Blackheath & Bromley athletes of all ages have been in action across the world and the UK in recent days competing in a variety of indoor and outdoor competitions. Some have produced performances that have left them highly ranked Nationally. Many have set personal bests.

Having completed a period of training in the South African Summer, Serita Solomon flew into a snowy Linz in Austria for the Gulgi Games. In her first competition of the Winter she timed 8.21 in the 60 metre hurdles, the second fastest by a British athlete this year. She was delighted to be rewarded for her efforts with a chocolate cake!

Over in Finland at the Botnia Games at Korsholm, Chioma Matthews also opened her season and put herself in second place in the National rankings. She finished runner up in the triple jump with a leap of 13.20.

In the United States, at the New Mexico Team Invitational at Albequerque, Lorraine Ugen moved up to second in the UK long jump rankings with a leap of 6.42. At Lexington, Kentucky, Jonathan Ilori went 5th in the UK triple jump rankings with a leap of 15.25.

Much closer to home a host of Club members set personal bests at the Better Athletics Crystal Palace 60 metre open meeting. Fastest of the day was Kieran Daly whose 6.87 was just one hundredth of a second off his best.

One who did set a best was Korede Osibini in the under 17s age group with 7.92. Others came from Jacob Sheath (8.26), and Toyin Orelaja (8.36).

Best performance in the under 15s came from Magda Cienciala whose time of 8.01 moves her up to 9th in the National Rankings. Mhairi Brooks was just one hundredth off her best with 8.32 but there were pbs for Karina Harris (8.56), Emily Sheppard (8.72), Sophia Harper (8.72), Rachel Yeldham (8.91), Antonia Alapafuja (8.57).

In the under 13s Grace Fullerton dipped under 9 seconds with a new best of 8.99.

Some of these and others competed at the London Indoor Games at Lee Valley. Among the personal bests were those achieved by Anastasia Davies (8.33) in the 60 metres; in the 200 by Luca Taylor (24.86), Karina Harris (28.64), Sophia Harper (29.79) and Rachel Yeldham (31.08); Catrin Murphy (43.98) in the 300; and by Isabella Hilditch 8.89 in the 60 hurdles. New bests came too in the long jump from Karina Harris (4.90), Antonia Alapafuja (4.12) and Rachel Yeldham (3.94) In the field Eloise Locke was second in the under 15 girls shot with 9.71 with Eve Keith fourth with 9.03.

At the Newham 60 metre races Duayne Bovell set a seasons best of 7.06 while at the Windsor indoor meeting Fabian Collymore ran 7.05.

Meanwhile at the other end of the age range British over 60s record holder Allan Williams cleared 3.45 in the pole vault at the Vault Cardiff meeting.

Kev May was an emphatic winner of the Club 10 mile cross country championships at Hayes. He won in 65.24 just over three minutes clear of Alex Gibbins (68.29), who was using the race as a training run as he builds up his mileage in preparation for this years London Marathon. Neil Ayrton took third in 71.11.

First home in the womens race was Jane Bradshaw in 77.08. Rebecca Taylor, who is also running the London Marathon this year, was second in 79.05 and Carole Penlington third in 83.07.

The race incorporated the latest round of the Bennett Cup, a series of handicap races which take place throughout the Winter months. Winner on this occasion was Barry Wetherilt with Claire Austridge second and Dick Griffin third.

Barry’s victory swept him into the lead of the overall standings with 271 points. However, as always, there is everything to play for as David Carton is just five points behind on 266 with Andy Tucker third on 262. With three races left and 60 points up for grabs for the winner of each race there are bound to be more position changes. Four Club members were competing for their Universities in the BUCS Championships at Stirling. In the mens race Georges Vacharopoulos (Warwick) finished in 121st with Ross Braden (Canterbury) 161st. Amber Reed (Keele) was 148th in the womens race with Melody Kane (Brunel) 188th.

Many of the Club’s youngsters represented Kent at the South Eastern Schools Inter Counties at Southampton. Will Fuller was 5th in the Senior Boys race and with Richard Webb 11th, Will Ruiz 24th and Tom Desborough 48th they were 3rd team. First home for the girls was Anna Myers in 30th with Samantha Leighton 38th and Sonia Woolhouse 46th. Kent finished 3rd again .

In the Intermediate age group Joss Barber finished in 28th in the boys race with Aleksander Wiltshire 47th and Andrew Leggatt 49th. Joanna Clowes was 48th in the girls race while Chloe Kibblewhite closed in 51st and Leah Everson 69th. They were 6th and 7th respectively in the team races.

Highlight of the day was a win for Yasmin Austridge in the Junior Girls race. To add to the celebrations Kent won the team race with Millie Smith in 8th , Jessica Sellar 32nd and Lauren Tucker 69th among the finishers. For the boys Jake Potter was 8th, Henry James Cowie 14th and Coleman Corry 45th as Kent placed 3rd.

Shaun Lightman finished in 10th place in the 10km London Open Walks meeting at Victoria Park. His time was 62.23 with Peter Hannell 13th in 65.16 and David Hoben 23rd in 74.16.

Crystal Palace : 4 Naomi KINGSTON 00:19:19 (first woman) 42 Mike SIMMS 00:22:41 43 John FENWICK 00:22:54 Greenwich : 74 Rich GRANT 00:28:12 Lloyd park: 4 Jessica Zara KEENE 00:20:30 (first woman) 44 Mick KEENE 00:27:39 Newbury : 21 Peter HAMILTON 00:21:18 Orpington : 2 Joseph GEORGIADIS 00:20:16 18 Harrison PARKER 00:23:37 20 Harry William KEENE 00:23:48 23 Adrian PERRY 00:24:04