Humberside County Championships - 8th and 9th May 2010

Images and reports courtesy of Matt Hammond

Anthony and Jacob in the medals

Last weekend saw Scunthorpe and District young athletes head to the International arena at Don Valley stadium, Sheffield to take part in the Yorkshire and Humberside Track and Field championships. This is the second year the championships have been held jointly between the two counties with the intention of providing bigger fields and stimulating competition. However separate medals are presented after each event.

It was to prove a very successful two days of competition for the Scunthorpe youngsters who won a bag full of medals over the two days of competition. Anthony GILLATT and Jacob HAMMOND led the way winning 11 MEDALS between them in the under 15 boys. Anthony set the standard on day one winning a gold medal in the under 15 boy’s hammer which Jacob quickly matched by winning the High Jump both recording personal best performances in their events. Jacob then finished second in the shot to Anthony’s third. Before Jacob rounded his day of in the 80m hurdles winning silver, and recording yet another Personal best.

Day 2 started in the same vain for the two youngsters with Jacob recording yet another best in the 800m for a silver medal. Which Anthony then matched in the Long jump. The next event would be the closest of the weekend with both athletes improving their Javelin best by nearly 5 metres; it was to be Jacob who came away with the Gold piping Anthony with his very last throw. Anthony though was to get his revenge beating Jacob in the Discus when he recorded yet another personal best. 

The two were joined by Elliott STONES in the under 15 boys who was to keep the medals flowing by winning the 1500m in an excellent new best which ranks him in the top hundred in the country. Not to be out done Elliott’s cousin Lewis STONES competed in the under 17 men 1500m and claimed a silver medal.

The girls though weren’t going to be out done by the boys with the under 15 girls winning 3 gold medals between them. Two went to Kate PATTISON who pushed her Shot best to over 10 metres, then won the Discus just under her best. Ellie STANDERLINE joined her on the top step of the rostrum winning the Long Jump. Also in the under 15 Girls  Stephanie O'CONNOR continued her fine sprinting form taking a silver medal in the 200m , unfortunately a strong head wind spoiled her chances of a quick time. Also in the medals was Elicia BONES who collected 3 medals over the two days the highlight was winning the Javelin with a new best throw, before taking two silver medals in the Discus and Shot.  Elicia ‘s younger sister Georgia then showed that that she was not going to be left behind and won the Under 13 girls shot. The under 17 girls section was to be rounded off by Freya BRADSHAW and two excellent performances by Alice KAYE. Freya claimed two third places in the Long Jump and 300m. Then Alice won the 300m hurdles and on her first attempt at this event putting in a time which ranked her in the top 50 in the country. She then returned on day 2 for her favoured event the 200m and despite the blustery conditions ran her fastest time of the year and pushed herself up to 14th in the rankings.

With the season in full flow now the youngsters move onto school and northern championships looking for times and distances to qualify for the national schools finals        

Humberside/Yorkshire Track & Field Championships

Josh Jumping for JOY

Last weekend saw Scunthorpe and District senior athletes head to the International arena at Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield to take part in the Yorkshire and Humberside Track and Field championships. This is the second year the championships have been held jointly between the two counties with the intention of providing bigger fields and stimulating competition. However separate medals are presented after each event.

With the clubs junior athletes winning a hat full of medals over the two days of competition the senior and under 20 athletes were out to prove they could match their younger counterparts. Two athletes who have just moved into the under 20 section led the way both winning two gold medals each. First Josh BONES continued his excellent form of last year which saw him pick up an award as North Lincolnshire young athlete of the year by winning both the Long jump and triple jump. Then Sophie CROFT had a chance to rub shoulders with Jessica ENNIS the world heptathlon champion who was competing in the senior ladies sprints which was run alongside the under 20’s race. Sophie continued her good early season form by winning the 100m and 200m in the Humberside section .Unfortunately for Sophie the very strong head winds meant she was unable to match her early season bests. Both Sophie and Josh are now ranked in the top 20 in the country despite been at the bottom of their age group and will hope to improve further as the season develops. The next target for both athletes will be the Northern under 20 championships.

Also in the under 20’s Daniel HARMES and Joshua REID both took medals during the championships. Daniel took a bronze in the 100m before going one better to claim silver in the 200m whilst Josh despite competing in only his second race on the track this season claimed a bronze in the 1500m and was only just outside his personal best.

Although there were no gold medals for the senior athletes there were some great performances. First Emma CLAYTON swapped the familiar surroundings of fell running for a rare appearance on the track. In an exciting race which saw both Emma and her rival from Hull run away from all the Yorkshire athletes Emma couldn’t quite match her rival over the last two laps but she was rewarded with a silver medal and a new personal best which sees her ranked in the top 30 seniors in the country. Her team mates will be hoping to persuade her to put in some more appearances on the track in the Northern league were the club is battling to keep their place in division 2.

The senior men were also to claim more medals with Karl McDONAGH coming even closer to his target of breaking 50 seconds with an excellent 50.33 in very windy conditions in the heats of the 400m which was enough to qualify for the final. Although he couldn’t quite match that in the final he was still second Humberside runner to finish and won the silver medal. Matching his Silver was Daniel HUGHES who like Karl has only just moved up to the senior section but still took the silver medal in the 400m Hurdles. The final medal came in one of the last track events of the championships the men’s 5,000m where Gavin MARSHALL took the bronze medal in a new best time on the track by beating team mate Gary CROMPTON who finished 4^th. Interestingly the winner of the race was former Scunthorpe athlete Jarratt PERKINS who now competes for Nottingham after moving to the area to attend university.

Humberside/Yorkshire Track & Field Championships

Under 20 Women