Yate and District Athletics

THE SECOND match in the Midland League Premier Division was overshadowed somewhat by the news that came a few days later that team manager Matt Muggeridge has been suffering from an illness for several weeks and must now undergo treatment.

The whole team, consisting of athletes from Yate and District AC and Bristol and West AC wish him well.

The team followed up the win in the first match with a gritty ‘roll your sleeves up' performance to just take third place with second not too far off.

Fifth and sixth were, though, a bit too close for comfort. There was no question that the competition has gone up a notch in this league with higher turnout and strong performances all round.

After two matches, Yate/Bristol are second in the league, just one match point away from Birchfield Harriers.

The team managers agreed that this match was one of the most difficult to fill in a long time, but in the end, there were only two gaps out of 82 team spots, which may be the best turnout since the combined team was formed.

Some of the regulars were missing, but there was a fantastic team response in advance and on the competition day itself to fill the gaps, and that is unquestionably what made the difference in securing third place on another incredibly hot day.

Emily Whittaker (400mH, 1500m and Triple Jump) and Rosie Hamilton James (3000m) also pitched in to the 4x400m relay along with Daisy Ackerman (800m, 400m) and the established lead, Georgia Taylor.

Matt Spicer did his usual cover job competing in three events (Hammer, Shot and Discus).

The Yate female throwers did a great job of covering all events between them. They were Jo Smerdon, Karen Jones and Jodie Dale, an U17 and winning the B string Javelin on her debut, and Maria Townsend, who gave up competing in her own event to help out the team.

Lucy Durham pitched in with the High Jump in addition to her normal Triple Jump with Emily John going from High Jump to join our three established sprinters in the 4x100m.

There was a great performance in the 100m for Dan Brooks in the tricky outside lane that ended on a concrete cycle velodrome.

Double wins in the men’s High Jump A and B string for Jack Moore, also in the 110m Hurdles, David Thomas and a super savvy run from U17 Rosie Hamilton James in the 3,000m all kept the points piling up.

It is worth recording also that Adam Brooks competing in the high as a non-scorer cleared two metres for the first time.

This is a milestone that all high jumpers look for and is a sign of Adam’s recent improvement after a winter playing basketball.

The next match is closer to home and takes place in Cheltenham on July 8.