TAC opened the NAL season at Basingstoke on Sunday. Due to the track only having no outside throws area it meant the long throws needed to be run one after the other. I arrived to a warm and cloudy track just before 9am. The woman’s hammer got underway at 9:35 and after watching Charlotte get a safe throw in in the first round the 2023 season was underway. Our team of excellent field officials arrived soon after. Sally, Pete, Frank and Chris alongside JT and Dawn on the track ensured we had a full complement of officials providing 45 points to the overall team score.
At about 10am the minibus arrived with the team tent and it wasn’t long before the first full field event rotation was underway. As team scores began to come in, I had a moment of panic as we were 20 points behind Kingston. Before the match I had looked at the team declarations and thought we had a good chance of challenging for the win. However, as the day wore on and the cloud was replaced by baking sun we had moved clear and were on for a win. By the end of the 4x100m relays we were 70 points clear. At which point dark clouds loomed on the horizon and lightning crackled in the distance. The referee called for team managers and declared the match would be cancelled just before the 4x400s could be run. On cue the heavens opened and the team scurried for cover under the TAC shelter. Eventually the rain began to ease and we negotiated the floodwaters to return to the minibus.
We had a few athletes making their NAL Debut for Tonbridge these were: Jess Poland, Oli Brooke, Anne-Sophie Bremans, Amelie Rabbidge, Beth Murray, Charlie Shingleton, Alex Howard, Kat Sutton, Cameron Chambers and Darian Moore.
In total we had 7 A String Wins. Darian Moore + Lucy Tallon in the 100m, Harry Kendall (200m), Kieran Eland (400m), Ben Murphy (800m), Jordan Chambers (1500m) and Lewis Church (Pole Vault). We had 12 B string wins, highlighting our strength in depth. Lewis Church (Javelin), Georgia Baker (Shot Put + High Jump), Saskia Lean (Triple Jump), Alex Hookway (Pole Vault), Michael Ellis (Steeplechase), Ben Richardson (110mH), Amelie Rabbidge (100mH), Cameron Chambers (3000m), Jess Murphy (800m), Charlie Crick (400m + 800m)
I have been collating Tonbridge NAL records, these are the best performance marks by a Tonbridge athlete in an NAL match. We had 9 new records. Darian Moore (100m + 200m), Kieran Eland (400m), Lewis Church (110mH + Pole Vault), Calum Laing (2000mSC), Charlie Shingleton (Triple Jump) and Lucy Tallon (100m). Darian combined with Oli Brooke, Ben Richardson, and George Blake to improve the 4x100m record.
Final Scores
Tonbridge 603.40
Basingstoke + Mid Hants 515.90
Kingston + Poly 501.90
Havering 452.40
Southampton 399.40
Yeovil 369.40
Bournemouth 368.40
Peterborough + Nene Valley 174
Our next match is in Chelmsford on 15th July. We will be taking on Cardiff, who won the other match. A win there would all but guarantee promotion and would set us up well for the overall league title.