No.668 / Vol.127 Reports & News Summer 2017

Dina Asher-Smith overcoming injury to make her mark at the World Championships 2017 A Club well worth backing From the Editor Thanks to our sponsors: Here is the summer 2017 issue, coming a few Biggin Hill Airport months late but not so late that the events Jack Petchey Foundation described continue to be of interest and topi- So Clean cality to the club as a whole. Chief of all is of and to many other generous course the events of the World Championships individuals who offered backing in London capturing some of the euphoria and assistance. of the 2012 Olympics. Dina Asher-Smith and Adam Gemili are of course feted here and although I did not attend the championships I have tried to record the tragedies and eventual triumphs of both of them. CONTENTS This summer we have seen the passing of Alan Brent, close on 3 The World Championships that of Brenda, so slowly the patriarchs of the club are no longer 6 The Mens 4x100 Metres with us. Also no longer with us is Hannah Cordell, perhaps the epitome of dedication and service to the club, and who perhaps Relay Final took on from Brenda Brent, the mantle of the club’s leading lady. Athletics Reports Meanwhile there are other developments ahead. Prime amongst 7 Senior Men AL these is the proposed and many hope anticipated move to Norman 10 Vets SCVAR Park, which at the time covered by this issue had seen some 11 Senior Women UKWAL positive development, although discretion dictates that the finer details of these cannot be disclosed whilst nothing is certain even 13 Southern Athletic League though there have been new proposals from architects and devel- 15 YDL Final opers, for a variety of estimates, and for projects which could be 17 European Cup Brno profitable in the long run. 19 Under 17 YDL Also of interest to readers is a possible change in the format of 20 Girls Under 13/15 this magazine with a new organisational structure and greater 21 Under 13 UKDL emphasis on IT. If so then in the due course of time I shall con- 24 UKYDL National Finals sider handing over the editorship of this magazine, and make way 26 U13 Boys for a new format. But for the time being I shall continue as editor certainly up to the forthcoming 150th anniversary year. 28 Parris Handicap Before signing off I wish to offer grateful thanks to the following Obituaries for willingly providing articles for this issue: 29 Hannah Cordell 31 Allan Brent PP Pat Calnan, Paul Austridge VP, Brendan McShane VP, Karen Desborough VP, PP Tim Souter, PP Dick Griffin, Rod Harrington, Club News John Wakeman VP, David Appleton VP, PP Mike Martineau, Hugh 33 The Club Integration Stanbury, Maz Turner VP, John Turner VP 34 Club Officials The next issue covering the Winter 2017/18 is now in preparation and the deadline for submission of reports is August 2018. Athletics Report 3

The World Championships, London 2017… Gold and silver linings from clouds of injury team for the London World A lot can happen in five Championships hanging by a years. In 2012 at the London thread. This was made tougher Olympics there was no British by the competition he faced for women’s sprint relay team but a selection, from such rivals as new generation of sprinters both Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake who female and male were beginning came first in the trials in 20.18 to make a mark at junior level, seconds – and second-placed ready to step forward and up to finisher Danny Talbot both of the higher levels of competition. whom secured automatic selec- Such were Desiree Henry and tion as well as Zharnel Hughes, Dinah Asher-Smith who were who was hampered by a tight present in London in 2012, in hamstring and finished fourth. other capacities than as athletes. Despite giving it his best shot In 2012 Adam Gemili had Gemili, was grasping his right Dina Asher Smith, agonisingly been considering a professional thigh after clocking 20.97sec, close to a medal in the 200m but soccer career but had now made his slowest time in four years. winning one in the relays. his initial steps towards an “I’m not fit and where I need to realistic hopes and expectations international athletic career. be” he admitted. “I ran 20.97sec but, in February, during her They would be the forerun- and that’s nowhere near my last training session before the ners in a new generation now standard.” Müller Indoor Grand Prix meet- emerging which might see British Only one 200m berth remained ing in Birmingham she landed Athletics gain a supremacy on open to be chosen at the selec- awkwardly on her foot and the world stage. Nonetheless for tors’ discretion. and to focus on fractured it. She looked unlikely the two foremost Blackheath the 200m, Gemili acknowledged to make these championships athletes of this new generation, he needed to be sure of near given their proximity and was 2017 would see challenges and fitness, if he got selected, whilst unable to run on anything other obstacles which they would need sodjouning at the team’s holding than grass. By June she was only to face and overcome before the camp. He admitted that missing just back jogging. material success could be fully out was harder to take because realised. Although she had acquired he believed the 200m – without the distinction of becoming superstar Usain Bolt (focusing the fastest British woman of The Agony on the 100m on his sprint swan- all time over 100m and 200m, In a year after he came within song) was wide open and could Asher-Smith was a shadow of a whisker of Olympic bronze see all three Britons challenging her former self as she made her for the podium positions. having finished just three-thou- seasonal debut at the British sandths of a second off the However he hoped his fans Trials in the 100 metres, trailing 200m podium, a hamstring would remember what he was in sixth place behind winner injury meant that Adam Gemili really capable of and that at Asha Philip and her time of major championships he always was unable to book his London 11.53 seconds was her slowest in performed well “I’m so pleased three years. By failing to finish 2017 place at the British Trials I have the opportunity to com- for the World Championships in in the top two, Asher-Smith, pete in London and to showcase 21, missed out on automatic July trailing in sixth. my talent in front of the world selection for the World Cham- Adam Gemili admitted he and I’m going for it.” pionships which meant she had had no choice but to “pray for Meanwhile for Dina Ash- to gain selection through the selection” after this injury left er-Smith the world champi- discretionary third spot in the his hopes of making the British onships year had begun with team. 4

Continued

Despite this she insisted that her Championships pass and for me Moreover, in the final the GB London dream was still possible not to be on the team.” team held on to beat the USA five months after breaking her But her determination that this team and win the gold medal in foot and having a metal pin would not be allowed to happen a new UK and European record. inserted.“ Everyone had said meant she was able to convince Adam ran brilliantly as did the that she not going to be able the selectors and so gain selec- rest of the team to give the GB to run at all in 2017, but said tion for the 200 metres, and the team its first sprint relay gold at Asher-Smith, “I just thought I 4x100 metre relay quartet; and these championships completing couldn’t let that happen because in the men’s squad Gemili, was the race in 37.47 seconds. It was it is the World Championships. selected to be part of Britain’s something like redemption for I know the times were not good 4x100m relay squad at the cham- him after he missed out on an and the races were rusty, but I pionships. He said: “I put in an individual place in the 200m really don’t mind. When you appeal and just asked for slightly following his hamstring injury. have a really big injury it puts more time to prove my fitness”. His bitter disappointment at everything into perspective.” Britain’s selectors made the being denied sufficient time to Now she was engaged in the decision after the trials despite prove his fitness gave way to the agonising process of rehabili- giving themselves a deadline of kind of unbridled joy unique tation. She had hoped that the July 24 before confirming the to triumphant sportsmen and path London was going to run team. Gemili would be in the women. smoothly. But “ it was very hit relay race but not in the individ- After facing the prospect of and miss. Everything in my re- ual event. missing out on this the latest hab programme had to go exact- major championship Gemili ly to plan. We didn’t have a week The Ecstasy could walk tall like a man or two weeks to mess about and Encouraged by the depth of destined for even greater get it wrong and have to re-ad- talent in the squad Gemili achievements in track athletics. just.” It was a very intense year remarked that “We have a He can say things like “I never for her especially with pressure great chance of the gold in the self-doubt, I always believe in of exams and graduating from relays We’ve never had an era of my ability and if I’m fit I can university and one delay might sprinters in this country running try and run with the best in lead to another. so quickly. “It’s just making the world” without sounding With Philip, who ran 11.21sec, sure we get it round on the day. remotely arrogant. and second-place finisher We’ve had a lot of heroic near In the Championships having Daryll Neita now guaranteed misses so hopefully it’s time for run a season’s best to get their places in the British team, a successful one.” through the final Asher Smith Asher-Smith was given another Despite his setbacks the cloud came agonizingly close to a three weeks to improve her form threatening his chances of medal in the women’s 200 me- and prove her fitness before selection did have a silver lining, ters final , finishing fourth in a the final selections are made. or in this case a gold lining as race dominated by Dafne Schip- It was not a good time to have Adam was to run the second leg pers of the Netherlands who recorded her slowest time of in the 4 x100m relay for the GB retained her world title, leaving 11.53 seconds but she believed team in those championships. Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory she could go so much faster with Qualifying was taken so serious- Coast to settle for a marginal some training in her. Having ly given the GBs track record silver. She knocked another half come off grass she couldn’t fin- in recent years in poor baton a second off her semi-final time ish her sprint sessions because exchange that they put the stron- as the Nethlerlands’ Schippers of the pain in her foot…”.I was gest team out in qualifying and held off Marie-Josee Ta Lou for so scared, as you can imagine. the final and like the ladies team gold with Shaunee Miller-Uibo I could not let a home World ran superbly in both rounds. coming through for bronze. Athletics Report 5

at the IAAF Challenge meeting In the fullness of time in Berlin. In a further triumph In battling against adversity she signed off the season, both Adam Gemili and Dina winning over 150m at the Great Asher Smith, the foremost North City Games on the 8th athletes of the present era in the September 2018. club’s history, and already an Looking back on that heroic established presence in British Carys Marsden about to part performance in the 200 metres athletics, have shown admirable company with her discus (see report Dina reflected “To run 22.2 is qualities of determination and maturity beyond their years. In YDL final page 16). faster than I ran last season and deed it was observed that Dina Dina missed out on that bronze close to my PB so I am over the had experienced an education medal by 7/100ths of second moon. We’ve have had a lot of about herself and discovered to an athlete who should have fourth places (her finish was the reserves of strength and energy won the 400m (Miller-Uibo), fifth fourth place Great Britain she didn’t quite know she pos- with Dina running 22.22 for have taken at these champion- sessed. They have already had 4th place and her third best ships) but they’ve come from their experience of success and time ever. It was a classic case young people who will be at distinction in major champi- of what might have happened many championships to come.” onships at the senior level, as had Dina been injury free all This comment is most prescient well as facing disappointments, season. Yet this performance especially when considering the threatening injuries and such was outstanding whether Dina performance of another hopeful tests of character that are the had been injured or not and Blackheath Athlete, who has refining fire which prove what will have given her a great sense perhaps been overshadowed by true gold and genuine value both of achievement and hope the accomplishments of Dina really are. Competing in a sport where many careers are cut short for the future. or Adam. Whilst not possessing as high a profile as the leading by injury, or fail to realize early Any disappointment was short- players, Lorraine Ugen finished promise with no guarantee of lived as Dina ran the third leg of 11th in the Long jump following success even for the best and the 4 x 100m relay in both the a hamstring and missing the most committed of athletes, they qualifying rounds and the final Olympics in Rio, finished 11th know what the odds really are. where the team recorded fantas- in the Long Jump following Yet they have been prepared to tic times and more importantly a hamstring injury. Ugen is dedicate themselves to whatever in the final ran the US team confident she can end her search goals they feel they can accom- plish whether that success may close and won silver medals. for an outdoor medal ; even if come sooner or later. So it would be hard to describe it means breaking the seven any individual result such as meters barrier. As with heroes of recent decades coming fourth in the 200 metres such as Linford Christie and “I’m going out there trying to finals as a disappointment, and Dame Kelly Holmes, the best get a medal,” said Ugen, 25, who Asher-Smith was delighted to may yet be to come and if it was the only Briton to make it means a slow steady ascent rescue something from a season through a rain-lashed qualifying that appeared wrecked. towards that ultimate summit round with a jump of 6.65m. “I they will regard every experience But from here she would go want to battle for the medals, whether in terms of winning from strength to strength. After but I now need to hone in. medals or testing times as part London her season concluded ….“There’s no way I get on the of the maturing process the end on a high during which she podium if I don’t jump seven product of which will stand the continued to turn out stellar meters. If that’s my ambition, test of time. performances such as her 200m it has to be that.” Clearly she is victory over Marie-Josée Ta Lou one to notice for the future. Wilfred Orton 6 Athletics Report

