www.bostonbuzz.co.uk

The prime platform for Boston and District sports news

ATHLETICS

All the up-to-date news from Boston and District Athletic Club

BADAC news October 2006

Week ending Sunday October 29

A trio of teams representing Boston and District Athletic Club featured in the top three positions at the second Lincolnshire Cross-Country League match staged at Louth. The best result was in the under-17 men’s competition where James Munn left the opposition trailing by finishing the 5,298m around the testing Hubbard’s Hills course in 16 minutes 12 seconds. Second counter home for the BADAC contingent was Mark Tebbs who came eighth in a time of 18:39. Chris Cooper completed the scoring trio by finishing ninth in 18:42. Running in support were Jake Mason (13^th in a time of 26:13) and Chris Chester (14th in 26:19). Cleethorpes won the team competition with 12 points, while BADAC were second (18), ahead of Lincoln Wellington on 24.

The Gold Tops also performed creditably in the senior-junior-veteran men’s section by finishing third. Geoff Knight led them home in third position, recording 25:12 for the 8,397m course. Second team scorer Shaun North was fourth in 25:19. Completing the A team was Alan Wheeler in 18th place. Nene Valley Harriers earned top podium place with 20 points while Boston and Lincoln Wellington scored 25 points apiece but the BADAC squad missed out on runners-up spot by virtue of a lower placed-third counter.

Steve Hubbard led the way for the B team by finishing 47th, while Peter Flint (52^nd), and Tony Tomlin (54^th) completed the scorers as the Boston B trio finished in 14th team place. There was good support from Mark Bridges (65th) and Bob Ward (69th).

The under-15 girls’ team also finished in third place. Louise Rutt was 13th runner home in a time of 11 minutes 18 seconds while Melanie Bristow was 21st (13:52) with Amy Bristow (13:55) completing the A team scorers. Jade Mason (23rd) and Stephanie Hendy (24th) demonstrated their improved fitness over 2,667m of a testing and hilly course.

The under-15 boys’ A team finished fourth. First home for the Gold Tops was Jake Brittain in 10th place, recording 11:01 for the 3,359m race. Jeremy Baily was 13th in 11:25 and Aston Perrin finished 17th (12:27). A score of 40 points left BADAC adrift of Lincoln Wellington AC (14), Nene Valley (16) and Cleethorpes (17). Robin Perrin led in the B team in 21st place, with Alex Young 22nd and Josh Goodfellow 23rd.

In the under-13 boys’ event, Aidan McClure finished fifth in 9:12 at the end of the 2,669m challenge. Alice Flint also finished fifth in the under-13 girls, clocking 10:11 for the same 2,669m test. Rochelle Parkes was sixth in the under-17 women's event over 3,359m.

The next Lincs League match is at Woodhall Spa on Sunday, November 26.

Meanwhile, Boston Grammar School and Boston High School teams took part in the second of this season’s Fenland Schools Cross-Country League matches at Peterborough. Both of the Boston schools had runners finishing in the top-10 positions. And, when the updated league tables are published, they will hope to figure in top-six rankings.

In the junior girls’ race at Stanground College, Boston High School had Wednesday Pywowariw in fifth place and Alice Flint in sixth spot for an excellent start to the team contest. Third counter was Sian Worthington, in 20th place, while Kathie Dawson completed the team scorers in 62nd spot.

In the junior boys’ competition, BGS captain Aidan McClure led by example when claiming a good fourth place. Second team counter was a much-improved Ben Thomas, who impressed in 15th position seven positions ahead of Michael Craven with Sam Johnson coming 35th. Team support came in the form of Nathan McClure, (46^th) and Alix Saggs (82^nd).

The team points score was almost half the total achieved in the first match in the series and suggests an improved league position.

Like their junior counterparts, the intermediate girls representing BHS had two runners in single figures. Louise Rutt led in the squad for the second match, as she had at the opening event. She finished sixth and was well supported by Ashleigh Frankish in eighth position. Chelsea Ironmonger was third team counter in 21st place and Chloe Turner completed the scorers in 29th. There was strong support from Jasmine Orrey, 56th, and Hannah Cook, 60th.

