British Grand Prix (athletics)

British Grand Prix
The host stadium – Alexander Stadium
Date	May–August
Location	Birmingham, England
Event type	Track and field
World Athletics Cat.	GW [1]

The British Grand Prix, formerly known as the Birmingham Grand Prix or the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix, was an annual athletics meeting. From 2010 through 2021 it was a part of the Diamond League series of track and field meets. From 1997 through 2005 the name British Grand Prix was used for meetings that were part of the London Grand Prix series, before reverting to the meetings usually held in Gateshead and Birmingham.

In 2020 the event was due to be held at the Gateshead International Stadium but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. ^[2] The event returned once more to Gateshead in 2021. ^[3] There was a 2022 Diamond League meeting (2022 Birmingham Diamond League) held at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, though it was officially a continuation of the Anniversary Games (usually held in London) rather than a British Grand Prix event. ^[4]

Editions

The event has been sponsored by a variety of companies including Bupa, Norwich Union, Aviva and Müller.

British Grand Prix editions

Ed.	Meeting	Series	Date	Sponsor	Ref.
1st	International Invitation Meeting [a]		9 Aug 1991	Pearl Assurance	[5] [6]
2nd	International Invitation Meeting [b]		17 Jul 1992	Vauxhall Motors	[7] [8]
3rd	International Invitation Meeting [b]		30 Jul 1993		[7] [9]
4th	1994 British Grand Prix II [c]	1994 IAAF Grand Prix II	1 Jul 1994	Bupa	[7]
5th	1995 British Grand Prix II [d]	1995 IAAF Grand Prix II	2 Jul 1995		[7]
6th	1996 British Grand Prix II [e]	1996 IAAF Grand Prix II	30 Jun 1996		[14]
7th	1997 British Grand Prix II [f]	1997 IAAF Grand Prix II	7 Sep 1997		[17] [18]
8th	1998 British Grand Prix II [g]	1998 IAAF Grand Prix II	19 Jul 1998		[20] [21]
9th	1999 British Grand Prix II [h]	1999 IAAF Grand Prix II	27 Jun 1999	CGU	[23] [24]
10th	2000 British Grand Prix II [h]	2000 IAAF Grand Prix II	28 Aug 2000		[25] [26]
11th	2001 British Grand Prix II [i]	2001 IAAF Grand Prix II	19 Aug 2001	Norwich Union	[27] [28]
12th	2002 British Grand Prix II [j]	2002 IAAF Grand Prix II	30 June 2002		[29] [30]
13th	2003 British Super Grand Prix [j]	2003 IAAF Super Grand Prix	13 Jul 2003		[31] [32]
14th	2004 British Super Grand Prix [k]	2004 IAAF Super Grand Prix	27 Jun 2004		[33] [34]
15th	2005 British Super Grand Prix [k]	2005 IAAF Super Grand Prix	21 Aug 2005		[35] [36]
16th	2006 British Grand Prix	2006 IAAF Grand Prix	11 Jun 2006		[37] [38]
17th	2007 British Grand Prix	2007 IAAF Grand Prix	15 Jul 2007		[39] [40]
18th	2008 British Grand Prix	2008 IAAF Grand Prix	31 Aug 2008	Aviva	[41] [42]
19th	2009 British Grand Prix	2009 IAAF Grand Prix	31 Aug 2009		[43] [44]
20th	2010 British Grand Prix	2010 Diamond League	10 Jul 2010		[45]
21st	2011 Birmingham Grand Prix	2011 Diamond League	10 Jul 2011		[46]
22nd	2012 Birmingham Grand Prix	2012 Diamond League	26 Aug 2012		[47]
23rd	2013 Birmingham Grand Prix	2013 Diamond League	30 Jun 2013	Sainsbury's	[48]
24th	2014 Birmingham Grand Prix	2014 Diamond League	24 Aug 2014		[49]
25th	2015 Birmingham Grand Prix	2015 Diamond League	7 Jun 2015		[50]
26th	2016 Birmingham Grand Prix	2016 Diamond League	5 Jun 2016	Müller	[51]
27th	2017 Birmingham Grand Prix	2017 Diamond League	20 Aug 2017		[52]
28th	2018 Birmingham Grand Prix	2018 Diamond League	18 Aug 2018		[53]
29th	2019 Birmingham Grand Prix	2019 Diamond League	18 Aug 2019		[54]
2020: Meet canceled due to COVID-19 [2]
30th	2021 British Grand Prix [l]	2021 Diamond League	23 May 2021	Müller	[55]
The 2022 Birmingham meet was part of the London Diamond League series [4]

