Rugby & Northampton AC claimed a highly satisfactory fourth place in the top division of the Midland Track & Field League at Wolverhampton on Saturday.
Having won promotion back to the top flight last season they went into the first match knowing that as usual a strong performance in the first match is important in order to set the tone for the season.
With all teams relying heavily upon students, the standards in the first match are always unpredictable and every team had gaps in some of the technical events.
The team were set on their way by Craig Murch who threw a personal best 60.36m in the hammer for the day’s first PB as he claimed second place in the competition.
In doing so he also broke the club senior record with a first throw beyond the 60m barrier.
He broke 60m once again on Sunday when competing against the country’s top throwers in the Loughborough International meeting.
As the match wore on the predominantly young ladies squad especially were in fine fettle, picking up 3 A & 3 B string victories along with a string of second and third places.
The men found the going harder and were without any distance runners but still picked up solid points in almost every other event.
As usual the throwers led the way for the club and the highlight was the javelin where men and women scored maximum points through Glyn Hollingsworth, Kevin Murch, Kerry Murch (SB) & Louise Hanby (PB) (see photo), whilst the lady triple jumpers of Claire O’Reilly and Grace Adeyinka also did the double.
The final A-string winner was World Masters champion Ellena Ruddock who powered to victory in the 100m, whilst Clarissa Blake ran a well-judged race to win the B string 800m in a personal best time.
Good performers for the men were John Moreland in the B string throws, Clinton Osaba-George and Tom Johnson in the sprints along with Charlie Barker, who had a busy afternoon covering five events.
Ross Allen also made the long journey from Cardiff to run the 400m and relays.
In the jumps, Ali Haider and Mo Jennah did well on debut whilst veterans Gary Wallace and Dave Cowley made valuable contributions.
For the ladies Hannah Scales took second in the 400 hurdles and covered two other events despite not being at her best whilst Karen Gomes made a welcome return to form.
In the middle distance events Jo Pulsford, Emily Waugh, Daisy Melville and Charlotte Inwood all picked up valuable points whilst 15-year-old Tia Clues also made her debut handling the B string long jump and the pole vault.
Finally Debbie Murch completed the family contribution by taking fourth place in the hammer, just getting the better of daughter Kerry.
The match finished with an exciting pair of relays with strong runs from Charlotte and Grace to bring the team home third whilst the mens squad were second at the bell but it was one event too far for Charlie and they slipped back to fifth.
Overall it was an excellent day’s work and pleasing to welcome debutants from last year’s successful junior teams.
The next match is at Loughborough on June 9 and R&N will be looking to field a stronger squad and consolidate their position in the league.