Club records updated

Every year I say to myself, the club records can’t keep being broken at such an astonishing rate, sooner or later these amazing performances won’t be surpassed but every year I am proved wrong and the indoor track & field season this year has been no different.

On the mens side, there have been no fewer than 15 all time top 3 indoor performances including 4 new age group indoor club records from Zac Reynolds U17M 400m (Mark Upton), Harry Ryan, U17M 60mH (Andy Fisher), Tim Sorrell V65 200m (Mark Upton) and Declan Dew U13B LJ (Andy Fisher). There have also been 3 all time indoor club records in other words the best performances ever recorded by a WADAC man competing indoors and these have gone to Alex Beck 400m (Mark Upton), Thomas Evans 1500m (James Mann) & Oliver Thatcher SP (Andy Fisher).

The Womens side have been even more impressive with 24 all time top 3 performances most of them indoors but some outdoors. There have been 7 new age group club records from Aspen Stobbart U15G 60m indoors & hammer outdoors, a remarkable double achievment (Martin McBriar), Tracy Bezance-Collins V60 60m & 200m (Dave Sherry), Lexie Divers U15G 300m fastest time by an U15G either indoors or outdoors (Andy Fisher) and Sue Van Vuuren V55 SP both indoors and outdoors (Dave Sherry). There has also been two best performances ever recorded by a WADAC woman. Annie Mann in the mile which is an outdoor club record (James Mann) and Arabella Wilson 400m indoors (Andy Fisher) and finally two new British indoor age group records which obviously also stand as new WADAC age group indoor club records Moira West V75 60m & 200m (Dave Sherry).

All these new performances are now reflected in the club records section of the website.

Record number receive RPMF Grant

The Ron Pickering memorial fund was created in the great man’s memory and along with another great man’s memory in Llloyd Cowan the fund awards grants annually to young athletes with potential. Many of the stars of our sport have received a RPMF grant in previous years.

This year no fewer than 7 WADAC young athletes recieved a grant this year which will help them with training and competition costs throughout 2025.

The WADAC recipients in alphabetical order are and details of all the award winners and how to apply for a grant for next year can be seen on the link at the bottom of this message.

Alex Beck (Mark Upton)

Lucia Bertacchini (Andy Fisher)

Charlie Elford-Pond (Jake Norris)

Jess Howells (Andy Fisher)

Gracie Osman (Andy Fisher)

Mia Judd (James Hind)

Arabella Wilson (Andy Fisher)

RPMF Website

Club Records updated

The indoor club records are being updated on the website as they happen, which is very often indeed just now.

The overall club records were updated on the website at the end of the outdoor season and will be updated in the far corner of the Clubhouse at the track in the next few weeks.

2025 rankings first look

The indoor season is sufficiently underway to produce the clubs first rankings update of the year.

Lexie Trott (coach Tom Farres) has already booked herself a spot at the end of season awards with her new indoor club record in the pole vault and Zac Reynolds (coach Mark Upton) has done the same with his new age group indoor club record in the 400m.

The full rankings can be seen through the link below for Women

Womens 2025 Club Track & Field rankings

and link below for Men

Mens 2025 Club Track & Field Rankings

Happy New Year

The club enjoyed its best ever year in 2024 with an incredible 10 National representative vests for our talented Junior athletes.

We are looking forward to an equally successful 2025 and I hope to resume the daily website updates to keep you all updated on the achievements of the club’s athletes.

I had to stop in May last year because of other commitments and therefore will begin 2025 with a review of 2024 beginning from where I left off (the last report was of the club’s first SAL match in Southampton on the 18th May.)

Club records broken

It’s a bit like painting the forth bridge, so many club top 3 performances have been broken in the last few weeks that it’s difficult to keep up with them all.

Rest assured that all track & field records will be updated on the website in due course.

Final indoor records and rankings updated

I have had to wait ages for the last indoor results of the season to be updated on pof10 but they finally have been and this enables the final indoor rankings to be published and all indoor club records updated.

As sure as night follows day, another best ever indoor track & field season for WADAC athletes with for the first time records broken in all 14 age groups and some stunning performances all around the country with the highlights being a 2nd consecutive National indoor age group title for Mia Judd (coach Tony Bateman) and an England schools vest and a place in the clubs role of honour for Gracie Osman (coach Andy Fisher).

