Scotland U20 vests will now be for England Athletics Champs

Wednesday 14th May 2025

The format of the Manchester International has changed for 2025, more information can be found here.

With this change we will now be unable to place a Scotland U20 Team within the event.

As such, scottishathletics now plan to select and support Scottish athletes to compete at the European U20 Trials as part of the England Athletics U20 Championships in Birmingham over July 25-27.

We will look to make these selections a couple of weeks before the event in Birmingham and athletes identified will be supplied with Scotland kit from Joma and given a contribution towards their travel and accommodation costs.

All athletes will have to enter themselves in usual way for this Championship on the England Athletics website.

Check our Track and Field International Handbook for further information.

‘We are finding that our options within the HCAF nations in terms of actual U20 International Matches is becoming very limited,’ said Mark Pollard, scottishathletics Head of Performance.

‘The shift in focus of the Manchester International by England Athletics follows on from the cancellation of the Welsh International event by Welsh Athletics – which we have also previously attended in recent seasons.

‘So in this current climate it makes sense to support a competition opportunity (for athletes of an appropriate level and across a greater number of events) at the England Athletics U20 Champs as a Scotland ‘selection’ opportunity.

‘This event will give athletes, coaches and clubs a target to aim for – recognising that while other Scottish athletes can also enter and compete there when seeking a higher level of competition – and that target will provide them with an opportunity to pull on a Scottish ‘vest’ and represent their nation within the European U20 Trials event.’