A Disappointing Turnout & Result but Valliant Displays by Those that Competed at Basingstoke.

It was a disappointing turnout for the season’s opening Southern League fixture - resulting of course to a disappointing result at Basingstoke.

1st TVH 338 points, 2nd Harrow 283, 3rd Wycombe 273,  4thBasingstoke, 5th Chelmsford 245, 6th Blackheath. With no fewer than fifteen of those members gaining medals in the Essex Championships senior and under 20`s just a week earlier missing out here we were unable to fill out 13 positions despite gallant efforts by some in attendance doing numerous events. Kevin Wilson did his usual shot putt (1st) and discus (2nd) events but also won the `B` string hammer an placed 5th in the javelin. Zion Ateba set a pb in the hurdles with 15.15s whilst also contesting the long  jump (2nd), high jump (4th). Shot  putt (3rd) and javelin (3rd) whilst Luke Keteleers topped this with six events including a first place in the `B` string discus. There were fine individual performances with wins by Jacob Alexander in the 800 metres (1m 55.85s), Ben Felton taking the 5000m (15m 55.84s) and Bradley Reed winning the high hurdles (15.20s). Yasha Bobash won the hammer with 45.96m. It was a second place for Archie Sims in the 400m hurdles and with a pb of 56.19s Edward Hughes won the `B` string in this event. There were a `pair` of seconds from the steeplechase via Seb Cirillo and Ken Hoye. Stephen Adesina also took a second spot in the long jump.

From the women's events Kiera Atkinson was the only `A` string winner taking the 3000m with Sophie McCall 3rd in the `B`having already contested the 800m and triple jump. Maegan Hopkins placed second in both shot and discus - in the later Maddison Poulter from the under 17 age group took the `B` string. One cannot overlook the efforts of over 50 veteran   Wendy King filling in places over 800m, 1500m, steeplechase AND even in the 100 metres.

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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft