LANCASHIRE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS (10/11 MAY 2008)

 

These were held on a glorious spring weekend, which was sunny and warm – possibly a bit too hot, although performances did not seem to be affected.  In fact it was a splendid weekend for BWFAC, with the club winning a massive 92 medals, of which 33 were gold, 32 silver and 27 bronze, won by nearly 60 individual athletes.  In addition there were 11 Championship Best Performances (CBP). 

 

Details of all the individual medal winners can be found elsewhere on this website - medals, along with full results - results.  To pick out a few particular impressive performances is difficult, as they were all brilliant and there were some excellent efforts which did not win medals.  However there was a few that stand out.  Lucy Mansfield picked up all the sprint golds in the U17W – 100m -12.40, 200m -25.30 and 300m – 40.60.  Tash Gardner, who won the 200M (28.90), U13G, also collected bronzes in the Shot (6.89m), Long (4.05m) and High jumps (1.25m).  Also excellent were Carolyn Robbins Vet Women 5000m with 18:43.20 (CBP), Sarah Goff SW 400m Hurdles (84:10) and 100m silver, Taegan O’Hara U13G 70m Hurdles (12.90), Bianca Pedersen 800m U15G (2:17.30)  (pictured), Jodie Ferguson U13G 800m (2:33.50) and Lydia Critchley U15G 300m (42.10).

 

In the male competition there were also some impressive efforts.  Jono Prowse won the 1500m (4:01.10) on the Saturday, before repeating his performance in the Blackpool 10K Fun Run on Sunday; Luke Minns was majestic in the U20 3000m (8:53.40) and Ben Everson had a double in the U13B with 800m (2:24.30) and 1500m with 4:48.60 (CBP).  There were some events in which our club was not strong, however this could not be said of the jumping events, where we picked up many medals.  In particular James Davies picked up a significant double in U17M Triple (13.26m) and Long Jump (6.53m), both CBP; in the U13B Long Jump (4.68) Luis Blyth (following last weeks High Jump win in the YAL meeting) and also won the 200m with 28.60 and in the U15B Long Jump Dominic Broughton with 5.34m and picking up 2 silvers in the 100m and 200m.  BWFAC dominated the Pole Vault with 6 golds:  SW Elena Mingas - 3.00m, U15G Beckii Ferguson – 2.10m, SM Alex Bale – 3.80m (CBP) U20 Matt Wright – 4.25m, U17M Declan O’Hara – 3.70m, U15B Matt Walker – 1:90m.  In the throwing events Tom Baran was very impressive with golds in the U17M Shot (10.38m), Discus (25.17) and silver in the Hammer (34.73m). There were also several golds in the relays.

 

The Championships were well organized, with both days finishing on time, despite on the Saturday, some events having to start late because the Isle of Man team being delayed due to the airline they had booked on ceasing trading and consequently having to cross the Irish Sea by ferry.  The one disappointment was the Steeple Chase.  There were several withdrawals in the Senior Men’s, including our own Stuart Robinson due to a foot injury, leaving only 2 competitors.  There were only two in the U17M 1500m SC, where  Gareth Jones (pictured - 5:21.90) picked up silver despite seemingly trying to drown himself in the water jump.

 

David Wood