All indoor records have now been updated in the relevent section of the club website and the clubs full indoor rankings can be seen on pof10 or through the links below.

Female indoor track & field rankings 23-24

Male indoor track & field rankings 23-24

Track & Field fixtures sent to all members

The new outdoor track & field season is upon us and I know many of us are looking forward to the first WADAC Open meeting on the 14th April.

After this, there is a team or individual fixture every single week through to the end of September. It is difficult to produce a fixture list showing all the fixtures although selected events will be shown on the website. To solve this problem, a tailored list of fixtures that are relevent to you has been emailed to you.

Whether you are 8 years old or 80 years old, there is a team competition you can take part in as well as a host of inidividual events including the County Champs in May. This is a unique season for the club where we are competed in the top leagues in every single age group but also have development team opportunities recognising that both inclusion and performance are at the heart of what we do.

As Head of track & field, I am proud that we are taking part in division 1 of the SAL for the first time in the clubs history as well as the Premier leagues for both lower and upper age groups in the YDL (the latter with our composite partners City of Portsmouth AC). This is testement to the fantastic coaches we have at the club but mostly to the athletes who have got us there and continue to represent Team WADAC with such distinction.

We aim for a record number of athletes to represent the club in team competitions this year, it is going to be a great season.

All club records updated on website

Did you know that no fewer than 60 new all time top 3 performances have been recorded buy the clubs athletes during the indoor season.

34 of these have been set by women and 26 by men and all these new indoor performances are now proudly showing on the club records part of the website.

A few highlights from me from the men are Hayden Rogers (coach Dave Sherry) breaking the U15 boys indoor 200m record. Harry Harvey (coach James Thie) taking the mens 1500m indoor record and Oliver Thatcher (coach Andy Fisher) jumping 1.99m stateside to take the mens high jump indoor record.

For the women, Kathryn Miles (coach Dave Sherry) breaking her own W50 60m record in taking the British Indoor Masters bronze medal, Gracie Osman (coach Andy Fisher) jumping 5.61m to break the womens indoor long jump record and win the National age group bronze medal and Mia Judd (coach Tony Bateman) jumping 1.74m to break the womens indoor high jump record and win the National age group title.

These are unprecedented times for the club which we do not take for granted and huge credit to the athletes putting in these amazing performances and of course their coaches.

Cage back open for long throws

Like at many tracks up and down the country, the throwing cage at Winchester Sports Stadium was damaged in the recent storms.

The Sports Stadium team from the University of Winchester have done a tremendous job to get the cage repaired and inspected as safe all just a week after it was damaged.

The cage is therefore now safe to use and therefore back open again.

Track & Field Review - U20

The U20 age group is a strong one for the club and will be even more so next season and this is reflected in the new records set within this age group during the track & field season.

Starting with the men Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) had an unforgettable season and his time of 47.30 secs recorded in the 400m at the National U20 champs in Chelmsford in June is the fastest time ever run by a WADAC athlete of any age at this distance. Alex finished the season in the worlds top 20 in the U18 age group. Charlie Elford Pond (coach Eric Davison) also broke the clubs age group hammer record in June throwing a mighty 58.71m with the 6kg hammer at the upper age group YDL match in Hemel Hempstead.

For the women, Grace Colmer (coach Andy Fisher) became the fastest senior sprint hurdler in WADAC history by running a time of 14.48 secs at the County Champs in May. Annie Mann (coach James Mann) did the same thing at the 1500m at Watford on the 1st July. Her time of 4 mins 16.77 secs ranks her 15th in the world on the end of season U18 rankings. For good measure Annie also broke the age group club record at 3000m at the SAL match in Bournemouth in July and went 2nd on the clubs all time age group 800m rankings with her run at the clubs first Open Meeting in April. Lily Neate (coach Nick Anderson) broke the clubs age group 5000m record by recording a time of 17 mins 33.10 secs at the BMC World Challenger event in Manchester at the end of May. The quartet of Poppy Shroff, Jess Howells, Abi Belward (all coached by Andy Fisher) & Elsie Brindle (coach Mark Upton) broke the clubs age group 4 x 100m record in the clubs SAL match at Eton in May. Amy Wall (coach Andy Fisher) went 3rd on the clubs all time long jump lists with her leap of 5.59m at the SAL match in Bournemouth on the 9th July. Finally Jasmine Gordon (coach Martin McBriar) broke the clubs hammer record with a throw of 40.98m at the Open Meeting in Swindon in September. Yet another best ever performance by a WADAC athlete of any age.

