We took 27 athletes to the last sportshall trials of the season to preparation for the County Championships in January. Our athletes were able to showcase their skills resulting in us coming away with a multitude of top 3’s including
Sunday was the last sportshall league match of the season,
making it the last for Annabel Gibson as she moves to U17. Annabel has competed
for Team Kennet in Sportshall since she was 9 years old. In this last match she
came 3rd in the Standing long jump with 2.04m and was joined by
Aimee Dickson in the 8 lap paarlauf coming 2nd with 99.1sec. Aimee
also came 4th in the speedbounce. Annabel and Aimee bought the U15
league competition to close with overall 4th place.
The U11 Girls once again dominated the speedbounce with all
6 competitors coming in the top 8 out of the 42 taking part. Emeilia Lunn came
1st with 52, Emma Long 2nd with 51, In joint 4th
with 50 were Millie Philips, Erin Gosney and Imogen Cowell. Close behind was
Lilia Gale with 48.
Bethany Maclean and Erin have made a brilliant 6 lap
Paarlauf pairing this year and finished with a first place in 77.8sec. Bethany
also came 3rd in the foam javelin with 11.5m. Overall in the league
the girls came 5th.
The U11 Boys also came 5th overall. Connor Jordan
and Ethan Kuijten made a fantastic team winning the 6 lap Paarlauf with
76.3sec. Connor also won the vertical jump with 50cm and took 3rd in
the speedbounce with 51. Ethan jumped one more coming 2nd in the speedbounce
with 52 jumps. In the foam javelin
Joseph Bell came 3rd with 14.75m. The three were joined by Thomas
Payne to come 5th in the 4×2 relay.
Sunday was the Sportshall U11 Berkshire Championships. Our
teams had some fantastic individual results.
In the U11 boys we had first places from Connor Jordan in
the vertical jump with 53cm and second place in the triple jump from Ethan
Kuijten with 5.52m. Ethan also came third in the speedbounce with 51 jumps and
with Connor in the 1+1 lap (23.5sec). The team of Oli Orr, Thomas Payne, Ethan
and Connor joined forces to come 4th in the 4×1 lap and an
impressive 2nd in the grandprix after winning their heat by a half
lap.
The U11 girls also had several top places. Bethany Maclean
got first in speedbounce (54 jumps) and Indoor Javellin (13.75m), finishing her
field events with a third in the vertical jump (43cm). Millie Philips came 4th
in the highstepper with 14.8s. Zoe Dickson threw the javelin to 5th
place with 11.5m. The girls (Leilah Gaye, Erin Gosney, Millie & Bethany)
also finished the day with an impressive grandprix, winning their heat but
coming second overall by 0.2s.
Sunday 3rd March was the Sportshall South East
Regional Final. Team Kennet had 5 athletes selected to represent Berkshire.
James Fenner and Max Casey were selected for the U11 boys,
who won the competition overall. Max won the relay and come 3rd in
the chest push (7.25m). James came 4th in the obstacle relay.
The U13 girls also won the competition and will be going
forward to the National Finals in April. Aimee Dickson won 2 golds in the
Obstacle relay and 4×1 relay
Harry Booker and Oliver Gregory had their last ever
sportshall match with the Berkshire U15 boys, who finished 2nd on
the day. Both have been selected to represent Berkshire multiple times in their
sportshall career. They finished on a high with personal bests in shot with
Harry winning gold(13.36m), Oliver silver (12.2m). Oliver also won gold in the
4×2 relay. In the all rounder competition Harry came 9th and Oliver
21st.
The U11 boys just missed out on medals on Sunday at the Sportshall Championship, coming fourth. The team had several top 3 finishes and finished the day with on a high winning their heat in the GrandPrix.
James Fenner continued Team Kennet’s success in the Triple Jump with a jump of 5.77m giving him first place. This was matched by Jack Pyke coming first in the high stepper with 13 seconds. Second place was taken by Ivan Chekmazov and Ethan Kuijten in the Paarlauf with 71.6sec (winning their heat by half a lap!)
The team got several third places between them, James in the 1 lap obstacle, Matthew Howard in the chest push and the team of James, Jack, Ivan and Ethan in the 4×1 sprint relay & overall in the Grand Prix.
The U11 girls came in 9th with an undersized team. That didn’t stop them putting in maximum effort, especially when Charlotte Morgan, Leilah Gaye, Sophie Byway and Georgina Johnston showed off their speed, agility and determination by winning the GrandPrix overall.
Georgina, in her first sportshall competition, took second place in the target throw. The speedbouncers Charlotte and Tillie Bell got 48 and 49 jumps giving them 3rd and 5th place. Sophie also came 4th in the chest push with 5.0m.
