Tidworth

Tidworth Oval

Facilities

Additional Information

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 had started holding training sessions here on 16th October 2001 although no longer seem to do so. 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.

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