Summer 2009 Annual Track and Field Awards Presentation, 

Hornchurch Football Club 27 November 2009 

 (text of presentation speeches from Club Chairman, Doug Tierney}

Good evening everybody and welcome on behalf of Havering Mayesbrook Athletic Club to the presentation of the track and field awards for 2009.

Club President, Mark Bishop who, for several years, has also been one of the stalwarts of the senior men’s team, is with us again this evening to present the awards. As ever, the recipients of this year’s awards have been selected by the respective team managers..

The 2009 track and field season was another successful one for the Club both indoor and outdoor. Countless medals were won by Club athletes in County and Regional competitions and there were fine international performances by Faye Fullerton and Lucy Sargent.  The under-17 squad retained the Eastern Young League title and regained their place in the top division of the National Young Athletes League. The senior men’s team had a good season back in the British League and the UK Women, Southern Men and Women and Junior Men and Women retained their status in their respective leagues.

So this is an evening to celebrate those successes and first I would like once again to say well done to the club’s coaches, team managers and parents for making sure that athletes got to the starting line on time fit and well to run for their lives.

There are three categories of award this evening – in each age group we have the Club Best Performance Track Award, the Club Best Performance Field Award and also the Team Member Award. In addition, there are some special awards at the end of the evening for performances outside the league system.

We start with the oldest age group and work our way down to the youngest and the first award is the Club Best Performance on the Track by a male veteran and it goes to an athlete who despite his advancing years, goes from strength to strength and had a great season at both 800 and 1500. He ran personal bests at both distances, with his 1500 time placing him 2^nd in the Club’s all-time rankings. He took the gold medal at the Essex Championships at 1500 but the highlight of his season, however, was probably his 1500 gold medal at the British Masters Championships  in Birmingam after bronze medals in 2007 and 2008. MATT BLAND.  

The Team Member award for a Male Veteran goes to a magnificent competitor who in his third year as a vet again provided the team with his best possible performances in the quest for further promotion. His enthusiasm and dedication to the sport and his role as team captain was an inspiration to the whole team. He will be a major influence in consolidating our position in the British League next season. It would be remiss of me not to mention his gold medal at 400m in the Essex Championships. MARK BISHOP.

The Club Best Performance on the Track by a Senior Lady  goes to a young lady who consistently did a sterling job to win track points for the team in both the UK Women’s League and the Women’s Southern League. We didn’t see much of her in 2008 but 2009 saw a resurgent VICKY SMITH. Unfortunately, Vicky can't be here this evening but her award will be collected on her behalf by Kevin White.

After being constantly troubled by injuries the previous year, the winner of the Club Best Performance in the Field award by a Senior Lady had a really good 2009 and demonstrated on a regular basis what an asset she is to the Club. She gained valuable points in the long and high jumps as well as the shot and javelin. She also represented Essex again in Inter-Counties events. The winner is ZOE YOUNG who, sadly for us, is in New York this evening but her award will be collected by teammate Claire Brennan.

We come now to the Senior Ladies Team Member award and, as last year, it was a difficult decision for the Team Managers who found it hard to choose between a number of athletes who could be relied upon to put their bodies on the line week in, week out wherever the fixture.  It’s good to see a new name on the trophy and it goes to a young lady who during the season, competed in the 200, 400, both relays, discus, shot and hammer. NINA BRENNAN.

The Club Best Performance on the Track by a Senior Man fully deserves this award for the second year running. He maintained his position in the rankings as the Club’s top sprinter with consistently strong performances in the British League over 100 and 200, racking up a fine number of points. His season started with a sprint double in the Spring Open at Mayesbrook and just got better culminating in reaching the final of the 200m at the trials for the European Championships. LUKE STOTT.

The Club Best Performance in the Field by a Senior Man goes to an athlete who returned to fitness in 2009 coinciding with his best javelin throwing for a number of years culminating with a throw of over 53m in the final match at Coventry. As with Stuart Tufton, he  also produces excellent results season after season from the  young throwers in his coaching group. The winner is SAM HARRISON and we will ensure he receives his award.

The Team Member award in the Senior Men category goes to an athlete who exemplifies all the qualities that a Havering Mayesbrook team manager desires. He is always available to fill in for any event and often covers more than ten events in a match. As a former decathlete, his technical experience gains additional points for the team and he can always be found encouraging and urging on his team-mates. A fine role model and a smashing bloke – ARRON BONNING..

