First test for senior teams
Wednesday 2 June 2010
The club's British League and UK Women's League teams set out on this season's campaigns on Saturday next, 5th June.
As this is a home match in Cardiff, it would be good if as many members as possible came to cheer the senior men and women in this first round of 2010.
The first event is at 11am and the last relay is at 5.30pm and fine weather is forecast.
After winning promotion last year to National Division 1, the men's team will be up against stiff opposition but team manager James Williams is quietly confident of a good result on the club's home track. Competing against Cardiff will be Basingstoke & Mid Hants; Blackheath & Bromley AC; City of Liverpool; City of Sheffield; Gateshead H & AC; Kent AC; Trafford AC.
James writes:
The team face a much tougher challenge this time around, and despite missing some big name, is still looking good to challenge this season.
The first match unfortunately sees some of Wales' Commonwealth Games hopefuls like Rhys Williams, Christian Malcolm and David Guest miss out, but does see run outs for the likes of Gareth Warburton and the in form Alex Haines.
Sprints
The sprints will show a glimpse of the future of Welsh sprinting. Liam Duff, Lloyd Reffell and Tom Knight have all posted impressive pb's this year and they will be backed up by the stalwart Phil Dourgachurn, who himself is posting some of his fastest ever times. The club now boasts so many impressive youngsters that there are another 5 athletes who have run around 11 and 22 dead this season. All this looks good for the sprint relay.
In the longer sprint, Gareth Hopkins and 800m star Joe Thomas will be looking for kick starts to their seasons. Both men have been struggling with injuries of late and will be looking for big things in 2010. They will be joined by Gareth Warburton and James Nazrat in the 4x4, an event where Cardiff won all 4 matches last year!
In the 400 Hurdles, both Gareth Morris and Mike Haswell will be making their club debuts. Both men joined the club during the winter and will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Rhys Williams and Matt Elias.
Distance Events
Surely Cardiff's strongest area this year. The biggest area of debate here has been who would contest each event and we have finally settled on a mixture of experience and youth. In the 800, Gareth Wiltshire will be looking to build on his recent pb of 1.50 and he will be joined by new recruit Ieuan Thomas. The James Thie coached athlete will be making his track debut for Cardiff.
James Thie coached athletes also take up the 1500 and steeplechase spots. 5k specialists Tom Marshall and Adam Bitchell will be looking for some speed work in the 1500; both men have been in great form this winter and have each posted pb's in the early part of the summer. The steeplechase sees the two most improved athletes of last year Chris Discombe and Andy Friend. Last year between them they broke over 20 pb’s, en route to making this event their own in the league last year.
This year sees the introduction of a 3k in matches 1 & 4. Alex Haines makes his first BAL appearance for 3 years, after a nightmare time with injury; Alex has been in tremendous form this year, posting impressive pb's in the 3, 5 and 10k. Indeed Alex will be bouncing after his recent trip beneath 14 minutes for the first time in the BMC in Manchester. Alex will be partnered with the ever consistent Nat Lane – both men will be using this as a warm up for the Welsh 10k champs the following week.
Throws
For the first time in a long time, Cardiff can go into a British league fixture with all events covered by recognised throwers.
In the Shot and Discus, team Captain Dave Coleman will look to continue his winning streak; he was victorious in all 4 fixtures last season and hopefully his recent pb at the Inter Counties means he his ready to repeat this feat this year. He will be supported in both throws by new recruit Gareth Winter. The youngster from Gloucester joins the club as a higher competition athlete and has already shown this season that he is a hot prospect for the future. He will be looking to approach the 50m barrier in the discus, and towards 15m in the shot.
Another Gloucester athlete who joins us under the higher claim rule is Justin Sysum. The Lorraine Shaw coached athlete will be looking to launch the hammer over the 60m barrier – a feat he has already achieved once this season. Gareth will be joining Justin in the hammer.
In the Javelin – Jason Hallett makes a long overdue return to the team, in his first competition for a number of years; Jason is confident of a 55m plus throw.
Jumps
Who would be a team manager – the entire jumping squad at the first match has changed since I started to write this piece! In the high jump, new recruit Adam Gallie will be looking to get back to his best of over 2m, a height which made him a GB junior international. Lewis Long will be his jumping partner.
In the long and triple jump, the future of Cardiff AC will be on show, Ross Mckensie makes his BAL debut in the triple jump and the talented Jamaul Whyte tackles the long jump. The pole vault will see Jon Murray looking to get above 4.50 and he will be partnered, believe it or not, by Gareth Wiltshire – who has promised to jump higher than his 800m pb of 1.50!
A special shout out to our 2 multi eventers who will be missing from the first match. David Guest will be competing in the AAA’s multi event champs in Bedford, looking to cement his place at the World Juniors in July. Matt Ledger on the other hand will be at home nursing a sore ankle suffered from a fall from his motorbike on Wednesday evening! Both men will be back for the next fixture in July.
The UK Women's League team will be up against Bedford & County AC; City of Liverpool AC; Enfield & Haringey AC; Havering Mayesbrook AC; Milton Keynes AC; Swansea H & AC; Team Southampton and will be looking to retain its position in Division two.
The women's team will be led by new team manager Debbie Rees and new team captain Emma Peters and we wish them and the men every success.