| 1990 UK Athletics Championships | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 2 & 3 June 1990 |
| Host city | Cardiff, Wales |
| Venue | Cardiff Athletics Stadium |
 | |
| Level | Senior |
| Type | Outdoor |
←1989 1991 → | |
The1990UK Athletics Championships sponsored byPearl Assurance, was the national championship in outdoortrack and field for the United Kingdom held atCardiff Athletics Stadium,Cardiff. It was the first time that the event was held in the Welsh capital.[1]
It was the fourteenth edition of the competition limited to British athletes only, launched as an alternative to theAAA Championships, which was open to foreign competitors. However, because the calibre of national competition remained greater at the AAA event, the UK Championships this year were not considered the principal national championship event by some statisticians, such as theNational Union of Track Statisticians (NUTS). Many of the athletes below also competed at the1990 AAA Championships.[2][3]
Strong winds affected several of thesprint races and jumps on the programme. A women'striple jump was contested for the first time.
RacewalkerIan McCombie and javelin throwerSteve Backley both won a third straight UK title at the event. Other men to defend titles that year wereColin Jackson (110 m hurdles),Paul Edwards (shot put) andPaul Head (hammer throw). Three women repeated their 1989 victories:Kay Morley (100 m hurdles),Jackie McKernan (discus) andSharon Gibson (javelin).Myrtle Augee defeatedJudy Oakes in the women's shot put to break her rival's winning streak dating back to 1984. No athletes won multiple titles in Cardiff, though championsSallyanne Short,Phylis Smith,Alison Wyeth andMichelle Griffith all reached the podium in two events.[2]
The main international track and field competition for the United Kingdom that year was the1990 European Athletics Championships. Britain's men had a highly successful performance there, withLinford Christie,Roger Black, Colin Jackson,Kriss Akabusi, and Steve Backley all going from UK champion to European champion. The 800 m UK championDavid Sharpe was also a silver medallist behind his teammateTom McKean.[4][5] The fourcountries of the United Kingdom competed separately at theCommonwealth Games that year as well. UK champions Christie, Akabusi, Backley,Diane Edwards and Myrtle Augee all won gold for England, while Jackson and Morley made it a men's and women's sprint hurdles double for Wales.[6][7]
