Worthing Harriers had an excellent showing at the Sussex County Championships, finishing the weekend with a haul of 11 gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze medals. The weekend saw some fantastic performances in the form of numerous personal bests as well as several qualifying performances for the English Schools’ Championships and a new club record.

Under 15 sprinters Ella Chalmers and Jimmy Seacombe continued their good form this season with personal best runs in their events. Chalmers wiped 0.7 seconds from her PB when running an English Schools’ Championships qualifying time of 12.8 for second place in the 100m. Chalmers backed this up with a bronze medal in the 200m in a time of 28.0, having earlier run 27.6 in her heat whilst battling into a strong headwind.  Despite running a personal best time Seacombe had to settle for fourth place in the 200m but overcame this to win a silver medal in the 100m the following day in a time of 12.2.

The under 17 age group saw a Harrier’s 1-2 in the men’s long jump with Aidan Coree taking victory ahead of Tristan Martin. Both athletes leapt to new personal bests and Coree’s wining jump of 6.22m saw him close in on the Worthing Harriers club record. In the women’s long jump Imogen Marshall bettered her PB with a jump of 4.92m for a hard fought bronze medal as well as winning silver in the shot putt. In the hammer throw Woody Cox threw a PB of 51.90m for a well deserved second place and English Schools’ Qualifier, this despite being one of the youngest in the age group. Emily and Lianne Baker threw personal bests of 27.12m and 26.54m respectively to secure second and third place in the hammer throw, whilst Lianne also took a bronze in the discus with a throw of 25.42m. On the track Charlie Baldwin ran a confident race in the 400m to become Sussex Champion with a time of 52.1, this being in spite of fatigue from running two rounds of the 800m the previous day. In the 400m hurdles Sam Charlwood set a new personal best of 63.4 to finish in third place.

Under 20s Ed Pillai and Rob Duke both defended their 2011 titles with victories in the javelin and shot putt respectively. Pillai added one metre to his javelin personal best with a throw of 51.97m whilst Rob Duke had a successful weekend with victory in the shot putt in a personal best of 13.69m, eclipsing the 32 year old Worthing club record of 13.51m in the process. Duke also earned second place in the hammer and third place in the discus. In the under 20 women’s hammer Eloise Marshall threw 39.31m to finish a well deserved second behind the 2011 World and Commonwealth Youth hammer throw champion. Lauren Bourne ran superbly to set two personal bests in winning the 400m in 61.1 and earning silver in the 800m in 2:21.1.

The senior men’s age group saw Worthing dominate the throws, winning six of the twelve medals on offer.  Simon and Matt Evans achieved 1-2s in the hammer throw and shot putt with Simon coming out on top in both events. The hammer saw Simon throw 50.14m to Matt’s 49.14m while in the shot Simon threw 10.85m to Matt’s 9.69m. In the discus throw Richard Buckingham and Mark Gibbs finished with silver and bronze in throws of 36.28m and 24.32m. Decathlete Craig Baker was victorious in the javelin with a throw of 57.39m and also finished second in the long jump with 6.56m and third in the pole vault with 3.70m. Noel Butler performed well to win bronze medals in the high jump and long jump as well as achieve a personal best in the 200m against a highly competitive field. Also in the high jump Dean Storry made his season’s debut to finish second with a jump of 1.95m. The senior women’s hammer throw saw a clean sweep of the medals for Worthing Harriers, with Jo Davison earning victory over club mates Laura Duke and Odette Dicke. Caroline Garratt performed well in the javelin to finish second with a throw of 36.63m whilst Alison Duke took victory in the pole vault with a clearance of 2.40m.

With the main under 13 county championships take place in July, three Harriers competed in the under 13 girls’ minithon in which they compete in a run, a jump and a throw. Olivia Leadbeatter, Maddison Smith and Sophie Wise performed confidently despite being very new to the sport and gained invaluable competition experience.

Emmanuel Ogunniyi
Masters O40 Long Jump – 5.99m

Simon Evans
Senior Mens Hammer Throw – 50.44m

Emma Perkins
Senior Womens High Jump – 1.89m

Rebecca Moore
Senior Womens 10K – 35:10.74s (6th place on the Sussex ‘All time’ list)

Phoebe Oborne
U13 Girls Long Jump – 4.54m (Breaks a record that has stood for 26yrs)
U13 Girls 150m – 19.7s (Equals current club record)

In the mens 800m, Mark Burchett (1:55:32) and Adam Stainsby (1:57:21) both reached the semi finals of a competitive field. Good performances guys; both looking on course for PBs by the end of the season.