Adam’s Golden leg(end)

his head he needs to dismiss even clearer but the race is still Adam Gemili selected for the sec- such thoughts and focus on the open with America were not far ond leg of the relay, played a vital next 100 metres for no more behind in second place while role in setting up what would be than 9 seconds. third-placed Jamaica had Usain a famous victory for the British He sees Adam coming in to him Bolt, competing on a track in sprint quartet. But in training it and from where he waits arm a global championships for the has been revealed that there were out to receive the baton Adam very last time. GB have a great still some technical difficulties seems to be flying, the momen- break when Bolt breaks down with changeover of the baton, tum hurtling him forward with with injury. It offers a very athletes colliding with each other, such force that Talbot fears he’s realistic chance of victory now old fears from previous eras. Yet going to run straight into the to the British quartet. the quartet selected for this the back of him if he doesn’t get out 4x100 metres had worked hard Mitchell-Blake drives on down and could now run as one. They of the way. the home straight and over the had got to the final, could they At the changeovers he must line. The British team clock reach the golden heights? keep his head when all around 37.47, a European record. They in the stands, and throughout have put in the practice, they’ve trained, they’ve sacrificed. They The gun goes off and CJ Ujah the world people watching on know it would have to be per- takes a fraction of a second to TV, are losing theirs. Now he get off the mark and put the GB has to find a level of concen- fect but in the end it was perfect. team in pole position. However tration that will enable him to It is the first relay win for a Brit- will he make a smooth change- pick out just one voice above ish team since 2004 and veter- over with Adam Gemili? After all others, the voice he must ans of that triumph are saluting the first leg from Ujah the first hear. All his senses have been them and recognising what they handover, from him to Gem- finely tuned to do just that and have done. This is a new dawn ili, is smooth, the baton being the voice which he hears is for British sprinters. They have passed into the hands of a man that of the incoming runner, the achievement but they have whose anger at being overlooked whose voice is the only one that youth on their side, too, and un- for individual selection at those matters, and now that voice, the doubted potential. Whatever the championships has completely voice of Adam Gemili shouts future brings, however, CJ Ujah, galvanised his determination. “hand”, and his recipient’s Adam Gemili, Danny Talbot Fresh and running with a point hand is there, the baton firmly and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake to prove, Gemili’s acceleration grasped and into that hand. will always have London. along the back straight suggests By the time the baton reaches that something special is about Mitchell-Blake, Britain’s lead is Hugh Stanbury to unfold. This isn’t lost on the anchor runner Nethaneel Mitch- ell-Blake, either. For he knows that Adam is a big competition athlete and as is watching him start to come past the Japanese. Mitchell-Blake starts to think with growing certainty , this is going to come down to himself. Meanwhile Danny Talbot waits for the next change. Though all sorts of different outcomes and scenarios start going through The gold medal winning GB relay quartet….the first of many? Athletics Report 7

The Senior Men… British Athletic League 2017 Camron Lyttle (sprints), Jordan tour guide giving his definitive A frustrating season perhaps? Layne (400), Adam Herring perspective on the South Wales Frustration more often comes (4x400), Pedro Gleadall (pole towns. Port Talbot came in for from gaining great results with- vault) and Luc Durant (shot). particular abuse, did he lose in out the satisfaction of a tangible Scott Huggins had an impres- love here in his distant past? We reward and there was much to sive win in the pole vault and tried to keep him humoured be encouraged by, together with a we surprised ourselves with vic- and hoped the refreshments slow improvement from the team tory in the 4x100. It was great to stall would be open the next day year by year, which made one feel have Louis Mascarenhas back or we’d never hear the end of it. that the Senior Men would gain in action after missing all of last After recent terrorist attacks, that coveted promotion to the season. every station we stopped at in top flight which they justifiably Thanks to Dave Cordell for Wales was patrolled by armed would have merited. But it bringing the tent along. police, and, when we arrived at was not to be. Blackheath and our Premier Inn, the reception- Bromley have in the past had Final Result: ist informed us that sniffer dogs to re-locate when circumstances 1. Cardiff 318, 2. Swansea 316, had been through the premises demanded it. Maybe in the light 3. Harrow 291, 4. Blackheath & earlier in the week and that of what eventually happened this Bromley 283, 5=. Sale Harriers we had 24 police officers in season the club needs to re-locate 265, 5=.Windsor Slough Eton & residence. to Wales! Hounslow 265, 7=. Basingstoke Pat Calnan reports… This was a tricky fixture for us & Mid Hants 208, 7=. City Of and we had gaps to fill. Team Glasgow 208. spirit was good, however, and Match One, Basingstoke the train journey had given us 6th May. Match Two, Swansea the opportunity to address most Fourth in the first match wasn’t 3rd June. of the issues. One of these was really one thing or the other. Flashback to January and I’m not just who would compete in We weren’t far off third place wondering why there seems to the vault but would we be able but well adrift of the two Welsh be no accommodation available to find a pole for them to use. clubs. We were the second best for a Friday night in Swansea. We finished in 5th place scored team in the field events two In fact there doesn’t seem to be more points than we did in the points behind Cardiff, but the any in South Wales at all. Ah, first fixture where we came fifth best on the track. the Champions League Final is 4th. It was a great result partly Obvious highlight of the day taking place in Cardiff on the because we achieved this with was James Whiteaker’s perfor- Saturday. This could be a prob- a number of people missing but mance in the javelin. He won lem, but as the football clubs get more importantly everyone who with a distance off 77.03. This knocked out, the accommoda- was there made it happen. All was a qualifying performance tion opens up. Arsenal are dis- events were filled, and athletes for the Commonwealth Games patched 10-2 by Bayern Munich achieved personal bests, seasons though did not guarantee and we’re in business. bests and bonded as a team. selection. It broke Peter Yates We welcomed a number of the Dan Putnam set a personal best Senior Club record which had new athletes to the team, Ross to win the 200 metres, having stood for thirty years and was Braden, Tim Ayres, Kieran been pipped in the 100 by a of course a Club Junior record Murphy and youngster Lewis hundredth of a second. Our as well. Mills. Fortunately we had old best event was the triple jump This was James first appearance crusty Ken Daniel in our party. where Jonathan Ilori took the for the team and there were He was able to pass on his expe- A string with 15.11 and Rob some more fine debuts too from rience and also act as unofficial Sutherland made it maximum 8

Continued

The most local athlete was Richard Webb who is at Cardiff University. He managed to break through the security around the Champions League final to get down to do the steeplechase and picked up a useful 5th place. Finally there was Alex Pope. He reckons he has now done 55 League matches for the Club. I don’t doubt it. He remains invaluable. Sausages went down like oysters at breakfast, together with an One of many performances at Bedford which earned Blackheath third place. EU cereal mountain. He needed it as he set seasons best in the points in the B string. There was Jordan Layne ran a great 400 to shot, discus and pole vault. also a personal best from Ross finish 2nd in the A string with Braden in the 5000 on his debut. Shaun Cooke 4th in the B and It was a routine trip home and The other debutants also did Adam Herring travelled all the sitting on the train at London well. Tim Ayres brought all the way from Norwich to Swansea Bridge at 10.07 with one stop enthusiasm which he shows at to run a leg of the relay. He also to go to Orpington, I reflected Southern League matches com- travelled on the tube for the on a weekend that had run peting in the high jump, pole smoothly, a good team perfor- vault, 400 hurdles, 3000 chase first time! and the 5000. Kieran scored a Tom French travelled from mance that kept us well clear of good 4th place in the A string Brighton on the day for his first the relegation and still in with a hammer, not far off a personal competition of the season and shout of promotion. Get home best; and Lewis ran a solid 1500 was rewarded with a 7.16 leap. and on to the computer to see in blustery conditions to also This saw him gain 2nd place if any results are up on the finish just outside his best. with Mark Cryer winning the internet and find that a terrorist Two other under 20s also made B string. Unfortunately Mark’s attack had started at London impressive contributions. Cam- achilles was causing him pain Bridge at 10.08… ron Lyttle gained two second but he still threw the discus places in the B string sprints; before having to withdraw from The Match Result and and Luc Durant gained another the days proceedings. Mark was League Table: fine third place in the A string 1. Swansea Harriers 337.0, 2. shot. supposed to be running the 110 hurdles so we moved the ever- Harrow AC 317.0, 3. Cardiff James Habergham hasn’t missed green Richard Holt up to the A AAC 297.0, 4. Sale Harriers a fixture since he joined as an 295.5, 5. Blackheath & Bromley HCA and he made another big string and the ever reliable Lew- H & AC 286.0, 6. Glasgow City contribution by running both is Ely to the B string. Richard the 800 and 1500 plus a strong had earlier run a seasons best in AC 222.0, 7. Windsor Slough leg in the 4x400. The other the 400 hurdles and Lewis had Eton & Hounslow AC 208.0, 8. members of the relay quartet are finished equal third in the high Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC also relatively new to the squad. jump with 1.93. 202.5 Athletics Report 9

Campbell all added to our haul. Match Four, Manchester. Table After Two Matches: We also had the most number 20th August. 1. Swansea Harriers 15.0 (653), In the end it didn’t happen. We 2. Cardiff AAC 14.0 (615), of grade one performances from Dan Putnam (twice), finished in 6th place in the final 3. Harrow AC 13.0 (608), 4. match which left us 5th overall. Blackheath & Bromley H & Camron Lyttle, Dean Hylton, Phil Sesemann, Tom French, With a number of people AC 9.0 (569), 5. Sale Harriers missing with injuries and others 8.5 (560.5), 6. Windsor Slough Scott Huggins, Matt Blandford (twice), Jonathan Ilori, Rob ill or unavailable this was not Eton & Hounslow AC5.5 (473), a surprise. What was a bit of a 7. Glasgow City AC 4.5 (430), 8. Sutherland. Coleman Corry, Peter Guy and Reece Young surprise was that the two teams Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC who came up got promoted 2.5 (410.5). all made good debuts. It was a great team effort. But for a again. I can’t remember that couple of weak events we would happening before and they were Match Three, Bedford. have been higher still. In the both Welsh! 15th July. hammer and javelin we scored Although we didn’t have a lot And so we came to the Big 12 points in total. Cardiff of athletes we did have a lot of Day Out with all five divi- scored 52 and Sale 46. quality. Pleasingly there were sions competing at one venue. personal bests for Rob Suther- Bedford was chosen because, Our score of 318 points was the highest we have scored in land (long jump) and Luc Du- not only does it have an outdoor rant (shot), Adam Herring ran throws circle, it has an outdoor this division since 2000, the last time we were promoted to the his fastest outdoor electric time javelin runway. So with an early and James Habergham ran his start technically the field events top division. No one who had scored that number of points in fastest 4x400 split. What have could run to time. Neither it they got in common? They all nor the track did so for various a match had not finished in the top two in the last 10 years. did all four matches this season reasons. I suspect that those in as did the ever dependable Lew- Final match score. 1. Sale. 354, favour of the concept took lots is Ely and Dan Putnam. There 2. Cardiff. 328.5, 3. Blackheath of positives from the day while was also a pb for Ross Braden & Bromley 318, 4. Windsor those who were sceptical about in the 5000, his third middle Slough Eton & Hounslow 281. its viability could take lots of distance pb in three matches. negatives away. I’m with the 5. Harrow 259, 6. Swansea 227, former, and the AGM voted for 7. Glasgow 216.5, 8. Bas- Everyone did well with Dan another one in 2018. ingstoke 183. Putnam gaining two second places in the sprints and Our day could not have started confirming himself as our top better as, not only did Phil Table After Three Matches: 1. Cardiff 21. (943.5), 2. Swan- points scorer this year. Phil Ses- Sesemann win the 3000 metres, emann and Will Fuller doubled he did so with a League Record. sea 18 (880), 3. Harrow 17 (867), 4. Sale 16.5 (914.5), 5. Black- up in the middle distance with To add to the celebrations Ross Will running the 5000 just 25 Barden set a pb in the B string. heath & Bromley 15 (887), 6. Windsor 10.5 (754), 7. Glasgow minutes after the 1500. Both We had the most number of A had actually run the previous string wins as Phil Sesemann 6.5 (646.5), 8. Basingstoke 3.5 (593.5) day at the BMC meeting at again in the 1500, Dan Putnam Stretford (where Will improved (200), Jonathan Ilori (triple So unless Cardiff had a com- his best to 3.45 in the 1500 and jump), Scott Huggins (pole plete disaster at the final match, was fastest Briton). So too did vault), Matt Blandford (shot) they would be promoted. Us or James Habergham before racing and the 4x100 quartet of Dan one of three other clubs would the 800, 400 and 4x400. Putnam, Dean Hylton, Camron go up with them. Lyttle and Shamar Thomas 10 Athletics Report

Continued

Others had done the Southern 200 on his debut for the team. Eton & Hounslow 14.5 (1031), Athletics League at Norman It’s one of those things. He will 7. Glasgow City 8.5 (819.5), 8. Park the day before. Despite be back. Basingstoke 4.5 (730.5) having been injured and short We are steadily getting better. of training Louis Mascarenhas We have been in this division Thanks to all those who con- won the shot and discus at for the last four years and our tributed to the success of the Bromley, then went to his record is 2014. 3rd 18 League team in 2017, whether as an ath- grandma’s 86th birthday party points. (1019.5 match points), lete, coach, official or supporter. before driving to Manchester. 2015. 6th. 14 (1044.5), 2016. The teams in our division in Likewise Kieran Murphy, Steve 3rd. 17 (1086), 2017. 5th. 18 2018 will be Blackheath & Timmins and Adam Herring. (1125). So year on year we have Bromley, City Of Liverpool, Reece Young was just outside a scored more match points. Harrow, Herne Hill Harriers, pb as he came third in the 110 Kingston & Polytechnic, Sale, hurdles and Shamar Thomas Final Table: Southampton, Windsor. Campbell was 3rd in the B 100 1. Cardiff 29. (1306.5), 2. as well as running two great Swansea 24. (1171), 3. Sale 23.5 Pat Calnan relay legs. There was disap- (1268.5), 4. Harrow 22 (1150), pointment for Matthew Knight 5. Blackheath & Bromley 18 as he pulled up injured in the (1125), 6. Windsor, Slough,

