ANNUAL TRACK AND FIELD AWARDS, 2000

FULL TEXT OF PRESENTATION SPEECH BY DOUG TIERNEY, CHAIRMAN

Good evening everybody and on behalf of Havering Mayesbrook Athletic Club, welcome to this the annual disco during which the awards for the 2000 track and field season will be presented. As you can see, there are a lot of awards to get through but before we start, it would be remiss not to mention what an exceptional season the Club had in track and field.

• Under –17 Women – winners of their McDonald’s league and promoted.

• Under-20 Women’s National Junior League team – winners and promoted.

• Women’s Southern League team – winners and promoted.

• Under-17 combined girls’ and boys’ Eastern Young Athletes team – league winners for the fifth time in as many years and trophy winners for the fourth time in five years.

Our thanks once again go to the coaches, team managers and parents for their efforts throughout the season in getting athletes to the starting line on time and many, many congratulations to all the athletes for a job well done.

Just before we move on to the presentations, I need to pass on our thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation, the Trustees of which organisation agreed recently to give the Club £6,550 – which has already been received – and which, we understand, will be made available on an annual basis for the next few years. This is the first significant funding that the Club has attracted for a number of years and we are extremely grateful to the Foundation. A small amount of that money has been spent on replacing some of our old trophies which had seen better days. 

In addition, the Club has been fortunate to receive funding from six other organisations, also for replacement trophies. Those companies are TTP, Team Strides, Silverflag Ltd, Sports Review, Studyzone.com and the Evanson Consultancy.

There are two groups of awards – the Club awards for Best Performance and Endeavour and the Tony Tester Track and Field Awards. Can I remind you that the winners are selected by the respective team managers so in the event of a query, you know who to look for. The awards will be presented this evening by the Club’s President, Mr Trevor Wells.

The first award is the Club Best Performance award for under-13 girls and the winner is a young lady who was extremely consistent throughout the season gaining numerous Grade 1 times in the 800m, 1200m and 1500m. She recorded a Championship best in the Essex Schools 600m and won gold at 1200m in the County Championships. Ranked No 1 in the country at 1200m - an athlete with immense talent – Megan Foley.

This year, the Endeavour awards for under-13 girls is shared. The first winner is a little girl with a big heart who always gives 100% with her sprinting. With another season in the age group next year and with normal improvement, great things can be expected her. The other winner had a very good season running well in the 800m and 1500m. She also had a go at hurdling even though she’s not much taller than the hurdles. Sam Day and Robyn Matson.

The winner of the Best Performance for under-13 boys goes to a young man who joined the Club relatively late in the season having been spotted winning the Year 7 100m title at Essex Schools. His subsequent times over 100m earned him 3^rd place in the Club’s all-time Statpack and he has a good future in athletics ahead of him. James Gregory.

The Endeavour award for under-13 boys goes to a young man who did everything asked of him (always volunteering to fill gaps on the team sheet). His enthusiasm paid off because he has entered the Statpack for 400m, Discus and Shot. Christian Newton.

We move on to Best Performance for under-15 girls and the trophy goes to a young lady who had an excellent season, consistently winning at 100 and 200m and the anchor leg of the relay squad. Many grade 1 times, winner at 100m in Essex Schools and runner-up in the County Championships. Unlucky not to have been selected for English Schools, went on to represent Essex in the inter-counties. Laura Jones.

The Endeavour award for under-15 girls is another shared award. The first girl is a multi-events athlete who can do just about anything asked of her. Performed very well at 100m, 200m and also the hurdles where she gained the bronze medal in Essex Schools Championships. She is a regular member of the relay team and has another year in the age group. The other athlete sharing the award is another girl who did whatever was asked for the team improving throughout the season and with another year in the age group. Nicola Schofield and Carmel Munson.

The Best Performance for under-15 boys goes to a young man who won a McDonald’s Man of the Match award early season. He took gold at Essex Schools at 400m and went on to take 4^th in the Junior Boys 400m final at the English Schools Championships after a series of new personal bests in the heats and semi. Currently building a career on the soccer pitch with Charlton Athletic – Bob Thanda.

The Endeavour award for under-15 boys goes to a another young man with huge potential for the future. An all rounder who sprints, can run a fast 800m, hurdles, throws the discus and handles both the long and high jumps to effect – Peter Phillips.

Along with Matthew Kelsey and Andrew Bartlett, Peter and Bob formed the 4 x 100m squad that broke the Club record during the season.

What can we say that hasn’t already been said about the winner of the Best Performance award for under-17 women? A hugely successful season with many wins over 800m, 1500m and 3000m – numerous grade 1 times – broke the Club records for 1500m and 3000m – selected for Great Britain on more than one occasion and invited to compete in the Grand Prix meeting at Crystal Palace. And she’s Essex Schools and Essex County Champion. Faye Fullerton.

