Press Releases for
April, May & June 2012
26/06/12
Adam Gemili has secured automatic selection to
represent Great Britain in the 100 metres at the Olympic Games by finishing
in second place in the Trials at Birmingham. Still only 18, he was just
beaten into second place by Dwain Chambers.
The Blackheath & Bromley athlete had been the fastest
in both his heat and semi final winning in 10.27 and 10.20 but Chambers
better start in the final gave him the edge with Adam finishing in 10.29.
The youngster was delighted with his performance and
to have a place at the Olympics, but was also conscious that the main focus
for his season remains the World Junior Championships which take place in
Barcelona from the 10th to the 15th of July.
It was not such good news, however, for James Alaka.
The fastest Briton this year over 200 metres he struggled across the line
with a hamstring injury in his heat and did not qualify for the final. His
fate lays in the hands of the selectors.
Lorraine Ugen set a fine new best of 6.74 to finish
second in the long jump but her distance is one centimetre off the Olympic
qualifying standard. She has a week to achieve the mark and book her place
in the team.
Montell Douglas will have to wait on the selectors to
see if she has been picked for the GB 4x100 metre squad. She finished third
in the 100 metres in a seasons best of 11.52.
The Club did have a Trials winner over the weekend
with Michael Skinner first home in the 10,000 metres in a time of 29.40.78
but this is not near the qualifying standard.
Likewise with Shaunagh Brown in the shot. She finished
in second place with a throw of 15.87, and she was also 9th in the hammer
with 56.45.
Isabelle Jeffs finished third in the javelin with
52.38, Serita Solomon 5th in the 100 hurdles in 13.50; and Sam Milner 6th in
the discus with 45.41. Jonathan Ilori had been hoping to reach the
qualifying distance for the World Juniors in the triple jump but it wasn’t
to be. He finished 8th with a leap of 14.66 while fellow junior Oliver
Newport was 12th in the long jump.
Many others were in action although they didn’t reach
their finals. These included Grace Sheppard, Dan Putnam, Rachel Dickens,
Carolyn Plateau, Elaine Murty, Ed Harrison, Megan Southwart, Katrina Cosby
and Samantha Brown.
Missing from last weeks report was mention that Megan
Southwart time of 59.06 to win the 400 hurdles at the National Under 23
Championships was a new Club Record, quicker than the previous best of Past
President Maureen Miller which had stood since 1984.
Meanwhile Shakeitha Henfield finished in 6th place in
the 400 metres at the Barbados National Championships in a time of 53.9 and
is hoping this will enable her to be selected to be part of the Barbados
4x400 squad at the Olympics. Likewise, Mensah Elliott is seeking selection
for Gambia in the 110 hurdles, an event in which he is just one tenth of a
second off the National Record.
Following on from the Trials, Montell Douglas has been
confirmed as part off the Great Britain 4x100 metres relay team at the
European Championships this week in Helsinki.
The Club finished in second place in the latest
Southern Premier Division match of the National Junior Athletics League at
Lee Valley. This leaves the Club in third place overall in the Division, two
points behind leaders Windsor and one behind Shaftesbury Barnet with only
the top two guaranteed a place in the National Final.
Dina Asher Smith received the female Athlete Of The
Match award for her win in the 100 metres in a time of 11.74 and she was
also part of the winning 4x100 metres team along with Georgina Middleton and
Shannon and Cheriece Hylton.
Shannon had earlier won the A string 200 metres in an
impressive new best of 24.66, the 6th fastest by an under 17 athlete this
year.
Just as pleasing was to see track victories for Holly
Fletcher in the 800 metres with a time of 2.22.5 and for Rachel Robinson in
the 400 hurdles in 65.24.
Despite having competed in the Olympic Trials both
Oliver Newport and Jonathan Ilori were in action again at Lee Valley and
both won their events. Oliver took the long jump competition with a leap of
7.26 while Jonathan won the triple with a leap of 14.34.
Some impressive throwing came in the discus from under
17s Gemma Brown and Yemisi Sofolarin. They won the A and B string
competitions with new bests of 40.08 and 39.24. This means they are ranked
3rd and 6th in in the country in the under 17 age group.
There was a double victory too in the pole vault with
Helena Coleman and Emilie Blackwell both clearing 3.05. More vertical leap
success came courtesy of Robyn Pettit who won the high jump with a clearance
of 1.73, a height which actually would have gained her 6th place in the
Olympic Trials.
Peter Hannell finished in 4th place in the Veterans AC
5 mile walk championships at Battersea Park. He was also the first over 65
to finish in a time of 49.52. David Hoben was 8th in 59.10.
Many Club members, past and present, took part in the
Orpington 10km at Darrick Wood School with Ben Cockburn the highest placed
current member in 2nd place. He timed 37.01 over the testing multi terrain
course with youngster William Fuller 10th in 39.35. Thomas Desborough and
Andy Tucker also made the top 20 in 19th and 20th positions.
Francesca Morris was first woman from the Club to
finish in 26th with Jane Bradshaw 41st . They were second and third women to
finish.
With no Bromley Parkrun this week members dispersed to
the various other events in the local area. Youngster Niamh Bridson Hubbard
won the womens race at the event in Greenwich in a time of 22.03. Likewise
Charlotte Stickings who was first woman to finish at Bexley in a time of
22.07. Barry Wetherilt was 5th in 21.16 with Glen Read 9th.
19/06/12
Athletes from Blackheath & Bromley featured
prominently at the Aviva England Under 20 and Under 23 Championships and
World Trials at Bedford with six gold medals and five new Club Records.
Pre weekend all attention was on Adam Gemili, who is
the fastest in the country over 100 metres this year, and whether he would
compete both here and at the Olympic Trials next weekend. The answer was
“yes” as he opted to skip the 100 at Bedford and set a personal best of
20.61 to win his heat of the 200. This is the fastest by a British Junior
since 1998 and the second quickest ever by an 18 year old.
He withdrew from the Final and will contest the 100
metres at the Trials in Birmingham next weekend.
His selection for the World Junior Championships in
Barcelona in July is virtually guaranteed and he may be joined there by Dina
Asher Smith. Still an Under 17, she finished in second place in both the 100
and 200 metres with her times of 11.57 and 23.57, well inside the qualifying
standard for both events. She was even quicker in her heat of the 100 timing
11.54. Amazingly her 200 metres time is a Club Senior, Under 20 and Under 17
Record and her 100 metres clocking is a Club Under 20 and Under 17 record.
Jonathan Ilori won the triple jump with a leap of
15.55. This was slightly wind assisted but just 15 centimetres off the
qualifying distance for Spain. He will be aiming to achieve the standard at
Birmingham this weekend. Oliver Newport was 4th in the long jump with 7.18.
More breakthrough performances came in the Under 23
Championships as Shaunagh Brown won the shot putt with a new best of
16.31and she was also runner up in the discus and hammer. Further field
success came as Lorraine Ugen took the long jump title with a leap of 6.15.
Serita Solomon is hitting form at the right time and
was just two hundredths of a second off her best in winning the 100 hurdles
in 13.28 to add to the England Senior title she won two weeks ago. Megan
Southwart’s 59.06 in the 400 hurdles was not only a new best, it won her the
gold medal as well.
Tremayne Gilling won the 100 metres in a useful 10.42
while Kieran Daly was 5th in 10.62, having set a new best of 10.58 in his
heat.
Pippa Woolven (1500) and Sam Milner (discus) were just
outside the medals with 4th places.
James Alaka and Montell Douglas are both included in a
squad of 109 athletes from which the Aviva Great Britain and Northern
Ireland team for the European Championships will be selected. However, if
either qualify for the Olympics at the Trials in Birmingham this weekend,
they will be taken out of the European squad. James is currently the fastest
in the country this year over 200 metres and fourth quickest over 100
metres.
It was County Schools Championships weekend with many
of the Club’s athletes striving to get selected for the English Schools
Championships which take place at Gateshead in July.
At the Kents at Ashford, Louis Mascerenhas won the
Intermediate Boys shot with a new best of 14.64, a distance which ranks him
9th in the country. However, his better event is the discus in which he is
now ranked 4th in the country with 48.76, a throw which only got him second
at Ashford behind current UK number one Matthew Blandford of Tonbridge.
In the Intermediate Girls wins came from Shannon
Hylton (100 and 200), Cheriece Hylton (300) and Evie Syron Russell (triple
jump).
Wins in the Junior Boys came from Jed Botham (long
jump), Bailey Stickings (800), and Joshua Dalsan (400) while Nicole Farmer
won the year 7 100 metres.
The success continued at the Surreys Championships at
Kingston where Maya Bruney won the Intermediate Girls 100 metres in 22.61
while for the Boys Stefan Amokwandoh took the triple jump title. Gabriel
Ibitoye won the Junior Boys 200.
At the London Championships at Battersea, Yemisi
Sofolarin set a new best of 37.36 to win the Intermediate Girls discus while
Isabelle Hilditch won the Junior Girls long jump with a leap of 5.03.
Many of these were in action again the following day
in the McCain Young Athletes League at Ashford where the Club were beaten
into second place by Tonbridge. Despite the defeat they have qualified for
the Area Final which takes place at Copthall on the 29th of July.
The Under 17 women were in good form with A string
wins for Shannon Hylton (100 and 300), Cheriece Hylton (300), Holly Fletcher
(800), Evie Syron Russell (long and triple jumps), Yemisi Sofolarin
(javelin), plus both 4x100 and 4x300 teams. For the men Louis Mascerenhas
won the shot.
In the under 15s wins came from Dotun Ayodele (100),
Bailey Stickings (800), Charlotte Rhule (1500), Isabella Hildith (long
jump), Joe Saddler (high jump) and Akina Gondwe-Onobrauche (shot).
More success came in the under 13 age group as Safiya
Atkins-Dyke (70 hurdles), Nicole Farmer (75 metres), Olivia Richer (150),
Daniel Ndukwe (200), Naomi Kingston (1200) and Magda Cienciala (Long jump)
all won their events. In addition both 4x100 metre teams enjoyed victories.
The men continued their winning run in the latest Kent
Masters League at Norman Park and now have a commanding 7 point lead in the
Division. So with just two matches to go they look almost certain to qualify
for the Southern Area Final in September. However, the women finished in
third place and remain in third place in the Division, three and a half
points behind second placed Cambridge Harriers.
The mens strength was the javelin where Mike Van Den
Dobbelsteen, Steve Langdon and Colin Brand all won their age group
competitions. More throws success came as Steve Timmins won the over 35s
shot with a standing putt of 12.94. Keith Ewing moved down from the over 50s
age group to win the over 35s 1500 metres by over 10 seconds with Richard
Hall collecting maximum points in the B string. Michael Champion returned to
action after illness to win the M 35 high jump with Clem Leon first in the
over 50s contest.
Liz Hughes made her debut for the womens team and won
the shot with 9.52. Further wins came from Helen Godsell in the over 50s 200
metres and from Barbara Terry in the over 60s javelin.
The women also field a team in Division Two and they
won the match by two points from Medway and Maidstone. Individual wins came
from Carolyna Jones Baldock in the over 35s high jump and Annie McDonough
(W50 1500) and they were also part of the winning 4x100 team along with
Justine Eastbury and Zoe Wood.
In the 5km walk at the London Inter Club Challenge at
Copthall, Peter Hannell finished 10th out of a field of 30 in 30.36 with
David Hoben 21st in 34.23. In the high jump Lewis Ely equalled the personal
best he set the previous week with a clearance of 2 metres.
Andy Rayner won the latest Bromley 5km park run at
Norman Park finishing in 15.34 with junior Georges Vacharopoulos second in
17.24 and Andy Tucker 9th. First woman from the Club to finish was Sarah
Belaon in 63rd.
At the event at Bexley, Chris Pike was 12th and
Carolyna Jones Baldock placed 40th. John E. Turner was 23rd at Dulwich with
wife Maz 62nd. Adrian Haley was 53rd at Eastleigh while at Greenwich
Charlotte Stickings was 10th and Nigel Haffeneden 13th.
12/06/12
Blackheath & Bromley achieved their highest ever
position in the UK Womens League when they finished in 5th place in the
opening Premier Division match in Birmingham. It was a fine team performance
in a match which featured the top 8 teams in the country with the icing on
the cake being a new Club record in the 4x100 metres relay.
With the match very close, the quartet of Anike Shand
Whittingham, Serita Solomon, Grace Sheppard and Montell Douglas sped to
victory in 45.93. Serita and Montell were members of the quartet that
previously set the record in 2005 when they were both Juniors.
Earlier in the afternoon Montell had won the 200
metres in 23.89, a seasons best. The Club’s other A string winner was
Shakeitha Henfield who timed 55.59 in the 400 metres.
Serita Solomon was runner up in the 100 metre hurdles
in 13.62 as was Shaunagh Brown in the shot putt with a throw of 15.76.
Shaunagh also scored more good points for the team with 4th in the hammer
with 58.07 and 5th in the discus.
Anike Shand Whittingham showed good form in the
sprints. She timed 12.07 in the 100 and 24.91 in the 200 both National Grade
One performances. Likewise Megan Southwart who was 4th in 400 hurdles in
60.12 and then 4th in the B string 100 hurdles in 14.70.
It was above all a great team performance with every
athlete playing their part.
Team manager Brendan McShane described the result as “Tremendous. It was a
great team effort.”
A number of these athletes were in action again the
following day at the Bedford International Games. Montell Douglas ran a
seasons best of 11.54 to win her heat of the 100 metres and show she is
sharpening up as the Olympic Trials approach.
Dina Asher Smith broke Montell’s Club Under 17 record
for the 100 metres last month and they are now Joint Under 20 Club Record
holders in the 200 metres as Dina clocked an impressive 23.93. Not only did
this equal the Junior Record but it was also an Under 17s record as well.
This means Dina is over half a second quicker over 200 metres than any other
under 17 woman in the country this year.
Others in action in the 100 metres included Kieran
Daly (10.94), Duayne Bovell (11.0) and Anike Shand Whiting ham (12.37).
Kieran also set a seasons best of 21.92 in the 200 metres and it was a
seasons best also for Serita Solomon in the 100 hurdles in 13.45, making her
7th fastest in the country this year. Ed Harrison timed 52.73 in the 400
hurdles.
In the field, Shaunagh Brown set an outdoor best of
16.01 in the shot to finish second in her competition and she also threw
60.64 to place 4th in the Hammer She is ranked her 3rd and 7th respectively
in the country in these events. Isabelle Jeffs was second in the javelin
with 52.05. She is ranked second in the country this year. Samantha Milner
threw 42.93 in the discus while in the jumps Jermaine Olasan leapt 7.11 in
the long and Jonathan Ilori registered 15.22 in the triple, to confirm
himself as Britain’s number one Under 20 this year.
The Club continued its unbeaten run in the Southern
Athletics League this season with victory in the third fixture at Hastings.
After the luxury of the previous two meetings being at home, it was pleasing
that the squad were able to travel well, particularly as the Club had the UK
Womens League match the same day.
There were many highlights but perhaps the most
pleasing was the performance of Lewis Ely in the Senior Mens high jump.
Setting off at 6am from Kings Lynn in Norfolk, he showed no ill effects from
the four hour journey to set a new best of 2 metres, and was well clear too.
Plenty of other athletes also achieved new bests
including Evie Syron Russell who set a new best of 5.15 to win the long jump
and then improved in the triple jump by well over half a metre as she leapt
11.02. She was second in this with Shannon Cordell setting a best of 9.92 in
the B string. Shannon also won the high jump.
Maximum points came in the womens pole vault courtesy
of Emilie Blackwell and Sonia Woolhouse, whose clearance of 2.10 was a new
best.
Alex Pope set a personal best in the hammer of 41.90
but this was just one of 10 events in which he competed. Despite being ill
for most of the week and not fully recovered, he was omni-present winning
the A string pole vault and discus and enjoying B string wins in shot,
javelin, high jump and the aforementioned hammer. A second place in the long
jump meant he competed in 7 of the 8 field events and he wasn’t finished
there. Venturing on to the track he ran the 100 and a leg in the 4x400, the
only blot on his day being a false start in the 110 hurdles for which he was
disqualified.
His efforts along with those of Steve Timmins (shot,
discus and Hammer) and Mike van den Dobbelsteen (javelin) meant the Club
achieved maximum points in the mens throws; while in the womens events the
evergreen Maureen Miller set a new best of 7.61 in the shot as did Ellie
Dumper in the hammer with 31.22.
More success came on the track where Craig Morten won
the 400 hurdles by over five and a half seconds in 55.5 and then comfortably
took the 400 as well. The women won every string of every event from 100 up
to 800 courtesy of Shannon Hylton, Georgina Middleton, Vivien Olatunji,
Charlotte Colegate, Holly Fletcher, Hope Stenning, Sonia Woolhouse and
Cheriece Hylton, whose time of 25.1 in the 200 was a new best.
It was a new best also for Lucy Sidey as she won the
3000 metres in 11.21.5. Other A string victories came from Sian Duffy Smart
(100 hurdles), Chelsea Crouser (400 hurdles), Peter Tucker (5000), and
Duayne Bovell (100), while 40 year old Richard Holt showed impressive form
in the B 400 hurdles winning in 58.7 despite the blustery conditions.
To complete a most satisfactory afternoon all four
relay teams enjoyed wins to leave the Club with 222 points, 60 clear of
second placed Hastings (162) with Eastbourne Rovers 149 and S Factor
Athletics 96.
Despite this the Club actually dropped a League place
as, although they are level on League points with Brighton and Tonbridge,
they have an inferior match points score. This means they will need another
top class performance in the next match at Sutcliffe Park on the 14th of
July where they meet Brighton, Tonbridge and 4th placed Cambridge Harriers.
It promises to be a cracker.
The Club’s stars of the future were in action in the
latest Kent Young Athletes League fixture at Norman Park last week.
Highlight of the afternoon was a new Club Record in the under 13 girls 1200
metres. Naomi Kingston took nearly three seconds off the previous record
with a time of 3.51.4. However, such was the quality of the race that she
had to settle for second place.
In the under 15 boys age group, Joshua Dalsan won the
A string 200 metres and he teamed up with Joe Saddler, Doton Ayodele and
Bailey Stickings for victory in the 4x300 metres. Joe and Dotun were also
part of the winning 4x100 team along with Chris Smith and Gabriel Ibitoye,
who had earlier won the shot putt with a throw of 11.03.
More shot success came in the under 15 girls age group
as Akina Gondwe Onobrauche won with a distance of 9.28.
The promising Harry Taylor won the 100 metres in the
under 13 boys age group and he was part of the 4x100 metres winning relay
team along with Adefela Lipede, George Ward and Femi Sofolarin. Femi had
earlier won the Javelin with a throw of 27.75.
The Under 13 girls were in equally impressive sprint
form as Olivia Richer won the 75 metres in 10.4 and Nicole Farmer the 150
metres in 20.5. Both of these were National Grade One performances. Together
with Andi Desborough and Magda Cienciala they were comfortable winners of
the 4x100 metre relay.
George Vacharopolous won the Club 3000 metres
championships at Norman Park despite still being a Junior. He timed 9.44.5
with Tom Desborough 2nd and Cliff Keen 3rd. First woman was Rosie Ferguson
in 11.42.3, with Helen Godsell 2nd and Maz Turner 3rd.
In the combined Surrey Walking Club and Blackheath &
Bromley 3000 metre Walk Championships, Shaun Lightman was the first B&B
finisher in 3rd place overall in 16.42.1. He was followed by Peter Hannell
in 17.50.06, Club President Steve Hollingdale 19.35.9, Alan Pickering
20.11.6, and David Hoben 20.42.9. David was also 9th in the Downham Market
10km in 1hr 14.33.
Away from the track, Alex Gibbins took part in one of
the more unusual fixtures on the Athletics calender. He ran in the Man
verses Horse Marathon, a multi terrain event which is actually over 22
miles. On an extremely hilly course, and in very wet weather, he was the
second person to finish , although he was also beaten by three horses. Being
over 35, Alex is in the Masters age group but it is not clear if he beat the
leading veteran horse. Somewhere someone will be able to check the age
related stables.
On the roads Fran Green was the second woman to finish
in the Beckenham 10km. She timed 41.08 and was 19th overall. Tony Crowder
was the Club’s first finisher in 8th place in 38.44 with Joel Hodges 11th
and Len Crowder 16th. Julie Reynolds and Deniz Mehmed both timed 93.15 in
the Southend Half Marathon with Adrian Stocks running 97.44.
5/06/12
Adam Gemili produced a sensational performance at the
Sparkassen Gala meeting at Rengensburg in Germany when he ran 10.08 for the
100 metres, easily inside the Olympic A standard for the event. The
Blackheath and Bromley athlete, at 18, is still a Junior yet this is the
fastest time by a British athlete this year, a tenth quicker than Croydon’s
James Dasaolu, the only other athlete to have achieved the A standard.
The time is a new Club Junior and Senior Record; is
the 2nd fastest ever by a British Junior (Only Dwain Chambers has run
quicker) and is the 4th fastest ever by a European Junior. It also makes the
Michael Afilaka coached athlete the second fastest European athlete this
year behind France’s Christophe Lemaitre.
In his heat he had run a new best of 10.11 a big
improvement on his previous time of 10.23.
He was delighted with his two performances and quick
to pay tribute to the other members of his training group who have helped so
much in his development. His emergence is remarkable since this is only his
second proper season in Athletics as he has previously concentrated on
football with Dagenham and Redbridge.
This means that the Club has the fastest 100 and 200
metre runners in the country this year with James Alaka topping the lists in
the longer event. He too has an Olympic A standard qualifying standard and
with Scott Overall already selected to represent Britain in the Olympic
Marathon it is shaping up to be a special year for the Club whose main base
is Norman Park track.
To add to the celebrations this weekend the Club also
had three winners at the England Athletics Championships in Birmingham, so
perhaps there will soon be others moving into Olympic contention. Serita
Solomon won the 100 metre hurdles in 13.62. She was delighted with her
victory which she found sweet after having two serious Achilles tendon
injuries in recent years. “Driving home from England champs today I passed
both the hospitals that I had my Achilles repaired....today I won the
England senior championships”.
Field victories came courtesy of two of the Club’s
second claim members. Izzy Jeffs won the javelin with a throw of 46.71 while
junior Oliver Newport recorded a massive new personal best of 7.70 to win
the long jump.
Tremayne Gilling was so close to gold in the 100
metres. The 2010 Champion finished in second place in 20.61 just one
hundredth of a second off winning the event.
Ed Harrison recorded a seasons best of 52.09 as he
finished 4th in the 400 hurdles. Megan Southwart was 5th in the womens race
in 61.21. There were 5th places also for Oweka Wanogho (200 metres); Carolyn
Plateau (1500) and Samantha Milner (discus). Rachel Arnheim was equal 6th in
the pole vault.
Another Olympic hopeful, British 100 metre record
holder Montell Douglas competed at Geneva in Switzerland. She recorded two
seasons bests timing 11.61 for the 100 metres and 24.08 for the 200.
Just a week are finishing 9th in the Edinburgh
Marathon, Peter Tucker won the Harvel 5 Mile Road Race in 25.43. Nick Kinsey
was 1st over 50 in the Thomas Cook Ironman triathlon in Mallorca. In South
Africa Fintan Parkinson ran 7.39.22 in the Comrades Marathon, an event which
is actually more than twice a marathon and run over some hilly terrain.
Tony Crowder was the Club’s first finisher in the
latest Bromley Parkrun at Norman Park. He finished in 4th place in 17.46
with Dan Marks 9th and Steve Pairman 16th. Georgina Piper was the Club’s
first female finisher in 83rd with Yasmin Austridge 113th and Joanna Clowes
114th.
29/05/12
Blackheath & Bromley are the mens National 10km road
race champions winning the title that was incorporated in the BUPA London
10km. Olympic marathon runner Scott Overall showed no ill effects from only
having arrived back from the United States the day before the race. He was
3rd finisher and second in the National Championships in a time of 29.26.
Mike Skinner proved that he is getting back to fitness
after injury by finishing in 6th with 29.44, and was third Briton. Andy
Rayner completed the scoring trio in 32nd place in 32.05.
The womens team of Carolyna Jones Baldock (80th
41.57), Sarah Dowling (95th 42.53) and Jane Bradshaw (96th 42.54) finished
in 18th place.
Peter Tucker finished in 9th place in the Edinburgh
Marathon in a time of 2.29.52 the fourth time he has finished inside 2 hours
30 minutes. Ian Montgomery made a big improvement to set a new best of
3.28.23. Justine Eastbury also set a new best of 3.37.50 the second fastest
by a woman Club member this year and 8th fastest all time.
In the accompanying half marathon Adrian Stocks ran
1.31.35, and Julie Reynolds and Adrian Haley both timed 1.48.09. Julie also
ran the 10km in 44.22.
It has been another busy few days for the Club in
track and field with some more impressive sprinting in the States. At the
NCAA Div 1 West preliminaries James Alaka timed 20.61 in the 200 metres and
a wind assisted 10.22 in the 100 metres. Lorraine Ugen ran a wind assisted
11.34 for the 100 metres and also leapt 6.44 in the long jump.
The Club finished in 4th place in the opening British
Athletics League match of the season at Basingstoke. It was a very close
match with just 40 points separating 7 of the 8 clubs. Had the Club not had
a couple of disqualifications they would have won, but, in truth, gaps in
three strings and weaknesses in other events, particularly middle distance,
were just as crucial.
Star performance came from Adam Gemili who broke Todd
Bennett’s divisional record in the 200 metres with a time of 20.75. This was
an achievement in itself, but, what was more remarkable, was that his blocks
slipped at the start of the race. Amazingly no recall gun was fired. Had he
had a proper start he may well have achieved the Olympic qualifying time for
the event.
Oweka Wanogho won the B string 200 in a new best of
21.57 to add to his victory in the A string 100. Jermaine Olasan was the
other A string winner with victory in the long jump with a leap of 7.10.
Ed Harrison was just pipped for first in the 400
hurdles and Dan Putnam ran an impressive 47.84 for second place in the 400
behind GB International Rob Tobin who set a Divisional Record.
Elsewhere Sam Brown achieved a fine personal best of
4.60 in the pole vault, as did youngster Oliver Taylor in the 1500.
Despite many other fine efforts, especially in the
field from Steve Timmins, Alex Pope, Craig Baker and Mike Van Den
Dobbelsteen, it was not quite enough, and the squad will look to improving
in the next match at Grangemouth at the end of June.
The South Of England Under 20s and Under 15s Inter
Counties took place at Abingdon with a number of Club members selected to
compete.
