All of our track and field sessions are held at the track behind Ashdown Leisure Centre, Canford Heath, BH17 8RE. The first session you attend with us is free!
Refreshments are available in Team Dorset HQ
The current schedule of training is as follows:
| Day & Time | Venue | Age Groups | Activities | Coaches | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays 6.00 – 6.45 | Ashdown Track | 8 – 10 years 8 – 13 years 8 – 13 years 10-16 years | Induction & Foundation of athletics Middle Distance running – introduction. Sprints & Hurdles Foundation & Development Horizontal Jumps Conditioning | Brian Underwood & Mia Hagan. Peter Cornes & Ray Williams Bryan Murray Joe Parkes | £3.00 |
| Tuesdays 6.30 – 7.30 6.30 – 8.00 | Ashdown Track | 11 – 15 years U13 and older U20 to Senior | Middle Distance Development. Javelin, Shot & Discus Long & Middle-Distance Track & Field Intermediate & Advanced | Mark Pauley Mike Long Dave Allen | £3.00 |
| Tuesdays 6.45 – 8.00 | Ashdown Track | 12- 16 years | Sprints & Hurdles Intermediate Group | Bryan Murray & Peter Cornes | £3.00 |
| Tuesdays 7.15-8.30 | Ashdown Track | 16 – Seniors | Sprints & Hurdles Senior Group | Graeme Gourlay | £3.00 |
| Tuesdays 7.30 – 8.30 | Ashdown Track | 15 years to Seniors | Middle Distance (intermediate) & Middle Distance (advanced) | Mark Pauley, Mark Courtney & others | £3.00 |
| Wednesdays 7.00 – 8.30 | Ashdown Track | 11 years & older Disabled athletes Wheelchair Athletes U15 to Seniors U15- Senior experienced | Ambulant & Seated throws. Wheelchair & Frame Runner Track Session Sprints & Hurdles including intensive technical sessions High Jump (occasional) – by invitation | Mike Long Nathan Blackie Graeme Gourlay Mark Roach | £3.00 |
| Thursdays 7.00-8.15 | Various off-track venues (see below) | Age 12 and older | Strength and speed endurance. Off-road on hills & ‘interval work | Mark Pauley, Mark Courtney & Others | £2.00 |
| Fridays 6.30-8.00 | Canford Heath & Corfe Mullen | Senior Endurance Group | 6.30 Long & Middle-Distance Track Endurance, tempo and hill work | Dave Allen | Free! |
| Saturdays 9.30 – 10.45 am (occasional 9am parkrun) When no matches | Various off-track venues | Juniors aged 10+ | Cross-Country preparation and hill and endurance training | Mark Pauley & others | Free! |
| Saturday mornings 10:30-11:30 am | Ashdown Track | See your coach | No whole club sessions Arrange with your coach | Arrange with coach | Pay leisure centre |
| Saturdays 4.30 - 5.30 | Ashdown Sportshall | 8 years and to current School Year 10 | Sportshall coaching Fun and fast paced indoor sessions, lots of fun & relays. Sportshall teaches athletes the basics of athletics in an easy and simple manner. | Bryan Murray, Ray Williams, Peter Cornes, Mark Pauley plus Other coaches & helpers | £3.00 |
| Sundays 12.00-2.00 | Ashdown Track | All ages, all abilities | Wheelchair racing and use of frame runners | Martin Cook & Nathan Blackie | Standing order (contact Martin Cook) |
The Thursday evening sessions are as follows:
- 12th Dec Zig-zags Durley-Dene Chine B’mth. Meet at the car park at the bottom of Durley Chine near the Harvester Restaurant.
- 19th Dec Blakedene Road Lilliput. Working on road loops including Blake Hill Crescent (BH14 8HF)
- 2nd Jan Twemlow Ave Nr Poole Park. Meet at the corner of Orchard Ave and Twemlow Ave close to Poole Park Lake.
- 9th Jan Tollerford Road Canford Heath. Meet by the Bus-Stop Opposite Steeple Close on Tollerford Road.
- 16th Jan Brundenell Ave – Shore Rd
We will continue with all of our favoured road-based training locations during this phase of Thursday Training, which have proven the foundations for XC and Track success over many years at PAC. We welcome new members who wish to join us, venues used are compatible with being adaptable to cover the range of experience of our group. We do need to maintain the lower age limit of 12 years of age given the road-based settings.
We urge you to wear light or reflective clothing and suggest athletes consider purchasing reflective tops or torso lights, which ensure you are clearly visible to road users.
We do suggest as winter takes hold considering wearing several layers and gloves and waterproof jackets when appropriate would ensure a level of comfort is maintained.
Sessions start times will remain at 7PM and finish with a cool down by around 8.15PM. If you could confirm your availability (via ‘Spond’ or the Junior and T&F Coaching form, this will help us in planning the sessions. The training fee is £2.00, however if you wish to save searching for cash you can purchase Thursday Training Vouchers at the Track HQ.
General Notes:
- Poole AC coaching and training sessions run all year round (including school holidays).
- Always arrive at Ashdown at least 10 mins before your session in time to register (and warm up), so your session can start promptly. Thank you.
- We encourage athletes to try a variety of events to develop into a fully rounded athlete.
- Sadly, we are not permitted to welcome children under 8 years old
- All coaches/assistant coaches, plus sessions, subject to availability and possible clashes with the club’s fixture list.
- Certain events may be impacted by adverse weather conditions.
- On weekends some coaches may not be available due to Team Managing or officiating in the league competitions Poole AC enters and also national competitions.
- Joining Poole AC as a member is expected following a reasonable period to establish the suitability for the athletes sporting aspirations.
