Ashley Reece (in red) - win treble

Kate Brewington

Natasha White

Andrew Bartlett

Kate Brewington emerged from an eventful two days at Wrexham last weekend with a AAAs heptathlon silver and a new PB and club record. The weekend started poorly when the hurdles was run into a extremely strong headwind reducing Kate to 14.9 secs compared to her 13.9 best, losing her just under 140 points. Good other first day results of 1.62 (HJ), 9.98m (SP) and a 200m of 25.35 (close to a PB). On day two the wind dropped, and Kate long jumped a legal 5.79m. There was a controversial javelin competition with a number of throws harshly given as fouls including a near 35m effort from Kate which lost her another 100 points. Feeling sorry for herself Kate was certainly not looking forward to running the 800m, but knew that a 2m 29 run would give a new PB while 2m 26 would take her over the  5000 points barrier. Kate really went for it and in the end knocked seven seconds off her outdoor PB to run 2m 28.8 secs, adding two points to take her best score & club record to 4969 points. added 27/6/02 

Kate Brewington - AAAs silver & PB

The Havering Mayesbrook girls and boys u17 team travelled to Hemel Hempstead for the third match in the Eastern Young Athletes League. With the girls and boys teams severely depleted due to injuries and other fixtures it was a chance to blood some new faces into the teams. There were numerous wins & doubles, with win trebles from Caroline Smith, Danielle Ross & Ashley Reece.  In the end Havering Mayesbrook just held off the home team Dacorum & Tring by two and a half points, to keep the pressure on the unbeaten league leaders Basildon who HMAC meet in the next fixture in four weeks.  added  25/6/02. 

Caroline Smith (centre) - win treble

Havering Mayesbrook AC’s junior men athletes put up an improved performance finishing third in their National Junior League match at Waltham Forest on Sunday. The field athletes were in good form with Andrew Tierney achieving three victories in the ‘A’ string Hammer, the ‘B’ Javelin and ‘B’ Triple Jump.  For good measure, he finished 3^rd in the Discus and 4^th in the Shot. The other regular thrower on duty, Tom Melrose, also performed well with ‘B’ string successes in the Hammer and Discus and 3^rd in the ‘B’ Shot.  added  23/6/02. 

Andy Tierney

Kirsty Smith added six more centimetres to her club U17 triple jump record with a 10.70m leap at Eton today, and also bettered her long jump best. Newcomer Natalie Street (2nd claim member) won the 400m in a new PB of 56.6 secs while Hayley Mottram was close to her PB in winning the B. Lauren Deadman was a convincing 800m winner while Melissa Felton's B string discus win capped a busy day as she set PBs in the pole vault, shot and javelin. There were also field events PBs for Mel Harrison (shot) and Nina Brennan (hammer).  added  23/6/02.    added  24/6/02. 

Kirsty Smith

Former multi-events international Leo Barker score a win treble as the Southern League Men's team gained their best result of the season, placing second at Portsmouth to a strong Tonbridge squad. Leo's wins came in the 110m hurdles A (16.0), Long Jump B (6.50), and Pole vault B (2.60m) and he was also discus runner up in a new PB, and contributed legs to both relay teams including the winning 4x100m squad. Sean Stewart also matched him with two wins (100m A & long jump A) and three seconds, as well as both relays. Arron Bonning returned to action with two victories in the B high Jump and javelin, and second in the Triple Jump.  Other wins came from Kevin Deacon - hammer and Sam Harrison - javelin. added  22/6/02.  added  24/6/02. 

Leo Barker

Six talented club members have been selected to compete in the English Schools Championships at Nottingham in three weeks (12/13 July). Three of the six hope to repeat earlier medal winning performances. Lauren Deadman, senior girls' 3000m runner-up last year, goes for 1500m glory this time, while Sara Luck, bronze in the junior girls' 800m in 2001, now tackles the same event in the older Intermediate Girls race. Mel Harrison, junior girls' discus bronze in 2000, now goes in the Inter girls discus. Also in the Inter Girls' events is Claire Sargent in the 80m hurdles. In this year's junior girls' events middle distance star Megan Foley earned selection for her 800m performances, while Chloe Van Wulven's fine form wins her selection for the 75m hurdles event. In-form Katie O'Sullivan has been picked as reserve for the Inter Girls' high jump, as has Kirsty Smith in the Inter triple jump.  added  22/6/02 

Back: Lauren Deadman, Mel Harrison, Sara Luck; Front: Megan Foley, Claire Sargent, Chloe Van Wulven 

