Palmer Park Sports Stadium

Reading

Palmer Park Sports Stadium

Wokingham Road
READING
RG6 1LF

Telephone: 0118 901 5080
Fax: 0118 901 5087

Email:
Website:

Type: Synthetic, 400m, 6 lanes, 8 lane straight

Authority: Reading
Ceremonial County: Berkshire

NUTS Name: Reading

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 740731
National Grid Reference: 474000, 173100

Paper Maps:
A-Z Berkshire 5M 63
A-Z Reading (Ed 3) 5G 27
A-Z Reading (Ed 2) 5G 23
OS Explorer Map: 159
OS Pathfinder Map: 1172
OS/Philip's Berkshire 86 C4
Red Book Reading 18 B2

Train: Earley (1.5M), Reading (2M)

Opening Times: Mon-Fri 0930-2300, Sat 1230-1900, Sun 0830-1700. Club times (use by non members at discretion of club) (Reading AC) Tue & Thu 1800-2000, (Reading Roadrunners) Wed 1800-2000, Fri 1830-1930. Users are however advised to ring in advance to check because the track is often booked.
Is track locked/unavailable for casual use at other times: Yes
Charges: Adult £3.45, Junior £1.70

Track Diagram: Click here
Field Event Facilities: Full - 1 HJ, 2 PV (1L-DE), 3 LJ, 3 TJ (2L-ALT, 1L-DE), 1 SP, 3 DT/HT (2C-INT, 2 2C-EXT no cage)
S/C Water Jump: Inside track, height adjustable

Changing: Full in stadium building
Floodlights: Yes
Seating: 764 covered (740 normal, 24 for timekeepers)

Track Certification: Restricted - valid until 30th Sep 2002 (PV not allowed same time as long throws)

Clubs: Reading AC, Reading Roadrunners, University of Reading AC

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a free service and so has had to be withdrawn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:
The track was originally cinder and was built in the 1890s. The 1927 WAAA champs were held here. The track was upgraded to synthetic in 1981 and was last resurfaced with Spurtan V in 1996. It is inside an asphalt 459m cycle velodrome. The two extra lanes on the home straight are on the inside so when coming round the top bend you come into the 3rd lane. The LJ runway LJ across the first bend D is downhill. In October 2001, a large bell shaped pit which extended under the home straight of the running track suddenly developed. The problem was caused by chalk extraction for use in the local brick industry in the 17th century and resulted in the complete track being unavailable. To rectify the problem, the pit had to be filled, under pressure, with concrete slurry. About 60m of the home straight was also relaid and the track fully reopened in May 2003.

Last update: 02/07/2003

Please send any amendments to Tim Grose