The National Athletics League is an annual mixed-sex track and field club competition in the United Kingdom. Established in 2019, the league has 38 member clubs.National League takes shape in Britain. Athletics Weekly (2019-11-15). Retrieved 2023-08-06.
Competition There are three divisions – premiership, championship and national one in decreasing order of status – each containing 16, 16 and 6 teams respectively. For the premiership and championship, each season is composed of three rounds plus a final. For national one division, each season is composed of four rounds. Each athlete in each discipline gains points for his or her team according to their position. At the conclusion of each meeting, the match is decided by total points for each team. Teams are then awarded points based on positions in each match, so that each team has a running total for the season. This will decide the final finishing position for each club.
Formation of the league The league was formed out of the dissolutions of the British Athletics League, which was for male athletes, and the UK Women's Athletic League at the end of 2019.
History Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned inaugural season of the league did not take place in 2020. As a result of uncertainty surrounding the pandemic measures for the 2021 season, the league's organisers decided on a makeshift structure which would, among other benefits, cut down on the amount of travel needed. Due to the change in format, an improvised scoring system was decided on.
Thames Valley Harriers were winners of the Premiership in 2021 and defended their title in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The first relegations and promotions took place at the end of the 2022 season.
Past winners Premiership YearWinner2nd3rdRef 2021 Thames Valley Harriers Harrow AC Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers 2022 Thames Valley Harriers Blackheath & Bromley AC Harrow AC2023 Thames Valley Harriers Harrow AC Woodford Green with Essex Ladies 2024 Thames Valley Harriers Harrow AC Glasgow Jaguars
Championship YearChampionshipLeague 1Ref 2021 Crawley AC Yate & District AC 2022 Crawley AC Belgrave Harriers 2023 Tonbridge AC Yate & District AC
YearNorthSouthEastWestRef 2024 Trafford AC Tonbridge ACSwansea HarriersShaftesbury Barnet Harriers
References