Kate Brewington broke the 14 secs barriers for 100m hurdles for the first time on Saturday at the Commonwealth Games Trials at Manchester - and repeated the feat in the final. Her heat time of 13.89 secs on the super-fast Mondo track carved three-tenths off Kate's legal best and earned her a fastest loser slot in the  final. She was fastest out of the blocks in the nine-women final and came home just five hundredths slower than her new PB in finishing ninth in 13.94 secs. Her time brings her in reach of Lynn Ilott's 28 year-old club record of 13.78 secs - set over seven years before Kate was born. Debbie Sullivan wound up 25 secs outside her best as she finished 11th of the 26 starters in the 10,000m in 34m 55.76 secs on Sunday. added  15/6/02 revised 16/6/02. 

Kate Brewington - Trials PB

Five golden performance from the club's female contingent led the way in the Essex Schools Championships at windswept Chelmsford today. Cherelle Westlake (pictured) won a thrilling junior girls 100m final, while three other golds in this age group went to Christina Kalejaiye (200m), Megan Foley (800m) and Chloe Van Wulven (75m hurdles). Claire Sargent was the only winner outside this age group, taking the inter girls 80m hurdles comfortably. There were seven silvers - five from the inter girls and two from junior girls and 11 bronze including five from boys.  added  15/6/02.     & Photos added  16/6/02.

Cherelle Westlake (27) wins Junior girls 100m 

The Ladies Southern League team had a runaway victory at Walton today as Sarah Deacon (U20 & Senior Hammer) and Kirsty Smith (U17 Triple Jump) both set new club records. There were PBs galore but one competitor to catch the eye was Katie O'Sullivan who added 6cm to her high jump best with 1.62m, as well as impressively running 400m hurdles for the first time & equalling her pole vault best.  added  8/6/02.  & pictures  added  9/6/02. 

In a double headed fixture at the same venue the Southern Men's turned in some good results but were squeezed down into fourth as five points covered second, third & fourth.   added  8/6/02 . & pictures  added  9/6/02. 

Sarah Deacon - another club record

Debbie Sullivan showed she is in the form of her life as she placed second in the South of England Championships at Watford yesterday. Her silver medal winning 1500m effort of 4m 21.92 secs, close up behind Bedford's Jo Wilkinson, was under a second outside her three-year old best. Also in the medals was Louise Yard whose 26.25m discus effort won bronze in the u15 event, with Lauren Clark one place behind. Kevin Tufton (4.00m PV -9th) and Sam Harrison (49.79m JT - 11th) also saw action.  added  3/6/02. 

Debbie Sullivan - Southern Silver

The Girls YAL team were edged out in a three way fight for second place, finishing fourth (of 8 teams) at Norwich today, as Bromley Ladies took an early lead in the fight for places in the National Final. Chloe Van Wulven (HJ - PB & 75mH-A) and Lisa Schofield (75mH & DT- B) both notched win doubles in the U15s with just four other wins: Lucy Sargent (U15 - L.J), Megan Foley (U15 - 800m - PB) and Mel Harrison & Lynsey Clark (U17 DT A & B). New PBs were recorded by Caroline Smith (U17 - 300mH), Katie Richardson & Robyn Matson (U15 -1500m A & B) added  2/6/02. &  added  4/6/02

In the equivalent Southern Boys Premier meeting at Walthamstow the boys team again suffered from too many gaps and finished fourth & last. added  2/6/02. 

Lisa Schofield - win double

Mel Harrison achieved her best placing in the South of England Championships today when she place fifth in the u17 discus at Watford, held in conjunction with the SEAA Senior Championships. Her 34.94 effort was 60 just cms below her PB, and was two places ahead of teammate Lynsey Clark, whose 33.13m throw earned her seventh. In the senior championships Laurie Cossey placed sixth in the 800m final in 2m 13.05 secs, a season's best and the second fastest time she has recorded. She just missed out on a 400m final place, again clocking a summer 2002 best of 58.6 secs, just 0.4 secs slower than her PB.  Debbie Sullivan was an impressive qualifier for tomorrow's 1500m final, placing 3rd in her heat in 4m 37.73 secs while Gavin Maley ran well in his 800m heat (2nd - 1:57.17) but in his semi-final placed 4th in 1:56.36, outside the qualifiers for the final.  added  1/6/02. 

