Last updated 2 April
2001
Press Releases for
February & March 2001
- If you want to find the latest results try Results!
- If you are after older results and gossip please
go to the Courier pages.
27 March 2001
With the London Marathon fast approaching many runners
from Blackheath Harriers, Bromley were using the Fila Hastings Half Marathon as
a guide to how their training was progressing for the big day in April. First
home for the Club was new member Scott McDonald who finished 13th on the testing
course in 74.17. McDonald who has recently joined Blackheath from Southampton
Road Runners is a much travelled and talented individual having been born in
Scotland, brought up in South Africa and now resident in Bromley. He actually
has a best for the half marathon of 64 minutes.
Former British record holder for the Iron Man triathlon,
Nick Kinsey was next home for the Club in 18th timing 76.43 and this gave him
first place in the over 40s race. Others to figure prominently were Darryl
Hilliar in 78.48, Nick Morgan (81.07) and Con Griffin (81.32). Peter Lovell was
also a winner of a veteran category as he took victory in the over 60s race in
95.39. First lady was Diane Hill in 1.54.27.
The new Blackheath President is someone who is no stranger
to the London Marathon. Mike Peel took over his new office at Saturdays Annual
General Meeting and he is one of a small group who have run all Londons since
the inaugural race in 1981. Brenda Brent, wife of Past President Alan, and Paul
Byfield a long serving athlete and official were made Vice Presidents of the
Club. The AGM also confirmed the Club name as "Blackheath Harriers,
Bromley" with a comma inserted at the advice of the South Of England
Athletic Association.
The AGM was to have taken place after the scheduled
Closing 5 Mile Cross Country race but this was another competition which fell
victim of the continuing Foot And Mouth Crisis. This race was the last of the
Bennett Cup handicap competition which takes place over 9 races during the
winter months. With the premature end to the season this was in fact determined
over 6 races and the result could not have been much closer. Dave Ellison's
reward for some hard training over the winter was a place in the scoring team at
the Southern Cross Country Championships and this form also enabled him to take
the handicap trophy by just one point from former winner Brendan McShane. He in
turn was just one point clear of Will Slack. Anne Cilia was the first woman in
5th place.
On the track Tom Robinson warmed up for the coming season
with 2nd place in
the 300 hurdles at the Crawley Open Meeting. His time of 42.4 shows that he is
on course for a personal best when he competes over the full lap.
The Club welcomes new members of all ages and standards
whether it be road
running, cross country or track and field. For further information contact the
new Club Head Of Development Dave Liston on 01322 663504.
20 March 2001
Mark Steinle showed that his preparations for this years
London Marathon on going well as he travelled to Portugal to win the Mercia Half
Marathon. The visit was part of a promotional trip arranged by the London
Marathon organisers and included Sir Steve Redgrave and Tanni Gray in the party.
This was the first race for the 26 year old Blackheath
Harrier Bromley athlete since he represented Great Britain in the Sydney
Olympics in the marathon. Revelling in the warm conditions, he passed through
10km in 30.20 before moving clear of the chasing pack to win in 64.29 three
minutes clear of second place.
His performance will boost his confidence for this years
London which acts as the Trial Race for the World Championships in Edmonton,
Canada in August.
While Steinle bids for selection for Britain many of his
Clubmates further down the field will be running the race to raise funds for the
Clubs nominated charity, the MacMillan Cancer Relief Fund. If there is anyone
interested in sponsoring the Club please leave details on the Club answerphone
service on 0208 462 3115.
Also on that day the Club will have 19 members
representing the London Borough Of Bromley in the Mini Marathon for 11 to 17
year olds. Full details of the team are on the Club website at www.bandbhac.org.uk
The track season is fast approaching and three of the
Clubs athletes were in action at the Havering Maysbrook Open Meeting. Levi
Edwards won the long jump with a leap of 6.77 and had useful runs over 300 and
150 metres. Alloy Wilson was 2nd in the 300 in 35.0 while Fabian Collymore won
both the under 17 300 and 150 races in 36.0 and 16.0.
