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