British Athletics League

The British Athletics League is a track and field male team's competition, the most important in the United Kingdom for history and number of teams.

Launched in 1969,[1] the British Athletics League had in 2011 five different divisions, which gather a total of 38 track and field teams from all over the United Kingdom, although most of them come from England.

Contents

Competition

Since 2009, there are five different divisions (Premiership, National 1, National 2, National 3 and National 4). Each of them has eight teams in competition, except the Division 4, with only six teams. Every summer season, two teams are relegated and two teams promoted for every division. The last change in the number of divisions toke place in 2009, with the creation of the National 4 division.[2]

In every division there is a total of four matches per season. Teams receive points according to their athletic performances, and those points are transformed in a range of 1 to 8 points for every match, according with the matches' final table. These points are added after the four matches to determine relegations, promotions and champions.

Winning Teams[3]

Teams in 2011[4]

Premiership

Country Club First Appearance in BAL
Birchfield Harriers 1969
Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club 1969
City of Manchester 1969
City of Sheffield Athletic Club 1977
Enfield and Haringey Athletic Club 1972
Newham and Essex Beagles 1975
Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers 1976
Woodford Green with Essex Ladies 1969

First Division

Country Club First Appearance in BAL
Belgrave Harriers 1969
Blackheath and Bromley Harriers 1969
City of Liverpool 1970
Crawley Athletic Club 1985
Gateshead Harriers 2006
Harrow Athletic Club 1986
Kent Athletic Club 2002
Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow Athletic Club 1979

Second Division

Country Club First Appearance in BAL
Basingstoke and Mid Hants 2006
Derby Athletic Club 2004
Exeter Harriers 2009
Herne Hill Harriers 1983
Notts Athletic Club 1969
Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club 2005
Thames Valley Harriers 1969
Trafford Athletic Club 1974

Third Division

Country Club First Appearance in BAL
Cambridge Harriers 1988
Chanel Islands Athletic Club 2008
Glasgow Athletic Club 2010
Havering Mayesbrook Athletic Club 1991
Kingston Athletic Club and Polytechnic Harriers 1969
Leeds City Athletic Club 1979
Swansea Harriers Athletics Club 1971
Yeovil Olympiads Athletic Club 2009

Fourth Division

Country Club First Appearance in BAL
Bournemouth Athletic Club 2009
Mansfield Harriers 2010
Nene Valley Harriers 2011
Reading Athletic Club 1971
Southampton Athletic Club 1969
Victoria Park and Tower Hamlets Athletic Club 2009

References

  1. ^ 2011 League Information, BAL events' program, British Athletics League, p. 15.
  2. ^ BAL Website.
  3. ^ BAL Website.
  4. ^ 2011 League Information, BAL events' program, British Athletics League, p. 10-12.

External links