8th July 2009 - Press Report by Matt Hammond

STUNNING VICTORY KEEPS SCUNTHORPE IN PROMOTION HUNT

Not even a heavy shower during the afternoon could dampen Scunthorpe and Districts Athletics club delight at recording a crushing victory at the third league match of the Northern Athletics league. The first two meetings had seen the team finish second and third in very tight contests. Resulting in team manager Gavin MANN putting out a rallying call to all his athletes to attend the third meeting which was held at Quibell Park, Scunthorpe. He was not let down as his athletes filled all but 3 events and recorded 26 first places to win the match by over 110 points.

The day had got of a brilliant start with Matthew SHAW and Daniel HUGHES recording victory in the, A and B string 400m hurdles. Neither of these two athletes has been beaten over the hurdles this year in the league.  This was just the start of a tiring 3 outings over 400m, with both athletes also competing the 400m flat, and the

4 x400m relay. Then just for good measure Matthew also did the 110m hurdles and high jump, with Daniel also adding the Javelin. Between them they were able to grabbed 40 points for the team.

Not to be out done Rachael FISK contested the 400m hurdles 2^nd place, 400m 2^nd place , 200m B 2^nd place, B High jump 2nd place and 4 x 100m relay and 4 x 400m relay.  A tiring day for even the most fit athlete.

This was a day when Scunthorpe relied on athletes young and old to turn out in force and show the talent and depth at the club for a successful run at promotion. Every point matters and the club relied on athletes such as middle distance coach Fiona FISK who turned back the years to gain 2^nd place in the B 400M hurdles and veteran athlete Don GREEN who filled in to cover for last minute injuries in the 110m hurdles, 800m and 5,000m recording times that athletes half his age would be proud of.

The races of the day saw two exciting finishes. Firstly Karl MCDONAGH won the 800m in a stunning sprint finish after running shoulder to shoulder with the DONCASTER athlete down the home straight. Karl has been concentrating on the 400m this year to improve his basic speed and afterwards said ‘I am happy to go under 2 minutes in my first 800 this year but I was even happier that when the pressure was on I felt strong and that I could go even faster’. No doubt club coach Walter SHORT will have more cunning plans now to increase his strength; it is not unusual to see his group having to drag tyres behind them when they run.

Just as the Scunthorpe supporters were getting their breath back from cheering Karl onto victory next up was Sophie CROFT in the ladies 100m. Sophie who is only 16 was paired against a Barnsley athlete who had dominated the sprints in the first two meetings and had a personal best over half a second faster than Sophie. Not to be out done Sophie had a brilliant start and despite been caught near the line won with a well timed dip. It was so close that both athletes were given the same time, which was a new personal best for Sophie. Just over 2 hours later the crowd were treated to an action reply in the 200m, again both athletes were given identical times but this time the Barnsley athlete was given the result on the dip. These results were ideal preparation for Sophie who is competing in next weeks English Schools finals.

Scunthorpe had put 6 of their young English schools stars out and none of them disappointed, with Ashley WREN, Josh BONES, and Rachael ROBINSON recording individual victories. Ashley and Josh were then joined by Tom CAROLYN and Jordan WILLIAMS to not only smash their PB in the 4x100m relay but record a new club senior record despite all the team members  been under 17.

Team manager Gavin MANN was delighted by the result especially as the team had beaten Doncaster who had won the first two matches. Gavin said ‘A Big Big Thank You to all the athletes, officials and helpers who worked so hard for a great result, a runaway win by 110 points.

Gav went on to say “If we can do the same again at the next match, Scunthorpe will be competing in division 2 next season, so please all turn out again on 2nd August , so we can put the team were it belongs in the higher leagues”.

The final match is Sunday 2^nd August again at Quibell park, Scunthorpe know that with the top two teams going up a second place in the final match will be enough to secure promotion

Men's 100m A 4th. Jordan Williams Scunthorpe & District 11.8. B 3rd Josh Bones Scunthorpe & District 11.9

200m A 1st Daniel Harmes Scunthorpe & District 23.2. B 1st Ash Wren Scunthorpe & District 22.9.

