Last weekend saw us kick off our YDL season with the long trip down to Devon.

After winning the league for the last two seasons we took a fairly inexperienced but very enthusiastic team into the match with many of our U13s competing for the first time.

We were rewarded with another brilliant team performance which resulted in victory by over 100 points, absolutely outstanding!

Our U15 sprinters and Hurdlers got us away to a great start with victories for Tye, Delleah and Bo and they were supported up by U13 sprinters James Kyeremeh and Jack Moore who were well placed and picked up big points. This was backed up by a second place for Hannah Lewington in the Hurdles U13G A race and a win for Ruby Hewitt in the B race.

The trend continued with Harry Cunningham winning both the 300 and 800 and Rian Clarke winning the 1500 from gun to tape. Sammy Rai did likewise in the U13 800m with Kelly Marie–Marsh winning the 800m B race in a PB and breaking the 2.30 barrier for the first time.

In the U15G a great race within a race saw Beth Davidse and Lavina Rai both come 2nd in the A and B races respectively.

The dynamic duo of Freya Davidse and Katie New picked up a second and first in the 1200m A and B races respectively.

The field events saw a multitude of outstanding performances with almost a clean sweep in the LJ with victories at U15 for Tye and Delleah plus first place for Sophie Imerson at U13.

This carried on in the shot put with Sophie Imeson securing another victory as did her sister Issy Imeson along with Jack Choules and Billy Dickenson making shot put a very happy hunting ground for our club.

The javelin produced the performance of the day as Hannah Lewington threw an all time YDL record of 38m to win the U13G and it wasn't even a PB! This is record that may stand for some time or until she beats it again. Katie New also won the B string as did Jessica Kinneir in the U15G event.

Last but not least a club record was set by our U15G 4x300 relay team of Josie, Kelly, Lavinia and Amelia who showed despite making so much noise on the bus they showed they had enough energy left to run 3.09 and put themselves in the record books. Not to be outdone the U15B of Jack, Rian, Finlay and Harry stormed to victory to wrap up the meeting in style.

All in all a great day and performance which sets us up for another assault on the league title for the 3rd year running.

John Dill
Go Harriers.