Competitions

Whether you are new or a veteran of athletics; competitions and events can often be confusing.

There are local events, state events, and championship pathway events. In this email, I will try to break it down to help people understand the options available for their families and athletes.

All competitions (other than our club competition days) require athletes to wear a competition uniform with their number bibs attached. (Tots excluded)

LOCAL EVENTS

Local competitions are open to all age groups and all registration types. These include:

· Grafton Competition Day

· Other Club Carnivals – open for Tots – Masters (Community members welcome). Small entry fee (variable, $5-$15, with family caps). Events on offer will vary per club/carnival.

CHAMPIONSHIP PATHWAY

For athletes aged 7s-15s, there is a competition pathway similar to the school system. Zone – Region – State - Nationals

Enter into the Northern Rivers (NR) Zone Championship via link provided (no cost). If athletes from age groups 8s-15s finish in the top 4 at the Zone championship, they automatically qualify to compete at the Region 1 Championships. Athletes from age groups 9s-15s that finish in the top 2 at Region, they are automatic qualifies for the NSWState Championships.

Athletes aged 16 and above can choose to enter state championships directly; there are no qualification standards for these age groups. The 16s-20s can enter Zone or Region Champs for competition practice, but the results are just for their own records.

7s-11s – can choose 4 events to compete in at Zone.

12s-20s – can choose up to 6 events to enter.

For more information on competition pathways, please click here

STATE EVENTS

Although these say state competitions, they do not need qualifying times to enter. They are run by the state body (NSW Athletics), and are open to various age groups. These competitions include:

· NSW Country Champs, 9s-Masters – Limited event program for 9s-12s. Full event schedule available for 13s above. There is a $30 entry fee, plus a $15per-event fee, which is capped at $80 for unlimited events.

· NSW Combined Championship, 7s - 15s - $40 per athlete.

Similar to our Zone Multi event. Athletes participate in programmed events, earning points per event to decide an overall winner.

· NSW Combined Championship, 16s - Masters – $50 per athlete. Similar to our Zone Multi event. Athletes participate in programmed events, earning points per event to decide an overall winner.

CALENDER 2025/26 SEASON

The events in bold are the competition Pathways.

Events POST-XMAS

· 2026 return to Competition Day – Saturday 17^th January 2026

· NSW Country Champs (9s-Masters) – 16^th-18^th January, Dubbo

· NSW Combined Champs (16s – Masters) –Sydney Olympic Park

· Region 1 Championships (8s-20s)– Jan 31^st & Feb 1^st – Gold coast performance centre, Runaway Bay

· NSW Combined Carnival (7s – 15s) -Maitland

· NSW Junior Championships – 12-15^th March (13s-20s) – Sydney Olympic Park

· NSW Little Athletics State Championships – 21-22^nd March (9s-12’s) – Sydney Olympic Park

· Australian Open and Little Athletics Championships – 9-12^th April - Sydney

· Australian Junior Championships (13s-20s) – 12-14^th April – Brisbane