2024 Annual Review - (Part 1)
This review covers the first 6 months of another fantastic year for the Club with National Medalists, retaining our Senior Women’s and Overall Met League Titles
January 2024
Senior Men showing off their Horsenden Hill Mud
The Howard William’s Met League Trophy
Seyfu Jamaal clinched the Serpentine New Year 10k victory, followed by Kader Seyed in second place.
James Hurrell secured 4th place at the British Masters 10 mile Championships.
Adrian Essex and Adrian Day both established new club Master's records in the 300m at Lee Valley, while David Baah-Okyere set a new U20M 800m indoor record.
The club enjoyed success at the Middlesex XC Championships in muddy Horsenden Hills. The U20 Men and U15 Girls won their categories, both Senior teams placed second, as did the U11 Girls, and the U13 Boys took third. Individually, Rory Willis (U13B) and Amy Kirk (U15G) each earned third place.
Sam Brown broke the U17M 400m record with a time of 50.32s at Lee Valley which he followed by taking the Silver Medal at the South of England Indoor Championships,. Also at the Southern Champs Gabriel Edwards (U13B) and Montana Dennis (U17M) both finished third in the 60mH.
The year's first Met League event was held at Welwyn, where the Senior and Junior Women's teams triumphed, and the Senior Men and U13 Boys both came in third. Amy Kirk (U15G) and Rebecca Bunting (SW) also secured third place in their respective races.
The month concluded with the South of England XC Championships at Beckenham Palace Park, where the U15 Girls team finished fourth, the Senior Women sixth, and the Senior Men tenth.
February
Andy Barnes led the team at the Chingford League in Epping Forest.
Trey Corlis set a new Club U20M record in the 60mH at the London Indoor Games.
Rory Willis (U13B) placed sixth at the Cross Challenge at Parliament Hill.
In February, Andy Barnes finished third in the Watford Half Marathon, while Sarah Swinhoe was the first woman to finish, followed by Chloe Wilkinson in second.
The club hosted the NWLL XC League race on Hampstead Heath's Extension, with victories for the U15 Boys and Girls teams. The U11 Girls, U17 Women, and U13 Boys teams were runners-up, and the U17 Men's team came in third. Sam Turner won the U15 Boys race, and Charlie Nicolson (U13B).
Joseph Young ran a PB at the Armagh International 5km while Gavin Evans was the third V60 finisher at the Bramley 20
The Met League reached it’s muddy climax at Trent Park with wins from the Senior Women and 3rd Place for the Men resulting in the Club retaining the Howard Williams Overall Club title with the Senior Women taking the title for the 6th consecutive year. The Junior Women won their Age Group.
3 Young Heathsiders competed at the England Championships with Gabriel Edwards and Montana Dennis both making their finals in the 60m Hurdles.
It was a busy month for our Masters athletes. In Sheffield, Adrian Essex won gold in the V70 Men's Pentathlon at the British Masters Championships. Mike Salousti, Israel Nworgu and Adrian Day medalled at the Vets AC Indoor Championships and followed that at the British Masters Indoor Championships where Adrian Essex, Adrian Day and Israel Nworgu all medalled and then both Adrian’s then won medals at the English Masters Championships.
March
Preparations for the Spring Marathons were well underway. Rebecca Bunting set a new club Half marathon record of 75 minutes 40s at Paddock Wood. Twenty Heathsiders competed at the Cambridge Half with Seyfu 2nd with a time of 65 mins. At the London Half Marathon Jordan Marshall was 5th. Damien Lane set a new V55 Marathon record of 2 hours 46 mins 32 s in Tokyo.
George Saint (U20M) won the Regents Park 10km while Peter Gould was 5th at the Hillingdon 20.
Sadly the National Cross Country Championships in Weston Park, Telford were cancelled with less than 24 hours notice due to waterlogged car parks. However a week later 10 Heathsiders competed for Middlesex at the Inter-Counties Championships in Nottingham.
The Club’s youngsters secured the overall club title at the last NWLL XC League in Brent Park, Hanwell with Sam Turner winning the U17M.
In the climax of the Cross Country season 6 Young Heathsiders took part in the English Schools XC Championships in Pontefract with Amy Kirk our highest finisher in 39th in the Inter Girls race.
