Hot News - May & June 2003

May & June 2003

Double top in AAAs for Kate B

Kate Brewington warmed up for her GB debut next week with double gold in the AAAs under 23 championships at Bedford today. She was a narrow victor inthe100m hurdles, which she won in a season's best 14.00 secs but won the long jump by a more clear cut margin, stretching out to a wind assisted 6.10m. Faye Fullerton won 1500m bronze in th u20 championships. Meanwhile at Chelmsford today, Sara Luck smashed Kate Brewington's u17 club heptathlon record by over 100 points in the Regional Schools combined events competition. Sara set three PBs & equalled one on the way to a 4082 points score. Her marks were: 80h: 13.2; HJ: 1.59m =PB; SP: 6.83m PB; 200m: 26.6s PB; LJ: 4.65m PB; JT: 22.54m; and 800m 2m17.7 secs. Scott Keating placed fifth overall in the Inter boys/ competition. added 29/06/03

NYAL emerge on top in home match

The National YAL squad came from behind to beat Norwich in their home Southern Premier fixture today. The girls ran out easy winners, and remain on course for an auxiliary final place, while the boys stayed close enough to the opposition to secure the overall win. Chloe van Wulven again impressed, equalling Claire Sargent's club 80m hurdles record running into a headwind and cleared a massive 1.70m for a high jump PB. added 29/06/03

Full results

Ross claims record & Southern bronze

Ross Clarke broke Ashley Reece's three-week-old club u15 3000m record in winning a bronze medal in the South of England Championships at Portsmouth. His 9m 25.79 secs clocking trimmed half a second off Ashley's time which broke the 24 year old record. In the u17 girls 3000m championship Robyn Matson slashed four seconds off her best with 10m 55.98s. Several seniors were in action with Kate Brewington leading the way with long jump bronze in a windy 6.07m. Kate was also seventh in the 100m hurdles and ran a 200m. Claire Brennan set a new PB of 15.56s in the 100m despite a strong headwind. Sarah Deacon was fifth in the hammer with 44.53m, and Danny Gamester flew the flag for the men with ninth in the hammer with 41.42m. Laurie Cossey & Hayley Mottram contested the 400m & 800m added 24/06/03

Eastern Young win sets up title bid

The EYAL squad over-powered unbeaten league leaders Bedford at Watford today to put themselves on track for the league title. The team were ahead throughout and excellent relay results extended their lead to 48 points. Lucy Sargent added 5cms to Kate Brewington's u15 long jump record with 5.30m, and also scorched to a 25.9 secs 200m. Among many excellent results two u13s stood out: Ingrid Deane's 5m 8.7secs 1500m (fifth best club all time) and Matthew Bloy's 800m 2m 18.6, for third best ever. Meanwhile in the South of England 3000m champs at Portsmouth Ross Clarke broke Ashley Reece's club u15 record with a 9m 25 secs clocking. added 22/06/03 and updated 23/06/03

Junior Ladies fourth as relay record falls

Some superb performances, including a club u20 4x400m relay record, helped the junior ladies to fourth place in a fiercely competitive NJAL Southern Premier fixture at Copthall today. Ria Lyons, Hayley Mottram, Megan Foley & Sara Luck - whose 57.8 leg was even faster than her flat 400m PB earlier in the meeting - combined to record 4m 1.1 secs to beat the record set in 1974. Wins were hard fought: there was a high jump double for Chloe van Wulven and Sara Luck, a B triple jump win for Lynsey Clark and a B hammer victory for Mel Harrison. PBs went to Ria Lyons (800m & 400m - non score), Nicola Schofield 400m hurdles, Chloe van Wulven (100m hurdles and long jump) and Victoria Thompson (2nd claim) - hammer. The team are now placed fourth at the half way stage, and need to maintain this place to get to the national final.

added 22/06/03

Ten get English Schools Selection

Ten Havering Mayesbrook young athletes are celebrating their call up for the Essex team for the English Schools Athletics Championships which take place at Sheffield in July. They are : Melanie Harrison - senior girls discus; Ashley Reece - junior boys' 1500m; Terry O'Leary - inter boys javelin; Lucy Sargent - junior girls 100m; Katie Richardson - junior girls 1500m and five inter girls: Chloe van Wulven - 80m hurdles; Megan Foley - 1500m, Lynsey Clark - discus; Kirsty Smith - triple jump and Sara Luck - 800m. Longer serving members think this total (10) is the most ever and means that one in six of the Essex team of 60 will come from this club. And with siblings Lisa and Nicola Schofield, and 800m runner Andrew Meech both on the reserve list the numbers may grow in the event of drop outs through injury or any athletes selected for the World Youth Games. added 18/06/03)

