SUMMER may be over, but a great year of women’s sport rolls on.
And thanks to National Lottery players, grassroots athletics has received more than £200million of funding, helping to make it more accessible, upgrade facilities and support coaching.
NEVER TOO SOON TO START
Cornwall Athletic Club
CORNWALL Athletic Club likes to encourage potential at an early age: not just junior girls, but pre-school infants as young as four.
“You see kids stuck with parents at the side of the track, so rather than let them be cold and bored we start them on some basics – co-ordination, jumping foam barriers, that sort of thing,” says Karen Robilliard, the club’s track and field chair. “They love it.”
It pays off too.
The club, based in Redruth, is thriving, thanks in part to over £56,000 of National Lottery funding which helped build the clubhouse.
Around 80 children, mostly girls, train there every Saturday with the Academy and there are more than 150 paying senior club members.
One big name is pole vaulter Molly Caudery, whose bid for a medal in the Tokyo World Championships sadly ended with an injury.
“Molly was here from about age 11 and she regularly comes back, does some training and poses for photos,” says Karen.
“She’s a lovely lady. It gives me goosebumps just talking about her.”
NOT AFRAID TO DREAM BIG
Deeside Amateur Athletic Club
THIS CLUB in North Wales is one of many around the country that prides itself on supporting girls both to have fun and fulfil their potential.
“It’s important that kids have something positive to do in the area,” says coach Tania Williams.
“There’s no pressure, but if you’re talented, we’ll do everything we can to help you progress.”
Based at Coleg Cambria, Flintshire, the club celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and is rightly popular, with 200 members and a waiting list.
A new track, built using £27,000 of National Lottery funding via Sport Wales, provided a foundation for success.
Deeside was a core part of the team that competed at the UK Youth Development League upper age group national finals this season.
It’s also home to rising talents such as Olivia Scrimshaw, under-15 British record holder for triple jump.
And club graduate Sabrina Fortune won gold recently in the women’s shot put F20 at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.
“We have kids who just come to enjoy the training, compete and have their friendship groups,” says Tania, “and we’ve got talented young people with aspirations to be Olympians. They can improve so rapidly.
“We don’t just have some of the best kids in Wales – we’ve got some of the best in the UK.”
EVERYONE’S WELCOME
Annadale Striders
BELFAST is a growing city, but for women who move there it can be difficult to fit in.
In 2021, Annadale Striders set about becoming a safe space to attract more female athletes.
“The aim was to give them not just a competitive platform but a friendly atmosphere and a dedicated support network,” says women’s coach Alison Stocks.
“A French girl moved here last year and she told me she was so grateful to find such a welcoming club.
“We also have a few ladies with young children and we’re here to help them too – last weekend I ended up babysitting on the trackside while one mum ran.”
National Lottery funding is channelled to Striders from Athletics Northern Ireland.
The club has set aside a pot of money for female development, so women can benefit from dedicated expert coaching and sessions in areas like nutrition and sports psychology.
Today, membership has more than doubled to 30, and success has followed.
Last year Striders came first and third at the NI & Ulster 10K Championships and won back the Northern Ireland Masters Relay Championship title.
“The club has been 100 per cent supportive,” says Alison. “We’re going from strength to strength.”
OLYMPIC HERITAGE
Edinburgh Athletic Club
AS THE city’s oldest and largest athletic club, Edinburgh AC has some distinguished role models – from Olympians such as Alan Wells and Moira Maguire to current middle distance champions Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman.
“One of our coaches has a picture of Josh and Jake representing us as juniors which he likes to hand round to new boys and girls to show them who they are, where they came from and what can be achieved here,” says Yvonne Jones, club president and a team coach.
The club’s home, Meadowbank Sports Centre, received £5million of National Lottery funding as part of a refurbishment project, and the talent pathway is as strong as ever.
This season the lower age group won the Scottish league and competed at the UK YDL national finals, posting 42 personal bests.
“We take girls and boys and we nurture them straight from playground to podium if that’s what they aspire to,” says Yvonne.
“But most importantly we’re here to make athletics inclusive and enjoyable to everyone.
“It’s a great club to be involved in – which is why we have a waiting list for youngsters wanting to join.”
