UK YDL National Finals - U/13s & U/15s win 43 medals and Team Bronze
Club history was created on Saturday 31st August when for the first time our lower age group athletes competed in UKA Youth Development League (YDL) National Final at the Regional Athletics Arena in Manchester.
Woodford have competed in the YDL in its various forms since 2013 and whilst undergoing a number of structural changes, one principle has remained. Each year the winning clubs of all the regional YDL Premier Leagues (Southern, Midlands, North and Scotland) are invited to a showcase UK National Final.
This was the first time our team had reached the final by winning the Southern Premier League (another first for club!) and it was with great excitement that all roads led the athletes, team managers, coaches, officials and supporters to Manchester!
The best-laid plans of mice and men oft’ go awry
Club volunteers had worked tirelessly leading to the final on transport and accommodation for the 61 athletes declared on team-sheets. Some made their way independently, but a majority planned to travel on Friday morning by coach from the clubhouse to the main rendezvous point (Travelodge) in Manchester. However, even the best laid plans seemed to have been scuppered when the coach failed to show! Not to be defeated and despite 55 people being stranded at the club the parents, and team managers rallied, and Plan-B was set in motion.
Cars, buses, trains and minibuses were organised last minute. In a true sign of team spirit, one of our vault coaches agreed to take 9 poles to Manchester strapped to the roof of their car. Incredibly, every athlete and official made it to Manchester where a group of relieved team managers welcomed them in the hotel. If medals were awarded to the most dedicated team, we would be undoubted champions!
National Finals – Competing Clubs & Scoring
Our team with Blackheath and Bromley Harriers, Cheltenham & County Harriers, City of York, Giffnock North, Liverpool Harriers and Rugby & Northampton made the final. The favourites were 2x lower age group Champions Blackheath and 2x runners-up Rugby & Northampton.
Scoring
Clubs select A string and B string athletes to compete in each event with points awarded depending on their finishing position. The final was a 7-club fixture with a maximum of 10 points awarded for an “A” string win and 8 and “A” string runners up and so on. In the “B” string, 8 points are awarded for a win and 6 for second and so on. Medals are awarded to all 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed athletes in the A and B string. The club with the highest total points is declared National Champions!
UK YDL National Final 2024 - Results Summary
Final Standings (after 50 events)
1st Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC - 641 points
2nd Rugby & Northampton AC – 633 points
3rd Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies – 554 points
4th Liverpool Harriers AC – 503 points
5th City of York AC – 502.5 points
6th Cheltenham & County Harriers – 494 points
7th Giffnock North AC – 425 points
Full results - https://athletics-uk.org/ukydl/lower/
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/101542396@N08/albums/72177720319962486/
Individual Medals Table - Woodford
- Woodford athletes won 43 National medals
- 5 x Gold A string and 6x Gold B string medals
- 17x Silver A string and 4x Silver B string medals
- 4x Bronze A string and 7x Bronze B string medals
Woodford athletes won 43 individual medals and took Bronze in the overall team competition. This was a terrific result, with the athletes proving themselves in topflight competition. It was always going to be tough toppling reigning National champions Blackheath & Bromley and perennial runners up Rugby & Northampton who are both very experienced at this level.
UK YDL National Finals 2024 - Match Report
The fixture got underway, in blazing sunshine at the Regional Athletics Arena with the hurdles and hammer competitions opening proceedings.
Hurdles
U13 Girls (70mH) - Eden Dunnage (12.64s) had a clear run and was just outside the medals finishing 4th in the A string. Rosie Anderson (15.36s) was 6th B string and continues to learn how to convert her flat speed over the hurdles. U13 Boys (75mH) - Aarav Patel (14.69s) ran well but was disappointed with 5th A string in a close race. Oskar Prince (14.16s) was disappointed to miss out on a medal as 4th B string, but this was only his third competitive hurdles race, and he has shown great progress this season.
U15 Girls (75mH) – Isabella Moulton (11.71) ran well in a high-quality race. She was a fraction outside her PB but claimed the team’s first medal of day with bronze in the A string. Tyleah Edwards (13.31s) got off to a great start leading to the first barrier, but narrowly missed out on a medal with 4th B string. U15 Boys (80mH) – Daniel Niewczasinski-Kirkland (11.79s) was a fraction off his PB but was edged into 5th A string in a very high-quality race featuring 5 top 20 UK ranked athletes. Toby Taylor (12.51s) was also 5th B string but was delighted to run a PB. Both boys are lower age group and will be a force next season.
