No.664 / Vol.125 Reports & News Summer 2015 YDL Birmingham 2 A club well worth backing From the Editor Thanks to our sponsors: With Olympic year upon us the club will again no Biggin Hill Airport doubt be following the progress and continued Jack Petchey Foundation rise of Dina Asher Smith who has in 2015 laid So Clean down markers to establish her credentials as the coming force in British Athletics, especially at and to many other generous the World Championships last summer. Hopefully individuals who offered backing Adam Gemili will no doubt be staking his claim for and assistance. inclusion in the GB squad for Rio this summer. Meanwhile the question of the move to new headquarters continues to provide a source of animated conversation as to when and in what form the premises will take shape. Further developments will be CONTENTS outlined at the club AGM in March at which time we shall know how far Athletics Reports the project has been advanced. A report on this will feature in the next issue of the Gazette to be produced in the summer. 1 Senior Men 6 Senior Ladies Another development for the future which has already been mentioned is the proposed celebrations for the club’s forthcoming 150th 10 Junior Women anniversary in 2019. So far an ad hoc group has been set up to consider 18 Young Athletes and promote the organisation of various events which would be fitting 22 U13 and U15 girls ways of marking this landmark. A resume of this committee in club news outlines what has been proposed and confirmed so far. 24 U15 boys There have been the usual abundance of promising performances 27 U13 boys and once again I am indebted to Paul Austridge for his many and 37 ESAA Championships informative reports which once again give an optimistic picture of the 38 London Marathon club’s future. A report from Joss Barber gives a first hand account of one of the many competitions in which our young athletes competed 40 Parris Handicap this summer. 42 Tri club news In most issues of the Gazette it is unfortunate that we have to report the passing of those members who have made invaluable contributions Obituaries to the club over many years. However the memories of their influence 43 Graham Botley in the club is a cause to celebrate their lives, and this is so for the life 46 Bill Graham of PP Gary Botley whose obituary appears in this issue. For those who knew him and remember his many qualities and achievements, it was Club News he amongst others who was instrumental in moving the club on from its 47 Scott Overall and exclusivist past and bringing it into the modern era. Dinah Asher-Smith Before signing off I wish to offer grateful thanks to the following for 48 150th season celebrations willingly providing articles for this issue: 50 Pat Calnan revies the IPP Dick Griffin, Paul Austridge VP, PP Pat Calnan, PP Tim Soutar, Courier Karen Desborough, Maz Turner VP, Joss Barber, PP Steve Hollingdale, Nick Swatton, Nick Kinsey VP, Nick Brooks VP, PP Ian Wilson, 51 Sport Bromley honours PP Chris Haines, and others. John Blackie The next issue covering the winter of 2015/6 is due for release in August 2016 and the deadline for submission is Late June 2016. Athletics Report 1 The British Athletics League 2015 season ranks. So at the start of the winners. Plenty made the top In 2014 we surprised Summer our first claim senior three, however, and five of ourselves by finishing in third specialist field eventers, ie these were achieved by under place in Division One of the those between the ages of 20s. Louis Mascarenhas British Athletics League, our 20 and 35 consisted of one was 3rd in both the discus highest position since being high jumper, three long and shot with distances of relegated from the Premier jumpers, one triple jumper, 47.55 and 14.28, the latter Division in 2000. A year on one pole vaulter, a shot and a new personal best. Stefan we scored more match points discus thrower and a hammer Amokwandoh had his first over the four fixtures but this thrower. Seven of the eight competition after injury and did not translate into more had joined us from other finished in second place in League points as we finished clubs. Of these, two were the triple jump with 14.48. 6th in the League. So some studying in the United States Will Fuller was third in the progress but not reflected in and of the other six, four 3000 metres in 8.31.6 as the table. began the season injured. To was Richard Webb in the fill the events we would be 3000 metres steeplechase in dependent on multi eventers, 9.57.86 picking up the Club higher competition athletes, steeplechase challenge goblet Masters and youngsters. in the process. Dan Putnam opened his Match One – Windsor season with a 48.01 clocking 9th May 2015 to place second in the 400 After missing the whole of metres but a toe problem 2014 we welcomed back to after this restricted him to a the team James Alaka and leg in the 4x100. In fact this Phil Sesemann, two athletes also marked the end of his In a very competitive division who have been competing for Summer as the injury did not we never looked like being Club since they were Under clear as quickly as hoped. relegated and it is probably 13s. They have been greatly This was a big blow to the fair to say that the two missed and were quick to team as he was our joint top strongest squads, Liverpool show everyone why. Phil, who points scorer in 2014. It was and Windsor, were promoted. is currently studying medicine second also in the Hammer Local rivals Kent and at Leeds University, finished where Tom Parker travelled Cardiff were relegated, both runner up in the 1500 metres down from Cambridge having spent brief time in and James was 4th in both the University to record a the Premiership Division in 100 and 200 metres A string distance of 54.33. Alex Bruce recent years. races, before running legs in Littlewood enjoyed two B Going into the season both relays. string victories in the 1500 we knew we had some That they didn’t finish and 3000 metres. exceptional talent in our higher indicated how good Mark Longhurst was down squad but also weaknesses a standard this Division was on his best in the pole vault as well. In part this has been with many Internationals as he cleared 4.20 for third due to fewer youngsters in action and we did not place but he also picked up coming through to the senior have any individual A string some important points by 2 Continued covering the javelin and long Yet despite this we made sure jump events as well. Similarly every event was filled and Phil Sesemann also took part showed some great quality so in the triple jump and Dan much so that we proved to Kennedy came 2nd in the B be the strongest track team string steeplechase almost on the day but the weakest in immediately after running the field. the 800 metres B string 800 Best event of the day for us runner Peter Tucker was racing was the 5000 metres where have done more but athletes considerably below distance Graham Rush took the lead are limited to competing in as two weeks ago he was the half way through the race and seven events. Club’s second finisher in the just ran away from the field to He wasn’t the only one to do London Marathon in 2.24.00 win in 14.35.43. Alex Bruce more than their usual share of Both Mark Cryer and Jack Littlewood took maximum events. Tom Parker finished Messenger, on his debut, points in the B string and his exams at Cambridge set personal bests in the 110 finished ahead of all the other University the day before but metres hurdles of 15.24 and clubs’ A string runners in a was up at the crack of dawn 16.35 respectively, and Jon time of 14.43.02. It was only to head to Southampton for Pairman equalled his best of half an hour after he had won the first event at 11.30am, 3 metres in the pole vault. the B string 1500 metres in the hammer. He was third in Richard Holt also made a 3.56.55 with Phil Sesemann the A string with 54.16 and return to BAL competition second in the A string in was then happy to contest scoring some useful points in 3.55.32. Between these two the remaining throws for the 400 metres hurdles at the races James Alaka won the a point and also the triple age of 43. Alex Pope racked 200 metres in 22.26 to add jump. However, as so often up a lot of points in the B to the second place he had happens, he did better than string throws. achieved in the 100 metres expected as he was 6th in All these efforts helped the earlier in the day. the B string triple jump and team to finish in 4th place Busiest man of the day, discus and 7th in the shot. on the day, frustratingly 5.5 however, was Luke Likewise, the aforementioned points behind Southampton Smallwood. He was first to Phil Sesemann scored with Windsor and Liverpool arrive at the venue bringing important points in the long well clear.