Find out what we get up to and how you can help.
Over the years, we have had athletes representing the Western Isles and Scotland at all levels up to National Championships and World Island Games. Although only a small minority will achieve this, the club’s aim is to help each and every one of our members to develop and achieve their full potential.
Competitions
We encourage athletes to take part in a range of competitions across the year. Stornoway events tend to take place on Saturdays and the group are able to travel up and down in the one day. Competitions in Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow or Grangemouth will require at least 1-2 nights away from home. We rely on fundraising efforts and sponsorship from local businesses to subsidise our travel to these events.
Competitions are advertised on the Scottish athletics events page https://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/events/ There are entry deadlines and no late entries are allowed.
Competition entry fees are charged per event and vary between £7 – £8.50. Entry fees are covered by the club but are non-refundable.
At most competitions, track events are run as heats, semi-finals and finals depending on the number of entries received. Horizontal Jumps and Throws: all athletes will receive 3 trials, with the top 8 athletes receiving a further 3 trials.
The Power of 10 has inspired and motivated athletes to reach a standard of performance. After competitions, athlete performances are recorded on Power of Ten along with PBs (Personal Best) SBs (Season’s Best. https://www.thepowerof10.info/
National and UK rankings motivate and act as goals for athlete performance.
EVENTS – WINTER SEASON
CROSS COUNTRY/INDOOR SEASON (SEPTEMBER TO MARCH)
Generally, athletes only compete in their own age/gender group within the same race and the team they are in will also be the same age/gender.
At most events/leagues individual medals are awarded to the 3 top runners. The top 3 teams also receive medals. Teams are usually the highest 3 placed runners from a club.
Cross-country has an excellent emphasis on team as well as individual performances. Distances are approximately 1500m for U11, 3000m for U13, 4000m for U15 and 6000m+ for U17.
NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (OCTOBER)
• One day event. The venue can change each year
• Same-gender teams made up of 1xU13, 1xU15 and 1xU17.
• Teams selected on form and availability by club coaches.
CHRISTMAS SANTA DASH (DECEMBER)
• A bit of fun pre-Christmas, open to all ages & abilities
• Dress up and run/walk our XC course at Langass woods
• Hot chocolate served afterwards
NORTH DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (DECEMBER)
• One day event, with venue changing each year, open to all Scottish Athletic members
• Separate male and female race for U13/U15/U17/U20 and Senior age groups.
• Event is used to select U13/U15/U17/U20 and Senior runners to compete for team ‘Scotland North’ at the Inter-District Championships.
UIST & BARRA XC SERIES (JANUARY-MARCH)
• 3 XC events held at Liniclate Machair
• Open to all – members and non-members
• Separate races for U13/U15/U17/U20 and Senior age groups.
• Points awarded to Primary schools, highest score at end of series awarded school shield
INTER‐DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS (JANUARY)
• One day event – North team chosen (by selection committee) primarily from results of North District Cross Country Championships.
• North teams compete against East and West teams.
• The top 6 runners in each team also receive medals.
NATIONAL AGE GROUP INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (JANUARY/FEBRUARY)
• Championships at U13, U15, U17, U20s – held on different dates at Emirates Arena, Glasgow.
• up to 3 Track and field events can be entered.
NATIONAL AGE GROUP CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (FEBRUARY)
• One day event, normally held in Falkirk.
SCOTTISH ATHLETICS SUPERTEAMS – UNDER 12S INDOOR (FEBRUARY)
• One day event, held in Emirates Indoor Stadium, Glasgow.
• Teams of 4 athletes – same gender.
• Team points scoring team system.
• Each athlete competes at 60m, long jump, shot putt and 4 x 200m relay.
• Athletes are selected by club coaches and team entries are made by the club.
EVENTS – SUMMER SEASON
OUTDOOR TRACK SEASON – APRIL TO SEPTEMBER
OPEN GRADED MINI MEETS – TRACK AND FIELD (APRIL‐AUGUST)
• One day events open to all athletes U11 to seniors.
• Athletes can enter 3 track & field events
• All age groups are encouraged to attend.
• No prizes, but official times/distances/heights recorded for Power of 10.
RAM LEAGUE (APRIL‐AUGUST)
• Athletes (U11-Senior) are selected by their coaches to represent NUAAC and partner team at 3 meets held at Queens Park, Inverness.
• Meets are on a Saturday or Sunday.
• Teams compete at the events for points.
• There are “A” and “B” Counter athletes who gain points for the team. On occasions, there can also be “non-counter” entries. No points are allocated for non-counters, but their times/distances/heights are officially recorded for Power of 10.
• The top 6 teams in the different age brackets (based on points) go through to the final.
NORTH DISTRICT AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS (MAY)
• Held in Inverness, and open to U13/U15/U17/U20 age groups.
• Held over 2 days (Friday/Saturday).
• Up to 3 Track and field events can be selected.
SCOTTISH ATHLETICS U12 SUPERTEAMS (APRIL-JUNE)
• One day event for U12.
• Individual athletes scoring points for 3x events (100m, long jump, turbo javelin)
NATIONAL AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS (AUGUST)
• Held in rotating venues in Scotland over individual age group days, take place over two days (Saturday/Sunday).
• U13/U15/U17/U20 and Seniors have different dates.
• Up to 3 Track and field events can be selected.
NORTH AREA TROPHY (SEPTEMBER)
• Held in Inverness (usually Saturday), and open to U13/U15/U17/U20 age groups.
• Up to 3 Track and field events can be selected.
SCHOOL’S COMPETITIONS
There are also local & national events for schools that are not arranged through Scottish Athletics. Schools are required to enter their athletes/teams. Athletes compete for their school not NUAAC.
Volunteers
Volunteers are essential for the club to operate –the coaches are volunteers; the committee are volunteers. The fees we pay are not payments to the actual coaches – they are to cover the running costs of the club, professional memberships and use of facilities, transport and suchlike.
If you can give up a little time to help, it would be greatly appreciated – help that we always need is as follows:
• Helpers for trips – drivers, supervision etc
• Parent helpers on training nights
• Field helpers at events eg. XC series
• Helpers with catering at events
• Volunteers willing to train as coaches or coaching assistants
• General help or skill specific – if there is a specific skill you have and think would be of use, let us know!
North Uist Amateur Athletics Club 