Best performance in the under 20 age group came from
Craig Morten who won the 400 hurdles by four seconds in 55.37. He was also
4th in the 110 hurdles. Samantha Brown was second in the womens 400 hurdles
in 61.94, a new best, as was the 65.20 Rachel Robinson recorded for 4th
place.
Samantha’s sister Gemma was runner up in the discus
with a throw of 35.53 and it was second also for Rhiannon Jones in the 100
hurdles into the teeth of an almighty headwind.
First year under 17 Stefan Amokwandoh was third in the
triple jump in 13.43 and James Allen 6th on the long jump with 6.21.
Maya Bruney claimed victory in the under 15 girls 100
metres. Her time of 12.81 would no doubt have been quicker had the race not
been run into a -3.7 metre per second headwind. Jessica Keene timed 2.32.67
in the 800 metres.
The mens team continued their unbeaten run in the Kent
Masters League with victory in the third match of the season last Friday but
only just. They finished one point ahead of Ashford and three clear of
Cambridge Harriers. Steve Timmins won the over 35s discus with a throw of
39.37. Keith Ewing dominated the over 50s 800 metres winning in 2.09.8 over
10 seconds ahead of the runner up. Dennis Wallington won the over 60s
discus. However, with the points so close every member of the squad had an
important part to play.
The womens team finished in third place and remain in
third in the League table, one and a half points behind second placed
Cambridge Harriers. Helen Godsell won the over 50s 100 metres by nearly a
second in 14.2 and then teamed up with Maureen Miller, Shirley Rowbotham and
Angela Duffy Smart to lead the Club to victory in the 4x200 metres. Barbara
Terry won the over 60s discus.
The B team won the Division Two match with Zoe Wood
winning the long jump and discus events. She then joined Leyla Ari, Maria
Coroian and Jenny Neale in the 4x200 for her third victory of the evening.
Mick Jones was the Club’s first finisher at the latest
Bromley 5km park run at Norman Park. He finished in 12th place in 19.18 with
Jamie Gosnell 13th and Steve Pairman 15th. First female from the Club was
youngster Yasmin Austridge in 143rd with Chloe Kibblewhite 158th and Karen
Desborough 313th.
Neil Ayrton was runner up in the event at Bexley in a
time of 19.31 with Chris Pike 13th. Glen Turner was 3rd at Hampstead Heath;
Steve Haley 20th at Banstead Woods; Brendan McShane 7th at Riddlesdown; and
Nigel Haffenden 16th at Greenwich.
22/05/12
Many of Blackheath & Bromley’s athletes were in action
at the Loughborough International fixture. Adam Gemili was representing the
Great Britain Junior team and he won the 100 metres in 10.43 despite running
into a -1.2 metre per second headwind. Tremayne Gilling was third in 10.49.
Izzy Jeffs set a new best of 54.60 as she placed
second in the javelin and Pippa Woolven was also a runner up in the 3000
metres steeplechase. Her time of 10.21.24 was a massive improvement on her
previous best.
Shaunagh Brown was third in the shot with 15.71 and
6th in the hammer with 59.43. Sam Milner was just outside her best in the
discus with a throw of 44.89, while Jermaine Olasan was 7th in the long jump
with a leap of 7.12.
The meeting contained a number of invitation events
and, despite the windy conditions, the results were good. Anike Shand
Whittingham ran 12.41 for the 100 metres into a headwind and Dina Asher
Smith clocked 24.20 for the 200 metres. Megan Southwart timed 60.25 for the
400 hurdles and Yimika Adewakun 57.99 for the 400 metres.
Dina represented the Great Britain Junior team in the
4x100 metres. Unfortunately they did not get the baton around but she ran a
good leg.
Ed Harrison missed the meeting with a cold but he did
compete during the week at Namur in Belgium where he timed 53.25 for the 400
hurdles.
Blackheath & Bromley were comfortable winners of their
second Southern Athletics League match of the season. Both fixtures so far
have been held at home ground at Norman Park, so, while this is a promising
start, the team should not get complacent and assume they will automatically
get promoted at the end of the season.
Remarkably the team only dropped one point in the men
and womens throws competitions. It was a similar story on the track where a
single point was dropped in the 100, 200, 400 and both relays. In fact in
the womens track events the Club just dropped one point the whole afternoon.
Even where individuals did not win events, many set personal bests. Full
results can be found on the Club website.
Final result. 1. Blackheath & Bromley 242. 2. Croydon
Harriers 181. 3. Lewes & Haywards Heath combined 149. 4. Holland Sports 80.
The Club head the Mens Division One of the Kent
Masters League after winning the second match of the season at Canterbury.
Most impressive performance of the evening came from Keith Ewing who won the
over 50s 1500 metres in 4.28.0. This won the race by nearly 28 seconds.
It was also nearly 27 seconds quicker than the time
Richard Hall ran in winning the over 35s race. This was something of a
sprint for Richard as he is recovering from having run the London Marathon.
Mike Van Den Dobbelsteen was a comfortable winner of
the over 35s javelin with a throw of 47.39 and Steve Langdon won the over
50s event with a throw of 43.26. Graham Coates won the over 60s 1500 metres
in 5.26.2.
The Club have won both matches now and, with the
places below them shuffling around, they now have a three point lead at the
top of the division.
The womens A team finished second in their Division
One match and are third in the table just half a point behind second placed
Cambridge Harriers.
Helen Godsell showed that even though she ran the
London Marathon she has not lost all her sprinting speed. She won the over
50s 200 metres in 31.4. The Club’s other individual winner was Barbara Terry
in the over 60s shot putt. Her distance was 7.86.
There was also a win for the over 35s 4x100 team of
Maureen Miller, Shirley Rowbotham, Angela Duffy-Smart and Helen Godsell.
The B team were also runners up in their Division Two
match and remain second in the table.
The Club completed a hat trick of team victories this
week with a win in the second Young Athletes League meeting of the season at
Croydon. Full results are not yet to hand. Further details will follow while
pictures from the meeting can be found on the Club website.
Three of the Club’s young girls broke the magic 5
minute barrier for 1500 metres at the Watford Open Meeting. Under 15s
Jessica Keene and Shannon Riskey timed 4.51.32 and 4.59.71 respectively
while under 13 Naomi Kingston clocked 4.59.59.
The second of the Parris Handicap 5km Road Handicap
races took place at Hayes and winner on this occasion was Jenny Dalton with
Glen Read second and Karen Delahoy third. Fastest male of the evening was
Tim Ayres with 18.07 followed by Tom Desborough and David Beadle. Fastest
female was Justine Eastbury in 20.52 with Sarah Belaon second and Sally
Haffenden third.
Peter Tucker was a comfortable winner of the latest
Bromley 5km Park Run at Norman Park. He timed a swift 16.13. Andy Tucker (no
relation) was second Club member home in 11th with Graham Coates 26th. First
female finisher was Georgina Piper in 80th place with Joanna Clowes 123rd
and Chloe Kibblewhite 144th.
At the event at Wormwood Scrubs Glen Turner finished
in second place while at Bexley, Chris Pike was 16th. Adrian Haley was 48th
at Eastleigh and Colin Rowe 57th at Crystal Palace.
Peter Rogers and John Turner completed their epic
journey from John O’Groats To Lands End at six minutes past two on May the
21st. The duo have run up to 30 miles each day since the 23rd of April to
raise funds for The Cure Parkinsons Trust.
They have covered 860 miles during this time, with the
height gains and losses equal to three times up and down Mount Everest.
Buoyed by the sound of Dave Thomson’s bagpipe playing, they covered the last
four miles in 34.38.
The duo have raised nearly £10,000 so far and there is
still time to sponsor them by visiting
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/TheJogleBrothers Full details of
their journey can be found at
www.offexploring.com/Jogler
As the Club fields teams in all age groups, from under
13s upwards to the Masters age groups, it always welcome new members. The
Club has a Competition Policy which aims to provide appropriate levels of
competition to all athletes of all abilities.
For further information on your particular interest
please e-mail
enquiries@bandbhac.org.uk Alternatively leave details on the Club
answer phone service on 020 8462 3115.
Forthcoming events
23rd May. Johnson Bowl, Norman Park
25th May. Kent Masters League, Dartford
26th May. British Athletics League, Basingstoke
28th May. Open Meeting, Norman Park
30th May. Club 10,000 metres Championships
15/05/12
It has been a remarkable few days for the sprinters of
Blackheath & Bromley led by the exploits of James Alaka and Dina Asher
Smith. At the PAC-12 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, James achieved
the Olympic A qualifying standard for the 200 metres when he ran 20.45 to
win. It is the fastest time by a Briton this year. Not only this, he also
broke his own Club Record in the 100 metres when he finished second in
10.22, the third quickest by a Briton this year.
