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Stevenage basked in sunshine for the Home Vets match on Monday evening, ensuring good conditions for the limited event match. Athletes in various Vet Age groups competed in the 200m, 800m, 3000m and 4x400m Relay on the Track. In the field there was high jump and Javelin for the women, long jump, discus and hammer for the men.

In the men’s events there were wins for M35 Adam Searle and M45 Chris Westcott in the 800m both running 2.13.1. Chris also won his 3000m in 9.50.3. M35 Jamesdean Aitkins won his long jump with 5m17. Also competing were Barry Mainstone M40 in the 200m/HJ, Steve Mayfield M50 200m/LJ/DT and Tim Saunders Mullins M65 HT. The men’s 4x400m team of Adam, Chris, Barry and Steve won in 4.19.4. The men’s team finished second out of the 8 teams competing.

In the women’s competition there were wins for Jenny Cotter W40 in the 200m 31.5 and Joylyn Saunders Mullins W65 in Javelin with 19m86. Also competing were Andrea Westcott W50 in the 200m/HJ/JT and Sandra Reed in the 200m/800m/HJ. The women finished 5th.

Despite being an U15 Patrick snatched a stunning bronze medal in the Letchworth round the garden 1 mile seniors race. His medal winning time 5.24 mins for the 1 mile race. Meanwhile, in the ladies race U17 Imogen Rose also took bronze in a time of 6.09 minutes.

Under 13 Oliver Rose tackled the 5km race finishing 31st in 21.10 minutes.

For the first time since joining the league SNHAC co-hosted a Scott's Travel 10k Midweek League race at Ridlins last Wednesday. A massive thank you to all the volunteers from SNHAC who alongside those from other clubs ensured the 230 runners had a a great evening.

In the race itself Jenny Cotter was 27th in the Women's race in a time of 47 minutes 8 seconds. The men were led home by Chris Westcott (6, 35.38). Chris was followed home by Isaac Whitten (22,38.52), Paul Spicer (37,42.06), Andy Robson (53, 43,48), Trevor Mason (82,47.23) and Graham Spicer (125th, 62.05 ).

The next race is in Royston on Thursday 30th June.

Four of SNHAC’s Masters athletes were in action over the weekend in Derby.

Chris Feely won gold in the W60 800m in a time of 2.53.50, unfortunately it was a case of “after the Lord’s Mayor show” for Christopher Westcott in the 1500m. Having watched Chris win her gold, Christopher also found himself in pole position from the gun, but the strong winds took their toll and when the attack came 300m out he was unable to respond, fading to 5th in his last British Masters Championship race as a V45 in a time of 4:30.24.

Shortly after his race he did however get to enjoy second claim member Sally Cooke breaking the W50 400m World Record with 57.55 seconds.

In the Field W65 Joylyn Saunders Mullins picked up gold in the women’s javelin 22m93 and a silver in the shot with 7m48. Tim Saunders Mullins came fourth in the hammer with 32m93 and brought home a bronze medal in the weight throw with 12m45

The second SAL of the season saw 16 Vets, Seniors, U20s and U17’s travel to Battersea on Sunday. The weather was kind and the team fought for every point. Many athletes competed in five events and in one case seven to fill the gaps – Sandra how do you do it? There were many ‘firsts’ during the match – the first time Adam Searle has run a 400m Hurdles and 4x400 relay, the first time Andrew Kelly put on a Club Vest, borrowed some spikes (thanks Libby) and after one PV training session and some emergency in match coaching in HJ and SP (thanks Dylan and Barry) gained three second B string places, the first time Barry has run 400m in 20 years, the first time Shannon has run a 1500m SC, the first time Aimie Taylor has jumped 9m+ in the triple jump, the first time U17 Bobby Pitman competed at 400H (and they were senior height) and lovely to see Club Chair Paul racing on the track for the first time since having COVID. Jane Taylor probably travelled the furthest to an SAL Match to bring Libby, Aimie and poles from Nottingham and Shannon and Andrew carried weights the furthest – two heavy pole bags from the furthest car park and then had to push them over the fence!

We had too many gaps, so finished fourth but scored 50 points more than at Thurrock. Croydon won, Ealing Southall and Middlesex second, Dacorum and Tring third just 18 points ahead of SNHAC.

There were A and B wins in the women’s PV Shannon and Aimie 3m40 and 3m, Women’s Discus Kerry and Libby 32m01 and 29m33, Women’s Javelin Kerry and Dani 40m02 and 18m21. Libby won the Hammer 47m74. There were A string second place finishes for Shannon Rapacchi 100H, Aimie Taylor TJ and Kerry Murch SP. Kerry was second in the B HT. There were A string second place finishes from Alex Pickard 400m 58.6, Dylan Baines HJ and TJ 1m63 and 12m58, Barry Mainstone SP 8m33 and Jamesdean Aitkins JT 31m 20. B string second places came from Bobby Pitman 200m, Adam Searle 400H and HT, Andrew Kelly HJ, PV and SP, Jamesdean LJ and Barry Mainstone JT. The men’s 4x400m team of Alex, Jamesdean, Bobby and Dylan also came Second 48.5. The match finished with the mixed 4x400m relay where Adam, Isobel Geere, Sandra and Alex enjoyed the experience finishing third in 4.26.7

Match photos will be on the photo gallery by the end of the week, the next match is at home on the 26th June where Team Manager Norma Harris hopes to have athletes filling every event.