Martin chosen to coach England team

Head of throws Martin McBriar has been chosen to act as coach for the England discus team selected for the Pickering Memorial Throws Internatioal at Loughborough University on the 1st June.

This is a huge honour both for Martin and the club and is vindication for all Martin’s hard work in transforming the throws group at WADAC and the success it has had.

Gracie & Seni both on podium at National indoor age group CE champs

The last of the domestic indoor national champs took place this weekend at Sheffield as the age group (U15 & U17) combined events championships was held at its usual venue of the English Institute of Sport (EIS).

Quite incredible to report that two WADAC young athletes made the podium in the U17W age group on Saturday as training partners Gracie Osman & Seni Purnell (both coached by Andy Fisher) came 2nd and 3rd respectively

Both made great starts to the event with pb’s in the 60m hurdles and then maintained steady progress throughout the day finishing with a 1-2 in their 800m heat to secure their medals. They go 2nd & 3rd in the clubs all time indoor age group pentathlon lists and it made for quite a photo at the end of the day with 2 WADAC vests on a national podium. Read all about how the day unfolded in the report on the England Athletics website through the link below.

EA report on day 1 of indoor age group CE champs

Yesterday Mia Gligorowski (coach Andy Fisher) took part in the U15W age group and recorded pb’s in HJ, LJ, 800m & in her overall points score which was good enough for 17th place and Mia will be back in the same age group next year so it was a great learning experience.

Head of throws Martin McBriar wins 2 golds at British Masters Winter throws champs

The British Masters Winter throws champs took place yesterday & today in Oxford and resulted in some silverware for the club with the 3 WADAC Masters men all in action yesterday.

Martin McBriar (self coached) took gold in both the hammer & discus in the mens V45 category with throws of 26.73m & 28.69m respectively. Martin also pushed the 7.26kg shot out to 8.28m in the open shot putt event.

Mark Stone (coach Martin McBriar) came 2nd in the mens V50 age group in the javelin with a throw of 38.40m and Jeremy Clifton (self coached) was 4th in the same event with a throw of 34.04m. Jeremy was also 5th in the discus with a throw of 34.95m.

Weekend track & field preview

A very busy weekend in store for WADAC athletes as we meet the cross over of the end of the indoor season and the beginning of the outdoor one.

There are two national championships this weekend as three of the clubs young multi-eventers compete at the national age group indoor multi-events champs in Sheffield today & tomorrow. Training partners Gracie Osman & Seni Purnell (both coached by Andy Fisher) will be competing in the U17 age group today with Mia Gligorowski (coach Andy Fisher) in action in the U15 age group tomorrow.

The British Masters Winter throws champs also takes place this weekend in Oxford with Head of throws Martin McBriar (self coached), Jeremy Clifton (self coached) and Mark Stone (coach Martn McBriar) all on the start lists.

In addition Sam Clifton (coach Jeremy Clifton) is in action today at the University of Birmingahm Winter throws meeting and finally the club has 3 athletes on the start lists at the last of the BFTTA winter indoor series open meetings at Lee Valley tomorrow.

Good luck to everyone competing this weekend.

Hampshire Champs open for entries

The Hampshire Athletics track & Field Champs are one of the highlights of the year for many athletes and entries are now open.

The Hampshire Quadkids champs, multi-events, walks, the mile & 3000m races all take place on Bank Holiday Monday the 5th May in Portsmouth and can be entered via the Roster website using the link below or through the Roster App.

Hampshire Quadkids, multi-events, walks, mile & 3000m entries

The Hampshire Track & Field Champs take place on Saturday & Sunday the 10th & 11th May in Portsmouth and can once more be entered through the Roster website usinfg the link below or through the Roster App.

Hampshire Track & Field Champs entries

For the last few years we have been the club in Hampshire with the most entries and we would very much like to continue this trend with lots of opportunities to stand on the podium as a medal winner across all the various events or simply take part in the County Championships.

Oliver posts an indoor Hept PB stateside.

It was all the various conference finals in the States this weekend as the indoor collegiate season comes to an end. The standard was incredibly high far better than any of Eurpean countries National indoor champs as demonstrated at the South Eastern conference (SEC) where 3 world leading performances were set including a womens indoor 400m run in 49.79 secs.

Oliver Thatcher (coach Andy Fisher) is in North Carolina and the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) finals took place this weekend with Oliver competing in the mens indoor Heptathlon. Oliver put together 7 solid performances to set an overall indoor heptathlon pb of 4938 points improving his own 2nd place mark on the clubs all time indoor lists just behind Dean Showler-Davis.

