UK Athletics has announced the launch of an Aqua-Pura Women’s Steeplechase Series designed to stimulate the quality and quantity of competitors in the event this summer.

Seniors will have their own five-race series and the Juniors a four race series with cash prize pots – culminating at the UK Challenge, BMC and UKA Endurance Initiative Final at Crystal Palace on 25 August.

In each of the Seniors’ races, the winner will receive £150, runner-up £100, third place £75 and fourth place £50. The overall series winner will receive £500, runner-up £300, third place £200 and fourth place £100.

In each of the Under 20s’ races, the winner will receive £100, runner-up £75, third place £50 and fourth place £25. The overall series winner will receive £300, the runner-up £200, third place £100 and fourth place £50.

Announcing that the overall positions will be worked out on aggregate times, UKA Senior Coordinator for Endurance Spencer Barden said: “This will give a performance-related point to each series. There will be five races in the series for senior athletes and four for the juniors. Each senior athlete must compete in at least three races and the fastest three times will count towards the overall prizes. The juniors must compete in at least two races and the fastest two times will count towards the overall prizes.”

The Senior Women’s series will consist of five 3000m steeplechase races:

• Loughborough International, 20 May;
• BMC Grand Prix 1 and UKAEI at Manchester, 9 June;
• BMC Grand Prix 2 and UKAEI at Watford, 30 June;
• Norwich Union World Trials & UK Championships at Manchester, 27-29 July;
• UK Challenge / BMC / UKAEI Final at Crystal Palace, 25 August.

The Under 20s’ series will consist of two 2000m steeplechases and two 3000m steeplechases. Each athlete must compete in at least one 2000m and one 3000m events. Prizes will go to the fastest athletes on aggregate times counting one 2000m and one 3000m events.

The Under 20s’ races are:

• 2000m SC at CAU Inter-Counties Championships at Bedford on 27-28 May;
• 2000m SC at St Mary’s Relays, Twickenham, on 6 June
• 3000m SC at Norwich Union England Athletics Under 23 / Under 20 Championships and European Trials at Bedford, 23-24 June;

• 3000m SC at UK Challenge / BMC / UKAEI Final at Crystal Palace, 25 August.

Barden explained: “The Aqua-Pura Steeplechase Series is a natural follow-on to the development work that has been going on around the country throughout the winter. Aqua-Pura Women’s Steeplechase Coordinators Stella Bandu and Geoff Watkin have been delivering a number of women’s-only AP development days linked in to the English Regional and Celtic Nation event programmes.

“The racing series will now provide ideal opportunities for UK women to pitch themselves against each other frequently in quality domestic competition, to raise the standards in the event and push up the Power 10 targets towards European and global standards.”