Last updated 29 March 2005
Press Releases for
January, February & March 2005
29/03/05
Results
One of Blackheath & Bromley’s newest members Scott
Overall made an impressive start to the track and field season by posting a
personal best of 14.12.00 for 5000 metres at Stanford University Invitational
Meeting in America.
The 22 year old who is studying at Butler University
recently joined B &B from Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow and is set to prove an
invaluable addition to the Club’s Senior teams.
Closer to home, a large number of athletes were in action
at the Tonbridge Open Meeting. In the Senior age group Jamie Atkinson triumphed
in one of the best races of the day, the 3000 metres, as he sprinted away from
Medway & Maidstone’s Mike Coleman to win in 8.33.6. Neil Simpson and Joe Godsell
both made promising starts to their track campaigns with Neil timing 35.3 to
Joe’s 36.4 in the 300 but Joe then having the better in the 600 as he clocked a
new best of 1.22.7 to Neil’s 1.24.1.
For the women Sam Singer was a comfortable winner of both
her 300 and 600 metre races with times of 41.4 and 1.35.5 while Bella Clayton
led from gun to tape in the 1000 metres crossing the line in 2.59.6.
In the Junior age group Daniel Haque was in impressive
sprint form as he won the 150 metres in 16.2 while 400 hurdler Ed Harrison ran a
very useful 35.5 in the flat 300.
Out in the field Amir Williamson launched the hammer out
to 57.30, four metres further than at this time last year. Training partner
Victoria Thomas was also up on last year as she won the women’s event in 41.76.
It was good to see Katie Welch in winning form on the track taking the 300 in
45.0.
Best performance in the under 17s came from Rachel Arnheim
who equalled the Club Record and her personal best in the pole vault with a
clearance of 2.90. Also equalling her best was Rebecca Haywood who went over
2.40. Earlier Rebecca had just pipped Rachel in the 80 metre hurdles.
Aston Stockdale ran a very useful 18.5 in the 150 metres
as well as clearing 2.40 in the vault while Andrew Jordon looked impressive in
the 80 hurdles with a time of 13.1.
Sarah Harrison opened her season with a very good 20.5 in
the 150 while in the field Jessica Matthews cleared 1.45 in the high jump and
leapt 4.53 in the long jump.
Highlights in the under 13 age group came in the 1500
metre races where Philip Sesemann and Danielle Critchley both led from start to
finish recording times of 5.03.9 and 5.17.0.
On the roads Jon Thorpe finished in 5th place in the 8.2
mile breakfast run at Kingston Upon Thames with a time of 47.14. Nick Kinsey was
10th in the 16 mile race.
Club and Athletes recognised
Blackheath and Bromley and a number of its members
have been recognised in recent weeks with a string of awards. Leading the way is
Hammer coach Mike Davies who has been selected by the British Athletics
Supporters Club to receive the Ron Pickering Coaching Award for 2004 as an
outstanding coach of junior athletes.
The BASC commented that “you seem to have a conveyor belt
of quality hammer-throwers at Blackheath & Bromley”. The nomination is made in
consultation with the National Coaching Director.
In 2004 the six athletes he coaches Rachel Blackie,
Victoria Thomas, Amir Williamson, Alistair Tawanaee, Joe Stockton and Richard
AlAmeen won 3 golds and 2 silvers at the English Schools Championships as well
as winning a gold, a silver and two bronze medals in the AAA’s championships.
Three, Amir, Rachel and Alistair, gained International vests.
The award is made up of a cheque for £250 plus a framed
certificate and will be presented at an appropriate time in the near future. Two
of his athletes, Rachel and Victoria, are among 8 from the Club who have
received grants from the Arthur Kendall Memorial Trust which exists to
“encourage, promote and develop participation in Athletics as a means of
promoting physical health in the youth of the Community”.
The Trust works closely with the Ron Pickering Memorial
Fund to ensure the two organisations do not duplicate awards, so the 8 Arthur
Kendall award winners are in addition to the 12 who received monies from the
RPMF last month.
The remaining six recipients are Adam Berry (pole vault),
Jade Castell Thomas (triple jump), Amy Godsell (sprints) Christine Lawrence
(javelin), Dominic Parsons (400) and Rebecca Syrocki (sprints/400).
The Clubs Future scheme run by the Sports Governing Body
UK Athletics is presenting a series of awards to recognise and reward
outstanding voluntary work by Clubs, Volunteers, Officials, Coaches and
Partnerships.
Blackheath & Bromley as a Club have won the Athletics
Partnership of the Year for the London Region for its work in the local
Community. Mike Davies is the Performance Coach Of The Year for the Region and
under the Club Volunteers category Patrick Calnan receives the “Emerging talent”
award.
Following the Regional Awards, the winners are now
considered by a panel and National Winners will be announced at the UKA Awards
Dinner on Saturday 9th April.
Unlock Your Potential lecture
Over 300 people of all ages and various Sports
recently braved the cold and snow to attend a lecture organised by Blackheath &
Bromley at Langley Park School For Boys given by Dr Costas Karageorghis. The
event was supported by the Aqua Pura Women in Athletics Initiative.
Dr Costas is a senior lecturer and practitioner at Brunel
University and has been a Club member for over 20 years when he joined as a
young athlete. He is also a former pupil at Langley Park so the evening
represented something of a homecoming.
He has written numerous academic articles on applied sport
psychology and has taught many top athletes including Olympic Super-heavyweight
champion Audley Harrison, Olympic rowing champions James Cracknell and Tim
Foster and England rugby star Richard Hill.
Opening his talk he acknowledged that there were some who
had expressed scepticism about Sports Psychology but he maintained that it is
basically Common Sense.
In the next hour and a half he had the whole audience on
their feet as he taught them breathing exercises; was lifted in the air by two
rugby players before showing how to concentrate to prevent this happening;
shared brief reminiscences of his time at Langley and maintained a continual
interaction with his listeners.
Specific items included were how to increase motivation
and improve concentration; dealing with competition anxiety: boosting self
confidence; developing a pre-event routine and enhancing team dynamics.
The latter item is of particular interest to Costas as he
is manager of the Athletics team at Brunel and he was able to show a
motivational tape that was played to the Brunel squad that recently triumphed in
an indoor meeting against Loughborough.
The evening proved to be an unqualified success with the
added bonus that it allowed coaches who attended to have two credits added to
their license.
Subsequent to the lecture Dr Costas has provided a reading
list for those who wish to explore the subject in greater depth. This can be
viewed on the Club’s website
www.bandbhac.org.uk or at
www.appletonbamforth.co.uk/bnb
It is intended that such lectures will be a regular event.
Those wishing to be provided with information of forthcoming events should send
their details to organiser John Blackie at
coach@johnblackie.com or use
the “contact” section on the appletonbamforth site to register their details.
22 March 2005
Michael Skinner was the second Great Britain athlete to
finish in the short course race at the World Cross Country Championships at St
Galmier in France. Competing against some of the best distance runners in the
world, the Blackheath & Bromley athlete closed in 64th position over the 4,196
metre course and was just six seconds behind the first Briton, John Mayock the
European Indoor Championship 3000 metre silver medallist.
After just missing out on the British team for both the
European Cross Country and Indoor Championships Skinner enjoyed this opportunity
to represent his country. Despite his experience of big races, even he could not
have been fully prepared for the early devastating pace as the runners sprinted
to gain an early advantageous position. However the 25 year managed to
successfully run his own race and was pleased to be part of a British squad that
finished 15th team.
Skinner has been running for the Club since the age of 10
and will no doubt be pleased to know that the future of middle distance running
at Blackheath & Bromley looks promising with a large number of youngsters
selected to run for Kent at the Junior Inter Counties match at Tonbridge against
Essex, Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex.
Best performance of the day came from Amy Dematos who won
the year 8 girls race by seven seconds in 9.56. Rebecca Smith closed in 12th in
11.03 with Grace Power 25th in 11.24. Stephen Cavey was 15th in the Boys race.
There were encouraging numbers in the year 7 races.
Highest individual placing came in the girls race with Danielle Critchley
finishing in 5th place with Harriet Field 15th, Emma Hook 26th, Amy Mitchell
59th and Hannah Field 71st.
The boys packed well in their race with Philip Seseman 6th
in 12.06 just one second ahead of Joe Harding who was 8th with Robert Yates just
one place behind in 12.17. Oliver Taylor took 46th place with Elliott Knight
77th.
Closer to home at Hayes a broad cross section of the
membership competed in the Club's Closing Five Mile Yacht Handicap race. The
slowest person starts the race first with the quickest going off last and there
was a 30 minute gap separating 71 year old Ron Chambers and 23 year old Peter
Tucker who was "scratch man".
In theory if the handicapper gets it right all should
finish together but realistically this will not happen. Handicapper Professor
Chris Haines job was made the more difficult by the hot weather which dried the
course. First to cross the line was David Carton, followed by Colin Rowe and 15
year old Alistair Cliff. Tucker was the fastest of the day. This was the 9th and
final competition in a 9 race handicap series that has taken place over the
Winter and going into the last race the placings could not have been closer with
just a few points separating a great block of runners. Saturdays race meant that
the Championship went to Alistair Cliff with his father Bob in second and Simon
Lloyd third.
