The women's
5000 metres race walk was dropped from the programme for this championship.
David Ottley extended his unbeaten streak to five straight UK titles in the
javelin throw. On the men's side,
Steve Barry (racewalk),
Graham Eggleton (
pole vault),
Peter Gordon (
discus throw) and
Martin Girvan (
hammer throw) also defended their 1981 UK titles.
Fatima Whitbread was the only woman to repeat her victory, doing so in the javelin. No athlete won multiple titles at this edition, though
Mike McFarlane and
Bev Callender both won the
200 metres title and were runners-up in the
100 metres. The four
countries of the United Kingdom competed separately at the
Commonwealth Games that year as well, and UK champions who won there were men's 200 m champion Mike McFarlane, men's racewalker Steve Barry and women's shot putter Judy Oakes. == Medals ==