Latest News - October

18th October 2011

Reading Ac Athlete receives bursary from Accentuate!!

15 year old Sanjana Rachel Emmanuel (Rachel) has recently been awarded a £1000 athlete bursary from Accentuate. Rachel is one of many success stories from the national Playground to Podium (P2P) project which aims to identify and support young disabled athletes into sport. Rachel was identified by her school (Maiden Erlegh, Reading) as part of P2P and invited to attend the 2010 Berkshire County Athlete Assessment Day. At this event Rachel was assessed by England Athletics Disability Athletics Support Officer Liz Purbrick who identified her for follow up support. ‘With the help of volunteer coaches from local clubs we assessed Rachel and the other athletes in running, jumping and throwing. Rachel showed a good all round ability in all 3 areas as well as a desire to learn more and to improve.

Rachel was then supported to join Reading AC where she has been a member since January 2011 working with coach Kevin Boyle, ‘Rachel has fitted into the mainstream training group very well and is popular within the club. She shows great commitment to the sport and has always been willing to learn. She has made progress in her selected events: sprints and long jump, showing great determination. The bursary from Accentuate is a big help to her in meeting her sporting needs. This will contribute to her expenses in her kit, memberships, sporting fees, travel and stay. This has been a big encouraging and motivating factor.’ Rachel chose athletics because she feels that it helps to build the body and mind and brings out a positive personality. Athletics has given her an opportunity to travel to different places, meet many other athletes and coaches and this drives her to better her PB. After attending the AVIVA Parallel Success Coach and Athlete Days Rachel was classified as a T/F 46 and has competed in a number of competitions. In just one season Rachel has improved her P.Bs to s 15.62 s, 32.95 s and 3.89 m in 100m, 200m and LJ respectively. She has recently been invited to attend the UKA Talent I.D squad and we look forward to watching her progress in her athletics career. To find out more about disability athletics visit www.englandathletics.org/disabilityathletics or contact Liz Purbrick (Disability Athletics Support Officer, South East) lpurbrick@englandathletics.org, 07850514936.

Report courtesy of England Athletics Photos courtesy of Job King.

8th October 2011

Hannah and Jonny gain victories as cross country squad impress at opening league fixture!!

The crosscountry squad of Reading Athletic Club made a more than promising start to the 2011/2012 Hampshire League campaign, as they travelled to Farley Mount, Winchester for the opening match. Hannah Willis set a little bit of history as she became the first U13 athlete to win a race in this league, whilst Jonny Davies showed he will again be a hard person to beat over the country as he racked up a comfortable 10m victory in the U17 men's race. The U17 ladies also secured a team victory during the day, with 3 athletes in the top 8 places.
Female Report
Reading Athletic Club's female cross country squad enjoyed a promising opening fixture of the Hampshire League to give much optimism for the season ahead. The tone of the day was set in the very first race, with the U13 girls, ran over a challenging 3k course. Hannah Willis, off the back of a decent track season, went into the race one of the favourites for the race, Hannah showed a huge amount of maturity in her racing and from the starting whistle, she made a bee-line for the front, with 3/4 of the race gone, Hannah then began to move away from her nearest challengers and came through to take what was a comfortable victory in the end, making a little bit of history as the club's first winner of an U13 race in the Hampshire League and Reading's best placing in this age group since 2002 when current senior athletes, Amy Bond and Shirley-Ann Dix placed 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Katie Holt was equally as impressive and she showed the same qualities as Hannah as she too got involved in the leading group from the off and showed a great deal of mental strength in the final 200m to hold off the challenege behind her to claim a brilliant 3rd position. Completing the scoring team of 3, Kate McKim moved through the field and crossed the line in 23rd position, to give the girls 2nd in the team standings, just 4 points away from team winners, Aldershot. Grace Bedford also made her club debut over cross country and showed that she has potential to improve greatly with more training, as she finished a solid 45th.
The U15 girls produced a decent effort, they have a large squad of girls who are fairly evenly matched and the scoring 3 could have come from a huge number of the girls. There is a feeling that one or more of these girls could make a real breakthrough this season and Lauren Church signalled that she is prepared to do so this season with an impressive display, having really knuckled down in training the past few months, she deservedly led the U15 girls home with a strong second half display to finish in 21st position. Georgia Walton started strongly and although dropped back a bit towards the end, showed her strength over the longer distance is coming back, as she finished in 25th. Katherine West completed the scoring trio that finished 8th in a close fought team event. Lois Meredith finished strong, which should give her confidence to start stronger next time out, with Charlotte Tanner continuing to impress in her first actual cross country race for the club. Abi Froud also gave an encouraging display in this age group.
The U17 ladies provided the first team victory of the winter season in the Hampshire League with some strong packing. Cerys Aicken carried on where she left off from last country season as she showed some strong battling abilities, taking a well fought 4th place. Beki Taylor showed she still has that competitive fire in her and also the ability to make an impact this season, as she battled to 7th, Rosie Bishop was one behind in 8th and their team score of 19 saw them take victory in the team standing's. Emma Taylor gave an improved performance, whilst Abi Farnworth made her club debut in this event and showed more than enough qualities to suggest she will improve a great deal as the season progresses.

Reading Athletic Club’s ladies were looking for a good start to their league campaign. Rachel Phillips was well up after the first steep hill and maintained her position to lead her team home in 14^th place, an improvement of 10 places on last year. Julia Henderson, despite suffering from a heavy cold was next in 17^th which was good enough for 5^th under 20. Evergreen Sue Francis continued her exceptional early season form to lead home the Vets team, finishing 22^nd and 7^th Vet. The most determined effort of the day came from Shirley-Ann Dix, with a pleasing 30^th position, whilst packing well, Anna Boniface, Lucy Daniels and Julie Rayfield all ran strongly to claim 44^th, 46^th and 47^th places.

