Sports News

UK Athletics has appointed Priory Healthcare to offer support to athletes outside the World Class Programme (WCP) and across the wider sport.

The appointment was made following a recent review of mental health services and support available to athletes who represent GB & NI as well as Athletics Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. It recognised that many athletes who compete at the highest level but are not supported on the WCP experience the same stresses and demands in relation to training, competition, as well as balancing these requirements alongside employment and financial living cost responsibilities

The renewed relationship with Priory Healthcare will provide non programme athletes with a clear self-referral signposting system to promptly access a nationwide network of expertise via the Priory’s Wellbeing Centres and Hospitals.

UKA and England Athletics’ Duty of Care Lead Jane Fylan said: “We are delighted to be able to confirm this arrangement with Priory Healthcare which will support many athletes who perform at the highest level but aren’t necessarily in receipt of WCP funding or support.

“We’ve worked closely with the performance team at British Athletics to identify the wider requirements. Athletics is a big sport and the numbers representing both GB & NI and the home nations across the year are significant. We’re pleased to now be able to offer quality mental health support in this way to a wider group of athletes.

“We do advocate strongly that individuals should seek referral via their GP in the first instance, however with the ever-growing demands on GPs and the NHS as a whole we also understand the need for those seeking to access a private referral system both promptly and confidentially.”

Priory Healthcare’s Chief Operating Officer, Gair Stott, said: “We are proud to partner with UK Athletics, which is committed to a culture that supports and empowers individuals to talk about their mental health. Our nationwide network of hospitals and Wellbeing Centres offers high-quality treatment, by top specialists in their field, and we have a long track record of supporting sportsmen and women.

“The visibility of today’s athletes can exacerbate the pressures they are under, professionally and personally. Some people assume that mental health issues in athletes are rare, as they’re perceived to be extremely physically healthy with fewer psychological issues. In truth, mental illness is likely to be as common in athletes as it is in the general population. With access to our psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists, Priory Healthcare hopes it can support the UK’s athletes’ mental health, alongside their physical health, which has true benefits all round.”

British Athletics have accepted an IAAF invite for Jazmin Sawyers to compete in the long jump at the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019 while Imani-Lara Lansiquot is now selected to compete individually in the 100m.

Sawyers – who made her World Championship debut in London in 2017 – will get the chance to pull on the British vest at the global gathering for the second time after receiving an IAAF invite in the women’s long jump.

Meanwhile Lansiquot, who reached the European 100m final on her senior individual GB & NI debut last summer and also won 4x100m relay gold, has been added to the event as a result of the British Athletics team being granted a fourth qualifying spot.

The extra selection follows as a result of Dina Asher-Smith’s (Blackheath & Bromley; John Blackie) IAAF Diamond League title victory in the 100m last week. Diamond League winners receive a wildcard entry to the World Championships in Doha, and therefore British Athletics can select a fourth athlete.

Lansiquot’s addition is significant with GB & NI never before having fielded four athletes in the women’s 100m at a World Championships while Sawyers’ invite for the women’s long jump increases the size of the British team for Doha to 73.

Having been cast aside by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations), two-time Olympic 800m gold medallist Caster Semenya has joined JVW, a women’s football team South Africa.

With the 28-year-old unable to compete without taking testosterone-reducing drugs following a rule change by the athletics' governing body, meant that she couldn’t defend her 800m World Championship title in Doha – despite the fact that she is fighting the rule change through the courts.

Now training with the Gauteng-based women's football club, the three-time world champion, who announced in July that she would not be defending her 800m world title, cannot start playing for JVW until the 2020 season, having joined outside the country’s transfer window.

The 28-year-old Olympics legend said: “I am looking forward to this new journey and am really appreciating the love and support from my new teammates”.

Formed in 2013 by current South Africa Women's captain, Janine van Wyk, she said: "Caster is on a break at the moment which is why she has time on her hands to do something different.

"In training you can see football is there, in her, but we still need to work on her a bit because it's very different to athletics”.

van Wyk did, however, state: "She's made it really clear to me that she's not giving up running at all.

"It's amazing for the football club. The recognition women's football in South Africa will get is massive.

"To have her play in the league over here is incredible and I think young girls and her team-mates will draw a lot of inspiration from Caster."

