Superb start for Nene Valley Harriers as they cruise to win at Southern Athletics League opener

Nene Valley Harriers got the defence of their Southern Athletics League title off to a flier with a massive 38.5-point victory at Peterborough over the weekend.

Sean Reidy and David Bush got the club off to a great start by dropping just one point in the 400m hurdles. Reidy’s 57.7secs may not have been his personal best (PB) but having just moved into the masters age group, it was a new club record.

The men’s team had a great day dropping just four points in the flat track events from 100m through to 1,500m. Kane Wright grabbing two second places in the short sprints, James McCrae, Max

Butler, Alex Hampson and Oli Bowling getting the clean sweep over the middle distance events. Rio Chilvers ran a good steeplechase to win the A string event.

Martin Tinkler and Simon Achurch led the way in the throws with maximum points in the shot put and discus. Achurch also recorded a second placed A string hammer and fourth place in the javelin.

To finish the men’s day off the 400m relay team of Ashley Sandall, James McCrae, Max Butler and Daz Holding dominated the race to win.

Despite the NVH men out scoring the ladies for the first time since the 2014 season, the ladies’ who attended did themselves proud.

Lily Hughes ran well in the 100m but was pipped to the line before grabbing valuable points in the 200m.

Georgie Ivens, now fully recovered from injury, then bagged wins in the 200m and 400m. She was extremely well supported by Kelsi Ellis, who clocked a big PB of 61.7secs in the 400m.

Next up, Cat Foley-Wray and Nicky Morgan ran strong races in the 3,000m and attained maximum points.

New under-17 athlete Hannah Molyneaux won her B string shot put, with Becki Hall also winning the A string event. Molyneaux followed that by winning the discus.

More throwing points came from Andrea Jenkins and Lydia Church, who produced a double win in the ladies’ hammer.

The ladies’ 4x100m relay team was quick and won the race well, while under-17 talent Imogen Woodard knocked over 30secs off her best time to record 12.34.8mins in the 3,000m.

Match score: 1st NVH 215.5pts; 2nd Radley AC 178pts; 3rd Harrow 157.5pts; 4th Colchester Harriers 154pts.