The Endeavour ward for under-17 women goes to a young lady who had a good season, scoring well at 800m, Shot and Javelin. Always prepared to have a go for the team and the girls team captain. She will be missed in the under-17s and she is Nikki Isaacs.

The Best Performance for under-17 men goes to a young man who has made a big impression with his magnificent Hammer throwing. He made dramatic improvement during the season, won the gold medal in the County Championships and the silver at Essex Schools. The future of the Club’s hammer throwing is in good hands – the hands of Kevin Deacon.

The Endeavour award for under-17 men goes to a fine high jumper who improved throughout the season despite worrying injuries and who was always prepared to give it a go at 400m, long jump or a member of the 4 x 100m team. Watch this young man next year – Steven Prady.

The Junior Women’s Best Performance award is next and the winner is proving to be an outstanding athlete with tremendous potential. Having missed most of winter training, a warm weather training trip to Portugal proved to be the launch pad from which she never looked back. A massive points scorer for the Junior League team winning the League’s Grand Prix event for best performances throughout the season. She also made a significant contribution to the Women's Southern League team. Numerous personal bests brought her a series of Club records. The icing on the cake came after her win in the South of England Heptathlon championships that earned her international selection for England. Kate Brewington.

The Endeavour award for Junior Women goes to a young lady whose versatility in her first year in the age group made her a vital team member. As well as sprinting and long jumping, she added triple jump, pole vault and hammer to her repertoire. Now training under coach Mark Bishop, she promises to be an even more vital part of the women's teams next season. Hannah Gamester.

The Junior Men’s Best Performance goes to an athlete who, in his first season as a senior, showed that he could compete by recording a personal best on almost every occasion. He consistently finished among the leaders and took the Junior Men’s silver medal at 1500m in the County Championships. Glen Coppin.

The Junior Men’s Endeavour award goes to a constant and ultra-reliable member of the Southern Men’s team, recording a series of personal bests and always rising to the challenge. Neill Collins.

The Senior Women’s Best Performance goes to an athlete who, having given many years of excellent service to the Club, continues to improve. Her record in the Southern Women’s league was six wins out of six including a new personal best for the 800m. Her win at the County Championships was the sixth consecutive occasion she has taken the senior 1500m title. She represented Essex, winning an inter-counties 1500m and was a finalist in the UK inter-counties Championships at Bedford. Her performance in the AAA Championships knocked 21 seconds off her previous best and took her into the UK top 100 all-time rankings. Who else but Debbie Sullivan.

The record book will show that the winner of the Senior Women’s Endeavour award competed in the 100m hurdles, high jump, triple jump  and long jump. What it won’t tell you is that more often than not, the events overlapped and it was a case of chasing from one event to another. She has been a great source of points for the Southern Women’s team and in the County Championships, won bronze in the triple jump. Corrina Keevil.

The Senior Men’s Best Performance goes to an iron man who achieved personal bests in both Shot and Discus whilst competing in eight events for the Southern League team during one afternoon at Yeovil, amassing a huge amount of points in the process. Brett Heath.

The Senior Men’s Endeavour award goes to an athlete who competed for the British League team all season running in at least two and often three of the following events – 800m, 1500m, 3000m Steeplechase and 5000m. Graham Pritchard.

The Veteran Ladies Best Performance goes to a fine athlete who, having missed the first two fixtures, was ever present thereafter competing in a total of 17 league and cup races. Her ability to ‘double-up’ in the 4 x 400m and 4 x 100m relay got the Team Manager out of trouble on a couple of occasions. She won gold in the 800m and silver in the 400m at the Combined Southern Counties Vets Championships and, in a blanket finish at the Nationals, was placed 5th in the 800m – only 0.75 seconds from the gold medal. Lesley Felton.

The Male Veteran’s Best Performance goes to a man who recovered from injury that prevented him from competing for the British League team to play an important role for the Southern League team. Keith Robinson.

The Male Veteran’s Track Award goes to another Club stalwart who took this trophy last year and has done it again. Silver medallist in the Veteran’s 400m at the County Championships and a vital member of the Men’s Southern League team – Kevin White.

We turn now to the Tony Tester awards and the first of these – the Tony Tester Track award for under-13 girls – goes to a young athlete who had a very good first season with consistent runs in the 100m and 200m and was a regular member of the relay squad. Laura Baker. The Tony Tester Field award for under-13 girls goes to another athlete having an excellent first season, particularly in the Long Jump. On her debut she jumped a massive 4.92m that smashed the Club record that had stood since 1953. She went on to jump consistently over 4.50m with a number of grade 1 performances. Ranked this week No 1 in the country - Emma Bonny.