Semenya is not the first athlete to switch to football - after retiring in 2017, Usain Bolt trained with Norwegian club Stromsgodset and Australian side Central Coast Mariners, but did not secure a contract. She is also following in the footsteps of her former coach Maria Mutola, who also turned to football after athletics.

The IAAF introduced its rule change because it argues female athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) - such as Semenya - have "a competitive advantage".

For your chance to win one of 2 pairs of tickets for "Bradley Wiggins: An Evening With" in Birmingham on the 20th September just answer this very simple question"

How many times has Sir Bradley Wiggins won Olympic Gold?

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British Athletics have confirmed that the Gateshead International Stadium will play host to the Müller Grand Prix in 2020, 2021 and 2024.

The renewed partnership means world class athletics will be returning to the North East in what has become a passionate host to the sport of athletics over the years.

Gateshead hosted international grands prix between 2003 and 2010, and is also the only venue to have held the European Athletics Team Championships three times (1989, 2000, and most recently in 2013).

Major Events Director for British Athletics, Cherry Alexander OBE is thrilled to be taking top level competition back to the north east and the athletics loving fans: “It’s brilliant to be returning to Gateshead. We know how passionate their spectators are and how much they appreciate and respect the heritage of the sport,” said Alexander.

“Gateshead International Stadium has proved time and time again it’s a fantastic venue to host world class athletics and international championships and we love working with them. We’re thrilled Gateshead Council recognises the benefits of hosting major sports events as it has proven with its longstanding support of the Great North Run and Junior Great North Run.

“The whole area is geared up for sport and activity and so we know the athletes will be in for a really warm welcome.”

Gateshead Council Leader, Councillor Martin Gannon said: “Hosting world-class athletics events will showcase Gateshead to an international audience helping realise our ambitious plans for growth and regeneration in the next few years. Gateshead has a proud history of staging major sporting events with athletics at its heart, so we welcome the opportunity to once again work with British Athletics.

“Events of this scale provide local people with inspiring opportunities to see top athletes perform up close, as well as being able to get involved in the event through volunteering. It will also bring a welcome boost to the local economy as well as encouraging participation in supporting activities aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of our local communities.”

British Athletics have confirmed that Harry Aikines-Aryeetey replaced CJ Ujah in the men’s 4x100m relay squad for the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019.

Aikines-Aryeetey, who anchored the British quartet to the European title in Berlin last summer, has been called up for Doha after fellow continental champion and world 4x100m relay gold medallist from London 2017 Ujah was forced to withdraw with a back injury.

Captain of the British team for the European Team Championships in Bydgoszcz last month, Aikines-Aryeetey was part of the 2009 World Championship bronze-medal winning 4x100m relay quartet and will make his fifth appearance at a global gathering and 29th for GB&NI since his debut at the World Youth Championships in 2005, where he won double gold.

Aston Villa midfielder Aaron Tshibola has suggested he has left the club to continue his career in Belgium, based on a post on his personal Instagram account.

He said: ‘Let’s play some football ⚽️ happy for this new chapter in ?? can’t wait to start playing again, hungry than ever. Thank you father lord for your blessings & guidance in my life I am truly humbled and grateful I put you first.?? Thank you @avfcofficial and all the fans for your support and opportunity to play for this great club. Thank you @gt_11one’.

The player has never really made the grade at Villa Park, and as they have risen back through the divisions, the likelihood of him making it through to their first-team on a regular basis faded further.

Tshibola signed for Villa in 2016, shortly after they were relegated from the Premier League, but once Steve Bruce took over the Birmingham based side he fell out of favour, and never really became a part of the furniture again.

The Villa man left to attempt to revive his career last season, joining Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock, where he played a key role in leading them into the European places in the division, but as Steve Clarke departed for the national job, there was no return for the DR Congo international.

With Villa bringing in a whole host of midfielders over the last few transfer windows, it was clear that there would be no future for the 24-year-old now that they are back in the top flight, so leaving was going to be the only option.

The club is yet to make an official announcement about the departure of the London born player, which is strange considering that the transfer deadline for European clubs closed on Monday, but it would appear as though the midfielder has signed for Waasland Beveren in Belgium, where he will ply his trade in the top flight.

The Reading academy graduate thanked Villa in his statement on social media, and also declared how much he was looking forward to playing regularly again, and getting what was once a highly-rated career back on track, after a couple of years at Villa Park where it stalled.

