News: September 2021

Chris Westcott claimed the Senior County 10k Road Championships with a 3rd place finish in the Stevenage 10k on Sunday. Running comfortably to plan as practice for Standalone, Chris was 3rd across the line, claiming the Veterans (40+) race title as well as the County Gold. Starting and finishing in Hampson Park, the event was superbly organised by Stevenage Striders and a very enjoyable local race.

Graham Spicer also completed the course, finishing in 174th position (44th over 50).

Photo courtesy of Ask Physio

Stevenage and North Herts Athletic Club Championships and Open competition took place at Ridlins Stadium on Saturday. Club athletes either participated in the Championship (3 events of their choice – a Minithon) or just did one or two events in the Open. The weather was kind and the technology worked – both photo finish and EDM were in use. Many Club athletes took the opportunity to post season’s best and personal best performances and a number had a go a new event.

The overall Women’s Club Champion was U20 Libby Taylor – SP, DT and HT (8m38, 24m82 and 45m77) with Senior Shannon in 2nd and U17’s Annabelle Howells and Aimie Taylor in 3rd. Senior Dylan Baines took the Men’s title – 100m, HJ and JT (11.74, 1m75 and 27m39) with U17 Will Galliford in 2nd and U20 Ed Laws in 3rd.

In the younger age groups, there were wins for U11 Priscilla Nethmi Tibenderana and Oliver Rose, U13 Georgia Sutcliffe and Horatio De-Vyott, U15 Kyle Gall Gray and Lucy Baverstock.

Three of the Clubs Jumps/Hurdles Squad opted to keep U17 Isaac Whitten company in the last event of the day, the 1500m Steeplechase – a great way to cool down! Barrier clearances techniques however provided the best photo opportunities of the year, with U17 400m hurdler Jake Sutton having an early bath. Joined by Ed Laws and Jamie Joseph they finished a clear 2 minutes behind Isaac who only got his feet wet. Photos by Michael Joseph and Paul Pickard should be entered for the COMET Sports Photograph of the Year.

Full results and photos on the website.

The Winter Fixture List – Cross Country and Indoors will be on the website mid-October.

Stevenage and North Herts U15 Athletes Jamie Timms and Bobby Pitman were in action at Bedford at the English Schools Athletic Association Combined Events Championships on Saturday. Representing Hertfordshire and joined by Noah Franklin (Dacorum and Tring), the team finished the day in third place with a total point score of 7,207. Jamie and Bobby both recorded PB performances in the first event the 80m Hurdles with 12.44 (Jamie) and 12.59 (Bobby). The Shot followed with throws of 10m02 Bobby and 8m43 Jamie, both being PBs. The long jump saw a PB for Bobby 5m26 and a jump 5m29 for Jamie. A high jump PB for Jamie 1m59 followed with Bobby clearing 1m38. Both boys finished the day with strong runs in the 800m Jamie 2.19.39 and Bobby 2.21.65 – both PBs. Total point scores of 2408 and 2296 saw the boys finish in 14th and 18th places out of the 40 boys competing. Coaches Norma Harris and Barry Mainstone had a great day supporting the boys and look forward to seeing both of them competing in the Octathlon next summer.

Twenty-Eight SNHAC young athletes travelled with officials to Cambridge for the last Eastern Young Athletes League of the season. There were wins for new member Aubrey Murray in the U13 Boy’s HJ 1m33 PB, Bobby Pitman in the U15 Discus 32m35, Sam Buss Hammer 30m02, Patrick Thorne 1500m 5 mins 11.1 secs and Jamie Timms Javelin 42m18. In the U13 girl’s competitions U13 Georgia Sutcliffe had PB’s in all three events – 100m, 200m and long jump with second place finish in the 200m (14.0, 29.2 and 3m76), Edythe Oughton was second in her first hurdle race in 14.2 and Enid Whitten was second in both shot and discus (both PB’s) 6m68 and 16m81. Personal best performances in the U15 age group came from Kirsten Morley 200m 31.2, Fran Hart high jump 1m30, Kaira Harvey long jump 3m22and Reece Wannerton won the pole vault. U17’s Annabel Howells 200m and Delia Prevatali HJ both came second with personal best performances 27.7 and 1m45. Abigail Manson came second in the A string U15 1500m. Team Managers Libby Taylor and Shannon Rapacchi are looking forward to a successful year with the team next year.

Travelling with the team Mike Gregory Time-Keeper, Ed Laws Track Judge, Field Judges Phil Laws and Norma Harris were joined by parents, to ensure that the team gained maximum officials points for the match.

The last senior match of the season at Ridlins Stadium saw George Marvel extend the Club Hammer record he set at St Albans in August - a throw of 53m89 won the men’s event while Libby Taylor won the women’s Hammer with 43m49. Other wins came from Ed Laws and Joel Evans in the 400H - 55.03 and 58.45 respectively, Shannon Rapacchi and Aimie Taylor in the women’s pole vault 3m40 and 3m05 and Steve Feely in the B string shot. There were second place finishes for Will Galliford 1500m, Isaac Whitten 3k steeplechase, Michael Stocker pole vault, Jessica Astill 200m, Olivia Lindsay long jump and Georgia Shephard Gazely Javelin. The afternoon ended with an exciting mixed 4x400m relay. Stevenage’s team of Ed Laws, Jessica Astill, Alex Pickard and Chris Feely finished in third in a time of 4.07.40 mins .

A massive thank you to the many volunteers who gave up time to help officiate, organise refreshments and manage the team. It would not have been possible to host the match without your help.