SOUTHERN WOMEN'S LEAGUE, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD 12 AUGUST 2000

FIFTH VICTORY FOR SOUTHERN LADIES IN PROMOTION BATTLE

Stretching their season’s unbeaten league record to five matches, Havering Mayesbrook’s ladies win at Hemel Hempstead on Saturday, has put them in an almost unassailable lead at the top of the Southern League Division 2.  In the best fixture of the season, involving the division’s top 4 clubs, the win over nearest rivals Exeter, Dacorum and Tring, Thurrock, and relegation contenders Croydon, leaves them with the relatively easy task of taking the Championship title in the final match, in three weeks time.

In the senior group, Kate Brewington continued her blistering form on both track and field, setting three more personal best performances when winning the high jump (1.64m), finishing second in the long jump (5.51m), and third in the 100m (12.9 sec).  Recording her second individual win of the day in her favoured 100m hurdles.  Kate’s magnificent season has been rewarded by her selection to represent England in the heptathlon, at the Home Countries Multi Events International at Waterford, Ireland, in September.

With team captain Debbie Sullivan competing in the 5000m Olympic Trials in Birmingham, and other athletes on holiday, under 17 star Faye Fullerton stepped up to the senior ranks to win the 3000m with ease.  Joanne Sullivan won the B 3000m in similar fashion, and then returned to the track within the hour to repeat the performance in the B 1500m.  There were further wins for Claire Brennan (B 100m hurdles), Laurie Cossey (400m, B 400m hurdles), Lesley Felton (B 400m), and Dorita Harmse (800m, 1500m).

 In the first field events of the day, both Selina Fasulo and Hannah Gamester took the honours in the B hammer, and B long jump respectively.  Although no further wins were recorded, this initial success was supported throughout the day by a string of second places.

Running in the only two events in the match for under 17’s, the 300m hurdles and 80m hurdles, Nina Brennan continued her excellent form by winning both races.  Registering a new PB of 49.7 seconds in the longer race, Nina has another year in this age group, and will have the prospect of reducing her times even further next season.

The under 15’s dominated their track programme, winning 9 of the 10 events.  The sprint duo of Laura Jones and Nicola Schofield lead the way, unbeaten in both the 100m and 200m, A and B races.  Laura has also received recognition of her performances this season with her inclusion in the Essex team for the forthcoming Inter Counties Championships.  Nicola, a year younger than her partner, showed her outstanding versatility by adding the 800m to her list of victories.  There were further wins from Sara Luck (1500m), Claire Sargent (75m hurdles), Danielle Ross (B 75m hurdles), and running 2 years above her age group, Robyn Matson (B 1500m).

In the discus, English Schools bronze medallist Melanie Harrison maintained her unbeaten Southern League record when winning with a throw of 29.92m, and then completed her double by taking the javelin competition.

Having lead the competition throughout the day, the margin of victory was extended further with wins in all the final relays.  Sargent, Schofield, Amy Rogers and Jones in the under 15 4x100m, and for the seniors, Gemma Tyler, Brewington, Gamester and Ruth McMenemy in the 4x100m, and McMenemy, Felton, Fullerton and Sullivan in the 4x400m.

The senior ladies will be back in action this coming Sunday, when they will compete in the prestigious Plate Final at the Bedford International Stadium.

RESULTS

SENIOR
	A STRINGS	Pos.	Time/Dist			B STRINGS	Pos.	Time/Dist
100	Kate Brewington	3	12.9 (PB)		100	Gemma Tyler	5	14.0
200	Hannah Gamester	5	28.0		200	Gemma Tyler	5	27.2
400	Laurie Cossey	1	60.5		400	Lesley Felton	1	62.3
800	Dorita Harmse	1	2:12.0		800	Lesley Felton	2	2:28.4
1500	Dorita Harmse	1	4:34.2		1500	Jo Sullivan	1	4:59.5
3000	Faye Fullerton	1	10:06.0		3000	Jo Sullivan	1	11:08.8
100H	Kate Brewington	1	15.6		100H	Claire Brennan	1	17.6
400H	Melissa Felton	3	77.2		400H	Laurie Cossey	1	74.4
L.J.	Kate Brewington	2	5.51 (PB)		L.J.	Hannah Gamester	1	4.95
H.J.	Kate Brewington	1	1.64 (PB)		H.J.	Sue Deboos	2	1.45
T.J.	Sue Bunting	2	10.80		T.J.	Nina Brennan	2	8.84
P.V.	Sue Deboos	3	1.80		PV	Hannah Gamester	2	1.50
S.P.	Selina Fasulo	4	8.39		S.P	Sarah Deacon	3	7.74
D.T.	Sarah Deacon	4	28.90		D.T.	Melissa Felton	4	25.05
J.T.	Laura Coleman	2	32.90#		J.T	Sarah Deacon	?	24.60
H.T.	Sarah Deacon	3	29.72		H.T.	Selina Fasulo	1	23.18
4x100	Gemma Tyler				4x400	Ruth McMenemy (61.5)
	Kate Brewington					Lesley Felton (62.2)
	Hannah Gamester					Faye Fullerton (60.7)
	Ruth McMenemy	1	50.5			Dorita Harmse (58.1)	1	4:02.5
		#	Club record