Last updated 30
March 2004
Press Releases for
January, February & March 2004
30 March 2004
New President
The new President of Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC
is Margaret Baldwin. She has competed at the highest level in Athletics since
joining Cambridge Harriers as a 13 year old in 1963. In 1966 she was 880 yards
winner at the Kent, Southern, National, and English Schools Championships.
She was National Junior Cross Country champion in 1967 and
represented Scotland for 14 consecutive years at the World Cross Country
Championships and at the 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Games. In 1972 she competed
for Great Britain at the Olympics in Munich setting a personal best of 2.03.0.
She joined Blackheath Harriers in 1992 as a 2nd claim
member and has since been heavily involved in the administrative side of the
Club as a team manager for 7 years, as an official at track and field, cross
country and road fixtures, and as a seller of Club kit.
She was made a Vice President of the Club in 1997 and has
organised the annual Vice Presidents Supper for the last two years.
Outgoing President John Robinson nominated 6 new Vice
Presidents which included top Internationals Julian Golding, Myrtle Augee and
Helen Godsell. Also recognised were Simon Lloyd, Tony Pontifex and Brian Power.
Cross Country
Following the Club photo which is taken every four years, the Winter
season ended with the Closing 5 mile yacht handicap race at Hayes. With the
slowest starting first and the fastest last, the race gives all competing the
chance to cross the finish line first.
Winner this year was Simon Capey with Wilf Orton second
and Club Treasurer and last years winner Peter Long in third.
The race was the final in the Bennett Cup competition
which has run all Winter covering 9 events. Overall winner was Darryl Hilliar
who won by a large margin. Only five points separated the next three athletes
with Kate Pratten 2nd, Brian Smith 3rd and Chris Pike 4th.
Track And Field
The Club's top points scorer in the British League last season Patrick
Boundy warmed up for the Summer with a throw of 57.02 at the Kingston And
Polytechnic Open Meeting.
The Club had two winners at the South Eastern Counties
Throwers Pentathlon at Ewell in which athletes threw the shot, discus, hammer,
javelin and heavy weight. Colin Brand took the over 65s category by over 700
points with 3690. First in the over 70s was Gordon Hickey with 3888 points.
The Summer season is about to commence and the Club is
always keen to hear from people of all ages and abilities who wish to take up
the Sport. In particular there may people from other Sports such as Rugby and
Football who may benefit from Athletics training during the Summer months.
The Club will be promoting an Open Graded Track and Field
Meeting on Saturday 3rd April for Seniors, Juniors and Under 17s. Full details
are on the Club website.
Forthcoming events
April
3rd Open Graded Meeting, Norman Park
4th Nike AAA Under 17, 15 and 13 relays, Sutton Coldfield
4th Nike South Of England 12 and 6 stage road relays, Milton Keynes
10th Alpha Beta Trophy Meeting, Haringey
17th Sward & Kinnaird Trophy Meeting, Kingston
18th London Marathon and mini marathon
18th Wellington Relays, Ostend
24th Nike National 12 stage and 6 stage relays, Sutton Coldfield
24th Southern Women's League, Reading
25th National Junior Athletics League, Copthall
30th Kent Veterans League, Dartford
23 March 2004
International
Two of Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC's top sprinters both set personal
bests while on International duty in the Hypark International Meeting at the
National Indoor Arena in Cardiff.
Montell Douglas representing the England Under 20s team
was the fastest of the day over 60 metres recording a new best of 7.52, a time
which leaves her 15th on the UK Junior all time list.
Montell is also the second fastest in the country over 200
metres this Winter which promises much for this Summer.
In the Senior Men's 60 metres Fabian Collymore running for
Wales took a tenth of a second off his previous best to win in 6.74. This makes
him the 12th fastest in Britain this year.
Joe Godsell was in action for the Loughborough University
team and he too set a personal best as he timed 50.46 to finish 3rd in the 400
metres.
Robert Bain represented Great Britain for the first time
at the European Athletics Association Walks Meeting at Leamington. He finished
in 10th place in 51.37 and was part of the Junior Men and Women's squad that won
the team competition
Middle distance
World Masters Indoor over 45s 3000 metre champion Bill
Foster was back in action on the country at the British Masters Championships in
Durham. He was 3rd in his age group and 16th in the combined over 40s and over
45s race.
Rory Byrne travelled to the North West to put in a useful
performance at the Wilmslow Half Marathon. In a top quality field he finished in
16th position in 69.22.
Hillside Cross Country
Blackheath and Bromley Harriers AC annual cross
country at Hillside School, Orpington which was scheduled for 17th March 2004
was put in jeopardy due to the funeral of Will Bolton. As a tribute to Will and
the work he was committed too in training youngsters the event took place.
Helpers were drafted in from the six form at Newstead Wood School to allow
officials to attend the funeral.
Nearly 300 youngsters put on a marvellous display of
running. Following the year four fun run the first main event of the day was the
girls years 5 and 6 race. This was won by last years overall winner Danielle
Critchley from Edgebury School who also trains with the Club . Second place went
to Heather Catchpole Bromley High and third Sophie Gordon also from Edgebury.
The boys years 5 and 6 race was won by Sam Cannon from
Warren Road School, second was Theo Smithard-Powell from Edgebury and third was
Wayne Pickett running on his home ground for Hillside Primary. The girls team
race was won by Edgebury with a close second for Bromley High. Third place went
to St Mary Cray Primary. Edgebury School took the overall combined team prize.
The competition was pleased to welcome two new schools, Blenheim Junior and
Poverset Primary who both preformed well on the first appearance.
Kent League Cross Country
The Club were in action in great numbers in the final
Kent Women's and Young League Cross Country at Knoll Park, Sevenoaks, in the
first year as a combined club. Amy Smith led the way in the first race for U13
girls winning both the race and overall trophy for the four league matches.
Hannah Garcia who is now back to form from injury ran in third with Rebecca
Smith fifth. Danielle Critchley, Katie Gibbs, Grace Power, Jenny Linker and
Rebecca Cook combined to win the U13 Kent League Trophy.
Michael Thorpe was first home for the Club in the Boys
race in 2nd place with regulars Stephen Cavey 9th and Cameron Ward 14th boosted
by some promising performances from new members Josh Norris 13th, Jonathan
Reeves 24th, Callum Frazer 25th and Jack Fabri 30th.
The Under 13 girls performance was repeated by the Under
15s with Katie Murray winning the race and taking the overall U15 league title
for the year. Sarah McLellan was third and Sarah Coombs sixth. The U15 girls
also took the Kent title with support from team mates Clare NcNamara, Debbie
Sheering, Louise Smith and Katherine Lau.
Numbers were low in the boys with Sam Simpson in 12th and
debutant Ronnie King in 31st. Tom Beach was 7th for the under 17 boys with
Bryony Proctor and Caroline McQuillan 4th and 6th respectively for the girls.
Clare Lodwig had her highest ever placing in the senior
women's race finishing in 10th and with Angela Cook 13th, Kelly McEntee 18th and
Carolyna Jones Baldock 19th they finished second in the team race. Angela Cook
also took overall third place in the Veteran competition. All this mean the Club
were joint first place in Kent for all the combined age groups.
The Summer season is about to commence and the Club is
always keen to hear from people of all ages and abilities who wish to take up
the Sport. In particular there may people from other Sports such as Rugby and
Football who may benefit from Athletics training during the Summer months.