Hammer
U15 Boys – William Stander (52.29m) was delighted with his throw and won A string gold. William is ranked 2nd in UK this year (53.32m) and has fought hard all season. Kian Traynor (25.10m) was also delighted with his best ever throw and silver medal in the B string. U15 Girls – Beatriz Da Conceicao Alden (27.83m) threw a huge PB to take bronze in the A string. Beatriz has only been able to train sporadically this summer but shows lots of potential. Phoebe Whelan (15.40M) continued her progress across a number of events, stepping into hammer this season and secured a valuable point as 7th B String.
150m Sprints
U13 Girls - Rida Oluwa (20.19s) ran a PB in a tremendous race holding her form beautifully in the last 30m to take silver in the A string. Dorcas Oringa (21.05) also ran a PB and looked strong wining a silver medal in the B string.
U13 Boys – Harrison Dawe (19.10s) won silver in a quality A string race with 3 of top 10 UK ranked boys on the start. The race was won by UK number 2 Gift Osarogiagbon (Liverpool H). Nathaniel Sandy (19.84s) ran a great race, his first officially over this distance and won a silver medal in the B string and fully justifying his selection.
200m Sprints
The 200m were a real success for our sprint athletes who celebrated a double gold in U15 Girls races. Evanna Eze (25.87s) won a thrilling A string race swiftly followed by Shalom Prince (26.73s) winning the B string. In U15 Boys Alex Osagie (23.07s) took Silver in the A string. Lawrence Foster (23.98s) won Gold in B string which was remarkable given he’s only recently returned to full fitness after injury.
After 20 Events Woodford were 2nd one point adrift of Rugby & Northampton. The next few events were mixed for our team, but could they hold second?
High Jump
U13 Boys – Blake Edwards (1m 61cm) stole the show with a PB clearance that ranks him joint 1st in UK. Blake won gold in A string which was remarkable considering before the first YDL fixture he was very much a reluctant high jumper! Eric Frith cleared 1m 15cm and was 7th B string stepping in to score vital points and replace our usual B string jumper who was on holiday.
U13 Girls – Eva Prince and Kehanique Lowe are both fantastic young athletes, but nerves got to them on the day. Eva (1m 15cm) was 7th A string which was a good result given nerves but with a PB of 1m 30cm it left her feeling deflated. Erica Ross (Giffnock North) won with 1m 40cm. Kehanique (1m 05cm) was 7th B string. Again, nerves got to her. She was sailing over 1m 15cm in training recently but lost confidence and started taking extra steps toward the bar which led to a nasty fall at 1m 10cm. Rosa Boxall (York AC) won with 1m 35cm. Eva and Kehanique will learn from this and move forward.
U15 Girls – Pheobe Whelan (1m 40) equalled her PB and was 5th A string. Pheobe was disappointed not to go higher but has progressed from 1m 30cm last season and consolidated around 1m 40cm this year. Faye Owers (1m 35cm) also equalled her PB and was 6th B string. U15 Boys – Callum Clydesdale (1m 60cm) was unlucky due to the previous competition over running that his jumps now clashed with his 300m event. Callum had to leave the competition having cleared 1m 60cm. When he returned the bar was at 1m 75m with only the leader left. Callum did not clear this height and finished 7th A string on count back. Toby Taylor (1m 60cm) was disappointed not improve on his PB of 1m 65cm but a clearance of 1m 60cm meant he took silver in the B string which was reward for his efforts this year as a lower age group athlete.
800m
U13 Boys – Oskar Prince (2:28.88) was a fraction outside his PB in a high-quality race and 5th A string. Sebastian Rung (Liverpool Harriers) won in 2:17.7. In the B string, Ashton Jokhiya was DQ’d for exiting his lane before the break line in an unfortunate mix up with a Blackheath runner. U13 Girls – Eva Prince and Kehanique Lowe dusted themselves off after their high jump and put in two good performances. Eva (2:38.15) was 4th A string and held off a chasing pack with the 3 leaders clear after 400m. Kehanique (02:58.4) stood in for the usual 800m B string athlete who was away on holiday and was a very commendable 6th B string.
