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AAA Championships

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AAA Championships
SportTrack and field
Founded1880
Ceased2006
CountryEngland/United Kingdom

The AAA Championships was an annual track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Association of England. It was the foremost domestic athletics event in the United Kingdom during its lifetime, despite the existence of the official UK Athletics Championships organised by the then governing body for British athletics, the British Athletics Federation between 1977 and 1993, and again in 1997. It was succeeded by the British Athletics Championships, organised by the BEF's replacement (successor), UK Athletics under its brand name British Athletics.

History

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AAA Championships at White City

The competition was founded in 1880, replacing the Amateur Athletic Club (AAC) Championships, which had been held since 1866. Initially a men-only competition, a Women's AAA Championships was introduced in 1922 with the first proper WAAA Championships in 1923 and organised by the Women's Amateur Athletics Association until 1992, at which point it was folded into the Amateur Athletics Association.[1] During the 1920s and early 1930s, the AAA Championships was Europe's most prestigious athletics event until the European Athletics Championships were inaugurated in 1934.[2] Events were contested and measured in imperial units until metrification in 1969, in line with international standards.[3]

Though organised by the English governing body, it was open to athletes from all over the world. The first overseas champion was Lon Myers of the United States who won the 440 yards in 1881. the first winner from Africa was Arthur Wharton from Ghana who won the 100 yards in 1886 and 1887. Foreign champions out-numbered those from the United Kingdom for the first time in 1904 when the United States team on their way to Paris for the Olympic Games stopped off in London and won eight of the fourteen events then on the programme.

Track race at the 1972 event at Crystal Palace

It served as the de facto British Championships, given the absence of such a competition for most of its history. It was typically held over two or three days over a weekend in July or August. Foreign athletes were no longer allowed to compete from 1998 onwards (with the change first being trialled in 1996), though they were still allowed to participate (but not formally placed) in the 10,000 m and marathon events.[3]

The creation of the UK Athletics Championships in 1977 under the British Amateur Athletic Board (later British Athletics Federation) marked a challenge to the event's domestic supremacy, though the quality of that rival event declined after it hosted the 1980 Olympic trials and it ceased as an annual championships after 1993, closing completely after 1997.[4] The AAA Championships incorporated the UK Olympic trials every four years from 1988 to 2004.[5] The women's WAAA Championships was folded into the AAA Championships in 1988.[1]

Alexander Stadium was the third permanent venue for the Championships

The establishment of UK Athletics in 1999 to serve as the national governing body for professional, elite athletics ultimately started the decline of the AAA Championships. UK Athletics took over the role of both national championships and international team selection with its own British Athletics Championships from 2007 onwards.[3] The AAA Championships ceased to be a stand-alone event in its own right from that point onwards, though it re-emerged in 2016 in being co-held with the English Athletics Championships organised by England Athletics (a body for developing the grassroots level beneath UK Athletics).[6][7][8]

The long-distance track events, marathon, racewalking events and combined track and field events were regularly held outside of the main track and field championship competition. Although the competition venue varied over the years, there were several locations that served as regular hosts over its history: Stamford Bridge (1886 to 1931), White City Stadium (1932 to 1970), Crystal Palace National Sports Centre (1971 to 1987) and Alexander Stadium (1984 to 2003).[5]

Evolution of events

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In 1880 the programme consisted of fourteen events; 100 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards, 1 mile, 4 miles, 10 miles, steeplechase, 120 yards hurdles, high jump, pole vault, long jump, shot put, hammer and a 7 miles walk.

