Report and Photos by Team Manager Gordon Densley

Tamworth AC went to Harvey Hadden Stadium in Nottingham for the 2^nd round of the Midlands County Division 2 competition on Saturday with a team riddled with injuries, but came out only 8.5 points away from winning the match.

After finishing third in the first league meeting, Tamworth were hoping to consolidate their position in league 2 and push for promotion next season. But due to the unexpected results on Saturday they are now left 2^nd in the league with only Notts AC above them.

For the men, the day started well with Alex Berrow taking first in his hammer with a throw of 49.53mtrs. This makes things look good for his trip next week to compete in the Police Championships. Tamworth’s other hammer thrower Gavin Showell, also took 1^st in his competition with 21.27mtrs. Alex followed this up with a 2^nd place in the shot with 11.99mtrs, 4^th in the discus and javelin with 25.07mtrs and 29.09mtrs respectively. Gavin took 2^nd spot in the pole vault with a height of 2.80mtrs and 4^th in the high jump with 1.55mtrs.

Kane Densley competed in the throws for the first time in the senior A team, taking 2^nd place in the shot with 9.35mtrs and 3^rd in the discus with 24.47mtrs.

Luke James got his javelin out to 32.77mtrs for 4^th place.

Thomas Randolph took 4^th place in his first long jump of the season with 5.44mtrs, but ripped the field apart with some confident front running in his 800mtrs to cross the line 1^st in 2min 0.2sec. He followed this up with 2^nd in his 400mtrs in 52.1seconds.

Daniel James took 3^rd in the long jump with 5.38mtrs, and 4th in the triple jump with 10.75mtrs. On the track Dan was 2^nd in his 400mtr hurdles in 65.6seconds. Owen Sherriff was 2^nd in his 400 hurdles in 61.4seconds.

Myles Richardson took 1^st place in his 200mtrs in a blistering 22.2seconds, 1^st place in the 100mtrs in 11sec and 3^rd in the 110mtr hurdles in 19.1seconds.

Tom Ainsworth had a full day of events taking 2^nd in the 200mtrs in 22.8sec, 1^st in the 400mtrs with a winning time of 49.4sec and 2^nd in the 100mtrs in 11.3seconds.

Doctor Stephen Parkes returned to the track with victory in the 3000mtrs steeple chase in 10min 2.4seconds. Stephen then ran the 3000mtr flat race and finished 4^th in 9min 11.1seconds.

Father of the team, Howard Bush, ran the 1500mtrs in 4min 42.5sec for 3^rd and followed that up with a 3000m in 10min 17.2seconds.

Bikram Singh ran a good 800mtrs just losing out to Owen Locke from Newport for 2^nd place in 2min 2.8seconds. He finished his 1500mtrs in 4^th in 4min 23.9 seconds.

The 4 x 100mtr relay team of Sheriff, Ainsworth, Randolph and Richardson took first place in 44.6seconds, with Randolph, Singh, Parkes and Ainsworth repeating the win in the 4 x 400mtr relay with a time of 3min 29.9 seconds.

In the ladies competition Sarah Williams had flown back from Holland to compete, taking 3^rd in the pole vault with 2.30mtrs and finishing with a jump of 4.18mtrs in the long jump.

Charlotte Bush took 4^th in her long jump with 3.92mtrs, 4^th in the 800mtrs with 2min 29.7seconds and a well deserved first in her 1500mtrs in 5min 18.3seconds.

Olivia Woodward, back from Hamstring injury, started the day in good form with a first place and p.b. in the javelin with 26.53mtrs, followed by a shot putt of 9.53mtrs for 4^th place and a leap of 1.45mtrs in the high jump for 2^nd place. She managed to equal her p.b. in the 400mtrs with a 2^nd place run of 60.2 seconds.

Isobel Spencer took 2^nd place in her javelin with 20.54mtr.

Sophie Allen was just pipped into third in the hammer with 33.43mtrs but heaved the shot out to 6.46mtrs and the discus to 16.42mtrs.

Olivia Woolley heaved her discus out to 12.12mtrs for fourth place.

Milly Kellyman, also back from a recent back injury, finished in 3^rd place in the hammer with 16.02mtrs and managed to run a seasons best 12.6seconds for fourth place in the 100mtrs.

Beth Devonshire cleared 1.25mtrs in the high jump, took 3^rd slot in the 100mtr hurdles with 19.2seconds and did one better in the 400mtr hurdles taking 2^nd place with 80.9seconds.

Isabelle Neville took first place in her 400mtr hurdles in a new p.b. time of 66.6seconds, she then ran 26.8seconds in her 200mtrs for fifth place.

Another athlete back from injury was Charlotte Barnard who took 3^rd in her 100mtrs in 13.3seconds and 2^nd in her 200mtrs in 27.6seconds.

Rebecca Brayer took first place in the 800mtrs in 2min 29.8 seconds and 3^rd in her 1500mtrs in 5min 5.9seconds.

Sarah Jemmett ran the 3000mtrs in hot conditions and finished in a time of 12min 36.1seconds.

The ladies only just managed to get their relays teams onto the start line due to injuries. They finished in a solid 3^rd in the 4 x 100mtr relay with a team of Devonshire, Kellyman, Barnard and Neville. But with Olivia Woolley stepping in at the last minute to help the 4 x 400mtr team that included Bush, Neville and Woodward, they ran an excellent 4min 24.9seconds to take 2^nd place.

Great commitment and performances from all who turned out for Tamworth AC

Next meeting is 3^rd July at Tipton.