THE premier organisation for athletes in the North is seeking a major sponsor to help it support future generations of competitors.
Northern Athletics, which has harboured such talent as Dame Jessica Ennis Hill, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Keely Hodgkinson, is looking for a headline partner to continue its vital work.
Northern Athletics was founded in 1879 and since then has organised countless field, track and cross country events between the border with Scotland and Lincolnshire.
Since 2017 it has run autonomously from British Athletics covering a huge swathe of the country which is home to some of the best athletes in the world.
Close to 29,000 athletes aged from 10 to over 70, from 162 clubs, are attached to Northern Athletics, which stages 16 days of competitions to allow them to hone their skills.
Competitions are held both indoor and outdoor and include weekend championships run by more than 100 volunteers, including marshals, technical officials, judges and timekeepers.
Sponsors gain huge exposure at events which attract hundreds of athletes and spectators with branding featured on bib numbers and elsewhere. Successful athletes who compete globally become an attractive draw when attending Northern Athletics competitions.
They also gain access to mailshot and social media opportunities involving thousands of people, event title sponsorship, banner placement, PR opportunities, sporting brand alignment, website logo display, exhibition space and displays
Darlington-based competition and event administrator Mark Tallon said: “I love athletics and really have the dream job and it’s so exciting seeing our athletes develop into international stars.
“It’s great to be able to watch them at the World Championships and Olympics knowing that they have progressed from our competitions, generations of them crossing the line at our events.”
Reigning Olympic 800m gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson, of Atherton, near Bolton, said: “My journey involved many Northern Athletics events and I have particularly positive memories of competing in its cross country championships.
“There was always such a high calibre of athletes present and the courses were challenging – Knowsley, near Liverpool, and Witton Park, Blackburn, immediately spring to mind – so you knew you were in for a tough race.
“It provided a valuable platform for development and gave me the opportunity to test myself and progress while having fun, especially in the young athletes relays which were always well attended and organised.”
Olympic and World gold medallist in the heptathlon Katarina Johnson-Thompson, of Liverpool, said without Northern Athletics her journey to success would have been impossible.
“Growing up in Liverpool it provided so many pivotal steps in my career and my life,” she said. “It is so important for the athletes of the future to have the same opportunities that I was lucky to have.”
Mark said the latest sponsorship offer was a great opportunity. “It is a fabulous prospect for someone to help create some great events for people of all ages and put them on an important pathway to success,” he said. “With more support we can make sure our events are even better to help the talented athletes of the North.”
Sponsorship packages range from £,2000 a year to £15,000. For more information contact Mark at mark@northernathletics.co.uk or visit www.northernathletics.co.uk.