Helen Godsell returned home from the European Masters
Championships in Sweden with two gold and one silver medals. It was reported
last week that she won the women's over 50's 60 metre title. She won the 200
metres too in convincing fashion, her time of 28.50 being over a second and a
half clear of the runner up. She followed this with 2nd place in the 400 with a
time of 69.35.
One result missing from the Kent Indoor Championships a
couple of weeks ago was the performance of Gordon Hickey in the shot. The 71
year old astonishingly finished 2nd in the Senior Men's event with a putt of
9.11.
Outdoors three of the Club's talented under 15 girl
throwers were in action at the Kingston And Polytechnic Open Meeting. Best
performances came in the shot where there was a one, two, three. Sarah McGuire
was first with a putt of 9.49 with Banke Jemiyo second in 8.65 and Emma Brown
third with a new best of 8.42. Unfortunately Sarah had three no throws in the
discus which was won by Banke with 22.40 with Emma second with another best of
20.78.
The Club's walkers enjoyed great success at the Inter
Counties Championships at Coventry. Robert Bain, who is still a Junior, finished
in 6th position in the Senior Men's race. His time of 49.04 for the 10km course
would had been quicker had he not felt a slight hip strain over the last 3km and
this could have cost him a place in the Great Britain team for the European Cup.
Amazingly for someone who has just turned 15 Holly
Williams finished 5th in the Senior Women's race over 5km. She helped the Kent
team to victory and timed 29.26 to finish as first under 17. More success came
in the under 15's race with Chelsea O'Rawe Hobbs winning the 3km race by 17
seconds in 15.49. Julia Stacey finished in 6th place.
Anne Cilia is the new President of Blackheath & Bromley
Harriers AC for the 2005-06 season. Outgoing President Margaret Baldwin
introduced her successor to the membership at Club's Annual General Meeting at
the Clubhouse at Hayes.
While not professing to being a superstar athlete, Anne
has regularly competed for the Clubs cross country, road and track teams and has
also taken part in field events when required. In fact she is a Club Record
holder in the over 35's pole vault with a clearance of 1.60.
Many members remember fondly her father Peter Stenning who
was Club President of what was then Blackheath Harriers in the 1987-88 season
and who sadly died in 1990. At the time of his passing the Club was male only
and many wonder what he would have thought if he had known his daughter would
one day become President.
Anne has helped develop the cross country and road running
section of the Club as well as being team manager of the veteran women's team
and serving on the Club Committee. She is looking forward to support the Club
and its members in all their activities over the coming year.
15 March 2005
European Masters Indoors Championships,
Eskiltuna, Sweden
Blackheath & Bromley's Helen Godsell is European
Champion! She won the over 50's 60 metres title at the European Indoor
Championships in Eskiltuna, Sweden. Her time of 8.61 was nearly half a second
clear of the runner up.
There could be more medals to come as well. At the time of
writing she had also qualified for the finals of both the 200 and 400 metres.
After breaking his own British Indoor record last week
Allan Williams picked up silver in the over 50's pole vault with a clearance of
4 metres. Making it a full set of medals for Club members, Jim Day took bronze
in the over 70's vault with a clearance of 2.50.
Peter Hamilton finished in 5th place in the over 55's 3000
metres in 10.24.79.
English Schools Cross Country
Championships, Norwich
Nine athletes from Blackheath & Bromley were in action
at the English Schools Championships at Norwich an event that attracts the cream
of middle distance talent in the country. Just to be selected for the event is
an achievement in itself and to feature prominently reflects real talent.
Highlight of the afternoon came in the Junior Girls race
where Amy Smith closed in 21st with Amy Dematos 37th. Hannah Garcia in 165th and
Rebecca Smith in 226th ensured this was the event to feature the most Club
athletes. Katie Murray took 41st place in the Intermediate Girls race with
Rebecca Taylor closing in 134th while in the boys event Danny Brewer was 155th.
In the Senior races Bryony Proctor closed in 125th with James Poole 246th in the
men's event
Road running
Many of the Club's athletes have been in action on the
roads recently as they prepare for this years London Marathon. Most prominent
was Dave Taylor. At the age of 41 he finished 3rd in the Silverstone Half
Marathon in 66.23.
Many travelled to the coast for the Hastings Half
Marathon, not one of the easiest of courses. First home for the Club was Rob
Hall in 1.18.11 in 55th with Nick Kinsey 64th (1.18.19) and Dave Ellison 146th
(1.25.20) Clare Lodwig led the women home in 1172nd with a time of1.48.52 with
Jo Kift 2131st in 2.03.43 and Clare Patten 2629th in 2.13.26.
8 March 2005
Inter County Championships and World Cross
Country Trials races, Nottingham
Michael Skinner has been selected to represent Great
Britain at the World Cross Country Championships at St Galmier in France in two
weeks time. The Blackheath and Bromley athlete's selection follows his 4th place
in the 4km short course race at the Inter Counties Championships and World Cross
Country Trials at Wollaton Park, Nottingham.
It was third time lucky for the 25 year old after just
missing out on selection for both the European Cross Country Championships and
the European Indoor Championships. Now he will have a niggling achilles treated
to ensure he is ready for the Worlds in two weeks time.
Team mate Andrew Rayner, who like Skinner is a former
pupil of Langley Park School for boys, completed a fine Winter's cross country
by finishing 11th in the same race just 18 seconds behind. Jamie Atkinson closed
in 38th a further minute down while in the Senior Men's long course race Spencer
Newport finished in 100th position.
Just to be competing in these races is an achievement in
itself as each County is only allowed to send 8 athletes. So Jennie Butler's
52nd place in the Senior Women's race was a good performance and there were more
from the girls in the younger age groups. In the under 13's Amy DeMatos followed
up her outstanding 4th in the Nationals two weeks ago with an excellent 16th
place with Danielle Critchley 53rd and Rebecca Smith 140th.
Amy Smith had one of her best runs of the Winter to finish
in 18th place in the under 15's race. Kent bronze medallist Hannah Garcia closed
in 188th with Lauren Smith in 212th. Bryony Proctor finished 128th in the under
17 women's race.
Stephen Cavey took 65th in the under 13 boys with
promising Robert Yates closing in 177th
Kent and Surrey Indoor Championships,
Sutton Arena
Blackheath & Bromley's vaulters provided the highlight
for the Club at the Kent Indoor Championships at Sutton Arena with two British
records, a Scottish record and another Club record equalling performance.
Allan Williams is no stranger to record breaking. He has
already broken the British over 50's record this year when he cleared 4.02 at
the National Championships in Cardiff. At Sutton he broke it again with 4.03 and
then smashed it by going over 4.10. This means he is now the Kent Champion
indoors and outdoors as both a Senior and veteran.
Fresh from equalling the Scottish under 17's record at
last week's National Championships, Scott Huggins aim was to claim the record
outright. He didn't disappoint as he too cleared 4.03 and the Charles Darwin
schoolboy looks set to go higher outdoors this Summer.
National women's silver medallist Liz Hughes won a useful
Senior Women's competition despite carrying a couple of injuries. She cleared
3.80 as did Huggins coach Simon Tolson.
Emily Godley who is also coached by Tolson equalled the
Club Under 17 women's Record of 2.90 to strike gold with the other holder of the
record Rachel Arnheim second with the same height. To complete an outstanding
weekend of vaulting Aston Stockdale took the under 15 boys title with a
clearance of 2.40. There was a near clean sweep of gold medals in the sprints.
Quickest of the day was Daniel Haque who set a personal best of 6.92 to win the
under 20 men's race. Michael Champion won the Senior Men's race and there were
other wins for Vicki Cole (under 20 women), Sarah Harrison (under 15 girls) and
Aston Stockdale (under 15 boys).
National Champion Serita Solomon won the under 17 women's
60 hurdles in a very quick 8.71to add to her silver in the 60 metres and there
was gold too in the men's hurdles in the same age group for Alex AlAmeen. Andrew
Jordon struck gold in the under 15s.
Further success came in the jumps with the highlight being
Lauren Blackie's 11.29 winning leap in the under 17 triple jump. This puts her
2nd in the National rankings. There was double gold for Jessica Matthews as she
won both the long and high jump in the under 15s. Katrina Cosby was runner up to
Jessica in the long jump to add to her silver in the 60 metres, the same two
events in which Katy Benneworth came second in the Senior Women's age group.
It was good to see Abbi Jacobs back in her first race for 3 years. She clocked
8.71 and just missed out on a place in the Senior Women's final.
There was a clean sweep in the under 15 girls shot putt
from Sarah McGuire (B&B) 9.33, .Katherine Jones (B&B) 9.19, Oyebanke Jemiyo
(B&B) 9.02, and Emma Brown (B&B) 7.78, All set personal bests and Emma's effort
came just two weeks after returning from breaking both her ankles.
In the Surrey Championships at the same venue there was a
one-two in the Under 20 men's high jump with Michael Whitehouse clearing 2
metres and Daniel Campbell going over 1.85. Anna Smith won the under 17 women's
contest while on the track new member Danny Doyley reigned supreme in the 60
metres.
