2024 Review August
The first half of August was spent for many of us glued to the Olympics but still some domestic track & field took place with the South of England U13 inter-counties champs on the first Sunday of August in Kingston and this was a chance for Hallie Eldridge (coach Andy Fisher) to break the U13G javelin club record.
The South of England age group (U13/U15/U17) champs took place the following weekend in Walton where Elsie Brindle (coach Mark Upton) took U17W 400m gold in a WADAC clean sweep with Lucia Bertacchini taking silver & Chloe Poore bronze with Izzy Jordan in 6th (all 3 coached by Andy Fisher) for good measure. Another South of England age group champion was Jess Howells (coach Andy Fisher) in the U17W javelin with team mate Abi McBriar (coach Martin McBriar) winning silver in the same age group. Other medals were won by Rebekah Smith (coach Dave McManus) who took bronze in the U17W sprint hurdles, Toby Gardener (coach Andy Fisher) who took U13B 200m silver & HJ bronze, Darcey Thorne-Henderson (coach Martin McBriar) took U15G discus bronze, Beth Mballa (coach Heather Sheffield) took U17W discus bronze, Hallie Eldridge took U13G javelin bronze and Bo Hatchett (coach Andy Fisher) U13G HJ bronze.
On the 13th August Moira West (coach Dave Sherry) became World (Masters) champion in the 100m in the V75 age group in Sweden and 7 days later Moira completed the World Masters double by winning the 200m in the same age group.
On Saturday the 17th August Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) won an England U20 vest to go alongside his England U18 vest gained at the Commonweath youth games and it motivated him to a seasons best time in winning the 400m in the Home International match with Arabella Wilson 2nd in the 400mH also winning her England U20 vest. The National age group combined events champs was held at the same meeting with Rebekah Smith taking bronze in the U17W heptathlon and Seni Purnell (coach Andy Fisher) taking silver in the U15G hexathlon.
The same day back home in Winchester the club hosted it’s last SAL match of the season and did so in spectacular style, finishing 2nd on the day behind Thames Valley Harriers to retain it’s place in the first division and therefore allow it to apply for the NAL. There were amazing performances throughout the day including the mixed 4 x 400m quartet of Oliver Wye, Zac Reynolds (both coached by Mark Upton) & Chloe Poore & Lucia Bertacchini (both coached by Andy Fisher) smashing the club record.
The month ended with the UK School games in Loughborough with many of the clubs amazing U17 athletes picked to compete. Lucia Bertacchini ended an incredible season with her 4th National title a feat never been done before by anyone at the club. Lucia won the 300mH added to the titles she had won at the same distance at the Home International championships, the National championships & the National schools championships. Podium finishes were also recorded by Jess Howells in the javelin and Gracie Osman (coach Andy Fisher) in the long jump.