That’s a wrap on the collegiate indoor season for Oliver now and a very fitting climax as he now embarks on his last collegiate outdoor season.

Throwers in record breaking form

The first of this years outdoor National championships saw no fewer than 3 silver medals for WADAC’s young athletes as the UKA/EA Winter throws championships took place in Loughborough this weekend.

First to throw yesterday was Charlie Elford-Pond (Coach Jake Norris) who threw the 6kg hammer 62.65m in the mens U20 competition. This won Charlie a silver medal for 2nd place and Charlie was particularly pleased with the consistentcy of his throwing over the 6 throw series.

Next up was Jess Howells (javelin coach Bronwin Carter) who threw a massive pb with the 600g spear going out to 45.11m to smash her own club record and take another silver medal for the club this time in the U20W age group. 17 year old Jess will be targetting the European U20 champs this year and the 50m qualifying standard will not be beyond her based on the way she is throwing so early in the season.

Today it was the turn of the younger athletes and Aspen Stobart (coach Martin McBriar) started the day with the discus throwing 34.97m to break the clubs age group record and this was good enough for 2nd place to win the club it’s 3rd silver medal of the championships. Aspen then broke her own club record by launching the 3kg hammer out to 48.80m a distance that breaks both the U15G & U17W club record and was good enough for 4th place on the day with the standard of the competition very high as you would expect.

Head of throws Martin McBriar really has built an exceptional throws squad at the club. The squad will be the source of many league points and championship medals this year and sets a great example for the rest of the club.

Weekend Track & Field Preview

The first outdoor championships of the year takes place this weekend as the UKA/EA Winter long throws championships is held at Loughborough University.

It being a National championship of course there are WADAC names amongst the starting lists and this holds particular significance for this event which is through invitation only.

In action today will be Charlie Elford-Pond (coach Jake Norris) who competes in the U20M hammer and Jess Howells (coach Andy Fisher) who competes in the U20W javelin. This year is an important one for the U20’s as the European U20 champs takes place later this year in Tampere, Finland and this presents a good opportunity to impress the GB selectors.

In action tomorrow will be Aspen Stobbart (coach Martin McBriar) in the U15G hammer and U15G discus and Aspen will be looking to extend her pb’s in both.

In indoor action tomorrow will be those taking part in the last of the WSEH Open Meeting series in Eton and I see Lexie Trott (coach Tom Farres) on the starting lists for Vault Cardiff

Moira breaks two British indoor records at the British Masters Champs

Moira West (Coach Dave Sherry) was in record breaking form at the British Masters indoor champs at the weekend. On Saturday, Moira ran 35.19 secs to break the British Masters V75 age group indoor record in winning the V75 200m gold. Moira returned yesterday to run 10.22 secs in the 60m again breaking the British indoor record in the V75 age group to take her second gold medal of the championships. The clubs other gold medalist was Sue Van Vuuren (coach Dave Sherry) who broker her own indoor age group club record to push the 3kg shot out to 8.57m and take V55 gold.

Tracy Bezance-Collins (coach Dave Sherry) took silver in the V60 200m final on Saturday and in doing so broke her own indoor age group club record set just 2 weeks earlier. Kathryn Miles (coach Dave Sherry) was 6th in the V50 60m final yesterday.

Tim Sorrell (coach Mark Upton) won bronze in the V65 200m in a new indoor age group club record of 30.47 secs on Saturday.

Bella breaks indoor club record again

Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) brought her indoor season to an end by breaking her own indoor club 400m record for the 3rd time this season at the UK championships in Birmingham yesterday televised live on the BBC. Bella finished 3rd in her 400m heat in a new pb time of 55.46 secs.

Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) also brought his indoor season to an end by finishing 3rd in his 400m heat in a time of 48.37 secs.

The day had not been without drama as a fire in a kitchen nearby to the Utility Arena had caused a 90 minute delay to proceedings with many nervous athletes waiting in the warm up area but everything went smoothly once the action eventually did get underway.

Weekend Track & Field preview

It’s UK indoor champs weekend and our two brilliant 18 year old’s Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) and Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) line up against the best that Britian has to offer in the heats of the 400m later today. Bella’s heats begin at 12.38pm and Alex will be in action from 1.08pm with the event televised live on BBC via I-player.

