Youngsters learn to cope with the British summer

A number of Scunthorpe youngsters ventured to Cleethorpes to compete in the annual bank holiday open meeting and soon learnt about the twists and turn of the Great British weather. Exactly a week earlier they had to cope with a mini heat wave when lining up at Quibell Park in the Humberside Track league, whilst their arrival at the seaside was met with drizzle and a cold wind. Although it could be argued that the Scunthorpe athletes were better suited to the conditions than a touring team of athletes from Melbourne Australia who were sporting sun tans and goose pimples.

The ever improving under 11 age group was led by Jack GREGORY who won 3 gold medals in the Long Jump, 80m and 150m. Jack has made steady progress this season and his winning jump of 4.00m is closing in on the club record of 4.28m.He was joined by younger sister Alice GREGORY who is only 8 years old and was giving 2 years away to her older competitors and showed great potential finishing 4^th in the long jump and 5^th in the 80m. After the event their father said ‘They are both really enjoying their athletics, this summer Jack isn’t playing in the summer football tournaments he is concentrating on his athletics and will go back to football next season’ He went onto say ’This was Alice’s first go at an event away from Quibell park and she really enjoyed it, I think she is even quicker than Jack was at that age’

The Under 15 boys age group also produced 3 medals with two going to Jacob HAMMOND in the Javelin which he won by nearly 10 metres and the shot which he won by over 2 metres. He was joined on the top of the podium by Elliott STONES who won the 800m front running the race for a new personal best; onlookers believe he will be able to go much quicker if pushed.

Lewis STONES another middle distance star was also out to go quick in the 3,000m. He had made his debut the previous week in the heat and just failed to break 10 minutes. This time he lined up with the senior men which meant he could run with his coach Scott MITCHELL who paced him round for the first 6 ½ laps before Lewis broke loose to sprint away and achieve his target of breaking 10 minutes. This saw Lewis finish 1^st amongst the under 17’s and 5^th overall beating several of the Scunthorpe senior men.

Two bronze medals were picked up in the u15 girls with Ellie STANDERLINE finishing 3^rd in the long jump, and Stephanie O’CONNOR matching her in the 100m. The under 17 girls went one better with a silver for Georgina O’Connor in the Long Jump and a bronze for Beth PATTISON in the 100m. The final medal went to Mitchell BAILES in the Javelin.