HAAC is a friendly and welcoming club aimed at helping to develop and inspire the athlete in every member and providing each member with support in the fulfillment of their own individual goals.
We cater for runners of all abilities from beginners to winners. The club has over 60 senior members and a wide mix of ages, abilities and interests, split roughly 50/50 between male and female.
Our training nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday nights are mostly on the roads around Helensburgh where we focus on speed work and hills. Our Thursday sessions are trail runs and cover terrain similar to (and sometimes including!) ‘Hel n Back’, our September hill race, with mud, banter and laughs always guaranteed!
We also enjoy regular social events – from group participation in races to dinners out and meet at Levengrove Parkrun in Dumbarton on the first Saturday of each month for a 5Km run followed by coffee and cake at the Pavilion Cafe!
Seniors
The senior members of the club, who must be 18+, meet every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the year for group training sessions.
On Tuesday nights the focus is on speedwork and is mainly on the roads around Helensburgh. Our Thursday sessions are trail runs and cover tracks and trails similar to our September hill race, Hel’n’Back.
The Thursday session will often include hills and mud but are longer distance, more social runs with loads of banter and laughs!
HAAC Vision and Club Values
Helensburgh Amateur Athletics Club…inspiring participation, progress and performance.
Club vision – To develop and inspire the ‘athlete’ in every member and provide support in fulfilment of their goals.
Inclusive – Welcoming and developing every level of athlete; from beginners to winners.
Friendship – Building friendships through shared involvement, enjoyment and goals.
Community – The club is run by the members, for the members and is an active part of the Local Community in Helensburgh and the surrounding area
Grit – Encouraging determination and commitment in each member.
Having fun – Enjoying athletics with like-minded and supportive friends.
History Of Helensburgh AAC
Helensburgh Amateur Athletic Club’s roots go back to 1982 when some members of the Helensburgh Rugby Club formed a jogging group to train for the Glasgow Marathon.
A notice was placed in the Helensburgh Advertiser inviting any other marathon runners to come along and join in. Such was the response that it was decided to formally constitute the group and so in 1983, Helensburgh Amateur Athletic Club was formed. And such was the success of the new Club that it was decided to open it up to Junior athletes.
In the following years, the Club went from strength to strength and despite some fluctuations in fortunes. Today Helensburgh Amateur Athletic Club numbers over 150 members – Junior and Senior, male and female, from ages 9 to 70+, including some members of the original jogging group and therefore founder members of the Club.
Club members take part in numerous events throughout the year, these include:
Outdoor Track & Field – Competing in the Central and Southern Athletics League and the Youth Development League. Indoor Track & Field – Competing in the Scottish Athletic Indoor League during the Winter season.
Various local Road Races and numerous Cross-Country races including – West Dunbartonshire XC Championships, West District XC Championships and National XC Championships.
Anyone wishing to become a HAAC Junior Member or who are looking for information on joining the Club should use the ‘Contact Us’ form. Please note that there is a minimum age limit of 9 years old, however we will add those under 9 to our waiting list.
Junior Coaching at HAAC
The junior coaching team consists of 6 adults plus 1 young coach, providing 9 sessions/week over the summer and 7 sessions over the winter, literally thousands of volunteer hours per year.
New coaches are always welcome, and anyone interested in joining the coaching team should contact Daz Murphy or speak to any of the coaches.
Coaching Team pictured at Linwood Stadium 2023 (Chris Baillie, Head Coach for almost 10 years, far left in photo).
Charitable Status
Helensburgh Amateur Athletic Club, OSCR Number – SC048176
Helensburgh Amateur Athletic Club is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).
Our constitution is available here.
Our most recent Trustees Report as a SCIO is available here.
Membership is great value with benefits including:
- Only one annual membership fee – there is no additional fee to use our clubhouse facilities on training nights, unlike many other clubs.
- The club covers the entry costs for West District and Nationals cross country.
So, if you like the idea of enjoying athletics with like-minded and supportive individuals why not give us a go? Please feel free to come along and try us out before you join the club.
Just drop us an email using the link below and let us know when you will be coming to the club.
We can then make sure that someone will meet with you to determine which of our training groups would be best for you to join.
If you feel that the membership fee is a barrier to joining then please contact the membership secretary to discuss options, this will be treated in confidence.