Club 10 mile Championships
Closer to home there was a smaller than usual turn out
for the Club's annual 10 mile cross country championships at Hayes. Winner was
Rob Hall who negotiated the notoriously tough course in 1.07.19 with Darryl
Hilliar second in 1.07.59 and Steve Pairman third in 1.11.02.
First woman home was captain Kate Pratten (1.18.21)
followed by Annie McDonough (1.26.17) and Anne Cilia (1.34.31).
The race also included the penultimate race in the Bennett
Cup handicap series which has been running all Winter. Winner was Pete Shepheard
with Steve Pairman second and Gary Cook third. The 9th and last race of the
series is the Closing 5 Mile Yacht Handicap in two weeks time and placings could
not be much closer. The contest is still wide open as just 11 points covers the
top seven places with young Alistair Cliff leading with 320 from Kate Pratten
317 and Gary Cook 315.
This should lead to an absorbing contest and will be
followed in the evening by the Club's AGM at which the new President will be
revealed.
1 March 2005
AAA's Under 17 and Under 15 Indoor
Championships and British Universities Championship
Serita Solomon made a dramatic impact in her first
major contest as an under 17 at the AAA'a Under 17 and Under 15 Indoor
Championships at the Birmingham Indoor Arena. Racing in the 60 metre hurdles,
the Blackheath & Bromley athlete snatched gold in the closest race of the
weekend winning in 8.62, the same time as runner up Ashley Helsby of Liverpool.
It was only last Summer that the two crossed the line at
the English Schools Championships again with the same time but on that occasion
it was Ashley who got the verdict.
The time of 8.62 would have been an age 14 British best
for Serita (She is/was 15 on the 1st of March). However, Ashley had beat her to
it by running 8.61 in the semi final. There promises to be some exciting races
between the two on the track this Summer.
In the field there was more drama involving one of the
Club's athletes. Scott Huggins picked up the bronze in the under 17 men's pole
vault. Not only did his clearance of 4 metres break his own Club Record of 3.95,
which he set recently, but it also equalled the Scottish record as well. It may
be that he could break it at the Kent Championships this weekend.
The Club's other two medals came on the track. Alex
AlAmeen took the silver in the under 17 men's 60 metre hurdles in 8.37 and Aston
Stockdale won bronze in the under 15 boys 400 metres with a very useful 54.60.
Elsewhere for the men, new member Danny Doyley finished
5th in the 60 metres in 7.10 while James Alaka went out in the semi finals with
7.25 after running 7.21 in his heat. Daniel Hammond timed 7.86 in the under 15's
60 metres.
For the women Rachel Arnheim was 6th equal in the pole
vault with 2.80 with Lauren Blackie joint 9th with 2.70. Lauren also finished
7th in the triple jump with 10.98. Serita Solomon was also 8th in the 60 metres
final with 7.88 after running 7.80 in the semi. Janet Kuti ran 8.34 in her heat.
There were some more promising sprint performances in the
under 15's age group with Katrina Cosby running an excellent 26.90 in the 200
metres semi final. Sarah Harrison ran 27.83 in the heats to add to her 8.58 in
the 60 metres. Also in the 60 was Jessica Matthews who timed a useful 8.60 to
add to her 7th place in the high jump final with a leap of 1.50.
Further North at Sheffield in the British Universities
Indoor Championships Andrew Rayner ran an excellent 8.14.02 for the 3000 metres
to claim 4th place in a quality field.
British Masters Indoor Championships
Allan Williams set a new British Record in the over
50's pole vault at the British Masters Indoor Championships in Cardiff. The 51
year old Blackheath & Bromley athlete soared over 4.02 to add another centimetre
to his existing mark. The former British Senior International, who at this peak
cleared 5.25, feels there is more to come and this come be at the Kent Indoor
Championships at the Sutton Arena Carshalton this weekend.
Allan was not the only Club medallist at these
Championships. Jim Day continues to defy the aging process. At the age of 71 he
cleared 2.60 to win the over 70s contest while Simon Tolson who is half Jim's
age picked up silver in the over 35's age group with a clearance of 3.80.
Also in the over 35's second claim member Angie Alstrachen
had a busy weekend. She was second in the 200 metres, 4th in the 60 and 400 and
8th in the 800 metres.
Bob Minting took 3rd in the over 50's 800 with 2.08.78 and
he was also 5th in the 200 in 27.00, the same time as he recorded in his heat.
Peter Hamilton took the over 55's 3000 metres with some
ease in 10.21.05 and Jim Day added to his pole vault medal in the over 70's with
gold in the high jump with a clearance of 1.17 and 2nd in the 60 metre hurdles
in 12.28. Gordon Hickey reigned supreme again in the over 70's shot with a putt
of 11.57.
Ron Pickering Memorial Fund
A dozen young athletes from the Club have been awarded
grants from the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund, a charitable trust set up in memory
of the former BBC Commentator to provide financial support to emerging young
athletic talent.
Four of them are from the Mike Davies Hammer squad.
Brothers Amir Williamson and Alistair Tawanaee are rewarded for a remarkable
season that saw them receive International recognition to go with their string
of domestic titles. Joe Stockton, the country's number one under 15, and
training partner Richard AlAmeen are similarly recognised. They won gold and
silver at the English Schools Championships.
Outstanding sprinter Montell Douglas, the top female under
20 sprinter in the country, also features and this support will help in her bid
to win medals both nationally and internationally in 2005. Another sprinter
Daniel Haque, who represented England at the Home Countries International last
Summer likewise receives support.
Serita Solomon is nationally ranked both as a sprinter and
at her main event the hurdles while Alex AlAmeen also picks up an award for his
hurdling exploits. English Schools 400 hurdles champion Ed Harrison's grant will
no doubt be put to good use as he prepares to bid for a place at this years
European Junior Championships.
Stuart Harvey had another excellent Summer in the javelin
and also receives an award as do second claim members Tunde Balogun and Kara
Aretha Graham in the sprints.
More Indoors
A number of athletes from the Club were part of the
London South team that took place in the inaugural UKA Indoor City Cup in
Sheffield and Southern League team manager Mark Purser was in charge of the
men's team . Tyrone Swaray had to settle for the runners up spot in the 60
metres as he was beaten by Cardiff's Great Britain International Christian
Malcolm.
Tawanda Chiwira moved down in distance to time 22.12 in
the 200 metres while Russell Bentley continued his successful indoor campaign
timing 1.51.92 for the 800 metres
Liz Hughes was in action for the women's team clearing
3.65 in the pole vault.
Meanwhile the Loughborough Open Meeting saw the welcome
return to competition of Great Britain International sprinter Akinola "Lash"
Lashore. Two years of injuries have severely restricted his racing but he
bounced back to run the fastest 60 metres of the day with times of 6.93 and
6.97.
Training partner, Welsh International Fabian Collymore
clocked 6.98 and 7.02 with 400 metre runner Alloy Wilson moving down in distance
to record 7.17.
Mob Match
The Club's recent poor form in Mob Matches continued
with defeat against South London at Coulsdon. Scoring 33 a side Blackheath &
Bromley scored 1291 points to the host's 969.
First home for the Club was Ant Draper who timed 47.08
over the 7.5 mile course to finish second overall, one place ahead of Peter
Tucker (48.11). Next was Dave Ellison in 9th in 50.50.
First woman home from the Club was Kate Pratten in 47th
(58.38) with Ella Fisher 53rd (59.52) and Clare Lodwig 63rd (1.02.18)
As usual the race included a handicap competition and it
was Clare Lodwig who won this with Nick Barber 2nd and Bernie Bater 3rd.
Road Walks
The Club' walkers have been enjoying more success on
the roads. At the Cambridge Harriers Winter League race at Bexley Robert Bain
scored an impressive victory in the men's 5km race. Despite still being an under
20 he won by a minute in 23.40 with second claim member Shaun Lightman in 8th
place.
Under 17 Holly Williams was 4th in the Senior Women's race
in 31.00 and there was a one-two from Chelsea O'Rawe Hobbs and Julia Stacey in
the under 17 women's race. Chelsea timed 13.26 for the 2.5km course.
22 February 2005
Indoors
Two athletes from Blackheath & Bromley achieved
European Indoor Qualifying times at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham.
In the 60 metres Tyrone Swaray set a seasons best in his heat of 6.67, three
hundredths inside the qualifying mark. Team mate Jonathan Barbour timed 6.86
easing down in the other heat.
Last year Michael Skinner helped pace a World Record in
the two mile race. This year he was concentrating solely on his own performance.
Disappointed with a personal best of 8.06 in the 3000 metres at the previous
weeks European Trials he made another bid to better the European qualifying time
of 8 minutes. He succeeded and dipped inside with 7.59 at the 3000 point in the
2 mile race. With his mission accomplished he then jogged the remaining lap to
finish in 8.57. He now has to wait to see if this performance will be accepted
as a qualifying time and if it is good enough to get selected.
At the same venue over the next couple of days some of the
Club's top youngsters were in action at the AAA's Under 20 Indoor Championships.
Top performer was Montell Douglas. Pipped in the 60 metres last year she
returned to snatch the gold by the thickness of her Nike sponsored club crop-top
as she won by just four hundredths of a second in 7.50. In 2004 she won the 200
but this year had to settle for the silver as she was beaten by Havering's Lucy
Sargent. Nevertheless her time of 23.93 was a new personal best indoors and out
and is a qualifying performance for this Summers European Junior Championships
in Lithuania in July. It is also a new under 20 Club Record.
