Last updated 30 July
2002
Press Releases for June
& July 2002
30 July 2002
Athletes from Blackheath Harriers, Bromley enjoyed success
across the age groups last weekend in individual, team and representative
competition.
In the Southern Women's League Division Two match at
Chelmsford the Club moved another step closer to promotion scoring their highest
ever points score of 245.5, despite being without some of their leading
athletes. They remain in 3rd in the 25 strong division with the top 5 teams
getting promotion.
As well as winning the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles, Katy
Porter improved the Club senior pole vault record to 2.10 and was also in the
4x100 team with Katy Benneworth, Louisa Guthrie and Sam Singer which equalled
the Club Record of 48.7.
Benneworth received the "Athlete of the match"
award for the seniors with wins in the long jump and 100 and 100 hurdles B
strings plus a new personal best in the hammer. Flo Clark picked up the award in
the under 15's age group with a fine new best of 27.99 in the discus, another
win in the shot and a 2nd in the B javelin. Among the seniors other A string
wins from Sam Singer (400), Jennie Butler (1500), and Sandara Alaneme (high jump
and triple jump).
In the under 15's there were double A string wins for
Joanna South in the 100 and 200 and for Clare Cooper in the long jump and 75
hurdles.
The Junior men's team look set to take a place in the
National Junior Athletics League Final after a 4th place in the Southern Premier
Division match at Croydon. They remain 4th in the 8 team division with the top
four progressing to the National Final in September. Best performances came in
the field where Tom Robinson soared over 3.80 to win the pole vault and Karim
Chester threw 55.12 for 2nd in the hammer. He also set a new best of 40.53 in
the discus and was 2nd in the shot.
Elsewhere in the field the Shelley brothers Robin and
Philip scored 2nd places in the B string shot, discus and javelin events with
Robin 5th in the A javelin. On the track good points were scored by 2nd claim
members Stuart Wendon and James Connor who are first claim Kent AC. Wendon was
3rd in a very competitive 400 in 50.4 while Connor was 3rd in the 1500 in
4.19.0. Ian Allerton won the B 400 in 50.0 and Fabian Collymore, Dwayne Bovell
and Neil Simpson picked up useful points in the sprints.
Meanwhile at Kingston 7 of the Club's youngsters were in
action for Kent in a 14 team Under 13's Inter Counties event. Both Serita
Solomon and Sophie Robinson achieved personal bests in the 70 metre hurdles.
Solomon clocked 11.90 for 5th in the A race with Robinson 1st in the B string in
12.16. Along with Emily Godley they were part of the 4x100 team which came 2nd.
Other wins came from Rebecca Taylor in the 800 in 2.27.5 and Shaunagh Brown in
the shot with an 8.88 putt. James Alaka finished 2nd in the 100 in 12.8 and it
was 2nd also for Emily Godley with a 4.53 leap in the long jump. Emma Mason was
7th in the B javelin with 16.72.
At the other end of the age range the Club's veterans were
in medal winning form in the British Championships at Copthall. National Record
Holder Allan Williams won the over 40's pole vault with a leap of 4.20 while
Bill Foster was victorious in the 5,000 in 15.16. In the over 50's Bob Minting
struck silver in the 800 with Ken Daniel third in the 1500. Jim Day had his
customary busy day in the over 65's events. He won the pole vault in 2.70,
placed 2nd in the 100 hurdles in 20.2 and completed the full set of medals with
a 3rd in the high jump with a leap of 1.24. Colin Brand won the discus in the
same age group and silver in the javelin. The Club welcomes new members of all
ages and abilities. For further information please contact Dave Liston on 01322
663504.
23 July 2002
On a busy weekend of athletics all four of Blackheath
Harriers, Bromley's Commonwealth Games representatives were in action before
heading to Manchester this week.
Daniel Plummer won the 100 metres in 10.48 at the Norwich
Union Great Britain Under 23's verses Germany match at Newport. He is in the
England 4x100 team for the Commonwealths.
Also competing for Britain in Wales was Alloy Wilson who
was third in the 400 in a useful 48.21. Wilson was back in action the next day
in the first ever joint scoring men and women's Golden Jubilee Cup Semi Final
match at Copthall finishing 3rd in the 400 in 48.9 and contributing a 48.4 relay
leg.
