Grantham Athletic Club Run, Jump and Throw at the First Northern League.

On the 6^th May junior, senior and veteran athletes successfully represented Grantham Athletic Club at this season’s opening Northern League meeting at Grimsby.  Despite fielding less than half the required team, necessitating  many athletes to double, or triple up on events twelve athletes came away with fourteen wins, eight seconds and seven thirds on the day.

In the sprints Praise Olalere and Mark Atkin stormed the 100m races with wins in both A and B races. Praise added a 200m win, recording a very fast time going under 23 seconds.  For middle distant races, Dean Houlton and Arthur Short covered the range from 800m to 5,000m bringing in valuable points. In the women’s races Isabel Hobday and Jo McGrath covered the 800m and 1500m races: with junior athlete, Isabel, securing a strongly run second place in her first competitive senior women’s 1500m race.

In the men’s jumps Michael Burr and Mark Atkin each won their Long Jump competitions and then leapt to second and first respectively in the Triple Jump. In the High Jump Michael scored a second place on count back and Chris Bainbridge, taking a little break from the throws event, popped over the bar for a few additional points.

If the jumps were good, the throwers stepped up yet again and gained some serious points.  In the Hammer competitions Chris Bainbridge, Philip Garner, Sarah Garner and Helen Gilbert secured three firsts and a second place.  In the Shot Putt, Chris, Helen and Sarah gained maximum points with three wins and Philip a third place. For the Discus, Chris and Laura Evans won their respective events; Helen and Philip each with a second placed result.   The final set of throws, the Javelin saw Laura and Chris gain second places, with Helen and Michael with third places.

Performance of the day went to Chris Bainbridge with three personal bests in the Hammer, Discus and Shot. (Photo: Chris Bainbridge in the Discus,  by Jo McGrath)

The day finished for the club with an impromptu 4x100m relay from Michael, Mark, Chris and Praise and a respectful third placing.

With a maximum amount of points for the volunteer officials and timekeeper: Jackie and john Bainbridge, Caroline and Ian Richards, Sarah and Philip Garner and with the competitive results, the under-strength team secured a fourth placing of the eight clubs in this league.

The next league meeting is on the 4 June at the South Kesteven Stadium, Grantham.  With home advantage and a bigger team the prospects look better.

Philip Garner

Norther League Team Manager

END

Performances:

Men

Women