THE club’s seniors, with the help of a strong bunch of under 17’s notched up a 3rd straight win in the SAL 5 match series.
On the ladies side Rebecca Barnard performed heroically all afternoon. She had made the short journey from her university base in Bedford to the Biggleswade venue and proceeded to win the 200B, the 400 hurdles, the 400m and gain top 3 positions in the 100m hurdles and B long jump.
On the mens side, Dan George, with nearly 20 years league experience, won the shot and B 110 hurdles and notched up points in hammer and discus.
Michael Shortall recorded 3 wins. He performed outstandingly well in both hurdles, won the B long jump. He was also runner up B 200 and triple jump.
Outstanding performances of the day were arguably from two of the under 17s. Yinka Sodipo was two tenths of a second outside the club age group record in the 200m with an outstanding win in a time of 22.38. Likewise Nwaeke Nwabude was just 7cms short of the age group long jump record with a 6.57m win.
Kendrea Nwaelene had 3 outstanding wins in the sprints and long jump. She holds the age group records for the 200m and triple jump already, but it will only be a matter of time before she holds other club bests.
Emmanuelle Orebola looked smooth in the 400m where he recorded 58.32 and made good contributions in the relays.
Glen Rawlinson was a noteworthy winner in the javelin and B shot. Also in the throws Sue Lawrence battled all afternoon with her Newham and Essex Beagles rivals to notch up 4 second places and 20 points.
At the end of his degree couse at Loughborough Alec Finch cam down the A1 to compete strongly in the middle distances. His best event was his 1500m where the Irish cross country International Dara Chesser, held him off in a torrid home straight battle. Alec’s time was 4m03.03. 15 year old Sarab Dhillon can be very pleased with his pb in the B1500 of 4m41.05.
Stalwarts, Lucy Howe and Natalie Le Beau contributed strongly. Between them they earned 10% of the club’s total points.
Mark Jenkins first competed in these meetings over 30 years ago and on Saturday could still notch up 18 hard earned points in throws and jumps.
Lucie Ball fought a lonely battle in the women’s endurance events as the club’s only female entrant. She won the B 400m and scored two thirds in the 800m and 1500m.
It was a similar story in the men’s endurance with team manager Bernie Johnson, now a V60. He turned in a useful 21m59s in the 5k. V55 Steve Kemp earned good points in the 800m.
Finally the new found spirit in the ladies section was epitomised by Jill Boosey’s 2nd place in the B hammer and 3rd in the B javelin and club Chairman, Gerry Heapy’s contribution in the discus.
Team results (provisional)
Thurrock 292, Biggleswade 231, Newham and Essex Beagles 219, Peterborough 202, Vale of Aylesbury 76, Luton ‘B’ 54
