£14,000 PRIZE FUND FOR SCOTTISHATHLETICS OPEN GRADED GRAND PRIX SERIES

21st February 2007

A new scottishathletics Open Graded Grand Prix Series for under-17, under-20 and seniors has been announced, with athletes set to compete against each other in meetings within Scotland, across a range of track and field events.

A total prize fund of £14,000 has been made available through Modernisation investment, broken down through six age categories.

There will be five meetings:

1. Grangemouth (2nd May)
2. Edinburgh (24th May)
3. Linwood (27th June)
4. Glasgow (11th July)
5. Dundee (series final, 25th August).

Grangemouth and Linwood will run with the following events:

* 100m
* 800m
* Long Jump
* Shot Putt
* Javelin.

Edinburgh (Meadowbank) and Glasgow (Scotstoun) will offer an alternative programme featuring:

* 200m
* 1500m
* Triple Jump
* High Jump
* Discus.

The Dundee final will combine all named events.

Athletes must be members of scottishathletics to score points and win prizes in the Grand Prix Series.

Scoring system

For meetings 1 to 4, first place will be awarded 100 points, with points being allocated on a decreasing scale thereafter.

For meeting 5, the final, first place will be awarded 130 points, with points being allocated on a decreasing scale thereafter.

There will be bonus points awarded for all 5 meetings. Athletes achieving a Scottish Power of 10 age-group performance will be awarded an additional 15 points, with a UK Power of 10 age-group performance meriting an additional 30 points.

Prize structure

Prize money for the first 4 meetings

Prize money for seniors: first is £40, second £20 and third £10.
Prize money for under-20s: first is £20, second £15 and third £5.
Prize money for under-17s: first is £15, second £10 and third £5.

Prize money for the final

Prize money for seniors: first is £100, second £60 and third £30.
Prize money for under-20s: first is £50, second £30 and third £20.
Prize money for under-17s: first is £40, second £25 and third £15.

Overall winner

The overall winner's prize totals £1000, which will be awarded for the performance in a Scottish Grand Prix event (by an athlete who scores points in the Grand Prix) that ranks highest on the end-of-year UK Senior Power of 10 rankings.

In the event of a tie, prize money will be shared. Cheque(s) will be presented at the scottishathletics awards dinner in Glasgow on 17th November.

ENDS
 
Additional notes

* The scottishathletics Open Graded Grand Prix Series will be co-ordinated through work with five promoters, the track and field commission and officials' commission.

* To help add incentive a £17,000 contribution from Modernisation investment has been made across the Grand Prix Series, with the majority going towards prize money.

* Other leading incentives include: events timetabled one month prior to events with events running when scheduled; nationwide promotion and officials' standards on track and field that will ensure records can be broken.

* The Grand Prix Events will be separate events, and only for the athletes in their respective age group. They will run as per normal Open Graded meetings with athletes competing in heats against similar standard abilities, ideally male only and female only competition.

* Overall winners only will be presented prizes at the final. There will be no individual event prizes at the final.

* The promoter of each meeting can timetable other events at the meeting for other athletes and in particular under-15 athletes.

* Each promoter will charge £2 for entry into each Grand Prix event.

* Check out www.scottishathletics.org.uk for regular updates on timetables, more information on events and announcements on athletes who have signed up to compete.

Picture: Graeme Oudney in track action