Harriers U17's head for promotion

IT was an extremely busy weekend for the athletes of Ipswich Harriers.

The men travelled to Southampton for a Southern Men's League, the women took a trip to Parliament Hills to compete in a Southern Women's League and the club's youngsters did battle in a National Young Athletes League at Basildon.

The U17 boys had a hugely successful day, coming home with a convincing win and taking the match with 194 points to Ashford's 152, Highgate's 107 and Dartford's 19.

In the women's league, the ladies were just pipped at the post by two points by Loughton, who won the match with 176 points.

After the long trip to Hampshire, it was sad to see that the small team of men who took part had to settle for last place.

Winchester took the win with 132 points, Cambridge 126.5 points, Basildon 101 points, Belgrade 82 and Ipswich with 54.5 points.

At Basildon there was a good turnout of athletes with a very well deserved win for their hard work. A wonderful result was achieved with numerous first places, maximum points from events and P.B's from all three age groups.

In the throwing events, the U17 boys took first places in all four of the events, both A and B strings.

In the hammer, Liam Smith and Chris Bullard; the shot, Martin Bennett and Bullard again; in the javelin, Kevin Churchyard and Bullard and in the discus, Smith and Churchyard completed their second event.

In the jumping, it was top marks in both the long jump and the triple jump.

Ben Hanley took wins from both A strings in the events, Philip Brown took the B string triple jump with a best of 9.98ms and in the long jump B string Luke Farris achieved a P.B with 4.32ms.

Joe Tomlinson also achieved a P.B In the high jump with 1.50ms clearance.

Martin Bennett and Philip Brown maintained their winning ways in the 100ms.

Ramone Kersey and James Dore were first across the line in the U15 boy's 80ms hurdles and James had another win in the 100ms.

Aaron Pentilow Davis ducked under the 70-second barrier for the first time when he was clocked at 69,9s in the 400ms. In the 1500ms Robert Harrington ran a season's best of 5.13.4s.

Mark Dickerson and James Hicks won both strings in the javelin. Mark was also an overall winner in the hammer with a P.B of 20.36ms and in the discus, Andrew Irvine won the event with a P.B of 16.86ms.

Nathan Hanley and Tom McCarthy were awarded top marks having gained P.B's in the long jump and 100ms.

In the 800ms both Andrew Jackson and Daniel Moss came home first. In the 1500ms the honours went to Simon Clayton and in the 200ms Jackson held the same position in a new time of 29.6s.

There was a continued success for the club in the final two events of the day with the U13 4x100m relay squad of Hanley, Jackson, McCarthy and Moss taking the silver medal honours with a time of 59.3s.

In the 4x400m, both the U15 and U17 squads brought the baton home in first place.

If the boys keep this standard up then they will be in with a chance of promotion.

As for the ladies at Hampstead Heath, the team as always put in 100 per centeffort, even though the conditions were not suitable.

There were only six U15 girls available but they worked hard to cover the events and were justly rewarded with at least one win each. They returned with 12 first places and four seconds.

Some of the girls took on events they do not usually cover which of course added up more valuable points.

Sarah Tippett won the long jump in her first ever attempt in a competition. Nicole Sadler competed in the shot and was second in the B string high jump.

In the senior section there were five seniors, one junior and five U17's taking between them eight first places, six second and five thirds.

Lizbeth Hicks was the only athlete to come back with a P.B, which came in the discus, throwing 22.11ms.

The day ended on a high with a clean sweep in the three relay events, just as the boys did.