Functioning across three different categories and with no experience required, EMA offers a welcoming environment for families looking to either improve their fitness or just give it a crack on field or on the track.
EMA’s Little Athletics program grew by 20 per cent in the 2024-25 season with 250 members with a similar number expected this season.
The club will have a come and try event on Friday, October 3 where any athletes from the region aged five to 17 are welcome to come to Jack Eddy Oval and see what it’s like to run, jump and throw.
While the Little Athletics portion of the club has grown, the club is working hard on developing the masters and seniors categories.
The masters is catered towards anyone aged 17 to 97 looking to get involved with athletics regardless of experience with a come and try scheduled for Monday, October 6 at 6pm at Jack Eddy Oval.
“We offer training as we go and a fun and friendly environment, if you can’t compete in a particular event, we are happy to accommodate and there is coaching available on the night,” club president Kate Downward said.
“We’d really love more masters to come along, including parents of our little athletes coming along to have a run, jump and throw, instead of just coming and watching your little athlete compete, have a go yourself.
“Masters has a lot of room to grow, we are very encouraging because it doesn’t matter the ability, we have people who walk their 200m event, that is fine, and we’ll cheer them on as they increase their fitness and abilities.”
The third part of the club is the seniors athletics group comprised of serious teenagers and adults who will travel to Bendigo on Saturday afternoons to compete in the Athletics Victoria competition.
The club is looking to double seniors participation from eight members to 16, with seven athletes registered already.
Half of the EMA seniors athletes featured in the Australian Nationals competition in March 2025, with some good results coming from that event.
“While we were the newest club, we were also one of the most successful from Victoria, to come away with a silver medal and a fourth for a little club like ours was exceptional,” Downward said.
EMA will officially begin its 2025-26 season on Friday, October 10 with all portions of the club in action at Jack Eddy Oval.
“We are happy to welcome anybody to the club, with free training on offer for all of our clubs and a great environment for families, children, adults and older people,” Downward said.
“Friday night is a great fun environment where families can come and compete in a healthy sport, have a sausage before they go home and it frees up their weekend.”
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