Good evening everybody. On behalf of Havering Mayesbrook Athletic Club, I would like to welcome you all to this presentation evening celebrating the winners of track and field awards for the 2006 season. The awards are being presented this evening by the Club’s President, Mark Bishop. Thank you for being with us again this evening Mark.

As ever, the winners have been selected by the respective team managers so please don’t shoot the messenger. Similarly, most of the words I’m using over the next few minutes have been supplied by team managers – I’m just the mouthpiece.

In terms of the awards, we have a Track Award, a Field Award and a Team Member Award in each age group (male and female) selected by team managers for performances in competitions in which the Club has a team. In addition, there are four Best Performance Awards selected by the Club Committee. Finally, we have one new award being presented this evening for the first time.

We begin this evening with the older age groups working towards the youngest. So the first award is the Field award for Male Veteran and it has been won this year by one of the Club’s long-serving senior men who shared this award last year but who has won it outright this time around.  The pole vault as you know is a highly technical event and calls for special skills that this guy continues to demonstrate year in, year out. STUART TUFTON.

The Track award for Veteran Ladies has been won again this year by an athlete who, for her, had a quiet year, competing only at Club level. Her intention was just to help out when needed but it will come as no surprise that in spite of this, she proved to be a valuable member of the UK Women’s team being the 4^th highest scorer in track events. She was also happy to help out for the Southern Women’s team and whilst she has again gone on record as saying she’s getting too old for all of this, we hope she doesn’t hang up her spikes just yet but stays around for another year. LESLEY FELTON

The Track award for Senior Men goes to another Club stalwart who as man and boy has demonstrated some impressive runs over the years.. In 2006, a season where the senior men’s team was under some pressure to survive in Division 1, he again performed with credit and took the 400m title at the Essex Championships. SCOTT SPENCER.

The Field award for Senior Men goes to an athlete who can always be relied upon to gain good points in the Javelin competition and who is an important member of the Southern Men’s team. He again improved his personal best this year and, as we will hear later, had superb results during the season with the young athletes in his coaching group. SAM HARRISON.

The Team Member award for Senior Men is shared this year by two athletes who were very busy during competitions with little time for catching breath. It wasn’t at all unusual to see the first winner competing in thee events at the same time – pole vault, hammer and hurdles and then going on to complete four or five more, amassing many points in the process. The second winner was involved in various track events – 400m, 800m, and 1500m – gaining valuable points in a difficult season for the senior men. The winners are ARRON BONNING (who sadly is working this evening) and SALVATORE MUTIJIMA who will collect both awards.

The Track award for Senior Women goes to an athlete who showed great versatility in both sprinting and hurdling producing excellent performances in both short and long hurdles for the UK Women’s League and Southern Women’s teams. She also helped out in the sprints and field events when the Club needed her and was a valuable member of the relay team. Her performances in the long hurdles – the first track event of the day - often set the tone for the team for the rest of the meeting. The award goes to CLAIRE BRENNAN who cannot be here this evening so it will be collected by her team-mate, Laurie Cooper.

The winner of the Senior Ladies Field award is a relatively new recruit to Havering Mayesbrook. She is an outstanding javelin athlete who was the backbone of the UK Women’s and Southern Women’s teams. Remarkably consistent, she was unbeaten in all her competitions. On an individual basis, she broke the Club record on more than one occasion. She also won county gold, was 3^rd in the southern champs and 3^rd in the national inter-counties. Her enthusiasm and understanding was a great help to her fellow javelin throwers.  LOUISE MATHEWS

The Senior Women’s Team Member award goes to a young lady who whilst being an outstanding discus thrower, was also a very versatile thrower for the Club in both the UK Women’s and Southern Women’s leagues. She competed at discus, hammer and shot earning many points for the team and her season also included other events such as the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays. Unfortunately, the winner – MELANIE HARRISON – cannot be her this evening but her award will be collected by her father, Peter.

The Track award for Junior Men unusually goes to an athlete who was only able to turn out on one occasion. However, his performance over the 400m Hurdles from lane 1 against a quality field in his first ever race over the distance was as his coach, Tony Benton, called it ‘phenomenal’. Already ranked in the Club’s top-ten at both 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles, he has huge potential. RICHARD DEMKO.