The winner of the Club Best Performance on the Track by a Junior Lady is becoming a regular at this annual celebration of talent and retains the trophy she won last year. After an illness-affected 2008 season, this athlete was back to her very best and won silver medals in the South of England, English Schools and England Athletics Championships and narrowly missed out on selection for the European Junior Championships. She was a regular in Club teams and improved her PBs at 100, 200, 400 and both 100 and 400 hurdles and has another year as an under-20 to improve her marks. She is of course NICOLA HILL.

The Club Best Performance in the Field by a Junior Lady  goes to an all-round athlete who made a solid start in her first year in the U20 category. Competing in three of the four league fixtures and also represented both Women’s Southern League and UK Women’s League teams, she scored valuable field event points in long, high and triple jumps, javelin and shot and on the track, in hurdles and sprint relay. With two more years in the age group, we can expect to see more from ANGELA JAMES.

With only a small squad of U20s there were several athletes who rallied to the cause throughout the season with Ingrid Deane a strong contender for the Team Member award for junior ladies but the team manager felt that the young lady who most deserved the award was one, who after a slow start to the summer season, competed regularly in the sprints, jumps and relays for the Junior, Southern and UK Women’s teams and also took part in the Cup competition. LYDIA ST ANGE

Now to Junior Men and the winner of the Club Best Performance on the track award goes to a young man who shows tremendous potential over 400m and he can shift a bit over 100 and 200 as well. In addition to competing for the juniors, he made an excellent contribution to the senior men’s squad and won the 400m event in 49.4 in the league match at Exeter that puts him 6^th on the all-time junior rankings and 12^th on the all-time senior men list. ANDREW LEWIS

The Club Member award in this age group goes to a young man who makes the team manager’s job that much easier. Always providing good performances in  the 110 and 400 hurdles with regular PBs and chipping in for good measure with solid points in the triple jump. An injury free season next year could see better still to come from KIERON NELSON.

Moving down the age groups, we come now to the girls and the Club Best Performance on the track award by under-17.  2009 was a breakthrough season for this young lady with a series of PBs culminating in 11.56 for the 80m hurdles and winning the Eastern Champs in a Championship Best Performance. She amassed a large number of points for the Club in National Young competitions at 100, 200 and the hurdles and was part of the 4 x 300m squad that broke the Club record. She won more medals at the Essex Champs, South of England Champs and Essex Schools. She represented Essex at Inter-Counties and made the final in the England Athletics and English Schools Champs. She is ranked 5^th in the UK and 3^rd on the Club’s all-time list and has another year in the age group.  It’s a pleasure to watch her competing because she so obviously enjoys it. HOLLY THOMAS.

The Best Performance award in the field in this age group goes to a young lady who who improved all season often gaining maximum points in her favourite event, the discus but also performing splendidly in the hammer, javelin and, sometimes, the high jump and triple jump. She won the discus gold medal at Essex Schools, took the silver medal at Essex Champs and bronze at Inter Counties making her Essex debut.. We will hear a lot more of KATHERINE KNIGHT.

Finally in this under-17 age group, we come to the Team Member award and it goes to another young athlete described as a team manager’s delight. Always did everything asked of her to the best of her ability. During the season she achieved PBs in the discus, hammer and triple jump, regularly sprinted at 100 and 200 and took the bronze medal in the discus at Essex Schools. SHELLEY WILSON

Moving to the under-17 men and the winner of the Best Performance on the track award. TIt goes to a young man who the team manager says has a great personality often having his teammates in stitches with his wit. He adds that he is great fun to be around and excellent to watch. Anyone who watched him this season would have seen gold medal success at Essex, Eastern Counties and Essex Schools Champs, silver in the South of England, 4^th in England Athletics, 5^th in the English Schools Final and bronze in the English Schools Games. He is ranked 5^th in the UK for his Club record of 13.40 for the 100m hurdles and is top of the Club’s all-time list. For good measure, he was part of the U17 4 x 100m team that equalled the Club record. We will see that JACK EDGAR-HILL receives his award as soon as possible.

The Best Performance award in the field in this category goes to another extremely talented young man who has worn the Club colours with pride over the years. In his specialist event, the javelin, he threw over 63m during the season and is ranked 2nd on the Club’s all-time list. More than that though, he is a great all-rounder and broke the Club’s u17 Octathlon record back in June with terrific performances in eight events – Long and High Jumps, Shot, Discus and Javelin, 100m Hurdles, 400m and 1500m. He provided many  points for the U17 team and also took gold at Essex and Essex Schools Champs, finished 6^th in the Schools Final and took silver in the prestigious UK Schools Games. BRADLEY BURR

In this under-17s boys’ age group, choosing the winner of the Team Member award excelled in his events at 400, 800 and 1500 and was always willing to fill-in even (to quote the team manager) when he couldn’t feel his legs! He also produced good performances in the hammer and long jump. One of those athletes who is the lifeblood of the team providing countless valuable points. Top of the Club’s 2009 rankings at 400 and 800 – MASSI DENDANI.