Mensah Elliott warmed up for the Commonwealths with a 14.0
win in the 110 hurdles while Club 400 metre record holder Tawanda Chiwira
impressed in the 200 winning in 21.3. He represents Zimbabwe in the 200 and
4x400 at the Games and contributed to both of the Club's winning 4x100 and 4x400
teams. Slick baton changes between Chiwira, Gavin Neblett, Fabian Collymore and
Elliott saw the sprint relay team home by nearly a second.
Ever reliable Ian Allerton led off the 4x400 team with a
50.8; and Michael Champion (49.1), Chiwira (46.5) and Wilson left the team over
6 seconds clear by the finish. Disaster struck in the long jump, however, where
Mark Awanah had to withdraw from the competition in the second round. The 19
year old injured his back and now faces a race against time to be fit for the
Commonwealths.
Other wins for the Club came from Michael Skinner in the
1500 and from Nange Ursell in the 400 hurdles, but perhaps the outstanding
performance of the day came from the oldest man in the team. 49 year old Allan
Williams soared over 4 metres 42 centimetres in the pole vault to set a new
British Over 45's record, a performance that place him second in the match.
Katy Benneworth set a new best of 10.22 in the triple jump
and finished as runner up to Yamile Aldama the 1999 world silver medallist who
competes for Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. She was also just off her best in the
long jump with a leap of 5.56 for third place.
Other personal bests came from Hannah Leach in the 3,000
with a time of 10.21.8 and from Peter Tucker in the 5000 in 15.30.2. Runners up
spots went to Sam Singer in the 400, Katy Porter in the 100 hurdles and to the
4x400 team of Singer, Louisa Guthrie, Eve Bugler and Karyn O'Mahoney. Porter
also took 3rd in both the 400 hurdles and pole vault while Guthrie ran a useful
25.9 in the 200 metres.
It was also pleasing to see Alexis Sharp back in action
after two years out with injury. He was 3rd in the discus with 43 metres and
Spencer Newport continued his comeback with 2nd in the 10,000.
All these performances gave the Club an excellent third
place just behind Newham And Essex Beagles with winners Shaftesbury Barnet
Harriers.
One man who opted out of the Commonwealth Games is British
number one at the marathon Mark Steinle. He is concentrating his efforts on a
big city marathon this Autumn and showed preparations are going well as he won
the British Golden Jubilee 10km race in London. He was pushed all the way,
however, just outdipping South Africa's Neo Molema on the line.
Two more Club members were away on International duty. On
Friday Dwayne Grant was in Dublin as part of an England team against Ireland,
Wales, South Africa and Australia. He finished 2nd in the 200 A race in the
21.10. He then moved on to Bangor for the North Downs International Games
finishing 4th in the 200 in 20.88.
Sandra Alaneme made her International debut in the Home
Countries Schools International at Glasgow. She didn't disappoint as she won the
triple jump with a leap of 11.93 to further improve her Club under 17 and under
20 record.
Another Club Record was set at the Young Athletes League
match for girls at Crawley. In the under 13's age group Rebecca Taylor took over
5 seconds off her 1200 metres record timing 3.56.0. The Club were the strongest
of all 8 teams in this age group with a string of individual victories and
personal bests. Bianca Gibbons 2.37.5 to win the B 800 proved faster than the
winning time in the A race in only her second attempt at the distance. Serita
Solomom and Sophie Robinson clocked impressive times of 12.3 and 12.6 to win
both sprint hurdles races while Emily Godley was again victorious in the long
jump with Amara Tait 2nd in the B string in 3.94. In the under 15's Clare Cooper
showed she is getting back to her best form after injury winning the 75 hurdles
in 11.6 as well as the long jump with a leap of 4.92.
It wasn't all about individual success as the spirit in
the under 17's age group showed. While Harriet Robinson excelled with wins and
new bests of 11.7 and 45.7 in the 80 and 300 hurdles a small group of girls made
up for a depleted team by rushing around to cover events which ultimately helped
to achieve the Club's excellent 5th position. Full credit then should go to
Michelle Delahoy, Caroline McQuillan, Jenny McCaffrey, Clare Silvester and A
Richards for their efforts for the team. The boys were in action at Woodford
where they finished in third position. Further details next week.
16 July 2002
Athletes from Blackheath Harriers, Bromley featured
prominently at Norwich Union European Trials and AAA's Championships in
Birmingham with Mark Awanah the highest placed with a bronze in the long jump.
The 19 year old who represents England at the Commonwealth Games later this
month leapt 7.46 in the first round but after that did not record a mark as he
strove to find the big leap that would take him ahead of British record holder
Chris Tomlinson and eventaul winner Darren Ritchie.