400m A 2nd 6 Matt Shaw Scunthorpe & District 54.9.B 2nd Daniel Hughes Scunthorpe & District 55.3

800m A 1st  Karl McDonagh Scunthorpe & District 01:59.8 .B 3rd Don Green Scunthorpe & District 02:23.1

1500m A 2nd  Josh Reid Scunthorpe & District 04:36.4 .B 1st Lewis Stones Scunthorpe & District 04:42.4

3000m S/Chase A 1st  Gary Crompton Scunthorpe & District 11:42.8 1.B 1st Allen Williams Scunthorpe & District 11:43.5

5000m A 2nd Gary Crompton Scunthorpe & District 17:17.5 B 4th Don Green Scunthorpe & District 22:14.1

400m Hurdles A 1st Matt Shaw Scunthorpe & District 59.3B 1st Daniel Hughes Scunthorpe & District 63.3

110m Hurdle A 1st Matt Shaw Scunthorpe & District 17.0.B 2nd Don Green Scunthorpe & District 22.1

Hammer A 2^nd Matt Hammond Scunthorpe & District 39.92.B 2^nd Jonathan Shaw Scunthorpe & District 30.08

Discus A 3rd Matt Hammond Scunthorpe & District 34.72.B 2nd Jonathan Shaw Scunthorpe & District 27.44

Javelin A 5th Daniel Hughes Scunthorpe & District 34.32.B 3rd Simon Pollard Scunthorpe & District 32.15

Shot Putt A 2nd Matt Hammond Scunthorpe & District 10.87.B 2nd Jonathan Shaw Scunthorpe & District 8.55

Long Jump A 1st 6 Ash Wren Scunthorpe & District 6.47 B 1st Josh Bones Scunthorpe & District 5.88

Triple Jump A 1st Josh Bones Scunthorpe & District 13.10 B 1st Jordan Williams Scunthorpe & District 11.71

High Jump A 5th Matt Shaw Scunthorpe & District.1.45 B 3rd Daniel Hughes Scunthorpe & District 1.40

Pole Vault A 4th Daniel Harmes Scunthorpe & District 2.30

4x100m Relay 1st Scunthorpe & District AC Tom Carlyon ,Jordan Williams ,Josh Bones ,Ash Wren 44.3

4x400m Relay 1stScunthorpe & District AC Daniel Hughes, Daniel Harmes,

Karl McDonagh, Daniel Harmes 03:40.6

Women's 100m A 1st Sophie Croft Scunthorpe & District 12.7. B 2nd Rebecca Saxby Scunthorpe & District 13.6

200m A 2nd Sophie Croft Scunthorpe & District.25.7 B 2nd Rachel Fisk Scunthorpe & District 28.0

400m A 2nd Rachel Fisk Scunthorpe & District 61.2. B 1^st Rebecca Saxby Scunthorpe & District 68.5

800m A 1st Rachel Robinson Scunthorpe & District. 2.18.7 B 1st Michelle Spacey Scunthorpe & District 2.39.7

1500m A 2nd Sarah Kemshall Scunthorpe & District. 05:00.2 B 1st Jane Kemshall   Scunthorpe & District 05:10.8

3000m A 1st Nicola Geddes Scunthorpe & District 10.07.9. B 1^st Michelle Spacey Scunthorpe & District 12.5.7

400m Hurdles A 2nd Rachel Fisk Scunthorpe & District 70.8. B 2^nd Fiona Fisk Scunthorpe & District 91.5

100m Hurdle A 3^rd Jessica Garrod Scunthorpe & District 20.5

Hammer A 2nd Emma Gilbert Scunthorpe & District 34.64. B 3rd Anne Gilbert Scunthorpe & District 16.15

Discus A 2ⁿ Julia Kulis Scunthorpe & District. 26.98 B 4th Anne Gilbert Scunthorpe & District 18.27

Javelin A 2^nd Julia Kulis Scunthorpe & District 36.16. B 2^nd Emma Gilbert Scunthorpe & District 18.90

Shot Putt A 2nd Julia Kulis Scunthorpe & District 10.13. B 2^nd Jessica Garrod Scunthorpe & District 8.55

Long Jump A 1^st Sophie Croft Scunthorpe & District 5.22, B 1^st Rebecca Saxby Scunthorpe & District 4.36

