Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club

{{short description|Athletics club in England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox athletics club

| name = City of Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club

| type =

| image = 150px

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| founded = 1905

| ground = Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre (athletics track)

| location = Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, Southend-on-Sea SS2 4FA, England

| coordinates = {{coord|51|33|13|N|0|44|08|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}

| league(s) =

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| website = {{url|https://southendac.co.uk/ |official website}}

}}

City of Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club is an athletics club based in Essex.

The club has one track, which is based at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre athletics track in Garon Park on Eastern Avenue, Southend-on-Sea. The club is affiliated to UK Athletics, England Athletics and the Essex County Athletic Association.{{cite web|url=https://southendac.co.uk/contact-us/ |title=Contact Us |website=City of Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club |access-date=24 April 2025}}

History

Image:Southend - Leisure and tennis.jpg

File:Ann Wilson 1972.jpg

The formation of Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club took place over 100 years ago in 1905 when it was known as Southend and County Harriers (or Southend Harriers for short). The club was primarily a cross country club and held it's first run on 7 October 1905 from the club's headquarters at the Blue Boar Hotel in Prittlewell.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19050923/139/0008 |title=Southend Harriers |work=Sporting Life |date=23 September 1905 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=24 April 2025}} Within the first decade the club had become "A leading club in athletics".

In 1937, the Southend Harriers merged with another club called the Leigh-on-sea Harriers (founded 1912).{{cite web|url=https://southendac.co.uk/club-history/ |title=Club History |website=City of Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club |access-date=24 April 2025}}

In 2005 the club celebrated their centenary and in the same year the Senior Men were promoted to the British Athletic League. The club is based at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre, Garon Park, where it moved to in 1996 from its old home of Southchurch Park and in 2015 celebrated the opening of their Club House with a picture-window view of the athletic arena. The Leisure Centre is also home to many other sports such as: cricket, indoor and outdoor tennis + football, and golf.

Notable athletes

= Olympians =

class="wikitable"
width=150|Athlete

!width=150|Club

!width=250|Events

!width=100|Games

!width=100|Medals/Ref

Frederick HarmerSouthend Harriers400 metres hurdles1908{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69114 |title=Frederick Harmer Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=24 April 2025}}
Henry HarmerSouthend Harriers100 metres1908{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69115 |title=Henry Harmer Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=24 April 2025}}
Martyn LuckingSouthend ACshot put1960, 1964{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69265 |title=Martyn Lucking Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=24 April 2025}}
Christina PersighettiSouthend AClong jump1960{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68754 |title=Christina Persighetti Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=24 April 2025}}
Ann WilsonSouthend AC80/100m hurdles, long jump, pentathlon1968, 1972{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68818 |title=Ann Wilson Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=24 April 2025}}
Peter MarlowSouthend AC20km walk1972{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69278 |title=Peter Marlow Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=24 April 2025}}
Sarah WilhelmySouthend AC4x100 metres relay2000{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/86944 |title=Sarah Wilhelmy Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=24 April 2025}}

References

{{Reflist}}