Number 1 in The World!

Shot Put Glory – On Top of the World.

Report – Paul Bearman and David Jones.

After winning multi age groups from U17, Lewis Byng won his first senior UK title in the men’s shot put at just 20 years of age and using the 7.26kg shot, when he was crowned British Champion at the English Athletics Senior Championships in Bedford last the weekend.

Lewis recently won the U23 UK title and stepping up to the senior ranks is a significant step, particularly against older and seasoned senior athletes, but taking on these challenges is something he doesn’t shy away from. 

Lining up against the pre competition favourite Youcef Zatat form Woodford Green & Essex Ladies AC was always going to be tough but the 2 of them went toe to toe throughout the 6 rounds with Lewis matching Zatat throw for throw. 

After a foul in the first round Lewis took the initiative with a 2^nd round 18.25m and improved on that in the 4^th round with a winning throw of 18.40m to win gold by just 7cm. 

Afterwards a thrilled Lewis said “it was the closest competition of my life and Youcef and I were neck and neck whole way”. He added, “I’m really happy to get my first senior title and now its rest time to recharge my batteries”.

Meanwhile at Nuneaton at the English Masters AA Inter Area match, Paula Williams smashed the current British shot put record in her V50 age category. With a previous PB of 12.04m, her 3rd throw saw her better that with a throw of 12.48m. Her 4th and final throw of 13.25m shattered not only her PB by 1m 21cms. but also the British record set by Carol Parker in March 2020, this previously stood at 12.63. Paula improving on that by 62cms.

As if that wasn’t enough, she is now the number 1 ranked shot put thrower in the world in her age group, 2cms ahead of Camille Cayet of France.

A few days prior to the competition Paula had wanted to tweak her technique and spent 30 minutes at the track with Sandy. To say it seemed to have worked is something of an understatement.

ENTRY IS NOW OPEN FOR 

THE STRATFORD UPON AVON AC 2022 TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS 

on Sunday 11th September 2022

Registration starts 9.15am : First Events at 10.00am

The Club Championships is the single most important competitive event in the Track & Field calendar for SUAAC because it is open to everyone in the whole club. 

There is a huge amount of effort that goes into organising and running the Championships by our volunteers and our hope and expectation is that all our athletes will prioritise the event over other activities and enter and support the club.

Whilst the event is competitive, in some cases this is the first opportunity for an athlete, particularly the youngsters, to enjoy the thrill of competition and to pit themselves against their peers but it is more important to compete against the clock and the tape measure and to try to either set a personal best or improve an existing one.

This year to we are reintroducing a 5000m that will be a part of the Shakespeare series of races.

The timetable, scoring charts and entry form are being sent out separately so please look out for it.

Alternatively please just copy and paste and send the entry form below via email well before the deadline i.e.

4^th September at the latest to

Carolyne Johnston at stratford-athletics@outlook.com 
no manual forms will be accepted

The Championships will be run on a Multi Event basis under the following format:-

• To be included in the full Club Championship competition, athletes need to compete in 

2 events i.e. 1 Track, 1 Field. 

• Athletes can choose to compete in a single event and just that single event points will still be included in the championship.
• Indicate with C your chosen ‘Championship Events’ on the Timetable Entry form below (yellow section). Please note Under 13s and 15s can only compete in either the 800m or the1500m not both. U11s can’t compete in either. 
• The 5000m will be included in the seniors Shakespeare Race Series.
• Points are allocated to the nominated track & field Championship events to make up an individual athletes score in their respective age/gender group. 

Separate from the main competition, all competitors are allowed to compete in the other Track or Field events in the programme to either set a Seasons/Personal Best or try for a new one. 

• Competing for PBs will be limited to 3 events. Indicate with P on the entry form the “Personal Best Event”.
• Senior Competitors i.e. Under 20 plus can compete in as many events as they wish.
• Please keep a copy of your events for your reference.

If you have any queries please contact the respective group leaders or coaches

Paul Bearman

STRATFORD UPON AVON AC 2022 TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS 

on Sunday 11th September 2022

Registration starts 9.15am : First Events at 10.00am

For the Championship and depending on the respective age group all athletes choose:

One track (i.e. 75/150/100/200/300/400/600/800/1500/sprint hurdles/5000)

• One field (LJ/TJ/HJ/SP/JT/Howler)

No other events are included.

From left to right, standing:  Nick Cooper, Dave Fathers, Karl Harris, Brian Weetman, Sarah Odell, Suzanne Ross, David Teasdale, Joe Lee. Ground Level:  Will Dych.

Left to right:  David Teasdale, Nick Cooper and Jamie Hall.

Compton Verney Sprint Triathlon

Report – Will Dyche.

In hitherto unseen numbers the tri team assembled in a hastily emptied sheep field between Combrook and Compton Verney.  The occasion was the Compton Verney Sprint Triathlon by DO3 in the picturesque Capability Brown landscape around Compton Verney. 