The Club's other medallist was Robert Bain who picked up
silver in the 3000 metre walk for the second year running and again he was just
outside the 14 minute mark recording 14.00.77.
Others to feature included Holly Williams who finished 6th
in the Junior Women's walk despite being just 15 and so up to four years younger
than the other athletes in the field. Clare Cooper returned from injury to
qualify for the final of the 60 metre hurdles.
Daniel Haque looked good in his heat of the 200 metres
winning in 22.47 but he had to withdrew from the semi finals with a tight
hamstring. Rebecca Syrocki clocked a useful 58.9 in the heats of the 400 metres
and Amy Godsell timed 8.00 to qualify for the semi final of the 60 metres.
Michael Whitehouse was the only field eventer in action.
He finished in 5th place in the high jump with 1.94.
National Cross Country Championships,
Cofton Park, Birmingham
Andy Rayner and Amy Dematos provided the two
individual highlights of the day at the National Cross Country Championships at
Cofton Park in Birmingham as the Club finished teams in nine of the ten races.
Andy in his first Senior National went off hard from the
gun and in a field of over 1300 reached the top ten on the opening lap. Against
many of the top Club runners in the country he hung on well to finish in 26th
place over the 7.5 mile course.
Amy missed the Under 13 girls race at the Southern
Championships at Parliament Hill last month but showed she may have got a medal
there had she not been ill. Fully fit she had her best ever race, looking strong
throughout to finish in 4th place from well over 300 runners.
She also led her training partners Danielle Critchley
(28th), Rebecca Smith (79th) and Lucy Price (106th) to the Club's highest team
position of the day as they closed in 7th position.
Rayners placing helped the Senior Men to finish in 15th
place from over 100 teams, not as high as they had been hoping but with a squad
hit by injury and illness a good showing from the next five counters who were
Jamie Atkinson (145th), Ant Draper (152nd), Alex Gibbins (236th), Peter Tucker
(242nd) and Jon Thorpe (280th)
The Senior women finished a useful 19th and had their
largest ever number of finishers. Jennie Butler led the charge in 38th place
with Bridget Davey having another useful run in 158th. Captain Kate Pratten had
one of her best runs on the country and had the satisfaction of outsprinting
Leeds City's former London Marathon winner and British record holder Veronique
Marot down the home straight to finish in 183rd. Bella Clayton completed the
scoring quartet in 226th.
Under 13 boy Stephen Cavey was the only Club member to
lead a race during the afternoon. He hit the front in the first three quarters
of a mile and hung on well to finish in 29th place. He led a very promising
squad to 10th place overall with Jo Harding 59th, Philip Sesemann 75th and
Robert Yates 134th.
It was 10th also for the Under 20 men's team of Ray
Perkins, Chris Daniel, David Griffin and Dan Ryan while James Poole in 80th led
the under 17 men's team of Jonathan Vintner, Richard Davies and Dale Willis to
19th place.
The women's team of Katie Murray, Bryony Proctor, Debbie
Shearing and Sarah Coombs finished in 15th place. Going one better were the
under 15 girls team of Amy Smith, Hannah Garcia, Laura Kastoryano and Catherine
Chambers. The boys team of Alex Littlewood, Cameron Ward, Alistair Cliff and
Beau Szczepanski were 32nd
"Unlock Your Potential - a unique talk given by
award-winning conference speaker and highly respected sport psychologist Dr
Costas Karageorghis, March 2nd, Langley Park School for Boys starting promptly
at 7.30pm. Contact John Blackie 020 8325 0241."
15 February 2005
Indoors AAA's Championships and European
Trials, Sheffield
Liz Hughes was Blackheath & Bromley's most successful
athlete at the AAA's Championships and European Trials in Sheffield. The 27 year
old scooped the silver medal in the pole vault to go with the outdoor runners up
medal she picked up last Summer.
She had first time clearances at 3.70, 3.85 and 3.95 but
went out at 4.05 before Trafford's Janine Whitlock took the title with a new
Championship best of 4.30. Unfortunately Liz's clearance is still someway off
the European qualifying height of 4.25.
Someone who did achieve a European qualifying mark was
Tyrone Swaray. His 6.68 in the first round of the 60 metres was two hundreds
inside the qualifying time. He then ran 6.73 in the semis to make the Final
where he clocked 6.75 for 6th place.
Jonathan Barbour also won his heat in 6.77 and then ran
6.75 in the semis and 6.76 for 8th place in the Final. Training partner Dwayne
Grant qualified for the Semis after running 6.82 in his heat but did not start
the next round.
It was a frustrating weekend for Dwayne who the previous
day had been disqualified in the final of the 200 metres for a false start. He
had qualified by running 21.39 and 21.51 in the heats and semis.
Highest placed of the Club's sprinters was Montell
Douglas. Still a junior, she finished 4th in the Women's 200 metres with a
seasons best of 24.18. She returned on the Sunday to run inside her previous
best for 60 meters three times. She ran 7.52 in the heats and then timed 7.49 in
the semi final, the 12th quickest ever by a British Junior athlete. She was just
a hundredth slower in the final in finishing 7th.
Others who produced personal best were Sam Bobb who
achieved an excellent 5th place in the triple jump with a leap of 15.09 and
Michael Skinner who was 6th in the 3000 metres with 8.06.25.
Others in action were Fabian Collymore who ran 22.27 in
the 200, Alloy Wilson (7.07 in the 60), Tawanda Chiwira (48.68 in the 400) and
Bella Clayton (2.14.36 in the 800). Unfortunately Russell Bentley was
disqualified in his heat of the 800 for running out of his lane but was,
nevertheless, pleased to run another time of 1.51.
Also indoors three Club members were in action for Brunel
University with the men winning and the women finishing in second place. Andrew
Rayner set a new best for the 3000 metres as he finished second in 8.24.67.
Tunde Balogun clocked 7.13 for the 60 metres and Christine Lawrence made a rare
appearance in the shot with a putt of 7.68.
Cross Country Kent League, Tonbridge
Blackheath & Bromley's women were the overall winning
club in the Kent League for the 2004/5 season. They secured their victory with
another strong performance across the age groups in the last League match in
Tonbridge The senior women won on the day led home by Bridget Davey in 4th
place. Miranda Porritt recovered well from an injury last week to finish in 6th
and captain Kate Pratten had her highest ever placing to close in the scoring in
10th place. With Annie McDonough 18th, Carolyna Jones Baldock 23rd and Anne
Cilia 27th they won the 6 to score competition as well. They were 2nd overall
for the season.
It was 2nd overall also for the under 17 women. Debbie
Shearing's reward for consistently good performances over the year was the
finish the season as third overall individual for the season. At Tonbridge she
finished in 9th place with Louise Smith 14th.
The Under 15 girls have looked near unbeatable all season
and so it proved again with Amy Smith winning the race. Backed by Hannah Garcia
in 3rd and Laura Kastoryano in 6th they won the race by four points and took the
overall title for the year. To add to the celebrations Hannah Garcia was 2nd
overall for the season.
The under 13 girls dominated their race with seven
finishers in the top 16. Amy De Matos won by 24 seconds and with Danielle
Critchley in 3rd and Rebecca Smith 5th thy easily won the team race. If B teams
had scored then Lucy Price (7th), Grace Power (10th) and Jenny Linker (12th)
would have been third. Youngest member of the squad, Kayley Broadway showed
there is more to come in this age group with a fine 16th place.
The Senior Men had their best result of the year when they
finished in 2nd place just 7 points behind Tonbridge. Jamie Atkinson was first
home in 5th with super vet Alan Camp 11th, Peter Tucker 12th and Jon Thorpe
18th. Jonathan Vintner finished an excellent season with 5th in the under 17s
race and with Richard Davies 10th and Dale Willis 13th the team were 4th on the
day and 2nd overall.
Alex Littlewood was first home for the under 15s in 8th
place with Cameron Ward 20th and Robert Shearing 28th.
There was another promising team result for the under 13
boys. Led home by Robert Yates in 7th, William Andrew in 11th and Gregory
Proctor in 15th secured 2nd place on the day and for the season.
Missing from last weeks report, Shavaun Henry was 8th for
Birmingham University in the women's short course race at the British
Universities Championships in Leeds, an excellent performance and one that
promises much for this weekends National Cross Country Championships which take
place in Birmingham.
A number of Club members have been in road action
recently. Dave Taylor finished in 3rd place at the Watford Half Marathon. His
time of 68.10 was seven and a half minutes quicker than the next over 40 runner.
Alex Gibbins was 14th with 75.58.
Some of the Clubs students competed in the Hyde Park
Relays. In the men's race David McKinlay ran a good opening leg for the
University of East Anglia to close in 7th in a large field. The race marked the
return to competition of Dan Snow running for Portsmouth University. He has been
out injured with knee trouble for two years.
The Bugler sisters Kate and Eve both ran for Oxford
University with Eve helping the B team to third place.
