Last updated 25
August 2000
Press Releases April
& May 2000
- f you want to find the latest results try Results!
- If you are after older results and gossip please
go to the Courier pages.
30 May 2000
Emeka Udechuku moved
closer to revising his Club discus record when he threw the 2kg implement out to
58.84 at the Halle International throws meeting in Germany. The Mike Winch
coached 20 year old was just over 2 metres down on his best of 60.97 and, with
it still being early season, there seems every likelihood that there is better
to come.
Two other members of
Blackheath Harriers Bromley have also just returned from abroad having completed
the finishing touches to their summer preparations. Julian Golding and new
member Jonathan Barbour have been training in California and, while out there,
took the opportunity to take part in some US meetings. At Irvine on May 7th
Golding timed 10.38 for the 100, just nine hundredths outside his best. He wasn’t
so fast a week later when he clocked 10.55 at a meeting at Eagle Rock. In fact
Barbour actually ran faster in his heat timing 10.51, only 3 hundredths of a
second behind established British international Marlon Devonish.
Emphasizing the Clubs
strength in depth in the sprints came two more impressive performances from the
weekends major domestic Championships. At the Inter Counties Championships at
Bedford, Kent 200 metre champion Michael Champion set a new best of 21.12 in his
heat and then, despite suffering with a sore toe, finished 4th in the
final in 21.28.
Also on the track
veteran Bill Foster finished 5th in the 10,000 in 31.18.66; and
Michael Skinner and Stephen Pratt timed 4.21.06 and 56.93 in the heats of the
mile and 400 hurdles.
Outstanding
performance in the field came from Levi Edwards who set a new personal best in
finishing 3rd in the long jump with a leap of 7.35.
Meanwhile at the
Southern Under 20 Championships at Watford, Dwayne Grant continued his
outstanding start to the season as he took gold in both the 100 and 200 Under
20s events. He won the 200 in a new best of 21.2, and then was equally
impressive in the 100 with a 10.6 clocking.
It proved yet another
successful Championships for Blackheath athletes against the top athletes from
an area spanning from Suffolk down to Cornwall. Further golds came from Katy
Porter in the 100 hurdles in 14.57; and from Sandra Alaneme who set a new best
of 1.65 to win the under 15s high jump.
Back in the sprints
Anisha Barnaby took silver in the under 20s 100 in 12.34, and there was bronze
and a new Club Record for Lisa Edwards in the discus with a throw of 33.87.
There was another
Club Record in the under 15s discus where Anita Oliver threw a new best of 26.17
and to cap a fine start to her season she then putt another best of 9.79 in the
shot. Alaneme threw even further with 9.96.
Emily Oliver was just
outside her best in finishing 5th in the under 17s discus in 32.66
while Katy Benneworth was 5th in the long jump with a leap of 5.23.
Elsewhere Robert
Laming was 9th in the under 20s 1500 final with Stuart Simmons
setting a new best in the heat.
On the roads
internationals Mark Steinle and Dave Taylor were in action in at high quality
race at Stevenage. The Fila Leisure Experience 5km attracted some of the best
runners in the country with Kenyan Julius Kimtai winning in a course record of
13.45 from former Commonwealth 5000 metre champion Rob Denmark . Steinle,
running far below his Olympic marathon distance, finished in 12th
having seen Taylor sweep past him in the final 400 metres as he moved through to
10th.
The Club will be
featured live on Sunday Grandstand this weekend when they compete in a special
invitation Clubs 4x100 metre relay race which has been incorporated in the
latest Road To Sydney meeting at Bedford. The fastest 8 Club teams in the
country have been invited to meet head to head with the winners receiving prize
money of £2000. Many of the Clubs other top athletes will be competing there
and also at the European Inter City match at Battersea Park. The Club will also
be fielding teams in the Southern Mens League and the McDonalds Young Athletes
League for boys.
For further
information about joining the club, please contact Dave Liston on 01322 663504
or ask for Dave at Norman Park track on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening
from 6.30 onwards.
23 May 2000
Emeka Udechuku warmed
up for this weekends Great Britain throws international in Halle, Germany with a
win in the discus at the Loughborough International. Competing as captain of the
University team he beat representatives from England, Scotland, GB students and
GB under 20s with a throw of 56.27 which was just outside his seasons best,
despite the difficult conditions. He was also 4th in the shot with a
putt of 16.88 as athletes from Blackheath Harriers Bromley featured prominently
in the meeting that was featured live on Sunday Grandstand.
Dwayne Grant made his
international debut for the under 20s team and was part of the 4x100 squad which
defeated the senior opposition. He was also 2nd in the invitation 100
in 10.91. Chris Moss showed an encouraging return to form after having major
surgery on both legs last summer. The former World Junior finalist won the
invitation 800 in 1.51.11.