Levi Edwards finished in 5th place with a seasons best of
7.03. There was a seasons best also for Mensah Elliott who was 4th in the 110
hurdles in 13.85 and it was fourth also for Dwayne Grant who clocked 20.60 in
the 200 with Clubmate and Commonwealth champion Julian Golding just one
hundredth of a second behind in 5th. Daniel Plummer finished in 6th placed in a
highly competitive 100 metre final and was rewarded for his efforts with a new
best of 10.33.
Michael Skinner timed a swift 3.44.50 in the 1500 metre
heats and was just a fraction slower in the final where he finished in 11th
place. David Moulton just missed out on a place in the 800 final timing 1.52.93
in his heat. Likewise Nange Ursell in the 400 hurdles and Alloy Wilson did not
progress beyond the heats.
Meanwhile many of the Club's youngsters were in action in
the English Schools Championships in Nottingham. Best performance here came from
Sandra Alaneme who won the Intermediate Girl's triple jump title with a leap of
11.87 which was not only a personal best but also a Club under 17 and under 20
record. As a result she has been chosen to represent England at the Home
Countries International in Glasgow this weekend.
There was gold also for Adai Monnerville who was part of
the London Junior Boy's 4x100 winning team. Katy Benneworth took third in a
strong long jump competition by the narrowest of margins. She leapt 5.55 just
one centimetre ahead of fourth place. Missing out on medals, however were Karim
Chester and Stuart Harvey. Chester was 4th in the Senior Boy's Hammer with 53.84
but his preparations for the competition were thrown into chaos when he was hit
by a car on a zebra crossing at a motorway service station on the journey to
Nottingham. Harvey was also one place off bronze with 50.01 in the Junior Boys
Javelin.
Other performances in the Seniors included Emily Oliver
(5th hammer 41.77), Terry Hawkey (7th 1500) and Neil Simpson (7th 200). Anita
Oliver was 17th in the Intermediate Girls discus while Dwayne Bovell timed 11.21
in the heats of the 100; and Harriet Robinson 12.2 in the 80 hurdles.
In the Junior events there was a fine new best of 52.46
from Dominic Parsons in the 400 semi final and he went on to claim 4th in the
final. Alistair Tawanaee was 6th in the hammer with 45.31 with Victoria Thomas
10th in the discus.
Parsons, Harvey and Tawanaee were in action again the
following day at the final Kent Boys And Colts match of the season at Erith. The
Club finished as overall winners and Parsons received the award for the track
performance of the season for his effort in the 400. He won the 110, 200 and 400
on the day and there were other wins from Alex Al Ameen ( 80 hurdles), James
Paule (1500), Harvey (javelin) and Tawanaee (shot).
There were wins for both the Senior Men's B and C teams in
the double Southern League match at Norman Park. The Division Two team now lie
in 3rd place in the 25 strong division with one match remaining while the C team
lie in 4th in Division Four East.
Five Club members have been selected for the Great Britain
team for the Under 23 international match against Germany in Newport this
weekend. Mark Awanah is picked for the long jump along with Daniel Plummer
(100), Jonathan Barbour and Dwayne Grant (4x100) and Alloy Wilson (4x400).
9 July 2002
Mark Awanah is the third athlete from Blackheath Harriers,
Bromley to be selected for the England team for the Commonwealth Games in
Manchester. The 19 year old was third in the long jump in the Trials and has
been called up to the squad following the withdrawal of Birchfield's Jonathan
Moore.
He was in action last weekend at the second British
Athletics League Division Two match at Wigan, but his win in the long jump in
7.25 and second place in the triple jump with 14.59 was not enough to help the
team finish any better than 5th equal position. The result means that at the
half way stage, the team remains in 5th position with a slim chance of promotion
but a danger that if they slip up in the remaining fixtures that they could fill
one of the two relegation places in the 8 team division.
Awanah was not the only winner. "Fresh" from
winning in the British League Grand Prix the day before in Birmingham the
previous day, captain and fellow Commonwealth Games representative Mensah
Elliott took the 110 hurdles race before achieving third and fifth places in the
B 200 and shot respectively. He was also part of the 4x100 team which finished
in 4th and included excellent legs from youngsters and first team debutants
Dwayne Bovell and Fabian Collymore. Tyrone Swaray anchored the team home, having
earlier been disqualified for two false starts in the 100.
