Beds AAA's Championships Luton 16^th May 2004

Well done to all our athletes who took part in the Beds AAA's Champs at Luton. We had a fantastic turnout, resulting in Luton being the the most successful club at the event.

Special congratulations to Suzanna Wise, who won the first Under 17 Women Hammer Competition, so setting the Championship Record.

Well done to Monica Bramwell, who won the sprint double in the Under 15 girls. Sarah Simpson also won her 1500m. Jade Christie had a very successful day, with wins in the U17 100m, Long Jump and Triple Jump. Good wins in that age group also for Leonie Tamkin (300m) Michelle Keepence (800m) and Anne Folan (80m Hurdles). Our only Junior Woman competitor Marianne Beevor, won her 300m. Amy Jankiewicz followed her SW 100m second place with a win in the 200m.

Well done to the Under 15 boys, who won almost all of their events. The outstanding athletes were Perry Howarth who won both 800m and 1500m, Casey Felix 100m and Long Jump and Terry Paterson, who won 3 events, the Shot, Discus and Hammer. Our other winner was Glen Pascal (400m).

Our extremely talented Under 17 mens squad cleaned up in all track events apart from the hurdles. Joe Steele won a very tight 100m from Andrew Gough in a new club record 11.5s, then won the Long and Triple Jumps also. Andrew won the 200m, Tom Pool the 400m, Matt Sutton the 800m, and Craig Watkins the 1500m.

The Junior Men's team won every event, with Kyle Andrew showing his versatility by winning the 100m, 200m and 400m in his first year in this age group. Jamie Attwood (800m) and James Drinkwater (1500m) made it a double in the middle distance events, while our hurdlers, running with the seniors, won their events impressively. Ryan McNamara edged out VET Des Wilkinson in the 110m and Aaron Waterfield beating Peter Benedickter in the 400m H. Oliver Sweeney jumped an impressive 2.01m and Iain Brown had a double in the Shot and Discus. David Hughes jumped an excellent 7.01m in the Long Jump. Aaron Waterfield backed up his 400mH triumph with a rare win in the Triple Jump.

Vinnie Bruce achieved a win over Tony Waddington in the SM 100m. Nice to see Tony back from injury, and showing he is on the way back to form. Lance Croft won the 400m, Des Winkinson the 110m H and Peter Benedickter the 400m Hurdles. Shola Ekperigin followed his 4^th place in the 100m with a win in the Long Jump. Steve Whyte showed what a class act he is by winning the Shot, Discus and Hammer, with Dave Burrel cleaning up with a win in the Javelin.

There was a very good turn out of athletes in most age groups and events, and we were the most successful club at the event. It would be really good to translate some of this success into positive attendance at the league meetings. Although the teams do well, it must be possible to improve with better attendance. If you are relatively new to the club, and would like to compete more, and do not know who to speak to, please don't be shy, ask anyone in the clubhouse, and you will be introduced to team managers. Even if you do not get into the team straight away, you can still compete as a non-scorer, and get an official time. This will obviously help you get into the team. Team Managers will always find room for extra athletes, because teams are seldom full. They put a lot of their own time and effort into the club, and in the end of the day, competing for the club is the best way of rewarding the time put in by your coaches and Team Managers. It's great fun to compete, there is good team spirit, and what have you got to lose.

Gerry Gough