Young Athletes League Shildon 1st June 2003

The Young Athletes League (YAL) has been reorganised this year with the old Boys and Girls Leagues combining. There are now a total of 144 events in one afternoon - 68 individual events (38 on the track and 30 in the field) all with A and B strings plus 8 relays. Junior athletics is probably the “greatest free show in town”, especially when the organising and officiating are both done right.

Match 2 in the YAL was at Stadium 2000, Shildon on Sunday 1st and Richmond and Zetland Harriers were up against Chester-le-Street, Durham, Jarrow, Sunderland and host Club Shildon. The sunniest of days was perfect for the sprinters, jumpers and throwers but the distance runners were left gasping. Having finished fifth in the opening fixture at the Riverside Stadium, Chester-le-Street in May, the Harriers needed a big effort to move from relegation threat to promotion challenge. Eighteen athletes across six age/gender categories wasn’t the biggest turn-out and, with a maximum of three events each, they had to make-up in quality what was missing in quantity.

Sam Stanislaus continued his winning ways with firsts in all three jumps including a massive 12m64 (31 feet 8 inches in old money) in the triple jump. Sam has put the multi-events on hold this summer to concentrate on his jumping and needs to find another 46cm (18 inches) to reach the English Schools qualifying standard - and break the Senior Men’s Club Record in the process! Jason Flannery was a double winner - as expected of the Yorkshire Champion in the 1500m but then, following his Dad’s example, in the Javelin, where injured runner Chris Andrade also won the B string. Nick Zissler showed a return to middle distance form with a win in the 800m - but then proved he’s not a sprinter. Jessie Roberts was the pick of the girls, showing her versatility with wins in the 1500m and Javelin and a second place in the Shot. Katie Roberts, friend not relative of Jessie, won the Discus and Jo Adams backed-up her teammates with B string wins in the Javelin and Discus. Rosie Adams, friend and younger sister of Jo, also made the winning list with success in the Shot.

RZH results: under 13 Girls - Rosie Adams Shot 6m62, 800m 2:42.3 & 150m 23.9; Francesca Fowden Shot 4m68, 75m 12.6 & 70m hurdles 14.8; under 13 Boys - Mitchell Farrar Shot 3m78; Tom Osborn 800m 2:56.2, Long Jump 3m40 & 200m 34.9; Charley Purkiss 100m 17.2, Shot 4m95 & 1500m 5:52.1; Douglas Roberts 100m 15.7, Long Jump 3m42 & 1500m 5:01.8; under 15 Girls - Jo Adams 800m 2:38.7, Javelin 12m05 & Discus 15m26; Sophie Broadway 100m 14.1, 200m 29.1 & Long Jump 3m94; Jessie Roberts Shot 6m74, Javelin 17m22 & 1500m 5:14.9; Katie Roberts 800m 2:44.9, 75m hurdles 17.9 & Discus 17m23; team 4x100m relay 58.0; under 15 Boys - Chris Andrade Javelin 18m29 & Shot 5m05; Marcus Clark 100m 14.0, Long Jump 4m70 & 200m 30.6; Jason Flannery Javelin 27m57, Shot 9m02 & 1500m 4:37.9; “Titch” Robinson 100m 15.0, Long Jump 4m19 & 200m 29.8; under 17 Girls - Sadie Potter Shot 4m51, 200m 35.0 & 1500m 6:15.9; Georgina Zissler Shot 5m33, 300m 44.4 & 200m 28.5; under 17 Boys – Sam Stanislaus Long Jump 5m77, High Jump 1m70 & Triple Jump 12m64; Nick Zissler 800m 2:03.7, 400m 55.1 & 200m 26.2.