www.belgraveharriers.com

Home  Track & Field Results Index

Reports by Rex Bale

Women's Southern League Division One - 2003 

UKWAL Qualifying Match, Abingdon, 13 September 2003

1 Belgrave 234; 2 Cardiff 175; 3 Pitreavie 168; 4 Blackheath & Bromley 160; 5 Blackpool 149; 6 Cannock & Stafford 122; 7 Deeside 111; 8 Basingstoke &MH 9.

Belles win the qualifer - UK Women's Athletics League here we come!

Although finishing in the basement of the Women's Southern League, placing 20th out of 25 teams, the senior women were successful in gaining a place in the qualifying match for the UK Women’s League.  And so after a long hard season the team had to lift themselves once more to try to join the top tier. Many of the elite athletes did not appear and so the majority of the team was composed of the ‘regulars’ – and former ‘regulars’ since Andrea Abrahams, now 32, answered a late call-up to help the team out.  It was typical of their dedication that they worked so hard for what in the end turned out to be a comfortable win.

The match was well organised with a good commentator and an efficient result service to the extent that the top performaces were given UKA grades.  Hence we learnt that Diana Holden’s 52.88 in the hammer, Lucy Webber’s 3.40 in the pole vault, and Eva Massey’s 14.98 in the shot were all Grade 1 performances. Eva also managed a Grade 2 in the discus, surprising us all with a 40 metres plus throw to win the A competition.

Maureen Knight, ‘fresh’ from gaining a silver medal in the British Isles Combined Events Cup, won the high jump A, the javelin B and was only a fraction below her season’s best of 11.47 in a high calibre triple jump competition where the first four achieved grade 2 jumps.  

Jennifer Culley and Amala Onoura teamed up for the flat sprints and gained double seconds in the 100m.  Jennifer won the 200 B and was second in the 400 hurdles but was spared doing a leg of the 4 x 400m relay since the team took a well earned rest, realising that they had done the business in style.  Michelle Carey, who has been in top form recently, was a clear winner in the 400 A race and helped the 4 x 100m relay to second place. In this race Andrea Abrams showed no signs of rustiness and also took second place in the B jump with over 5 metres.  Ann Hollman was B winner in both shot put and high jump and gained third place in the javelin A.   Michelle Nestor won the B triple jump and was third in the A long jump. 

The trio of middle distance races was the weakest area but nevertheless there were valuable points to be gained here particularly as some of the teams did not field runners. It was fitting that an unwell Jacqui Smiter with over 100 Southern League team appearances to her credit turned out in the 800m to help the team, as did Jo Paterson and Mathilde Heaton.

Then there was reliable Hannah Stares who has been in super hurdling form and won both the 400mH B and 100mH A races, and for good measure, the flat 400m B as well; her lap hurdle time of 61.3 seconds was almost identical to Jennifer’s, both grade 2 performances.

Team manager Cynthia James led by example in the first event and although her body protested at swinging the 4 kilogram weight her competitive spirit got the better of her and rather than just lob it outside the cage she managed 15 metres to beat two rivals for third place.

100m: 2 A.Onuora U20 12.3; 2 J.Culley 12.6. 200m: 3 A.Onuora U20 25.9; 1 J.Culley 25.5. 400m: 1 M.Carey 56.5; 1 H.Stares 58.8. 800m: 6 J.Paterson 2:54.3; 5 J.Smiter 3:05.1. 1500m: 7 M.Heaton 5:21.2; 4 J.Paterson 6:27.1. 3000m: 6 M.Heaton 11:07.1; 5 J.Paterson 14:23.3. 100mH: 1 H.Stares 14.8; 3 J.Searle 18.6. 400mH: 2 J.Culley 61.6; 1 H.Stares 61.8. 4x100m: 2 Belgrave 49.8 (A.Abrams, M.Carey, M.Nestor U20, A.Onuora U20). 4x400m: no Belgrave team. HJ: 1 M.Knight 1.65; 1 A.Hollman 1.55; LJ: 3 M.Nestor U20 5.28; 2 A.Abrams 5.13. TJ: 3 M.Knight 11.45; 1 M.Nestor U20 10.88. PV: 2 L.Webber 3.40; 1 J.Searle 2.40. SP: 1 E.Massey 14.98; 1 A.Hollman 11.59. DT: 1 E.Massey 41.72; 1 D.Holden 33.43. JT: 3 A.Hollman 37.26; 1 M.Knight 35.83. HT: 1 D.Holden 52.88; 3 C.James W55 15.78.

