Men's Southern League Division 2 (N), Match 3, Watford

Bels wobble at Watford

The faint prospect of a possible match win evaporated when news filtered through that a couple of "hoped for" men were going to be unable to make it at the last minute. A swift re-jigging of the team to cover middle-distance and throws had our Team Manager (and President) enquiring of her 'aged P', "You don't fancy lobbing a hammer out do you?" As he struggled for a reasonable excuse, up spoke young Deji Williams, coming to the rescue with, "I'll do it."

Now 17 year-old Deji is of the whippet-like sprinter's build but no TM looks a gift horse in the mouth and within minutes our young hero was swinging a 7.26 kilogramme hammer ... and plonking it in neatly in the sector. Second place in the 'B'! He followed up later with an identical position in the discus and by the end of the meeting, having 'only' secured second in the 'B' hundred, laughingly had to face the banter that maybe he should switch to the throws 'cos he gets just as many points there! Last seen munching a burger, maybe he'd started work on trying to put on a little weight.

Other gaps were filled by Richard McMillan, Pierre Walker, Ben Davies and driver Bob Bridges but perhaps the most amusing was the 800m, plugged by Will Cockerell. Using it as a warm-up for the 5000m (next race on the track) he not surprisingly elected to 'jog it'. But Will's discombobulated jog had many watchers convinced that he'd been shot in the foot by the starter, as he hobbled away round the bend. His one grace-saving thought as he concluded his first lap, "Thank goodness Alan's not here to see this," was disconcertingly punctured by the voice of that very timekeeper shouting in his ear at the bell ... "88, 89, 90!"

Great to see Pete Willis back running, and supporting Will in a 5k where our Hon Secretary was very much more at home (and he followed up with a 'chase for good measure), and to see eligible BAL men Gary Wilson, Cameron Johnston and an injury hampered Set Osho boosting the team. Paul Graham took a good 'B' 200 win and was well pleased with his split in the long relay.

As usual, an enjoyable and fun-filled MSL outing; and again, as usual, thanks to our regular officials Gill and Tony Fairclough.

Men. 100m: 1 S Osho 11.0; 2 A Williams U20 11.9; n/s 1r2 P Graham 11.6; 4r2 B Davies 12.1. 200m: 2 P Walker 23.4; 1 P Graham 23.6. 400m: 3 B Davies 54.0; 4 R McMillan 63.2. 800m: 4 L Eguia 2:11.7; 4 W Cockerell 2:59.7. 1500m: 3 L Eguia 4:25.9; 2 P Willis 4:42.8; n/s B Barton M45 4:47.3. 5000m: 2 W Cockerell 16:45.6; 3 P Willis 17:24.1. 110mH: 1 G Wilson 15.8; no B competitor. 400mH: no Belgrave competitors. 3000mSC: 2 W Cockerell 10:49.9; no B competitor. HJ: 3 B Davies 1.40; 3 P Walker 1.40. LJ: 4 P Walker 4.88; 4 B Davies 4.12. TJ: no Belgrave competitors. PV: 1 C Johnston 3.80; 2 P Mayfield 1.17. SP: 2 P Mayfield 10.72; 2 R Bridges M60 6.75. DT: 2 P Mayfield 33.18; 2 A Williams U20 17.13. JT: 2 P Mayfield 39.96; 4 A Williams U20 19.85. HT: 2 P Mayfield 29.54; 2 A Williams U20 11.80. 4x100m: 1 Belgrave (A Williams U20, B Davies, P Graham, P Walker) 46.6. 4x400m: 4 Belgrave 3:50.9 ( B Davies 56.1, 2 P Walker 58.3, R McMillan 63.7, P Graham 52.8).

Teams: 1 Colchester 107; 2 Watford H 93; 3 Belgrave H 76; 4 Barnet &D 74.

League positions after three rounds: 1 Luton 12 (315.5|); 2 Bedford &C 11 (292); 3 Colchester 10 (302); 4 Milton Keynes 9 (305.5); 5 Huntingdonshire 9 (288); 6 Camb & Coleridge 9 (275); ... 9 Belgrave H 8 (264); from 16 clubs.

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