SCVAC Track Competition 2017 Kent League

It was a successful season Bailey, Paul Kerekgyarto, Mark Miller, Lindsay Alger. We for the men who dominated Ellison, Adrian Stocks, Bob fielded between 5 and 8 athletes the division 2 competition to Minting, Alan Camp. There in the 6 matches. finish first and be promoted to were 6 matches and we fielded Thanks must go to all our division 1. There were 19 com- between 7 and 10 athletes. dedicated team members who petitors in total which included The women’s season was not were willing and prepared to 2 60+ athletes, Ken Daniel & what we had hoped for. We fin- step in where necessary. Hope- Peter Hamilton who came to ished 4th out of 6 teams. Many fully for the next season we some matches as reserves. Ken of our athletes were missing due can have more athletes at each & Peter ran as guests in 800m to illness, injury, hip replace- match (preferably 10) which at Gillingham and Peter also ment and family commitments. would ensure that all events guested 3000m at Erith and There were 12 competitors in are covered without some team 1500m at Dartford. The other all who were (again in order of members having to compete in competitors were (in order of appearance), Louisa Vallins, 4 plus events. appearance) Luca Ercolani, Sara Elmqvist, Sarah Belaon, Stephen James, Alex Gibbins, Jen Neal, Jackie Montgomery, Maz and John Turner Gareth Evans, Steve Timmins, Maz Turner, Anne Cilia, Helen Team Managers Paul Stack, Tim Nash, Rob Godsell, Tamsin Culmer-Gue- Brown, Richard Coe, Clem vara, Jane Bradshaw, Maureen Leon, Reynaldo Guevara, Jesse Athletics Report 11 UKWAL 2017 Review

Match 1 - Birmingham Unfortunately at this level you a shining light and our only 6th May 2017 cannot afford to give away winner on the day. However Due to there only being three points. With no athletes at all in there were good performances matches in the season, it’s the 800m, 1500m, 2000m Stee- from Annie Davies in 3rd and always important to get off to a plechase, 3000m, Pole Vault Isabella Hilditch 2nd in the good start. and only one in the 400m hur- 100m hurdles, Anna Short dles, our depleted team did well taking 2nd place in the B string Thanks to past President Bill to finish in 7th of the 8 teams. triple jump, and Rebecca Haw- Foster, we’d acquired two new In fact that was the one conso- kins 4th and Deborah Martin middle distance athletes in lation as I honestly thought that 2nd in the high jump strings, Carolyn Johnson and Jo Hick- we would finish last! both very close to the winning man-Dunne. Carolyn was first heights. claiming for Loughborough, As far as the actual match was but she’s now joined us first concerned, Holly Mills winning claim! the long jump in 6.18m was What this meant was that for the first time, we had a great Match 1 Result: pool of middle distance athletes 1. Thames Valley Harriers 234.5 –8pts able to compete for us in the 2. Edinburgh AC 217.0 –7pts UKWAL. Sadly the reality was 3. Birchfield Harriers 216.0 –6pts that due to injuries and illness, we didn’t have one single mid- 4. Windsor, Slough E&H 179.0 –5pts dle distance athlete available 5. Swansea Harriers 167.0 –4pts for our first match. In addition 6. Shaftesbury Barnet 157.0 –3pts to this there were other gaps in the team as well. 7. Blackheath & Bromley 126.5 –2pts 8. Woodford Green EL 112.0 –1pt

Match 2 - Eton This made our task consider- 13.95 and Modupe Shokunbi 3rd June 2017 ably difficult. finishing 2nd in the B-string Following the match in Bir- Notable performance on the 100m (12.16). Caroline Ford mingham, I was confident that track were as follows: ran well to finish 3rd in we would finish in a higher the A-string of a fast 800m Isabella Hilditch winning the position. Whilst we didn’t have (2:08.02). B-string 100mH in a time of a full complement of middle distance athletes, we did have both strings in the 800m cov- Match 2 Result: ered as well as a single athlete 1. Birchfield Harriers 218.5 –8pts in the 3000m and 2000m 2. Thames Valley Harriers 211.5 –7pts steeple-chase. 3. Edinburgh AC 204.0 –6pts Unfortunately for us, the other clubs were equally able to put 4. Windsor, Slough E&H 201.0 –5pts out stronger teams. So our girls 5. Shaftesbury Barnet 165.5 –4pts were competing against Megan 6. Swansea Harriers 152.5 –3pts Beesley, Zoey Clark, Jade Lally 7. Blackheath & Bromley 145.0 –2pts and Morgan Lake to name a few! 8. Woodford Green EL 129.0 –1pt 12 Athletics Report

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As far as the field was con- finished 2nd in the A and of 1.70m. Debbie Martin won cerned: Chioma Mathews came B-strings respectively in the the B-String with 1.65m first in the Triple Jump A-string Long jump. Rebecca Hawkins Despite our best efforts, we fin- (13.00m) while Zara Asante found herself competing with ished in 7th place again. Again came second in the B-string Olympian high-jumper Morgan we were undone by gaps in our (12.16m). Holly Mills (6.02m) Lake and so did well to finish team as well as the quality of and Sarah Abrams (5.54m) 3rd in the A-string with a jump the other teams.

Match 3 - Norman Park Wins were hard to come by as bella Hilditch having won the 16th July 2017 many clubs were able to field England Schools the previous Going into the final match of their international athletes, but weekend ran well with 14.00 in the season, we knew exactly strong performances across the the 100m hurdles but found the what we had to do. board meant that B&B were competition far tougher than well placed in most events. last week To avoid relegation we had With athletes like Jess Keene, to beat either Shaftesbury or Our girls showed what a differ- Niamh Bridson Hubbard and ence it can make having a full Swansea by 4 points. On the Caroline Johnson coming back basis that we only had 4 points complement of fit athletes and to compete as well as Divine, filling places in every event by from our first 2 matches this we had far greater cover on the was a near impossible task. finishing a fantastic third place. events this time. Katy Ann Mc- This was an incredible result In order for us to achieve the Donald continued her return and all credit to all the athletes near impossible, we had to fill to full fitness in the A string who competed. every single event. One person, 800m while Caroline Ford took who I had been nagging all sea- out the B string event strongly So the season has ended and son to compete for us was Di- and only just got pipped at the we finished 6th overall which vine Oladipo. Understandably end but ran a massive new pb means we retained our league she had the excuse of studying of 2.06.48. status. in the U.S. which is why she Rebecca Hawkins won the high Thanks to all the athletes who couldn’t do the first 2 matches. jump with Deborah Martin 2nd competed throughout the sea- However she very kindly agreed in the B string, good 2nd places son and thanks to our physio to compete for us the day for Zara Asante and Chioma Grace Shepherd for providing before she was due to fly out to Matthews in the triple jump, much needed support to our represent the GB Juniors - This Viv Olatunji 2nd in the B string athletes. added much needed support to 100m in 12.15, and Sam Milner our throwers. 2nd in the B string discus. Isa- Brendan McShane

Match 3 Result: League Position: 1. Thames Valley Harriers 234.0 –8pts 1. Thames Valley Harriers 680.0 –23pts 2. Birchfield Harriers 226.0 –7pts 2. Birchfield Harriers 660.5 –21pts 3. Blackheath & Bromley 176.0 –6pts 3. Edinburgh AC 588.5 –17pts 4. Windsor, Slough E&H 171.0 –5pts 4. Windsor, Slough E&H 551.0 –15pts 5. Edinburgh AC 167.5 –4pts 5. Swansea Harriers 483.0 –10pts 6. Swansea Harriers 163.5 –3pts 6. Blackheath & Bromley 447.5 –10pts 7. Shaftesbury Barnet 149.0 –2pts 7. Shaftesbury Barnet 471.5 –9pts 8. Woodford Green EL 142.0 –1pt 8. Woodford Green EL 383.0 –3pts Athletics Report 13 Ladies Southern Athletic League Summer 2017

B string 200m in a pb of 25.24. Bracknell 21st May: It was argued last summer while Danielle Critchley won A good away performance from that we have one of the best the 800m, Yasmin Austridge our Ladies in the second match Senior Women’s track and field the 1500m and Kate Curran at Bracknell. Magda Cienciala teams in the country with a won the 3000m by almost 45 won the B 100m, Megan Walsh huge resevoir of talent coming seconds. the A string 200m Danielle up through the juniors below. Other great performances came Critchley the 800m, and Anni And this season presented a real from Immanuela Aliu winning Davies the 100mh and Triple opportunity to excel, the team a string 100m, and 200m the Jump double. There were also having been promoted back to latter in a new pb of 24.39, wins for Tabitha Lisciotto in the the top flight last year. Even Anastasia Davies in the 100h High Jump, Sophia Harper B so, as Tim Soutar observed and A string triple jump; Anna sting in the Triple Jump, Anna then, much work was needed on Short won the A string Long Barnett B string in the Discus, fielding stronger teams to ensure Jump in an impressive 5.55m, and Victoria Wiltshire in the A that the return to the elite would and there was a great contri- string of the Hammer Throw be a lasting one. Well, let’s bution from Shaunagh Brown with 44.60. Well done to Millie say that those concerns would winning the A string Shot Put, Smith in winning the 1500sc be answered in the course of a Discus Throw, Hammer Throw, and setting a PB of 5.21.71. highly promising season filled and the B string Javelin Throw. Carys Marsden turned out with outstanding performances several commendable perfor- Over the barriers Annie Davies and wins and even when the mances winning B string of the and Mark Cryer both won the hopes of fielding strong teams Hammer Throw, finishing 2nd sprint hurdles, while Millie were in doubt at times, the depth in the A string DiscusThrow, Smith won ladies 2000m stee- and versatility of the squad 3rd in the Javeline, and 4th in plechase events by a big margin, ensured that it was still able to the Shot Putt. win events and points to keep while the ladies team won both relays. Match Scores: up amongst the elite clubs in the Bracknell 217; In the field events Ellie Barrett country. Such performances were B&B 196; and Jackie Montgomery won delivered by an ever maturing Southampton 183; the high Jump and Pole Vault in and experienced collection of Herts Phoenix 168. highly talented and versatile the ladies event, and Anna short athletes as was observed and won both the ladies long jump commented on by John Wake- events. In the throwing event man in this his last season as events Eloise Locke threw a team manager. new pb of 37.14 in the A strong javelin for 2nd place. Norman Park 15th April: With One match down and 4 to This was a great start to the go and with the final match at season for Blackheath & Bromley also, BBHAC now sits Bromley Ladies at Norman top of the league after beating Park, winning 28 of the 36 some good teams in Colchester, events including both relays. Belgrave and Thames Valley. The outstanding performance Match Scores: of the day came from Maya B&B 274; Burney winning the 400m in Colchester 200; 54.74 , getting the woman of Belgrave 166; the match award. Elsewhere on Thames Valley 124. the track Megan Walsh won the 14 Athletics Report

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Chelmsford 17th June: McLinden won the 100m and Match Scores: This was the most pleasing 200m respectively, Nene Valley 244; team performance for me as In the field Nicole Farmer won B&B 222; team manager, with so many the triple jump with a new pb Crawley 157; of our Ladies filling in other of 11.03m and Sophia Harper Dartford 147. events. It was a depleted team won the B string, Sam Milner but one with with a great team and Carys Marsden both won Norman Park 19th August: spirit that performed admirably the discus strings with Sam In the final meeting of this at Chelmsford to secure 2nd also winning the B string shot. season the ladies turned in a place on 204 points behind the Grace Scopes ran a new pb in solid team performance would home sides 213 points in a very the 1500m with 5.29.9 see BBHAC finish 2nd in the close fought match. This was a fantastic team effort, league out of 16 teams. They With key athletes missing the which is what the Southern duly obliged winning the match there was much doubling Athletic League is all about meeting with 221.5 points from and tripling up as others Bedford on 206 points. Match Scores: covered diverse events. so that Chelmsford 213; In the ladies A string events lady distance runners were also B&B 204; there were wins for Immanuela high jumping, which made Milton Keynes 196; Aliu in the 200m, Krystal Gal- it an entertaining afternoon. Woking 174. ley in the 400m, Jess Keene the Lady pole vaulters were also 1500m, Isabella Hilditch in the running the steeplechase to 100m hurdles, Zara Asante both secure much needed points Crawley 8th July: the long jump and triple jump such ladies being Elise Swatton Another great team effort from and Sam Milner the discus. and Sonia Woolhouse. Danielle our Ladies and a very enjoyable day. Wins from Yimika Alle- There were notable B string Chritchley won the 800m, also wins for Jess Keene won the won the B 200m, was 2nd in wakum in the 200a, and 400 A, Lily Tappenen winning B 800 800m, Niamh Bridson Hubbard the A string 400m, and ran a the 1500m, Emma Rowland leg in winning the 4x400. Grace and 1500, Danielle Chritch- ley the 200m in 26.5, Niamh the 3000m , Parris Johnson the Scopes doubled in the 400, and 100m, Jamiyla Robinson-Pascal 1500m, Lily Tappenden did the Bridson Hubbard in the 1500m A, and Amy Leach winning the triple jump and Carys Mars- 800m, the 1500m, and both den the discus. these girls ran the 4x400. Sonia B 5000m. Well done to Ruby Woolhouse in addition to the Woolfe making her debut for Match Scores: Pole Vault did the 100mh, and the club and taking the 5000m B&B 221.5; 2000sc and Elise Swatton also a string. Much thanks was due Bedford 206; doubled in the barrier event to to Ellie Barrett winning the Basingstoke 166.5; (we do breed our pole vaulters Pole Vault , then stepping into Harrow 40. tough!) Sarah McClellan did the the 100mh, and running a leg in Good luck to Nick Swatton who 400mh, 100mh, the Javelin and the 4x100 m, and Elise Swatton takes over as Mens and Ladies thr 4x400 metres. Well done winning the B string Pole Vault manager for next summer. Sarah as always. With Becky and again covering the 1500sc. McLinden and Sarah McClellan A great effort from Carys Mars- John Wakeman winning both 400m hurdles den doing all the throws which races and the ladies winning was a great effort, and again to both relays it was a great day Sarah McClellan in the 400mh, on the track. Sophie Keller did 100mh , Javelin and both relays, the 3000m and High Jump. an inspiring team member. Modupe Shokunbi and Becky Athletics Report 15 YDL FINAL 2017 Our Junior Women Lead the Way Again

