Aycliffe Running Club Junior Athletics section continue to go from strength to strength, not only on the track and field but the latest investment takes them to the next level!
As with most sports clubs there is always a need for the Team to have an identity. This comes in the form of a team uniform. It allows the Juniors to have pride in their team and enjoy a sense of ‘belonging’. It is also compulsory for athletes to wear Team colours for an event or competition.
ARCJ Athletics provide the Juniors with free a training jersey when joining the club, which is traditionally worn at training sessions or smaller competitions. When the Juniors move up through the age categories they are required to wear official Team race vests for England Athletic affiliated events. It is important that all team members should have the opportunity to take part in these events. So, with the current financial burdens families face at the moment, we wanted to help.
Gestamp Tallent have been a major company on the Business Park for the past 75 years, and chances are everyone in Aycliffe has known someone who has worked there. Gestamp understand how important it is to invest in future generations, this is shown in their commitment to apprenticeship schemes year on year.
ARCJ Athletics approached the Gestamp Charity Committee with the view of sponsorship for new Team Race Vests to be worn at competitions. Gestamp were quickly supportive of this and agreed to fund Race Vests for the team. This is fantastic news to have a local Aycliffe company to be in partnership with the team, but also appreciation of grass roots investment to help change and improve lives.
Race Vests have now arrived and we can’t express how thankful ARCJ Athletics are to Gestamp Tallent for supporting us. As a show of appreciation, Aycliffe added the Gestamp logo to the vests.
Next major team competition for the juniors will be 9th July the County Durham Athletics Network Summer Festival at Chester-le-Street stadium where we hope to showcase our new kit.
Photo shows: juniors, Isabella Risbey, Amy Fawcett, Elizabeth Clay, Henry Mosher and Luke Walker, kindly modelling the new vests.