All U20 records have now been updated on the website.

Track & Field Review - U17

U17 age groups

It's the turn of the U17 age groups for the season review.

We start with the men which saw 5 all time top 3 age group performances. 3 of these were by Will Atkins (coach Nick Anderson) who had a tremendous season. Will broke the clubs 3000m U17 mens record at the clubs BMC meeting on the 5th July with an impressive time of 8 mins 35.64 secs which also saw Will finish the season as UK ranked no 4 for his age group. Ruben Price (coach Nick Anderson) went 2nd on the clubs all time age group 3000m list in the very same race. In addition, Will went 2nd on the clubs all time age group 800m and 1500m lists just behind training partner Harry Wilson who had an equally impressive season as an U17 last year. Oscar Webb (coach Tony Bateman) went 3rd on the clubs all time pole vault lists with a vault of 3.13m in March.

The U17 women are undoubtedly the clubs strongest age group with a huge amount of talented young athletes across run, hurdle, jump & throw. 11 individual top 3 all time performances were recorded within this age group and 1 team performance in the relay. The team performance came courtesy of Frankie Moulds, Carys Jeffries (both coached by Andy Fisher), Rebekah Smith (coach Dave McManus) & Elsie Brindle (coach Mark Upton) who went 2nd on the cluibs all time age group list in the 4 x 100m relay with their performance in the Wessex league in Oxford in April. In addition Rebekah went joint 2nd in the clubs 80mh lists with her time of 11.90 secs recorded in the UAG YDL match in Bournemouth in April. Elsie had a magnificent season, equalling the clubs age group 100m record with a time of 12.20 secs at the home Wessex League match in June and going 3rd on the clubs all time age group 200m lists with a time of 24.84 secs recorded at at open meeting in Aldershot in August. Elsie shares her age group club record with Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) who broke the clubs age group 200m record with a time of 24.46 secs at the Surrey County Champs in May. This time good enough to rank her 4th on the end of season UK age group rankings.

Mia Judd (coach Tony Bateman) broke not just the age group club record but the absolute club record with a magnificent jump of 1.74m in the high jump at the Biggish jumps festival in Woodford at the end of May. Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) went 2nd on the clubs age group all time shot putt lists with a putt of 12.54m at the schools national combined events champs in Bedford last month. Throws records were broken for fun in this age group with Erin McBriar (coach Martin McBriar) breaking the clubs age group hammer record with a throw of 42.69m at the clubs last Open Meeting of the season. Erin also smashed the clubs age group discus record with a throw of 40.17m recorded at the clubs home SAL match in August and this performance is good enough to rank Erin 3rd in the UK end of season age group rankings. For good measure, Erin also went 3rd in the clubs all time age group shot putt lists with her putt of 11.46m recorded at the clubs last UAG YDL match in Perivale at the end of July. Erin's training partner Evie Scott (coach Martin McBriar) also went over the 40m mark with the 3kg hammer at the clubs end of season open meeting last month and this takes the 2nd place spot in the clubs all time age group lists. Finally Jessica Howells (coach Andy Fisher) threw an enourmous 46.53m to smash the clubs all time age group javelin record and in doing so won the South of England U17 title at Lee Valley in August. In other years this would rank Jess UK no 1 for her age group but there is a particularly strong cohort of U17 women javelin throwers just now and Jess has to console herself with an end of season UK age group ranking of 5th.

All U17 records have now been updated on the website.

Track & Field Review - U15

U15 age groups

It's the turn of the U15 age groups to be reviewed in terms of record breaking performances for the season.

We have a good crop of U15 boys who have set 5 new all timne top 3 age group performances including 1 new age group club record.

