The records came tumbling down at the 2016 Wiltshire County Athletics Championships in Swindon, as over 320 athletes, in all age groups from the U11 Quad Kids competition to Seniors competed in the sunshine for the medals.
On the track, several records from the 1980s were beaten as Rory Howorth, from Trowbridge, of Team Bath, took the U15B 1500m title with a splendid win in 4.13.4, beating the 1983 time set by Andrew Stanley of 4.15.5. Sam Roberts, of Chippenham, also of Team Bath, set a new U17B 100m hurdles record in 13.97, a lovely flowing performance, beating D Colford’s 14.2 time from 1986. In the U17W 80m hurdles S McKinley’s 1985 12.1 record was smashed by both silver medallist Imogen Dawe-Lane, of Devizes, from Team Bath, who clocked 12.04 and her clubmate and winner Jenna Blundell, with 11.94. In the relays the Swindon Harriers Senior Ladies team ran 53.5 for the 4x100m, equalling the 2014 record.
In the field, Team Bath high jumper Tom Gale cleared 2.14m in the Senior Men’s event to beat Rob Mitchell’s 2m record, set in 2012.
Katie Loach, of Swindon Harriers, threw 27.94 in the U15G hammer to break club-mate Zoe Ann Bishop’s 2015 record of 26.05.
In line with WAA’s policy of encouraging disability sports, the championships this year included throws for disability athletes for the first time, and Charlie Goodwin of Lavington Athletics claimed both new records, winning the Senior Mens disability discus with 20.56m and the shot with 7.9m.
The championships this year was hosted by Swindon Harriers, who have taken over running the County Ground track, and the club pulled out all the stops to make sure the event ran smoothly, aided as always by the team of volunteer officials and helpers.
“The whole day went very well, and it was great to see records broken – it just shows how athletics in Wiltshire is thriving, with performances improving all the time,” said Alison Phillips, the WAA Track and Field secretary. “It was also good to see such a strong entry in the Quad Kids competition, as this is the right way to bring on new young athletes and make sure they experience all the athletic disciplines early on in their competition careers.”
Full results from the event are available online now at www.wiltshire-athletics.org.uk and pictures are available for download at www.charleswhittonphotography.com