We arrive back in Birming- miserable! So we need to get off and Kelsi Cornish is another ham – its previous year’s sink to a good start to lift the spirits. winner in the U17B string. It’s hole problems now apparently Javelin hasn’t traditionally been then another U20 double, this resolved - for this year’s Final one of our stronger events, but time in the 100, from Immanu- following a season in which today the girls punch history on ela Aliu and Modupe Shokunbi. our dominance in the Southern the nose and, making light of A late illness withdrawal affects Premiership has been unprec- the weather and the sub-stan- the U17 event, but Funminiyi edented: every match won by a dard outside throwing area, steps in at short notice and just significant margin (an astonish- Bekah Walton, Eloise Locke misses out on another medal. ing 150 points at Norman Park), and Daisy Dowling come away such that we’d already qualified with two golds and a silver Getting well into stride for the Final before the last between them. (Yes, they will Meanwhile, over in the pole of the four matches. But the get medals: despite the YDL vault, our girls are coping better relevant data represents only the Management decision not to than most with the conditions: combined men’s and women’s provide any, as an ill-judged Sophie Dowson (experiencing scores. While we can, therefore, cost-saving measure, the clubs the meteorological challenges approach the day with a degree have come together to fund and she will, sadly, also have to face of confidence that we’re in supply replacements themselves. in Brno) takes the U20A, with good shape to retain our overall And thanks should be recorded Shaye Emmett completing the National title, the gender specif- here to Dave Cordell and his U20 double, and Ellie Barrett ic competitions to qualify for support team for ensuring all sets a pb to take silver in the Europe are much closer than were delivered appropriately.) U17. The triple jumpers don’t let one might otherwise expect: Next up, it’s the long jump. us down either: Annie Davies, the men know they can’t take Although this sees a rare defeat still battling with the foot injury anything for granted in the case for Commonwealth Youths she’s had all season, finishes of SBH and, closer inspection Games champion, Holly 2nd in the U20A, Nicole Farm- of the season’s results shows Mills, whose calf, after a long er wins the U20B and Karina that, as Windsor’s U17 men summer, doesn’t take well to the Harris takes silver in the U17. have been so weak and despite conditions, great jumping from In the U20 400, it’s the same the vast points differences, their Jamiyla Robinson-Pascal and U20 result: Megan Walsh with women had actually been on a Funminiyi Olajide produces a silver and Belinda Clark win- par with us in the last couple similar medal haul as achieved ning the B. Natasha Bennett, of matches. We have a fight on in the javelin. who has also had injury issues, our hands. Just as well, then, just misses out on a medal in that we have an almost full Back on track in the track the 300. The day is passing strength team, with only one or events quickly, but we’re now well into two last minute absences. But The first track events, the long our stride and the points are it’s the absence of our long-term hurdles, don’t go so well, but racking up. To demonstrate timekeeper and supporter, Kate Purser, with a pb (on a day that nothing is ever predictable, Hanna Cordell, that affects us when they’re as rare as hen’s we come a little unstuck in the the most. teeth), grabs a very good 2nd hammer, with a couple of below in the U20 B string. However, par performances in the U20s, Punching history on the nose we’re soon back on track with though Yinka Shokunbi sets a with javelins the 1500: Katy-Ann McDonald pb, leaving her just outside the And, it’s a miserable, grey day at is an impressive winner of the medals in the U17 event. the Alexander Stadium, which, U20A, matched by Niamh Brid- as we know of yore, despite its son-Hubbard in the B, Sophie Keeping up the pace facilities, can do a very good Hoare takes bronze in the U17A Moving on, the sprint hurdles 16 Athletics Report

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see us dominate the U20 Carys Marsden in the U20A and When SBH are announced as event with wins for both Issie Hannah Macaulay in the U17, as finishing 2nd, the celebrations Hilditch and Annie Davies and well as a win for Anna Barnett begin, but in moderation, as the the 3000m produces the same in the U20B. And so, also, to best of our season still awaits us result for Jess Keene and Nia- the last track event before the in the Czech Republic. mh, while, in the U17 race, El- relays, the steeplechase. We Thanks, as usual, to everyone loise O’Shaughnessy is clipped have (or rather don’t have) miss- who helped our season be the early on and takes a tumble, ing athletes in this event, but success it has been. hitting her head on the kerb, but Jess Keene and Lily Tappenden YDL Squad 2017: Mary Adeniji, re-joins the fray to finish a gutsy step in with medal winning Antonia Alapafuja, Immanuela 4th as Madalina Samoila takes performances (silver and gold in Aliu, Genni Allan, Yasmin the bronze in the B string. In the U20A and U17 B, respec- Austridge, Zoe Austridge, Anna the meantime, over in the high tively). Yasmin Austridge adds Barnett, Ellie Barrett,Natasha jump, Funminiyi records anoth- another gold in the U20B and Bennett,Isabelle Bridge, Niamh er win, with Alice Prentice joint Millie Smith finishes a good 4th in the U17 A race. Bridson Hubbard, Mhairi first in the B string. In the shot, Brooks, Maya Bruney, Katia Hannah Macaulay, competing The rest of the meeting is all Cienciala, Magda Cienciala, in the U20 event in preparation about GTBR. Which we do Belinda Clark, Kelsi Cornish, for Brno, finishes in 4th place, in contrasting fashions in the Annie Davies, Daisy Dowl- as does Eloise Locke in the 4x100: the U20 team (Annie, ing, Sophie Dowson, Shaye U17, but pride of place goes Parris, Modupe and Maya Emmett, Lauren Farley, Nicole to Lauren Farley with a win in Bruney) win with ease, while Farmer, Stephanie Fisher, the B string. Two fourth places the U17s (Mhairi Brooks, Katia Grace Fullerton, Kareena also follow in the U17 200, for Cienciala, Sophia Harper and Galley, Grace Goddard, Sophia Natasha Bennett and Grace Funminiyi) have a changeover Harper, Karina Harris, Isabella Fullerton, but we win U20 silver malfunction but rescue the Hilditch, Sophie Hoare, Lizzie and gold thanks to Immanuela situation and make the finish. Ibdunni, Parris Johnson, Jess and Parris Johnson. The 4x400 squad of Belinda, Keene, Amy Leach, Tabitha Lis- Katy-Ann, Issie and Megan ciotto, Eloise Locke, Hannah Don’t Count the Chickens Yet warm up for Europe with an MacAulay, Katy-Ann McDon- It’s around this stage in the af- emphatic victory and the 4x300 ald, Yasmin Marghini,, Carys ternoon that the Windsor team girls (Natasha, Karina, Grace Marsden, Zoe Martial, Holly manager acknowledges defeat, Goddard and Alice) bring down Mills, Funminiyi Olajide, Anika but we’re still not counting the curtain with a solid 4th Olalere, Isio Orogun, Toyin chickens, even though we do place. Our day is done and all Orelaja, Eloise O’Shaughnessy, have a strong finish lined up, we can do now is wait for the Alice Prentice, Kate Purser, if only because it’s never over results. Jamiyla Robinson-Pascal, Kami- until it’s over. Katy-Ann, with yla Robinson-Pascal, Madalina another dominant performance The Title Regained Samoila, Grace Scopes, Imogen (different tactics, same result) The overall team positions are Sears, Jessica Sellar, Modupe breezes the U20 800, winning the first to be announced. It’s Shokunbi, Yinka Shokunbi, by more than 10 seconds, and is not remotely close: we win by Millie Smith, Elise Swatton, supported by Nicole Toft with 167 points from Shaftesbury Lily Tappenden, Nicole Toft, 3rd in the B string. Sophie and Barnet. And we’ve also regained Megan Walsh, Bekah Walton, Kelsi add two more bronze our Women’s National title, so Lottie Weitzel, Victoria Wilt- medals in the U17 race. This it will be Europe again for us shire, Katie Woolcott. brings us to the last field event, in 2018. But we still have the the discus, and silver medals for countdown to the men’s result. Tim Soutar Athletics Report 17 Back in Brno: Déjà vu All Over Again

conditions. Triple Jump came Isolated in lane 8, she never- The Blackheath & Bromley next and Annie Davies, who theless ran a measured race to Junior Women returned to has struggled with a nagging secure 3rd. Brno in the Czech Republic foot injury all season, produced So, no wins yet, but a series in mid-September intent on a SB in round one, just shy of of fine performances saw us improving upon their 3rd place 12m, to take the lead, which she leading the other teams after result the last time the Europe- held until the end of round 3. 9 events. That lead improved an Champion Clubs Cup was Annoyingly, two more athletes further with Euro Junior 200m held there in 2013. squeezed past her in the final Champion, Maya Bruney, secur- round of 4 (European field ing our first win, in the 400m. rules applying) and she ended But then we stumbled. Our pre- The trip out to Vienna was up just outside the medals. As largely uneventful - only one mier long jumper, Holly Mills, light rain continued to fall, hoping to defend her title from passport was misplaced between attention moved to the High 2016, had picked up a suspected immigration and the plane at Jump. Rebecca Hawkins, calf tear in the YDL Finals and Gatwick (always good to get wrapped in a blanket when not the team manager’s adrenalin actually jumping, literally took had been, in her own words, flowing early) – as was the it all in her stride and gained ‘gutted’ not to be able to make coach journey on to Brno, apart a fine 2nd place behind a very the trip. With Funminiyi Olajide from the increasingly poor accomplished Danish jumper. just too young to be eligible, weather the nearer we got to Meanwhile, Hannah Macaulay, Jamiyla Robinson-Pascal stepped our destination. The evening’s a first year U17 and youngest in in at late notice. But, having entertainment consisted of a trip the field, commenced battle in thought her season had finished to Lidl: sadly, the catering at our the discus. She threw well, but, 2 weeks earlier, she wasn’t quite student accommodation hadn’t in a tightly packed field ended able to produce the kind of jump changed much in the interven- on the wrong end of the results she’d been reeling out earlier ing four years. in 7th. in the summer and ended up The day of the competition in 8th, less than 20cm behind 3rd. At the same time, Hannah dawned grey and wet, again, Leading The Field Macaulay was producing a PB and hardly conducive to athletic That finally brought us to the with the 4kg shot, but it was only performance, but not too dif- track programme with the ferent from too many evenings 400H. Steph Fisher had missed good enough for another 7th at Norman Park, so, although a chunk of training during the place. Her time will come. not entirely in our element, we late summer while she partici- weren’t exactly in unchartered pated in a world challenge event Feeling The Strain of Com- territory. in Asia, followed by illness. petition Recent training suggested she Back on the track, Yasmin Early Encounters in the Rain had recovered sufficiently to Austridge was negotiating the The first two events were those take this on and she was in the extra distance of the 3000m possibly most affected by wet mix for 300m only to run out of s/c and ground out a gutsy 6th weather: nevertheless, in the legs, resulting in an altercation place. (Having never understood hammer, Victoria Wiltshire with the last hurdle and another why European Athletics always threw further than in Spain last 7th place. Moving to the 800m, insisted on Junior Women, who year only to finish one place Katy-Ann McDonald controlled could be as young as 16, taking further down the field in a solid the race from the front for 700m on an event that can reduce 3rd place, a position replicated only to miss out on 1st place in grown men to tears, it is hoped by Sophie Dowson in the pole the run-in, but still securing our that the survey of teams carried vault by keeping her head and best result so far in 2nd. More out during the competition, beating more fancied vaulters, good points then followed from suggesting a move to 2000m who couldn’t cope with the Modupe Shokunbi in the 100m. from next year, will meet with 18 Athletics Report

