News: June 2023

Weekend’s News Roundup.

Jess bound for Mannheim

Fourth place finish for Jess Astill at the England Atheltics U20 Championships at the weekend in the 400m saw her secure a GB slot in both the 400m and relay at Mannheim next weekend. Jess ran 55.84 to win her heat and a season’s best of 55.29 in the final. Annabel Howell ran 59.83 in her heat of the 400m. U23 Libby Taylor was also competing at Chelmsford and secured 7th place in the final of the hammer throwing 49m32.

Para win for Rebecca

U20 Rebecca Scott was in action in Stoke Mandeville and won her category of the 100m in a new PB of 13.66

SAL Fourth Place at Hemel

Twenty-seven-members of SNHAC/HAWCS travelled to Hemel Hempstead for the second SAL Match of the season. Up against some of the leading Club’s in the league, the team finished in fourth place, with Dacorum and Tring winning the match.

Kerry Murch and Dylan Baines led the chase for points with Kerry competing in seven events and Dylan in six. Libby Taylor competed in the U23 England Championships in the hammer at Chelmsford at 10am and then dashed round the M25 to arrive in time to compete in the SP, DT and JT and run a leg of the relay. A string wins were secured by Isaac Whitten 400H, William Galliford 2K SC, Dylan Baines LJ, Jacob Kinchin Smith TJ, Kerry Murch HT, DT, SP, JT. B wins came from Sandra Reed 100H, Rebecca Scott LJ, Libby Taylor SP and Lilly Cotter HT.

The Senior team were supported by six U17 athletes – Thomas Redfern 400m, Tommy Cropley 1500m, Edward Turner JT, Bailey Norton 100m, Imogen Rose 200 and 800m and Lily Cotter HT.

Completing the team were Jamie Joseph, Rhys Samuel, Thomas Lee, Adam Searle, Chris Feely, Alex Gates, Jenny Cotter, Martina Barber and Bethany Joseph.

The team secured maximum Official points with Dacorum and Tring borrowing Mike Gregory as starter, Alison Barber Paul Pickard, Helen Pickard, Bob Whitten, Phil Laws and Julie Laws making up the Field Team with Sarah Berry as Timekeeper.

Team Manager Rhys Samuel was delighted with the team’s performance and is looking forward to seeing a full team at our home match on the 9th July.

Full results are on the website.

U13 Challenge third place finish.

Twelve U13 athletes travelled to Ware for the Herts Inter Club Challenge on Wednesday evening. Each athlete could only score in one track, one field event and the relay. Wins came from Priscilla Tibenderana in the 200m 30.8 and Hazel Spitzer in the LJ 4m. Monty Norwood won the B 100m. There were second place finishes for Priscilla in the SP, Jasmine Styles in the JT, Brodie Parnell in the 75H, Stanly Wilkinson 100m, Monty Norwood in the SP. Inthe B events there were second places finishes for Grace Bruce in the SP and Benjamin Garrod in the 200m. The boy’s relay team also came second. Emily Harries, Brook Simpson, Jack Fowler and Luke Rainbird completed the team. The team finished 3rd behind HPX and St Albans.

Full results are on the website.

Holidays and work commitments meant it was a small SNHAC team who made the trip to Royston for round 3 of the midweek 10k road league. Last year this race saw a massive thunder storm as runners warmed up but on another glorious evening there were no such issues this year!

Amelie Hobbs maintained her strong start in the women's race coming 3rd in the under 20s in a time of 45 minutes 41 seconds. In the men's race Isaac Whitten again won the under 20s category and was 15th overall in 38.44. Also running were Andy Robson (43.04 to come 30th overall), Phil Turner (55.41, 94th) and Bob Whitten (68.42, 112th).

The next race is in Trent Park in 2 weeks time.

10 SNHAC athletes made the short trip to Harpenden on Tuesday evening to run in the second Midweek 10k road running league race. This is a beautiful course which starts and finishes at the rugby club and the weather conditions were ideal. It was also a course that was far from flat and incorporated a number of trails!

Leading the way again was Isaac Whitten who maintained his top spot in the U20 men's category coming 8th overal in 37 minutes 34 seconds. He was followed home by Adam Searle (25th, 39.54). Despite saying he was taking it easy having run the Stockholm Marathon just 72 hours earlier, Paul Murray was next back in 44.09 (55th). The other SNHAC runners in the men's race were Trevor Mason (48.35, 94th), Phil Turner (54.06, 128th) and Bob Whitten (65.54, 151).

Amelie Hobbs led the women home in a time of 45.22 (12th) with Alex Gates 16th in 45.22. Rebecca Pickard and Jenny Cotter matched each other stride for stride around the course with Rebecca just edging it in the end to come 40th in 51.55, 4 seconds and 1 place ahead of Jenny.

Overall, the team came 7th and are looking forward to an equally scenic race 3 next week near Royston.

Middle distance coach Paul Murray flew out to Sweden this weekend to take part in the Stockholm Marathon. He completed the course around the city in 3 hours 31 minutes 28 seconds.