Harriers Under 20s Clinch Third Spot in National Junior Athletic League

In a blustery wind and dodging the heavy showers, Ipswich Harriers Under 20 Men and Women successfully completed their season in the National Junior Athletic League at Cambridge on Sunday.

The host club of Team Cambridge fielding athletes from a group of four clubs in Cambridgeshire won the meeting and headed the Thames Division after the four fixtures. They go forward to contest the promotion match, hoping for a place in the Southern Premier Division. They were pushed all the way by a very strong Basildon team. Ipswich Harriers finished in third place ahead of Bedford, London Heathside, Colchester and Tendring, St. Albans and Watford.

The Ipswich men competed excellently on the day, filling all events other than the very technical High Hurdles and Pole Vault. Good points were scored by a posse of Under 17 year old men. They were headed by Joe Bloomfield who took 2^nd place in the Shot, 3^rd in the Discus and 4^th in a very strong Hammer contest. In each event, Bloomfield was throwing heavier implements than would be normal for his age group. Nathan Hanley, Long Jumped to 3^rd place was 4^th in the High Jump and 5^th in the ‘A’ string Javelin. Latif Bolukbasi took 5^th place in the ‘B’ string Javelin and was 2^nd in the ‘B’ string High Jump. On the track Daniel Traynor took 4^th place in the ‘A’ 100 metres whilst Will Goldsmith was 4^th in the ‘B’ race and 5^th in the ‘A’ 200 metres. Joining the older age group for experience saw Sam Clarke and Jarred Holmes running 100m and Long Jumping as non- scorers. Holmes completed his day by joining the older guys to make up the 4 x 400m relay. Brothers Daniel and Elliot Palmer with Andrew and Chris Rooke covered the middle distance events including 800m, 1500m, 3000m and 2000m Steeplechase. All scored well but Andrew Rooke’s 3^rd place in the ‘A’ 3000m and Chris Rooke’s 2^nd place in the ‘B’ 3000m and 3^rd in the ‘A’ 2000m steeplechase were exceptional. The success of these Under 17s gives an air of expectation of good things to come for Harriers in this League.

Under 20 men Graham and Chris Pattle, Tom Tica, Jamie Dines and Phil Brown covered several events each. Chris Pattle was placed 2^nd in the ‘A’ 400m hurdles and Phil Brown 2^nd in the ‘B’ Long Jump whilst Graham Pattle took 3^rd place in the ‘B’ 200m, Jamie Dines 3^rd in the ‘B’ 2000m Steeplechase and Tom Tica 3^rd in the ‘B’ 400m.

In the Women’s section the loss of Katie Sealy to the South of England, Combined Events Championship and others on holiday or injured, meant competition was always going to be a struggle. Nevertheless, Ipswich Harriers’ Junior Women are noted for their determination. 1^st places went to Nicole Sadler in the 100m and 200m ‘A’ races, Hayley Todd in the ‘A’ 400m hurdles and ‘B’ High Jump, Kerry Dixon in the ‘B’ 400 hurdles and Kerry Fuller in the ‘B’100m Hurdles. Todd also finished in 2^nd place in the ‘A’ 100m hurdles and ‘A’ Triple Jump and in 3^rd place in the ‘B’ Hammer. Dixon was 2^nd in the ‘B’ 200m and 3^rd in the ‘A’ High Jump and in the ‘B’ Javelin. Fuller was placed 2^nd in the ‘A’ Discus and ‘A’ Shot and 4^th in the ‘A’ Hammer. Completing the Women’s team were Under 17s, Alice Simpson who took 2^nd place in the ‘A’ 800 metres and 3^rd in the ‘B’ Triple Jump and ‘B’ Discus and Amanda Woby finishing in 2^nd place in the ‘B’ 100m, 3^rd in the ‘A’ Javelin and 4^th in the ‘B’ Shot.

The day was completed with the announcement that female Athlete of the Match was awarded to Nicole Sadler for her Grade 2 time of 25.1 seconds whilst winning the 200 metres.