Photo – Ted Higgins
Tonbridge Athletic Club had their second fixture in the Premier Division of the National Athletics League, at Woodford Green, on Saturday. The three matches in the season, feature the top eight clubs in the UK, with two teams due to be relegated. Tonbridge had placed 7th in the first match, but on this occasion put in a much stronger performance to finish 5th, ahead of Windsor, Birchfield and Swansea. With Swansea looking very likely to be one of the relegated teams, Tonbridge are now equal with the two other clubs in a battle to stay in the Premier Division.
Very hot and windy conditions made it testing in some events, but Tonbridge had a good mix of international and national class athletes, alongside others doing all they could to gain a few points for the team.
Tonbridge had four A-string victories, the first of which came early on from Ted Higgins who front ran the 800 metres in 1.48.26, to win by six seconds. It was the fastest 800 metres recorded in the league since the men and women combined in 2019. A few days before this performance Higgins finished 2nd in the mile at the Cork City Sports meeting in Ireland, where he set a Tonbridge AC record of 3.54.61.
Jordan Chambers adopted totally different tactics to win the 1500 metres in 4.02.76, waiting until 250 metres to go to launch a decisive sprint finish, to claim victory. Will Beeston secured maximum points by finishing first of the B-string athletes.
James Kingston immediately went to the front in the 3000 metres and ran away from the rest of the field to win in 8.24.08, almost sixteen seconds clear, whilst Lewis Mills similarly front ran the 2000 metres steeplechase in 5.55.15.
The 400 metres was the best event for the women, with Asha Root 2nd in the A-string in 53.55 and Camiah Bennett winning the B-string in 53.97. Good points also came from the men’s 400 metres, where Henry Marshall was 3rd in the A-string in 47.18 and Kieran Eland won the B-string in 47.63. These two combined with Bryan Smith and Dylan Purton to finish 3rd in the 4x100m relay in 41.55, which is the fastest ever time by a Tonbridge sprint relay squad. Marshall, Purton, Asha Root and Ella Thomas made up the mixed 4x400m relay team that finished 2ndand set a club record of 3.29.03.
Lucy Tallon finished 2nd and 4th in the 100 and 200 metres, both run into the wind. In the former she ran 12.01, just 0.03 seconds behind one of the UK’s top sprinters, Bianca Williams.
Lewis Church warmed up for the Commonwealth Games Decathlon, at the end of the month. by accumulating points in the Pole Vault, plus Hammer, Javelin and Discus throws. The overall Tonbridge points score was boosted by ensuring as many events as possible were competently covered, which was helped by four of the veteran’s squad in Rebecca Morton (3000m), Sally Vine (Hammer and Discus), Charlotte Nicholls (all four throws) and Tom Richards (400m hurdles). At the other end of the age groups sixteen years old Isabel Gowing finished 3rd in the B-string steeplechase.
Amongst other performances at the weekend the under 18 and 20 squad finished 4th of the six clubs in their UK Youth Development League, at Eltham, although several from the age groups competed in the National League match. Sam Newton was the only medal winner from Tonbridge AC at the English Schools Championships, where he finished 2nd in the Senior Boys 110 metres hurdles. Newton has been selected to compete for Great Britain at the World Under 20 Championships Decathlon in August.
Above – 4x100m squad of Bryn Smith, Henry Marshall, Kieran Eland and Dylan Purton
Above – 4x400m squad of Ella Thomas, Henry Marshall, Dylan Purton and Asha Root
From Steve Daly, Team Manager UKYDL u18/20
We came 4th which is pretty good given the cattle we had.
The Highlight was Toby Gwinnell massive HJ pb in his 1st event back after injury. He also pb’d his SP coming 2nd. Several other great results including Arthur Munt u18M100m/200m victories with pb and later being part of the winning u20 4x100m and second in u18 4x400m. The club’s strength in 400m was again on display with Sebby Reynolds u18m, Tom Daly u20m both winning with both also competing in u20m 200m, with Tom also setting a pb in that event. Ethan Brooks kept his excellent form in the 800m, winning the u18m. Isabel Gowing won the u18w steeplechase a day after doing the same event at the NAL.
Special mentions to Isabel Mouser, Harry Owen, Steve Galliard, Harry Wrigley and Max Osborn who all performed extremely well. Myles Treherne ran sub 12s in his 1st 100m race for 4 months.
Had we had more than 2 female athletes, I think we could have done even better. 4th with only 12 athletes is pretty special.
Cheers
Steve