Final League positions

1 Windsor SE&H AC(29) 1291.5; 2 Radley AC (29) 1243.5; 3 Herts Phoenix (27) 1202; 4 Blackheath & Bromley H (26) 1144.5; 5 Stevenage & North Herts. (24) 1133; 6 Havering & Mayesbrook (21) 1081.5; 7 Herne Hill H (20) 1065.5; 8 Sutton & Dist. AC (21) 1057.5; 9 Aldershot F&DAC (21) 1016; 10 Bedford & County (18) 992.5; 11 Guildford & Godalming AC (18) 988.5; 12 Harrow AC (17.5) 988; 13 Reading AC (17) 966.5; 14 Dacorum & Tring (16) 961; 15 Chelmsford AC (16) 945.5; 16 Crawley AC (15) 945; 17 Team Solent (16.5) 943.5; 18 Milton Keynes AC (13) 926; 19 Basildon AC (13) 925; 20 Belgrave H (12) 912; 21 Epsom & Ewell H (15) 902; 22 Walton AC (11) 865.5; 23 Ashford AC (13) 862; 24 Bournemouth AC (10) 803.5; 25 Exeter H (11) 701.5. 

Match 6, Sutton Arena, 6 September 2003

1 Windsor SE&H 223; 2 Stevenage 180; 3 Sutton &D 161; 4 Chelmsford 148; 5 Belgrave 133.

Women struggle in their last match

Although strengthened slightly by a larger contingent of girls, the team struggled in the shadow of the new Sutton indoor athletics centre and ended the afternoon in last place and feeling vulnerable in the basement of the Division 1 table. However, they have gained a place in the UK League qualifying match at Abingdon on 13 September - an end-of-season bonus they did not expect and which is causing headaches for team managers, Cynthia James and Catherine Eastham !

Jennifer Culley was hoping for a less strenuous afternoon than normal having had 'flu a couple weeks earlier, but ended up doing both hurdles races, the flat 100m and the sprint relay! She was untroubled in her first race which she won by 25 metres easing up, and then won the 100m B in 12.3 seconds, just one tenth second slower than 100m specialist Amala Onuora. Amala was second in the 200m and entered new territory by running a leg of the 400m. She acquitted herself well, not being tempted to go off too fast, but was however tempted to have a good lie-down on the track afterwards - she got up when cramp set in! Julie Mitchell was second in the 800 and again in the 1500 metres where she was involved in a burn-up down the finishing straight with the Windsor winner. In this race, Debbie Hearn was delighted with her time, only two seconds short of her best, and is looking forward to the cross country season. Fellow runners over the country, Tilly Heaton and Louise Cooper also warmed up for the winter, running well in the cooler conditions and gaining valuable points with their third and second places respectively; Tilly gained another pb, (10:54.8) and Louise was agonisingly close to ducking under 11 minutes again (10:51.89 in a recent Watford Open). Caroline Wilson ended the season with two more quality 400m races, individual and relay, and has competed in all six matches this season. 

In the field Diana Holden and Gail Porter not only did their usual throws, hammer and discus, but covered Maureen Knight's throwing events as well - she was competing for England in a representative match. The highlights of their efforts were in the hammer where both achieved their best throws of the season, 51.80 and 28.25 metres respectively. 

In the under-15 competition, Holly and Isabel Gates covered the sprints and Holly also tackled the 800 metres. Lily Beadle and Sophie Woodward-Fisher made their club debut in the 75m Hurdles and another newcomer, Chloe Sanderson, took on all three throws the pick of which was her third place in the discus with 21.18 metres.

Senior Women

100m: 1 A.Onuora U20 12.2; 1 J.Culley 12.3. 200m:2 A.Onuora U20 25.6; 1 T.Hassan U17 26.1. 400m: 4 C.Wilson U20 60.3; 5 L.Collier U17 63.3. 800m: 2 J.Mitchell 2:17.9; 4 L.Collier U17 2:30.7. 1500m: 2 J.Mitchell 4:39.8; 3 D.Hearn 5:22.6. 3000m: 3 M.Heaton 10:54.8; 2 L.Cooper 11:00.8. 100mH: 2 J.Culley 15.1; 2 J.Searle 18.8. 400mH: 1 J.Culley 65.0; 3 J.Smiter 83.7. 4x100m: 2 Belgrave (S.Murray-Burton U17, M.Nestor U20, T.Hassan U17, A.Onuora U20). 4x400m: 2 Belgrave 4:09.0 (L.Collier U17 64.1, A.Onuora U20 64.0, C.Wilson U20 60.9, J.Culley 60.0). HJ: 3 M.Nestor U20 1.55; 3 J.Smiter 1.35. LJ: 3 M.Nestor U20 5.22; 5 T.Hassan U17 4.25. TJ: 2 M.Nestor U20 10.80; 4 J.Smiter 8.22. PV: 5 J.Smiter 1.90; nhr J.Searle. SP: 3 D.Holden 9.89; 5 G.Porter 7.04. DT: 5 D.Holden 27.34; 3 G.Porter 23.16. JT: 5 G.Porter 25.06; 5 J.Smiter 19.08. HT: 1 D.Holden 51.80; 2 G.Porter 28.25. 

