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Southampton Athletic Club held a celebration evening to mark a very successful season in 2012. 

The club teams are riding high in all their competitions, their club chairman Ritchie Pearson is an Olympic Torch bearer and they have just received Clubmark from England Athletics. 

They were also welcoming back all their athletes who took part in the Olympic trials for the GB Olympic team. The occasion was marked with a collection of beautifully decorated cakes, which went down well with the athletes and coaches!

The club’s Welfare Officer, Alison Beckingham, has headed up the project to gain Clubmark re-accreditation, and has worked hard with all the coaches to ensure they met the criteria.  She also organized the successful celebration, resulting in excellent coverage in the local newspaper. (Alison and Richie pictured top)

The Clubmark certificate was awarded by Chris Benning, their local Club and Coach Support Officer.

The club is very proud of a number of members who are involved in the Torch Relay.  Ritchie Pearson and Junior Sprints Coach Roger Sherliker (pictured above) were both nominated successfully by their daughters.  Ritchie will be running in Yarmouth, on the Isle of Wight while Roger will take part in Southampton.  John Wright (pictured right being interviewed by the Daily Echo's Wendy Gee about the torch relay), one of the club’s athletes has already been a torch bearer in Cumbria in recognition of his volunteering and fundraising activities for charity.  John is also the President of the Athletics Club at the University of Southampton.

On the track, the athletes are enjoying success in all age groups, from the Wessex League through to the Men’s Vets League.  They are first equal with Derby AC in the BAL in Division 3, currently in 4th place in the UK Women’s League in Division 1, have won their Division in the UK Young  Athletes League and preparing for the Area Final, leading in Division 1 of the Southern Athletics League and in second place in the Itchen Division of the UK Junior League, behind rivals, Brighton and Hove AC.

Photos by Christine Benning
 

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