Wiltshire Athletic Association

General

**IMPORTANT: Wiltshire Road Race League 2020 Announcement**

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Following previous updates regarding the rescheduling, postponement and cancellation of various fixtures within the 2020 WRRL, Wiltshire Athletic Association is today in the position to sadly announce the cancellation of the 2020 league.

We know this will come as a disappointment to many, but we feel this is now the best course of action to take. Some of the considerations have been outlined below.

• There are no longer enough fixtures left to constitute a league, whilst rescheduled, postponed or alternative races fall later in the year clashing with WORL fixtures (following the decision to ensure the WRRL and WORL are separate without overlap, extending the league is not a viable option)

• Given the uncertainty, financial outlay and risk of preparing for an event later in the year, I feel it is not responsible to place any pressure on event organisers to press ahead to satisfy WRRL inclusion when subsequent postponement is possible

It must also be considered that there remains a real risk at mass participation events and we are currently unsure what shape events may take later in the year. Some athletes may be unable to compete for a variety of reasons and events may have restricted numbers meaning athletes will struggle to get a place.

County Championships

Just for now, we are not able to announce what will happen to the county championship events scheduled for 2020. We will need more certainty about the form, capacity and ability for open competition on a level playing field at any events that may be able to proceed. WAA will now focus on monitoring the situation in an attempt to hold county championship races in 2020 while also focusing on preparing a 2021 WRRL. The priority here will be to support those events/organisers that were due to form part of the 2020 league.

I hope this message finds all the athletes in the county safe and well. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me (Simon Nott, WAA Road Running Secretary). I hope you all agree that the above decision is in everybody’s best interests.

WAA Road Race League Update (13-Apr-2020)

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*2020 WRRL update*

As you are aware, given the current circumstances, many events around the country are being reviewed, cancelled or postponed.

The current situation (12 April – updated with revised Comtpon Bassett 5 date) regarding the 2020 WRRL is as follows:

· Race 1: Devizes Half Marathon = (POSTPONED until 4th October)

· Race 2: Highworth 5 = CANCELLED, no 2020 event

· Race 3: Westbury 5k Series* (19 May – CANCELLED, 16 June, 21 July, 18 August)

· Race 4: Shrewton Bustard 10k = CANCELLED, no 2020 event

· Race 5: Compton Bassett 5 Mile (POSTPONED until 23rd August)

· Race 6: Great Chalfield 10k (25 June)

· Race 7: Melksham 10k (12 July)

· Race 8: Frome 10k (19 July)

· Race 9: Two Tunnels 10k (16 August)

· Race 10: Devizes 10k (27 Sept)

Extra event, as an opportunity to pick up points for each club: Hullavington Marathon relay event (20 September)

As things stand, there are currently 8 races remaining within the 2020 league along with the additional chance to gain points for your club at the Hullavington Marathon relay. With this in mind, the current plan will be to adjust the 2020 rules to allow for an 8 race league with the best 7 races to score. The relay scores will be in addition to this, an extra opportunity for each club to gain points.

Clearly this is an evolving situation and we will endeavour to keep you all updated if anything changes further. Please keep checking Facebook, emails and the websites for the latest advice and event changes.

Stay Safe – follow government advice.

WAA Road Race Update Compton Bassett 5M

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***Race Update from Calne Running Club***

As you are aware, given the current circumstances, many events around the country are being reviewed, cancelled or postponed.

As Compton Bassett 5 Mile Road Race falls into the current guidance timeline for cancellations it has now joined the list of cancellations and postponements. A new date has been set for 23rd August 2020, at this time.

***League Status 29th March***

The current situation (as of 29th March) regarding the 2020 WRRL is as follows:·

Race NumberEventOriginal DateStatusNew Date
1Devizes Half Marathon5th AprilPostponed4th Oct 2020
2Highworth 5M19th AprilCANCELLEDno 2020 event
3Westbury 5k Series19 May,
16 Jun,
21 Jul,
18 Aug		19 May – CANCELLEDStill Planned:
16 Jun,
21 Jul,
18 Aug
4Shrewton Bustard 10k17th MayCANCELLEDno 2020 event
5Compton Bassett 5 Mile31st MayPostponed23rd August 2020
6Great Chalfield 10k25 June
7Melksham 10k12 July
8Frome 10k19 July
9Two Tunnels 10k16 August
10Devizes 10k27 Sept

As things stand, there are currently 8 races remaining within the 2020 league, with Compton Bassett 5 currently working to reschedule their event, official announcement pending. Due to these unprecedented circumstances, the current plan will be to adjust the 2020 rules to allow for an 8 race league with the best 7 races to score. Clearly this is an evolving situation and we will endeavour to keep you all updated if anything changes further.

English Schools AA Track & Field Championships 2020 are CANCELLED

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From Chris Cohen CBE,English Schools AA (March 28th 2020):

Dear friends,

I am sure you have been anticipating this email for some days now, but I am writing to let you know that ESAA has taken the very difficult decision to cancel the Track & Field Championships this year. We had looked at a variety of possible contingency plans, but, in the end, the fact that this virus doesn’t look as though it will allow schools to open in the near future, that many of our officials may not be able to support us on a third day, and, in fact, some would not be able to take part as they have been told to stay at home for three months, we have been forced to accept defeat and look forward with even more enthusiasm to next year in Manchester.

Thanks to the hard work of Paul Ponton, our treasurer, who has worked with our travel agent, to ensure none of the hotels would charge us an early cancellation fee, we now know that our costs will be minimised, though, sadly, not completely removed.

This also means that the Home International will not take place, but I have offered the SIAB that we would wish to host it next year instead at Derby, assuming we can get the agreement of the local authority, which we would expect would be no problem.

We still hope to stage the Combined Events and Race Walk on the original date in September, but I have asked Iain Presnell and Dick Bowden to look at how we can operate this with no preliminaries or regional rounds. This will, of necessity, require some form of pre-selection, but, if we are still able to stage it, if the crisis is past, then we will keep you updated as to how this would be done within the size of the normally held event.

I’m sorry to be the bearer of such disappointing news, but I’m sure you appreciate that we have done everything we could to try to stage the event, and will look to the future and better times.
Please stay safe and well.

I will update you with our other plans later.

This may free up dates for the county to use for the County Track & Field Championships in July or September as it is important to get athletics up & running when we come out the other side! Stay safe all.

WAA ROAD RACE UPDATE – AVR Westbury 5k

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**** Race Update from AVR ****

Following advice from UK Athletics that all running events be suspended until the end of May. We have made the decision to cancel the May edition of the AVR Westbury 5K 2020 series. However disappointing I’m sure you’ll agree this is the right decision.

At present we are hopeful that events will be able to resume in June but if not there is still July and August events to come. Once events are able to commence again we will review the situation and if appropriate and possible we will try to reschedule.

For those entered into the May event you can have your entry automatically transferred to the first available event once normal services resume.

Finally I’d like to thank you all for your continued support, stay safe and see you all soon!