St. Mary's Richmond AC News Articles

Summer 2026 Fixture Details

SMRAC Chair — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:25:29 +0000

SMRAC Summer Track and Field Fixtures 2026

Details below for current leagues fixtures and venues for Summer 2026 (some still provisional). Please do check the whole list as athletes may be eligible to compete in multiple leagues. All league fixture teams are selected by team managers, so please look out for emails to enter around 2-4 weeks prior to each match. There is no cost to enter leagues, and if there is a transport to the venue available, this is covered by the club. Athletes will require a club vest for the league competitions, if you currently do not have one please contact the club secretary smrac.clubsec@gmail.com with as much notice as possible to purchase one. For our athletes U18 and above, your coaches can talk to you about addtional competition opportunities

UK Youth Development League – Lower Age Group (U14 and U16)

Open to all aged 12 – 15 (school years 7-10). If interested contact team manager: Hansley Jones (hnhsportscoaching@gmail.com ), and Remy Bosman

Dates/ Venues:

Sunday 3rd May, Guildford

Sunday 31st May, Walton? TBC

Saturday 18th July, Hillingdon

Saturday 1st August* tbc

Southern Athletics League (U18 and Older)

Open to all from age 16 and over (school year 11) inc. Seniors and Masters athletes. If interested contact team manager: Gerard Williams (smrac.sal@gmail.com )

Dates/Venues:

Saturday 16th May, Tooting Bec

Sunday 21st June, Kingston

Sunday 19th July, Carshalton

Saturday 8th August, Tooting

Ebbisham League (Boys)

* New league for SMRAC in 2026. Open to age groups U12, U14 an U16 (school years 6 – 10). If interested contact team manager: Hansley Jones (hnhsportscoaching@gmail.com )

Dates/ Venues:

Sunday 12th April, Tooting Bec

Sunday 17th May, Kingston

Sunday 16th August, venue TBC

Sunday 13th September, Coulsdon

Lily B League (Girls)

* New league for SMRAC in 2026. Open to age groups U12, U14 an U16 (school years 6 – 10). This will be a composite team with another club in the league. If interested contact team manager: Sarah Wade,chair@smrac.org.uk )

Dates/ Venues:

Saturday 11 April, Kingston

Saturday 6th June, Epsom

Saturday 20th June, Guildford

Saturday 29th August, Carshalton

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your coaches or team managers!

SMRAC at the National Cross Country Championships

SMRAC Chair — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:01:33 +0000

The SMRAC U13 girls team performed strongly to finish in 9th place at the National Cross Country Championships that took place in Sedgefield, County Durham recently. The team comprised of Laura Graham (17th), Eilidh Hunt (30th), Violet Dearn (90th) and Imogen Snaith (117th). This follows a strong season in the Met League for the U13 girls, where they were amongst the top teams and Laura was the overall indiviidual winner for the season. Congratulations to everyone who competed, and thanks to all those supporting our athletes on a long trip up north.

England Athletics U15/U17/U20 Indoor Championships

Club Secretary — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 22:54:24 +0000

4 SMRAC athletes travelled to Sheffield to compete in the England Athletics U15/U17/U20 Indoor Championships 2026.

Arlo Bates took part in the U17M Pole Vault. His opening height was 3.65m, and he finished 5th after clearing 3.95 - a new PB for him.

There were 2 girls in the U15 60m Hurdles: Aurelia Adams and Emma Collins. Both started in Heat 1 - Aurelia finishing 1st with 9.35s and Emma finishing 3rd with 9.45s. Both girls raced in the 2nd semi final with Aurelia finishing 2nd with 9.30s to qualify for the final, and Emma finishing 6th with a PB of 9.37s, only 0.02s away from final qualification. In the final, Aurelia finished 4th in 9.19s, only 0.01s behind third place.

Aurelia also raced in the 60m. She started in Heat 2, qualifying for the Semis in 3rd place and a PB of 7.89s. In the Semis, Aurelia raced in Heat 2, finishing 6th with 7.96s.

The last of the SMRAC athletes to compete was Ellina Ponkratieva in U17W 800m. Racing in Heat 1, Ellina came 4th with a PB time of 2:14.44

Well done to you all, SMRAC is extremely proud of your efforts.

Full results can be found at https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=27627

RIP Robin Chandler 1945 - 2025

Kim Weir — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 14:22:28 +0000

Robin Chandler 1945 - 2025

It is, with regret, we hear the news that a stalwart of the club - Robin Chandler has passed away.

Robin was an outstanding Javelin thrower in his younger days with a PB of 67+ m m and was in the top 10 in the UK in the 1960's.

He remained a member of the club for the rest of his life participating as an official, as a team manager and as a committee member before being given an Honorary membership for all his contributions to both Richmond and Twickenham AC and - it's later evolvement - SMRAC.

Older club members may remember Robin in one or more of these roles:

John Curtin (Throws coach and President) writes:

Robin joined Twickenham Athletics club in 1965, a year before I joined. I was with Robin in 1967 where he was competing against a GB national thrower named John Greasley. The meeting was at Woodford Bridge where Robin threw his PB of 229 feet (69m). He was narrowly beaten by Greasley.

Robin was a great friend of mine and I competed with him in many athletics meeting for the club throughout the 60's and 70's.

Written by Gary Palmer (club member since the 1980s and past President of the club):-

Robin was truly a club legend. The longest serving member going back to the founding of Twickenham AC back in 1964, Robin was an outstanding Nationally ranked Javelin thrower, still holding the club record with the old specification javelin with a throw of over 67m.