The Club had a stellar Middlesex Indoor Championships winning 11 Golds, 11 Silver and 5 Bronze medals with 4 new club records and Sam Brown setting a new Championship Best Performance in the U17M 400m of 50.10s.
April
Rebecca Piggott set a new club 10km record of 35 mins 44s at Battersea Park. Elsewhere Seyfu won the Hastings Half Marathon. While Deng Akol set a big PB finishing 12th in the Brighton Marathon. Chris Hartley set a new 5km V60 club record at the Last Friday of the month 5k in Battersea. Peter Gould finished 2nd at the Boston (Lincs) Marathon in a time of 2 hrs 31 mins 53s.
62 Heathsiders took part in the TCS London Marathon, Rebecca Bunting and Sarah Swinhoe set new club age group records as well as with Rebecca Piggott wining the Team Marathon title. 25 Young Heathsiders took part in the Mini Marathon.
The Outdoor Track Season recommenced with Helena Stone opened her para-athlete season with a new 100m PB of 19.19s while Elkie Baker set a new U17W Discus Club record of 35.36m at Parliament Hill.
The club hosted the season’s first MYAL finishing in 2nd place overall with 6 event wins and 3 new club records set by Christopher Bage (U15B JT), Tilly Lachmann (U15G PV) and Nicole Stewart (U17W PV).
The combined Highgate Heathside team finished in 4th place at the YDL meeting in Woodford with 6 event wins.
May
Sion Lewis represented Wales in the Welsh Masters team which took on England over 10km in the Great Birmingham Run Day.
Richard Macauley was 3rd with a 26 mins 34s PB at the Veterans AC 5 mile championships in Battersea.
Tony Killilea set a V60 1500m Steeple chase record in Bury St Edmunds with a time of 6 mins 2.29 s
Heathsider’s bagged 34 medals at the County Championships at Lee Valley with 19 crowned County Champions. Ivy Paitoo (U15G SP) and Suraya Frost (U17W 80mH) set new club records. The Club finished 2nd in the medal table.
The Seniors kicked off the Southern Athletics Season at Finsbury Park earning a well deserved win.
The 2nd MYAL again saw the Club finish 2nd with 4 event wins and Ivy Paitoo setting a nw U15G Hammer record.
In the UYDL in Basildon the club finished 3rd with 6 event wins and Sam Turner setting a new U17M club record in the Steeplechase and the U17M 4x400m setting a new club record mark of 3:45.08.
Helena Stone went under the 19s mark at the Stratford Speed festival.
Trey Corlis set a new U20M 110mH record of 14.53s at the Chelmsford Hurdlesfest.
Rebecca Bunting was 4th and 1st woman at the South Downs 40km. Rebecca Marshall was 5th at the Panopticons Ultra in Lancashire.
Seyfu, Dion and Kader all produced high placed finishes at the Great Manchester Half marathon/10k.
James Hurrell was 4th at the Serpentine last friday of the month race.
June
Trey Corlis won a bronze and set a new club record in the U20M 110mH at the Southern Senior/U20 T&F Championships.
Mike Stocks and Damien Lake took part in the Comrades Marathon in South Africa
Heathside athletes competed in Middlesex, Essex and London County Schools Championships saw 6 win County School titles.
The 3rd MYAL took place in Harrow, the team again finished 2nd with 8 event wins and Elkie Baker setting a new League best in the U17W Discus with 37.97m.
Kader Seyed won the Tottenham Ten Km in a time of 34 mins 39s.
Peter Gould was 1st at the Chiltern Ridge Half Marathon
At the Southern Schools Inter-county meeting Rosa Cormacain set a new U15G 1500m record of 4:47.21. Sam Turner improved his 1500m SC record with Elkie Baker winning the IG Discus with 38.17m a new PB and Club record.
The Club held part 1 of the Club T&F Championships at Finsbury Park.
The 2nd SAL match took place in Stevenage saw another win with 5 event wins.
Kim Butler organised another highly enjoyable Finsbury Park 5000s with over 200 entrants for the 7 5000m races.
Martin Potter was 12th in the Trent Park Triffic Trail. Andy barnes was 7th in the Ranleigh Harriers 10km and james Hurrell 7th in the Dashing Deer 5km.
The last YDL match was held at Mile End with 5 event wins finishing 4th but securing 3rd place overall in the league.
