Golden Jubilee Cup Semi-Final, Eton

Bels safely through to the final

1 Belgrave H 271.5; 2 Blackheath & Bromley AC 249; 3 Basingstoke &MH 167; =4 Walton AC & Southend AC 153; 6 Herne Hill H 144; 7 Bedford &CAC 89.5; 8 Swansea H 74.5.

Sixteen clubs arrived at Eton early on a wet morning to go into a draw for places in two concurrent matches. Seeded in match 1 were yours truly and in match 2 Windsor (WSHE) After the draw it became clear that in our Match 1 we had serious competition from the combined men and women of Blackheath and Bromley and local rivals Herne Hill could not be discounted.

The problem with a competition in which there are two powerful clubs is that any weak events can lead to point losses which are difficult to recoup in the stronger events. And so it proved with Blackheath and the Bels vying for first spot in practically every event.

Starting at the ungodly hour of 10.30 Diana Holden got us off to a great start in the women’s hammer with a season’s best win followed by wins in the men’s long jump by Darragh O’Farrell and pole vault by Cameron Johnston. Add to that a second in the high jump by Will Sharman and the start was nigh on perfect. But the key was not to give away big points in any event and so every event had to be filled and points maximised. Come in: Malachi Byansi to get unexpected points in the 10,000 metres, Mark Humphries in the steeplechase, and veteran Paul Beaumont in the 400 hurdles. For the women Hannah Stares added high jump points to victories in the short and long hurdles while Andrea Abrams came out of retirement in the women’s long jump. All performed above expectations to add to our points score in what was to be a close match.

Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.