On Sunday 21st July, our athletes met in the Rutland Sports Park car park to start the journey to our final Heart of England fixture at Corby. Filled with excitement, our athletes waited to board the coach to Northamptonshire. Unfortunately, due to illness, the coach driver did not share the same excitement and was unable to transport the club to the match. Happily, the parents of our athletes stepped in, and a convoy was arranged to make the hour and a half journey to the Rockingham Triangle Athletics Stadium so we could fulfil our fixture. Brilliant effort by all!!
We again brought a good number of athletes, but illness, injury and holidays did mean we couldn’t get a full house and the under 13 boys and under 17s were sparse in numbers. I am sure, with numbers in the Rec Group growing, and our membership increasing, that we can increase next year but kudos to those that competed in any event.
Under 11s
Both teams were missing athletes, but our pool talent depth meant that we could still bring out full string boys’ and girls’ team with 8 competing. This fixture we welcomed debutants Esme Wainwright and Dylan Knowles.
In the boys’ team, Daniel Straker threw over 25 metres to win the howler whilst he also competed in the 75 (13.3) and the 600 (2:30.4). Newcomer Dylan ran a strong 12.0 in the 75 and got a third place in the 600 with a PB of 1:57.7. Meanwhile, Caleb Cheetham jumped 2.80m in the long jump and threw his howler 18.97m. Finally, Joseph Brackenbury (a HoE ever-present this season) ran a 12 flat in the sprint and jumped 3.13m in the jump.
Turning to the girls, as well as Esme, the team welcomed back the two Flos (Protheroe and Sibley) and the ever-present Katherine Turner. In the 600m, Katherine came 3rd with a 2.14.2 whilst Sibles smashed her PB to run 6 seconds faster as she won the B string with a 2.15.7. Sibles also threw a big 15.46 in the howler whilst Katherine sprinted a 12.7 in the 75. FloPro came 4th with a throw of 11.30 in her event and ran a 13.8 in the sprint. Meanwhile, Esme got a PB in the quick run (14.3) and obliterated her previous best by half a metre in the long jump (2.38), also running a 2.40.2 in the 600m.
The mixed relay team of Katherine, FloPro, Dylan and Joseph came 3rd in their race, in their first coming together as a team.
Under 13s
Sadly, the under 13 boys really struggled with numbers due to unavailability and illness, meaning they only had a team of Charlie Davies and Teddy Wilton. I think next year, when the new year 6s join that team, numbers should improve but it’s been a shame, in 20204, because we have some real talent in that age group. Lack of numbers though, didn’t harm our two boys’ efforts. Charlie Davies ran a 2.23.6 in his 800m to take a 2nd place and set a PB of 28.3 in the 200m, just behind the victor. Charlie also claimed a second in the long jump with a 4.24 leap. Our other athlete, Teddy, won the javelin with a throw of 19.61m and was just outside his best with a 31.5 in the longer sprint. His final event saw him run a 15.4 in the 100m. A great effort by both lads.
The boys may have struggled for numbers, but the girls had a healthy roster – Summer Biggs, Isla Douglas, Bibi Mulholland, Maggie Flinders, Aimee Brackenbury, Ruby Hill and Ruby Shore all donning the yellow. As with Tamworth, the hurdles race was a competition between members of our club. Isla won her race in a 12.6; Springy won hers in 12.7. A brilliant performance by both, separated by a flash of light. In their other events, Isla ran a 2.41.7 in the 600m to come third whilst Summer jumped 4.13 to win the long jump and threw 26.80 (a PB) to win the javelin. Bibi returned to the HoE team with a PB in the 800m (2.57.4) and came third with a 5.66 (with a 3kg shot) in the throws. Her other event was another AVEAC success as Bibi battled out with Maggie in the high jump. In a wonderful spectacle, Bibi took first place with a jump of 1.39m but Maggie set a PB with 1.33m to come second. Maggie also ran a PB of 30.4 in the 200m on the day, ably assisted by Ruby Hill, who sprinted a 35.6. Ruby herself ran a 16.0 in the 100m, with teammate Aimee slightly quicker in her race with a 15.8. Moving on to the field, Ruby Hill jumped 2.88m in her long jump and Ruby Shore ‘putted’ a best of 4.75m in the shot. To finish, Aimee picked up her first score with the spear – a 9.31m.
In the relay, Maggie, Isla, Aimee and Springy ran a good race to come 2nd to Tamworth with a time of 58.9.
Under 15s
Again, we had a few key missing personnel in our under 15s, due to injury and unavailability but we still managed to put out a large and competitive team in both boys and girls.