Colin Poole has been continuing his amazing series of
marathon races. His 152nd marathon was perhaps his most unusual. The Hamburg
Marathon is a 48 lap course and is run in the underground roads in the city. The
67 year old enjoyed the occasion.
"Unlock Your Potential - a unique talk given by
award-winning conference speaker and highly respected sport psychologist Dr
Costas Karageorghis, March 2nd, Langley Park School for Boys starting promptly
at 7.30pm. Contact John Blackie 020 8325 0241 for details."
8 February 2005
A hectic weeks Indoor action has seen athletes from
Blackheath & Bromley set a European Record, a new Club record, produce
nationally ranked performances and set numerous personal bests.
Many of these came in the Indoor Open Meeting at Sutton
Arena. The European record came from Helen Godsell. She celebrated her 51st
birthday two days early by breaking her own European Masters Over 50's 60 metres
record by 0.05 of a second when she timed 8.25 in the first round heats. Her
8.43 in the second round was not so quick but it seems there is more to come.
Club record came from Scott Huggins in the under 17s pole
vault. He made a massive improvement to clear 3.95 metres and it seems only a
matter of time before he breaks through the 4 metre barrier.
The afternoon began in explosive style with Tyrone Swaray,
fresh from competing in the Glasgow Indoor International the day before,
blasting out the blocks to post a 6.7 hand time for the 60 metres, one tenth of
a second clear of Club mate Jonathan Barbour.
Barbour produced the best possible response in the second
round as he won in an electric timed 6.71, a hundredth of a second outside the
European qualifying time.
Also in the 60 metres, Duayne Bovell timed 7.10 and 7.11.
James Alaka had his first race in the under 17 age group but was pipped by new
member Danny Doyley with both timing 7.24. The rematch saw James time 7.14 with
Danny also improving to 7.23.
David Torku (7.25) Aston Stockdale (7.68), Daniel Hammond
(7.76) Shane Henry (7.84) Dane Cole (7.94) and Andrew Jordan (8.21) all showed
promising form. Apart from Helen Godsell, highlight in the women's races was the
performance of first year under 17 Serita Solomon who posted an outstanding
7.74. Helen's daughter Amy timed an excellent 7.83.
Others to perform included Vicki Cole (8.01),Sarah
Harrison (8.32), Rebecca Cook (8.65), Jessica Matthews (8.58), and Georgia
Crosbie (8.77) The Club's hurdlers won every race in which they competed. Under
20 Harriet Robinson's 8.85 in the 60 hurdles so impressed the organisers of this
weekends European Championship Trials in Sheffield that she has been invited to
take part and compete against the best Seniors in the country.
To emphasise her good from on the flat, Serita Solomon
sped to 8.73 over the sticks with fellow under 17 Alex AlAmeen a class apart in
the men's races winning in times of 8.32 and 8.33.
The Club's pole vaulters were out in force. As well as
Scott Huggins Club Record, Allan Williams was just 6 centimetres off his
European Over 50's record when he also cleared 3.95. He coaches Great Britain
International Liz Hughes who won the women's event with a 3.80 clearance and
Scott's coach Simon Tolson went over 3.65.
Rachel Arnheim and Emily Godley both cleared 2.85 in the
under 17 women's contest while at the other end of the age range 71 year old Jim
Day cleared 2.55.
Sam Bobb leapt a useful 6.55 in the Senior Men's long
jump; Jessica Matthews won the under 15 girls high jump with 1.35 and Jade
Castell Thomas took the under 17 women's triple jump with 10.77.
There was a hat trick of personal bests from the Herbie
Kuenstlinger throws group with Sarah McGuire second in the under 15 girls shot
with 9.49 and Katherine Jones 3rd (8.12) and Banke Jeniyo 4th (7.70). Andrew
Jordan threw 10.29 in the boys event.
More B & B athletes have been in action in the Midland
Open Meetings at the Indoor Arena in Birmingham. Last weekend, Great Britain
Junior International Montell Douglas bounced back from recent hamstring niggle
to win the 200 metres in 24.80.
Neil Simpson showed he is in good shape by running 22.32
in the 200 metres and Michael Champion made a rare indoor appearance to time
22.76. Dominic Parsons and Marvin Riley timed 7.24 and 7.29 in the 60 metres.
Montell was back in Birmingham this weekend winning the
200 metres in 24.46 the same time as the runner up. Russell Bentley ran his
fastest ever 800 metres indoor or out as he timed 1.51.20 for third place and
there was a useful 1.59.77 from David McKinlay.
Allan Williams again cleared 3.95 in the vault while there
was a one-two in the under 17 girls vent with Rachel Arnheim clearing 2.80 and
Lauren Blackie 2.65. Lauren also set a personal best in the triple jump as she
leapt 11.02 with training partner Jade Castell Thomas third in 10.72.
A number of the Club's young sprinters enjoyed their first
ever taste of competition at the National Indoor Arena. Katrina Cosby ran 26.63
for the 200 with Sarah Harrison 28.44, Katie Vistuer 28.32 and Rebecca Cook
28.91. More promising times came in the 60 metre races with Sarah Harrison
(8.44), Grace Sheppard (8.45), Jessica Matthews (8.51), Rebecca Cook (8.63) and
Katie Vistuer (8.79). Jessica was also 3rd in the high jump with 1.40 and
Katrina also third in the long jump with 4.52.
Meanwhile at the open meeting at Windsor Duayne Bovell
improved his seasons best in the 60 metres with time of 7.05.
Highlight outdoors was the performance of Andrew Rayner at
the British Universities Cross Championships at Leeds. He had one of his best
ever runs to finish in 10th position just five places behind last weeks Southern
runner up Frazer Thompson. New member Andrew Moreton finished in 60th place. A
number of girls were in action at Inter County match at Basildon. Best placed
was Katie Murray in the under 16s race as she finished 8th with Rebecca Taylor
13th, Sarah Coombs 56th and Lauren Smith 71st Sophie Cowper was 11th in the
under 14s race with Hannah Garcia 23rd and Rebecca Smith 27th. Bryony Proctor
was 21st in the under 18s.
The Club won its annual mob match against Ranelagh
Harriers by a mere three points. This is possibly the smallest winning margin in
the race 's History as the teams scored 26 a side. First home for the Club was
Anthony Draper with Peter Tucker third and Rob Hall eighth.
First woman home was Kate Pratten with an injured Miranda
Porritt second and Clare Lodwig third With the match being so close the sprint
finishes of Ian Taylor and Richard Hall made the difference. Cheered on by team
captain Nick Gasson they out kicked their Ranelagh rivals lowering the B & B
score by 2 points and increasing the oppositions by 2 at the same time.
"Unlock Your Potential - a unique talk given by
award-winning conference speaker and highly respected sport psychologist Dr
Costas Karageorghis, March 2nd, Langley Park School for Boys starting promptly
at 7.30pm. Contact John Blackie 020 8325 0241 or click on our website at
www.bandbhac.org.uk for details."
1 February 2005
Three of Blackheath and Bromley's top sprinters were on
International duty at the weekend. Tyrone Swaray travelled to Glasgow to compete
against Olympic 4x100 gold medallist Jason Gardener over 60 metres. He finished
in 6th place.
Dwayne Grant was in the 4x100 squad for Paris but did not
get to run and while the winning quartet received MBE's Grant received
notification that he would no longer be getting Lottery Funding. Team mate
Julian Golding, the fastest Briton over 200 metres in 2004 has also been
dropped.
Grant travelled to Budapest for his first race of the
Winter and clocked 6.74 and 6.79 for the 60 metres just outside the European
Indoor qualifying time of 6.70. Fabian Collymore, representing Wales timed 6.91
and 6.92. From there Collymore moved on to Bratislava where he recorded times of
6.93 and 6.94 for the 60 metres and also 22.22 for the 200
Dave Taylor, at the age of 41, led the Club's Senior Men's
team to 4th place in the Southern Cross Championships at Parliament Hill Fields.
He finished in 6th place overall in a field of over 800 runners from Clubs from
the 19 counties that make up the Southern region. There were 63 clubs that
finished a team.
Welsh International Joe Mills returned to action to place
41st while former champion Spencer Newport was 51st. Youngster Jamie Atkinson
performed well placing 70th on this testing 9 mile race just a week after
representing England over 1500 indoors. Alex Gibbins (114th) and Richard Daniels
(140th) completed the scoring 6.
They were the first Kent team to finish but with only 11
finishers had to relinquish the Camden Cup which is presented to the first Kent
Club that closes 12 runners.
Jennie Butler finished in her highest ever position in
these Championships closing in 9th in the Senior Women's race. With Miranda
Porritt in 4th, Captain Kate Pratten 128th and Annie McDonough 138th the Club
were 15th in the team competition and, like the men, the first Kent team to
finish.
Best team performance in the younger age groups came from
the under 13 boys who came 4th. Promisingly three of the quartet will still be
in this age group next year. Stephen Cavey was first home in 27th place with Joe
Harding 45th , Robert Yates 51st and Philip Sesemann 59th.
Next best team performance came from the under 15 girls.
Amy Smith, Rebecca Taylor and Hannah Garcia dominated the County Championships
with a clean sweep of the medals and these were the Club's first three home
again with Amy 26th, Rebecca 43rd and Hannah 63rd. The improving Laura
Kastoryano completed the scoring quartet in 68th position.