Mel Harrison in discus action

Link to full results

Appalling wet and windy weather conditions at Southend on Sunday spoiled the Eastern Young Athletes League fixture which ran very late, with some events cancelled and left teams uncertain of the final result. When the results were eventually announced they revealed a good HMAC win with 344.5 pts, ahead of Orion 302, Southend 262.5 and Bedford & County. If you want individual results your editor can only refer you to AW for the few that appeared there as he is waiting in vain for the team managers to tell him anything at all (even the above score)!

Faye Fullerton & Debbie Sullivan contested the Inter Counties Championships at Bedford at the weekend with mixed fortunes. Debbie Sullivan sharpened up for the Commonwealth Games trials in a few weeks with an excellent fourth place in the 1500m final in 4m 29.24 secs. Faye Fullerton opted for the Bedford event in preference to the SEAA U20 Champs but found the going tough as she was outkicked by her more experienced opponents after a slow opening lap in a tactical race and failed to make the final.  added  27/5/02. 

Faye Fullerton 

Havering Mayesbrook's talented youngsters mixed it with the best as they took part in the rain-affected South of England Championships at Watford on Saturday and Sunday. Some good performances were topped by five medals - two of the gold variety. Middle distance aces Lauren Deadman and Sara Luck struck gold in the u20 - 1500m and u17-800m respectively. Steve Prady (u20 high jump) and Mel Harrison (U17 hammer) claimed silvers while Chloe Van Wulven rose to the occasion to come away with u15 hurdles bronze.
 added  26/5/02. 

Chloe Van Wulven - U15 - 75m hurdles bronze

The boys' under 17 squad have it all to do to retain their place in the top flight after finishing fourth and last in their national Young Athletes second round meeting at Croydon yesterday. There were many good results, PBs and a fair scattering of wins but it was the unfilled gaps in the u15 and u17 ranks that left the team adrift of their opponents.  added  20/5/02.  
 added  20/5/02. 

Ross Clarke (left) - U15 - 800m win & PB

A depleted UK Women's League team battled well to finish in fifth place in their long waited return to the national stage in the Division Four fixture at Stoke today. Kate Brewington won both long jump and 100m hurdles as the small squad worked hard to cover the gaps. But in the end the team fell eight points short of 2nd, but were back in 5th place in a close finish. Provisional Team Score: 1 NEB 187; 2 Newport 154; 3 Stoke 149; 4 Gateshead 146.5; 5 HMAC 146; 6 Cardiff 126.5; 7 Bournemouth 122; 8 Bristol 100
 added  19 & 20/5/02.  

Kate Brewington

Former decathlon international - allegedly now retired - Mark Bishop gave a superb Captain's performance as he tackled seven individual events for the Men's British League team at Liverpool yesterday. A B-string pole vault win by "Bish" together with a sprint double by Phil Sadler were the only Havering Mayesbrook wins as the depleted eleven strong squad placed sixth of the eight teams in the Division Four fixture held in wet conditions. Gavin Maley equalled his 800m best. 
  added  19/5/02.  added  19/5/02

The Southern Men Division 3 team - depleted by exams, injuries and the clash with Men's BAL fixture - were a solid third at Oxford as Kent AC & Reading romped away with the points. Rob Warner and Martin Chester won a steeplechase double and there were also wins for Anthony Okete (200m B) and Kevin Deacon who set a new club U20 best with the senior hammer in winning the event. added  19/5/02. 

Bish - Magnificent seven events

Rob Warner - 'chase win in SML

An inexperienced Southern Women's team fielding 10 under 17s, many of them competing in senior competition for the first time, fell just one point short  of victory as hosts Guildford just held off  the late HMAC surge yesterday. Debbie Sullivan and Lauren Deadman led the way for the experienced athletes on show with 1500m and 3000m victories while of the under 17s wins came from a discus double from Mel Harrison and Lynsey Clark, and a 200m B win by Laura Jones. The Under 15 squad were again in dominant form with Helen McDonnell recording three wins, while Lauren Clark won two events.   added  19/5/02. Photos added

Helen McDonnell on her way to a hurdles PB

Twenty six and counting was the provisional medal tally at chilly Basildon today with six gold, 9 silver and 11 bronze at the last count. Leading the gold rush were Chloe Van Wulven (U15G - 75 Hurdles),  Louise Yard (U15G - Shot - Pictured); Faye Fullerton (JW - 1500m); Hannah Gamester (JW - Long Jump); Laurie Cossey (SW - 400m); and Kevin Deacon (Junior Men's hammer in yet another Club record).   & Photos added  11/5/02.  added  13/5/02.

