Annual

Review

2005

Introduction

Presidents Word
As President of UK

They finished top of the medals table with 18 Gold, 6 Silver

Athletics its my pleasant

and 8 Bronze medals. Our GB age group teams produced a

duty once more to reflect

fantastic medal haul at the IAAF World Youth Championships,

on another year of

European Juniors and European Under 23 Championships.

challenges, progress,

This showed we have young talent capable of achieving at

successes and

the highest level.

disappointments. This is

02

my opportunity to thank

Thanks again to our sponsors and partners who continue

you all on behalf of UK

to support us; Norwich Union, adidas, Red Bull, London

Athletics for making it such

Marathon, Spar and Aqua-Pura are involved at all levels of our

a rewarding sport in which

sport. UK Sport and Sport England like their counterparts in

to be involved.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland provide both financial

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

and strategic support. Through our partnership with Fast Track

I sense we are moving towards a more united sport. Thanks

and the BBC, we continue to stage world-class events.

to the dedicated leadership of Jack Buckner and Peter

Remember the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace and the

Radcliffe, the aim of a strong UK Athletics working in harmony

season finale at Sheffield; memorable, inspirational and a great

with strong home country governing bodies is being realised.

shop window for our sport.

The creation of a new England Athletics will help ensure this

aim and we all wish Dr Alan Harrison, the newly appointed

I know I speak for everyone in our sport when I say thank you

Chief Executive of England Athletics every success in his role.

and congratulations to Seb Coe and his London Olympic bid

The new UK Members Council will also satisfy those who

team, for their magnificent achievement in winning the 2012

have demanded greater accountability and democracy within

Olympic and Paralympic Games for this country. It has

our sport.

provided us with a powerful and compelling reason to put

athletics on a firm foundation for the future. I sense it has

We are now poised to make progress in other areas.

ignited a flame in all of us.

Programmes such as Elevating Athletics, the new athletics

curriculum resource, will enhance the delivery of athletics in

Thank you for your contribution over the past twelve months;

schools, giving young people a much better start on the

lets work together to make 2006 a great year.

athletics pathway. Coach education continues to develop

and is a priority for UK Athletics as it invests in the skills
Best Wishes

and expertise of our coaches.

It was good to see some new domestic competition
introduced this year. I enjoyed watching the Indoor City Cup
in Sheffield. The athletes I spoke to said they enjoyed the team
spirit and sense of identity. It is a concept with great potential.
The inaugural UK Challenge provided more meaningful

Lynn Davies

competition for our aspiring international athletes, and again

positive feedback indicates that athletes welcome this
structured pathway through the season.
The IAAF World Championships in Helsinki provided the
toughest of challenges. Global competition is now fierce and
medals are very hard to achieve. So congratulations to our
two relay teams on winning Bronze and to Paula Radcliffe
on adding World Championship Gold to her wonderful
achievements. Our disability team should be proud of their
performances at the IPC European Championships in Finland.

Annual Review 2005

Introduction

Our vision is for a sport with a broad base of participation - regardless of age, background
or level - that enables every athlete to have an identifiable pathway to fulfil their ambitions
and potential. At the elite level the UK will be regarded as the leading European athletics
nation, consistently ranked in the top five in the world. The environment of the sport will be
athlete-centred with a comprehensive network of developmental programmes and
progressive competition opportunities.

Introduction

Athletics in the UK:Vision

Introduction

by David Moorcroft
UK Athletics Chief Executive

In a sport where medals mean so much, it is ironic that a simple

It wont be easy to unite athletics around a single goal but I believe

plain envelope symbolised arguably the greatest moment in British

we can collectively articulate a vision for our sport that is both

sport last year.

compelling and inclusive, to reflect the breadth and diversity of

athletics in the UK. There is an immense power within the Olympic

It is strange to begin a review of a year in athletics with a moment

movement. The power to inspire, the power to unite and the

that took place away from the field of competition, but the decision

power to transform. We have to embrace that power and create a

to award London the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was

force for change driven from the grass roots through to the elite

an extraordinary moment that provides our sport with an

level of our sport.

extraordinary opportunity.
Although 2005 may not have been our most successful year,
Actually, I am going to leave it to others to review the year, instead

ironically the London 2012 decision could well have made it the

I want to project forward to 2012 and encourage everyone in our

most significant year we have ever had. It is a fantastic opportunity,

sport to create a picture of what they would like athletics to look

I just hope collectively we have the ambition and creativity to

like by the time the Games begin. This could be by looking at the

transform our sport at all levels over the next six years.

totality of athletics in the UK or by focussing on the part that each

of us are most interested in. That picture creates the vision, what
then follows is the passion, the ambition, the action and the
co-operation to achieve the outcomes. It is about being clear on
where we want to be by 2012 and working backwards from that to
ensure all our strategies, at every level and the choices we all
make align with that purpose.
Seb Coe, supported by Alan Pascoe and many others, led a
wonderful campaign that united British sport around a clear, simple
goal. Unity has never been one of the strengths of athletics in the
UK and perhaps this is understandable when we consider the
number of sports that sit within our sport. Sebs Olympic bid had a
simple, straightforward goal to ensure that the word London was
written inside that envelope. The task was both enormous and
complex, but at least the goal was clear and unequivocal.

Introduction

Annual Review 2005

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03

The Athlete Pathway

The Athlete Pathway

The athlete pathway is designed to improve standards all the way from
playground to podium. This section reviews the progress made this year from
the launch of Elevating Athletics to the first ever UK Club Awards and
establishment of a new performance structure.

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04

An Overview

>> Schools, Colleges

& Universities

As the elite end of our sport has become ever more

lucrative and professional, the gap between grassroots
participation and the shop window of the Olympics can
seem vast. But this summer has seen athletes catapulted
from regional squads to GB junior teams, and then into the

01 Elevating Athletics

senior World Championships in a year. It has seen an

This year has seen the much awaited launch of Elevating Athletics,

athlete who only began competitive running seven years

a new multi-media athletics curriculum resource for primary and

ago beat Ethiopian distance runners at the World

secondary schools, aimed at supporting teachers to teach athletics

Championships.

with confidence and creativity and ultimately elevating the profile

and standard of athletics in schools. The resource is supported by

The most important system within athletics should be a

the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women

clear athlete pathway that offers opportunities for every

Teachers, the largest union representing teachers and head

athlete regardless of age, circumstance or background

teachers throughout the UK.

to achieve their potential. This should be created from a

healthy base of athletics experience in schools, through a

Elevating Athletics has been created to introduce a modern

community athletics experience within clubs catering for all

method of teaching athletics for 5-19 year olds that is child

disciplines, and backed up by systematic levels of

centred, developmental, progressive and inclusive.

development from local to regional to national athlete level.