U15 Girls – Jasmine Hall (2:29.82) is an incredible swimmer which limits her time to run, and despite only being 2 seconds outside her PB, in a very high-quality race found herself 7th A string. Faye Owers (2:37.22) finished her race strongly and dug deep, leading the chasing pack after the leaders got away. Faye held on and scored good points for the team as 4th B string. U15 Boys – Lucas Freedman (2:03.49) was involved in a great tussle at the front of the A string. Lucas took silver after a late surge from race winner Kian Farrell (Blackheath). Lucas is ranked 15th in UK this season. Kaiden Nelson-Gursoy (02:22.4) was 5th B string in only his 3rd race for the club and continues to improve.
After 30 Events Woodford had slipped to 4th but with strong events to come were looking to close the gap on the top 3.
Pole Vault
U15 Boys – Stephen Ng (3m) led the way with a silver medal in the A string. Stephen had been close to 3m in training in recent weeks and was delighted with his PB. He goes 16th in UK rankings. Okkie Lee (2m 20cm) also produced a PB to take bronze in the B string. U15 girls were also in good form. Marissa Higgs-Smith (2m 40cm) produced a clearance around her PB height of 2m 43cm and won Silver in the A string behind Ella Brooker (Blackheath) who cleared 3m 15cm and is currently ranked number 1 in UK. Emily Stockill (2m 10cm) was disappointed not to go higher given her PB of 2m 53cm but nevertheless still won a bronze medal in the B string.
75m Sprints
U13 Girls – Rida Oluwa (10.24s) carried on her fine form in sprints with a PB and a bronze medal in the A string. Dorcas Origna (10.89) followed suit with an excellent run to secure a bronze in the B string. These girls have been superb this season and fully deserved their medals.
U13 Boys – Harrison Dawe (9.72s) took silver in the A string. Gift Osarogiagbon (Liverpool Harriers) won the race in 9.47s. Harrison was disappointed, but he is ranked 9th in UK in his first full season at club and should be very proud of his progress. Nathaniel Sandy (10.63) was 4th B string and disappointed to finish outside the medals but he ends the season ranked 8th in UK and like Harrison should be very proud of his achievements.
100m Sprints
These were a huge success for the team. U15 Boys - Alex Osagie (11.6s) took his second silver in the A string and Lawrence Foster (11.54s) made it 100m & 200m sprint double gold winning the B string. Alex finished the season ranked 14th in UK as a lower age group athlete. U15 Girls - Shalom Prince (12.66s) also won silver in the A string. She finishes the season ranked 5th in UK. Joy Larinde (12.5s) won gold in the B string with a PB and a terrific performance that would have won the A string!
300m Sprints
U15 Boys - Callum Clydesdale (38.52s) won silver in the A string and Rahul Solanki (39.53s) won silver in the B string. These were strong performances from the boys who have been superb all season. The U15 Girls followed. Evanna Eze (42.19s) stepped up in distance with aplomb taking bronze in the A string. Isabella Moulton also stepped up from her more accustomed sprint hurdles, and despite running a time not far off her PB found herself 7th in a high-quality B string field.
1200m & 1500m
The distance races looked tough on paper with strong peer groups, but the squad dug in to take medals and win valuable points for the team. With many lower age group athletes who will learn from the experience for next time.
1200m
U13 Boys - Eric Frith (04:07.51) returned from holiday. He looked fresh, but a lack of race sharpness might have cost him. Despite a strong finish Eric was 6th A string. Daniel Hayden (04:28.12) competed for the first time over 1200m, replacing a B string runner who was on holiday. Daniel was 7th in the B string and did himself and the team proud keeping with the field throughout his race.
U13 Girls – Gracie Fayinka (04:22.75) was also just back from holiday. Gracie, in PB form could have in the medals, but a lack of race sharpness may have cost her. She finished 7th in A string. Maia Lalani (04:36.17) was also 7th in B string but ran a big PB and was rightly delighted with her performance!
1500m
U15 Girls - Isla Fulling (05:13.06) was 5th A string. Isla has run sub 5 mins this season. That form would have left her just out the medals, but after the leaders got away, she sensibly focused on finishing first among the chasing pack. Sophia Parker (05:29.31) arrived from holiday 24 hours earlier and it probably took a toll. Her legs did not have their usual spring and she was 6th in the B string. As a lower year athlete Sophia will be back stronger next season.
U15 Boys – Daniel Arnold (04:26.39) was delighted with a PB and silver medal in A string. Daniel ran the race solo after the runaway leader took off on lap one. It was a great comeback from Daniel who was injured only 3 months ago. George Worwood (04:40.19) also had a great race running a PB and in a sprint finish took bronze in the B string.