Rebecca P, Rebecca B and Sarah with their Gold Medals
April
SAL Team at Finsbury Park
Rebecca Piggott set a new club 10km record of 35 mins 44s at Battersea Park. Elsewhere Seyfu won the Hastings Half Marathon. While Deng Akol set a big PB finishing 12th in the Brighton Marathon. Chris Hartley set a new 5km V60 club record at the Last Friday of the month 5k in Battersea. Peter Gould finished 2nd at the Boston (Lincs) Marathon in a time of 2 hrs 31 mins 53s.
62 Heathsiders took part in the TCS London Marathon, Rebecca Bunting and Sarah Swinhoe set new club age group records as well as with Rebecca Piggott wining the Team Marathon title. 25 Young Heathsiders took part in the Mini Marathon.
The Outdoor Track Season recommenced with Helena Stone opened her para-athlete season with a new 100m PB of 19.19s while Elkie Baker set a new U17W Discus Club record of 35.36m at Parliament Hill.
The club hosted the season’s first MYAL finishing in 2nd place overall with 6 event wins and 3 new club records set by Christopher Bage (U15B JT), Tilly Lachmann (U15G PV) and Nicole Stewart (U17W PV).
The combined Highgate Heathside team finished in 4th place at the YDL meeting in Woodford with 6 event wins.
May
Sion Lewis represented Wales in the Welsh Masters team which took on England over 10km in the Great Birmingham Run Day. In Battersea Richard Macauley was 3rd with a 26 mins 34s PB at the Veterans AC 5 mile championships. James Hurrell was 4th at the Serpentine last friday of the month race.
Rebecca Bunting was 4th and 1st woman at the South Downs 40km while Rebecca Marshall was 5th at the Panopticons Ultra in Lancashire.
Seyfu, Sion and Kader all produced high placed finishes at the Great Manchester Half marathon/10k.
Tony Killilea set a Club V60 1500m Steeplechase record in Bury St Edmunds with a time of 6 mins 2.29 s
Heathsider’s bagged 34 medals at the County Championships at Lee Valley with 19 crowned County Champions. Ivy Paitoo (U15G SP) and Suraya Frost (U17W 80mH) set new club records. The Club finished 2nd in the medal table behind Shaftesbury Barnet
The Seniors kicked off the Southern Athletics Season at Finsbury Park earning a well deserved win.
The 2nd MYAL again saw the Club finish 2nd with 4 event wins and Ivy Paitoo setting a new U15G Hammer record.
In the UYDL in Basildon the club finished 3rd with 6 event wins and Sam Turner setting a new U17M club record in the Steeplechase and the U17M 4x400m team setting a new club record mark of 3:45.08.
Helena Stone went under the 19s mark at the Stratford Speed festival.
Trey Corlis set a new U20M 110mH record of 14.53s at the Chelmsford Hurdlesfest.
June
Seyfu finishing the Finsbury Park 5000s
Mike Stocks and Damien Lake took part in the Comrades Marathon in South Africa.
Kader Seyed won the Tottenham Ten Km in a time of 34 mins 39s while Peter Gould was 1st at the Chiltern Ridge Half Marathon
Trey Corlis won a bronze and set a new club record in the U20M 110mH at the Southern Senior/U20 T&F Championships.
Heathside Athletes competed in Middlesex, Essex and London County Schools Championships saw 6 win County School titles.
The 3rd MYAL took place in Harrow, the team again finished 2nd with 8 event wins and Elkie Baker setting a new League best in the U17W Discus with 37.97m.
At the Southern Schools Inter-county meeting Rosa Cormacain set a new U15G 1500m record of 4:47.21. Sam Turner improved his 1500m SC record with Elkie Baker winning the IG Discus with 38.17m a new PB and Club record.
The Club held part 1 of the Club T&F Championships at Finsbury Park.
The 2nd SAL match took place in Stevenage saw another win with 5 event wins.
The last YDL match was held at Mile End with 5 event wins finishing 4th but securing 3rd place overall in the league.
Kim Butler organised another highly enjoyable Finsbury Park 5000s with over 200 entrants for the 7 5000m races.
Martin Potter was 12th in the Trent Park Triffic Trail. Andy Barnes was 7th in the Ranleigh Harriers 10km and James Hurrell 7th in the Dashing Deer 5km.
That completes the first half of 2024 Part 2 covers the remainder of the Summer and the new XC season.