The dual registered Thurrock Swimming Club youngster had a winning weekend by securing his first National qualifying time of the season in the 200 backstroke (2.11.93).

The PB and long course qualifying time gives Matt the opportunity to race at the Youth National Championships to be held in the Summer at the International Pool, Ponds Forge in Sheffield. There he will rub shoulders with other Youth swimmers from all over the country.

To further make his weekend a “win win for Winnell”, he picked up podium places and Bronze medals in both the 200 fly and 400 IM. So all in all a good weekend.

Fans were told of Ulamek’s signing last week and with the rider having a gap in his racing calendar to bring equipment over this week he will now come into the line up ahead of schedule.

Young Ellis has been champing at the bit to add to his lower league experience with that of Elite League racing and the Club will work with him over the initial meetings to make sure the time is right for him to step up and if it proves too early they will use the new June averages to look at other options.

Making way for the two new additions will be Robert Mear, who is joining Rye House, and, initially, Kim Nilsson, although the rider and Club have agreed that no final decision on Kim’s future will be made until the middle of June as, potentially, he can be reintroduced into the line up in time for the visit of Wolverhampton on Friday 21st June, having missed only two meetings should the Club decide he is a better option than other team members.

The Vortex Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook explained: “Seb (Ulamek) is very keen to get started, as are we, and as he was travelling in this week anyway it seemed silly not to get him started straight away. Having looked at our options we really felt that the chance for our fans to see Adam (Ellis) in action was too good to miss. Whether it proves a brief cameo or for the rest of the season will depend on how he handles the step up but he is mad keen to give it a go and we are more than happy to fast track him. Significantly both Davey (Watt) and PK (Peter Karlsson) encouraged us to do this and they will give him every assistance.”

Jon Cook was also keen to stress that both Kim & Robert still have a big future at the Club and one, or both, may well still feature this year.

Cook continued: “I spoke with Robert (Mear) on Saturday when Rye House came on to us with a firm place and we think this is a timely move for him. He has had three meetings failing to beat an opponent sandwiched between a 10 paid 11 point score so clearly consistency is needed and being on his bike more can only help that. As far as Kim (Nilsson) is concerned the break in fixtures due to Grand Prix weeks means we can get the best of both worlds in almost operating a squad system so, as the lower averaging of the top five riders, he will miss the next two meetings while we make up our minds on which is the best top five to take forward.

We are mindful of the fact that when Kim shines away we tend to win and we need to counter that with the greater consistency of other of his team mates at home.

It’s a win, win situation for the Club though as it should keep everyone on their toes and we will make our final decision ahead of our big clash against Wolverhampton on 21st June. I have to say both riders have been magnificent in the way they have taken the news and can only reiterate that they, along with Adam (Ellis), are the long term future of this Club.”

Mixed Senior Team

Thurrock LTC have now joined the Brentwood League (midweek) and played their first Mixed Doubles match against Writtle. Thurrock drew 4-4. Thurrock team members Kathryn Westcott and Terry Morgan lost both their matches although the team had suffered with injuries, whilst Diane Morgan and Gavin McAlear won both thier matches. The following week our Mixed team played Hutton and Shenfield. Thurrock drew 4-4. Mia Lan and Terry Morgan lost their matches but was a very close match. It was Mia’s first experience in the mixed team and she played a fantastic match. Diane Morgan and Danny Svendsden won both their matches.

Mens Senior Tennis

Thurrock Mens II won their first match of the summer season in Essex League against DL Basildon. The score was 7-3. Teams were brother Jason and Darren Cole and Jack Lloyd (Capt) and Danny Svendsen.

Ladies Senior Tennis

After finishing joint 2nd in ther Essex Winter League the ladies team got off to a fantastic start beating Danbury at home 7-3. Teams were Diane Morgan (Capt) and Janice McAlear and Amy Beadle and Denver.