The Field Award for Junior Men goes to a young man who performed consistently against very tough competition in the hammer event. He also competed in the Shot and Javelin events to help the team gain points. He will be a big scorer in the league in 2007 if his progression to date is anything to go by. The winner is JOE FORDE.

The Team Member award for Junior Men goes to an athlete whose  all round effort was an inspiration to others always taking on as many events as he could with a big smile on his face. Despite this major effort on behalf of the team, he remained critical of his own performances when there was no need. ASHLEY REECE.

The Track Award for Junior Women goes to an athlete who, by her standards, had a low-key 2005 season but who bounced back this summer with a series of excellent performances. She improved her 400m hurdles pb in the first round of the National Junior League and went on to bring it down further in the first two UK Women’s League fixtures taking her to second on the Club’s all-time list. She also turned in a series of consistent high jump performance in both leagues and also set a new pole vault best. Her best performances came in  her speciality sprint hurdles where a series of sub-15secs results in league and championships showed a return to form confirmed by her English Schools' silver medal, her third and final podium place. Although she is now studying at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, the winner is in Havering this evening but just up the road at the Sacred Heart school for annual prize-giving. The winner is CHLOE VAN WULVEN and her award will be collected by her coach, Tony Benton.

An injury free season at last saw the Junior Women’s Field Award winner realise the promise she had shown as an under-17. After improving her long jump pb in the first junior league fixture she made her mark in the Essex Champs adding over 60cms to the Club’s 10-year old senior and U20 triple jump records. Consistent performances in the junior league – including another long jump pb – and UK Women’s league was capped by another triple jump pb and Club record of 11.83m in the AAA Championships. A triple jump victory in the final Southern Women’s match helped the team preserve their top flight status. KIRSTY SMITH.

In a season where there was considerable discussion about some athletes’ willingness to compete for the Club, the winner of the Junior Ladies' Team Member award set a shining example to other members. She competed in all six rounds of the Southern Women’s league, all the Junior league fixtures and all three UK Women’s league meetings as well as the early season Alpha Trophy – a total of 14 occasions – as well as wearing the Club vest with pride in championships and open events. Ever willing to tackle other events in addition to her main javelin event – EMMA CHRISTMAS.

We have now reached the under-17 category and the Men's Track award in this age group has been won by a fine young athlete who competed in numerous track events setting pbs in the 800m, 1500m, 3000m and 1500 steeplechase For good measure he also gave the 100m hurdles a go.  GRANT TWIST.

The Field award for under-17 men has been won by a young man who was ever present during the season and who displayed a fine attitude to competition and training. He set pbs for high jump, discus and shot and was happy to try whatever events had gaps for the sake of the team. He will be a very valuable addition to the junior ranks next season. CRAIG MOORE.

The under-17 Men’s Team Member award goes to a young athlete who at the start of the season and to to ensure he got in the team, trained for the hurdle events. He actually competed in many track events and most field events and was always hungry for more. An absolute dream for any team manager. DANIEL LOYNES.

We come now to the Track award for Under-17 Girls and the award goes to a young lady who had an outstanding season gaining many valuable points for her consistent sprinting. The team manager recalls the highlight being in the final National Young Athletes meeting of the summer when she took over the baton on the last leg of the 4 x 300m relay 40m behind the other runners and finished some 40m ahead to win the race. But there’s much more than just sprinting to this girl. She also features in the Club’s all-time top-ten at 80m hurdles, 300m hurdles, shot, javelin and heptathlon. FRANKIE CALDER

The Field award in this Under-17 Girls age group goes to a fine young athlete who has already experienced considerable success including her silver medal at the English Schools Championships last year. This season, despite a series of injuries, she again performed to a very high level in the high jump (new PB 1.66M) and, in a new event for her, the triple jump. In the National Young Athletes match at Tonbridge, she was named as the ‘field athlete of the match’. BETHAN SIDDONS.

The team manager for the under-17s obviously had a difficult time selecting the winner  of the Girls' Team Member award and decided that it should be shared this year,  The first winner is a young lady who in her first season set pbs in the 300m and 800m and was a member of the 4 x 300m squad that broke the Club record. The other winner competed in every track event from 100m to 3000m to consistently score valuable points for the team. ALEXANDRA BEARD and REBECCA OWEN.