In the under 13 girls Phoebe Oborne scored maximum points in the 75m, 150m and long jump with outstanding performances of 10.4, 19.7 and 4.54m. Oborne’s 150m time equals the club record and places her 1st in the UK under 13 rankings whilst her long jump is an outright club record and ranks 7th in the UK. 800m runner Hannah Binstead ran a fine race to finish in a personal best time of 2:41.4 and ran a confident 150m to finish 2nd in the B string. Making their competitive debut, Olivia Cary, Olivia Leadbeatter and Lauren Brooks earned valuable points competing in events ranging from 70m hurdles to shot putt. In the under 13 boys all 5 athletes were competing for the first time and their hard work in training paid off with some excellent early season form. Of particular note was a fine 200m run from Callum Chalmers, winning the B string in 31.2 and Brodie Hickey’s 75m hurdles of 16.2 for 2nd A string.

The under 15s saw some equally strong performances; Ella Chalmers improved her long jump PB by 41cm, jumping 5.01m and winning the event whilst Chloe Rogers ran 13.1 in the 75m hurdles to take over half a second off her previous best. Despite having only a handful of under 15 boys, David Anderson-Easey, Kieran Clark and Jack Johnson were a credit to the club when displaying an enthusiasm for trying new events and earning points for the team. Clark, who has only been training with the club for 4 weeks, ran brilliantly to win the B string 100m and finish 2nd in the A string long jump while Johnson and Anderson-Easey made for a strong pair in the 300m.

Under 17 Ella Brasington had an exceptional run in the 200m, running a powerful last 80m to win by over a second and earn a PB of 25.9, a performance which places her in the top 20 in the UK under 17 rankings. Multi-eventer Imogen Marshall performed as reliably as ever in 80m hurdles, high jump and long jump with the highlight being a new long jump PB of 4.88m. Emily and Lianne Baker doubled up in the hammer, shot putt and discus to score valuable points and achieve personal bests, Lianne in the hammer throw and Emily in the discus. Woody Cox performed to his usual high standard in the throws, earning maximum points in the hammer, shot putt and discus. Aidan Coree made an excellent comeback from a broken arm in the winter to achieve PBs in the 100m, long jump and high jump whilst Matt Ranger saw the benefits of winter training when running a PB of 12.1 in the 100m. Middle distance trio Tom Lankshear, Jack Woods and Callum Craven ran solidly to earn valuable points for the team. Lankshear and Woods both achieved PBs in the 800m and Craven, in his debut at the event, won the 1500m steeplechase in a time of 5:44.0 as well as stepping in at the last minute and running a creditable 400m hurdles.

The team’s positivity and willingness to compete in a range of events bodes well for the rest of the year and with this attitude the Worthing Harriers Young Athletes League team look set to have a fantastic season ahead of them.

Full Results

Track
Field
Relays
Final Positions

It was a PB weekend for several Harriers in the Brighton Marathon on Sunday, well done all… what a great day!

Harriers Times

Paul Bond – 2:54:25
Danny Bradford – 2:57:26
Scott Kendall – 3:12:24
Elizabeth Fairs – 3:31:56
Scott Wallace – 3:33:10
Russel Hite – 3:44:59
Rebecca Nicolson – 3:48:22
Lesley Tugwell – 3:54:23
Sharla Elder – 3:58:06
Michelle Hughes – 4:08:26
Graham Morrey – 4:24:49
Keith Fillingham – 4:24:02
Sue Teague-smith 4.49.39
Chris Stapleton – 4:53:04
Jennifer O’Callaghan – 5:06:33
Liz Eastwood – 5:16:17

It was the first time Worthing Special Olympics had taken part in this event and despite two early starts there were some excellent performances over the weekend.

Sam Gratton kept up his winning form with first in the Long Jump (4.68m PB) and second in the 800m (2.35.10 PB). There were several good results for other Worthing athletes in the 800m: Jordon Okonta 1st in 2.48.57 PB, Jack Tulett 2nd 2.58.93 and Haydn Cook in his first race 3rd in 3.17.35.

In the field James Crispin got silver in the Long Jump (4.55m), Jordon Okonta bronze (4.04m PB) and new comer Luke Cooper silver (2.22m).

In the Shot Putt Louis Pace won gold (7.69m PB), Luke Hibberd Gold (5.61m PB), Haydn Cook bronze (6.66 PB) and Miles Cosham (6.29m PB).

Stacy Roberts won 2 bronze medals in 200m with (39.06 PB) and Long Jump, and Luke Hibberd followed up his Gold in the 60m with another Gold in the 60m (12.0secs)

This brings to a close a fantastic indoor season for the whole team, who now look forward to the outdoor season which starts for some on the 14th April!

Grantham Grand Prix Series 14/04/12

Sam Gratton and Phil Williamson travelled to Grantham to start the Grand Prix season. Despite the weather conditions which started with sunshine and ended in a hail storm which held the Long Jump up for a while they put in some good performances.

