Weekend Update

 Whilst most eyes over the weekend were focussed on the final two days of the European Championships in Zurich, and Shana Cox won a relay bronze medal, a few Woodford athletes competed at the Newham Open on Sunday, where there was another 100m personal best for Joseph Dewar, Younger athletes were at Crystal Place for the U/15 and U/17 Southern Championships, where performances were led by medals for Stephanie Howe and Canaan Soloman. There was also news from the BMC meeting in Solihull, and from the Scottish Championships where there were 6 medals for Woodford athletes, led by a season's best in the hammer for Mark Dry.

On the final day of the Zurich European Championships, Shana Cox ran the 3rd leg on the GB&NI 4x400m team which placed 3rd and gained bronze medals. At Crystal Palace in the South of England Championships Stephanie Howe just lost out in the U/17 hammer competition, gaining a silver medal as she placed 2nd with 53.42m Placing 3rd and gaining a bronze medal was Canaan Soloman in the U/17 800m where he recorded 1m56.88 secs. Others competing were Katie Petyt, who was 6th in the U/15 triple jump with 9.98m, Isabllella Hoy, also 6th in the U/15 1500m with 4m56.69 secs, Amy Gilbert 10th in the U/15 hammer with 33.36m, Scott Webster 11th in the U/17 high jump with 1.75m, and Jodi Ratcliff, who recorded 2m22.76 secs in her U/17 800m heat.

At Newham on Sunday, and in blustery conditions, there was another 100m personal best for U/20 Joseph Dewar, recording 10.50 secs (-1.8) into a stiff headwind. Omololu Abiodun raced twice over 100m with 10.80 secs (-1.8) and 10.85 secs (+0.2). Justin Duru was close to his best with 11.06 secs (-0.8). U/15 Esther Tewogbade twice beat her previous personal best with 11.16 secs (+1.1) and 13.27 secs (+0.4), and later raced over 200m where she recorded 27.98 secs (-1.7). U/17 Shayne Dewar raced over 100m and recorded 11.80 secs(-0.2).

At the BMC Grand Prix in Solihull, U/17, Daniel Rowden marginally improved his pb as he placed 2nd in the "C" race with 1m52.47 secs. Dan Gurton recorded 1m54.01 secs, and Sam Benge 2m00.53 secs. In the 1500m "A" race Jon Cook was 8th with 3m47.27 secs.

Athletes competing in the Scottsh Championships at Kilmarnock had to contend with fierce wind conditions, but that didn't prevent some fine hammer throwing, where Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Mark Dry won with a season's best of 74.63m, with Andy Frost in 3rd with 69.89m. HCA member Myra Perkins was 4th in the women's event with 57.05m. The 400mH also brought two medals with Ewan Dyer placing 2nd in 53.63 secs, and HCA member U/ 20 Jack Lawrie 3rd in 54.05 secs. In the high jump Jack Lochans was 3rd with 2.00m, and on the track HCA member Ryan McKinlay retained his title in the 3000m s/ch with 9m20.3 secs, and Kim Murray, traditionally a long jumper, placed 3rd in the 400m with 58.51 secs, having run a pb in her heat of 57.91 secs. Kim also made the 200m final, placing 8th in 27.11 secs (-6.2) after a 26.65 secs heat (-6.7).