Jenny Prescott always performs well on a hilly course and warmed up for the Henley half marathon the next day by taking 56^th spot. Nicky Cooke was disappointed with 62^nd, but recent training results promise a much higher finish very soon. Andi Curson closed in the Vets team in 68^th and worked well with Hayley Randell who posted a much improved and encouraging 71^st. Caroline Stevens in 8oth was closely followed by Charlotte Phillips in 82^nd and Lee Fellowes, a 400 metres specialist was an impressive 85^th out of 124 runners. The Senior team finished a solid 4^th, which they will expect to improve upon at the next fixture at Goodwood, with some more key runners available. The Vets and under 20 team both did very well to finish joint 2^nd teams

Male Report
Reading Ac's male cross country squad enjoyed a fine day's results, where they too produced a winner as well as a 2nd place and 3rd place in the 3 youngest age groups. Jonny Davies carried on from his hugely successful track and field season as he ran a very controlled race in the U17 men's event. He showed that he is going to be a tough act to beat in this age group at any race this season, as he comfortably ran out the race winner by over 10m. This gave the team a perfect platform to build on, Ben Priddle was the 2nd Reading runner home in this age group with a 13th place finish. Nathan Meredith finished strong and ensured a top 20 finish as he crossed the line in 19th place to complete the scoring trio that secured 2nd in the team standing's. Elsewhere Charlie Oakley made his first cross country outing and enjoyed a finishing position of 36th.
In the youngest male age group, Issac Farnworth showed he too will figure at the front of races this season with a very impressive display to gain a brilliant 2nd position, just 6 seconds behind the leader. Michael Rawlings also showed his huge potential and will also figure near the top as the season progresses, he placed 10th in what was a strong showing from him. Completing the team was Ben Corless, who crossed the line in 19th position, this gave the lads 2nd in the team standing's, just a few positions away from the top spot, which they will surely challenge for this season. Michael Lennon just missed the scoring places, as he finished 21st. Paul Cook was the next Reading vest home in 28th, Jack Kenyon was 4 places back in 32nd, with R Hallett crossing the line in 66th.
Callum Gregory was another top 3 finisher, taking 3rd in the U15 boys race, having showed good intentions in the early stages of the race. Matthew Rainbow gave a strong showing as he was next in 24th. It was then left to Elliott Morton to complete the scoring trio as he placed 41st, which gave them 5th in the team standing's.
Senior Team Manager, Ray Stevens, was hit with some misfortune, as an earlier accident on the M3, meant the ensuing delays robbed him of a few key members, including leading senior, Carl Bradbury. Which in turn left them one short of the required 5 for a scoring team. It was David Lewis who was tasked with leading the senior men home as he placed a promising 24th place in the race, also being the 7th U20 athlete to finish. Jack Gregory was soon hot on his heels, as he came back in 28th position. Jonny Roberts placed a very decent 35th to cross the line next, whilst fellow U20 Ed Stockdale was the final Reading runner home in 43rd position. Despite being one short, the en can take heart that a top 4 team placing was definately on the cards, which they will be looking for in the next round in a months time at Goodwood racecourse.

2nd October 2011

Senior Ladies gain silver and bronze medals at SEAA cross country relay race!!

On the hottest October day on record, Reading Athletic Club Senior Women scorched their way to team Silver and Bronze medals at the Southern Cross Country Relay Championships on Saturday.

Over a testing, baked hard 3Km course, set in the picturesque grounds of Shuttleworth Park in Biggleswade, the club was keen to improve on their previous best of 5^th , 11^th and 17^th positions for their 3 teams entered. Having studied the programme, Team Manager Caroline Stevens was quietly confident that a podium place for the A team was just possible.

Captain, Rachel Phillips started for the A team and took an early lead around 1km on the descent of the steep hill. She was passed at halfway, but ran with confidence and tenacity to handover just 11 seconds down on the leader in 11.34 – the 4^th fastest time of the day. Not far behind, Shirley- Ann Dix continued to develop her fitness with a pleasing 12. 20 clocking in 6^th place for the B team. Shirley is one of the most talented athletes in the club, and if she could overcome her injury niggles and get in a little more regular training, she would be very difficult to beat.

Andi Curson led off for the C team and after a steady start moved through with her customary surge to hand over in 8^th with 13.32.

On stage 2 Hayley Pearce, a self confessed 800 metre track specialist, ran a very strong race, to keep the A team in the medal hunt with 12.02 for 3^rd. Her time was joint 8^th fastest of the day. Nicky Cooke looked composed and controlled as she took the B team up a place to 5^th whilst recording 12.36.

Charlotte Phillips found the hot and oppressive conditions difficult, but battled well for the C team to come in 9^th with 14.19.

Final stage responsibility for the A team was left to the reliable and experienced feet of Sue Francis and excitement was high as she chased down and overtook the Belgrave team in 2^nd. Despite giving her all, Sue was not quite able to gain a decisive enough gap and was outsprinted in the last 100 metres by just 1 second, bringing the team home in 3^rd. Sue’s time of 12.02 was joint 8^th fastest of the day.

Meanwhile Anna Boniface had lifted the B team into 4^th with a much improved 12.53 and Lucy Daniels with her typical sprint finish brought the C team home in 8^th (13.01)

The day was made complete on learning that 2^nd placed Belgrave had run an ineligible runner on their final stage and could not count. Reading AC were therefore promoted to Silver and Bronze medals.

3 of Readings 9 runners went home without medals, but they were just as important and valued as those that did. This was one of the most enjoyable and deserving performances from the Senior Women who have worked so hard as a team for the last 4 years