Elevating Athletics consists of:
Competition builds the pathway, coaching supports

A range of easy to use printed teacher and pupil cards

athletes through the pathway; growing and developing

Athletics themed posters to promote the benefits of a

coaches is critical to sustainable success at all levels

healthy lifestyle

in the sport. This section of the review shows how

Additional posters supporting cross-curricular application of

UK Athletics is supporting the athlete pathway.

core themes in athletics for primary schools

Specific information to support the transition of 9-13 year

Zara Hyde Peters

olds from primary to secondary school

Director of Athlete Development

A wipeable calendar to assist secondary teachers in

planning athletics events and activities throughout the year
A DVD with extensive video footage that brings to life the
printed words
A dedicated teacher website, www.elevatingathletics.com,
with further content to support the development of athletics
provision at schools

Annual Review 2005

Schools, Colleges & Universities

staff have carried out a number of advocacy meetings to help raise

03 Teacher Education

the awareness of Elevating Athletics. This has included meetings

This year saw the introduction of a new teacher education

with the Learning & Teaching Council Scotland, the All Party

programme designed to meet the needs of teachers through a

Athletics Group, UK Athletics Council and the Youth Sport Trust.

new format and course resources. The programme also introduced

A comprehensive implementation plan will ensure that the overall

courses to reflect the popularity of the Norwich Union

target of 6000 teachers attending training courses by the end of

shine:awards, sports:hall athletics and the availability of Elevating

2006 will be met.

Athletics. Over the year, approximately 2000 teachers attended

one of the teacher education courses.

04 School Club Links

The Athlete Pathway

Throughout the year, UK Athletics and Home Country development

Athletics is now in the third year of the Governments PE, School

Sport and Club Links strategy funded programme in England.
The overall aim is to increase the proportion of children guided
into National Governing Body affiliated clubs from School Sport
Co-ordinator Partnerships.

05

Partnership structure, co-ordinated by the English Regional

Development Co-ordinators. The six-month data collection figures
show that 50,000 young people have received coaching as part
of the programme and club membership has risen by 15%.
Oldham and Royton Harriers have managed a very successful

02 Elevating Athletics Courses

programme bridging the gap between school and club athletics

for 8-14 year olds. The starting point was the delivery of athletics

Elevating Athletics is now being rolled out to schools across the

coaching to a number of schools in Oldham by a club coach.

UK through a programme of training courses delivered by local

Following a successful after-school coaching programme, a new

tutors. The courses help teachers to understand how the resource

satellite club, named Oldham & Royton Harriers Rockets was

can be used to deliver their PE curriculum.

created to cater for the large numbers of new young athletes and
develop their key skills before moving to the main club. Eighty

The first Elevating Athletics course for teachers was held at

young athletes are now members of the satellite club and the

Denbigh High School, Luton in October, tutored by Allen Souch,

Norwich Union shine:awards is an integral part of the junior

UK Athletics Coach and teacher trainer based in Oxfordshire.

programme. A unique feature of the Rockets is the involvement

of parents; they are encouraged to take on small tasks within the

Allen Souch reflected on the course:

coaching sessions.

The response to the new course was very positive; Elevating

Athletics is excellent. It should make a real difference to teaching
athletics and consequently raise standards.
I believe the Elevating Athletics course and resources will give
teachers the confidence to deliver athletics correctly. It is important
that children develop good habits at school, before they make the
transition to club athletics.
Clare Blackmore, Head of PE at St. Lawrence C of E School in
Somerset said:
Elevating Athletics is an essential tool for delivering exciting, well
developed athletics sessions across all ages and abilities.
To embrace the Further Education and Higher Education sector,
UK Athletics has produced a Strategy Framework and circulated
this document in November to all Further Education and Higher
Education establishments.

Schools, Colleges & Universities

Annual Review 2005

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Since April, delivery has taken place through the County Sports

The Athlete Pathway

>> Clubs
UK Athletics continues to support thousands of athletes at clubs
across the UK, through two programmes in particular, FSA
clubs:future and Norwich Union star:track.

01 FSA clubs:future
This year, the Foundation for Sport & the Arts has contributed
in excess of 600,000 to an overall 1 million invested by UK
Athletics into clubs across the UK through the clubs:future
programme. The nations and regions received the vast majority
of the funding; business plans were submitted that then unlocked

06

05 Norwich Union shine:awards

spending on coach and officials development, performance centre

access, squad development and diversity projects.

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The Norwich Union shine:awards continue to grow in popularity,

especially in the education sector. One third of all schools in the UK

150 clubs benefited from clubs:future grants. The grant aid across

have now bought the shine:awards CD. Total sales of the CD hit a

two panels was targeted at projects focusing on either raising

record of 1,300 this year and 35,000 awards have been sold in 2005.

standards or increasing retention.

Scottish Athletics was awarded a Norwich Union shine:awards

The first ever UK Club Awards Dinner took place in April, with 19

Platinum Award in recognition of their huge contribution to the

national awards making their way back to regions across the UK,

development of the shine:awards across Scotland. In Scotland

following a series of regional and home country awards in

25% of schools are now using the shine:awards on a regular basis.

February. The awards recognised and rewarded clubs, volunteers,

officials, coaches and partnerships for their invaluable contributions

Ewen Cameron of Scottish Athletics received the award from UK

to the sport. Individual awards came with a scholarship of 500

Athletics Chief Executive David Moorcroft, pictured above.

whilst the National Club Winners benefited to the tune of 5000.

06 UK Schools Athletics Association

Working in partnership with the UK Schools Athletics Association,
UK Athletics has invested 120,000 this year in the National
Schools Associations Events. This is the third consecutive year of
investment from UK Athletics, supporting the provision of schools
competition across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

John McFadzean, collected the award on behalf of Holmfirth Harriers

Holmfirth Harriers deservedly won the award for Club Innovation

of the year. With no track facility, it is amazing how the club have
managed to maintain participation in all the vital areas of the sport.
They boast an enviable membership count of 600, including 25
Level 1 coaches and ten Level 2 coaches. The club has an active
coaching and volunteer coordinator, who is responsible for
recruitment and retention of coaches in the club. Holmfirth has
delivered cross country for primary school aged children, as well as

Annual Review 2005

Clubs

GB athletes visited a number of schemes across the UK. Former

activities in the local area every year.

World Indoor Champion Daniel Caines met a record turnout at

Norwich Union star:track at Paddock Wood AC, near Tonbridge,

Milton Keynes AC received the Track & Field Club of the Year

Kent in August. The scheme is the oldest star:track in England,

Award. The club has a membership exceeding 550, an active

established in 1992 when the British Athletic Federation launched

website, information packed newsletters and is highly athlete-

star:track. This summer, a record 150 children enjoyed a fun-

focussed, managing to produce athletes like Commonwealth

packed week of athletics at Paddock Wood and each year around

Games bound Greg Rutherford and European Junior 100m

30 children make the transition to joining the club.

Champion Craig Pickering.

Star:track Organiser Mike Duffin said:
The Junior Club of the Year Award went to the North West,

The scheme is so popular that we take bookings from Christmas.

courtesy of West Cheshire AC, only formed in 1998. In addition

Parents phone us to check when star:track is happening so that

to establishing a second claim club called Cheshire Tigers AC,

they can book their summer holidays around the dates!

The Athlete Pathway

hosting Norwich Union star:track, shine:awards and sports:hall

a cluster club which enables athletes to stay at their local club

and benefit from a higher level of competition, the club has worked

Daniel Caines said:

hard to raise money from links with local businesses and fund a

It was great to see so many enthusiastic youngsters at Paddock

new track that was opened this year.

Wood, Im sure star:track will help encourage thousands

07

of children to take up athletics and inspire some to progress

Norwich Union star:track continues to go from strength to

Norwich Union star:track featured on CBBC Xchange, a childrens

strength. This year a key focus was on increasing the number of

TV show, for the first time this year as part of a summer series of

children making the transition from star:track to their local club and

athletics. The BBC film crew spent a day filming star:track at Bath

progressing up the pathway. A large percentage of schemes are

University in May, alongside Malcolm Arnolds training group

now run by athletics clubs across the UK, in addition to other

including Olympic Gold medallist Jason Gardener. The show was

schemes hosted by sports development teams and leisure centres.

broadcast in July when Christian Malcolm appeared live in the

studio, demonstrating the Norwich Union agility:challenge.

In 2005, over 24,000 children took part in Norwich Union star:track

and over 90,000 was distributed by UK Athletics in grant funding,
enabling organisers to enhance their schemes with exciting new
projects.

Clubs

Annual Review 2005

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to the very top.

02 Norwich Union star:track

The Athlete Pathway

>> The Event Pathway

UK Athletics is co-ordinating Event Management Groups (EMGs) in

Additionally, this team must liaise with Senior Performance

all disciplines, which now form the building blocks from regional to

Managers, National Event Coaches and Talent Development

national level, feeding into the world class programme. The event

Managers as well as the regional management teams in England

pathway is crucial to the effective performance development of all

and Celtic staff. They aim to support the best athletes in Britain in

athletes, particularly the point at which an athlete specialises and

every event, as they strive for the world class level.

then makes the transition to regional level and beyond.

As the Event pathway unfolds, national squads for throws and
In January, five Event Management Groups were established to

jumps have met this year for the first time, bringing together

lead the development of the events as follows:

National Event Coaches across the event disciplines to share

ideas with coaches and athletes over the winter months.

Combined Events

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08

Endurance

An example of a successful event pathway can be best

Jumps

demonstrated by combined events. This year two junior athletes

Speed

made the transition from regional and national combined events

Throws

squads to world class level. Jade Surman (Birchfield Harriers)

and Jessica Ennis (Sheffield AC) were selected for the IAAF

An EMG is in place for every individual event and is charged ultimately

World Youth Championships and European Athletics Junior

with raising standards in coaching and performance in a given area.

Championships respectively. Ennis won the European heptathlon

title in impressive style, breaking the UK Junior record that had

A series of successful national event group conferences were held

stood since 1985. Both athletes are now supported by the

this year for combined events, SPAR sprints and jumps. In addition,

lottery-funded World Class Development programme.

UK Athletics supported the established BMC Endurance Symposium.

Two SPAR Sprints Scholars with Colin Jackson at the SPAR Sprints Conference

Technical workshop at the National Combined Events Conference

The Athletics Development team is led by Andy Paul, Head of

Athletics Development and two of the three Senior
Co-ordinators are now in place. Spencer Barden and Derek
Redmond have been appointed and lead the development of the
endurance and sprints event groups. Their remit is to bridge the
gap between regional, national and world-class activity. They will
work directly within the nations and regions as well as coordinating
the EMG meetings led by Chairs (to be re-appointed from 1st April
2006). A third co-ordinator will work with field and combined
events.

Annual Review 2005

The Event Pathway

02 The New Performance Structure

The year after an Olympics is always interesting, and this

one was no different! Retirement of successful and wellestablished stars brings the challenge of replacement, but
the up and coming athletes can often find the step to
world competition a big one. Adding to this transition were
a variety of other factors, including a fairly comprehensive
overhaul of management in the performance team, the
2012 announcement, the list goes on.
With so much happening, some may have found it hard to
concentrate on the most important matter at hand - winning.
There were some notable achievements and very promising
individual performances but on the whole, the year is best

A series of public meetings were held by Dave Collins in October,

to explain how the new Performance Pathway will help athletes
deemed capable of achieving podium/top eight placings at the
2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and/or the 2012 Olympic Games
in London.
The programme is funded by UK Sport and Sport England and the
following targets have been set:
Five medals from athletics and eighth place in the medals
table for Team GB as a whole at the 2008 Olympics;
Eight medals from athletics and fourth place in the medals
table for Team GB as a whole at the 2012 Olympics.

summed up by the all too common school report comment,

could do better, certainly regarding the senior performances.
Successes at the IAAF World Youth and European Junior
Championships show that we have the talent but our capacity
to convert this potential into success at World and Olympic
level has in the past been unequal to the task. Meanwhile,
Disability Athletics continues to secure an impressive medal
haul. This year the GB team finished top of the medals table
at the IPC European Championships in Finland.
Some have laid the current spate of poor performance at
the door of British coaches, and calls for the appointment of
foreign specialists have been loud. However, this is not the
main thrust we have taken. Where British coaching talent is
under developed, in some events and/or geographic areas,
we may need to headhunt specialists from abroad, or even
other sports. Across the range, however, there are some

03 World Class Performance

UK Athletics has funding for 40 athletes which will be deployed to
individuals considered to be capable of going to Beijing in 2008
and doing one of three things: reach the podium, finish in the top
eight or use the experience well and have a realistic chance of
reaching the podium in London 2012.
Those athletes and their personal coaches are supported by the
UKA Senior Performance Managers John Trower in speed
events, Alan Storey in endurance and Aston Moore in field.
In addition, UK Athletics have appointed Senior Performance
Coaches, either on a full-time or part-time basis, who focus
completely on coaching. The appointments so far are: Malcolm
Arnold (sprints), Todd Bennett (relay), Harry King (relay), Ted
King (jumps), Tony Lester (sprints and relay), Mike McFarlane
(relay), Mark Rowland (endurance) and Roger Walters (relay).

excellent examples of world class practice in the UK.