British Athletics have announced a team of 72 athletes for the 2019 IAAF World Championships, which begin later this month in Doha, Qatar from September 27-October 6.

Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson lead the team into the global gathering following a hugely successful past 12 months for the pair.

Asher-Smith heads to Doha as a triple European champion from 2018 and IAAF Diamond League runner-up this year over 200m while multi-eventer Johnson-Thompson has medalled at every major championships she has attended since the last worlds on home soil in London over two years ago.

Like Asher-Smith, Laura Muir, Zharnel Hughes and Matthew Hudson-Smith all also won individual European gold last summer and earn selection for another World Championships. Hughes will contest the 100m and 200m sprint double alongside Adam Gemili, who claimed the British title in the latter last month, with the pair the first men to do so since Marlon Devonish in Helsinki in 2005.

Gemili will have great memories of the World Championships stage having won 4x100m relay gold in London in 2017 with teammates Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and CJ Ujah forming part of a seven-strong squad along with Richard Kilty.

In total 44 athletes return to the world stage having previously earned selection for London including world indoor champion Andrew Pozzi, European indoor champion Shelayna Oskan-Clarke, race walkers Tom Bosworth and Callum Wilkinson and finalists Lynsey Sharp, Holly Bradshaw, Morgan Lake and Nick Miller, Miller the world No.6 in the hammer in 2019, while a further 24 will make their World Championship debuts for GB & NI in Doha.

Amongst those are European indoor silver medallists Jamie Webb and Tim Duckworth and British champions Ojie Edoburun, Neil Gourley, Harry Coppell and Ben Williams, Williams extending his personal best in the triple jump to 17.27m last month for seventh on the all-time UK list and earning senior selection ten years on from winning the world youth title.

Among the 72 are 12 Scottish athletes with Gourley, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman occupying all three places in the men’s 1500m, Jemma Reekie stepping up to the world stage having won double European under-23 gold this season and Eilish McColgan, who in addition to the 5000m, is competing in the 10,000m at a global gathering for the first time, an event in which her mother Liz won gold in Tokyo in 1991.

For the second major championships running there are more women (37) selected than men (35) with Cindy Ofili set for her first global outing since finishing an agonising fourth in the 100m hurdles at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Ofili clocked her quickest time since 2016, with a 12.85, in Switzerland on Sunday to guarantee her automatic selection.

With the British team winning an unprecedented medal in each of the four relays in London in 2017, a host of medallists return with 4x100m silver medallists Asha Philip and Daryll Neita running individually in the 100m and in the relay alongside Asher-Smith and fellow European champions Imani-Lara Lansiquot and Ashleigh Nelson as well as Kristal Awuah completing the squad of six.

Similarly, silver medallists from London in the 4x400m Zoey Clark, Laviai Nielsen and Emily Diamond return – with Nielsen and Diamond both running individually in the 400m – with Beth Dobbin and Jodie Williams included – the pair contesting the 200m themselves – as well as Jessica Turner, who doubles up with the 400m hurdles. Amy Allcock and Finette earn their first IAAF World Championships call ups.

In the men’s 4x400m, Martyn Rooney will equal Devonish for the record for the number of World Championship appearances at eight with fellow bronze medallists from London Dwayne Cowan, Rabah Yousif and Hudson-Smith joining him in the squad – Yousif running the individual alongside Hudson-Smith.

Cameron Chalmers is also included while Lee Thompson will make his world debut and Toby Harries is one of three to earn a maiden senior British vest – steeplechase duo Elizabeth Bird and Aimee Pratt completing the trio. The 15 athletes selected across the men’s and women’s 4x400m are also the athletes from which the team for the mixed 4x400m will be selected.

With a first wave of endurance athletes announced back in May, the British team stands at 72. Callum Hawkins will contest the men’s marathon however Dewi Griffiths has unfortunately had to withdraw through injury. Charlotte Purdue and Tish Jones run the women’s marathon and Cameron Corbishley and Dominic King go in the men’s 50km race walk.

Any invites for the IAAF World Championships 2019 in Doha will be considered in line with the British Athletics selection policy. Given the timelines outlined by the IAAF as to when these invites will be received, appeals will not be considered.