In additions to the Essex and Brentwood leagues, the Thurrock LTC teams will also be participating in the Southend and District singles, doubles and mixed senior and veterans leagues. If anyone is interested in playing for the teams or wants to enjoy the social aspect of the club please contact Jenny Hurly 01375 374623 or Terry Morgan 0797 650 2393.

A spokesperson said: “We have a website for further info www.thurrockltc.co.uk including coaching facilities for all standards.

“Finally we will again be operating a summer school at the club throughout the summer holidays. This follows success from previous years and we look forward to welcoming anyone interested in taking up tennis. Follow the website for dates and info.

Paul Bennett struck seven sixes and eighteen fours in a record-breaking innings of 200 not out for Belhus in their first ever Cricketer Village Cup match at North Stifford on Sunday afternoon. It was the highest ever individual score for a Belhus player, which overhauled the previous best of 181 set nearly thirty years ago.

But the first record to go was that of the highest second wicket partnership, as Bennett put on 234 with Charlie Lewis, who fell just four runs short of a deserving century. Lewis had struck 12 fours and three sixes from just 69 balls faced. Meanwhile, Bennett’s double ton came from 139 deliveries. The previous second wicket partnership record was 202, set seven years ago. Amidst the carnage, Michael Fogg struck 22. Houghton and Downes shared the two wickets to fall for Havering, with 1-96 from nine overs and 1-31 from four overs respectively.

After the break, the visitors rallied to a respectable reply through Mitchell with 25 runs, Hurley 32 and Dyerson 24. But there was still a significant shortfall as Connor Day picked up 3-22 from nine overs (two maidens) to make it nine wickets in total for the weekend. Day’s opening strike colleague Dale Kenyon returned 2-32, also from nine overs and two maidens, while Martin Guilbert and Roy Heffernan picked up one wicket apiece.

Belhus now travel to Mistley for The Cricketer Village Cup third round, which will be played on Sunday 2nd June.

The foundation of the team was an heroic nine event performance from 47 year old Mark Jenkins. The former County decathlon champion took on the heavy workload after some last minute withdrawals.

His best performance came with 2nd place in the B string 110m hurdles.

As always Michael Shortall worked hard all afternoon winning both hurdles events and performing well in the sprints and jumps.

The middle distance squad, absent for the first match, turned in some great performances. Scott Rice ran a superb personal best in the 5000m and also finished 2nd in the steeplechase. His partner in the 5k, David Johnson, also ran a pb. Dennis Cross and Alec Finch covered much of the rest of the middle distances with great distinction, Alec particularly putting in a crucial win in the B string steeplechase.

Jon Metcalf added his experience by scoring well in the 1500m and filling gaps in the relay teams.

Jack Farmer looks a much stronger athlete this season and scored well in all 3 sprint races. Dan George is limited by a nagging knee injury but still managed to win the high jump and perform well in all 4 throws.

Toni Noble and John Russell were the only two Thurrock representatives in the Great Baddow 10. Toni Noble was a very creditable 5th while John Russell ran well enough to secure a place in the first 50.

This weekend runners from all sections of the Club compete for medals in the Essex Championships.

A GREAT entry of close to 60 National Bangers competed at Arena Essex on Sunday, despite the attraction of the World Final for the 2 Litre class in the Midlands.

It was obvious that much of the action was going to centre around the warring Cream Team and the Gladiators, as both brought an army with them. The Gladiators headed by the recently returned Phil Smith and the Cream Team entry rounded up by Nathan Roberts.

It was apt that Smith and Roberts came to blows in the first heat with Roberts striking first on a slowing Smith, although Smith managed to back him into the wall, allowing Craig Oliver to get in a revenge shot. Jordan Cumming took the win, his first of the season.

Heat two was where the warring took a serious turn for the worse with Andrew “Puddy” Milner getting run into the fence and then trashed by Jamie Harding before Bobby Wilmer steamed in a lap later. The heavy latter impact knocked Milner out and resulted in some delay as he was safely extracted and rushed to hospital, where he remains with a fracture to the base of his spine and broken pelvis.

