Belgrave men and women to compete in National Athletics League from 2020

Belgrave Harriers will compete in the National Athletics League (NAL) Division 1 from 2020.

The newly-formed NAL amalgamates the men’s British Athletics League (BAL) and the Women’s Athletics League (WAL). Bob Bridges will be Belgrave’s team manager for our inaugural BAL season.

Belgrave will still compete in the Southern Athletics League (SAL) as well as the Rosenheim League in the summer, but the NAL is expected to provide the highest standard of competition.

Lyn Orbell, chair of the UKWAL, said: “The UKWAL are pleased to be forming a joint National League with the BAL. The new National Athletics League brings the senior clubs into line with the rest of the Leagues in the country allowing the younger athletes who have competed in mixed teams for a few years to aspire to becoming part of their new NAL.”

Dean Hardman, BAL chair, added: “It has been clear for some time now that athletes and, increasingly, clubs themselves wanted a senior league competition that sees men and women compete alongside each other as teammates. While we are immensely proud of what the BAL and UKWAL have provided over the last five decades, we look forward with optimism to an even better future.”

Belgrave NAL fixture dates

Sat 2nd May – Bedford

Sun 14th June – Peterborough

Sat 4th July – Yeovil

Sat 1st Aug – Yate

Teams in Division 1

Belgrave
Milton Keynes
Peterborough & NV AC
Portsmouth
Reading
Southend
Yate
Yeovil

The events will likely follow a similar schedule to the SAL timetable. The longest distance event will be a 3k for women and alternating 3k and 5k for men.

We will be competing for promotion to the NAL Championship, the higher tier of the competition.