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The first Bedfordshire International Games was held at Bedford Stadium on Saturday 10th June 1995 following an approach to host the first European Athletic ‘B’ circuit meeting in Great Britain. A very successful inaugural meeting, where 2 Commonwealth Records were set, has been followed by 7 equally successful ones and the date for 2003 is scheduled for Sunday 1st June. As part of the European ‘B’ circuit, initially the meeting was designed to provide top class competition for those athletes on the verge of International and National success but who found it difficult to get entry into appropriate competition at home or overseas. The Bedford International Games has continues to provide this.
We have been dubbed the “Athlete Friendly Games”, where athletes are able to compete for themselves, in whichever event they wish, without the pressures of Club, County, Regional or National representation. Without main sponsorship for the whole of the event’s life, we are very proud of the athletes who compete each year with thoughts only of performance, never expenses or appearance money. To achieve this we also need the support of a very essential and willing band of “Athlete Friendly” officials who have given their time, for no more than a packed lunch, and we are also very grateful to them for their continuing support.  Over the years we have seen many successes with athletes beginning their campaigns for major Championships at all age groups or achieving seasons or personal best performances. Two Commonwealth Records, Lorraine Shaw’s hammer throw of 64.90m (1995), Kate Staples Pole Vault of 3.70m (1995) top the achievements with Janine Whitlock’s British Record of 4.31m in the Pole Vault in 1998 coming a very close second. Add to this performances which led Sally Gunnell into her comeback, Tessa Sanderson to her 4th Olympic Games, Doug Walker to his European 200m title, Julian Golding, Jamie Baulch and Alison Curbishley as well as Junior athletes such as Sarah Wilhelmy (World Junior 200m Bronze medallist in 1998) and Nicola Sanders (European Junior 400m Hurdles Bronze medal winner in 1999) in their rise to the top. A large number of our current GB teams at all age levels have competed in the Bedford Games at some time in their athletics careers. Attached is a list of those top level athletes who have competed over the past 8 years. To them and the many others, we are very grateful for your support which we hope will continue well into the future. The 2002 date was chosen after extensive consultation with athletes and coaches in order to ensure much needed qualification opportunities at an appropriate time of the season for both the Manchester Commonwealth Games and the World Junior Athletics Championships in Jamaica. It proved to be the right decision and many of the top GB athletes took part alongside a number of high calibre overseas athletes. UK Athletics asked for the inclusion of Relay events in 2002 to aid selection for the forthcoming season. We are very proud to have been able to provide this initial opportunity for what proved to be a very successful Relay season.
For the first time we were able to include Wheelchair Races over 100m and 400m with both races being won in fast times by Paralympian David Weir. It expected that these races will become a permanent part of future BIG meetings. In excess of 73 of our athletes went on to represent their country at either the World Junior Championships in Jamaica, the Commonwealth Games in Manchester or the European Championships in Munich. Congratulations to everyone concerned. |
