1990 UK Athletics Championships

{{Infobox Athletics Championships

|Name=1990 UK Athletics Championships

|Host city=Cardiff, Wales

|Dates= 2 & 3 June 1990

|Stadium=Cardiff Athletics Stadium

|Stadium image=File:Old leckwith athletics stad.jpg

|Level=Senior|Type=Outdoor

|Events=|Records set=

|Previous=1989

|Next=1991

|Games=UK Athletics Championships

}}

The 1990 UK Athletics Championships sponsored by Pearl Assurance, was the national championship in outdoor track and field for the United Kingdom held at Cardiff Athletics Stadium, Cardiff. It was the first time that the event was held in the Welsh capital.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004733/19900604/017/0017 |title=Fatima gloom - Backley joy |work=South Wales Echo |date=4 June 1990 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 March 2025}}

It was the fourteenth edition of the competition limited to British athletes only, launched as an alternative to the AAA Championships, which was open to foreign competitors. However, because the calibre of national competition remained greater at the AAA event, the UK Championships this year were not considered the principal national championship event by some statisticians, such as the National Union of Track Statisticians (NUTS). Many of the athletes below also competed at the 1990 AAA Championships.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/uk.htm UK Championships]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2018-02-25.[https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm AAA WAAA and National Championships Medalists]. NUTS. Retrieved 2018-02-25.

Summary

Strong winds affected several of the sprint races and jumps on the programme. A women's triple jump was contested for the first time.

Racewalker Ian McCombie and javelin thrower Steve Backley both won a third straight UK title at the event. Other men to defend titles that year were Colin Jackson (110 m hurdles), Paul Edwards (shot put) and Paul Head (hammer throw). Three women repeated their 1989 victories: Kay Morley (100 m hurdles), Jackie McKernan (discus) and Sharon Gibson (javelin).Myrtle Augee defeated Judy Oakes in the women's shot put to break her rival's winning streak dating back to 1984. No athletes won multiple titles in Cardiff, though champions Sallyanne Short, Phylis Smith, Alison Wyeth and Michelle Griffith all reached the podium in two events.

The main international track and field competition for the United Kingdom that year was the 1990 European Athletics Championships. Britain's men had a highly successful performance there, with Linford Christie, Roger Black, Colin Jackson, Kriss Akabusi, and Steve Backley all going from UK champion to European champion. The 800 m UK champion David Sharpe was also a silver medallist behind his teammate Tom McKean.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/ec.htm European Championships (Men)]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2018-03-06.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/ecw.htm European Championships (Women)]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2018-03-06. The four countries of the United Kingdom competed separately at the Commonwealth Games that year as well. UK champions Christie, Akabusi, Backley, Diane Edwards and Myrtle Augee all won gold for England, while Jackson and Morley made it a men's and women's sprint hurdles double for Wales.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/cg.htm Commonwealth Games (Men)]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2018-03-06.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/cgw.htm Commonwealth Games (Women)]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2018-03-06.