Recognising and promoting this coaching talent is as crucial
as converting the young athletes success to senior level.
As we prepare to face the challenge of Beijing and the once
in a lifetime experience of London, the biggest job is to focus;
Focus resources on those with genuine potential
Tighten the focus of athletes, coaches and
administrators, on meeting the challenge of reaching
the Olympic podium
Focus on excellence in coaching and provide the

04 World Class Development

There are currently 86 athletes on this programme, compared with
125 from England who were on the old World Class Potential
Programme. Smaller numbers are another reflection of this tighter
focus but so far, the conversion rate in athletics has not been
great. Sport England has supported more than 400 athletes on
World Class Potential and too few have reached the required
standard. There are four Performance Managers in England and
one in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, supporting this level.

recognition for those who produce the results

Focus on enjoying winning

05 Talent Development
The World Class Pathway starts with recruitment and talent

Dave Collins
Performance Director

development. There will be up to 60 athletes on what amounts to

a foundation course for World Class Development,supported by
talent development managers.

World Class Pathway

09

Annual Review 2005

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01 Introduction

The Athlete Pathway

>> World Class Pathway

The Athlete Pathway

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10

06 Disability
Historically, Disability Athletics has been an area of great success

Ultimately the aim is to develop maximum possible integration

and UK Athletics aims to continue this trend.

between able bodied and disability elements of the World Class

The Paralympic target has been set as follows:

Pathway. Reflecting this, structural and management systems will

12 Golds from athletics and top 3 in medals table for Team

be almost identical. Martin Colclough has now been appointed as

GB as a whole at 2008 Paralympics

Senior Performance Manager for Disability.

There are now 22 athletes funded by Disability World Class

Performance and 34 athletes on the Disability World Class
Development programme.

>> British Medallists at Major Championships

07 IAAF World Championships

Athlete

Event

Medal

Paula Radcliffe

Marathon

Gold

Men

4 x 100m

Bronze

Women

4 x 400m

Bronze

08 European U23 Championships

Athlete

Event

David Hughes

110m Hurdles

Medal
Gold

Robert Tobin

400m

Gold

Rhys Williams

400m Hurdles

Gold

Christine Ohuruogu

400m

Silver

Mo Farah

5000m

Silver

Jemma Simpson

800m

Silver

Men

4 x 400m

Silver

Women

4 x 400m

Silver

Sian Scott

400m Hurdles

Bronze

Paula Radcliffe

09 European U20 Championships

Athlete

Event

Craig Pickering

100m

Medal
Gold

Greg Rutherford

Long Jump

Gold

Men

4 x 400m

Gold

Emily Pidgeon

5000m

Gold

Jessica Ennis

Heptathlon

Gold

Morag MacLarty

1500m

Gold

Amy Harris

Long Jump

Silver

Simeon Williamson

100m

Silver

Julian Thomas

200m

Silver

Martyn Rooney

400m

Silver

David Greene

400m hurdles

Silver

Alex Nelson

100m

Bronze

Steven Fennell

800m

Bronze

Wade Bennett Jackson

200m

Bronze

Rhys Williams

Left to right: Simeon Williamson, Craig Pickering, Alex Nelson

Annual Review 2005

World Class Pathway

Athlete

Event

Medal

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey

100m

Gold

Harry Aikines Aryeetey

200m

Gold

Alex Nelson

100m

Silver

Alex Smith

Hammer

Bronze

Gianni Frankis

110m Hurdles

Bronze

The Athlete Pathway

10 World U18 Championships

11 IPC European Championships

Event

Category

Graeme Ballard

100/200

T36

Medal
Gold

Michael Churm

100

T37

Gold

Michael Churm

200

T37

Gold

Danny Crates

800

T46

Gold

Daniel Greaves

Discus

T44

Gold

Tanni Grey-Thompson

100

T53

Gold

Tanni Grey-Thompson

200

T53

Gold

Tanni Grey-Thompson

400

T53

Gold

Tanni Grey-Thompson

800

T53

Gold

Beverley Jones

100m

T37

Gold

Beverley Jones

Shot

T37

Gold

Bob Matthews

5000m

T11

Gold

Stephen Miller

Club

F32

Gold

Hazel Robson

100m

T36

Gold

Hazel Robson

200m

T36

Gold

Richard Schabel

Discus

F51

Gold

Lloyd Upsdell

200m

T35

Gold

David Weir

400m

T54

Gold

Kenny Churchill

Javelin

F37

Silver

David Gale

Discus

F51

Silver

Sophie Hancock

Shot

F40

Silver

David Weir

200m

T54

Silver

Daniel West

Discus

F34

Silver

Andrew Williams

Shot

F32

Silver

Katrina Hart

100m

T37

Bronze

John McFall

100/200

T42

Bronze

Kim Minett

Shot

F40

Bronze

Richard Schabel

Club

F51

Bronze

Noel Thatcher

10,000m

T12

Bronze

David Weir

100m

T54

Bronze

Daniel West

Shot

F34

Bronze

Shelley Woods

5000m

T54

Bronze

11

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey

Beverley Jones

Daniel Greaves

World Class Pathway

Annual Review 2005

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Athlete

The Coaching Pathway

The Coaching Pathway

Quality coaching experiences can determine whether youngsters enjoy their
first encounters with athletics and stay in the sport. Quality coaching also has
a major influence on the career of our elite athletes. This section reviews the
steps being taken by UK Athletics to support coaches at all levels of the
coaching pathway.

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

12

An Overview

>> Coach Education

UK Athletics have invested heavily in designing and

delivering coach education and coaching programmes that

01 New Modules for Coaches

align to the athlete pathway and offer quality provision at

Over the past year, UK Athletics has introduced a number of new

each age and stage of athlete development. Throughout

modules to the coach education programme. In September, a

2006 / 2007 the modular system designed by UKA will

series of courses aimed at coaches working with disability athletes

align to a new United Kingdom Coaching Certificate and

were held. This new course introduces elements of coaching that

will meet the emerging National Standards for Coaching

may not have been considered before, particularly adaptations for

and Teaching.

different disabilities.

This year, the Individual Services Team has continued to

In November, a pilot course Coaching Female Athletes was held.

encourage people across the UK to take up coaching.

This was the culmination of several years work by Gwenda Ward

5500 new coaches have completed courses to become

through the Valuing Diversity Forum.

UK Athletics licensed coaches. In addition, 1500 coaches

have progressed up to the next level of the coaching

Two home study modules are now available: a Child Protection

ladder and there are several hundred coaches on the

and Best Practice Guide and Health and Safety for Coaches

journey from level two to level three and above.

module. Other new optional modules include the Eating Disorder

Awareness course, Mentoring skills, Strength and Conditioning and

UK Athletics is always looking for ways to encourage

Nutrition.

coaches to stay involved in coaching within club

structures. This year clubs have been asked to identify a
club coaching co-ordinator to increase communication
between club coaches and with the governing body.

Annual Review 2005

Coach Education

that UK Athletics develop a team of well-trained and qualified

deliverers of coach education. Over the past year, UK Athletics
has actively recruited more tutors and assessors; a series of threeday workshops were held to support this process.

