Seyfu Jamaal takes one-mile bronze on home track

Heathside hosted the Golden Stage Mile at our Finsbury Park track on Saturday, with Seyfu Jamaal taking third spot in a PB time of 4:22 while Angela Pollitzer broke the club’s V70 women’s record in 9:48 and promising junior Fred Beale (U17) came second in his race in 4:58.4. Brogan Wallace was the third woman in an open 800m race at the Linford Christie Stadium in a nifty 2:18.3 while Simon Schupbach was the third man in a PB time 1:56.59. There were first places for Madeleine Minson, Helene (Mary) Kehoe, Maria Fiorella Brancato and Adrian Essex in the Vet League meeting in Stevenage. Michael Kennedy came 8th in a 12-hour endurance race in Crawley and Marco Serena came third in a 10k at Queen Elizabeth Park.

Golden Stag Mile, Finsbury Park, Saturday July 3

 Simon Baker reports that Barnet and District held their annual Golden Stag Mile meeting at Finsbury Park at the weekend with 14 races graded races held over the classic distance with 23 Heathsider taking part.  In what turned into a lovely summers afternoon Taha Ghafari of Highgate Harriers with 4:19.3 was the fastest on the day with Hannah Viner of Highgate the fastest women with 4:48.7 a new meeting record. The meeting is also notable for Eva Barton (West Suffolk) and Jorja Marsh (Barnet) recording the 5th and 6th fastest all time U13G mile times with 5:20.1 and 5:21.4 respectively. On a Heathside front Julia Kelk set a new Club VW40 mile record with 5:47.5.

In the final race Seyfu took the pace out hard initially with Jem tucked in behind but Taha took the lead.  Seyfu was 2nd coming into the home street only to be caught by Elias Ahmed (ESM). Elsewhere Melvin Lewis, Rachel Rosenthal and Dillon Aujla won their respective races, Fred Beale was 2nd and Sam Turner and Chris Vincent. Julia Kelk was the fastest female Heathsider with Angela Pollitzer setting a new Club V70 record.

Although a Barnet Meeting thanks should go to meeting manager Chris Hartley for sorting logistics on the day ensuring everyone got home in time for the football.  Thanks to Zac for valiantly trying to get the photo-finish working and also to Ivor, Jonathan, Tom and Simon who helped with officiating. Photos can be found and purchased from Leonardmartin.photo

Results
R2
3rd Sam Turner (U13B) 5:33.0 PB
9th Ben Ryan (U15B) 6:00.8 PB
10th Arun Aujla (U15B) 6:04.0 PB
11th Thomas Conley (U15B) 6:09.1 PB
R3
7th Koppany Szentes (U13B) 5:27.9 PB 6th fastest by U13B nationally
8th Edward Metcalf (U13B) 5:28.6 PB 7th fastest by U13B nationally
13th Eric Beale (U15B) 5:45.0 PB
R4
14th Angela Pollitzer (VW70) 9:48.1 PB New Club VW70 Record
R6

1st Rachel Rosenthal 5:57.7 PB
11th Jessica Vinluan (VW40) 6:14.3 PB
R7
1st Melvin Lewis (V40) 5:22.7 PB

13th Paul Tonkinson (V50) 6:23.8
R8
8th Julia Kelk (V40) 5:47.5 PB New Club VW40 Record
R9
3rd Chris Vincent (V40) 5:14.3 PB
8th Julian Badger (V55) 5:24.7 PB
11th Tony Killilea (V55) 5:28.4 PB
R10
2nd Fred Beale (U17M) 4:58.4 PB
R11
7th Joseph McKeown (V35) 5:01.0
R12
2nd James Hurrell (V35) 4:38.2 PB
R13
4th Roni Kizilkaya (U17M) 4:39.9 PB
9th Simon Lewis (V35) 4:43.3 PB
R14
3rd Seyfu Jamaal 4:22.0 PB
5th Jem O’Flaherty 4:31.7 PB
6th James Wooldridge 4:34.2 PB

TVH and BMC Open, Linford Christie Stadium, Wednesday July 7
Three Heathsiders ran excellent 800s at this open meeting at the Linford Christie Stadium on Monday. Simon Schupback put in an excellent PB of 1:56.59 to take third place among the men while Brogan Wallace was a mere second off her PB in 2:18.30, also giving her third place. Lily Woolcock ran 2:23:95 to take seventh place (also a second off her PB).

800m
R3 7th Lily Woolcock (SW) 2:23.95
BMC B 3rd Simon Schupbach 1:56.59 PB
BMC F 3rd Brogan Wallace (SW) 2:18.30

Southern Counties Veterans League (Herts & Middlesex Division), Stevenage, Monday July 5

Thirteen aged Heathsiders trekked to Stevenage on a muggy and then rainy Monday night to take part in the first Vets League fixture of the Covid era. Because of Covid, there will be only three meetings, so they are all classed as ‘friendlies’ rather than counting towards a regional competition. Perhaps for this reason, it was lower key than usual.