It wasn’t such a
happy day for Club captain Mensah Elliott, however, as he clipped too many
hurdles and, having lost his rhythm, was forced to run through the last flight
and get disqualified. Dave Heath opened his track season by finishing as first
Briton in the 5,000. Beaten by two Kenyans, he still timed a useful 13.57.50.
The race was paced by clubmate Bill Foster who himself has been successful on
the International scene recently. He has just returned from the World Veterans
Road Race Championships in Valladolid, Spain, where he finished 2nd
in the over 40s 10km in a time of 31.19.
Both Udechuku and
Elliott were in action the day before as the Senior mens team opened their
British Athletics League season with a third place in the Division Two match at
Wigan. But for weaknesses in the jumps, the team would probably have won and, so
long as this problem is addressed, the team should still finish in the two
promotion places at the end of the season.
Udechuku won both the
discus and shot with ease, and Alexis Sharp made it maximum points in the discus
with a B string victory. On the track the outstanding performance of the day
came from Anthony Draper who won the 800 metres, equalling his best of 1.49.6.
This is one of the fastest times in the country this year and was achieved
despite the blustery conditions. Joe Mills secured maximum points in the B
string and there were also wins for Ruben Tabares in the 400 in 48.4; and from
Dave Lee in the steeplechase in 9.12.5.
Match Result. 1.
Woodford Green 336. 2. Trafford AC
307. 3. Blackheath Harriers
Bromley 298. 4. Cardiff AC 281. 5. Peterborough AC 265.
6. Harrow AC 246. 7.
Enfield And Haringey 231. 8. City
Of Edinburgh 223.
Blackheath results.
100. A. 4. Darren Burley 11.2. B. 4. Ejike Wodu 11.4.
200. A. 4. Burley 22.6 B. 2. Michael Champion 22.9.
400. A. 1. Ruben Tabares 48.4. B. 7. Scott Jarred 52.3.
800. A. 1. Anthony Draper 1.49.6. B. 1. Joe Mills 1.55.6. 1500. A. 3.
Mills 3.54.3. B. 4. Martin Airey 4.01.1. 5000. A. 2. Andy Arrand 14.36.9. B. 5.
Richard Daniels 16.28.7. 110H. A. 3. Mensah Elliott 15.3. B. 5. Mark Purser
17.9. 400H. A. 4. Stephen Pratt 55.2 B. 3. Purser 57.0. 3000s/c A. 1. Dave Lee
9.12.5 B. 2. Daniel Moore 9.49.7. HJ. A. 6. Bomene Barikor 1.80. B. 5. Champion
1.75. LJ. A. 7. Mark Awanah 6.14. B. 6. Barikor 5.70. TJ. A. 8. Awanah 11.92. B.
8. James Apps 11.15 PV. A. 8. Alan
Hardy 3.60 B. N/H Alexis Sharp.
SP. A. 1. Emeka Udechuku 16.18 B.
8. Apps 9.66. DT. A.1. Udechuku 55.89. B. 1. Sharp 46.89.
JT. A.5. Apps 53.37. B. 4. Sharp 48.48. HT. A. 6. Andrew Benn 50.74. B.
4. Udechuku 42.45. 4x100 3. (Wodu, Champion, Burley, Elliott) 43.4. 4x400 3.
(Draper, Pratt, Jarred, Cooper) 3.22.0
Closer to home, the
women were in action in the Southern League at Tooting. There were a mass of
individual victories from a young team with double wins from Lisa Edwards (shot and discus ); Energize presenter Katy Porter (100 hurdles and
long jump); Siobhan Budd (1500 and 3000);Sam Singer (200 and 400) and Angela
Zihute (triple jump and B long jump). Other victories came from Napthali Morris
(B 400); and Emily Oliver (B discus).
Possibly the best
performance of the day came in the under 15s age group where Anita Oliver won
the shot and discus in new bests of 9.46 and 25.15 and also smashed the Club
Record in the javelin sending the spear out to 25.55.
The Clubs boys and
girls were also in action in the latest round of the McDonalds Young Athletes
League. The Boys won their match at Enfield by a mighty 60 points and won both
of the Man Of The Match awards. Fabian Collymore’s 22.9 in the under 17s 200
secured the track award, although Neil Simpson equalled that time in the B race,
while Ravenswood schoolboy Asando McCloud’s grade one throw of 36.03 in the
under 15s discus was adjudged the Field event performance of the meeting.
Joe Sweeney won the
under 15s 1500 in an excellent 4.28.3 and then followed with a win in the B
string 800. In the A race Omar Wehliye ran 2.10.6 for 2nd place
despite being in the first year in the age group. Dwayne Bovell had a double win
in the under 15s sprints while Will Edet had wins in the pole vault, high jump
and 80 metre hurdles.
Match result. 1.
Blackheath Harriers Bromley 256. 2.