The Club will be promoting an Open Graded Track and Field
Meeting on Saturday 3rd April for Seniors, Juniors and Under 17s. Full details
are on the Club website.
16 March 2004
International
Helen Godsell became a triple champion at the inaugural World Indoor
Masters Championships in Sindelfingen Germany. The Blackheath & Bromley Harriers
AC athlete gave a warning of what was to come when she broke the European Over
50's 200 metre record in her semi final with 28.06 easily the fastest qualifying
time. She won the final in a slower 28.25 and followed with victory in the 60
metres in 8.30.
She made it a hat trick of gold medals when she moved down
an age group to help the 4x200 metre team to victory in 1.51.30.
It was gold too for Bill Foster in the over 45's 3000
metres. The former Great Britain marathon International timed 9.00.37 to win the
event by over a second.
There was more good news with Jim Day claiming the silver
medal in the over 70s pole vault competition with a leap of 2.70.
Helen's brother Bob Minting, also an over 50, chose to
miss the Championships but showed that he is in good shape as he timed 1.30.7
for 600 metres at the Exeter Winter Open Meeting.
English Schools Cross Country
Championships, Mote Park, Maidstone
A number of the Club's youngsters were in action in the English Schools
Cross Country Championships at Mote Park in Maidstone. The race is the highlight
of the Schools year and with each County only allowed 8 competitors it is an
achievement just to make the start line.
Eve Bugler was the Club's sole representative in the
Senior races finishing a useful 73rd in her last appearance in the Girls race.
Katy Murray had a good run in her first year in the
Intermediate Girls race finishing in 162nd place while further down the field
Rosanna Carter made a rare appearance at a cross country meeting to finish in
328th. For the Boys James Poole was 248th and Danny Brewer 302nd.
Highest placer of the day was Amy Smith in the Junior
Girls race. In the lower year in this age group she closed in an excellent 49th
with promise of more to come next year. Rebecca Taylor finished in 129th and
Lauren Underwood 302nd. There was another good run from Sam Simpson in the Boys
race. He was the 3rd Kent runner in 136th.
Road Racing
Jonathan Murray showed his in good form for the road relay season with a
runaway victory at the Greenwich Meridian 10km. On a very testing course he
finished well over a minute clear in 32.06.
Many runners are putting their finishing touches to their
preparations for this years London Marathon. One such athlete is Nick Kinsey,
former British record holder for the Iron Man Triathlon. Now over 40 he cruised
round the Thanet 20 mile road race in 2.05.52 to finish in 10th place overall.
Many of the Club's runners were in action in the Hastings
Half Marathon where Barry Stephenson coped well with the hilly course to finish
in 9th place in a time of 71.27. Dave Ellison was next home in 61st in 1.23.09
and then Rob Brown in 225th with 90.55. First woman for the Club was Kate
Pratten in 549th in 99.07 followed by Clare Lodwig with 105.07
Forthcoming fixtures:
Sat 20th. Kent Women's And Young Athletes League, Knole Park
Sat 27th. Club Photograph at Clubhouse, Hayes (1.30) followed by the Closing 5
mile cross country handicap
Sat 3rd April. Open Graded Track & Field Meeting, Norman Park
Sun 4th. Nike South Of England 12 and 6 stage road relays
Sun 4th. National Young Athletes Road Relays, Sutton
9 March 2004
Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC are mourning the death at
the age of 21 of one of its promising young senior middle distance runners Will
Bolton. He died instantly in a car accident at the weekend.
Will joined the Club just after his 10th birthday in 1992
and was a regular in all the young athletes age group teams on the track,
country and road achieving notable success. For example he was a part of the
Blackheath Harriers Under 13's quartet that won the Kent, Southern and National
Young Athletes Road Relay titles in the 1995-96 season.
His appointment as Young Athletes track and field Team
Captain as an under 17 recognised not only his ability but also his commitment
to the squad. He was making a successful transition to the Senior ranks
representing the Club's teams at national level and was also already putting his
energy back into the Sport with his work as a coach.
Many of the Club youngsters introduction to Athletics has
come via the Wednesday night under 11's classes where Will was one of the
regular coaches. He will be greatly missed by his friends and training partners
at Norman Park and their thoughts, and those of all Club members, are with his
family.
The funeral will take place at Elmers End Crematorium on
the 17th March at 15.00 with everyone invited back to the Clubhouse at 56 Bourne
Way, Hayes for tea and cakes from 16.00 to 18.00.
The family have requested no flowers, but if you
desire donations can be made to Blackheath & Bromley, c/o Ken Daniel, 8
Burlington Lodge, 32 Lubbock Road, Chislehurst, Kent. BR7 5QR. It is hoped that
with the donations a suitable memorial event can be arranged.
It was mission accomplished for Mohammed Sillah Freckleton
whose aim at the World Indoor Championships in Budapest was to progress beyond
the heats. This was the first time that he had represented Great Britain in a
major Championship and he showed that it shouldn't be his last as coped well
against many of the World's top sprint hurdlers.
He finished 3rd in his heat of the 60 metre hurdles in
7.75 which meant automatic progression through to the semi finals where he ended
5th in 7.80. He now goes back into heavy training with the aim to qualify for
the Olympic Games this Summer.
Many Club members were in action in Nottingham for the
Inter County Cross Country Championships which for the Seniors incorporated the
Trial races for the World Championships in Brussels later this month.
Michael Skinner made a late switch from the 4km short
course race to the 12km long race but the move ended in disappointment. He had
been aiming to challenge for a place in the British team but ended in 22nd place
over a minute outside the Selection places.
Just behind in 28th was Spencer Newport with a big
improvement on his placing in the Nationals two weeks ago. Tim Dickinson closed
in 57th with Andrew Rayner in 95th.
With only 8 runners from each County allowed to compete it
was an achievement just to be selected for these Championships and many an
athlete over the years has had had their confidence boosted by selection and
gone on to achieve major honours at Senior level.
Eve Bugler continued her solid Winter season with 48th
place in the Junior Women's race while Bryony Proctor was 183rd for the Under 17
women. James Poole was 153rd for the Under 17 men.
In the under 15 age group Rebecca Taylor was 45th for the
girls with Sarah Mclellan 140th and Danny Brewer 143rd for the boys.
Highest placed Club member in the younger age groups was
Amy Smith who was 41st in the Under 13 age group and first Kent athlete home.
There was also another promising run from Hannah Garcia in 110th while Michael
Thorpe was 80th in the boys race. Dave Taylor gave the country a miss and headed
to Berkshire for the Reading Half Marathon. He was rewarded with 5th place
overall in 65.03which made him 2nd Briton and easily the first veteran. There
was great success for the Club's walkers at the Young Athletes Grand Prix races
at Leamington Spa. Highlight of the day was the performance of Robert Bain who
reduced his personal best for 10km from 51.37 down to 49.19. Starting steadily
with a group of walkers all aiming to break 50 minutes he then pressed ahead he
found himself on his own the athlete ahead of him was disqualified. He ended as
winner of both his age group and the Inter County race.
His target now is a place in the World Cup next May, on
would probably be achieved if he could go under 48 minutes.
More honours came for the girls team of Julia Stacey,
Holly Williams and Jessica Bain who finished in 3rd place.
