Senior, U20 Combined Event Championships (inc. Senior Para and Walk Championships) preview

The England Athletics Senior and U20 Indoor Combined Event Championships 2026 - incorporating the Senior Para and Walk Championships - will take place this coming weekend at the EIS in Sheffield.

This weekend promises a fascinating mix of form, potential, and surprise - not to mention plenty of drama - as the country’s best combined eventers take on the first national championship of what promises to be a tremendous indoor season.

As ever, the four competitions – the women’s pentathlon, U20 women’s pentathlon, the men’s heptathlon and U20 men’s heptathlon – feature an impressive entry, many of whom have their eye on this summer’s major championships. Given the intensity and skill level needed to compete at this level, this event is arguably the number one championship of the indoor season in terms of the quality present in Sheffield. Not only are the national titles on offer, it also provides athletes and coaches an invaluable marker as to how everything is progressing in terms of training and fitness in a top-flight competition with many targeting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in the summer.

As an added incentive, there will be places on an England team to compete in the Swedish Combined Events Championships later this winter.

Women’s Pentathlon

Sunday's combined event looks wide open and any one of three or four could take the title. If Jodie Smith (Rafer Johnson, Windsor Slough, Eton and Hounslow AC) has had a good winter she could lead the pack given her 1.81m high jump and 12.96m shot put credentials. But Bryony Bovell (Ashley Bryant, Harrow AC) and Yorkshire-based Kiwi, Christina Ryan (City of Sheffield and Dearne AC) will certainly have something to say about that. Bovell can crack 6 metres in the long jump at her best and more significantly is a former England champion (gold in 2023 as an U20). She’s progressing nicely and was fourth last season indoors as a senior (she’s still U23) so she’s definitely one to look out for. Of course, Ryan - last year’s silver medallist in this event - will have something to say about where the gold medal is heading. Solid in every event, expect her to figure late just when it counts the most - just as she did in 2025.

The same applies to Jo Rowland (Doncaster AC) who has a very solid 2:12.62 for 800 in her armoury. That, and a 6.08m long jump and a 14.39m shot means she’s a very solid in every event and once again, she’ll be in the mix come the final event. The W35 age group athlete already has a 9.29 for 60 hurdles to her name this season, so looks to be in form.

Ireland’s Anna McCauley won two medals last weekend at the Northern Championships and could retain gold, but even she will be nervous with Niamh Emerson (Ashley Bryant, Newham and Essex Beagles) set to feature. That’s because Emerson’s CV includes a world best for the pentathlon aged 19 – a superb 4731 points. Injury has hampered her in the years since. But she has shown signs she’s on the road back, not least with a 13.68m shot put last outdoor season. And reports from South Africa where she is training suggest things are going well, she’s injury free and has put together a great winter of training. Watch this space!

U20 Women’s Pentathlon

The U20 pentathlon will take place on the Saturday. Thea Brown (Ashley Bryant, Sale Harriers Manchester) leads the way in this age group thanks in part to her dominance last season in this championship, but also her outdoor form. She won silver in the U20 Europeans in the long jump, which puts her far ahead of her nearest competitors. Indeed, she’ll be looking for a rare hat-trick of victories in this age group – impressive given the rapid development athletes often enjoy in their teens. Could she eclipse the championship best performance of 4049? It’s possible.

Of course, plenty will want to have a say in where the gold medal is heading. Perhaps one of those will be Keira Oxley (John Shepherd, Guildford & Godalming AC) who was 11th outdoors. However, her individual event form is good, meaning if she could put it together on the day, she could challenge for a podium place. Ava John (Windsor Slough, Eton and Hounslow AC) will have something to say about that. She was the bronze medallist last season and the Princeton, USA student has built up an impressive set of performances both here in the UK and across the Atlantic in the US collegiate scene. And then of course, there’s Matilda Secker (Ashley Bryant, Tonbridge), the reigning English Schools' AA champion and Isla Pain (Paul Harrison, Cheltenham), who won the England outdoor silver last summer. Both are easily capable of upsetting the form book.

Men’s Heptathlon

Last year’s champion, Lewis Church (David Hull, Tonbridge AC) once again goes head to head with Sammy Ball (Rafer Joseph, Reading AC). A year ago it took a 12th best of all-time performance to secure the gold medal and it looks very much like that kind of performance will be needed once again. Lewis finally eclipsed 8000 points last summer having knocked on the door for a couple of seasons, so he will be keen to see how this winter has gone. Always strong in the high jump – he’s a 2.07m performer at his best – it promises to be a fascinating clash. On paper, Ball, an 8000-plus competitor like his rival, has 2.03m to his name but is quicker over 60 metres. For many, he starts as favourite and the man most likely to break the championship best performance of 5888 set back in 1993.

Of course, given the unpredictability of any combined event competition, this weekend won’t be a two-horse race. Conrad Winter (City of Norwich AC), the 2024 U20 champion, is hugely consistent over all seven events so will be one to watch. Make a note of Scotland’s Callum Newby (Edinburgh AC) who can clear 5.15m in the pole vault at his best and Steven Simmons (David Hull, Tonbridge AC) who is close to seven seconds flat in the 60m. If either of the top two on paper – Church and Ball – show a chink in their armour, they, along with four or five, are more than ready to step in and spoil the party such as Harry Kendall (David Hull, Tonbridge), sixth in the 2022 Commonwealth Games; the field is that deep in terms of strength and experience.

U20 Men’s Heptathlon

The stand-out entry in a fabulous looking field is Sam Wright (Simon Hemmings, Chelmsford AC). His PBs are nothing short of sensational as he can call on 7.03-second speed in the 60 metres if required or 2.01m in the high jump. Add in a 4.10m pole vault and 7.39m long jump, and it’s easy to see why he’s one to watch.

However, Samuel Newton (Tonbridge AC) and Arthur Reilly (Brendan Reilly, City of Sheffield and Dearne AC) will put up a fight. Both are improving with every meeting. Reilly, for instance, will have the confidence of an England title in the pole vault to call on (and a whopping 4.75m clearance last summer), while Newton, fourth last year and before going on to win outdoors has already cleared 1.90m in the high jump this season, a full 10cm higher than Wright. Favourite yes, but in no way guaranteed.

Para Champs

Stand-out names include Hetty Bartlett, T38 (John Herbert, City of Norwich AC), Leon Serning, T47 (Alex Currie, Loughborough Students), Skala Langton, T20 (Leroy Campbell, Charnwood AC) and Nathan O’Mara, T20 (Janet-Alison Arkwright, BKS Disability Athletics) who headline the sprints. Bartlett and Serning will line up fastest in the short sprint, the 60m, while over two laps (400m), Langton and O’Mara should head up things.

Look too for Daniel Wolff, T20 (Belgrave) in the 1500m, while in the field Nehemiah Dick, F20 (Blackheath and Bromley AC) and Max Fiore, F34 (Bronwen Carter, City of Portsmouth AC) will be the names to beat in the shot and seated shot.

Walks

As has become tradition in this event, Ireland have sent a strong contingent and should feature in every race. However keep an eye on Abigail Jennings (Verity Snook, Aldershot, Farnham and District AC), the winner in 2023 and Cameron Corbishley (Andi Drake, Medway and Maidstone AC), looking for a hat-trick, both of whom will be tough to beat in their respective events.

Information

• The championships start at 10am on both Saturday 17 January and Sunday 18 January, at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield.
• Tickets can be bought online via EventBrite for our championships. You should register for tickets even if they are free. Online tickets close at midnight prior to the event. Tickets can be bought on the door without the online discount.