More than just an outstanding athlete though, Robin was an amazing club member. Over 40 years at the club, Robin’s contribution is so hard to measure. As well as competing regularly, he coached many athletes across all throws disciplines, acted as Men’s Team Manager for over 20 years, officiated at club fixtures up and down the country and was a long-standing committee member.

I shall always hold special memories of Robin on our annual pre-season Club Tours to Malta and Portugal throughout the 1990s. Robin was a real character, just as comfortable chatting to strangers from foreign shores as he was helping our athletes to be the best version of themselves. Often the club entertainer, his stories and songs will be with me and our team mates forever.

Robin can be attributed for creating the fantastic team culture that always made Richmond and Twickenham AC (and now St Mary’s Richmond AC) so unique compared to other athletics clubs.

It was not unusual for the team to meet up the night before an event, compete throughout the next day, socialise together long into the night afterwards and still be at training the next day.

The club became an extended family, and the team members stood shoulder to shoulder to help each other. It was no surprise that Robin led the team to its highest ever Southern League finish, narrowly missing out on reaching the National League, the pinnacle of club athletics.

I have long since considered Robin as part of my extended family and, as a god parent to my daughter, our friendship extended well beyond the athletics field. I feel privileged to have had Robin in my life and I am sure that fellow team members from across the years feel the same.

Rest in peace my great friend.

Photos from warm weather training trips to Malta and Portugal with full involvement from Robin

Kim Weir (Membership Sec from 2005 - 2020), coach, official and Masters athlete writes:

Robin welcomed me into the club when Richmond + Twickenham AC evolved into SMRAC. With his effusive style and encouragement, he helped me develop from someone who wanted to volunteer but didnt know much about athletics at that point into a Committee member who took on whatever was needed. Robin had helped create - along with several other club members - a club that felt like an extended family where I felt I could belong and encouraged my involvement in all aspects of the club. I had the privildge of learning how to officiate and team mange with Robin showing me the ropes.

Robin officiating at SML league shot putt

SML end of season team photo 2011 (Robin is at the back)

SML end of season team dinner 2010 - Robin is front and left

A Memorial Match is in the process of being planned in Robin's memory for summer 2026. More inormation to follow.

Indoor Competitions 25/26

Membership Secretary — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:57:31 +0100

A list of local(ish) indoor competitions for the 25/26 winter can be found on the website under the 'fixture lists' link on the 'about the club' tab. Any athletes wishing to enter these fixtures must do some themselves, the club does not enter athletes. Should you have any questions please speak to your coaches.

SMRAC Athlete picked for England Athletics Youth Talent Programme (YTP)

Membership Secretary — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:50:41 +0100

SMRAC are delighted of offer our congratulations to U20 athlete Minna, who has been selected for the prestigious England Athletics Youth Talent Programme for 2025-27 in High Jump. She will be part of a group attending training camps receiving elite support from EA as she continues her athletic career.

SEAA Inter Counties Sept 2025

Kim Weir — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 18:04:23 +0100

The SEAA U15 / U17 Inter Counties Championships were held on 14th Sept at Horspath in Oxford.

Several athletes ended their summer season with PB's.

U15G:

Hammer - Daisy - 27.63m

Shot + Discus - Allyah 9.28m (PB) + 17.78m

U15B:

Shot + High Jump + 80mH - Joshua 12.91m (PB) + 1.55m + 12.25s

Hammer - Alex 33.43m

Pole Vault + 800m - Ifan 3.00m + 2.09.97mins

U17W:

High Jump - Minna 1.55m

U17B:

Hammer - Robert 38.30m (PB)

Shot - Michael 10.73m (PB)

Pole Vault - Arlo 2.60m

Well done to everyone for getting selected to represent your county. A pleasing end to the summer season of 2025.

Kieran competes for England for the 1st time.

Kim Weir — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:31:05 +0100

Kieran Bouwmeester-Reid was selected to compete for England for the 1st time across the 1st weekend of September 2025. He was selected to compete at the HCAF Combined Events Championships 2025 over in Belfast at the Mary Peters stadium in U20M Decathlon.

Overall Kieran collected 6 PBs in the competition and came first with 7287 points, breaking the Championship record for U20M decathlon in the process.

PB's collected: Shotput - 14.98m, 400m - 49.68s, 110mH -15.15s, PV - 4.0m, JT - 56.58m and U20 Decathlon - 7287 points.

England Athletics article with more info is here https://www.englandathletics.org/news/impressive-performances-from-england-combined-eventers/

A fantastic way for Kieran to end his season in 2025 before moving onto Loughborough University to start his degree studies.

Inter Counties selections for SMRAC athletes

Kim Weir — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:25:29 +0100

After the Schools County Championships held on 14th June 2025, several SMRAC athletes have been selected to represent their school county at the Cunliffe Cup (Inter Counties) on Sat 21st June.

From Middlesex:

U15G: Evelyn Archer - 1500m; Allyah McGlynn - Discus and Shot; Daisy McKeown - Hammer; Emma Collins - 75mH

U15B: Joshua Gilbert - Shot; Ifan McHardy - Pole Vault; Luke Mills - 80mH; Alex Wurster - Hammer

U17G: Margo Shevchenho - Hammer; Minna Williams - High Jump; Odile Furminieux - Long jump; Rose Willamson - 800m

U17M: Robert Campbell - Hammer; Arlo Bates - Pole Vault;

Surrey tbc

Sussex County Championships 2025

Kim Weir — Sun, 11 May 2025 21:21:11 +0100

Henry Collins competed over in the Sussex Count Champs for his 1st claim club - Crawley. He is part of the SMRAC Throws squad for training whilst studying at St Mary's Uni.

Gold in Discus and new PB, Bronze in Hammer and new PB.