Another Blackheath track athlete was in action of a
different kind as he took the stage with The Prince Of Wales as he demonstrated
his DJ scratching skills at a centre for young homeless. Darren Watson, a junior
sprinter and long jumper, helped the Prince mark the 25th anniversary of the
Prince's Trust charity at Centrepoint's homeless shelter in Kennington.
13 March 2001
Three members of Blackheath Harriers Bromley represented
the Great Britain team in the Norwich Union under 23 international against
France at the National Indoor Arena in Cardiff. David Moulton gained his first
international vest in his first year in the age group as he received a late call
up for the 800 metres. Off a slow early pace he finished third in 1.55.00 having
just been pipped by one of the French runners for second.
Michael Skinner made his England debut earlier in the
winter but this was also his first Great Britain representation. Unfortunately
he did not perform as well as he had hoped as he was still tired after a short
training stint in Portugal. He was 4th in the 1500 metres in 3.53.78 Third
member of the team was Alloy Wilson who was part of the 4x400 metre squad who
set a new Welsh All Comers Record of 3.14.50.
Also on the International scene at Bordeaux in France,
four of the Clubs older members were in action in the European Veterans Indoor
Championships. Pride of place went to Bob Minting who struck gold, silver
and bronze in the over 50s age group. In the 800 he timed his race to perfection
to win in 2.08.7 and it was nearly first again in the 400 as he just missed out
to the European Outdoor Champion timing 54.65. He rounded off the weekend with a
bronze in the GB 4X200 metre relay team.
Ken Daniel was the favourite for gold in the 1500 after
having the fastest time in the heats but he crashed to the track with four laps
to go after he was baulked by a German athlete and then clipped from behind by
the chasing pack. Picking himself up he found himself in 10th and despite a
valiant effort to salvage a medal he finished in 4th place.
It was 4th also for Jim Day in the over 65s pole vault and
sprint hurdles while Dennis Wallington was 5th in the over 50s 60 metres in 8.08
to add to his 5.41 11th place in the long jump.
Some of the Clubs potential internationals of the future
were in action at Norman Park with 11 Club members guaranteeing places in the
London Borough Of Bromley team for the London Mini Marathon which is run in
conjunction with the full London Marathon on 22nd of April. This number is
likely to increase as a further 4 places have still to be chosen in each age
group, three on the basis of form and one from a random draw of all athletes who
competed in the trial. The draw will take place this week with the results
posted on the Blackheath website at www.bandbhac.org.uk
Best performance at the Trials came from 11 year old
Rebecca Taylor who not only won the 11-12 year old girls race but recorded a
time that was 35 seconds faster than any of the girls in the races for 13 to 17
year olds! Aimee Boyle took 3rd with fast improving Rachel Stokes in 4th. Daniel
Brewer finished a useful 3rd in the boys race.
In the 13-14 year old race Stephen Leach's 3rd place
qualified him comfortably for London despite being one of the youngest in the
field and for the girls Sophie Williams showed great promise with a 4th in the
girls race.
Most exciting finish of the day came in the girls 15-17
year old race where Kate Bugler just held off younger sister Eve in a sprint
finish. Joe Sweeney was 2nd in the boys race with Ray Perkins 3rd and Dan Snow
4th.
There was more success for the Clubs youngsters at the
last round of the Kent Sportshall Athletics at Ashford. Dwayne Bovell excelled
in the under 15 boys age group breaking the meeting record with his score of
over 800 points while Daniel Taylor finished 2nd individual in the under 13s
event.
In the team competition in the younger age groups a squad
that included Serita Solomon, Ben Wallace, Louis Stewart, Connor Pickman, Stacey
Williams and Sebastian Frost came 6th in the A competition with the B team also
well placed.
With the winter football, rugby and hockey seasons about
to close the Club is keen to hear from sportsmen and women who may be interested
maintaining their fitness levels during the summer months. Wayne Gray who
recently scored for Wimbledon in the F.A. Cup 5th round and Rory Allen, a £1
million signing for Portsmouth from Tottenham, are just two footballers who have
competed for Blackheath on the track. For further details please contact Dave
Liston on 01322 663504.