It was a subdued atmosphere as the consolation gridded, but as the green flag flew it was business as usual with Jack King getting some big damage from Chris Walsh and Marcus Sprawling. This was one of the quieter races on the day although Billy King followed Mark Munson in the fence at the end, as Dave Barwick motored to the win.

The final saw Luke Hardy spun up onto the inner kerbs in the early laps where he lay stranded until a wayward Ricky Hutton knocked him clear. In fact Hutton was the star of this race, continually slowing to a stop on the pit bend and taking damage from several members of the Gladiator team. His badly crabbing car would do one lap and then repeat the process until it could barely move no more!

Alfie Lee won the final, his third straight final win. A feat not many can match in Arena Essex’s history. Jack Tuffen won two races during the afternoon which will help move him up the points chart, many of his rivals having not such a successful afternoon.

The Destruction Derby was an apt end with Nathan Roberts, Jamie Harding and Darryl Theedom  continually pounding anything painted in the traditional Gladiator whitewash. Matthew Young and Jamie Batchelor looked strong but Harding managed to outlast them all, removing a wheel from Young’s car to take a classy victory.

It looked all set for a Matt Mates whitewash in the Stock Rod formula as he romped to victory in heat one from his advantageous grid position. However his lead in heat two was cut when a big pile up on turns one and two left Paul Haralambou stranded. This closed the field up and David Burton was able to get past for the win. Burton knew he had to move fast to beat Mates in the final but a brave dive around the outside of Jamie Lee-Potter on the first bend, just failed to reap benefits and instead he spent a little longer getting through the pack, Richard Haines actually getting under Burton for second place as Mates took the win. The allcomers race saw Haines victorious, slipping up the inside of Mates in the early laps.

The SuperBangers saw the honours split between Karl Douglas and Lee West. John Harris blew the engine on the Steve Davies car in the first race which saw a huge oil trail which caught out Louis Parker on the final lap, although he spun without damage. This turned out to be the best race of the day with Douglas just failing to dislodge West from the lead on the last corner.

The next action at Arena Essex is on Bank Holiday Monday with the National Bangers back in action along with the Lightning Rods and the Junior Mini Stox. Start time 1:30pm.

Great Totham 1st XI – 149 all out
Thurrock CC 1st XI – 150/2

Thurrock continued there impressive start to life in Mid Essex Division 1 with a convincing victory at Great Totham on Saturday thanks to another excellent all round performance from Dan Laird who took 4-51 and contributed an unbeaten 46 with the bat. Skipper Nick Henry won the toss and inserted the home side, but were unable to find an early breakthrough or maintain disciplined lines until Laird struck to remove the hosts top order with some incisive variations. Jordon Warren also chipped in with 2-33 with Gelder and Stanikzai picking up the rest of the wickets fall to bowl the hosts out for a below par 149 of which an astonishing 50 of them were extras, with Phillips (32) being the best of the home side’s batsmen.

The visitors chase began in an all action manner with the home side’s bowlers continuing in a similar vein in regards to the extras count but fought back to secure a couple of early breakthroughs with Ayub and captain Henry falling cheaply, but opener O’Neill (64 not out) and Laird (46 not out) composed an unbroken partnership to see Thurrock home without further alarm with still 23 overs remaining of the innings to seal a resounding win.

Thurrock CC 2nd XI – 198/4
Great Totham 2nd XI – 43 all out

An inspired spell of bowling from Ryan Madder saw Thurrock complete the double over Great Totham at the weekend, aided by excellent contributions with the bat from opener Chris Buckley and Ross Fullbrook. After the home side won the toss and elected to bat, a solid team batting performance from the top order saw the hosts compile 198/4 from their 45 overs with Buckley carrying his bat for an unbeaten 72, an excellent 59 from Ross Fullbrook with Clarke Wren finishing on an explosive 38 not out.