The HMAC Ladies & girls continued in dominant form as the Essex championships came to an end at Basildon today. The 800m events brought three golds as Faye Fullerton came home in a Championship best performance (CBP) in the U20 race, while Megan Foley (U15) and Laurie Cossey (Seniors) both won well. The hammer also brought two golds - both in CBPs - with Sarah Deacon (U20) and Melanie Harrison (U17) both setting new best winning marks. Also in gold medal form were Hannah Gamester (U20 - pole vault) and Claire Brennan (400m hurdles). Kate Brewington (SW) missed out on gold this time but won three silver and a bronze over the two days, while U17 Nicola Schofield won a silver and two bronzes.   & Photos added  12/5/02. 

Louise Yard

Megan Foley

Havering Mayesbrook U17 athletics team won a hatful of medals on the first day of the Essex Championships at Southend today. Gold medals were won by Megan Foley (u15 - 1500), Louise Yard (U15- discus), Alex Winch - U15 walk), Irene Bateman (SW - walk), Nat Senior (u13 boys L.J), Mathew Watkins (U13 boys - 1500m). The silver haul went to Cherelle Westlake (U15 200m), Lynsey Clark (U17 - discus), with bronzes earned by Paul Adair (u13 - 1500m), Christian Newton (u15 discus), Lauren Clark (U15 discus), and Melanie Harrison (U17 discus).
  added  6/5/02. 

Megan Foley - u15 - 1500m win

On a cold and blustery day at Barnet, Shaftesbury Barnet's home ground, the Under 17 boys were up against some good opposition in the first National Young Athletes League fixture of the season.  With a seriously depleted team the boys were a credit to the club, and finished in a creditable third place. Results of those competing were excellent with many PBs & first & second places but at the end of the day there were too many gaps in vital events to close up on second. added  56/5/02. 

Andrew Luck - Hurdles & 800m double

The Men's Southern League team just missed out on fourth place at Stevenage today, finishing one and a half points shy of third placed Richmond. The small team did well to cover all events and the track events brought a good series of results with B string wins from Luke Stott (200m), Neill Collins (800m), Gary Howard (5000m) and Ian Mulley (steeplechase). Veteran vaulter Stuart Tufton was also victorious.    added  4/5/02. added  5/5/02. 

Neill Collins (52) - B 800m win

Kevin Deacon broke the club U20 hammer for the second time this week with a 45.71m effort as the men's U20 team placed fourth in a competitive fixture at Bedford today. Kevin was the only A string winner but among B string wins were a 100m victory for Andrew Bartlett, in a time just outside his best, a  High Jump win for Mark Connelly, discus success for Tom Melrose and hammer win for Andy Tierney. Steven Prady was second in the A High Jump, despite an ankle injury. added  28/4/02 & 30/4/02.    

Kevin Deacon - another u20 hammer record

Two club records toppled as the Havering Mayesbrook U20 team came from behind to win their Premier Division fixture in appalling wet and windy conditions at Hendon today. Sarah Deacon twice broke her club senior and junior hammer record when winning the event and Kirsty Smith three times broke the club U17 triple jump record, three days after her 15th birthday. Katie O'Sullivan won the B high jump and successfully tackled two new events -triple jump and 100m hurdles, finishing third & second. Mel Harrison was in good form winning the B hammer and placing second in both A shot & discus. Lauren Deadman and Faye Fullerton were both convincing winners in the 1500m and 3000m respectively and they combined with Sara Luck and Hayley Mottram to romp away with the 4x400m relay. Earlier in the day Sara and Hayley had both claimed second places - Sara in the high jump & 400m B, and Hayley in the 800m A. Natalie Adams also placed second in the B 1500m.  added  28/4/02.    added  29/4/02.

Kirsty Smith - club u17 Triple Jump record

The Ladies Southern Women's League team finished a solid third today at cold and windy Abingdon. With many of the senior team unavailable there were some gaps in the senior ranks, particularly the middle distances, but the under 15s were in dominant form. The strong following wind blew the sprinters and hurdlers to fast times with new best marks recorded by Lucy Sargent (100m), Chloe van Wulven and Lisa Schofield (75m hurdles double) and Nicola Schofield (80mH). Lisa Schofield added a discus A win, backed up by Vicky Smith's B success, while Christina Kalejaiye notched a 200m and shot double. Chloe van Wulven added a 200m PB and equalled her high jump best. Other hurdles wins came from Claire Sargent and Nicola Schofield (U17 80m & 300m hurdles respectively). Senior wins were thinly spread but Kate Brewington took the high jump honours with Claire Brennan (B 100m hurdles), Melissa Felton (discus B) and Sarah Deacon (hammer) also won while Terri Johnson added a new hammer PB.  added  27/4/02.  added  29/4/02.