6 March 2001
Two athletes from Blackheath Harriers Bromley were part of
the Great Britain team who finished third in the Under 20s International match
against France, Germany and Italy at Vittel in France. Dwayne Grant, who was
part of the British quartet who took gold in the 4x100 at last years World
Junior Chamopionships, set a new personal best of 6.79 as he won the 60 metres.
This was his last race of the winter and he now goes back into heavy training
with his main aim of the summer being the European Junior Championships.
Samantha Singer enjoyed her debut for the British team.
The Brunel University student was part of the womens 4x400 team who were
involved in a tight finish for second with the French team.
Outdoors there was more individual and team success for
the Club at the Greenwich 10 km road race. Freezing conditions and a testing
course were estimated to slow runners by around a minute and a half as Roy Smith
finished 2nd in the mens race in 33.10. With Darryl Hilliar in 5th (36.03) and
Pat Calnan 6th (36.06), the Club comfortably won the team race and that victory
would have been more emphatic had Scott McDonald, who finished in 4th place,
completed his transfer to Blackheath from Southampton Running Club.
The weather conditions at Greenwich were some contrast to
the last time Jennie Butler raced on the road while living in Spain two years
ago. She showed the benefit of a full winters cross country to finish third in
the womens race in 38.28.
Also on the roads Nick Kinsey finished 4th (2:00:45) and
first veteran in the Thanet 20 mile race.
Most cross country races were cancelled because of the
outbreak of Foot And Mouth disease but one competition that did take place was
the Southern Counties Veterans A.C races at Lloyd Park. Here Joe Clare finished
36th overall but was winner of the over 60s category. Bill Clapham who turns 70
next week finished 59th overall.
The Club has now cancelled all cross country races for the
rest of the season because of the Foot And Mouth epidemic. Also cancelled is
this weekends English Schools Championships. One race that will go ahead however
is the Borough Of Bromley London Mini Marathon Trials around the roads in Norman
Park on Sunday morning with the first race at 10.15. Successful athletes from
these races will represent the Borough in the "2001 Adidas Mini London
Marathon" which takes place in conjunction with the full London Marathon on
Sunday 22nd of April.
The Club will be holding two track and field coaching days
on Sundays the 18th and 25th of March from 10.00 am to 1pm. All ages and
standards are welcome. For further details contact John Robinson on 020 8466
0057. For further details about the Club please contact Dave Liston on 01322
663504.
27 February 2001
Dwayne Grant and Samantha Singer have both been selected
to represent the Great Britain Under 20s team at this weekends International
against France, Germany and Italy in Vittel, France. The Blackheath Harriers
Bromley athletes secured their places following another successful weekend for
the Club at the AAA's Under 20 Championships at the Birmingham Indoor Arena.
Grant finished 3rd in the Under 20 men's 60 metres in a
new best of 6.82 and will line up alongside World Junior 100 metre champion Mark
Lewis Francis in France. Singer was just pipped for the bronze medal in the
under 20 women's 400 metres but did enough to impress the selectors who awarded
her a GB debut in the 4x400.
Grant was not the only medallist for the Club as Katy
Porter took bronze in the under 20 women's 60 metre hurdles and Fabian Collymore
proved the most successful Heathen of the weekend as he stormed to a silver
medal in the under 17mens 60 metres.
A number of other athletes were rewarded with personal
bests. In the Junior men's 60 metres Bomene Barikor (7.2) and George Isodo
(7.24) ran faster than ever before as they reached the semi finals and Barikor
also set a new best of 22.5 as he reached the final of the 200 metres.
Dwayne Bovell clocked 7.41 in the under 17 men's 60 metre
semi final while Venita Akpofure ran a speedy 8.32 in the under 15 girls 60
metre semi final.
Outdoors Daniel Ayrton led the Blackheath Harriers Bromley
Junior team to fourth place in the View From National
Cross Country Championships in Durham. Despite falling early in the race and
having another runner tread on his hand, he finished 10th in his last race in
the age group.
