London 2004: London Inter-Club Challenge

LONDON 2004: LONDON INTER-CLUB CHALLENGE

As a result of long travelling times, increased costs and a drop in the number of athletes wanting to compete in Southern League fixtures, three of London's leading athletics clubs have devised an initiative which promises to reverse this trend and deliver local athletics for local athletes.

At a time when London is bidding for 2012 Olympic success, Belgrave Harriers, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers and Woodford Green & Essex Ladies have joined together to create the London Inter-Club Challenge (“LICC”), a four meeting challenge to be held within the M25. At this stage, LICC is catering for women only, although discussions are currently in progress as to how this can be extended to include men’s teams too.

Unlike the Southern Women’s League, LICC will be providing predominantly senior competition. The usual track and field events will be covered, with the addition of the 2,000m steeplechase, in an effort to encourage participants in this rarely hosted event. The formula for the Challenge will allow a team to enter up to ten athletes in each event with the best two performances from every team on the day to score, hence encouraging better competition.

Although there will be a trophy presented at the end of the season, there won’t be the usual pressure of promotion or relegation, so the coercion of hammer throwers into competing in the 100m hurdles is unlikely to occur.

Limited non-scoring events will also be made available for U17’s and U15’s. Guest athletes will also be able to compete at the discretion of the host club.

With the three founding clubs already competing in the UK Women’s League, date clashes will be avoided thereby providing more competition for regular team members. Having these matches at a local level will encourage more athletes, of all abilities, to participate and to take on events they might not ordinarily get the chance to try: Local athletics for local athletes.

Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers club secretary and former London Marathon winner Joyce Smith comments: "A number of other London clubs have shown great interest in this project and l think a 4th team will be joining shortly. This is just what women's athletics in London has been looking for. l'm sure it will be a great success."

The provisional dates , hosts and venues for LICC for 2004 are:

1 May

Belgrave Harriers

Battersea Park

29 May

WG&EL

Woodford

26 June

Shaftesbury Barnett

Copthall

7 August

TBA

TBA

- Ends -

LICC contact details:
Catherine Eastham, Tel: 020 8401 2704, Email: catherineeastham@hotmail.com

Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.