EYAL team 2nd again

A hot blustery day greeted our 66 athletes who competed in this match. Woodford again came 2^nd behind a strong Stevenage team but just ahead of Chelmsford. This leaves us joint 5^th in the league but actually sitting in 8^th place as we have inferior individual points to the three clubs on same match points.

Results and Table

Shona Vincent in full flight

In the Under 13 girls we scored 57 points for 6^th in this age group. High flying Year 6 girls Shona Vincent and Zahara Malcolm had brilliant results. Shona winning the 100 metres overall in 13.92, a PB, and then winning the B 200 metres in 29.32, another PB. Zahara ran her first ever 800 and, after taking advice from her coach, scored an excellent overall win in 2 mins 43secs. Zahara then placed 2^nd in the A 200 in 30.18. Charlotte Seaton, another to come up recently from our WASPS, did really well too, as did Hollie McArdell, a reliable girl who was 3^rd in the 1500 metres.

The Under 15 girls came 4^th in their age group. Ademilolia Olugbode performed really well for a 1^st overall in the 200 and a 2^nd overall in the 100. Another very reliable girl, Louise Acorns, again covered events superbly as did Andrea Golban, a highly talented thrower who won the Hammer overall and was 2^nd in the Discus. Victoria Cuthbert was 2^nd overall in the Javelin.

The Under 17 Women came 3^rd in their age group. Kyesha Robinson again scored an excellent 2^nd place overall in the 100 metres in 12.8, a PB, and then 1^st overall in the 300 metres in a new outdoor PB of 42.1. Kyesha also anchored the 4 x 100 relay team into 1^st place as well. Rebecca Fafowara was 2^nd in the B 100. In the 800 Louise Gilbert was a close 2^nd in the A race in 2 mins 26 secs, with training partner Millie Finch 2^nd in the B string. Huge praise must go to Lacey Fuhr and Ella Warwick for running the 1500 (not their event at all) and both finishing to gain valuable points for the club. On the field Amy Gilbert was 2^nd overall in the Discus and Hammer, and Denesha Rocastle was 2^nd overall in the Long Jump.

The Under 13 boys actually won their age group for the 2^nd match in a row. Kaiden Chambers, another high flying Year 6 boy, won the 100 metres overall, was 3^rd overall in the 200 metres and won the Long Jump overall too. Maxwell Chinn, another Year 6, a Herts Schools athlete, was 2^nd in the 1500 metres overall. Samuel Oshodi was excellent in the field. He won the High Jump overall, was 2^nd overall in the Shot Putt and 2^nd on the track over the 75 metres hurdles. Luke Finch was 2^nd overall in the Discus, and Cem Guler, after stepping in to cover a gap in the 1500, won the Javelin overall. The boys won the 4 x 100, which included another Year 6 boy, Jacob Kai Kai.

The Under 15 boys emulated the Under 13 boys with their second win in a row. Lucas Negroni was another to have a great afternoon. 1^st Overall in the 100, 2^nd overall in both the 200 and 300. Joe Geller kept up his great unbeaten run of 6 races no defeats by winning the 800 in a good time of 2mins 08, then winning the B 300 in 42 seconds. Mention here for Sidnie Ward (pictured right with Joe) who came straight from having an MRI scan on the back of both feet which may entail surgery later this year to win the B 800 in 2 mins 18. In the 1500 Kai Boggon and Hayden Maleary took control with Kai, who had competed in a multi event competition the day before, just edging home in 4 mins 57 secs, a PB, to Hayden's 4 mins 58 secs. On the field Rhys Martin unleashed a mighty throw of 43 metres in the Hammer to win easily which ranks him 4^th in the UK. Rhys also had two overall 2^nd places in both the Discus and Javelin. New member Samir Ashraf won the Pole Vault and was 2^nd in the Discus.

The Under 17 men were an excellent 2^nd in their age group. Jos Farquharson had great overall wins in the 100 and 200, with fast times too. Adam Mountford (left) won the 400m overall, as did Kyle Lundie in the 800. Chibudo Ike had two overall 2^nd places in the field in the Pole Vault and Shot Putt. Thomas Finch, such a great clubman, was 2^nd overall in both the Discus and Hammer. Baker Lubwara was 2^nd overall in the Triple Jump.

Again, I want to thank the three Team Managers, Wendy Fuhr, Paul Cheal and Helen Finch, who did a brilliant job of managing. I also want to thank all the officials who spent hours out there officiating on a hot afternnon. Lastly I must thank all the parents who came and supported our excellent athletes. It was a great afternoon. We now travel to Peterbourough on the 5^th June and we face three other clubs, Nene Valley, Thurrock and Havering, in that match who are also in the top 8 of the league. I urge every athlete where possible to be available for this match please and with a full turnout we could pull off a victory.

John Stow