YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE UPPER AGE GROUPS
TEAM MANAGERS’ REPORT 2018 SEASON.
The Youth Development League Upper Age Group (YDL UAG) is an inter-club team competition for U17 and U20 athletes, though U17 athletes can also take part as U20s. A large number of athletes are needed to fill all the events during the season and the standard of the competition is high in the premier divisions. Our composite team, TEAM AVON, is the best way we guarantee our athletes success at the level of competition they deserve.
This season TEAM AVON came top of the Midland South West Premier Division by 280 points, thanks to excellent performances by athletes from all 5 clubs. We had high hopes of making the National Final going into the Midlands Regional Final at Newport in July. Our athletes performed extremely well to take second spot, 20 points behind Rugby& Northants, and qualifying for the final by beating Birchfield Harriers into third place.
The NATIONAL FINAL on 9th September at Bedford was the highlight of the year!
We finished 4th overall which is an amazing performance. We are honoured to say that we are among the top teams in the UK. Our finalist plaque is on display in YOSC clubhouse.
Many of our athletes won individual medals, including three outstanding athletes who won gold in the ‘A’ string event: Daniel Brooks U20 100m; Abdi Hasan U17 800m and Toby Conibear U17 Hammer. The U17 4×400 Relay team also won gold (Abdi, Harry, Nathaneal and Rory).
Other gold medallists in ‘B’ string events were Josh Snook (400), Hayden Bailey (800), Jack Moore (HJ), Marcin Olech (LJ, TJ), Isaac Cory (400), and Ellery Cole (400H).
Silver and Bronze medallists include:
U20 men: Tim Pike (200), Robert Howorth (1500), John Howorth (800, 1500), Will Stockley(3000), Adam Brooks (HJ,TJ), Sam Roberts (400H), 4x 400 relay team (Robert, John, Josh, Hayden), Daniel Brooks (200).
U17 men: Rory Howorth (SP), Justin Davies (1500), Jonathan Evans (SP), Keelan Tucker (JT), Jacob Dibble (JT, HT), Harry Meredith (400H), Alex Parsons (1500SC), Ben Latham (PV), Toby Conibear (DT)
In the women’s Under 20 events there were Gold medals for Anna Loughlin in the ‘B’ Shot Putt, and Gabriella Holt in the ‘B’ Hammer. In the ‘A’ events there were silver medals for Hannah Hobbs, 3000 metres, Jenna Blundell 100 hurdles and 200 metres, Renee Jelf High Jump, Caroline Walder, Pole Vault and Bronze medals for Becci Ousby, 100 metres, Sarah Long 400 metres and Robyn Ellison in the Triple Jump. In the ‘B’ events Becci Ousby won Gold in the High Jump, Enya Maylor won Silver in the 400 hurdles. Robyn Ellison, Long Jump, Lucy Durham, Triple Jump. Caroline Walder 100 hurdles and Sarah Long, 200 metres all won Bronze medals.
In the Under 17 women Abi Peake won Gold in the ‘B’ 200 and Bronze in the 100 metres. Tia Jackson won Silver in the Long Jump and Bronze in the 200 metres ‘A’ events as did Enya Maylor in the 1500 S/C and there were Bronze medals for Eleanor Webster and Daisy Harvey in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ 300 hurdles, Emily Whitaker in the ‘B’ 1500 S/C, Megan Williams in the ‘B’ Pole Vault and Jodie Dale in the ’B’ Javelin.
As team managers, we cannot stress enough the commitment of our young men and women to Team Avon and the strong team spirit we have established. We certainly cheer the loudest for our athletes! They are a credit to their clubs and the sport.
A huge thank you must go to our loyal band of officials who work so hard in all winds and weathers to make the competitions possible. Bev Barrett and Pat Jefferies do a sterling job in organising them for us. Our grateful thanks also go to Hilary Nash for keeping our administration and finances up together.
We will be contacting all the clubs prior to the start of next T&F season to ask them to publicise the league and send out the availability sheets. It is very important that athletes provide this information so that as team managers, we are aware of those athletes available for each match. We use a large number of athletes each year to cover the wide spread of events in this league. Athletes should not be put off if they are not selected for match 1, as opportunities arise during the season.
It would be particularly helpful if clubs were able to make their current U15 athletes who move up to U17 in 2019, aware of how Team Avon works before the end of this outdoor season. We will be happy to answer any questions clubs and individual athletes might have.
We’re looking forward to an equally successful 2019 season for TEAM AVON.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Woodman (men’s team manager)
Jim Strudwick (women’s team manager)