North of England League Division One
Costello Stadium, Hull – Sunday 3rd May 2015
The opening league fixture of the 2015 track and field season was hosted at the Costello Stadium in Hull by Kingston upon Hull Athletic Club. It is a six team league the visiting clubs were Sale Harriers, Preston AC, Blackburn Harriers, Wakefield Harriers and Derby AC.
We had typical British weather with high gusting winds and torrential rain for the first two hours whereupon the sun made an appearance, the rain stopped and temperatures rose into the high teens before torrential rain returned for the end of the meeting.
Our team contained a good mix of veteran and senior athletes and we had a good turnout by members of our youth team.
It was a hard and closely fought contest and Kingston were pushed all the way by the Blackburn team but we secured a victory by a margin of two match points.
The club are now looking forward to their next match on Saturday 6th of June at Witton Park in Blackburn where they we will enter the fray as the league leaders.
Details of the performances of our athletes are as follows.
Track Events
Our representatives in the men’s 100 metres races were Luke Giblin who is the no. 1 sprinter at the club and a man who commands the utmost respect from his peers, who was in tandem with one of our fast improving youngsters, 16 years old Dominic Singh. Luke won the ‘A’ race in a time of 11.0s, 3 tenths ahead of his nearest rival. Dominic won the ‘B’ race in 11.4s the same distance ahead of his closest rival.
The men’s 200 metres found Dominic Singh running the ‘A’ race, where this time he had to settle for 3rd place with a time of 22.6s and 18 years old Joe Cooper winning the ‘B’ in 22.3s.
The women’s 100 metres saw the talented and vastly experienced Megan Hoult running the ‘A’ race and 17 years old Charlotte Paterson, England International and youth team star the ‘B’. Both girls won their races, with Megan clocking 12.5s for her victory and Charlotte ran 12.4s finishing a full second ahead of the 2nd placed finisher.
The women’s 200 metres had Charlotte Paterson running and winning the ‘A’ race in a season’s best time of 24.8s and Megan Hoult winning the ‘B’ in 26.2s which was also a season’s best time for Megan.
In the men’s 400 metres Daniel Gray returned to action. It was his first outing since suffering a cruel hamstring injury in the 400 final at the Northern indoor championships in January. He won the ‘A’ race with a season’s best time of 49.1s. Adam Preston another of the clubs outstanding 400 metres runners was a 4th place finisher in the ‘B’ race in 53.3s.
The women’s race had 16 years old Amelia Robinson and 15 years old Jessica Fields turning out for the senior team. Both girls did the club proud. Amelia took 3rd place in the ‘A’ race with a new personal best time of 60.0s and Jess also ran a new PB of 64.9s for 2nd place in the ‘B’
The men’s 800 metres had two 16 year olds running for the club. Marcel Dalee recorded a season’s best time of 2:02.1s to take 4th place in the ‘A’ race and Connor Bingham 2:02.6 for a new personal best and 4th place in the ‘B’.
In the women’s 800 metres race Jessica Cappleman was a 4th place finisher running a time of 2.33.9s.
Youth team athletes Shaun Smith and Harry Powell turned out in the 1500 metres. Shaun was a 5th place finisher in the ‘A’ race setting a new PB of 4.11.8 in the process. Harry was placed 4th in the ‘B’ race in a season’s best time of 4:22.9s.
In the women’s 1500 metres 15 years old Charlotte Dalton made her senior league debut in the ‘A’ race where she ran a time of 5:20.1s. Jessica Cappleman returned to the track to run a season’s best effort of 5:27.0s for 2nd place in the ‘B’ race.
Seasoned campaigner Gregan Clarkson was in action in the 5000 metres race which saw him take 3rd place with a season’s best time of 16:14.2s.
The women’s 100 metres hurdles brought combined-eventer Clare Blunt into the fray in the ‘A’ race and Angelakie Koutsi another first timer in the senior league contested the ‘B’ race. Clare took 3rd place with a season’s best run of 17.3s, and Angelakie a 2nd place finish with a run of 20.1s.
The men’s 110 metres hurdles were contested by Liam Holiday who finished in 5th place in a season’s best time of 21.5s.
Liam Holiday also ran in the 400 metres hurdles ‘A’ race where he took 3rd place in a time of 65.3s. The ‘B’ race was won by a fairly recent convert to the hurdles Jack Michaels who ran a season’s best time of 64.1s.
In the women’s event we were represented by Clare Blunt who put in a season’s best run of 77.0s for 6th place.
That most gruelling of events the 3000 metres steeplechase saw Gregan Clarkson running the ‘A’ race for us and Jack Michaels the ‘B’. Gregan took 2nd place with a second season’s best run of the day and a time of 10:40.1, with Jack setting a new PB of 12:08.06, also for a 2nd place finish.
