British Championships 24th-26th June

[marilyn1]

If only the British Championships could be held *now*, rather than next weekend. Temps in Manchester right now are around 25C... the forecast for next Friday through to Sunday? 16C, 17C and 16C, with the chance of rain on Sunday. Ooof.

This is truly the worst weather for DLs I can remember. Tomorrow in Paris the first good conditions, ruddy hot, but the fieldsxare affected by the proximity to National Champs and the Americans have their Trials midweek.

[keneastlancs]

Yep, it's on the Red Button too - https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p069dk6p/2022/06/24

So why is no longer on 'live' tv?

[treadwater1]

Glastonbury is on at the same time unfortunately. The world swimming championships has gone the way of iPlayer too

[PotterHoppo96]

When it comes to BBC coverage somehow I prefer red button coverage, means less breaks for studio talk and features (not against them, but live athletics comes first)

[Ladyloz]

When it comes to BBC coverage somehow I prefer red button coverage, means less breaks for studio talk and features (not against them, but live athletics comes first)

For us diehard fans the coverage is fine (although like the Indoor Champs I suspect the fact it's Red Button only means it won't be BBC sport levels of Production).

I don't think it's great though as visibility with more casual fan is less which isn't great for the sport overall

[MysteryBrick]

100% agreed.

[trickstat]

The problem with Red Button coverage is it is probably only watched by those of us who know it is there. I suspect the person who plonks themselves in front of the TV and finds nothing that takes their fancy on their usual channels is much more likely to turn to a streaming or catch-up service rather than hitting the red button to see if anything is available there.

[marilyn1]

The BBC main channels are hanging on by their finger nails to cover Athletics , with ,hopefully, globals being the exception...for now. Wont stop those .... who run BBC sport from covering Tennis with 8 to 10 hours a day at Wimbledon for fans. There is little or no interest in Athletics across the fans of sports here, now. Sad !
The Beeb constantly bleating about their wish to attract younger viewers. When OG games were on last year, I spoke to family,friends and neighbours. Not much interest including the
youngsters who had no interest in track, or swimming, or a host of great sports. Give them Footy, all they seem to want.😐

[Chafford1]

19 million watched the 100m final at the 2012 Olumpics in the UK. The 2017 World Championships attracted 9.9 million on the BBC for Bolt's and Farah's races.

[marilyn1]

19 million watched the 100m final at the 2012 Olumpics in the UK. The 2017 World Championships attracted 9.9 million on the BBC for Bolt's and Farah's races.

Ten years ago and the OG in our capital city and these figues of viewing that are banded around you do not have to accept accept.How can you compare our OG 2012 100m final with the universally popular Bolt and all, when the publicity for a home OG had rightly been pretty relentless for at least a year. And then you mentioned Farah who was a fave to win.Please spare me the super Saturday stuff which was and will be a likely once in a hundred years. You guys have an inbuilt contrariness which i find inexplicable, especially when you are trying to prove that Athletics is massively popular in the UK. It is not , sadly.

[marilyn1]

How many people will watch on their TVs any GB track and field over next week end; it wont be like OG 2012 or WC 2017, posters.Thats for sure. If its 150,000 i'll be impressed.Of course, the figures for the world, mentioned by WA, for the WC in Eugene may sound good, or may be they will be lousy, unless one is a night owl.Most euro fans have to go to work so the time scale will hurt the viewing figures.

[Chafford1]

The point is that while athletics doesn't have and never has had the universal appeal of football, the public will watch major athletics championships.

[Occasional Hope]

I think it helps when there are British athletes likely to do well. Which is why I think a good team at the Commonwealths as a home games is quite important in terms of increasing interest in the sport.

[marilyn1]

Ten years ago and the OG in our capital city and these figues of viewing that are banded around you do not have to accept accept.How can you compare our OG 2012 100m final with the universally popular Bolt and all, when the publicity for a home OG had rightly been pretty relentless for at least a year. And then you mentioned Farah who was a fave to win.Please spare me the super Saturday stuff which was and will be a likely once in a hundred years. You guys have an inbuilt contrariness which i find inexplicable, especially when you are trying to prove that Athletics is massively popular in the UK. It is not , sadly.

lets all recall that after the OG in London, there were the usual guff in the media about how beneficial to summer sports in the UK the home Games would be in attracting youngsters; lasted about 5 minutes.Someone here is bound to tell me in the next posts of the increase in Club membership by youngsters; lots more Parkrun afficionados, certainly.

[jjimbojames]

Jodie W off the start lists - hopefully she is fit for at least one champs this summer

Edit: she’s posted to say she won’t be at world champs but hopes to contend the rest of the season - injury setbacks

[marilyn1]

Jodie W off the start lists - hopefully she is fit for at least one champs this summer

Edit: she’s posted to say she won’t be at world champs but hopes to contend the rest of the season - injury setbacks

How many top quality athletes ,fit and ratring to go, we will have by July 15 is going to be very interesting to see.

[Runner88]

The exact statement can be applied to every other country too. Many athletes especially from Europe have only just started their season in the past week or so.

[RunUnlimited]

So with the British Championships less than a week away now, I wonder which event folks here are most looking forward to seeing?

Personally, the women's 100m is looking like it'll be a great race and, depending on the weather conditions up in Manchester on Saturday evening (BBC Weather service says that between 6 - 7pm - the women's 100m final is at 6:50pm - it'll be 17/18C, with a 9mph SW wind, and a 30% chance of a shower), this could be the first time that two British women go sub 11 seconds in the same race.

After a sluggish start to her season, DAS has gradually improved in each race and has been rounding into form ahead of a super busy championship schedule, while Neita's 10.99 yesterday in Paris is indicative of how well she's doing currently. It is a shame we can't transfer the 30C+ temps from last night's Diamond League, but with forecasts suggesting the wind will be at least helpful in Manchester, at the least I expect a winning time under 11.1.

It's not only about Asher Smith or Neita in that race either. Imani Lansiquot ran an EC qualifying 11.23 nine days ago, while also having a pair of heavily wind aided 11.00 runs in April. There's also the ever-present Asha Philip, who started the season slowly but her most recent performances - 11.05w and 11.16w over in Florida on June 4th - suggest that she is rounding into good form at the right time. Kristal Awuah also appears to be getting into better shape, after her most recent outing in Geneva last week produced a 11.27w in the final.
All of them will be fighting out for that third spot on the podium, and a likely selection for either the Commonwealth's or the EC if they also achieve the required times (CWG = 11.32, EC = 11.24)

It will also be interesting to see what some of the younger competitors entered, like Joy Eze, Success Eduan and Allison Bell, do against their more experienced competitors.

[Occasional Hope]

Joy and Alyson are doing the 100, but Success only the 200.

I think they've already picked the Commonwealth teams, although England hasn't been publicly announced pending appeals.

[RunUnlimited]

Occasional Hope Ahh, I thought that would be the case with Eduan, though she is entered for the 100m also.

And yeah, the selection for the CWG has already been made, but won't be made public until the 21st June. I fully expect the 100m team to be DAS, Neita and Lansiquot

[Occasional Hope]

So she is, I must have missed her.

[Chafford1]

I wonder if DN dares to dream she can beat DAS. Would be quite an upset.

[Occasional Hope]

Men's 100: Reece should win; Zharnel I think the only one who can challenge him but he may or may not make it to the final without a FS. 3rd is anybody's guess, maybe Azu? It would be nice if he could get the qualifying time as well.