Under 17 Women

80mH: 4 C.Hopkins 16.6. 300mH: 4 C.Hopkins 58.7.

Under 15 Girls

100m: 5 H.Gates 14.3; 5 I.Gates 15.2. 200m: 4 H.Gates 29.0; 5 I.Gates 32.3. 800m: 5 H.Gates 2:58.5. 1500m: 4 K.Burns 5:35.0; 4 L.Sandberg 6:40.2. 75mH: 5 L.Beadle 18.4; 5 S.Woodward-Fisher 18.7. 4x100m: 5 Belgrave time not known (K.Burns, C.Sanderson, I.Gates, H.Gates). HJ: 5 S.Woodward-Fisher 1.05; 5 L.Beadle 1.05. LJ: 5 I.Gates 3.20; 5 L.Sandberg 3.03. SP: 5 C.Sanderson 6.84; 5 K.Burns 5.92. DT: 3 C.Sanderson 21.18; 5 K.Burns 10.77.

League standings after five matches.

1 Windsor Slough E&H (24) 1058.5; 2 Radley (24) 1047; 3 Herts Phoenix (22) 995; 4 Blackheath & Bromley (22) 956; 5 Stevenage & NH (20) 953; 6 Herne Hill (19) 916.5; 7 Sutton & D (18) 896.5; 8 Havering & Mayesbrook (16) 869; 9 Bedford & County (16) 834.5; 10 Aldershot Farnham &D (16) 833; 11 Harrow (15.5) 832.5; 12 Guildford & Godalming (16) 822.5; 13 Chelmsford (14) 797.5; 14 Dacorum & Tring (13) 792.5; 15 Reading (13) 781; 16 Belgrave (11) 779; 17 Team Solent (12.5) 773; 18 Epsom & Ewell (14) 762; 19 CRawley (11) 750; 20 Milton Keynes (10) 746.5; 21 Basildon (10) 734; 22 Walton (10) 723.5; 23 Ashford (10) 693.5; 24 Bournemouth (8) 689; 25 Exeter (10) 609.5.

Match 5, Ashford, 9 August 2003

1 Radley 209, 2 Ashford 179, 3 Basildon 157, 4 Dacorum 152, 5 Belgrave 142.

Not one of our better results, writes Catherine Eastham, with a number of key senior athletes missing and the limited number of juniors still affecting the points.  The extremely hot weather had an impact on athletes across all teams.  Some positive results, despite the conditions, came from Julie Hollman and Maureen Knight, our intrepid heptathletes, doubling up to win both 100m hurdles and shot putts.  Our best results overall came from the field events, with Michelle Nestor, Caroline Stead and Diana Holden also contributing to the number of first places achieved.  On the track, there was a personal best for Tilly Heaton in the 3000m ‘B’ string, despite the heat, and new member Apeike Umolu (Under 17) could be one to watch in the sprint hurdles.

Senior Women

100m: 3 T.Hassan 13.0; 3 F.Gregory 13.7. 200m: 3 T.Hassan 26.4; 5 F.Gregory 29.4. 400m: 4 C.Wilson 59.3; 4 L.Collier 63.5. 800m: 3 L.Collier 2:31.8; 5 J. Patterson 3:00.1. 1500m: 3 R.Powell 4:58.4; 4 D.Hearn 5:44.7. 3000m: 3 H.Alsop 11:15.**; 1 T.Heaton 11:22.**. 100mH: 1 J.Hollman 14.9; 1 M.Knight 15.7. 400mH: 4 L.Webber 75.3; 5 J.Smiter 88.4. 4x100m: 3 Belgrave (A.Omulu, F.Gregory, M.Nestor, T.Hassan) 52.2. 4x400m: 5 Belgrave (J.Smiter, L.Collier, F.Gregory, C.Wilson) 4:46.2. HJ: 1 M.Knight 1.55; 2 M.Nestor 1.50. LJ: 3 M.Knight 5.28; 1 M.Nestor 5.21. TJ: 1 C.Stead 12.14; 1 M.Nestor 11.01. PV: 2 L.Webber 3.30; 1 J.Smiter 1.80. SP: 1 J.Hollman 12.29; 1 M.Knight 11.27. DT: 3 D.Holden 33.67; 3 G.Porter 24.23. JT: 2 M.Knight 34.68; 1 J.Hollman 32.47. HT: 1 D.Holden 49.22; 3 G.Porter 24.86.

Under 17 Women

80mH: 4 C.Hopkins 16.8; 2 A.Umolu 15.0. 300mH: 4 C.Hopkins 57.5.