After the interval strike bowler Madder tore the visitors batting line up with a spell of quick, accurate seam bowling as he took the first 6 wickets to fall to end up on 6-18 as no visiting batsman managed to reach double figures, with Michael Parker (1-4) and Rob Neal (2-3) picking up the remaining wickets to round off an emphatic 155 run victory.

Thurrock CC 3rd XI – 159 all out
Havering-atte-Bower 3rd XI – 176 all out

Thurrock 3’s fell just short in a gutsy effort against Havering at Blackshots in a tight Division 10 clash. Home skipper Tyrone Owen won the toss and invited the visitors to bat. A tight opening spell from veteran all-rounder Mal Umfreville (2-14 off 12) kept the rains on the Havering batting line up with solid contributions from Dent (29), Massey (30) and top scorer Riaz (37) before an incisive spell from left arm spinner Stephen Brooks who picked up 4 wickets to restrict the visitors to a competitive 176 all out which left the home side optimistic going into the tea interval.

Thurrock began respectably with a 50 run opening stand but then lost openers Fullbrook and Bilal Qureshi in quick succession before skipper Owen (23) and Shahmeer Qureshi (27) rebuilt the innings to leave the game well poised going into the last 10 overs with Thurrock needing only 4 an over from the last 10. However tight bowling from Tim Hills and Tollen (2 wickets each) dragged the game back towards the visitors as the run rate began to climb as 18 was required off the last over with last man pair Mclellan and Umfreville unable to see the hosts home.

St Mary’s Cray – 98/8
Thurrock CC Sun 2’s – 247/4

Excellent batting performance from young guns Elliot McCartney (102) and 13 year old Shahmeer Qureshi (86) combined with an incisive spell of seam bowling from Catherine Hodge who picked up her maiden 5 wicket haul, led Thurrock to a convincing win over Kent side St Mary’s Cray on Sunday. The visitors batted first and after the early loss of opener Tyrone Owen for 5, the second wicket pair of Qureshi and McCartney proceeded to dominate the hosts bowling line up, with McCartney recording a career best 102 and opener Qureshi hitting a composed 86, before Nick Henry hit a quickfire 21 not out to set the hosts an imposing 248 to win.

The hosts reply began badly as George kept things tight at one end and allowed Hodge to rip through the hosts top order on her way to her first 5 wicket haul in senior cricket, ending with superb figures of 5-22 from her 7 overs, the rest of the wickets to fall were shared around as the home side never looked like getting close to their target as Thurrock cruised to a 149 run win.

Mercedes has been a stalwart of the T-Birds for many years.

Her enthusiasm is met by her ability and so it is no surprise that the William Edwards PE teacher has been picked for her country.

Stewart Farr and Brian Edwards turned this match on its head with a superb match-winning partnership worth 143 runs at Westcliff High School for Boys on Saturday afternoon. Staring down the barrel of a potential Shepherd Neame League defeat at 42 for the loss of five wickets, Edwards joined Farr to produce a run-fest. When Farr was eventually caught for 89 to end the pulsating pairing, Belhus required just eleven runs to win. When the scores became level, Edwards pulled the ball just forward of square for six to conclude both his personally tally with 56 not out and also the match itself. Pick of the Westcliff performances were Jeremy Lawford, 63 runs, and Alan Hurley with five wickets.

Benfleet 2nd 136 all out
Belhus 2nd 138-3

Connor Day bagged six wickets with five of his victims being clean bowled in this Shepherd Neame Essex League clash at Woodside Park on Saturday. Day’s 10.2 overs – two of which were maidens – cost just 23 runs. Jabir Iqbal picked up 2-36 from 16 overs (four maidens), while Imran Mohammed and Sam Hall were rewarded with one wicket each. For the home side, Rob Zammit top scored with 26. After tea, Ben Marns continued his good run of form with the bat until he was trapped leg before just two runs short of a deserving half century, while Charlie Lewis was cleaned out by Jamie Critchell (1-19), one short of the 50 mark. John Lewis and Roy Heffernan completed the job for Belhus with undefeated scores of 24 and 7 respectively.