Will Bolton had his best run of the winter to close in
39th while Peter Tucker, returning from Army manoeuvres in Scotland that
morning, (47th) and Matt Lucht (79th) completed the scoring with Andrew Rayner
105th and Andrew Moreton 117th.
The other outstanding individual run of the day came in
the Under 13 girls age group where Rebecca Taylor goes from strength to
strength. Competing against girls two years older than herself, she finished a
magnificent 13th place out of nearly 250 finishers, helping the Club to 20th in
the team race. Here she was ably backed by Aimee Boyle (112th), Bryony Proctor
(152nd) and Rachel Stokes (184th) with Sophie Robinson giving valued support in
200th.
The Senior Mens team won the team title twice in the 1990s
but a heavy injury list left them out of contention this year. Roy Smith had the
best run of the day finishing 124th, the third time he has done so in these
championships, and as one of the top 125 finishers received a small glass from
the English Cross Country Union to celebrate its 125 years of existence.
A cold ridden Jeremy Bradley finished in 158th with
Richard Daniels (260th), Pat Calnan (432nd), Chris Fincham (605th) and Brendan
McShane (700th) out of over 1200 finishers.
Daniel Snow was first Heathen in the Under 17s race in
121st with Chris Daniel 168th and Peter Moreton 180th.
Meanwhile Past President Colin Brand was in winning form
in the over 65s age group at the South East Counties Throws Pentathlon at Ewell.
Up against the national over 65s champion and the national hammer throw champion
of the age group, a consistent set of throws in the five disciplines proved a
winning formula. He was a class apart in the javelin throwing 6 metres further
than the next competitor with 2nd place in the hammer and heavy hammer and solid
performances in the shot and discus.
There is still time for youngsters to enter the Borough Of
Bromley, London Mini Marathon Trials on Sunday March 11th. For an entry form
please contact Dave Liston on 01322 663504.
20 February 2001
Michael Skinner continued his recent run of good form with
victory in the 3000 metres at the British Universities Indoor Championships at
Glasgow. The Blackheath Harriers Bromley athlete who is the captain of Brunel
University cruised through his heat in 8.31 and then, after a sluggish early
pace, timed 8.24.71 to win the final.
In the 800 metres David Moulton showed that he is now over
the glandular fever that plagued him last summer. The Bath University student
ran a personal best both indoors and out of 1.53.2 to win a surprise bronze
medal. Also on the comeback trail is Stephen Holmes. He timed a useful 1.59.45
in the heats.
Sam Singer reached the semi final of the 400 metres and
she was also part of the Brunel quartet who finished 4th in the women's 4x200
metres.
Meanwhile five of the Clubs older members were in medal
winning form at the British Veterans Indoor Championships at Cardiff, which will
encourage them in their preparations for next months European Indoor
Championships in Bordeaux, France.
In the over 50s Bob Minting won both the 200 and 400
metres in 25.68 and 50.99 before having to settle for bronze in the 800. There
was also gold for Peter Hannell in the 3000 walk in 15.17.2.
Perky Ken Daniel picked up a silver in the 3000 and timed
4.36.99 for bronze in a tactical 1500. There was bronze also in the Long Jump
for Dennis Wallington with a leap of 5.31. He was also 6th in the 60 metres in
8.26.
In the over 65s category Past President Jim Day continued
his remarkable athletics career. Now 67 he soared over 2.70 metres to win the
pole vault title; leapt 1.24 for silver in the high jump; and completed a full
set of medals with a bronze in the 60 metre hurdles in 11.8.
At the other end of the age group scale there were a
number of promising performances at the Kent Indoor Championships at Crystal
Palace. Katy Benneworth won two golds in the under 17 girls age group. She
registered 5.32 to win the long jump before taking the 60 metre hurdles in 9.4
and rounding off a fine weekend with a personal best of 8.0 in the 60 metres.
In the under 15s Harriet Robinson held on for 2nd place in
the long jump despite a groin strain, with Claire Cooper picking up bronze.
Vicky Thomas' reward for some hard training under coach Herbie Kuenstlinger was
a remarkable breakthrough in the shot putt. Her throw of 9.55 added over a metre
to her previous best propelling her into the bronze medal position, her first
County award in her first year in the age group.
