Alex Seftel looks ahead to the revamped National Athletics League, with Thames Valley Harriers going in search of yet another title
Talk of a team wearing sky blue winning the title four years in a row and the conversation might get confused with Manchester City and the Premier League. But, in track and field terms, Thames Valley Harriers (TVH) will start this year’s National Athletics League (NAL) campaign on June 1, aiming to become champions for a fourth consecutive season.
The West London-based side have triumphed every year since the club competition was reformed to include both men and women for 2021, merging the old British Athletics League (BAL) and UK Women’s Athletics League (UKWAL) together.
One reason for this achievement has been the great support from international athletes like 400m hurdler Chris McAlister and discus thrower Jade Lally, with shot putter Amelia Campbell taking nine victories from the nine NAL matches that she has attended.
Amelia Campbell (National Athletics League)
Thames Valley captain Niki Faulkner believes that there are three principles behind his club’s success.
“The first is commitment,” he says. “When the fixture list is announced, you can guarantee that every athlete is marking their calendar.
“The second is ambition — we are relentless in our pursuit to be the best.”
In a sport which is so often seen as focusing on individuals, it is no surprise that the final principle, according to Faulkner, is about community.
“We have a great blend of experience and youth in the team and that supports the development of our young athletes,” adds the middle-distance runner.
“Our NAL team is greater than the sum of its individual parts, which is saying something considering the calibre of athletes we have.”
Jade Lally (Getty)
The record for consecutive league title wins is jointly held by Wolverhampton and Bilston, who won eight BAL championships between 1975 and 1982, while Belgrave Harriers did the same between 1997 and 2004. Reigns like these are always heavily reliant on highly motivated and persuasive team managers.
In TVH’s case, Phil Wetton and Manuel da Silva have continued the legacy created by a team which won the last three UKWAL titles between 2017 and 2019.
The league structure has changed for 2024, with the Premiership division involving eight clubs; namely Birchfield Harriers, Blackheath and Bromley Harriers AC, Glasgow Jaguars, Harrow AC, Sale Harriers, TVH, Windsor, Slough, Eton…
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