Last updated
19 August 2018
The Southern Athletics League Div
1 (M&F
- Senior, U20 &
U17)
Results for 2018
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All you need
to know is at the
SAL website |
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18 August 2018 - Southern
Athletics League - Eton
19-08-18 |
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14 July 2018 - Southern
Athletics League - Colchester
16-07-18 |
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23 June 2018 - Southern
Athletics League - Norman Park
26-06-18 |
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20 May 2018 - Southern
Athletics League - Batersea Park |
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14 April 2018
- Southern Athletics League - Norman Park
15-04-18 |
18 August 2018 - Southern
Athletics League - Eton
Southern Athletics League Match 5 Report
Provisional Results
1.
BBHAC 226
2. Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow 215
3. Bracknell 195
4. Marshall Milton Keynes 153
Our final match of the season was, on paper, probably the
hardest of the season as we had the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 10th placed teams in a 16
club league meeting with WSE pushing really hard to chase us in second place.
We arrived at Eton (one of my favourite tracks for some
strange reason) to find our coach access to the carpark barred. Maybe this was
the WSE secret weapon prevent us from competing!
With this sorted out the athletes started to focus on what
really mattered, a day of great athletics!
The team was robbed of a number of athletes to the Diamond
League in Birmingham with team stalwarts either competing (in my dreams!) or
spectating. However, such is the strength in depth that this was an opportunity
for others to show what they can do.
The early events also involved a number of last minute
changes as that massive carpark also known as the M25 delayed a couple of
athletes from one of their events. The team spirit is such that when others were
asked to step in at the last moment to cover there was no question, only when is
it!
It’s hard to call out everyone on the day but a few of the
highlights for me were:
• Niamh
for an outstanding 800, 1500, 3000 treble. After spending her afternoon
doing that I was asked why she hadn’t been asked to compete in the 4 x
400 as well!
• James for an outstanding series of throws in the javelin, won with a
throw of 75.27m, 30m further than the second placed athlete
• Kelechi for yet another 2.05m high jump – real consistency now
• Alex “points” Pope who kept himself busy all afternoon
• The men’s 1500m where the B string beat the A and the non-scoring
athlete was in the mix all through the race as well
• A return to competition for Josh in the triple jump after missing
almost a year due to illness and injury – welcome back!
• The standard of the women’s sprints where Rachel, Louise, Holly and
Krystal were mixing it with some of the best in the country
• Ellie and Lois in the pole vault – totally dominant!
• Zoe for her first half heptathlon in a SAL
• The blanket finish in the men’s 4 x 100 where we clocked 42.76 for our
fastest time in the SAL this year
• Last and definitely not least an outstanding piece of front running
from Morgan in the women’s 2000 steeplechase where she finished in a
time of 7:02.17. This puts her top of the 2018 U17 rankings by 35
seconds, 9th in the all-time U17 rankings, would rank her top 5 in the
U20 rankings and top 20 in the UK this year.
Sorry if I haven’t mentioned you by name as I appreciate the
reason why we won the match was because of the contribution you all made so
thank you!
As the season draws to a close I wanted to thank a few
people:
• All
of you athletes who have competed throughout the season. Whilst we don’t
know where we finished it will be at worst second in the league. A
testimony to the talent and commitment of all of you.
• All of the officials who have attended matches. They contribute 10
points each match and have been fantastic throughout the whole season.
• The coaches who work with the athletes and who come along on the day
to support you
• The club for arranging coaches for two of our away matches. Doing this
contributed massively to the team spirit you have developed
• The banter boys who contributed to a bit of fun on their way to Eton,
Heathrow, Colchester, Chelmsford or wherever it was they were headed
• Parents, supporters and anyone else I have forgotten.
Thank you
and see you next season!
Nick Swatton
14 July 2018 - Southern
Athletics League - Colchester
Photos here...
Provisional result
1. Colchester & Tendring 241
2. Blackheath & Bromley 240
3. Bedford & County 141
4. Dartford Harriers 131
The penultimate SAL match of the season tool place in baking
heat at the Garrison Track in Colchester. On a typical British summer’s day
(i.e. the M25 was closed) we arrived to find little shelter from the sun and
only one Dartford Harrier. Not being sure whether this was the only athlete they
had we soon discovered most of their team were held up in the massive traffic
jam that was forming so agreed that the match could start 30 minutes late.
Not only this but we also found that the sand pits hadn’t been watered and the
ground staff didn’t work on Saturdays and hadn’t left the key to the cupboard
that contained the blocks.
