It was a real family affair for Vale across track and field in the first Southern Athletics League Match of 2014 at Uxbridge. Brenda and Rachael Russell won A and B string Hammer; Julia and Alice Austin represented the Club in A and B string 3000m and as 2nd and 3rd legs in the 4 x 400m; Tash and Charlie Cornwell made a welcome return to the team and filled in many gaps on the team sheet and last, but certainly not least, Donelle and Rochelle Arulanandam ran legs 2 and 3 in the 4 x 100m, with dad Ruban once more doing a sterling job as an official.
We welcomed Amy Obiamago to the team with PB performances in the 200m and the Shot, which she won. Donelle achieved a PB of 1.53m in the high jump and won the Triple Jump and Long Jump, while sister, Rochelle, got a PB and Club Record of 2:3m in the Pole vault to win the A string. There were clean sweeps for Vale with Rachael Russell winning the B string Pole Vault, Hannah Welsh winning the B string triple jump and Tash Cornwell the B string Long Jump. Jess Hunter got PBs in the javelin and 100m, coming 2nd in both events and Julia Austin set a new Club V50 record for the 3000m. Rosanna Iannone and Charlie Cornwell each came 2nd in their 800m races and Charlie also came 2nd in the 1500m steeplechase. Anna Madry made a welcome return to track competition winning the B string 1500m and anchoring the 4 x 400m team with a very comfortable performance. Alice Wright followed up her 1500m race with a great start for the team when she took on the opening leg of the 4 x 400m relay.
For the men, a great day for TJ Bartley coming back from injury to win the High Jump, Triple Jump and Long Jump. He was also 2nd in the javelin and competed in the relays. Rich Taylor returned to track competition with a PB in the B string 800m as well as running the A string 5km. Chris Newson put in some great performances with 2nd places in the 100m and 200m- also a PB and a win in the Shot. Tom Waiting was 2nd in the 100m and 200m a string and ran a great 400m relay leg. Andy Bleakley nailed a PB in the 400m to come 2nd in a time of 52.6s. Patrick Taylor comfortably won the 800 and 1500m and his 2nd leg in the 4x400m relay was fantastic making up 70m to hand over in the lead and James Davis cruised to victory in the 2000m men’s Steeplechase. Our injured Men’s Team manager, Dan Barber, officiated and threw the discus, achieving a PB in the process. Dick Hills and Peter Hoare completed our team of officials.