Continued

overwhelming support.) Such is travelling supporters had more But we’re not a team that gives the level of competition that we to cheer with Issie Hilditch in. Despite having undertak- had now slipped to 4th equal in dominating the sprint hurdles to en one of the most gruelling the standings. The team man- produce a comfortable defence doubles on offer and having had ager had also downgraded his of her title. little recovery time, Katy-Ann prediction of the winning score volunteered to step in. After to 112 points (which had been Checked by the Czechs fine legs from Belinda Clark, good enough in 2013), a score It was now between us, the Issie Hilditch and Megan Walsh, we could still meet, but, with Turkish defending champions she ran a consummate anchor seven events to go, we would and the local hosts from Brno to bring us home in 2nd place... need to medal in every one of and they weren’t about to make behind a very strong Czech them and we couldn’t afford too things easy for us. We were quartet. many of them to be bronze or picking up the medals we need- for our closest competitors to ed but every time we seemed to Déjà vu but a Better Perfor- match us! be joined by those two teams on mance the podium. Jess Keene, winner We’d won all the seven medals The fight back begins in both Istanbul and Castellon, but had come up just short And so our fight back began. In was our rep in the final individ- again: Fenerbahce had won with the 200m, Immanuela Aliu was ual event of the day, the 3000m. 110 points, AK Olymp Brno just run out of 2nd place, but we In the previous races, Jess had had 107 and we had 104, with had the first of those medals. led from the front and ground a significant gap to the Danes, Katy-Ann McDonald was next down the field before romping Sparta AM in 4th. The points back on the track. Again she to victory. She applied the same gap between 1st, 2nd and 3rd controlled the race from the tactics this year almost to the was identical to that in 2013! front, ensuring the early pace same effect, but she couldn’t Déjà vu all over again, indeed. was manageable after her earlier shake off the Turkish runner The team manager, summed 800m, and again she led into the who made an early run for home up the day: ‘ This was another final straight. In the closest race with 800m to go, opening a gap magnificent performance from of the day there was nothing that Jess was unable to close. the girls and I’m immensely between her and her Danish The Czechs could ‘only’ manage proud of them. We just missed opponent over the last 80m, 4th. out last year and, after what was with the latter just squeezing in Thus, with only the relays to an even better performance this at the finish. Another fine silver go, we were still in the hunt, year, we’ve done so again. But, for Katy-Ann. We were still in but the odds were beginning to they deserve to be European with a chance. look against us. We don’t usually Champions and we’ll go away The last field event of the think about losing the 4x100m, and see if we can’t make it afternoon saw almost half the but we all know it’s all about actually happen next year, when field take a liking to Bekah GTBR and our quartet of Parris we’ll have the boys there too to Walton’s javelin. She remained Johnson, Maya Bruney, Imman- cheer us on.’ completely unfazed by this and uela Aliu and Modupe Shokunbi It is a measure of the standards ensured it was available for each didn’t disappoint, bringing us we set for ourselves that we of her 4 throws, allowing her home comfortably, followed in could be disappointed having to put together one of her best by... Fenerbahce and AK Olymp finished in the top three in the ever series. There was clearly a Brno. The game was, barring top European clubs competi- really big throw in there trying something extraordinary, pretty tion. But it will only make us try to get out and maybe two more much up and with Maya Bruney all the harder next year. Look attempts might have released it, deciding she was unable to take out Castellon! but Bekah had to settle for 3rd. her place in the long relay, even We weren’t giving up and the a miracle might not be enough. Tim Soutar Athletics Report 19 2017 Youth Development League… Under 17s

With a super motivated and Despite our league success, the The 2017 season saw the cul- talented squad, competition for National Final in Birmingham mination of a resurgence of the places was becoming an issue would be a sterner challenge. junior men’s squad which had yet we used the Shaftesbury had a habit of pull- begun the previous season. Two full depth and breadth of the ing athletes out of nowhere and years before at the National squad. Ominously though indeed the previous September Final in September 2015, the they had managed to induce SBH, were also looking very several junior internationals B&B lads, only managed to strong. Our North London field 23 athletes against 68 to switch clubs to them just nemesis had evidently been days before the final. On the places on the team sheet and into the “transfer market” came last of the 8 teams present. big day no less than five of our during the winter as at the potential A-string winning The following winter the rebuild first fixture at Norwich our began. The goals were simple: athletes were out due to injury. lads found themselves lining Nevertheless the remaining Win the YDL Southern Pre- up against athletes from as mier League, get to and win the lads were really fired up. far apart as Scotland and the The day went brilliantly with National Final and emulate our Channel islands, sporting the athlete after athlete giving their girls by being the highest scoring famous black and white stripes. absolute best. The day was boys squad to go on and repre- summed up by the perfor- sent GB in Europe. Shaftesbury Nevertheless the season and squad captained by Will mance of young Ben Gardiner Barnet Harriers were a massive who, like several other athletes, obstacle in our path. Pope started well with a win in Norwich where James had travelled with the squad as Whiteaker broke the club and a non-competing reserve. But The 2016 YDL league fixtures league Javelin record. As in on the morning of the event had witnessed a huge step 2016, together with the girls we when a first choice athlete had to withdraw, Ben was asked to forward by the B&B lads – a subsequently went on to win cover the steeplechase. Whilst talented squad of U17s came all four of our league fixtures. through. The team captained not everyone’s favourite event, We also broke the league points Ben was absolutely delighted by Shamar Thomas-Campbell record in our home fixture at made it all the way to the final to be asked to tackle one of the - helping the club to lift the Norman Park and encourag- most gruelling races of the day. national title for the first time ingly the B&B combined squad Not only that but he responded in many years. But despite the were no longer overly reliant by running a 30 second PB overall final win, in the men’s on our talented girls, the boys to take a memorable B string competition we were taught a were becoming just as success- win and add important points harsh lesson by Shaftesbury as ful outscoring the best teams which might have otherwise to what it would take to get to teams in Southern England. gone begging. Europe. Throughout the season there The end came, the scores However another fantastic crop were too many outstanding were being read out in reverse of U17s came through from the performances to mention. But order, we knew it would be lower age group ranks whilst one that particularly stands out close… in third place with 418 many of the previous season’s was at the Olympic Stadium points Team Edinburgh. In squad were maturing into fine in July when the 4x1 squad of second place with 450 points… junior athletes. On top of this Camron, Matt Knight, Femi Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers… we were picking up lots of Sofolarin and Rhys Francis set The rest, as they say, is history. talented new members such as one of the fastest U20 times in Look out Europe, here come English Schools’ 100m winner the country and the fastest time the boys of Blackheath & Camron Lyttle - confirming by an U20 B&B squad since Bromley! the adage that success breeds 2012 when Adam Gemili was success. on anchor. Rod Harrington 20 Athletics Report Under 13 and Under 15 Girls Season 2016

Record from Ellie Dolby in the Under 15 Girls Another fantastic season for the 1200m with a time of 3.48.6. Zoe Austridge, Eleanor Barrett, Young Athletes which started This puts us 2nd in the table Lani Bakewell, Isabelle Bridge, on 2nd April with the Alpha with one more fixture to go. Katia Cienciala, Greta Elliott, Beta Trophy Match. The Under On 3rd July, we had our third Grace Goddard, Lauren 15 Girls came first which was a Kent League match at Ashford Goddard, Sophie Hoare, great start to the season. and again we had many athletes Yasmin Marghini, Zoe Martial, competing in a few different Imogen Meers, Niamh Milmo, events, some of which they Holly Mpassy, Jessica Neal, On the 23rd April, we went Alice Prentice, Kamiyla Robin- to Reading of the first Youth hadn’t tried before. Eleanor Development League match of Barrett got the club record in son-Pascal, Imogen Sears, Mor- the season, with several of our the Pole Vault with a height of gan Sears, Elise Swatton, Zoe distance athletes missing as they 3.10m. We came first with one White, Meeka Duhaney-Pin- were taking part in the Mini more Kent fixture to go. nock, Grace Fullerton, Alexan- dra Kelsey, Lia Radus, Rosanna London Marathon the next day Our last YDL fixture was at we still managed to come 3rd. Allan, Rashidah Ayinbode, Ab- Eton on 16th July. Every athlete igail Leeves,, Achieng Oneka, The next event was the first pulled out all the stops with the Kent League at Norman Park Morgan Squibb, Eva Stephanue, lead changing all day. We came Hannah MacAulay, Daisy Dow- on 7th May. We had a large second on the day 7 points number of athletes taking part. ling, Kareena Galley, Sky Cook, The Under 15 and Under 13 off the lead. We were going to Gracie Horton, Holly Mpassi, girls came first. Bedford for the final on 3rd Isabelle Bridge, Lily Tappenden, September. Our next Youth Development Imogen Meers, Rahmat Ottun, League Fixture was at South- Our last Kent League fixture Esther Oniwinde, Zsiriah ampton on 21st May and we was at Medway Park and again Thomas, Ella Brown, Emily came second putting us second we had many athletes attend- Purser, Rochelle Taylor, Kendaa in the league. All athletes com- ing. It was an excellent fixture Cameron-Chavannes, Amy peted to the best of their ability with several PBs and we came Miller, Emily Davis, Isabelle with many pbs on the day. first overall winning the Kent Mitchell, Sanmi, Odiase. On 5th of June we went to League for the season. Dartford for our second Kent On 2nd September, we stayed Under 13 Girls League fixture where everyone at Bedford University Campus Amerisa Sibley, Lily Meers, competed to the best of their and after a good night sleep we Rose Meers, Sofia Elliott, Renee ability and more and we came first overall. travelled to Bedford Stadium Bel-Momodu, Akeiyla Rob- where we were competing in the inson Pascal, Freya Marsden, On 19th June, we went to Eton YDL final. Each athlete com- Olivia Howlett, Olivia English, for the 3rd Youth Development peted well with several good Shakanya Osahon, Maayan Ra- League match. With all our ath- letes competing well and filling performances, notably Akeiyla dus, Kelsey Pullin, Ellie Dolby, in for new events where we had Robinson-Pascal who broke her Daniella Harper, Abigail Smith, gaps. We came 2nd overall own Club Record in the high Georgina Sullivan, Eve Ward, jump with a jump of 1.54m. The Tianna Lewis, Achieng Oneka, Our 3rd Youth Development League fixture was on the 19th lead changed a number of times Daiza Foster, Chloe Skipp, Al- of June at Norman Park, with a during the day, but when all the exandra Sewell, Rianna Rennie, home fixture we were looking results were counted at the end Heidi Forsyth, Parris French, for great things and were not of the competition we came Holly Sutton-Trott, Ella Smith, disappointed. We came first by 3rd just 11 points off the lead a Hannah Clark, Ruth Chappell. just over 40 points there were great result well done to all who many PBs as well as a Club competed. Karen Desborough Athletics Report 21 The UK Development League Under 13s Summer 2017

Bracknell: 22/04/17 mined 800m race and finished mat feet first but still recorded a The 2017 track and field season a strong second clocking a new great 2nd. Ollie’s second win of started at Bracknell with the personal best time. Jamie Sears, the day came in the long jump first UK youth development making his track club debut lead where he smashed his previous league fixture and BBHAC from the gun in his 800m race best by a big 16cm. secured a solid 2nd place and crossed the line in first place Matt Smith had a difficult finish behind current National with an impressive debut time. day beginning with a strong Champions Southampton. The Sam Stuart also made his debut second place in the 75m hurdles U13 boys had a mix of athletes, in the 800m and was rewarded followed by a new personal some experienced and others with a great opening season best in a wet and windy 800m making their Blackheath and time. Ethan Alapafuja opened also placing 2nd. The timetable Bromley HAC debuts. his BBHAC account in some didn’t favour Matt as the high Oliver Robertson started style coming second in the jump clashed with the 800m his day off winning the 75m 100m in a quick time before and by time Matt had returned, hurdles with a fantastic new helping the relay team to their the competition had moved on personal best time, followed by great victory. Another debutant and with heavy legs Matt was another win and PB in the high was Jack Horn and he made his unable to get a height, but had jump. Then a good long jump mark with a fast 100m and a three valiant attempts. competition and a second place quick leg in the victorious relay Ben Campbell looked comfort- finish before running a great team. Emmanuel Oniwinde able winning the 800m by 5 leg in the winning relay team. jumped a new personal best in seconds and also won valuable A great start to the season. the long jump securing a fine points in the shot put.Josh Bud- Connor Sutton had a great second place and ran a new dle Smith did well in both the days racing, winning both the fast personal best in the 100, javelin, throwing a seasons best, sprints and the relay. Connor making for an impressive debut and the shot again winning equalled his PB in the 100m performance. precise points in the field. but ran a new best in the 200m. Connor Sutton dominated Matt Smith started his day with LAG Southampton: 20/05/17 the sprints once again with a brilliant new best in the 75m Southampton was the venue fine victories in the 100m and hurdles smashing the 14 second for the second match in this 200m.Emmanuel Oniwinde barrier comfortably. Matt was season’s UKYDL lower age had a great day running near also 3rd in the javelin and 4th in group fixture and last year’s wet his best in the 200m placing the high jump scoring valuable weather was repeated, making 3rd followed by a great long points for the team. conditions far from ideal. Ath- competition that saw him Josh Buddle Smith was just letes being a hardy bunch cou- propel himself over 4m for the short of his best in the javelin pled with Dave Cordell’s perfect very first time placing him a and scored more points in the siting of the club tent meant we solid 2nd. shot put and ran close to his coped well and should be well Jake Anthony made a great best in the 800m.Ben Campbell pleased with our strong second National league debut knocking ran a superb 1500m breaking place finish, behind hosts and 10 seconds off his 800m best the elusive 5min mark for the current National champions and throwing a new javelin first time. Ben also put the shot Southampton AC. best despite only having had ensuring we had no gaps in the The day began in winning ways two coaching sessions, more field events.Oles Chaban making with Oliver Robertson, seem- valuable points earned. his track club debut showed his ingly ignoring the head wind, Jack Horn battled well into range of talent sprinting a new running near to his best and the wind to record a fine 2nd personal best in the 200m and winning the 75m hurdles. Sur- place in the 200m sprint and then running very close to his vival instinct kicked in for Ollie helped the relay team including best in the 1500m securing a during the rain sodden high Connor, Emmanuel and Oliver fine second spot in the B string jump as he adopted the scissor to 2nd just 0.3sec behind the race.Max Gregson ran a deter- technique, landing on the wet winners. 22