Down another age group to the under-15 girls and the winner of the Best Performance track award. It goes to an athlete who competed in all league meetings in the hurdles and relays. She was Essex Schools andeastern Counties silver medallist and is ranked 41^st nationally and 8^th on the Club’s all-time list for her grade 1 performances in 75m hurdles. She also provided many points for the girls team and reduced her PB over the season by over 2 seconds. RYLIE TROTT.

The Best Performance field award in this age group goes to an athlete who also had a very good season regularly scoring maximum points in the javelin, in which event she won Essex Championships gold. In those championships she also took bronze for discus and won silver for javelin at Essex Schools. She was Havering’s only individual winner at the London Youth Games and is ranked 27^th on the UK list. She is 3^rd on the Club’s all-time list with a grade 1 throw of over 30m and was top of the 2009 Club rankings for javelin and discus. DEBORAH KNIGHT.

The Team Member award goes to a young lady who over middle distances, reduced the pb of her favoured 1500m event by ten seconds. She also competed in the 300m and the discus on several occasions picking up valuable points for the team with ‘B’ string victories. She also often competed in events at short notice and is a fine example of a good Club athlete. AVRIL LOYNES.

Now to the under-15 boys and the winner of the Best Club Performance track award or the second year in succession. This young man competed consistently for the Club throughout the season at 800m and 1500m gaining a large number of points and smashing his pbs. His times were impressive and he easily headed the rankings over those distances for the 2009 season. Another ever present at training whose efforts have paid off and who the team manager says was ‘an absolute pleasure to have in the team’. RYAN O’MAHONEY

The Club Best Performance award for field events goes to a young man for his discus performances although during the season, he actually covered nine different events. He took the gold medal at Essex Championships, was 4^th in the South of England Champs, 5^th at English Schools and took bronze in the England Athletics Championships. He is ranked second on the Club’s all-time U15 list with a throw of over 40m and is a credit to the Club. DANNY WILSON

Finally, in this under-15 boys age group, we come to the Team Member award. All team managers hope each season that they have a good all-rounder and this young man was exactly that during the 2009 season, competing in no less than ten track and field events. Often being asked at the last minute to cover something and never refusing. He was also part of the 4 x 400m team that won all their NYAL races during the season. FINBAR SMYTHE.

Now it’s the turn of the youngest age group, the under-13s, who have been waiting patiently.  The Best Club Performance on the track by an under-13 girl goes to a young lady who had a very strong, competitive season. A sprinter who doubled up in the 100 and 200 and the 4 x 100, she always gave it 100% effort. She scored a large number of points for the team, always looking as if she was enjoying the experience. She finished top of the 2009 rankings at 75 and 150 and is 2^nd on the Club’s all-time list at 75 and 5^th for 150m. TOMI AKINGBADE.

The Club Best Performance award for the field events in this category goes to a young lady whose performances with the Discus  were little short of remarkable. A very talented field athlete who finished the season ranked 2^nd in the UK, 1^st on the Club’s all-time list with a super throw of over 32m and 3^rd in the Shot. She took the gold medal at the Essex Championships and gained many points for the team in young athletes competitions including being the regular ‘B’ string high jumper. Ever present at training and totally dedicated – GEORGIE TAYLOR.

The Team Member award in this age group goes to a young lady who the team manager describes as having a ‘lovely character’. Shy and very quiet to begin with – and then she came out of her shell. Did everything that was asked of her including the sprints and relays (and some field events for good measure). Very dedicated to her sport and never once moaned about what she was asked to do and by the end of the season was pestering the team manager to compete in anything and everything. THIZIRI DENDANI.

And so the under-13 boys and the Best Club Performance track award. This young man is a dedicated middle distance runner who proves that training hard pays off. Even when injured, he turned up to support his teammates. Although prepared to run the occasional 200 and relay, his forte is middle distance and he features on the Club’s all-time top-10 for both 800 and 1500. He won gold for 800 at the Essex Schools Champs and did the double in the Essex Champs with gold in both 800 and 1500. He also won the Mini-Marathon for Havering on Marathon Sunday. FREDDY KEEFE.