There were a number of age category first places: Madeleine Minson won the V35 long jump despite being a V50 (3.12m); Helene (Mary) Kehoe won the V50 shotput (7.46m); Maria Fiorella Brancato won the V35 discuss (15.43m) and also anchored our women to a second place in the 400m relay; Adrian Essex won the V70 hammer throw (28.1m). And there was at least one PB – Newcomer to the vet scene, Matt Beard, ran 4:59.3 in the V50 1500 (and also did the 400m, 100m and 4x100m relay).

Matt was one of several Heathsiders who spread themselves wide for the sake of the team. Mark Jefford did the same four events as Matt while Sue Eedle did five (100m, 1500m, 4x100 relay, long jump and discuss).  

Adrian Essex adds:

A special mention for debutante Angela Pullitzer (V70) taking part in her first ever track and field meeting.

A mention also for Sue Eedle (V60) who serenely made her way from age group to age group and event to event, on the way recording a PB and club record in the long jump, and finishing off with a relay leg.

Results

100m

M35 3rd Matt Beard (V50) 14.9

M40 5th Mark Jefford (V55) 13.9

M50 2nd Stuart Amblin (V50) 13.9

M50 4th Steve Crowley (V50) 16.3

M60 6th Gavin Evans (V60) 17.9

M70 3rd Adrian Essex (V70) 15.7

W60 4th Sue Eedle (V60) 19.2

W70 3rd Angela Pollitzer (V70) 22.6

400m

M35 4th Mathew Beard (V50) 69.4

M40 3rd Mark Jefford (V55) 65.5

M50 4th Tony Killilea (V50) 62.8

1500m

M50 Matt Beard 4:59.3

M50 Gavin Evans (V60) 5:16.5

M35/M40 7th Mark Jefford (V55) 5:17.6

M60/M70 5th Pete Crockford (V60) 5:28.7

M60/M70 11th Adrian Essex (V70) 6:57.3

1500w

Sue Eedle (V60) 6:42.5

Angela Pollitzer (V70) 8:30.5

4x100m

Men 5th London Heathside 58.4 (Matt Beard, Mark Jefford, Stuart Amblin, Tony Killilea)

Women 2nd London Heathside 71.5 (Helene Kehoe, Sue Eedle, Madeleine Minson, Maria Fiorella Brancato)

Shot Put

W35 4th Maria Fiorella Brancato (V40) 5.77m

W50 1st Helene Kehoe (V50) 7.46m

W50 3rd Madeleine Minson (V50) 6.99m 

V50 4th Stuart Amblin (V50) 7.94m

Hammer

V70 1st Adrian Essex (V70) 28.1m 

Long Jump

W35 1st Madeleine Minson (V50) 3.12m

W50 3rd Sue Eedle (V60) 2.82m (PB & club record)

Discus

W50 3rd Helene Kehoe (V50) 13.96m

W35 1st Maria Fiorella Brancato (V40) 15.43m

W60 6th Sue Eedle (V60) 12.03m

Crawley 12-hour endurance race, Crawley, Saturday/Sunday July ¾

Michael Kennedy completed the Crawley 12hr track race. Here’s his report

‘What involves one man (well technically many men and women), over 2 days, 3 directional changes, and a 400m athletics track? The Crawley 12-hour ultrarace.

‘Starting at 8 pm on Saturday evening and finishing at 8 am on Sunday morning, a cohort of ultrarunners set off on a 12-hour emotional rollercoaster. The concept is simple but the realities of running around a 400m track (changing direction every four hours) are deceiving. Even with multiple ultra races under my belt, I struggled, in particular the vomiting, low blood glucose, pacing, torrential rain, and legs that didn't seem to want to move (but the mind was willing). 

‘No matter how disappointed I was with my performance, I left the track on my own power, completed the 12 hours (even if the last hour I completed only 800m), and refined my ultrarunning toolkit. I cannot thank Sarah and Tony Evans enough, from Wargrave Runners, for their excellent crewing and unwavering support throughout.

‘Overall, the event was extremely well organized and the track atmosphere with all the crews was unbelievable. I would recommend it to anyone with a free weekend!

Result

8th Michael Kennedy - 245 laps (61.25 miles) / 12 hours

Queen Elizabeth Park 10km, Stratford, Saturday July 3

Heathside veteran Marco Serena put in a quick 10k at Queen Elizabeth Park on Saturday, picking up the third place position in 37:42.

Result
3rd Marco Serena (V40) 37:42

Report by Gavin Evans, with big thanks, as always, to Simon Baker and also to Michael Kennedy and Zac