Newport Harriers 
BAL Cup

BAL Golden Jubilee Cup Semi-Final
Regional Finals 23rd July, Yate

Double success as men and women reach finals

Newport Harriers reaped the rewards of a big team effort when their men and women both reached the finals of the 2011 BAL Golden Jubilee Cup.

This was no mean feat. In 2010 our two teams each came last in their respective matches, and while the men have reached the Plate Final for the past two years via the skulduggery of the paper match, this is the first time they have qualified automatically. There was a sneaking suspicion that our women would have a better chance but it still took athletes in unfamiliar events and a PB for their progress to be secure.

Newport Men – focus from Morgan…magic from McEwan

Our two highest placed individual athletes were Tom Morgan and Ben McEwan. In the high jump Tom was a model of concentration and focus as he finished 2nd to go with his 3rd place in the javelin. In the first track event of the day Ben was 2nd in the 110m hurdles. He then gamely took on the triple jump from the 9-metre board when his PB was only 8.34 metres. His sequence included five no jumps but a magic leap of 9.22m for two crucial points.

With three BAL clubs in the match the competition was going to be strong, and the dogged determination that filtered through the entire team was epitomised by Emrys Penny (1500m) and Chris Carpanini (3000m) who each clung on to a fast pace to come away with a richly deserved PB.

Rob Eales faced a high quality field in the discus, while Martin Davies met his former club Bristol and responded with an SB in the pole vault. In the 800m Lee Richards was another to face tough opposition, won by Commonwealth Games semi-finalist Chris Gowell. Lemarl Freckleton (100m), Ed Lantzos (200m PB) and Carl McEwan (400m SB) completed the team. These three then combined with Lee Richards for 2nd in the Medley Relay in a new Club record.	Men’s result:
	1.	Swansea	96
	2.	Exeter	96
	3.	Bournemouth	79
	4.	Newport	67
	5.	Gloucester	54
	6.	Bristol	52
	7.	Swindon	35

Newport Women – Loudon and Saxena display grace under pressure

If Newport’s men demonstrated dogged determination then our women produced graceful perseverance. Rhian Loudon ran positively in the 3000m when she matched the early pace of Elin Leyshon, Swansea’s UK Women’s League competitor, and while the gap eventually grew Rhian lifted the whole team with a bagful of points in 2nd place. Similarly Ann Saxena was pitted against UKWL opposition in the 1500m but still hobbled in 3rd after aggravating her hamstring mid-race.

Hurdles specialist Lindsay Badman was the sole survivor from last year’s cup squad as she took on two unfamiliar events – discus and javelin. To her credit she was only just edged into 5th place in the discus. Kirsty Crane boldly stepped up a distance to take on the 400m and was rewarded with a superb PB – some say she’s starting to look like a natural quarter-miler.

Bethan Wakefield and Rebecca Williams were the two outstanding female sprinters on show, while Roz Richards picked up 2nd in the 800m. Completing the team was Lauren O’Reilly. Never satisfied with anything except winning, Lauren will be pleased with the high jump but will no doubt write off her 2nd in the hurdles as a complete disaster, but she did good anyway. Bethan, Kirsty, Roz and Rebecca then set a Club record in the Medley Relay as this event has not been raced by a Newport women’s team before.	Women’s result:
	1.	Swansea	106
	2.	Newport	83
	3.	Exeter	68
	4.	Swindon	55
	5.	Bristol	16

Newport’s cup splash causes big ripples

No less a luminary than BAL General Secretary David Jeacock approached the Newport Team Manager during the semi-final and encouraged us to enter this year’s BAL Qualifier. This echoes the comments earlier in the year by the UKWL Secretary who would love to see Newport back in the national league.

Meanwhile the Cup final is to take place in Derby on 10th September and preparations are already underway. Travel outfits for the men will be crested blazer and Club tie while the women will wear Versace black and amber air hostess-style cravats, so get tailored out now.