UK SPORTSHALL FINALfor AVON’S YOUNGSTERS

Rioul wins UK Title in Manchester

Avon’s Under 13 Boys team finished in a very creditable 4th place in Manchester’s Sport City in the 2016 Sports Hall Athletics Finals.

Every member of the 15 strongsquad contributedto theteam’s success.

The story of the team who had won the South West title was the inclusion of RioulScharschmidt (Fairfield) in the 2lap, Team Manager Dave Turner swopping the team around on the eve of the event changingRioul from one of the Relays to the individual event.

Rioul won his heat and then ran a magnificent final to win the UK title by hundredths of a second. A wonderful achievement for a lad who only came into the team after a recommendation from his PE Teacher

The relays as ever proved Avon’s strong point with the 4x 1lap team taking Silverin a thrilling finish with Hertfordshire (Christian Albon (St.Bedes), Riley Balsam (Downend), Tallah Khadker (RGS), and Jamal Chamberlain Sinclair (Fairfield).

In the 4x 2lap relay Avon’s team ofChristian Albon, James Gentile (Clevedon), Jamal Sinclair and Rioul Scharschmidt came froma long way back to win silver. Again Rioul finished like a train to close all the time on the excellent Birmingham team just being pipped by .06 of a second. Another metre and the result would have been reversed.

Team Captain Jamal took a surprise Silver improving his Shot by over 1.5 metres since the South west. He thought he had come 4th and had to be called for the presentation.

A Bronze medal won by Ashya Gray in the Long jump with 2m56cm was St.Katherine’s School first ever medal. Ashya equalled 2nd place but was beaten on count back.

Another bronze was won bythe excellent Finlay Passco (Hanham} in the 6 lap who having trained hard over the past months reaped the reward with a medal winning run of 1min 09.3.

Tallah Khadker (RGS) won a fabulous Silver in the Triple Jump with 7m26cms.

Other top 12 performances were from Nathan McGregor (Wellsway) in the 4lap with 44.5, and Riley Balsam (Hanham) 9th in the vertical Jump with 55cms.Sam Reed (RGS)took 11th in the same event.

The Under 13 girls’ teamwho had beaten Devon by a meagre 2 pointsto win the South west title found competition tough at this level finishing in 11th place.

Charlotte Martin (Cotham) was the best scorer in 4th place in the Vertical Jump with 58cms.

Thema Osborne Hendricks (Col Girls) took 6th place of the 24 competitorsin the Shot with 9m37cms.

Kate Howard (RGS) ran a great race to finish 7th in the 6 lap race and showed what a tough competitor she has become.

Other top 12 performers were Tilly Smale (Gordano) in the lap in 10th place, and Beth Bryant (SMR) 12th in the Speed Bounce with 78 bounces.

Anon-finish in the 4x 1 lap relay after a mishap at a timewhen leading cost the team over 100points which would have lifted them up to 8th place.

Interestingly virtually all the Girls improved their performances from Torbay, a credit to them.

The Under 15 Boys who competed on the Sunday performed with credit for a young team to finish 8th.

Henry Cox (Broadoak) took 2 Bronze medalsin the Long Jump and Speed Bounce a magnificent achievement.

A wonderful experience for all concerned, with a huge thank you to all the athletes for good behaviour and sportsmanship, and to a wonderful loyal band of parents who travelled up at some expense to cheer on the team, andfor making probably the most noise in the arena.

Dave Turner/Susan Jones

Team Managers

TEAM MEMBERS

BOYS / GIRLS
James Gentile (Clevedon) / Tilly Smale Gordano
Rioul Scharschmidt (Fairfield) / Isobel Armitage Gordano
Thomas Chakraverty (RGS) / Elin Beaver (Nailsea)
Nathan McGregor (Wellsway) / Stella Rhodes (Backwell)
Finlay Passco (Hanham) / Kate Howard (RGS)
Sam Reed (RGS) / Beth Bryant ( SMRT
Ashya Gray (St.Kaths) / Thema Osborne H Colston G
Jake Devine (Backwell) / Charlotte Martin (Cotham)
Jamal Chamberlain (Fairfield) / Evie Marshall (Nailsea)
Tallah Khadker (RGS) / Holly Davies (Gordano)
Ryley Balsam (Hanham) / Eva Ruddle (Wellsway)
Christian Albon (St.Bedes) / Rosie Hall (Backwell)
Solomon Akinyemi (SMRT) / Ella Beswetherick (RGS)
Sam Payne (Backwell) / Ella Goodman (Abbeywood)
Samuel Akinyemi (SMRT)