National Junior Athletics League, Match 3 Bournemouth June 14th

Basingstoke and Andover team was the strongest yet at this league meeting, the third in a series of four which was surprising as many athletes produced excellent performances at the County schools championships the previous day.

In the opening event Joe Flitcroft added 3 meters to his previous best ever throw in the Hammer to take a win in the event with a throw of 34.04.Other pbs were set by Jon Wallace in the 100m  with a third place in 11.3 and then he equalled his lifetime best in the 200m 23.3.

Tom Watson put in a gutsy performance to take hold in the 3000m and lead the field home with a fine win in the hot conditions in 10.20.9. Dan Short ably supported him to take a win in the B string with 10.29.5. other distance athletes ran well were Tom Sycklemoore in the 800m 2.01.3, Stephen Reid in the 1500m gaining 2nd in the A race with 4.26.5 and  newcomer to the league Jake Sellwood won the B string race with 4.34.2.Bringing up the rest of the squad were Darren Carr and Andy Clements.

Also in the field events was Victor Carpio, throwing a heavier Javelin than he is uses in the U17 age group, throwing in this U20 event for experience, Victor threw well enough to get a standard which enabled him to progress further in the competition ending up in 3rd place with a throw of 34.31 against much more experienced throwers. Robert Piper also an U17 gained good points by throwing 24.62m in the B string event. Other athletes who raked up the points were Tony Pendlebury in the 100m/200m and Long Jump, Liam Macgarrigle 400/TJ, Jack Hibberd 200m/400m,and David Bache shot.

The girls had a smaller team but packed with quality. Emma Buckett narrowly won the Long Jump with a pb of 5.58m from the second place athlete who jumped 5.57, putt the shot 9.21 then threw the Javelin24.34.The later was just ahead of team mate Kate Blythe’s24.05m in the same event. Multi eventer Christina Parsons returning from injury, for second place putt the Shot9.44, then long jumped to 4.92 Sophie Smith ran the 3000m in11.31.09 for second place whilst sister, Katie ran the shorter distance 400m.  Alice Gaskin in the 100, Frankie Hanson in the 100/Hurdles and triple jump, Jessica Clements in the 800m, and Kirsty Piper Hammer/ Discus were just of their lifetime bests, once again accumulating valuable points. Nicki Ferris who is unable to score for us due to her first claim club being Winchester, performed in the Long Jump, Javelin and Shot showing good promise for the future.

The boys concluded the meeting successfully getting the baton around in both relays.

The final result put Basingstoke /Andover in fourth place 309, behind Team Southampton463

Brighton and Hove AC408 , Bournemouth358. Ahead of Chichester285, Sharks( Hastings and Eastbourne)223 and Guildford and Godalming100

The Final match of the series is in Portsmouth on July 26th

Report by Jackie Tobin