Weekend Round-up

Over a busy weekend WGwEL athletes were in action at the Watford BMC Grand Prix, representing GB in a Junior international in Mannheim, the Welsh Open Championships in Cardiff, and in the National Junior League at Eton. Many others had their county schools championships. Whilst the BMC meeting brought some very fine performances, notably a Club Junior record and European Under 20 5000m qualifying time for Ronnie Sparke, a severely depleted NJL team managed to just avoid last spot in the second fixture of the season at Eton. Another U/20 qualifying mark and Club junior record was achieved by Maria Seager at Cardiff with a 4.05 PV clearance. There was also news of a season's best over 400m for Graham Hedman.

Watford's annual BMC Grand Prix typically brings some very fast performances each June, and this was no exception. With the track set in a slight bowl, protected by trees and with little wind on a warm Saturday evening, there were six personal best performances from Woodford athletes. 17 year old Ronnie Sparke's track debut over 5000m saw him in the high quality A race and, although towards the back of the large field of mainly senior athletes, Ronnie achieved a fine result with a time of 14m25.10 secs, well inside the qualifying mark of 14m30 secs required for the European Junior Championships, and improving Colin Moxom's 43 year old Club junior record by a similar margin. Also in fine form over 5000m was Hywel Care who placed 2nd in the "B" race with 14m26.57 secs as he improved his personal best by around 7.5 secs. Behind Hywel was Martyn Cryer, who had beaten him last weekend at Sheffield, but Martin still produced a season's best of 14m31.64 secs. Another recording a personal best over 5000m was Ronnie's elder sister Katherine Sparke, who recorded 16m30.93 secs for 9th in the "A" race.

Over 800m, 18 year old Gavin Lewis made a significant breakthrough improving his personal best by over 2.5 secs to record 1m52.35 secs whilst, in the 1500m, another 17 year old, Alex Cornwell, took over 4 secs from his best as he recorded 3m51.67 secs. Omar Mansour was only just outside his best with 3m 57.12 secs, whilst Loughborough-based Andrew Mariani improved his best by 3 secs with 3m55.55 secs. In the women's event, junior Georgie-Lou Sales, was another to record a pb with 4m 33.94 secs. HCA member Ross Clarke also ran well with a pb over 1500m of 3m47.72 secs, whilst Damien Moss was not at his recent best, recording 1m52.64 secs over 800m. Full BMC results here

In Cardiff, performances were led by Maria Seager with a Club junior record and European U/20 qualifying mark of 4.05m. Her coach, Christian North returned to form with a 5.00m clearance to take the men's title. Mark Dry took the hammer with 67.01m, and Simon Bennett recorded a season's best in the JT of 63.61m for 2nd. On the track, Elaine O'Neill took the 100m title with 11.91 secs into a strong wind (-2.0). Tim Abeyie recorded a hand timed 21.3 secs for 3rd over 200m into the wind. Tom Phillips placed 8th over 1500m with a personal best of 3m55.76 secs. Full results here 

Competing in Mannheim, Germany, Eugene Ayanful anchored to victory the GB U/20 4x100m relay team which also included Junior Ejehu. Junior was also in action over 200m where he recorded 21.68 secs (+0.6). Full results here

Elsewhere in Europe, Graham Hedman improved his season's best over 400m as he placed 2nd in the Asics Golden Spike meeting in Leiden, recording a time of 46.48 secs.

Lacking in particular, due to the Watford BMC meeting, leading middle distance athletes as well as their top male sprinters, and others missing due to the County Schools championships and exam preparations, a very depleted WGwEL team finished 7th in the second match of the National Junior League at Eton. That the team managed to avoid last says a lot for those athletes that did compete, many of whom took part in more than one event. Anthony Oshodi's winning shot effort of 16.16m won the athlete of the match award, but there was also fine hammer throwing from Peter Clarke who, in taking his event, recorded a new personal best of 62.71m, and fine sprinting from Ben Peacock, recording 11.05 secs w (+2.9) and a 200m pb of 22.10 secs (+0.9). Amongst others, efforts from the women were led by Rachel Giwa who was 2nd over 100m with 12.36 secs (+1.0) and won the 200m with 25.17 secs (+0.2); multi-eventer Chloe Galloway and thrower Sarah Smith. Full results here