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WSAA Bulletin – April 3rd – COVID 19 UPDATE
03/04/2020 00:00, In Blog / School News /
Welsh Schools have been in extensive discussions with colleagues at the other Home Countries Schools Associations following the cancellation of last months’ SIAB Cross Country. It is our sad duty to report that the SIAB Track & Field which was due to be hosted by English Schools at Derby on July 18th has also fallen victim to the current restrictions, and has joined the list of cancelled events.
Further to this, it is likely that the hosting of these events will now roll over into 2021 – with next year’s Cross Country held at Falkirk, and the Track & Field at Derby. This would mean that Wales would then host the Cross Country event in 2022. However, these arrangements remain provisional for the moment.
The WSAA Management Group met on Wednesday of this week and are now in a position to confirm the cancellation of the following events:
- WSAA National Track &Field - Saturday, July 4th. (Cardiff)
- NASUWT Cup & Plate Final – Wednesday, July 8th. (Brecon)
These decisions have not been taken lightly but reflect the concerns of all at WSAA and Welsh Athletics around the health and safety of pupils, teachers, parents and Officials.
As a result of these cancellations we STRONGLY ADVISE that all School District Competition is also cancelled for Summer 2020.
On a slightly more positive note, we are able to confirm that all athletes selected for Falkirk last month will receive International Kit as soon as it is practicable for this to happen. All athletes selected have been contacted by Welsh Athletics Interim Chief Executive James Williams with regard to this most generous of gestures. Selected athletes will be invited to the Cross Challenge event at Cardiff in October where they are asked to run in Welsh vests and team photographs will be taken. Welsh Schools will also write to every school of selected athletes to ask that they are included in Rolls of Honour and added to Honours Boards as appropriate.
Everyone associated with Schools Athletics in Wales is asked to continue to follow the restrictions in place around travel and social contact for as long as it takes. PLEASE STAY SAFE !!
Steve Jones (WSAA Support Officer)