Southern Men's League Division 1 – Round 3 – Haringey 25th June 2005

The Men's Southern League team returned to winning ways with a 10 point victory in their Division 1 match at Haringey on Saturday.  There were 11 individual wins, with a strong middle distance showing at the heart of the team's success which saw them ease ahead from midway after an early tussle for the lead with Winchester. 

Gavin Maley scored a 1500mA/800mB double. He followed the 800m pace before unleashing a devastating sprint of the last bend to ensure victory but took a more positive part in the 1500m pace making before kicking for home for a middle distance double.

Matt Bland led from the gun in the 5000m but was reeled in mid-race his his Blackheath opponent and teammate Chris Coates before establishing a winning lead, while Coates stayed with the pace to score maximum B string points for a win double.

Trevor Keys and Rob Warner also notched up a winning double in the 'chase. Trevor was in control throughout although was made to work hard by the host club's runner while Rob hung on bravely in the cold & breezy conditions and was rewarded with a new lifetime best to win the B string in the combined race. 

Other middle distance successes came from Salvator Mutijima who won the B1500m and set a new 800m PB for second in the A race.

More victories came in the throwing events where Danny Gamester & Kevin Deacon doubled up for a hammer win & Sam Harrison returned from injury to take the javelin with a throw not far short of his best. Gamester also scored well in the B shot & discus while Harrison was partnered by young Bone Buwembo who placed third in the javelin B.. 

Captain Mark Bishop had a typically busy day and contributed the 11th & final win with B string victory in the 110m hurdles race. He also added second place points in both pole vault and shot, and was third in the discus, and both long & triple jumps. Veteran Stuart Tufton partnered Bishop in the vault and also claimed a valuable runners-up spot.

The sprints were not such a happy hunting ground as Matt Russell suffered a recurrence of his leg injury in the first few strides of the 100m but his absence from the 200m opened the way for the improving Luke Stott to set a new PB in a competitive race and place second. Stott was also fourth in the B 100m while Scott Spencer was third in the B 200m and fourth in the A 400m. His B string 400m partner Luchien Anderson set a new PB in the B event. Anderson, Spencer and Stott combined with Gavin Maley to place second in the final event the 4x400m with Luke Stott anchoring the team home with his fastest ever split, close to 50secs.

Kevin Benton was useful second in the one lap hurdles but landed awkwardly when well placed in the sprint hurdles and jogged home last. In the B 400m hurdles Phil Tierney improved his best and  has room to improve further. Mark Connelly and Clint Nicholls completed the show with good high jump placings.