GEC Avionics 196. 3. Milton Keynes
168. 4. Worthing 141.
The girls were in
action at Hayes, Middlesex with the highlights being personal bests for Stacey
Quaye in the under 17s discus and Katy Benneworth in the 80 metre hurdles with a
time of 13.1. Annabel Atkins set a new best of 3.96 in the under 13s long jump,
as did Melisha Winter in the under 15s discus with 19.36; and there was a useful
win from Eve Bugler in the under 15s 800.
A number of Heathens
competed in the Oxford v Cambridge Varsity match at Iffley Road where Oxford won
by 8 points. Competing for Oxford, Jeremy Bradley won the 1500 in 3.54.3 to add
to his 2nd place in the 800. For Cambridge, Sudip Burman Roy won the
shot with a putt of 13.20. He was also 3rd in the discus with 35.51,
while Dave Gardiner was 3rd in the 200 in 23.0.
Roy Smith finished 2nd
in the multi terrain Sevenoaks 7. He timed 38.10 for the course while Terry
Brightwell was 2nd in the over 50s race in 44.38.
The Club is still
keen to recruit new members male and female of all ages. The Club has training
groups at Norman Park, Crystal Palace and Ladywell. Anyone joining under the age
of 15 receives free membership until the start of the 2001 season on 1st
of January. For further details please contact Dave Liston on 01322 663504.
16 May 2000
Athletes from
Blackheath Harriers Bromley had another successful weekend winning a mass of
medals and setting numerous personal bests at the Kent County Track And Field
Championships at Crystal Palace.
Dwayne Grant
celebrated his selection for the Great Britain junior team for this weekends
match at Loughborough by smashing the Championship record in the 100 metres
winning in 10.57 to add to his 21.9 victory in the 200. He has been chosen to
compete for Britain’s juniors in the 4x100 and will also have the opportunity
to race in a non-scoring sprint.
Samantha Singer is
another Harrier who may soon gain international recognition. She also set a
Championship record in winning the under 20s 800 metres in 2.13, two seconds
inside the old mark. She had to settle for silver in the 400, however, clocking
56.0, just outside her best.
Encouragingly some of
the most notable performances in the senior age group came from athletes who
have worked their way up through the age groups. Michael Champion claimed his
first Kent senior title powering to victory from lane eight in the 200 metres in
21.96; and Michael Skinner had to settle for silver an exciting 1500; while in
the field club coach Simon Tolson led by example by winning silver in the pole
vault. Siobhan Budd’s 3rd place in the 1500 saw her setting a new
best of 4.41. Steve Cooper was second in the 800 and Aaron Harris third in the
100.
As well as Grant and
Singers wins in the under 20s, there were also golds for Katy Porter in the 100
hurdles
and James Proctor in
the high jump. Rob Laming was in impressive form winning silver in both the 800
and 1500 as did Lisa Edwards in the shot and discus. Daniel Moore was just
outside the English Schools qualifying time when he was 2nd in the
2000 steeplechase in 6.08.79.
Edwards’ training
partner Emily Oliver won the under 17s discus and there was further throws
success with Aaron Mulhern second in both shot and discus. Tom Robinson’s win
in the 400 hurdles was achieved in a new personal best time of 62.49 despite the
last flight of hurdles being set at the senior height. Undeterred by the
officials’ error, he remained calm and cleared the last barrier to take
victory. Neil Simpson was a class apart in the 400 metres winning in 51.36 and
there was another encouraging run in third from the fast improving Jake Aust who
timed 53.2. There was silver for Katy Benneworth in the 100 and long jump and
for Helen Thomson in the high jump, while Lianne Nemeth was third in the triple
jump.
Each year the
Championships will throw up its share of unexpected results, and this year was
no exception, as Eve Bugler surprised herself, and everyone watching, when she
won the under 15s 800 with a battling last lap, holding off more fancied
opposition. Alex Pope won the pole vault and was third in the javelin; while
Brendan Early set another best in the 400 timing 54.34 for second place. Sandra
Alaneme showed great versatility in winning both the high jump and shot with
Anita Oliver in second in the latter. Oliver was also third in the javelin.
Meanwhile at the
Surrey Championships at Croydon Arena, Chris Verheyden retained his javelin
title with a throw of 46.70. Marathon man and Southern cross country champion
Dave Taylor moved down in distance to take bronze in the 800 in 1.55.1.
In the under 20s age
group Anisha Barnaby struck double gold with wins in the 100 and 200 in times of
12.5 and 25.6, and, in the under 17s, Joseph Godsell revised his best time for
800 clocking 2.03 to win the under 17s race and add to the silver which he won
in the 400.
Further afield
Stephen Pratt won the Senior 400 hurdles in 55.3 and Fabian Collymore took
silver in the under 17s 100 in 11.2 at the Essex Championships at Chelmsford.
