A damp start but plenty to cheer for Harriers

The Nene Valley throwers made a big splash as the rain poured down at the Embankment on Sunday.

First place finishes and new personal bests showered down upon the club’s field athletes during the outdoor season’s curtain-raising Cambridgeshire Open Meeting.

The Geoff Capes coached brothers George and Kai Harrison had a day to remember with George winning the Under 15 hammer, discus and javelin, setting a personal best (PB) of 28.28m in the discus and 40.84m in the hammer.

Kai Harrison won the Under 20 javelin with a new best of 11.16m. He also came out on top in the discus.

Elizabeth Moorhouse also hit top form winning the Under 17 girls javelin, discus and hammer setting new bests at both discus and hammer.

There were also first places for Martin Tinkler, Lydia Church, Andrea Jenkins, Simon Achurch, William Kong and David Bush, while veteran Hazel Gering improved upon her previous best performances in the shot, discus and hammer.

Youngster Niamh Rushton threw a personal best 5.11m in the girls Under 15 shot and won her 200m race in 30.1, while Under 17 James Marsh won the ‘A’ 200m with 23.5.

Mia Drury and Tim Ford were victorious in their 100m races, with Under 15 Foord clocking a 12.6 PB.

Katie Marsh had a memorable day with PBs in both the 70m hurdles and long jump, while Matilda Halford (800m), Katie Calcutt (75m hurdles and long jump) and Tomi Ogunyoye (high jump) were also winners.

The highlight of the day for many was the clash between ace sprinters Sean Reidy and Dave Bush over the 400m hurdles. Reidy was triumphant in 57.7 seconds, but Bush was only a couple of strides behind in an event where Reidy has reigned supreme at Nene Valley for many years.

ON THE ROAD

Kirk Brawn of Peterborough AC shattered his marathon best by 15 minutes, finishing 65th at Manchester in a time of 2:42.54.

Hugh Burton has been a fixture in the Yaxley Runners team for many years, and is enjoying his best ever season as his 50th birthday looms. Burton also ran a big PB at Manchester with 3:16.47 clocking.

Peterborough AC’s James Skinner was sixth in the Sandy 10 in 59.32. Stamford’s Jim Morris was one place further back, taking the Over 50 prize.

Eye Community Runner James Borrett finished 15th in 1:00.27, while Nene Valley Over 50 Simon Bell finished 44th in 1:06.3, two places ahead of Bushfield veteran Paul Baxter.

Eye’s Samantha Cullen was fourth senior lady with a 1:07.41 clocking.

Former Nene Valley Harrier and Werrington Jogger John Herbert took second spot in the Bourne Woods 10k in 37.06. Simon Parkes of Nene Valley finished eighth with a time of 40.32.

Nene Valley’s Samuel Staines ran well taking third place in the junior 3k race.

Duane Tomaselli finished 16th in the Rutland Half-Marathon, crossing the line in 1:34.32.

Tomaselli enjoyed a good week of running, winning the Harrier League crown four days earlier, with Gary Parr of Eye finishing second. BRJ’s Ian Wilson was first over the line on the night in a time of 22.30, finishing third overall.

Nene Valley’s Harrison Miles ran the fastest time with a 17.06 clocking.

Tomi Ogunyoye was a winner for Nene Valley in the high jump.