The track and field season runs from April through to September each year. The club provides competition for athletes of all ages and standards through its teams which are entered in a variety of national, regional and local league competitions. In addition there are various Open meetings (not team competitions) which are typically advertised in  (Athletics Weekly)  magazine or on club notice-boards at Hornchurch or Mayesbrook. Athletes can also enter Essex, South of England, East of England or National (AAA) Championships, where necessary subject to reaching qualifying standards. 

The club has set series of aims that we want our teams to achieve - click here for details.

A brief explanation of our track and field teams and the leagues they compete in is set out below. All leagues are made up of teams with two athletes (A & B strings) in each event, with a full events programme:

• Men's British Athletics League (National Div 3) The senior men's team regained their British League status in 2009 after five years out of the national scene. The division comprises eight teams who compete against each other in four fixtures during the summer. Following the withdrawal of Border AC the team have been promoted to Division 3. The opposition in summer 2010 will be Bournemouth, Cambridge Harriers, Exeter, Kingston & Poly, Southampton, Southend, Swansea & Yeovil.  Team Manager: Peter Estcourt

• Men's Southern League (Division 3 North) There is a second senior men's team competing in the Third Division (North) of the Southern League which acts as a stepping stone to provide competition for athletes not yet in the BAL team. There are 16 clubs who meet each other once in five fixtures through the season, with the top and bottom teams usually going up or down. Team Manager: Kevin White

• UK Women's League (Division 3) This is the club's eighth season in this National League which provides competition for Senior & Junior Ladies only, having been relegated from Division 2 in 2008. The competition structure and promotion/relegation arrangements involves eight clubs who compete against each other in three fixtures during the summer. The opposition in summer 2009 will be: Coventry, Glasgow, Herts Phoenix, Medway & Maidstone, Newham & EB, Thames Valley, & Wakefield, Team Manager: Vacant

• Women's Southern League (Seniors Division 1) This League provides competition for Senior & Junior Ladies only, and (at present) also hurdles events for under 17s. The competition structure and promotion/relegation arrangements are similar to the Men's Southern League with 25 clubs facing each other during the season on five fixture dates. It was decided to join the new Senior only division for summer 2008 and the team were promoted to Division 1 for summer 2009, finishing third .  Team Manager: Vacant

• National Junior Athletics League - (Thames Division) The NJAL format was revised from summer 2006 to comprise mixed teams of men & women with joint scoring. Under separate sex scoring HMAC ladies team reached the National Final four times in four year, with a best finish of second in 2004. However the joint team were relegated from the Southern Premier Division in 2006 & in summer 2010 compete in the Thames Division where our opponents are Bedford/Biggleswade (composite), Herts Phoenix, Basildon Beagles (Basildon & Newham & EB composite), Orion Harriers, Team Cambridge and Team Cobra (Colchester & Tendring, Colchester Harriers & Braintree composite). There are four league fixtures . Team Managers: Len Swain (men) & Tony Benton (Women)

• National Young Athletes League (Southern Premier) The structure of the National YAL is a combined league comprising mixed teams covering the U13, U15 and U17 age groups. After losing our position in the Southern Premier Division in 2008 last summer the team bounced back into the top flight. The League Structure for 2010 is currently under review. Team Managers: Gary Peachey, Cheryl Middleton, Lynn Taylor, Lesley Wilson, Ian Law, Angie Hewitt

• Eastern Young Athletes League This regional league brings together boys and girls from clubs all around East Anglia in five fixtures throughout the summer. With non-scoring events running alongside the scoring events there are opportunities for athletes of all standards to compete and stake a place in the team. The top six teams in the Division compete in the end of season Trophy Final.Gary Peachey, Cheryl Middleton, Lynn Taylor, Lesley Wilson, Ian Law, Angie Hewitt

For details of summer fixtures (& link to reports & results) click here.  

Standards for competition

Young athletes (Under 17 age group and younger) can obtain certificates and badges if they obtain certain standards, the top grade being roughly equivalent to the top 20 or 30 in each event. For details of these standards and the qualifying standards for the English Schools Championships click here. 

Athletics Weekly magazine  & the Power of 10 also set standards for publication, which are used to set minimum standards before which results are printed in the magazine.

Cross Country and Road Race teams

From October throughout the winter the club takes part in the Essex Cross Country League which offers competition for runners of all standards from 11 year olds to veterans. The club also enters teams in various road races and relays and county, regional and national championships. For the club winter fixtures click here.