Competing this year in the National Young Athlete's League Southern Division 2 - West, Chiltern Harriers are up against Abingdon AC, Radley AC, Bicester and Banbury AC, and Newbury AC.
Various factors conspired to allow only a small core of 19 of Chiltern Harriers young athletes to travel to Abingdon for the first of the summer's NYAL track and field meetings. Despite this there were some excellent performances, and some valuable experience gained by the younger athletes.
The sprinters were well in evidence and in the Under 17 age group Bucks County Champion Clarice Underwood completed a sprint double win in the 100m and 200m, and Joel Williams completed the same feat in the men's sprint races. Jess White and Joe Stevens also ran well with Joe as B string winner in the 100m and Jess in first place in the 200m B string.
Herts County Champion Sam Rogers was a convincing winner of the A string 400m with Dan Loach, competing below his favoured distances, a hard-working third. Sam was also victorious in the A string 400m hurdles with Zack Underwood in second. Allan Stewart was just second in his 800m and Michael Assirati debuted with a solid second place in the javelin.
In the Under 15 age group Maria Nikodemova was second in the A string 200m with Sophie East second in the B string. First Year George Gillingwater made his Young Athlete's League debut with a win in the A string 800m.
The Under 13s saw a B string victory for Nick Brabbs in the 100m with Alex Russell second in the A string race. The versatile John Underwood gained useful A string points in the 200m, 75m hurdles, and long jump but Jim Davis suffered a nasty fall in his hurdles race and had to retire. Sophie Hart ran third in her 100m but had to withdraw from the 200m with Achilles problems.
The promising Under 13 girls middle distance group was represented by Ellie Jones, winner of the A string 1200m and Connie Lewis, victor of the B string 1200m.
So some positive signs for the remainder of the NYAL campaign. The second round is on June 1st at Banbury with indications that a fuller squad can move Chiltern up the league table.