Team Kennet had three athletes competing for Berkshire this year.
In the U11 girls, Lyla Goodwin, Grace Wotherspoon and the rest of the Berkshire team came 2nd in the South East Regional final, only beaten by an incredibly narrow margin by Surrey. Both got new personal bests in the Standing Long Jump. Lyla with 2.02m and Grace with 1.96m.
In the U15 boys, Harry Booker was selected for the Berkshire team for the 4th year running. The Berkshire Boys won the regional final with Harry managing 3rd place in the Shot Putt with 11.21m. He will join the rest of the Berkshire team for the national final in April.
For the final sportshall league match we took 19 athletes to Eton.
Our best team result came from the U11 girls blue team, who won their second bronze medals of the season. A mix up in the timings on the speedbounce, which meant the girls had to jump for 30 seconds instead of 20, didn’t phase Lyla Goodwin (80 jumps) and Katie Pennicott (76 jumps) as they claimed 1st and 3rd places. Lyla also placed second in Long Jump with 1.94m.
The team had several 4th places in individual events. Katie Pennicott in Foam Javelin with 11.75m, Harriet Gibson in Balance Beam (56sec) and Target throw (6pts). The team, including Neve Wright placed 4 in the 4×1 relay and 6th in the Paarlauf.
For the first time this season we took a second U11 girls team, The two girls had a fantastic first ever match with Alanna Smith winning the foam Javelin with 12.50m and Tilly Sideso matching Harriet in 4th place on the Balance Beam with 6 pts.
The U11 Boys team placed 8th out of 15th overall. The highlights were Theo winning the target throw with 9 pts and Ben coming 3rd in the speedbounce with 53 jumps.
The U13 and 15 teams have kept going all season with reduced numbers, but have had some fantastic individual results. In this match Aimee Dickson (U13) won the speedbounce with 88 jumps, Pheobe Hoaen (U15) won the overhead throw with 6.5m and Sophie Weadon came 4th in the shot putt with 8.78m.
For the boys Harry Booker and Oliver Gregory (U15) continued to dominate the Shot taking 2nd (11.28m) and 3rd (9.88m). The same pairing also managed 4th place in the paarlauf with 90.1s. Oliver Bazin completed the U15 boys team with 5.25m in the overhead throw giving him 4th place.
With the season at an end we have had 3 athletes (U15 – Harry Booker, U11 – Grace Wotherspoon and Lyla Goodwin) selected to compete for Berkshire at the upcoming Regional Final and wish them the best of luck.
There are photos from the event on the Team Kennet Facebook Group.
Sunday 14th January Team Kennet Juniors participated in their first Berkshire Indoor Sports hall Championship since pre COVID at the Thames Valley Athletics Centre. SPORTSHALL ATHLETICS is an indoor form of track and field for children between the ages of 4 and 16 and it allows the young athletes to train during the cold and dark winter months. A superbly organised event with the girl age groups participating in the field events first, and the boys the track, That Saw Team Kennets under 11 Girls Blue Team Crowned Champions of Berkshire.
We had teams representing U11 and U13 age groups and following their huge success in track and field finishing on top of the Wessex and Oxford leagues, the U11 girls were able to provide two teams.
In the U11 boys we had a team of 7 and the team achieved 6th place with 266 points. In the field events Malik Gaye managed 2nd place in the Vertical jump, and the chest push and Samuel Atkins 1st place in the balance test. On the track Jenson Nichols and Joe Mercer secured a 3rd place in the 1+1 lap event. Other boys taking part Gethin Thomas, Sebastian Lauder-Clarke and Sebastian Lane.
For the U13 group the girls had a smaller team of 5 also finishing in 6th place with 226 points. In the field Ella Cronk secured 2nd place in the standing long jump. Jessie McCurtin 3rd place in the speed bounce. The girls were consistent with their track events finishing 5th in the 4 events. Other girls taking part Anna Hall, Emerald Hill-Sawyer and Harriet Saunders, if they had one more team member they would have been able to finish in the top 3.
In the U13 boys we had a full team of 8 securing a 5th place with 270 points. Euan Jones and Noah Lauder-Clarke had success in the 3+3 Lap event finishing in 1st place . In the Paarlauf Lauder-Clarke teamed up with John Brian to finish in 3rd place. Other boys taking part Ben Daley, Harry Smith, Josh Brian, Oscar Larkin, Henry Bell and Elliot Bell.
With two teams entered it was sure to be a busy day for the U11 girls. In the red team Sophia Mahoney secured a 4th place in the balance test and on the track in the 1+1 Millie Barlow and Gracie Cooke finished 4th. Also in the red team Alice and Orlagh Stratford and Ella Parsons. With 268 points the red team secured 6th place.