There was a major breakthrough for Nange Ursell in the 400
hurdles. He timed his race perfectly to win in a new best of 51.5 secs which
would have ranked him in the top ten in the country last year.
Spencer Newport returned to winning form in the 5,000
coming home in 14.36.2. Elsewhere on the track Alloy Wilson ran a seasons best
of 48.1 for fourth in the 400 having earlier won the B string 100, and Michael
Skinner and David Moulton both came close to winning the A and B string 800
metres. In the pole vault 49 year old Allan Williams was within a whisker of
breaking the UK over 45's record as he just failed in his clearance at 4.42. He
had to settle for 4.20, a highly creditable performance as his trip north the
previous day had turned into a marathon when his car broke down on the drive up
from Portsmouth. He also had to perform DIY dentistry on himself, supergluing
part of his tooth back in his mouth having broken it off by bashing himself with
his pole.
The women's team moved into one of the five promotion
places in Southern League Division Two after their biggest ever points win at
Norman Park. They amassed 240 points over 70 more than second placed Colchester.
Best performance came from Emily Oliver who further improved here Club senior
and junior hammer record to 43.58 while Katy Porter, better known as a hurdler,
equalled the pole vault record with a clearance of 2 metres.
Senior athlete of the match award went to Harriet Robinson
for her wins in the 80 and 300 hurdles and B long jump, while the under 15's
award went to Joanna South who set new bests of 13.1 and 26.9 in the 100 and
200. In the senior age group, the Club had double victories in numerous events
including Katy Benneworth and Robinson in the long jump; Emily and Anita Oliver
in the discus; Louisa Guthrie and Benneworth in the 100;Jennie Butler and Hannah
Leach in the 3,000; Porter and Benneworth in the 100 hurdles; and Eve Bugler and
Hazel Barker in the 1500.
Elsewhere there were wins for Sam Singer in the 400;
Guthrie in the 200; and Sandra Alaneme in the high jump. For the under 15's
Clare Cooper returned to action after injury to win the 75 hurdles in 12.1 and
Nina Akif made it maximum points in the B string. Bryony Proctor and Rachel
Stokes had a double victory in the 1500 and there were also wins for Victoria
Thomas in the shot and Rebecca Taylor in the 800, while Laurelle Barry produced
a promising debut in the 100 and 200 with two 2nd places.
2 July 2002
Forgotten man of British sprinting Julian Golding showed
that he is starting to regain the form which has made a him a regular British
International in recent years. The reigning Commonwealth Games 200 metre
champion was unable to compete in the Trials two weeks ago as he was not fully
fit following injury. However last week the Blackheath Harriers, Bromley athlete
travelled to Italy and in a meeting at Celle Ligure timed a useful 21.02 for 200
beating Graham Beasley one of the athletes who has been selected for the England
4x100 team for this years Games. "I'm gutted that I am unable to defend my
Commonwealth title" said the 27 year old, "but I've got a gold medal
from 1998 that no one can take away from me". He will now make a bid for
selection for the British team for the European Championships with the Trials
taking place in Birmingham in two weeks time.
One Blackheath sprinter who is going to the Games is
Daniel Plummer. He is in the England 4x100 squad and he continued to show good
form timing 10.36 for 3rd in the 100 metre B race at the Norwich Union Classic
Meeting at Sheffield. He also ran first leg for the England 4x100 team which
finished 3rd.
There was more success at the AAA's Under 20 and Under 23
Championships at Bedford. Mark Awanah's first competition this year was against
Chris Tomlinson in America in April where Tomlinson broke the British long jump
record. At Bedford Awanah took the Under 23 long jump title with a leap of 7.60
just one centimetre off Tomlinson's Championship record.
Dwayne Grant was disappointed to finish second in the 200
metres timing 21.15 but Alloy Wilson was delighted with his return to form
claiming silver in the 400 metres. Likewise David Moulton was thrilled to make
it a hat trick of runners up spots in a tactical 800 metres with a time of
1.55.76.
Levi Edwards jumped 6.94 in the long jump and Samantha
Singer finished 5th in the 400 metres. In the under 20's age group Karim Chester
threw a promising 57.89 in the hammer to take 4th place. This was the first time
a Club member has used the new 6kg specification junior hammer so his distance
is an inaugural Club Record.
