North Canberra AC is one of the nine athletic clubs in the ACT and surrounding areas. We draw most of our members from suburbs north of Lake Burley Griffin, including the more recently-developed area of Gunghalin, but also have members from the southside and several from interstate. Our members range in age from primary school level to veterans who can't count their decades on one hand, and also include a number of athletes with disabilities.

The ACT Athletic Association organises summer and winter athletics competition in Canberra. Competition is provided for athletes from the Under 14 age group upwards. Other track and field competitions are organised by the various Little Athletics Clubs (for juniors up to Under 15) and by the ACT Veterans (for women 30-and-over and men 35-and-over).

The ACTAA publishes a handbook  providing detailed information about the competitions and events conducted under its auspices in summer seasons. If you are new to athletics, or new to Canberra, it is particularly important that you get a copy of the handbook. The ACTAA office phone number is 6247 1504.   There are also some useful websites that contain a considerable amount of information:
      ACTAA website:   http://www.sportnet.com.au/athletics/act/state
      ACT Cross Country Club website:    http://www.actccc.webathletics.com.au/default.htm
      ACT Little Athletics Association website:    http://home.iprimus.com.au/actlaa/welcome.htm

The ACTAA conducts track and field meetings at AIS Athletics Track (next to the main stadium at the AIS in Bruce), starting in October and going through to March, culminating in the ACT Track & Field Championships. The interclub meetings are usually held on Saturdays and commence mid-afternoon. Due to the heat in mid-summer, Saturday meetings are usually replaced by Tuesday twilight (starting 6pm) meetings in January.

In order to allow the full range of track and field events to be conducted, the meetings are organised into two sets of programs, which are conducted on alternate weeks. A full list of the meetings scheduled and details of the programs conducted at each meeting can be found in the ACTAA's Summer Handbook. A copy of this handbook is provided to all athletes who register for the summer season (or take a full year's registration).

Any athlete having difficulty in paying the registration fee as a lump sum is encouraged to discuss the option of progressive payments with Barbara Wagstaff.

Only a small part of these fees is retained by the club. As an example, of the $70 fee for seniors for a year, only $10 is kept by the club; the other $60 is passed on to the ACTAA and the Australian Athletic Association towards the costs of organising and promoting the sport of athletics. For junior and winter athletes, only $5 is retained by the club.

Any athlete who already belongs to a Little Athletics centre (U12 to U15 agegroups) pays only the club component of the registration fee ($5 in our case) when they join a senior athletics club such as NCGA.  Conversely, a member of NCGA who subsequently joins a Little Athletics centre is only required to pay the centre's component of the fee.   The two associations work together to ensure an equal sharing of the cost of this agreement.  In effect, it means junior athletes pay a combined 'peak body' registration fee, but two separate 'club' fees. At the club level, NCGA has close ties with the Belconnen Wests and Corroboree Little Athletics Centres, and is assisting in the establishment of a new centre at Gungahlin.

Athletics in the ACT can't exist without a dedicated group of regular officials and willing volunteer helpers from clubs. This season, NCGA will be rostering all track and field athletes (or a parent, friend, partner, ..) to officiate at one interclub competition. Helping out just once in the season is all that is needed to ensure our club does its fair share, and that there are plenty of officials to guarantee all scheduled events can be held.

Should any club members who wish to officiate on Saturday mornings face hardship in meeting their officials  registration fee, the club will be very happy to cover this cost for them.

In summer there is a fee for entry to the AIS Athletics track. For the 1999/2000 season, the fee is $4 for Senior and Under 20 athletes and $2.50 for younger athletes. An additional day registration fee is charged for unregistered athletes ($8 for seniors, $5 for juniors). These fees are used to help pay for the hire of the track. In winter there is a fee of $1 (for juniors) or $2 (for seniors) to enter each race. Instead of these weekly fees, most winter competitors choose to pay a $15 or $20 membership fee to join the Cross Country Club and receive the Cross Country Club's bi-monthly magazine.

The club uniform comprises black shorts and a white top with red and black hoops, incorporating the North Canberra-Gungahlin logo between the two hoops. We sell these mesh tops at cost price, $25, to athletes.

Lycra body suits and crop tops consistent with this general colour scheme are also acceptable. The club maintains a stock of crop tops, but not lycra body suits.  However, we will try to assist members in obtaining these if required. We   do not sell black shorts or bike pants as these can be obtained more cheaply from local retailers.

There is a supply of lightweight rugby tops in club colours, incorporating the club logo, for a cost of $32.

To purchase uniforms or to make enquiries, contact club officials at the track in summer or at cross-country events in winter, or phone the Secretary on 6278 4354.

For the club to gain pointscores from summer competition, athletes must wear the recognised club uniform, with the competitor's registration numbers fixed clearly front and back, with all sponsorship logos visible. Attitudes to uniforms are more relaxed in winter but we would like to see all Norths members in uniform, at least for point score events.

Points are awarded to athletes and clubs for each track and field event in which competitors take part. These are based on performance, not on the placing gained in an event. The points are based on the point-scoring tables for age groups and events which appear in a compendium to  the ACT Athletics Summer Handbook. Points are accumulated during each designated day of competition and throughout the season for both individual athletes and their clubs. However, points are only awarded to athletes (and their club) when the official club uniform and registration number are worn. The team with the most points in each age group wins the premiership, and the leading individual pointscorers are recognised by awards from both the ACT AA and NCGA.

The club will attempt to put athletes in contact with coaches suited to their interests and ability levels. This season, coaching requirements will be co-ordinated by Rob Hathaway. During the summer season, training sessions are generally conducted at one of several playing fields on the northside (e.g. AIS track, Bruce TAFE or Dickson). In the winter, training for many athletes, especially middle and long distance runners, shifts to the forests and streets.

A shortage of people willing to assist with coaching - especially of junior athletes - is a constraint on the development of the club and the sport. We are most eager to contact people who are interested in coaching either young or experienced athletes. Training courses in coaching techniques are available and the cost may be subsidised by NCGA.

In addition to a regularly updated website, the club has a bi-monthy newsletter, the Northern News, which is published in February, April, June, August, October and December. Any urgent information is also sent to members via the club's own e-mail list: ncac@yahoogroups.com to which all members with email addresses are subscribed.