Work starts on Kilbarchan AAC’s £1.3m indoor area

Wednesday 7th August 2019

Artist impressions photos courtesy of CRGP Architects and Surveyors

J emma Reekie – blog post from Kilbarchan’s Euro U23 double gold medallist

Work has now started on a visionary £1.3m indoor athletics centre in Renfrewshire – after a tremendous fund-raising effort by Kilbarchan AAC and partners.

The Kilbarchan training centre at Linwood will include a 60m running track, javelin throwing cages and horizontal and vertical jumps.

And the great news is that construction work has now started with Kilbarchan AAC having acquired more than 4000sqm of land to build the facility following approval from Renfrewshire Council.

The club plans to build beside Linwood’s On-X sports centre’s existing outdoor track and field facilities, with the whole venue then to become a centre of development and excellence for athletes in that part of Scotland.

The proposal for the indoor training centre includes:

*60m running track

*Horizontal and vertical jumps

*Indoor throwing cage including javelin

*Club room

*Strength and conditioning area

It is hoped the training centre will help young people to hone their athletic skills and provide a pathway to international competition – including the Olympics.

‘This development would offer us the opportunity to train in any weather, all-year-round, and make the On-X Centre a complete facility for elite and club athletes in Renfrewshire,’ said Jim Goudie, Kilbarchan AAC immediate past president.

‘We want to bring as many people we can into athletics and having this indoor facility will give people the chance to take up the sport, while keeping younger athletes from becoming disheartened with training sessions cancelled or in the pouring rain.

‘We’ve had four Olympians pass through our club so far and we want to give our members the best possible chance to follow in their footsteps – and this facility would do just that.’

Mark Munro, chief executive of scottishathletics, said the project was important to the body’s strategy to increase participation and standards in athletics.

‘This is a quite superb effort by one club and Kilbarchan AAC’s ambition is to be commended,’ said Mark.

‘I think in fact what they are doing is inspirational for the athletics community in Scotland when we see what can be achieved with hard work and a strong can-do mentality.

‘The facility will be vital to continue growing athletics in Renfrewshire and the indoor facility will greatly enhance the club’s capacity to develop their young athletes year-round.

‘We are fully behind Kilbarchan’s proposed facility development at the On-X in Linwood and are excited about the opportunities it will present for the club and athletics in Renfrewshire.’