Under 15 Girls

100m: 5 H.Gates 14.9; 5 I.Gates 16.5. 200m: 5 H.Gates 30.3; 5 P.Walsh 34.9. 800m: 5 P.Walsh 3:15.2. LJ: 5 H.Gates 3.30; 5 I.Gates 2.93. SP: 5 L.Hopkins 6.18; 5 S.Kemp 6.15. DT: 5 L.Hopkins 11.45; 5 S.Kemp 10.49. JT: 5 L.Hopkins 11.27; 3 S.Kemp 9.17. 4x100m: 5 Belgrave (P.Walsh, H.Gates, I.Gates, L.Hopkins) 65.3.

Match 4, Guildford 5 July 2003.

1 Harrow 195, 2 Aldershot F & D 186; 3 Belgrave H 175 4 Reading 126; 5 Bournemouth 99.

Twenty two wins and best points score of the season

Widespread event swapping was a feature of this match but it did not effect the outcome, in fact the team scored a record number of points and individual wins. 

Sarah Claxton, feeling a little below par, went for the 100m flat which she won convincingly in 12.16, and Jennifer Culley also deserted the 'sticks' to go for the short flat sprints and both relays. Both Jennifer's individual efforts were tight races, pipping her Bournemouth AC friend and occasional training partner, Jenny Molloy, and later eclipsing a Harrow runner in the same fashion in the 200m. 

Hannah Stares and Maureen Knight took charge of the sprint hurdles races. Hannah was well clear in both 100 (14.6) and 400 (61.7) while Maureen won the shorter B event (15.4). Maureen also experimented with the discus and having been given a few tips by veteran Gail Porter had the audacity to throw further than her! She finished with a massive personal best in the triple jump (11.47) and left the stadium floating on air.

Nineteen year old Rosalie Powell made an impressive league debut with third place in the 1500m (4:49.5) with steady running and a very strong last lap where she overtook two runners and finished just a few metres behind the runner-up. Helen Alsop was also well pleased with her sub 11 minutes time in the 3,000 metres and although seventh in the race was second in the Match 1 A race to no less than Harrow's Andrea Whitcombe, past national cross country champion and currently a successful triathlete, who clocked 9:24.9.

The consistent duo of Caroline Wilson and Louise Collier, the one-minute wonders, once again dominated the 400m races. 

Turning back to the field, it was also a one-two for Lucy Webber and Jenny Searle in the pole vault, and in the shot where Eva Massey's massive throw of 15.77 metres is a Club Record (outdoors) although she has thrown further indoors this year. Ann Hollman was the B winner in this event and also won the B javelin, taking just one throw in the latter due to a troublesome shoulder. Diane Holden in the hammer (49.21) had done her job before the officials had got stuck into their sandwiches, and was supported by Gail who was second in the B competition. Another impressive double was in the long jump where Caroline Stead and Michelle Nestor had the two longest jumps of the competition (5.45 and 5.27 respectively). Michelle ran a fast third leg in the short relay where the team won in a nippy 50.2 seconds, the fastest of the season, but she ran out of steam by the time the 4x400 relay arrived. Her 5-minute mile pace in the first leg left the others playing catch-up but it did result in a very exciting race with Bob Bridges' watch showing 60.8 for Caroline, 56.7 for Hannah and a tremendous 54.9 for Jennifer who finished just one stride behind the Harrow winner.

In the under 15 girls competition the event switching continued; Shana Kemp, who hit a hurdle in training during the week, ran the flat sprints, and sprinter Holly Gates, also carrying a slight injury, turned to the throws. Shana's 100 metres (3rd 13.7) and Kirsty Burns' 1500m (4th with 5-24.2), were the pick of the results.

The final points tally was impressive and with the 22 wins, all in the Senior competition, this performance was one of the classics.

Senior Women

100m: 1 S.Claxton 12.1; 1 J.Culley 12.6. 200m: 1 J.Culley 25.4; 1 T.Hassan U17 26.2. 400m: 1 C.Wilson U20 59.1; 1 L.Collier U17 61.7. 800m: 3 H.Stares 2:30.6; 4 D.Hearn 2:36.6. 1500m: 3 R.Powell 4:49.5; 4 J.Smiter 6:19.1. 3000m: 2 H.Alsop W35 10:57.9; 3 D.Hearn 12:45. 100mH: 1 H.Stares 14.6; 1 M.Knight 15.4. 400mH: 1 H.Stares 61.7; 3 J.Smiter 81.9. 4x100m: 1 Belgrave 50.2 (C.Wilson U20, T.Hassan U17, M.Nestor U20, J.Culley). 4x400m: 2 Belgrave 4:08 (M.Nestor U20 75.3, C.Wilson U20 60.8, H.Stares 56.7, J.Culley 54.9). HJ: 2 N.Smallwood 1.60; M.Knight nh. LJ: 1 C.Stead 5.45; 1 M.Nestor U20 5.27. TJ: 1 M.Knight 11.47; 1 M.Nestor 10.66. PV: 1 L.Webber 3.40; J.Searle 2.60. SP: 1 E.Massey 15.77; 1 A.Hollman 11.47. DT: 4 M.Knight 24.39 1 G.Porter 23.29 JT: 2 M.Knight 37.65; 1 A.Hollman 32.80. HT: 1 D.Holden 49.21 2 G.Porter 27.93.