Aaron Harris and Dewayne Lougheed picked up silver and
bronze in the Senior Mens 60 metres and there were silvers for Jack Wilkie and
Dwayne Bovell in the under 20 and under 17 races.
Outside on the country Roy Smith warmed up for this
weekends National Cross Country Championships in Durham with a 5th place in the
Kent Mens League at Swanley. Anthony Draper had a useful outing in 18th place.
Draper is a former winner of the London Mini Marathon and
he will be pacing some of the races at the London Borough Of Bromley Trials at
Norman Park on Sunday 11th of March. The trials are open to both girls and boys
aged between 11 and 17 who either live or receive full time education within the
Borough.
Following the trials 6 teams of 8 will be selected to
represent the Borough at the Adidas Mini London Marathon which is run in
conjunction with the full marathon on Sunday 22nd of April.
Mark Steinle, first Briton in last years London Marathon
and a Great Britain representative at the Sydney Olympics will be starting some
of the races.
Entry is free with a closing date of 2nd of March. For an
entry form please contact Dave Liston on 01322 663504.
13 February 2001
Three athletes from Blackheath Harriers, Bromley made
their International debuts helping England to victory in the Lansing Linde
Severnside Trophy Home Countries Match at Cardiff.
Michael Skinner was appointed England captain and set a
fine example to his new team mates as he swept to victory in the Senior men's
1500 metres with a 56 second last lap.
The former Langley Park schoolboy joined the Club as a 10
year old and has progressed steadily through the age groups as have the two
other debutants, both of whom are former pupils from Langley Park Girls School.
Katy Porter celebrated her call up by setting a new
personal best in the 60 metre hurdles of 8.77 as she finished 2nd in the junior
women's race. Sam Singer was part of the England junior team who set a new Welsh
All Comers Record in the Medley Relay of 4.08.61.
It was a similar story in the men's race as regular
International Dwayne Grant was part of the Junior men's team that set an All
Comers Record of 3.31.54.
Porter was not the only Blackheath hurdler to set a
personal best as Mensah Elliott, running as a guest in the Senior Mens race,
clocked 7.91 as he was piped for victory by the slightest of margins. The judges
deliberated for an hour over a photofinish before separating the two athletes.
This was the second fastest time in the country this year and leaves the
Blackheath athlete just two weeks to register a qualifying time for the World
Indoor Championships.
If he is the only Briton to time 7.75 or faster, the B
standard for the event, he would get selected and having hit 5 of the 6 hurdles
in Cardiff this is well within his capabilities. He has recently been placed on
the "Potential Programme" of the National Lottery Fund.
Skinner had a busy weekend as the previous day he had been
in action, along with nine other Heathens, at the Inter Counties And World Cross
Country Championship Trials at Wollaton Park, Nottingham. Perhaps with his mind
on the following days International, he felt below par finishing in 42nd in the
senior men's short course race. Further up the field in 31st was junior Daniel
Ayrton having an excellent run against senior competition. In the Long Course
race Joe Mills finished 36th with Jeremy Bradley 93rd.
The only Harrier to win a medal was Jennie Butler in the
Senior Women's race. In only her second winters cross country, she finished in
50th place and was 6th scorer for the victorious Kent team.
It was 50th again in the Junior Mens Race as William
Bolton showed he is getting back to his best. Like him Hazel Barker, 88th in the
Junior Women's race; Eve Bugler,159th in the Under 15 girls; and Stephen Leach
216th in the under 13 boys; will all have gained valuable experience of running
against most of the top runners in their age group in the country.
Highest placed Blackheath athlete on the day was the
youngest. First year under 13 Rebecca Taylor stormed to an outstanding 25th
place in the under 13 girls race.
Closer to home at Hayes, the Club won the Annual Mob Match
against Ranelagh Harriers. John Morland was first home for the Club in 2nd place
with Nick Kinsey 3rd and Dave Ellison 7th. Ken Daniel lived up to his nickname
"Simply the Best" as he was first home in the over 50s section while
Anne Cilia was 2nd woman overall and there was a promising debut from Caroline
Jones-Baldock.
