Athletics 14 (1971)

Senior

It was inevitable, I suppose, that, in terms of quality, this season's Senior Athletics team would suffer in comparison with last. Only B. Johnson, this year's captain, and C. Szelewski, remained of that talented bunch; the rest of the Middle Sixth were largely devoid of interest or ability. We had to depend mainly, therefore, an Lower Sixth boys to fill the team, and it is an encouraging sign for the future that in this comparatively lean year we were still able to retain the Bowles Cup at Hendon, the Borough Championship (this maintains our 100% record in this event, even if we have lost the actual cup) and finish runners-up in the St. Nicholas Shield and the Old Gaytonians trophy.

Outstanding individual was, without doubt, D. Cox who although competing In Philps' shadow all the summer, gave promise that he could easily reach, All-England standard in the Triple Jump or the Low Hurdles next year provided that A-levels allow. D. Crombie had a disappointing year, he did not adapt to the bigger hurdles very happily and, in addition lost a couple of major County titles he might easily have won. I am sure that the confidence another year's maturity brings will ensure his success next year, the potential is undoubtedly there. C. Elias was a very useful acquisition from Marlow. His sprinting action can hardly be said to flow but he undoubtedly goes faster than anyone else in the School at the moment as his 'double in the School Sports demonstrated. Of the 'old stagers' Brian Johnson was his usual consistent self as a major points gatherer I hope his two County Championship "firsts" this year consoled him somewhat for failing to gain the All England place that has always eluded him, whilst C. Szelewski improved his best javelin throw to 155 ft. as well as being always prepared (if not exactly willing) to 'fill in' at the Steeplechase.

I should like, also, to thank some willing volunteers especially S. Martin. and including G. Peters, S. Gowers, A. Phillips. B. Dimmock and A. Castles who sometimes even cheerfully-made up numbers when the ranks were especially thin and in so doing earned themselves, and the School, a great deal of credit.

P.J.C.

Under 17

The team made a good start by coming second out of ten schools in the Ealing and Southall A.C's Annual Morant Trophy. N. Wade, the captain, broke one school record, running a time of 54:2 secs. in the 400 metres. He lowered this during the season to 53.2 secs.

The team was fourth in the Borough Sports and seven boys represented Hillingdon in the County Schools Finals. Of those, Mellor was fifth in the 100m Hurdles, Wade was second in the 400 m and Pinsent became County Hammer Champion. The others who represented the school, although failing to reach the finals, all gave of their best and, considering that most of them were only fourth year boys, one can look forward to a good season next year. It was these same fourth year boys and middle-distance runners who performed so well in our own Sherrington Trophy enabling the school to win the competition for the first time. Johnstone, Nash, Lee, Pendred, Hampson, Wilcox, Shellard and Blackburn can feel proud of this achievement and I hope this compensated for all the season's training.

We won the N.W. Group of the 1913 Inter-Schools A.A. In which A. Szelewski was second in the Javelin and third in the Hurdles an especially good performance since he was a replacement for Mellar; Lee was sixth in the 800m, Nash was second in the 200m, and Veal came second in the 100m. Wade won the 400m and the relay team ran superbly in the outside lane to come second. At the finals meeting we were fourth out of 52 competing schools.

Pride of place this season must go to S. Pinsent, who won the Middlesex Schools, Middlesex AAA and 1913 Schools titles and was placed second in the All-England Schools meeting. He led the competition of the County Championships of England right up to the last round when he was beaten by the narrow margin of three inches. His dedication to training throughout the season is a credit to himself and an example to any aspiring champion.

Junior

This year's Junior Athletics team was the strongest the School has had since 1966; like all good teams it had strength in depth and some very good individuals. The team won the Alleyne's Grammar School "Ridlings Trophy" at Stevenage; helped to win the Sherrington Trophy; won the 1913 Association North-West Group Championship and were 6th in the Finals at Hendon; they were 2nd in the Borough Championships and 3rd in Ealing and Southall A.C's Willett Trophy,

Much credit for this record must be given to the Captain, A. Martin, who not only led by example he won the Middlesex Schools 100 metres and was a consistent winner in matches but was also a constant encouragement to other members of the team - a quality not often found in a junior boy. Other athletes showed much promise for the future: P. Murtagh (sprints); D. Heath (800 metres) and C. Dewar (1500 metres) all improved steadily throughout the summer: R. Laidler has undoubted potential, probably over 400 metres, whilst I. Wise (javelin) and A. McClelland (shot and hammer) were the best of a better-than-average field events squad. All that these lads now lack is a commitment to success.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the team was the number of successful 2nd formers in it; R. Wilford (400 metres, 57-6 secs.): P. Darrell (80 metres hurdles, 13.1 secs): N. Thomson (high jump, 4 ft. 11 in.) and N. Owen (400 metres, 61.4 secs.) should form the nucleus of a very strong Junior team in 1972.

The following boys also represented the team: W. Healey, G. Pendred, N. Drinkwater, T. Baxter, R. Lips, J. Szelewski, W. Lambert, C. Bareham, G. Saunders, R. Warren, G. Tibbs, S. Drake, P. Stockwell, M. Bohling. S. Hall, M. Harries, R. Burdett, P. Ettinger, P. Foley, R. Bentley, A. S. Essex, G. Partington, A. Rowley, G. Smith, D. Putt.

First Year

This year the school produced two Borough Champions; Tinsley, who won the Javelin, and Pendred, who won the Hurdles by a margin of 8-10 yards. It speaks well for the depth of talent in the year that Pendred was only able to beat Bohling by a matter of inches in our own inter-form sports, and there are one or two other equally good hurdlers. Furthermore our relay team ran the fastest time in the Borough Sports but were disqualified. They made amends for this by coming second in the N.W. Group Meeting and by narrowly failing to qualify for the last six on Area Finals day. The runners know that several other boys are fighting for their places in the team, and this spirit should mean a good second team next year.

P. GIBSON