Bath stars help Avon to finals
Athletes battle wind and rain for nationals place
Team Bath athletes swapped club vests for Team Avon kit to play a significant role in helping the composite club qualify for the National Finals of the Youth Development League Upper Age under-20/17 competition. Team Avon, which is drawn from Bristol & West AC, Team Bath AC and Yate & District AC, finished second in the fourth and final match at a wet and blustery Newport Stadium to secure their place in the final fixture in Bedford on Sunday, September 9. “It was a brilliant result and congratulations to all who achieved PBS as well despite the awful weather,” said Sandra Woodman on behalf of the team management. “We are so proud of you all – a great team spirit got us through.” Robert Howorth certainly played his part in the Team Avon success as he delivered maximum points in the U20 men’s individual 800m and 1,500m before adding a third win in the 4x400m relay. The individual races were hardwon victories for Howorth as he dipped on the line to edge out Team Devon & Cornwall’s Lewis Cotterill by two one-hundredths of a second to win the 800m having already beaten the same rival in the 1,500m by a bigger margin of 0.85secs. For good measure younger brother Rory Howorth stepped up an age group to win the 1,500m B race and split the A pair with a time of 4mins 25.55secs and then added vital points with third place in the U17 men’s high jump and fourth in the shot. Rory was also in the 4x400m squad along with fellow Team Bath athlete Femi Akinbobola that beat a strong Birchfield Harriers quartet. British junior international Anna Burt is enjoying some fun races after a challenging year and duly served up an excellent win in the 800m, while Caitlin Wosika won the 1,500m steeplechase, though had to concede overall victory to clubmate Enya Maylor who won the U17 women’s age group. Maylor also won the 300m hurdles B race to ensure another Team Avon double as Eleanor Webster won the A event to back up her second place in the U17 800m. Also in the 800m, India Ibbotson raced well to win the B event. In the field events Gabriella Holt was runner-up in the U20s hammer, there were also second places for Robyn Ellison in the long jump and Renee Jelf in the high jump while Sophie Martin was third in the U17 high jump. Newly crowned Running Bath/ Chronicle Performance of the Month winner Jake Burkey had a productive day with second place in the U20 men’s long jump and two third places in the 110m hurdles and javelin.
In complete contrast to the track and field scene huge respect is due to Team Bath’s Simon Brace after completing the Race To The Stones 100k trail race along the Ridgeway recently. In difficult conditions during the heatwave, Brace was forced to dig deeper into his physical and mental reserves than he has ever done before to reach the finish line; no mean feat on a day when many were forced to drop out. “On balance, I’m chuffed to have finished in 11hrs 53mins 28secs, placing 32nd of about 1,000,” said Brace. “I just wish I could have enjoyed it a little more – but perhaps the sense of enjoyment lies ahead in reflecting what I have done. Here’s hoping.”