Nearly three decades ago Bury St Edmunds running track at Abbeycroft Leisure Centre was nearing completion – see the 1997 aerial images captured by Bury Free Press photographer

A Bury St Edmunds running track has been a host to numerous sporting events and witnessed athletes of all ages celebrate victories or face defeat.

However, three decades ago, the running track at Bury Leisure Centre did not exist and what was a grass field became a construction site for what was then hailed as the ‘most important development in West Suffolk’.

In 1996, the Bury Free Press reported that the town would receive a new £1 million athletics stadium after securing the largest National Lottery Sports Fund grant in East Anglia.

The grant followed a two-year campaign aimed at encouraging local athletes to train in the area rather than travel to other tracks in Suffolk.

At the time Steve Palframan, director of leisure at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said: “We’re absolutely over the moon. We’re really excited about it.

“It’s the biggest thing in sport to happen in Bury for many years. It’s a substantial investment in the area.”

First glimpse of the eight-lane track – now popular with running clubs and schools – was captured by Free Press photographer Ian Hulland, who took to the skies in 1997.

Then, the track was five weeks ahead of schedule and was set to open in September of the same year.

Here are some aerial images he captured:

The official opening ceremony was held on September 14, 1997, with Olympic 400m silver medallist and two-time 400m relay world champion Roger Black cutting the ribbon.

Also attending the ceremony were Great Britain hockey star Jane Sixsmith and minister for sport, Tony Banks.

In 2022, the track was awarded TrackMark accreditation – UK Athletics’ quality assurance scheme for track and field facilities.

Do you remember using the track when it first opened? Comment below.