Blackheath and Bromley athletes of all ages have been in action around the world over the last few days from America to Eastern Europe to Paddock Wood competing in track and field, road and cross country.

In the United States, Jonathan Ilori leapt 15.41 for the triple jump at the Texas Relays at Austin.. He took the runner up spot with Lorraine Ugen 6th in the womens’ long jump with a distance of 6.17.

Soon to be racing in the States is Craig Morten who will be part of an Oxford University 4x400 metres team who will compete in the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Peter Hamilton was part of the Great Britain team who won gold at the World Masters Cross Country Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He was 8th in the race in 33.04.3. In the indoor track Championships he was 5th in the 3000 metres B race.

Tom Phillips also won gold as part of the GB over 60s 4x200 metre relay team and he also made the semi finals of both the over 60s 60 metre and 200 metre events setting seasons bests and narrowly missing out on both finals.

Second claim member Clare Elms won three gold medals taking the womens over 50s 800, 1500 and 3000 metre titles.

Roger Michell was 5th in the over 65s walk in 16.16.04 and Jackie Montgomery was 9th in the over 45s pole vault with a height of 2.40. Jackie is coached John Wakeman as is Dartford’s Teresa Eades who won the over 55s event. Clem Leon made the semis in the over 55s 60 and 400 metres.

Also in Hungary at the Rotary Debrecen Marathon John Turner won the over 60s category in 3.47.53. To add to the celebrations his wife Maz was second in the womens over 60s Half Marathon in 2.13.55.

At the other end of the age scale, a number of the Club’s youngsters were selected to compete in the Schools Inter Counties Cross Country for years 7 and 8 at Chelmsford. Henry James Cowie was second in the year 8 boys race with Michael Eagling 8th, Coleman Corry 22nd, Angus Harrington 31st, George Pope 51st and Lewis Stickings 63rd. Jessica Sellar was 15th in the girls race followed by Grace Scopes 22nd and Stephanie Taylor 31st.

In the year 7 races Imogen Meers was a fine second place while Alice Prentice was 13th, Hanna O’Flynn 27th and Emilie Penlington 66th. For the boys Joseph Georgiadis closed in 10th while Keir Lundy was 17th and Ben Gardiner 27th.

Remarkably Henry James Cowie was back in action the next day as he won the Under 15s Pentathlon at the indoor open meeting at Lee Valley. He set a personal best points score of 2129 and in the process also set new bests of 9.97 and 4.77 in the 60 metre hurdles and long jump respectively.

Outdoors Luke Smallwood timed an excellent 33.97 for 300 metres at the Crawley open meeting, a new best. Further bests came from Dean Hylton, also in the 300 with 36.64; Jessica Keene with 9.53.01 in the 3000 metres; and James Lancaster with 36.56 in the under 15s hammer.

Leah Everson ran 47.97 in the under 17 womens 300 hurdles and was back in action the next day in the Havering Open meeting where she timed 48.0 in the same event. Naimh Bridson Hubbard ran a new best of 4.35.9 in the 1500 metres.

There has been plenty of activity on the roads, not least at the Paddock Wood Half Marathon where over 20 Club members finished. Mark Steinle continued his recent prolific race schedule by finishing in 20th place in 74.10 with Gareth Evans 36th in 76.09 and Andy Tucker 98th in 83.25. Carole Penlington was first woman for the Club in 90.23 followed by Claire Austridge and Amanda Taylor. Dick Griffin had his first run as Club President, shepherding his flock home.

Meanwhile Fintan Parkinson finished in 4th place in the Croydon Half Marathon in 79.14 and won the over 35s category.

At the Southern Area 10km race walking Championships at Sutcliffe Park, Peter Hannell was 6th in 65.38.

For all the latest Club news visit the website at www.bandbhac.org.uk