1923 WAAA Championships


The 1923 WAAA Championships were the first national track and field championships for women in the UK. The tournament was held on 18 August 1923 at the Oxo Sport Grounds in London, United Kingdom.

Background

After the successful first 1922 Women's World Games in Paris and the three Women's Olympiads in Monaco the interest for women's sports also grew internationally. In 1922 the "Women's Amateur Athletic Association" was founded in the UK, that year several ”national” women’s track meet were held.
In 1923 the WAAA now organised the first official British women championships in track and field. In the US the "Amateur Athletic Union" sponsored the first national championship for women in track and field on 29 September 1923.

Events

The meet was held on 18 August at the Oxo Sport Grounds in Downham, Bromley in South London.
The athletes competed in 11 events: running 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards, relay race 660 yards, hurdling 120 yards, high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin and track walk 880 yards. 3 unofficial world records were set: Mary Lines in running 440 yards and hurdles 120 yards and Edith Trickey i track walk 880 yards. The tournament was a huge promotion for women's sports.

Results

Many of the participating athletes also competed in the 1924 Women's Olympiad at Stamford Bridge.