Two of the Clubs new
champions Katy Porter and Tom Robinson will be helping to present the Energize
programme on CITV this Friday. The programme contains a feature on the
pentathlon and Tom and Katy will be describing the disciplines involved. Emeka
Udechuku makes a guest appearance to help them with the shot putt.
Emeka has just been
selected to represent Great Britain in a throws international at Mannheim in
Germany in two weeks time and warms up for that this weekend by throwing for the
Club in the first British League match of the season at Wigan. The following day
as captain of Loughborough University he competes the international at his home
track where the university take on team from England, Scotland and the Great
Britain juniors.
9 May 2000
Blackheath Harriers
Bromley continued their strong start to the track and field season with more
success in team competition across the age groups in the Southern Mens League;
both mens and womens divisions of the Junior League; and the Kent Boys And Colts
League.
Following last weeks
win in the Southern League for the Senior womens team, it was the turn of the
men to take centre stage with a double victory for its B and C teams at Norman
Park. In the Division Two match, the team were boosted by the presence of first
team captain Mensah Elliott who won the 110 hurdles in 14.6 and also had wins in
the B string 100 and 200 metres. Dave Gardiner also had a busy afternoon
equalling Elliott’s 11.1 in finishing 2nd in the A 100 and timing
22.3 to win the 200 before helping both relay teams to victory.
Andy Arrand ran a
controlled race to win the 5,000 in 15.04.9 and there were other useful wins for
Anthony Draper in the 800 and James Apps with a 58.73 throw in the javelin.
With the age of the
team ranging from 17 year old Andrew Moreton in the 3000 metres steeplechase, to
the 66 year olds Gordon Hickey and Jim Day in the shot and pole vault, the C
team won their Division Five match by 58 points, scoring 163 out of a possible
180.
At the same venue the
next day, the Junior Womens team scored a fine second place in the Medway
Division of the National Junior League. Anisha Barnaby won both sprints in 12.6
and 25.3 and her English Schools qualifying
time in the 200 was equalled by Sam Singer in the B race as she stepped
down in distance to sharpen up for next weekends County Championships.
The throwers
continued to excel with a double win in the discus from Emily Oliver and Lisa
Edwards. Edwards followed with 2nd in the shot with a new best of
10.23 and teamed up with Oliver again for a 2nd and 1st in
the javelin. Stacey Quaye threw a useful 22.49 for 2nd place in the
hammer.
If successful this
year the team could gain promotion to the Southern Premier Division where the
mens team finished 3rd in their match at Copthall. Star of the team
was Dwayne Grant who received the Man Of The Match award for his outstanding
10.6 second victory in the 100. This was a new personal best as was his 21.5 in
the 200 and it seems that international recognition awaits.
Team captain Daniel
Moore also had an outstanding day winning the 2,000 steeplechase in 6.06.5 as
well as coming 2nd in the 400 hurdles and 3rd in the 110
hurdles. After his steeplechase he was sick but then still ran 51.3 for a relay
leg in the 4x400.
Personal bests were
achieved by Paul Archer with 39.02 in the discus; Andrew Rayner 2.00.2 in the
800; Chris Daniel 10.10.4 in the 3000; and Stuart Simmons 4.19.2 in the 1500.
Third place leaves the Club on target for a place in the National Final in
September, and they would have won the match had the two teams above them not
used athletes from Scotland to bolster their squads.
Meanwhile the young
athletes followed on last weeks excellent 2nd place in the Young
Athletes League with a comprehensive victory in the Kent Boys And Colts League.
Such was the quality of the squad that James Grannell’s grade one 26.9 in the
under 13s age group was achieved in a non scoring event. Joe Sweeney continues
to improve winning the 800 in 2.15.4 and the 1500 in 4.32.1 in the under 15s
with Dwayne Bovell also a double winner in the 100 and 200.
The Clubs Head of
Active Athletics John Robinson was full of praise for the teams. “I can’t
remember such a wonderful start to a season. Our athletes and officials are to
be congratulated on their achievements so far”. There are still plenty of
opportunities for people of all ages to compete for the Club or enjoy the sport
at a more recreational level. For further details please contact Dave Liston on
01322 663504.
This weekend many of
the Clubs athletes will be in action at the Kent County Championships at Crystal
Palace.
2 May 2000
Emeka Udechuku
started his summer track and field season in record breaking form at the British
Students Championships at Stoke On Trent. Competing in the discus for
Loughborough University, the Blackheath Harrier Bromley athlete broke the 30
year old record when he launched the 2kg implement out to a distance of 56.82 to
win the competition by nine metres. He also picked up gold in the shot winning
with a putt of 17.43.
There was gold too
for Akinola “Lash” Lashore who was competing for Brunel University. He was
just outside his best ever time when he powered to victory in the 100 metres in
10.38, and he followed this with a bronze medal in the 200 metres.