Belhus 1st 228-8
Gidea Park and Romford 1st 229-2

Belhus captain Danny Joyce led from the front with a solid undefeated knock of 69 runs from 125 deliveries but it was not enough to stave off an eight-wicket loss at North Stifford on Saturday. Visiting captain Chris Collier hit 53 which included nine boundaries from 66 deliveries, while Matthew Tarr and Russ Collard saw the Gallows Corner club home with undefeated knocks of 49 and 40 respectively. Joe Joyce picked up both Park wickets to fall, but the most economical Belhus bowling performance in this Shepherd Neame Essex League division two match came from Billy Winter, whose eight tidy overs cost just 22 runs. For Gidea Park and Romford, Rudi Filmalter captured 4-35 from ten overs (two maidens). His victims included both Belhus openers, Gavin Jefferies and Michael Fogg for ten runs apiece, Ryan Wells without score and Belhus second top scorer Martin Guilbert for 34.

Ilford 4th 245-4
Belhus 4th 145 all out

The Belhus fourth eleven were outplayed in all departments by a much stronger Ilford team at Ockendon Recreation Ground on Saturday. Ilford’s opening batsmen, Abrar Iqbal and Faheem Aziz scored all but 45 runs of their team’s total as Iqbal was finally castled by John Forrest, just one short of a deserving century, while Aziz finished on 101 not out when the declaration came after 49.2 overs. Then, Naveed Mirza top scored for the home side with 26, until he offered a return catch to Iqbal, who came on as fourth change bowler and promptly helped himself to 4-31 from eleven overs, two of which were maidens. Visiting opening bowler Ahmedjan Bramkheil was equally troublesome with 3-19 from 8.5 overs, while Sajjad Ashraff, 2-36, and Sanan Ali, 1-20 from ten overs, wrapped up the proceedings.

There were 2 more much improved performances in the top 10 of the 180 strong field. Antony Tobin was 6th in 19m14s, also a personal best. John Russell 19m 52s in 8th place indicates a welcome return to his best
form.

The 4th top 10 finisher was evergreen Mick Bumstead with a time of 20m05s which gave him 9th place. Other finishers were Reece Scott (12 years) 26th in 21m25s, Gary Rowlett 28th in 21m39s and Bernie Johnson 51st in 23m06s.

Lewis Unwin, who was left paralysed down his right side following surgery, picked up 2 golds and a silver in his first ever competition on Saturday. The event was at Chelmsford for athletes with varying disabilities and this was real boost for the 19 year old newcomer to the sport.

Results:

Kata Gold, Jack Lloyd, Bethany West, Matt Rixson, Ola Jedrzejczyk.

Kata Silver: Victoria Westcott, Sasha Edgeler, Ethan Neal Buckley, Jessica Jedrzejczyk.

Kata Bronze: Joe Rudder, Harry Hibbell.

Kumite Gold: Bethany West, Sasha Edgeler.

Kumite Silver: Matthew Rixson, Lewis Darby, Owen Dixie. Kumite Bronze: Deny Crawley.

Team Kata Gold: Danielle Ball, Sasha Edgeler, Joe Rudder.

Team Kata Silver: Ola Jedrzejczyk, Ethan Neal Buckley and Maddison Ball.

In a statement on the club website, the chair of Grays Athletic, Keith Burns detailed the changes off the pitch.

Mr Burns said: “Andy Swallow will step own as CEO following the under-18s final at Beaconsfield next week. His business partner Joel Nathan will thereafter takeover the role .

“Andy has some issues to deal with away from the football club during the summer, which will occupy his time, and I personally applaud the decision that he has taken, and needless to say I wish him well, and eagerly await his return to the club.