He has been developing steadily since joining the Club
as an 11 year old and Dina Asher Smith is making similar progress. She has
broken two Club Under 17 records this week . At the Sainsburys Schools Games
in the Olympic Arena, she won the 200 metres in 24.01. Then, at the County
Championships at Ashford she took two hundredths of a second off Montell
Douglas’ record winning the 100 metres in 11.75. These performances rank her
top of the National Under 17 200 metres lists and second in the 100 metres.
Louis Mascarenhas just missed out on a gold medal in
the Schools Games finishing runner up in the discus with a throw of 43.73,
only 12 centimetres behind the winner.
Most successful Senior at the Kent Championships was
Shaunagh Brown with a hat trick of gold medals, winning the shot, discus and
hammer contests with distances of 15.87, 49.72 and 57.59. Training partner
Steve Timmins won the shot with a new best of 14.24, and took silver in the
Hammer and bronze in the discus, an impressive weekend from an over 35.
The Club had a clean sweep of the medals in the pole
vault and the 200 metres. Liz Hughes won the vault with a clearance of 3.50
from Rachel Arnheim (3.40) and Christina Moore (3.10). Montell Douglas took
gold in the 200 in 24.26 from Serita Solomon and Grace Sheppard.
Grace returned the next day to win the 100 metres in
12.85 and more track success came courtesy of James Poole who won the 800
metres. Back in the field Sandra Alaneme won the triple jump title with a
leap of 12.42.
The medals continued to be won in the under 20 age
group. Rachel Dickens was in dominant form in the 400 metres winning by
nearly six seconds in a seasons best of 55.99. Rhiannon Jones continued her
successful first year in this age group by winning the 100 metre hurdles in
15.27 while Samantha Brown won the 400 hurdles in 63.87. Craig Morten won
the mens 400 hurdles in 55.76.
Tom Parker was an impressive winner of the hammer with
a distance of 57.64 which ranks him 7th in the country. Ellie Duffy Penny
continued the medal charge as she won the discus with a throw of 35.06 and
Frances Read won the long jump with a leap of 5.16.
As well as Dina Asher Smith’s 100 metre Championship
Best Performance in the 100 metres, Shannon Hylton won the 200 metres in
25.20, a new best, as was her 12.11 in finishing third in the 100. Twin
sister Cheriece won the 300 metres in 40.32. In the field, victories came
from Alex Wheelwright in the high jump with a clearance of 1.55, and from
Gemma Brown with a new best throw of 37.66 in the discus.
More throws success came in the under 15s age group
where Akina Gondwe-Onobrauche won the shot with a distance of 9.98.
At the Surrey Championships at Kingston, Oweka Wanogho
claimed the Senior Mens 200 metre title with a time of 21.81and he was also
third in the 100 in 10.75.
First year under 17 Stefan Amokwandoh impressed again
in the triple jump winning with a leap of 13.26 and more jumps success came
in the under 15s age group as Jed Botham won the long jump with a leap of
5.90. On the track Maya Bruney won the under 15 girls 200 metres in 25.41.
The British Masters Athletics Federation Road Relays
took place at Sutton Coldfield with the Club’s best placing coming in the
womens over 35 age group. The quartet of Julie Reynolds, Rosie Ferguson,
Kate Pratten and Carolyna Jones Baldock finished in 6th place in a time of
one hour twenty three minutes and thirty three seconds.
The mens over 35s team was incomplete but,
nevertheless first leg runner Steve Cooper did clock a very useful 16.32 on
the opening stage. Mark Ellison, Andy Lawes, Adrian Stocks and Ian
Montgomery made up the other stages.
Keith Ewing who ran an excellent 16.12 for the over
45s team on the opening stage. With subsequent legs from Neil Ayrton, Mark
Watling, Steve Pairman, Roy Smith and Con Griffin, the Club finished in 10th
position. Organiser Anne Cilia flew the flag in the womens over 45s race.
The womens over 55s team finished in a very useful 7th
place thanks to the efforts of Helen Godsell, Annie McDonough and Maz
Turner.
Maz’s husband John, who she first met when they were
both celebrating their 18 birthdays 44 years ago next month, is currently
engaged on a most ambitious project, to run from John O’Groats to Lands End
with fellow Club Member Pete Rogers. They aim to raise money for The Cure
Parkinsons Trust.
The dynamic duo have now covered well over 630 miles
and have now reached Yanley, near Bristol having just crossed the Severn
Bridge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the duo should visit
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/TheJogleBrothers To keep updated on
their progress visit
www.offexploring.com/Jogler
Jamie Gosnell was the Club’s first finisher in the
latest Bromley Parkrun at Norman Park. He finished in 12th place in 18.54
with Andy Tucker 17th and Barry Wetherilt 65th. First female from the Club
to finish was Georgina Piper in 116th with Tracey Ashenden 139th.
8/05/12
It has been another busy weekend for the athletes of
Blackheath & Bromley. Shaunagh Brown led the way with a new Club Record of
60.99 in the Hammer while competing in Gothenburg, Sweden. This improved her
previous best by nearly five metres and is the 6th furthest by a Briton this
year.
She also set an outdoor best of 15.80 in the shot
which ranks her third in the country and threw 49.00 in the discus which
ranks her 5th.
Serita Solomon was in action in Italy. Competing at a
meeting at Pavia she timed 13.87 for the 100 metre hurdles., the 8th fastest
by a British athlete so far this year.
The British Universities Championships were a bit
special this year as they were used as a test event for the Olympic Stadium
and a number of Blackheath & Bromley athletes were selected to compete for
their institutions. Three of them won their events.
Montell Douglas, the UK Record holder, took the 100
metre title in 11.81. Pippa Woolven set a new Championship record in winning
the 2000 metres steeplechase in 6.36.60 as did Izzy Jeffs in the heats of
the javelin with a throw of 53.93. She won the final with 53.26.
Jermaine Olasan took bronze in the long jump with a
leap of 7.34 and others to feature prominently included Sam Brown (5th in
the mens pole vault), Lauren Blackie (5th triple jump), Megan Southwart (5th
400 hurdles) and Tremayne Gilling (6th 100 metres).
Closer to home at Norman Park the Club won the first
UK Young Athletes League match of the season. A magnificent seven athletes
achieved National Grade One performances in conditions which were not ideal.
Shannon Hylton won both the under 17 womens 100 and
200 metre races in times of 12.3 and 25.2, the latter a personal best. Twin
sister Cheriece won the 300 metres in 40.3 while in the field Gemma Brown
took the discus with a throw of 33.40.
Maya Bruney was in dominant form in the under 15 girls
sprints. She won the 100 in 12.5 and then followed with a 25.3 clocking in
the 200 metres. These are the third and second best times in the country so
far this year.
In the under 13s Nicole Farmer continued her good
start to the season as she clocked 10.3 to win the 75 metres. Naomi Kingston
won the 1200 metres by over 9 seconds in 3.58.5, a new personal best. Magda
Cienciala also won by an impressive margin, taking the long jump with a
personal best leap of 4.49, over half a metre further than the runner up.
As well as the Grade Ones there was plenty more to
celebrate. Evie Syron Russell and Stefan Awokwandoh dominated the horizontal
jumps in the under 17s age group winning the A string men and womens long
and triple jump contests. Additional A string victories came courtesy of
shot putters Gemma Brown and Daniel Hollett and javelin thrower Yemisi
Sofolarin.
The field event success continued in the under 15s
with Isabella Hilditch and Jed Botham winning both long jump events and
Isobell Reeves and Joe Saddler both high jumps. Akina Gondwe Onobra won the
shot putt while on the track Jessica Keene was a comfortable victor in the
1500 metres.
Safiya Atkins-Dyke started the Club’s afternoon on the
track in the best possible way by winning the under 13 girls 70 metre
hurdles in 13.1. David Ndukwe won the boys 100 metres and Olivia Richer the
girls 150 metres.
The afternoon finished with victories for the teams in
the under 17 womens 4x100 and 4x300, the boys 4x300 and the under girls
4x100.
This was not just about those who won events, however,
as all those competing contributed to the team success. The next match takes
place at Croydon on the 20th of May.
Also at Norman Park, the Club hosted its annual Ted
Pepper race. Previously a road race, this has now been changed to a multi
terrain event with the race starting on the track and using the roads and
country paths nearby before finishing again on the track.
Ian Frith was the winner in 35.56 with Glen Turner 3rd
, Finton Parkinson 6th, Tony Crowder 7th, Roy Smith 8th, and Jonathan
Vintner 9th. Fran Green won the womens race in 40.04 and was 11th overall.
Jane Bradshaw in 50th and Kate Pratten 55th were the next two Club
finishers.
Again at Norman Park, youngster William Fuller won the
latest 5km Park Run in 17.45 with Fintan Parkinson 2nd, Andy Tucker 5th,
Jamie Gosnell 7th and Steve Pairman 9th. Chloe Kibblewhite was the first
female from the Club in 80th with Chloe Haffenden 132nd.
Glen Turner was a winner at the Valentines Park Run in
16.56. Colin Rowe was 42nd at the event at Greenwich while at Eastleigh,
Adrian Haley was 55th and Carolyna Jones Baldock 59th.
