Strong efforts at the start of development competitions
YOUTH development league track and field athletics has begun for Burton’s young competitors.
In the upper age group, Burton came second in the first meeting in YDL Midlands North/east Division 1A, finishing behind a strong combined Coventry Godiva and Leamington team.
They are also up against Amber Valley & Erewash, City of Stoke, Derby AC, Leicester Coritanian, Stafford and Tamworth in the division.
Success in these competitions is not necessarily to do with club size and reputation but the number of athletes a club can field, filling events to score as many points as possible.
Burton, very strong in the throws department, had the most points in the field events but lost out on the track, without enough athletes to cover all the events.
The team registered 19 wins in different events, 12 personal bests and 10 season bests.
And there was good team spirit with several taking part in events they do not normally do and stepping up to complete relay teams.
The league consists of four meetings.
The next is at Stoke on Sunday, May 26 and Burton will host the third on Sunday, June 30.
Scores at Tamworth: 1 Coventry & Leamington 499 points, 2 Burton AC 400, 3 City of Stoke AC 337, 4 Tamworth AC 263, 5 Derby AC 251, 6 Amber Valley & Erewash AC 153, 7 Saffron AC 127, 8 Leicester Coritanian AC 120.0.
■■ THE lower age group competition often includes an opportunity to take part in competitive league athletics for the first time for Burton’s youngsters.
They travelled to Mansfield in Midlands North/east Division A and came third behind Amber Valley & Erewash and Mansfield Harriers but ahead of Derby, Rushcliffe and a Notts-lincs Alliance team.
Burton won 14 of the events, setting 33 PBS and seven season bests, setting the standard high, and the coaches were pleased to see athletes trying new events one after the other.
The second match in this competition is at Derby on Sunday, May 19. Burton are not scheduled to host any of the rounds.
Result: 1 Amber Valley & Erewash AC 426, 2 Mansfield Harriers 363, 3 Burton AC 330, 4 Derby AC 219, 5 Rushcliffe AC
194, 6 Nottslincs Alliance 31.