| Information:
The
British Wheelchair Athletics Association was set up in 1982 to promote
track and field athletics for people who use wheelchairs due to disability.
The initial aim of the BWAA was to give people with spinal cord injuries
an opportunity to get involved in wheelchair field events. We remain
firmly committed to that initial aim.
From 1984, no major international sporting event
including wheelchair athletes has taken place without representatives
of the BWAA playing a part. This has helped make the BWAA one of
the most important and successful associations within the British
Wheelchair Sports Foundation family.
Disciplines:
Wheelchair athletes compete in five field disciplines:
- shot
- discus
- javelin
- club
- pentathlon
The athletes use specially
designed throwing frames for these events. These frames enable the
athletes to use the same throwing equipment (javelins, discus, shot
etc) as able bodied athletes. The only event unique to wheelchair
athletics is the club. In this event a special wooden club is thrown
using a technique similar to the discus.
Pentathlon, the most gruelling of events, is a combination of three
field and two track events to be completed by the athlete in a single
day. The combination of events making up the pentathlon may differ
according to the individual athletes category.
Athlete
Development:
Our
commitment to the development of new athletes and coaches helps the
BWAA remain one of the key organisations within the rapidly developing
world of disability sport. The BWAA is fully committed to the British
Wheelchair Sports Foundation development programme at Stoke Mandeville
which each year includes the inter-spinal unit games and the National
Junior games.
Our experienced athletes
are always present at these events, and are happy to give advice
and coaching to all aspiring new athletes. We have an ongoing development
programme to nurture new and experienced athletes alike. As athletes
progress, they attend European and International events, all of
which has to be funded by the BWAA. The BWAA also publish a quarterly
newsletter with information about recent competitions, future events,
social gatherings and much more.
The BWAA is
eager to help and encourage younger wheelchair users to take up
athletics, and as such, we can offer information and help with all
aspects of disability sport. We have currently competing athletes
who joined us at junior level and have come all the way through
the ranks, going on to eventually win world championship medals.
The 2004 Paralympics
at Athens have helped put disability athletics on the world map,
with the GB coming second in the medal standings with 94 medals
in all, including an amazing 35 golds. To find out more about disability
athletics, and what the BWAA can offer you, just get in touch via
e-mail using the links at the bottom of the page.
Classification:
Wheelchair
athletics operates a classification system to maintain fairness and
set a level playing field for competing athletes. All athletes are
given a functional classification based on the neurological level
of their injury and the amount of muscle function available to them.
They are allocated a classifcation using the ‘F’ (or field)
system, from F1 through to F8, and once an athlete is allocated an
F category, they will only compete against athletes of a similar function
or classification.
Once an athlete is allocated his or her F class,
it is very rare for them to be moved to a different class later
in life, however, an athlete can have a number of F classifications
if they compete in several different events. This F classification
system means athletes are only matched against other athletes of
equal abilities, so whatever your capabilities, you can be safe
in the knowledge that winning a class is within reach for everyone.
The F class system means a level playing field in disability sport
and fair competition for all participants. Whatever your ability,
you can be a winner.
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Gran
Prix August
Competition 2010
DOWNLOADABLE ENTRY FORM
For a Downloadable Entry Form click |here|
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