Medals For AVEAC Duo At UK Finals

As always, the standard of performance was exceptional as you would expect in a UK National final. In total nine regions were represented, eight England regions plus county teams from Wales. 

 

Bibi Mulholland and Isla Douglas earned valuable team points in the U13 girls age group. Bibi finished in 11^th place in both her 2 lap and vertical jump, Isla similarly, 10^th place in the 4 lap and 11^th = in speed bounce. Both girls ran strong legs in their relays too helping to take the county U13 girls team to a highly respectable 4th place overall out of nine teams.

 

Also finishing in 4^th place overall the Derbyshire U15 girls team included Jasmine Shore, Madeleine Turner and Erin Beresford. Madeleine used her endurance background to full effect winning two coveted gold medals. The first came in the 4 lap. She then combined effectively with Chesterfield sprinter Antoniah Kinsiona to take a further gold in the 8 lap paarlauf, using a 2-4-2 formation. Both events were run as time trials and on both occasions the girls won their respective heats. It lead to a nervous wait for the medal ceremony to see whether they had run faster that the winners of the other heats, which they had, and with over a second to spare! 

 

Jasmine’s best event proved to be the shot where she finished in 4^th place with a best putt on her final round of 8.49m. Overall Madeleine finished in 9^th place, and Jasmine  32nd out of 56 athletes. Erin fulfilled the vital role of team reserve and ran a strong leg in the girl’s scoring 4 x 2 lap relay where the team finished in 6^th place. 

 

Riley Jones qualified for the Finals in his own right as the East Midlands U15 boys All-Rounder winner. Up against some incredibly talented athletes he finished in 6^th place overall out of 52 athletes. It was no straightforward ride though as Riley’s shot competition proved to be controversial. Taking his first round throw he launched the implement way out, where it hit the sportshall wall, some approximate 15m away! Obviously this could not be measured, nor was it fair on Riley to discount this effort. After a good deal of discussion with officials and event organisers it was agreed that the shot circle could not be moved back (as this would disrupt the sector lines) and the remaining throws of the 30+ other competitors. Riley had to wait until the end of the shot competition to then take all three attempts in the warm up hall and warm up circle (with a Riley-sized sector to the far wall!). His best attempt was measured at 13.89m, winning the competition by a huge margin, but I’m left thinking ‘what was that monster first throw?’ I was also so impressed at how Riley kept his cool and his focus as the head-scratching continued, until he was finally allowed to have his throws.

 

Finally some personal reflections. Having been involved in Sportshall for over 25 years (oh my gosh!) my views on the concept have remained solid. For the young athlete taking part, at whatever level, it gives them so much in terms of confidence, social connections,competition experience and resilience,  to name a few. At Stoke this year organisers introduced a warm up hall and athlete call-up, procedures that are mostly only found at regional and national track and field championships. Our athletes competing had to navigate the associated nerves and the formality, experience that will stand them in good stead as they climb the performance ladder in their chosen discipline. Competing at regional and national level, Sportshall athletes have to enter onto a totally different stage, and where medals won have as much value and as much talent and determination as those won on the track. At Stoke on Saturday the atmosphere was electric, the athleticism of competitors at times, astounding!  Myself and Shane as Derbyshire team managers were so proud of ALL the team. That’s it for another Sportshall year though but remember – it all starts with Mini League at Chesterfield in the winter.