With champions Herts Phoenix and hosts Stevenage as expected turning out in force and with Essex rivals Basildon & Chelmsford above HMAC in the league team manager John Deacon was aware of the threat of relegation.  But on the day, despite a few glitches in the jumping events,  the squad exceeded expectations.

Wins were always going to be limited - although the full strength senior throws squad again formed the backbone of the team, scoring full points in three events - javelin (Louise Mathews & Emma Christmas), hammer (Sarah Deacon & Mel Harrison) & discus (Harrison again & Lynsey Clark). 

Kirsty Smith, making her first Southern League appearance for some time improved throughout the competition to win the triple jump and added 100m points and opened the sprint relay.

Nicola Hill excelled in the windy conditions to equal her 300m hurdles PB with an emphatic victory, as well as adding second places in the long jump & 80m hurdles, and running the relay. 

Lisa Schofield & Charlotte Owen were both second in their 400m hurdles races in PB times. Lisa took steps towards fitness after injury with sprint hurdles & 200m points, and contributing a leg to the 4x400m squad, while Charlotte also scored in the high jump & U17 sprint hurdles. 

Lauren Clark was also runner up in the 400m flat and anchored the 4x400m to third, and Bethan Siddons was second in the high jump and third in the B triple jump. 

More precious points for the seniors came by virtue of useful debuts from U17s Rachel Kerr (400m) & Christina Holland (1500m B - PB), Vicky Smith with two middle distance fourth places & a superb 400m relay leg, Lesley Felton (800m B), Hannah Gamester (100m & sprint relay) & Kathy Yoka (200m & sprint relay).  

For the U15s Zoey Littlechild & Jennifer Holland won both A & B 1500m with Zoey coming through strongly from half way to win after Jennifer's early pace setting. Holland was also second in the B javelin in a new PB and scored in the high jump.

Kike Oniwinde again won the javelin and equalled her shot PB.  Sam Hill contributed runners-up spots in the discus & B shot, and scored in the hurdles, while Jade Timothy's 800m PB earned her B string second place points.

Third places points were gained by Angela James (75m hurdles) and Rebecca Clements (100m A). Clements also added 200m points and more points came from hard working Nicole Dalton (long jump & discus) and Lilla Jacks (100 & 200). The trio were joined by Sam Hill to combine to place third in the U15 sprint relay.

Link to Full results (pdf)

EVENT

A STRINGS

Pos.

Time/Dist

B STRINGS

Pos.

Time/Dist

100

Kirsty Smith

5

13.5s

Hannah Gamester

3

13.9s

200

Lisa Schofield

5

28.8s

Kathy Yoka (U17)

5

29.0s

400

Lauren Clark

2

62.7s

Rachel Kerr (U17)

4

73.5s PB

800

Vicky Smith

4

2:31.2s

Lesley Felton

4

2:47.0s

1500

Vicky Smith

3

5:11.9s

Christina Holland (U17)

3

5:28.2s PB

3000

100H

Lisa Schofield

3

17.7s

400H

Lisa Schofield

2

71.3 PB

Charlotte Owen (U17)

2

78.3s=PB

L.J.

Nicola Hill (U17)

2

5.27m

H.J.

Bethan Siddons (U17) 

2

1.60m

Charlotte Owen (U17)

5

1.35m

T.J.

Kirsty Smith

1

11.62m

Bethan Siddons (U17)

3

9.70m

P.V.

S.P.

Mel Harrison 

2

10.75m

Lynsey Clark 

5

7.68m

D.T.

Mel Harrison

1

39.19m

Lynsey Clark 

1

32.14m

J.T.

Louise Mathews

1

41.18m

Emma Christmas

1

34.91m

H.T.

Sarah Deacon

1

41.34m

Mel Harrison

1

38.21m

4x100

Kirsty Smith, Nicola Hill, Kathy Yoka, Hannah Gamester 

3

52.0s

4x400

Mel Harrison (72.7), Vicky Smith (64.8), Lisa Schofield (66.3), Lauren Clark (63.4)

3

4:27.2s

EVENT

A STRINGS

Pos.

Time/Dist

B STRINGS

Pos.

Time/Dist

80H

2

12.5s

5

16.9s

300H

1

45.5s =PB

EVENT

A STRINGS

Pos.

Time/Dist

B STRINGS

Pos.

Time/Dist

100

200

800

1500

75H

L.J.

H.J.

S.P.

D.T.

J.T.

4x100