Sixth place in the final fixture at scorching Milton Keynes on Sunday ensured another season in UK Women’s League as the team placed fifth in Division 2. They finished just five points behind fifth place Belgrave and this deficit would have disappeared had Lauren Deadman not broken down on the way, and failed to make it or Chloe Van Wulven turned back after being delayed in heavy traffic. Fifth place on the day would have ensured fourth place in the Division.

Despite Deadman’s absence the middle distance events provided the richest points harvest. Harriet Scott was runner up in a tactical 1500m race, outsprinted over the last 200m by Belgrave’s Michaela Hutchinson who had won both rounds 1 & 2.  Scott also ran the fastest 400m by a club female for several years with her 57.4s PB, good enough only for fifth.

Sara Luck was unlucky to lose the 800m – only narrowly beaten after running the last 200m with one spike after being tripped in a rough & tumble race, and she equalled her season’s best for third in the high jump. Faye Fullerton, another to be held up in heavy traffic on the M1, arrived just 15 minutes before her race and faced fast opposition, having to settle for third. Good points came in the 3000m after the runners jogged the first few laps in the torrid conditions. Robyn Matson lost out on second place in a tight finish, while Laurie Cooper ran well to take second in the B string.

The throws yielded useful points with two third places in the javelin proving the best return. Louise Mathews was close to her season’s best in the A and Mel Harrison filled in for the missing Emma Christmas in the B. Harrison’s specialist discus and shot produce fourth & fifth places.  Sarah Deacon was fourth in A hammer & B discus, and Vicky Thompson was fourth in the B Hammer.

Lisa Schofield earned a pair of fourth places in sprint & 400m hurdles, with Laura Bealey placing a good third ion the 400m hurdle B contest. Claire Brennan battled hard for little reward against strong opposition in both sprints & 100m hurdles.  Hannah Gamester shrugged off a torn calf to earn points in pole vault and long jump.

The final event the 4x400m relay saw Lauren Clark & Robyn Delivett, who had competed in 400m & 200m respectively, join Laura Bealey & Faye Fullerton to place fifth to round off the second season at this level.

The squad badly missed multi eventer Kate Cowley who completed her first heptathlon for over two years when placing fourth in the Spanish Championships at San Sebastian with 5224 points.

Results: 100H: 14.43; HJ: 1.69m; SP: 11.16m; 200: 26.24s; LJ: 5.61m; JT: 36.17; 800: 2:25.04. 

Three club athletes saw action at Crystal Palace on Friday 3^rd in the Grand Prix meeting. Faye Fullerton improved her season’s best in the 3000m, Lucy Sargeant called a halt to her season after sixth place in an U20 100m race, while Ross Clarke continued to excel with a PB when placing third in an U20 3000m event.