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: “It gives me great pleasure to name the 72 athletes selected to compete for Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, starting later this month. Given the standard of performances from British athletes this season, and the strength in depth we possess in several events, finalising the team was far from easy and there were some tough decisions to make.

“In the 72 athletes, I truly believe we have selected the strongest team possible to compete for medals on the global stage. The team is full of world-class athletes who over the past two years since we were hosts in London have proven that they belong on the global stage.

“It is great to see so many athletes return having competed in London and also see so many make the step up to the world level for the first time. We have selected more women than men once again for a major championships and special mention needs to go to Martyn Rooney, who is competing at his eighth World Championships, a truly remarkable feat for a great athlete.

“The Championships are going to be held in a challenging climate at the end of what has been a long season already but what pleases me the most is how our athletes and their coaches have approached the challenge and are ensuring that they peak when it matters most. The next three and a half weeks are key in preparing for the Championships and I look forward to watching our athletes flourish in Doha.”

Birmingham 2022 has announced a change in venue for netball, following the recent growth in popularity of the sport.

After a massive increase in its profile since Team England’s gold medal winning heroics on the Gold Coast in 2018 and England’s hosting of the Netball World Cup in July, the sport moves from the Coventry Indoor Arena to the NEC, increasing capacity and allowing more netball fans the opportunity to enjoy the sport in the summer of 2022.

This news comes after a routine review of venues, nearly two years on from Birmingham’s bid, which will also see rugby sevens relocating to the Coventry Stadium, the home of Wasps and the emerging home of Midlands elite rugby. Judo and wrestling will now be held on the same site in Coventry.

The changes mean that Villa Park no longer features as a host venue at the Games. Due to the anticipated early start of the football season in 2022, with the FIFA World Cup kicking off in November that year, Aston Villa has unfortunately been unable to commit to the dates required for the Commonwealth Games in July and August 2022. Detailed assessments of venues included in the bid also revealed a number of challenges in operating Villa Park at Games time.

The venue refresh follows on from the recent announcement that Birmingham’s iconic Edgbaston Stadium is now an official venue for Birmingham 2022, after women’s cricket was added to the sports programme. With beach volleyball added too, there are now even more sports taking place in and around the city.

Liz Nicholl CBE, President of the International Netball Federation welcomed news of the venue change for netball: “We are delighted by Birmingham 2022’s decision to relocate netball for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and fully support this decision. While the Coventry Arena is an excellent venue, this move to the NEC will increase the capacity significantly. This will be welcomed by the netball family and the significant fan base that our sport now attracts, as seen at the recent Netball World Cup in July 2019 when over 110,000 tickets were sold.”

Birmingham 2022 Chief Executive Officer, Ian Reid, explained the announcement of the venue changes: “As is common practice for all major multi-sport events, we have been considering how best to optimise the mix of venues available to us, making sure we’re being as efficient as possible in terms of usage and cost, and ensuring that we are developing a fantastic experience and showcase for the sport, the athletes, the spectators and the host city and region.

“We are delighted to be able to relocate netball into a larger venue as this sport’s profile has massively increased since the 2017 bid. We’re disappointed that Villa Park will unfortunately no longer be part of our venue portfolio, however we hope to continue working closely with Aston Villa in the run up to the Games.”

Nicola Ibbetson, Chief Commercial Officer of Aston Villa said: “Although Villa Park will unfortunately no longer be a Games venue, we are continuing to discuss ways Aston Villa can help support Birmingham 2022 in hosting this prestigious event.”

Chief Executive (Venue) at Wasps, Stuart Cain, said: “We’ve built a great reputation for staging top-level rugby union at the Coventry Stadium having hosted Six Nations games, European semi-final matches, as well as obviously all Wasps home games. This is a great extension and gives us the chance to work with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to deliver another successful rugby tournament in the region. We’re also excited to host the wrestling and judo within the Coventry Indoor Arena, adding to the diversity of sports we’ve already accommodated at the stadium.”

The latest venue update has now been approved by the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Executive Board, ahead of its General Assembly in Rwanda, which will see a team from Birmingham 2022 presenting an update on preparations for the event to representatives from the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories from across the globe.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held in venues across Birmingham and the West Midlands from 27 July until 7 August 2022 and will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city on the map and to showcase the fantastic venues and facilities available in the region.

