A beginners guide to Racewalking and the ‘Challenge’!

Time to step up to a new challenge? 

 Considering trying something new and rising to a new challenge?  Well, look no further! The wonderful world of race walking is here for YOU! 

Give it a go and who knows, you might just discover a whole new passion!  

Here are some friendly tips to help you hit the ground walking (pun intended!): 

 Master the technique: 

Race walking is much more than just fast strolling, it’s got a style all of its own. Keep one foot on the ground at all times (sneaky jogging is seriously frowned upon) and make sure your leading leg stays straight until your body passes over it. It might feel a bit funny at first, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. 

 Start slow and build up: 

Don’t worry about speed right away. Focus on getting the form right and walk just a short distance, maybe just round the block or a lap of the track. Gradually increase your time and distance. You’re not racing (yet!), so take it easy and enjoy the process. 

 What you need: 

No expensive equipment is required. A pair of trainers that offer support and flexibility will do the trick (definitely NO spikes). 

Swing those arms: 

Your arms are your secret weapon in race walking. Bend them to about 90 degrees and swing them energetically. Think of moving your hands from your sternum to your pocket and rather than punching forward focus on pulling your elbows backwards. Keep your shoulders down and your hands relaxed, don’t clench your fists. This will boost your momentum and make you feel like a pro. 

 Practice: 

Try doing some drills. When I started, I found the YouTube videos posted by Coach Carmen to be invaluable, have a look at Coach Carmen 101. It’s very important to have the right technique from the start as you will quickly develop muscle memory and rather than perfect, practice makes permanent. 

 Join the fun: 

Come and join us at the Bar End track on a Wednesday evening, sessions start at 6:00pm. You’ll be sure to receive a warm welcome. 

 Have a blast: 

Seriously, don’t stress if you’re not perfect right away. Enjoy the rhythm of your steps and the fact that you are challenging yourself and trying something new. You’re already a champion for starting. 

Give it a go and who knows you might surprise yourself with how much you love it. Any questions as you get going? Just ask. Rest assured, we’re here to cheer you on! 

Author: Nick Fleeman 

 NOW TRY THE CHALLENGE 

 If you feel even just a little bit motivated by Nick’s write up, then how about having a go at this. 

 Using the technique explained (as best you can) try doing a self-timed lap of the track. This could as be part of your usual warm up, warm down, separate from your normal session or even as part of a group, and note the time it took you to get around. Most people should be able to manage below 3 minutes 45 seconds, but it is more about enjoyment. If your time is significantly below this or you enjoyed the experience, then we would be delighted to have you join our group. Just for reference, our two senior citizen male walkers consistently go below 3 minutes and another one of our number regularly smashes the 2 minutes 15 seconds mark for a lap. 

We would be interested in seeing your times, so please feel free to let us know how you did by sending an email to derek.smith@wadac.org.uk  

Derek Smith 

Racewalking leader 

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.

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

Senior records updated

The senior club records are the blue ribband of the club records in that they are the best performances by anyone of any age at any time across each event at the senior (olympic) specifications. To record the best performance of all time by a Winchester athlete is obviously very prestigous and to see so many top 3 all time performances this season shows what a remarkable season it has been.

Many of these performances have been mentioned in my reviews already as they have been set by young athletes in junior age groups. However such is the stength in these age groups particularly at U20 & U17 that these are worth repeating as well as acknowledging the amazing performances by our senior athletes the base of which we are growing in breadth all of the time.

Starting with the men, Harry Crosby (coach Andy Fisher) went 2nd on the all time sprint hurdles list with a time of 15.62 secs at the Junior college collegiate champs in the States in May. Harry also webnt 2nd on the clubs all time decathlon points scoring lists at the same meeting. Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) became the fastest WADAC man over 1 lap in coming 2nd at the National U20 champs in Chelmsford in June. Toby Cooke (self coached) went 2nd on the clubs 1500m all time list with a time of 3 mins 47.82 secs in Bracknell in June and also went 2nd in the clubs all time 3000m lists with his performance at the Loughborough International in May. Will Boutwood (coach Nick Anderson) went 2nd in the clubs all time mile standings at Tooting Bec in June. Oliver Thatcher (coach Andy Fisher) broke the clubs discus record with a throw of 41.25m in our own circle at the end of July and the decathlete also went 3rd on the clubs all time triple jump lists with a leap of 13.69m at the SAL match in Bournemouth in July. Remarkably all 3 all time top 3 hammer performances were recorded this year. Sam Clifton (coach Jeremy Clifton) tops the all time list with his throw of 54.06m at the SAL match in Bournemouth. Leslie Parkes (coach Eric Davison) went 2nd with his throw of 51.14m at the County Champs in May and Charlie Elford-Pond (coach Eric Davison) went 3rd with his throw of 49.70m at the SAL match in Eton in May although Charlie is still largely throwing with the lighter U20 age group weight.