The intermediate boys packed well together for BGS. Leading runner Jeremy Baily moved up from 13th last time to a creditable ninth on his second league outing. Craig Melvin ran a determined race to finish 14th while Michael West came 15th. Final team scorer was Aston Perrin who improved from 23rd in match one to record a fine 16th place finish this time.

Their efforts resulted in a nine-point advantage over the A team points total at the first event in the series. There was good support from Jamie Saggs (31^st), Ross Goulder (57^th) and Robin Perrin (58^th).

The next Fenland League match in the series will be in March.

Week ending Sunday October 22

A total of 16 distance runners from Boston and District Athletic Club competed in the first of this season’s North Midlands Cross Country League meets. This was held at the Shipley Park venue in Heanor. James Munn led the way for the Boston contingent by finishing second in the under-17s section on a course featuring two steep inclines and plenty of twists and turns. In the same age section, Chris Cooper secured 23^rd place.

Hannah Roy finished in midfield in the senior women’s event, finally crossing the line in 42^nd place. At under-15s level Louise Rutt was 20^th and Melanie Bristow came 34^th.

There was plenty of credit for the boys’ under-15s team who came sixth. Jeremy Baily led their counters home in 22^nd place while Jake Brittain was 26^th. Third in for the team was Craig Melvin in 32^nd place with Michael West 33^rd, Aston Perrin 39^th, Jamie Saggs 43^rd and Robin Perrin in 44^th spot.

There was also a sixth placed finish for the under-13 boys. Aidan McClure led the team home in 15^th place. Michael Craven was 29^th, Sam Johnson came 30^th and Nathan McClure was 33^rd.

This Sunday (October 29), the second fixture of the cross-country calendar will be held at the Hubbard’s Hills course near Louth. And given this week’s rainy conditions, a severe test of stamina is in prospect.

Week ending Sunday October 8

There was a good representation from Boston and District Athletic Club in the first Lincolnshire cross-country league match of the season. Weathers conditions for the meeting, held at Skegness, were ideal. A total of 29 Boston racers were involved.

In the junior/senior/veteran men’s event raced over a distance of 9,390m, Geoff Knight produced a fine display for the Gold Tops coming home third in a time of 36 minutes 14 seconds. Second man home for Boston was Stuart Gragg in 15^th position in 39:14 while debutant Alan Wheeler came 17^th in 39:46. Boston’s points total of 35 saw them finish third in the team rankings behind winners Nene Valley (16 points) and Lincoln Wellington (19).

Paul Green was the lead finisher for the B team in 22^nd spot (40:47) with Steve Hubbard 50^th (46:50) and Tony Tomlin 54^th (48:21). This trio completed the team counters for a collective score of 126 points and 13^th spot overall in the teams’ listings. Peter Flint (68^th in 51:25), Bob Shaw (72^nd in 54:55) and Mark Bridges (73^rd in 55:17) made up the other leading team lights.

Two senior ladies gave Boston presences in the 5,548m race. Debutant Debbie holmes was 11^th and Hannah Roy was 14^th.

The under-17 men also raced over 5,548m where Mark Tebbs recorded 24:49 to lead the team home in 11^th spot. Jake Mason was 16^th in 29:50 ahead of Chris Chester (17^th in 33:39). This trio’s total of 44 points was good enough for third place.

In the under-17 women’s event, Rochelle Parkes came eighth.

There were seven under-15 age range boys contesting a 4,084m event. Jake Brittain was ninth in 17:21. Jeremy Baily (12^th in 18:50). Michael Robinson’s time of 18:52 was good enough for 18^th place to help towards a team total of 34 points for second team place overall. Aston Perrin (16^th), Jamie Saggs (17^th) and Robin Perrin (19^th) made up the B team who finished fifth overall with 52 points. In addition, Alex Young (21^st) and Alex Doughty (23^rd) completed the Boston finishers.