For the blue team there were some strong field performances, a 1st place for Matilda Clare in the standing long jump, 3rd place in the vertical jump for Ella McDonald, 2nd for Penelope Lyth in Speed Bounce and 1st and 3rd place for Isla Ladds and Penelope Lyth in the Hi Stepper. In the field 2nd place for Isla Ladds and Penelope Lyth in the 1+1 race. Also, success for the team with 3rd places in the 2+2, 3+3, Paarlauf, 4×2 relay and 4th place in the 4×1 relay. Completing the team were Maisie McCurtin, Affra Bailey and Matilda Pedersen. These performances secured the girls 1st place with 318 points.
Prior to the Championship there were three trial events and Team Kennet have 9 athletes which have been selected to represent Berkshire at the Intercounty competition in February. These athletes are Emerald Hill-Sawyer, Ella Larkin, Ella McDonald, Isla Ladds, Matilda Clare, Jenson Nichols, Joe Mercer, Malik Gaye and Samuel Atkins.
Each March the club holds its annual Winter presentation of awards for outstanding achievement representing and working with the club during the winter season including Cross Country, Indoor Athletics and Indoor Sportshall.
This season Team Kennet had huge team success with Cross Country, with Under 9, Under 11 and Under 13 girls all winning the Basingstoke Cross Country League. Under 9 and Under 13 boys both finishing 2nd and U11 Boys 3rd.
Well Done to all and several athletes received TK Stars for competing in all 4 matches.
In the league for the individual performances U9G Praiya Foreman finished in 1st Place and Matilda Saunders 2nd. U9B Chester Bailey 2nd, William Moloney 5th and Idris Gaye 6th.
U11G Ella Larkin 1st, Penelope Lyth 3rd and Matilda Clare 4th. U11B Malik Gaye and 2nd, Samuel Atkins 3rd.
U13G Harriet Saunders 1st, U15G Charlotte Bailey 1st and Ethan Kuijten U15B 1st
In the Club Championships U9G Praiya and Matilda hold the joint 1st position with Matilda Hogg finishing 3rd. U9B Chester Bailey 1st, Idris Gaye 2nd and William Moloney 3rd. U11G had 16 girls compete this year with Ella Larkin finishing 1st, Penelope Lyth 2nd and Matilda Clare 3rd. U11B Samuel Atkins 1st, Malik Gaye 2nd and Thomas Williams 3rd. U13G Harriet Saunders 1st, Anna Hall 2nd, Emerald Hill-Sawyer and Ella Cronk in joint 3rd. U13B Harry Smith 1st, Elliot Bell 2nd and Oskar Larkin 3rd. U15G Charlotte Bailey 1st and Lola Mitcham 2nd. U15B Ethan Kuijten 1st and Max Adams 2nd.
The Senior Athletes participated in the Oxfordshire Cross Country League and in the Club Championships for the Senior Women in 1st place Katie Reynolds, 2nd Anna Riggall and 3rd Georgina McCabe. Senior Men, 1st Andy Colling, 2nd Mitch Poustie and3rd Phil Baker.
To round up the Cross Country Awards there were two most improved athletes, in the male category JJ Mercer and female, Orlagh Stratford.
2023 saw Team Kennet return to Indoor Sportshall with several athletes taking part in the Berkshire Trials in November and December. Congratulations to those athletes who were selected and received TK Stars; Ella Larkin, Isla Ladds, Ella McDonald, Matilda Clare, Malik Gaye, Jenson Nichols, Samuel Atkins and Emerald Hill-Sawyer. At the Sportshall South East Regional Final the U11G Berkshire team finished in 2nd, U11B Berkshire Team 4th and U13G Berkshire Team 3rd.
For the Sportshall awards in the U11Gs the winner was Matilda Clare and runner up Isla Ladds. U11B winner Malik Gaye, U13 winner Emerald Hill-Sawyer and runner up Ben Daley. This seasons Sportshall Queen was awarded to Penelope Lyth. In the Berkshire Sportshall Championships held in January 2024, where Team Kennet U11Gs were crowned Champions, Penelope was the best overall performer as she was the only athlete to finish in 2nd or 3rd in all the events she competed in. We look forward to returning to Sportshall after the success this season. Special thanks to all at the club who made it happen, especially Sarah Dickon and daughter Amiee for their support pre/post event, nominations and presentation for the awards.
The final award of the evenings is the Champions Champion and this seasons winner is Malik Gaye.
If anyone from juniors to seniors would like to join the club please get in touch with us.
