UK Women's League

Newport Harriers UK Women's League

UK Women's League

Round 2, Sunday 26th June 2005 Bedford

Harriers hard work – relay delight

The UK Women’s league has always produced high quality competition, and last weekend was no exception. Newport Harriers travelled to Bedford hoping to secure their position in division three, after finding themselves in the relegation zone after their first match in Dagenham. Not only was the weather hot, but also so was the competition, and by the end of the day, Newport knew they had been in a battle. There was some excitement early on as Newport edged into a slight lead, but this unfortunately did not last. The loss of Sarah Rossiter to injury after her victory in the long jump didn’t help the cause at all. As the day wore on the early promise faded, and the teams challenge dropped away. In fact, at one point Newport were lying in seventh of the eight competing clubs, but in true Newport fashion they battled back, finally finishing in fifth place and moving up to sixth overall in the league. With the final match to staged in Cardiff, virtually a home fixture, Newport should secure their position.

Although the league is about team competition there are always individual performances that catch the eye. Sarah Rossiter, currently ranked third in Britain, took an excellent victory in the Long Jump, and Clare Martin produced an emphatic victory in the 1500m and Karen Buckley took the 1500mB. Rhian James in her first race of the season won the 800mB and Becky Slaymaker won the 400mhB. Team manager Audrey Bright took the opportunity to blood a couple of the clubs youngsters in this match. Rhianne Jones ran a well-balanced 800, but was desperately unlucky to be tripped as she started her sprint for the line, but nevertheless this young woman has shown plenty of promise for the future. Rachel Conway also impressed as she secured a good third place in the 100B on her debut. Lyndsay Fitzgerald was second in the 400hB and Rozelle Cavaciuti another having her first race of the season, ran well to take second in the 200B as did Ellie Mardle in the 200A. Pride of place however was taken by the 4 x 400 relay of Fitzgerald, Slaymaker, James and Waring, who although only finishing second to a powerful Cardiff quartet, sliced a huge 1.6 seconds off the club record.

After the match team manager Audrey Bright said “We finished just one and half points behind fourth place which is of course very disappointing, but I thought all our athletes performed magnificently and I am very proud of their efforts, particularly the 4 x 400 result, after such a long day. With a few of our missing athletes available for the last match we should secure our place in this division.”

Swansea were the outstanding team in the division last season and gained promotion to the second division, and with Cardiff looking poised to do the same this year things are looking well for Welsh Athletics. Newport will be hoping to emulate their Welsh colleagues but will now have to wait for next season.

Results

Match Result

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