It is also the British Masters indoor champs today and tomorrow at Lee Valley with Moira West, Tracy Bezance-Collins, Amanda Smith, Kathryn Miles & Sue Van Vuuren (all coached by Dave Sherry) with their names on the start lists.

Good luck to everyone in British champs action at the weekend.

Students in action in Sheffield

The British Universities & Colleges indoor championships took place at the English Institue of Sport at the weekend with 4 of the clubs athletes in action for their university teams.

Harry Harvey (coach James Thie) was in action for Cardiff Met Uni and ran a new indoor pb of 4 mins 01.66 secs to go 2nd on the clubs all time indoor list. Harry was 4th in his heat and just missed out on the final.

Rohan Gray (coach Mark Upton) had an unfortunate start to BUCS being disqualified for a false start in his 60m heat but did gain some comfort from being part of the Exeter Uni 4 x 200m team that won their heat and qualified for the final where they finished 5th.

Calum Upton (Coach David Vosser) was appearing in a remarkable 8th BUCS indoor championships and it was one of his best as he recorded his best 800m time for 4 years and his best indoor 800m time for 7 years in recording a time of 2 mins 03.29 secs in running for Aston University. Such was the standard of the competition that Calum was 7th in his heat and didn’r progress to the semi finals.

Gus Bowden (coach Andy Fisher) had a good champs by firstly recording a new 60MH pb of 9.16 secs to come 7th in his heat. The next day Gus returned to HJ 1.83m in his qualifying pool and just miss out on the HJ final.

Masters athletes in record breaking form

I have been patiently waiting for the results from the Veterans Athletics Club indoor championships held at Lee Valley on the 9th February. These have appeared on pof10 today and reveal some record breaking performances from our star Masters athletes.

Tracy Bezance-Collins (coach Dave Sherry) has recently joined the club and Dave Sherry’s vibrant Sprint training group and began her season in sparkling style by breaking 2 indoor age group club records. I thought Moira’s age group records might stand forever but what do I know as Tracy first took Moira’s V60 60m record with a time of 9.34 secs and then followed that by taking Moira’s indoor V60 200m record with a time of 31.17 secs. Tracy will be a hugely valuable member of our Masters league team this year. Sue Van Vuuren (coach Dave Sherry) was also in record breaking form pushing the 3kg shot out to 8.28m to break the clubs V55 indoor record and this followed a putt of 8.99m in South Africa on the 25th January which currently stands as the clubs overall V55 club record.

Phillip Krinks & Vets female Team Manager Amanda Smith (coach coached by Dave Sherry) were also in action recording times of 9.20 (60m) & 31.71 (200m) & 35.47 respectively.

Weekend track & field preview

A very busy weekend of indoor track & field action lies ahead. Highlight of the weekend is the British Universities & Colleges indoor champs taken place in Sheffield over the next 3 days. It isn’t always easy to spot the WADAC athletes taken part for their universities but Rohan Gray (coach Mark Upton), Calum Upton (coach David Vosser) & Gus Bowden (coach Andy Fisher) are among the names on the start lists.

Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) lines up in the National 400m at the Keely Klassic (now minus Keely) at Birmingham tomorrow and our USA based stars continue to be in action in the collegiate season with Annie Mann (coach James Mann) taking on another mile race this weekend.

The throwers will be in action tomorrow at the Basingstoke Winter throws meeting and the vets will be competing in the inter area vets Masters championships at Lee Valley on Sunday with finally Aspen Stobart (coach Martin McBriar) in action in the 60m at the Sutcliffe indoor event at Eltham on Sunday.

What a busy weekend of track & field action.

Young athletes shine in Sheffield

WADAC’s young athletes put in a series of astonishing performances to claim no less than 4 medals at the National age group (U15/U17/U20) indoor champs at Sheffield over the weekend.

WADAC performance of the meeting probably came from 14 year old Lexie Divers (coach Andy Fisher) who ran a breathtaking time of 40.31 secs to come 2nd in the U15G 300m. The time goes 6th on the UK all time indoor age group performances just ahead of a certain Amber Anning and perhaps the most surprising thing was that it wasn’t good enough to win the race with Imogen King from Preston Harriers winning the race in a time that puts her 4th on the all time UK age group indoor lists. Needless to say, Lexie’s time is a new age group club record both indoors and outdoors.