Continued

Max Gregson continues to sun during a tough high jump The 800m were up next and improve and will delighted with competition and both did well Max Gregson continued his smashing the 5 minute barrier securing 3rd spots. Oliver’s day great season with a mature a for the first time placing 4th in continued in the sand, jumping well paced race finishing with a very competitive 1500m race. well to place 3rd again while style in a great 2nd, just outside George Shaw had a memorable Matt had to endure 3 and 3/4 his best. Jake Anthony making his National track debut lead National debut winning the B laps in the sun doing the 1500m string 1500m in a great new from the front in his race and personal best and had a quick coming 4th. Ollie’s final effort held off the fast finishing sprint in the 100m for fun. of the day was running leg 2 in Windsor athlete to secure a the sprint relay. brilliant win. LAG Eton: 18/06/17 Ben Platt made his National Two first year in the age group Glorious weather welcomed us league debut putting an equal athletes battled it out well in the to the scenic venue of Thames best in the shot followed by heat of the day over two laps Valley Athletics Centre at Eton a great 23 m gaining valuable of the 800m, both just outside for the third fixture in the team points. Josh Buddle Smith their best with Jamie Sears UKYDL lower age group. Dave was just short of his pb also in posting 2:35.3 and Oles Chaban Cordell and Steve Hollingdale 2:37.4. Great times especially in were first on site to cherry pick the shot and then threw the those temperatures. Oles also the best pitch for our large team javelin over 20m again scoring sharpened up his sprinting, tent and this provided an essen- vital team points. racing well over 100m. tial shady retreat for our athletes At the half way stage we were Emmanuel Oniwinde was just before and after their events. a little surprised to hear that outside his best in a quick 100m As a result of the first two and helped the boys to a fourth fixtures BBHAC were currently BBHAC were leading by over in second spot behind National 10 points with Southampton place in the 4 x 100m relay Champions Southampton and and Havering tied for 2nd but running the 3rd leg on the top a solid result at Eton would with a loads more events to be bend. help us get closer to our goal of contested. Finally completing our strong making the 2017 National final, Connor Sutton had a fantastic squad Ben Campbell ran a solid being held this year in Birming- 1500m during the hottest part ham in September. Havering day winning all three of his of the day and should be pleased AC and Bracknell AC started individual events starting with with his performance and time the day in 3rd and 4th and a massive PB in the 200m placing a respectable 4th in a keeping ahead of them would smashing through the 27 sec very tough race. be crucial as only the top two barrier and slicing 0.6 sec off With two events left to score in the league are guaranteed his best. Next up was the 100m BBHAC were 9 points in front automatic places in the final. and another great personal best of Southampton but 10 minutes The glorious weather was performance winning in 13.2. later with all events recorded superb for us spectators but not Fairly new to the long jump Southampton had clawed them- so friendly for the athletes as but taking to it well Connor selves in front to win the match the temperature must have been then leaped over 4m equaling by a single point leaving us in well into the 30’s! his best, winning again and 2nd with Havering 3rd and The U13 boys began the day finally racing the final leg in Bracknell 4th. At the beginning of the day we would have been well with two 2nd place finishes the 4 x100m sprint relay. Ethan for Oliver Robertson and Matt happy with this result but felt Smith. Oliver smashing his Alapafuja looked good in the slightly deflated having been in personal best and Matt Smith 200m placing 3rd and ran a the mix all day.However, that back near to his quickest best. quick 100m sprint equaling his result strengthens our position Ollie and Matt both had to then best and was start off leg in the in the league table and with endure long spells in the beating sprint relay. just our home fixture to go on Athletics Report 23

Saturday 15th July we are in a from a foot injury again scoring 2:20 barrier for the first time very strong position to qualify good points in the shot put. clocking 2:19.68. Equally im- for the National final. Josh Buddle Smith put his pressive was Jake Anthony as he There were many fine perfor- recent training to good practice flew off from the gun leaving mances throughout the day placing 4th in the javelin just the field in his wake and cross- from our U13 and U15 boys and short of his best. ing the line 5 seconds up from girls but the highlight must be Next up were the sprinters 2nd place and getting a new PB the club record breaking quartet and Connor Sutton tore apart for his efforts. of the U15 girls 4 x 300m relay the opposition winning the Over at the long jump Oliver team. A fabulous collective ef- 200m by over 1.5 seconds and Robertson and Connor Sutton fort from Zakia Mossi, Shakan- recording a huge new personal best of 25.82, that now places finished 2nd and 3rd respec- ya Osahon, Daniella Harper tively despite being slightly and Holly Mpassy rounded off a him well inside the top 10 in the country. Young Ethan Alapafu- down on their best but both had fine days athletics setting a new already excelled in two previous best time of 2:51.13. ja continues to impress despite being a year young, running events each. UKYDL LAG Norman Park: well and aggressively in the B Back to the track and the string 200m. Connor continued 1500m and a great run from 15/07/17 his great form winning the We saved the best to last, Bren Campbell breaking 5 100m with a another big new minutes once again securing 4th comfortably winning our final PB while in the B string new UKYDL fixture. The scene was in the A string and Jamie Sears boy Tom Afelumo was making sporting a rather large plaster set early with club tent, beer his mark with a fantastic debut tent and BBQ all in place ready on his thigh ran determinedly performance, winning in a fast placing a fine 2nd in the B for the day’s action and our 12.67 and jumping straight young athletes weren’t to dis- into the top 20 in the national string and topping it with a appoint. With over 40 personal rankings. great new PB. bests, two new club records, Last event of the day for the club debuts and great team Oliver Robertson again cleared 1.40 in the high jump to secure U13 boys was the 4 x 100m re- spirit our U13 and U15 boys lay and debutant Tom Afelumo and girls did the club proud 3rd in the A string and Jamie Sears showing great clubman speed off on leg 1 handing to securing a place in September’s Oliver down the back straight National final. ship stepped up to fill the B string slot not only making his then to Jack Horn on the top The U13 boy’s day began with field debut but also his high bend leaving Connor Sutton Oliver Robertson showing jump debut. Jamie’s efforts to bring the team home in 1st great determination in winning earned him 3rd place in the having run a seasons best time. a fast 75m hurdle race and as B string and a nasty cut on impressively, Emmanuel Oni- A fantastic collective effort his thigh from his own spike, from the U13 boys but both our winde placing second in the B proving that track and field can string hurdles having only ever be dangerous! U15 boys and girls 4 x 300m re- hurdled in training the week lay teams smashed club records It was a double win in the 800m in winning both their relays. before. Emmanuel also had a as ever improving Max Gregson good run out over 100m as did ran the perfect race beating his Blackheath won five of the six Jack Horn in what turned out to Bracknell AC rival who was relays events at the end of the be a good warm up for the relay. hoping to make it 4 wins in 4! day rounding off a superb vic- Ben Platt was just short of his However, Max had other plans tory that now sees up travelling best in the shot and javelin but as he tracked his opponent for up to Birmingham for the final scored many valuable points for 400m before pressing at the bell on Saturday 2nd September the club in the process. Great then finally opening up with 2017. to have Matt Smith back in the 200m to go creating a sizeable team despite still recovering 3.5 sec gap and breaking the Paul Austridge 24

UKYDL National Finals Birmingham September 2017 BHAC LAG team qualified most people’s throat. Blackheath and Bromley for their final as South region The U13 boys as ever were a Harriers Athletics Club are runners up to Southampton tight bunch and supported each officially the best young athletes AC and were also up against other well through the ups and the Scottish champions and last track and field team in Great downs of a National final. Be- Britain having competed in years runners up Edinburgh ing multi talented Oles Chaban both lower and upper finals in AC, along with the other best Birmingham over the weekend. club teams from across Great and Emmanuel Oniwinde were Britain. The competition was on hand all day warmed up and BBBHAC were the only club ready to go at short notice if to have teams in both finals fierce and four teams crept ahead with Southampton lead- needed in any event. They shad- and while our LAG (lower age owed the boys during warm group) U13 and U15 boys and ing early on followed by North up and Oles even provided girls placed a fantastic second in region champions Sale Harriers, their final, the UAG (upper age BBHAC and Edinburgh. As the replacement spikes when one of group) went one better winning afternoon progressed BBHAC the boys realised that most of their final, securing a place in and Sale pulled level in front his had fallen out!! the European final, completing with Southampton dropping First out on the field were a historic weekend for the club. back to 3rd. With the final few Oliver Robertson and Ethan events being contested and no Alapafuja in the high jump. The UAG girls were current one club dominating the result champions and excelled once Ethan, in only his third high was going to be tight. again to retain the title but the jump competition ever jumped UAG boys were outstanding A tense wait for the final results well equalling his personal best and went one better than last saw Edinburgh AC 4th with as did Oliver before dashing off year to grab the title for them- 536 points, Southampton in for the start of the hurdles. Oli- selves and in doing so earning 3rd with 594.5 points, BBHAC ver is ranked 4th in the country the right to represent Great Brit- second with 599 points and Sale over 75m hurdles and was all ain in the European Champions 1st with 602 points proving fired up for his race but un- Clubs Cup Final in 2018 along what an exciting and tense com- fortunately hit the first hurdle petition it had been. Just 71/2 side our girls. Britain has never moving at pace and stumbled had just one club representing points separated the top three teams and only three points losing a bit of ground, recovered them in both boys and girls well but was disappointed to and this represents a massive between BBHAC and Sale. A just miss out on the medals. achievement. truly memorable final. Undeterred Oliver ran back There were many outstand- to the high jump competition ing moment including Holly where the bar had risen con- Mpassy’s impressive 300m siderably and was now at a new race, earning her the “Norma Blaine MBE Award” for the PB height. Oliver had two great most outstanding performance attempts at it but had to settle of the day and Lily Meers had for an equal PB and silver, still the stadium on their feet as impressive in the circumstances. she showed so much guts and In the shot putt Ben Platt just determination in holding off missed out on a medal with her rival for most of her 1200m, his 7.12m throw. Sprinter Tom with the last 100m being the Afelumo made his field event most exciting end of the race, debut putting the shot over 8m that saw Lily win by the smallest to win his first medal of the day, of margins. It brought a lump to a silver. Athletics Report 25

Matt Smith back on the road half meter improvement and a on training over the winter, to recovery lined up for the B fine bronze in the A string. Ol- next year we will be another string hurdles having missed a iver had a great opportunity to great position to compete to be good chunk of training and de- make up for his disappointment the the best junior club in the spite a shaky start finished well in the hurdles and didn’t waste country. Well done all. securing more valuable points the opportunity leaping to gold We wouldn’t have been able to for the club. in the B string with a 4.47 jump. achieved as much as we have Connor Sutton began his busy Ben Campbell and George without the great support we’ve day breaking the 26 sec barrier Shaw had waited patiently all had from BB club officials, again but just losing out on gold day for their opportunity to coaches, team managers, par- by the narrowest of margins shine and they both did with ents, grandparents, families and 5/100ths. Tom Afelumo ran the Ben digging deep to run a best friends and a special thank you B string for his first compet- ever 4:53.81 a big new PB. goes to Marco for all the time, itive 200m and our faith in George ran a well paced race care and effort he has put into what we had seen him do in keeping in touch throughout the LAG teams over the last training paid off as he stormed and had the determination to three years. Marco in his role as to victory also going under 26 pip his rival on the line and winter captain fully embraced seconds, winning gold by nearly was rewarded with gold in the the task of mentoring out young 2 seconds. B string and a huge new best athletes through the highs and Ben Platt was back in action smashing the 5 minute barrier lows of our sport and has been again in the javelin and was re- for the first time clocking (and still is) a fantastic role warded for his effort in training 4:56.60. model for our young athletes with a big new PB of 33.87. Josh Last event of the day for the and he will be massively missed Buddle Smith has also been U13 boys was the 4 x 100m as he embarks upon his univer- javelin training regularly and his relay and with Connor and Tom sity pathway. We hope to see improvement of over 1m earned in great form and joined by Marco during terms breaks but him a great silver medal in the Ethan fresh from the high jump wish him all the very best for B string. and multi talented Oliver, surely his time at Durham University. Next up on the track were all they had to do was to get the This weekend’s travel and hotel the 800m boys and regular baton around safely to secure a accommodation was solely team members Max Gregson win. This is exactly what they organised by John Reardon and and Jake Anthony once again did and in a superb season best he had the difficult task of coor- showed their class both running time of 52.39. The relays are al- dinating 8 teams requests along hard and winning fabulous ways exciting, risky and are on a with coaches, team managers silver medals. knife edge as the U13 boys from and parents requests. Thank Sale proved after being disquali- you John. The sprinters were back on fied for an infringement. the track and both Connor Paul Austridge and Tom dominated the 100m A fantastic 16 medals won in taking full honours winning total, three golds and a silver gold with Tom posting a quick for Tom, two golds, silver and new PB. bronze for Connor, two golds and silver for Oliver gold for With little time to recover Ethan, gold for George, and Oliver and Connor were back slivers for Max, Jake and Josh. out competing in the long jump. Plus loads of personal bests Connor on somewhat of a high and season’s bests all helped soared out to a fantastic new contribute to a tremendous personal best of 4.68m nearly team result and if we all keep 26 Athletics Report

The Under 13 boys… Elsewhere

Kent Young Athletes League, Well done to all who have been The following BBHAC athletes Ashford selected and to all the reserves. have been selected… Some fantastic performances Kent is one of the strongest were recorded at Ashford in sporting counties so making the Kent young athletes league this team, even as reserve is a on Sunday. Highlight must be great achievement. Oliver Robertson smashing the Kent league and club 75m hurdle record in a very fast 12.0. U13 Boys Connor Sutton was rewarded Ethan Alapafuja 4 x 100m Relay, 100m, 200m reserve, with two great new bests in Max Gregson 800m both sprints. Jake Anthony 800m A PB bonanza in the 1500m Ben Campbell 800m with five boys all running new Jamie Sears 800m best times, Ben Campbell well George Shaw 800m, 1500m reserve under 5 mins again, George Matt Smith 1500m Shaw knocking 9 seconds off Oliver Robertson 75m hurdles, long jump, 4 x 100m relay and getting near to 5 min, Oles Ben Platt javelin, shot reserve Chaban slicing 7 seconds off Josh Buddle Smith javelin reserve his previous best, Jamie Sears Tomiwa Afelumo 4 x 100m Relay with a 3 second improvement Jack Horn 4 x 100m Relay and Sam Stuart dipping inside his PB. U13 Girls Team Selection Sophie Kerr 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m Relay The relay team chosen for the Tianna Lewis 100m, 200m reserve Anniversary Games was select- Rianna Rennie 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m Relay ed on performances throughout Amerisa Sibley 800m the season and was a difficult Lily Meers 800m task with so many of the U13 Emily Kerr 75m hurdles, long jump, 4 x 100m Relay posting respectable times and Syrianne Diete Spiff 4 x 100m Relay all boys worthy of selection based on team spirit and com- mitment to the club. However, we can only select four and they were Connor Sutton, Oliver Robertson, Ethan Alapafuja and Jack Horn, subject to fitness. The Kent U13 team has been announced for the annual inter counties fixture at Kingsmead- ow, Kingston on Saturday 29th July 2017 and we are please to say that BBHAC athletes have been selected in large numbers. Our victorious sprint relay team: Parris, Maya, Immanuela and Modupe (see report Back in Brno final page 18). Athletics Report 27

Kent Track Relays 2017 heat to qualify. Our C team of style. The B team were equally The Kent track relays were Sam Stuart, Ben Campbell, impressive winning a fine team the last team event of the 2017 Josh Buddle Smith and Jamie silver, led out by Jamie Sears summer season and with them Sears just missed on making followed by George Shaw and being held at our home track the final. then on last leg Oles Chaban. at Norman Park, we took full The C team ran a strong race In the 4 x 200m both the A and advantage. and did well finishing a credit- B team ran well enough to make able 7th with Sam Stuart taking Of the 24 finals BBHAC ath- the final and again Ethan, Tom, leg 1 passing to debutant Arthur letes contested, our teams won Oliver and Connor held off a Starvis, who ran positively on 18 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze and very strong Bexley challenge this first run for the club, leav- were 4th in another 10. This and were deserving winners ing Josh Buddle Smith to bring represents a fantastic achieve- crossing the line in a fast 1:49.9 the team home on leg 3. ment and clearly shows that just 0.6 sec ahead of Bexley. A fantastic day for BBHAC BBHAC are not only strong The B team of George, Ben, teams and also individually as but that we have great strength Oles and Emmanuel closed in Oliver Robertson won three in depth right through the age 7th but combined well to make groups. Kent golds, Ethan, Tom and the final. Connor all won two Kent golds The U13 boys had great num- In the 3 x 800m BBHAC U13 and Ben Campbell and Max bers out competing and we able boys were able to field A, B Robertson both won gold, while to enter three teams in both the and C teams and the A team Jamie Sears, George Shaw and 4 x 100m and 3 x 800m and two stormed to victory led out by Oles Chaban all won Kent silver teams in the 4 x 200m. Black- Ben Campbell passing to Oliver medals. heath and Bromley U13 boys Robertson who handed to proved they are the strongest Max Gregson to finish off in Paul Austridge in Kent winning all three relays and also picking up a silver in the 3 x 800m. In the 4 x 100m the quartet of Ethan Alapafuja, Tom Afelumo, Oliver Robertson and Connor Sutton qualified for the final comfortably winning their heat in their second fastest time of the year. The final wasn’t going to be as straight forward as they were up against a strong Bexley team, but our boys got the baton around slickly with great change overs and powered across the line in a best time for the season, just 0.3 sec ahead of Bexley, who also ran a seasons best. The B team of George Shaw, Ben Platt, Oles Chaban and Emmanuel Oniwinde com- bined well to finish 7th in the final having come third in their Holly Mills being a long jump star (see report YDLfinal page 16). 28 Athletics Report The Parris Handicap Series 2017

At the end of a great series John, but otherwise most wins The monthly handicap race of events the overall winner were achieved by comfortable series started in 1993. It was for 2017 was Neil Ives whose margins. renamed in 1998 after Roy performances steadily improved The event generated about £500 Parris who sadly died after a over the course of the season profit and all the proceeds were heroic fight against cancer. This with times ranging from 29.47 donated to The House and event is an apt tribute to Roy. to 22.56 Social Committee to be used for Ironically it was his slowest time the benefit of us all. The event is a series of 5km that gained him that win in the One of the big highlights of handicap races, which take place individual race in April, whilst the 2017 series were the BBQs every month between April and the fastest time allowed him that Deniz Mehmet and Gareth September. to secure the overall victory of Griffin arranged for every James Ingram won the very first winning the series. Moreover Wednesday night of The Parris race in a time of 18:45 and his placings in the individual Handicap. These BBQs proved races were always in the top 8, to be enormously successful and Graham Fee was the overall including a win and a second winner for that year. attracted not only the runners place. but also non-runners and guests In fact due to such an impres- alike. The BBQ numbers in- It is a testament to the success sive early showing Neil Ives was crease every time we hold them of this race that in 1993 the ahead of the field throughout which indicates how popular maximum number of runners the season, retaining first place they are with everyone. and our in any race was 19 whilst 34 dif- going into the last event in bar profits increase considerably ferent runners took part in the September. At one stage he on these nights! When Concern series. This year between 20 and held a commanding lead of 13 is being expressed about 30 runners turned out for the points over the second placed the declining attendance on events and 51 different runners competitor, who this season was Wednesday evenings, the BBQs made at least one appearance Paul Kerekgyarto who in his provide a welcome boost of during the 2017 series with 6 second season turned in an im- popularity and numbers in what of them completing all 6 races. pressive series of performances should be the focal point of the We had several regular juniors mostly under 20 minutes. In club’s week. taking place and its always great July he reduced the lead to only These events could not take to see them turning up putting six points but then a spirited place without volunteers so in creditable performances. challenge from Heath Griffin many thanks to our Time Keep- The April race was won by Neil further reduced the lead to 2 ers Mike and Terri, Recorders Ives followed over the next points, making the competition Steve Hollingdale, Denise King 5 months by wins for Scott open, but Neil’s best perfor- and Peter Lovell and of course Bulmer, Marc Knowles, Tom mance in terms of time allowed my wonderful wife Sheila who Leeson, Graham Hollingdale him to pull away again and take takes the entries and helps and David Leal. The fastest the series by a comfortable 10 calculate the winners at the end man over the course was Ross points. of the evening. Braden in a time of 16:37 and Second, was Heath Griffin a The first race of the 2018 series the fastest lady was Chloe remarkable performance for one will be on Wednesday 11th Haffenden in 19:50. The course who is only eight years old, and April at 7.15pm. record remains at 15:13, which Dave Leal who was joint third was set by Barry Stephenson in last year gained another thirds Richard Griffin June 2004. place, this time outright. The tightest finish came in the July event when 7 seconds separated Father and Son, as Tom Leeson beat his dad Obituary 29 Hanna Cordell 1946–2017

Hanna was the club secretary “Often they would provide a It is with much regret that I for Blackheath and Bromley dry and welcome shelter on have to report that the very Harriers AC for many years and match days. For one event at popular Hanna Cordell has has also been a team manager Parliament Hill Hannah and passed away recently after for the many BBHAC track and David got to the course early, battling illness, having given her field teams, a regular time- erected the tent, provided a life for and so much to the sport keeper and a track judge, and few chairs ,collected the race of athletics. brought her strong organisa- chips and numbers to hand out tional skills with her every time and later on dismantled the to the events she would attend. tent and got it back to the club Prior to that Hanna had held a house where it was cleaned and series of management positions repacked ready for the next with Bromley Ladies. With meeting. On another occasion husband Dave to who she was On Parliament Hill the day married to for 49 years, Hanna started early for Hanna and met many new friends from the Dave and after surveying the world of travelling officials who site found the perfect lofty spot went on to become good friends to position the club tent, afford- from many different clubs. ing spectacular views over the Hanna (nee Grundlehner) was London skyline and relatively born in Arbon in Switzerland dry under foot. in April 1946 and met Dave “At the Kent Championships when she was a student staying Hanna and Dave arrived at in London with Dave’s parents, Hythe at 8am in the morning, never returning home in the set up the tent in heavy rain The late Hanna Cordell. 1970s. Although not a serious (not an easy task), Dave spent athlete herself, Hanna did run the day officiating the races and events like the 7 Sisters, and Hanna spent the day handing 10km and half marathons, but out 10 sets of team numbers her true love was officiating in and pins and generally taking the many capacities whether it charge in the tent. Once all be track and field, cross country the races were complete they or road events. Always up early then dismantle the now sodden on competition day, Hanna and muddy tent, fold away would accompany Dave to and transport back to the club wherever they were going to be house, where they get it all out ready to pitch the club tent in a once again and hang it up to favourable location to provide dry. They have a very full, long much needed shelter and a base day and we genuinely could not for the club athletes who would do without the Cordells. turn up later in the day as the following tributes have testified to… 30 Obituary

Continued

“At Mansfield Dave and Hanna Hanna will be a tough act to Living close to BBHAC in the were first up for breakfast and follow as Club Secretary and Bromley, Kent, area for the were already en route to set up also Trophy Secretary as the past 20 years, Hanna leaves our tent before many were even club has many trophies which behind her husband Dave, two awake. Many thanks once again have all been photographed and children Alice and Tom and go to Hanna and Dave who catalogued by Hanna. two grandchildren Shannon and work tirelessly to set up our Although she initially refused Joe. Hanna. More importantly base at all our athletic events. the honour of being created it is known that Hanna made It was a great sight seeing our a vice president because she tea in bed for Dave everyday of huge black tent flanked by believed that she had not done their married life, not sure what BBHAC banners on arrival and enough to deserve it she was happens now ! in a prime location at the front finally persuaded to accept Hanna never expected thanks of a very busy team tent area. the rank from President Steve or praise for her efforts and was Many a weekend was a great Hollingdale in 2013, although always seen at the club events success in no small way to Han- he admitted that the task of throughout the year, quietly nah’s great organisational skills persuading her had been an going about her job. Hanna’s and her culinary abilities. Like extremely difficult one. When life was devoted to our much her husband she performed husband Dave came to the loved sport and is a great loss to sterling duties driving athletes Presidency in 2015 she took on her family, her friends, BBHAC in blizzard conditions to events another role, that of consort and the sport of athletics. as far afield as Sunderland. and accompanied her husband Due to family commitments everywhere in that year. It Wendall Cooper she was only able to follow produced a unique partnership the progress of the club from of President and Club Secretary, afar for several years. Then in although a similar partnership 2006 she and husband Dave had been seen with the Bald- renewed their interest when a wins some years earlier. grand daughter joined the Bees Academy. Hannah took over the office of Honorary Secre- tary in 2010 followed by Trophy Secretary when the previous holder called it a day. For the next six years she ensured that all club committee meetings ran smoothly and that minutes of previous meetings were cir- culated to the committee ahead of meetings, and was a solid presence at a number of AGMs, her administrative skills having been honed for many years working as the head receptionist at a local GPs surgery. Obituary 31 Alan Brent 18/11/1918 to 1/6/2017

