News

With places up for grabs to represent Hertfordshire Schools at the English Schools Cross Country Championships in March, a number of Club athletes were entered by their schools for the County Championships at Westminster Lodge on Saturday. There were top eight finishes for Will Galliford and Abigail Manson in the Inter Boy’s and Girls competitions – both finishing 6th, which should ensure they are in the County Team. Other top twelve finishers were Lucy Storey (9th) in the Senior Girls age group and Charlotte Livingstone (12th) Inter Girls and Thomas Redfern (9th) Junior Boy’s.

In the younger age groups Oliver Rose and Hazel Spitzer finished 4th in their Year 6 races and Edythe Oughton was 11th in the Pre Junior age group.

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 A personal best 57.56 and second place in her heat was superseded by a superb run in the final.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!