Chloe van Wulven - three PBs

The Eastern Young Athletes team were beaten by a very strong Milton Keynes squad who made the most of home advantage on Sunday.  In the end despite some excellent performances the HMAC combined boys and girls u17 team lost to the home side by 50 points. Overall although it was disappointing to lose in the first match of the season, both managers of the u17 teams, Trevor Jones and Marion Newton, can look forward to a good season. added  21/4/02.    

Mel Harrison - triple throws win

The track season started in style at sunny Haringey today as the u15 girls won their section of the Alpha Trophy for the third year in a row. Louise Yard smashed her discus PB with a winning 27.92 to go close to an English schools qualifier while Cherelle Westlake won a sprint double, both in PBs. Lucy Sargent also notched two PBs winning the B long jump and 2nd in the B string 100m. There was an A string high jump win for Helen McDonnell and B string wins for Lauren Clark (1500), Christina Kalejaiye (shot) and Lisa Schofield (discus). For the seniors Faye Fullerton was in sparkling form as she took two seconds off Ann Reason's 1500 meeting record while Lauren Deadman won the 800m from the front. Kate Brewington won the long jump but crashed out of the 100m hurdles while Claire Brennan carved chunks off her 400m hurdles PB.  added  20/4/02 & amended 21/4/02.    

Cherelle Westlake - sprint double

Havering Mayesbrook's plans to redevelop Hornchurch Stadium, which have been on hold for 9 months due to lack of action by Havering Council, are in the melting pot. The new owner of Hornchurch FC, Carl Williams, owner of Bryco Windows, brought forward separate plans for the site's development, which apparently include a resited new track at the south end with an all weather pitch in the centre. The club had only found out by chance that something was in the air after Chairman Doug Tierney saw surveyors at the Stadium last Friday. Follow up investigations revealed that "Mr Bryco" had been closeted in secret talks with Anthony Douglas from Havering Council, which the club had been kept out of.  Doug Tierney and Derek Drew will  find out more at a meeting with the football club's new owner & the Council next Friday (26th). Meanwhile the club committee have vowed to fight the new plans.  added 20/4/02.    

Hornchurch Stadium

Faye Fullerton signed off with her sixth and final win in the London Boroughs Mini Marathon today. After enduring a post-race interview with Sue Barker after her win last year, Faye had to endure interviews both before and after her race this year. She said she was pleased with her win but disappointed that her time had not been faster. The club were well to the fore in other age groups with the girls 13-14 race taking pride of place. Charlotte Watkins came within a stride of winning as Linzi Snow (Woodford Green & EL) clawed back Charlotte's lead with a storming finish, as Charlotte had to settle for runner-up for the second year. Defending champion Megan Foley also finished strongly to claim third but her recent illness had taken its toll and she had to give up her title. In the same race there was further excellent results as Robyn Matson placed fourth and Katie Richardson fifth. In the girls 11-12 race Lauren Clark returned from injury to place third. For the boys Ashley Reece fourth, Andrew Meech (7th) and Ross Clarke (10th) were well placed in the 13-14 race, with Matthew Watkins and Jay Ryan second and third in the boys' 11-12 race.   added 14/4/02 & revised 16/4/02.    

In the 26 mile Marathon proper David Thomas and Roger Winston (both 3hrs 43m 47 secs) were the first club athletes home, ahead of Gary Norbury (3:52:45) with Roger Deadman finishing just inside the 5 hour mark. added 16/4/02

Faye Fullerton

(Photo: copyright Kieran Galvin)

Copies of the club fixture list and handbook are now available for collection at both Hornchurch and Mayesbrook clubhouses. As well as listing the Officers and committee members elected at the AGM on 22 March, and club records as at 23 March 2002, the handbook includes for the first time the competition aims that the club has set for the summer 2002 track & field season.  added 9/4/02.   

Officials 2002

Fixtures Summer 2002

Competition Aims 2002

Neil and Tony Collins took part in the World Cross- Country Champs for athletes with learning Disability in Poland at the weekend. Both took part in the short course 3Km on Saturday and long Course 6km on Sunday and produced their best performances of the winter with Neil leading the England team home finishing 16th and Tony finishing 22nd  (3rd English man) in the short course with the team finishing 4th. In the long course, which had a much larger field, Neil lead England home again finished 17th and Tony finished 29th and the team finished 7th. added 8/4/02.   