Deacons extend hammer records

Sarah Deacon has twice improved her club hammer record this week. Competing at the Watford Open on Wednesday (11th) after bettering the old mark of 44.68m set in April, Sarah launched the hammer even further to a new personal and club best of 45m exactly. Then on Sunday 15th she added another metre to her club best, with a 46.05m throw at Enfield for her fifth landmark this season. Mel Harrison also showed improved form at the Watford meeting spinning the discus over 37m for a season's best. Sarah was not the only member of the Deacon family in record breaking form as younger brother Kevin had also added to his club u20 record at Watford on 28 May with a 52.82m effort. (added 15/6/03 & updated 16/06/03)

Schools' golds keep coming

Club athletes came away with 11 gold and at least 13 other medals at the Essex Schools Championships at sun-baked Chelmsford today. The junior girls and inter girls each contributed four with almost a track clean sweep for the juniors with Lucy Sargent (100m), Lauren McVicar (200m), Lauren Clark (800m) and Katie Richardson (1500m) all striking gold. Inter girls to hit the gold standard were Megan Foley (1500m), Lynsey Clark (discus), Kirsty Smith (triple jump) and Chloe Van Wulven (80m hurdles). Year 7s to win gold were Bethan Siddons (high jump) and the impressive Matthew Bloy (800m). Final gold star was Ashley Reece who set his stamp on the race to win from the front in a new PB, one of many on the day.

(added 14/6/03) pics added 15/6/03 Report added 15/6/03

Kate's record earns full GB vest

Kate Brewington has well & truly earned her spurs on the international stage as today she learned that she has been rewarded with her first full Great Britain vest. She has been selected for the GB heptathlon quartet to compete in the Europa Cup competition in Tallin, Estonia on 5th & 6th July. The competition marks the return to competition of Olympic champion Denise Lewis, and the other GB team members are the current nos 2 & 3 heptathletes Kelly Sotherton and Julie Hollman.

Her selection followed her 12th place finish in the prestigious Arles Heptathlon in France, setting three PBs and competing close to her best in all other events. Her points tally of 5445 was an improvement of 129 points on her two-week old club record and more importantly was in excess of the B qualifying standard of 5400 for the European U23 Championships in Poland next month. Her individual Performances were: Day one - 100m Hurdles 14.01s (-0.8 headwind =SB); High Jump 1.70s (PB); Shot Put 11.08m (PB); 200m. 25.21s (-2.0 m/s headwind). Day two - Long Jump - 5.92m, Javelin - 35.16m; and 800m - 2m 25.89s (PB). Kate occupied 14th place of the 24 competitors overnight, improving two places on the second day. The competition was won by World Champion Eunice Barber. (added 7/6/03 & updated 10/6/03)

Southern Women Success at Chelmsford

The Southern Women's League squad, although with gaps in some events, were nevertheless too strong for the opposition as they won their Division 1 fixture at Chelmsford today. There were a glut of PBs with Megan Foley's sub-60 secs 400m clocking, Lucy Sargent's outstanding B 200m win and relay leg, and Louise Yard's discus PB to the fore. Debbie Sullivan led the senior ladies to 9 wins, including a 100m hurdles double for the Brennan sisters, a hammer double for Sarah Deacon and Mel Harrison, and high jump success for u17s Chloe Van Wulven and Katie O'Sullivan. There was a near clean sweep in the u17 hurdles events and the u15s were again dominant with 14 wins out of 21 - Louise Yard, Lucy Sargent and Lauren McVicar all claiming win hat-tricks. (added 7/6/03 & updated 8/6/03)

Club records for Kate B & Ashley Reece; NYAL Win

Kate Brewington's superb form continued when she further improved her own club long jump record at Bedford today. Her 5.95m effort, with the wind just below the legal limit, earned her third place in the Bedford International Games, won by European & Commonwealth medallist Jade Johnson. Kate also clocked 14.23s when placing seventh in the 100m hurdles.