For the boys, our team featured Corey Fisher, Ashton Hayes, Seb McAughtrie, Joe Stimson and Riley Jones. On the track, Seb triumphed in the hurdles again (14.1) and ran a 30 flat in his 200m. Joe set a PB for his hurdles as he went down to 18.7 and he also ran a good 1,500m (5.28.6) to pick up valuable club points. In the short sprints, Corey came 2nd in the 100m with a 12.4 and then demolished the opposition by nearly a second to win the longer sprint race. In the 300m, Ashton set a PB of 43.7 to come 2nd whilst he also ran a 2.39.2 (a big lifetime best) in the 800m. Away from the track, Corey won the long jump with a leap of 4.76m whilst Riley beat all opposition in the shot (PB of 12.45) and smashed another lifetime to come 2nd in the javelin (33.24m). The air must have been good, as Seb also PBed with 29.58m in the spear, coming second in the B string. Speaking of PBs, Ashton also putted 6.33m. Finally, the high jump saw Riley leap 1.40 with teammate Joe going up to 1.20m.
Unfortunately, the relay went awry, and the team of Corey, Seb, Riley and Ashton were disqualified after a hand over did not go according to plan.
The girls’ team was out in strength. Madeleine Turner joined Lucy Norman, Erin Beresford, Betsy Wilton, Ailsa McMillan and Olivia Irvine to form a 6-strong team, which sadly was missing Jasmine Shore, who fell ill. In the hurdles, Erin ran a 13.9 to come third, with Betsy winning the B string with a 14.6 (another hurdles PB for Miss Wilton). In the 100m, Erin again came third, with a 13.8 with Betsy 13.9 in her race. The longer sprint, the 300m, was won by Elmo in 44.9, whilst the run in between (the 200m) saw Biscuits run under 30 seconds for the first time (29.4) and Ailsa score a 31.0. Moving up the metreage, Madeleine also cruised home to first in her 1,500m (4.53.2 – a big PB), with Lucy securing an AVEAC 1-2 with a time of 5.50.9, a lifetime best – 15 seconds better than she ran at Mini League in April. In the field, Madeleine jumped a good 1.35 to come third in the high jump, Lucy adding a 1.15m. Ailsa jumped a 3.82m in the long jump. In the throws, Betsy chucked 16.43 in the jav, and Olivia and Lucy (with 6.45m and 4.62m respectively) competed in the shot.
We put out a good team for the relays – Madeleine, Olivia, Ailsa and Erin – but despite a team of calibre, they met a very competitive field and came in 5th place, running a quick 56.4. Nothing to be ashamed of.
Under 17s
Again, we only had three athletes for the under 17s, but we saw a debutant and some good performances from all.
On the boys’ side, Jacob Hill scored 2 personal bests – 13.5 in the 100m and a 4.16m in the long jump. His 200m time wasn’t far off his best either as he came in with 28.9. Namesake Adam Hill made his first appearance in yellow and blue and did very well. His 400m time of 67.6 resulted in a 2nd place and his 29.2 in the 200m was a good start. Adam also clocked a time of 13.9 in his 100m.
Having her choice of the events on offer as the only under 17 in attendance, Eleanor Rigby chose to run two laps, throw herself into sand and chuck a cannonball. In her 800m, she came 4th with a 2.42.5, whilst she jumped 3.38m in the long jump and threw the shot put 6.33m.
The end of the 2024 HoE season
And so, the end of another Heart of England season. Last year, we celebrated a victory in Division Three which saw a promotion. This season we finished 4th out of 8 in Division Two. Personally, I think this was a better year; the competition was harder, and the performances improved because of that. Further, we are beginning to look like the AVEAC of old and, if we continue with our growth, I see a challenge on the top 2 in 2025.
To confirm, the final overall standings were as follows:
- Royal Sutton – 2,039.5 points
- Tamworth –1,658 points
- Corby – 1,285.5 points
- AVEAC – 1,254 points
- Witney AC – 1,082.5 points
- Coventry Godiva – 1,075.5 points
- Bromwich & Redditch – 1,052 points
- Nuneaton – 705 points
Thank you to those officials that volunteered today and got the team some valuable points: Simon, Rose, Robert, Heather, Lindsey & Becky as well as our team managers – Sarah, Gary and Sharon.
And finally, a big thank you to all the athletes that competed at Heart of England this season. Everyone who turned up and wore the yellow and blue gave us valuable points that saw a more than respectable performance.
Bring on 2025!
Report – Rich Woodward