Canons Recreation Ground Track

Mitcham

Canons Recreation Ground Track

Canons Recreation Ground
Commonside West
MITCHAM

Telephone: None
Fax: None

Email:
Website:

Type: Cinder, 352y (est), 5 lanes, 5 lane straight

Authority: Merton
Ceremonial County: Greater London

NUTS Name: Mitcham

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: TQ 279686
National Grid Reference: 527900, 168600

Paper Maps:
A-Z Croydon 5G 3
A-Z London Master 69Hb 125 (S)
A-Z London Atlas/DeLuxe 7D 106
A-Z London 3D 122
A-Z Surrey 2D 44
Collins London Comprehensive 200 DF97
Collins London 93 J3
OS Explorer Map: 161
OS Pathfinder Map: 1191
OS/Philip's Surrey 40 F6

Train: Mitcham TramLink, Mitcham Junction NR/TramLink

Opening Times: Open all the time
Is track locked/unavailable for casual use at other times: No
Charges: None

Track Diagram: Click here
Field Event Facilities: None
S/C Water Jump: None

Changing: None
Floodlights: None
Seating: None

Clubs: None

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a free service and so has had to be withdrawn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 built in 1924 (although https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n9iQencthY suggests could have been in 1922) and was known as the News of the World Sports Club Running Track as it is was on their sports ground. The first track manager was the famous runner Walter George. In 1940 a relay race took place on the track which was interrupted by an air-raid! Mitcham AC (now Sutton & District AC) were based at the track until the early 1960s when they moved to what is now Sutton Arena in Carshalton. Some international athletes who trained at the track included high-jumper Dorothy Tyler (nee Odam), Jennifer Pawsey (nee Taylor), long-jumper Jennette Towel (nee Neil), sprinter Jill Bamborough (nee Hall) and middle-distance runner Ann Smith. The track was bought by Merton Council by the early 1970s for use by schools but in 2000 was in poor condition, the 5th lane was largely overgrown and obviously disused. The track appears to be 5 laps to the mile although have also heard that it is either 400 or 408 or 416 yards. In 2000, the position of the SC water jump could be seen but the pit had been grassed over and the barrier removed. In 2020, the track was restored for community use as indicated here. There is a YouTube video about the track and the recent restoration.

Last update: 04/06/2024

Please send any amendments to Tim Grose