25Feb
Tal y Fan – 2020 cancelled
Unfortunately, as Wales is still in lockdown, local travel only, social distancing and no big group rules all still apply, and no indication when they will be lifted, the Rowen Carnival Committee has cancelled this year’s village carnival.
Both the WFRA and WA are not issuing race permits, and consequently there is no insurance cover available.
Therefore we have had no option but to cancel this year’s Tal y Fan race. We do hope to be back – Saturday 10th July 2021.
At Welsh Athletics we have been working hard with Sport Wales, British Athletics, the other home country athletics federations and other partners to plan and try to keep the sport as active as possible during these unprecedented times.
As we know, the sport of athletics is diverse, and we want to keep in touch with as many of you as possible. As a result, we are launching the ‘Ask Us’ series of regional webinars with the aim of trying to further connect the full athletics community of Wales.
The aim of the ‘Ask Us’ sessions is to be as open as possible and will be looking to provide some brief updates but, most importantly, to also engage with attendees and allow for questions and discussion. The webinars will feature James Williams (Interim CEO of Welsh Athletics) as well as all Heads of Department who will be available to both listen and answer questions as appropriate.
The feedback and questions will also help to provide more focused and relevant support for the sport in Wales.
The sessions will take place from on the following dates:
‘Ask Us’ (North Wales): Thursday 4th June
‘Ask Us’ (West Wales): Thursday 11th June
Further information also available on the Welsh Athletics website via the webinar series pages: https://www.welshathletics.org/en/events/stay-home-stay-involved1
Welsh Athletics have today (14th May) announced an extension to the current suspension of the sport in Wales, the new suspension is in place until the 19th of June (https://www.welshathletics.org/en/blog/post/extension-to-the-suspension-of-athletics-activity-in-wales)
Given that the Welsh Government are not expected to provide a further update to the restrictions until the end of May, we felt that clubs would need time to prepare for any changes that may be announced. The new date will allow Welsh Athletics to work on guidelines to provide clubs in preparation for any ‘return to sport’ plan that may be outlined as part of an overall roadmap to recovery by Welsh Government.
It is worth noting that the suspension on competition (until the end of June) has not changed.
Unlike previous announcements, the suspension has not been extended in any of the other Home Countries, who are aiming to align any changes to their own National Government guidelines.
To ensure that all members have an opportunity to engage Welsh Athletics directly and to highlight any emerging challenges that they may be facing, we are announcing a series of open forums for members to engage the Senior Management Team of Welsh Athletics directly. The Ask Us series will be start next week, with clubs and members in East Wales having the opportunity to discuss their views. Each week we will aim to engage a different region. Chris Moss and Rob Sage will forward further information on this series in due course.
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss any aspect of our current response in more detail.
Kind Regards
| James Williams
Interim Chief Executive Officer Address: Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith, Cardiff, CF11 8AZ Mobile: 07802 180319 / 07864 613666 Office: 02920649848 Email: james.williams@welshathletics.org Website: www.welshathletics.org
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The Board of Welsh Athletics met yesterday, 23rd March, to discuss the Corona Virus situation in relation to athletics in Wales. Following the further restrictions on movement put in place by the UK Government last night, they agreed the following updates to our previous statement issued on 17th March:
“These decisions have not been taken lightly, and have been made in light of the continuing and real risk to life and to the NHS posed by the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Wales and the UK. We must now do all we can do. We would ask that the athletics community in Wales continues to help one another by staying connected and supportive of each other whilst at home in these unprecedented times. We will continue to review the situation in line with Government and Public Health guidance.”
Updates can be found here
Covid-19 Athletics response: Welsh Athletics statement announcing the suspension of all Athletics activity.
| NOTE TO EDITORS RSVP / Media Enquiries – please contact rob.sage@welshathletics.org 07864 613635 |
This morning Welsh Athletics, along with the other Home Countries have decided on a number of immediate actions in relation to how the sport of Athletics will respond to the threat of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Welsh Athletics in cooperation with UK Athletics have decided to suspend all planned organised athletics activity until the end of April where the situation will be reviewed once more:
We have made this decision in accordance with the directives outlined by the government through the Prime Minister in his statement on Monday afternoon.
Welsh athletics would like to thank all members of the athletics community IN Wales for their support at this challenging time. We will endeavour to maintain regular, open communication as this situation develops. Please prioritise and support the health and wellbeing of yourselves and those you can within the Welsh Athletics family.
ABOUT WELSH ATHLETICS
You can get in touch and follow Welsh Athletes via the following channels:
Media Enquiries rob.sage@welshathletics.org 07864613635
British Champs: Ras yr Aran.
Conditions up to this date had been wet and windy, consistently. Its Spring after all. On Saturday, not to disappoint, it was wet and windy. And very VERY wet underfoot… A good few of us nearly lost shoes, items of clothing or our souls to the power of the numerous bogs…
25 Eryri Harriers turned up to pit themselves against some of the toughest runners across the UK, and the bog.
First in, and a new signing to Eryri, was Gareth Hughes, 14th overall, and 11th in the Open race. A fantastic 17th place overall was Tom Woods, and 1st U23 by minutes. 3rd Eryri male in was Rob Samuel, 31st overall, and 22nd in the Open race. All other Eryris in the Male Open category were: Gavin Roberts 28th, Rhys Goodhead 51st, and Owain Williams 78th Open.
In the V40 category, Matt Fortes was 11th V40, followed by Rich Roberts in as 13th V40, Emlyn Owen 21st V40, Glyn Williams 35th V40, Paul Jones 36th V40, Michael Coyne 52nd V40, and Ali Chant 59th V40.
V50s: Craig Jones was 11th V50, Guto Edwards 30th V50 and James McQueen 34th V50.
V60: Stephen Jones was a fab 2nd V60, with Russell Owen 5th V60 and Iwan Edgar 12th V60.
In the Womens race, Miranda Grant was 8th overall, and 5th in the F Open category, and Becki Law was 41st overall, 22nd OpenF.
Jacki Lee and Andrea Rowlands looked to have had a good battle being 7th and 8th V40, and 27th and 28th Women respectively, and Sarah Barnwell was 5th V50, with Ellie Salisbury 17th V50.
Really well done to everyone who took part in tricky conditions both underfoot and on the hill, with the brief weather window still giving us all a good run for our money. Results are below, along to some links to photos.
Huge thanks to Meirionnydd Running club for putting on such a great race in what has been a very challenging few weeks.
It is anyone’s guess if the next British Champs race in N Ireland next month will go ahead but I’ll update nearer the time.