Popular javelin coach Scott Knighton received the welcome news last week that he will accompany a group of fifteen talented under 18 and 20 throwers who will represent England at the Vaxjo International in Sweden next month. Scott will oversee and coach five of the country’s leading young javelin throwers selected for the prestigious competition.
Speaking on the opportunity, England Athletics Event Group Lead for throws, Nick Ridgeon said:
“This competition provides a fantastic opportunity to develop coaches working with athletes on the Talent Pathway by giving them first hand experience of selection mettings and working as a team coach roles, rather than personal coaches. I’d like to thank coaches and selection panel members Katryn Woodcock (discus), Greg Beard (shot) and Scott Knighton (javelin) for their hard work and preparation for the selection meeting and wish them the very best for supporting the team out in Sweden”
This is a great honour for Scott who over the past few years has begun to be recognised as one of the leading javelin coaches in England. He thoroughly deserves the acolade and no doubt will support the five young throwers to the best of his ability. We wish Scott and the athletes well!
Northern Senior/U20 & U17 Championships, Sheffield, 13-14 January
A small group of five AVEAC athletes contested this year’s Northern Indoor Championships at the EIS Arena last weekend and for the first time in many years there were no AVEAC medals this time round.
George Reynolds was the best of the bunch placing fourth in the under 20 long jump. He got out to a respectable 6.45m; his furthest ever indoor mark! Ryan Rawlinson, who over the recent months has been training near his sixth form college in Stockport finished ninth on 5.79m just narrowly missing the cut for a final three jumps. In the under 20 women’s long jump, Nicole Bonser finished twelfth with a distance of 4.53m.
On the track, Ben Pitts reached the final of the senior men’s 60m hurdles where he finished seventh in a time of 9.17 seconds. In qualifying for the final he posted a new personal best clocking 9.00 seconds dead. Corey Tatum contested the under 20 400m finishing fourth in his heat in 55.41 seconds with only the first two only progressing to the semi-final.
Loughborough University Open, Seb Coe Hi-Pac – 13 January
For the fourth time this indoor season, first year under 17 sprinter Isla Hiscocks, set another 60m personal best last Saturday. In a mixed age, graded race, she finished 4th. Her time of 8.12 seconds knocked another hundreth of her previous best set in December at Sheffield. Isla has trained diligently this winter and her recent results are well deserved.
Loughborough University Open, Seb Coe Hi-Pac – 13 January
For the fourth time this indoor season, first year under 17 sprinter Isla Hiscocks, set another 60m personal best last Saturday. In a mixed age, graded race, she finished 4th. Her time of 8.12 seconds knocked another hundreth of her previous best set in December at Sheffield. Isla has trained diligently this winter and her recent results are well deserved.
North Midlands Cross Country League, Bulwell Hall Park – 13 January
Five AVEAC athletes took part in the final North Midlands league fixture on Saturday.
Claudia Sangster gave of her best in the under 11 1km race to come home in 15th place in a time of 8:24 while brother Jasper finished 19th in the under 11 boy’s race recording a time of 7:38.
Harvey Glover had a fantastic run in the under 13 boy’s race over 4km to finish 14th. He looked good throughout the race and was rewarded with a time of 12:23. Eight places behind Harvey, Lucas Sangster recorded 13:57 in 22nd place.
In the senior men’s 10km Coach Geoff Lowry finished 113th overall but had the satisfaction of being the fastest M60 runner in the field. Well done Geoff and the four young athletes!
Report – Joe McColgan
Scott Knighton photo – Chris Kirby
North Midlands League photos – Chris Aikman