Challenge Cups

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On 4 April 1880 a meeting of representatives of the chief athletic clubs in the country was held at Oxford for the purpose of forming a governing body possessing the power of framing the laws and regulations of (track and field) athletics. The Amateur Athletic Association was the result. At that meeting the representatives of the Amateur Athletic Club handed over to the new association the challenge cups that had been competed for since the championship meeting was instituted in 1866.[9] There were initially just nine cups, shown with their notional insurance value, as follows: 100 yards - Challenge Cup presented by Prince Hassan, 60 guineas. Prince Hassan was the brother of Tewfik Pasha the Khedive of Egypt, and was educated in England. 440 yards - Challenge Cup presented by Kenelm Thomas Digby, Esq., MP, 45 guineas, an Irish politician. 880 yards - Challenge Cup presented by Percy Melville Thornton, 45 guineas. Thornton was the son of Rear-Admiral Samuel Thornton. Educated at Harrow, an Oxford graduate, he won the AAC 880 yards in 1866, was the first Secretary of the Inter-University sports, inspired the boat race near Ghent in 1911 between 8 Jesus college oarsmen and a Belgian crew. Was Honorary Secretary Middlesex County Cricket Club for many years, an MP for the Clapham division of Battersea from 1892 to 1910. Married his cousin Florence Emily Sykes and wrote a book on Foreign Secretaries of the Nineteenth Century. 1 mile - Challenge Cup presented by Charles Bennett Lawes Esq. From Teignmouth, Devon, Lawes, went to Eton, and Trinity College, Cambridge University. He won the AAC 1 mile championship in 1866. 1st President Incorporated Society of British Sculptors. 4 miles - Challenge Cup presented by the Early of Jersey, 60 guineas. At the Oxford vs Cambridge match in 1865 he was fourth in the 2 miles, in a blinding snowstorm. The following year he was third in a 1-mile race won by Arthur Kemble in a howling gale. He was first President of the AAA. 10 miles - Challenge Cup presented by Walter Moresby Chinnery of the London Athletic Club, 50 guineas. Chinnery was the first amateur to run 1 mile in less than four and a half minutes, which he did at Cambridge on 10 March 1868, and on 30 May that year he repeated the feat at Beaufort House.[10] In 1868 and 1869 he won both the 1 mile and 4 miles events at the AAC championship, and he again won the 1 mile in 1871.[11] High jump - Challenge Cup presented by Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny, 3rd Baronet, 35 guineas. 120 yards hurdles - Challenge Cup presented by Lord Southwell, 45 guineas. 7 miles walk - Challenge Cup presented by John Chambers, founder and secretary of the AAC, 35 guineas.[12]

