PANVAC athletes endure a mixed day in Bedford

Peterborough & Nene Valley AC athletes experienced an afternoon of mixed fortunes in their National Athletics League Championship fixture at Bedford.

Despite being light on numbers they put in a spirited display, finishing fifth out of the eight teams.

Former English Schools Junior Champion and reigning Cambridgeshire County Champion Joel Grenfell won the long jump with a distance of 6.48m, while Angus Bowling was runner up in the pole vault with a personal best (PB) of 3.91m.

Dylan Phillips jumped to a big triple jump PB of 13.95m, finishing second. He also placed third in the high jump.

James McCrae took second place in the 1,500m while Simon Achurch and Dave Bush threw 12.25 and 11.58m to take second spot in the A and B shot. Achurch was also second in the hammer.

Andrea Jenkins and Lydia Church competed well in the throws with Church winning the B hammer with a 40.19m distance. Jenkins finished second in the A competition with a 44.25m throw. The pair both finished third in their shot competitions.

Elizabeth Taylor and Alexa Boole placed third in the A and B 400m, while Molly Peel clocked 4:56.50 for third in the 1,500m.

The club’s masters athletes made huge strides towards the finals of this year's Eastern Masters Track &

Field League with resounding wins at King’s Lynn.

With two out of four fixtures gone, PANVAC are dominating their qualification group in both men's and ladies competitions, and it's now highly unlikely anything could happen to hamper their progress to the finals.

Alison Dunphy starred for the ladies with wins in the over 50s 200m, 800m and

long jump. Dunphy won her 200m in a time of 32.7 and was joined as a winner by Claire Smith who clocked 28.0 in the over 35 race. Betty Gash won the over 60's 800m while Maggie Skinner was victorious in the 1.5km walk.

Away from the track Andrea Jenkins won both the over 35s shot with a throw of 8.41m, along with the javelin competition. Sally Pusey was first in the over 35s shot and Brenda Church won the over 60 javelin. Gemma Skills was successful in the over 35s pole vault and Judith Jagger scored well with second places in the over 60s 100m, 80m hurdles and long jump.

The men dominated the 800m races with wins for Dave Brown, Steve Harknett and Dave Knighton. Brown also won the over 35s 200m with a 24.1 clocking.

Tim Clough and Pete Brantom were the winning A and B athletes in the 1.5km walk.

Simon Achurch pulled off an over 35s shot and javelin double, throwing the javelin 41.75m. Kevin Bates was first in the over 60 shot.

Andrew Robson took over 50 long jump honours while Dave Knighton won the over 60 long jump.

The club’s Harry Hewitt ran a sub four minute 1,500m for the first time when clocking a race winning 3:59.48 in a British Milers Club meeting at Milton Keynes where Lottie Hemmings ran a 5:11.50 1,500m PB.

Donovan Capes and Becki Hall both placed second in the shot put competition at Bedford. Capes threw 16.07m to Hall's 11.86m.

Angus Bowling took second spot in the pole vault.