Training partner Emily Oliver was in Club Record breaking
form at the Club Championships at Norman Park the previous Monday. The Mike
Davies coached athlete broke both the Senior and Under 20's records with a throw
of 43.22. Peter Tucker completed a hat trick of victories winning the 3000
metres to follow wins in the 5,000 and mile.
Jennie Butler won the women's 3,000 in a new best of
10.16.6; Steve Cooper took his 5th successive 800 metre title; and Michael
Champion regained his 200 metre title timing 22.3.
The Club's girls finished another good 5th in the latest
Young Athletes League match at Haringey and are 5th overall in the League. With
a number of athletes unavailable the team worked hard for their points. Rebecca
Taylor continued her systematic revision of the Club Under 13's middle distance
records. Having already annexed the 800 and 1,000 records this year she slashed
over 16 seconds off the 1200 metre best to win in 4.01.9 before claiming a
fourth place in the B long jump.
In the A string debut girl Amara Tait was a revelation
winning with a mighty 4.21 leap. Others to impress included Chloe Shaw and
Rachel Stokes who timed 11.1 and 11.2 in the 80 metres and Ellie Wolf and Hannah
Shomade who gained 2nd and 1st in the high jump. Harriet Robinson had another
busy but successful day in the under 17's age group. She equalled her best of
11.9 in the 80 hurdles and timed 46.5 for the 300 hurdles. Likewise Sandra
Alaneme scored vital points in the high jump, long jump and shot putt.
Venita Akpofure continued her return to form with a 12.9
100 metres while Anita Oliver and Clare Silvester made a valuable contribution
in the throws.
The boys finished 3rd in their match at Tonbridge. Amir
Williamson had an outstanding day setting three new bests of 46.30 in the
hammer, 34.20 in the discus and 34.09 in the javelin. Sprinter Dwayne Bovell
stood in in the shot and produced an excellent putt of 11.23 and Max Richardson
marked his debut for the team with a 3rd in the 800.
In the under 15s there were throws wins for Stuart Harvey
(javelin) and Alistair Williamson (hammer) and James Dennett threw a useful
21.78 in the B hammer. Scott Huggins cleared 2 metres in the pole vault for the
first time and there were promising middle distance performances from David
Fenlon, who was 2nd in the 3,000 in 10.16.1, and from James Paule, who was 1st
in the 1500 in 4.37.2.
25 June 2002
Athletes from Blackheath Harriers, Bromley excelled at the
Kent Under 13 Championhips at Norman Park with the girls particularly impressive
setting three new Club Records and equalling another. Shaunagh Brown's shot putt
of 9.57 improved her Record by over half a metre setting a new Championship
Record in the process. She then bettered her Club discus record as well with a
throw of 24.20. The previous records had survived just a week.
Emily Godley came within four centimetres of a
Championship record as she won the long jump with a leap of 4.72 adding 26
centimetres to the Club Record. Serita Solomon had a busy but successful
afternoon. She started with a win in the 70 metre hurdles in 12.1 and then after
heats and semi finals equalled the Club 100 metre record winning in 13.4. She
then claimed silver in the 200 in 28.9 and, with another heat and semi here, it
meant she had raced seven times in a day.
Second in the 200 was Sophie Robinson in 29.7 adding to
the bronze she won in the javelin behind Emma Mason's silver. Rebecca Taylor won
the 800 metres by nearly the length of the straight in 2.24.6 with Rachel Stokes
battling down the straight for second place.
For the boys James Alaka showed impressive form to win the
100 metres in 13.0 and there were silvers for Edward Martin (800) and Richard Al
Ameen (shot). Sam Simpson gained bronze also in the 800.
Many of these athletes have joined Blackheath via the
Club's coaching programme. The current initiative is sponsored by Nike and
Sportsmatch and allows the Club to sponsor the Bromley Primary Schools Cross
Country and Athletics Championships. Coaching is provided for 9 and 10 year olds
at Norman Park on Wednesday evenings with the aim to introduce the various
disciplines in a fun environment. The Club also provides free coaching in
curriculum time in 12 schools in the Borough.
The Club lie fourth in the Southern Premier Division of
the National Junior League after a fifth place in the second match at Eton. The
top four teams progress to the National Final in September with two matches
still remaining. Best performances came in the throws where Karim Chester
finished 2nd in the hammer; set a new best of 40.47 in the discus and putt the
shot a useful 12.41. He was ably back by Trevenan Walther-Symons who gained 2nd
in the hammer and shot and Alex Pope who was 2nd in the B string javelin, his
37.84 being the same distance as A string Robin Shelley.
