Indoor Invitational - 18 Feb
By Flt Lt Ben Trapnell
The 2009 track and field season opened with the Indoor Invitational match in Sheffield. 9 teams were competing on the day, which included the Army, Navy and a selection of top class Universities. 17 Royal Air Force Athletes toed the line including 4 athletes competing for the first time.
As a team, the men's squad did extremely well, improving on last year’s performance of 4th place, running a close 3rd behind University Athletics titans Loughborough and Brunel. The women’s team put on a courageous show against tough competition and raised their game on the day with many of the athletes gaining Personal Bests.
Cpl Stu Benson (Waddington), fresh from reaching the Semi Finals at the weekend in the UK Championships, dominated the 60m to beat a quality field and cruised round the 200m. Joining him in the 60m was newcomer SAC Chris Leary (DCAE Cosford) who, swapping his skeleton bob tea tray for a pair of sprinting spikes, put in an impressive debut performance. SAC Iain Ashall (Coningsby) also made a good start to the season with strong runs in the 60m and 200m.
Other highlights were a return to form of power house decathletes SAC Mark Plowman (Benson) and SAC Tony Higbee (Odiham). Both returning from injury but showing good early season form. Mark competed in the HJ, PV and 60mH, Tony in the 60mH and Shot.
Newcomers to the squad AC Jordan Nicholson (Lincoln AFCO), SAC Rich Stevenson (Benson) and SAC Paul Atkins (Benson) grasped the bull by the horns competing in multiple events each as well as the relay showing that they have real potential as Decathletes in the future.
Fg Off Marc Afford (Linton) came out to post a solid performance in the 400m, ably demonstrating that his training is going in the right direction. Flt Lt Nav Childs (Leeming) continued his dominance of RAF Long Jump and Triple Jump leaping out to performances that bettered last years Inter Services. Sgt Bob Kingman (Brize Norton) performed well in the Pole Vault warm up, clearing 4m 60 but, after having to pull up short during a run up, he could only manage a 4m vault. Mens Team Captain, FS Frank Chapman, showed he was in good form following his return from Ops to put in good performances in the Shot and 60mH. Special mention must go to the shot competition as the team fielded 5 competitors in this event which bodes well for the rest of the season.
Cpl Laura McGawn (DCAE Cosford) set three new PBs in the High Jump, 60m and 60m Hurdles showing that her winter training has been going well. SAC Caroline Livingstone (High Wycombe) picked up a PB in the 60m and SAC George Francis returned to competition securing a PB in the same event.
The atmosphere in the Team was upbeat with a great team atmosphere on show which was very evident in the 4 x 200m relays at the end of the day with 2 men’s squads and a female team challenging for positions cheered on by their team mates. The RAF Athletics Association President, AVM Paul Evans was also on hand to meet athletes throughout the day and presented the trophies to the winning teams. Overall it was an encouraging start to the season and the Teams sights are now set on the Outdoor fixture in April and the rematch against the Universities as well as the Fire and Police Services.
Many thanks to the Meeting Organiser, Wg Cdr Howard Marsh, as well as the numerous Officials, Results Coordinators and helpers who worked hard throughout the day to make it such a successful event.
Men's Competition:
- 1st Loughborough - 81
- 2nd Brunel - 71
- 3rd RAF - 68
- 4th Leeds Met - 58
- 5th Cambridge - 35
- 6th Birmingham - 34
- 7th UWIC - 30
- 8th Army - 29
- 9th Navy - 22
Women's Competition:
- 1st Loughborough - 71 after taking into account 1st place finishes.
- 2nd Birmingham - 71
- 3rd Leeds Met - 67
- 4th Brunel - 58
- 5th UWIC - 40
- 6th RAF - 38
- 7th Cambridge - 26