Eastern Young Athletes League, Cambridge, 25 June 2000

WHAT A BONNY GIRL!

Havering Mayesbrook AC's young athletes were in magnificent form at the Cambridge University track on Sunday afternoon. In defeating Cambridge & Coleridge, Dacorum and Huntingdon by a huge margin, the combined girls' and boys' under-17 team maintained their position at the top of the Eastern Young Athletes league.

The outstanding performance of the meeting came when Emma Bonny took the under-13 girls' Long Jump with a massive leap of 4.92m (against a Grade 1 standard of 4.65m) which smashed the Club record that had stood since 1983. Bonny, who attends the Sacred Heart School in Upminster and who recently became Essex Schools Year 7 champion for the Long Jump, only joined the local club two weeks ago.

In the same age group, the middle distance performers reigned supreme with Megan Foley (another Essex Schools' champion) and Robyn Delivett doubling-up in the 800m with Charlotte Watkins and Robyn Matson repeating the feat in the 1500m. 'B' string winners were Sam Day in the 100m and Lucy Sargent in the Long Jump. The 4 x 100m quartet (Foley, Day, Delivett and Sargent) were also successful.

In the under-15 age group, Laura Jones took the sprinting honours in the 100m and 200m including a new personal best of 26.3sec in the latter event. Claire Sargent and Nicola Schofield doubled-up in the 75m Hurdles as did Michelle Haley and Schofield in the 200m, Katie O'Sullivan and Sara Luck in the High Jump, and Sara Luck again and Natalie Adams, both with new personal bests in the 'A' and 'B' 1500m. Other winners in this age group included Melanie Harrison (Discus), Caroline Smith (800m) and Lynsey Clark ('B' Discus and 800m). Another 4 x 100m relay win came from the quartet consisting of Jones, Schofield, Haley and Sargent.

In the oldest age group, Nikki Isaacs ran strongly to take the 800m with Carmel Munson (moving up an age group for the afternoon) winning the 'B' event. Donna Chambers and Faye Powell took both strings of the 1500m and Nancy Smith - following a nasty fall in the 100m - won the 'B' Long Jump. At the end of the afternoon, Smith, Munson, Chelsea Harrison and Nina Brennan combined to win the 4 x 100m relay.

For the boys, the afternoon was full of excellent performances, none more so than Steven Prady's winning leap of 1.80m in the under-17 High Jump. For good measure, Prady, who is coached by GB international Stuart Ohrland, also won the 'B' Long Jump with a new personal best of 5.78m. The 'A' Long Jump event was won by Mark Gardiner who went on to win the Triple Jump and also the 100m (as a non-scorer) in 11.5sec!

The throwers were in good form with team captain Andrew Tierney taking the Discus and also improving his personal best to win the Shot with 11.79m. Greg Smith and Stuart Eve doubled-up to take maximum points in the Javelin whilst Tom Melrose returned to form with 'B' string wins in the Shot and Discus. Another 'B' string success came from Sean Vargas in the 100m. Finally in this age group, the 4 x 100m quartet (Smith, Gardiner, Vargas and Andy Green) was successful.

For the under-15s, English Schools qualifiers Matthew Kelsey and Bob Thanda continued in winning form. Kelsey once again doubled-up in the 100m and 200m whilst Thanda won the 800m (part of his preparation for Sheffield next weekend). Other winning athletes in this age group included Peter Phillips (80m Hurdles and 400m), Adam Lee (Shot and a new personal best in the 'B' 100m), and Mark Connelly (two new personal bests in the Long Jump and High Jump). 'B' string winners were Scott Keating in the 400m and Terry O'Leary in the Shot. The 4 x 100m team consisting of Kelsey, Thanda, Lee and Phillips also had a comfortable victory.

In the youngest age group, Andrew Luck and Dean Shirley combined to take the 'A' and 'B' string of the under-13 80m Hurdles. The versatile Luck went on to win the 1500m (a new personal best) and the High Jump whilst Shirley also won the Long Jump. In the High Jump, non-scorer Michael Jenkins beat the scorers with a leap of 1.42m. In the middle distance events, Paul Andrews and Jay Ryan doubled-up for maximum points in the 800m while Aaron Churchouse took the 'B' 1500m. In the field, Kurt Smith and Christian Newton won the 'A' and 'B' string Discus.

The Eastern Young League now looks a straight battle between the local club and Bedford A.C. and the title will probably be decided when the teams meet at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday, July 9th. In the meantime, the girls' under-17 team continues its McDonald's league campaign at Newham on Sunday whilst the boys have a home McDonald's Southern Premier league match at the Mayesbrook Arena on the same day.

For further information, Contact Doug Tierney - mailto:ttp.doug@tinyonline.co.uk