Race Walking - England Athletics

England Athletics International Race Walk Team Opportunities 2013

EA is looking to support developing athletes and provide international experience towards major Championships. EA will look to select individuals for appropriate international competition given their current performance level and for early season races referencing late 2012 form. England selection may be awarded to athletes at the appropriate performance level as indicated by the criteria, taking into account the highlighted team size. England Athletics is looking to balance experience development for progressing athletes with opportunities to progress to Championship selection.

The season highlights are the European Cup in May, to be held in Dudince on 19th May and the IAAF World Athletics Championships from 10th to 18th August in Moscow. In addition there are a number of full GB Team opportunities for age group athletes with the IAAF World U18 Championships, 10th to 14th July, the European U20 Championships (18th to 21st July) and the European U23 Championships (11th to 14th July).

The international competition calendar below details links to selection policies and all opportunities for race walk athletes. Given the range of competitions available coaches and athletes must ensure they have read the relevant information in the selection briefs carefully. If in any doubt about a policy please contact the relevant people or the names at the bottom of this news article.

GB and NI Team Competitions

19th May, European Cup Race Walking, Dudince, Slovakia (www.dudinskaatletika.sk)
Final selection 28th April 2013; details tbc on UKA website

10 - 14 July, World U18s, Donetsk, Ukraine
Final selection 24 June 2013 (www.uka.org.uk/world-class/2013-selection-policies)

11 – 14 July, European U23s, Tampere, Finland
Selection after U20/U23 European Trials, Bedford (15/16 June) - 17 June and 1 July (www.uka.org.uk/world-class/2013-selection-policies)

18 – 21 July, European U20s, Rieti, Italy
Selection after U20/U23 European Trials, Bedford (15/16 June) - 17 June and 8 July (www.uka.org.uk/world-class/2013-selection-policies)

10 – 18 August, IAAF World Champs, Moscow, Russia
Selection tbc (www.uka.org.uk/world-class/2013-selection-policies)

It is crucial all coaches and athletes are aware of final selection dates as well as the detailed requirements of meeting any stated selection criteria.
Advice for coaches can be obtained through the England Athletics National Coach Mentor Martin Rush mrush@englandathletics.org or the Head Coach at the National Centre for Walks Andi Drake adrake@englandathletics.org as well as through the Team contact detailed in the policy.

England Athletics National and International Competitions

Queries on selection, in the first instance, should be addressed to Martin Rush mrush@englandathletics.org. The selection committee consists of Martin Rush (EA NCM for Walks), Andy Day (EA Head of Competition), Andi Drake (Head Coach, National Centre for Race Walking, Leeds Met, Carnegie,) and a representative from the RWA.

10th March 2013	National 10mls Champs
17th March 2013	EAA Grand Prix Lugano, Senior M/W 20km, U20 M/W 10km, U18 M/W 10Km EA aim to select 2 per event Seniors, 2 per event Juniors and 1 per event U18’s (10 km only for U18 women). EA will try to retain some flexibility with numbers depending on the standard of performance achieved in each age group. Selection will be made on Sunday 3rd March 2013 immediately after the IoM and Coventry events. Athletes judged to be capable of performing better than or close to the UKA Guidelines for the European Race Walk Cup event or the International Age Group qualification standards will be considered. Advised standards 10Km U18 Men/5Km U18 Women 47:00/24:15(52:00) (again 10 km only for U18 women) 10 km U20 Men/Women 45:30/50:30; 20 km Men/Women 1:29:00/1:41:00 00
23rd March 2013	Dudince 50Km. Czech and Slovak Championships. EA recognise the importance of development opportunities at all international distances and will consider supporting athletes to this event who are considering moving up distances and have shown the potential to go on to further senior Championship level performances, or who are showing form consistent with a qualifying mark for the World Championships in 2013.
13th April 2013	England v European Teams Meet, Podebrady. EA aim to select 2 per event Seniors, 2 per event Juniors and 1 per event U18’s. EA will retain some flexibility with numbers depending on the standard of performance achieved in each age group. Selection will be made on Monday 2nd April 2013 Athletes judged to be capable of performing better than or close to the UKA Guidelines for the European Race Walk Cup event or the International Age Group qualification standards will be considered. Advised standards 10Km U18 Men/5Km U18 Women 47:00/24:15(52:00) (again 10 km only for U18 women) 10 km U20 Men/Women 45:30/50:30; 20 km Men/Women 1:29:00/1:41:00
28th April 2013	National 20Km and YAG Champs Coventry
19th May 2013	European Cup, Dudince. See above
2nd June 2013	U18 Race Walk Meet in conjunction with EA Combined Events. U18 Women 5000m/U18 Men 10000m. Competition will be opened to all age groups to extend fields. Standards of 5k/10k 27:00/51:00 will be applied for entries
15th/16th June 2013	England U20/U23 Championships, Bedford. Trials for European U20 Champs. Qualifying opportunity for World U18 Champs. U18 Women’s 5Km event will be held in parallel with the U20 Women’s 10Km event. Competition will be opened to all age groups to extend fields
29th June	EAA Permit meet, Dublin EA will consider selecting senior athletes in Men and Women’s 20km, who have posted times in 2013 indicating a World Championship qualifying performance is a realistic outcome of racing this event.
12th to 14th July	World Championship Trials, 5000m Track events for Walks