Luton AC were in action in the fourth round of this Summers Southern Men’s League at Walton-on-Thames on Saturday and whilst they stepped up the league a place they dropped off the promotion places by virtue of League points. Luton are now 7^th in division 2, although equal on points with Epsom, but both clubs are 2 adrift of the all important 5^th place that would see a return to Division 1, which they dropped out of last season.

The match was won by Channel Islands AC with 146 points, Newbury were second with 109 whilst Luton took third on 100 points, just one tantalising point clear of hosts Walton on 99. Abingdon took the wooden spoon on 78.

For this match the team were badly affected by a major clash of fixtures over the weekend. The English Schools Championships were held in Gateshead, taking many of the clubs talented youngsters away, and the British Masters Championships in Birmingham removed valued senior competitors from the team. As a result Luton travelled with the smallest team this season, but the spirit was high and some wonderful performances were posted.

Individual star for Luton was Kyle Andrew who took magnificent 100 and 200 meter double victories in 11.3 and 22.9. Kyle then went on to make significant contributions to the 4x100m and 4x400 relays, each team finishing 2^nd in each race, adding 8 critical points to overall score.

The day started brilliantly with Dave Burrell and Erik Kerr, both making seasons debuts, by making it a double A and B winning opener for the club, Burrell winning the A string event in 45.35 and Kerr the B in 41.77. It was indeed a very welcome return to both athletes, especially for Burrell who had surgery on his right shoulder last December. Burrell did even better the next day when he threw his second best ever of 45.92 to take bronze in the British Masters Championships and he added to that a Silver for the 16lb Weight.

Other significant double victories followed with Pete Bridger and Gareth Suffling taking A and B victories in the 800m, Bridger recording 1.57.5 and Suffling 2.2.9. Bridger was involved in another double when he took victory in the 1500m in 4.13.4 whilst it was Andy Johnson who took victory in the B in 4.18.8. Johnson’s effort coming after a spirited effort in the B string 400m Hurdles earlier in the afternoon in support of Andrew Gough who took a spirited 3^rd in the A string in 63.5. Gough repeated his time on Sunday in the Eastern Championships but that time taking victory.

Other high scoring events for the team came in the 400m where Matt Blake ran a fine second place in the A string race in 54.4 in windy conditions whilst Yusuf Khalid, a last minute insert to the Division 2 team, who also took a strong 2^nd in the B string 400m in 55.2. In the 5000m it was good to see the Palmer and Farmer duo re-united where Palmer took a glorious victory in 15.33.6 and Farmer took a gritty 3^rd in the B string, having been down with a summer cold for 10 days, in the time of 16.03.7.

Another last minute inclusion in the team was Winfield Small. Winfield is a sprinter but he is a strong man and it showed on Saturday. Winfield only knew he was to be part of the division 2 team when he rang team manager Chris Stebbings to tell him he was travelling direct to the division 4 match, only to find out that he was required on the other side of London. And what a valuable asset he turned out to be. Winfield had some experience of the Shot Putt from earlier in the season and he was immediately drafted in to support Burrell. Result, a fighting 2^nd for Small and 3^rd for Burrell. Next Winfield ran one of his specialist events the 200m to take 4^th in the B and 2 valuable points. Whilst still getting his breath back he took on the Discus for the first time in his life and during that was interrupted to run a leg in the 4x100m relay.

A fine example of the spirit of the team was displayed by Geoff Grinsted. Geoff competed in the Discus in the British Master event in Birmingham in the morning at 9.30 and had promised the Team Manager he would be there in the afternoon to help. Little did Geoff know that on leaving the Masters Championships he would have problems with his car, requiring assistance to resolve the problem. Geoff continued with his plan, travelling back to Luton to pick up his family and then to Walton where he competed in the Discus, setting a better mark than he done so in the morning, and also in the Javelin, adding valuable points to the overall score.

In fact , everyone went beyond their normal events to add the points that gave the team the prized 3^rd place that gives them still a chance of challenging for promotion, albeit a tall order.

The final matches take place on the 22^nd July in Ipswich and 5^th August in Hastings. Team Manager Chris Stebbings is hoping that the team can mount an attack on promotion.

Chris Stebbings