Southend Athletic Club face one of the busiest weekends of their summer programme on Saturday and Sunday July 24 and 25 when they host the second part of their open meeting.

It incorporates the club championships, followed by staging an Eastern Young Athletes Meeting just 24 hours later.

With a shortage in numbers due to many going away at the start of the school summer holidays - traditionally a bumper weekend for people flying out - some of the younger athletes will face a particularly busy time filling in for absent colleagues in as many events as possible at the Eastern date.

It will also, of course, be a hectic two-day spell for club officials trying to cover the preparations, judging and time-keeping over the two days.

It's certain, however, that some top class athletics will be available at the club's Garon's Park track on Eastern Avenue, Southend, and spectators will be welcome on both days.

Weaver displays winning ways at Garon's Park

It was a case of golden threads all the way for Jon Weaver when Southend Athletic Club staged the first half of their club championships at the Garon's Park Track.

The event also doubled as an open meeting and Weaver captured four top boys' titles in the 100 and 400m hurdles plus hammer and 800m.

Weaver's triumphs came in the under-17 boys and, at the similar age group for girls, Sarah Raven was an equally dominant force.

She took the 800 and 3000m on the track plus high jump and javelin - the latter with a personal best 19.21m - while, for good measure, younger sister Carla collected the under-15 3000m. Collette Ager took the javelin, while elder sister Nicole triumphed in the under-17 200m.

Amy Rhodes (27.6) won the under-15 girls 200m with the 800 going to Basildon visitor Rosie Saunders (2m.34.6s).

Southend's Melanie Jacobs had a 75m hurdles high jump double with Samantha Bray (Castle View tops at shot.

There was double delight for Kristina Marshall in the under-13 girls. She took the 800m (2m.47.4s) and javelin (personl best 14.67m).

In the 200m Suzanne Joad won with an outstanding best of 28 seconds dead.

Lindsey Nash won the high jump and shot. Nikita Aspinell took the under-13 hurdles.

There was a treat for spectators when international Steve Phillips, visiting from Rugby, competed in the senior men's long jump and produced a ground record by 67 metres with an enormous 8.07m.

Neil Scrivener, the Southend man, watched in awe as he finished almost two metres behind Phillips, but won the senior men's 200, 400 hurdles, 100m hurdles. High jump winner was Simon Thomas.

Southend's Glen Kent won an epic 5000m senior veteran race with Ford Runners' Neil McGregor tops for the senior men. Colin Miles took the 800. Steve Kemp won the 3000m senior walk and Dave Condon the shot putt.

Aaron Parker won under-17 men's 200m and long jump honours with Kevin Mossman victorious in triple jump. There was good success for Castle View School at under-15 level with Michael Bourne winning triple jump and discus and Steven Bourne long jump.

For the under-13s, Basildon's Joe Golding won 200 and 800 honours and the home club's Tim Hayes had an 80m hurdles and javelin double. Daniel Quinn took the long jump.

For the veteran women Jill Candler was the 400m hurdles winner and Val Player took the hammer. Basildon's Heidi Nicholas won the 100m and high jump for Basildon and Polly Shuttleworth the 800 for Southend.

Men give five star display

Southend Athletic Club men's A team continued their unprecedented run of league victories with their fifth successive win.

Team manager Roger Smith now looks forward to a full coach for the final fixture at St Ives, Cambridgeshire, in a couple of weeks' time.

"It was a difficult match to win with plenty of distractions," said Smith. Those distractions included loud music from a nearby rock concert in Finsbury Park.

Mark Smith set the ball rolling with victories in the A 100m (11.4s) and 200m (22.7).

Neil Scrivener had 100m hurdles, high jump, triple jump and shot second placings before helping the 4 x 400m relay squad to victory.

Colin Miles (4m.14s) won the A 1500 and was second in the 800m. Matt Wright was second in the B 800 and under-17 Jon Weaver continued to show promise with runners-up in the B 1500.

New boy Ian Samms broke the tape in the B 100m hurdles (17.3s) and was second in the A 400m. Chris Craydon was first in the B 200m (23.6). Toby Sullivan, back after a three match absence, took the B 400 hurdles in 64.1 and was second in the A long jump.

Team captain Mark Waine was second in the A steeplechase in soaring heat and Roy Scott had a similar B placing.

Special mention was made by manager Smith of team stalwart Graham Weaver. Being a fireman, Weaver knows a few things about climbing down a pole. However, here he used one to vault to B victory in 2.8m. Jamie Webb was second in the AA.

Dave Condon put aside problems with his injured wrist to win the A shot with 15.29m.

Push costly for Robert The greatest day yet in the athletics career of a bright Billericay youngster ended in disappointment and controversy with claims that he was purposely pushed to the ground in his heat by an opponent.

After winning the Essex Schools title at Gloucester Park, Robert Smith, of Warner Close, Billericay, was delighted to be chosen for the County to compete in last weekend's English Schools Championships at Bury St Edmunds.

16-year-old Smith, a member of Basildon Athletics Club, was competing in the intermediate boys 3000m and his father Leslie claims that his son was a victim of dirty tricks on a day which was of major importance to him.

Said Leslie Smith: "Unfortunately, one of Robert's competitors in the heats had intentions of qualifying for the final regardless.

"He was seen, by reliable unofficial observers, to have pushed Robert in the back continually during the earlier laps.

"Then, at the beginning of the fourth lap, the same competitor was also seen to violently push Robert in the back with both hands. Robert fell to the ground. One of his arms was grazed and he pulled a muscle in his other arm trying to get up speedily.

"Even though the other competitors were some 80 metres ahead by then, Robert managed to catch up and he only just missed qualification for the final. I immediately complained that, although there were a numbers of official observers all around the track, nobody saw anything.

"Also, as there was a shorter 100m event taking place at the same time, observers were watching that event. I find this a severe lack of proper instruction.

"I know that observers may be volunteers, but surely the work has to be undertaken efficiently."

Leslie Smith pointed out that the final winning time of 8m. 55..88s was slower than his son's personal best of 8m 55.1 - one which his son aimed to improve on at Bury.

He concluded: "When Robert was pushed I realised that there was probably little I could do for him, but my concern is that officials did not see anything and therefore, with a "shrug of the shoulders", it was as though the incident did not happen!

"I hope someone will come forward with a video which confirms the incidents. This may help future athletes to ensure that events are observed thoroughly and fairly and recorded wherever possible."

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