The Inter-Area Indoor Challenge held on Sunday 1 March in Lee Valley again this year saw many keenly contested competitions as the defenders, EMAC, tried desperately to hold on to at least one of their triple Trophy swipe from last year. SCVAC made an impressive start with wins in the 60m, but the gap soon closed and with their failure to muster teams in the relays, they wound up 3rd with 291pts, a score that the remarkable W45 Diane Norman had contributed more than her fair share to. Julie Machin broke the British W45 record in the long jump, clearing a fantastic 5.40m, winning the Shot and getting another British Record in the 60mH. 70-year old David Spencer ran the 400m in 66.03sec, a new British M70 record that removes the 66.08sec that remained firmly in John Ross’s hands since 2009, from the books.
Travelling conditions hampered Wales and the SWVAC teams, with the latter being particularly hard hit and finishing at the rear with 94pts this time.
Try as the other Clubs might – Geoffrey Tyler EMAC set an M70 13.33m British record in the Shot to erase the 2013 mark of 12.75m credited to John Scott, and there were several CBP’s – Giuseppe Minetti M50 200m for the VAC in 24.62, were a few of many I spotted and a whopping 26.53sec 200m PB from Vanessa Grant in her first appearance in the SCVAC yellow vest. Glyn Sutton and Juliet Sidney winning the M70/W50 200m for Wales, Ricardo Huskisson the M60 for EMAC and M35 Justin Hubbard the long jump in 5.60m, a great SCVAC 1500/3km double by M50 Mark Symes, the battle was still between EMAC and the MMAC.
The MMAC produced all the ace cards on the day. A CPBs M40 200m in 22.98sec from Domenic Bradley and W50 Tina Wickens running the 400m in 65.06sec, a vast improvement on the 66.47 she ran in January. W40 Carolyn Derbyshire winning the 2km walk; David Hartwell taking the M50 long jump, and their team included sprinter Elena Ruddock, who brought them home in pole position in the relay, Angela Copson, David Oxland and the long serving Andy Wetherall covering the track races; good coverage in the field and jumps, W70 Sally Hine has been in record-breaking mode Indoors this season, she took the 60m here in 10.34sec and Joanne Willoughby got yet another W55 long jump record, clearing 4.82m, the MMAC were away.
The MMAC were to relieve the EMAC of all three Trophies; taking the Women’s Trophy with 168pts, the Men’s 206.5 and back to base with the coveted Overall Award as well.
Final scores: MMAC 374.5, EMAC 335, SCVAC 291, VAC 275.5, WMAA 274, SWVAC 94.
The full results will be on the web site shortly. Congratulations everyone !