Victory in the final Eastern Young Athletes fixture at Colchester on Sunday was good enough to keep the league title with Havering Mayesbrook for another year.  The holiday affected squad beat Bedford by nearly 50 points and a big win by second-placed Stevenage in their fixture failed to bridge the points gap between the teams.

The Under 17 men once again took the limelight with an amazing 21 individual wins and relay success. Dale Marks-Swain and Michael Lewis cleaned up with maximum points in the 100, 200 & 400, both improving their bests in the shorter sprints. Adam Wileman had a hat-trick of wins in the hurdles, long and triple jumps and Lewis-Walker Dobson also added a trio of wins in the B long, high and triple jumps.  Andy Kerr won the hammer & B shot and moved up a few places on the all-time list with his vault PB. Danny Wilson added wins in the discus & B javelin, and Patrick Lear's PB won the javelin A. Massi Dendani and Hoseah Gikungu won the 800 & 1500m respectively and Glenn Wileman added B hurdles victory and Jake Nelson took the high jump spoils.  The sprint relay team completed the rout.

The improving Under 13 Girls saw off the opposition with six victories. Emma Whitby as in fine form with a winning PB in the 100m and adding another PB for 2^nd. Chenice Constable’s leap of 4.59m not only brought long jump victory but was fifth best ever by a club u13 and longest for 10 years.  Kiera Law and Michelle Hughes added maximum discus points and Heidi Surman-Wells won the 800m. Emma, Michelle, Chenice & Heidi combined for relay victory.

The five-strong Under 17 women were good enough for runners up spot thanks to five victories. Debbie Knight and Nicola Peachey doubled up for full points in the 100m and Becky Stanley had a winning double in the 1500m and B triple jump. Rylie Trott won the B hurdles and improved her triple jump PB and Jess Seekings completed the five with a pair of runners up placings.

The Under 15 boys added three wins and Alex Law contributed two of these with long jump victory and B discus honours as well as 200m PB in second. Reece Mathurin’s 200m PB brought him victory in the B race. Second places went to Alex Habbershaw in the hurdles and Ben Thompson in the discus.

The Under 15 girls were second. Georgie Taylor had wins in both discus and hammer, and was second in the 30m, while Rachel Forder added B discus victory and second place in the shot. Isabella Woods’ 1500m PB placed her second.

The Under 13 boys came home without any victories but notched up seven PBs. Alex Hewitt was runner up in both 100m & 200m, with a PB in the shorter sprint. Robert Woodgate was second in the 1500m and long jump, both in PBs and his 1500m partner L?? Minton was also second. 

The squad now look forward to the “Top 6” Trophy Final at Stevenage on 12^th September when the leading clubs come together in a competitive day of athletics which the squad hope will partially compensate for missing the National YAL final.

Provisional Final League Table after Round 5

1 Havering M               33        3469.5

2 Stevenage & NH         33        3395

3 Chelmsford                33         2969       

4 St Albans                  31         3277      

5 Basildon                    31         2965         

6 Bedford                      29        3045