In addition to the various leagues that we are part of, we also hold our own Birchfield Open Meetings each year at the Alexander Stadium. We are made up of many disciplines, that attribute to over a dozen competing Teams.
Our teams take part in Regional, National and International competitions ranging from U11 to Masters competitions.
Senior Men
Our senior men compete in Track and Field, Cross Country and Road Running events. Birchfield is in the premier division of the National Athletics League (NAL) a track and field club competition.
Birchfield Harriers were champions of British Athletics League for four years running prior to the amalgamation of this league with the women's league to create the NAL. Birchfield men;s team was also the Great Britain representative in the European Champion Clubs Cup as a result of winning the league. The won the BAL Premier League title in 1969, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Senior Men also compete in the Midland League, a second track and field competition for Midlands based clubs.
Senior Women
The National Athletics League is a track and field competition for club teams. It is the amalgamation of the men's and women's league and Birchfield Harriers are in the Premier Division. There is a second competition, Midland League, which is a club nades competition for those clubs based in the Midlands area.
Cross Country
Birchfield Harriers has a strong tradition of cross country running across all age groups ranging from U11 to Masters. We have teams in all the Midlands leagues and have seen success at regional and national level. Currently we compete in the following leagues:
West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League
Birmingham and District First Division Cross Country League
Midland Women’s Cross Country League
We also take teams to regional and national championships.
Youth Athletics
Birchfield Harriers has teams for young athletes in Sportshall, type: embedded-entry-inline id: 48ZChrnqo5UyOc0KYwgSwB and Track and Field in the YDL League.
The Youth Development League (YDL) is a UK wide league with 5 regions; Scotland, North, Midlands / Wales and South and Northern Ireland. The League is supported by UK Athletics, the governing body of the sport.
The YDL is divided into two leagues:
YDL Upper for athletes in the U17 and U20 age groups (school years 10 to 13 including those slightly older but are still under 20 years old on 31st December in year of competition.
YDL Lower for athletes in the U13 and U15 age groups, (school years 6 to 9).
Birchfield Harriers compete in Premier Division of the Midlands Section of the League for both age groups. There are 3 rounds of competition where all teams in the same division compete against each other in each round with a regional final each year for which the team has to qualify.
Masters
Male and female athletes aged 35 or over are classed as Masters and as such can enter and compete in the track and field league, regional and national road and cross country championships in their own age categories. Our objectives at Birchfield Harriers are to keep all masters informed of events taking place throughout the year and to encourage our masters members to represent their club and perform to their potential in their own particular age group in track and field, road and cross country races.
The club competes in the Midland Veterans Track and Field League – North Division.
There are events for both men and women in four age categories at each league meeting and in the cup final. The age groups are:
35 to 39
40 to 49
50 to 59
60 and over.
The events vary from meeting to meeting, with the younger age groups having more events.
Disability Athletics
Birchfield is proud of the achievements of past and present athletes at the Paralympic Games and always welcome new disabled athletes to the club. The stadium is fully accessible and plays host to a wide range of Disability athletics events across the year.
Road Running
The Road Runners welcome new members from complete beginners to international athletes. We vary in age from adolescent teenagers to “adolescent” old age pensioners. We enter a variety of races from 5k to marathon, but welcome fun runners who do not intend to race but who wish to improve.
We meet on a club nights, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and hit the road about 6.30pm. If you are interested in joining our group please contact Karon Jones. Her contact details are: karonmjones@yahoo.com
On a Sunday mornings we meet for a long run (10-12 miles). Feel free to come down and try us out. We also complete in some fun endurance events such as team adventure races, duathlons and many of us have undertaken long distance team relays such as circumnavigation of Anglesey and JonʼoʼGroats to Lands End.
Race Walking
Birchfield Harriers race walk section is a friendly group that has individuals and teams achieving success at every level. Training and competition for beginners, juniors, masters, and professional athletes.
Coach Mo Graham has many decades of experience, with athletes coached at all levels.
Training takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm to 7:30pm. Extra training also takes place sometimes on Saturday mornings.
Newcomers, beginners, and athletes from other disciplines are welcome to come along and have a try.
The race walking section win many medals and trophies, and new members won’t have to wait long before they win their first medal, whatever their age or level of fitness.
Current Competitions/Leagues we participate in:
Beginners Events
Open Events
Chris Smith Schools League
Schools Championships
National Young Age Group Championships
Winter League
Midland Veterans League
British Masters Championships
County Championships
Midland Championships
Inter-County Championships
Inter-Area Championships
National Championships
Overseas Long Distance Events
Overseas National Championships
IAAF World Challenge
Sportshall
Sportshall competitions are renowned for their ‘electric atmosphere’ as teams are cheered on by enthusiastic supporters while tackling exciting relay races and challenging field events.
All activity takes place in standard community sports-halls using portable equipment. Sportshall is inclusive and offers age related programmes.
The Sportshall UK Championship programme is a series of Regional events for both the Under 11 age group and Under 13/15 age groups. The events bring the most talented youngsters from each County League programme together to create an exciting culmination to young club athletes winter season.