And so it begins.

Outdoor Track and Field Season Opener.

The Pingles Stadium – Nuneaton

Sunday 29th March.

Report – David Jones

And so it begins. After a seemingly never ending cross country season and some pretty atrocious outdoor winter training conditions, 28 of our members were among the 370 athletes who competed at what has become the traditional outdoor season Track and Field opener.

Talking of atrocious weather conditions, those were exactly what competitors faced at this meeting. It was cold and windy throughout with heavy rain during the second part of the day.

Despite these conditions the Stratford athletes managed some 20 pbs between them. To achieve a personal best in these conditions was really special. Added to which there were several youngsters making their T&F debut.

The Ryan-Gill sisters had both a busy and successful day with 7 events between them. Lara ran a pb of 14.92 in 100m, also achieving a pb in the long jump of 3.44m and clearing 1.15 in the high jump. Sister Annabel also ran a 100m pb in 15.0 and recorded a time of 2:57.84 in the 800m. She also had a long jump of 3.90m and threw 8.01 in the discus.

Other siblings who enjoyed a successful day were the Cassell brothers. Jamie was making his T&F debut, which he enjoyed despite the weather, particularly enjoying the hot chocolate and cheeseburger in the coffee shop. On the track he made an impressive start to his T&F career, recording times of 12.52 in the 75m and 2:13.2 in the 600. Older brother Jamie narrowly missed out on a pb in the 800m. His time of 2:30.69 being just 0.19 of a second off his pb, this despite having completed a challenging 5k just 24 hours earlier. He also had a long jump of 3.71m.

It was a particularly successful day for Carter McKenzie who knocked over 4 seconds off his best time in the 200m, by running 26.86. He also recorded a pb in his 800m, recording a time of 2:24.7 in what was a maturely run race by him.

Yet another athlete who enjoyed a successful day was Elsie Pipitone who competed in 3 events and recorded 3 pbs. In the 800m she achieved her goal of running sub 2:40 with a time of 2:39.02, she knocked a couple of seconds off her 200m with a run of 29.66 and jumped 3.52m in the long jump.

There were 11 Stratford members who competed in the 100m and as well as those previously mentioned, Sam McKenzie ran a time of 12.02, he also ran 24.50 in his 200m. Rachel Blackwood ran pbs in both 100m (12.98) and 200m (26.86) as did Lottie Willis (13.58 and 28.41 respectively). Lottie also managed a long jump pb of 4.33m).

Lolita Newby Vincent ran times of 13.85 and 43.66 in her 100 and 300m races and had a long jump of 4.42. Andy List ran 13.91 in his 100m and Arthur Mansbridge should be delighted with his 100m pb time of 11.65. Kathryn Woodcock ran a 100m pb of 18.52 as well as throwing the hammer 18.22.

Mult-eventer Lila Gallinagh achieved pbs in both her 100m (14.17) and triple jump (9.97m). She also managed a long jump of 4.08m.

Will Hovell, another of our talented multi-eventers, threw the discus 15.97m, and had a long jump of 5.17. I’m pretty sure he might have run an 800m as well but I can’t find the result

Debutants to the world of Track and Field included Simon Zawada who enjoyed a hugely successful day, finishing 1st in both his 75 and 600m races with times of 11.10 and 1:57.50. A just reward for the hard work he puts in at training sessions. Other debutants were Noah Smith (11.94 – 75m) and Florence Castle who ran 12.39 in 75m and won her 600m by some 8 seconds in a time of 2:11.99.

One of the unluckiest athletes of the day was Martha Edwards who entered the high jump with  pb of 1.37m. She comfortably cleared 1.35. She then cleared 1.40m on 3 occasions but with the wind blowing the bar off each time, so her jumps’ were classed as fails. With the bar coming off between jumps due to the heavy wind it did seem a bit harsh on Martha.

Another unfortunate competitor was Joel Ledgard, who destroyed the field in his 800m in an attempt to improve on his 2:07 pb, apparently going through 400m in 61 seconds, only for all of the times in his heat not to have been recorded. Casper Willis also ran the 800m, recording a pb time of 2:42.70.

Josh Harrison was disappointed not to achieve a pb in his 400m but with a strong wind and heavy rain he really shouldn’t be disappointed with his time of 57.94. Alex Wood ran a speedy 52.03 in his 200m

Other Stratford competitors on the day were Ella Smith (27.27 – 200m), Louie Newton (35.78m – javelin) and Alexandra Brookes ( 1:18.16 – 400m and 6:45.84 – 1500m).

Rounding off the day for Stratford was Harry Coulson who ran  a superb pb of 5:09.39 in his 1500m race. This despite him having competed in the challenging Midland 5k Challenge at Sutton Park just a day earlier.

All in all it was a highly successful for the Stratford contingent, with their winter training, in often appalling conditions, paying off.

Midland 5k Challenge. 

Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield. 

Report – Paul Hawkins.
 

The Midland Road Relays were held at Sutton Park last Saturday and as part of this event junior races over 5k were held with Stratford runners in all the races, alongside leading runners from across the Midlands.

Each age group race was for both boys and girls, with the first race being for under 13’s. Stratford’s Charlie Cassells was in the leading group for the whole race and was very pleased to finish 4th in an excellent personal best of 18:15, continuing his run of good form. In the girl’s race Poppy West ran well for 14th in 22:04.

Next were the U15 boys where Harry Coulson transitioned well from a good cross country season to come 20th in 20:43 followed in 26th by Max Rossney in 23:52. who both found it tough and very hilly. 

Finally it was the under 17 race where Josh Davies was running on his return from injury and did well to come 30th in 19:43. In the women’s race Brooke Rossney ran well despite being under the weather and was 16th in 23:28 and agreed it was a tough course. 

The Bannister Miles is an annual community running event that commemorates Sir Roger Bannister’s historic sub-four-minute mile and encourages participation. The event returns for its third year on Monday 4 May 2026 (Bank Holiday), marking the 72nd anniversary of his achievement in Oxford on 6 May 1954.

Entries to the community mile are now open, through this link. 

About the event

A unique opportunity to run a one-mile course through the heart of Oxford, on roads closed to traffic

Also, from approximately 2 p.m. on the same day, the Bannister Track Miles will take place at the Iffley Road Sports Centre, on the new blue track. These are highly competitive, seeded mile races on the track, with elite men’s and women’s events later in the afternoon. 

Last year saw multiple runners break the 4-minute barrier. Entry for spectators is free, and food and drink will be available throughout. Race entry can be done through this link.