ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017 INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR Carol Anthony Chair, Welsh Athletics The specific achievements which • Continued to meet all the core targets set performances of the current champions. are detailed in other areas of the by our major funding partners This proved to be the perfect forum to • Maintained financial stability honour the past icons of our sport and to report, illustrate the outcomes inspire our current and future athletes. of the hard work of our dedicated • Introduced a new Club Modernisation “ I am delighted to Programme. From a strategic perspective, 2018 will staff and volunteer workforce • Supported the development of athletes be a very important year for us. We will and the talent and commitment of and coaches continue our focus on Governance as we our athletes during the year. • Restructured the Performance Team review our current structure in terms of to support Elite Performance. effectiveness and efficiency. We will also introduce the 2017 embark on a consultation programme with • Developed the Run Wales initiative all our stakeholders as we start to plan Our commitment to achieving the highest to support social running in Wales standards in all aspects of our sport, the details of our new Strategic Plan. It is • Provided competitive opportunities important that we adopt an inclusive ‘whole together with our willingness to embrace at all levels in all disciplines innovation, has been recognised by Sport team’ approach to the preparation of the plan, with input from all areas of the sport, Annual Report as it Wales and it is particularly pleasing to Our membership figures have continued to so that the final plan is one that everyone report that Welsh Athletics will play an increase and this is testament to the great can take ownership of in a positive and important role in the pilot phase of the work of our dedicated volunteers in the coherent way. Remodelling the Relationship with Sport clubs. We have also increased our number Wales Project during the next year. of new coaches, officials and volunteers. The Commonwealth Games 2018 is to be has, once again, been a held in April in the Gold Coast Australia. It is inevitable that in a sport as diverse as The World Athletics/ Para Athletics Our plans are already advanced for this and athletics, there will always be challenges Championships held in the Olympic the next few months will be really critical to be met and new opportunities to be Stadium in London was a huge success and in the final build up to this event. I offer my explored. Our aim must be to continue to had global television coverage. We were very best wishes to all athletes, coaches evolve and modernise to ensure that we delighted and very proud that five athletes very successful year for meet the challenges of the new sporting and support staff for success in these and eleven officials were selected to take games. landscape, provide appropriate and part in this great event. This was a great exciting opportunities for developing and honour for the individuals and also for The clubs and all our dedicated coaches, growing the sport and also to satisfy the Welsh Athletics. officials and volunteers are the bedrock of expectations of our stakeholders. our sport without whom the sport would athletics in Wales.” More details of the above may be found not exist. It is with great sincerity that I In my last report I cited Governance as a in the Development and Coaching and thank you all for your commitment to the main focus for the Board during this year. I Performance reports. Carol Anthony success of athletics in Wales. Chair Welsh Athletics am happy to report that a new skills based Welsh Athletics has a rich history and 2017 Governance group has been appointed by My thanks also to the Staff team for was a significant milestone as it marked the Board and excellent work has been their untiring work throughout the year the 100th edition of the Welsh Senior undertaken by the group to ensure that and to my fellow Board members, the Track & Field Championships. It was we are a successful and legally compliant General Council, Regional Councils and all pleasing that over 80 former champions organisation. During 2017 we; committees for your support given to our attended the Championships in June to sport this year. reminisce and to enjoy the competition and 2 3 Matt Newman Chief Executive Matt Newman Chief Executive CHIEF EXECUTIVE at the London 2017 IAAF World Athletics 2017 has seen the following A bi-product of this work is the creation REPORT Championships, on top of those who also developments; of joined-up and active partnerships with officiated at the World Para Athletics many local authorities in Wales. With Welsh Athletics Limited has now been incorporated