Venues

Venues for the British Grand Prix

Years	Venue	Region	Country
1991–2001, 2003–2004, 2006, 2008–2010, 2021	Gateshead International Stadium	Gateshead	England
2002, 2005, 2007	Don Valley Stadium	Sheffield	England
2011–2019	Alexander Stadium	Birmingham	England

World records

Over the course of its history, the following world records have been set at the British Grand Prix. ^[56]

World records set at the British Grand Prix

Year	Event	Record	Athlete	Nationality
2004	Pole vault	4.87 m	Yelena Isinbayeva	Russia
2006	100 m	9.77 (+1.5 m/s)	Asafa Powell	Jamaica

Meeting records

Men

Men's meeting records of the British Grand Prix

Event	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Place	Ref.
100 m	9.77 (+1.5 m/s)	Asafa Powell	Jamaica	11 June 2006	Gateshead
150 m	14.97 (+0.9 m/s)	Linford Christie	Great Britain	4 September 1994	Sheffield
200 m	19.94	Michael Johnson	United States	15 September 1991
400 m	44.23	Kirani James	Grenada	5 June 2016	Birmingham	[57]
600 m	1:13.10 DLR	David Rudisha	Kenya	5 June 2016	Birmingham	[58]
800 m	1:42.79	Emmanuel Korir	Kenya	18 August 2018	Birmingham	[59]
1000 m	2:16.18	Bernard Lagat	United States	31 August 2008	Gateshead	[60]
1500 m	3:29.33	Asbel Kiprop	Kenya	5 June 2016	Birmingham	[61]
Mile	3:51.89	Asbel Kiprop	Kenya	24 August 2014	Birmingham	[62]
3000 m	7:26.69	Kenenisa Bekele	Ethiopia	15 July 2007	Sheffield
Two miles	8:07.85	Mo Farah	Great Britain	24 August 2014	Birmingham	[63]
5000 m	13:00.20	Vincent Chepkok	Kenya	10 July 2010	Gateshead
110 m hurdles	12.95 (−0.9 m/s)	Aries Merritt	United States	26 August 2012	Birmingham	[64]
400 m hurdles	47.67	Kevin Young	United States	14 August 1992
3000 m steeplechase	8:00.12	Conseslus Kipruto	Kenya	5 June 2016	Birmingham	[65]
High jump	2.40 m	Mutaz Essa Barshim	Qatar	20 August 2017	Birmingham	[66]
Long jump	8.53 m (+1.5 m/s)	Luvo Manyonga	South Africa	18 August 2018	Birmingham	[67]
Triple jump	17.74 m	Christian Olsson	Sweden	13 July 2003	London
Shot put	22.45 m	Christian Cantwell	United States	11 June 2006	Gateshead
Discus throw	69.83 m	Piotr Małachowski	Poland	10 July 2010	Gateshead	[68]
Hammer throw	78.51 m	Pawel Fajdek	Poland	20 August 2017	Birmingham	[69]
Javelin throw	95.66 m	Jan Železný	Czech Republic	29 August 1993	Sheffield	[70]
4 × 100 m relay	37.95	HSI: Jon Drummond Bernard Williams Curtis Johnson Maurice Greene	United States	28 August 2000		[71]