The Best Club Performance for field events goes to a great all-rounder who although he is here this evening for the field award, his accomplishments on the track cannot escape a mention. At home with sprints and middle distance, he ran in both 3 x 800 and 4 x 100 on the same evening in the Essex Relay Champs. Field events were where he excelled in EYAL and NYAL racking up 21 first places in all manner of events and was unbeaten in both leagues in high jump and long jump. He is also showing talent for discus so watch out for that next season. JORDAN FOX.

Now to the Team Member award and it goes to an athlete who had a great season on both track and field. Another ever present at training, he competed in all eleven league meetings. In the NYAL he did the maximum allowed three events at each meeting and was unbeaten.  Over both leagues, he notched up 28 wins in all manner of events but most notably the discus and 75m hurdles where he set new Club records. He also entered the Club’s all-time list for five other events. He achieved County success with seven gold medals and his inter-counties achievements include six golds and a silver with three championship records along the way. ALEX LAW.

Finally, we come to four special awards presented for Best Performances by the Club Committee performances outside the normal Club competitions.

The first of these is for females in the age range U13 – u17. and the winner is getting the award for the second year in succession. She is one of the most talented young athletes to join the Club in recent years and whose success with the javelin is due to commitment and dedication to her training. Her 2009 achievements include gold medals at the Essex and Essex Schools Championships, bronze in the South of England Championships and English Schools Championships and a silver in the England Athletics U17 Championships where she broke the Club U17 and U20 record leaving her just under 1m short of the Senior Club record. She is ranked 5^th in the UK for U20s and 2^nd for U17s. The winner is KIKE ONIWINDE who sadly cannot be here this evening because of work commitments so Brian Kiernan will collect on her behalf

In the same age group – U13 –U17, the boys’ award goes to a young man who only joined the Club this year. He had a stunning first season winning the silver medal at English Schools in the Triple Jump and then taking gold in the England Athletics U15 Championships. He then took the bronze medal in the England U15 Pentathlon Championships and in placing 4^th competing for Essex in an Inter-Counties competition at Bedford earned a UK English Schools vest. He set club records at 80m Hurdles & Pentathlon, is ranked 4^th on the Club’s all-time U15 list for triple jump, set  and he is JOSHUA OLAWORE.

Now to the age group U20 – Veterans and we start with the ladies. After a 2008 season fraught with injuries, this young lady came storming back to her best. She began with a silver medal at 200 in the South of England indoor championships and then took gold at Essex indoor. She followed up with another gold at 200 in the BUSA indoor championships. Moving outdoor, she took bronze medals at the BUSA championships at 100 and 200 and earned silver at 100 in the Essex champs and gold in the 200. At the England Athletics U20/U23 championships, she took silver in the 100 and another silver in the 200 with a new pb and Club record. This saw her selected to run for Great Britain in the U23 European Championships where she reached the final of the 200m and was also a member of the gold medal winning 4 x 100m team. The winner is LUCY SARGENT.

We now come to the last award of the evening but possibly from an observer’s point of view, the most satisfying. It is for the male age range U20 – Veterans and it goes to a young man in the junior age group from whom the best is yet to come. He also suffered a number of injuries but the 2009 season saw him win a hat trick of silver medals in the Essex indoor championships at 400, 800 and high jump, a bronze medal for long jump in the Eastern indoor championships, the gold medal at 400 hurdles in the Essex championships and a 6^th place in the final of the same event in the South of England championships. ADAM McCARTHY.

The next award is the Cleanaway Havering Relay Cup. By way of explanation, the Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust contributed some £50,000 a few years ago to the refurbishment of the track and field facilities here at Hornchurch and this annual award is in recognition of that contribution. The award is presented to the relay team that, in the opinion of the Club’s Management Committee, has achieved the most impressive result during the year under review.

It is usually won by a cross-country team but I am pleased to say that this year it goes to a track performance. At the Essex County Relay Championships on the 12^th of July, these four young men equalled the U17 4 x 100m Club record with a silver medal winning performance at Braintree. The previous record of 44.7sec had stood since 1991 so it was no mean achievement in blustery conditions. The four young athletes in question are JORDAN BROWN, JACK EDGAR-HILL, TERRY HUGHES and ADAM SAMUEL.

Finally, I must tell you (a) that at the Barking & Dagenham Awards last Saturday evening, the Club received the ‘Club of the Year’ award for the second year in succession and (b) on December 7^th, the Club is receiving the ‘Junior Club of the Year’ Award from the London Region of England Athletics.

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