Hillingdon athletes came third in the third round of the Sweatshop Southern Athletics League match last Saturday (15 June 2013) with 145.5 points, ahead of Cambridge & Coleridge (137.5), but behind leaders Wycombe Phoenix Harriers (179.5) and runners-up Newham & Essex Beagles (175.5).
Considering that we faced some stiff competition and were disadvantaged with the absence of some key athletes through injury, our wins were all the more appreciated: Patrick Onu won the 100m in 11.5 secs and the high jump, and Michael Kendall won the 100m hurdles in 59.8 secs. Keith Seldon won the pole vault.
For Emma Arnold (U20) there was also a first: her first time of doing Pole Vault, Discus and Shot in competition.
The match was plagued by the unseasonable weather, affecting several events. The pole vault event had to be abandoned because the bar broke on the upright. The high jump under Health and Safety was unfinished due to torrential rain. Many, including yours truly, wished that the women’s 1500m race could be abandoned as the rain increased in intensity and became hailstones but, having started, we had to finish!
The sun came out for the excitement of the relays at the end of the match, particularly 4 X 100m in the men’s with Neil Middleton holding off the challenge for second place in the final leg by 0.7 sec from Cambridge & Coleridge.
Match officials and their helpers were once again the real heroes for perservering through these four seasons in one day – thanks to them once again for keeping the show on the road.