“As part of the restructuring Andy’s son Danny Swallow joins the board in the position of vice-chairman.”

The club have been charged with playing an ineligible player by the Football Association – and if the case is proved they will be deducted points – a move that will see them relegated to the Ryman One North next season.

The controversy surrounds striker and convicted football hooligan Joel Barnett, a journeyman non-league player and former Scunthorpe United YTS trainee who has played for a number of local clubs including Tilbury, Grays Athletic and Aveley.

And Tilbury will also face a points deduction is it is proved that Barnett played while under a ‘sine die’ ban this season, though that won’t cost them their Ryman One North status. Dockers have been charged with 11 alleged breaches but they finished high enough in the league so that even a significant deduction over a player who scored seven goals wouldn’t affect the future.

For Thurrock though, who beat Lewes 2 – 0 on August 25 with Barnett in the side, the risk of relegation looms large. The deduction of just two points would see Fleet and Carshalton Athletic swap places.
Barnett made four appearances for Thurrock at the beginning of the season, most crucially in a 2-0 win against Lewes on 25 August. If Thurrock were docked just one of the three points won that day they will be relegated after finishing the season on 41 points, one above relegated Carshalton but they have a worse goal difference.

The FA believe that no club should have played Barnett because he was suspended sine die for failing to pay fines to to West Riding FA incurred through a Wakefield Sunday League side, that has now folded.

The problem came to light when Barnett moved to Harlow, but they found out about his suspension and flagged up what had happened to the FA.

As well as Thurrock and Aveley, Conference North side Bishops Stortford, also played the striker in pre-season and they too face FA sanction.

Barnett’s troubled history doesn’t just involve on field problems. In September 2011 he and members of his family were jailed for a violent assault on fellow Huddersfield Town fans, stewards and police at an Old Trafford League play-off final between Huddersfield and Peterborough United on 29 May, 2001.

Paul Barnett, 47, and his sons Jotham, 20, Joel, 21, and Jordan , 29, all admitted affray and Joel admitted an additional charge of criminal damage for defecating in a police van following his arrest. Jordan was jailed for 21 months, Jotham and Paul for 18 months and Joel for a total of 16 months.

After his spell in jail Barnett tried to resurrect his playing career in Essex and Hertfordshire. having failed to secure a spot at Bishops Stortford he then joined Thurrock, scoring once in his four appearances and then made a return to Tilbury, where he had previously played 27 games, and scored seven goals in 13 appearances.

Ryman League Vice Chairman and Company Secretary Nick Robinson explained the procedure that will happen over the next few days – and why it needs to be completed urgently.

He said: “It is The FA who are making the initial charge and if proved the League will then act.
“The FA hearing is first so if the case is not proved, that is an end to the matter. If proved the league will then have a hearing as both Thurrock and Tilbury have requested a personal hearing with both the FA and the League.
“Rule 6.9 provides that if a Club plays an ineligible player it “shall” have points gained deducted so it is likely that points will be deducted if there is a hearing.
“The Clubs are likely then to appeal to the FA; these need to be dealt with by the time we hold our AGM on 16 June so it is important for hearings to be held quickly.”
Thurrock secretary Mark Southgate, who formerly held a similar position at Tilbury , which he left in acrimonious circumstances two years ago, now finds himself in an alliance with his former club as they seek to beat the FA charge.
He said: “I wouldn’t have thought we’ll be docked points. If it was going to be done, it would have been done many, many months ago.
“We’re talking about this now, but it came about in January. It’s the way the appeals process goes. I don’t think there will be a guilty verdict.”
Barnett, who has returned to Yorkshire where he owns and runs the Bar Twelve in Birstall near Leeds, faces many individual charges from the FA but is not directly involved with the appeals by the charged clubs.
While he pulls pints in the north, there will be plenty for Thurrock manager Mark Stimson and club owner Tommy South to mull over as they head for the sun in Magaluf this week for an end of season club staff trip.