About Us

Why Geelong Guild?

Whether you are a budding Olympic champion, a keen little athlete, or somebody who just enjoys having a run, jump or throw; Geelong Guild Athletic Club has something to offer you. We have members to all ages and abilities, and would like to invite you to join them.

Geelong Guild is a club with a long tradition, and prides itself on catering to a wide variety of athletes. While some of Geelong Guild's members are elite athletes who compete at National and International level, the majority of members simply enjoy the fun and friendships that athletics provides them.

Geelong Guild has a number of accredited coaches who are all available to help you get the most from your athletic endevours. However training is left up to the individuals. The amount of training by our members varies greatly: it ranges from every day to never! In many cases athletes train purely so that they can be with their friends.

So whether you are planning to run the 100m at the next olympics, or are just getting fit for the next footy/netball season, Geelong Guild is the place for you!

Athletics In Geelong

Regular competition takes place from October to March at Landy Field Athletic Track in Geelong. Little Athletics are generally scheduled between 8:30am till midday and Seniors are 1pm till 5pm on Saturday afternoons.

In most events athletes compete with others with a similar ability; and you only have to take part in the events you wish to compete in.

For those athletes who wish to compete at a high level, you can compete either at the Victorian Country Championships, Victorian State Championships or if you want the best there is the Telstra A Championships. If you are still after that level of competition there is also a Geelong Centre team which competes at a state league meet in Melbourne a number of times throughout the season.

What Is On Offer?

Geelong Guild members receive a wide variety of benefits from their involvement in athletics:

• Free access to quality coaching;
• Participation in relay teams;
• Access to an all weather training venue and equipment;
• Social activities and team involvement;
• Friendly services to new and current members;
• Friendships.

Tradition

Geelong Guild was founded on July 13th, 1908. Our current singlet featuring the rampant lion was adopted the following year.

Perhaps the most exposure that the Guild lion received was during the 1950's when John Landy wore it on the world stage. John won an Olympic bronze medal, a commonwealth gold medal and set world records over both 1500m and mile. After the 1956 Olympics, John made a speach at a council dinner on behalf of the athletes, and it was here that he outlined the importance of establishing a running track in Geelong. The cinder track that was subsequently built was named in his honour.

The tradition that John Landy established has continued over the years, and the Geelong Guild singlet has been worn by a huge range of athletes of differing abilities. These include footballers, netballers, and both world junior and veteran representatives.

Geelong Guild Timeline

1908 (July) - Club Formed
1927 - Club takes out first A Grade interclub premiership in Melbourne.
1928 (March) - Club wins H.H. Hunter Memorial Shield as Victorian Track and Field Champions
1930 - Alec Hillhouse is selected for Empire games
1932 - Alec Hillhouse competes at Olympic Games in 5000m & 10000m
1934 - P.J. Reilly competes in 440 yard Hurdles at Empire Games
1941 (March) - Club wins second Melbourne A Grade interclub premiership
1948 - J.W. Ramsay runs 800m at Olympic Games
1950 - Don McMillan and John Vernon compete at Empire Games
1952 - John Landy and Don Mcmillan are selected for Olympic Games
1954 - John Landy, Don Macmillan and John Vernon compete at Empire games
1956 - Club wins third and last A grade interclub premiership
1956 - Ron Blackney, John Chittick, Robert Joyce, John Landy Don Macmillan and John Vernon represent Australia in the Olympiad in Melbourne
1958 - Joan Baretta runs the 880 yards at the Empire Games
1962 - Ron Blackney competes in the 3000m steeplechase at the Empire games
1970 - Mick McGrath competes in the Triple Jump at the Empire Games
1971/72 - Pat Agg is elected Country Vice President of the women's Association (VWAAA)
1974 - Chris Commons, Don Commons and Mick McGrath competes in the Australia team at the Commonwealth Games
1976 - Chris Commons represents Australia in the Long Jump at the Olympic Games
1978 - Chris Commons competes in the Long Jump at the Commonwealth Games
1982 - Jenny Flaherty runs in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the Commonwealth Games
1984 - Peter van Miltenberg represents Australia in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the Olympic games
1986 - Peter Fossy competes in the Decathlon at the Commonwealth Games Edinburgh
1996 (August) - Bryce Barnwell competes at World Junior Championships in Sydney
1998 - Bryce Barnwell competes at World junior Championships in France
2000 - Pauline Zuccolin officiates at Sydney Olympic Games