Opening win for Junior ladies

National Junior League, Thames Division, Erith 7 May 2000

A crushing 100 point victory at Erith in the National Junior Athletic League, Thames Division on Sunday gave Havering Mayesbrook's Under 20 Ladies a first big step on the promotion ladder. Only Dartford and Thurrock provided any significant opposition as Havering's track dominance, with 11 victories out of a possible 16 plus both relay wins, was backed up by solid field events results to secure top place points.

Rising star Faye Fullerton again grabbed the headlines. Just six days after demolishing the Essex County 1500m record, the Upminster 15 year old ran twice as far in the 3000m event. In a solo effort the talented Hall Mead student carved nearly five seconds off the club record and was close to the National Junior League record. Her outstanding Grade 1 performance of 9 mins 42.3 secs rightly won her the Athlete of the Match award.

Laurie Cossey was only just outside her best times when winning both 200m and 400m A races and was also part of the victorious relay quartets. Another member of both relay teams was Hannah Gamester who also claimed two first places in the 100m and long jump A strings, and gained useful points with a new hammer best. Rosslyn Francis was also a double winner taking the A Triple Jump and B 200m, as well as showing promise when runner up in the 400m hurdle event and running a sprint relay leg. All rounder Kate Brewington took the B 100m and A 100m hurdles, was second in both high jump and shot events, and ran in the winning sprint relay. Hurdler Lauren Haley took both hurdles B string events, and for good measure was the B string long jump victor. Another B string winner on the field was Sarah Benton with a Triple jump PB, backed up with a javelin placing. Sarah Deacon tackled all four throwing events in a busy afternoon and was rewarded with a discus A string win and a B string shot victory.

Havering's 800m pairing of Lydia Comley and Helen Biscoe were also successful, both coming from behind to win. Helen was runner up in the 1500m and ran a 400m relay leg. Completing the track team was young Donna Chambers who scored valuable points in the 400m and 1500m B strings.

The next league fixture is at Dartford on 18 June, before which several of the Havering Mayesbrook sixth formers face a challenge of a different kind - their A level exams.

Match Result:

1. Havering Mayesbrook 366 points

2. Dartford 257 points

3. Thurrock 194 points

4. Bexley 56 points

5. Ilford 25 points