Newbury Athletics Club shine in Basingstoke despite small numbers in squad

Newbury Athletic Club took their smallest squad in recent years to this weekend’s Southern Athletics League match in Basingstoke.

Those athletes who did make the short journey performed excellently however, to take third place in the match behind the host club Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, local rivals Swindon Harriers, and ahead of the combined Andover and Overton team.

Miriam Cooper tasted victory in the 800m to win the A race in 2:27.1.

A returning Phoebe Ryder-Benson stepped up in distance to ease back into competition and win the B string and secure maximum points for Newbury.

There was a return to the league for Harry Russell, who never looking threatened to take a comfortable victory in 1:57.1, while Ben Wickens narrowly missed out on a PB to take second in the B string.

Russell would go on to record an even more convincing win in the 400m A string with a season’s best 50.8s.

Helen Broadbridge claimed victory in all three of the heavy throws to make it eight wins out of nine this season, while Francesca Bailey took the B string win in the discus and Scarlett O’Connor took maximum points in the hammer.

Dan Tuttle finished second in each of the shot put, javelin and discus and he was joined by Ryan Hill in the discus, who recorded a personal best of 29.16m.

Jess Pautz showed her natural talent over the 100m hurdles to take an impressive victory in 16.8s and Jenny O’Connor equaled her own PB behind Pautz to take the B string victory in 19.8s.

Matt Davies’ smooth technique over the barriers took him to second place in the men’s 110m in 17.8s.

Craig Beecham was perhaps the standout individual of the match for Newbury, jumping 6.36m in the long jump.

This moves him to number seven on the UK all time V45 rankings and he followed up with an 11.77m triple jump to further increase his club record.

Matt Green had to settle for second place in a sprightly 4:11.4, while men’s captain Mike Robbins snatched the B string victory behind.

U17 athlete Sophie Bhatt was delighted to run a PB of 5:14.9 to take second place in the ladies A race, while Becky Elsmere matched that position in the B string.