THE decision by Avon Schools’ to cancel their county track & field championships this year has provoked considerable debate on social media with the organisation coming in for a fair amount of criticism.
School athletics and school sport in general is a vital conduit for unearthing and encouraging new talent and so many of today’s stars and those in the past took their first competitive steps at before progressing into the club structure.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the decision not to stage the competition it will leave a gaping hole in the calendar and will certainly look embarrassing if Avon proves to be the only county in England not to stage a county track & field championships in 2022.
As for the reason behind the decision a statement was recently issued on the Avon Schools website.
‘Alas, we are having to cancel the Avon Schools Championships. This is not because a lack of volunteers to stage the event (thank you to all who came forward to help out), but because districts are unable to field and manage teams on the day.
‘We will therefore be selecting teams to represent Avon based on names forwarded to us by the district coordinators and their performances listed in the Power of 10 (up to Sunday 5th June). Teams will be published here by Friday 10th June.
‘Athletes will be selected to represent Avon Schools at the South West Schools in Exeter on Saturday, 18th June (transport will be provided).’
Apparently, schools in Bath & North East Somerset (BANES) and South Gloucestershire will still be staging their district championships on Monday May 23rd and Wednesday 25th respectively.
But athletes attending schools in Bristol or North Somerset will have to apply to earn county selection via their own school PE teacher by Wednesday May 25th.
‘Each of the four districts will then forward two nominations for each event to be considered for the Avon team (by 5th June),’ added the statement by Avon Schools.