The Story of Team Kennet
For more than a quarter of a century, Team Kennet has played an important role in athletics across West Berkshire, introducing thousands of young people to the sport and helping athletes progress from their first competition through to regional, national and international level.
The Team Kennet we know today has grown enormously, but its story started much smaller.
The Early Years
An important part of the story began in 1998, when Nick Bull took over the organisation of the local Primary Schools Cross Country Championships.
Originally an invitation event involving just three primary schools at Goldwell Park, Northcroft, the competition moved to Henwick Worthy Playing Fields and gradually began to grow.
Then, in 2000, the modern Team Kennet athletics section was born.
Under the leadership of Nick Bull and then-chairman Dennis Hubbard, Team Kennet developed into a club providing athletics and triathlon opportunities for both juniors and seniors.
When Dennis later moved away from the area, Nick took over the running of the club and continued its development.
What followed was more than two decades of remarkable growth.
Building a Home at Crookham Common
One of the most important developments in the club’s history was the creation of the athletics facility at Crookham Common.
Team Kennet, alongside Newbury AC, Greenham Common Trust, West Berkshire Council, Thatcham Town Council and other supporters, played a part in developing a dedicated athletics facility for the local community.
Planning work was underway by 2003 and Crookham Common Athletics Track would go on to become the home of Team Kennet athletics.
For generations of Team Kennet athletes since, the track has been the place where countless first laps have been run, personal bests have been achieved and young athletes have developed their love of the sport.
A Growing Force in Junior Athletics
Team Kennet quickly established itself as a strong junior athletics club.
Over the years, the club recorded more than 60 junior league match victories and twice won both the Wessex Young Athletes League and the Oxfordshire Young Athletes Junior League.
Team Kennet athletes competed across track and field, cross country, Sportshall, road running and multisport competitions, while the club continued to provide opportunities for athletes of all abilities.
By its 20th anniversary in 2020, Team Kennet had grown to nearly 450 members, supported by more than 50 volunteers.
The club had also become only the second athletics club in the UK to achieve Clubmark accreditation.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Perhaps one of Team Kennet’s greatest contributions has been its work with local schools.
The Primary Schools Cross Country Championships continued to grow alongside the club.
In 2000, the event attracted 221 runners from 11 schools.
By 2003, that had grown to 424 runners representing 21 schools.
The championships moved to Newbury Racecourse in 2009 before finding a new home at Newbury Showground in 2014.
That same year, the event passed 1,000 finishers for the first time.
More than two decades after those early races, the championships have become one of the biggest events on the local schools sporting calendar, with the 2025/26 event attracting an incredible 1,439 runners from 51 schools.
The Birth of QuadKids
Team Kennet’s involvement in schools athletics expanded beyond cross country.
Following a trial competition in 2009, the first full West Berkshire Primary Schools QuadKids competition was staged at Park House School in 2010.
QuadKids gave young athletes the opportunity to experience different areas of athletics, combining running, jumping and throwing events.
It became another important pathway for introducing children across West Berkshire to athletics – with many going on to join Team Kennet.
Overcoming the COVID Years
Like sports clubs across the country, Team Kennet faced one of its greatest challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the pandemic, membership had risen beyond 400 athletes.
The cancellation of competitions and interruption to regular training during 2020 and 2021 had a significant impact, with the club losing around 125 athletes during the period.
But Team Kennet rebuilt.
Athletes returned, competitions restarted and new generations began arriving at training.
Team Kennet Today
More than 25 years after the beginning of the modern club, Team Kennet has grown into an organisation of approximately 500 athletes, ranging from eight-year-olds taking their first steps into athletics through to senior and veteran competitors.
The club continues to provide opportunities across track and field, cross country, road running, Sportshall athletics and triathlon/multisport.
Behind every performance are the coaches, officials, volunteers, parents and supporters who have given countless hours to the club.
And throughout its history, the philosophy has remained remarkably simple.
Give people the opportunity to take part.
Help young athletes discover what they are capable of.
And provide a pathway for those who want to see just how far they can go.
From a small local organisation at the beginning of the millennium to a thriving athletics community more than a quarter of a century later, thousands of athletes have now worn the Team Kennet colours.
Some came simply to enjoy athletics.
Some became county champions.
Others progressed to national and international competition.
But they all became part of the same story.
The story of Team Kennet.