The course was a testing one.  A 400m open water lake swim with pond lilies and a long run uphill into transition.  This was followed by a 23.5km bike around the Kineton/Gaydon/Temple Herdwyke area with 195m of ascent.  This was capped by a testing 5 km cross country run encompassing just about every surface from woodchip to mown hay.

Karen Harris was the first to arrive at the crack of dawn to come and marshal with husband Karl, who thought he may as well come along and compete.  Some early morning rain had dampened the dust down and the competitors were keen to get going on a beautiful day for competing.  The lake was not the usual one used by DO3 for their outdoor swimming but just across the road, and if anything, even more beautiful.

The swim started in a time trial format which allowed us slower swimmers to see how the fast people did it but before you knew it the waiting was over, the nerves melted away and the race began for us all.

First home for us was David Teasdale in a sparkling 1:13:10, 7^th overall and second in category.

David was followed shortly after by Charly Marshall in 13^th with a time of 1:15:13 and second in her category as well.  

The indefatigable Emma Bexson followed in 14^th on 1:17:00 and first in class.

Jamie Hall put in a strong effort to come 24^th and record a 1:21:25 in only his second triathlon and first in open water.  Jamie posted the second fastest run of any competing athlete and suffered a slipped chain on the first hill of the bike. 

Next back were Will Dyche on 1:25:10 in 33^rd.  Nick Cooper on 1:27:58 in 54^th. Suzanne Ross in 1:32:00 in 61^st. Sarah Odell on 1:32:31 in 64^th place.  Karl Harris, back from injury finished, in 1:35:33 and 77^th.  Dave Fathers finished well in 1:39:51 in 94^th place.

Brian Weetman didn’t find the bike course as flat as when he checked it out the day before on his Harley-Davidson but still posted a solid 1:41:54 in 99^th place.  Sam Thirlaway, on debut, completed in 2:10:01 in 167^th.

Joe Lee struggles with the full sprint course distance these days.  Never a man to let this get him down he drafted in some friends to do the heavy disciplines of running and cycling, leaving Joe with the swim.  The ploy seemed a good one and they came 1^st in the relay section.

Neil Gardner played away, completing the Calfman Olympic distance in Milton Keynes.  He reportedly finished with a strong time and suffered no bio mechanical maladies.

Sarah Odell’s Race

This was a nice local event based in Combrook and it was great to see a few Stratford faces both old and new. 

The swim was in the lake designed by Capability Brown. A nice lake but I do like to find all the weeds or lily pads possible and get myself tangled up just for the fun of it!! 

Quite a long transition up to my bike, amazingly I didn’t have the usual fight with my wetsuit, onto the bike, nice local roads with a hill at start and finish just for extra fun. I had an enjoyable ride and even managed to overtake a few people.  

Then it was back into transition area, on with the run shoes, as I went the wrong way out of transition luckily Karen Harris was marshalling and she shouted at me and put me on the right track (thanks Karen).

  The run was a bit of everything. It started in the sheep field, then through some woods, a little bit of road then a little hill back into some woods and down through a corn field, which was very narrow and rutted, then over the road into Compton Verney. Unfortunately I had to stop for the traffic. It was then a loop round the grounds then back over the road through more woods into the finish.  

I have to say I did find the run course harder than expected and found the constant change in surfaces hard, as a result of which I never really found much rhythm.

It was a really enjoyable morning, nice and local and with friendly marshall’s and it was nice to have a good Stratford turnout.

I was 2nd in my age group. 

Brian Weetman and Will Dyche coming into T2

Nick Cooper’s Race

A catalogue of errors to learn from..

The swim, never got comfortable and it felt like I was going to drown at 250 meters, as I looked up and realised how far I had to go, overheating in the wetsuit, I had a fleeting thought of switching to backstroke, doggy paddle or waving for help! 

As I finally managed to get enough breath back in my lungs to trot into transition I ran past my bike!

My watch didn’t want to play triathlon mode (or maybe user error ) so I had to stop the swim and start the bike, adding I would imagine 5 minutes to my overall time! .

I finally got out of T1, and as I ran towards the bike mount area, while asking myself ‘who’s idea was this?’ I felt some sheep poo squeeze through my toes, and realised I hadn’t put my bike shoes on. After this it was pretty much plain sailing! 

The run was like cross country route but tbh by this time I was feeling quite content that the errors were behind me. I did manage to squeeze some of my energy gel into the bottom half of my tri suit, which made it look as though I enjoyed the experience perhaps a little too much.

My excuse is a weak one, it was a last minute decision enter and I was complacent as it was ‘just a practise’ for the half iron man I have later in the year.

I’ve learnt plenty from this experience! 

It was great to see so many Stratford club members there.

Well done everyone.