Neil Collins

Blustery and chilly weather could not take the heat out of some good weekend performances in open meetings at Crystal Palace and Watford. Joe Golding was a good 800m gold medallist in the u17 800m event at Crystal Palace with 2m 6 secs clocking, with team mate Daryl Rogers in bronze. Vicky Smith claimed silver in the u15 girls' 1500m with 5m 19 while 10-year-old Ingrid Deane shone when placing 2nd with a sub-2mins timing in the under 11 girls' 600m event. Bronze medals went to Caroline Smith (U17 girls 800m) and Lisa Schofield (U15 discus - PB of 22.61m). At the Watford open the hurdlers battled against a strong headwind in the straight to notch three wins with Chloe van Wulven (u15 - 75m - 12.9secs), Claire Sargeant (u17 - 80m - 12.9secs) and Claire Brennan (senior women - 100m - 17.5secs) all victorious. Lucy Sargeant leapt to a new long jump best of 4.48m in the u15 event while Laurie Cossey (senior women's 800m) and Katie O'Sullivan (u17 hurdles) also placed second.   added 7/4/02.   

Joe Golding

The Club's 2nd winter warm up competition took place in bright but chilly conditions at Mayesbrook Park today (Sunday).  Twelve months ago at the equivalent meeting the club had presented long-serving local field events official Doug Riden with a plaque in thanks for many years service to athletics. This time round sadly the meeting opened with one minute's silence in memory of Doug, who passed away last week after collapsing at a Havering Sports Council meeting with a heart attack.

But the sombre opening was swept away by quality, rather than quantity results. Internationals Liz Pidgeon, who went close to 60m in the women's hammer, and Jo Duncan, in the shot, were classy winners in the senior women's events while in the u20 hammer events siblings Sarah and Kevin Deacon both set new PBs and club U20 records for the host club, with 41.56m and 46.21m respectively. Emma Bonny showed good form equalling her best in winning the U15 long jump in difficult conditions while Mel Harrison again improved her hammer best.   added 7/4/02.   

Emma Bonny

The under 13 boys' squad did well to place 13th out of 77 competing teams in the high quality National Road Relays at Sutton Park, Birmingham on Sunday. Matthew Watkins ran well on the opening leg with an 8m36 secs clocking to come in 20th, and Paul Adair (9:01 - 21st) and Joe Webster (9:11 - 25th) kept the team in the top third, before Ross Clarke overhauled 12 opponents with a storming anchor leg of 8:07, which was the sixth fastest stage time, to bring the quartet home in 13th. South of England Champion Ashley Reece was unable to compete after suffering concussion in an accident a few days before. added 7/4/02.   

Ross Clarke - 6th fastest stage

Sarah and Kevin Deacon both set new hammer marks competing at Chelmsford on Saturday (30th March). Sarah, 19, added 20 cms to her own club u20 and senior records with 40.32m while brother Kevin, one year younger, threw 45.13 to go close to Daniel Gamester's 45.28m club best. Mel Harrison was also in good form in the throws at Chelmsford adding over 2m to her best hammer throw with 31.80m and spinning the discus out to 35.02m, within 60cms of her best. Lisa Schofield won the u15 discus with 21.29m while her older sister Nicola's excellent form continued when she ran a swift 42.7 secs for the 300m event, the fifth fastest ever by a club u17. Caroline Smith made a good debut in the same event at Chelmsford clocking 44.1 and two days later at Basildon ran 44.5 in very windy conditions, being denied victory in the last stride. Caroline had also earlier ran a good early season 2m 25.8 secs for 800m. Also at Basildon Mark Connelly was in winning action with a 1.75m high jump clearance and long jump 5.23m leap in the U17 men age group. Mark also set a new personal best 200m mark of 24.2 at Chelmsford.      added 1/4/02.   

Sarah Deacon  

Kevin Deacon  

Helen McDonnell, Lucy Sargent and Louise Yard struck gold as members of the Essex Under 13 Girls' team which maintained the county's impressive record in the National Sports Hall Finals at Birmingham on Sunday 24 March. Helen's 1.45m high jump clearance brought her second place overall while Louise's shot put of 9.77m placed third. Lucy's 6.45m standing triple jump was also well placed in sixth. The Essex team's 499 point tally brought them home 9 points ahead of Birmingham to notch up the county's eighth win in the age group in the eleven years of this prestigious national competition.    added 1/4/02.   

Helen McDonald  

(Photo: copyright Kieran Galvin)