Competing in the Southern U13/U15/U17 Indoor Championships held at Lee Valley on 13/14 January 2024 Jasmine Nkoso (Herne Hill) set a new Surrey Indoor Record for the Under-15 Girls 3kg Shot with her winning put of 12.49m. The previous record for the 3kg Shot was set by Victoria Alicante-King (Herne Hill) with 11.77m in 2020 although Sophie Mace (Walton) holds the record for the 3.25kg Shot of 11.96m which she set in 2013.
Competing in the BU John Thomas Terrier Classic held in Boston MA, USA on 26 January 2024 Jack Rowe (AFD) set a new Surrey Indoor Record for the 3000m of 7:38.35. The previous record of 7:46.47 was set by him in February 2023.
Our 4 County teams now progress to the Regional Finals at Burgess Hill on 18th February 2024.
(5) EA U15/U17/U20 INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, EIS SHEFFIELD, 10/11 FEBRUARY 2024
Surrey athletes had a successful weekend winning 3 Gold, 5 Silver and 4 Bronze medals.
Holly Ryan (Shaftesbury Barnet) set new Surrey Records for the Under-15 Girls 300m in both her heat and in winning the final. Her times of 40.84 and 40.18 beat the previous record of 41.50 set by Gracelyn Kendeck (Croydon) in 2022. Issy Stamp (SLH) won the Under-17 Women Shot and Max Merriman (Guildford & Godalming) won the Under-15 Boys Pole Vault.
Thomas Whorton (Hercules Wimbledon) set a new Under-15 Boys 800m record when finishing 2nd in the final with a time of 2:03.31. The previous record of 2:03.95 was set by Zachary Crowther (Herne Hill) in 2020.
(6) UK INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS & WORLD TRIALS, BIRMINGHAM, 17/18 FEBRUARY 2024
POLE VAULT GOLD FOR OWEN HEARD. POLE VAULT SILVER FOR JADE IVE.
HIGH JUMP GOLD FOR MORGAN LAKE. 400M BRONZE FOR JESSIE KNIGHT
Owen Heard (Harrow) cleared 5.26m to win the Men's Pole Vault. Jade Ive (Sutton & District) cleared 4.31m for second place in the Women's Pole Vault.
Morgan Lake (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) cleared 1.85m to win the Women's High Jump. Jessie Knight (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) was 3rd in the Women's 400m with a time of 52.79
(7) SPORTSHALLL - SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL FINALS, BURGESS HILL, 18TH FEBRUARY 2024
(8) SPORTSHALLL - SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL FINALS, BURGESS HILL, 18TH FEBRUARY 2024
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SURREY TEAMS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING RESULTS
u11 boys GOLD
u11 girls GOLD
u13 girls GOLD
u13 boys SILVER
u15 girls GOLD
u15 boys GOLD
There is no national final for u11s but this is three teams through to the Nationals and high hopes that the u13 boys will qualify for the Nationals as best runners up. The National Finals will be held at Stoke-on-Trent on 6th April.
A special mention to the Surrey team managers Laura, Fran, Graham and Josh for all of their ongoing commitment and expertise to be successful whilst still having fun.
A thank you to all of you, the club's coaches and team managers who have made Surrey Sportshall so successful.
A thank you also to the County and all it's officials and associated committee members who continue to support Surrey Sportshall.
And last, but not least, a special thank you to Paul Andrews and his team for their efforts in organising this year's events.
(9) WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, GLASGOW, 1/3 MARCH 2024
UKA have announced their selections which includes 2 Surrey athletes:
Morgan Lake (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) in the Women's High Jump. She finished 6th with a season best equalling jump of 1.92m.
Jessie Knight (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) in the Women's 4x400m Relay. She ran the 4th leg in both the heats and the final. GB were 1st in their heat with a time of 3:26.40 and were 3rd in final with a time of 3:26.36. Both times were British records.
(10) CAU INTER-COUNTY CROSS-COUNTRY, WOLLATON PARK, NOTTINGHAM, 9TH MARCH 2024
THEO CREED & EDWARD CUNNIFFE WERE 1ST & 2ND IN THE U13 BOYS RACE
UNDER-13 BOYS, UNDER-20 MEN, UNDER-20 WOMEN & SENIOR WOMEN TEAMS WERE FIRST
Individually James Dargan (U20M) & Naomi Walmsley (U13G) were also second and Kitty Scott (U15G) was third. The victory by the Senior Women team was the third in succession - in fact they have won this title 5 times in the last 7 races. For Georgie Bruinvels it was her 12th appearance in this championship.
The AGM was held at The Institute, Leatherhead. Lesley and Graham Taylor were elected as Joint Presidents. The meeting accepted the Annual Report which was presented by the Hon Secretary, Lynne Reed. All Officers of the Association remain in post. The meeting approved the revised Constitution.
The retiring President, Zara Hyde Peters, addressed the meeting.
(14) SURREY INDOOR RECORD FOR UNDER-15 BOYS 3000M
Competing in the EA Endurance Meeting held on 24th March 2024 at Lee Valley Blas Rivero-Stevenet (AFD) was timed at 9:24.47 for 3000m. Our records do not show a faster time being run by a Surrey U17 Boy so this becomes the Surrey County Indoor Record for U15B 3000m.
(15) WORLD CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS, BELGRADE, SERBIA, 30TH MARCH 2024
UKA has announced the GB team which includes 3 Surrey athletes:
Senior Women - Niamh Brown (AFD)
Senior Men - Will Barnicoat (AFD)
Under-20 Men - James Dargan (AFD)
Also Georgie Grgec (Herne Hill) has been selected by New Zealand for the Senior Women race.
The temperatures were unseasonably high for the time of year which hampered UK-based athletes. Georgie Grgec who finished 41st was first New Zealander. Niamh Brown did not finish. Will Barnicoat who finished 27th was the first Briton to finish - GB team was 9th. James Dargan was the 3rd Briton to finish in 47th place - GB team was 10th.
The Surrey team of Alice Crane (15th), Natalie Beadle (20th) and Suzy Whatmough (21st) finished in 5th place. Rebecca Brennan finished in 61st place. Alice was the U23 Individual Champion.
Hisorical Note. Back in 2011, James McMullan became the first Surrey Individual winner of this championship.
(20) NICK PHIPPS 1952-2024
Nick Phipps died on 24th April 2024 aged 72. Nick was well known to Surrey athletes having competed in Surrey Combined Events Championships from 1967 through to 2010. He subsequently became an accomplished coach to many combined eventers. He had a great passion for the Pole Vault and his connection with the event continues through the achievements of his son Jack who has been one of the leading British vaulters since 2008.
In addition to his Track & Field accomplishments he was very successful at Bobsleigh. He represented Great Britain for more than a decade, making his first Olympic appearance in Lake Placid in 1980, before travelling to, but not competing in, Calgary in 1988 and retiring after his third Games in Albertville in 1992. He was a 2-man and 4-man pilot and finished 15th in the 4-man event in Placid and 13th in both the 2 and 4-man disciplines in Albertville.