Michael Skinner just
missed out on a medal in the 1500 but he still came away with a new best of
3.46.66. David Moulton and Jeremy Bradley both reached the semi finals of the
800 but missed out on the final.
The clash with the
University Championships and injuries to key athletes meant the Club had to
field a weakened team at the National 12 Stage Relays at Sutton Coldfield. Prior
to the weekend team manager Ian Wilson had been confident of a top 6 placing
but, with Dave Taylor withdrawing with a hamstring injury; and Andy Arrand being
admitted to an Army hospital to have fluid removed from a lung; the team was
greatly weakened on the crucial 5.3 mile long legs.
There was still much
to celebrate, however, as the Club finished 14th out of 64 teams and
they were 5th Southern Club improving on their Area placing of 8th.
Dave Heath got the squad off to the best possible start as he lead the first leg
runners home. His time of 26.02 would eventually prove to be the 3rd
fastest long stage of the day. Junior Lee Cooper coped admirably with the
pressure of being sent off in the lead and brought the team back in 5th
place. From there the lack of top quality long leg runners showed, and, despite
a strong 14.39 from Joe Mills on the short leg 4, the team had slipped to 27th
by halfway.
From here Mark
Steinle sparked a spirited revival and, although not fully recovered from his
Olympic qualifying performance at the London Marathon, he moved up 11 places to
16th. Dave Lee’s preparation was not ideal for the next stage as,
being a qualified doctor, he had earlier rushed to attend a spectator with a
heart condition who had collapsed on the course. Despite this, he still hauled
the team to 13th, its highest position of the day. Giles Clifford
held this on leg 9 before strong efforts from Junior Andrew Rayner, Richard
Parrott and former Southern Cross Country champion Tim Dickinson ensured a
highly creditable 14th place. Times Leg 1. Dave Heath 26.02, 2. Lee
Cooper 15.31, 3. John Morland 31.04, 4. Joe Mills 14.39, 5. Liam Bulson 29.34,
6. Matt DeFreitas 16.25, 7. Mark Steinle 26.27, 8. Dave Lee 15.09, 9. Giles
Clifford 29.22, 10. Andrew Rayner 16.36, 11.Richard Parrott 29.36, 12. Tim
Dickinson 15.25.
Back on the track the
womens team made a bright start to the Southern League season with victory in
their match at St Albans. A young squad set numerous personal bests, winning an
absorbing contest by just four points. Having set a new best for 3,000 last
week, Siobhan Budd moved down in distance to revise her 1500 time winning in
4.43. Katy Porter won the 100 hurdles in 15.0 and Sam Singer took the 400 in
56.5 having also come 2nd in the 800.
Katy Benneworth set a
new best of 13.3 in the under 17s 80 hurdles and also beat all the seniors in
the long jump with a 5.18 leap. Also in the field, Lisa Edwards’ rapid
progress continued in the throws with wins in the discus in 32.91 and shot in
10.14. Emily Oliver made it maximum points in the discus winning the B string in
30.07.
Her sister Anita
broke her own under 15s Club Shot Putt Record for the second week running with
9.27. However, Sandra Alaneme threw even further to win in 9.32 and this record
looks like it will continue to be revised all summer. Anita also had wins in the
discus and javelin while Sandra won the high jump with a leap of 1.58.
Further bests were
set by Claire Cooper (14.0 in the 100); and Harriet Robinson and Louise Sheehan
who ran 13.5 and 17.2 in the 75 metre hurdles.
The Clubs youngsters
scored a useful 2nd place in the opening round of the McDonalds
League at Norman Park when they split two of last years National finalists,
Croydon and Harrow. Jake Aust started the track programme off in the best
possible way by finishing first in the 400 hurdles while Tom Robinson won the B
event. Aust was also 2nd in the 100 hurdles and helped the 4x400 team
to victory with Joe Godsell on the anchor leg. Godsell had also won the 800 and
ran another good 400 in 52.6.
In the under 15s
Brendan Early won the 400 in an excellent 54.7 in his first year in the age
group and there were new bests from Dwayne Bovell in the sprints with times of
12.1 and 24.9 for the 100 and 200. Joe Sweeney’s time of 9.59 in the 3000
would have beaten all but the winner in the under 17s race while in the field
Peter Inwood contributed 10 out of a maximum of 12 points in the shot, discus
and hammer.
Roy Smith was 2nd
in the Clubs Ted Pepper Memorial 10km race at Beckenham. He timed 32.52. Cliff
Keen was 1st over 40 in 34.46 and finished in 5th place
overall.
There will be a
different athletic achievement this weekend with the running of the Simon Lloyd
Miracle Marathon at Bewl Water. The race has been named after the Blackheath
Harrier Bromley athlete who nearly died in a road accident three years ago.