After leaving Bournemouth thinking they had placed third the National Young Athletes boys' & girls' team received the fantastic news today that they had actually won in their mid-table clash. The highlight was a club 3000m u15 record of 9m 26.3s for Ashley Reece but there were many other good results from a thinly stretched team. (added 1/6/03 & updated 2/06/03)

Stronger show but Southern men last

Despite fielding a much stronger team and producing some good results the Southern League team still brought up the rear in a good quality Division 3 fixture at Luton on Saturday. Ever-improving sprinter Simon Parker (far right) twice lowered both 100m & 200m PBs and ran an impressive opening 400m relay spilt. His partner Jonathan Buckler (left) also bettered his 200m PB and scored 100m and triple jump points, as well as running in both relays. Terry O'Leary had an excellent debut in senior competition and golden oldie vaulter Stuart Tufton cleared his highest for several years. (added 1/6/03)

New club record for Kate Brewington

Kate Brewington won the Woodford Green Heptathlon competition at the weekend with a new Personal Best score of 5316 points, a 90 point improvement on her own club record. On the way her individual Performances were: 100m Hurdles 14.01; High Jump 1.64; Shot Put 10.48; 200m. 25.14 PB; Long Jump 5.90; Javelin Throw 35.32 PB; and
800m. 2:27.52 PB.

Faye Fullerton was fourth competing for Essex in the Inter Counties champs on Monday at Bedford in a new PB of 4m 21.38secs. (added 28/5/03)

Eastern Young team win at Southend

The Eastern Young Athletes team made light of the absence of a number of athletes competing at the South of England championships with a comfortable 50 point win at Southend yesterday. The u17 girls dominated their age group and the two Robyns - Matson and Delivett - both recorded PBs in winning their 1500m and 300m events. The u15s were thin on the ground but Helen McDonnell equalled her hurdles PB on the way to a win treble. The U13 girls also dominated with a Nicola Hill hat-trick. For the boys, the u13s and u17s were victorious and the u15s were edged out only by one point. Terry O'Leary also claimed a hat trick of throws wins, including a discus PB.

(added 26/5/03)

Gold for Lisa & five more bronze at SEAA U20s (Day 2)

Lisa Schofield won u15 hurdles gold by the thickness of her vest in a blanket finish at the SEAA U20s at Watford today. After smashing her PB in the heat to put herself in medal contention a blistering start saw her lead throughout & just hold on to gold in a new PB of 11.65s for third on the club all time list. Lisa's training partner Chloe Van Wulven added to her high jump bronze with a hurdles medal of the same hue as she smashed her PB to clock 11.76s, close to Claire Sargent's club record of 11.7s. Other bronze medals were delivered by Megan Foley who put memories of her lack-lustre heat behind her to slice five seconds off her 1500m PB with 4m 33.25s, Sara Luck, a whisker outside her 800m best. There was double delight for Louise Yard whose shot PB and discus season's best earned her two bronze medals. Other athletes notched a glut of PBs helped by fierce competition and good weather.

& pics (added 25/5/03)

Bronze treble at Watford in SEAA U20s (Day 1)

Three bronze medals were the haul from the first day of the South of England Champs at Watford today, with the promise of more success on day two. Mel Harrison's shot PB of 10.54m won her u20 bronze and made up for her earlier discus disappointment. Lucy Sargent was an impressive 100m u15 girls' heat winner in 12.52s and was almost as quick in less favourable conditions for the final, claiming third. Chloe van Wulven once again improved her high jump best as she too took bronze in the u17 competition. Both Mel and Chloe challenge for medals again on day two in the hammer and hurdles. Other final placings were: Lynsey Clark - u17 discus PB - 4th, Lisa Schofield - u15 LJ 5th; Nicola Schofield - u17 300m hurdles, season's best.

(added 24/5/03)

UK Women win - NYAL 3rd - SML 4th

The UK Women's League team set out their stall for promotion with victory by 4 points in the first fixture at Stafford today. Sarah Deacon was in fine form with a hammer A & discus B double win plus a javelin PB. Faye Fullerton was a fraction outside her 800m best in winning the A race, while Debbie Sullivan won the 3000m and was 2nd in the 1500m. Laurie Cossey had a busy day, winning the 400m B and 2nd in the 800m, while Mel Harrison made it a winning league debut with a hammer B win.

(added 18/5/03) .

The NYAL put up a much improved performance with many wins against top teams Enfield & Haringey and Shaftesbury Barnet and placed third, with over 400 points. The girls' team won their section by a massive 72 points to register a claim on a national final place. (added 19/5/03) .