Guillaume Rulens made a welcome return to competititon
with a 1.75 clearance in the high jump supported by Junior League debutant Will
Edet who enjoyed a successful afternoon scoring valuable points also in the 110
hurdles and as part of the 3rd placed 4x100 metre relay team.
On the track Dwayne Bovell set a new best of 11.1 in the
100 metres and Ian Allerton followed a equal best of 22.9 in the 200 with a
fastest ever relay split of 49.1 in the 4x400. Tom Robinson took 2nd in the B
string 400 hurdles and 5th in the A 110 hurdles despite missing the whole of
winter training through injury.
Many of the Clubs youngsters had been in action the
previous weeekend in the County School Championships. Highlight of the Kents at
Ashford was a new Club Record of 54.27 for Stuart Harvey in the Junior Boy's
javelin, the furthest by an athlete in the country this year. Alistair Tawanaee
continues to progress setting a new Championship best performance of 46.70 in
the hammer. In the Intermediate Boys competition there were wins for Dwayne
Bovell (100), Andrew Johnson (100 hurdles) and Amir Williamson (hammer).
For the girls there was a win in the long jump for Sandra
Alaneme with 5.25 and silvers for Anita Oliver in the discus and Clare Silvester
in the javelin. In the Juniors there were 3rd places for Catherine Drozd (100),
Joanne Wood (75 hurdles) and Sarah Wiffen (high jump).
At the London Schools at Battersea, Harriet Robinson
improved her best in the intermediate 80 metre hurdles to win in 11.9 and
Victoria Akpofure continued her return to fitness with 2nd in the 100. Dominic
Parsons maintained his outstanding season with a win in the Junior Boys 400 in
54.7 and Adai Monerville was a promising 2nd in the 100 in 11.8.
At the British Milers Club Meeting at Solihull, Southern
Champion Michael Skinner finished a good 2nd in the 1500 in 3.47.28 while super
veteran Bill Foster was 5th in the B 5,000 in 15.01.43.
The Club also enjoyed success at the Orpington Road
Runners 10km at Darrick Wood School. Peter Tucker, fresh from winning the Kent
Track 10km Championships at Erith the previous Wednesday, won the race with
Cliff Keene 3rd and John Hoy 4th.
18 June 2002
Mensah Elliott put the disappointment of two recent
disqualifications behind him to gain one of the two automatic selection places
for the England team for the Commonwealth Games. Competing in the Aqua Pura
Trials in Manchester he finished second in the 110 hurdles by the narrowest of
margins. Damian Greaves of Newham won the race but only one hundredth of a
second separated the next three runners.
At first it appeared that the Blackheath Harriers, Bromley
athlete may not have got second but close scrutiny of the photofinish showed he
had taken the runners up spot with the same time 0f 13.95 as third placed
Dominic Girdler of Belgrave.
One of the surprise packages of the Trials was Mark
Awanah. Facing three athletes who have jumped further than 8 metres he soared
out to a new best of 7.70 in the long jump to take an unexpected third place.
Most competitive event of the weekend was the 100 metres
where Daniel Plummer and Dwayne Grant both made the final and lined up against
the likes of Dwain Chambers, Mark Lewis Francis, Darren Campbell and Jason
Gardener. Plummer timed 10.48 for 6th, just one place behind Campbell while
Grant was 8th in 10.58.
Grant did even better the following day finishing 4th in
the 200 metres in 20.82. Nange Ursell and Mohammed Sillah Freckleton ran well in
the heats of the 400 hurdles and 110 hurdles but did not progress to the finals.
Similarly Michael Skinner went out in the heats of the
1500 while Dave Taylor was 7th in the 10,000. All these athletes bar Taylor have
progressed to Senior level via through the Club's age group teams and judging by
some of the performances at the latest Kent Women's League match at Norman Park
this looks set to continue.
Four new Club Records were set with the most notable
coming from Rebecca Taylor. Her time of 3.07.5 in the under 13's 1,000 metres
improving Gemma Viney's previous best by nearly five seconds, was a new League
record; and puts her in 4th place on the United Kingdom All Time List.
Shaunagh Brown set new records with wins in the under 13's
shot and discus with 8.90 and 22.04; and Clare Silvester broke the under 17's
javelin record with 30.08, her first time over 30 metres. Harriet Robinson
produced an outstanding leap of 5.30 in the under 17's long jump; and she also
won both the 100 and 300 hurdles races. Serita Solomon was equally impressive in
winning the under 13's 70 metre hurdles while Emily Godley won the long jump
with 4.30. These performances helped the Club achieve their first win in the
League Division One this season since their promotion last year.
