National Preparatory Schs Athletics Championships

Hello my name is David Aldred and I am the National Organiser for the National Preparatory Schools Athletics Championships.

This is an annual event which for many years was held at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Our last event was in 2019 which coincided with the stadium being rebuilt for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

We had to find a new venue, but due to the Covid 19 pandemic our 2020 and 2021 Championships could not take place.

The 2022 event was held at the Pingles Stadium, Nuneaton on Monday 4th July and due to a lack of funds we launched our Go Fund Me account. Advertising revenue is difficult to obtain as we have found advertising budgets in Schools have been reduced with focusing on other areas especially since the Covid 19 pandemic. Senior Schools are the backbone of our advertising revenue as they place adverts in our programme. The meeting caters for boys and girls from Independent Preparatory Schools in the age ranges U12, U13, U14 and these athletes represent various areas in the country (Cornwall to Kent, Newcastle upon Tyne to Sussex and Scotland). We have a full range of track events 100m-1500mplus the following field events - high jump, triple jump, long jump, shot, discus and javelin. Following the current Covid-19 Pandemic easing of restrictions we were able to run the 2022 and we had some very grateful contributions on our Go Fund Me Account. The 2022 meeting was very successful and the weather was dry and sunny. The Souvenirs were very popular and the Headmaster of St Lawrence College, Kent presented the medals and certificates to the first three athletes in each event. The support and help from the athletics officials from UKA was also very much appreciated.  We are now planning for the 2023 Championships and we are hoping to stage this event at the new Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, home to UKA and the focus for Athletics and Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. However the costs for this stadium will be much greater than in 2022 and therefore we are continuing to keep this Go Fund Me Account open and any help or contributions would be greatly appreciated. The photographs show our event at Nuneaton in July. As a bonus I have also attached a photograph of Morgan Lake being presented with a 2022 NPSA sweatshirt at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August. Morgan represented England in the heptathlon and she has also represented Great Britain. Morgan competed in our competition as an U12 athlete and gained medals in the long jump and shot putt and she was delighted to receive this souvenir and also remember her time competing at the National Preparatory Schools Athletics Championships. Thank you for taking the time to read this article. With kind regards,  David Aldred National Organiser  National Preparatory Schools Athletics Championships December 2022  

Update on 29th June 2023.

This year's event is being held at the Pingles Stadium in Nuneaton on Monday 3rd July.

We were unable to secure Alexander Stadium, Birmingham due to the delayed notification of where the British Championships were being held for 2023.

We are delighted to be returning to the Pingles Stadium in Nuneaton and look forward to another fascinating and enjoyable Championships.

It is our aim to return to Alexander Stadium in Birmingham in 2024 and we are therefore keeping this Go Fund Me link active as the costs involved to return to Alexander Stadium (home to the 2022 Commonwealth Games) will be very close to our aim on this link for £15000.

We do continue to try and attract sponsorship and we are pleased that the British Athletics Supporters Club have sponsored our number cards for 2023 and will be present at our Championship next week.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information regarding this prestigious athletics event.

David Aldred

National Organiser

National Preparatory Schools Athletics

29th June 2023