This was the first fixture in the NEYDL for 2022 and numbers were down for the TBH contingent of the composite TBH/Birtley team, due to many of the regular girls being away / unavailable. Some-how I was roped into official timekeeping for the day, being the only one there early enough from TBH to fill the role, so although I witnessed every race, I was so focussed on a specific placing and sort of missed most of the action. A very cold wind chilled proceedings down a lot, but luckily the time-keepers area was in direct sunlight, so I was probably in the best spot for the day.
Under 13 girls
New-comer Eliza Palmer was our only female representative for the day and was rewarded with some great times for her efforts.
She bravely ran the sprint hurdles, having only had a go at it at School previously for 18.6 seconds and second place in the A race. She followed this up with 6:14 for 1500m and 4th place overall. Eliza ended her day completing the composite relay team with a combined time of 66.9 seconds for 4 x 100m.
Under 13 Boys
Henry Pickett had great run in the 800m coming across the line in 2:56.3 taking 9 seconds off his PB. He followed this up with 2.65m in the long jump a further pb by 24cm, finishing off with yet another pb by over 3m with 12.86m in the Javelin which also won the A competition gaining even more valuable points for the club. So not only did Henry walk away with 3pbs but he also claims the club javelin record.
Charlie Kilgour, also a newcomer to the track, set a time of 34.5 for 200m which earned him 3rd place in the B race. Charlie, along with Jack Whitelaw who came later on in the proceedings, came first in the 4×100 relay with 2 Birtley teammates in a time of 62.6.
Under 15 Boys
Both Freddie Palmer and Liam Whitelaw moved up to this age category this year and are in the younger age group within the category.
Liam ran the 300m for the first time in 55.7 and 3rd place in the A race, he followed it up with the 1500m in which he got a new PB of 5:40.6, then onto the long Jump for 3.44m a PB of 15cm. He finished up completing the 4x100m relay for second place in a combined time of 57.5
Freddie ran the 100m in 14.2 for a PB and 4th in A race, the 800m in 2:28.8 for 4th in A race also claiming the club record, and his first attempt in the Long Jump was 2.73m which gave him 2nd in the B event.
U17 Boys
Both Jake Moir and Luis Nichol have just moved up and are the youngest with Zak Kettle now being in the older age group in this category.
Jake was the only one in the 400m Hurdles and got round in 93.7 setting a club record and winning more valuable points for the team. He followed this up with 2:29.4 for the 800m for 5th in the A race and a 5 second PB. He finished this off (again only one in the event) with 16.71m in the discus claiming the club record for this weighted discus.
Luis ran the 100m in 13.7 for second place in the A race and a 0.5 second PB claiming the vacant club record, he then ran 28.5 for the 200m giving him a 2 second PB and claiming that club record as well.
Finally, Zak ran 4:33.6 in the 1500m which was more than a 20 second improvement on his PB and in the process he claimed a long-standing club record. Despite being the only competitor in the triple jump, he jumped a massive 9.46m which claims the vacant club record, and I suspect will stand for a long time. Zak ended the day with the Javelin, throwing 18.71 meters, also claiming a vacant club record.
What a great fun day out this was, I really enjoyed getting back onto the track and have now acquired a new skill of timekeeping that I wasn’t expecting. Just goes to show, it’s very easy to try something new at these events. Hopefully we will have a fuller team for the next fixture, and as ever, I’d appreciate as much help from parents as possible.
Dave Moir
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