Many of these athletes have joined Blackheath via the
Club's coaching programme. The current initiative is sponsored by Nike and
Sportsmatch and allows the Club to sponsor the Bromley Primary Schools Cross
Country and Athletics Championships. Coaching is provided for 9 and 10 year olds
at Norman Park on Wednesday evenings with the aim to introduce the various
disciplines in a fun environment. The Club also provides free coaching in
curriculum time in 12 schools in the Borough. For further details of the Club's
Coaching Initiative contact Dave Liston on 01322 663504.
11 June 2002
Halfway through the Southern League Division Two season,
Blackheath Harriers, Bromley women are challenging for one of the five promotion
places to Division One after a narrow victory in their latest match at Norman
Park.
Having been promoted last year, their victory in the
toughest match of the day leaves them in 6th place with an strong chance of
going up and stay on target to achieve the goal of a place in the National
League. They defeated Belgrave, third in the National Jubilee Cup Final last
year, plus Chelmsford and Portsmouth who were above them in the League before
the start of the meeting, and, as an added bonus, another three new Club Records
were set.
First to fall was the Junior Hammer record as Emily Oliver
added over three and a half metres to her previous best to record 41.60, an
English Schools qualifying performance. Rebecca Taylor followed, improving her
own Under 13's 800 metre record to 2.22.3, a time faster than anyone in the
country last year.
The scores were close the whole afternoon and with the
positions still undecided with just a handful of events left the relay squads
responded in the best possible way. Keighley Douglas battled down the home
straight to snatch victory for the Under 15 girls 4x100 team before the Senior
quartet of Katy Porter, Katy Benneworth, Sandra Alaneme and Sam Singer smashed
the Club Record with a time of 48.7.
Meanwhile the throws team of Victoria Thomas and Florence
Clark were scoring maximum points in the under 15's discus and the match victory
was secured. With a wealth of good performances it took some agonising to decide
on the Athlete Of The Match awards but these eventually went to Nina Akif for
her wins in the under 15's 75 metre hurdles and long jump, and to Emily Oliver
for her performance in the Senior Hammer.
Others to impress included Sam Singer, whose 56.4 time in
the 400 was a season's best; Anita Oliver, who amazed herself and the crowd with
a 35.05 throw in the discus; Katy Porter and Katy Benneworth who amassed
numerous points in a diverse range of events; and Florence Clark with a hat
trick of victories in the B string throws for the under 15's.
The Men's B team were equally successful in their Division
Two match at the same venue, with a victory that moves them up to third place.
Athlete of the Match here went to Steve Harrrison who returned from a four year
injury lay off to win the javelin with a throw of 63.54. He also won the shot
with 68 year old Gordon Hickey second in the B competition and there was a
double win in the pole vault from Simon Tolson and Tom Robinson.
On the track wins abounded with Southern 1500 metre
champion Michael Skinner moving down in distance to lead the 800 metres from gun
to tape. Steve Cooper took the B race in similar style and Andrew Rayner and
Terry Hawkey battled down the home straight to both record 4.01.4 and gain
maximum points in the 1500.
Jeremy Bradley kicked away on the last lap to win the
5,000 metres; and team managers Richard Holt and Mark Purser led by example
scoring maximum points in both hurdles races as well as filling in some gaps in
the field events.
There was disappointment, however, for Lash Lashore who
injured his foot at the start of the 100. He finished the race in pain in 2nd
place. Had he pulled up, the loss of the four points he scored would have left
the Club in 2nd place at the end of the afternoon.
Down at Brighton the C team were in action in their
Division Four match. After wins in the opening two fixtures they had to settle
for a third place which leaves them in 4th place in the table. Amir Williamson
was nominated for the Athlete of the Match award for his wins in the hammer and
javelin and a third place in the discus, while Nigel Keogh and Paul Byfield
competed in 17 events between them filling in where injury deprived the squad of
first choice athletes.
There was another team win for the Club in the Kent Boys
And Colts League at Norman Park on Sunday. The Club won the under 15's
competition and were second in the under 13's to give them overall victory.
