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Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club facts for kids

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Wolverhampton & Bilston AC (WBAC)
Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club logo.jpg
Founded 1924
Ground Aldersley Stadium
Location Aldersley Road, Wolverhampton WV6 9NW, England
Coordinates 52°36′17″N 2°09′01″W / 52.60472°N 2.15028°W / 52.60472; -2.15028

The Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club (often called WBAC) is a sports club for athletes. It was started in 1967. Their home base is at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton, England. This place used to be known as Aldersley Stadium.

Club History

Aldersley Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 2439012
Aldersley Leisure Village Sports centre in 2011
Aldersley Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 286144
The track at Aldersley Stadium in 2006
Tessa Sanderson
Tessa Sanderson, a famous Olympian from the club

The story of the club began in 1924. That's when the Harriers Athletic Club was first formed. Later, it became known as the Wolverhampton Athletics Club.

In 1943, this club joined forces with another group called Penn Harriers. Together, they became the Wolverhampton Harriers.

Then, in February 1967, a big change happened in local government. Because of this, two local athletics clubs decided to merge. These were the Wolverhampton Harriers and the Bilston Town Athletic Club. Their merger created the Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletic Club, which is the club we know today.

The club had a very successful period for its men's team. They won the Men's National League Division One for many years in a row, from 1975 to 1982. They also won the Men's National Cup several times: in 1976, 1977, 1979, and 1980.

Club Achievements

The Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club has achieved great success, especially with its senior men's team.

Senior Men's Trophies

  • British Athletics League
    • First Place: The team won the top spot in this league eight times! This happened in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982.
    • Second Place: They finished as runners-up in 1974, 1984, and 1985.
    • Third Place: The team earned third place in 1972, 1973, 1986, and 1987.

Famous Athletes

Many talented athletes have been part of the Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club. Some have even competed in the Olympic Games!

Olympians from the Club

These athletes represented their country at the Olympic Games while being part of the club:

Athlete Events Olympic Games Medals
Ralph Banthorpe 200 metres, 4 × 100 m relay 1968
Maureen Tranter 200 metres 1968
Don Halliday 100 m, 4 × 100 m 1972
Sonia Lannaman 100 metres, 200 m, 4 × 100 m relay 1972, 1980 Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Rosemary Stirling 800 metres 1972
Verona Elder-Barnard 400 metres, 4 × 400 m relay 1972, 1976
Denise Brown high jump 1976
Glen Cohen 400 m, 4 × 400 m relay 1976, 1980
Tessa Sanderson javelin throw 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 Gold medal icon (G initial).svg
Keith Connor triple jump 1980, 1984
Kathy Smallwood-Cook 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 4 × 100 m relay 1980, 1984 Bronze medal icon (B initial).svgBronze medal icon (B initial).svgBronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Joan Baptiste 200 m 1984
Phil Beattie 400 m hurdles 1984
Garry Cook 4 × 400 m relay 1984 Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Martin Girvan hammer throw 1984
Pat Beckford 400 m 1988
John King long jump 1988
Paul Mardle discus 1988
Joanne Mulliner heptathlon 1988
Vernon Samuels triple jump 1988
Steve Heard 800 m 1992
Lisa Langford-Kehler 10/20km walk 1992, 2000
Denise Lewis heptathlon 1996, 2000, 2004 Gold medal icon (G initial).svgBronze medal icon (B initial).svg

Other Notable Athletes

  • Mike Bull, who won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.