athlete usually able to compete in a maximum of three events (under 20s 4 and seniors 6 in some leagues) plus a relay.  More athletes are able to compete in the Mid Lancs League - up to 8 in track events - making these fixtures an ideal opportunity to test performances and experiment with new events.
Our members compete in the Merseyside County Track & Field Championships in May with some athletes going on to compete in the North of England and even higher Championships. In addition, many of our young athletes compete in both the Merseyside Schools County Schools and the English Schools National Championships. 

Open meetings are also held regularly throughout the summer at venues such as Wavertree, Stretford, Wigan,  Blackpool and Warrington.
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Traditionally, cross country running has been the backbone of athletic participation during the winter months. It provides regular competition for all age groups from 9 upwards and the races always generate an atmosphere of friendly competition combined with a great team spirit.

There is no maximum number for club participants per race; anyone can run. 

The Club competes in the following cross country leagues. The Liverpool & District has a championships race in February. The Mid Lancs has numerous team and individual awards based on the best four performances from the 6 fixtures. An annual awards evening in April is combined with a popular disco.

Weather conditions can also make a difference so warm, dry clothing is advisable. Cross Country running is heartening for the soul but it can be bad news for the washing machine! 

In addition to League fixtures, there are also a number of championship races throughout the winter: 

Merseyside County Championships
Merseyside and English Schools Championships 
Northern Counties Championships (individual entry via club) 
English National Cross Country Relays (team selection)
English National Cross Country Championships (individual entry via club)

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The Club is a member of the North West Sportshall Athletics League and this provides competition for under 11, under 13 and under 15 boys and girls, with running, jumping and throwing events in an indoor setting. There are four league fixtures, usually held in sports leisure centres, and a NW regional final each year.

Sportshall Athletics originated in Merseyside. It is now well established through Britain and leagues have sprung up in many other countries. It is great fun for youngsters and parents alike and an excellent way to start an athletics career.
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Road Running is a major part of the Club's activities providing opportunities for all from the happy jogger to the elite runner!

Events of various distances are well publicised in the athletics press, but you can contact the Road Running Secretary and find out which races other members are entering and which are Grand Prix events.   Although most open events cater primarily for senior runners, many also have fun runs making for a family day out. 

Our teams compete in the following autumn Road Relay Races:-

The Club organises an annual Grand Prix competition linked to performances within a series of local road races. 12 or 13 races are selected each year for inclusion in the Grand Prix and the best 6 positions are totalled to decide the Grand Prix male and female winners and the male and female Vet winners. Trophies are presented at the get-together immediately following the Christmas Handicap. 
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The Club organises and promotes the following major events, with each race firmly established on the regional road / multi-terrain racing calendar. See also our own road races page.

A very popular series of separate 4-mile races for men and women and a 3K fun run in and around Victoria Park in Southport. These races attract runners from all over Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire for a family day out in Southport. The fast, flat park paths are great for PBs.

This race on the early May Bank holiday Monday was awarded 2nd best off-road and multi-terrain event in 2002. It continues to be a class fixture and the only event of its kind in Merseyside.
Starting and finishing in Merchant Taylor's School playing fields, the main race includes the Hightown nature trail and the Crosby coastal promenade. With 3K and 5K races as well as the main 15K race, there is truly something for everyone making for another great family day out.

Usually staged on the day after Boxing day, the Club Christmas Handicap races - where runners start at staggered times according to their handicap and should all finish together - attract many junior and senior runners keen to work off the turkey and Christmas pudding. It is staged on a scenic and challenging course over beach, sandhills and pinewood paths in Formby. A 1-lap course is ample for junior and some senior members with the more dedicated runners going on for a 2nd lap for 6.4 miles. The Larry Hyland Memorial Trophy is presented to the first junior member home in the 1-lap race.
New Year's Day Run
The Christmas tradition is continued with a morning run on New Year's Day from Blundellsands coastguard station to the Fisherman's Rest in Birkdale, some 13-14 miles along the scenic Sefton Coastal Path. Club seniors have enjoyed this start to the year since the coastal path opened in 1990.

These old fashioned mile races at Victoria Park Southport are held early on a Tuesday evening in mid May with school and individual awards made on the evening. The races attract teams from many Sefton schools with separate races for boys and girls in individual school year groups. Runners who are not entered by their school can still come along and take part as individuals. 

Our home base moved to Litherland Sports Park in July 2006 and it is hoped additional events will be mounted around the track facility there. Watch for further announcements.
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The following gives a general outline of our main, regular training sessions. These are liable to change so if coming along for the first time you are advised to contact the coach.

The club currently has a number of qualified coaches covering a range of athletics disciplines, all of whom are supported by an active Club policy for furthering their coaching qualifications.

We are very much a family club and it is always encouraging when parents take an interest and help out at training sessions and go on to take a qualification themselves.  Courses are organised by the UK:A in regional locations throughout the year with the Club refunding course fees. 

The club also has qualified Technical Officials.  Opportunities exist for parents and others to assist our Track & Field officials at league meetings, gaining a greater knowledge of events while enjoying a closer involvement in athletics. 

See our contacts page for further information about coaches, officials and team managers.
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A coach is often hired for Club track & field away fixtures- particularly the National Young Athletes League.  For other cross country, sportshall athletics and senior-only events, car sharing can be arranged either at training sessions on the week before competition, or by team managers when organising the teams.

To help keep subscriptions down to probably the lowest in the North West, the club has a Saturday bonus ball lottery scheme which, although fully subscribed at present, has vacancies from time to time. The cost is £13 per quarter with an 80% return in prize money. Vacancies are advertisedon the Bonusball page.

Each week in both the Crosby Herald and Southport Visitor the Club Secretary maintains an athletics column with informative Club comment including race reports with results and details of forthcoming fixtures. Regular reports and features also appear on this web site news pages.

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