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.