For the women no fewer than 24 all time top 3 performances were recorded, an astonishing number this season for a club with a long history. Grace Colmer (coach Andy Fisher) became the fastest sprint hurdler in the clubs history in winning the county champs in May. Elsie Brindle (coach Mark Upton) went equal 2nd on the clubs all time 100m lists and 3rd on the clubs all time 200m lists with her performances in the home Wessex league match and an open meeting in Aldershot respectively. Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) went 2nd on the 200m lists with her performance at the Surrey County champs in May and also went 2nd on the clubs all time 4kg shot putt lists with her putt at the SAL match in Bournemouth in July. Laura Clarke (coach Mark Upton) went 3rd on the clubs all time 1 lap lists with her time of 56.62secs recorded at the Natioal Denior champs in Chelmsford in July.

Annie Mann (coach James Mann) broke the clubs 1500m & mile records and went 2nd on the clubs all time 800m lists and 3rd on the clubs all time 3000m lists for good measure. Helen Hall (coach Nick Anderson) broke the clubs 3000m & 5000m records during a rich vein of form in mid-summer and also went 2nd on the clubs all time 1500m lists. The clubs 4 x 100m record was smashed at the SAL match in Bournemouth with the quartet of Tabitha Williamson, Charlotte Longden (both coached by Andy Fisher), Arabella Wilson & Elsie Brindle recording a very speedy 49.10 secs. Amy Wall (coach Andy Fisher) went 3rd on the clubs all time long jump lists with her jump at the SAL match in Bournemouth in July and Mia Judd (coach Tony Bateman) smashed the clubs high jump record at the Biggish event in Woodford at the end of May. Sophie Lang (coach Elias Mtshweni) went 3rd on the clubs all time pole vault lists at the clubs July open meeting and Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) went 3rd on the clubs all time shot putt lists with her putt at the SAL match in Eton in May.

Finally Jasmine Gordon (coach Martin McBriar) broke the clubs hammer record with her throw in Swindon in September with training partner Evie Scott (coach Martin McBriar) going 2nd on the all time list with her throw with the 4kg hammer at the SAL match in Eton in May. Erin McBriar (coach Martin McBriar) went 3rd on the clubs all time discus lists with a 40m throw at the home SAL match in August.

A quite breathtaking senior season and no wonder we won our division of the SAL with so many of these performances coming in SAL league matches.

All records have now been updated on the website.

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 Season review - Masters

Masters athletes

I begin my review of the track & field season with a look at the Masters age groups.

It has been an incredible season for the oldest of the clubs age groups with no fewer than 4 British age group records set by the amazing WADAC women. The ageless Moira West (coach Elias Mtshweni) leads the way setting new British V70 age group records in the 100m & 200m. Moira set the 100m record in winning the British Masters champs in Derby in September and the 200m record at our first Open Meeting back in April and this became the first (but not last) British record set at our home track with a certificate in the clubhouse to prove it. Lucy Elliott (coach David Vosser) added the British V55 3000m record in Aldershot in August to her astonishing list of achievments and Shelley Parr (coach Martin McBriar) threw a new British V50 discus record mark at our home SAL match in August making it the 2nd British record set at our home track but this is still subject to ratfication. These are all obviously new club records.

Further female Masters club records were set this year by Sian Lewis (coach David Vosser) who broke the V35 800m record at the Hampshire Champs in May. Joy Radford (coach Nick Anderson) who broke the V70 record at the same distance at the vets match in Southampton in May. Helen Hall (coach Nick Anderson) join the ranks of masters athletes and in doing so smashed the clubs V35 records at both 1500m & 3000m. Vicky Gill (coach David Vosser) broke the V40 mile record at the May Day mile event in Portsmouth and Janet Littlewood (coach Elias Mtshweni) was rewarded for gaining points for the team at the SAL match in August with a new V45 3000m steeplechase club record.

The vets relay records are really hard to work out as I can't be sure who ran in each relay race and therefore which age groups they are in but I think new V55 & V50 records were set in the 4 x 100m & 4 x 400m relays respectively in vets league matches this season. Moira added the club V70 long jump record to her sprint records at the British Masters champs and Alison Fenwick (coach David Vosser) set a new V60 triple jump record at the home vets league match in June. Janet added a further record in the V45 pole vault and Sue Hume (self coached) added a V65 discus record to her impressive list of age group throws records as did Joy Radford in the V70 javelin. I make that 17 new Masters age group records for the ladies, Wow.

The men were not too far behind setting 10 new Masters club age group records of their own and although there are no British Records Jeremy Clifton (self-coached) did set new World transplant age group records in high jump & discus. Owen Watts (coach David Vosser) had a couple of days top remember in August first setting a new V35 club record in the 200m in Aldershot on the 17th August and then just 2 days later broke the clubs 400m record in the same age group at the SAL match at home on the 19th August. Keith Stone (coach Nick Anderson) set a new V75 200m record at the vets league match in Southampton in May. Andy Gannaway broke the clubs V60 800m record although this was during the indoor season in Sheffield in February. Derek Smith (coach Nick Anderson) set a new 3000m club record in the 300m record and his walking group training partner Nick Fleeman (Coach Derek Smith) set a new V65 walk record at the 3000m distance. Tim Smales (Coach David Vosser) was part of a quartet involved in a new Masters age group 4 x 200m relay record and also added a new age group record in the V45 2000m steeplechase.

