ASHFORD Athletic Club senior team got their first season in the newly formed Southern Athletics League to a winning start in some style.
The new league sees both the men and women’s teams competing together in a combined competition. The team notched up no less than 28 victories with a large number of personal bests achieved in great conditions.
Ashford dominated the field events with a total of 19 wins, male throwers Jon Ward, Chris Kingsland-Roberts, Lee Swinbourne and Peter Wickens showing their strength and depth scoring 31 points out of a possible 32 including a great performance from newcomer Peter in the javelin throwing 54.04m, one of the longest throws ever produced in the club’s history.
The women matched the men’s efforts in the jumps, winning 7 out of 8 events including Laura Hanagan leaping to a massive new PB in the triple jump with 11.01m.
The team also showed their versatility on the track, gaining vital points across all distances and hurdles events.
Amelia Jones dipped under five minutes for the first time to win the 1500m and Lesley Hall won the B string 3000m giving the women two crucial track victories.
After the relay finales the team led by 28 match points and currently sit top of the league. The next match takes place on 21st May in Milton Keynes where the club will look to continue their winning ways.
Team Managers Pete Le Rossignol and Lucy Holmes said, “We would like to thank all 49 athletes, club officials and supporters for their efforts in helping to start the season in the best possible way.”
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Great start
Sprinters lead the way
ASHFORD’S Gary Carr and James Bridge dominated the sprints with a clean sweep at the Southern Men’s League meeting at Worthing.
Carr took the honours in the A 100m with 11.3 and the B 200m in 23.1 while Bridge won the A 200m with 22.9 and the B 100m with 11.2.
James Phillips was outstanding in the middle distances races winning the A 400m with a personal best 50.1 and then also won the 800m with 2:01.7.
Gareth Morris was second in the B 400m with a season best 51.4 and also comfortably won the A 400m hurdles in 55.1.
Veteran Pete Davey won the B 400m hurdles with 61.8 and was third in the 110m hurdles in a personal best 16.1.
In the field events there was a club double for Matt Morsia winning the long jump with 6.36m and the triple jump in 14.67m while V45 competitor Jon Ward gained valuable points with third in the hammer and fourths in the shot (12.57m) and discus with 38.15m.
Luke Williams was second in the pole vault with a personal best 3.50m and Matt Hogben third in the high jump with 1.75m.
At Dartford the following day in the National Junior League Lucy Holmes had a win double taking the U17 A triple jump with a personal best 9.48m and the B long jump in a another best 4.83m.
Amber Regardsoe had a storming day with victories in the U17 A shot with a season best 9.33m and the discus with 26.12m and also claimed tghird in the hammer with a season best 23.18m.
Ashley Cochran ran a personal best 23.8 to top the B 200m and Deborah Martin had a good day with seconds in the A high jump with 1.55m and a personal best 5m in the A long jump.
Laura Hanagan set personal bests for second in the 100m hurdles; third in the 400m hurdles clocking 17.2 and 72.2 respectively and fifth in the B 200m (27.0) while Sam Beckett also gave another great team display with thirds in the A 400m and A 100m plus fifth in the A 200m.
Amelia Jones had a personal best 65.0 for second in the B 400m.
Throwers shine for men
From Pete Le Rossignol
WITH several regular members of the team missing, the Ashford AC men’s team travelled to Milton Keynes for their third Southern League, Division 1 match.
Adding to the pressure, the coach journey took longer than expected due to road works and accidents en route.
However, the team kept focussed and amused themselves playing games like pass the bottle etc. On arrival, the team of 15 athletes commenced to work together to cover the 34 individual events and 2 relays, knowing also that two of the teams against them, were above them in the league.
The pairing of Jon Ward and Chris Kingsland in the throws was tremendous, with 4 firsts and two second places between them. Ably supported by Chris Blandford and John Rolfe in the javelin, the quartet amassed 36 points out of the team’s total of 92, an exceptional effort.
The team spirit continued throughout the afternoon and pole vaulters Luke Williams and Mick Goodall excelled in a competition where the opposition was potentially far better. Luke clearing a personal best height of 3.40 metres to win the A string and 60 year old Mick taking the B string with a season’s best clearance of 3.30 metres. Luke also went on to take second in the A string 110m hurdles in another pb of 19.5s.
Acting team manager, Matt Hogben, epitomised the team’s commitment by taking part in 6 individual events and the 4 x 400m relay, whilst having to cope with the strength sapping heat.
Sprinters Chris Meakin and Steve Walder gained valuable team points. Chris still returning to form from injury competed in both sprints and the 4 x 100m relay. First year U17 athlete, Steve, gained valuable experience, competing against older athletes, and ran well in the 4 x 100m relay.
Ashley Cochran and Pat Duncan added more points in the 800m and 30 minutes later despite being disappointed with his 800 time, Ashley ran an incredible pb of 52.7s in the 400 metres A string race. Later, Pat also teamed up with Chris Blandford in a gruelling 1500 metres race.
In the 5000 metres Matt Iles endured the heat to gain a valuable point which was priceless when considering the club gained third place by only one point.
In the 3000m steeplechase, Warren U den and Phil Heathfield added a further important points tally with Warren taking another 10 seconds off his pb. Phil had also partnered Matt Hogben in the 400m hurdles.
In the jumps events, Matt Smiley teamed up with the ever busy Matt Hogben, where they managed to gain 9 important points, from the long, high and triple jump.
Both relay squads added more points to enable the team to stay the one point ahead of Enfield and Haringey AC to round off an excellent team effort for a well deserved third place.
MATCH POINTS: Highgate 132 points, Marshall Milton Keynes 128, Ashford 92, Enfield and Haringey 91, Harrow 80.
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