01 Coaching Vision

The UK Athletics coach education programme has moved on

In February, one hundred coaches, operating at the performance

significantly over the last five years, with coaches now being

level of the sport, attended the first coaching vision conference,

assessed on their ability to coach, as well as what they know.

facilitated by former UK Athletics President David Hemery. This

Nearly all of the existing tutors and several of the new tutors have

provided a foundation for the development of the UK Athletics

now completed assessor training which helps them to develop the

Strategy for Coaching. The aim was to create a vision for athletics

skills of assessment.

coaching in the UK, using 2012 as a focus.

A major outcome from the conference was the need to establish

03 Coach Licence Renewal

technical templates for each event, to develop the coach

The end of April saw a large number of coaches renew their

education system and event group initiatives. This reinforced

coaching licence for the second time. In the region of 5000

the work of the coach education team over the last few years.

coaches have now completed the renewal process. Coaches

A further outcome was the need for more effective communication

had to demonstrate that they are still actively coaching and

and support for coaches to be established through the

continue to learn and develop as a coach. This was shown

development of a UK wide Coach Association. Finally, the group

through a wide variety of means, from attendance at squads

asked for greater rewards for coaches through free or subsidised

and workshops to personal research, as well as mentoring

access to events and initiatives.

and working with other coaches.

These three key priorities for the group were the start of a bigger
The coach licence is key to the development of the sport.

process that is the modernisation of athletics coaching in the UK.

Granting a coach a licence to practice at the appropriate level and

The group will now look to plan and deliver against key objectives in

in a specific event or group of events is vital to ensure a quality,

recruitment, retention, raising standards and recognition for coaching.

safe and athlete centred environment. Licensing has also enabled

the sport to develop a coach database; which is increasingly being
accessed by clubs, county and regional athletics associations to
communicate with the coaching workforce. UK Athletics require
accurate details of the number of active coaches to plan coach
education, assess the coaching needs of the sport and to provide
appropriate insurance cover for coaches.

04 Welfare Implementation
During 2005, UK Athletics achieved the first two standards relating
to welfare and child protection as required by the Sports Councils.
This involved the production of Welfare Policy and Procedures,
distributed to all clubs at the start of the year, as well as the
production of an implementation plan for athletics welfare in the UK.
UK Athletics has now started the process of carrying out police

Bill Whistlecroft received UK Club Award 2005 for Services to the

Development of Coaching

checks on all those who come into contact with young athletes.

02 Technical Panel

This started with coaches and will soon include technical officials

The Technical Panel was formed in 2005, chaired by UK Athletics

and others within club structures that have regular contact with

Level 4 Performance Coach Malcolm Arnold and includes a

children. The view of the governing body is that the welfare of

nominated technical expert for each event group. The main focus

athletes is best looked after by the clubs. Consequently, every club

of the group is to work with the five Event Management Groups to

in the UK has now been asked to nominate a Club Welfare Officer,

agree and finalise the technical template for each event group and

who will be given the appropriate support and training.

to prepare appropriate resource materials. These developments will

inform the work being done in coaching and teaching and will
satisfy the need to review the resources for technical coaching.

Coaching Vision and Panel

Annual Review 2005

The Coaching Pathway

and Panel

In order to continue developing the coaching workforce, it is vital

13
w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

>> Coaching Vision

02 Tutor and Assessor Training

Competition & Facilities

Competition & Facilities

Good competition and facilities are central to the delivery of our sport. Major
highlights have included the launch of the Indoor City Cup, UK Challenge and
the delivery of another quality televised events series. This year saw the final
chapter of the 5 million Community Athletics Refurbishment Programme and
launch of the 16 million London wide facilities strategy.

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

14

>> Competition

Athletes, managers and officials were interviewed at the

competitions and they had the following to say...
Geoff Morphitis Team Manager
Its been fantastic and sorry I was a little bit critical perhaps at the

01 Introduction

start as I wasnt quite sure how we would organise it, but actually

This year saw the launch of two brand new concepts in competition;

it has gone really well. Fantastic enthusiasm from the athletes!

the Indoor City Cup and the UK Challenge, both designed to

fundamentally improve the domestic competition available to Britains

Paul Dickenson BBC Commentator

top club athletes, juniors and aspiring internationals. These new

I think this is a cracking idea, not enough people actually compete

initiatives originated from the Modernisation Competition Group and

indoors and there are kids at this level who might not normally get

were, in part, funded by modernisation money released post the

a chance to compete at the National Championships.

Foster Review. In addition, the UK Cross Challenge has been added

this year to the UK Athletics Challenge series of events.

03 UK Challenge
The UK Challenge was introduced in 2005, taking into account

02 Indoor City Cup

views from athletes, coaches and competition organisers during

The Indoor City Cup, a new pilot match structure, was launched in

2002 and 2003. The series comprised 17 meetings (some of them

February and involved twelve cities from across the UK competing

quality existing meetings and some new) brought together as the

in two matches at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield and

UK Challenge series, culminating in the UK Challenge Final at the

SportCity, Manchester. Each city team was issued with adidas team

Manchester Regional Arena on Saturday 3 September.

kit, the team managers were volunteers from the sport and trophies
were presented to the winning teams, Sheffield and Birmingham.

Throughout the UK Challenge series, athletes were awarded points

for their performances; the points system was devised to give the
greatest rewards to those who compete regularly in domestic
meetings. For the pilot, athletes had to participate in a minimum
of three events in order to qualify for the final. This system
provided an analysis of the athletes competition programme as
well as deeper rankings and statistical information.
Jade Johnson summed up the value of the UK Challenge:
The UK Challenge is a really good idea; its perfect for the up and
coming athletes and elongates the season for those who havent
made the national team giving a real focus for the athletes.

Annual Review 2005

Competition

The successful cross country series was launched in 1997 and has
been renamed this year as the UK Cross Challenge. It is now a five
race series complete with a 30,000 investment from UK Athletics.
The series was established to help raise the standard of domestic
competition and many believe the success of the series played a
major role in the recent success of GB teams at the European
Cross Country Championships, led this year by the two junior
teams that finished with Gold and Silver medals.
This year, the Liverpool Cross Challenge, featuring the European

Competition & Facilities

05 UK Cross Challenge

Cross Country Trials was filmed by UKTV Sport. The series will
Two event specific competitions were also introduced following

culminate in the UK Cross Challenge Final incorporating the UK

feedback from athletes. The Sprints/Hurdles and Throws event

Inter-Counties Championships and World Trials in Nottingham in

took place at Gateshead Stadium and the Jumps meeting took

March, to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

15

place at Crystal Palace with over 90 athletes taking part.

