Cardiff AAC On The Marks To Celebrate 50th Anniversary

By Owen Morgan

Cardiff Amateur Athletics Club marks its 50th anniversary on Saturday by hosting some of the sport’s top British clubs at the city’s International Sports Campus in Leckwith.

The British Athletics League Premier Division fixture will double up as a celebration of the club’s formation in 1968 when local clubs Roath Harriers and Birchgrove Harriers joined forces to form Cardiff AAC.

After Cardiff gained promotion back to the Premier Division last summer, the club requested they host this weekend’s round of the competition as it coincided with the formation of the club.

As a result, the likes of Birchfield Harriers, Newham and Essex Beagles, Thames Valley Harriers and local rivals Swansea Harriers, who also gained promotion to the top flight last summer, will help make the anniversary an extra special occasion.

Cardiff, who have been represented over the years by the likes of Lynn Davies, Berwyn Price, Colin Jackson, Tanni Grey Thompson, Jamie Baulch, Christian Malcolm and many other star names, boast a proud record in the Premier League, having been champions three times in a row in 1973, ’74 and ’75.

Christian Malcolm is one of many Olympians to have competed for Cardiff. Pic: Owen Morgan

And the club made a good start to their first season back in the top flight since 2014 during the first round match in Manchester last month when they finished third out of the eight teams.

 

Playing a captain’s role for Cardiff was Brett Morse, who registered a season’s best throw of 58.62m in the discus to take first place in the A event.

There was another win for Cardiff in the 400m where Owen Smith also produced a season’s best performance of 46.76 to win the A event.

Chinua Ebereonwu won the high jump B event with a leap 1.85m – a full 10 cms higher than second placed Stephen Baker, of Birchfield Harriers.

Cardiff AAC captain Brett Morse bagged season’s best discus throw in Manchester.

Joseph Reid also chipped in with maximum points in the 800m A race, where he narrowly edged out Dominic Walton, of City of Sheffield and Dearne in a time of 1:52.45. Guy Smith produced one of Swansea Harriers best performances of the day to finish third.

It was a difficult day overall for the West Wales club as they finished in eighth place overall.

Both Cardiff and Swansea hope they will be boosted this Saturday by the return of some athletes who were recovering from competing at the Commonwealth Games and those representing their respective universities at the BUCS championships, which coincided with the first round.

Cardiff AAC and Swansea Harriers will go head-to-head with some of Britain’s top athletes on Saturday.

Saturday’s meeting will also incorporate the UK Women’s Athletics League Division One match which will see Cardiff taking on Crawley, Enfield and Haringay, Harrow, Notts, Shafsbury Barnet Harriers, Sale Harriers and Woodford Green and Essex Ladies.

Cardiff narrowly missed out on promotion to the top league last season and will be looking to get this season’s campaign off to a flying start.

As well as a full day of top class athletics, there will be plenty to entertain the crowds away from the track.
During the day the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment Parachute Display Team will be dropping in on the party, which will feature military ground displays and stands.

There will also be a programme of children’s athletics arranged by the Cardiff Athletics Academy, as well as plenty of family fun including bouncy castles and face painting.

The day’s activities start at 10.30am and they are scheduled to finish at around 5.30pm. Entry is £3 for adults, £1.50 for under-16, while under-8s go free.