Katie Murray continued her recent good form in the under
17s women' race. She was 23rd in her first year in the age group and with Bryony
Proctor 45th, Debbie Shearing 54th and Sarah Coombs 68th they finished 7th
overall and first Kent club.
In the Under 17 men's race Jonathan Vintner showed the
fruits of the hard training he has been doing this Winter and was first home for
the Club in 62nd place, with Danny Brewer just behind in 68th. Richard Davies
122nd and Dale Willis 125th completed the scoring and helped the team to 12th
place.
Despite not being at full strength the under 13 girls
still finished 15th. First home was Danielle Critchley with an excellent 26th
place. Grace Power ran well to close 64th with Jenny Linker in 109th and Kayley
Broadway 115th. Alex Littlewood led the Under 15 boys home in 48th place and
with Alistair Cliff 110th, Cameron Ward 127th and Robert Evans 137th they were
17th overall and 2nd Kent team after finishing 5th in the County Championships
earlier in the month.
The Club were not able to complete teams in the under 20s
age groups. For the women Ella Fisher was 26th and Rachel Chadwick 40th while
Chris Daniel started the men's race but retired after the first lap.
25 January 2005
Michael Skinner continued his high profile Winter campaign
at the Reebok Cross Challenge in Cardiff. The Blackheath & Bromley athlete
finished 7th in a very strong field.
Also in Cardiff, two of the Club's athletes were in action
at the Jeff White Motors Indoor International. Jamie Atkinson was 3rd in the
1500 in 3.56.62 while Welsh International Fabian Collymore was 5th in the 60
metres in 6.99. The previous week at the same venue Bella Clayton opened her
indoor campaign with an emphatic win in the 800. She timed 2.13.91 nearly 10
seconds clear of the runner up. She was pleased to follow this with a 58.56
clocking in the 400 metres.
In the men's events Bob Minting recorded an excellent time
for a 54 year old of 2.09.47 for 800 and under 20 Marvin Riley produced a useful
7.29 in the 60 metres.
There were a number of personal bests set in the younger
age groups at the London Indoor Sprints Festival at Haringey. In the Senior age
group Neil Simpson and Bomene Barikor made their first appearances of the Winter
with Neil recording times of 7.15 and 7.19 for 60 metres while Bomene restricted
himself to one race in which he clocked 7.25
In the Under 17s race Lauren Blackie showed remarkable
consistency to time 8.17 twice, a new best. New girl Janet Kuti ran 8.45 and
8.38 while Helen Jordon timed 8.53 and 8.61.
Daniel Hammond produced very useful times of 7.93 and 7.84
in the under 15's age group with Andrew Jordon 8.41 and 8.25 and Jessica
Matthews 8.57 also setting new bests.
Many of the Club's youngsters were in action at the County
Schools Cross Championships and hoping to secure selection for the County at the
English Schools Championships in March.
At the Kent Schools at Brockhill Country Park in Hythe the
Club's girls featured prominently. For the first time there was a race for year
7 runners and here Danielle Critchley finished in 2nd place in 10.47 with the
promising Amy Mitchell in 9th in 11.38.
It was second too for Amy DeMatos in the Junior Girls
race, an excellent run in her first year in the age group. Rebecca Smith was 6th
and Hannah Garcia 7th.
The Intermediate and Senior Girls races were combined.
First home was Rebecca Taylor in 5th place with Ella Fisher 11th, Bryony Proctor
15th and Sarah Coombs 16th.
Stephen Cavey was 16th in the Junior Boys race.
Meanwhile at Reigate in the Surrey Schools Championships
Sophie Cowper was 4th in the Junior Girls race with Laura Kastoryano in 14th.
There was a poor turn out of Seniors at the Inter Club
match at Roehampton. Giles Clifford finished in 2nd place but he was running for
the Bank Of England. Otherwise the only other Club representatives were Graham
Coates in 17th and Nick Barber in 43rd.
The 25th London Marathon takes place on Sunday the 17th of
April and on the same day the 19th mini marathon will be run over the last 5km
of the course finishing in the Mall.
Trials for the Bromley team for this years London Mini
Marathon take place at Norman Park Track on Sunday 6th February with the first
race at 10.15. Races are open to any boys and girls aged between 11 and 17 on
the 17th of April and they must either live or receive full time education
within the London Borough Of Bromley.
Eight athletes will be selected for each of the six age
group teams and a minimum of four of those will be runners who take part in the
Trials, including a "wild card" in each age group. This means that everyone who
takes part in the Trials has the opportunity to gain selection for the Bromley
team and be part of the Marathon day on the 17th of April. The Trials are
supported by Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC in partnership with the London
Borough Of Bromley and the Bromley Mytime trust. For an entry form please send a
stamped addressed envelope to Dave Liston 70 Serman Drive, Swanley, Kent. BR8
7HT. Entries close on Monday 31st January.
18 January 2005
Members of Blackheath and Bromley have figured prominently
in some of Britain's major Athletics meetings in the last ten days. Michael
Skinner travelled to Scotland to grace the nation's television screens in the
Great Edinburgh International Cross Country meeting and finished 2nd in the 4km
race.
After a cautious start he moved quickly through the field
but had to settle for the runners up position behind Morpeth's Nick McCormick.
In doing so he claimed the scalp of Olympian John Mayock. To complete a
successful day for the Club, Cameron Ward was an easy winner of the under 15
boys mile race.
Part of the reason for Skinner's slowish start was that he
has been nursing a hamstring injury that prevented him from racing the previous
weekend at the Reebok Cross Challenge in Belfast.
However, the Club was represented here as former British
marathon International and Club Vice President Bill Foster finished in 6th place
in the veterans race over almost 6km. Bill who is heavily involved in coaching
at Loughborough University was the first over 45 runner timing 20.48.
Up in Blackburn, at Witton Park, Tim Dickinson regained
the Lancashire Cross Country title that he last won in 2003. He also won it in
2002 and 1996 and also as a junior. He made a late decision to run and was a
comfortable 11 seconds clear of the runner up despite "not feeling that good" As
a former champion he will now be looking forward to the South Of England
Championships at the end of the month.
Down in Cardiff last week Fabian Collymore missed out on
retaining his Welsh Indoor 60 metre title when he finished 2nd. It could not
have been much closer as his time of 6.92 was the same as that of the winner.
This weekend the Welsh International travelled to Loughborough for the Indoor
Meeting there and improved his season's best to 6.89.
Also in action were three of the Club's other top Seniors.
Former European Under 23 Champion Jonathan Barbour timed 6.79, Tyrone Swaray
6.82 and 400 metre runner Alloy Wilson moved down in distance to clock 6.87,
just three hundredths outside his best.
First year under 15 athlete Jessica Matthews had an
outstanding day at the South Of England Pentathlon Championships at Bedford. In
2004 she was ranked joint 8th in the country in the high jump with 1.48. The
first event in the pentathlon was the high jump and she excelled herself by
clearing 1.52 to take the lead in the five event competition. She was 3rd in her
heat of the 60 hurdles with 10.61 and then set another new personal best of 4.44
in the long jump. A rare appearance in a shot contest saw her putt 6.43 metres
and she rounded off the five events with 8.70 for the 60 metres. This placed her
5th overall with 2535 points a personal best on top of the five bests she set in
the individual events.
There were a couple of notable performances at the City Of
Manchester Indoor Meeting a couple of weeks ago. Montell Douglas moved up in
distance for some endurance work and won the women's 300 metres in 40.99. In the
men's 800 Russell Bentley ran a useful 1.53.77 for second place.
Back in West Wickham there was a good turn out for the
Club's open 10km cross country race which incorporated the B & B veterans
championships and a race against the Bank Of England.
Winner was Anthony Draper who cantered around the testing
course to record a time of 36.59 over a minute clear of Ciaran Osbourne. John
Thorpe took third place while it was good to see track specialist Steve Cooper
back in action in 4th place.
First home in the over 40s race was Mark Ellison in a time
of 40.50. There was a double celebration for runner up Ian Taylor as not only
did he pick up the silver medal but he also beat Ken Daniel for the first time.
Steve Pairman took the bronze in the over 40's while Daniel headed the over 50's
field with Graham Coates second and club triple jump champion Rob Brown third.
Mike Cronin won the over 60's race ahead of Tony Pontifex
and John Copley, with David Churchus taking the over 70's title from Ron
Chambers.
First woman finisher in the race and winner of the
veteran's contest was Bridget Davey who was 25th overall out of a field of 70.
Her time of 46.07 was over two minutes quicker than Kate Pratten with Annie
McDonough producing another good run for third. Annie picked up silver in the
veterans championship with Angela Cook in third.
The race also incorporated the latest in the Bennett
Handicap race series. Winner in this was Bridget Davey with Leo Swan second and
Annie McDonough third.
On the roads Chelsea O Rawe Hobbs was first under 13 at
the Enfield walks meeting. She timed 18.56 for the two mile event.
At the Metropolitan Police 10km at Imber Court three
second claim members were in action with Peter Hannell 18th, Shaun Lightman 20th
and Nolan Simmons 25th.
