83.5

The Senior Men’s team went to Stevenage expecting the worst. This season has been a struggle with illness, injury and work commitments weakening the team – but the team that went to Stevenage was hit more than any time this season. With only 10 athletes on show it was the worst turn-out for over a decade.

But at a warm and sunny Stevenage they showed what could be done. With everyone accepting responsibility to give their utmost, the team achieved far more than could be expected.

Club President, team Captain and multi-eventer Mark Bishop did more than his fair share doing TEN events, accumulating 30 points along the way.

A truly mighty effort by Rob Dickenson, returning to the track for the first time since the London Marathon, saw him put that long distance training to good effect.  He competed in the 800m, 1500m, 5000m and made his debut in the 3000m Steeplechase – grabbing a “B” string win in the 5k & placing 2^nd in “B” 3k S/c along the way. The other distance events were covered by Trevor Keys who was 2^nd in “A” string 5k and won the 3k Steeplechase, before doing a leg of the 4 x 400m. The only other distance runner on show was Salvator Mutijima his day consisted of  an excellent 800m, the 400m, 1500m and both relays.

Under-20 athlete Anthony Williams recorded two personal bests when winning the Long & Triple jumps, he also got good points in high jump, 100m and was a member of the 4 x 100m relay team. Fellow under-20 Lucien Anderson also had a busy day with the 100, 200,400 and both relays. Joe Forde won the “B” Hammer and grabbed a 2^nd place in the shot before dashing back to go to work.

Completing the field events and the team were Sam Harrison – 2^nd in the Javelin by only 33cm before his efforts in the Discus. Daniel Gamester threw the Hammer 43.49 for 2^nd place then took on both the shot and discus events. Stuart Tufton (Vet55) completed the hard working ten by winning the “B” string Pole Vault.  

The teams’ 3^rd place lifted them five places up the table and out of the relegation zone. It’s hoped that by the next match at Milton Keynes in 4 weeks time that many of the missing athletes will be recovered and help to lift Havering Mayesbrook further up the league table.