BWFAC Northern League Division 2 Play-Off Match

Cleckheaton Sunday 16th August 2009

 

 

After a long wait, the Seniors are finally back where they belong – in Division 1 of the Northern Athletics League. A terrific result following hard work and great team spirit all season long.  CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

 

It was a close run thing, coming down to the very last events before the team could be sure of success and in the end, only 7 points separated BWFAC in 2^nd from Bolton in 3^rd. Not surprising that so many people stayed behind to watch the final event, the ladies javelin, with such interest and support.

 

The match was contested by the 8 top-placed Division 2 teams and it was very apparent that the standard of competition was so much higher than our normal league matches. Every single point was valuable and the team spirit was evident as so many athletes volunteered to step outside of their comfort zone to accumulate those very vital extra points. The task was made even harder with the loss of some of those talented people who helped the team reach the final, plus the big loss on match day of Jon Rutter who has become such an expert in picking up points from a host of different events. Jon was most disappointed not to take part on the day due to illness, but still turned out to support the team and ensure we reached the next level. Get better soon Jon, we will definitely need you next year!

 

So, on to the results, it seems wrong to pick out individuals on a day such as this because EVERYONE played a huge part in the success, Look at the U17 crew who stepped up against their senior counterparts and conducted themselves marvellously. Look also to Dave Myerscough, still bringing in those vital points in the throws alongside his son Grant. Which other team could put out a 4x100m relay team with a ‘young’ U17 endurance runner on third leg? Did any other team have their male Pole Vaulters all asking to compete in other events after their main event was cancelled? Did any other team include a top international who delayed his move to a UK team by one day to help the club achieve promotion?

 

We should mention Chris Lloyd and Declan O’Hara, both took on the daunting 400m hurdles before tackling other events as did Declan’s pole vault partner, Matt Wright in the long jump. What about Marcus Quarmby? The day before the match, Marcus was competing in the International World Biathlon (Where he finished 2^nd and big congratulations on that success) in London, but he made his way back to Cleckheaton to contest the 800m. Another ‘volunteer’ was Dominic Garrett, turning up expecting to only be a member of the 4x400 relay team, he found himself contesting the high hurdles (Brave Boy!), and the javelin. Not forgetting his dad, Charlie Garrett, one minute assisting as a field official, the next minute setting a new PB in the javelin – not too bad for a high jump Coach? And how about Gemma Unsworth, competing in the 1500m (and winning the ‘B’ event) she still found time to shout encouragement to Bianca Pedersen who was contesting the ‘A’ event at the same time! Bianca also took on the 800m alongside the ever reliable Laura Deegan, another who was well under the weather but still battled gamely on for the benefit of the team.

 

Elsewhere in the ladies team, Sam Smith and Alicia Johnston both took on an event outside of their normal range, the daunting 400, and both acquitted themselves very well whilst Carolyn Robbins and Katie Holder tackled the 400m hurdles too. As usual, Nia Rutter was willing to assist and took on the high hurdles before rounding off the day in the javelin as well as her main events the long and triple jumps.

 

It was the team spirit like this that really ensured the promotion but there were, as usual, some outstanding individual performances too.

 

The ladies enjoyed some terrific success and leading the way was Scottish Junior International, Laura Davies who took top spot in both 100 & 200m. Plus Hannah Dickson and Natasha Butler who took the high jump 1^st place in ‘A’ and ‘B’ events respectively. In the triple jump, Nia Rutter continued her good form with a win in the ‘A’ event with great support from Rachel Kellett in the ‘B’ match. Nia also struck a new PB in the long jump where the talented U17, Katy Wyper tackled the ‘B’ event as well as the 200m and the relay.

 

Elsewhere, the usual brilliant efforts from Katie Wood and Izzie Cairns in the throws and a lone but gutsy effort in the pole vault from Tanya Wright and another strong solo performance from Sarah Goff in the 100m hurdles. Finally, as previously recorded, the team, along with many others looked on as Carrie MacRae and Nia Rutter in the javelin, rounded off a great ladies and ultimately, great team, performance.

 

It was a very similar story for the men, where, despite the late withdrawal of Jon, the men all pulled together to see the team home.

The outstanding result had to be the 5000m where Antony Ford and Stuart Robinson decimated the field to take 1^st place in both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ races. The endurance runners had a good day as Luke Minns continued his improvement this season with a new PB in the 800m alongside the multi-talented Marcus Quarmby. Luke then went on to take the top position in the 1500m ‘B’ race and Antony also doubled up in the ‘A’ event at this distance.

 

More doubling of events and efforts from Chris Lloyd, apart from his usual sparkling effort in the steeplechase, this time with a new partner in Luke Berry, Chris also stepped forward to take on the 400 hurdles, usually this is an event where BWFAC have no competitors, but, emphasising the spirit of the day, Chris was joined by pole vaulter, Declan O’Hara, to ensure all spots were filled and extra points gathered. It was a similar story for the sprinters, where Nick Costello climbed off his sickbed to join training partner Alex Bale in the 100m and 200m – amazingly they both matched each other exactly in both events! The 400m runners, Brent Starkie and Ted Romney both found the competition very fierce compared to the normal league matches, but both pulled out the stops to record great times before joining up with Alex and Dominic in the 4x400 relay.

 

Jumps and throws followed a very similar pattern to the track as the guys all pulled together to fill events as well as cover the many events normally taken by Jon.

In the hammer, U17 Omar Frederick stepped up to the higher weight to support Bob Wyper who led the way in the ‘A’ string. The remaining throws were, as usual, more than adequately filled by Grant Myerscough and his dad David. These two quietly but regularly gain some really vital points for the team. In the jumps, the pole vault - normally a banker for the BWF boys - was cancelled with very late notice, but that didn’t stop Laurie Needham and Matt Wright as well as Declan O’Hara all offering to fill in across the board. In the event, Matt and Declan contested the long jump together, before a very busy Declan completed his fine day by joining Adam Snape in the triple jump. Another U17 who has supported the seniors so well this year, Adam was not overawed as he also took on the high jump alongside Omar to once again gain some really vital points, and then Omar joined up with Matt, Laurie Needham and Nick to form a fine 4x100 relay team.

 

It was all these extra bits of effort that really secured our place at the highest level. Both the men and the ladies should be very pleased with themselves, they have worked hard all season and improved match on match before really putting it all together at the right time. They can now go into the winter with confidence high and enjoy the anticipation of better competition next year.

There is no doubt that this club and the Seniors team have the quality, and, as they have demonstrated so well this season, they also have the right team spirit to become successful at the next level. We wish them all the very best for next year and our warmest congratulations for their superb efforts this weekend.

 

 

 

Derek Newton and Rita Hope

 

Results