The English Schools Championships
Encyclopedia
The English Schools Championships (formerly known as The All England School's Championships) is an inter-county athletics meeting for under 15, under 17 and under 19 athletes, which have been held since 1925. Athletes compete for the county in which their school is located. Athletes may only compete in one main event and in the relay for their county. From 2000 the upper limit of the senior age group was reduced to athletes under 19 as at 31 August in the year of competition, thus meaning athletes can only compete for two consecutive years in the senior age group. It is widely recognised that the English Schools meet attracts the most competitors of any meeting in Britain and has been dubbed the "Kids Olympics". The vast majority of current elite British athletes have all competed at the English Schools Championships, the meeting is seen as springboard for aspiring athletes.
To gain the right to represent your county a qualifying standard must be achieved, examples of standards include 6.80m in the under 19 boys long jump and 4:43.00 for the senior girls 1500m. As with all selection criteria, some events (i.e. the sprints and jumps) are more difficult to qualify for due to the large amounts of entrants at all age groups.
Some well known athletes who hold championship best performances include Mark Lewis-Francis
(under 15 & under 17 100m), Jamie Quarry (under 15 boys triple jump), Carl Myerscough
(under 17 and under 19 shot putt) and Dean Macey
(under 19 decathlon).
Funding issues have recently put the future of the English Schools Championships in doubt, but sponsorship deals which have been put in place have provided security until the Olympics come to London in 2012.
To gain the right to represent your county a qualifying standard must be achieved, examples of standards include 6.80m in the under 19 boys long jump and 4:43.00 for the senior girls 1500m. As with all selection criteria, some events (i.e. the sprints and jumps) are more difficult to qualify for due to the large amounts of entrants at all age groups.
Some well known athletes who hold championship best performances include Mark Lewis-Francis
Mark Lewis-Francis
Mark Anthony Lewis-Francis is a British track and field athlete, specifically a sprinter, who specialises in the 100 metres. A renowned junior, his greatest sporting achievement at senior level has been to anchor the Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4 x 100 metres relay team to a shock gold...
(under 15 & under 17 100m), Jamie Quarry (under 15 boys triple jump), Carl Myerscough
Carl Myerscough
Carl Myerscough is an English athlete. He specialises in the Shot put event and is the British record holder as of 2006....
(under 17 and under 19 shot putt) and Dean Macey
Dean Macey
Dean Macey is an English athlete from Canvey Island. He is best known for competing in the decathlon, which he did from 1995 to 2008, winning World Championship and Commonwealth Games medals, as well as twice finishing fourth in the Olympic Games...
(under 19 decathlon).
Funding issues have recently put the future of the English Schools Championships in doubt, but sponsorship deals which have been put in place have provided security until the Olympics come to London in 2012.