Zac Reynolds (coach Mark Upton) smashed his indoor pb running a fantastic time of 50.11 secs to take a close 2nd place in the U17M 400m. The time is a new age group indoor club record and a brilliant performance from the unfavoured lane 2. Training partner Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) secured the clubs 3rd silver medal of the championships running a new indoor pb in coming 2nd in the U20M 400m and in doing so breaking his own indoor club record to run 47.89 secs and go 27th on the UK’s all time age group indoor 400m lists just ahead of a certain Iwan Thomas.

Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) completed the WADAC medallists, finishing 3rd in the U20W 400m with a new pb time of 55.55 secs. This breaks her own WADAC indoor club record.

Aspen Stobbart (coach Martin McBriar) was 6th in her U15G 60m heat in a time of 8.20 secs. Rohan Gray (coach Mark Upton) went 2nd on the clubs all time age group list in finishing 4th in his U20M 60m heat in a time of 7.07 secs. Chloe Poore (coach Andy Fisher) was 8th overall after just missing out on a place in the U17W 300m final but had the consolation of two new indoor pb’s after running 25.87 in her 200m heat the following day. This time good enough for 3rd place on the clubs all time age group indoor lists. Training prtner Gracie Osman (coach Andy Fisher) also ran a new indoor pb in the U17W 00m running 25.47 to go 2nd on the clubs all time indoor age group listand with the 9th quickest time of the day was very unlucky not to go through to the semi-finals. Gracie leapt to a distance of 5.56m to finish 5th in the long jump final. Isobel Jordan (coach Andy Fisher) sufferred terrible luck in falling in a racing accident in the U17W 300m and unfortunately broke her collarbone on landing in a very sad end to Izzy’s indoor season.

Lexie Trott (coach Tom Farres) was 8th in the U17W pole vault with a leap of 3.10m and Poppy Crook (coach Andy Fisher) was 10th in the U17W high jump with a leap of 1.51m.

The sprint hurdle races traditionally close the championships and this year was no different with Mia Gligorowski (coach Andy Fisher) running a new pb of 9.91 secs and Harry Ryan (coach Andy Fisher) in his very first appearance for the club reached the final of the U17M race and smashed the clubs indoor age group club record with a time of 8.47 secs in doing so. Harry was 8th in the final but will be back in the same age group next year.

Weekend track & Field Preview

The National age group (U15/U17/U20) indoor champs are one of the highlights of the indoor season and take place today & tomorrow at the English Institute of Sport at Sheffield.

As is usual these days, the club has many athletes qualified for this livestreamed event with no fewer than 13 young athletes on the start lists and we wish them all well as they compete on the biggest stage.

Alex takes South of England U20 400m title

Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) broke his own club indoor record in winning the U20 mens South of England 400m title at Lee Valley yesterday Afternoon. Alex recorded a winning time of 49.16 secs after earlier running his new indoor pb of 48.72 secs in winning his heat.

It was a succesful weekend at the champs for WADAC athletes as Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) had won the U20 womens shot putt title on Saturday with a new indoor pb of 11.03m which goes 2nd on the clubs all time indoor list. Bella had earlier taking 60m hurdle bronze with a pb of 8.94 secs also good enough for 2nd place on the all time indoor list. Carys Jeffries (coach Andy Fisher) was 9th in the long jump.

At the Welsh U20 indoor champs in Cardiff, Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) took high jump bronze with a leap of 1.57m and followed that with 4th place in the shot putt with a push of 9.62m.

Weekend Track & Field preview

The highlight of this weekend was to be Jess Howells (coach Andy Fisher) representing England U20’s in an indoor throwing event in Sweden but unfortunately Jess had to withdrawn with a hamstring injury but she will be back stronger than ever.

This leaves the Regional U20 champs as this weekends highlight with 4 WADAC athletes on the start lists at the South of England U20 indoor champs at Lee Valley including England U18 & U20 International Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) . Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) is in Cardiff for the Welsh U20 indoor champs.

Bella smashes indoor club record

Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) took an incredible 2 secs of her own indoor club record in representing England in the 400m in the Reykjavik International games in Iceland this evening.

Bella ran 55.64 secs from the unfavoured lane 1, coming 3rd in the race and improving her own indoor club record with a huge indoor pb just .02 outside of her outdoor best.

Weekend track & field preview

Another weekend of track & field action with the highlight being Arrabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) making her full England debut in the Reykjavik International games in Iceland on Monday evening. The event will be livestreamed with Bella running the 400m.

The London indoor games continues this weekend in Lee Valley this time with the younger age groups (U13-U17) and there are 9 WADAC young athletes on the start lists including sprinter Michael Chiguvare (coach Mark Upton) making his debut for the club.