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Here's Round 4's match reports.
Another cold wintry night at State League as numbers seemed to be down, yet again! We’ll put it down to National All Schools, the Zatopek, the multis and the relays all falling within the same week, or perhaps it was simply because it was cold and wintry.
Anyway to the women. Firstly, I must make an apology for a glaring inaccuracy of the match report from the week before. It appears that Breanna, and not Gabrielle Neighbour was our star competitor in the hammer down at Geelong. And a fine performance it was too, with Breanna nudging 50 metres and winning the competition. Obviously such an error can never occur again, which is why I’m reluctant to produce any match report at all given that most of it is absolute guesswork, written before the results come through.
To this week, Breanna and Gabrielle were both seen walking towards the hammer cage in Yarra Park last night. Gab was holding the implements, although maybe that was because she was looking after her sister. The reality must be that one of them threw. I think it was the younger one but I’m not going to tell you which one that is so that I can’t make a mistake.
In the walks, Megan Peters is the most consistent athlete we have, having not missed a round so far, and more important keeping the Telstra profits down as no phonecall is necessary. Thanks Megan.
Telstra did do ok this week as finding a 100 metre runner was light asking a local the way to Glasgow. Holidays, all schools, trips away and meditation sessions (mine) prevented us from having more than one runner this evening. Luckily it was Emma Cochrane, who is again showing her form with a victory in 12.40ish into a headwind.
The first round of applause from the ground was awarded to Viv Potiris, who managed to snap one of Ken Priestley’s poles and let out a resounding crack around the stadium. Undeterred, Viv proceeded to jump with a broken pole and still managed to clear a height, to earn herself another little cheer.
Bec Neilsen and Megan Boyes did the honours in the Shot and Discus repectively. Honestly, if you want to see how to have fun at athletics, just follow the throwers around the trap. However, sometimes they have too much fun…
Fresh from an almighty 1.80 leap to take the National Title in Hobart, Tessa Densley came along wearing a festive hat to show her buoyant mood. She also happened to compete in a couple of events along the way with a High Jump and a shot under her belt. With a bit of encouragement, we should be able to get her over the hurdles very soon.
In the 1500, Squad Steve Hore strutted their stuff as Karen and Helena gave us some valuable points. Karen gave a great showing, sitting on Simone Brakhuis and kicking clear with 300 to go. Karen’s time of a tick over 4:30 shows what sparking form she is in. Helena also kicked gamely with 300 to go but ran out of legs a little in the dying stages to finish in 4:50ish. Fresh from an office Christmas party, she will be happy with the run, not the least because she managed to secure another top for the night. I have little doubt that there are small children in Lithuania proudly support the Bayside colours thanks to Helena’s efforts.
No hurdlers, no steeplers, but a consistent Jeanette managed to do good things in the Triple Jump. Team Bayside finished where they started with Emma Cochrane getting onto the blocks for the 400. Unofficially (I sang one of those 57 second songs I know), I reckon she ran about 57. something, which would be a pb in my reckoning. A huge welcome to Sarah Hawe from Sandringham who made her Bayside debut last evening in the second heat of the 400. Sarah pulled on the colours to finish strongly in 59.5 seconds and will no doubt be a valuable contributor to the team as the year progresses.
Overall, with all the gaps, we are likely to finish the night in third position, which will mean we lose our top spot on the ladder going into the Chirstmas break. Definitely something for athletes and management to work on in the new year.
For the men, Team Manager Tim (TMT) learnt what it is to be a Bayside manager last night. No shows, late shows, disqualifications, the works. As yet, we are uncertain where the boys finished. It will most likely be somewhere between 1st and 5th given the closeness of the competition.
Young Tom Farr continued his practice session for this week’s decathlon by arriving late and getting over to Jav in the nick of time and then proceeding over to High Jump where he jumped a little tentatively. Young Tom won’t be able to take such a lackadaisical approach in the Vic champs when he takes on the might of the Jussie Hanrahan, who in his never ending pursuit of excellence in the athletic arena had a training diary that went like this:
Sunday – Skip Training with apology
Tuesday – Skip Training, no apology
Wednesday – Get Drunk at office Christmas party
Thursday – Skip Training and eat birthday cake
Friday – Birthday drinks
Saturday - Decathlon
Young Tom, you’ve got a lot to learn
Three victories in the 100 (count them…3) Justin, Arnold and Carl all managed to pull off decisive victories and yet do themselves a disservice under the watchful eye of handicapper Disco Stu who scribbled down some notes as they crossed the line. All four boys then teamed well to take another clear victory in the 4*100 relay.
A huge welcome back to Tony Wilson who pulled on the extra short Bayside singlet for his first run in the team colours for a couple of seasons. Tony was a mainstay in the Bayside Premiership years and it was great to have both he and Tim waving the flag in the 1500m.
Later in the evening, Carl Moorhouse fell for the second oldest trick in the book when he heard that Tim Ewen was unavailable for the hurdles and Carl suggested that he’d have a go. If Carl had listened to the advice of TMT, who once said he’d have a giraffe, such a thing would never have happened. Big congrats to Kev Beams was quick out of the blocks to go and put Carl’s name down on the team list. It all turned out well as Carl managed to follow NFA’s display in the hurdles with a sub 16 second run.
Meanwhile, TMT was walking around the infield holding a pair of underwear.
Matt Brown has received an official warning from management after he was disqualified from the shot put for what the official described as being Matt Brown. Unfortunately, it happened to be on a night when points mattered and Matt has put himself on the line for the remainder of the season, knowing that he will be made to run a steeple at State League finals if he does not conform.
To the 400’s. There’s nothing like a motivational speech prior to a big series of heats. Luckily what Tim and myself gave was nothing like a motivational speech as Justin, Disco Stu and Evan prepared themselves to match themselves against the big boys in the one lapper. Justin drew a tough heat against Flowers and Avery, but managed to give it everything as Justin always does. Stu ran beautifully in heat two, hitting the home straight in front and never looking back whilst Ev, knowing that points were valuable, chased down two guys in the straight before crossing the line a little weary.
As we wait, results are yet to be announced, but we keep the fingers crossed the Bayside boys take momentum into the post Christmas season. On a blatant self promotion kick, please keep an eye on the Victorian Mile and 100 yards Championships to held at the hallowed Mentone turf, on Sunday 19th of Januray. There are championship mile and 100 yard races to be held as well as a series of graded miles for all standard of athlete. Remember to tell your friends and get the entries in.
Finally, we wish all Baysiders the best for the holiday period and hope that you continue to train hard rather than take the Justin Hanrahan approach to life. p>
Results are here.
The last Report was Round 3.