Winston Hills Athletics Centre recently launched its 50th season with a grand ceremony, with founding member and former president David Bruce saying it is a huge achievement. Bruce, 80, said they never thought about reaching this 50th milestone, “because we didn’t think that far.”
“We tried to make it successful and the club has improved each year, with some of our initiatives like the Most Improved Athlete now popular in other clubs,” Bruce said. Remarkably, he still coaches six days a week. “I got involved because of my three children and I still enjoy coaching at the club,” he said Bruce, who cut the ribbon to launch the season, was presented with a Club Patron Award from current president Steven Pospischil.
From a humble start in 1975 where committee members met in what was called the “cow shed” (a tin shed in the middle of what is now the M2), the WHAC is now a thriving club with more than 500 athletes. The early members worked hard to establish a strong foundation, building much of the equipment by hand because money was scarce then.
The hurdles, the high jump uprights and even the tunnels for the tots obstacle course were all hand made. The club has a rich tradition of nurturing and supporting athletes over the past five decades, with Olympians Brandon Starc and Jana Pittman among their most successful members. Starc won the 2018 Commonwealth gold medal and the IAAF Diamond League final.
Pittman, now a practising doctor, is a twotime world champion in 400m hurdles and the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth gold medallist. She also won the world youth and junior titles and competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in bobsleigh.
“The 50th season launch day was a wonderful celebration for our club, our athletes and our community,” a club spokesperson said. “Many athletes and their families attended. There was face painting, balloon twisting, hair braiding and a free BBQ for the athletes and their families.”
Special guests included Castle Hill MP Mark Hodges, Winston Hills MP Mark Taylor, Alvin Umadhay from Little Athletics NSW, WHAC life members and coaches.
The club was formed as Winston Hills Little Athletics Club in 1975 at Max Ruddock Reserve, Winston Hills before moving to Gooden Drive Reserve, Baulkham Hills. The club changed its name in 2019 when it was affiliated with Athletics NSW and LANSW.
In addition to Pittman and Starc, WHAC has produced national and international representatives including Taylah Sengul (Commonwealth Youth Games), Josh Byron (Australian men’s netball), Amber Luchtmeijer (U20 Matildas), and Tiana Fuller (Junior Matildas).
Current Little Athletics NSW State Records
U8 Girls Long Jump – Danya Kerr; U8 Girls Discus – Taylah Sengul; U11 Boys Walk – Nate Appleyard; U13 Girls Discus – Taylah Sengul; U13 Boys 80m Hurdles – Ahmed Abou-Mahmoud; U13 Girls Throws Relay – Clare Grubba, Rachel Bardney, Vanessa Apel – 2019; U9 Boys Throws Relay – Aaron Chevalier, Noah Scerri, Thomas Jackson – 2018.
National Reps for the 2023/24 Season
Last season nine athletes represented NSW at the Australian All Schools National Championships, Australian Athletics Nationals Champions and the Australian Little Athletics Championships (ALAC).
The athletes are: Patrick Waddington U13 3km walk Australian Nationals; Sanjana Iyer: U14 Gold medal for 4x100m relay & triple jump bronze at ALAC; Hurdles finalist at Australian Nationals; also competed in the long jump and discus; Franklin Gaitanidis: U14: 200m bronze medal at ALAC; Aaron Chevalier: U15 javelin finalist at Australian All Schools & Australian Nationals; Matilda Webb: U16 3000m walk champion at All Schools Nationals and Australian Nationals; Caitlyn Martin: High Jump champion at All Schools Nationals; also competed in heptathlon; Isaac Chevalier : U18 javelin finalist at Australian All Schools & Australian Nationals; Also competed in decathlon; Liam Grant: U17 high jump at Australian Nationals, and Holly Gersbach: U20 3000m steeplechase at Australian Nationals.