Meanwhile Lauren Blackie and Rachel Arnheim were in
sensational form at the Indoor Open Meeting at Windsor . Competing in the triple
jump Lauren not only won but her distance of 10.64 puts her number one on the UK
all time indoor list for the event. Rachel's leap of 9.37 puts her 2nd on the
all time list and she also leapt 4.44 in the long jump.
Daniel Haque also showed good triple jump form with a leap
of 12.58 to add to his 7.09 clocking in the 60 metres. There were more promising
sprint times from Helen Jordon (8.43), Chloe Shaw (8.56), Anna Louise Barrett
(8.75) and Leanne Critchley (8.52) who also ran 10.12 for the hurdles.
Closer to home there was a runaway victory for Barry
Stephenson in the Club 10 mile cross country race at Hayes. The course of hills,
mud and stiles is widely regarded as one of the toughest in the country but the
22 year old ran out winner by over 5 minutes in 59.11.
Runner up was Darryl Hilliar with Steve Wright 3rd while
first for the women was Kate Pratten followed by Angela Cook and Anne Cilia.
Winner of the handicap incorporated in the race was Simon Capey with Mark
Ellison 2nd and Kate Pratten 3rd.
The Club is looking to recruit youngsters and indeed
adults for the forthcoming track and field season. Rugby and footballers players
can only benefit fitness wise from taking part in Athletics during the Summer
months. All standards are catered for. Under 11s train at Norman Park on
Wednesdays from 6 to 7 or from 6.30 to 7.30. Over 11s train on Tuesdays and
Thursday from 6pm.
Forthcoming fixtures.
Sat 13th March. English Schools Cross Country
Championships, Maidstone
Sat 13th. South Of The Thames Cross Country Championships, Brighton
Sat 20th. Kent Women's And Young Athletes League, Knole Park
Sat 27th. Club Photograph at Clubhouse, Hayes (1.30) followed by the Closing 5
mile cross country handicap
Sat 3rd April. Open Graded Track & Field Meeting, Norman Park
Sun 4th. Nike South Of England 12 and 6 stage road relays
Sun 4th. National Young Athletes Road Relays, Sutton
2 March 2004
Mohammed Sillah Freckleton put the finishing touches to
his preparations for this weekends World Indoor Championships when he travelled
to Genoa in Italy for European Permit meeting.
He won his heat of the 60 metre hurdles in 7.84 but the
final did not go so well as he finished in 4th place in 8.18. He travels out
this week to Budapest, Hungary for his first major championship appearance for
Great Britain.
Many of Blackheath & Bromley's future Senior
Internationals were in action at the AAA's Under 20, Under 17 and Under 15
championships at the Birmingham Indoor Arena where highlight of the weekend was
the performance of Montell Douglas.
Injured for much of last Summer she showed that she is
back to her best as she won the Junior Women's 200 metres in 24.00, the 6th
fastest time ever by a Briton and she still has another year in this age group.
She was so nearly a double gold medallist as she missed out by one hundredth of
a second in the 60 metres timing 7.58.
It was silver also for Michael Whitehouse in the Junior
Men's high jump with a new personal best of 2.06 surpassing both his previous
indoor and outdoor bests.
There was bronze for Robert Bain in the Junior Men's 3000
walk in 14.00.53,quicker than some can run and an excellent 3rd also for James
Alaka in the Under 15 boys 60 metres with 7.45.
Biggest improvement of the weekend came from Dominic
Parsons. He smashed through the 50 second barrier in the Under 17's 400 metres
to grab bronze in a new best of 49.89.
Just outside the medals, but all with personal bests, were
three of the Club's top hurdlers. Clare Cooper was a hundredth of a second off
bronze as she timed 8.81 in the under 17 women's 60 hurdles. Alex AlAmeen missed
out by 8 hundredths in the under 17 men's race with 8.29 and Serita Solomon by
three hundredths in the Under 15 girls with 9.17.
Serita was also 6th in the 60 metre flat while another to
figure prominently was Daniel Haque who placed 5th in a fiercely competitive
Under 17 Men's 60 metres with 7.12.
At the other end of the age scale a small group of Club
members produced some outstanding results in the British Masters Championships
in Cardiff with three British Records achieved
Allan Williams' clearance of 4.01 in the pole vault added
1 centimetre to the British Over 50's record but was also noteworthy for the
fact that it was achieved just 4 months after heart surgery.
Helen Godsell exploded onto the over 50's scene by
breaking the British record for the 60 metres as she timed 8.36. She made it a
hat trick of medals with victories in the 200 metres in 28.28 and in the 400 in
69.43. Gordon Hickey, who won the Kent Senior Men's County title two weeks ago,
produced the other British record in the over 70's shot with a putt of 11.93.
Fellow Senior County champion Jim Day was another triple winner. He soared of
2.50 in his specialist pole vault but also proved triumphant in the high jump
with a leap of 1.22 and in the 60 metre hurdles where he timed 11.88. The Club's
other winner was Bill Foster who clocked a very useful 8.59.02 for victory in
the over 45's 3000 metres. Bob Minting was 4th in the over 50's 800 metres in
2.09.59.
Outdoors the Club completed a grand slam of Mob Match
defeats when they were beaten at home at Hayes by South London Harriers.
Although superior in numbers they lacked the quality of the visitors and were
beaten by 68 points 608 to 676.
First for the Club on a testing 7.5 mile course was Barry
Stephenson in 2nd in 44.55 nearly 5 minutes ahead of 5th placed Alex Gibbins
with Darryl Hilliar 7th in 50.01.
Kate Pratten was first woman for the Club in 45th closely
followed by Diane Ballard in 47th and Angela Cook 50th.
The Masters ranking for the 2003 track and field season
have recently been published with a number of Club members figuring prominently
with 11 number one positions.
Bill Foster, Allan Williams, and Beatrice Simpson head the
1500, pole vault and throws pentathlon in the over 45's and having turn 50 last
Summer Williams also heads the over 50's vault as well. Bob Minting was the
fastest over 800 with 2.05.1.
Colin Brand threw the furthest in both the javelin and
discus in the over 65 while Jim Day and Gordon Hickey both headed rankings in
the over 65s and over 70s.
Day topped the 65's pole vault with 2.70 and the over 70s
high jump with 1.21. Hickey reigned supreme in the both the over 65's and over
70's shot.
24 February 2004
Indoors
Michael Skinner helped to break the World Indoor 5000
metres record at the Norwich Union Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham last Friday
night. The Blackheath & Bromley athlete had originally been set to race Haile
Gebrselassie over 2 miles but having been suffering with a cold all week he let
the organisers know that he wasn't sure he would be able to do himself justice.
Instead he was switched to pacemaker the 5,000 metres
where his opening 1000 metres of 2.35.83 laid the platform for young Ethiopian
Kenensia Bekele to break Gebrselassie's record with 12.49.
Skinner wasn't the only Club member in action in
Birmingham. Dwayne Grant beat Olympic and World Championship medallist Darren
Campbell for the 2nd week running when he finished 2nd in the heat of the 60
metres in a new best of 6.64. Campbell was 3rd while the Club's 3rd
representative Tyrone Lewis finished 5th in 6.73.
Grant progressed to the final where, after Campbell was
disqualified for a false start, he finished in 7th place in 6.73.
Cross Country
Outdoors the highlight of the Winter Cross Country
season took place at Leeds with the National Championships at Temple Newsam
House.
