After their improved performance to take 3rd place in the second match at Cheltenham, the Rugby & Northampton team made the short journey to Coventry lying in equal 3rd place overall and looking to consolidate their position.
After a day of decidedl
y mixed fortunes, the team struggled to 5th place on the day and dropped to 4th overall, ahead of Tamworth & Cheltenham.
The previously strong men's squad suffered a spate of late withdrawals, travel problems and even an injury during warm-up which meant that four events had no competitors, whilst the second string ladies team which was a blend of youth and experience continued their steady improvement to rescue the situation.
In spite of this there were some fine individual performances with the men claiming 4 A-string and two B-string victories.
The highlight was a new club record and personal best for Martin Vincent who made light work of a gusty wind to clear 4.40m in the Pole Vault, a fine return after missing last season through injury.
Other victories came from Neil Bulman in the Hammer, an 800m double for Steve Emery & Chris Lamb, whilst Jamie Sewell won the steeplechase for the second successive meeting.
In the B-string Marcin Sankiewicz showed much improved form to claim the 1500m. There were also PB's for Jamie Downes who clocked 50.0 in the 400m, Winston Rose in the Long Jump, Sewell in the 'chase and Chris Shelton in the B-string Pole Vault
The ladies relied upon team work and a string of second places in their performance. The only A-string victory was from an imperious Joanna Emery in the1500m, whilst there were second places for Sopie Wright (100), Emma Cluley (110H), Sophie Meakin (LJ), Vicky Nealon (TJ) & the sprint relay squad. In the B-string events there were several gaps but busy Vicky Nealon claimed two victories and Emma Cluley one to the team moving forward.
Final match is at Stoke on August 6, when the both teams hope to welcome back athletes to finish the season in powerful style.
Rugby & Northampson A C
Midland League Division 1 - Women100m: 2 Sophie Wright, 12.9; 1 Emma Cluley, 13.3;
200m: 3 Hannah Oliver, 27.3;
400m: 5 Tracey Webb, 63.7;
800m: 6 Hannah Jones, 1.32.3; 4 Madeleine Smith, 2.27.7;
1500m: 1 Joanna Emery, 4.46.0;
100mH: 2 Emma Cluley, 16.7; 1 Vicky Nealon, 18.0;
4x100m: 2 R&N AC, 53.9.
Shot: 5 Debbie Murch, 8.43; 3 Sophie Meakin, 7.73;
Discus: 5 Debbie Murch, 22.55; 3 Madeleine Smith, 18.22;
Hammer: 4 Debbie Murch, 23.52; 4 Madeleine Smith, 15.72;
Javelin: 3 Debbie Murch, 27.03; 2 Madeleine Smith, 22.94;
H Jump: 4 Hannah Oliver, 1.40; 3 Vicky Nealon, 1.35;
L Jump: 2 Sophie Meakin, 5.35; 1 Vicky Nealon, 4.71;
T Jump: 2 Vicky Nealon, 9.41; 2 Lesley Willis, 8.84.
Midland Mens League
Hammer: 1 Neil Bulman, 44.65; 3 John Gercs, 21.24;
P Vault: 1 Martin Vincent, 4.40; 2 Chris Shelton, 2.50;
L Jump: 5 Winston Rose, 6.25; 6 Tobias Wray, 3.90;
100m: 4 Winston Rose, 11.8; 6 Tobias Wray, 12.1;
400m: 2 Jamie Downes, 50.0; 5 Ross Allen, 53.1;
800m: 1 Steve Emery, 1.57.8; 1 Chris Lamb, 2.00.0;
1500m: 3 Steve Emery, 4.06.9; 1 Marcin Sankiewicz, 4.17.2;
1000m S/C: 1 Jamie Sewell, 67.4; 5 Steve Milner, 71.6;
Discus: 5 John Gercs, 23.43;
Shot: 6 John Gercs, 8.12; 6 Ian Gidley, 7.13;
Javelin: 6 John Gercs, 8.12; 6 Ian Gidley, 7.13;
4x100m: 6 R&N AC, 52.4;
4x400m: 4 R&N AC, 3.29.8.
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