Chambers, Idowu and Gillick all progress safely

Tuesday 27 July. Dwain Chambers lined up in heat 1 of the 100 metres on the evening of the first day's competition and ran to the clearest of wins with a full 2.5 metres back to the second placer.  Dwaine had shut off the power over the final 20 metres and on the face of it had much in reserve as he cruised to a 10.21 seconds timing against a 1.5 mps headwind.  But it was the Frenchman Lemaitre who clocked the fastest time - 10.19 in the fifth and last race of this first round.   BBC video

It took a single leap from Phillips Idowu to qualify for Thursday's triple jump final - 17.10 metres to place 2nd in qualifying group A behind France's Benjamin Compaoré. Once again, however, it was Teddy Tamgho, also of France, who looks as if he will provide the most substantial challenge for the gold medal in the final: he headed group B with 17.37 metres.

David Gillick carried his Irish colours across the line first in his heat of the 400 metres, timed at 45.84 in spite of slowing significantly in the latter stages.

Results

parkruns

Betty Walker

Belles delighted with league win

McPrivett's fling

Sunday 18 July, Stoke-on-Trent.

Stalwart of our Men's Southern League teams, Chris Privett (left) tried something different when he tackled the MMTG Highland Games at Northwood Stadium.

Chris won no less than eight events, most of them featuring extremely heavy and exotic hammers (including the gloriously named "Hammer of Igmánd") but he was particularly proud of his efforts with the caber where he had two near perfect tosses and scored 35 points out of a maximum or 40. 

Results

Great North 10k

Sunday 18 July, Sunderland.

Phil Wicks travelled to the North East to compete in the BUPA Great North 10k and ended up just 17 seconds behind winner Edwin Kipkorir (Kenya). In 4th place with 29:01, Phil was just 7 seconds off his best ever time and he had the bonus of taking legend Stefano Baldini's scalp.

In 8th was Russell Dessaix-Chin with 30:23, better pleased with his run than he was with his recent track exploits on mainland Europe.

The Jones Boy - on his way back

Saturday 10 July, Blackburn. 

The ERRA National 5k resurfaced in the fixture list after a gap of four years.

Unfortunately we were unable to put together a team to defend the title we won when the race was last held in 2006 but Simon Jones, a member of that winning team, made a good advance up the 2010 road rankings as he clocked 14:36 for 15th. 

Results

At last - a win for the Southern Leaguers

Saturday 10 July.  After three consecutive second places our happy-go-lucky band of Southern Leaguers secured a win in MSL Div 3N match four at Havering.  The competition was close between the Bels and the home club so the relays were exciting to say the least.  Nevertheless, in spite of the victory, Havering & Mayesbrook remain a smidgin ahead on the league tables with the Bels in 5th.  Promotion prospects are difficult to calculate in a division split into three sections but a win in the final match must bring us close to Division 2.

League positions with one match to go.  Match results

Breakthrough for Andrew Connick

Saturday 10 July. 

The BMC Nike Grand Prix at Solihull saw Andrew get down to 1:52.45 over two laps, winning his race.  There was plenty of other Belgrave action -

Results

In Ireland Dan Mulhare placed second in the Irish 1500m Champs. in 3:48.76.

Third JPMorgan win for Phil Wicks

Thursday 8 July, Battersea Park.

Unable to take part last year due to a fixture clash, Phil (centre of picture/yellow vest) was back with a bang in 2010 to pick up his third win. Each previous victory has been followed by a high placing in the global event - 5th in 2007 and 3rd in 2008 - both races were held in New York.  This time, should his company Legal & General send a team, they'll have to travel a little further - to Singapore in the Spring of 2011.

Phil is obviously up for it. In his post race interview he revealed how proud he would be to race for a company that has been so supportive of his running.

"We have been fortunate to qualify for several Championships, and to get to Singapore would be very special for us as a company.”