Lloyd was hit by a car while on a run from his West Wickham home. With his scull
split open and brain exposed; one eye out of its socket; both legs broken and
massive internal injuries; there seemed little hope of him surviving. He was
flown by Air Ambulance to the London Hospital at Whitechapel where, after
spending a week unconscious, a remarkable recovery began.
He has now taken part
in numerous cross country races for the Club and the run on Saturday over the
marathon distance will be his longest yet. “ I have been given a second chance
of life and it’s made me realise how precious the miracle of life really is.
Kenward Trust helps men and women make the most of a second chance –
rebuilding their lives after the effects of alcohol and drug misuse”. If
anybody would like to sponsor Simon on his run they can contact the Club on 0208
462 3115.
24 April 2000
Seven members of
Blackheath Harriers Bromley have received grants from the Ron Pickering Memorial
Fund, a charity founded in memory of the late BBC commentator. The awards are
made to athletes aged 23 and under who are still in full time education and in
total 162 athletes from around the country received monies totalling £25,300.
Significantly
Blackheath had by far the highest number of award winners with no other Club
receiving more than four. Two of the recipients, Katy Porter and Samantha
Singer, are both pupils at Langley Park school for girls. Porter, who can
currently be seen helping Jamie Baulch present the Energise TV programme,
receives her grant for her performances over the 100 hurdles, while fellow
English Schools international Singer is rewarded for her exploits over 800
metres.
For the boys, awards
have been made to Jonathan Barbour, a training partner of Commonwealth 200 metre
champion Julian Golding; 110 hurdler and Senior team captain Mensah Elliott;
Chris Moss for the 800; Dwayne Grant for the sprints; and Nange Ursell for the
400 hurdles.
Singer started her
track season in fine style with wins in both the 400 and 800 metres in the
opening Kent Womens League fixture at Norman Park. She also anchored the 4x400
team to victory following some good legs from Siobhan Budd and Karyn O Mahoney.
Budd herself set a new best in the 3000 metres where she ran away from the field
to win in 10.15, over 15 seconds faster than ever before.
In the throws Lisa
Edwards showed great promise with a win in the discus in 31.61, and the Herbie
Kuenstlinger coached athlete then took 2nd place in both the shot and
javelin.
Her training partners
Stacey Quaye and Anita Oliver also set new bests. Quaye broke the under 17s
League hammer record with a throw of 23.87 and also finished 2nd in
the shot. Oliver was also in record breaking form setting a new Club Record of
9.10 when she won the under 15s shot to add to her 2nd places in both
the discus and javelin. Also in the under 15s Sandra Alaneme leapt over 1.56 to
win the high jump just 2 centimetres lower than the winning height in the senior
contest.
Star of the under 13s
was Claire Cooper who won both the 70 metre hurdles and long jump as well as
finishing 2nd in the 75 metres. Annabelle Atkins was 2nd
in the discus and 3rd in the high jump.
Despite the quality
of these performances the team finished in 6th place overall as a
number of athletes were saving themselves for this weekends more important
Southern Womens League match at St Albans.
The Clubs veteran
athletes began the season in winning form at the opening Kent Veterans League
match at Ladywell. Best performance came from Dennis Wallington with a fine win
in the 100 metres and there was a gallant victory from Bill Clapham in the over
60s 1500 metres.
Martin Airey overcame
recent injury to win the 1000 metres at the Tonbridge Open Meeting in 2.32.6 and
there was also a win from Sophie Robinson in the under 11s 600 metres in 2.11.2.
Her brother Tom cleared 2.70 in the under 17s pole vault.
Also this weekend the
Club will be sending a strong squad to the National 12 Stage Road Relay at
Sutton Coldfield. So long as he has recovered from last weeks Olympic qualifying
marathon, Mark Steinle will be competing, as will Britains first finisher at the
World Cross Country short course race Dave Heath. The rest of the team is Andy
Arrand, Joe Mills, Dave Taylor, Tim Dickinson, Dave Lee, Liam Bulson, Roy Smith,
Matt DeFreitas, Russell Bentley, and Lee Cooper. Team Manager Ian Wilson is confident that although the team will be up against
all the top Clubs in the country, that the Club will finish higher than the 8th
place achieved in the Southern Championships
18 April 2000
Mark Steinle secured
a guaranteed selection place for the Olympic Games when he finished as first
Briton at the Flora London Marathon. The British selectors had designated the
London race as the Olympic Trial with the first Briton given a place in Sydney,
so long as he was inside the qualifying time of 2 hrs 14 minutes. Steinle’s
finishing time of 2hrs 11 minutes and 18 seconds smashed the standard and was
also a new Blackheath Harriers Bromley Club Record, over two minutes faster than
Dave Taylor’s previous best.
