Approximately 30 local tamariki have run, jumped and thrown as they celebrated the launch of a new athletics club in Cromwell.

Cromwell ward councillor and mother of four Sarah Browne is part of a core team behind the club, which includes Cromwell Primary School year five and six teacher Andrew Ede, Sport Central sport and active recreation adviser Jo Knight and coach Kim Clearwater.

Sarah said until now Cromwell tamariki have had no athletics club as Alexandra’s Molyneux Park is their closest park, which creates travel and time barriers for most families. 

“We want to provide a pathway for those interested [in athletics], get kids involved, build those core foundation skills… and have fun too.”

Cr Sarah Browne said learning athletics is a solid grounding for other sporting disciplines

She said the organisers were “stoked” with the turnout for the first trial sessions, with tamariki aged between 5 - 13 keen to participate and plenty of parents helping with gear and other tasks like holding tapes.

“The plan is to get the club incorporated over the break… then we will start small in term one next year. Our aim is that in term four we are all set up for a full summer programme including competitions.”

The training night will be Monday, with warm ups starting at 5.45pm, and the session finishing at 7pm. 

For 2022 the first session will be on Monday February 13 on the Cromwell College Field, behind the gym.

The format will be three weeks of training and then a club night, where it is possible other clubs from Central and Lakes may be hosted. 

Membership fees are not yet set, and will be solely to cover club overheads, and the registration cost with Otago Athletics, allowing children to enter competitions. 

A Facebook page is coming for the club, and volunteers to coach or assist at the weekly sessions are wanted. 

For more information please contact Sarah on [email protected] or Andrew on [email protected].