Winter Program 2023
The 2023 Winter Season will commence on Saturday 3 June 2023.
The first competition will be at Felixstow Reserve on Saturday 3 June, with Prizes to Be Won!
Competition is held each Saturday afternoon at various venues in the parklands around Adelaide, from June to September. The complete 2023 Winter Program is available to download using the button below.
All are welcome to take part in our weekly walks and runs. However, only financial SAMA members are eligible for placing in State Age Group (SAG) Championships events and to win prizes. The dates for all SAMA events including Championships and Prize days are listed in the Winter Program (click on the button below), and full details of competition each week are available in the Events Calendar (including venue and course maps). Come at least 20 minutes before your event to register.
Results for all our competitions, including Championships, can be found on the Results page. The photos from previous SAMA competitions can be viewed via our Facebook Gallery.
Some of the walks and runs during the season are conducted using predetermined handicaps, including the Relay weeks (see additional information below). The remainder are held as scratch races, which include the SAG Championship events, Multi-Event days and a Turkey Handicap event on the Winter Presentation week. The Winter Program shows the dates for all types of races, colour-coded as follows: Championships in pale yellow; Multi-Event days in pale blue; Relay weeks in green and Yacht Handicap weeks in white.
Features of the 2023 Winter Program
- One of the SAG Championships for Walkers will again be held in conjunction with SA Race Walkers Club (SARWC): 5km race on Saturday 19 August 2023.
- Three events in South Australia will again be eligible for the 2023 AMA Postal Half-Marathon Championships; the Barossa Marathon 21.1km race, the Adelaide Marathon 21.1km race and the SAMA Half-Marathon Championships.
- Runners are also encouraged to join a SAMA team for the ASA Winter Relays – team entry fees will be covered by SAMA. (see the ASA website for full details of the winter Relays in 2023 ).
SAMA Achievers Award
The SAMA Achievers Award will be continued to recognise individual athletes who strive from week to week to improve their performance ratings but who may not necessarily be at a “high” standard. The Achievers Award will be applicable only to financial members of SAMA and is based on their performances during the weekly SAMA competitions (for full details refer to the Awards section).
SAMA Stance on Mask Wearing
Whilst there is no longer a requirement to wear Face Masks under current SA Government COVID-19 restrictions, all participants at SAMA events still have the option of wearing a mask if they prefer. This is recommended when in close vicinity of other persons, such as at the start/finish line and check-in location, and all other times when physical distancing is not practical. This is a personal choice and should be respected by others.
COVID-Safe Recommendations
SA Masters Athletics will conduct their events safely and in a manner that minimises risk of infection by COVID-19.
It is recommended that all participants in SAMA competition, including athletes, officials, volunteers and spectators continue to follow health advice and maintain social distancing and wash or sanitise their hands regularly. We also request that those persons who are feeling ill should refrain from taking part.
Championships & Special Events
AMA T&F National Championships SYD2023
Friday 10 March – Monday 13 March 2023.
Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, Homebush
See the Event for results.
World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships -Torun 2023
March 26 – April 1, 2023.
Arena Torun, Torun, Poland
See the Event for results.
Australian Masters Athletics (AMA) Winter Championship Events
SAMA will again host the AMA 20km Road Walk Championships in 2023, encompassing the SAMA 20km Walks Championships. SAMA race walkers should note that to be eligible for the National Championships, it is necessary to also submit a separate entry for the AMA 20km Road Walk Championships. See the Events page for further details.
The results of the SAMA 20km Road Walk Championships 2022 can be downloaded here.
The SAMA Half-Marathon Championships are to held in conjunction with the 20km walks. This event, together with the Half-Marathon events at the Barossa Marathon Festival and the Adelaide Marathon Festival, will constitute the three South Australian races eligible for the 2023 AMA Postal Half-Marathon Championships (see the AMA website for full details).
AMA T&F National Championships Hobart 2024
Friday 29 March – Monday 1 April 2024.
Domain Athletic Centre, Hobart
See the Event for further information.