Field Events
The men’s high jump had the Holiday brothers Daniel and Liam battling for family honour. In the ‘A’ event Dan Holiday was placed 5th with a season’s best clearance of 1.55m. In the ‘B’ Liam Holiday also cleared a season’s best height of 1.45m for a 4th place finish.
The women’s event saw another appearance by Clare Blunt in the ‘A’ competition and a senior league debut in the ‘B’ event for promising young 15 year old Bryony Underwood. Clare cleared a season’s best 1.50m to take 4th place and Bryony 1.40m which earned her a 3rd place finish.
In the men’s pole vault two combined-eventers from our youth team took on the challenge. 16 years old Nathan Hood equalled his PB of 3.10m to take 3rd place in the ‘A’ event and 15 year old Harry Stutely clinched 2nd place in the ‘B’ with a clearance of 3.00m.
In the women’s pole vault Clare Blunt won the ‘A’ competition with a season’s best clearance of 3.20m. Rebekah Arandle made her 2nd appearance of 2015 in the ‘B’ event. Rebekah has missed most of the last 2 years with a persistent leg injury and it is really good to see her back. She also won her event with a clearance of 2.70m.
Our contestant in the men’s long jump was James Wardle. He didn’t have the best of days but he picked up precious points for his team with a jump of 4.95m.
The women’s event had sprinter Megan Hoult in the ‘A’ competition and the UK number one ranked hammer thrower Olivia Stevenson in the ‘B’. Megan jumped a season’s best of 3.91m for 6th place and Olivia 3.30m for 5th position.
The men’s triple jump saw further action from Daniel Holiday who put in a season’s best performance of 9.83m for 5th place.
In the women’s triple jump Clare Blunt made another appearance in the ‘A’ event and she clinched a 3rd place finish with a new PB of 10.45, whilst England International sprinter Charlotte Paterson took 2nd place in the ‘B’ with 10.32m.
The men’s hammer competition brought two of our veteran athletes out into the throwing circle. John Twiddle the reigning British Masters Champion was in the ‘A’ and the Yorkshire and the Northern Champion Darren Gibson in the ‘B’. John had to settle for 2nd place with a season’s best throw of 40.48m and Darren won the ‘B’ with a season’s best effort of 35.74m.
The women’s hammer saw the triumphant return of Abbi Carter, back in competition for the first time in almost 2 years. She totally dominated the ‘A’ event which she won with ease. Her best throw on the day was also a season’s best for her of 60.25. the buzz at Costello was ‘Abbie’s back’ One of her training partners the reigning Northern under 20 Champion and current UK No.2, Maggie Okul similarly dominated the ‘B’ competition with what for her was a mediocre throw of 46.12m.
John Twiddle was back in action again as the ‘A’ thrower in the shot event with Liam Holiday contesting the ‘B’. John’s best effort measured 11.86m and he had to settle for 2nd place. Liam threw a PB of 8.92m and he also finished 2nd.
In the women’s shot competition Abbi Carter rejoined the fray and she won 3rd place in the ‘A’ with a new personal best throw of 10.93m. 15 year old Sophie O’Hara stepped up from the youth team and pulled out great PB of 9.73m to win the ‘B’ event.
John Twiddle returned for the men’s discus throw where a season’s best of 33.86m earned him another 2nd place finish. Liam Holiday was back in business again in the ‘B’ and set himself a new PB of 22.21m for 4th place.
Our competitors in the women’s discus were Olivia Stevenson and Sophie O’Hara, two 15 year old members of the youth team. Ollie took 2nd place in the ‘A’ event with a throw of 32.94m and Sophie was the winner of the ‘B’ with a throw of 29.05m.
The men’s javelin competition saw the return of the Holiday brothers. Daniel Holiday threw a season’s best of 35.83 for third place in the ‘A’ event and Liam Holiday produced a season’s best 31.74 to win the ‘B’
In the women’s javelin Maggie Okul took 5th place with a throw of 26.17m.
Relay Results
Men’s 4 x 100 metres
Our team of Luke Giblin – Dominic Singh –Joseph Cooper and Liam Holiday won the race and recorded a time of 43.7s. 2 seconds in front of the second placed team Blackburn Harriers.
Men’s 4 x 400 metres
Daniel Gray – Adam Preston – Joseph Cooper and Liam Holiday finished in 3rd place and their recorded time was 3:36.2s.
Women’s 4 x 100 metres
Clare Blunt – Charlotte Paterson – Luci Preston and Megan Hoult took 2nd place and posted a time of 50.0s.
Women’s 4 x 400 metres
Amelia Robinson – Jessica Fields – Luci Preston and Gabrielle Whittle finished in 3rd place and their time was 4:08.9s.