Some 40-plus specially invited guests we amongst a large, exciting yet tearfully emotional, crowd as the ‘Pre Knockdown Game’ saw some of footballs former star names turn out to say their final ‘Good Bye’ as the bulldozers laid in wait to begin redeveloping the aging athletics venue in time for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.

The Birmingham Commonwealth Association (BCA), partnered by United Community Activity Network and supported by Birmingham City Council, held the Commonwealth event prior to its partial demolition and redevelopment with footballing hierarchy including; David Barnett, Tony Daley, Paul Devlin, Darren Byfield, Dennis Bailey, Darren Carter and Deon Burton just some of the star names who turned out for this absolutely ‘final’ sporting event before the diggers roll in.

With a barnstorming parade, by the Warwickshire and West Midlands Army Cadets to excite and make proud a large turn-out, the ‘kick about’ hosted by the legendary ‘Voice of Midlands Football’, Tom Ross, ‘kind of’ assisted by Ethics Committee Member at Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Rebecca Hemmings and bespoke poet Dave Wilks, all was set fair for a day of fun and frivolities at this, the very last ‘hurrah’ at the home of British Athletics.

Keith Stokes-Smith, chair of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association, said: “This free multi sports day was an opportunity for everyone to say their last ‘good-bye’ before the big redevelopment.

The event, with a commonwealth twist, was an ideal way for all to say their last ‘good-by’ and ‘hello’ to a new dawning for the Alexander Stadium as we move ever closer to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games”.

The Games are expected to take place between July, 27and August 7.

Immortalised at the club where he made his name, now former Wolverhampton Wanders and England footballing legend, Sir Billy Wright, has been further immortalised with blue plaque which was unveiled at his childhood home.

Wright, the first England player to notch up more than 100 caps, captaining them 90 times, has a statute outside Wolves' Molineux ground – in front of the main stand which bears his name - grew up on New Road in Ironbridge, in Shropshire, where the plaque was revealed.

At the unveiling, his daughters said it was "so exciting" to see their dad honoured. Vicky Wright was joined by sister Babette at the unveiling and both were set to stay overnight at the house for the first time afterwards.

She said: "My sister and I are honoured to be to be in the position where we can honour his memory. "The people of Ironbridge and Wolverhampton just adore him.

"My sister and I are really, really close, and we just adored him, he was the most incredible dad." Sir Billy spent his entire playing career at Wolves, making 490 appearances before retiring in 1959.

After hanging up his boots, Wright managed Arsenal and was married to Joy Beverley, of the 1950s pop group The Beverley Sisters – they were the original ‘Posh & Becks’.

The New Road house now home to Viv and Tony Moore; they said they were "thrilled" to be linked with its legacy.

The 45th WorldSkills Competition saw 1,354 young professionals from 63 countries and regions compete in 56 skills in the Russian city of Kazan, with India creating their own history by winning 4 medals there.

Demonstrating an exceptionally high level of vocational education and training, as well as teamwork abilities, a truly unforgettable event saw the young competitors challenging for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals as well as the Medallion of Excellence and the Albert Vidal Award.

With skills grouped into six sectors at the KAZAN EXPO International Exhibition Centre - including; Construction and Building Technology, Creative Arts & Fashion, Information and Communication Technology, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Social and Personal Services, plus Transportation and Logistics – competition remained high and exciting during the week-long fare.

Team UK won four medals - two of them gold (Rebecca West, from Sussex Downs College, in Beauty Therapy and Nottingham University’s Haydn Jakes of, in Aircraft Maintenance), with Connor McKevitt, trained by Riverpark Training and employed by Wrights Accident Repair Centre, claiming a Silver in Car Painting, while Phoebe McLavy from Coleg Sir Gar, employed by Morgan Edward Salon, winning Bronze in Hairdressing.

The team were also awarded 15 medallions of excellence – which are given to competitors who have achieved the international standard in their skill.

Neil Bentley-Gockmann, chief executive of WorldSkills UK, said: "The members of Team UK, all under-25 years, championed the UK focus on skills development in front of a global audience, sending a strong message that the UK is a world-class place to invest, do business and create jobs.

"Governments, education and industry need to continue to work with us to make sure the UK stays at the cutting edge of global best practice in skills development."

Also speaking after the event, India’s Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey said: "This time we expect India to occupy a slot between one and 10 among 63 participating countries here...We are trying to bring forward the talents of the Indian youth".

