2021 is the inagural year for the National Athletics League (NAL), which replaces both the British Athletics League, and the UK Women's Athletics League. As well as the NAL, the club will also be taking part in the Southern Athletics League (SAL).
NAL fixtures
Sunday 6 June, Peterborough
Saturday 3 July, Stevenage
Saturday 7 August, Chelmsford
Saturday 28 August, Bedford
SAL Fixtures
Saturday 19 June, Sandy
Sunday 11 July, Peterborough
Saturday 14 August, Peterborough
Saturday 11 September, Bedford
Team Managers
Men:
Women: Emma Coombes and Jemma Eastwood
Both leagues will operate slightly differently this year only. Following consultation with member clubs, both the NAL and SAL have decided to opt for local competition in 2021 to avoid a number potential complications (e.g. with the SAL’s round robin system if any matches are cancelled, or limits on travelling for NAL matches) whilst still providing as many competitive opportunities as possible for athletes. Both leagues were acutely aware of the impact of covid on training opportunities for athletes-particularly for those in technical events- and the need for a period preparation prior to recommencing high level competition. Therefore both leagues will commence in June. Due to the structural changes made for this year, both leagues have decided will be no promotion or relegation in 2021. However, all matches will be scored competitively and on league placings given (with trophies for the winners). Both leagues are also implementing / exploring a number innovations to enhance the competitive experience for athletes.
NAL
We have been put into a local (championship) divisional group (mini-League), also comprising of Chelmsford AC, Herts Phoenix AC, Peterborough & Nene Valley AC, and Southend AC. We are not only competing against these clubs, but also the other championship clubs (within their local groups) based upon match points through Mick Bromilow’s scoring system - where athletes would receive points based upon the standard of their event performance and not their position within the event- there will be awards for each group winner and trophies for the top two clubs from Premiership and Championship Divisions. There will also be awards for the Leading Divisional male and female athlete awarded after each fixture. Far from a non-competitive season!
SAL
This year’s southern athletics league has been extremely localised. The upshot of this is that there will be no matches with more than an hour’s travel! The other teams in our group are:·Peterborough & Nene valley, Biggleswade/Leighton buzzard. Hunts AC, and Northampton AC. The two key changes to note are: ·Where a club has more than two competitors in any event, the best two athletes by performance, will score points for their club. (Meaning that even if you enter as a non-scorer, you may come away as the A string scorer) Non scorers will be very much welcomed and encouraged!·As with the NAL, The Bromilow performance-based scoring system will be used, in 2021 only, to score each meeting. A league table will be maintained of the best score for each club throughout the season.