Highlight of day again was the performance of 40 year old
Dave Taylor. He finished in 10th place in a Senior Men's field which had over
1400 starters. Tim Dickinson finished in 40th in his first race for sometime and
with Spencer Newport (63rd),Andrew Rayner (102nd), Richard Daniels (285th), and
Giles Clifford (303rd) the Club finished as 12th out of the 116 Clubs that
finished a team, many did not.
Bridget Davey led the Senior Women home. She finished in
145th and with Claire Lodwig 207th, Kate Pratten 225th and Diane Ballard 233rd
the team were 25th. Best individual and team performance amongst the younger age
groups came from the under 13 girls. Here Amy Smith had probably her best run of
the Winter as she finished in 20th place. More inspired running from Hannah
Garcia and Rebecca Smith in 40th and 50th and the encouraging 131st from
Danielle Critchley in her first year in the age group gave them 7th in the team
competition and 3rd Southern team having missed out on medals in the Area
Championship on countback.
The under 15s finished in 21st place with Rebecca Taylor
in 56th, Sarah McLellan 120th, Claire McNamara 146th and Louise Smith 288th
while Shavaun Henry (73rd) and Bryony Proctor (125th) were the Club's sole
representatives in the under 20 and under 17 age groups.
Half term, injury and school skiing trips were the main
reasons for slightly lower than normal turn out in the younger age group.
However there were some very promising performances from those who did compete.
Edward Martin finished in 83rd in the under 13 boys with
first year Stephen Cavey in 99th and Cameron Ward 136th. For the under 15s
Jonathan Vinter was 149th while there was just a second between Robert D'Angelo
and Beau Szczpanski in 269th and 270th places.
The Under 17s team finished in 23rd place led home by
James Poole in 127th with Tom Beech 175th, Stephen Leach 211th, Simon Martin
216th and Richard Daniel 219th.
Nottingham University student Tom Webb was 115th in the
under 20s race with Dan Ryan 133rd and Chris Daniel 146th.
Road
Robert Bain made a big breakthrough in the Cambridge
Harriers Winter Race Walking League at Bexley. Competing in the 5km race he made
a massive improvement on his previous best to time 23.41 and finish in 3rd place
overall, an excellent performance for a first year under 20 competing against
Seniors. There was more success in the under 13 girls race with Julia Stacey
winning the 2.5km race in 14.50 and Holly Williams second in 15.07. This meant
they also won the team competition.
Blackheath &Bromley will average more than two track and
field matches a week from April to September, catering for all age groups from
under-11 boys and girls to veteran men and women. Meeting the requirement to
provide track judges, field judges, timekeepers and other officials for most of
these matches is always a challenge and so the club is running a course for new
officials on a series of Tuesday evenings in March. A good response is hoped for
from club members, their parents and partners and others with an interest in the
sport. Further information can also be obtained from Mike Davies on 01689
602038.
17 February 2004
Internationals & The Birmingham Games
Mohammed Sillah-Freckleton took the first steps of an
International career which he hopes will lead to an Olympic Games place when he
finished 3rd for Great Britain in the 60 metre hurdles at the European Indoor
Cup in Leipzig. The 23 year old Blackheath & Bromley athlete timed 7.81 against
some of the best in Europe and coped well with the delay caused by a Swedish
athlete who refused to leave the arena when disqualified for a false start.
He then travelled with Wessex & Bath's Jason Gardener the
next day to compete in the IAAF LBBW meeting in Karlsruhe and was a hundredth
slower but there was a reason for this.
He was impeded in his heat by one of the Brazilian runners
who entered his lane. After long scrutiny by the judges the South American was
disqualified but, instead of re-running the race, Sillah-Freckleton had to race
a heat on his own to achieve a time to qualify for the final. He missed out by
four hundredths of a second.
Also in action in Leipzig was Michael Skinner who was two
seconds off his best in finishing 8th in the 3000 in 8.09.86. Britain finished
6th place in the team competition.
Meanwhile Dwayne Grant was busy beating an Olympic and
World Championship medallist at the All Ireland Championships in Belfast. Third
in the AAA's Indoor Championships in Sheffield last weekend he was 2nd here in
6.75 the same as the winner but comfortably clear of Darren Campbell in 3rd.
Up in the Midlands a number of Club members were in action
in the Birmingham Games at the National Indoor Arena and it was another weekend
of personal bests for Welsh Champion Fabian Collymore as he improved on the
times he set last week in Sheffield.
He shaved his 60 metre time down to 6.84 in finishing 4th
in a race won by Mark Lewis Francis; and was then a class apart in the 200
metres winning his heat, before setting a new best of 21.73 in the semi, a time
he was a hundredth of a second off replicating as he swept to victory in the
final. Personal bests abounded in the 400 from Joe Godsell (50.59), Ian Allerton
(50.35) and from first year under 17 Scott Blackwell who improved by nearly 1.5
seconds to time 51.19 just six hundredths behind training partner Dominic
Parsons. Parsons also set bests of 7.24 in the 60 and 22.89 in the 200 as did
Blackwell with 7.58 and 23.2.
Bella Clayton was 3rd in the Senior Womens 800 in a new
best of 2.11.99 while in the 60 metres mother and daughter did well as Amy
Godsell timed 7.96 and Helen was just outside the National Masters record with
8.43 to add to her 28.34 for 200. Amy also ran a useful 42.54 in the 300 and
there were other good performances from Louisa Guthrie (26.06) and Jo South
(27.47) in the 200.
Kent and Surrey Championships
There were medals, Championship Records and personal bests galore at the
Kent and Surrey Indoor Championships at the Sutton Indoor Arena at Carshalton.
Liz Hughes was more like her old self in the Senior Women's pole vault. After
colds and bugs reduced her to 3.50 at Sheffield she set a string of Championship
bests raising the bar higher and higher eventually finishing with 4 metres.
Sam Bobb won the triple jump with a leap of 14.01 but
perhaps the most astonishing medal wins of the day came in the Senior Men's shot
and pole vault where both competitions were won by 70 year olds! Gordon Hickey
took the shot with 9.80 and Jim Day the vault with 2.60 which were outstanding
for athletes of their age but not performances that should be winning Senior
Men's titles.
A third pole vault gold of the day came from Alex Pope in
the Junior Men's competition where set a new Championship Best Performance of 4
metres which was also a personal best as well. It was gold too for Vickie Cole
in the women's 60 metres and a silver in the field for Leon Hall Henry who putt
the shot 10.86.
In the under 17's age group there was a double hurdles
victory with Clare Cooper winning the girls and Alex AlAmeen the boys. He also
took 3rd in the 60 metres won by Daniel Haque who added silver in both the long
and triple jumps. Alistair Tawanaee putt the shot a very useful 12.56 for silver
and it was 2nd and 3rd in the pole vault for Scott Huggins and Adam Berry with
3.00 and 2.70. Jade Castell Thomas was 3rd in the long jump with 4.96...
Outstanding in the under 15's age group was Serita Solomon who set a new
championship best of 9.20 to win the 60 metre hurdles. She also dominated the 60
flat winning in 7.94. James Alaka made it a 60 metre double timing 7.56 for the
boys with Aston Stockdale 3rd with 8.04 to add to the bronze he won in the long
jump.