U17 Women

80mH: 4 C.Hopkins 16.2. 300mH: 4 C.Hopkins 56.1.

U15 Girls

100m: 3 S.Kemp 13.7; 4 I.Gates 15.7. 200m: 5 I.Gates 34.1. 1500m: 4 K.Burns 5:24.2. LJ: 4 S.Kemp 3.65; 3 I.Gates 3.01. HJ: 4 K.Burns 1.10. SP: 4 L.Hopkins 5.85; 2 H.Gates 5.46. DT: 4 H.Gates 12.90; 3 L.Hopkins 10.72; JT: 5 L.Hopkins 12.91; 4 H.Gates 6.01.

League standings after three matches.

1 Windsor SE&H 676 (15); 2 Radley 641 (14); 3 Herts Phoenix 597 (12); 4 Stevenage & N.Herts 590 (13); 5 Blackheath & Bromley 579 (14); 6 Havering & Mayesbrook 568 (12); 7 Sutton & Dist 555 (10); 8 Herne Hill H 549.5 (12); 9 Bedford & Cnty 509 (10); 10 Harrow 506 (9.5); 11 Guildford & Godalming 501 (10); 12 Chelmsford 492 (9); 13 Dacorum & Tring 486 (10); 14 Reading 469 (7); 15 Belgrave H 462 (7); 16 Team Solent 462 (6.5); 17 Crawley 453 (8); 18 Milton Keynes 449 (5); 19 Aldershot F&D 447.5 (7); 20 Bournemouth 447.5 (6); 21 Epsom & Ewell 434 (7); 22 Basildon 426.5 (5); 23 Walton 414.5 (6); 24 Exeter H 390.5 (7); 25 Ashford 350 (3).

Match 3, Battersea Park, 7 June 2003.

1 Herts. Phoenix 209, 2 Herne Hill 186; 3 Crawley AC 159; 4 Belgrave H 149; 5 Milton Keynes AC 145.

Seniors strong again - but it's fourth at the end of the day

The Hollman sisters, Julie and Anne, making a late start to their season, made a very valuable contribution to the Club’s total but by the end of the rain-free and largely sunny afternoon it was Herts Phoenix who came out on top with an impressive 209 points, the home team placing fourth with 149. The Hollmans scored maximum points in the shot put and on the track Julie won the 100mH (14.2) and brought the 4 x 400 relay team back into contention with a splendid 55.3 second anchor leg. In this race one second separated the first three teams and in the 4 x 100 relay there was another tight finish with the Belles taking second place, one tenth of a second behind Crawley. Julie Mitchell dominated the 1500m finishing 20 seconds clear of the runner-up, and Toks Hassan also had a comfortable winning margin in the 200m (26.0), but in the lap hurdles Jennifer Culley had to find that little bit extra to stay ahead of Sam Adamson of the Herts Phoenix club, our main rivals in the senior events where both teams collected 120 points, well clear of the other three clubs.

In the field, Michelle Nestor’s smile was even broader than normal after she had wrapped up the long jump with 5.24 metres and was the only triple jumper over 11 metres which she achieved in her last attempt. Just for good measure she ran a sprint relay leg and was second in the high jump ‘B’ (1.50). Diana Holden showed she is back in business by snatching victory from Nicole Dudman in the last round of the hammer with over 51 metres. In this event and the discus she teamed up with Gail Porter, always willing to help the Club fill vacancies, who placed third in both B competitions. There was a second place in the javelin with Anne Hollman just claiming the A competition place - her 35.86 furthest throw was just 8 centimetres further than that of Maureen Knight who also won the sprint hurdles B race in 15.3 seconds. There were second places in the 400m flat for Caroline Wilson (59.2) and Louise Collier (61.0). 

In the under 15 girls, consistent Holly Gates competed in her usual events clocking 14.0 seconds in the 100 metres and leaping 3.72 metres in the long jump where she teamed up with Nicola Ellis (3.85 metres). 

Senior Women.

