Tidworth Oval

Tidworth

Tidworth Oval

Bulford Road
TIDWORTH
SP9 7SB

Telephone: 01980 602030 (enquiries, not at track)
Fax:

Email:
Website:

Type: Synthetic, 400m, 8 lanes, 8 lane straight

Authority: Wiltshire
Ceremonial County: Wiltshire

NUTS Name: Tidworth

Electronic Map Links:
Multimap 1:10,000 (Street Level)
Multimap 1:25,000 (Area Level)
Multimap 1:50,000 (Area Level)
Multimap 1:100,000 (Road Level)
Multimap 1:200,000 (Road Level)
Streetmap (Street Level)
Streetmap (Area Level)
Streetmap (Road Map)

OS National Grid Reference: SU 235483
National Grid Reference: 423500, 148300

Paper Maps:
A-Z Hampshire 9C 30 & 7G 30
OS Explorer Map: 131
OS Pathfinder Map: 1222
OS Landranger Map: 184
OS/Philip's North Hampshire 78 C3
Red Book Wiltshire 32 C4

Train: Grateley (6M), Andover (9M)

Opening Times: No public times. Club times (winter only, non exclusive) Tue 1830-2000
Is track locked/unavailable for casual use at other times: Yes
Charges: No casual use tickets. Hire charges on application. Club sessions are Adult £1.50 (members), £2.00 (non members), Junior £1.00

Track Diagram: Click here
Field Event Facilities: Full - 1 HJ, 2 PV (1L-DE), 2 LJ/TJ (1L-DE), 1 SP, 2 DT, 1 HT (DT/HT 2C-INT, DT 1C-INT), 2 JT. There is also a disused HT cage but with no netting external to the track which was part of the old track.
S/C Water Jump: Inside track, height adjustable

Changing: Full in new pavilion
Floodlights: Yes
Seating: 196 covered

Track Certification: Full - valid until 30th Apr 2007

Clubs: City of Salisbury A & RC

Pictures: Please browse the selection here.

The display of inline maps of track locations is no longer
a free service and so has had to be withdrawn

Please use the Electronic Map links

Sponsorship for www.runtrackdir.com is being sought
Please contact Tim Grose

Click the picture for a larger view
Click here to see the list of pictures for this track.

Click the diagram for a larger view

Other Info:
A track, owned by the Army, has existed here since at least 1910 as it is depicted on an OS map of the period. In those days it appeared to be 440y all round but the home straight was at least 220y long with extensions at each end and much wider than the rest of track. Unlike now, the back straight was on the other side of the River Bourne and the map shows that the back straight was reached by means of two footbridges which formed part of the track! The map also shows that there was a pavilion but this was further north of the current covered stand and directly opposite the police station. Comparing old and new maps, the River Bourne was diverted at some point and now runs much closer to the main road (called Park Road) and around the track. The track was clearly rebuilt as a more standard 440y oval later on and the back straight pushed over closer to Park Road which might have coincided with the river being diverted. The northern extension of the home straight was retained, presumably to allow for 120yH / 110mH races but not the southern one. Until 1999 the track was cinder with 6 lanes all round and a 7 lane straight and was used for meetings until 1998. It became rather rutted and overgrown and was unusable during the 1999 season. Work began on upgrading it to an 8 lane all round Amtrack SP synthetic track in about October 1999. Just the track opened in October 2000 as there were initially problems with the infield. The track became fully available for use on 1st November 2001 when the infield was licensed. City of Salisbury A & RC started holding training sessions here on 16th October 2001. Wessex & Bath AC are also keen to establish a base here. There is also an Electronic Scoreboard and Photofinish equipment. The covered stand which, prior to the upgrade, was largely derelict has been rebuilt. Kennet District Council obtained a lottery grant for new changing facilities and for the Nuffield clubhouse at the track and so it is thought that the public will be able to use the track although it is still owned by the Army. The main contractor was Ballast Wiltshier who also built the nearby Tidworth Leisure Centre, Nadder Road, TIDWORTH, SP9 7QN on behalf of the local council and the Army which opened in September 2000. Tidworth only exists as a postal town and consists of North Tidworth and South Tidworth. It is unclear which of the two the track is actually in although North Tidworth is the larger of the two.

Last update: 19/12/2001

Please send any amendments to Tim Grose