Eastbourne Rovers AC U 15 team finished the season in style as runners up in the Sussex League, the best ever position by the club in the leagueâs history. The final match saw a very close competition between Brighton and Hove AC, Lewes AC, Chichester AC, Crawley AC and Eastbourne Rovers, all of whom fielded strong teams. Eastbourne needed to finish in the top three to assure them of the runners up spot and they were delighted to achieve their aim with 3rd place on the night, narrowly missing out on 2nd by 10 points and close behind Brighton and Hove, the overall league winners. Final points standings for the top 3 in match 4 were: Brighton and Hove AC 369; Chichester 334; Eastbourne Rovers 324.
After the torrential downpours of match 3, it was a relief to compete in dry and warm conditions at Withdean Stadium this time around. First points of the night were won by Oscar Mizen in the 80m Hurdles (3rd A) and Jonah Messer (2nd B). Both boys went on to have successful evenings with Oscar achieving two A string 1st places (300m and Javelin) and Jonah close to his 800m PB (5th A) and picking up valuable points in the Long Jump (6th B). In the boysâ sprints, Ethan Howcroft stepped into the A string for both the 100m and 200m and achieved excellent 3rd places in both, also gaining 3rdplace in the A High Jump. Stanley Atkins contributed well to the team score in very competitive B races in the 100m (6th), and 200m (6th) and also in the Long Jump A (7th).
The boysâ middle distance races were high scoring events for Eastbourne with 1st places for Fin Lumber-Fry (A) and Tom Petherick (B) in the 1500m, both delighted with personal best times. Fin and Tom also competed in throwing events to add to the team score. George Armstrong-Smith ran a fantastic race in the 800m to come 2nd in the B race with a new PB. George also ran a strong 200m (5th B) and competed in the High Jump (6th B).
Ben Wright was unable to compete in his preferred 1500m event due to an injury but showing fantastic team spirit he came to fill spaces in field events and was rewarded with significant points coming 4th in the B Shot Putt and 5th in the B Discus. Teddy Jones was one of the most successful field event athletes on the night for Eastbourne with 3rd in the A Hammer and 2nd in the B Javelin. He also ran a great PB in the non scoring 800m, very close behind his A and B race teammates and adding to an exciting race.
Similar success was achieved in the girlsâ sprint and middle distance events. Josie Usher had a good evening with 2nd in both the A 100m and 200m. Despite missing jumps due to a delay and hence a clash with the relay, she also picked up 2ndplace in the A High Jump. Chae Wai backed her up well with 2nd in the B High Jump. Daisy Connor was an outstanding winner in the girlsâ 300m, finishing 4 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, and then went on to win the 800m. Raya Petrova improved her seasonâs best to finish 3rd in the B 800m. Grace Culshaw, running the B race in the 100m and 300m came 6thand 2nd and also tried a new event for her, the 80m Hurdles, bravely running the A string due to the absence of her normal team mates and showing great potential for the future. New team member Ella Helm gained valuable points with a 4th in the 200m (B) and a 6th in the Long Jump (A). The 1500m saw a repeat of the boysâ success with Freda Pearce the runawaywinner of the A race and Evie Lennard close behind winning the B race.
Martha Simmons, Jemima Scott and Katy Brown were the star performers for Eastbourne in the girlsâ throws. Martha picked up a win (Shot A), a 3rd (Discus A) and a 6th (Javelin B). Jemima won the B Shot, came 4th in the A Hammer (her first competition in this event) and also came 5th in the B Long Jump. Katy did well to achieve 3rd in the B Discus, 4th in the B Hammer and 5th in the A Javelin.
As usual, the evening finished with the 4x100m relays. The boys, despite missing two key team members, ran well to finish 6th. The girls put out one of their best performances in the league this season with a fast-finishing Josie Usher on the last leg bringing them to a close 3rd behind Crawley and Brighton. There then followed a tense wait for the match scores and final league positions and the team was delighted to be awarded the runners up trophy.
Team manager Jenny Brown said, âAll the coaches at Eastbourne Rovers are fantastically proud of this group of athletes who have worked so hard this year and shown such great team spirit. We would also like to thank their parents for their valuable help and support.â
Many of this team are looking forward to moving up to the Under 17 age group next season with new competition opportunities, but there remains a strong contingent who will be joined by some of Eastbourneâs current Under 13 athletes to form a team with great potential in 2024. Meanwhile, winter training is starting for the cross-country athletes, with track athletes restarting in October, many aiming for indoor success in the coming months.