Medals and Champions Galore

Some members of the Stratford winning Sportshall team & coaches It's been one of those wonderful weeks with success for club teams and members right across the age range, literally from from 8 to 78. At the risk of being accused of bias, I'm starting off with the British Masters National Championships held at Lee Valley Stadium last weekend. It was the final meeting of the Masters indoor T&F season with four of our Masters athletes competing. I'm happy to report that all four of us returned with medals. The remarkable Paula Williams won no less than 2 golds and 3 silvers, with Peter Coote and myself being crowned age category British Champions in our respective events of javelin and 1500m. To say I was delighted would be something of an understatement. Phil Brennan won silver medal, beaten only by a runner who broke the British record. You can also read how, in the Warwickshire Sportshall Athletics League, our juniors once again dominated the season with no fewer than 117 of them competing during the season. 117 - is that pretty impressive or what ? In the Under 11,13 and 15 West Midlands Regional Sportshall finals a record 27 of our Juniors were selected to represent Warwickshire. With the seemingly never ending XC season drawing to a close, 9 of our athletes were selected in the Warwickshire team at the Inter-Counties Championships. Alex Adams won a superb bronze medal in the U15 boys race despite being in the first year of his age group. There was also a top 20 finish for Georgie Campbell as well as superb performances all round. Over in Spain, Fern Hordern was once again competing for Great Britain in the ETU duathlon Championships, while closer to home the triathlon season got underway with gold medals for Charly Marshall and James Mucklow in the opening fixture of the 2020 Midlands Triathlon Series. Senior member Vicky Sharpe made her aquathlon debut in Tewksbury and Graham Hill and Adrian Mason were competing in the Burghley 7 road race and Draycote Water 20 mile race respectively. There's a mouthwatering week ahead, with the Teddy Hall relays happening as I type, there will be a presentation to our hugely successful junior XC team members on Thursday evening in the pavilion - there will be cake ! At the weekend it is the English Schools Cross Country Championships at Liverpool, which is probably the highlight of the junior XC season. We have 20 of our juniors in the Warwickshire and Gloucestershire schools teams, which is the most ever. It's also the Banbury 15 and Ashby 20 and I daresay several other events I'm not aware of. If you are competing at the weekend, I wish you every success but most of all, remember to enjoy yourselves. Best Wishes David Jones. Paula Williams' haul of championship medals. Two Golds and three Silvers. Peter Coote Brothers in Arms - Phil Brennan and David Jones. British Masters Championships. Report - Peter Coote Three British…