Welsh Athletes Get Back On Track . . . And Field

By Owen Morgan

Athletes in Wales are starting to take their first tentative steps towards returning to competitive action.

The sport’s governing body has released competition and officiating guidance in preparation for meetings and races to be staged.

Meanwhile, clubs across Wales, such as Bridgend AC and Colwyn Bay are also starting to open their outdoor training facilities.

The new guidance documents cover track and field competition, along with road running and multi-terrain events. Guidance for other disciplines will follow.

Welsh Athletics’ head of competitions Rhiannon Linnington-Payne said: “We are really pleased to be able to release these initial documents, with guidance for the cross country, mountain and trail disciplines to follow in due course.

“These documents have been developed in conjunction with British Athletics, the other Home Countries and Runbritain, and represent a huge step in the sport’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

 

Return to Carmarthen Harriers Club Training Sessions (by Arrangement with Club Coaches) – Thursday Evenings / Saturday Afternoons at Pemberton Athletics Track, Llanelli

Athletes must fill in and submit the Return to Training Agreement Form… https://t.co/QtmjSxyW8x pic.twitter.com/1bhekKbYlZ

— Carmarthen Harriers | Harriers Caerfyrddin (@CarmsHarriers) July 24, 2020

“Whilst a number of restrictions will need to remain in place to hold competitions within the current Welsh Government guidance, these documents will aid competition providers with their plans for safe and compliant competition for the remainder of the season.”

The documents include wide ranging guidelines and restrictions surrounding staging, competing and officiating at events.

They include advice on undertaking COVID-19 specific risk assessments, appointing a COVID-19 officer for events, event specific social distancing, hand-washing and sanitising, cleaning equipment and general organisational considerations.

The release of the documents is seen as a significant landmark on the way to athletics returning to something resembling normality.

Welsh hammer thrower Osian Jones.

Pilot events are also being scheduled for the weekend of August 15 and 16 with details to be released shortly.

Welsh Athletics chief executive James Williams said of the guidance documents: “This is another important step towards the sport returning in Wales.

“Albeit there is still a long way to go, hopefully the guidance being released today will enable competition providers to start planning how they intend delivering competition in a safe and responsible manner.”

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Got my %’s (pawcents) on 🏃🏼‍♀️💨 #ukrunchat pic.twitter.com/pcjA5VoDWZ

— Natasha Cockram (@cockram_natasha) February 7, 2020

Some of Wales’ elite sprinters and power athletes returned to training in a carefully controlled sessions on June 30.

Now the following clubs have started to open up their facilities for training:

• Bridgend AC
• Carmarthen
• Colwyn Bay
• Deeside
• Menai
• Neath
• Rhondda AC
• Rhymney Valley

Anyone wanting to use of these facilities should contact the clubs beforehand to find out whether they have a booking system. Social distancing guidelines should be adhered to.

Clubs have been encouraged to undertake specific Covid-19 risk assessments and to put guidelines in place to make their sessions as safe as possible. Athletes are asked to adhere to all changes put in place by clubs.

All the latest guidance documents are available on the Welsh Athletics website.