Dominic Parsons timed an outstanding 53.2 to win the 400 metres in the under
15's match as well as taking the 200 metres and anchoring the 4x400 metre team
to victory. In the field Stuart Harvey continued his unbeaten run in the javelin
throwing 48.96. For the under 13's Sam Simpson had a gutsy win in the 800
metres.
Abroad Dwayne Grant warmed up for this weekends
Commonwealth Games Trials with a win in the 200 metres at the Gouden Spike
meeting in Leiden, Netherlands. His time was 21.04 and leaves the first year
senior in confident mood to take on the Nations top sprinters in Manchester. He
will be joined there by fellow under 23 international Daniel Plummer and the two
were in relay action last week at the Bedford International Games. They were
part of a Great Britain Under 23 4x100 team that included Mark Lewis Francis
which timed 39.30 for second place behind the Great Britain senior team. Mensah
Elliott finished second in the 110 hurdles in 13.87 to put the memory of two
recent disqualifications behind him.
5 June 2002
Blackheath Harriers, Bromley athletes experienced a
mixture of highs and lows at the South Of England Championships at Watford.
Three golds were won but this could have been four except for another
controversial disqualification in the 110 hurdles for captain Mensah Elliott.
Daniel Plummer became the third Blackheath athlete in
three successive years to win a Southern sprint title as he won the 100 metres
in 10.7, the windy conditions preventing a faster time. Last years 200 metre
champion Julian Golding and 2000 100 metre champion Jonathan Barbour did not
take part but former Southern Indoor 60 metre champion Lash Lashore continued
his return to competition reaching the semi final timing 10.7.
Also on the comeback trail was Michael Skinner who has
been out of action for five months with an achilles injury. He made a quick
return to winning form annexing the 1500 metres title by over a second.
Samantha Singer timed 56.52 for 7th place in the 400
metres. Nange Ursell was well beaten in the 400 hurdles by over a second but he
was delighted with his time of 52.2. It was a personal best by over half a
second despite the blustery conditions and his first Southern senior medal.
The Club should have been celebrating its second hurdle
medal but Mensah Elliott was again controversially disqualified in the 110
hurdles for "deliberately" knocking over hurdles. Elliott was going
for his 4th successive title and was left bewildered by the decision. Officials
also disqualified second placer Neil Owen of Belgrave and Dwaine Stoddart of
Windsor which so angered fellow hurdlers and coaches that the three
"medallists" refused to be presented with their medals in protest at
the judges' verdict. The rule states that athletes who deliberately knock down
hurdles with a hand or foot should be disqualified. Elliott cleared the first
six before knocking the last four but was adamant that this was not deliberate.
Commenting on Elliott's disqualification at the Inter
Counties at Bedford the previous week Athletics Weekly stated that a video
showed him "to have struck the barriers with the hamstring of his lead leg,
in a style reminiscent of Allen Johnson. It could have done nothing other than
slow him down." Elliott feels that the only way that the current
controversy can be resolved is by a "clearer definition of what does and
does not constitute hurdling."
Away from the arguments on the track Victoria Thomas made
a major breakthrough in the under 15's discus. She improved her best to 30.39 to
win her first Southern title and break the Club record by nearly two metres.
A second Club Record fell at the Young Athletes League for
Girls match at Norwich as Sandra Alaneme again revised her under 17's shot
record, putting 9.79. This was the Club's first match back in the Southern
Premier Division and 6th place was an encouraging position against the top 8
teams in the South Of England. Also in the under 17's age group Harriet Robinson
set new bests of 12.0 and 46.7 in the 80 hurdles and 300 hurdles; Clare
Silvester took 2nd in the javelin with 29.06; Venita Akpofure picked up some
useful points in the sprints; and Anita Oliver had B string victories in both
the shot and javelin.
In the absence of Victoria Thomas, Florence Clark was
promoted to the A string discus and responded with a new best of 24.41 for 4th
place. The under 13s had an outstanding afternoon which began with Rebecca
Taylor winning the 800 metres by around 70 metres. More wins followed from
Serita Solomon, equalling her own Club Record of 10.4 in the 75 metres to add to
a victory in the 70 metre hurdles; Emily Godley leaping 4.24 in the long jump;
and Sophie Robinson making a winning debut in the 70 metre hurdles.
The Boys finished in second place in their match at
Deangate. Good sprint performances came from Adai Monerville and Dwayne Lennon
in the under 15's age group ensuring maximum points. Current UK number one
Stuart Harvey had his customary win in the javelin and Alex Al Ameen made a
promising debut in the pole vault clearing 1.60.