regularly for Kent in the Inter He was President of the South When Sydney Wooderson was Counties and did very well of Thames Cross Country Asso- alive it was very fair to say on the Road in events like the ciation in 1966. Also President that he was the ‘Greatest living News of the World London of the Southern Counties Cross ‘Heathen’. When Sydney died at to Brighton which became the Country Association, Kent the end of 2006 that title quite National 12 stage. He had been County Athletics in 1979, and rightfully passed to Alan Brent. known to win Club events by the English Cross Country 5 minutes and famously in the Union or ECCU (now ECCA) Club ‘B’ team with Braughton in 1989. He was presented with Alan joined Blackheath Harriers and Scotting “gleefully de- the Queens Jubilee Medal in on 4th March 1946 at the age of feated” the ‘A’ team Club road 1977 and was recognized by 27. He has died at age 98 after specialists in the 1952 Mitcham Bromley Sports Council with an 71 years of extremely distin- 15. He later made his mark with award in 1989 recognising his guished service to his Club and other “geriatrics” in the Sunday service to Sport in the Borough. to Athletics. His wife, Brenda, Times Fun Runs. ‘Fun’ seeming More recently he won a presti- had died at age 96 less than 4 a misnomer as the Club History gious London Sports award for months previously. Her support records that these events were his outstanding contribution to of Alan and her service to the fiercely competitive. Athletics over so many years. Club had also been legendary. The Club History records that He reckoned he had been to 50 Alan joined as an Athlete what was “more impressive consecutive Nationals and it shortly after the War so it than his consistent running was ironic that the first two he is probably best to start by was his continued industry missed were in 1994 and 1995 giving a brief summary of his for the Club”. He created “an when the Club won the team career as a runner. He ran in impression of integrity, under- title. He also missed seeing the the Blackheath team in 20 standing and dedication not under 17s win the team title in consecutive Southern Cross readily matched”. He was Club Havant in 1997. Country Championships and President in 1966/7 leading He attended every day of in 20 consecutive National an administration including Cross Country Championships Athletics at the 1948 London Tony Hayday, Geoff Last, Bob Olympics and could point out (1946/7 to 1965/6, so 47 years Taylor, Alan Ball, Brian Stone, of age on his last appearances). on photos exactly where he and Bob Richardson, Norman Page, Brenda sat. He was asked once He was in the scoring 6 on 18 Jim Day and Peter Baigent. times in the National and 16 to point out Jack Braughton Alan was for 5 years the Club’s in the 1948 Olympic Men’s times in the Southern. Just 3 Cross Country Captain. For team medals though, bronze in Athletics team photo. “Jack 11 years he did penance for his wasn’t in the photo”, he said, the 1948 National (the race be- win in the 1946 Closing 5 by ing won by Sydney Wooderson) “he couldn’t get time off from being George Brooks’ Assistant work”. He served with Jack on and silver and bronze in the Handicapper. 1948 and 1950 Southerns. His the Board for Norman Park best National saw him finish Track Management until they in 32nd place and he managed were both in their 90s and Alan 15th in the Southern. His first was a regular at Club Track Club win was in the 1946 ‘Clos- events where he took responsi- ing 5’ where a far too generous bility for all the field equipment. allowance of 5 minutes was Meanwhile, wife Brenda worked given to him. Newcomer having in the Track café with Anne it over on the handicapper! Cilia’s Mum, Vi Stenning, and It has ever been thus! He ran Ken Johnson’s wife Hilary serving tea and wonderful cake 32 Obituary

Continued

baked by Brenda. You felt quite As they both became house- Wilson swimming race. The deprived if you found that they bound they were delighted Blackheath Harriers Social Club had sold out and you hadn’t had to receive visits from Club was formed in 1973 and this was a piece. members and these were chaired by Brenda. Ladies com- Club committee meetings with always happy occasions. The peted in their table tennis team Alan in attendance were quite a owner of the garage around using the Blackheath Harriers lesson. He was never rattled and the corner from whom they name. With barn dances, raf- never lost his rag. His contri- bought all their cars visited one fles, jumble sales and tombolas butions were always measured, day bringing lots of photos. He the Social Club, including the thoughtful and intelligent. A had been one of Alan’s pupils likes of Maggie Haines, raised great man with great knowledge and had been away on a School an awful lot of money that and great judgement. trip abroad with both Alan enabled much needed work to and Brenda. When Graham be done in the Clubhouse and 20 or so years ago, Club Din- Botley made his farewell tour, at the Track. Brenda’s reward ners were more frequent and he one of his demands was to be was being made an Honorary and Brenda sat with others of taken to visit Alan and Brenda. Life Member and later a Vice their age group. Brenda ran the Another very special and happy President. raffles bringing her ‘old bag’ occasion. On one occasion Alan They both gave great encour- which was eventually replaced was asked whether he would be by a ‘new old bag’. At one of agement to Youth and the Club going to the Club photo shoot. History records that “many can these dinners he was ambushed He hadn’t realized it was taking so we could properly celebrate testify to their encouragement place. Denis Lawrie and Steve of youth, not only officially his 80th birthday. Peter Lovell Hollingdale did the honours so provided some fine artwork or on coaching courses, but Alan featured in the 2012 Club morally and always cheerfully”. and Alan, giving an impromptu photo. speech, gave younger mem- He was a very special man, they bers the benefit of his advice: When he could no longer run, were a very special couple. Not “retire early and hammer the he swam. Often with PP Vic sure we will ever see the likes of pension fund”! His 90th was a Beardon. Just a couple of days them again! very special Club occasion with after his 80th, Alan celebrated a full house greatly enjoying by competing in the Maryon Mike Martineau some fabulous tributes to a very special man. Brenda also made it upstairs for the first time in years. The ECCA President was there and Alan was showered with gifts and praise. Mike Peel took a brilliant photo of Alan and Brenda, printed it, framed it and presented it to them that very same evening. It was a proud possession in their home.

The ‘Middle Distance Engine Room’ – Niamh Bridson-Hubbard and Jess Keene (see report Back in Brno page 18). Club News 33 The Club Integration 2017

This incorporation of the positions on the Management At the AGM on 18th March club does not affect the terms Committee are exactly the same 2017, club members voted to in- of membership, disciplinary as they were on the Executive tegrate the activities of the Club procedures etc. The Manage- Committee. These positions with those of BHHQ Ltd which ment Committee has the same are Chair, Club President, changed its name to Bromley & officers on it as the Executive Immediate Past President, Blackheath Harriers AC. Committee used to have so Hon. Secretary, Hon Treasurer, from a day to day operational Membership Secretary, Head of point of view it is business as Active Athletics, Head of Track This is a company limited by usual. & Field, Head of Cross Country guarantee rather than with & Road Running, the Chairs of shareholders. Each “full” club The Board of Directors/ the other sub committees (i.e. member over 20 years old is a Finance, Development, Com- member of the company and Trustees As with all companies, the club munications, House & Social) individually liable for up to £1 and up to 3 ordinary club mem- in the event of the club becom- is headed by a board of direc- tors, who are accountable for bers. With the exception of the ing insolvent. Apart from this President and Immediate Past members are protected by the long term strategy, custodian of the company’s assets (primarily President, these positions are limited liability nature of the elected each year at the AGM. company the clubhouse) and assuring we retain our status as a Commu- The new directors of Black- This process of integration in- nity Amateur Sports Club with heath & Bromley Harriers AC volved adopting new company the Charities Commission and are Alan Pickering, Paul Patten, Articles of Association and HMRC. As also agreed on 18th Ian Young, Tim Soutar, Chris revising the format of the Club March 2017, they will apply to Hilditch, John Baldwin (Chair Rules, supplemented by Terms the Charities Commission and of the Management Commit- of Reference for the Club Man- HMRC for full charitable status. tee) and David Appleton (Club agement Committee (previously Treasurer). A full list of officers the Executive Committee) and The Management Committee for the year 2016/17 is displayed a Finance Policy. Together these This is accountable to the on the back inside page of this cover all the elements that were board of directors for the day issue. previo usly in the Consti- to day running of the club, as it tution. They also provide more was previously as the Execu- David Appleton constraints on both the compa- tive Committee. Indeed the ny directors and the Manage- ment Committee in terms of disposing of club assets and other financial matters. This will allow the Club to apply to be a full charity, with additional tax advantages over its existing Community Amateur Sports Club status.

The Junior women squad winners of the National Title at Birmingham (see report YDLfinal page 16). 34 Officials Page

Executive Committee 2017/18 Past Presidents President: Existing Past Presidents of Blackheath Harriers AC: Nick Brooks Peter J G Baigent (1971/72), John R Baldwin (1975/76), Immediate Past President: Colin M Brand (1978/79), Brian G Stone (1979/80), Ian C Wilson (1981/82), Bill Foster Derek L Gregory (1986/87), Alan M Pickering (1992/3), Chairman of Committee: Steve H Cluney (1994/5), David White (1995/6), Mike J Mahoney (1997/98), John Baldwin PP Chris R Haines (1998/99), Richard J Coles (1999/2000), Hon Secretary: Mike Davies (2000/01), Mike Peel (2001/02), Pat Calnan (2002/03). Vacant Existing Past Presidents of Bromley AC: (to 2003) Hon Treasurer: Daphne Reed, Joyce Hepher, Junior Field, Paul Jearum, Maureen Miller. David Appleton VP Past Presidents of Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC: Chairmen of Active Athletics: John Robinson (2003/04), Margaret Baldwin (2004/05), Summer – Tim Soutar PP Anne Cilia (2005/06), Ken Daniel (2006/07), Les Roberts (2007/08), Winter – Robert Cliff PP Tim Soutar (2008/09), Alison Brand (2009/10), Richard Coe (2010/11), Chair of Finance: Denis Lawrie (2011/12), Steve Hollingdale (2012/13), Robert Cliff (2013/14), Stephen Hollingdale PP Dick Griffin (2014/15), David Cordell (2015/16), Bill Foster (2016/17). Chair of Communications: Vice Presidents Wilf Orton VP Existing Vice Presidents of Blackheath Harriers AC: Three Ordinary Members: George H Smith (1960), John E Lindblom (1962), Derek F E Hogg (1964), Adrian Stocks VP Tony V Hayday (1968), Richard J Edmonds (1969), Robert Richardson (1969), Daniel Ryan John Lissaman (1972), Barry M Shapcott (1973), Geoff R Last (1974), Maz Turner VP Frank C Rogers (1976), Frank J Dyter (1977), Jerry C W Friend (1977), Chair of Development: Andy W Frankish (1979), Peter E Shepheard (1979), Peter C Hannell (1980), Paul Byfield VP Mike A Winch (1981), Ian K Young (1982), Gordon Brooks (1986), Sponsorship/Fund Raising: Simon Parsons (1990), Jim Phelan (1990), Nigel Keogh (1991), Vacant Trevor Llewelyn (1991), Mark I L Watling (1993), Steve J Freemantle (1995), House and Social: R Colin Poole (1995), Alan R Stevens (1995), Peter A Long (1996), David Cordell Nick Nuttall (1997), John E Turner (1997), Peter Lester (1998), Garry F P Spencer (1998), Bill Clapham (1999-2013), Mike J Cronin (1999), Membership Secretary: David Liston (2000), Roger A Michell (2000), Paul Byfield (2001), Rob Brown VP Roger Counter (2002), Len Dalmon (2002), Roy Smith (2002). Track & Field Secretary: Wendy Daniels Existing Vice President of Bromley AC: David Green. Cross Country Secretary: Vice Presidents of Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC: Vacant John Blackie (2003 ex BAC), Willem Buttinger (2003 ex BH), Ian Dibbens (2003 ex BAC), Hilary Gibbs (2003 ex BAC), David Taylor (2003 ex BH), Editor: Simon Tolson (2003 ex BH), Myrtle Augee (2004), Julian Golding (2004), Wilf Orton – 020 8771 1128 Helen Godsell (2004), Simon Lloyd (2004), Anthony Pontifex (2004), Brian [email protected] Power (2004), Nick Gasson (2005), Brendan McShane (2005), Brian Hartley Assistant Editor: Will Ruiz (2006), Paul Patten (2006), Kate Pratten (2006), Michael Skinner (2006), Ray [email protected] Gibson (2007), Richard Holt (2007), Mark Purser (2007), Rob Brown (2007), Bob Minting (2007), Costas Karageorghis (2008), Tom Phillips (2008), Terri Layout and Production: Shotton (2008), Andy Tucker (2009), Roy Watkins (2009), Allan Williams Graham Smith – 07976 355 939 (2009), David Appleton (2010), Peter Lovell (2010), Steve Pairman (2010), [email protected] Colin Rowe (2010), Paul Austridge (2011), Con Griffin (2011), Deniz Mehmed Club Headquarters (2011), Wilf Orton (2012), Mick Jones (2013), Mike Sheppard (2013), Dave Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC McKinlay (2014), Alex Gibbins (2014), Richard Hall (2014), Jane Bradshaw The Sydney Wooderson Centre (2014), Julie Asher-Smith (2014), Marion (Maz) Turner (2015), Sheila Griffin 56 Bourne Way, Hayes (2015), Jackie Montgomery (2015), Adrian Stocks (2015), Tim Ayres (2015). Bromley, Kent BR2 7EY Claire Austridge (2016), Shaunagh Brown (2016), Andy Rayner (2016), Steve Timmins (2016), Karen Desborough (2017), Chris Hilditch (2017), Mark Steinle (2017) , Nick Corry (2017). Photographs Nick Brooks, Rod Harrington, Tim Soutar and Mike Shearman. The editing team wish to express their thanks for all those who contributed articles and photographs for this issue. The editorial team make every effort to correctly identify and credit all the photographers but occasionally this is not possible. If you took a photograph but haven’t been credited please let us know and we will publish the details in the next Gazette. The Editor wishes to mention that the provision of photographs other than those generously supplied by the contributors mentioned above was sadly less than in previous issues, and not enough to illustrate all the reports featured in this issue. There was however a decent number supplied by the manager of the Junior Women, which could not all be placed with the reports written by him due to constraints of space by the already established layout of the text. They have therefore been distributed more evenly in other spaces left available in other items, where photos for these teams were not provided. For anyone observing this I have endeavoured to clarify the position by providing cross references of those pictures to the pages and reports to which they belong.