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SNHAC/HAWCS dreams of retaining the EYAL final won at Stevenage in 2023 disappeared in a flurry of mishaps. Athletes and teams delayed (M25 closed), heavy rain, soggy athletes, injury in warm up, gaps filled, a great team spirits, an ample supply of sweets and a timetable running late were all part of the story of the EYAL Plate final at Thurrock on Sunday.

The first bit of good news – our coach driver had picked up on the M25 closure, so our coach left Hitchin early, Stevenage on time and got all the athletes, team managers and officials to Thurrock in plenty of time for the first event. Those travelling by car were not so lucky! Stories of long delays on M25, A13 and alternative routes meant many athletes, missed their first events, others filled in and those arriving late filled gaps later in the day.

The match lead changed hands numerous times during the day and right up until the last relays no one knew who had won. When the final calculations had been made, soggy field cards read and official’s points added Thurrock won the match with 585.5 points from SNHAAC/HAWCS with 558.5, HPX were third followed by Basildon, Cambridge and Coleridge and Bedford. Stevenage won the U17 girls and U15 boy’s sections, were second in three other age groups and fifth in one.

Team managers praised all the athletes who stepped up, filled in, supported their team in every event and fought for every point.

Girl’s wins came from U13 Jasmine Styles A DT 19m53 and Jessica Radcliffe B HJ 1m20. In the U15 competition there were A and B wins in the 1500m, Sarena So 5.06.00 and Neve Sayers 5.46.00 and 75H Ellie Picton 12.17 and Edythe Oughton 12.91. Emily Rapley won the U17 A 200m 26.81 and LJ 4m82, Esme Searle the 1500m 5.06.00 an Enid Whitten the HT 35m20. B wins were recorded by Fran Hart 800m 2.39.00, Hazel Spitzer 1500m 5.10.00, Florence Fausset TJ 9m58 and Khadija Eyitayo SP 7m33. In the U13 Boys competition there were A wins for Stanley Wilkinson the 100m 13.36 and Luke Frostick 75H 15.12, B wins were recorded by Cameron Chivers in the LJ 4m2 and Elijah Ragoobar in the SP7m28. There were A and B wins in the U15 Boys 300m from Alastair Gall Gray 39.59 and Alfie Kenlin 40.68 and in HJ from Thomas Chivers 1m 60 and Monty Norwood 1m55, LJ from Noah Clark 5m62 and Thomas 5m46 and Thomas also won the B 100m 12.43. Lucas Robinson won the PV 2m80. U17 Edward Turner won the PV 1m90 and HT 38m 07 while there were B wins for Murray Heal in the 100H 22.81 and Horatio De Voytt in the TJ 11m38.

Team Managers Melissa Doran and Libby Taylor were full of praise for the 82 Club members who were in action, the athletes who got us to the final but couldn’t be at Thurrock and the 20 Officials and volunteers from the Club who ensured the team got full Officials points for the team.

Saturday saw the annual Stevenage and North Herts Athletic Club/Hertford and Ware Combined A.C Club Championships at Ridlins Stadium, Stevenage. Over 100 athletes from the two clubs, each competed in three events of their choice to decide the Champions in each age group.

The afternoon ‘kicked off’ with a presentation by Stevenage’s Mayor Jim Brown to SNHAC’s Norma Harris, who retires as Club Secretary in November. Norma has been involved at Stevenage for over 30 years and Saturday was her last event as meeting manager.

Once action on the track got underway there were many PBs, some very close finishes and great jumping and throwing.

Although not competing in the Club Champs, senior athlete Elior Harris cleared 1m90 in the high jump, which takes him to 5th on the National Veteran Ranking tables for 2024.

The U11 titles were won by Hetty Billany-Connell (212pts) and Kieran Kealey (199pts) respectively. U13 girls saw a win for Sadie May Bannister, while Stanley Wilkinson won the boy’s title. Rosie Mcleod won the U15 girls title and Alastair Gall Gray was victorious in the U15 boy’s event. Emily Rapley and Hugo McFarlane Cushing won the U17 competitions, with Aimie Taylor and Uzo Dike winning the U20 age groups. Overall Club Champions for 2024 were Libby Taylor (HT, SP and DT -226pts) and Nile Odejimi Riley (100m, LJ and TJ -271pts). Nile’s 10.99 for his 100m was a PB.

Full results are on the website.