Women

Women's meeting records of the British Grand Prix

Event	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Place	Ref.
100 m	10.81 (+0.7 m/s)	Carmelita Jeter	United States	26 August 2012	Birmingham	[72]
200 m	22.15 (+0.4 m/s)	Shaunae Miller-Uibo	Bahamas	18 August 2018	Birmingham	[73]
400 m	49.77	Sanya Richards	United States	21 August 2005	Sheffield
800 m	1:56.92	Francine Niyonsaba	Burundi	5 June 2016	Birmingham	[74]
1500 m	3:58.07	Kelly Holmes	Great Britain	29 June 1997	Sheffield
Mile	4:21.11	Konstanze Klosterhalfen	Germany	18 August 2019	Birmingham	[75]
3000 m	8:28.90	Sifan Hassan	Netherlands	20 August 2017	Birmingham	[76]
Two miles	9:11.49	Mercy Cherono	Kenya	24 August 2014	Birmingham	[77]
5000 m	14:51.77	Tirunesh Dibaba	Ethiopia	21 August 2005	Sheffield	[78]
100 m hurdles	12.46 (−0.3 m/s)	Kendra Harrison	United States	5 June 2016	Birmingham	[79]
	12.46 (−0.2 m/s)	Danielle Williams	Jamaica	18 August 2019	Birmingham	[80]
400 m hurdles	53.78	Kaliese Spencer	Jamaica	26 August 2012	Birmingham	[81]
3000 m steeplechase	9:05.55	Beatrice Chepkoech	Kenya	18 August 2019	Birmingham	[75]
High jump	2.03 m	Kajsa Bergqvist	Sweden	21 August 2005	Sheffield
Pole vault	4.87 m	Yelena Isinbayeva	Russia	27 June 2004	Gateshead
Long jump	6.96 m (+1.5 m/s)	Malaika Mihambo	Germany	18 August 2018	Birmingham	[82]
Triple jump	14.94 m	Ashia Hansen	Great Britain	29 June 1997	Sheffield
Shot put	20.52 m	Valerie Adams	New Zealand	26 August 2012	Birmingham	[83]
	20.57 m X	Nadzeya Astapchuk	Belarus	10 July 2010	Gateshead
Discus throw	69.23 m	Sandra Perković	Croatia	7 June 2015	Birmingham	[84]
Hammer throw	71.14 m	Joanna Fiodorow	Poland	20 August 2017	Birmingham	[85]
Javelin throw	66.08 m	Barbora Špotáková	Czech Republic	26 August 2012	Birmingham	[86]
4 × 100 m relay	43.80		Jamaica	17 July 1992	Gateshead	[87]

Notes

1. Also known as Pearl Assurance Invitational
2. Also known as Vauxhall Invitational
3. Also known as Gateshead Games and Bupa Games ^[10]
4. Also known as Gateshead Games and Bupa Games ^[11]
5. Also known as Bupa International ^[12] and Bupa Games ^[13]
6. Also known as Bupa International ^[15] and Bupa Games ^[16]
7. Also known as Bupa Games ^[19]
8. Officially known as CGU Gateshead Classic ^[22]
9. Officially known as Norwich Union Classic Grand Prix II
10. Officially known as Norwich Union Classic
11. Officially known as Norwich Union Super Grand Prix
12. Officially known as Müller Grand Prix Gateshead

