The Avon Under-15 teams did remarkably well despite a few mishaps on the day in the girl’s relays and having to call up two reserves to complete the boy’s team.
The girls team featuring in a final for the 5th time achieved the highest ever placing of 4th. The boys exceeded my hopes and finished 6th. The eighth time the boys have qualified for the final with a best ever placing of 5th. Fantastic team achievements.
Sophie Thomas is Queen of Speed Bounce. Sophie retained her speed bounce national title with 94 in 30 seconds. A sequence of winning Under-13 for two years and repeating the “trick” at Under-15 level. Shanique Pierre commented that she did not do too well in the vertical jump. The reality was that she was 3rd with 65 centimetres just 1centimetre less than the joint winners. Ella Falk finished 3rd in her 2 lap time trial race. It proved to be the quickest of 6 races and Ella was 3rd=. Three well deserving medallists.
Tomas Goodman in the 4 lap run was placed 3rd overall. Cameron Thaws in the standing long jump 2.64 just missed a medal in 4th.
The girls 4 x 2 lap run was dramatic. Leading into the penultimate turn on the final leg somehow the baton hit the floor and spun across the hall. Kinnie Songu retrieved it with some alacrity and incredibly did not interfere with two other teams. The team was not disqualified but failed to reach the final. Cecilie Anderson and Shanique ran the 8 lap paarlauf and whilst Shanique was tiring on the final lap she was almost brought to a stop by a leg injury. Shanique finished the race but places had been conceded.
Tomas Goodman and Ryan Fowler combined for the boys 8 lap paarlauf. The pair finished 3rd out of 12 in a very competitive event. The boys 4 x 2 lap team included the two late replacements and in 7th place just missed out on the final. A super team effort.
On reflection the girls are a little disappointed they were not 3rd on the day. Never satisfied. The disappointment of the misfortune in the relays will wear off knowing it was the best result from an Avon Under-15 team. The boys could not have achieved a better placing without other teams above them disintegrating.
The leading individuals performed with distinction and Ada’ora impressed Shaun Pickering, and as she is an Under-14 stood out within the team as the best all round display.
Team Captains Sophie and Tomas proudly accepted certificates on behalf of the team
Individual Points Individual Points
Tomas Goodman** 9= 252 Ada’ora Chigbo 8 247
Cameron Thaws* 15 241 Shanique Pierre** 12= 230
Ryan Fowler** 30 208 Sophie Thomas* 23 213
Harvey Flower* 54 150 Ella Falk* 26 206
Tinashe Ngundu 61= 141 Cecilie Anderson** 44= 178
Kai Smith* 68 119 Pippa Reilly* 70 131
Lucas Regazzo* Kinnie Songu*
4 x 2 lap* 7th 60 4 x 2 lap* 10th= 25
8 lap Paarlauf** 3rd 100 8 lap Paarlauf** 5th= 65
Sportshall UK Final 2013 – Under-15 Boys LG Arena, NEC, Birmingham 7 April 2013
Ranking Team Score Individual P8 4×2
1 Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan 1230 1010 120 100
2 Norfolk 1227 1047 60 120
3 Surrey 1162 972 80 110
4 Cheshire 1087 937 70 80
5 Birmingham 1079 919 90 70
6 Avon 1011 851 100 60 851 = 252+ 241 + 208 + 150
7 Hertfordshire 935 835 50 50
8 Nottinghamshire 848 703 110 35
9 South London 841 731 20 90
10 Tyne & Wear 750 675 40 35
11 Co. Londonderry 620 570 30 20
12 North Yorkshire 565 555 0 10
Sportshall UK Final 2013 – Under-15 Girls LG Arena, NEC, Birmingham 7 April 2013
Ranking Team Score Individual P8 4×2
1 Norfolk 1176 966 100 110
2 Tyne & Wear 1067 907 120 40
3 Birmingham 1045 865 110 70
4 Avon 986 896 65 25 896 = 247 + 230 + 213 + 206
5 Kent 980 890 10 80
6 Powys 976 886 80 10
7 Cheshire 922 782 90 50
8 Donegal 916 776 50 90
9 Derbyshire 912 752 40 120
10 Hampshire 897 807 65 25
11 West Yorkshire 855 775 20 60
12 Newham 844 714 30 100
The Under-15 teams included the following club members: Tomas Goodman, Lucas Regazzo, Kinnie Songu, Ella Falk and Shanique Pierre.
Hilary Nash Reports.