The BRAT track & field team saved themselves from the threat of relegation on Saturday at Stoke by finishing in fifth place on the day, whilst Stoke could only manage second, which was not enough for them to save themselves.
In reality, we were always going to be fairly safe given that Halesowen had finished bottom in all three of the previous meetings and have struggled to get athletes out to compete but given that we only had eight women available again then there was still the feint possibility that we could still trip up.
Our winners on the day were Jonny Briggs (Discus A), Jack Vickery (Hammer B) and Hannes Petzer (Javelin A) and making her debut for the team, Sophie Dalley – welcome to the team Sophie.
In the end we finished third in the division but that only tells part of the story. At the halfway stage of the season we were in second place and promotion was a real possibility but a string of injuries to our already small women’s section meant that we were hanging on by the end.
Can I appeal to ALL female BRAT members to come along over the next few weeks and have a look at what we do on the athletics track. We meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30 to 8pm at the new uni track. Please come and have a chat to myself, Richard, Gordon, Mike or Ruth and let’s see if we can add a few more women to our squad for next season.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the team for their efforts this season, not just the athletes but all our officials and coaches who make all of this possible.
Nigel Clegg
BRAT Track & Field team manager
In action; Sophie in the hammer circle, Richard and Martin at the start of the steeplechase, Hannes throwing the javelin and Alexander in the pole vault.