Casper Wilson (coach Nick Anderson) is the new holder of an U15 boys club record with his time of 9 mins 29.30 secs run in Watford last month. Zac Reynolds (coach Andy Fisher) set 2 new all time 2nd best age group performances. Zac ran a time of 36.58 secs in the 300m at the English Schools Champs in Birmingham at the end of June and Zac also went 2nd in the pentathlon standings with his performance at the Hampshire schools Combined Events Champs in Andover in May. Samuel Smith (coach Elias Mtshweni) set as new pb of 2.50m at the LAG YDL match in June to go 2nd on the clubs all time age group pole vault lists and Ned Scott (coach Martin McBriar) went 3rd on the clubs all time age group javelin lists with his throw at the National age group championships in Birmingham at the end of August.

The U15 girls are an exceptional crop just like the age group above them and have set no fewer than 19 new all time top 3 age group performances (yes that's right, 19!).

The quartet of Chloe Poore, Lucia Bertacchini, Lily Flute & Gracie Osman (all coached by Andy Fisher) set a new age group 4 x 100m record in the Wessex league in April. The same quartet with Isobel Jordan (coach Andy Fisher) replacing the injured Lucia then broke the clubs age group 4 x 300m record with a time of 2 mins 49.67 secs at the LAG YDL match in Guildford in July. This is a very notable performance as it not only tops the UK age group rankings for the season but is also the 2nd fastest age group performance of all time.

Gracie was responsible for no fewer than 9 all time age group top 3 performances 4 of these came in relays including 2 new age group club records but in addition, Gracie went 2nd in the all time age group rankings for the 75m hurdles (11.63), Long Jump (5.46m) where a strong wind in Birmingham denied her a new club record, high jump (1.62m) and pentathlon (a monster 3244 points, 32nd on the UK all time age group lists) and 3rd in the all time age group top 3 perormances for the 200m.

Lucia went 3rd in the clubs all time age group 200m lists along with training partner Gracie and 2nd in the clubs all time 300m lists along with training partner Chloe. Chloe set her time (41.07) at the English schools Champs and is rapidly improving as the girls all train in the same group. Poppy Taylor (coach Nick Anderson) broke the clubs all time age group 1500m record by running 4 mins 39.70 secs in Bracknell in June. Sophie Lang (coach Elias Mtshweni) went 2nd on the clubs all time age group pole vault lists with her performance at the clubs open meeting in July.

The magnificent throws squad were responsible for 5 new age group top 3 performances. Beth Mballa (coach Heather Sheffield) went over 40m in the hammer at the clubs open meeting in September to break the clubs age group record and also recorded 2nd best age group performances in the shot putt (10.92m at the clubs April Open Meeting) and discus (32.04m at the South of England age group champs in Lee Valley in August). Abi McBriar (coach Martin McBriar) broke the clubs age group discus record with a throw of 34.91m at the Wessex league match in Basingstoke in June and also went 3rd in the clubs all time age group javelin lists with her throw of 36.70m at the County champs in May.

All records have been updated on the clubs website and let us see what the next age group review brings.

Track & Field Review - U13

U13 Age Groups

The review of the clubs record breaking season continues with the U13 age group where no fewer than 7 age group all time top 3 performances were recorded.

For the boys, I have already reported on the 75m times of Declan Dew & Samuel Barton (U11 academy) which despite them being U11's were good enough for joint U13 club records. William Griffiths (coach Dave Sherry) went 2nd on the clubs 150m all time list with a time of 21.04 secs recorded in our last LAG YDL match in Eton in July. Luke Furby (coach James Mann) broke the clubs 1200m club record with a time of 3 mins 42.82 secs recorded at the clubs 3rd LAG YDL match in Guildford also in July. This time good enough for 14th in the UK rankings. Tom Price (coach Elias Mtshweni) broke the clubs age group pole vault reord with a leap of 2.20m at the clubs July Open Meeting. This places Tom 7th in the UK age group rankings.

For the girls, Amalie Calliste (coach Dave Sherry) went 3rd in the clubs age group all time 100m list with her time of 13.49 secs at the Hampshire Champs in May and Zoe Jack (coach Martin McBriar) went 2nd in the clubs all time age group javelin lists with a throw of 28.85m at the July Open meeting.