One of the legacies of WorldSkills Competitions is the increased visibility of skilled professional education, as one of the tools of social and economic transformation.

The competition also provides leaders in industry, government, and education with the opportunity to exchange information and best practices regarding industry and professional education.

With developments officially now underway, the last hurrah for the Alexander Stadium – as we know it now – saw a host of record-breaking stars out to book their flight tickets for Doha and the 2019 edition of the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Müller British Athletics Championships.

Record-holder Dina Asher-Smith, European champion Matt Hudson-Smith, Eilish McColgan and, somewhat surprisingly, Ojie Edoburun, guaranteed their respective Team GB vests with Championship, Season and Personal Bests a-plenty at the Trials.

Triple European champion, Asher-Smith, who broke her own British Championship record and is planning to compete at 100m and 200m, said: "I'm just happy I've booked my seat for at least one of the events." On the possibility of doubling-up, she added: "It's all about the progression to the World Championships."

A hugely delighted Edoburun, 23, said he was "very, very happy" after claiming victory by one thousandth of a second.

"I'm not going to cry on TV. It's taken me so long to figure out what works for me, while seeing my peers excel," he said. "I was so scared, having flashbacks of all the bad trials I've had over the years."

On a day where many other stars such as Morgan Lake, Tim Duckworth, Harry Hughes, Rosie Clarke and Jodie Williams confirmed their places in the squad for Doha, it was a particularly fitting way to give the Alexander Stadium its big send-off before it undergoes major redevelopments in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in 2022, with Councillor Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, saying: “We’re now in an exciting phase of the design process where we would like to share our plans for the future with the community and hear their thoughts.

“The team has designed a redeveloped stadium which will meet the needs and aspirations of the community for generations to come. This is about creating a destination venue, shaping a legacy beyond the Commonwealth Games.”

The changes to the 40-year-old stadium will include an increase in permanent seating capacity from 12,700 to 18,000, allowing up to 40,000 during the Games through additional temporary seating.

The Perry Barr venue, which is the home of UK Athletics, will host the athletics plus the opening and closing ceremonies at the Games, set to take place from July 27 to August 7, 2022.

The brainchild of the late Sted Wallen, this Sunday (August 25) marks the 21^st anniversary of the Birmingham Sports & Culture Day – the family-friendly fun day providing top-class international cricket, live music, children’s entertainment and an abundance of fantastic food and drink to wile the day away.

It will be two years – almost to the day – since one of the city’s greatest modern-day mandarins so suddenly parted, but his presence will be very much felt by the thousands who are expected to attend the mass day of celebration – and reminiscence – for one of Jamaica and the entire Caribbean’s, multicultural Birmingham’s, cricket’s and, in fact, life’s own greatest ‘son’.

Playing for the ‘Sted Wallen Memorial Cup’, stars of local national and first class international cricket will be at Handsworth Cricket Club, in Handsworth Park, Birmingham, this Bank Holiday where all of ‘his community’; that is everybody – man, women and children of all nations – get together to celebrate the true winner; Sted’s memory.

Start Time - 12:00.

The Vitality Netball Superleague is entering its 15^th year and to help mark the occasion and continue building the excitement that surrounds the league, the 2020 Season Opener event is changing.

This season the opening round will be in addition to the normal 18 rounds. This will make the regular season 19 rounds long, giving fans more action-packed and thrilling netball to look forward to.

The fixtures for this extra round are determined by where teams finished in the 2019 Vitality Netball Superleague. Reigning champions Manchester Thunder will take on second place Wasps Netball, third place Team Bath will play Loughborough Lightning and so on.

The new and highly anticipated Season Opener will see the teams return to Arena Birmingham on Saturday 22 February 2020.

The additional round will contribute to the regular season and count towards each club total points, the other 18 rounds will see teams play each other home and away, deciding who finishes in the top four to fight for a place in the Grand Final. The top seven sides will qualify for the British All-Star Fast5 Championship along with the competitions’ defending champions.

The additional round means that each team will play the Season Opener as well as nine home and nine away fixtures.

With Vitality Netball Superleague television audiences up by 27% in 2019 compared to 2018, this new addition to the calendar contributes towards the growing demand for elite netball in the United Kingdom.