Triple Jump A 2nd Jessica Garrod Scunthorpe & District.9.57 B 1st Rachel Robinson Scunthorpe & District 8.94

High Jump A 2^nd Rebecca Saxby Scunthorpe & District.1.40 B 2^nd Rachel Fisk Scunthorpe & District 1.10

4x100m Relay 3rd 6 Scunthorpe & District AC Sophie Croft, Rachel Fisk, Rebecca Saxby ,Jessica Garrod 54.2

4x400m Relay 1st Scunthorpe & District AC Rachel Robinson Sarah Kemshall Rachel Fisk Jane Kemshall 04:15.0

Meeting 2 - 6th June 2009 - Scunthorpe targeting back to back promotions  - Press Report by Matt Hammond

Jess shows team spirit to keep Scunthorpe in Promotion battle

Scunthorpe senior athletes travelled to Sheffield for the 2^nd match in their division 3 league. In a typical summer’s day of sunshine and showers Scunthorpe set off at a great pace and were leading by 3 points after the first 10 events, but it was to prove a close battle throughout the day between Doncaster,( who had won the first match), Barnsley and Scunthorpe. With the teams swapping the lead event by event during the competition.

Both Doncaster and Barnsley had brought stronger teams than the first match. Scunthorpe were able to more than match them in the men’s events. The men’s team sheet had only one space and saw the men winning 14 of their events in both ‘A’ and ‘B’.  Even when athletes sustained injuries team mates were quick to respond and fill the gaps. None more so than the clubs rising under 20 Multi events star Daniel Harmes. Daniel had planned to compete in the 100m, Pole vault and 4 x 400m and scored good points in those events. He was then dragged into the triple jump and 4 x 100m at the very last minute, due to injury. In the triple jump he finished first in the B event despite having no time to warm up after the original competitor Josh Bones injured himself on his final warm up jump. Daniel also then took the final leg of the 4 x 100m anchoring the team to first place in a superb time of 44.9 which was a club record for the under 20 men and is only just outside the club senior men record. This was despite three of the team Tom Carlyon, Jordan Williams and Ashley Wren all been under 17. These three youngster also gained valuable points in individual events with Ashley winning the long Jump , Jordan the Triple jump and Tom finished second in the B 100m.  

The day had got of  to a winning start with Matthew Shaw and Daniel Hughes winning the A and B 400m hurdles.  Other note able performances saw Simon Pope winning the B 800m and 400m as well as running  a leg in the winning 4x400m team.  

Unfortunately the ladies team were much depleted due to injuries and non availability. They started the day with 7 events left to fill but due to injures they ended up with 10 events not filled.  At times like these teams rely on the true team spirit of their athletes this was shown by all of the female athletes who doubled and tripled up in events to gain extra points. Team member of the day award must go to Jess Garrod for her efforts on the last leg of the 4 x 400m. Jess had already competed in the triple jump, long jump, and 4 x 100m when the team manager asked for a volunteer to run the 4 x 400m relay. With relay points counting double and Scunthorpe still neck and neck with Doncaster and Bransley it was important to fill the 4x 400m after a space was left on the final leg due to injury. Jess who had never run a competitive 400m showed what Scunthorpe and District Athletics club is all about by accepting the challenge and running a competitive leg only to be out done by the Barnsley athlete who had already won the individual 400m and ran a time which would have qualified her for national finals. Having barely caught her breath she then finished the day by throwing the javelin.

Having missed the first match due to University championships  the Kemshall Twins Jane and Sarah more than made up by between them covering the 200m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m, before both running in the 4x400m.

Another big points winner was Scunthorpe’s foreign star Julija Kulis who started with a big personal best of 10.50m to win the shot, then with her last throw managed to take second place in the javelin by just 2 cm’s. Julija was then called on to try a different event and again helped the team effort by running a leg of the 4 x 100m.

Despite these outstanding efforts Scunthorpe finished the match in third place just 6 points behind Barnsley and 19 behind Doncaster. After 2 matches Scunthorpe remains in 2^nd place by the narrowest margin and with the next two matches been on home turf at Quibell Park (on the 5th July and 2nd August)The team manager has issued a ‘rallying  cry’ to all athletes who can compete in this league to support the clubs drive for back to back promotions.  The aim been to chase and catch Doncaster whilst keeping ahead of Barnsley. 

