News

Trials in Ware on Sunday were held for the County Team to represent Hertfordshire at the Regional Sportshall Championships in March at Norwich. 10 of the Clubs Jumpers and Hurdlers attended the Trials with places in the U13 and U15 girls and boys team the prize. Alastair Gall Gray has been selected for the U13 Boys team, Bobby Pitman and Adam Bungay have been selected for the U15 Boys Team. Skye Barnet, Millie Cunnington and Edythe Oughton have been selected for the U13 Girls and Lucy Baverstock for the U15 Girl’s Team.

South of England Success for Jess!

U20 athlete Jessica Astill was in action at Lee Valley over the weekend competing at the South of England Championships. A personal best 57.56 and second place in her heat was superseded by a superb run in the final. A time of 55.96 not only secured the gold medal but is a Club Age Group Record. Jess will be in action at the English Age Group Championships in Sheffield this weekend and is currently ranked 5th nationally. Other U20 athletes competing were Jamie Joseph who ran a 7.32 PB in his heat of the 60m and Jacob Kinchin Smith who ran 23.73 In his heat of the 200m.

Senior Athlete Dan Gardner came second in the pole vault clearing 4m80.

Dan Gardner competed at Vault Manchester on Saturday and having had a low-key opener at the London Indoor Games last weekend with 4m56, he cleared 4m96 in Manchester. This qualifies Dan for the British Championships later in the month.

In action at Bethlehem PA, USA Oscar Jopp was representing his university in the 60H, Long Jump and Pole Vault with 8.76, 6m29 and 3m50 respectively.

Eight of the Club’s athletes opened the year competing in the London Indoor Games at Lee Valley over the last two weekends.

Michael Stocker had a rare outing in the 60m and long jump and finished with a 7.53 PB and 5m80 PB. Competing in the 60m T35 athlete Joseph Strong ran his two races 8.99 and 9.98 both very close to the indoor PB set on the 9th January of 8.96.

U20 Jamie Joseph recorded a 7.41 PB in the 60m and 23.52 over 200m. Bhuvanesh Ramanuath ran 7.64 and 7.54 in his two runs over 60m. U17 Bobby Pitman ran a PB in the 60m of 7.67 and competed in the 60H and Long Jump, while Annabel Howells ran 43.26 for third place in her 300m race. U15 Kaira Harvey recorded 9.32 and 9.33 for her two runs in the 60m while U13 Edythe Oughton opened her season with PB performances in the 200m 31.65, 800m 2.53.71, 60H 11.45 and LJ 3m72.

The club's Fixtures and Committee Secretary, Helen Pickard was one of 9 winners at last night's England Athletics Awards. Having won the Eastern Region's Unsung Hero of the Year Helen went one step further with a very well deserved win in the event hosted by Olympian Katharine Merry . Helen has spent hours making sure that athletes could safely return to training after the Covid lockdowns. If you missed the event it is available to watch at https://www.englandathletics.org/about-us/hall-of-fame/volunteer-awards/national-volunteeer-awards/ . The club is very grateful for all the hard work done by Helen and all our volunteers without whom there would be no club!

The 4th match of this years‘ Chiltern League cross-country races took place on Saturday 15th Jan at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes. Always a very testing, undulating and technical course, with steep inclines and streams to navigate, this year the recent rain had resulted in areas of deep mud making things even more challenging. Those without spikes would struggle and although it was cold and foggy with a biting wind, some team managers were heard to comment that at least it wasn’t raining!

It was great to see that Stevenage and North Herts Athletics Club representation was the best so far this year. Most had a smile on their face at the end, albeit mud splattered. As we have come to expect, competition was fierce and the effort by our athletes was once again really impressive.

There were some fine individual performances with several of our age groups well placed before the last round of races next month when the overall competitions for best individuals and teams over the season will be decided.

In the Under 11 boys’ race Oliver Rose came 8th with James Cook 28th. In the girls’ race Hazel Spitzer was 10th.

Aubrey Murray, was a very creditable 3rd in the Under 13 boys’ race. Evan Robson was 9th, Fred Dilley 10th, Casey Wyatt 12th, Matthew Thompson 18th and Henry Price 19th. Together the team came 2nd and as things currently stand are in silver medal position overall.

In the Under 13 girls’ race, Esme Searle finished in 7th position, with Hannah Cook 12th, Jane Griffin 13th, and Gracie Hall-Watts 15th. This keeps the team in bronze medal position overall.

For the U15 boys, Calum Fairey came 6th, Thomas Redfern 12th, Jack Thompson 15th, William Toffa 21st, Harrison Lund 26th, and George Fifield 27th. The team placed 3rd.

Abigail Manson was 5th in the Under 15 girls’ race.

William Galliford came 5th in the Under 17 boys’ race, with Isaac Whitten 9th which keeps them in bronze medal position overall despite both being young in this age group and not having had a 3rd runner this season! Amelie Hobbs was 17th in the girls’ competition.

Lastly, in a large Seniors men’s field, Adam Searle finished 48th with Bob Whitten 149th. Alex Gates came 22nd in the Senior women’s race.

It remains all to play for; here’s hoping for a good medal haul next time but well done SNHAC for a great showing on Saturday!