A number of Club members were in action at the Dartford 10
Mile Road Race. First home was Con Griffin in 55th place in 1.03.58 followed by
Trevor Simmons in 67th and John Turner 214th.
London Mini Marathon.
The 25th London Marathon takes place on Sunday the 17th of April and on
the same day the 19th Mini Marathon will be run over approximately the last 5km
of the course, finishing in the Mall. Trials for the Bromley team for this years
London Mini Marathon take place at Norman Park Track on Sunday 6th February with
the first race at 10.15. Races are open to any boys and girls aged between 11
and 17 on the 17th of April and they must either live or receive full time
education within the London Borough Of Bromley.
Eight athletes will be selected for each of the six age
group teams and a minimum of four of those will be runners who take part in the
Trials, including a "wild card" in each age group. This means that everyone who
takes part in the Trials has the opportunity to gain selection for the Bromley
team and be part of the Marathon day on the 17th of April.
The Trials are sponsored by Blackheath &Bromley Harriers
AC in partnership with the London Borough Of Bromley and the Bromley Mytime
trust. For an entry form please send a stamped addressed envelope to Dave
Liston, 70 Sermon Drive, Swanley, Kent. BR8 7HT.
The Final rankings for the 2004 season have now been
published and cover the veterans lists. A number of the Club's athletes figure
prominently across the various age groups. What this means is that the Club last
year had athletes who were the best in the country from under 13 year olds to
those over 70.
Dave Taylor dominates the men's middle distance events in
the over 40 category. His time of 29.44.95 for 10,000 metres is over two minutes
quicker than the second ranked athlete. His 13.53.13 in the 5,000 is nearly 50
seconds quicker than the runner up and the double European Masters Champion also
heads the 3000, 1500 and 800 lists. He also heads all the Masters road race
rankings from the half marathon downwards.
Former Commonwealth Games champion Myrtle Augee is 2nd in
the over 35s shot with a putt of 13.71. Second claim member Angie Alstrachen's
time of 8.45.2 places her third in the 2000 steeplechase. Bill Foster heads the
over 45's lists in the 5000 metres (15.23.30) and 1500 (4.10.85) and is also
second in the 3000 with 8.59.02. (His twin brother Jonathan is third in the 3000
steeplechase.)
In the field events Alan Hardy is joint first in the pole
vault with 3.40 while former member Peter Yates is javelin number one. Allan
Williams cleared higher than Hardy but is an over 50. His best was 4.15 a full
75 centimetres better than the runner up.
Also in top place in the age group is Helen Godsell who is
quickest in the 100 metres with 13.3. She is also 2nd in the 200 metres with
27.98. Her brother Bob Minting is third in the 800 with 2.05.1.
Past President Colin Brand is top of three throwing events
in the over 65s with throws of 39.51 (javelin), 39.91 (discus) and 10.75 (shot).
Almost as dominant in the over 70's category is Gordon Hickey. He is nearly 2
metres clear in the shot with a putt of 13.11. He is also first in the javelin
with 32.96 and second in the discus with 34.31. Jim Day tops the pole vault
list, his clearance of 2.71 being over a metre clear of second place. He also
leads the high jump (1.22) and the 60 hurdles (11.88) and is second in the 100
hurdles with 16.05
11 January 2005
The news that John Hoy is missing and presumed dead after
the tsunami in Thailand has cast a shadow over Blackheath & Bromley's activities
over the last week. John, his wife and three children were on holiday at Khao
Lak were swept away by the waters. Only his wife has survived. The bodies of two
of the children have been found while John and his eldest son are missing.
Before moving from Orpington to Bangkok to take up a post
with the Department Of International Development a couple of years ago, John was
a regular down at the Club and has been back to visit since. He represented the
Club in cross country, road and track fixtures and ran 2 hours 52 minutes for
the London Marathon in 2002.
Club President Margaret Baldwin commented "I was shocked,
as I am sure all members were, to hear about the tragic death of John and his
children in the tsunami disaster in Thailand. I remember him as a quiet man who
enjoyed his Wednesday training runs from the Clubhouse and participating in our
cross country races at Hayes. We will miss him and our thoughts go out to his
wife and other members of his family. Cases such as this bring the tragedy so
much closer to home."
On a busy and important weekend of Athletics, Blackheath &
Bromley enjoyed Championship success both indoors and out. At the South Of
England Indoor Championships at Bedford there was a marked increase in the
number of medal winners from last year.
In 2004 the Club had one gold medal winner but this year
there were four. Leading the way was Rachel Arnheim who won a very competitive
under 17 women's pole vault contest with a clearance of 2.90 metres to equal her
own Club record. Runner up was Emily Godley who equalled her best of 2.80 and
like Rachel is in her first year in the age group. To emphasis the healthy state
of vaulting at the Club, Scott Huggins clinched gold in the men's event with a
clearance of 3.30.
Jessica Matthews took the under 15 girls high jump title
with a clearance of 1.40 in her first contest of the Winter while on the track
Alex AlAmeen blasted to victory in the under 17 men's 60 metre hurdles with a
very useful time of 8.59.
Missing from the under 17 women's vault contest was Lauren
Blackie who jarred her back as she picked up the silver medal in the triple jump
with a new best of 10.75. This also restricted her in the long jump where she
had to settle for 8th place with a leap of 5.13.
Great Britain Junior International Michael Whithouse
opened his Winter campaign by picking up the bronze medal in the high jump with
a clearance of 2 metres. Fellow International Montell Douglas did not fare as
well. She cruised through her heat of the 60 metres in 7.86 but then had a
problem with her hamstring after winning her semi in 7.75. She did not start the
final.
In the men's event Daniel Haque won bronze in 7.13 in his
first year in the age group and there were also third places in the under 17
women's shot for Shaunagh Brown with 10.60 and in the under 15 girls event for
Sarah McGuire with 9.02.
A number of other athletes were in action and although
they did not make the medals there were some encouraging performances. The heats
of the under 15 girls 60 metres were particularly impressive as out of the five
races four were won by Blackheath & Bromley athletes. These winners Rebecca Cook
(8.64), Sarah Harrison (8.52), Grace Sheppard (8.71) and Katrina Cosby (8.39)all
qualified for the semi final with Katrina progressing to the final where she was
4th with 8.53.
Aston Stockdale just missed out on a place in the boys
final after timing 7.79 in the semi while Bath university student Marvin Riley
clocked 7.35 in the quarter final of the junior men's event.
Nina Akif missed out on a place in the under 17 women's 60
metre hurdles final as finished 2nd in a run off after four athletes ran 9.6 in
the hand timed semi finals.
First year senior Alex Pope had a busy time. Unfortunately
he no heighted in the pole vault but he was 4th in the 60 metre hurdles final
with 9.34 and was 5th in the shot putt with 10.49
Dave Taylor continued his recent rich vein of form winning
the Surrey County Cross Country title at Lloyd Park the day before his 41st
birthday. The Club enjoyed a most successful day at the Kent County
Championships at Wilderness School, Sevenoaks with seven individual medals and
eight sets of team medals.
Thirty Clubs sent athletes to these championships but B &
B were the only Club to complete a team in all ten age groups.
Best result of the day came in the under 15 girls race
where the Club's athletes produced a clean sweep of the individual medals.
Defying the windy conditions Amy Smith quickly made her way to the front of the
field and that was where she stayed eventually shaking off her Newstead Woods
schoolmate Rebecca Taylor to win by 24 seconds.
Behind them Hannah Garcia had one of her best ever runs to
move through the field to take third place. This gave the Club a team victory
with the minimum possible points score. Like Hannah, Lauren Smith had one of her
best ever runs to close in 7th while Catherine Chambers showed that there is
strength in depth in this age group with a fine 13th place. Encouragingly Amy,
Hannah and Catherine are each in their first year in this age group. Jennie
Butler was the only female athlete to pick up three medals on the day. She
claimed the bronze medal in the Senior Women's race and with Bella Clayton in
12th and Miranda Porritt in 13th the trio won silver medals in the team race a
tantalising one point behind Invicta East Kent
History was then made as the Club won the 6 to score
Women's competition for the first time as former under 13s champion Fran Green
placed 17th, team captain Kate Pratten closed in 34th and super veteran Annie
McDonough completed the scoring in 36th place.
No County Championship would be complete without a sprint
finish from Anne Cilia and the Club's veteran captain did not disappoint her
public with a blistering last 50 metres to finish just three seconds down on
Clare Lodwig as they placed 40th and 41st . It was gold also for the Junior
Women's team as Birmingham University student Shavaun Henry led the squad home
by winning the silver medal. Oxford University student Eve Bugler closed in 5th
with Ella Fisher 6th and former sprint hurdler Rachel Chadwick 9th.
The gold medal charge had started earlier in the day with
the under 13 girls. Here Amy De Matos took a well earned silver medal and with
team mates Rebecca Smith and Danielle Critchley stormed to a 15 point victory
over nearest challengers Tonbridge. Grace Power in 14th and Jenny Linker in 20th
showed that the Club has the talent to figure prominently in the 4 to score
Southern Championships at the end of the month.