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

Sebastian Coe said:

A very strong case has been made for another sphere of
competition and I think the UK Challenge will fulfil it. While we
recognise the National League is a fairly elevated level, it is
important that there are also further tiers and a focus for the
athletes.

04 Plans for 2006

Taking into account the feedback from both athletes and
competition providers during the year, it has been made very clear
to UK Athletics that both concepts are needed. The Indoor City
Challenge for 2006 will consist of two semi final matches involving
twelve cities, culminating in a final on 19 February in Sheffield.
There will be changes made to the UK Challenge next year; UK
Athletics is presently working with competition providers, following
various requests for more meetings to be included. The UK
Challenge points scoring chart will be updated and the entry
standard will be lowered to allow more athletes to become part of
the UK Challenge.
Fixture planning for 2007 will commence in January 2006 and UK
Athletics will be inviting the relevant parties to work to the fixture
planning principles agreed by the various bodies during 2005.

Competition

Annual Review 2005

Competition & Facilities

06 UKA Televised Events Programme 2005

The Norwich Union London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace once

again pulled together a field unbeaten by any other meeting on the

The Televised Events programme 2005 underlined the UKA Series

circuit. In addition to Isinbayevas exploits, there were impressive

as the strongest domestic series anywhere in the world. The year

wins for Tim Benjamin over Olympic Champion Jeremy Wariner in

started with a Kelly Holmes inspired pitch invasion at the Kelvin Hall

the 400m and Nathan Douglas again in the mens triple jump, not

in January and ended with the Double Olympic Champions last ever

to mention the fastest 100m (9.89 seconds) ever seen in Britain.

track meeting in Britain, at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix

Sell out crowds, world-class performances and thrilling competition the
perfect ingredients for another top quality UKA Televised Events season.

07 GB Athletes at UKA Televised Events 2005

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

16

UK Televised Event

Venue

NU International

Glasgow

GB athletes
26

NU Grand Prix

Birmingham

48

NU International Outdoor

Glasgow

32

NU London Grand Prix

Crystal Palace

72

NU British Grand Prix

Sheffield

55

Total

233

08 Future Major Events

Following the success of the IAAF World Indoor Championships held in
Birmingham in 2003, UK Athletics and Birmingham City Council have
been awarded the 2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships and
the main working groups have now been set up. The EAA also awarded
UK Athletics the European Cup Race Walking 2007, which will be held
Holmes finally called time on her British track career in front of

at Royal Leamington Spa, supported by Warwick District Council.

more than 17,500 spectators at the Norwich Union British Grand

Prix in Sheffield on 21 August. With her entry by helicopter and a
stunning pyrotechnic display, it was a fitting way to honour one of

09 VISA Paralympic World Cup 2005

the nations favourite sporting heroes.

The UK hosted the inaugural Visa Paralympic World Cup in

Manchester on 12-15 May 2005, featuring four sports: athletics,

The two Norwich Union Trials & AAAs Championships witnessed

swimming, track cycling and wheelchair basketball. The concept of

successes for Jason Gardener - winning his fifth indoor AAA 60m

the Paralympic World Cup, supported by UK Athletics, is to provide

title and fourth outdoor title over 100m and Nathan Douglas, who

an annual world class multi-sport disability event for elite

broke Jonathan Edwards championship record of 17.59m to win

international athletes. The athletics events took place at the Regional

the outdoor triple jump with 17.64m in Manchester. The Norwich

Arena in Manchester, with athletes from 36 countries competing in

Union International match in June saw the launch of the new GB

24 track and field events. Two new world records were set by British

adidas team kit and was notable for Mark Lewis-Francis pipping

athletes; Danny Greaves threw 55.53m in the F44 discus and Kenny

former world record holder Maurice Greene on the line in the

Churchill threw 48.40m in the F37 javelin. There was also double

100m, sparking memories of the 2004 Olympic 4x100m relay final.

Gold success for track legend Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Annual Review 2005

Competition

12 Officials Education and Training

UK Athletics has worked with a large team of officials this year,

A major development for officials education and training has been

particularly grade 2 and 3 officials for both the Indoor City Cup and

the introduction of the officials licensing scheme. UK Athletics staff

UK Challenge series. The officials have worked tirelessly to support

ensured that officials were able to transfer as smoothly as possible

the new initiatives and made the concepts a reality. The Norwich

and now only the officials involved in off-track activities are still to

Union Combined Events International was held over two days in

make the transfer.

July, in addition to the Norwich Union Under 23 International in

August, enabling lower graded officials to support the top officials

The new Level 1 Assistant Officials Award is well underway.

in the UK and gain experience of a high quality meeting.

Alan Bell led the process and over three hundred people have
now completed the Level 1 Assistant Officials Award. Preparation
for the new Level 2 Officials Award has now started; this will
eventually replace Grade IV Examinations. Over the past year,

Competition & Facilities

10 Officials

Chris Cohen, supported by several experienced officials, wrote

the level 2 materials and led a team of tutor trainers through a
series of tutor workshops across the UK. Over 140 people have
been involved in the tutor training, and the approved tutors will

17

The material looks to the future qualification system, where officials

move upwards towards Level 5, fitting more closely with the IAAF
framework. Rather than passing an examination at the end of their
training course, officials now have to prove their suitability to
progress by gaining the relevant experience. New officials will be
given a mentor to support them. Chief Officials at competitions will

11 International Technical Officials

be expected to give feedback to the budding Level 2 officials.

Congratulations go to David Littlewood and Keith Davies, who

Work has now started on the remaining levels of the scheme, so

have been named as International Technical Officials (ITOs) by the

that Levels 3 to 5 can be launched at the beginning of 2007. The

IAAF. They are now on a select panel of 49 Technical Officials from

rules and requirements of disability athletics will become integral

around the world for the next four years. The ITO Panel was first

in all aspects of the scheme, so that our officials will be the best

established in 1986 to support the major meetings organised by

prepared of any in the world for both the Olympics and the

the IAAF. In addition, Malcolm Rogers, Chris Cohen and Peter

Paralympics of 2012. This will also be improved by the inclusion

Nicholson have now been appointed by the EAA as Area Technical

of disability rules in the 2006 edition of the UKA Rules for

Officials (ATOs) for the next four years.

Competition.

Competition

Annual Review 2005

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

start to teach the new syllabus in 2006.

Competition & Facilities

>> Facilities
01 Final CARP Awards

03 Lee Valley Athletics Centre

UK Athletics, as part of the 41 million legacy fund, secured

The Lee Valley Athletics Centre, will be the jewel in the crown for

5 million specifically for the Community Athletics Refurbishment

athletics facilities in London. Due for completion in Autumn 2006,

Programme (CARP) and applications for funding have been

the centre will comprise a 200m indoor six-lane track (the first to

considered on a quarterly basis since the end of 2002. The final

be built in the South of England), a 110m sprint straight and full

CARP awards were made in December; distributing the remaining

jumps and throws provision. Outdoors, the facility will comprise

230,000 from the original 5 million budget. This funding has

a 400m track, throws area and permanent seating.

enabled the upgrade of an unprecedented 80 tracks and has

levered in an additional 7,232,966 from partners including Local
Authorities, Athletics Clubs, Universities and Landfill Tax Trusts.