More wins came in the girls pole vault from Lauren Blackie
with 2.50 and the long jump from Emily Godley with 4.68 in a very close contest
in which just 12 centimetres separated the top five athletes. There was silver
in the shot for Shaunagh Brown and bronze for Richad AlAmeen in the boys event.
Three more medals were won by Club members in the Surrey Championships, all
courtesy of the Shirley Poole high jump squad. Michael Whitehouse won the Junior
Men's with 2 metres with Daniel Campbell 3rd with 1.80 . Anna Smith cleared 1.50
to win the under 17 girls event a personal best.
On the roads Barry Stephenson was in top form at the Kent
10 in Sidcup finishing 3rd in a very good 50.56
Many of the Club's top Seniors have progressed through the
Club's younger age group teams and it is keen for this trend to continue. Over
11's train at Norman Park track on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 pm. New stars
should ask for David Liston or John Blackie. Wednesdays are for 9 and 10 year
olds with sessions from 6 to 7 or from 6.30 to 7.30. Senior men and women are
also very welcome on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wednesdays are Clubnight at the
Clubhouse at 56 Bourne Way, Hayes where runners of all ages and abilities meet
for road running over varying distances.
Forthcoming events
20th Feb Norwich Union Grand Prix, Birmingham, Dwayne
Grant competes in the 60m
21st Feb. National Cross Country Champs, Leeds
28th Feb. Mob Match v South London Harriers, Hayes
28th/29th Feb. AAA's Junior, Under 17 and under 15 Championships, Birmingham
5th-7th Mar. World Indoor Championships, Budapest. Mohammed Sillah Freckleton
goes for Britain
6th Mar. CAU/World Cross Trials, Nottingham
6th Mar. Club 10 Mile Cross Country Championships
10th Mar. Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC Schools Race and Mayor's Challenge
10 February 2004
Mohammed Sillah-Freckleton, the 23 year old Blackheath &
Bromley Harriers AC athlete is the current British number one in the 60 metre
hurdles after winning the closest race of the weekend at the Norwich Union World
Indoor Trials and AAA's Championships in Sheffield.
With Colin Jackson now retired there is no one person
dominating the men's sprint hurdles which led to a fiercely competitive final.
Olympian Damien Greaves thought he had won but the photo finish showed it was
Sillah-Freckleton who had dipped to snatch the title by just one hundredth of a
second.
His reward is a place in the Great Britain team for the
World Indoor Championships in Budapest next month and his time of 7.68 has
propelled him to 8th on the UK All time list for the event and is the fastest in
the country this year.
This International recognition is richly deserved having
just missed out on a GB vest in both the junior and under 23 age groups.
Emphasising that Senior success does not happen overnight,
two other athletes who have been Club members since the age of 10 also picked up
Championship medals. Michael Skinner set a new best of 8.07.73 to take second in
a last lap "burn up" in the 3000 metres and Dwayne Grant set his second personal
best of the weekend when he finished third in the 60 metres in 6.65.
Likewise it was pleasing to see Sam Bobb, only 3rd choice
in the Club as an under 17, finishing 5th in the triple jump in a Senior
National Championship. "Not bad for an old man" said the 28 year old former
under 23 International of his new indoor best of 14.75.
Double Welsh Champion Fabian Collymore, in his first year
as a Senior, set new bests of 6.88 and 21.86 in the 60 and 200 metres with
Jonathan Barbour equalling his best of 6.72 in the 60 metres semi final before
withdrawing from the final with a groin niggle and Tyrone Lewis just outside his
best with 6.75.
Encouragingly 2003 junior 60 metre champion Montell
Douglas was in action after an injury ravaged Summer. The 18 year showed good
maturity against Senior athletes to qualify for the semi final of the 60 metres
where she timed 7.62 and she followed with a 24.93 clocking in the 200 metres.
Liz Hughes cleared 3.50 for 8th place in her first pole vault competition of the
Winter having suffered with various illnesses since the start of the year. She
will be aiming higher at the Kent Indoor Championships this weekend.
There was disappointment for double Olympian Tawanda
Chiwira in the 400 metres. The Zimbabwe International strained his hamstring at
the start of the 400 metres and although he timed 48.38 he withdrew from the
Semi Final to prevent further damage. "I skipped a race to save a season" said
the 29 year old who had he run near his best could have won the title.
It is not just the Seniors that have been making headlines
recently. At the Sutton Indoor Meeting last week Gordon Hickey set a new United
Kingdom over 70's best when he putt the shot out to 12.63. At the other end of
the age scale under 20 Tom Robinson returned to competition after injury and
illness and equalled his best of 4 metres in the pole vault. Ella Fisher made
her indoor debut at the Birmingham Open Meeting finishing 4th and timing 2.24.99
for 800.
Outdoors Andrew Rayner was first man home for Brunel in
41st place in the British Universities Cross Country Championships in Dundee.
David McKinlay was 108th representing the University of East Anglia while Hannah
Williams was 29th in the women's short course race representing Leeds
Metropolitan University.
As can be seen many of the Club's top Seniors have
progressed through the Club's younger age group teams and it is keen for this
trend to continue. Over 11's train at Norman Park track on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 6 pm. New stars should ask for David Liston or John Blackie.
Wednesdays are for 9 and 10 year olds with sessions from 6 to 7 or from 6.30 to
7.30. Senior men and women are also very welcome on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Wednesday is Clubnight at the Clubhouse at 56 Bourne Way, Hayes where runners of
all ages and abilities meet for road running over varying distances. New boilers
have just been installed to cope with the numbers on this ever popular evening.
14th Feb. Kent League, Swanley
15th Feb. Kent Indoor Championships, Carshalton
21st Feb. National Cross Country Champs, Leeds
28th Feb. Mob Match v South London Harriers, Hayes
28th/29th Feb. AAA's Junior, Under 17 and under 15 Championships, Birmingham
6th Mar. CAU/World Cross Trials, Nottingham
6th Mar. Club 10 Mile Cross Country Championships
10th Mar. Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC Schools Race and Mayor's Challenge
3 February 2004
Indoors
Tyrone Lewis and Jonathan Barbour produced the 2nd and
5th fastest 60 metre times in the country this year at the Sutton Indoor
Meeting. Lewis timed 6.64 and Barbour 6.73 and with Dwayne Grant having timed
6.69 last week athletes from Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC could figure
prominently in this weekend AAA's Indoor and World Championships trials in
Sheffield. Mohammed Sillah Freckleton is also 2nd ranked in the country at the
moment and he warmed up for next week with a new personal best of 7.81 in the 60
metre hurdles. Sam Bobb leapt 14.33 in the triple jump to add to his 14.59
victory in the Indoor Representative match in Birmingham last week.
Gold medallist at last years World Veterans Championships
Helen Godsell celebrated her last day in the over 45's age group with a useful
8.39 in the 60 metres. Her daughter Helen ran 7.88 in the under 17 age group
while Serita Solomon excelled with 8.09 in the under 15s and also 9.38 in the 60
metre hurdles.
Other 60 metre performances included Daniel Haque (7.15),
Nicola Molnar (8.63) Chloe Shaw (8.57), Lily Rose (8.50), Sarah Harrison (8.55),
Katrina Cosby (8.48) and Helen Jordan (8.40) while in the hurdles Clare Cooper
ran 8.89 in the under 17 women and Alex AlAmeen 8.39 for the men.
