Youth Development League - Upper Age Group - Match 1 at Bournemouth

South Bucks got off to a solid start in the YDL at Bournemouth on Sunday. Despite a smaller than usual turnout, the team battled hard and achieved a creditable third place in the division of seven teams. The team features U17s and U20s from Chiltern Harriers and Wycombe Phoenix.
Conditions were mostly good: dry, mild and still with an occasional light shower. The atmosphere was enhanced by hearing the Bournemouth v Leeds match at the Vitality Stadium next door.
 
Under 20 Women
There were just two South Bucks U20 women competing but both were in great form. Christina Poulsen won 200m in 26.1 and was second in 100m in 12.7. Chisom Nwafor tackled five individual events and looks good for her heptathlon summer. In shot Chisom threw 13.28m to go third in the UK rankings. This was backed up with 6.08m in long jump to go joint top, and 14.7 in 100m hurdles, again third nationally. All three events were convincing wins. In the afternoon, there were fewer fireworks but 1.50m in high jump for second and 34.76m in javelin for second completed a great day. Christina led a 4 x 100m relay team to fourth aided by U17s Ffion Harman, Lyla Griffin and Melody Ball.
 
U20 Men
Caleb Hambrook (U17) and Caleb Akinsipe ran well in 100m and 200m A and B string, Caleb Hambrook logging a 200m PB of 23.9 and Caleb Akinsipe gaining PBs of 11.9 and 24.3 in both. Raihan Lenoire won 800m, Sammy Bennetts won 1500m and Matt Evans was second in 3000m to keep the points going. Decathlete Ryan Wells performed well with three second places in discus, hammer and shot, one third in javelin and a win in 110m hurdles in a PB of 15.20. Leo Selcon Park provided good back up in B string hammer, shot and javelin. The 4 x 100m team of the Calebs plus U17s Harrison Sears and Finn Walsh ran well for 50.1, and a diverse quartet of Raihan, Sammy, with U17s Ibrahim Achichi and Issa Phillips-Pope ran well for 3.28.1 in 4 x 400m.
 
U17 Women
The U17 women were the largest South Bucks team of the day. Lailah Pope and Olivia Edwards looked after short sprints and Ffion Harman tackled 300m. In middle distance Rebecca Lawson and Lyla Griffin ran well with Ivy Uhart and Emma Readman in 1500m. Allegra Massey was third in 3000m. Florence Lee-Rubis ran a PB of 13.8 in 80m hurdles and Ffion ran a PB of 50.2 in 300m hurdles, Jo Snelling also running well.
 
In the field, Florence and Aoife McAuley jumped well in long jump and high jump, and Rebecca Lawson made her triple jump debut. Melody Ball threw well in javelin and hammer, backed up by Lyla in hammer and Ffion in javelin. Ivy and Emma filled in well in discus and Aoife and Melody looked after shot. The 4 x100m relay team of Lailah, Olivia, Florence and Aoife were second as were the 4 x 300m relay squad of Jo, Rebecca, Ivy and Emma.
 
U17 Men
Harrison Sears ran PBs in A string 100m (11.7) and 200m (24.6) with support from Issa Phillips-Pope in 100m and Finn Walsh in 200m. Ibrahim Achchi won 1500m steeplechase in a PB of 4.43.8 and helped out in 400m. Daniel Cogan worked hard in 800m and 1500m. In the field Finn was A string long jump and high jump and Caleb Hambrook helped out in shot. Issa Phillips-Pope won pole vault with an impressive 3.10m.
 
The next match sees another trip to the seaside, Brighton on Sunday May 28th. The team can build on a good opening match.