Structure History of Welsh Schools Athletics Association Officers 2008
Team Managers
Sponsors & Supporters
Welsh Schools Structure
|
WSAA Districts |
|
Welsh Unitary Districts |
| Eryri |
|
Conwy, Gwynedd, Anglesey |
| North East Wales |
|
Denbigh, Flint, Wrexham |
| Powys |
|
Powys |
| Dyfed |
|
Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, Pembrokeshire |
| Afan Nedd Tawe |
|
Neath & Port Talbot, Swansea |
| Glamorgan Valleys |
|
Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Cardiff & the Vale |
|
Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan |
| South East Wales |
|
Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen. |
Competition Structure
(both Track & Field and Cross Country)
|
Level 4
Welsh team competing at international level
|
|
Level 3
District Teams at National Championships
|
|
Level 2
Unitory Authority teams competing at District Championships
|
|
Level 1
Schools teams in Unitary Authority Championships
|
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History of Welsh Schools’ Athletic Association
“The impact that the Welsh Schools’ Athletic Association, and its predecessors have had on Welsh athletics is immeasurable. Put simply, without the dedication of its officials and Physical Education teachers over the years, the like of Colin Jackson, Nigel Walker, Kirsty McDermott (Wade), Christian Malcolm, Jamie Baulch, and a host of other stars might not have emerged.
History of Welsh Athletics 2002
The Association was formed at a meeting held at the Wellington Hotel, Wrexham on 12th July 1946, with Sam Evans in the chair, and the Welsh Secondary Schools’ AAA was formally created with a constitution.
Twelve counties were represented at this meeting and the first officers of the WSSAAA were elected. Dr D Lyn John of Neath became Chairman with F A Arrowsmith of Llandrindod Wells as Vice Chairman; Jim Excell was elected Treasurer and Jack (JDB) Williams as Secretary. Later on Trevor Jenkins was elected President.
Shortly before the Second World War a genuine attempt was made to organize school competition. In 1937 both Glamorgan and Monmouthshire formed county schools’ associations and in 1938 both bodies held county schools’ championships and later met in inter-county matches.
After the Second World War had ended activity at county level resumed with Carmarthenshire Secondary Schools’ AAA holding their first annual championships meeting at Carmarthen Park on 25th May 1946 with 15 schools taking part. Most of the other counties held their first annual championships either in 1946 or 1947.
An inter-county meeting took place in Bridgend on 29th July 1946 between Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire, but on 14th July 1947 the first ever Welsh Schools’ National Championships were held, the venue being Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd and, despite the most atrocious weather conditions, was successfully completed. The counties taking part were Brecon & Radnor, Caernarvon, Carmarthen, Denbigh, Flint, Glamorgan, Merioneth, Monmouth, Montgomery and Pembroke.
The first championships were for boys only and since its inception, it has become an annual event and has been held every year with the exception of 1984, due to an industrial dispute. In 1955 events for girls were included in the championships for the first time. This development led to the creation, in 1956, of a separate national association, the Welsh Secondary Schools’ AAA for girls, with Peggy Woodeson of Newport as its first Chairman and Eirlys Roberts of Anglesey as Secretary.
Continuing to expand its scope the WSSAAA embarked on its first venture into international competition when, on 15th July 1959, Scotland were the opposition at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay in the first match ever to be organized at schools level between Wales and another country.
A further development came in 1961 when national cross-country championships were introduced. These were held at Newtown and organized by William Thomas, PE Director of Montgomeryshire, until his death in 1972.
Following a mixed annual general meeting, the two Welsh associations merged in 1966 under the name “Welsh Schools’ AA”.
Girls came into the cross-country picture in 1969. An international cross-country match was an inevitable development and this duly came into existence in 1972.
In 1988 another tier of competition was introduced with the creation of the inter-schools track and field cup. A plate competition was held for the first time in 2007.Similar competition in cross-country has been in existence since 1977.
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Officers 2008
WELSH SCHOOLS' OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS 2008
CHAIRMAN: Mr Gwilym Williams, 12 Penygraig, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. SY23 2JA
Tel: 01970 612163 E-mail: williams@castellan.plus.com
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Mrs Kath Elias, 4 Bader Close, Llanishen, Cardiff. CF4 5LN
E-mail: kathelias@hotmail.com
HON.GENERAL SECRETARY: Mrs Buddug Llwyd Jones, Islwyn, Llwyngwril, Gwynedd. LL37 2JQ
Tel: 01341 250202 E-mail: budd.iol@amserve.com
HON.TREASURER: Mr Dilwyn Davies, Cefn Coed, Greenfield Terrace, Kingsland, Holyhead, Anglesey. LL65 2RP
Tel: 01407 763594 E-mail: dilwyndav@btinternet.com
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY: Mr Mike Walters, 66 Ridgewood Park, Coedcae, Llanelli, Carms. SA151JS
Tel: 01554 778383 E-mail: mike@walters6683.freeserve.co.uk
TRACK AND FIELD SECRETARY: Miss Kim Griffiths, 53 Foster Drive, Penylan, Cardiff. CF23 9BD
E-mail: missgriff@ntlworld.com
CROSS-COUNTRY SECRETARY: Mr Derek Osborne, 19 Adelaide Gardens, Brecon, Powys.
Tel: 01874 823852 E-mail: dko@tesco.net
UK SCHOOL GAMES SECRETARY: Mrs Marian Williams, 8 Swan Walk, Sandy Water Park, Llanelli. SA15 4LJ
Tel: 01554 798221 E-mail: marian.williams7@btinternet.com
RESULTS OFFICER: Mr Peter Morris, 8 Bron Haul, Pentyrch, Cardiff. CF48TA
Tel: 02920 891248 E-mail: PMorris46@aol.com
AWARDS OFFICER: Mr Graham Webb, 87 Llanedeyrn Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff. CF3 7DU
E-mail: gra.caac@tiscali.co.uk
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TEAM MANAGERS 2008
Celtic Schools’ Indoor International - Sunday 3 rd February – UWIC
Dai Gatehouse (Dyfed), Graham Thomas (SE Wales)
Nia Merriman (Dyfed), Louise Hurlow (Dyfed)
Under 20 Cross-Country International – Wednesday 19th March – Dublin
Paul Smith (Powys), Kath Sage (SE Wales)
SIAB Cross-Country International – Friday 28th March – Perth
Meredith Richards (Dyfed), Gethin Thomas (Eryri)
Ceri Grech (Cardiff & Vale), Alaw Japheth (Eryri)
London Mini-Marathon – Sunday 13th April
TBC
SIAB Track and Field International – Saturday 19th July – Bedford
Dai Gatehouse (Dyfed), Stuart Williams (Eryri), Berian Davies (Dyfed)
Nia Merriman (Dyfed), Michelle John (Dyfed), Helen Davies (NE Wales)
UK School Games – Thursday 28th – Monday 1st September - Bath
Dai Gatehouse (Dyfed), Andrew Jenkins (Welsh Athletics), Mike Guest (Welsh Athletics)
Marian Williams (Dyfed), Alaw Japheth (Eryri), Michelle John (Dyfed)
Combined Events International – Saturday 6th December – Glasgow
Dai Gatehouse (Dyfed), Julia Evans (Dyfed)