Under 15 South Of England medallists Lauren Blackie and
Rachel Arnheim both cleared 2.40 in the pole vault and Daniel Haque leapt 12.53
in the triple jump. Best long jump performance came from Vanessa Nakangu who
leapt 4.58 in the under 15 girls age group
Race Walking
The Club's walkers made a small piece of History at
the RWA Victoria Park Grand Prix. This was the first time the Club had entered a
Junior team and they came away with the first team prize. First home over the
2.5km course was Julia Stacey in 4th with Holly Williams 5th and Jessica Bain
6th. The race also incorporated the South Of England Championships and the three
girls had a clean sweep of the medals winning the team race with the lowest
possible points total.
There was more individual success for Robert Bain who won
the Grand Prix event in the Junior Men's age group taking the South Of England
title in the process. Despite this double victory he was slightly disappointed
as having completed the first 5km in 25.20 he was on course for a personal best
for the 10km distance. However he slowed over the 2nd part of the course.
Cross Country
The Club suffered its 2nd Mob Match defeat of the
Winter when heavily out numbered in the away match against Ranelagh Harriers in
Richmond Park. Thirty two toed the line to brave the rain and near gale force
winds but the hosts had nearly double that number and scoring 28 a side Ranelagh
won with 637 points to 1091.
First home for the Club was Eamonn Prendergast in 3rd
overall with Steve Smythe 6th and Dave Ellison 7th. Kate Pratten was first woman
in 55th.
Bromley Excellence Awards
Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC had much to celebrate at the recent
London Borough Of Bromley Sporting Excellence Awards. Thirteen youngsters
selected from all sports in the Borough received grants to help with their
training and of these five are Club members. In addition two stalwarts of the
Club were recognised for their contributions to the Club and Sport in the
Borough receiving awards from The Worshipful the Mayor of Bromley, Councillor
Catherine Rideout
Of the athletes chosen four have already achieved
International recognition. Sandra Alaneme holds the UK age 17 best for the
triple jump having leapt 12.55 in 2003. She is skipping the indoor season as one
of her target is to gain a place in the Commonwealth Youth Games which start on
the 29th of November in Bendigo in Australia.
Robert Bain is one of the country's top Junior walkers and
has represented England and also the English Schools at the Home Countries
International in Cardiff.
Also representing England in South Wales was Amir
Williamson who was the runner up in the Intermediate Boys Hammer at the English
Schools Championships. Unranked in 2002 some dedicated training under coach Mike
Davies at the Norman Park Track saw him break 2003 British Junior Number One
Karim Chester's Club Under 17 record with a throw of 60.58.
Sarah Olney took the javelin and shot titles in the
National Championships for athletes with a learning disability and has
represented England Youngster member of the Club to receive an award was Alex
AlAmeen for his achievements on the sprint hurdles. Last year he broke Jamie
Quarry's Under 15 Boys Club Record with an 11.61 clocking and he also features
in the National rankings in the high jump having leapt 1.75.
One of the Club's Vice Presidents Brenda Brent was
honoured as Volunteer Of The Year a fitting to tribute to one who has been
raising money for the Club for over 50 years.
Her husband Alan, 85, is a former recipient of the award
for Service to Sport in the Borough and this year the award was presented to
former International Cross Country runner and World Over 45's 10km road champion
John Baldwin who is the current Club Secretary. He has served Athletics in the
Borough as a athlete, administrator, fund raiser and official.
The Club is keen to recruit new members of all ages and
abilities. Over 11s interested in track and field should visit Norman Park on a
Tuesday or Thursday and ask for Dave Liston or John Blackie. Road and cross
country runners may prefer to visit the Clubhouse on a Wednesday night from 6.30
for the weekly pack runs. Under 11s are catered for specifically on Wednesday
nights at Norman Park from either 6 to 7pm or from 6.30 to 7.30pm where the aim
is to provide an introduction to the various disciplines in a fun environment.
7th/8th Feb. Club AAA's Indoor Championships, Sheffield
8th. Feb. London Borough Of Bromley Mini Marathon Trials. Norman Park.
14th Feb. Kent League, Swanley
15th Feb. Kent Indoor Championships, Carshalton
21st Feb. National Cross Country Champs, Leeds
28th Feb. Mob Match v South London Harriers, Hayes
28th/29th Feb. AAA's Junior, Under 17 and under 15 Championships, Birmingham
27 January 2004
Track And Field
Dwayne Grant showed he is over the injuries that
dogged his 2003 season when he achieved a World Indoor Championship qualifying
time for the 60 metres at the Norwich Union International match at Glasgow.
Running as a guest the 21 year Blackheath & Bromley AC
member finished 3rd in 6.69 seconds behind winner Jason Gardener who timed 6.54
the fastest in the world this year.
Grant had earlier finished 2nd in the 200 metres for Great
Britain having replaced Club mate Julian Golding who withdrew as a precaution
against injury. He ran 21.44.
Meanwhile another young Club sprinter was making an
impression in the Senior ranks. Fabian Collymore travelled to the Welsh
Championships at Cardiff and came away with two gold medals. He won the 60
metres in 6.87 and then took the 200 metres in 22.42.
Former European Under 23 100 metre champion Jonathan
Barbour was in action in Birmingham at the Midland Counties Open Meeting. He
clocked the 2nd fastest time of the day with 6.82. Gavin Neblett timed a useful
6.95 in one of the other heats. Neil Simpson ran 50.20 in the 400.
Outdoors two Club members had wins in the SECTA weight
pentathlon at Ewell. Colin Brand was first in the over 65's category with 3881
points with Gordon Hickey taking the over 70's with 3699.
Cross Country
The Club were out in force at Parliament Hill Fields for the Southern Cross
Country Championships where, despite some strong team and individual
performances, they finished outside the medals.
They did come close. Dave Taylor, who turned 40 just a
couple of weeks ago was just 2 seconds off bronze in the Senior Men's race. A
former winner, this was the 4th time over the years he has placed 4th. He's also
come 2nd and 3rd. He has also been in the Club's winning team on six occasions.
It was 7th for the team on this occasion with another former individual champion
Spencer Newport 24th, Rory Byrne 35th, Barry Stephenson 47th, Peter Tucker 115th
and Alex Gibbins 174th.
The under 13 girls came even closer to medals. They were
actually presented the bronze medals but then had to return them when an error
in the results was spotted. The finishing position of one of the athletes from
the City Of Norwich had been missed and when the team scores were recalculated
the East Anglians had the same points as girls from B & B.
When the team scores are the same the medals are given to
the Club that has the highest placed 4th scorer which Norwich achieved by just
two places. This was obviously a big disappointment for Amy Smith 26th, Hannah
Garcia 43rd, Rebecca Smith 44th and Danielle Critchley 62nd but they and the
rest of this hugely promising squad, which today also included Amy Dematos in
77th, Danielle Barley 104th, Katie Gibbs 129th, Grace Power 131st and Hannah
Ware 156th, will win medals more often than not.
Illness dashed the team medal hopes of the under 15 girls
squad where Rebecca Taylor led the team home in 28th with Sarah Coombs 114th,
Claire McNamara 129th and Lauren Smith 130th. Bryony Proctor finished 92nd in
the under 17 women's race.
Kent champion Michael Thorpe was 48th in under 13 boys
race after being well placed early on and with Stephen Cavey 63rd, Oliver
Robinson 126th and Cameron Ward 129th they finished 15th, 2nd Kent team.