We have reached the under-15 age group and the boys’ Track award and we have another shared award. The first young man to share the award has been nominated for his prowess in the 400m, 800m and 1500m events that he made his own. Depending on what other athletes were available, he was always prepared to acquiesce and slot into the 800m or 1500m to the team’s best advantage. An extremely dedicated athlete who helped make team selection that much easier. The other winner was selected for his talent as a sprinter who dominated the 100m and 200m all season despite enthusiastic rivalry from team-mates. His unselfish single minded dedication to his sport is a lesson to other young athletes. He would often be seen talking to younger athletes offering advice and encouragement. SIMON BROWN and SCOTT DAWS.

The winner of the under-15 boys' Field award was selected for his extraordinary throwing ability with the discus and a pretty good shot putt. Early in the season, it was difficult to cover these events but the award winner soon turned that around. Often teaming up with Georgie Bean , the pair would frequently clean-up in the A&B strings collecting many points along the way. Another athlete with huge potential. JORDAN JACKSON

The Team Member award for under-15 boys goes to a young athlete selected for his dedication and commitment to competing in as many events as he was allowed to, often putting in an exceptional performance. He had a record of almost never being out of the first three and shows real potential. His team manager has asked me to express his thanks to this young man for covering so many events. GABRIEL MAKINWA

Now it’s the turn of the under-15 girls, beginning with the Track award and a young lady taking an award for the second year running – last year she won the U13 girls' team member award. Her sprinting over 100m and 200m was of a very standard setting pbs in the process during the season – all this in her first year in the age group. She can look forward to the 2007 season with confidence – REBECCA CLEMENTS.

The Field award in this under-15 girls' age group goes to a young lady who was very single minded from the day she came along to join the Club – she wanted to throw the javelin – and there wasn’t much of her at the time. However, her throwing under Sam’s coaching has been superb and her throw during the season of 30.57m put her in second place on the Club’s all-time list – just three centimetres off the top spot. KIKE ONIWINDE.

Finally in this age group, the Team Member award goes to somebody who faced strong opposition throughout the season in a competitive under-15 girls’ team. This didn’t stop this young lady’s willingness to get involved in as many events as she was allowed to.  Her attitude in training will see her do even better next season. NICOLE DALTON.

On now to the under-13 boys and the winner of the Track award. The award goes to a young man who proved to be a dynamic sprinter during the season. With a personal best of 12.7sec for the 100m, there weren’t many among the opposition who could live with him. His presence in the squad seemed to inject that special ingredient that had everyone buzzing and helped to spur on his team-mates. Given normal progression, he should be an exciting prospect in the under-15s next season. CHARLIE SMITH

The under-13 boys’ Field award goes to a young athlete for his plucky all-round performances during the season which ended with him dominating the high jump and shot putt despite strong competition from his team-mates. As he moves up the age groups, we may see him develop into a fine multi-eventer. His high jump best of 1.41m saw him enter the all-time list in 10^th position. JAKE NELSON

The winner of the under-13 boys’ Team Member award is described as somebody who met the criteria for the award perfectly. He was dedicated to scoring as many points as possible for the team whilst dominating the 800m. As soon as he had recovered from whatever event he had just competed in, he was snapping at the team manager’s heels looking to fill whatever gap existed on the teamsheet. RYAN O’MAHONEY.

So to the girls and the under-13 Track award and the team manager found it impossible to separate two excellent young athletes and so this year the award is shared. Both athletes were in tremendous form all season in the 800m and 1500m events, regularly scoring maximum points for the team. Both feature strongly in the Club’s all-time lists for 600m, 800m, 1200m, and 1500m. The under-15 age group is going to benefit next season for the inclusion of ELEANOR BOUNDS and REBECCA O’NEILL..

The Field award in this age group has been won by a young athlete who in her first year of competition went to the top of the Club’s all-time list with her throw in an open meeting of 28.52m in the Discus. She has a remarkable talent for the event and with normal improvement should be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. We expect to hear a lot more of LANNAHN LEARY-KIERNAN.