All performances have been updated on the clubs records section of the website.

Track & Field Review - U11

After a review of the oldest age groups, it is time to turn to the youngest age groups the U11's for my next review of the track & field season. What a year it has been for the age that compete exclusively in the quad kids format of 75m, 600m, LJ & howler throw.

For the boys, Declan Dew (all the U11's named are coached within the U11 academy) had an amazing season breaking the club record in the 75m by running 10.2 secs on the same day that training partner Samuel Barton ran the same time to share the new record. Declan also broke the clubs age group LJ record with a leap of 4.60m and the overall quad kids points total record with a haul of 279 points. Evan Perry ran a time of 1.51.84 secs in the 600m to go 2nd on the clubs all time record list. The 4 boy team of Declan Dew, Samuel Barton, Evan Perry & Hugo holt went 2nd on the clubs all time team boys score list and when added with the girls of Liane Marquis-Onibuje, Eva Raftery, Lottie Osman & Alice Pate broke the overall team points score with an amazing 1824 points.

For the girls, Lianne Marquis-Onibuje's time of 10.9 secs equalled the club record for the 75m. Lottie Osman's leap of 3.74m went 2nd in the clubs all time age group Long jump list and Eva Raftery's throw of 36.51m went 2nd in the clubs all time howler throw list.

All these athletes now move to the U13 age group where they move to the traditional track & field events and all U11 records have been updated accordingly on the website.

Record number of young athletes accepted onto EA YTP programme

The England Athletics Youth talent programme is the first part of the talent pathway and every year a new cohort of young athletes who have just entered college or 6th form are accepted onto the programme to hone their skills in practical sessions with coaches in regional centres as well as more academic or e-learning based sessions on a wide range of subjects from media training to diet and nutrition.

This year no fewer than 5 young athletes have been accepted as part of the 23-25 cohort by far a record number for the club and reflecting the clubs fantastic track record of developing young talented athletes.

Congratulations to the young athletes involved who are as follows. Will Atkins 3000m, (coach Nick Anderson), Mia Judd High Jump (coach Tony Bateman), Erin McBriar Discus, (coach Martin McBriar), Grace Weeks Sprint Hurdles (coach Gary Bettridge) & Arabella Wilson Combined Events (coach Andy Fisher).

The full list of athletes in the 23-25 cohort can be seen below.

Ytp Cohort 2023 2025

Gracie wins National Schools Combined Events title

In history making moment for the club

Following in the footsteps of giants of the sport such as Morgan Lake, Jazz Sawyers and Katherine Merry, Gracie Osman (coach Andy Fisher) won the National schools Combined Events Junior girls (U15) title in Bedford on Sunday with a huge points total of 3244 points. Whilst that may indicate the day went to plan, it actually started with disaster as Gracie hit her trail leg knee on the last hurdle in her first event and stumbled falling to the ground with her torso just over the line ensure a time was taken. Whilst it cost Gracie 50 points and a 10 minute sit down in the ambulance, it was just skin she lost rather than suffering serious injury. Gracie responded by winning the long jump, high jump (going 2nd on the clubs all time list) and running a huge pb in the 800m to take the title. Gracie's reward is an England schools vest and a place in the Schools Home International indoor Combined Events match in December and a spot on the clubs hall of fame. Whilst you may think that the 32nd best performance of all time in this age group is good enough for a club record, such is the strength of Combined eventing in the club just now it puts Gracie 2nd on the clubs all time list behind her training partner Bella Wilson. Lily Flute (coach Andy Fisher) was 34th in the event including a pb of 4.78m in the long jump.

The club was represented by 3 girls in the intermediate girls (U17) age group. Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) was the highest finisher in 14th place which included a huge pb of 12.54m in the shot putt increasing her distance as 2nd on the clubs all time age group list. Rebekah Smith (coach Dave McManus) was next in 15th place and this performance reflected a new pb in the shot putt and a huge pb in the 800m. Jess Howells (coach Andy Fisher) was 17th overall which included a win in the javelin.

