Report by Peter Impett
Committed to two matches on the same day was always going to affect team strength, but both the athletes who went to Exeter for the South West League and those who joined the Team Dorset composite team in Portsmouth were anxious to show early-season form.
In Exeter, Maisie Robbins hit top form to get maximum points from her three events, winning the Under 14 high jump in a new personal best 1m43, the javelin with 27m14 and the shot with 8m32. The under-14 girls were the strongest age group in the competition, with Lila Richards winning the long jump 4m60 and the 75 m hurdles in 13.34. Lila had good support from Fiona Wesley, second with 4m36, and Eva Rourge, third in the hurdles in 13.43.
Kayla Robbins has been struggling with injury, but managed a winning 1m45 in the under-16 high jump and a better 4m76 for third in the long jump. Savannah Hastings enjoyed her first South West League appearance with a second placed 3m45 in the long jump and 2.55.45 in the 800 metres.
The under-16s were the high scorers on the male side and topped the table for the age group. Henry Read won the pole vault with 2m45 and took third in the discus 23.43. Elliott Trickey hit 5m84 to win the long jump, and Will Hartley was second in the 100m hurdles 16.02. Zac Johnson scored good points with his third-place under-14 shot put on 9m21. Dave Pearson won the seniors pole vault with a pleasing season’s opener of 3.40, and Jack Williams won the high jump with 1m90. For the under-12s, Ezra Haydon was second in the long jump with 3m60 and the 100 in 14.86.
The team finished seventh out of thirteen clubs, effectively with only half a team.