Competing in Athletics SA 2023 Winter Season
SAMA is a full member club with Athletics SA (ASA), so that SAMA members can compete in ASA competition. You will need to compete in a SAMA uniform and if you don’t have one please see the Uniforms page for information about how to obtain one.
All SAMA members who are financial for the 2022-23 membership year have ASA Membership and are eligible to compete in the upcoming 2023 ASA Winter Season, consisting of Road Races, Distance Relays, Cross Country and State Championship events. Information about the ASA Winter Season Season can be found on the ASA Website.
Each individual event will have an entry fee, but there is an option to add-on a Winter Pass (cost $65) to your ASA membership for free entry to all winter events. If you wish take advantage of this pass, log onto your profile using your **ASA username and password on the Athletics SA website to upgrade your membership, or contact the Athletics SA Office on 8354 3477 or admin@athleticssa.com.au for assistance.
**If you do not know your username there is an option to retrieve it by entering your email address. If you have forgotten your password, there is an option to have it re-set.
Program Information
COVID-19 Precautions
SAMA competition will be conducted to comply with the COVID-19 Public Activity Requirements for South Australia , which currently allows outdoor Athletics competitions to be conducted without any restrictions. However, it is recommended that all participants in SAMA competition continue to observe social distancing and take precautions to ensure the health and safety of all participants (see above).
SAMA is no longer required to operate under a COVID-Safe Plan.
Walking Events
In the spirit of inclusion SAMA introduced Club Walking into its program, to encourage current walkers who struggle with bent knees, previous walkers who no longer compete for fear of disqualification, and others who might like to try walking without the pressure of full Race Walking rules.
SAMA will continue to have two types of walking in its competition – Race Walking and Club Walking.
Race Walking will be conducted under IAAF rules with the “No advantage” concept applied as is done at National and International competition (for further information see Race-walking with SAMA).
For Club Walking the only rule is that there would be no running – which for our purposes will be defined by the requirement to always have one foot on the ground (bent knees will not be an issue). Walkers in this category can still be disqualified if they break the contact rule!
During normal SAMA competition, the differentiation between the two groups of walkers will only apply for ‘scratch’ races. For ‘handicap’ races (which are not judged) all walkers will be competing in a single Club Walk group.
As both types of walking would be in the same race the type of walking must be nominated on entry into ‘scratch races’. We will have some distinguishing feature on Race Walkers. Both types will have their own Club Championship events but there will only be records for Race Walking (which must fulfill the criteria for setting SAG records) and only Race Walkers would be eligible for the SAMA Walks Award (for further details refer to the Records & Awards section).
Other Information
Scratch vs Handicap Weeks
Unless indicated as a ‘scratch’ program, the runs and walks are conducted using predetermined handicaps – see the SAMA Handicapping Information.
Relay Challenges
> Handicapped Team events – three competitors per team. Separate competitions for runners and walkers.
> Prior to each week, interested competitors are encouraged to form a team (or allocated on the day).
> Total distance increases each week; 6km, 8km and 10km.
> Scratch start for all competitors; not a true relay (staggered start if large numbers).
> Each competitor completes a leg of 1 or 2 or 3 loops. Total time for all members of team is compared to their combined estimated times (calculated by the Event Manager program – refer to SAMA Handicapping Information), to derive a handicap time.
> Prizes awarded at the end of each week during Afternoon Tea. The winning team has the smallest handicap time.
Multi-Event Days
> Held on two separate occasions near the end of the season.
> Held at a venue with a 2km loop.
> The multi event days are designed to attract summer middle distance runners and sprinters.
> For both runners and walkers there will be three races on same day.
> Competitors may elect to enter as many of the distances as desired.
> No prizes.
Summer Program 2022-23
The 2022-23 Summer Season has finished. Results for all our competitions, including Championships, can be found on the Results page. The photos from previous weekly SAMA competitions and the Summer Presentation Night can be viewed via our Facebook Gallery.
View the results of the Exurbia 2023 800m Masters race and the results of the 2023 Bob Clarke Challenge Final.