Female side romp to opening Southern League victory!!!
Reading Athletic Club's Junior and Senior girls combined with devastating effect this past Saturday with the opening fixture of the Premier Division of the Southern Women's track and field league, as they contested their opening fixture at High Wycombe. The day was near perfect conditions, all bar a very blustery wind that swirled around the open track, which made some of the performances all the more impressive, which included Amy Holder equalling her own club record in the pole vault.

In the senior ranks, it was a case of the team captains leading by example. Senior Captain Shelley Bowen did just that in 2 very contrasting sprint races. In the 100m she held her nerve and held her form well in a close race to take victory in a fast 12.1. Later on she then ran a blistering 200m and was never challenged as she run a comfortable gun to tape effort of 25.2. Under 20 captain, Pippa Rogan was also on winning form as she opened her day with a personal best in winning the senior b-string long jump with 4.99m, before going on to win the high jump competition with a 1.61m leap. It was then left to U17 captain, Danni Opara to claim her victory with a personal best as she comfortably won the shot with a throw of 11.89m, having earlier took 2ndB in the hammer at the start of the day.

Elsewhere in the senior ranks, Rachel Phillips showed a good turn of speed in the 3k to come through and win, although letting a slight gap open in the final stages, she showed enough sense and composure to push hard in the final 250m and won the race with a time of 10.43.6. Charlotte Webb was in top form also as she turned in a very good discus competition with a winning effort of 33.88m. There was also some notable b-string victories. Cerys Aicken, in only her 2nd 400m race, comfortably won with 63.7. Hayleigh Wood took 1stB in the 800m event, Lee Fellowes ran 18.1 in winning the b-string 100mh, April Taylor made sure of a high jump double when winning the high jump b-string, Natalie Cawthorne leapt 2.30m for pole vault victory, Julie Wilson produced 2 b-string victories in the shot and discus events, whilst Georgina Westwood claimed a b-string victory in the javelin. Other noteable performances saw Sarah Heyworth 3rdB in the 100m, Zara Bennett come through for 2ndB in the 200m. Beki Taylor ran a fast 61.0 in windy conditions for 2ndA in the 400m. Hayley Pearce was also 2nd in the 800m event. Sue Francis and Nicky Cooke both took 2nd in their strings of the 1500m. Debbie Taylor did likewise in the 3000m.
Amy Holder's 2.80m in the pole vault saw her take 2ndA. Anna Williams ran 2 personal bests, in the 300mh and 80mh, gaining 4th and 3rd respectively. Meryl Austin competed in her first competition for 10 months and still showed what an asset she is to the team with a very good 10.21m effort for 3rdA, whilst Laura Pearce threw a season's best 29.33m for 2ndA. Non-Scoring wise, Lukesha Morris romped to a 12.4 clocking, with Zara Bennett clocking a good 13.1. Andi Curson came out on top of the Reading trio in the 800m, with Lucy Daniels and Charlotte Phillips close behind. Sian Wakerley leapt up to 2.30m in the pole vault, with Sarah Bishop setting a new personal best of 2.20m.

The U15 girls more than matched their senior counterparts with 11 victories in their age group. The sprint squad for this age group is more than healthy and that was displayed in the 2 sprint races. Depsite being in the first month of competition, Jess Gilkes has already gone under that elusive 13 second barrier as she looked very impressive when taking victory in a time of 12.9. Amber McDonnell continues to show huge progress and she herself clocked a personal best time of 13.3 for 2ndB. In the 200m, Katie Hannawin showed her class and gave a composed performance when winning in a very good 26.7, whilst Rebecca Laing continues to gain valuable experience as she took 2ndB in the 200m with a pb of 27.7.
Georgia Walton and Alice Milsom cut dominant figures in the 800m race. Both girls were far too good for the rest of the field and their confident racing approach payed dividends. Georgia finished strong to win in 2.31.0 whilst Alice pushed her hard with a time of 2.34.0 for 1stB.
As expected the throws squad weighed in with some heavy scoring. Becky Keating took victory in the shot with 9.05m, with Amy Herrington taking 1stB with a throw of 8.69m. Becky then joined Katherine West in the javelin, where again Reading scored maximum points, Katherine winning the event, with Becky 1stB. Becky then completed her 3rd throw of the day with 2ndB in the discus, with Amy Herrington taking 2ndA with 22.22m.
Freya Tubb produced a very timely return to form, her day began with a victory in a close fought high jump competition with a season's best of 1.50m, whilst later on she leapt out to a personal best of 4.86m for 2ndA in the long jump. An event in which Nicole Harkness also leapt to a new personal best with a very good 4.46m for b-string victory, before later going on to take 3rdA in the 75mh with a season's best of 13.2, with Melissa Lowe running a good b-string race in a time of 14.3. Katherine West was 4thA with Lauren Herrington 2ndB in the 1500m. Whilst Mollie Pritchard gained 3rdB in the high jump. Non-Scoring wise Abi Froud ran a decent 800m race with a season's best, Lydia Blythe ran a new pb, just ahead of Lois Meredith.
4 U13 athletes also came along for valuable experience amongst older athletes and they did very well. Phoebe Thomas was the pick of the bunch in the 100m with a very impressive 13.8 clocking. Rebecca Ryan looked good in running 14.0. Madeline Ham was not far behind in 14.3 with Leonie Bennett  clocking 14.4. However Leonie got the better in the long jump as she topped the Reading girls with a 3.86m effort. Rebecca leapt 3.51m, Phoebe 3.47m and Madeline 2.95m, whilst Amy Herrington also took part, leaping out to 3.82m. The 4 U13 girls then combined for a non-scoring relay and was placed with the other 4 clubs in match 2 and ended up coming back in 2nd position overall!
The relays proved a good way to round of the day's events and the club completed a clean sweep. The senior 4x100 squad of Lee Fellowes, Lukesha Morris, Zara Bennett and Shelley Bowen were never troubled as they took victory in a fast 50.3. The U15 team were also as impressive. Led off by Rebecca Laing, followed by a good back straight from Jessie Gilkes, a good top bend from Amber McDonnell and and storming anchor leg from Katie Hannwin saw them take victory. Finally completing the clean sweeo were the 4x400 team. Beki Taylor got them underway and put her team in the lead, Rachel Phillips extended that lead, whilst Hayley Pearce proceeded to only extend that. Cerys Aicken then showed good composure to hold that lead from a very fast Wycombe athlete behind, as she took victory with 30m to spare.
A great start to the league campaign on a day where the team benefitted for the superb blend of youth and experience in their team that saw them take victory by a comfortable 41 point winning margin.

Jonny brings winter season to fine close at London Mini Marathon!
Jonny Davies continued  his fine end of season form over the road and cross county when finishing 8^th in the London Mini marathon on Sunday 17 April. Representing the South East and the eventual team winners ,Jonny ,despite being in the bottom year had a great run and this time outkicked James McMurray the English schools cross country champion who had narrowly defeated Jonny in the recent English and British schools cross country championships.  Jonny’s time of 14.55secs  for 3 miles was also nearer 70secs faster than his performance on the same course last year.  As he moves to the top year U17s for the track season now, Jonny is on’ track’ to rate highly in the UK rankings across a range of events and possibly break some of the club’s long standing records in middle distance''

In a midweek Watford meeting Carl Bradbury set a personal best of over 30 secs in easily winning the 3000 metres in 8mins 37 seconds . Luke McCare set a PB in the B race with 9mins .42 secs