18

As a result of this successful programme, over 12 million has

been invested into outdoor athletics facilities. The success of
established between UK Athletics, Sport England and the AAA of
England. UK Athletics have provided the technical support with the
AAA of England responsible for local level partnerships. This initial
capital investment and the monitoring and evaluation procedures in
place will ensure a lasting legacy for athletics which is appropriately
revenue funded by partners in the future to prevent tracks from
getting into a bad state of repair.

02 London Wide Strategy

UK Athletics launched a London wide strategy in March,
highlighting the identified needs of the capital with a population

The centre, funded by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, DCMS

of over 7 million people. The overall objective for London is to have

Capital Modernisation Fund and Sport England, via the lottery, in

a synthetic outdoor track in every London borough, supported by

partnership with UK Athletics will be home to Enfield and Haringey

a range of indoor centres across London as shown below.

Athletics Club.

Out of the 41 million legacy fund secured by UK Athletics,

16 million was allocated to developing facilities in London,
the picture is now as follows:

Lee Valley Athletics Centre

(completion due Autumn 2006)

Enfield

Barnet
Harrow

Haringey

Hillingdon
Camden

Brunel (open)

Wandsworth

City

h
Lambet

Richmond

H
ac
kn
ey

Waltham
Forest

Haringey
Havering

Newham
Tower
Hamlets

ark
thw
Sou

Hounslow

W
es
tm
in
st
er

ton
ing
th
ns
mi
Ke
ers
mm
Ha

Ealing

ton
ing
Isl

Brent

Barking &
Dagenham

Newham
(planning being
finalised)

Greenwich
Bexley
Lewisham

Merton

K
in
gs
to
n

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

CARP has been largely due to the partnership approach to delivery

Sutton

Bromley
Croydon

St Mary s (open)

Sutton (open)

Annual Review 2005

Facilities

Crystal Palace
(temporary refurbishment long term complete
redevelopment planned)

06 Care & Maintenance of Athletics Facilities

& Equipment

Alan Pascoe officially opened the Brunel University Athletics Centre

in Uxbridge, West London, in April. The 5.5m indoor athletics

UK Athletics continue to support the training of track staff through

training centre, financed by Brunel University and legacy funds

the Care and Maintenance of Athletics Facilities and Equipment

secured by UK Athletics is the first of its kind in London.

course held at two venues this year, one in the North and the other
in the South of England. Eighty people attended the courses, both

The Centre features a 132m six-lane straight for sprints and hurdles,

held in May to update on the latest information and procedures

long and triple jump pits, pole vault and high jump areas, full throws

relating to the maintenance of athletics facilities and equipment.

nets and a performance strength and conditioning room as well as

areas for physiotherapy, massage and scientific support services.

07 UKA Award 2005 Stadium of the Year

Facility management was recognised for the first time as part of

Competition & Facilities

04 Brunel University Athletics Centre

the new UK Club Awards. Following regional nominations and

awards, UK Athletics presented the UK Facility of the Year Award

05 Regional Athletics Centres

Outside London, UK Athletics has continued to support the
development of regional athletics centres across the UK, including two
new indoor centres in Wales. North Wales Indoor Athletics Centre at

Bedford International Stadium received their award from former olympian

Curtis Robb

Deeside College (funded by Deeside College and Sports Council for

Wales lottery fund) and West Wales Indoor Athletics Centre, Swansea
(funded by Swansea County Council, University of Wales Swansea
and Sports Council for Wales lottery fund) both opened this year.

Facilities

Annual Review 2005

19
w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

to Bedford International Stadium.

Governance

Governance
There are many areas that UK Athletics as a governing body needs to ensure
are delivered for the benefit of the sport as a whole. This includes raising
commercial revenue, communication, anti-doping, health and safety and
financial management.

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

20

>> Commercial & Communications

To generate the much needed additional investment required to

01 Commercial Review

build the sport, UK Athletics has created valuable relationships

Despite an increasingly competitive commercial market place,

with Hilton Hotels, Daktarin, Vauxhall, Polar, PowerBreathe, MBNA,

UK Athletics in partnership with Fast Track has continued its efforts

London Marathon and NASUWT; the latter having provided

to recruit new sponsors throughout the sport. As a result of these

significant investment into the development of the new Elevating

endeavours during 2005, UK Athletics is now commercially the

Athletics curriculum resource.

most successful athletics governing body in the world and is

regularly used as an example of best practice.

In the knowledge that complacency will mean a downturn in this

success, UK Athletics has developed a new commercial strategy

In addition to the continuation of tremendous partnerships with

that aims to increase annual turnover by 5m by 2011. Crucially,

Norwich Union and the BBC, UK Athletics has renewed or

a further objective is to increase the percentage of income not tied

developed 12 new commercial relationships during the last year.

to sponsor obligations by 25% so enabling UK Athletics to have a

The product of which has enabled UK Athletics and Fast Track

greater choice in how and where it can invest in the sport.

to create world-renowned TV events that attract a wealth of world

Working within the setting of the 2012 announcement, UK Athletics

and Olympic talent.

believes these targets are highly achievable. A significant amount

of time has been spent with Fast Track renegotiating a long-term

In addition to lottery funding, support to the GB Athletics Team has

partnership that will operate through until the end of 2012.

been enhanced by Norwich Union. Building on this and with a

continual desire to be innovative, UK Athletics has created new
performance partnerships with adidas and Red Bull, the former
providing probably the most sought after international athletics kit
and the second resulting in the creation of the highly valued athlete
support centre.
As within all areas of UK Athletics activity, Norwich Unions
investment continues to be pivotal to the implementation of highly
respected athletics development programmes. Aqua-Pura
and Spar also remain vital in our efforts to deliver high quality
opportunities for women and girls and our next generation of
sprinting talent.

Annual Review 2005

Commercial & Communications

03 100% Me Campaign

The uka zone was launched in July last year, to attract 8-15 year

UK Sport launched the 100% Me Campaign in the spring, designed

olds into athletics and provide relevant information and news to

to increase understanding and promote the benefits of drug-free

this age group. Since April, a total of 52,519 unique users have

sport to the whole sporting community, from Olympic and

visited the uka zone. During the busiest month of August, 301

Paralympic Champions to young people at the start of their careers.

unique users were achieved per day and the average session
length was two and a half minutes.

