THE 2016 Wiltshire County Athletics Championships are being held next month in Swindon.

A decision by England Athletics this year that all county championships should be held in May has meant the organisers, Wiltshire Athletics Association, have moved the venue from Tidworth due to a clash of bookings with an Army event.

The association are working closely with WAA member club Swindon Harriers, who took over the management of the County Ground facilities last year, to welcome the 300-plus athletes expected.

Online entries for the May 14 event opened last month, with prices held at last year’s levels: £8 for seniors for their first event and £4 or £6 for juniors and U20s. The popular Quad Kids championships offer, which gives U11s an introduction to competitive athletics at just £5 for a four-event programme, also remains.

The championships have a full programme of events from U13s up to seniors, and include events on the track and field for disability athletes, recognising that Wiltshire is a county which provides training and competition opportunities for the whole athletics community. The final timetable for the day is being finalised this week and should be online by Friday April 15.

The county championships will also be used to select the Wiltshire team for the South West Inter Counties in Exeter on August 7, and WAA hope to be able to take all May’s gold medal winners, as well as other athletes who achieve the qualifying standards. For full details, visit wiltshire-athletics.org.uk.