2009 saw the creation of a new competition – the SPAR European Team Championships to replace the SPAR European Cup.
The first SPAR European Team Championships was held on 20th and 21st June 2009 in Leiria, Portugal. A two-day event incorporating both men’s and women’s team events, it sought to find the top nation out of Russia, Great Britain, Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Ukraine, Greece, Sweden, Czech Republic and host country Portugal.
The new format, with shorter, quicker field competition putting the athletes under pressure delivered some fantastic athletics.
Germany won the title of Team Champion, scoring 326.5 points, with Russia very close behind with 320, while the GB & NI team finished third with 303 points.