National Junior Men's League, Southern Promotion Match, Hendon 29 August 2004

The Under 20 men's team produced a superb team effort to clinch promotion at windy Hendon on Sunday. They came from behind to beat Milton Keynes for the second promotion spot as Belgrave ran out winners. They now join the ladies team in the Southern Premier Division next summer.

It was a result achieved the hard way after the loss of some key points scorer, through holidays and other commitments. There were just three wins, but solid top four placings throughout ensured that the team won the coveted promotion spot.

Martin Heys, in his last competition for the club as a junior, was second in the 800m before going one better with a good win in the 1500m A. He was partnered in both by Andrew Meech, who was third in the two-lap event before making it a 1500m double, with a B string victory.  The other win came from Daniel Quinn with a victory in the 2000m steeplechase, and the Southend athlete, who competes in Havering colours under the league’s second claim rules, added points in the 3000m and ran a 400m relay leg. The other second claim members also scored well. Multi eventer Aarron Edwards piled up the points with PBs in both hurdles events, as he gained done second, two thirds and a fourth, while his hurdles partner Adam Brett was 2^nd and 3^rd, while sprinter Adam Shaw claimed seconds in both 200m & 400m, and ran both relays.

Terry O’Leary shrugged off injury to place third in both the A javelin and B shot, the latter a new PB, and he added a hammer PB for fifth. Luke Stott was kept busy as he contested both 100m & 200m, the long jump and both relays, his best result being his 200m third place. 

Mark Connelly was runner-up in the B high jump, while his A string partner Scott Keating was fourth, and also placed third in the B long jump and fourth in the B javelin.

Valuable fourth place points were contributed by Lewis Huckfield (3000m), Jay Ryan (steeplechase), Michael Waller (triple jump) and Christian Newton (B hammer). Waller and Newton added fifth places in their speciality 400m and discus events.  Completing the points tally were Ben Jones and James Coppeard whose 100m and triple jump efforts added to the cause.

With eight of the 19 events to go the Havering Mayesbrook u20s trailed Milton Keynes by eight points but as the relays approached the tables had been turned and Havering were just seven points ahead of them, as Belgrave built up a winning lead.

The second promotion place therefore rested on the outcome of the relays. But Milton Keynes's dropped baton in the 4x100m relay sealed their fate, and a slick combination from James Coppeard, Adam Shaw, Mark Connelly and Luke Stott brought Havering Mayesbrook home second to clinch promotion. A third place finish in the final relay the 4x4 from the quartet of Michael Waller, Luke Stott, Daniel Quinn and Adam Shaw, while MK trailed home last, ensured promotion by a comfortable 19 point margin.

The result capped an excellent season from the squad and is a much-needed boost for the men’s side of the club which has been overshadowed by their female counterparts in the past few seasons.

Photo: Alan Mead (Belgrave H)

Link to full results (Adobe Acrobat)