The Team Member award goes to a young lady who was always willing to assist the team manager with filling in where necessary and her name features in hurdles, discus, high jump, long jump and shot stats. Last season, her 13.4sec 75m hurdles time was the 2^nd best of the season by an under-13 girl. JESSICA SEEKINGS

We now come to the four Best Performance award adjudicated by the Club Committee. These awards are for performances outside the normal Club competitions so the Committee was looking, for example, at Club records,  County representation, a Schools' vest, International honours, etc. 

The first of these Best Performance awards is for Males in the age groups under-20 up to and including veterans and the Committee decided that the award should go a young man who has shown total dedication to his sport. To those of us who have been fortunate to watch him train and develop both at Mayesbrook and Hornchurch, he has been a fine example of what can be achieved by hard work. That isn’t to say he isn’t naturally talented because he is – he has a huge talent that will serve the Club well in years to come. In the season under review, he took the bronze medal at the Essex Championships in the long jump and followed up by taking gold in the triple jump. He won another bronze medal in the South of England Indoor Championships in the 60m Hurdles and took a silver medal in the Essex Indoor for his long jump. He is also a superb high jumper and is currently ranked 3^rd on the Club’s all-time list for Junior Men 110m Hurdles. ANTHONY WILLIAMS.

And so to the winner of the Best Performance award for women in the age group under-20 to veteran. It goes to a young lady who continues to be one of the Club’s finest ambassadors. In that very difficult period of studying at University whilst still maintaining her athletics training, she had another successful season. This included a GB international vest – this time at senior level in the four way  international against China, Russia and the USA where she partnered Jo Pavey; she won the gold medal in the AAA U23 Championships at 1500m; she was invited to compete in the highly prestigious London Grand Prix, took the gold medal in the Essex Champs at 1500m and broke her 1500m pb in the Antwerp Classic against international opposition. It’s sometimes easy for athletes of this calibre to duck out from representing the Club but that doesn’t apply to the winner of this award. She turned out for the UK Women’s league team where she did far more than could be expected of her. FAYE FULLERTON.

The next Best Performance award is in the age group under-13 to under-17 inclusive and we start with the boys. This was a difficult decision to make with three young men in particular having had wonderful seasons. In the end, Committee members decided that the award should go to another of the Club’s wonderful javelin throwers. This young man took the gold medal at the Essex Champs and Essex Schools Champs. He did the same at the SEAA U15 Champs and the highlight of his season was his tremendous silver medal performance at the English Schools Championships. He is ranked second in the Club’s all-time list behind his training partner Bonne Buwembo and has a terrific future in front of him. GEORGIE BEAN.

So to the Best Performance award for girls in the age group under-13 to under-17 inclusive. It goes to a young lady who goes from strength to strength and who had an excellent season. I’ll just run through some of her achievements – bronze medal SEAA indoor champs 60m hurdles; gold medal Essex indoor champs 60m hurdles and bronze in the long jump; gold medals at the Essex Champs in the 80m hurdles and 300m hurdles; gold medal in the Essex Schools 80m hurdles; represented Essex in the English Schools Championships; selected for Essex Schools Eastern Region Multi events and English Schools multi events and finally, representation at the Southern Inter Counties. Another young athlete who wears the Havering Mayesbrook vest with pride and who has an even more successful future in front of her. NICOLA HILL.

And so, finally, we come to the final award of the evening. This is the first time this award has been presented and a word of explanation is called for. When the Club was successful some two years ago in raising the funds for the refurbishment of the Hornchurch track, one of the organisations that supported the Club was the Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust. This local charitable trust provided £50,000 towards the £280,000 that was needed and in recognition of that generosity, the Club agreed to have a special trophy awarded each year. At the time, we didn’t know what the trophy would be for but this season a very special performance by four young men helped us to focus on how we could present the award each year.

That performance came in the Essex Relay Championships in late September when they smashed the Club’s U13 boys 4 x 100m record not once but twice on their way to the gold medal.

The winning time of 50.8sec (after 51.0sec in the heat) was not only a Club record but was the fastest recorded in the United Kingdom this year. A fantastic performance.

We have decided therefore, that the Cleanaway Trophy will in future be presented each year for the best relay performance by a Club team on the track.

The magnificent four are here this evening to be the first recipients of the Trophy so please put your hands together for Fred Mokoso, Charlie Smith, Ben Western and Rhys Stevenson.

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