100m: 5 F.Gregory U17 13.4. 200m: 1 T.Hassan U17 26.0; 5 S.Murray-Burton U20 28.4. 400m: 2 C.Wilson U20 59.2; 2 L.Collier U17 61.0. 800m: 5 L.Collier 2:24.9; 3 V.Goodwin 2:23.7. 1500m: 1 J.Mitchell 4:40.6; 2 V.Goodwin 5:13.7. 3000m: 3 L.Cooper 11:38.0; 3 J.Patterson 13:41.6. 100mH: 1 J.Hollman 14.2; 1 M.Knight 15.3. 400mH: 1 J.Culley 63.3; 5 J.Smiter 94.0. 4x100m: 2 Belgrave 51.5 (F.Gregory U17, S.Murray-Burton U20, M.Nestor U20, T.Hassan U17. 4x400m: 3 Belgrave 4:00.6 (L.Collier U17 62.8, C.Wilson U20 59.6, V.Goodwin 62.9, J.Hollman 55.3). HJ: 3 M.Knight 1.60; 2 M.Nestor U20 1.50. LJ: 2 M.Knight 5.28; 1 M.Nestor U20 5.24. TJ: 1 M.Nestor U20 11.06; 1 M.Knight 10.52. PV: 3 J.Smiter 1.70. SP: 1 J.Hollman 12.51; 1 A.Hollman 11.65. DT: 2 D.Holden 30.79; 3 G.Porter 23.88. JT: 2 A.Hollman 35.86; 1 M.Knight 35.78. HT: 1 D.Holden 51.19; 3 G.Porter 25.08. 

U17 Women.

80mH: 5 C.Hopkins 17.2. 300mH: 4 C.Hopkins 58.9.

U15 Girls

100m: 4 H.Gates 14.0; 4 L.Pearce 14.6. 200m: 5 H.Gates 31.6; 5 I.Gates U13 33.7. 800m: 5 L.Sandberg 3:12.5. 1500m: 5 K.Burns 5:32.6. 75mH: no competitor. 4x100m: 5 Belgrave 61.5 (L.Sandberg, N.Sheridan, K.Burns, L.Pearce). HJ: 4 L.Pearce 1.15; 3 K.Burns 1.10. LJ: 4 N.Sheridan 3.85; 3 H.Gates 3.72. SP: 5 S.Gayle 7.22; 5 L.Hopkins 5.04. DT: 5 S.Gayle 13.68; 5 L.Hopkins 10.00. JT: 5 L.Hopkins 12.20; 4 S.Gayle 11.12.

League standings after two matches.

1 Windsor SE&H 453 (10); 2 Radley 438 (9); 3 Stevenage & North Herts. 405 (9); 4 Blackheath & Bromley 397 (10); 5 Herts Phoenix 388 (7); 6 Sutton & Dist. 376 (8); 7 Guildford & Godalming 369 (9); 8 Herne Hill 363.5 (8); 9 Havering Mayesbrook 360 (7); 10 Bedford & County 350 (7); 11 Harrow 325 (6); 12 Epsom & Ewell 319.5 (6); 13 Belgrave 313 (5); 14 Chelmsford 307.5 (5); 15 Reading 307 (4); 16 Milton Keynes 304 (4); 17 Dacorum & Tring 299 (5); 18 Aldershot F&D 291 (4); 19 Bournemouth 290.5 (4); 20 Exeter 288.5 (6); 21 Crawley 286 (5); 22 Walton 280 (4); 23 Team Solent 279 (3); 24 Basildon 278.5 (3); 25 Ashford 227 (2).

Match 2, Norman Park, 17 May 2003.

1 Blackheath & Bromley 196; 2 Belgrave 172; 3 Havering 161; 4 Bedford 156; 5 Team Solent 136.

A more balanced team

A more balanced team at Norman Park coupled with some great performances resulted in second place behind the host club Blackheath & Bromley. The points total of 172 was 31 up on the first match at Exeter. Jennifer Culley made a welcome return to the team with second in both 100m and 200m and she ran the fastest leg in the 4 x 400m relay where the team won by the length of the home straight. In the "senior" 4 x 100m the team of all teenagers ran exceptionally well with a 52.9 clocking. Maria Sharp had a double first in the 800m (2:19.4) and 3,000m (10:11.5), an event where W40 Jacinta Moore made a surprise reappearance having been a regular and reliable competitor in this league some years ago. Louise Collier, consistently good at 400m is now seeing her 800m times coming down as well. Diane Holden who has missed some training over the winter due to illness still managed to hurtle the hammer to beyond 48 metres for second place. Shelley Newman, although slightly below her best won the discus competition. Maureen Knight and Hannah Stares once again gathered an impressive points tally including a double win in the javelin. Hannah’s highlight was the 400mH won in 60.2 and, judging by her 400 relay leg, putting 10 obstacles in her path only slows her up by a couple of seconds !

Maureen and Nicole Smallwood had to wait until the end of the afternoon after the heavy rain had started for their high jump. There were five left in at 1.50 metres and all the competitors really wanted to do was to shelter under the pole vault cover, or better still go home. However they persevered and were rewarded with first in both A and B competitions. Triple jump is becoming a strong event for us and Julie Johnson proved to be a welcome addition to the team winning the A competition in 10.50 with consistent U20 Michelle Nestor matching her by winning the B. In the pole vault former Southern League record holder Lucy Webber, who won at Exeter with 3.40 metres, was up against Liz Hughes of Blackheath who holds the current record of 4.16 metres. A disappointed Lucy sadly no-heighted, a nightmare that many pole vaulters face, leaving an improving Jenny Searle to take fourth in the A competition.