UK Athletics use the resources developed by UK Sport and tailor

100% Me to suit the sports needs. UK Sport have developed

The uk:athletics website, supported by Norwich Union attracted

a training programme aimed at accrediting people to become

a record of 93,300 unique users for one month, in July just less

tutors and spread a harmonised anti-doping message; five people

than the peak achieved during the Olympics last year. The total

at UK Athletics have already been accredited. UK Sport have also

number of unique users for the year was 635,103.

developed resources to stage Outreach programmes at events.

Governance

02 UK Athletics website

120000

21

Unique Users 2005

100000

60000
40000

DEC

NOV

OCT

SEP

AUG

JUL

JUN

MAY

APR

MAR

FEB

JAN

20000

Being 100% ME isn't just about saying no to drugs. It's a state of

mind. It's about giving 100% every time, taking 100% responsibility
for yourself and knowing for 100% that you did it on your own.

>> Anti-doping

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson

>> Health & Safety

01 New whereabouts system

UK Athletics in partnership with UK Sport introduced a new

UK Athletics Health and Safety policy is designed to ensure that

whereabouts notification system on 1st July. The old procedures

all athletics activities are conducted in a safe environment. These

allowed for a Doping Control Officer to attempt to contact an

activities include track and field competitions and training, road

athlete up to three times over a period of five days in order to

running, cross-country and fell running.

conduct an out of competition test. The new system means that

the Doping Control Officer needs to locate an athlete and conduct

In order to achieve this objective, UK Athletics have developed

the test in one attempt only, following an athlete submitting their

a range of initiatives designed to help athletes, coaches, officials,

whereabouts form. Athletes must now specify a minimum of one

clubs, meeting promoters and facility staff. These include codes of

location per day for at least five days of the week, where they will

practice and safety recommendations, specifications for facilities,

be for an hour and could complete an out of competition test.

risk assessment courses and educational programmes.

Intrinsically, athletics is a safe activity although some accidents do

02 Testing figures for 2005

occur. Many of these accidents are preventable, ranging from road

The testing year runs from 1st April, these are the testing figures for the

runners being hit by cars to coaches and officials being hit by

first two quarters of 2005 (as taken from the UK Sport Quarterly Report):

throwing implements. To assist UK Athletics in improving the safety

Out of competition samples: 155

of facilities and all athletic activities, it is important that accurate

In-competition: 17 events 204 samples

information is recorded. The accident reporting system is

Squad testing: 2 sessions 24 samples

a crucial part of this process; report forms can be downloaded from

No findings for GB athletes, no missed test rule violations

the UK Athletics website and should be returned to UK Athletics.

Anti-doping / Health & Safety

Annual Review 2005

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

80000

Governance

>> Finance
01 Income

03 Supporting the Pathway

UK Athletics partnerships with grant and lottery providers and with

Home Country Direct Grants

Fast Track, our commercial agency has once again proved

Cross Challenge

85,000

successful. Income for the financial year to 31 March 2005

YAL

80,000

increased from 17.2million in 2004 to 18.6million in 2005 with

AAA Age Group Champs

sponsorship and promotions still providing the largest percentage

Indoor City Cup & UK Challenge

180,000

of income at 11.5 million (63%). Grants from Sport England

UK Schools Association

120,000

amount to 2.1million and UK Sport funding totals 3.3million,

British Athletics League

8,000

203,000

26,000

Televised Events

supporting the World Class pathway.

7.1m

Educational Services (including Elevating Athletics)

22

However, whilst it would be fantastic to have total discretion over

283,000

Coach Education

763,000

Sports Hall

350,000

how we spend that money, in reality that is not the case. Around
0

85% of UK Athletics income is contracted or tied to specific

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1m

Funding (x1000)

w w w . u k a t h l e t i c s . n e t

activity by our funders, leaving only 15% free to be spent how UK

Athletics chooses. The generation of more untied or free income is

04 Governance

therefore a key element of the commercial strategy for 2006 2011.

Not included in the graphs are the funds UK Athletics generates

Irrespective of how financially successful UK Athletics is, the

each year to support areas that fall under governance. The main

challenge each year is to deliver the contracted financial

areas are - insuring the sport (230k) and anti doping and welfare

obligations whist also meeting the needs of the sport and

(140k).

delivering governing body services. Striking the correct balance

between spending on areas such as direct regional, club and
league support, competitions and commercial/sponsor obligations,

05 Staffing

alongside areas that fall under UK Athletics governance role such

To support and deliver the athlete pathway UK Athletics employed

as anti-doping, insuring the sport, welfare support and staffing, will

94 staff (full-time equivalents). Almost half of the employees were

by nature, always cause debate.

funded directly by the lottery through grants to UK Athletics for this

purpose and 70% of the total numbers of employees roles were

Clubs are able benefit from direct financial support but additionally

directly linked to delivering and supporting the athlete pathway.

they and their athletes may be benefiting from a wide variety of

Other staff members support the infrastructure of the organisation

competition, sponsored initiatives or event group support, which

(finance, IT, communications etc).

UK Athletics also helps finance.

To help demonstrate this, the two bar charts below detail where

06 Wealth

some of the money went, both in relation supporting and delivering

UK Athletics balance sheet gives a snapshot of its wealth, as of

the athlete pathway.

31st March 2005. UK Athletics owned 6.2 million of assets in the

form of goods, cash and debtors. Liabilities totalled 4.8 million (in
creditors, deferred income and provisions). This leaves reserves at

02 Athlete Pathway

1.4 million, compared to 1.3 million last year.

Aqua-Pura Women in Athletics

32,000

School Club Links

300,000

NU star:track

100,000

NU agility:challenge

87,000

World Class Performance Plan/disability

3.9m

World Class Potential Plan

2.4m

International Athlete Competition Support

402,000

Spar Sprints

79,000

Clubs future

625,000

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1m

Funding (x1000)

Annual Review 2005

Finance

Sponsors
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working in
partnership
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UK Athletics Limited, Athletics House, Central Boulevard, Blythe Valley Park, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 8AJ.
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Thanks to Mark Shearman, Official Photographer for UK Athletics

I stand here today because of the inspiration of the Olympic Movement. When I
was 12, I was marched into a large school hall with my classmates. We sat in front
of an ancient, black and white TV and watched grainy pictures from the Mexico
Olympic Games. Two athletes from our home town were competing. John
Sherwood won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles and his wife Sheila just
narrowly missed gold in the long jump.
That day a window to a new world opened for me. By the time I was back in my
classroom, I knew what I wanted to do and what I wanted to be. The following week
I stood in line for hours at my local track just to catch a glimpse of the medals the
Sherwoods had brought home. It didn't stop there; two days later I joined their club.
Thirty-five years on, I stand before you with those memories still fresh. Still inspired
by this great Movement. My journey here to Singapore started in that school hall
and continues today in wonder and in gratitude.
From Sebastian Coes closing speech of London 2012s presentation to the International Olympic Committee in Singapore. 6 July 2005

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