Page 3 - Summer2016Gazette

Athletics Report 1
The Senior Men in the British League 2016

Match One – Watford metres. Not only this, he also
The British League Mens’ 7th May came 6th in the B string hammer.
team continues to improve, with He travelled down from Leeds
the squad increasing in quality We started the season with a with training partner James
and depth, writes Pat Calnan. reasonable fourth place having led Habergham, another new HCA,
We finished the season in third in the early stages. Ten members who showed what an important
place in Division One. Going of the team were making their member of both Senior and
into the last match we could debuts for the British League Junior teams he would be as he
have got promoted whereas the team and pleasingly they all won the B string 800 metres and
previous two seasons at the last performed admirably. gained 2nd in the B string 1500.
match there had been a chance Highlight of the afternoon Another HCA and Junior Joe
we could have been relegated. was the performances of our Fuggle took third place in the
horizontal jumpers. Tom French,
on his Club debut, won the long 400 hurdles with 53.65 and Jack
jump with a personal best of Messenger won the B string in
7.60, no doubt encouraged by a new personal best of 54.01.
John Wakeman’s promise of Both 400 metre runners made
a meal if he achieved the feat. their League debuts with Elliott
Mark Cryer took runner up spot Holland running a useful 49.35
in the B string and then Jonathan in the A string 400m for 6th
Ilori (15.30) and Rob Sutherland place, and Ocean Schwartz
(14.57) won both strings of timing a pb of 48.71 in winning
triple jump. It was a welcome the B string. Both steeplechasers
return for Jonathan who has Dan Kennedy and Charlie
been studying in America for the Davis also ran pbs.
previous four years. Toby Olubi and new boys
Also returning to the team was Shamar Thomas Campbell and
pole vaulter Scott Huggins but Alex Skipp picked up some good
things didn’t go to plan as he points in the sprints as did Alex
pulled up injured on his first Bruce Littlewood in the 3000
attempt. This meant B stringer metres, despite being under
Lewis Church who cleared 4 the weather. Work and family
metres moved up to the A string. commitments meant he would
Lewis, who competes for us as a have to rein in his Athletics for
Higher Competition athlete had a the rest of the year and we badly
busy debut as he was also second missed him. We hope he will be
in the B string 110 hurdles, cleared back in action for us in the not
1.95 in the high jump, took third too distant future.
in the B shot and ran a leg of the So not a bad day. We had some
4x400. As well as his long jump gaps at the start of the day but
exploits Mark Cryer was also in everyone mucked in to ensure
action in the discus and javelin every string of every event was
while Alex Pope scored steadily in filled and numerous personal
all four throws. bests were achieved. We would
On the track Phil Sesemann ran have preferred a top three place.
a new best of 1.52.69 to finish Thames Valley won the match
2nd in the 800 and he also took with Southampton runners up
the runner up spot in the 3000 and Enfield & Haringey third.