National Junior League 2003: Match 2 Thames Valley Centre, Eton

Short on numbers - but not on determination

James Ellington receives the Man of the Match Award for his 10.7 100m

1 Windsor SE&H 232; 2 Oxford City 176; 3 Hillingdon 151; 4 Belgrave H 106; 5 London Heathside 49; 6 Thames Valley H 42.

With the SEAA Championships being held the same weekend and the AAAs taking place the following weekend, our Club suffered - as did the others judging by the many unfilled team places. Nevertheless there were some fine moments.

James Ellington won by a healthy margin in the 100m with 10.7 seconds and gained the Man of the Match award for this performance. Jon Regis was third in the B race with 11.6 and was 4th in the 200m.

Our two heavyweights did us proud again with the ‘Chris and Kyle’ double act producing maximum results. Confusion reigns as to whether the 6kg or 6.25kg implements should be used so as a compromise the ‘six’ was used for the hammer but the heavier one used for the shot! Chris Gearing heaved the latter to 16.84 metres, a pb which puts him at the top of the UK Rankings. He also won the discus with his best effort of 46.19 metres coming in the final round. Chris also ran the third leg of the 4x100 relay showing a burst of speed which didn’t deserve the rebuke that he should have been disqualified for taking up two lanes! Kyle Stevens was pressurised in the hammer but came out the winner by throwing 48-80 metres, just 31 cms further than the WSEH runner-up. He also won the B shot (14.85).

Middle distance runner Jamie MacRae is demonstrating that 800m is his better event with another fine run of 2:05.5 to gain second B spot. He also later ran 4:33.8 in the 1500m. Paul Cowling provided back-up for Jamie by also running the 800/1500 double. Roy Collier took one vault (2.20) to place third, and then concentrated on the high jump competition in which he gained equal second, but was disappointed with his 1.60 effort. Perhaps having his Dad standing next to the upright as a field official, with critical eye but not being allowed to comment, had something to do with it!

The sprint relay team of Regis, McRae, Gearing and Ellington finished in fourth place with 47.5 seconds.
Considering that the team was only seven strong, it did incredibly well to finish the match in 4th place.

100m: 1 J.Ellington 10.7; 3 J.Regis 11.6. 200m: 4 J.Regis. 800m: 5 P.Cowling 2:22.52; 2 J.MacRae 2:05.5. 1500m: J.MacRae 4:33.8; P.Cowling 5:38.2. HJ: =2 R.Cillier 1.60. TJ: 3 R.Collier 11.08. PV: 3 R.Collier 2.20. SP: (6.25kg) 1 C.Gearing 16.84; 1 K.Stevens 14.55. DT: 1 C.Gearing 46.19; 1 K.Stevens 33.60. JT: 5 J.Regis 18.13; 4 P.Cowling 14.13. HT: 1 K.Stevens 48.80. 4x100m: 4 Belgrave 47.5 (J.MacRae, J.Regis, C.Gearing, J.Ellington).

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