One of the best finishes of the day came in the under 17
women's race where Katie Murray eventually had to concede advantage and settle
for second place. Nevertheless this was a fine run from an athlete in her first
year in the age group and quite an improvement from 2004 when she was 6th in the
under 15 girls race. Ever reliable Bryony Proctor in 9th and the promising
Debbie Shearing in 13th ensured the Club won bronze medals in the team race.
Surprisingly, for a team that has the potential to figure prominently at
National level, the Senior Men did not feature in the medals being pipped for
third place by four points by Tonbridge. Injuries and illness were the main
reason for this and it is probably true to say the team could actually finish
higher in the South Of England Championships at the end of the month. Closing 6
runners in 33 would normally pick up some colour of team medals but the Club
only had one athlete in the top 20. This was Brunel University student Andrew
Rayner who duplicated last years 4th place another very good run. Jamie Atkinson
24th, Anthony Draper 27th, Alex Gibbins 28th, Peter Tucker 31st and super vet
Alan Camp in 33rd place completed the scoring and the Club placed third in the
12 to score contest.
Best placed male team were the under 13 boys who finished
in second place behind an impressive Tonbridge squad. Just as pleasing as the
silver medals was to see such a large number of athletes competing and knowing
that the majority are in their first year in the age group. Stephen Cavey led
the charge in 6th position with Joe Harding 9th, David Peatfield 11th and Robert
Yates 12th.
The under 20 and under 17 teams both picked up bronze
medals. First home for the under 20s was Ray Perkins in 5th place handily backed
by Chris Daniel, Cameron Bennetts and Cambridge University student Michael Leal.
The under 17s sneaked third place by one point from Kent
AC with James Poole in 11th, Danny Brewer 12th, Richard Daniel 19th and Jonathan
Vintner 21st. Sam Simpson was first home for the under 15s in 14th place after a
good tussle with Alex Littlewood who closed in 16th. Backed by Cameron Ward in
26th and Alistair Cliff in 30th they finished 5th in the team race.
4 January 2005
Not surprisingly it has been a relatively quiet couple of
weeks for the athletes of Blackheath & Bromley, but there have been some
significant results most notably at the Welsh Indoors Meeting in Cardiff.
Unbelievably there is no indoor 200 metre track in the 19
Counties that make up the South Of England and so to gain vital indoor
experience for the forthcoming Championships a small number of athletes
travelled to South Wales to compete. In fact the nearest indoor 200 metre track
for Club members may be in France. Daniel Haque showed good early season form by
winning the Under 20s 200 metre title in 22.47 having timed 22.91 in his heat.
The experience of running on the camber in the heat no doubt helped him to go
faster in the Final.
David Torku timed 23.32 in the heats and showed that it
will not be long before he dips under 23 seconds. Under 15 athlete Aston
Stockton impressed in his heat of the 300 metres timing 39.94. However, the
start time of the Final was rescheduled which meant that he was not given enough
time to warm up. He had to settle for 2nd place in 40.14 behind the English
schools 400 metre champion. For the Seniors Russell Bentley finished in 2nd
place in the 1500 metres. Earlier Aston had been competing in the pole vault
where he was just below his best with a clearance of 2.50.
Also in action in the women's vault were Rachel Arnheim
and Lauren Blackie. Rachel cleared 2.80 and was
not far from clearing 3 metres. Lauren nearly cleared 2.80 but had to settle for
equalling her best of 2.60.
Outdoors Shavaun Henry was in action at the Last Friday of
The Month 5km in Hyde Park. She finished 54th overall in 18.55. At the same
venue the following day David Beadle was 53rd in the New Years Day 10km in
40.07.
The Senior track and field rankings for the 2004 season
have now been published with 27 athletes from Blackheath & Bromley featuring in
the men's and women's lists. Highest placed is Julian Golding who was the
fastest British male over 200 metres last year. Unfortunately his time of 20.41
was achieved at the start of the season and a subsequent dip in form meant that
he did not achieve his goal of making the Olympic team.
The Club member who did make the flight to Athens was
Dwayne Grant who travelled as part of the 4x100 metre squad. However, with good
depth in British sprinting at present, the 200 metre bronze medallist at the
AAA's Championships and Olympic Trials had to watch from the stands as Britain
beat the USA to take the gold medals. In recognition of his Olympic selection he
has been made a Life Member of the Club.
Grant's selection came despite the fact that he spent much
of the Summer injured and there is no doubt that he would have run quicker than
10.49 for the 100 and 20.90 for the 200.
Just behind Grant and Golding in the 100 metre rankings is
former European Under 23 champion and World Championship 4x100 metre
representative Jonathan Barbour. Like Grant injuries prevented joint Club 100
metre record holder Jonathan from showing his best form but hopefully with an
injury free Winter he will be able to mix it with the best in the land.
Fabian Collymore made a good transition to the Senior
ranks and was Welsh indoor and outdoor champion and he also features in both the
100 and 200 metre rankings.
Add to this quartet the talents of 6.63 60 metre sprinter
Tyrone Swaray; GB 2002 European Indoor Championship representative "Lash"
Lashore; and former Southern 200 metre bronze medallist Michael Champion plus a
further five athletes who dipped under 11 seconds in 2004 then there is good
reason to suggest the Club has the strongest male sprints squad in the country.
Certainly in 2004 the Club had more sub 11second 100 metre sprinters than
National champions Belgrave.
The Club colours also figured prominently in women's
sprinting this Summer when Shaftesbury Barnet's Abi Oyepitan won the 100 metres
at the AAA's Championships and Olympic Trials wearing a Blackheath & Bromley
crop top. Had she worn it in the 200 metres she might have won that as well but
she had to settle for the runner up spot.
The Club's top female sprinter in 2004 was AAA's Junior
Indoor 200 metre champion Montell Douglas. Still with one year left as a junior
she was hampered with injuries but still placed 17th in the 200 metres and 23rd
in the 100. Top female athlete of the year was Liz Hughes. She finished second
in the pole vault at the Olympic Trials but her clearance was not high enough to
make the British team for Athens. It did nevertheless give her her first full
Great Britain International vest. Her best clearance of 4.10 was the third
highest in the country in 2004.
Club 400 metre record holder Tawanda Chiwira does not
feature in the main ranking as he is from Zimbabwe but his time of 46.97 would
have placed him fairly highly albeit in a season where he was some way off his
best of 45.26 (a time that would have put him 2nd in this years lists).
It was good to see former World Junior Finalist and Club
Junior record holder Alloy Wilson returning to form and his time of 47.86 making
the lists. Bella Clayton's 55.7 puts her into the women's list.
AAA's 1500 bronze medallist Michael Skinner features in 4
events, the 800,1500, 3000 and 5000. He is 12th quickest in the 1500 and 3000.
Ahead of him in the 5000 is 40 year old Dave Taylor who is
placed 9th with 13.53.13. He is also 11th in the 10,000 metres with 29.44.95 and
on the road lists is 7th over 5 miles (23.53), 5th over 10 miles (49.14) and 8th
over the half marathon (65.03) Also placed in the 10,000 is Barry Stephenson
with 31.51.77 and Spencer Newport (2.22.31) and Rory Byrne (2.29.49) appear in
the marathon lists in 19th and 49th positions.
The Club was pleased to welcome Edward Harrison to the
Club at the end of the season. Edward, who joined from Medway and Maidstone, is
the third quickest junior 400 metre hurdler in the country in 2004 with 52.61and
is 17th in the Senior rankings.
Training partner Harriet Robinson, who is also a first
year junior, makes the women's sprint hurdles list with her time of 14.41.
Another Junior to figure prominently in the Senior lists
is Michael Whitehouse. He enjoyed a successful Summer, gaining his first Great
Britain Junior International vest, and finishing the season with a 2.10
clearance in the National Junior League Final at Derby. This height was the
third highest by a junior athlete in the country in 2004 and placed him in 18th
place in the Senior rankings. Like Harrison he still has still has a year left
in the Junior age group.
Junior team captain in 2004 Tom Robinson also features in
the rankings as he makes the Senior pole vault lists with his clearance of 4.30.
The other jumper to feature is Sam Bobb who completed a most successful return
to competition to set a new best of 15.13 in the triple jump. This leaves the
former Great Britain Under 23 International 14th on the Senior lists.
Junior International Sandra Alaneme placed 26th in the
women's list but injuries prevented her from jumping further than the 12.04 she
did achieve. She still has a year left in the Junior age group.
Patrick Boundy's 64.56 places him 24th in the javelin
rankings which is good considering he was carrying a shoulder injury for much of
the season and was also preparing for his wedding in September. Promisingly
Under 17 Stuart Harvey also made the Senior lists with his throw of 58.84 and
training partner Christine Lawrence is 34th in the women's lists despite still
having a year left in the under 20 age group.
Great Britain Junior International Amir Williamson was
throwing the Under 20 weight Hammer for much of the season but he still made the
Senior list by throwing the Senior weight 51.89.
Training partners Rachel Blackie and Victoria Thomas
feature highly in ht women's list despite being in the under 17 age group.
Rachel, the English Schools champion is 24th with 48.06 with Victoria 29th with
47.26.
Myrtle Augee made a low key but very welcome return to
competition for the Club during the season but her 13.71in the shot still places
her 10th in the country. The former Commonwealth Champion also sneaks into the
discus rankings with her throw of 38.21.
