Law leads the way

Havering Mayesbrook’s record-breaking season continues last weekend at the Essex Championships, as two more club bests were broken.

Alex Law added the under-15 80-metre hurdles record to his club long jump and pentathlon bests, while Mercy Gutteridge improved on her week-old under-15 pole vault record.

Law’s new record was one of five golds and nine medals won in the hurdles events. His head time of 11.30 seconds erased Josh Olawore’s club best and beat the championship best. In the final, Law took gold with a time of 11.49 into a headwind.

Olawore responded to losing his club record by taking gold in the under-17 sprint hurdles with a new championship best of 13.21.

A third sprint hurdles gold went to Chloe van Wulven in the senior 100m event. Two more hurdles victories came through George Hadler, who lifted the under-17 400m crown, while Flic Clarke successfully defended her under-20 title.

Jack Edgar-Hill won silver in the under-20 110m hurdles, as did Jake Nelson in the under-20 400m hurdles with Claire Brennan doing the same in the senior event. Jon Seekings set a new personal best, winning bronze behind Nelson.

Gutteridge’s first-time clearance of 2.50m to win the under-15 pole vault added five centimetres to her previous best and club record.

More success came from Olawore who added a triple jump gold to his hurdles win, as did Law in the under-15 long jump.

Veteran Stuart Tufton added a silver in the senior vault, Anthony Williams did the same in the senior long jump while Beth Chambers claimed second in the under-17 triple jump.

In the under-20 category, Ellie Watson won long jump silver and triple jump bronze

Lydia Hallam won the 3,000m in a photo finish and then smashed her 800m best for another gold.

Hoseah Gikungu dominated the under-17 3,000m for a new personal best, while Mat Bland maintained his 100 per cent record as a veteran in these championships when he took the 1,500m title for the fifth year running.

The throwing events also provided eleven podium places. Rachel Forder and Georgie Taylor secured gold and silver in the under-15 shot, while Kike Oniwinde improved the championship record to win the under-20 javelin.

Patrick Lear won gold in the under-17 javelin and Emmanuel Quarshie won the under-20 men’s shot.

Erin Baggs and Laura Drew made it a one-two in the under-17 discus, with Katherine Knight winning the under-20 discus silver, with Somma Power claiming bronze in the senior shot event.

Danny Wilson claimed gold in the under-17 men’s 400m, slicing over a second off his personal best, but his win and Shaun Stewart’s silver in the senior event were the only sprint medals for the club.