4 minute read
Athletics Summer Round-Up
Ryan McMenamin with Rob Wood
PRESIDENTS CUP – 25/05/22
RAF Cosford would host all three of this year’s RAF athletics competitions, the first of the summer season being the Presidents Cup. This is an interunit combined men and women’s team competition with the emphasis being placed upon mass participation with an introduction to athletics.
Odiham had a small but strong team that were keen to get their athletics season started. Nicole Burger got the day off to a great start winning the 100m sprint in a time of 13.7s, quickly followed by Henry James scoring more team points with 6th place in the 800m. Nicole continued to perform throughout the day, finishing 1st in the Long Jump and Shotput.
As the day drew towards a close it was the turn of the distance runners with Vickie Williams coming home in 5th place in the 1500m. The men were up next over the same distance, Rob Wood finished 1st in 4.08, closely followed by Luke Williams in 4th.
The final event of the day was medley relay that was a combined whole team event, consisting of 2x100m legs, a 200m leg and 2x400m legs. Odiham managed to field a strong mixed team and got the baton round to claim 2nd place.
Despite some great individual performances through the day Odiham only managed to place 6th as RAF Cosford used the home advantage to finish 1st. Unfortunately, an incomplete team left Odiham too many gaps to fill all the events on the day.
RAF CHAMPIONSHIPS – 15/06/22
Less than a month later it was time for the second competition, the Inter-Station Championships combined with the RAF Individual Championships. Odiham set off toward Cosford with a much bigger men’s team, so spirits were high in the hope of finishing higher than the last event.
Odiham managed to field a competitor for almost every event and quickly started adding points to the team score.
* Ashton Taylor finished 3rd against a strong field in the 100m in 11.81 seconds. * Luke Williams ran 2:04 in the 800m to secure 4th. * Jack Savage finished 3rd in the 400m Hurdles. * Rob Wood gained two 2nd places in the 1500m and 5000m, running 15:14 and 4:05 respectively. * George Shurley boosted the points tally in the field events, finishing 4th in the Long Jump with a distance of 5.35m and 6th in the discus.
Nicole Burger was Odiham’s sole female athlete on the day. She competed in multiple events finishing 1st in the 100m (13.6s), Long Jump, High Jump and Shotput! This gave her an impressive score, high enough to place 4th overall in the female team competition.
As is customary, the day finished with the relay races. Odiham’s sprinters put in a great showing to secure 2nd in the 4x100m relay. The day ended with the medley relay, 2x100m, a 200m leg and a 400m leg in which Odiham managed to finish 3rd.
The final standings had the men’s team finishing 2nd overall on the day, only 12 points behind winners RAF Cosford.
Inter Service Championships – 06/07/22
The final event of summer is the Military Interservice Championships, once again held at RAF Cosford. Three athletes from Odiham were chosen to represent the RAF to take on the best of the Army and Navy.
Nicole Burger leapt her way to 2nd place in the Long Jump (4.78m) and High Jump (1.50m) scoring some big points for the RAF.
Rob Wood was up next finishing in 3rd place in the 5000m (15:12).
Unfortunately, disaster struck Jack Savage in the 400m Hurdles when he clipped a barrier and injured his hamstring, not wanting to let the team down he still managed to get round and score points for 6th place.
The men’s and women’s team finished closely in 2nd place behind the Army.
Leather Goods & Traditional Repair Workshop
M.E. Howitt is an established traditional family business M.E. HOWITT
Est.1946
A Family run business from 1947, handed down through the family. The business is 75 years old and many more years to run!
On the ground floor we have leather handbags, wallets, purses, coats, gloves, suitcases, holdalls etc. The second floor is the workshop, and our repair shop. We specialise in putting in zips for handbags, leather boots, stitching straps etc.
We sell Barbour coats and hats, jumpers, socks, gloves, shooting items, and Barbour and Aigle Wellingtons.
We praise ourselves on having a shop giving a service, and we sell items of quality.
THE LOCAL GARAGE SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY
20% Forces Discount on MOT’s & Servicing
SERVICING MOTS
TYRES & EXHAUSTS CAR SALES
Mill Lane, Crondall, Farnham, Surrey GU10 5RP Telephone 01252 850460 www.theploughgarage.com
• It’s our free online platform exclusively for RAF personnel and their partners. • Covering a range of self-directed topics tailored to life in the RAF. • The course can be accessed anonymously, either as a couple or separately. • It aims to equip you with the communication skills and strategies to get the best out of your relationships. We also provide relationship counselling and mediation support.
