Clubmark NI

Mid-Ulster Athletic Club achieves Clubmark NI Quality Standard

The Mid-Ulster Athletic Club in Magherafelt has been presented with the prestigious Clubmark NI award, the quality standard for junior sports clubs in N Ireland. It becomes the first sports club based in the town to achieve the award, following a rigorous assessment process.

Clubmark NI is Northern Ireland's junior club accreditation and development programme. Mid-Ulster Athletic Club achieved Clubmark NI accredited status by meeting defined quality standards in the areas of:

• Effective Management;

• Quality Coaching; and

• Competition Safety in Sport.

The Club has been working towards the standard with the assistance of Athletics NI, the governing body for athletics in N Ireland. An award presentation recently took place at the Club’s training base in Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt (pictured above).

The Club was first formed in 1980 (then as Magherafelt and District Athletic Club) and has operated from the Meadowbank location ever since. The Club seeks to promote community participation in healthy recreation by providing coaching and facilities for athletic sports in the Mid-Ulster area. One of its co-founders, Mr Ivor Reynolds, served as Chairman of the Club from its formation in 1980 until Ivor’s untimely death in May of this year. The achievement of the Clubmark NI Award is a fitting tribute to Ivor’s lifetime of dedication to the Club.

New members are always welcome and the Club caters for a full spectrum of ages, from 5 years to 70+years! Weekly training sessions are held at Meadowbank Arena as follows:

Junior Athletes Training, ages 5 – 7 and ages 8 - 10

Tuesday 7 - 8 pm

Development Athletes Training, ages 11 – 14

Tuesday 8 - 9 pm & Thursday 7 - 8 pm

Senior Athletes Training, ages 15+

Tuesday 8 - 9 pm & Thursday 7 - 8 pm

Weekly training takes place all year round. The summer (outdoor) programme runs from April to September and the winter (indoor) programme from October to March. Training facilities are hired from Magherafelt District Council. The Club has built up an inventory of athletics training equipment bought using Club funds and generous sponsorship.

Club members compete regularly in events throughout the UK and Ireland, organized by the national athletics governing bodies. The Club has been very successful in developing award winning athletes throughout its history, some of whom have gone on to representation at national level.