for ten years and we can Championships • The first Cardiff and Vale College Cardiff ongoing support across many Welsh Bay Run sold out in April. Athletics events and initiatives, this delivery through partnership provides certainly reflect on its first decade with pride, as we report unprecedented levels Run 4 Wales Events • Kidney Wales and Run 4 Wales entered excellent examples of collaboration. of activity across the full spectrum of athletics in Wales. Following the successful delivery of the into a partnership agreement to deliver IAAF World Half Marathon Championships the Cardiff 10k. Cardiff University / Cardiff Half Marathon At this mid-point in the current four- • The Welsh Athletics education of Stockport Harriers in the men’s in 2016, the focus of Run 4 Wales in • The 2nd Royal Welsh Trail Running We have just witnessed a remarkable week year cycle (2015-2019), participation department has trained more coaches, marathon. 2017 has been to establish a sustainable Festival was delivered back in May with for road running in Wales. numbers are at an all-time high and our officials and leaders than at any time in portfolio of events, which meets the growing numbers across all distances. track-record of delivery places us at the our history. • David Omoregie (Benke Blomkvist) in the needs of the growing customer base, but • This year, the Cardiff Half Marathon was leading-edge of national governing body men’s 110m hurdles. which also continues to provide a financial • Ironman and Run 4 Wales signed a • 43 GB vests were won by 32 Welsh awarded an IAAF Silver Label, which work in Wales. surplus to support grassroots athletics in license agreement for Run 4 Wales to athletes, the highest number ever. • Bethan Davies (Andi Drake) in the Wales. deliver Velothon Wales from 2018 to raised its profile further with the elite • From government surveys, the boom women’s 20km race walk. 2020. running community. As a consequence Welsh Athletics Core Activities in social running indicates close to this year’s Cardiff Half Marathon As well as the athletes from Wales pulling Last year, we reported year-on-year 450,000 adults running on a regular • The Cardiff University / Cardiff Half included the best ever elite fields in both on a GB vest, Wales also had a number of growth in club membership, underpinned basis. Marathon sold out in August with 25,000 the men’s and women’s races, resulting Officials at the championships ensuring by record levels of school participation entries with Cardiff University extending in course records for both, with the that everything ran efficiently and to the and a boom in the running sector. its title sponsorship to 2020. women’s winner recording the 6th fastest London 2017 rulebook. half-marathon of all time. This trend has continued in 2017 as the The World Championships were an Dave Jessett received the very high honour following evidence demonstrates; unqualified success and Welsh Athletics • The race also included the Welsh Half of acting as Competition Director for the made a significant contribution to the Marathon Championships, with the World Championships, overseeing the • Since incorporation, club membership “Summer of World Athletics”. A quintet of women’s title won by Jenny Nesbitt and entirety of the competition. Dave was joined has doubled to over 11,000. Welsh athletes were selected for the team the men’s title won by Dewi Griffiths, by Sue Maughan, Sue Alvey, Jane Dakin, at the IAAF World Championships. smashing his PB in the process. • Over 80,000 people have taken part in Carina Jones, Amy Price, Ceri Jones, Jeff licensed events across Wales. This was achieved in 2017, with the • Ieuan Thomas (James Thie) in the men’s Marsden, John Chidlow and Bob and Olive • BBC One Wales showed the event live mass-participation events providing • The Schools Sport Survey / HE Survey 3000m steeplechase. Dobson. from 9.30am for 3 hours with highlights opportunity for 50,000 competitors as well • The ABP Newport Wales Marathon was places Athletics, Cross Country and on BBC Two Wales later in the day. Welsh Athletics is very proud that so as delivering a £7.5M economic impact for launched in October with over 3,000 Running activities as the most popular • Josh Griffiths of Swansea Harriers Viewing figures were 50% up on 2016. runners signing-up in the first week. across all age ranges. and Andrew Davies (Steve Vernon) many Officials were selected to officiate the Welsh economy. 4 5 GREAT BRITAIN / MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP REPRESENTATION IAU World 50M Championships European 10,000m Cup World Para Athletics Championships Andrew Davies (Steve Vernon): Kristian Jones (self-coached) Hollie Arnold (David Parker): Team Silver• F46 Javelin Gold• Michael Kallenberg (James Thie): Halle Throws International Olivia Breen