Meeting 1 - 2nd May 2009

Scunthorpe and District Senior team finished 2nd in their quest for back to back promotions in first Northern league. This was held at Doncaster’s Keep Moat Stadium. The team are looking to build on last year’s success when they stormed to victory winning all their matches in division 4 of the Northern athletic leagues. They finished the season by winning a place in the northern CUP against much larger teams from the first division.

This year sees them in division 3 East, against teams from Doncaster, Barnsley, Hallamshire  Cleethorpes and Grantham.

The Northern senior league is a team competition involving A and B competitors from each club in every event. It is therefore important to cover every event to gain the maximum number of points. There are no individual trophies involved and it is a chance for athletes to represent their clubs. Success therefore relies on not only the elite athletes competing in their best events but the club athletes who are prepared to turn out and do a B event that they don’t usually compete in.

The team got off to a brilliant start with Daniel HUGHES and Don GREEN winning the first track events of the day the A and B 400m hurdles. Don GREEN showed the spirit that will get the team promoted also finishing 3^rd in the 100m hurdles, before rounding off his day with a 5,000m. Don is a veteran athlete and owns many of the clubs veteran records. He has been with the club for more years than he would like to mention and is by no means a specialist hurdler but is prepared to turn out and do his bit to win points. This was also true of Steve Heslop a true team player who is happy to run when needed or officiate if not. It was his battling qualities on the track that saw him finish 2nd in the B steeplechase race. This was a close race with the third place runner with Steve only over taking him in the last few laps after been 50 yards behind at one stage.

Team Captain Gary CROMPTON also led by example winning the A string steeplechase by over a minute, showing what can be achieved with hard work during the winter months. Gary then led by example finishing second in the 110m Hurdles despite his heavy legs from his earlier efforts and  rounded his day off be coming second in the triple jump.

The ladies also played their part in the teams success, where despite not having the same numbers as the men the ladies took on more events to gain points. This was shown by exhausting efforts of Rachel FISK who competed in 6 events 100m, 400m, 400m hurdles, high jump, 4x 100m relay and 4 x 400m relay. What was even more remarkable was that she won the 400m and 400m hurdles which are recognised as the hardest events on the track. Not to be out done Rachel’s mum Fiona put her injury problems to one side to run in the 800m (there cannot be many teams that can boast such a talented mother and daughter in their team)

The team was also backed up by the efforts of their young male and female athletes who supported the club by competing in their specialist events. Particular mention must go to Ashley WREN who won the long jump, then the B string 200m in a time faster than the A string winner which ranks him in the top 20 in the country for his age group.

Not wanting to be out done by the track athletes the club saw two throwers come out of retirement and break club records. Firstly Edel MEAGHER won the ladies discus in a new club senior record and then finished second in the Hammer. Not bad for an athlete who had come to the club to coach. Then Matt HAMMOND rolled back the years to win the discus and shot also finishing second in the hammer. All of his efforts were new club veteran records and not that far off his senior records set way back in 1996.

Other first places achieved on the day were. Simon Pope A 400m, Emma SIMPSON A shot putt , ladies 4 x 400m team, Adam Parkinson B 100M ,Jonny SHAW B hammer, Josh BONES B long jump, Simon Pope B triple jump, Ann Gilbert B discus.

Match Result

• 1st Doncaster    415 pts
• 2nd Scunthorpe  369
• 3rd Barnsley      294
• 4th Hallamshire  289
• 5th Cleethorpes  282
• 6th Grantham    205

This was a brilliant start by the team and a big than you went to the clubs officials who gained the team an extra 30 bonus points by fulfilling their allotted duties

The teams aim will be to knock their local rivals Doncaster off top spot at the remaining three matches, when hopefully the team will be boosted by athletes returning from injury and University.

Remaining matches

·  Saturday June 6th 2009 - Hallamshire, Sheffield

·  Sunday July 5th 2009 - Quibell Park (Hosts Cleethorpes AC)

·  Sunday August 2nd 2009 - Quibell Park, (Host Scunthorpe)