The Tony Tester Track Award for under-13 boys goes to a young man who turned in some excellent performances in the 800m, 1500m and 80m Hurdles, achieving a number of personal bests throughout the season. Andrew Luck. The Field award goes to another newcomer who turned his excellent sprinting to good use with some super long jumping. He has another year in the age group and could press for County honours next year. Peter Tyler.

The Tony Tester Track award for under-15 girls is another shared award. The first winner had an excellent season over the hurdles taking the Essex County title and gaining numerous Grade 1 times. She is also a talented long jumper and an important member of the relay squad. She also won gold at Essex Schools and competed for the county in the English Schools Championships. The other joint winner of this award had a consistent season over 800m, 1500m and in the High Jump. She won the Essex Schools 800m title and was selected for the county at English Schools. She always gives 100% and has another year in the age group. The winners are Claire Sargent and Sara Luck. The field award for under-15 girls goes to a young lady who had a splendid season. A consistent winner of the Discus, Javelin and Shot events, she achieved grade 1 performances in the discus. She took gold at Essex Schools and went on to win a magnificent bronze medal in the English Schools Championships at Sheffield. She also got her County call up and will be an invaluable member of the under-17 team next season. Melanie Harrison.

The Track award for under-15 boys goes to a super sprinter who had a terrific season. Along with Bob Thanda, he was a winner of the coveted McDonald’s man of the match award, took gold at Essex Schools over 100m and was unlucky not to return from Sheffield with a medal from English Schools. He also took silver in the South of England 100m Championship. He achieved numerous grade 1 times during the season and will be a force to be reckoned with in the under-17s next year. Matthew Kelsey. The under-15 Field award goes to a young man whose throwing in the discus, shot and hammer events improved dramatically during the season. Two medals at the County Championships – silver in the discus and bronze in the shot – and a host of other impressive performances from Terry O’Leary.

The Tony Tester Track award for under-17 women goes to a young lady who was a consistent member of the team, performing well at 200m, 300m, High Jump and Long Jump as well as being a regular member of the relay team.  we wish her well as she moves up to the u20 ranks next season – Gemma Tyler. The winner of the under-17 field award cannot be here this evening. She had a very good season scoring high points for the team in discus, shot and javelin. She finished the season by taking the silver medal in the Essex County Heptathlon Championships, setting four personal bests in the process. Nina Brennan.

The track award for under-17 men goes to an athlete who only discovered he could sprint competitively this season. He was a high points scorer for the team throughout the season and took the silver medal at 200m in the County Championships. He has the potential to develop into a fine 400m athlete and he is Andy Green. The next award goes to a dedicated athlete who during the season amassed more points than any other member of the team with regular wins in the throwing events. As team captain, he was also always willing to do whatever the team needed including high jump, long jump. triple jump, 400m, 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m. The Tony Tester field award for under-17 men goes to Andrew Tierney.

The winner of the Track award for Junior Women achieved early success in the 800m when she set a new Championship best time in winning the Essex County title. This was a stepping stone to fourth place in the South of England Championships on the way to competing in the English Schools Championships. She was also almost unbeatable at 400m for the Southern Women’s team and National Junior league team. An asset to any team – Laurie Cossey. The field award for Junior Women goes to a young lady who proves that you can be feminine and be a good thrower at the same time. She regularly competed in all four throwing events with distinction, twice bettering her own Club record in the hammer and ending up as top points scorer for the junior team. Winner of the best field events medal in the National Junior league final, she goes from strength to strength – Sarah Deacon.

The winner of the track award for junior men moved up to the ranks of senior athletes and had a good  season that should see him move forward next year . Bronze medallist in the 200m at the County Championships – Jo Crane. The field award for Junior Men goes to an ever present and enthusiastic member of the British League team who had a solid season and who took the bronze medal in the Javelin event at the County Championships. Sam Harrison.

The Tony Tester track award for Senior Women goes to an athlete who had a tremendous season winning eight of her nine races for the Southern Women’s team. She also took gold at the County Championships over 800m resulting in two appearances for Essex. Her best performance performance was saved for the Jubilee Plate Final when she won the 800m in a season’s best time against top opposition. She cannot be here tonight because she has had to return home to South Africa. Dorita Harmse.

The field award for  senior women goes to an athlete who, following a cartilage operation in 1999, returned to competition and maintained her fitness throughout the season. Her performances improved as the season went on producing her season’s best at the end of August – the triple jump coming in the Plate Final at Bedford. Sue Bunting.

The track award for senior men goes to the only fit sprinter to get through the season, producing personal bests in the 100m, 200m and 400m He took the gold medal at 200m in the County Championships. Phil Sadler. Finally, the field award for senior men goes to a fine hammer thrower who improved his personal best throughout the  season and was an ever present and important member of the British League team. Daniel Gamester.