Jeremy's world transplant age group record was also a new V50 high jump record and Jeremy also broke the clubs V50 shot putt record. Pete Sansome (coach Nick Anderson) broke the V45 triple jump record at the vets league match in Southampton. Gareth Lewis (self coached) has literally just moved into the Masters age groups and his versatility is going to do some records damage as he has already added V35 age group records in pole vault, discus and decathlon. Mike Marchant (self coached) joined the V60 age group this year and celebrated in style by adding club records in shot putt, discus & hammer.

All Masters age group track & field records have now been updated on the clubs website and will also shortly appear in the clubhouse and my next review of the season will go from the oldest to the youngest age groups and the U11 track & field records.

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.

Moira Breaks British record

Results from British Masters champs in Derby

Moira West (coach Elias Mtshweni) added the British W70 100m record to the 200m record she set earlier in the year in winning the British Masters title in Derby on Saturday. Moira set a wind legal time of 15.51 secs smashing the previous record of 15.67 secs. This is the 4th British Masters record (surely that in itself is a record!) set by the clubs athletes this season following previous performances by Moira herself in the 200m, Lucy Elliott in the 3000m and Shelley Parr (yet to be ratified) in the discus.

5 other WADAC athletes took part in the champs and Head of Walks Derek Smith already reported on Nick Fleeman's (coach Derek Smith) brilliant bronze yesterday. Amanda Smith (coach Elias Mtshweni) was 7th in the W55 200m yesterday. Vicky Gill (coach David Vosser) was 4th in the W35-W40 800m yesterday although Vicky was the first W40 finisher in a seasons best time of 2 mins 24.58 ses. Pete Sansome (coach Nick Anderson) was 9th in the M35-M55 3000m steeplechase yesterday although Pete was 3rd in the M45 age group. Andy Gannaway (coach David Vosser) was 7th in his race & 8th overall in the M60 800m yesterday. Andy ran his 2nd quickest time as a M60 only going quicker in this age group when running in the indoor British Masters champs in February.

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.

Lucy breaks British record

Results from Aldershot last Thursday

Lucy Elliott (coach David Vosser) broke the V55 British Masters 3000m record on Thursday at the AFD Open Meeting at the military stadium in Aldershot.

Lucy clearly has a love of the track at Aldershot as she ran a time of 10 mins 08.58 secs which beats the time she set at the same meeting last year which was outside the british record. The British Masters Athletics federation website has already been updated with Lucy's new record which sits proudly alongside the 5000m record she set at Tooting Bec last year and the V70 200m record that Moira West set earlier in the season at our home track in Winchester. Both records can be seen through the link below.

https://bmaf.org.uk/outdoor-track-records/

This wasn't the only WADAC performance that night. Derek has already reported on the walkers but Philip Krinks (coach Dave Sherry) ran a huge new pb in the 200m as did Elsie Brindle (coach Mark Upton) going 3rd on the clubs all time U17W age group list with a time of 24.84 secs. Training partner Laura Clark (coach Mark Upton) ran just outside her pb and Owen Watts (coach David Vosser) also ran a 200m pb of 25.18 secs breaking the clubs masters V35 record in the process. Vicky Gill (coach David Vosser) ran just outside her seasons best time in the 1500m.

Jasmine becomes first WADAC lady over 40m (hammer)

Weekend round-up

Jasmine Gordon (coach Martin McBriar) broke her own club record and in doing so became the first WADAC female to throw the 4kg hammer over 40m in competing as a higher claim athlete for City of Portsmouth AC in an NAL championship match on Saturday. Jasmine has been steadily improving throughout the season and extended her pb to 40.93m at Kings Park in Bournemouth. Jasmine also added points in shot putt and javelin.

Sam Clifton (coach Jeremy Clifton) was competing higher claim for Sale Harriers in the premiership of the NAL and threw the hammer over 50m to take 6th place in the Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham.

Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) finished in 12th place in the National U17 Combined Events champs in Manchester at the weekend including a pb in the sprint hurdles.

Annie & Alex safely through to today's finals

Results from Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad

Day 1 of the track & field at the Commonwealth Youth Games took place yesterday in Trinidad and Alex Beck & Annie Mann were in good form to qualify for today's finals of their respective events.

First up was Annie (caoch James Mann) who ran in the first semi-final of the womens 1500m. Rather than follow the pace of U18 world number 9 Joyline Chepkemoi of Kenya, Annie ran a sensible race in the Carribean heat to conserve her energy and finished 4th to comfortably qualify for today's final.

Alex (coach Mark Upton) faced a considerable and unexplained delay to the start of the 400m heats but when eventually they got underway, Alex ran his usual smooth race to win his heat 4 and qualify for today's final.

You can follow the action through the youtube link below. Annie's race is scheduled for 9.50pm and Alex's for Midnight although judging by last night, these times are subject to change.
https://www.youtube.com/@CommonwealthGames
All the results are available through the link below.

https://results.trinbago2023.org/#/discipline/ATH/schedule/daily