The London field was
the strongest in the history of the event as it featured world record holder
Khalid Khannouchi; Olympic champion Josia Thugwane; two time winner Antonio
Pinto and defending champion Abdelkader El Mouaziz. Undaunted by the quality of
the opposition, Steinle went with the lead group from the start. “The
organisers had arranged for pacemakers to be in the field to take runners
through halfway in 65 and 66 minutes but I chose to ignore these.” Instead he
reached halfway in 64 minutes by which time the leaders had broken clear leaving
him in a chasing pack of four.
Looking strong
throughout, the British number one over the half marathon distance picked off a
number of the lead group in the next 13 miles to finish 11th overall
on his debut at the distance. He was over two minutes clear of the next Briton
home Keith Cullen.
After the race he
said that his legs felt “remarkably good,” but the next day he was finding
it quite painful walking downstairs.
However, with a
training regime of 130 miles a week behind him, he expects to recover quickly
and compete for the Club at the National 12 Stage Road Relay on the 29th
of April. From there he will start his preparations for Australia. The high
temperatures in Sydney should not prove a problem as he was the first European
home in the last two World Student Games Half Marathons in oppressive heat.
As well as securing
his Olympic selection the race also saw him take the AAA’s Marathon title and
he was also part of the Blackheath Harriers Bromley squad which won bronze
medals in the team race. Commonwealth Games 4th placer Dave Taylor
was below his best in finishing in 2.22.47 while Nick Kinsey just improves with
age. The 40 year old triathlete and former British Iron Man record holder looked
easy throughout the race cruising home in 2 hrs 35.41. Richard Parrott completed
the scoring foursome timing 2 hrs 52.26.
While there was
success for the Club at the sharp end of the field many of the Clubs other
runners were still achieving goals and raising funds for The Great Ormond Street
Hospital For Sick Children. Mike Peel and Pete Shepheard started their 20th
consecutive London Marathons. If anyone wishes to join the Club and prepare for
next years race, or the Great North Run in October, please leave details on the
Club answerphone on 0181 462 3115.
Lee Cooper continued
his good winter form timing 34.32 in the Harrow 10km. Matt Lucht was also in
10km action finishing 5th in the Croydon 10km in 35.28.
A small squad
travelled to Kingston for the Sward And Kinnaird Trophy Meeting with the best
performance coming from the youngest member of the team. Joseph Godsell set a
new best in the 400 of 52.3 an excellent time for someone still in the under 17
age group.
11 April 2000
Blackheath Harriers
Bromley were quick out the blocks as they opened the track and field season with
team and individual success, both home and abroad, across the age groups. The
Senior Men travelled to Belgium for the Ostend International Relays and came
away with 3rd place overall and an award for being the first
International team.
The relays are unique
in that they take place around a horse race course with the 12 legs varying in
distance from 200 to 1200 metres, and have an entry drawn from across Western
Europe.
Junior Dan Ayrton contributed a strong opening 800 leg to hand over in 8th
place and from there the Club edged through the field. Best runs of the day came
from Scott Jarred over 300 metres and Russell Bentley with a tenacious 1200
metre leg. National League 800 metre men Paul Fisher and Anthony Draper
contributed useful long legs and former 3.39 1500 metre man Matt DeFreitas
enjoyed his first race since beginning his comeback at the turn of the year. The
team finished just 11 seconds down on the winning Belgian team and with 2nd
place also from the host nation, the Harriers were declared first International
team.
Earlier the large
crowd witnessed an absorbing veterans race. Neil Ayrton is no stranger to the
big stage having played football for Portsmouth and, taking the opening leg like
his son, he brought the team home in the lead. Pete Barlow and an effervescent
Ken Daniel kept the squad in 2nd place but, with three 50 year olds
in the team, they had to eventually settle for 5th.
The Clubs youngsters
started the season in the best possible way by defeating the National Champions
as they beat hosts Enfield And Haringey at the Parkinson Trophy Meeting. The
blustery conditions did not generally facilitate fast times but there were
nevertheless a string of useful performances.
Junior team captain
Daniel Moore led the under 20s squad by example with a win in the 400 hurdles in
57.8 and 3rd places in both the 400 metres and pole vault. Robert
Laming won the 800 leading from gun to tape with Andrew Rayner winning the B
race. Dewayne Lougheed scorched to victory in both sprints and there was a
double victory in the high jump from a rejuvenated Bomene Barikor and James
Proctor.
For the under 17s
Joseph Godsell put two years of injury misery behind him with a polished victory
in the 800 metres in 2.06.3. Jake Aust and Ian Allerton won both strings of the
400 hurdles and impressive early season form was also shown by Jack Wilkie with
23.7 in the 200 and by Julian Guidetti with a 1.75 high jump.