Sunday sees the Clubs U13, U15 and U17 athletes competing at the Eastern Young Athletes League Plate final at Thurrock.

U20 Home Countries International
In action at the Home Countries International competition on Saturday at Eton representing England in the PV Aimie Taylor cleared 3m15 finishing third and Annabel Howells was in action in the 4x400m relay. Para athlete Rebecca Scott was also in action in the long jump.
SAL team struggle at Woodford
The last match of the season saw a much weakened team travel to Woodford on Saturday. Up against first and third in the league with a number of athletes missing due to illness, injury and international call up, those competing stepped up, filled gaps and produced some great performances.
It was good to see Elior Harris back in action after a three year absence. Elior came to HJ and stepped in to cover B shot and hammer and won the B 110 hurdles. U20 Uzo Dike ran a PB in the 200m, ‘tried his hand’ at the triple jump and won the B string.
Ed Laws won the 400H, Nile Odejimi Riley and Bobby Pitman won the A and B LJ, Nile and Uzo won the A and B TJ, Nile won the B 100m, Jess Astill won the 200m and Louise Hampton the B DT.
The mixed 4x400 relays ended the match and the great team spirit ensured the Club fielded two teams. Rhys, Owen, Jess, Martina, Nile, Uzo, Sandra and Louise finishing in style.
Team manager Rhys Samuel was delighted with the season’s results, the team spirit and is looking forward to next year already, hoping that British Rail have fewer weekend closures and his journeys from Cardiff will be easier.
Thanks to Mike Gregory Time, Sally Stevens Track, Alan, Paul and Helen Field who ensured the team gained maximum Officials points for the match.
Full results on the Result page.

Travelling to league leaders Chelmsford for the last EYAL match of the season, the Club’s younger athletes finish second ahead of Colchester and Tendering, St Albans, Colchester Harriers and Braintree on Sunday. The match resulted in Chelmsford winning the league. SNHAC/HAWCS finished 10th in the league and secure a place in the Plate Final on the 8th September at Thurrock.

There were some great performances from both scoring and non scoring athletes and numerous PBs. Probably the best personal best performance of the day came from Hugo McFarlane Cushing who improved his LJ PB from 5m20 to 5m97.

Full results are on the Club website.

Many team members filled gaps on the team sheet to get the Composite team those important extra points and the team’s Officials and volunteers went ‘the extra mile’, helping Chelmsford and St Albans cover all Braintree’s events when this team arrived with no officials. A special thanks to Naomi Norwood and Godfrey Leake who travelled to Chelmsford to help officiate although Monty couldn’t compete due to illness.

The U13 girls and boys found wins hard to come by with B string Jessica Radcliffe being the exception in the 200m, 30.2. Jessica also walked onto a HJ fan for the first time and cleared an impressive 1m20.

In the U15 age group there were A wins for Riley McNally in the girl’s 200m, 27.3 and for the boys Lucas Robinson PV – 2m80, Harley Hawkins DT, 34m16 and Alastair Gall Gray HT. B wins came in the 300m from Alastair Gall Gray and Charlie Walker in the LJ.

Emily Rapley had a good day for the U17 girls winning the 100m, 12.5 and LJ 5m32, Murray Heal won the boys JT, 41m11. There were B string wins for Hazel Spitzer and Maya Kihogo (both u15’s moved up an age group) in the 1500m/HJ Hazel and LJ Maya and Matthew Thompson, 800m.

Team Managers Melissa Doran and Libby Taylor will be in touch about team selections for the 8th September. Please note there is no non scoring at this match.

Three of the team are travelling to Birmingham on the 26th and 27th July to contest England Athletics Age Group Championships. U17’s Emily Rapley 100m and Esme Searle 1500SC and U15 Lucas Robinson PV.

SNHAC rounded off the club road running season with 5 teams in the 3k relays organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans at Fairlands Lakes. With 108 teams taking part the first SNHAC team finished 7th in a combined time of 43 minutes 31 seconds for the 4 legs of the race. The second team were 13th (42.43), followed by the third in 21st (44.40) and the 4th were 88th (61.43) . The mixed team consisting of 2 women and 2 men were 8th in their category in a time of 53.46.

Abigail Manson (12.41) was SNHAC's fastest woman with Tommy Cropley (9.55) the fastest man. Full results can be found at https://my.raceresult.com/272731/results#0_31636F .

With so many young athletes making their road debuts for the club this year the future of SNHAC road running is looking bright!