Macclesfield Athletics Track Appeal

The 10^th anniversary of the opening of the Macclesfield Athletics Track was celebrated in June 2009. The athletics track was built as a result of a campaign by a large number of people including many members of Macclesfield Harriers and Macclesfield Borough Council. The Macclesfield Athletics Track Appeal (registered charity number 1041755) was instrumental in raising awareness and providing a focus for fund raising resulting in a contribution of more than £50,000 towards the cost of the track.

Since the opening of the track, thousands of people from across the UK have benefited from this excellent facility, from joggers, schoolchildren and club athletes to county national and international standard athletes. Competitive events held at the track and the connected perimeter trail include Macclesfield schools championships, individual school sports days, open meetings, National Junior Leagues, Northern Leagues, Cheshire Leagues, Cheshire county championships and Cheshire schools championships. The estimate number of athletes using the track is 1000 users per month. In addition summer sports courses include the national Startrack week-long event organised by Macclesfield Harriers which provides an excellent introduction to athletics for youngsters aged 9-15 years old.

Macclesfield Harriers have regular training sessions at the track on Tuesdays and Thursdays offering a wide range of athletics events, although new coaches are always welcome, particularly in the throws and jumps specialities. Young (and older) athletes from Macclesfield Harriers have benefited greatly from the track facilities and coaching with a number of athletes gaining representative honours for England, Scotland and Great Britain over the past few years; most recently former member Libby Clegg won a silver medal for Great Britain in the 100m at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Hundreds of other athletes, young and older, have enjoyed their own individual challenges and worked hard to take the Harriers to the Premier Division of the Young Athletes league, gaining ‘personal best’ times and distances in the process.

Money raised from the Macclesfield Half Marathon and donated to the Athletics Track Appeal will go directly to supporting athletics in the Borough of Macclesfield, either in improving the facilities in terms of an indoor athletics training area and covered seating and/or providing more direct assistance to athletics development in Macclesfield. Volunteers to assist with these plans and build on the success of the track should contact Barbara Murray on 01625 573729. We hope that future generations of young athletes will continue to benefit from the provision of the track to develop their athletics skills and achieve their potential.

Barbara Murray

Chairperson, Macclesfield Athletics Track Appeal

Registered Charity Number 1041755