The sun shone brightly in Rugby on the opening day of the 2018 Midland Senior League.
I was somewhat concerned given the number of athletes missing, a combination of BUCS, Birmingham 10K and various injuries, plus several late withdrawals had weakened the team with everyone having to compete in more than one event – never ideal!
However I needn’t have worried as everyone performed out of their skin on the day and as a result the BRAT team ended up in third place overall.
Among the many highlights on the day were Becca Jones who competed in seven events, and Prince Ayeh, Katrina Walker, Jonny Briggs and Helen Pike who also took the ‘multi-events’ approach.
Winners on the day were Mario Juez (on his debut) who won both the 400 and 800 A races, Prince also did the double with the 110 hurdles A and Pole Vault B, Dan Robinson and Martin Matthews won the 5000 A and B races, Jack Vickery won the Hammer B, Naomi Johnson the 200 B and Alex Clegg who completed a hat-trick of victories; Long Jump A, Pole Vault A and 110 hurdles B.
The mens 4 x 400 relay teamed stormed to victory at the end of the day (Clegg, Juez, Colclough and Stolberg), our first win in that event in many years. The mens team accumulated 50 more points than their nearest rivals.
But surely the performance of the day has to go to Martin Ludford who came 4th in the steeplechase. What’s remarkable about that is that Martin now competes in the 60 plus age group and his time is the second fastest on the UK All Time ranking list for V60 athletes – a star is born!
Martin will be available for selfies at the next meeting on Saturday 2nd June in Worcester – please make yourselves available. Third place is a great start but in a division of only six with two up and two down, every single point will count.
Nigel Clegg
BRAT track & field team manager