There is still time for youngsters to enter the London
Borough of Bromley Trials for the Adidas London Mini Marathon. The races take
place on Sunday 11th of March at Norman Park. For an entry form contact David
Liston on 01322 663504. Sydney Olympics representative and first Briton in last
years London Marathon, Mark Steinle, will be starting races.
6 February 2001
Two athletes from Blackheath Harriers Bromley have been
selected to represent England for the first time this weekend at the Home
Countries International at the new indoor stadium in Cardiff. Southern Indoor
Champion, Katy Porter, has been picked in the junior women's 60 metre hurdles,
while Michael Skinner goes in the Senior Mens 1500 following his breakthrough
silver medal at the AAA's Indoor Championships.
Skinner was in action again at the British Universities
Cross Country Championships in Manchester. The Brunel University captain led his
team home in 4th place in the short course race just 18 seconds off a bronze
medal. In the long course race Jeremy Bradley finished 35th for Oxford
University with 800 metre runner David Moulton 80th for Bath University.
The two new international selections is another
endorsement of the Clubs Development policy with both athletes progressing
through the age groups from under 13s level, and performances at the latest
Parkwood League cross country races at Canterbury would suggest more young
Heathens set to impress as Seniors.
The Club won four team races and provided three individual
winners and now lead the League by 20 points with two meeting left.
Heavy rain left the normal course unusable so all groups
ran an improvised one mile circuit and this worked well until the Junior Mens
race when Dan Ayrton sped to victory so quickly that the timekeepers were unable
to get from the start to the finish to record his time.
The Southern Cross Country bronze medallist was ably
supported by William Bolton in 3rd, and by Abdi Madar who made a promising
return to the sport in 5th. Second and third places from Kate Bugler and Hazel
Barker secured a team win in the women's race.
The under 17 men claimed a useful 2nd place but it could
have been better had Joseph Godsell not gone off course while leading; and the
rest of the team not been reduced to fits of giggles when Chris Daniel fell in a
river. It was left to Ray Perkins to lead the squad home in 4th place.
Eve Bugler was the individual winner in the under 15 girls
race and, with Caroline McQuillan 5th and new talent Michelle Delahoy
8th,another team win was secured. Daniel McKeown also made an encouraging debut
as he closed in 8th in the boys race one place behind Michael Shirley; and a
third debutant Stephen Lott helped the under 13 boys to 2nd place with Tom Beech
first scorer in 3rd.
For the girls Rebecca Taylor scored another victory in her
second race in two days. Her time of 5.56 was so fast she would have won the
under 17s race. The previous day she had finished 2nd in the Bromley AC schools
races in Beckenham Place Park. A 6th place from Aimee Boyle helped secure a team
win.
The Club also had two 2nd places in the under 11s races
from Richard Bolton and Melanie Graham, with strong back up in the girls from
Victoria Lott and Clare Sapsed.
Meanwhile, a small piece of history was made as the Club
made its first venture into Sportshall Athletics at the Kent County A.A.
Championships at Tunbridge Wells. A team of Lucy Cassidy, Sophie Robinson,
Katherine Wood and Serita Solomon finished 6th from 29 teams, a remarkable
achievement as they were competing against mixed teams which meant half the time
they were against boys.
The Club's website has been made Club Website Of The Month
by the United Kingdom Track And Field All Time Lists website. The site,
described as "extensive and up to date" by the South Of England
Athletic Association, can be visited at http://www.bandbhac.org.uk
A number of Harriers will be in action this weekend at the
Inter County and World Cross Country trials in Nottingham. Michael Skinner is
set to race the day before his England debut in the short course race along with
Dan Ayrton and Joe Mills. Dave Taylor makes a late decision to run following
injury and Jennie Butler, Kate Bugler,Hazel Barker, Eve Bugler, Rebecca Taylor,
Aimee Boyle and Stephen Leach will all also be in action in the various age
groups. One person missing though will be Dave Heath, Britain's first finisher
in the last two World Cross Country Short Course races. A knee injury has
stopped him training for the last month.
