YDL Lower Age Group – Match 1 at Bedford

The first track and field league match that Chiltern Harriers have had in two years took place in Bedford on Saturday.
 
The Youth Development League is working on a no promotion, no relegation basis this year and divisions are as local as possible to avoid extensive travel.
 
The Lower Age Group match at Bedford for U13s and U15s saw Chiltern end up in a very creditable second place against some good clubs. We were behind winners Reading but ahead of Bracknell, Team Bedfordshire and Wycombe Phoenix. For this first match there were a restricted number of events to minimise social contact - so a short meeting
 
Nickie Pandya and Kathy Jessop were team managers and the Chiltern officials team of Fiona Williams, Sue Slade, Kenneth Huxham and Doug Smith provided a good deal of officiating seniority amongst the clubs taking part.
 
It was a warm sunny afternoon.
 
U15 Girls
The U15 girls had a good turnout and there was an A string win in 100m for Kayla Best in 13.30, and B string wins in 100m for Mila Luker (13.10) and Frankie Baxter in 800m (2.23.0). Elsewhere Lesedi Nkoane took care of A string 300m and A string high jump (also non-scoring 800m), Marea Logan ran B string 300m, Emily Ford was in B string discus and non-scoring 100m, Olivia Clarke was in A string discus and B string hurdles, and Jo Snelling scored a 75m hurdles PB in the A string of 13.7. Lily Jessop-Tranter ran A string 800m and Savarnah Pandya was B string shot and non-scoring 800m. Frankie Baxter added to her B string 800m win with a PB of 7.73m  in A string shot. Abigail Yoosuf ran a promising 100m in non-scoring on her club debut and teamed up with Kayla, Mila and Olivia to be second in 4 x 100m relay. The 4 x 300m relay team of Frankie, Marea. Emily and Lily were third.
 
U15 Boys
A very small U15 Boys team coped well with a range of events. Max Baxter was A string 800m and discus, and B string 100m. Issa Phillips-Pope ran a PB in A string 100m of 13.00 and jumped 1.25m in B string high jump, and Sammy Whibley had a busy day with PBs in 300m (44.3) and high jump (1.54m) and also helped out in B string 800m.
 
U13 Girls
A good quartet filled many slots with Evelyn Wildman winning A string 1200m in a promising 4.11.0 and running a 75m PB of 11.5. Marlie Nkoane ran a good B string 75m but struggled with a stitch in B string 1200m. Marlie and Keya Kara featured in long jump and Keya also looked after B string javelin. Issy Robinson and Keya ran non-scoring 75m and Issy was also A string javelin. The four girls were third in 4 x 100m relay.
 
U13 Boys
Tom Ford won A string 1200m in a PB of 3.57.3 and also ran B string 75m. Felix Danielli was second in A string 75m in a brisk 10.9 and was second in B string 1200m. Tom and James Holdsworth looked after long jump, and Henry Wendt threw a PB of 13.99m in javelin. Henry and Rex Considine ran non-scoring 75m and the relay quartet of Henry, Rex, Tom and James were second.