Last updated
04 May 2015
UK Youth Development League
2015
2 May 2015
- U13/15 - Southampton
Southampton played host to the first fixture of this
season UKYDL lower age group on a cold blowy day, far removed from last
years mini heat wave.
Eight U13 Blackheath and Bromley boys put in a great
team and individual effort to help the overall team to a solid 2nd place on
the day, only 8 points behind Southampton, who took advantage of their home
fixture.
A few last minute changes were taken in stride as the
boys rallied collectively to try and fill all places both on the track and
in the field.
Tareq Bannour showed again that he is going to be hard
to beat this year as he powered to victory in both the 100m (12.9) and 200m
(26.5) and made up several places in the relay to secure a great second
place. Tareq showed his commitment to the team and great character stepping
up to do the javelin having never thrown one before, a great example to the
other boys. Tareq is currently ranked 5th Nationally in both the 100m and
200m.
Ethan Kitteridge proved to be a tough competitor
excelling in two events both at the same time. Having cleared the opening
height of 1.05 and 1.10 in the high jump Ethan then dashed to the start of
the 800m where he stormed off in determined fashion, crossing the line in
3rd having just run a great personal best. Then without a chance to catch
his breath it was back to the high jump for Ethan where the competition had
moved on and the bar now at a lofty 1.25. With seemingly little effort Ethan
flew over the bar and he was then able to start to recover from his two lap
race. A great competition saw Ethan clear the next height as well to finish
with a big new personal best, a great double effort.
Three of the boys competing are still at primary
school and have another year in the age group so it was great to see
brilliant performances from Sam Reardon, Jacob Byfield and Barnaby Corry.
Sam started his day smiling all the way through the
200m posting a new personal best time and a 2nd place finish. Next up was
the difficult task of running the A string 1500m, where he found himself
leading the pack with 3 laps to go. A steady rhythm saw Sam and the Reading
athlete pull away from the rest of the field but with the Reading lad poised
ready to attack. Sam sensed this as the paced quickened down the home
straight, both athletes were now at full pace with positions jostling back
and forth, before one final effort and a dip had Sam as winner but recording
exactly the same time as second place. A fantastic race and even more
special having just knocked off another 9 seconds from his newly acquired PB
and going under 5 minutes for the 1st time 4:52.2. Sam only had a few
minutes rest before Paul Byfield started the relay drills that ultimately
helped the team to finish a strong 2nd with Sam running a great 1st bend.
Jacob Byfield proved that training pays off as he
produced another personal best in the 75m hurdles. All Jacob’s practice over
the hurdles, will soon have him hurdling like his dad and we are sure to see
many more PB’s coming from this naturally agile hurdler. Soon after, Jacob
lined up for the long jump where his consistency paid off with three big
jumps a new best of 4.17 and a great second place. Jacob also ran a fast top
bend, running the third leg of the second placed 4 x 100m relay team.
Barnaby Corry stood up and got counted as his duties
changed as the day proceeded, another gret example to the team. Barnaby
started his day with a determined run over the hurdles before taking on his
new favourite event, the high jump. After a great warm up Barnaby was
unlucky not to clear his best but with more training will soon be soaring
over new heights. Barnaby’s final effort of the day was a huge one running
the 1500m for the very first time. As Barnaby rounded the top bend for the
final time he sprinted down the home straight like a 400m runner and crossed
the line collecting even more valuable points for the team.
U13 boy Sean Lancaster, watching his brother James
score maximum points, winning the U15 discus, hammer and shot put, had
another good day also scoring valuable points for the team putting the shot
just shy of his best.
Blackheath Bromley had two U13 boys making their club
debuts in Southhampton both scoring loads of points for the team.
Sprinter Archie Shipley began his day with a quick
dash down the track coming 3rd in the 100m, before putting in three
consistent plus 4m jumps in the long jump. Archie's furthest jump of 4.23
was good enough to finish second in the B string. Archie’s speed then helped
the relay team, where he ran the second leg down the long back straight.
Paul Byfield’s relay drills certainly helped as the baton was safely passed
from Sam to Archie to Jacob and finally to Tareq.
Our other debutant was Harry Cowie, (whose older
brother Henry does a bit of running, jumping and throwing!) and his first
outing was very successful putting the shot over 7m and the javelin over 20m
chalking up more vital points for BBHAC. Not content with just throwing
Harry put him self forward for the non scoring 100m giving him the
opportunity to prove that throwers can run as well.
This team performance matched last seasons start and
we look forward to building on this with our ultimate goal being to reach
the National final.
Full results here
http://www.ukydl.org.uk/Southern%20Premier%201.pdf
The next fixture for our U13 boys is next Sunday’s
Kent league match where we hope to see all our team competing in their own
events and indeed events they may not have tried before.
Paul
Photos from Rod Harrington
Photos from Jay Galley
