HEART OF ENGLAND LEAGUE
The Heart of England held on Sunday at Rugby again illustrated that Banbury Harriers have a core of talented athlete’s. The offset to this unfortunately like the trend in the previous track and field fixtures this season, despite the size of the membership the percentage that compete is rather lower than should be.
It would be unfair to over reflect on this point and so let us highlight the positive aspects of Sunday.
The under fifteen age group in girls and boys in most events they covered in this highly competitive division one of the league.
Emily Thompson showed the form in the 800metres that she produced to win the indoor title, dominating the race throughout, she also ran a swift second place 300metres. Since then on Wednesday evening she lowered the club record at Oxford with a time of a 2minutes 16.07seconds.
There was also a number other good performances on the track Helen Dubber battled hard against two other good 75metre hurdlers. Abbey Anson, Zoe Pollock and Evie Hawkins gained excellent points in both 100 and 200metres. The latter then claimed an excellent win in the long jump, with a life time best of 5m 01cm, this only a fraction short of the English Schools entry. Also in the high jump Rebecca Scott again mastered 1m 50cm and Paige Cooper increased her lifetime best in the shot.
The boys less in numbers also had many high notes. Seb Hartwell achieved three life time bests, these being in the 800m, long and high jump. In the high jump he added 10cm to his previous best finishing on 1m55cm. Ben Brown also claimed three bests in the 400m, long jump and shot. Jordon Dunn and Felix Noble gained good points in the sprint races.
Both the relay four’s gained excellent second places with slick baton changing. The girls comprising of Emily, Abbey, Paige and Helen lowered the club record.
The highlight of the under thirteen age group was a runaway win in the boys 1500metres by Owen Knox. In the under eleven age group both Ollie Clamp and Christopher Charles gained good points and the 4x100metre mixed relay finished an excellent second.
In the older age group Alfie Rowett collected a double in both the 100 and 200metres. In the field there was an excellent life time best and win in the javelin for Nathan Greiveson and a life time best for Michael Dawes in the shot putt.
Mike