The under 17's squad of Tom Beach 94th, Stephen Leach
114th, Richard Daniel 147th, Dale Willis 156th and Doran Morgan 159th finished
in 17th.
The under 15 boys were a couple of places lower, brought
home by Danny Brewer in 95th one place ahead of Jonathan Vintner with Sam
Simpson 130th and Beau Szczpanski 190th. Robert D'Angelo bravely battled to
finish in 221st despite spraining an ankle.
He was not the only athlete to sustain injury. The same
happened to Hannah Leach in the early stages of the Senior Women's race. She
limped from the course and was soon joined by Diane Ballard whose calf had
stiffened so much she had been reduced to a walk.
It was left to Bridget Davey, making a rare appearance for
the Club, to bring the team home in 108th place with Clare Lodwig 134th, Kate
Pratten 139th, Carolyna Jones Baldock 190th and Anne Cilia 205th. While well
outside the team medals in 23rd they were the leading Kent team.
Race Walking
Robert Bain enjoyed another successful day at the Surrey Walking Club
Meeting at Monks Hill. He won the 5km race in 24.59 on a testing course and
there was more success for Holly Williams as well as she won the 2.5km race in
16.01.
The trials for this years London Mini Marathon take place
at Norman Park on Sunday 8th of February. Leading finishers will be rewarded
with a place in the London Borough Of Bromley team which will compete in the
three mile race over the end of the Full Marathon course in April.
Anyone youngster wishing to take part should send a SAE to
Dave Liston at 70 Sermon Drive, Swanley, Kent BR8 7HT
The Club is keen to recruit new members of all ages and
abilities. Over 11s interested in track and field should visit Norman Park on a
Tuesday or Thursday and ask for Dave Liston or John Blackie. Road and cross
country runners may prefer to visit the Clubhouse on a Wednesday night from 6.30
for the weekly pack runs. Under 11s are catered for specifically on Wednesday
nights at Norman Park from either 6 to 7pm or from 6.30 to 7.30pm where the aim
is to provide an introduction to the various disciplines in a fun environment.
Forthcoming events
31st Jan. Mob Match v Ranelagh, Richmond Park
7th/8th Feb. Club AAA's Indoor Championships, Sheffield
14th Feb. Kent League, Swanley
15th Feb. Kent Indoor Championships, Carshalton
21st Feb. National Cross Country Champs, Leeds
28th Feb. Mob Match v South London Harriers, Hayes
28th/29th Feb. AAA's Junior, Under 17 and under 15 Championships, Birmingham
20 January 2004
Medals of all colours across all the age groups made it a
successful weekend for Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC at the Southern Indoor
Championships at Bedford.
Leading the way was Lauren Blackie who won the under 15
girls pole vault competition in a new best of 2.50. It broke not only the Club
under 15's record but also the under 17's as well. There was a double
celebration as Rachel Arnheim took the silver medal with a clearance of 2.40
which broke the previous Club Records in these age groups as well.
New member Michael Whitehouse will no doubt have his eyes
on the Junior Men's high jump record of 2.15. He claimed silver in the under
20's competition equalling his best of 2.05 and promises higher.
It was silver also for Alex Al Ameen in the under 17 men's
60 metre hurdles in 8.48 ; Sam Bobb with a new indoor best of 14.67 in the
Senior Men's triple jump; and for Shaunagh Brown who impressed with her
rotational technique in the under 15's shot to putt 9.83. Scott Huggins rounded
off a good weekend with bronze in the under 17's pole vault with a clearance of
2.80.
Mohammed Sillah Freckleton skipped the championships and
instead ran in the 60 metre hurdles at the Loughborough Indoor Meeting. He won
in 7.82 which was not only a personal best but also the fastest time in the
country this year. It ranks him 19th on the British All Time List.
Also missing from Bedford were three of the Club's top
sprinters Julian Golding, Jonathan Barbour and Dwayne Grant. They travelled to
Sheffield where they are to spend 10 days intensive training at the English
Institute Of Sports new headquarters. This will allow Golding to complete his
preparations for this weekends Norwich Union Indoor International in Glasgow
where he represents Great Britain in the 200 metres.
Michael Skinner travelled to Cardiff for the 5th race in
the Reebok Cross Challenge. Another good run saw him close in 8th position which
sees him well up in the overall standings with the final race incorporated in
the Inter Counties Championships in March.
He will now concentrate on 3,000 metres at the AAA's
Indoors Championships which means he will miss this weekends Southern Cross
Country Championships at Parliament Hill Fields where the Club will have
representatives in all age groups. Dave Taylor spearheads the Senior Men's
challenge and having celebrated his 40th birthday last week he could be the
first veteran athlete to win the Area Cross Country title. Proof of his good
form was shown at last weeks Surrey Cross Country League race at Richmond Park
where he became the first veteran to win a league race beating last years
Southern Championship gold and silver medallists John Downes and Matt Normington
in the process.
Barry Stephenson and Peter Tucker both added the finishing
touches to their preparations for next weeks Championships when they finished
2nd and 4th in the Dartford 10 mile road race with times of 53.32 and 54.07
respectively. Backed by Daryl Hilliar in 27th (1.00.43), and Len Crowder 29th
(1.00.53) the Club won the team competition. Alison Jelly was first woman home
for the Club in 458th in 1.29.42.
Perhaps the clash with this road race may explain the poor
turn out for the inter-club cross country match against the Bank of England.
Hannah Leach was first woman home in and 20th overall with Nick Barber finishing
in 27th.
Many of the youngsters who will be in action at Parliament
Hill competed in the Kent Schools Championships at Mote Park, Maidstone, the
same venue where the English Schools will be held in March and with a string of
good performances the Club should have a number of athletes selected for this
prestigious event.
Rebecca Taylor, representing Bromley North West Kent,
started the day on the right note with a comfortable victory in the Junior Girls
race with good support from Hannah Garcia in 8th, Claire McNamara 10th and Sarah
McLellan 11th. All train under coach Andy Frankish and there was more success
for the group as Katie Murray finished 4th in the Intermediate Girls race
despite being in the lower year in the age group. Surprise package of the day
was Sam Simpson who excelled himself as he finished 3rd in the Junior Boys race
with Alex Pillow taking time off his rugby commitments to finish in 6th. James
Poole, also in the lower year in his age group was 8th in the Intermediate Boys.
Eve Bugler was pleased with her 2nd place in the Senior Girls race, after a
slightly below performance in last weeks Knole Run, and Ella Fisher closed in
6th.
Only two Club Members took part in the recent Sportshall
competition at Dover but both produced Championship records. Aston Stockdale won
the under 13 boys pentathlon achieving a championship record in the vertical
jump. Amir Williamson broke the championship record in the under 17 boys shot
with a putt of 11.35.
The trials for this years London Mini Marathon take place
at Norman Park on Sunday 8th of February. Leading finishers will be rewarded
with a place in the London Borough Of Bromley team which will compete in the
three mile race over the end of the Full Marathon course in April. Any youngster
wishing to take part should send a SAE to Dave Liston at 70 Sermon Drive,
Swanley, Kent BR8 7HT.
The Club is keen to recruit new members of all ages and
abilities. Over 11s interested in track and field should visit Norman Park on a
Tuesday or Thursday and ask for Dave Liston or John Blackie. Road and cross
country runners may prefer to visit the Clubhouse on a Wednesday night from 6.30
for the weekly pack runs. Under 11s are catered for specifically on Wednesday
nights at Norman Park from either 6 to 7pm or from 6.30 to 7.30pm where the aim
is to provide an introduction to the various disciplines in a fun environment.