After 40 events and with the final field events and relays to go Woodford had climbed back to 3rd
Long Jump
U13 Boys – Blake Edwards (4m 37cm) continued his fine form with silver in the A string, behind Gift Osarogiagbon (Liverpool Harriers) who jumped 5m 30cm and was awarded with YDL performance of the day. Ethan Rawlings (4m 06cm) was rightly pleased with his jump, and he won gold in the B string. Ethan is keen to continue jumping after taking a shine to it in recent weeks.
U13 Girls – Rida Oluwa (3m 66cm) was 7th A string and disappointed with her jump, but this came after a long day on the track where she had won medals in 75m and 150m. Aoife Pearce (3m 65cm) nailed a very nice clean jump, just short of her PB and was pleased with her result and 5th place in the B string.
U15 Boys – Callum Clydesdale (5m 49cm) was 5th in a high-quality A string. Angus Weir (Giffnock) jumped a PB of 5m 90cm to win the event. Tyler Reynolds (5m 27cm) jumped just short of his PB and was delighted with a bronze medal in the B string. Tyler is a lower age group athlete and with a full winter behind him will be back in the hunt for medals next year! U15 Girls – Savanna Gayle (4m 30cm) stepped into the A string with great success with Remi Salako unavailable due to holidays. Savanna jumped a PB and was a superb 5th in the A string. Tyleah Edwards (4m 17cm) was just shy of her PB but took bronze with an excellent jump in the B string.
Shot
U13 Boys – Harrison Dawe (11m 24cm) and Nathaniel Sandy (10m 25cm) had to move quickly between their Shot and 150m races but performed heroics to win gold in the A and B string events. Harrison ended the season ranked 6thand Nathaniel 13th in UK
U13 Girls – Eden Dunnage (7m 52cm) threw a PB and was 4th A string. Eden was disappointed as she’d been throwing close to 9m in training and that would have seen her in the medals. Claudia Berrios-Garcia (6m 52cm) was shy of her PB but took a well-deserved bronze medal in the B string.
U15 Boys – William Stander (11m 39cm) continued his fine throws form taking silver in the A string. Cristian Scozzari (7m 93cm) was a little of his PB coming back from holidays but scored valuable points as 5th B string.
U15 Girls – Beatriz Da Conceicao Alden (8m 73cm) continued her fine form in the throws with another PB and a 2nd medal of the day taking bronze in the A string. Tare Gabrielle Akpoveta (7m 59cm) threw a PB and was just outside the medals with a fine 4th in the B string.
Javelin
U13 Boys – Oskar Prince (28m 70cm) threw a PB to take silver in the A string and to close in on 30m. Eric Frith(22m 44cm) also threw a PB and secured a silver medal in B string. The boys have really taken to the javelin this summer alongside their main passion for running and are progressing nicely.
U13 Girls – Isabelle Stander (20m 87cm) has suffered with a sore back in recent weeks. This reduced her stability and speed of usually lightning quick arm. She still cleared 20m and 4th in the A string. On her day she would have been a favourite as the furthest thrower on paper (26m 94cm). Gracie Fayinka (19m 48cm) performed heroics winning silver in the B string and securing a huge PB.
U15 Boys - William Stander (36m 65cm) threw short of his PB distance, but after competing in 3 events some tiredness was inevitable! He still secured 4th in the A string with UK ranked No2 Charlie Field (Rugby) winning with 52m 85cm. William ends the season ranked 21st in UK. James Simpson (27.19cm) was disappointed with his throw given his PB could have left him in contention for a medal. James was 5th in the B string.
U15 Girls – Daisy Sherrin (24m 19cm) swapped the football pitch for the infield and threw a huge PB for 6th in the A string. Florance Holman (Blackheath) threw 39.67m, the third best in UK this year to win the event. Beatriz Da Conceicao Alden (15m 97cm) was 5th B string and completed an excellent day for her in the field.
Discus
Of all the throws (with hammer), this has been the trickiest to recruit for team managers, but the athletes on Saturday put in some fine performances and now creating the nucleus of a team going forward.
U15 Girls – Isla Barron (19m 20cm) has really taken to discus in recent months and was delighted with a PB and 5thin the A string. Isla is also showing promise in hammer and may well double next year. Phoebe Whelan (9m 89cm) picked up valuable points with 7th in the B string. Phoebe has potential as multi-eventer and is a dream for team managers, competing in the throws alongside her preferred events of high jump and pole vault.
U15 Boys – Kian Traynor (14m 54cm) and Cristian Scozzari (12m 45cm) are new to the event and both 7th in the A & B string. As lower year athletes they will be back next year with a full winter program behind them.