Editions

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# Year Date Venue Stadium Notes
1 1880 3 July London Lillie Bridge Grounds Replaced the AAC Championships
2 1881 16 & 18 July Birmingham Aston Lower Grounds
3 1882 1 July Stoke Stoke Victoria AC Grounds 7-foot square for the shot put introduced
4 1883 30 June London Lillie Bridge Grounds
5 1884 21 June Birmingham Aston Lower Grounds
6 1885 27 June Southport Southport Sports Ground
7 1886 3 July London Stamford Bridge
8 1887 2 July Stourbridge Stourbridge Cricket Ground 9-foot square for the hammer introduced
9 1888 30 June Crewe Alexandra Recreation Ground
10 1889 29 June London Stamford Bridge
11 1890 12 July Birmingham Aston Lower Grounds
12 1891 29 June Manchester Manchester AA Grounds, Old Trafford
13 1892 2 July London Stamford Bridge
14 1893 1 July Northampton County Cricket Ground
15 1894 7 July Huddersfield Fartown Ground 7 mile walk reduced to 4 mile walk
16 1895 6 July London Stamford Bridge
17 1896 4 July Northampton County Cricket Ground wire handles for the hammer legalised
18 1897 3 July Manchester Fallowfield Stadium
19 1898 2 July London Stamford Bridge
20 1899 1 July Wolverhampton Molineux Grounds
21 1900 7 July London Stamford Bridge
22 1901 6 July Huddersfield Fartown Ground 4 miles walk reverts back to 7 miles
23 1902 5 July London Stamford Bridge 220 yards first held
24 1903 4 July Northampton County Cricket Ground
25 1904 2 July Rochdale Athletic Grounds
26 1905 1 July London Stamford Bridge
27 1906 7 July London Stamford Bridge
28 1907 6 July Manchester Fallowfield Stadium
29 1908 4 July London White City Stadium 7 foot circle for the hammer re-introduced
30 1909 3 July London Stamford Bridge
31 1910 2 July London Stamford Bridge
32 1911 1 July London Stamford Bridge 1-mile medley relay introduced
33 1912 22 June London Stamford Bridge stop-board at the front of the circle for the shot put introduced
34 1913 5 July London Stamford Bridge steeplechase standardised at 2 miles
35 1914 3–4 July London Stamford Bridge 440 yards hurdles, discus, javelin, and triple jump introduced
Not held 1915 to 1918 due to World War I
36 1919 5 July London Stamford Bridge
37 1920 2–3 July London Stamford Bridge 56 lb weight event was held
38 1921 1–2 July London Stamford Bridge
39 1922 30 June-1 July 1922 London Stamford Bridge moving the hands up the pole during the pole vault, in what was known at the time as the "climbing" technique was ended
40 1923 2–3 July London Stamford Bridge
41 1924 20–21 June London Stamford Bridge
42 1925 17–18 July London Stamford Bridge marathon introduced
43 1926 2–3 July London Stamford Bridge
44 1927 1–4 July London Stamford Bridge 4 x 440 yards relay and a 4 x 110 yards relay was introduced at the same time
45 1928 6–7 July London Stamford Bridge decathlon was first held
46 1929 5–6 July London Stamford Bridge
47 1930 4–5 July London Stamford Bridge
48 1931 3–4 July London Stamford Bridge steeplechase number of hurdles standardised and pole jump renamed pole vault
49 1932 1–2 July London White City Stadium 4 miles race reduced to 3 miles and the 6 miles event was introduced
50 1933 7–8 July London White City Stadium
51 1934 13–14 July London White City Stadium
52 1935 12–13 July London White City Stadium
53 1936 10–11 July London White City Stadium
54 1937 16–17 July London White City Stadium
55 1938 15–16 July London White City Stadium
56 1939 7–8 July London White City Stadium
Not held 1940 to 1945 due to World War II
57 1946 19–20 July London White City Stadium
58 1947 18–19 July London White City Stadium
59 1948 2–3 July London White City Stadium
60 1949 15–16 July London White City Stadium
61 1950 14–15 July London White City Stadium
62 1951 13–14 July London White City Stadium
63 1952 21–22 June London White City Stadium 220 yards hurdles event introduced
64 1953 10–11 July London White City Stadium
65 1954 9–10 July London White City Stadium
66 1955 15–16 July London White City Stadium
67 1956 13–14 July London White City Stadium
68 1957 12–13 July London White City Stadium
69 1958 11–12 July London White City Stadium
70 1959 10–11 July London White City Stadium
71 1960 15–16 July London White City Stadium
72 1961 14–15 July London White City Stadium
73 1962 13–14 July London White City Stadium
74 1963 12–13 July London White City Stadium 220 yards hurdles discontinued
75 1964 10–11 July London White City Stadium
76 1965 9–10 July London White City Stadium
77 1966 8–9 July London White City Stadium
78 1967 14–15 July London White City Stadium
79 1968 12–13 July London White City Stadium
80 1969 1–2 August London White City Stadium Imperial distance events replaced with metric distances
81 1970 7–9 August London White City Stadium
82 1971 23–24 July London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
83 1972 14–15 July London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
84 1973 13–14 July London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
85 1974 12–13 July London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
86 1975 1–2 August London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
87 1976 13–14 August London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
88 1977 22–23 July London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
89 1978 23–24 June London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
90 1979 13–14 July London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
91 1980 5–6 September London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
92 1981 7–8 August London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
93 1982 24–25 July London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
94 1983 23–24 July London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre The London marathon counts as the AAA title
95 1984 23–24 June Birmingham Alexander Stadium
96 1985 13–14 July London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
97 1986 20–21 June Birmingham Alexander Stadium
98 1987 1–2 August London Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
99 1988 5–7 August Birmingham Alexander Stadium Olympic trials, women's championships held in conjunction for first time
100 1989 11–13 August Birmingham Alexander Stadium 3000 metres introduced
101 1990 3–4 August Birmingham Alexander Stadium
102 1991 26–27 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium
103 1992 27–28 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium Olympic trials
104 1993 16–17 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium
105 1994 11–12 July Sheffield Don Valley Stadium
106 1995 15–16 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium
107 1996 14–16 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium Olympic trials
108 1997 24–25 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium
109 1998 24–26 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium
110 1999 23–25 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium
111 2000 11–13 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium Olympic trials
112 2001 13–15 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium 10,000m walk reduced to 5,000m walk
113 2002 12–14 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium women's 2000 metres steeplechase introduced
114 2003 25–27 July Birmingham Alexander Stadium
115 2004 10–11 July Manchester Sportcity Olympic trials
116 2005 9–10 July Manchester Sportcity
117 2006 15–16 July Manchester Sportcity