In the under 15 Girls competition the highlights were perhaps Shana Kemp’s 13.2 in the 75mH with third, and the team’s fourth place in the 4 x 100m with a very creditable time of 56.2 seconds.

Our competitor in the under 17 hurdles, Emma Hunter,  proved that it pays never to give up.  She fell at the first hurdle in the longer event but picking herself up was determined to continue to collect her points for last place.  There were only three in the race and amazingly one of the other girls then also fell - but didn't get up to continue.  So Emma's efforts won her a surprise second place.

Senior Women.

100m: 2 J.Culley 12.7; 4 F.Gregory U17 13.9; n/s S.Murray-Burton U20 14.2. 200m: 2 J.Culley 25.6; 4 F.Gregory U17 28.6. 400m: 3 C.Wilson U20 59.7; 3 L.Collier U17 61.6. 800m: 1 M.Sharp 2:19.4; 1 L.Collier U17 2:21.9. 1500m: 5 J.Paterson 6:13.3; 5 J.Smiter 6:56.8. 3000m: 1 M.Sharp 10:11.5; 3 J.Moore W40 13:32.8. 100mH: 1 H.Stares 14.5; 1 M.Knight 16.4. 400mH: 1 H.Stares 60.2; 3 J.Smiter 90.7. 4x100m: 4 Belgrave 52.9 (F.Gregory U17, C.Wilson U20, S.Murray-Burton U20, M.Nestor U20). 4x400m: 1 Belgrave 3:55.8 (L.Collier 61.7, J.Culley 56.8, C.Wilson U20 58.9, H.Stares 58.4). HJ: 1 M.Knight 1.60; 1 N.Smallwood 1.55. LJ: 2 M.Knight 5.20; 4 E.Hunter U17 4.32. TJ: 1 J.Johnson 10.50; 1 M.Nestor U20 10.41. PV: 4 J.Searle 2.40; - L.Webber no ht; SP: 1 M.Knight 12.04; 1 S.Newman 11.73; DT: 1 S.Newman 52.36; 3 D.Holden 29.94. JT: 1 M.Knight 30.76; 1 H.Stares 29.33. HT: 2 D.Holden 48.11; 2 S.Newman 27.40.

Under 17 Women.

80mH: 4 E.Hunter 17.1; 300mH: 2 E.Hunter 70.9

Under 15 Girls.

100m: 4 H.Gates 14.5; 4 N.Ellis 16.4; n/s I.Gates U13 16.0. 200m: 3 H.Gates 29.4; 2 S.Kemp 28.8. 800m: no competitor. 1500m: K.Burns 5:50.0. 75mH: 3 S.Kemp 13.2. 4x100m: 4 Belgrave 56.2 (L.Pearce, N.Ellis, H.Gates, S.Kemp). HJ: 5 N.Ellis 1.15; 4 K.Burns 1.10. LJ: 5 L.Pearce 3.71; 3 I.Gates U13 3.16. SP: 4 K.Burns 5.85; 3 J.Brindle 5.80. DT: 4 H.Gates 12.41; 5 J.Brindle 12.05. JT: 4 S.Kemp 11.78; 4 L.Pearce 10.47.

League standings after one match.

1 Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow 219; 2 Radley 214; 3eq Blackheath & Bromley/ Havering Mayesbrook 202; 5 Herne Hill H 199; 6 Exeter 195.5; 7 Bedford & County 191; 8 Sutton & District 186; 9 Stevenage & North Herts 185; 10 Herts Phoenix 185; 11 Guildford & Godalming 177; 12 Milton Keynes 171; 13 Aldershot, Farnham & District 164; 14 Harrow 161; 15 Bournemouth 155; 16 Walton 150; 17 Chelmsford 150.5; 18 Crawley 144; 19 Team Solent 143; 20 Epsom & Ewell 142.5; 21 Belgrave 141; 22 Reading 135; 23 Dacorum & Tring 128; 24 Basildon 121.5; 25 Ashford 101.

Match 1, Exeter, 26 April 2003.

1 Exeter 195.5; 2 Guildford & Godalming 177; 3 Walton 150; 4 Epsom & Ewell 142.5; 5 Belgrave 141.

Welcome to the new track season

Eight hours of coach travel, four hours of competition with three prolonged heavy showers – welcome to the new track & field season. 

The team was rather short of under-15 girls and distance runners but nevertheless accumulated 141 points, 121 of which were contributed by the Seniors who would have won convincingly had this competition been scored separately.  Exeter Harriers who were fourth last year started as firm favourites and duly won with 195.5 points. Guildford and Godalming also had a good day with 177 points leaving the remaining three clubs, including ourselves, grouped together.  