Relays
The final events were 4x100m and 4x300m relays. Woodford were third by the narrowest of margins ahead of 4thplaced Liverpool Harriers. Blackheath led with Rugby & Northampton second. These two looked unstoppable but with 60 points up for grabs in the relays anything was possible.
4x100m Relays
U15 Girls – Evanna Eze, Habiba Tijani, Joy Larinde and Shalom Prince (49.0s) This team has been formidable this season and had recently experienced a podium finish in Diamond League Club Connect relays at the Olympic Stadium. However, some excellent early changes from the Blackheath quartet meant despite the best efforts of Shalom in the last 100m the gap was too wide, and the girls finished with silver medals. These two teams were clear of the rest of the field.
U15 Boys – Lawrence Foster, Sammy Geist, Alex Osagie and Callum Clydesdale (45.13s). These boys were unstoppable and after some slick changes Callum took the baton on the final leg with slight leads over Blackheath (DQ’d) and City of York. Callum was not going to let that lead slip and sealed a fine victory and gold medals for the boys.
U13 Boys – Aarav Patel, Nathaniel Sandy, Ethan Rawlings and Harrison Dawe (55.51s). This quartet had been in fine form and were among the leaders at midway. However, in dramatic fashion an unfortunate slip on the second change slowed the boy’s and whilst they did well to avoid the baton going down, they were left chasing the field. Harrison powered home on the anchor leg but could not close the gap to the leaders. The boy’s finished 6th and were disappointed but they can hold their heads high after a fantastic season during which they were unbeaten in all previous YDL league fixtures.
U13 Girls – Eden Dunnage, Dorcas Oringa, Rosie Anderson and Rida Oluwa (55.12). The girls produced a fine performance with Rida on the final leg rapidly closing on leaders Blackheath and moving away from third placed Liverpool. Blackheath had just enough of a lead going into the final leg to hold first, but the girls can be very proud of their silver medals.
4x 300m Relays
U15 Girls – Savanna Gayle, Tyleah Edwards, Habiba Tijani and Isabella Moulton (DQ’d). Unfortunately, the girls were DQ’d for passing the baton early outside the takeover zone (TR24.7) having originally finished in 4th place.
U15 Boys – Lucas Freedman, Toby Taylor, Daniel Niewczasinski-Kirkland and Rahul Solanki (2:40.9). The boys were looking to pull out the stops in the final race of the day. Lucas on leg one handed to Toby in 3rd place. Toby chased down the third placed Giffnock North athlete to take second just before handing to Daniel who did superbly opening a small gap on the chasing athlete. Going into the final leg Blackheath were away (4-5 second gap) in the lead, but the race was on for 2ndand 3rd. Our final leg was run by Rahul, who faced a flyer in Giffnock’s Cameron Mitchell. The Giffnock athlete was closing with every step, but Rahul held his form and somehow fought back to hold him off in the final 20m and secure silver medals for the team with less than a second between second and third.
The travelling Woodford athletes, families and supporters erupted in celebration, and it was a fitting end to a tremendous day of athletics.
Summary - Steps Forward
It was a historic day in Manchester for the club, and a fitting end to a wonderful season in the YDL. The day encapsulated the emotion of the season with tears of joy and laughter (mostly at “hurdles” the stadium cat delaying races strolling across the track!), but also tears of anguish. Such is the beauty of sport experienced in high-level competitions.
Congratulations to all the athletes who competed this season and to all the family and supporters that travelled to league fixtures and to the Finals in the most dramatic of circumstances! The support given to the athletes is the backbone of the team’s success. That spirit was best summed up by the appearance of Sam Wintle our fantastic WASP leader who travelled up from Brighton and young athlete assistant coach Godwinner, who made his own way from London to Manchester to support the team. You all made this season and the finals truly rememberable!
Thanks to all our officials; Simon Wright, Jackie Wright, Julie Awde, Kevin Deidrick, Kenny King (who passed his level 3!), Stuart Pugh, Emma Clydesdale, Paul Mason, Tamsin James and Luke Finch who made the day possible.
And finally, to everyone at the club and committee for support given to the team managers; Karen Higgs-Smith, Eubert Malcolm, Paul Cheal and Joe Everitt and all the clubs coaches and junior assistants who helped prepare the athletes.
We hope this season sets a benchmark for years ahead and that athletes at the club can look forward to many more appearances at the National Fina