Tough baptisms for seniors
Saturday 4 June 2011
On a blustery (wind readings up to 5 m/s) but generally fine day at Cardiff International Sports Stadium today, Cardiff's British League men's team discovered the quality of competition in the Premiership Division the hard way, finishing eighth.
The women's team, competing in Manchester in the UK Women's Athletics league also came eighth.
Both teams were hit by late withdrawals, and illnesses, competed valiantly but now face uphill struggles to retain their places in the top divisions.
Cardiff's men managed only one event winner, Gary White in the triple jump A who showed impressive form, returning from injury with a wind assisted 15.57m.
James Thie and Adam Bitchell ran well in the 1500m to take second places in the A and B races. Likewise, Rowan Axe and James Mills each placed third in the 5000m A and B races.
Gary White was the athlete of the match for his winning peeformance in the triple jump.
Although Cardiff finished eighth overall, the track athletes were very competitive and the overall scoring was very close. The scores, taking into account only the individual track events, were as follows:
1. Birchfield 162
2. Sheffield 154
3. Woodford Green 138
4. Enfield & Haringey 134
5. Manchester 133
6. Newham & Essex B 131
7. Cardiff 129
8 Shaftesbury H 97
Cardiff's men athletes placing in the first three were as follows:
Gary White: Triple Jump A - 1st (15.57m); Ieuan Thomas: 800m A - 2nd (1:54.42); James Thie: 1500m A - 2nd (3:54.34); Adam Bitchell: 1500m B - 2nd (3:57.48); Ricardo Childs: Long Jump A - 3rd (7.33m); Chris Discombe: 3000m s/c A - 3rd (9:23.92); Gareth Price: 200m A - 3rd (21.28); Rowan Axe: 5000m A - 3rd (15:10.19); James Mills: 5000m B - 3rd (15:24.56).
The match score (men) was:
1. Birchfield H 308
2. Woodford Green & EL 294
3. City of Sheffield 292
4. City of Manchester 287
4. Newham & EB 287
6. Enfield & Haringey 270
7. Shaftesbury Barnet 237
8. Cardiff AAC 236
To view the full men's results click on RESULTS.
The women matched the men by winning only one event, Bethan Strange taking the 800m B race in 2:15.83.
Cardiff's other women athletes placing in the first three were as follows:
Mica Moore (2nd - 100m B); Charlotte Arter (2nd - 1500m A); Debbie Rees (2nd - 3000m A); Gwenno Brown (2nd - 3000m B); Emily Brown (2nd - 400mH B); Emma Peters (3rd - 400mH B); Megan O'Sullivan (3rd - Triple Jump B).
Charlotte Arter was selected as the athlete of the match and is pictured receiving her award from club treasurer Graham Webb.
The match score (women) was:
1. City of Manchester 206.5
2. Birchfield H 169
3. Woodford Green & EL 165.5
4. Windsor SEH 161.5
5. Edinburgh 155.5
6. Enfield & Haringey 153
7. Trafford AC 140
8. Cardiff AAC 106