ATHLETICS: Rugby & Northampton youngster Tilt enjoys double delight

Rugby & Northampton Athletic Club were welcoming hosts on Saturday (April 1), when more than 300 athletes descended on Warwickshire for an action-packed Rugby Spring Open Meeting.
EYES ON THE PRIZE - Silson's Angus Morris in action in the Buckingham parkrunEYES ON THE PRIZE - Silson's Angus Morris in action in the Buckingham parkrun
EYES ON THE PRIZE - Silson's Angus Morris in action in the Buckingham parkrun

A full programme of events were made more testing due to the breezy conditions, but that could not prevent the club’s athletes impressing around the track and in the field. Arthur Tilt was one of those to impress, continuing his excellent start to the season with a huge win in the 600 metres, crossing the line in one minute and 49.7 seconds.

Not content with just that, the under-11 athlete added a personal best in the long jump – his leap of 4.34 metres just six centimetres shy of the long-standing club record. In the same event, but in the U13G category, Florence Matthews recorded a distance of 4.47, beating her existing PB by 23 centimetres.

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Under-17M Connor Dadge narrowly missed out on two personal bests, but recorded impressive efforts of 5.69 in the long jump and 11.8 seconds over the 100-metre sprint. Ruby Wood (U13G) also went close to a PB with 10.8 in the 75m, while Eloise Nowill (1.50) and Zoe Gardner (1.45) performed admirably in the U15G high jump.

It was a very good day in the throwing events, particularly for Lily-May Pursey. She threw a season’s best 36.55m in the hammer, before adding PBs in the shot put (11.09) and discus (27.33), and fellow U17W Olivia Witts hammer throw of 34.57 was her best ever attempt.

In the shot put, U15G Maia Reynolds produced another strong showing with a distance of 9.40, while Parisse Linton-Shaw’s U17W debut went well, putting 8.96. Georgi Jones was also competing as an U17W for the first time – she threw 28.33 in the discus – and U15B Connor Cooke set a PB of 24.85 in the same event.

There were several top performances in the javelin, with Abigail Ward moving to third in the U15G UK rankings thanks to a fine throw of 34.01. Ben Gidley matched that feat in the U17M, launching a massive effort of 49.07 to climb the standings.

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His fellow U17M, Fenton Bishop-Timings, set two PBs, one in the javelin (43.35) and another in the shot (9.92).

Luke Turner caught the eye in what was only his second ever throws competition – the U13B throwing 25.41 to round off a fine day for the club.

Hat-trick of Silson PBs in Buckingham run

THERE were many reasons for Silson to celebrate at this week’s Buckingham parkrun on Saturday.

Firstly, it was James Darcy’s 100th parkrun and then Angus Morris (JM10), Alfie Long (JM15-17) and Julie Long all grabbed their third parkrun personal bests in a row.

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The Bedford Harriers Oakley 20 was the scene of much excitement for Silson AC on Sunday with seven of the club’s runners taking part.

First home for Silson was Simon Woodward who finished 17th out of over 800 runners with a time of 2:10.

Woodward was followed by his team-mates. James Darcy scored high in his age category and received a medal for his efforts (2:19), and he was follwed by Alex Douglas (2:36), David Morris, who managed a negative split (2:48), David Jarrett (3:17), David Morley (3:25) and Caroline MacKenzie (3:33).

Bob Kellam had a fantastic time completing the Dorney Lake 20 mile event on Sunday.

He said: “The weather was stunning and the race was very well organised”. He ran 3:09.