Success for club’s youngsters

At Hampshire schools (junior) champs

I continue the catch up of track & field results with a report from the Hampshire Schools (junior) champs which are for those in school years 7 & 8 or the U13 & U14 age groups. These took place on Wednesday the 12th July at Southampton Sports Centre and whilst the results still haven't appeared on pof10 hopefully I haven't missed any of the clubs athletes out of my report.

For the U14 girls, Lily Flute (coach Andy Fisher) won the 200m, with Elodie Gill (coach Nick Anderson) and Ellie Jepson (coach James Mann) 5th & 6th respectively in the 1500m. Poppy Crook (coach Andy Fisher) won the high jump just ahead of training partner Esme Buchanan (coach Andy Fisher) in 2nd place. Erin Adams (coach Ernie Chambers) was 3rd in the long jump. Anais Andrews (coach Andy Fisher) won the shot putt with Susie Ord (coach Ernie Chambers) 3rd in the discus and Kate Hesse (coach Martin McBriar) was 2nd in the javelin.

For the U14 boys, Hayden Rogers (coach Dave Sherry) won the 100m, Rhys Wye (coach Dave Sherry) was 5th in the 200m, Oliver Foden (coach James Mann) and Mikel Harfield (coach Dave Sherry) were 5th and 9th respectively in the 1500m. Sam Evans (coach Andy Fisher) was joint 5th in the high jump and Reuben Noott (coach Martin McBriar) won the discus.

For the U13 girls, Ami Calliste (coach Dave Sherry) was 2nd in the 80m, Lexie Divers (coach Andy Fisher) was 2nd in the sprint hurdles, Amber Price (coach James Mann) won the high jump, Ava Gibb (Junior Athletics Group) was 5th in the shot putt and Rosie Blunn (Junior Athletics Group) was 7th in the javelin.

For the U13 boys, Felix Sclater (coach James Mann) was 4th in the 600m, Luke Furby (coach James Mann) was 3rd in the 1000m and Tom Pate (coach Andy Fisher) was 3rd in the javelin.

Bella out of Commonwealth Youth Games

Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) had the worst possible news confirmed this week as a stress fracture incurred whilst competing for England schools in the Schools Home International match in Scotland on the 15th July ruled her out of the Commonwealth youth games. The season ending injury leaves the 27 strong team represented in WADAC terms by Annie Mann (coach James Mann) and Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton).

It is with some irony that Bella won the 300m hurdles race at the Home International match and holds the rare distinction of winning 2 English schools titles and 2 Home International titles at the 300m hurdles.

Bella has won 3 schools international vests and will now start a period of recovery & rehab and will look forward to competing as an U20 next year.

Young athletes win league to seal promotion

Updates from lower age group YDL

There have been two lower age group YDL matches since my holiday. This is the league for U13/U15 young athletes and the matches couldn't have gone better with the club winning both matches to secure the league title with an unblemished record of 4 wins from 4 league matches.

On the 8th July, the 3rd league match took place in Guildford and despite the fact that a broken cage meant that there were no long throws which is a great source of points for the club we still won with some amazing performances from the whole team.

The 4th and last match of the season took place in Eton on Saturday and again the club came out on top sealing the league title. This secures the club promotion to the premier league for the first time in its history.

There are lots of people to thank but I want to pay particular thanks to our officials who give up their time to ensure the matches can take place and to Team Manager Polly who has made sure everyone got to their events on time and with the right numbers on their vests.

Most of all however, the young athletes have done their club and themselves proud with amazing performances across all event groups and the club has now won an astonishing 3 consecutive promotions going from division 3 to division 2 to division 1 and now to the Premier league all in consecutive seasons. This league will be fiercely competitive next year, but we are up for the challenge.

Track and Field Catch Up

Quad kids retain Wessex League title

I am now back from holiday so track & field news can continue and there is a lot to catch up on which is going to take me a few days but I'll try to work through the action over the last few weeks chronologically.

The last of the clubs Wessex league matches took place on the Isle of Wight on the 2nd July and the clubs youngest athletes the U11's won both the girls & boys quad kids matches and with it defended the overall quad kids Wessex league title that they won last year finishing nearly 500 points ahead of nearest rivals Swindon. In addition, the leading and third place individual boys throughout the league came from Winchester with Declan Dew (U11 academy) winning the individual boys quad kids title and Samuel Barton (U11 academy) in 3rd place.

The U11's academy continues to be a great foundation for the club and huge congratulations to all the coaches and parent helpers who make it such a success. The Wessex league quadkids table makes great reading and can be found through the link below.

https://www.wessexleaguetandf.co.uk/league_table.htm

On the same day in Oxford the South of England Senior & U20 inter-counties championships took place with Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) winning the U20 mens 400m title and Laura Clark (coach Mark Upton) coming 2nd in the senior womens 400m. Sam Clifton (coach Jeremey Clifton) won the senior mens hammer and Charlie Elford-Pond (coach Eric Davison) won the U20 mens title and was 6th in javelin. Jasmine Gordon (Martin McBriar) was 6th in the U20 womens javelin. Gus Bowden (coach Andy Fisher) was the other Winchester athlete to wear the green & white Hampshire Athletics vest but unfornately no heighted in the U20 mens HJ.