Omar Wehliye showed
prodigious talent and versatility in the under 15 s age group as he won the 1500
metres in 4.44.2 as well as contributing valuable points in both the long jump
and high jump. Joe Sweeney ran a useful 2.17.3 in the 800; while in the field
Will Edet improved his best to 1.55 in the high jump as did Sam McCarthy with a
28.23 throw in the discus. Brendan Early’s time of 60.0 made him the country’s
number 1 over 400 metres in the under 13s age group last year and he showed he
will be a force in the under 15s as he set a new best of 56.7.
Fabrice Serybi made a
good debut for the under 13s with a leap of 4.34 in the long jump. Positions in
the match were close all afternoon but wins in all four age group relays ensured
overall victory for the Club.
At Crystal Palace
more youngsters set new bests at the Hercules Wimbledon Open Meeting. New member
Lisa Edwards made an excellent debut with 2nd place in the discus
with 28.65 and the Priory schoolgirl went one better in the shot, winning with a
putt of 10.15. Stacey Quaye finished a place behind in both competitions with
new bests of 24.52 and 8.88 and there were two medals also for Anita Oliver. She
set new bests when finishing second in both the under 15s shot in 9.18 and the
discus in 23.37. For the boys Paul Barrett was 2nd in the under 15s
shot again with a new best of 9.32.
Many of the Clubs
youngsters will be competing in this weekends London mini marathon which is run
in conjunction with the main London Marathon. In the main race, Mark Steinle and
Dave Taylor should both figure prominently as they bid for selection for the
Great Britain team for the Sydney Olympics. Heathens of all standards will
feature throughout the field as they raise money for the Club’s nominated
charity, The Great Ormond Street Hospital For Sick Children. Amongst those
running are Club stalwarts Mike Peel and Pete Shepheard who belong to a small
elite club, having run in every London Marathon.
4 April 2000
Blackheath Harriers
Bromley qualified comfortably for the National 12 Stage Road Relays when they
finished 8th in the Southern Championships at Milton Keynes. The
current Southern Cross Country Champions were the defending holders of the
Southern 12 Stage title, but with most of their top runners either injured or
preparing for the London Marathon a repeat of last years victory was never
likely.
It was, however, “mission
accomplished” for Elite Team Manager Ian Wilson who was delighted to see a
team containing four juniors, and three seniors who had not raced all winter,
qualify for the National event. “The team was a fine blend of youth and
experience and is to be congratulated on its result”, commented the former
Great Britain and England Team Manager , “In the National 12 Stage we look
like having most of our best runners available and so I expect to be able to
beat our Southern position at least.”
In a field of 61
teams from throughout the Southern Area, Roy Smith came team home 19th on the
traditionally competitive opening leg and from there the team gradually moved
through the field with Joe Mills hitting the top 10 on leg 5. Mills’ time of
24.08 was the 8th fastest long leg of the day while Kent Junior Cross
Country champion Michael Skinner ran the 6th fastest short leg of the
day of 16.50 on leg 4.
The other youngsters
in the team Lee Cooper, Russell Bentley and Andrew Rayner also ran well,
particularly Bentley who timed 17.16 on the 8th leg. From there the
team remained in the top 10 for the rest of race with the highest position
reached by the youngest member of the team, Rayner, who moved up to 7th
on leg 10. Veteran Bill Foster ran a very useful
25.17 on leg 7, and encouragingly Club stalwarts Dave Lee, Liam Bulson
and Tim Dickinson all returned to action after long lay offs.
Times. 1. Roy Smith
(25.32). 2. Lee Cooper (j) (17.49). 3. Giles Clifford (26.28). 4. Michael
Skinner (j) (16.50). 5. Joe Mills (24.08). 6. Richard Daniels (18.27). 7. Bill
Foster (25.17). 8. Russell Bentley (j) (17.16). 9. Dave Lee (26.08). 10. Andrew
Rayner (j) (18.33), 11. Liam Bulson (26.25). 12. Tim Dickinson (18.18).
Meanwhile, the Clubs
under 15s team were showing good form at the McDonalds National Young Athletes
Road Relays at Sutton Coldfield. In a field of over 100 teams Raymond Perkins
finished 35th on the opening leg in 13.58. From there Daniel Ryan
edged up to 33rd in 14.34 with Christopher Daniel keeping the
momentum going as he rose to 29th on leg three in 13.54. A solid
13.46 from Daniel Snow on the final leg brought the team in 25th.
Many of the Clubs
youngsters will be featured on this weeks Energize programme on ITV on Friday at
4.30. 15 girls and 15 boys from the Club took part in filming last summer and
they will also feature more heavily in the programme on the pentathlon scheduled
for 12th May.
A representative from Energize wrote to Blackheath after the filming and
said “The support from your club was fantastic and we could not have made the
film without such help. Originally Blackheath Harriers Bromley was recommended
to me and I would have no hesitation in reaffirming that recommendation.” The
Programme were so impressed by Langley Park Schoolgirl Katy Porter that they
have used her in other editions as a presenter. She features in 5 of the current
series.