On the roads Greg Proctor ran 34.38 at the Kings Lynn
10km having timed 9.33.10 for 3000 metres on the track the previous
Wednesday at Watford. Steve Cooper ran a new best of 36.09 at the Croxton
10km.
Away from all this, Pete Rogers and John Turner
continue in their venture to run from John O’Groats to Lands End. The duo
are raising money for The Cure Parkinsons Trust. They are now over half way
in their journey having completed 480 miles with just 380 to go.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the duo should visit
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/TheJogleBrothers
To keep updated on their progress visit
www.offexploring.com/Jogler
1/05/12
Blackheath & Bromley’s athletes have continued to
produce some notable performances in the United States. James Alaka ran
10.39 and 20.89 for the 100 and 200 metres at the Washington State v
Washington Dual meet at Pullman. At the Penn Relays in Philadelphia,
Lorraine Ugen leapt 6.04 in the long jump.
There was a big breakthrough for Alex Bruce Littlewood
at the Bobcat Classic at San Marros, Texas. He set a new best of 8.59.39 for
the 3000 metres steeplechase, taking over 10 seconds off his previous best
time.
At the Central Florida Gliders Spring Track Classic in
Orlando, 400 hurdler Ed Harrison moved down in distance to set personal
bests in both the 100 and 200 metres with times of 10.79 and 21.71.
Despite the horrendous weather conditions at home, the
track and field season is well underway and Blackheath & Bromley enjoyed
some success in the opening matches of the National Junior Athletics League,
the Southern Athletics League, and the Kent Masters League.
In the Southern Premier Division of the Junior League
at Eton, the Club finished in third place with the highlight being a new
League Record in the 1500 metre steeplechase from Pippa Woolven. She timed
4.56.87.
Other A string victories came from Oliver Newport with
a 7.04 leap in the long jump and Dina Asher Smith in the 200 metres,
clocking 24.49 into a -1.2 headwind, plus both men and womens 4x100 metre
teams. Other top three placings came from Adam Gemili (2nd 200), Craig
Morten (2nd 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles), Shannon Hylton (3rd 100), Rhiannon
Jones ( 3rd 100 hurdles), Samantha Brown (2nd 400 hurdles), Bonnie Bratton
(2nd hammer), Robyn Pettit (2nd high jump), Yemisi Sofolarin (3rd javelin),
and Frances Read (3rd triple jump).
The team will be looking to improve on third in their
next match as they bid for a place in the National Final in September.
Rhiannon Jones, Rachel Robinson, who set new bests in
the 400 hurdles two days in a row, Holly Fletcher and Ross Braden had also
been in action the previous day at Norman Park where the Club hosted a
Division Two match of the Southern Athletics League. It never stopped
raining all day but it resulted in a narrow win for the Club, thanks in part
because a number of athletes did more than their fair share of events to
cover for those who were not available.
Under 17 Louis Hopgood made an impressive debut over
the 400 hurdles winning in 59.5. Shakeitha Henfield, an International from
the Bahamas, won both the womens 400 and 200 metre races. Other A string
wins came from Alloy Wilson (400), Lewis Ely (high jump), Steve Timmins
(Hammer and shot), Mike Van Den Dobbelsteen (javelin), Grace Sheppard (100),
Hope Stenning (800); Rhiannon Jones (100 hurdles), Rachel Robinson (400
hurdles), Michelle Fewster (1500 steeplechase); Rachel Blackie (hammer); and
all four relay teams.
More success came on Friday night with the men winning
the opening match of the Kent Masters League at Sutcliffe Park. Keith Ewing
won the over 35s 3000 metres by nearly half a minute in 9.59.4 despite the
fact that he is an over 50. The other individual victory came from Shaun
Lightman in the over 50s 2000 metres walk. Steve Timmins (Hammer) and Murray
Hilborne (pole vault) were also in action on the first of two days of
competition. Murray’s efforts were particularly noteworthy as he is
recovering from malaria.
The women were third in their Division One match with
their B team finishing second in Division Two. Wins in the latter came from
middle distance runners Justine Eastbury and Zoe Wood in the triple jump and
hammer respectively!
Full results and pictures from these matches can be
found on the Club website.
In last weeks London Mini Marathon which was run over
the last 5km of the London Marathon, Club members formed the bulk of the
Bromley teams that won gold in all three of the girls age group races in the
London Borough Challenge.
In the under 17s, Kate Curran led home the Bromley
team finishing in 2nd place. Amber Reed was 8th, Emily Grant 14th, Bethany
Frost 19th, Emma Rowland 22nd and Hope Stenning 31st.
First home for the under 15 girls was Niamh Bridson
Hubbard in 17th with Janae Galley 25th, Anna Myers 33rd, Lucy Sidey 36th,
Ashley Hamilton 37th and Samantha Leighton 42nd. Charlotte Rhule was 27th
for Croydon.
In the under 13s Jessica Keene was 4th with Georgina
Taylor 7th, Shannon Riskey 8th, Natalie Falshaw 13th Yasmin Austridge 15th,
and Georgina Piper 35th. Naomi Kingston was running for Westminster and she
was 3rd.
Things did not go so well for the Bromley’s boys
squads. The under 17 team of Will Ruiz (72nd), Thomas Greenhill (100th),
James Perry (151st), Anthony Moore (155th), Charles Jones (172nd), and Jake
Wade (176th) came 25th.
First home in the under 15s was William Fuller in 6th
and with Richard Webb 40th, Thomas Desborough (79th), Jamie Gosnell (124th),
Joshua Dowling (130th), Thomas Powell (172nd) they finished in 14th place.
Bailey Stickings was 51st for Bexley.
Best of the Bromley boys teams was the under 13s who
came second with Thomas Wright 3rd, Aleksander Wiltshire 18th, Jake Potter
19th, Charlie Davis 26th, Dillon Robertson 29th, and William Pope 42nd. Joss
Barber and Lewis Stickings were 9th and 147th respectively for Bexley.
The Vets AC 10km track walk Championships took place
at Battersea Park and included the County Senior and Area Veteran
Championships. Shaun Lightman was in good form finishing in third place in
59 minutes 57.7 seconds, the first time he has dipped under the hour mark
for some time. This gave him first place in the VAC over 65s race.
Andy Tucker was the Club’s first finisher in the
latest Bromley 5km Parkrun at Norman Park. He finished in third place in
18.10 with youngsters Will Ruiz and Thomas Desborough 5th and 9th. Jessica
Keene was the Club’s first female finisher in 18th with Yasmin Austridge
80th and Georgina Piper 84th.
24/04/12
Andy Rayner was the Blackheath & Bromley’s first
finisher in this years Virgin London Marathon. In his first race at the
distance he finished in 74th place in a time of 2.32.44 having passed
halfway in 72.51. Alex Gibbins was close behind in 81st place in 2.33.50
with Samual Barnes third in 321st in 2.44.04.
Kevin May (2.49.34), Paul Sharp (2.56.07), Danny
Brewer (2.59.36) and Mark Skelly (2.59.54) were also inside the three hour
mark.
Julie Reynolds was the first woman from the Club to
finish. She was the 457th female finisher and 3883rd overall in a time of
3.25.58. Next was Sarah Belaon in 3.49.25 followed by Kate Pratten in
4.08.39. Sprinter Helen Godsell made her marathon debut and finished in
4.18.58.
Mike Peel continued his amazing record of having run
in every London Marathon, one of only 16 people to have done so. He finished
in a time of 4.36.00 a dramatic improvement on last years 5.21.09.
Scott Overall, who has been selected to represent
Great Britain at the Olympic Marathon, was pace making the race. He was
supposed to drop out at the halfway point but a hamstring strain meant he
had to retire at 15km.
Full details of the London Mini Marathon will appear
in the next report.
Adam Gemili has opened his outdoor season in
sensational form in the United States. Still a Junior, the Blackheath &
Bromley athlete, ran the equal fastest time by a British Senior athlete this
year over the 100 metres when he recorded 10.23 at the Tom Jones Memorial
International at Gainesville, Florida. This performance is inside the
Olympic B standard for the event and is the equal 2nd fastest by a European
Senior athlete this Summer.
He also just missed the B standard in the 200 metres
by five hundredths of a second when he ran 20.70. This is the third fastest
by a European Senior athlete so far this year and will give him great
encouragement as he prepares for the World Junior Championships in Barcelona
in July.
At the same meeting Ed Harrison opened with a very
promising 52.70 in the 400 metre hurdles which is nearly a second faster
than his opening performance last year.
Joe Lawrence leapt 15.11 in the triple jump prior to
returning to the green green grass of home this week.
At the Mount Sac Relays in Walnut, California, James
Alaka timed 20.92 for the 200 metres just outside his seasons best. Alex
Bruce Littlewood took over 20 seconds off his previous best for 5000 metres
as he timed 14.24.55.
Lorraine Ugen was in action at the Michael Johnson/Dr
Pepper Classic at Waco, Texas, running a personal best of 11.55 for the 100
metres.
