31st January 2023

TECHNICAL OFFICIALS ACHIEVE SILVER AND BRONZE LEVEL IN WORLD ATHLETICS REFEREE EXAMINATION

Five of the UK’s Technical Officials have achieved the silver or bronze level in the recent World Athletics Referees Examinations.

Jon Mason is now a silver level Referee which will make him eligible to receive Referee appointments for European Athletics as well as certain World Athletics events.

Rob Dalziel, Alison Jordan, Sue Maughan and Margaret Werrett all attained a bronze level result in their examination.

Mason, who chaired the Jury of appeal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games and has already been selected as Technical Delegate for the 2023 ParaPan American Games and 2024 World Para Athletics Championships, has achieved the qualification for the first time, and spoke upon receiving the results earlier this month.

He said, “Hundreds of people worldwide sat the exam last November, and for the first time the assessment was done online with all candidates taking the exam at the same time. Fortunately, I received Silver Level Referee status, and four other British Technical Officials received a Bronze Level.

“I was not on the panel previously, so this is a new appointment for me. It opens up the opportunity over the eight-year period of the qualification to possibly be selected as a Referee or Technical Delegate at certain international events by nomination of either European Athletics or World Athletics, which I am pleased out.”

Chris Moss, Development Director at UK Athletics, commented, “It is really encouraging to see our Officials achieving this level of qualification at a World Athletics level. One of the key strategic objectives of the UK wide Officials Strategy, which was published in November 2021, is to grow the community of expert Technical Officials at a world class level, and have a diverse network of supported, well educated, experienced, highly skilled international level officials, capable of continuing to deliver the best events in the World. With these five individuals achieving this Referee level, we have more world standard officials in the UK which is very encouraging.”