The next day in Nuneaton (3rd July) the National Prer schools champs took place in Nuneaton where Darcey Thorne-Henderson (coach Martin McBriar) won silver in shot and discus.

Annie, Alex & Bella selected for Team England

On historic day for club

In what was arguably the greatest day in the club’s history so far, Team England announced on Tuesday that no less than 3 WADAC young athletes (more representation than any other club in the country) have been selected to represent England in the Commonwealth youth games taking place in Trinidad & Tobago in August.

Before recognising the young athletes achievments we should spare a thought for two more athletes who came close to selection from what is an outstanding crop of U18 athletes at the club. Charlie Elford Pond (coach Eric Davison) was unlucky that the games didn't include the hammer and Mia Judd (coach Tony Bateman) had the qualifying standard but just missed out on selection.

Annie Mann (coach James Mann) has been selected for the 1500m. Annie has had a tremedous season to date, breaking her pb on a number of occasions and currently ranks 4th in the commonwealth behind 3 Kenyan women.

Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) has had the season of this life in the 400m improving his pb seemingly with every race and competing amongst his peers at the top level. Alex currently ranks 6th in the commonwealth and as well as his beloved 400m, Alex will be competing in the 4 x 400m mixed relay.

Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) has been steadily improving all season after recovering from injury over the winter. Bella ran the qualifying time for the 400mh on the 11th June and repeated that with victory at the U18 race at the national U20 champs a week later. Bella currently ranks 4th in the commonwealth and as well as the 400mh, Bella a versatile multi-eventer has also been selected for the 4 x 100m & 4 x 400m mixed relay teams.

In recognition of their achievments, the BBC came to the Winchester track to interview the young athletes along with Head of Track & Field Andy Fisher and these interviews will be shown on South Today this evening.

Far from starstruck by their achievements, all 3 are humble, hardworking young athletes who the day after being fitted with their Team England kits in Loughborough on Saturday will be turning out for their club at the SAL match in Bournemouth on Sunday and the club is bursting with pride at what they have done.

Details of the announcement of the team can be seen through the link below.

https://www.englandathletics.org/news/team-england-athletes-selected-for-trinidad-and-tobago-2023/

WADAC top of UAG YDL league table

WADAC's U17 & U20 young athletes along with their composite partners from City of Portsmouth AC won the 3rd of the upper age group YDL matches at Hemel Hempstead on Sunday.After a win in match 1 and a second place finish in match 2, this sees the club top the table by two points after closest rivals Brighton & Hove AC came 3rd on the day.We still await news of what the YDL structure will be for next season but as it stands a first or second place finish at our last league match in Perivale on the 30th July will see the club promoted to the YDL UAG premier league for the first time in its history.Some amazing performances on the day and a great turn out despite relaxing being required after recent GCSE's & A level exams and a burning hot sun to deal with and huge thanks to Karin Gray for making the journey to lead the field team and to our partners Portsmouth for putting on the coach allowing us to get there and for Team Managing on the day.

26 young athletes selected for English schools

As a tangible sign of how far the club has come in recent years, the number of young athletes chosen to compete for their county schools teams at the English schools champs at the Commonwealth Stadium in Birmingham next weekend is a great example.No fewer than 26 young athletes have been chosen sa follows and we wish them all well in what will be for many of them their main individual competition goal of the season.Unfortunately Lucia Bertacchini (coach Andy Fisher) couldn't take her place through injury so 25 young athletes will be making the trip as follows.Senior GirlsRose Chesterfield (Nick Anderson)Amy Wall (Andy Fisher)Grace Colmer (Andy Fisher)Senior BoysAlex Beck (Mark Upton)Charlie Elford-Pond (Eric Davison)Inter GirlsGrace Weeks (Gary Bettridge)Rebekah Smith (Dave McManus)Elsie Brindle (Mark Upton)Erin McBriar (Martin McBriar)Abi Belward (Andy Fisher)Carys Jeffires (Andy Fisher)Jess Howells (Andy Fisher)Arabella Wilson (Andy Fisher)Mia Judd (Tony Bateman)Inter BoysWill Atkins (Nick Anderson)Junior GirlsPoppy Taylor (Nick Anderson)Gracie Osman (Andy Fisher)Abi McBriar (Martin McBriar)Beth Mballa (Heather Sheffield)Lily Flute (Andy FisherChloe Poore (Andy Fisher)Esme Buchanan (Andy Fisher)Poppy Crook (Andy Fisher)Junior BoysNed Scott (Martin McBriar)Zac Reynolds (Andy Fisher).

Quad kids triumph at Wessex League

There are a few league matches to catch up on starting with the Wessex league match at home on the 11th June. A home match is a huge logistical challenge so thank you for all those involved in making this happen.This is our development league where our primary goal is to give developing athletes a chance to experience competing for the club but nevertheless the team did well coming 2nd on the day with some outstanding performances and lots of athletes representing the club for the first time.For our U11 squad, this is the only league they compete in and they did fantastically well winning both the boys and girls matches and the full results from the day can be found through the link below.https://www.wessexleaguetandf....