At the Cormell Tri Meet at Ithaca, New York, Pippa
Woolven not only ran 4.34.34 for the 1500 metres but also timed a very
useful 70.89 for the 400 hurdles. These times were all the more impressive
because of the windy conditions demonstrated by the fact that Jermaine
Alexander’s 10.82 in the 100 metres was with the aid of a +4.8 metre per
second following wind. He also ran 22.03 for the 200 metres a time which was
just under the 2 metre per second legal limit.
Tremayne Gilling continued his successful start to the
season as he timed 10.41 for the 100 metres at the Longbeach Invitational at
Norwalk, California. Anike Shand Whittingham ran 12.10 in the womens 100
metres and Katrina Cosby 58.17 in the 400 metres. Trem’s time equalled that
which he had run at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa. Anike was even
quicker here with a 11.95 clocking and Katrina ran 62.87 for the 400 metre
hurdles, quicker than she had run the whole of last season.
The Sward & Kinnaird Trophy Meeting was not the Club’s
finest hour as it struggled to fill events. However, there were some very
promising early season performances. Oweka Wanogho won both the 100 and 200
metre races in times of 11.34 and 22.16. Junior Craig Morten ran a very
useful 56.4 for the 400 hurdles while veteran Richard Holt clocked 59.82.
Highlight in the field was a victory for Lewis Ely in
the high jump with a clearance of 1.90 while Alex Pope and Steve Timmins
scored many points in the throws. Shakeitha Henfield ran as a guest in the
400 metres and she timed 56.89.
The Club’s Kent Young Athletes League campaign did not
start as well as had been hoped. None of the four age groups team won but
there were second places for the Under 15 Boys and the Under 13 girls.
Jed Botham won the Under 15 Boys long jump with a leap
of 5.46 while Bailey Stickings claimed victory in the 800 metres in a new
personal best of 2.14. Bailey then joined William Adams, Josh Skyers and Joe
Saddler in the 4x300 metres team that won in 2.51.9. Anna Barnett won the
Under 15 girls hammer with a throw of 22.28.
Best individual performance of the day came from
Nicole Farmer in the under 13 girls age group. She won the 75 metres in a
time of 10.2, a National Grade One performance. Olivia Richer made it
maximum A string sprints points as she claimed victory in the 150 metres in
21.4. The duo were back on the track with Andi Desborough and Magda
Cienciala for the 4x100 and again they were victorious. Magda had earlier
won the long jump with a very promising leap of 4.34.
The boys 4x100 metre relay team also enjoyed victory
courtesy of James Low, Adefela Lipede, Lewis Stickings and Femi Sofolarin.
At the Watford Open Meeting Holly Fletcher and Shannon
Riskey ran new 800 metre bests of 2.20.45 and 2.26.90 respectively while
Sonia Woolhouse timed 2.36.92.
Peter Hannell was in action in the new series of the
VAC 5 mile walks at Battersea Park. He finished in 3rd place in a time of
49.45.
David Beadle was the Club’s first finisher in the
latest Bromley 5km Parkrun at Norman Park. He finished in 3rd place in 19.02
with Steve Pairman in 7th and Andy Tucker 15th. Chloe Kibblewhite was the
first woman home in 110th. Glen Turner was 2nd in the Valentines event in
17.08.
Mini Bees swarm around Olympic Legend
On April 21st The Bees Academy held a special event
for the Academy’s Mini Bees, aged between 5 – 8 years old, at the Norman
Park Athletics Track, Hayes Lane, Bromley to mark the "100 Days To Go" until
the start of the 2012 London Olympic Games. The normal Saturday morning
athletics session was enhanced by the use of non-pressurised competitive
events, such as standing long jump, mini howler throwing, hurdles, obstacle
and shuttle relay races - held on the home straight so the parents could
give voice to their support for the youngsters.
All 42 children who participated in the event were
presented with a special commemorative medal donated by Blackheath & Bromley
Harriers AC. “We were very fortunate to have 3-time Olympian Steve Backley
on hand to present the medals ably assisted by his two young daughters who
had come along to watch.” said John Blackie
The Bees Academy is coaching initiative designed
specifically for children in school years up to and including year 7 to
encourage their participation in sport and to develop their athletic
potential to the best of their ability. To find out more please visit our
website www.thebeesacademy.com
or call John Blackie on 07768 120519.
17/04/12
Two of Blackheath & Bromley’s top sprinters have
started off their outdoor seasons in fine form in the United States. As a
result of their performances Tremayne Gilling and James Alaka are currently
ranked 5th and 6th Britons in the 100 metres so far this year.
Gilling ran 10.35 in the Tommy “Tiny” Lister Classic
in Los Angeles and the race was actually into a headwind. Alaka was
competing in the Pepsi Team Invitational at Eugene, Oregon where he timed
10.36. He also ran a fine 20.90 for the 200 metres and this leaves him as
second fastest Briton this year.
Blackheath & Bromley’s senior men finished in a very
useful 22nd place in the National 12 Stage Road Relays at Sutton Park. This
followed their 12th place in the Southern event at the end of last month.
Best performance of the day came from James Poole who
moved the team up from 19th to 5th on the 2nd leg. His time of 14.20 was the
5th fastest short leg time of the day. Andy Rayner had got the team off to a
solid start when he finished in 19th place on the opening leg in a time of
27.00 and he now looks forward to his marathon debut at London this weekend.
Peter Tucker slipped to 24th on the third leg with 29.51 which was where
Phil Sesemann stayed with 16.07 on leg four.
Stage five saw a welcome return to action for Michael
Skinner and he moved up to 18th place with 26.42, the 22nd quickest long
stage of the day. Stephen Cavey timed a very useful 15.37 to leave the Club
in 19th at the halfway stage. With the field now stretched out the positions
didn’t change much from here. Ben Cockburn (30.31), Jamie Darling (30.14)
and Danny Brewer (30.31) contributed long legs and David McKinley (16.06),
Ian Frith (16.04) and Jack Swallow (16.31) the short with Swallow moving up
two places on the last stage. Their finishing time was 4 hours 29minutes and
34 seconds.
The challenge now is to build upon this performance
next Winter and, with a useful squad of youth and experience, there is no
reason why they cannot.
More National success came for walkers Shaun Lightman
and Peter Hannell who competed in the National 20km Walk Championships at
Redbridge Cycle Track for their first claim club Surrey Walking Club. They
helped the team to bronze medals and the Club also received the Race Walking
Association’s Annual trophy for the most improved Club for 2011. On the 20
lap race Shaun Lightman started cautiously as he had been carrying an injury
prior to the race but, as his confidence grew, he moved through the field to
finish in 17th place in 2 hours 10 minutes and 44 seconds. Peter Hannell was
20th in 2.14.06.
Blackheath & Bromley’s womens team started their track
and field season with victory in the Alpha Beta Trophy meeting at Lee
Valley. Each Club fields a Senior and an Under 15s team and pleasingly the
Club were the best in each age group. “I’m delighted with the result”, said
Senior Womens team manager Brendan McShane, “It shows the great team spirit
that exists at the Club”. For the Seniors Shaunagh Brown enjoyed victories
in both the shot and discus but conditions were not conducive to long
distances. She threw 13.58 and 42.87 while Liz Hughes and Sam Milner won the
B strings with throws of 9.68 and 39.47.
The other individual winner was Sam Brown, who enjoyed
victory on her Club debut in the 400 hurdles in a time of 64.37. Another new
member Shakeitha Henfield was second in the A string 400 metres in 57.15
with Krystal Galley picking up maximum points in the B string. Serita
Solmon also gained an A string runner up spot in the 100 metres with Grace
Sheppard winning the B string.
Youngster Holly Fletcher improved her personal best by
over a second and a half as she finished third in the 800 metres in 2.21.85.
More new bests came in the 100 metre hurdles where Rhiannon Jones and Sian
Duffy Smart timed 15.5 and 15.75 respectively; and Ellie Duffy Penny threw
the javelin 29.67.
The under 15 girls were in dominant form on the track
winning every A and B string from the 100 metres up to 1500. Maya Bruney won
both the 100 and 200 metre A string races with Jamilya Robinson Pascal and
Parris Johnson securing maximum points in the B strings. Charlotte Rhule won
the 800 with a new best of 2.28.14 with Naomi Kingston taking the B race and
it was a similar story in the 1500 with Jessica Keane setting a new best of
5.03.70 for victory and Shannon Riskey winning the B string.
Isabella Hilditch and Akina Gondwe Onabrauche did not
win their 75 metre hurdles races but their times of 12.84 and 13.34 were
both personal bests. Akina did, however, win the shot putt and her throw of
10.03 was a National Grade One performance. More important points came from
Brooke Hollett, Anna Barnett, Temi Awodiya, and Toyin Orelaja and these were
vital as the team won the under 15s match by 10 points.
Seniors. 1. Blackheath & Bromley (191), 2. Radley
(165.5), 3. Enfield & Haringey (156), 4. Havering Mayesbrook (150), 5.
