British Athletics Championships this weekend in Birmingham

The best of Britain will descend on Alexander Stadium, Birmingham from 24-26 June as they compete for the prestigious honour of being crowned British champion as well as a place on the British Athletics team for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The Alexander Stadium has played host to some memorable British Championships moments over the years and 2015 was no different as ‘finals day’ on the Sunday saw thrilling victories for Dina Asher-Smith, who set a new championship record in the women’s 100m, sub-10 man Chijindu Ujah in the men’s 100m and Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford.

Over 600 athletes from across the country will compete over the three days and more than 20 finals will be settled in a scintillating three hour programme on the Sunday.

Find out more at: http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/the-british-championships/

Surprise as Sainsbury's pulls out of British Athletics sponsor deal

Sainsbury's has cut short its four-year deal with British Athletics to sponsor the sport.  The large-scale deal was signed in 2013 and was due to run until 2017.

But an announcement came just days before the World Athletics Championships start in Beijing to say that a mid-point review had allowed the supermarket to end the deal early.

Jenny Meadows at this year's UK Indoor Championship, EIS Sheffield

The surprise to many will be the timing - we have only just had the third Anniversary Games in London, all of which were backed by Sainsbury's, and it was only last year that they had agreed to sponsor all of British Athletics major events.

British Athletics - British Indoor Championships

Was at Kelham Island today, taking photos for British Athletics (http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2013-news-page/october-2013/24-10-13-sheffield-steeler/) to promote next year's British Athletics Indoor Championships, which will be held at the EIS, Sheffield on 8th & 9th February 2014.

In attendance was Richard Buck (https://twitter.com/rickbee400) who has had arguably his best season in 2013, winning Gold in the 4x400m relay in Gothenburg at the European Indoor Championships.

Thanks to British Athletics

Two weekends, two great athletics events.

If anything, the Birmingham Grand Prix surpassed all expectations.  Sell-out home crowd, great even lighting, lots of ACRs and PBs, and a win for Mo Farah who delighted the crowd by passing out autograph cards afterwards:

Photos from the event are at: Birmingham Grand Prix

Big Thanks to British Athletics for organising - here's to a great summer of outdoor events.

British Athletics European Trials & UK Championships

The EIS at Sheffield hosted this last weekend and there were some great performances over the two days.  Everyone was sad that Jessica Ennis had decided to concentrate on her outdoor performances this year and so gave the event a miss for the first time in many years.

Holly Bleasdale continued her good form by clearing 4.77metres in the pole vault:

See more at: Andy Chubb Photography