Southern Premier Division Qualifying match, Copthall Stadium

Men qualify in style but women must try again in 2005

Both the men's and women's teams were hit by absentees and clashing fixtures - but whereas the men's team was more than strong enough to overcome this problem, the women's team was not. This means that next year our resources will be split. While the men compete in the Southern Premier Division, the women will continue in the Brent Division at a different venue on the same day - so we will have two lots of coach travel and have to supply two teams of officials.

It was a super achievement for the men, returning to Premier competition after a gap of a couple of years, but let's face it, they are so strong at the moment that they would surely win the national final - if they were eligible. All credit too to the women's team. There were only seven of them and yet half way through the meeting they were in second position in the match.

Captain Chris Gearing led from the front and collected the man of the match award for his performance in the shot. A huge impact was made in the match by international multi-eventers Kevin Sempers and Mark Allen, seemingly winning events at will. In particular, what a superb effort from Mark in the shot.

Short of middle-distance runners, 400m man Gavin Selway and one lap hurdler Ryan Dinham volunteered for the 800 metres and both showed that they could make names for themselves here if they could be lured away from one lap events. Gavin showed no fear as he took up the running on the second lap, forcing the pace along until he started to tread water in the home straight. For Ryan, who studied his watch after the first lap as if trying to work out how long he'd got before his next event, it was considerably easier. He led the chasing pack, having allowed the leader to get away, but then turned on a long sprint on the second circuit which saw him canter home for a win some 30 seconds faster than his pb (set years ago). Both these guys could immediately go to very low 1:50s if they felt so inclined.

Sprint internationals Wade Bennett-Jackson and James Ellington were well in control of the sprints, taking things fairly leisurely - and we must say a word about Jamie Macrae and Paul Cowling who all summer have always been on hand to tackle whatever event is short of a man in a claret and gold vest.

Wins were rarer for the women. Michelle Nestor was in good form, being not too far away from her U20 triple jump record and winning the long jump as well. Fran Gregory was busy, winning in the B 100m, and tackling the 200m, 400m and both relays. As usual Toks Hassan scored well in the sprints and in the longer distances Imogen Ainsworth and Louise Collier both did well, encountering some stiffer competition than they have been used to in the Brent Division. Apart from Michelle, all these girls will still be eligible for U20 competition in 2005 and are sure to provide a powerful nucleus for next year's team.

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