Report by Peter Impett
Some items you may have missed:
LAUREN HILL WINS WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDAL
Long time member Lauren Hill and former Corfe Hills School student won gold in the Welsh National Championships in Cardiff . The Triple Jump specialist jumped 12m45 to win by just one centimetre. Lauren had opened well with 12m32 but was overtaken in round 4. In the true nature of late wins Lauren saved her winning jump until the very last round. Unfortunately Commonwealth Game selection seems to have been made before these Championships took place and Lauren’s name was not included. Coach and guru Lorraine Winton was absolutely delighted by Lauren’s success.
RED AND BLACK AT THE UK CHAMPIONSHIPS
It was great to see the club colours at a major championship as Grace Copeland competed in the 5000 metres at Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham, Grace met strong competition in the event and was in with a shout of a medal until she lost contact with the leading group on the final lap and had to settle for fourth place in a personal best time of 15.25.46 .
MULTIS
Some of our athletes don’t take the easy route to competition and compete in several different events on the day in multi event competitions. Four athletes from the club recently competed for Dorset in the South West Schools Championships at Yeovil.
Will Hartley is the under 16 boys Octathlon Champion with a score of 3778 points winning the 400 metres in a personal best time of 56.96. Harry Read was second with 3769 points including second place in the high jump with 1m62. Will and Harry go forward as part of a Dorset team to the national finals at the end of the season
In the under 14 girls competition Lila Richards was second overall with 2426 points winning the long jump with 4m85 and creating a personal best in the high jump of 1m47. Tilly Pretty was 5th with 2013 points including a second placed shot putt of 8m05.
Multi events coach Trudi Carter was delighted with the squad’s performances.
ENGLISH SCHOOLS
Congratulations to four of our female athletes on their selection for the Dorset County Schools squad to compete in the prestigious English Schools Athletics Championships in Birmingham on the 10th and 12th of July. Mila Desborogh, Ava Elliott-Smith and Rosie Gollings are almost old hands at this competition and this year they are joined by Lila Richards who secured her place with a 5m14 winning jump at the South Est Schools event. Good luck ladies and commiserations to a number of our athletes who got close and may have been frustrated by changes to the age groups.
LATE NEWS
Elliott Trickey has been called up to the Dorset Schools Squad. Thoroughly deserved.