References

1. "IAAF World Ranking Calendar". IAAF. 2019.
2. "Gateshead Grand Prix, set for September, cancelled". BBC Sport . 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
3. "Strong Wanda Diamond League 2021 season takes shape in Olympic year". IDL Diamond League. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
4. "Calendar – Diamond League". Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
5. Bohill, Dave (8 August 1991). "Curtain set to rise on world show". Gateshead Post. p. 39. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
6. Bohill, Dave (10 August 1991). "Black is set fair for Tokyo". The Independent . p. 47. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
7. "IAAF Grand Prix schedules 1985-1995 (PDF)". IAAF . Retrieved 8 August 2025– via Google Drive.
8. "Vauxhall Invitational 3 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 26 August 2025.
9. "Vauxhall Invitational 3 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 27 July 2025.
10. Mackay, Duncan (2 July 1994). "Jackon makes light of a cold comeback". The Independent . p. 21. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
11. "Bupa Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 26 August 2025.
12. "Grand Prix & Grand Prix II". IAAF . Archived from the original on 23 February 1997. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
13. "Grand Prix II information". IAAF . Archived from the original on 23 February 1997. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
14. "1996 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
15. "1997 Grand Prix & Grand Prix II Schedule". IAAF . Archived from the original on 23 February 1998. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
16. "Grand Prix II 1997". IAAF . Archived from the original on 23 February 1998. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
17. "1997 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
18. "Bupa International 1997". IAAF . 7 September 1997. Archived from the original on 6 May 2001. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
19. Johnson, Frank (2 July 1994). "Rain hits Moroccan's bid to run away with cash bonus". The Northern Echo . p. 18. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
20. "1998 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
21. "British Grand Prix II - Gateshead 1998". IAAF . 2 August 1998. Archived from the original on 9 February 1999. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
22. Rowbottom, Mike (26 June 1999). "Sponsors sign up for £10m". The Independent . p. 24. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
23. "1999 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
24. "British IAAF Grand Prix II - Gateshead 1999". IAAF . 27 June 1999. Archived from the original on 10 December 2000. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
25. "2000 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
26. "CGU Classic - Gateshead 2000". IAAF . 28 August 2000. Archived from the original on 20 August 2001. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
27. "2001 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
28. "Norwich Union Classic Grand Prix II - Gateshead 2001". IAAF . 19 August 2001. Archived from the original on 3 December 2001. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
29. "2002 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
30. "Norwich Union Classic - Sheffield 2002". IAAF . 30 June 2002. Archived from the original on 11 August 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
31. "2003 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
32. "Norwich Union Classic - Gateshead 2003". IAAF . 13 July 2003. Archived from the original on 3 June 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
33. "2004 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
34. "Norwich Union Super Grand Prix - Gateshead 2004". IAAF . 27 June 2004. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
35. "2005 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
36. "Norwich Union Super Grand Prix - Sheffield 2005". IAAF . 21 August 2005. Archived from the original on 28 December 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
37. "2006 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
38. "Norwich Union British Grand Prix - Gateshead 2006". IAAF . 11 June 2006. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
39. "2007 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
40. "Norwich Union British Grand Prix - Sheffield 2007". IAAF . 15 July 2007. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
41. "2008 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
42. "Aviva British Grand Prix - Gateshead 2008". IAAF . 31 August 2008. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
43. "2009 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
44. "Aviva British Grand Prix 2009". IAAF . 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
45. "2010 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
46. "2011 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
47. "2012 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
48. "2013 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
49. "2014 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
50. "2015 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
51. "2016 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
52. "2017 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
53. "2018 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
54. "2019 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
55. "Gateshead 2021 Results". gateshead.diamondleague.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
56. Powell equals 100m world record. BBC Sport (2006-06-11). Retrieved on 2010-06-07.
57. "400m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 5 June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
58. "600m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 5 June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
59. "800m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 18 August 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
60. Butcher, Michael (31 August 2008). "Powell skids to 9.87sec in torrential rain in Gateshead - IAAF World Athletics Tour". World Athletics . Retrieved 15 July 2025.
61. "1500m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 5 June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
62. "Mile Results". IAAF. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
63. "Two Miles Results". IAAF. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
64. "110m Hurdles – Results". IAAF. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
65. "3000m Steeplechase Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 5 June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
66. "High Jump Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 20 August 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
67. "Long Jump Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 18 August 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
68. "Diamond League 2010 Gateshead Results" (PDF). Diamond League . 10 July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
69. "Hammer Throw Men results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 20 August 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
70. "Jan Zelezny - 95.34m and 95.66m -- Sheffield 29/08/1993". YouTube . 16 October 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
71. "4x100m Relay Men results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 21 May 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
72. "100m Results". IAAF. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
73. "200m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 18 August 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
74. "800m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 5 June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
75. Jon Mulkeen (18 August 2019). "Chepkoech and Klosterhalfen smash meeting records in Birmingham – IAAF Diamond League". IAAF. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
76. "3000m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 20 August 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
77. "Two Miles Results". IAAF. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
78. "Women 5000 Metres Official Result". IAAF . 21 August 2005. Archived from the original on 12 February 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
79. "100m Hurdles Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 5 June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
80. "Women's 100 Metres Hurdles results". World Athletics . 18 August 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
81. "400m Hurdles Results". IAAF. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
82. "Long Jump Women results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 18 August 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
83. "Women Shot Put results". IAAF . 26 August 2012. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
84. "Discus Throw Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 7 June 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
85. "Hammer Throw Men results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 20 August 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
86. "Javelin Throw Results". IAAF. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
87. Mays, Ken (18 July 1992). "Jackson leaves rest trailing in his wake". The Daily Telegraph . p. 35. Retrieved 25 September 2025.

External links

• Diamond League – Gateshead Official Web Site at the Wayback Machine (archived 2025-02-08)
• Diamond League – Birmingham Official Web Site at the Wayback Machine (archived 2019-10-13)