Our coach ride to the venue was made more fun for the team manager when a number
of athletes who shall remain nameless (although we all know one of them as Aim
Tyres) decided to tell everyone they were on their way to Windsor. After being
picked up from the floor he realised that he had been “had” and managed to focus
on the day ahead.
The team sprit on the day was amazing. We had a number of enforced changes
during the match due to illness, injury on the day and car breakdowns and it was
fantastic the way in which everyone else was prepared to step up and help fill
the gaps. The highlight for me on the day was Donelle volunteering to do a 5000m
and steeple chase double to make sure we won every single point available. The
mission to stay ahead of the athlete in the green vest was accomplished with the
rest of the team cheering on the athletes in the black vests.
Once again there were too many great performances to call out both on the track
and field but I wanted to say a massive thank you to every single athlete and
official who contributed to the day.
We had one of those days where we won a lot of events with Colchester just
behind us in second place. In the events they won we were generally 3rd or 4th
so we were never able to pull away from them in the overall match score so all
was very tight until the last events of the afternoon.
The final relays were really exciting with the mission being simple – beat
Colchester. This was highlighted with Shamar running an outstanding leg in the 4
x 400. His 50.2 split suggests he’s likely to be asked to do this again.
The official results aren’t available yet (and I will be making sure that the
numbers tally!) but every single athlete gave their all.
Many thanks to all of you for a great day – here’s looking forward to the final
match at Eton (according to Tim this is near Colchester) on August 18.
Nick Swatton
Photos from Rachel Yeldham
23 June 2018 - Southern
Athletics League - Norman Park
Photos start here...
Southern Athletics League match 3, June 23 at Norman Park
Final Result:
1. BBHAC 233
2. City of Norwich 210
3. Southampton 168
4. Nene Valley 154
We went into the third match of the season knowing we were up
against City of Norwich, unbeaten in the SAL so far this season, fellow BAL
Division 1 team, Southampton AC and last years’ SAL champions, Nene Valley
Harriers so knew we would have to be at the top of our game to maintain our
strong start to the season. To come away with a win, as we did, is a tribute to
all of the athletes, coaches, officials and supporters who have worked so hard
to get us ready for the season.
On the day, we had great conditions, sunny but not too warm,
hardly any wind and no rain. As in previous matches we had worked really hard to
get a blend of younger athletes, experience and commitment. Whilst we had a
number of later withdrawals due to injury we were always in with a good chance
of doing well.
We started the match strongly in the 400mh events with good
points being scored and a theme emerging which continued throughout the day –
the team manager making calls on scoring/non-scoring athletes and consistently
getting it wrong!!!! Oh well, who’d be a team manager anyway!
Throughout the day, we scored well with a number of great
performances, too many to call them all out. Special mention must go to
“evergreen” Richard Holt who ran strongly to make the UK rankings for the 400mh
for, in his words “too many years to mention”.
Once again, the women field eventers were outstanding,
particularly in the throws and every athlete stepped up and performed at their
best. The hammer was a really strong event with four athletes throwing over 42
metres and three over 48 metres, Victoria being beaten into 3rd place by only
1cm.
A huge thank you to Hannah, Eloise, Carys, Victoria who made
a huge contribution to our final points tally.
In the men’s throws a combination of Luc, Alex, James and
Kieran all scored well to continue to build on the foundations already laid.
James started his season well after being hampered by injury by throwing over
72m in the javelin whilst Alex continued where he left off in the last BAL by
scoring well in every event he competed in.
In the vertical jumps Kelechi and Lewis competed well with
Kelechi being close to 2.00m yet again (it will come!) whilst Allan scored well
in the PV maintaining his position as one of the best Masters pole-vaulters in
the UK. Thank you also to Pat, Dylan, Callum, Kyron and Alex (again) for the
contributions they all made.
On the track there were highlights galore. Thank you to Tim
for stepping up to run the chase. It was rumoured that Vinco were going to come
down to film this but they realised the park gates are locked at 22:00 and
weren’t sure they’d be able to get out before he finished. Joking aside, a
massive thank you to Tim for filling the gap.
In the sprints we consistently scored well. The highlight
races for me were the women’s 400m where Krystal and Rachel ran outstanding
races and were a whisker apart as the cross the line way ahead of the field, an
extremely mature run from Jess in the 1500 (ably supported by Bethany) where she
ran from gun to tape in a determined fashion to blow away the rest of the field,
the women’s 100mh where Isabella stormed away to finish two flights ahead of the
second placed athlete followed closely by Ella and Holly who chased each other
down the straight.