Most successful athletes by event

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Event Men Men's titles Women Women's titles
100 metres Linford Christie 8 Joice Maduaka 5
200 metres John Regis 6 Kathy Smallwood-Cook 6
400 metres David Jenkins 6 Joslyn Hoyte-Smith
Linda Keough 		3
800 metres Steve Ovett
Steve Cram
Curtis Robb 		3 Kelly Holmes 7
1500 metres John Mayock 6 Hayley Tullett 4
3000 metres No multiple champions — Yvonne Murray 4
5000 metres Eamonn Martin
Brendan Foster 		3 Hayley Yelling 3
10,000 metres Dave Bedford 5 Hayley Yelling 3
3000 m steeplechase Maurice Herriott 7 Tina Brown 2
110/100 m hurdles Colin Jackson 11 Sally Gunnell 7
400 m hurdles Chris Rawlinson 6 Gowry Retchakan 5
High jump Benjamin Howard Baker 6 Dorothy Tyler 8
Pole vault Tom Ray 7 Janine Whitlock 6
Long jump Peter O'Connor 6 Ethel Raby 6
Triple jump  Willem Peters (NED) 6 Michelle Griffith 5
Shot put  Denis Horgan (IRE) 13 Judy Oakes 17
Discus throw Bill Tancred 7 Suzanne Allday 7
Hammer throw Mick Jones
Tom Nicolson 		6 Lorraine Shaw 6
Javelin throw Mick Hill
Dave Travis 		7 Tessa Sanderson 10
Combined events Leslie Pinder 4 Mary Peters 8
3000/5000 m race walk Roger Mills 10 Betty Sworowski 4
10,000 m race walk Brian Adams 5 Irene Bateman
Helen Elleker
Betty Sworowski
Vicky Lupton 		3

See also

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List of British athletics champions

References

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  1. ^ a b AAA Championships Women. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  2. ^ "Track Stats - John Powell". nuts.org.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2012. The European Championships did not begin until 1934
  3. ^ a b c AAA Championships. NUTS. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  4. ^ UK Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  5. ^ a b AAA Championships (Men). GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  6. ^ AAA. England Athletics. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  7. ^ What We Do. England Athletics. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  8. ^ Athletes on form at England Athletics Senior Championships Archived 2018-02-26 at the Wayback Machine. England Athletics (2016-07-31). Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  9. ^ "Daily Telegraph & Courier (London)", Mon 5 Jul 1880 p. 3
  10. ^ Richard Hymans "World Record Progressions" International Amateur Athletics Federation (2015)
  11. ^ Peter Lovesey and Keith Morbey "British Athletics 1866-1880". National Union of Track Statisticians (2016)
  12. ^ "The Referee", Sun 17 Jul 1881 p. 5
Editions
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