The AAC Championships was an annual track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Club (the de facto governing body for amateur athletics in the United Kingdom).[1] It was the foremost domestic athletics event in the United Kingdom during its lifetime and was the predecessor of the prestigious AAA Championships.[2]
 | |
| Sport | Track and field |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1866 |
| Ceased | 1880 |
| Country | England/United Kingdom |
| Related competitions | AAA Championships |
History
edit
The competition was founded in 1866 as a men-only competition and was held at the club's home base at the Lillie Bridge Grounds in London. By 1879, the championships had arrived at a crossroads because club athletes complained that the staging of the events only suited the University athletes because of the dates chosen to stage the championships. This led to an additional Summer championships in 1879, hosted by the London Athletics Club at the nearby Stamford Bridge Running Grounds.[3][4][5][6] The Northern Athletics Association, whose membership was wider than that of its southern counterparts, threatened to boycott the AAC's annual championships, causing the AAC to collapse and in 1880 the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) was formed, with rules that ensured any genuine amateur could join irrespective of their occupation or social class.[7]
In 1880, representatives of the Amateur Athletic Club handed over to the new association the challenge cups that had been competed for at their championship for presentation at the new competition.[8] The prizes were presented by Lady Jersey, wife of the Earl of Jersey.[9]
Past Winners
edit| Year | Date | Venue | Stadium | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1866 | 23 March | London | Beaufort House, Walham Green | |
| 2 | 1867 | 15 April | London | Beaufort House, Walham Green | |
| 3 | 1868 | 19–20 June | London | Beaufort House, Walham Green | |
| 4 | 1869 | 3 April | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 5 | 1870 | 9 April | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 6 | 1871 | 3 April | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 7 | 1872 | 27 March | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 8 | 1873 | 5 April | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 9 | 1874 | 30 March | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 10 | 1875 | 22 March | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 11 | 1876 | 10 April | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 12 | 1877 | 26 March | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 13 | 1878 | 15 April | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | |
| 14 | 1879 | 7 April | London | Lillie Bridge Grounds | Spring championships |
| 15 | 1879 | 14/16 June | London | Stamford Bridge Running Grounds | Summer championships |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Matthews, Peter (1982). The Guinness Book of Athletics Facts and Feats. Guinness Superlatives. pp. 9–10. ISBN 0-85112-238-8.
- ^ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "The Amateur Championship Meeting". Field. 29 March 1879. Retrieved 17 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Amateur Athletic Championships". Field. 21 June 1879. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "he Championship meeting at the L.A.C grounds this day". London Evening Standard. 14 June 1879. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The Athletic Championships". Sporting Life. 14 June 1879. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Eric Halladay, Rowing in England - A Social History : the Amateur Debate, p3, 1990
- ^ Daily Telegraph & Courier (London), Mon 5 Jul 1880 p. 3
- ^ Birmingham Mail, Mon 5 Jul 1880 p. 2