Major improvement for indoor athletes

0:00am Fri Jan 08, 2010

The Newark Athletic Club youngsters had a superb turnout at the third Sportshall League meeting of the season as they produced their best result for many years.

The Newark competitors recorded a fantastic second place overall at the Grove Leisure Centre, Balderton, with just four points separating them from winners Notts AC.

Of the six age categories contested, Newark won three of them, with victories for the under-11 boys, under-11 girls and under-15 girls.

Ten event wins were a major factor in the excellent result by a Newark team that is improving all the time.

Under-11 girl Keating Walters won two events with a leap of 5.42m in the standing triple jump and a distance of 5.92m in the chest push.

Fellow under-11s Molly Ripley, Oliver Whaley and Luke Willers were all also winners on the day. Molly’s sizzling win was in the one-lap sprint in 13.90 secs; Oliver’s victory was in the speed bounce (47 jumps); and Luke won the event in which he set a Sportshall record last time out — the chest push — with 6.80m.

The under-11 boys and girls’ obstacle relay teams both triumphed, proving the club’s current strength in depth in the age group.

The relay teams were Luke, Oliver, Chris Ward and Jack Satterley (1min 34.30secs) and Molly, Charlotte Ripley, Asia Moody and Eden Sandy (1-31.80).

The other winners were a delighted Tyler Ludlam in the under-13 boys’ standing triple jump (5.18m) a majestic Emma Jessop in the under-15 girls four-lap race (56.70secs) and the all-conquering under-15 girls 4x2-lap relay team of Emma, Eloise McQuaid, Lauren Rowberry and Bethany Scotney in 1min 46.30secs.

Heather Barnes and Eleanor Ripley were the other under-15 girls featuring in the age group’s win. Heather powered her shot to 7.45m and second place, while Eleanor produced 75 jumps to finish top of the guest performances in the speed bounce.

Completing the teams for the under-11 category win were James Lepley who produced a personal best in the one-lap of 14.40secs, Olivia Mathias who had the best guest performance in the chest push (4.94m) Olivia Wightman, who can be very pleased indeed with her 41 jumps in the speed bounce, and three athletes making their very promising debuts — Isaac Ridley, Chantelle Haywood and Jack Skiba.

John Jessop and Peter Carrington flew the flag superbly for the under-15 boys, both achieving excellent second places.

John’s came in the four-lap (55.30secs) while Peter achieved the runner-up spot in two events, the two-lap race (24.60) and the standing triple jump (6.82m).

As the only under-13 girl, Charlotte Peach was again a key member of the team, with her highlight being a third-placed 1min 37.40secs in the six-lap event.

The under 13-boys benefited from the dependable presence of Edward Booth who picked up second place in the shot with 5.51m, while newcomer Jack Fenton impressed with his third place in the two-lap (28.40secs).

The club even managed to field four under-9s in their one- lap event — Jake Ludlam, Annabel Peach, Jessica Satterley and Millie Wightman.

At the other end of the age scale no less than three adult teams took to the floor for the relay event.

Subjecting themselves gamely to this were Paul Carrington, Amy Fendley, Julie Fenton, Jackie Jessop, Sue Lepley, Paul Lynch, Simone Mathias, Mark Moody, Richard Peach, Darren Rowberry, Kevin Sandy and Marion Willers.