County Sportshall champions.

Kendal AAC junior athletes achieved golden performances at this years County Sportshall championships held in Barrow. Many new members to the club experienced their first sportshall competition and performed exceptionally well.

In the under 11 age group, Chris Caulerick won DOUBLE GOLD, in both the 2 lap sprint and standing long jump, with a jump of 2.06m. Team mate Aaron Screen won his heat in the 2 lap sprint and jumped 1.64 in the standing long jump. In the under 11 girls all four competitors were have a further year in this age group and their performances were all the more remarkable against children often a year older than them. All four girls, Ashleigh and Georgia Kennedy, Lauren Bowness and Mari Cole won their 2 lap sprint heats. Ashleigh and Lauren won through their semis to the B final where Lauren just pipped Ashleigh to take first place. The four girls also competed in the standing long jump in which Mari Cole won a BRONZE medal with a jump of 1.68m.

In the under 13 age group Emily Cole won GOLD medal in the vertical jump, well clear of the field with a jump of 40cm. Amy Giraldo enjoyed her competition, and was very pleased to come away with two BRONZE medals, in the standing long jump and shot put.

Mathew Wright had an excellent championship, demonstrating his real future potential as an all rounder. Mathew won an exciting and close 2 lap sprint final for his first GOLD medal. A standing long jump of 2.16m was enough to secure Mathew his second GOLD medal. Added to this haul was two SILVER medals in high jump (1.25m) and shot put (7.67m). Greg Gratton as a younger u13 also competed in the standing long jump and standing triple jump and achieved a semi final place in the 2 lap sprint.

Two Kendal AAC girls competed in the under 15 all-rounder competition. Judith Burrows won GOLD in the speed bounce (62 repetitions in 30seconds) and SILVER in both the 4 lap race and standing long jump (2.06m). Imogen Reekie won two GOLD medals, in the standing long jump (2.08m) and 2 lap sprint, plus a BRONZE in speed bounce. All these individual events added to an overall score that left Imogen winner of the overall all rounder competition.

The medal winners in the u13 and u15 competitions will now have the opportunity to represent the county at the Regional championships at Wigan in February.

Results:

Under 11 girls                 2 lap                                                    standing long jump

Ashleigh Kennedy              1^st H, 3^rd Semi, 2^nd B Final            1.68m

                                                26.7s

Georgia Kennedy                   1^st H, 2^nd Semi.                               1.56m

                                                28.3

Lauren Bowness                  1^st H, 1^st semi, 1^st B Final                       1.52m

Mari Cole                              1^st H,                                                   1.68m (bronze)

Under 11 boys

Chris Caulerick                  1^st Final (GOLD)                                  2.06m (GOLD)

                                                25.0s

Aaron Screen                       1^st H, 3^rd B Final                             1.64m

Under 13 girls                 2 lap                slj                                 vj

Emily Cole                            4^th semi   1.88m (4^th)                 40cm (GOLD)

Amy Giraldo                         3^rd semi   1.90m (BRONZE)            shot 5.56m (BRONZE)

Under 13 boys

Greg Gratton                      2 lap 4^th semi       slj 1.74m            stj 5.16m

Mathew Wright                        2 lap 1^st Final (GOLD) 23.8s     slj 2.16m (GOLD) 

shot 7.67m (SILVER)             High jump 1.25m (SILVER)

Under 15 girls

Imogen Reekie            2 lap 1^st GOLD            SLJ 2.08m (GOLD)                         Speed Bounce 48 25.5s                                                                                    (BRONZE)

Judith Burrows            4 lap 2^nd SILVER            SLJ 2.06m (SILVER)            Speed Bounce 62

            57s                                                                             (GOLD)

PETER RHODES WINS INTERNATIONAL VEST.

 Six South Lakeland athletes competed for Cumbria at the English schools Combined Events Championships last weekend. Held at the Don Valley stadium in Sheffield, young athletes from all over the country competed over 2 days in a championship of high standards and demands.

Peter Rhodes, competing in the Junior Boys competition excelled across five events to finish with a bronze medal � and selection to represent England at an international match in December. Peter�s competition included several personal best performances: 12.1s in the 80m hurdles, 1.76m in the high jump and 2mins 24s in the 800 to score a total of 2749 points. Peter attends the Lakes school and has been supported this year by the Rover Combined Events Initiative.

