{{Short description|British athletic club}} {{distinguish|Redding Athletic F.C.}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use British English|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox athletics club | name = Reading Athletic Club | type = | image = 150px | image_border = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | founded = 1881 | ground = Palmer Park Stadium | location = Wokingham Rd, Earley, Reading RG6 1LF | coordinates = {{coord|51|27|07|N|0|56|13|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | league(s) = | activities = | affiliations = | colors = | website = {{url|https://www.readingac.com/ |official website}} }}
'''Reading Athletic Club''', is an athletics club based in Reading, Berkshire, England. The club officially formed in November 1881; however records show that it was one of the inaugural clubs that formed the governing body of athletics at that time, the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) in 1880.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.readingac.com/ |title=Home |website=Reading Athletic Club |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> There are also references dating back to the late 1860s, making the club one of the oldest and longest established athletic clubs in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002304/18740729/029/0003 |title=Athletic Sports |work=Oxfordshire Weekly News |date=29 July 1874 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref>
== History == thumb|right|250px|Reading AC meeting in 2010 at the Palmer Park Stadium Reading Athletic Club's earliest Olympian was Billy Leach who qualified for the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm for the long jump and standing long jump after finishing second in the Olympic trial at Stamford Bridge but did not start the event.<ref name=oly>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/922719 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref>
In 1964 Ann Packer became Britain's first female Olympic gold medalist, winning the 800 metres event at the 1964 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19641021/267/0030 |title=I just could not believe I had won |work=Daily Mirror |date=21 October 1964 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref>
== Notable athletes == thumb|right|250px|Ann Packer (no.55) on her way to Olympic gold === Olympians === {| class="wikitable" |- !width=150|Athlete !width=200|Events !width=150|Games !width=100|Medals/Pos, Ref |- |Billy Leach || Long jump||1912||<ref name=oly/> |- |Henry Oliver ||3000 m steeplechase ||1928||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69361 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> |- |Harry Whittle ||400 m hurdles, long jump ||1948, 1952||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69594 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> |- |Ann Packer ||400 m, 800 m ||1964||16px16px<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68748 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> |- |Bev Goddard-Callender||200 m, 4×100 m, 4×400 m||1976, 1980, 1984||16px16px<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68661 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> |- |Kathy Smallwood-Cook ||100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 4×100 m ||1980, 1984||16px16px16px<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68781 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> |- |Simmone Jacobs|| 100 m, 200 m, 4×100 m||1984, 1988, 1992, 1996||16px<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68689 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> |}
=== Commonwealth Games === {| class="wikitable" |- !width=150|Athlete !width=200|Events !width=150|Games !width=100|Medals/Pos, Ref |- |Anthony Chivers ||3 miles||1950 ||16px |- |Nigel Spratley || Shot put ||1994|| |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Athletics clubs in England Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1881 Category:Sport in Reading, Berkshire Category:1881 establishments in England