Stevenage & North Herts (139.5), 6. Herts Phoenix (78.5), 7. Dacorum & Tring
(68.5), 8. Thames Valley Harriers.
Under 15s. 1. Blackheath & Bromley (145), 2. Havering
Mayes brook (135), 3. Stevenage & North Herts (133), 4. Enfield & Haringey
(129), 5. Radley (105), 6. Herts Phoenix (98), 7. Decorum & Tring (96).
The Clubs runners dominated the leading places in the
latest Bromley 5km Parkrun at Norman Park filling the first five positions.
Alex Gibbins won in 16.36 with Greg Proctor 2nd, Ross Braden 3rd, William
Fuller 4th and Andy Tucker 5th while Bailey Stickings also made the top 10.
Jessica Keene ensured a Club double as she was the first female to finish in
25th place overall. Next was Charlotte Stickings in 60th and Georgina Piper
82nd.
The race is also age graded and again the Club’s
runners were to the fore with William Fuller first with 80.82% and Jessica
Keene 2nd, Alex Gibbins 3rd, and John Fenwick 4th. Nigel Haffenden was 9th
in the event at Bexley with Carolyna Jones Baldock in 83rd.
10/04/12
Many of Blackheath & Bromley’s youngsters began their
track and field seasons at the Hercules Wimbledon Open Meeting at Crystal
Palace and there were some very promising results.
Louis Mascarenhas opened in fine style in the under
17s age group setting two personal bests and both were National Grade One
performances. He won the discus with a throw of 42.74 and, although it is
very early in the season, this is the furthest in the country so far this
year. He also threw 14.45 in the shot , an improvement on his previous best
by over a metre. Encouragingly Daniel Hollett also set a new best in the
discus of 35.70 and he was also just four centimetres off a Grade One
performance in the shot with 13.21.
On the track, for the girls Janae Galley and Holly
Fletcher were closely matched in the 800 metres timing 2.23.04 and 2.23.43
respectively while Bethany Frost clocked 2.40.38. Anna Myers ran 5.18.11 and
Samantha Leighton 5.25.75 for the 1500 metres.
For the boys William Fuller opened with 4.28.76 for
the 1500 and promising early season efforts came from Justin Brown (100 and
200), Adenekan Lipede (200), Luke Russell (800), Thomas Desborough (1500).
A trio of under 20s were in action in the mile with
Amber Reed running 5.40.46, Jessica Jones 5.48.81 and Emma Rowland 5.54.35.
Ellie Duffy Penny was just off a National Grade Two standard when she threw
34.75 for the discus.
Highlight in the under 15s age group was a Grade One
performance by Isabella Hilditch in the long jump. She won with a leap of
5.06, nearly half a metre further than she jumped last year. Temi Awodiya
was 4th with 4.38. Shannon Riskey ran 2.28.19 in the 800 metres while in the
1500s Charlotte Rhule timed 5.05.97 to Jessica Keene’s 5.15.26.
Others in action included Ryan Poyroo and Lucas Pacary
(100), Sophie Grieves, Temi Awodiya and Kate Woodbridge (200), Ashley
Hamilton (800); Scott Bulmer and Joanna Clowes (1500); Anna Barnett (shot
and discus); Tiquilia Robinson Pascal (high jump).
Best performance in the Under 13s age group came from
Naomi Kingston who ran a Grade One time of 5.03.30 in the 1500 metres. Again
it is early season but this is the fastest in the country by 13 seconds and
improves own her best time from last year by over 20 seconds. Nicole Farmer
was just off a Grade One as she ran 13.66 in the 100 metres.
For the boys Jake Potter ran a very useful 4.57.65 in
the 1500 metres, which not only was a personal best, it is also the fastest
in the country so far this year. (Again it is very early days). Elsewhere
useful early form was shown by Adefala Lipede ( 100 and 200); Karina Harris
(200 and long jump) and Catrin Murphy (200 and 800).
While many are putting the finishing touches to their
preparations for this years London Marathon, two members of Blackheath &
Bromley are near ready for a far more ambitious running venture.
Between April 23rd (St Georges Day) to May 21st, Pete
Rogers and John Turner plan to run 30 miles a day to take them from John
O’Groats to Lands End. They are running to raise money in aid of The Cure
Parkinson’s Trust.
To run 30 miles a day for 29 days is a huge
undertaking but the duo are probably more qualified to do this than most.
John at 61 has run in over 100 marathons, and over 25 ultra distance races,
including 17 London to Brighton races, 2 Comrades Marathons and four 24 hour
track races.
Pete may be 13 years younger at 48 but he has also
amassed a huge amount of distance running experience. Like John he has run
over 100 marathons and completed a dozen ultras. These have included 6
London to Brighton races, 2 Comrades Marathons and a 24 hour track race.
They are preparing quite simply for the event by
running lots of miles. For example, a couple of weeks ago the duo ran from
the Blackheath & Bromley Clubhouse at Hayes for two hours returning in time
for the Club photo which only takes place every four years. After smiling
for the camera, they then embarked on another two hour run while other Club
members competed in the Closing 5 Mile Handicap race.
They arrived back at the Clubhouse where post races
teas were being served and were delighted to be presented with a cheque for
£500 to go to their cause by Club member Tony Pontifex on behalf of the
Master and Wardens of the Worshipful Company of Armourers & Brasiers.
Elated with this, they set off with a spring in their
step for another 5 miles to reach their target distance for the day of 30
miles and arrived back at the Clubhouse to attend the Club AGM.
That is some commitment to the cause and one close to
Pete’s heart. “For the same number of years that I have been running my
mother has fought Parkinson’s. It is time to do something. We are running to
find a cure”. Anyone wishing to sponsor the duo should visit
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/TheJogleBrothers
To keep updated on their progress visit
www.offexploring.com/Jogler
Past President Les Roberts, who has had Parkinson’s
for 19 years, has been a committed fund raiser to help find a cure for the
disease. He has cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise monies.
Cruelly his plans for his next venture have been thrown into disarray after
thieves broke into his garage and stole all his bikes, except for the one he
was out riding on at the time. More on this to follow.
Alex Gibbins made his debut in the Bromley 5km park
run at Norman Park and ran out victorious in a time of 17.01. William Fuller
was third in a new best of 17.35 and Ross Braden in 4th, William Pope also
with a pb of 19.11 in 9th and Thomas Desborough 10th also made the top 10.
The race is also graded according to age and top was
William Fuller who produced a score of 80.66% with John Fenwick third with
78.50%.
This event becomes ever popular among Club members
with Mick Jones in 25th, Georgina Piper 82nd and Karen Desborough 309th all
making their first appearances in the event.
In addition new personal bests were also set by Andrew
Riches 34th in 20.12, Emma Rowland 61st (21.27), Chloe Kibblewhite 119th
(23.47) and the evergreen Mike Peel 172nd in 25.58. Twenty four Club members
took part.
The Club have just won the Alpha Beta Trophy Meeting
at Lee Valley. Full details will be included in the next report.
3/04/12
Andy Rayner put the finishing touches to his
preparations for this years London Marathon when he finished in a useful
third place in the Paddock Wood Half Marathon. The Blackheath & Bromley
athlete timed 70.44 on a testing course.
Alex Gibbins, who is also running at London, was 13th
in 73.25 and Ian Montgomery 103rd and Kevin May 104th (Ian being helped by
Kevin set a new best of 84.40), and Tony Crowder 154th (87.32) were all
inside 90 minutes.
Officially the first woman from the Club to finish was
Sarah Dowling 250th (92.33) with Justine Eastbury 348th (95.55) and Sarah
Belaon 389th (97.00). However, it would appear there were problems with the
electronic chips which are used to provide the results. A number of runners
performances were not recorded and these included Club member Lisa Page, who
had timed herself at 89.10.
Rosie Ferguson ran in the Croydon Half Marathon and
finished in 72nd place in 93.47.
Shaun Lightman recorded his best time since 2010 at
the Pat Furey 5 mile walking race at Lee Valley. He timed a very respectable
46.08.
The track and field season is now underway and a
number of the Club’s athletes have been in action around the country and the
world. In the United States at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas, Jonathan
Ilori leapt 14.77 in the triple jump. He has also recently run 11.06 for the
100 metres and recorded a 15.06 wind assisted triple jump. In Los Angeles,
James Alaka ran 48.95 for 400 metres.
Closer to home in Nottingham, Sam Milner opened her
first season as a Senior Woman with a personal best in the discus of 45.70.
Izzy Jeffs, who has joined the Club as a second claim member, won the
javelin with 50.63.
Andy Tucker was the Club’s first finisher at the
latest Bromley 5km Parkrun at Norman Park. He finished in second place in
17.52 with Steve Pairman 11th and Jamie Gosnell 17th. First female was Chloe
Kibblewhite in 115th overall.
Elsewhere, Glen Turner won the Valentines park run in
17.15. At Riddlesdown, Brendan McShane finished in 5th place with Helen
Godsell 25th and Tracey Ashenden 28th, while at Newbury Peter Hamilton was
17th . Jim Osman was 58th at Swindon.