Bethany leads inter-counties success for the club

Results from South of England inter-counties champs

The current strength in depth of the clubs young athletes was reflected in the number of WADAC athletes selected for the Hampshire athletics team for the age group (U15/U17) inter-counties champs that took place in Oxford on Sunday the 10th September.

For the U17 women Elsie Brindle (coach Mark Upton) smashed her pb to win the 400m in 57.60 going 3rd on the clubs all time U20 list. Rebekah Smith (coach Dave McManus) was 3rd in the sprint hurdles with Lucy Smith (coach Gary Bettridge) 7th in the long hurdles. In the field for the same age group Mia Judd (coach Tony Bateman) repeated her success in the event last year but this time jumped a championship best performance of 1.71m. Mia was also 3rd in the long jump just behind Jess Howells (coach Andy Fisher) in 2nd place who was competing for Surrey. Jess was also 2nd in the javelin. Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) was 3rd in the shot putt and 7th in the javelin and Erin McBriar (coach Martin McBriar) was 2nd in the discus.

There were no U17 male competitors but for the U15 boys Ned Scott (coach Martin McBriar) was 3rd in the discus and on the track Zac Reynolds (coach Andy Fisher) won the 300m in a time just outside his pb.

For the U15 girls, Gracie Osman (coach Andy Fisher) won the LJ in a new pb and was 5th in the sprint hurdles. Beth Mballa (coach Heather Sheffield) won the hammer and smashed her pb going over 40m for the first time and breaking the club age group (U15) record in doing so. Abi McBriar (coach Martin McBriar) was 2nd in discus and 3rd in javelin. Lily Flute (coach Andy Fisher) was 6th in the 100m and Chloe Poore (coach Andy Fisher) was 5th in the 200m to complete the large WADAC contingent at the event.

On the same day in Open meeting action in Swindon, Jasmine Gordon (coach Martin McBriar) broke her own club hammer record with a throw of 40.98m, Sam Nicholson (coach Martin McBriar) recorded a pb with the javelin going over 40m for the first time and Vicky Gill (coach David Vosser) ran a seasons best time in the 800m.

Also on the same day at the Bournemouth Open meeting, Charlie Elford-Pond (coach Eric Davison) won the hammer, Sello Mtshweni (coach Elias Mtshweni) was 3rd in the pole vault and Tom Price (coach Elias Mtshweni) equalled his pole vault pb.

Casper breaks age group club record

Results from Watford

Casper Wilson (coach Nick Anderson) broke the club's U15B 3000m record in the Watford Open on Wednesday evening. Casper has been targetting the record since his apprearance at the national age group champs and his time of 9 mins 29.30 secs takes 5 secs off the previous mark held by training partner Ruben Price. Harry Wilson (coach Nick Anderson) returned to action at the same distance after a season ruined by injury and it was fantastic to see Harry run a pb in his one and only track & field race of the year.

Last Sunday at the Portsmouth Open, a number of Winchester athletes were in action and notable performances came from training partners Felix Bowyer and Hayden Rogers (both coached by Dave Sherry) who ran pb's in the 200m despite the strong negative wind which can often be a feature at the Mountbatten track. The wind put paid to some other pb's but Phillip Krinks (coach Dave Sherry) ran well in the 100m. Owen Watts (coach David Vosser) ran a seasons best time in the 800m as well as competing in the 200m and training partner Tim Smales (coach David Vosser) also ran a nice 800m time in the same race. Ethan Skipwith (coach Niock Anderson) smashed his 1500m pb returning from injury to run 4 mins 25.75 secs.

Lily & Charlie compete for England

Results from the Welsh U20 International

Lily Neate (coach Nick Anderson) and Charlie Elford-Pond (coach Eric Davison) both made their England track & field debuts in the Welsh U20 International match in Cardiff on Saturday.

Lily competed in the England U20 team who were 2nd on the day behind their U18 counterparts. Lily was 5th in the 3000m and will go on to make another England U20 appearance this time on the road in the 5K in the Trofeo Opitergium in Italy on the 16th September.

Charlie was in the England U18 team who were 3rd behind the England & Scotland U20 teams respectively and Charlie finished 2nd on the day in the mens hammer.

Both appearances will be added to their names on the Team WADAC hall of fame in which they already appear for previous achievments.