Young Athletes Match – Cleckheaton 6th May

Off to Cleckheaton for the first team match of the season. Not too far away, so I didn't have to get up too early! (But still early enough for a Sunday!). This was my first match as Team Manager, although I am familiar to many from last year and the coaching sessions.

There was a small matter of forgetting we needed piles of safety pins (big oops!), but apart from this things got of to a good start. The weather was fine, which always helps!

Lots of new faces in the team, mixed with a good many returning from last year - and of course the helpers and officials without whom we wouldn't have a match. So thanks to every one of them.

We did quite well in most of the events we contested, with Richard Spooner starting his campaign off with a Grade 2 in U17M 800m, which earned him YAL Athlete of the Match.

other noticeable performances were Grade 2s in the following:-

Sam Barnsley U15B 400m,

Faye Morton U15G 100m,

Rebecca Newton U17W 800m,

Lauren Potter U15G 800m.

Lewis Wake U13B 200m,

Claire Wilsher U13G 800m,

After cheering everyone on and eating lots of sweets while lads played a bit of football, it was time for my main event. The relays! Always my favourite events and if anyone thought I cheered too loudly for most of the day, they were about to get a shock as the volume always goes up a gear!

We won the U15 boys 4 x 100m, U15 girls 4 x 100m (even though apparently my running order wouldn't work!), U17 girls 4 x100m and, of course, the U17 boys 4 x 400m (the lads' reputation and winning streak remained intact). Well done to Richard and Thomas who ran in both the 4x4 and the 4x1.
Plus a special “Well Done” to the u13 girl's team. It was all their first year competing and they all enjoyed the day.

Despite some good individual performances, being unable to fill all the events cost us dearly and we could only secure 2 points from the day. If we can turn just a few more athletes out – things could be very different.

Rachel