NATIONAL CLUB OF THE YEAR 2017
Following on from the Club’s amazing England Athletics East Midlands Club of the Year Award, along with the two well deserved accolades for Andrew and Jim, we are delighted to announce that England Athletics has awarded us NATIONAL CLUB OF THE YEAR 2017 for which we are all bursting with pride. There’s an immense amount of hard work carried out by our Junior Leaders, our committee members and many, many of our Club Members who put in such a lot towards making our Club the success it clearly is, and to have all our efforts recognised is so pleasing. Well done each and every one of us!
And not only has the Club been recognised by England Athletics, but at the locally held High Peak Sports Awards, we’re proud to announce that the Club was lapping up even more accolades – Club of the Year, Junior Team of the Year and, once again and very much deserved – Jim Bradley was awarded Services to Sport. Some of our talented Juniors were finalists in the Sportsperson of the Year too – Helen Thornhill, Lauren Wilshaw, Amy Whelan and Sam Soles.
Want to belong to a fantastically amazing and successful Club? You can’t go wrong with Buxton Athletic Club!!
PROUD BUXTON AC LANDS THREE ATHLETICS AWARDS
Jubilant Buxton AC has been named the top club in the East Midlands by the England Athletics organisation for the second year running.
What’s more, two of the club’s stalwart members also landed accolades. The founder of the Target 5K group, Andrew Wearden, took the Run Together Group Leader honour, while veteran Jim Bradley, a founder member of Buxton AC 40 years ago, took the Services To Athletics award.
The main award recognises the club’s commitment to developing, supporting and nurturing its volunteers and also backing its diverse range of members. It offers high-quality, progressive coaching to more than 200 adult and 100 junior athletes, of all ages, from elite performers to total beginners.
Several talented athletes have produced the best results in the club’s history, and Buxton AC is heavily involved in the local community too, raising thousands of pounds for good causes
Very much a family club, Buxton AC supports anyone aiming to get fit and healthy, and boasts a proactive approach to turning volunteers into leaders and coaches. One such leader is Wearden, who set up the Target 5K group in 2015 to help those who wanted to take up running or who were returning to the sport after an absence. Since then, he has supported more than 200 people in taking their first steps towards a happier and healthier lifestyle.
Full of innovative ideas to encourage participation, success rate and continued commitment, he has organised social events, meals out, trips to events, family sports day and charity runs.
Bradley, who is 75 years old now, is regarded, quite simply, as Mr Buxton AC and an inspiration to everyone at the club, young and old. He has held a number of posts over the years and remains ‘captain of the ship’ as club president.
He continues to offer his services, particularly to the junior section, and organises the monthly Pavilion Gardens 5K races, which raise funds for charity. A talented runner in his own right too, he still holds club records in various veteran categories.
Both Bradley and Wearden said they were immensely proud and honoured to win their awards.