Fife AC welcomes and encourages all its juniors to take part in competitions. The level of the competition varies depending on the event but there is always something for everyone! Club coaches will be very happy to advise what events might be suitable for each individual.
Track and Field
There are many athletic disciplines available at Junior level and what events an athlete can complete in depends on their age group. Possible events include short sprints, sprint hurdles, 300m/400m hurdles, 300m/400m, 600m/800m, 1200m/1500m, 3,000m, Steeplechase, relays (Track Events) and Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault, Shot Putt, Javelin, Discus, Hammer (Field Events). Competitors compete in different age groups depending on their date of birth (Under 11, Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 20). There are indoor and outdoor competitions throughout the year.
Fife AC target a number of yearly competitions. Some are league-based, where athletes compete as part of the Fife AC team, and some are championships, where athletes complete as individuals for Fife AC. There are also lots of open graded events, where athletes compete for Fife AC as individuals in races against athletes of a similar ability, regardless of age group. Leagues include the Grampian League all age groups (contact Elspeth Wallace - 01334 474561), Forth Valley League Under 11 to Under 15 (contact Robert McNab - 07778 680875), Youth Development League Upper Division Under 17 and Under 20 (contact Lesley Thirkell - 07771 794984). Leagues are an excellent way to start taking part in athletics competitions. You can try out a variety of events and there will always be coaches there to advise. We also desperately need parents/carers to help with officiating at league matches – simple tasks like raking a long jump pit. Competitions can’t happen without helpers, so we’d always be delighted to hear from any adult who can help out!
There are also East District Track and Field Champs and Scottish National Competitions, both indoors and outdoors. Please speak to coaches and see https://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/events/ for dates and further information. Athletes or their parents/carers must enter themselves individually for championships.
Open graded events happen as various places including Grangemouth and Livingston, throughout the summer, and at Emirates in Glasgow in particular during the winter. Details are available from coaches and from the Scottish Athletics Events page. Athletes or their parents/carers must enter themselves individually for open graded competitions.
Cross Country
Fife AC take part in and also organise a number of cross country events throughout the season where Juniors can take part, and information about the various competitions can be found either using the Fife AC website, the Fife AC Forum, Fife AC Facebook, or Scottish Athletics. Coaches can also provide further information. Fife AC target a number of cross country events and these include Scottish National events such as the East District and Scottish Cross Country Relays, the East District Cross Country Championships, the Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships and the Scottish National Cross Country Championships. The distances vary depending on the event and the age group. Competitors wishing to compete in cross country championships can only be entered by Fife AC via the Forum.
The East District Cross Country League organise a trio of races yearly from October to January for age groups Under 11 and above - see http://www.salroadrunningandcrosscountrymedalists.co.uk/
for further information and speak to your coach. Athletes don’t need to be entered in advance for races in this league – simply turn up on the day of the race! These races are a great introduction to cross country running.
There are also lots of other cross country races in Scotland over the winter, organised by other clubs, which all athletes are welcome to take part in. Again, coaches and the Scottish Athletics Events page can provide information and advice.
Hill Running
Hill running is an excellent all year activity, both for itself and/or as great background work for all other endurance running disciplines. At Junior level, hill races tend to be held from Spring through to Autumn. Fife AC has a good reputation both for hosting hill races and for having club athletes performing well in hill races across the country and at international level (both in the Junior Home International Championship and the WMRA International Youth Cup).
For a general introduction to Scottish Hill Running for Juniors, see https://www.scottishhillrunners.uk/Juniors.aspx.
Fife AC usually offers hill racing opportunities for all Juniors at the Normans Law race and the East Lomond races (both held annually in the Spring). Other race opportunities for U16 and U18 Juniors include the Devils Burden relay race.
Many Fife AC coaches will work regular hill running sessions into their training programmes. The club also organises hill running most Sunday mornings (usually in the Lomonds) – look out for details on the Fife AC Forum during the week. All are very welcome, but if you are new to hill running, please get in touch with the contact person in advance, to talk through relevant details and to make sure you have appropriate kit, etc.