Kendal AAC team-mate James Wright, a pupil at Queen Elizabeth School, also recorded his highest ever score of 2251 points to help the Cumbria team achieve third place in the team competition. James recorded individual event personal bests in the hurdles (12.0s) and 800m (2mins 20secs).

Cumbria finished third place in the team competition for Intermediate girls. Sisters Claire and Katie Huck, from Kirkbie Kendal School, both had fine competitions, finishing in 13^th and 16^th place respectively. Claire�s best performances came in the high jump (1.60m) and shot (8.93m) whilst Katie recorded personal best performances in the shot (8.98m) and 80m hurdles (13.8s).

Finally, two local athletes competed in their last English Schools championships before starting their University careers. Danielle Haynes (St Annes, Windermere) and Jessica Smith (QES, Kirkby Lonsdale) were both part of the Cumbria Senior girls team which achieved an outstanding first place in the team competition, a truly remarkable result for a county the size of Cumbria.

 Nick Smith

Kendal AAC

Junior Track and Field annual report.                       September 2003

 This report is in the form of a balanced scorecard, outlining both the good things and not so good things.

Winter 2002/03

On the Negative side:

�          Low numbers and lack of support meant that we had to withdraw from NW Sportshall Athletics.

�          Low numbers at County Sportshall champs

�          Falling numbers at Dallam training night as some athletes left to run with Helm Hill.

On the positive side:

�          Involvement with Rover Combined Events Squad at Sportcity exposed small number of athletes to good quality coaching and surperb facilities.

�          Individuals success at Indoor Competitions including:

�          Peter Rhodes, silver at AAAs Combined Events champs

�          Peter Rhodes Gold, Claire Huck, Katie Huck and James Wright at NoE Combined Events champs

�          Peter Rhodes (Silver Long Jump), James Wright, Peter Spencer, Claire and Katie Huck at NoE Indoor Championships

�          Claire Huck (Gold), Katie Huck (silver) James Wright and Jessica Smith at North East Indoor Combined events champs

 Summer 2003

On the negative side:

�          Low numbers and unfortunate clashes over fixture dates meant withdrawal from Young Athletes League this summer

�          Cumbria Youth games, South Lakeland match did not happen due to poor organisation by Cumbria Sports and lack of take up by primary schools

�          Participation levels lower at Cumbria League

 On the Positive side:

�          New style come and try sessions over 6 week period attracted high numbers (over 30) of new (mainly primary school age) recruits to the club

�          Revised Dick Viney Championship for Primary school was very successful.

�          Arranged a county Rover Combined Events coaching day

�          Managed a successful Cumbria League home match

�          Link with Border re NJL for u20s continues to be of mutual benefit.

�          New secondary age athletes joining the training group

 �          But more than anything this summer was one of outstanding success for individual athletes:

�          Two athletes, Peter Rhodes (long jump), and Claire Huck (high jump) represented Cumbria at English Schools championships

�          Five athletes, Peter Rhodes, James Wright, Claire Huck, Katie Huck and Jessica Smith represented Cumbria at English Schools Combined Events championships.

�          Peter Rhodes gained silver at the AAAs Combined Events champs

�          Four athletes competed at the NoE Championships with Claire Huck winning silver in the high jump

�          At the Cumbria Schools championships county champions were:

�         Claire Huck (High Jump and Long Jump)

�         Jessica Smith (Shot and Long Jump)

�         Peter Rhodes (long jump)*  Championship record

�         Ruth Davies (100m and 80m hurdles)

�         Rayna Coulson (100m)

�          At the Cumbria AAA champs the role of honour included:

�         James Wright (80mhurdles)

�         Peter Rhodes (High jump and long jump)

�         Ruth Davies (100m and 80m Hurdles)

�         Claire Huck (high jump)

�         Katie Huck (javelin)

�          At Cumbria League:

�         Peter Spencer (Gold in 100m 200m, silver in shot)

�         James Wright (Silver in 100m, 200m)

�         Claire Huck (Silver in Long Jump and High Jump)

�         Katie Huck (Gold in Long Jump, High Jump and Javelin plus overall outstanding athlete award)

 Finally special mention of Peter Rhodes whose bronze medal at ESAA Combined Events championships means he will be gaining an international vest when he represents his country at Glasgow in December 03.

 So on balance the highlights more than out way the lows, congratulations to all those athletes who achieved what they set out to do this year.

 Nick Smith