Southern Athletics League: Colchester

Colchester Harriers had a fantastic start to the season at the first Southern Athletic league that was held at Colchester. After a closely fought battle during the afternoon, the hosts finally achieved a victory by the narrowest of margins, one point.


The team of men achieved some amazing results with lots of new youngsters making their way into the team for the first time

The day started off with the men’s High Jump, where two Under 17 men were making their debut in the Senior League, Max Williams jumping 1.50m and Jake Young clearing 1.45m and Young then went on to run the 800m in 2m 09secs before taking part in the relays.

Rob Earle started the throws off, along side Matt Rose, tackling the shot taking 2nd and 3rd placings, with throws of 12.57m and 9.71m respectively. Earle then moved on to his main event, the Hammer throw where he also took 2nd position with a throw of 51.79m.

In the 400m hurdles Matt Rose ran 59.5secs and Rob Smith whose time was 60.1secs scored good points and both of them tackled the 110m hurdles later in the afternoon, Rose pleased with his 15.8secs time and Smith coming first in the B race.
The sprinters had a busy day, with Joe Wilkin and James Grant sprinting the 100m and 200m and both of them jumping the Long Jump, Wilkin very pleased with his 11.3sec 100m time.

In the 400m races, Conner Oliver took on the A string running 50.3secs while Oscar Dawson ran his first ever 400m in the B race clocking 54.9secs and making the team for the first time .

Anthony Barraclough ran 2min 03sec in the 800m and Jordon Rowe, along with Darren McGill, ran the 1500m Rowe taking 2nd in 4min 0secs and Darren 3rd place in 5min 06secs.

The experienced Chris Sellens took time out of his marathon training to run 5000m in 16min 19secs with the ever present Colin Ridley whose time was 17min 16.7secs.

The 2000m Steeplechase was run by Rob Smith 7min 03ses and Dave Wright 8min 03secs, taking 3rd and 1st place.

Tom Mitchell & Jordan Fester threw the Javelin with Mitchell throwing the wining throw of 47.92m and Fester making his debut claiming 3rd place with 36.33m.

Mitchell also threw the Discus 25.17m for 3rd and Matt Rose 30.08m.


The afternoon was also an opportunity for our young up and coming female athletes to step up into senior competition and they did not disappoint.

Philippa Davenall (U17) got the team off to fantastic start with a personal best (PB) and senior club record in the hammer of 46.57. Despite competing with heavier senior elements, she also secured 2 first places in the B string shot and discus with 9.01m and 29.76m (another PB). Yasmin Othman (U17) in her senior debut secured 1st place and PB in the B-string javelin with 27.95m.

Not to be outdone, Rebecca Jeggo (U17) also competing in this competition for the first time, ran 12.8 and 25.6 in the 100m and 200m. She also recorded a PB and first place in the long jump of 5.33m. Millie Belbin (U17) also stepped up, to secure valuable points in the 200m and triple jump, where she jumped 9.56m. KJ Watts (U20) ran aggressively to achieve 2nd place in her 800m race.

The field event athletes excelled in their respective events, including Catherine Holdsworth who achieved 2 victories in the B hammer (38.26m) and high jump as well 2nds in javelin and shot putt. She was supported by Nicola Martell-Smith who also won her high jump competition having already won the 400mH in her best time for several years of 64.9 and running 16.2 over 100mH. Heather Rose also secured 2 victories in the 400mH and the 400m, in the latter running 59.6.

Jade Morgan and Kelly Sutton achieved second place in the triple jump (11.60) and 100m (12.4) respectively, while Kathryn Hart was close to her best with 30.31m in the discus.

The longer distance races amassed the team maximum points. Heidi Steele in the 3000m and Ella Neale in the 2000m S/C were competing over those distances for the first time and managed 11.35.1 and 8.40.0 respectively. Nicola Rogers meanwhile stamped her authority of the field with a victory in the steeplechase by over a minute in 7.31.2 while Sam Hart ran the 3000m in 12.34.0. Neale had a busy day also appearing in the 400m (3rd) and 800m (1st).

The 1500 saw more spirited performances with Denise Morley finished 3rd in the A string and Rebecca Cooke supporting with a B string victory.


The day culminated in the relays, with 2nd in the 4×100 and victory in the 4×400.


Final scores:

Colchester Harriers 197

Nene Valley Harriers 196

City of Norwich 159

Thames valley Harriers 145

Jordon Rowe - 1500m

Nicola Rogers - Steeplechase

James Grant - 200m

Rebecca Jeggo - 200m