Sam competed in his first 1500m, finishing 1st with a PB of 5.16.37m and then went on to take 2nd place in both 800m in a time of 2.44.05m and Long Jump 4.45m.

Phil ran a PB in the 100m (15.24secs) and then taking 2nd place in the 200m (30.45secs). Both our Worthing lads were up against some strong competitors, some of who have represented England so this was proved an excellent start to the season

After a bite to eat and drink it was off to the shot put which again had a large field. Emily had a best of 6.18m whilst sister Lianne had a best of 6.85m. Woody carried on with his good days work with a PB of 10.64m and Imogen not to be out done had a PB off 8.99m. Odette and Julia were keeping up the good work with Julia having a best of 4.47m and Odette having two PB’s the first 6.82m and 7.05m. The smile now was just getting too much to bear.  Simon, who has not done a lot of shot, did well with a best of 9.30m.

The Javelin guys took to the stage with Imogen Marshall having yet another PB of 21.36m and Caroline Garratt coming back from injury had a good series of throws to finish with a best of 32.98m. Edward Pillai had a good consistent card and finished with a best of 48.68m a good start to the season.

With the winter training out of the way the throws squad dusted the cobwebs off the hammers, polished up the discus and shot and of they went to Crawley to compete in their first throws competition of the season. Even though a cold day, the squad performed to their usual high standard, a promising start to the season.

The hammer boys and girls were first up and Fleur Dicke started the proceedings with a new pb of 24.79m. Julia Williams had two pb’s and finished with a 24.51m and fellow ‘Lefty’ (as they liked to be called), Odette Dicke followed with a 26.64m pb. Laura Duke who has been struggling of late with her throws finished with a 43.24m and Jo Davison finished with a 45.44m.Simon Evans had a good series of throws and finished with a new pb of 49.70m with the 7.26k hammer. Brother Matthew coming back from injury had himself a good series of throws to finish with a pb of 45.42m, he too throwing the new weight of 7.26k. It was good to see Robert Duke back in action after having a very on and off season last year. We have all missed his impression of the Tasmanian Devil with the need for speed type throws. All were thoroughly entertained and he too had a good series of throws finishing with a best of 54.37m which is the ESAA National Standard and a grade 3. Woody Cox now a U17 and throwing his new 5k weight took to the circle and had an amazing series of throws. Having three pb’s and to finish with an ESAA qualifying distance of 50.09m and a grade 2, a fantastic result.

The Shot was next and Emily Baker threw 6.26m for her new pb while her sister Lianne finished with a best of 6.84m. Woody had a pb of 10.56m while Julia Williams had three pb’s to finish with 4.68m. Odette Dicke also had two pb’s with a best of 6.66m. Robert Duke struggled a little today but still finished with a 12.65m. Laura Duke had a best of 10.35m and Jo Davison finished with a 9.21m. New girl U13 Sophie Wise in her first competition had two pb’s and finished with a best of 5.82m. Well done Sophie.

Discus, the good work carried on with Emily Baker having another pb of 17.60m while her sister Lianne had a best of 24.59m. Robert entertained us with 4 no throws and that man Woody had another two pb’s and a best of 27m plus.

Eloise and Imogen Marshall competed in horrendous weather at Tonbridge on the 9^th April.

Imogen has competed in a couple of indoor competitions already this year as a first year U17. Throwing the 4k shot she has already had a good start to the season with an 8.37m at Lee Valley and won the U17 Indoor Sussex Championship with an 8.94m to become the U17 Sussex Champion. Not satisfied with that Imogen went to Crystal Palace and won gold in the High Jump with 1.50m. Facing the horrid conditions at Tonbridge she had a best of 8.54m.

Eloise again for the third year in a row coming back from injury had a best of 32.89m. This year it was her shoulder, last year a broken finger and the year before that a broken ankle. I have it on good authority she will be ok for the next winters training, apparently. So well done to her as she has not had much time to get to grips with the three turns she has been working on. So she did very well to do all her throws at Tonbridge of three turns.

Mark Jenkin of Bideford was first home of the 489 finishers in a fine time of 1:49:09, with Chichester’s James Baker 2nd in 1:51:40 and Andrew Raynor of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers 3rd in 1:52:29.

In the womens race, first place went to Sarah Hill of Farnham Runners for the third consecutive year, finishing in 2:11:03 (unbelievably this was identical to her 2011 victory time), with Karen Rushton of South West Vets AC 2nd in 2:12:08 and Worthing’s own Sharon Elder 3rd in 2:14:06. Both Karen and Sharon are in the F40 masters category.

Congratulations to all finishers, we hope you all enjoyed the race and it aided preparation for those with places in the approaching spring marathons.

Finally a big thank you to all the marshals and volunteers who make the race possible.

Results

Finalised results here (pdf file)

Results can also be found on the FR Systems website here.

Race Photography

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