Also third were the depleted Southern Women's League team at Bromley on Saturday, while the nine-strong Men's Southern League div 4 team had to settle for 4th. Southern Men's league (added 18/5/03)

BAL Men Fourth at Mayesbrook
The British League Men's team shrugged off several gaps to place fourth in the first BAL Division 4 fixture at Mayesbrook Park today. Matt Russell marked his return to league action for the club with a 200m victory and was well supported by Scott Spencer who snatched the B race in a blanket finish. Both also contributed to the winning sprint relay foursome and were well placed in their other events. Danny Gamester's B hammer win was the only victory and there was a pole vault second place double for captain Mark Bishop and Kevin Tufton, and a long jump second for a busy Leo Barker. Bish also added 2nd in the B shot, while Sam Harrison was also 2nd in the B javelin. (including full results) & Pics (added 17/5/03)
Essex Gold Rush Continues
Ten more golds were amongst twenty-three more medals at Chelmsford today on the third and final day of the Essex Champs. Three were earned in the 800m events. Sara Luck resisted Megan Foley's challenge for the u17 title, and Katie Richardson and Lauren Clark also made it a u15 one-two. Faye Fullerton made it a middle distance double with an impressive 800m victory to add to her 1500m success. Kate Brewington emerged victorious in the 200m, to make it triple gold, and added a further silver in the high jump. Former international walker Irene Bateman led her young walking trio to gold as Suzanne Michaliewicz (u17), Alex Winch (U15) Vicky Winch (u13) strolled to victory. The final gold came right at the end of the day after the rain had arrived as Mark Gardiner won Junior Triple Jump gold. (added 11/5/03) *& Pics* (added 12/5/03)	Sara Luck and Megan Foley

Eleven Golds at Essex Champs Day Two

Twenty eight medals, eleven of the gold variety, represented rich pickings at Chelmsford today on the second day of the Essex Champs. Kate Brewington smashed through the 6m barrier in the long jump at last, aided by a stiff breeze, and also added the shot title in a new PB for good measure. Faye Fullerton was close to her best with a new CBP in the 1500m and Ashley Reece made it an 800m-1500m double with another PB. Chloe Van Wulven was an impressive winner of the u17 80m hurdles, run into a stiff breeze, and added high jump silver later. There also were field wins for Kirsty Smith (u17w triple jump; Kevin Tufton - pole vault; Kevin Deacon - junior hammer, Mark Connelly - junior high jump and newcomer James Coppeard, u15 triple jump. (added 10/5/03) & pics

Kate Brewington

Golden harvest at Chelmsford

Club athletes reaped a golden harvest today at the first day of the Essex Champs at Chelmsford. There was a hat-trick of 1500m victories as Ashley Reece (u15 boys - 4m 18.93s PB), Katie Richardson (u15g - 4m 52.87s PB) and Megan Foley (u17g - 4m 45.40s) all sped to victory. Lauren McVicar came from behind to win u15 200m gold (27.1), Nicola Hill was a clear u13 girls 70m hurdles winner (12.62s), while Lynsey Clark was close to her day old PB in winning the u17 discus (35.48m). Silver service was provided by Christina Kalejaiye (26.02s PB - u17 200m), Ingrid Deane, who dipped under 4m in the 1200m u13g, and Louise Yard, who won the u15 discus, in which Lauren Clark added bronze. The eleventh and final medal came from Helen McDonnell who recovered from a near-disaster in the long jump to place third in the u15g pentathlon with a PB 2508 points. (added 5/5/03) & pics (added 6/5/03)

Megan Foley on her way to u17 1500m gold

Young Athletes Find it Tough

The combined boys and girls young athletes teams came up against strong opposition in the first fixture of the new format league. With several athletes away, resting or unavailable ahead of Monday's Essex Champs Day 1 it was always going to be tough but the might of the powerful newly merged hosts Blackheath & Bromley, Windsor, S, E & H - two of the strongest teams in the south - and Harrow proved too much for the HMAC squad were fourth and last. There were some excellent individual performances including a 50+m javelin throw from Terry O'Leary and 41.9 secs 300m from Sara Luck - with the second and third best ever respectively in the club u17 all-time lists. (added 5/5/03) Pics added (added 5/5/03)

Nicola Hill

Southern Men bring up the rear

A short-handed Southern Men's League team was hit further by travel delays which meant late arrivals for several team members. Once under way there was a welcome return to club colours from Matt Russell who was 100m runner up and won the 200m and contributed to a sprint relay win. Kevin Deacon added three metres to his club best with the senior hammer winning the event while Mark Connelly was victorious in the high jump. Rob Warner improved his steeplechase PB, finishing second. (added 405/03)