In the men’s events we had Tremayne and Duane dominating in
the short sprints and a blanket finish in the 800 were both Ollie and Matthew
ran new PBs.
There too many other great individual track performances to
mention everyone so a massive thank you to all who competed.
The final events on the track were the relays where we won
all four. Last minute juggling due to injury in the men’s relays resulted in a
great win with Callum, Tremayne, Rico and Duane storming round to edge us
further ahead of Norwich.
In the women’s 4 x 100 Zsariah, Magda, Katia and Isabella ran
extremely well to finish 3 seconds ahead of Southampton with slick changes at
every handover.
In the men’s 4 x 400 late injury withdrawals saw Henry make
his debut over the one lap event but the team of Henry, Adam, Kyron and Ollie
raced well to seal the win.
Last but no means least was the women’s 4 x 400m relay where
Krystal, Holly, Megan and Rachel were simply outstanding. We are lucky to have a
group of such talented 400m runners at the moment and we were hoping that they
would be able to break the club record of 3:44.5 which had stood since 1987,
before any of the quartet was born.
Conditions were perfect. Each of the athletes had warmed up
well with wins in their individual events. There was a sense of quiet
anticipation as they were called together to start the race. Krystal ran leg one
and ran a controlled leg to come in way ahead of the second placed athlete and,
importantly inside the split time we were hoping for. Holly went next. What a
run from a first year U17 athlete to pull us further ahead and, again to get us
even further ahead of schedule handing over to Megan who continued in the same
vein. As the baton was handed over to Rachel it was looking possible. The last
leg was another lesson in high class 400m running, controlled aggression and
grace as she powered down the home straight to cross the line in an amazing time
of 3:42.29, more than a second inside the existing record and 25 seconds ahead
of 2nd place Norwich.
Congratulations to each of them and their coaches, Roy and
Jay – a great way to finish the match!
Here’s looking forward to the next one on July 14 in Colchester. Please let me
know if you’re available to compete in this one.
Nick Swatton
Photos from Jay Galley
14 April 2018
- Southern Athletics League - Norman Park
Final Result
BBHAC 253
Crawley AC 201
Thames Valley Harriers 142
Reading 122
The sun shone on a great team performance as a youthful Blackheath & Bromley
team closed out a comprehensive victory in the first SAL of the season. The
match started in a positive fashion on the track with 3 first places and a
second in the 400mh and closed with a fantastic league record in the women's 4 x
400 with Louise, Megan, Rachel and Maya taking 3 seconds off the record set in
2011.
There were so many outstanding performances throughout the day so I will let you
all look on the SAL website to see who did what but would particularly like to
call out a number of outstanding performances:
Carlotta, Amy and Donelle in the women's 3,000 for a 1,2,3 - amazed that none of
the other clubs entered athletes but you can only beat who's there
Oscar and the evergreen Richard in the 400mh where Oscar ran ever closer to the
European U18 qualifying time and Richard showed just what experience can bring
to the event
The women's sprint squad who won every single event from 100 - 400m, the sprint
hurdles and both relays - the quality of their performances was amazing and
culminated in a great season opening time of 4.56 in the 4 x 100 and a fantastic
league record in the 4 x 400 in a time of 3:49.05
Tim Ayres for convincing those around him to get him out of some of the events
he was selected to compete in
Pedro for yet another PB in the pole vault and three extremely close attempts at
the club record - it'll come this season
Morgan for an outstanding debut in the 2000 s/c which was just outside the club
record.
The women throwers where you all competed fantastically well and finished first
or second in every single event they competed in including a senior debut for
Daisy in the javelin with a fantastic personal best
All 4 men's relay teams for strong performances, particularly the 4 x 100 team
who ran close to going under 43 seconds even though they eased up over the final
30 metres.
All of our middle distance runners (most of the U20 or younger) who showed the
other clubs that we won't be a push over for many years to come
The team spirit shown by every single athlete as they cheered and supported
their fellow athletes in all of the disciplines. Although athletics is very much
an individual sport you were all fantastic in the support you gave each other to
compete at this level.
The officials and ground staff for all of their hard work. Without them we
wouldn't be able to have the league so a huge thank you for your hard work.
Apologies if I haven't called you out specifically but I would like to thank
every single athlete for their performance today - a great way to start the
season.
Nick Swatton, SAL Team Manager
Photos from Jay Galley