Mark Evans, Independent Chair of the Vitality Netball Superleague, said: “We are delighted to be returning to Arena Birmingham after a very successful event in 2019. It is always a wonderful start to the season and this year a change in format should see five really tight competitive games – making a great event even better.

“A re-run of last year’s Grand Final will be the highlight of the day but fans of all the clubs will be excited to see their favourites in action. The season itself should be our best yet, as the sport goes from strength-to-strength.”

The fixtures are as follows:

11:00 Strathclyde Sirens v London Pulse 12:30 Celtic Dragons v Surrey Storm 14:00 Saracens Mavericks v Severn Stars 15:30 Team Bath v Loughborough Lightning 17:00 Wasps v Manchester Thunder

Surrey Storm Director of Netball, Mikki Austin, said: “Season Opener 2020 is sure to be a hugely exciting start to the season! Not only does the Vitality Netball Superleague provide world-class sporting action but also exceptional entertainment and events.

“With all teams under one roof you get a chance to look at all the line-ups really early on. This time though the formatting will be different, with this being a bonus additional round with a chance for teams to get some extra points on the board, we know how vital that can prove to be at the end of the year!”

The best in the country will descend on Birmingham this coming weekend as British titles and spots on the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team for the IAAF World Championships are decided.

Dina Asher-Smith headlines a weekend of incredible athletics at the Alexander Stadium where the top athletes in the country compete alongside the up-and-coming.

Triple European champion from 2018, Asher-Smith is fresh off the back of a second-place finish in the 200m at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham but will contest the 100m where she’ll look to defend her title after clocking a Championship record on the way to victory in 2018.

In the men’s equivalent, Zharnel Hughes is huge favourite to claim his first British 100m title. Hughes’ time of 9.95 seconds at the Müller Anniversary Games makes him the fastest man in the field, with his presence in the 200m field as well an eye-catcher given no man has won both titles since Marlon Devonish in 2007.

In the women’s 200m, Beth Dobbin will look to defend her title in the same stadium where she broke the Championship record last year, with closest competition likely to come from Jodie Williams and Ashleigh Nelson among others.

In field action, European indoor silver medallist Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson; Blackburn)goes in search of a seventh British outdoor title in the women’s pole vault, while Commonwealth champion and world No.4 Nick Miller goes in the hammer throw. With both athletes already holding the world qualifying standards in their events respectively, they will look to secure a top-two finish to complete the job.

On the long jump runway - and having finally leapt the qualifying mark at last Sunday’s Müller Grand Prix Birmingham at the Alexander Stadium - Abigail Irozuru will be seeking to confirm her place on the team in Doha as she continues a fine return to the sport.

Sure to be hot on Irozuru’s heels, though all in need of the qualifying mark themselves, areLorraine Ugen, Shara Proctor and Jazmin Sawyers, with the trio all playing starring roles in a memorable competition last time out.

Leading the charge in the men’s 800m is European indoor silver medallist Jamie Webb, with his personal best of 1:44.52 set this year the quickest time produced by a Brit since 2013. With the event seeing eight athletes hold the world qualifying standard however, it is all to play for.

With only five of the eight qualifiers racing the 800m, the other three missing qualifiers have opted for the 1500m instead. Jake Wightman, Josh Kerr and Charlie Da’Vall Grice all hold the standards over both events,three of five in total who have the world qualifier in the 1500m with all of them racing the distance this weekend.

The women’s 5000m sees international medallists Eilish McColgan, Laura Weightman and Melissa Courtney as the leading trio coming into the event, with five out of the seven in total who have the standard racing.

Major Events Director, Cherry Alexander OBE said: “The Müller British Athletics Championships is one of the stand-out fixtures in the calendar for our sport and holds pivotal importance in the season.

“With places up for grabs in the team for the IAAF World Championships, and also several of the country’s leading para athletes competing here as a crucial part of their preparation for the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai later in the year, this is set to be a hotly-contested two days of domestic athletics action.

“In regards to engaging the local community, we are also playing host to another Couch to 5k for women only before the action begins on day two (Sunday 25 August) of the championships, with all of those who take part receiving a complimentary ticket to watch Sunday’s action.”

“Finally, we look forward to welcoming both fans and athletes to Birmingham for this bumper weekend of athletics, and once again we are delighted to have the support of BBC once again who are broadcasting the Championships across the network.”