Every point really does count.

Heart of England league Division One
 

Report – Paul Bearman

If there has ever been a competition where the phrase “every point counts” really does mean what it says, it was this season’s Heart of England league Division One.

The first match in early June was cancelled due to travellers invading the Solihull track car park and so it was rescheduled for early August, which was not the best time after the schools had finished but it was the only date available in a very congested competition calendar.

With the resurgent BRAT team well ahead after the first two matches it became a 3-way fight for the second and third places between Rugby & Northampton AC, Solihull & Small Heath AC and Stratford

The various teams for the June match that the Team Managers had originally put together would have arguably been our strongest with athletes coming out of late winter training, pre-season competitions and injury free but with that match thwarted, the rearranged match set for early August wasn’t ideal when the stampede for the holiday destinations didn’t include a pit stop in Solihull!

Although depleted, the Team Managers were still able to put good teams together and with literally “every point counting” it was essential to try to cover as many events in the various age groups as possible and they very nearly did, which is testament to the strength in depth and the juggling skills of the Team Managers.

The match gave the Team Managers the opportunity to draft in athletes, some for the first time and others competing in unfamiliar events to them but the outcome was that everyone made a positive contribution to the overall points tally and it meant the team moved from 3^rd in the table to second ahead of R&N and Solihull.

A total of 89 athletes competed over the season who contributed to the team’s success and on reflection, with the Heart of England first division always being a very competitive league, it seems to have become tougher every year, especially post Covid with the bigger teams vying for the top spot and so a top 3 finish for Stratford is a realistic expectation that we set ourselves and to claim the runners up spot is a terrific result in very tricky circumstances.

In addition, the Officials, without their commitment and support we simply wouldn’t be allowed to compete in the league, also made a substantial contribution the to the points tally so a huge thankyou to all of them who supported the team.

Finally, thanks to the Age Group Leaders Paivi, Cait, Michelle, Mike and Carolyne and all the coaches for their support throughout the year and for their part in what turned out to be another success for the junior Track and Field team.

The Club Championships is licensed by UKA and led by our volunteer trained officials, supported by the club coaches and parents, which means results can be submitted to the Power of10 where the results will be posted. 

Our Club Championships is for ALL club members so don’t miss out what is always a great day of competition amongst friends. 

The full details with information about the championships was sent to everyone a few weeks ago and will be sent again via Spond and email or to enter go to: 

https://www.riderhq.com/events/p/knkjxs1s/f/stratford-ac-club-track–field-championships-2024 and follow the instructions to complete the entry

Paula in Gothenburg  

Part 3!

Following on from her medal winning performances last week, performances that secured her the gold medal in the W50 shot put and a bronze in the 4 x 100m relay, Paula Williams then moved on to the 80m hurdles. A comfortable second place finish in her heat saw her qualify for the final, where in a closely fought race she secured the bronze medal.

Paula returns to Stratford with a gold and two bronze medals after a superb World Championships

Huge congratulations and well done

The British Triathlon Super Series

Report – Kate Marshall.

This is the UK’s premier league for youth through to senior athletes and its latest event was held at Eton Dorney over the August Bank Holiday.

The event tested participants’ endurance, technical skills, and psychological resilience through a series of rapid-fire mini-events meaning athletes had to balance strong performances with energy conservation to succeed, as the eliminator format reduced the number of competitors with each round.

The day began with 50 athletes competing in two heats over short sprint distances: a 350m swim, 5km bike ride, and 1.5km run. Results from these heats determined the seeding for the subsequent three rounds, with each round consisting of three races (A, B, and C). Competitors had to avoid elimination by maintaining high performance across these races, which occurred with minimal recovery time and varying race orders.

Local athlete Charly Marshall faced a tough competition, finishing 9th in her initial heat, securing her place in the “A” race. Despite not having her best swim, she made up ground with strong performances in the biking and running segments. In the first round, which featured a run-bike-swim sequence, Charly opted for a strategic approach, conserving energy as she anticipated being moved to the B race. Her tactics paid off as she finished in the second half, gaining valuable rest time before the next round.

In round two, Charly needed to finish in the top 8 of the “B” race to avoid dropping to the “C” race. The order of events was run-swim-bike, and Charly’s strategy paid off as she finished 4th, securing her place in the final “B” race. A minor setback occurred when her insole shifted during the final transition but she still managed a strong finish.

In the final round, using the standard swim-bike-run format, Charly gave it her all. She exited the swim close to the leaders, caught the pack during the bike segment, and maintained her position in the run. Charly’s efforts culminated in a 4th place finish in the Junior category, earning her valuable points towards her national ranking, now pushing her into the top 10.

At least we thought she had finished in 4th place but British Triathlon in their own unique way of applying the rules has actually given Charly 5th place overall. 

(The back story – one of the girls in the A final missed the start so didn’t actually race the final part but was still given second place. I am still trying to fathom out when the rules apply and when they don’t. But that is sport!!)

With only one race remaining in the series, the Grand Final at Mallory Park in September promises to be an exciting event. Before that, Charly will take on a new role as Team Manager for the East Midlands Triathlon team at the National School Games Finals, adding another challenge to her already impressive athletic journey.