UK Championships in Athletics
The UK National Championships in athletics were held between 1977 and 1997. They were a major event in the UK athletics calendar. Unlike the AAAs Championships, which were usually open to overseas athletes, the UK championships were only open to competitors from the United Kingdom. In 1980, the event incorporated the British trials for the Olympic Games.
The event's status declined due to the AAAs Championships (which had begun in 1880) remaining the premier domestic event. It was also due to the its early slot in the athletics season (the event was usually contested in May), which meant that many top athletes would be absent.
The competition was held annually until 1993 when it was renamed the British Championships. There was then a gap of four years until its brief return in 1997 when it also hosted the British trials for the World Championships. It again returned in 2001 to host only the women's 3000 metres steeplechase.
Venues
- 1977 Cwmbran
- 1978 Edinburgh
- 1979 Birmingham
- 1980 Crystal Palace, London (some events were held in Edinburgh)
- 1981 Antrim
- 1982 Cwmbran
- 1983 Edinburgh
- 1984 Cwmbran
- 1985 Antrim
- 1986 Cwmbran
- 1987 Derby (10000m was held in Gateshead)
- 1988 Derby
- 1989 Jarrow
- 1990 Cardiff
- 1991 Cardiff
- 1992 Sheffield
- 1993 Crystal Palace, London (walking events were held in Bedford)
- 1997 Birmingham (10000m was held in Sheffield)
- 2001 Glasgow (women's steeplechase only)
