For the second year running the Tom Pink relays were held at the Lea Valley Athletics Centre at Picketts Lock. This is a fun event for the young athletes under 11 and under 13 years of age. It is based on sportshall events in the main, but it has been given a Scottish flavour by including events such as ‘caber tossing’, ‘highland steps’ (based on sword dancing and various other weight throwing events. Click on photo for a larger image.

Herts Phoenix under 11 girls were outstanding in the main event of ‘Keeping up with Paula’ smashing the existing record in the ‘A’ race with 2.46.5s and romping home in the ‘B’ race in 2.58.2s. The baton changing was superb throughout both races. As a result the team picked up the Paula Radcliffe trophy for the second year running.

In the girls obstacle relay the first runner was badly baulked and the team fought back to finish 3rd but the ‘B’ team did slightly better, finishing in second place. In the field events the combination of Hannah Williams and Chloe Ring took 1st and 2nd place in standing long jump as did Sally Cowler and Zoe Benton in the standing triple jump. Charlotte Butler took 1st place in the weight for distance event and did the same with the javelin. Ellie Bandy took second place in the highland steps and Laura Armorgie got bronze in the caber throw. It was a very good effort from the whole team.

The under 11 boys were disappointed as the ‘A’ team in the ‘Keeping up with Paula’ finished 3rd but were delighted with 1st place in the ‘B’ relay, again baton changing was excellent. In the obstacle relay they went one better and finished in 2nd place and the ‘B’ team went one better still and finished in 1st place. In the field events Joe Day had a win and a second place in the weight for height and standing long jump, as did Matt Hollis in the highland steps and standing triple jump plus Robert Green in the caber and highland steps. Joe McQuaid won the weight for distance and Hugo Evans came second in the javelin. Harry Bellano backed up his team mates and took bronze in the caber. A superb team event in obtaining gold, silver or bronze in every single field event.

In the under 13 category the boys team was pulled out due to injuries to 3 of the team and it was too late to find replacements.

However, the under 13 girls had a good competition coming second in both relays, bearing in mind that the relay legs in the first relay were over 300m and in the second relay over 500m, distances that they had never experienced before. In the weight for height competition Melissa Hadley broke the championship record and went on to win the shot by nearly a metre. In the highland steps both Natalie Allen and Daizy Lee finished in 1st and 2nd place. Natasha Hadley had a good competition in both standing long jump and standing triple jump taking second place in both events.

All athletes agreed that they had a superb day out filled with good competition and fun throughout the whole event. Thanks go to George Bunner, the AAA and his team of helpers, officials and recorders, who made it all possible.

Full teams were as follows:

Under 11 girls: Hannah Williams, Chloe Ring, Charlotte Butler, Laura Armorgie, Ellie Bandy, Sally Cowler, Megan Bishop, Georgia Satwick, Olivia Barfoot, Kate McQuad, Jessica McCreery, Keira Bayliss, Romilly Scutt, Madeleine Hindson,  and Zoe Benton.

Under 11 Boys: Joe Day, Hugo Evans, Robert Green, Harry Bellano, Joe McQuaid, Luke Smith, Oscar Crimes and Matt Hollis.

Under 13 Girls: Natasha and Melissa Hadley, Natalie Allen, Daizy Lee, Nina Pitrakou, Mary Gough, Leila Gillani, Phoebe Hindson, Poppy Hoad and Megan Breen

Bob Johnson, Team Manager