The R&N AC team headed to Cheltenham looking to maintain their strong start to the season and consolidate their second place in the league. The hot conditions were a challenge for all of the teams but the R&N squad responded well to a mixture of injury, illness and fatigue to finish 3rd on the day and leave the team in 2nd= with just one match to go, at Alexander Stadium on Sat 10th August. This effectively secures their place in the top flight for next season and means that if they can defeat both Wolves and Notts on the day they will secure 2nd place in the league.
On the day the club secured their best haul of A string victories for several seasons but were held back by the lack of B string competitors in several events due to both holidays and late withdrawals. Unusually it was the men who led the way with a solid all round performance led victories in both the Triple Jump & 110H for Themba Luhana whilst in the Javelin Kevin Murch demonstrated his enduring class to win the Javelin from team-mate Glyn Hollingsworth. They were supported by 2nd place finishes by Craig Murch (Hammer), Brett Mason (400H), Charlie Barker (HJ) & Glyn Hollingsworth (Discus), whilst Clinton Osaba-George (100 & 200m), Chris Lamb(S/C) & the 4×100 relay team all came away with 3rd places. In the B string there were victories for John Bell (400H) and Glyn Hollingsworth (Jav), with Kev Murch also claiming a brace of 2nd places in the other throws whilst Barker narrowly lost out in the 110H to finish 2nd. The remainder of the team picked up a sting of 3rd places whilst the relay team also finished 3rd to record the best men’s performance of the season.
The ladies had a frustrating day with 6 A & 3 B string victories but missed B competitors in too many events, largely due to being without key athletes who had competed at the ESAA the previous day. It was also a day of pb’s with Debbie Murch (Hammer), Hannah Scales (400h) and Grace Adiyenka (Discus & Shot) all recording lifetime best performances. A string winners on the day were Emma Bailey (100m), Ellena Ruddock (200m), Emily Waugh (1500), Hannah Scales (400H), Claire O’Reilly (TJ) & the 4×100 team, whilst in the B string Hannah Scales (400m), Emma Bailey (400H) and Meg Moran (Javelin) were all winners. Kerry Murch suffered a rare defeat in the Javelin whilst still fatigued after the previous day’s exertions at the ESAA. However, ‘unsung hero of the day’ tag went to Grace Adeyinka who only stepped into the team on Saturday evening but covered 4 field events to secure valuable points for the team.
In spite of several holiday commitments, the club expect to field a strong squad in the final fixture and will be going all out to snatch the runners-up spot from Wolves