The under-15s girls team finished fourth with 47 points. Louise Rutt led the way in sixth place with 15:45 over the 3,136m course. Melanie Bristow was second counter in 20^th spot. Stephanie Hendry (21^st) and Jade Mason (22^nd) completed the Gold Top finishers.

In the under-13s boys event over 2,299m, Aidan McClure finished fourth while Alix Saggs was 19^th.

In the under-13s girls race over the same distance Wednesday Pywowariw finished eighth for the Gold tops in 11:38. Alice Flint was close behind in 11:46 in 10^th spot.

At under-11s level Karly Wright was 15^th over the line in 7:24 for the 1,351m course.

Onto track and field matters and three youngsters from the Boston club turned in good displays at the Biggleswade open track meeting at Sandy. Jake Brittain achieved two personal bests at under-15 level — 2:24.7 in the 800m and 1.50m in the high jump. Hadan Brittain threw the hammer 19.62m for a PB and Michael Robinson completed the 80m hurdles in 13.04 seconds and cleared 1.40m in the high jump.

Week ending Sunday October 1

Representatives from Boston and District Athletic Club came back from the Eastern AA combined events championships in Peterborough with a fair degree of success. Four event titles were secured in addition to two championship best performances.

In the women’s under-17s pentathlon Emily Moss began with a time of 13.1 seconds for the 80m hurdles and followed up with a 4kg shot putt of 7.73m. She leapt 1.55m in the high jump and then achieved a distance of 4.94m in the long jump. She had a points total of 3,000 in her sights as she began the concluding 800m race. She ran a good first lap and kept up a consistent display on the second circuit to finish in a personal best time of 2 mins 26.1 secs for an overall total of 3,009 points. This also represented a championship best performance, beating by seven points the previous best. She finished 47 points ahead of runner-up Katy Sealey from Ipswich.

In the under-13s minithon (36 competitors), Ellis Whyler was a clear winner. In driving rain, she started with a shot putt of 8.96m. She followed up with a 1.33m high jump and a 14.5 secs 100m run which cemented the gold medal position.

Under-20 athlete Simon Robinson also won his pentathlon championship with plenty in hand (78 points advantage over his nearest challenger). A long jump of 5.88m was followed by a 23.73m javelin throw. In the 200m he timed in at 23.4 secs and then threw 20.71m in the discus. In the concluding 1500m, Simon set off steadily and finished strongly for a time of 5:00.60 to accumulate a total of 2,340 points for gold medal position.

In the under-17s male championship Jake Mason produced three personal best efforts. Long jump yielded a 6.24m leap (just 9cm short of his best distance). He threw 43.05m in the javelin (personal best) and added a time of 24.5 secs in the 200m (also a PB). In the discus he achieved 31.95m and then managed to dig in and tough out another PB time of 5:15.80 secs in the final event, the 1500m. His final points tally of 2,728 was 67 better than the previous championship best and gave Jake the Eastern AA title 171 points ahead of runner-up Paul Hayball of Huntingdon.

In the under-13 boys championship, Michael Robinson recorded 13.4 secs for the 100m and 8.70m in the shot. He then sprang 4.93m in the long jump and cleared 1.46m in the high jump (PB) before signing off with an 800m effort of 2:34.70 to complete an overall tally of 1,960 points for sixth spot overall.

Some distance runners from Boston and District AC began the 2006-2007 cross-country championship season in the Louth AC 20^th annual open event. The Gold Tops contingent used the occasion to test their early-season fitness levels on a stamina-sapping course.

In the senior men’s race over 9,010m, Shaun North was well positioned throughout the first half of the race and went on to claim second place. Stuart Cragg found the uphill sections a real test but still did well to come seventh. The under-15s boys squad secured second team spot just adrift of Mansfield Harriers. Michael West led the Boston runners home in eighth position. Jamie Saggs was second counter in 11^th spot with Aston Perrin immediately behind in 12^th. The back-up man was Robin Perrin who came 14^th. Three under-13 boys contested the 3,000m event. Here Aidan McClure came home first in sixth place. Bern Thomas was 21^st while Nathan McClure — in his first race at this level — came 22^nd.