Forthcoming events
24th Jan. Southern Cross Country Champs, Parliament Hill
24th Jan. Norwich Union Indoor International, Glasgow. - Julian Golding runs for
Britain in the 200 metres.
31st Jan. Mob Match v Ranelagh, Richmond Park
7th/8th Feb. Club AAA's Indoor Championships, Sheffield
14th Feb. Kent League, Swanley
15th Feb. Kent Indoor Championships, Carshalton
21st Feb. National Cross Country Champs, Leeds
28th Feb. Mob Match v South London Harriers, Hayes
28th/29th Feb. AAA's Junior, Under 17 and under 15 Championships, Birmingham
Southern Cross Country Championships,
Parliament Hill Fields, Saturday 24th January.
Timetable
U15B - 11.00am (4500m),
U13G - 11.25am (3000m),
U13B - 11.40am (3000m),
U15G - 11.55am (4000m),
U17M - 12.25pm (6000m),
U17/Junior W - 12.50pm (5000m),
Junior M - 1.15pm (8000m),
Senior W - 1.50pm (8000m),
Senior M - 2.50pm (15000m).
The Club Nike tent will be inside the track area as with
last years National.
13 January 2004
Sprinters from Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC showed
good form in the recent indoor open meeting at Eton. Great Britain International
Jonathan Barbour clocked 6.80 in the heats of the 60 metres before deciding not
to compete in the final.
Had he done so he would have encountered a rejuvenated
Tyrone Lewis who ran the second fastest time of the day with 6.77. Gavin Neblett
clocked 6.96 in the heats while down in Wales Fabian Collymore won the 60 metres
at the open meeting at the National Indoor Arena at Cardiff in 6.99.
Back at Eton Under 20 Duayne Bovell timed 7.16 for the 60
metres with Lloyd Francis clocking 7.37.
In the under 17's Alex AlAmeen was easily quickest in the
60 metre hurdles timing 8.63 and he also ran 7.55 for the 60 metres. For the
veterans Ricky Fox timed 7.89.
Vickie Cole was the fastest under 20 woman of the day as
she timed 8.09 for the 60 metres. Serita Solomon was 2nd in the under 15's age
group with 8.23 while Nicola Molnar timed 8.75. Serita was also quickest in the
60 metre hurdles with 9.45.
Although he has not raced yet this season, Julian Golding
has been selected to represent Great Britain in the 200 metres at the Norwich
Union Indoor International Meeting in Glasgow on the 24th of January.
Outdoors Michael Skinner continued his successful season
in the Reebok Cross Challenge when he finished 16th in the 5th race in the
series in Belfast. In a race won by World Marathon best performer and five times
World Cross Country Champion Paul Tergat, the former Langley Park schoolboy
timed 30.18. Top walker Robert Bain made his 10km debut recently in Ilford. He
finished 4th over a testing and possibly long course, coping well with the tough
downhill sections. His time of 51.31 was not as fast as he would have liked but
no one was quick.
The next Grand Prix race for Robert and the other B & B
walkers will be in Victoria Park on the 1st of February and they are looking for
more athletes to join them. Those who would like to take part should visit
Norman Park on a Thursday evening at 6pm and meet some of the country's
brightest prospects.
Alex Gibbins won the Open 10km cross country which the
Club hosted at Hayes. He finished 2 seconds clear of Blackpool's Dave Reader
with Steve Cooper 3rd and Ken Daniel 4th. At the age of 53 Daniel was the winner
of the Club's Veterans Championship that was included in the race. Andy Lawes
took 2nd with Ian Taylor 3rd.
Winner of the Veteran women's title was Hannah Leach with
Angela Cook 2nd and Anne Cilia 3rd.
6 January 2004
Athletes from Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC were in
action around the country on a busy weekend of indoor and outdoor middle
distance running. Up at Newcastle Michael Skinner placed 10th in the 4km race at
the Great North Cross Country Meeting while at Cardiff Bella Clayton won both
the 400 and 800 metre races at the Wales Indoor Open Meeting. Her time of 55.9
in the 400 was faster than anyone from the Club ran outdoors last season.
The main focus of attention, however, was the County Cross
Country Championships where the Club enjoyed considerable success. While Surrey
based Dave Taylor was winning his County title at Lloyd Park for his 2nd claim
Club, Herne Hill Harriers, over 60 Club members were in action in the various
age groups at the Kent Championships at Wilderness School in Sevenoaks.
They were rewarded for their efforts with two individual
medals and five sets of team medals. Both individual medals came in the under
13's age group where Michael Thorpe improved from 3rd last year to take the
individual title surging clear over the 2nd half of the course to win by 5
seconds. He missed out on a bronze team medal as the squad of himself, Edward
Martin, Stephen Cavey and Oliver Robinson tied with Ashford on 58 points but
lost out as their 4th place score finished lower.
Amy Smith took silver in the girls race having led for
much of the race and it was silver for herself, Hannah Garcia and Rebecca Smith
in the team race. While thy missed out on gold the squad dominated numerically
and had the Kent County scored B teams the next three finishers Danielle
Critchley, Amy Dematos and Katy Gibbs would have won bronze team medals.
It was a similar story in the under 15's age group where
Rebecca Taylor (4th) Katy Murray (6th) and Sarah McLennan (7th) secured the
Club's only set of gold medals of the day but the next three home, Lauren Smith
(9th), Clare McNamara (13th ) and Vanessa Evans (14th) were actually good enough
for silver in the team competition.
The under 20 men provided the other set of silver team
medals thanks in no small way to a late surge from Ray Perkins who overtook two
Medway &Maidstone athletes in the last mile to finish 7th to leave the Club's
points tally as 27 to M&M's 28. Terry Hawkey was first home in 5th with
Nottingham University undergraduate Tom Webb placing 15th. Bronze medals came
from the under 17 girls team of Ella Fisher, Bryony Proctor and Sophie Williams
and from the Senior Men's team of Andrew Rayner, Rory Byrne, Jonathan Murray,
Peter Tucker, Alex Gibbins and former Portsmouth footballer Neil Ayrton.
Of these the most notable performance was from Andrew
Rayner. Not a superstar as a youngster he again showed what hard work allied to
talent can achieve as he battled at the front with Internationals Mike Coleman
and Barry Royden of Medway and Kent AC's Jermaine Mays to eventually finish in
4th place.
The men also achieved 3rd place in the 12 to score contest
and although the Senior Women, led by Hannah Leach did not feature in the 3 to
score race they did finish 2nd in the 6 to count. Diane Ballard again showed
promise as 2nd scorer while Clare Lodwig had her best run for some time to close
as 3rd finisher followed by Kate Pratten, Angela Cook and Carolyna Jones Baldock.
While outside the medals in the other age groups there were nonetheless more
good individual performances. These included James Poole, a highly promising 5th
in the under 17 boys; Danny Brewer, 8th in the under 15 boys; and Eve Bugler,
5th in the under 20 women.
Away from competitive action there was good news for
former Past President Alan Pickering who was awarded a CBE in the New Years
Honours for his services to Occupational Pension Schemes. Alan is Chairman of
the European Federation for Retirement Provision.
