Attitude - Commitment - Enthusiasm

Taking Talent to the Top

Severe Weather

If you aren’t training today, someone else will be…

Older Combined Events Athletes

We are aware that there is limited Combined Events specific coaching in Somerset. The Academy continues to accept applications from established & developing Combined Events athletes. If you are interested, please contact us.

ACE Training Sessions

Combined Events training sessions take place at 6pm on Wednesdays in Street during term time. If you would like to be considered for a place, please email us. **ALL TRAINING SUSPENDED - see below**

See “Contact Us”.

Sportshall Athletics

Sportshall Athletics is a fun indoor version of track and field athletics for children between the ages of 4 and 16.  It was created by George Bunner MBE to provide a safe and warm environment for young athletes to train during the cold and dark winter months.

Welcome to The Academy of Combined Events. ACE has been set up to provide potential combined events athletes with the opportunity to develop a range of basic fundamental and  progressive technical event skills in an enjoyable and creative environment. Above all, as part of our philosophy (click here) we believe that the next Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Jess Ennis-Hill or Dean Macey could be living in Somerset, and that deserves the very best start to their athletics career as a multi–eventer. Academy athletes train at Millfield School Athletics Track, Street, Somerset or a nearby indoor venue. 6 - 8pm on Wednesdays during term time. More > > **SUSPENDED - see below**

Many thanks to all our 2020 sponsors. Click on logo for more information:

LATEST NEWS/INFORMATION:  

06 January 2022 - many apologies for the complete lack of updates. As with so many people and businesses the last year and a half has been pretty challenging to say the least!
HEADLINES:-

1. 2021/2022 Sportshall Athletics - after a great deal of consideration it is with regret that Peter and Simon have decided not to take Somerset Teams to the Regional Final scheduled for March 2022. They had been watching the infection rate in Somerset very carefully for a number of months, and in November 2021 with one of the highest rates in the country neither of them felt at all comfortable at the prospect of being in a confined indoor space for long periods of time with large numbers of people. In addition to this they felt that there was too much uncertainty around the whole selection and training  process, and things that were outside their control that could substantially impact  on their ability to deliver to the high standards that have become a hallmark of sportshall athletics in Somerset. It is hoped that things will improve next year and Somerset will be able to take part once again.

2. ACE - Combined Events Training - this time last year we were very hopeful that we’d be able to return to the track at Millfield in the New Year. However, as you know the Government imposed yet another lock down and outside users were not allowed to use the track. Following the lifting of restrictions ACE along with other track users opened a dialogue with Millfield in order to try and agree on a return to the track. It wasn’t until the end of May 2021 that they finally agreed that outside use could resume at the beginning of June, but there were two “stings in the tail”, the first was that use would be restricted to one and a half hours only from 7.15 to 8.45pm during term time, and the other was a substantial increase in hire charges. The pandemic had resulted in the loss of athletes, some had moved on to other things and the later start meant that ACE would lose yet more athletes. The net result of this was that it simply wasn’t viable to continue and reluctantly we were unable to resume combined events training. The issue of the later training time imposed by Millfield turned out to be around Safeguarding and Child Protection but they were completely unwilling to discuss this despite many requests from ACE and other track users. In the Autumn 2021, Mendip Athletics Club (MAC) approached Millfield again and unbelievably they reversed their decision and allowed users to return to their original training times! Of course this was great news but it came too late for ACE. In the mean time Millfield had offered ACE’s Wednesday evening training slot to another club without approaching them in case anything had changed. This brings the news up to date other than to add that in addition to these and other challenges Graham Norris, with whom Peter had founded ACE, decided to drop all his athletics coaching and he also resigned from his post at a local school. This was a huge blow to athletics in the County as Graham had been such an inspiration to many athletes over the years. He was also responsible for promoting athletics in the County as a founder member of MAC and also running Sportshall Athletics in the county for many years. Graham was also responsible for encouraging Peter to become a coach and for mentoring him for many years. Peter would like to say a massive thank you to Graham for all that he has done for him and for athletics in Somerset and to wish him much success with his new ventures. Peter continues to look for ways that some Combined Events coaching could resume but with the loss of so much of his coaching and other athletics related activities, along with anxiety over working with young people during the ongoing pandemic, it is extremely challenging. Peter has resumed his coaching for South Somerset District Council at the track in Yeovil, along with coaching for MAC.


10 November 2020 Covid-19 Update - apologies for the lack of regular updates. We are pleased to report that work on the track at Millfield has been completed and the flood lights are now operational. Just prior to the latest lock down Millfield were considering allowing us back on the track. However, all grass roots sports are banned until at least 3 December 2020. See England Athletics guidance here>>

Accordingly, the track is closed to outside users and our return will be considered again after
3 December assuming nothing else changes. In reality we think it’s likely that we could be looking at a return in the New Year, assuming no further restrictions. Watch this space for further updates.

Sportshall Athletics - sadly as expected, we have received confirmation that there will be no Regional Championships in Keynsham in January 2021. All sportshall selection, training and competition is suspended until the Covid-19 situation improves.
Autumn 2020 - Millfield track is still unavailable. We have considered a return to Brookside but feel that under the Covid circumstances this venue and restrictions mean that it’s unsuitable at this time. We believe that a return to Millfield and outside coaching is the safest option, whilst acknowledging that the Winter weather will make training a challenging alternative!

13 July 2020 Covid-19 Update - the athletics track at Millfield still isn’t available. Current guidelines for returning to athletics can be found on the England Athletics website - click here>>  The guidance changes  frequently but 1 coach and 5 athletes seems to be the safest option, with social distancing and sanitising a vital part of any coaching session. Larger groups are possible under certain circumstances! Jumps are complicated because of the need for sanitising equipment between athletes. There is hope that the situation will have improved by the start of next term. Watch this space for further updates.

23/7/2020 Competition page updated. More >>

URGENT: As of Tuesday 17th March 2020, all ACE training sessions are suspended until at least the end of April due to the Coronavirus epidemic. We very much regret this decision but for the safety of all concerned we must comply with Government and England Athletics guidelines. Take care, stay safe, look after your family. Best wishes from Peter & Graham.

Somerset boys are the 2020 Regional Sportshall Athletics Champions  for the second year!! More>>

ACE Spring Term 2020 training sessions. Details>>

Somerset Octathlon Team second at 2019 CE Nationals, well done Will from ACE!!

Toby & Will to Represent Somerset at the 2019 ESAA CE Championships, Exeter 21/22 September 2019.

ACE TRAINING KIT AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW FROM OUR SHOP ON THE KUKRI WEBSITE. CLICK HERE>>

Data Protection. More>> Email opt in/out. Click here>>

Track & Field Athletics Clubs in Somerset: Flyer>>



Affiliated to Somerset
Athletic Association