In the Girls competition, Holly Gates and Emily Collins ran very respectable times but were up against good opposition in both the short sprints.  Holly with 13.9/29.2 was fourth in both the A races and Emily, looking a much stronger runner these days, clocked 14.1/29.6 in the B races.  Shana Kemp had a busy afternoon, coming 3rd in the 75mH (13.5), 3rd in the discus (14.59) and also put the shot with Maisie Collins, where both became rednecks - the new batch of shots was shedding paint - Rex the Retriever ended up with red paws and the sector looked rather artistic with its red spots.

The seniors started well with multi-eventer Hannah Stares winning the lap hurdles in 61.3. She later won the sprint hurdles just as convincingly (14.6), and then tackled the 800m B which she paced to perfection to win. Hannah also won the javelin B (26.81), where Maureen Knight came second in the A competition with 35.75 metres to contribute to her afternoon of points collection. Maureen won the 100mH B (15.5), shot (11.65) and long jump (5.22), an exciting competition where just 7 cms separated the first 5, including Michelle Nestor who was second in the B with 5.15 metres. 

Amala Onuora was in good form with a 12.2 win in the 100m and 25.5 for 2nd in the 200m. She also ran the anchor leg in the sprint relay and made a bold bid to snatch second place. Her trademark finishing dip was enough to match the same time as the second team (51.7) but did not get the verdict.   Fran Gregory and Toks Hassan gave good support to Amala, Toks clocking the same time in the 200m B race as the winner, Helen Williams, one of the Walton triplets.

Shelley Newman was fourth in the hammer (26.61) and second in the B shot (10.96) but let us know that she is the UK No 1 in the discus with 54.65 metres. She gave the officials plenty of exercise in retrieving her implement – in one of her attempts the platter skimmed within 10 metres of the javelin runway arc at the other end, proving that you can’t hold the two events at the same time !

A semi-injured Jacqui Smiter competed in her usual variety of events to keep the points tally moving - the 1500, 3000, 400mH B and her best of the day, the pole vault, where she cleared 1.80 to take 2nd place in the B competition.  

Louise Collier was below par for the 800 but decided this was her one-lap day as she won the B 400 convincingly (60.8), an event in which Caroline Wilson came third in the A race, dipping under the minute. Louise ran a scorching leg of the 400 relay where in a thrilling finale the team came second with 4:12.7, ‘Hannah the Ancha’ needing an extra 50 metres of track to overhaul the winner.

The team then boarded the coach for the long haul back home. Those of us who stayed awake enjoyed some wonderful scenery in the evening sunshine from the A30 between Honiton and Ilminster.  We were then accompanied by a very bright rainbow for half an hour until we reached Stonehenge.

Senior Women. 

100m: 1 A.Onuora U20 12.2; 3 F.Gregory U17 13.3; n/s S.Murray-Burton U20 14.0. 200m: 2 A.Onuora U20 25.5; 2 T.Hassan U17 26.0. 400m: 3 C.Wilson U20 59.6; 1 L.Collier U17 60.8. 800m: 3 L.Collier U17 2:27.3; 1 H.Stares 2:29.8. 1500m: 5 S.Collins 6:40.4; 3 M.Taylor-Gates 8:06.8. 3000m: 4 J.Smiter 15:07.5. 100mH: 1 H.Stares 14.6; 1 M.Knight 15.5. 400mH: 1 H.Stares 61.3; 3 J.Smiter 92.7.  HJ: 2 M.Knight 1.55; 2 M.Nestor U20 1.45. LJ: 1 M.Knight 5.22; 2 M.Nestor U20 5.15. TJ: 2 M.Nestor U20 10.51; 4 J.Smiter 7.98. PV: 1 L.Webber 3.30; 2 J.Smiter 1.80. SP: 2 M.Knight 11.65; 2 S.Newman 10.96. DT: 1 S.Newman 54.65; 5 L.Webber 15.19. JT: 2 M.Knight 35.75; 1 H.Stares 26.61. HT: 4 S.Newman 26.61; 5 K.Collier 13.00. 4x100m:3 Belgrave 51.7 (F.Gregory U17, T.Hassan U17, S.Murray-Burton U20, A.Onuora U20). 4x400m: 2 Belgrave 4:12.7 (L.Collier U17, C.Wilson U20, F.Gregory U17, H.Stares).

Under 15 Girls

100m: 4 H.Gates 13.9; 3 E.Collins 14.1. 200m: 4 H.Gates 29.2; 4 E.Collins 29.6. 75mH: 3 S.Kemp 13.5. LJ: 5 H.Gates 3.77; 5 M.Collins 1.94. SP: 5 S.Kemp 6.04; 5 M.Collins 3.39. DT: 3 S.Kemp 14.59. 4x100m: 5 Belgrave 60.8 (M.Collins, E.Collins, S.Kemp, H.Gates).