17 February 2015

British Athletics’ Club:Connect campaign continued at the Sainsbury’s Indoor British Championships in Sheffield on the weekend of 14 and 15 February

The campaign, which started last year, rewards and recognises the important work of clubs and the clubs with the most points in the male and female categories at the Sainsbury’s Indoor British Championships were each awarded a grant of £500.

Over the course of the weekend, every competing athlete won a point for their club and there were additional points available for athletes finishing in the top six of finals, with six points being awarded to the winner down to one point for sixth place.

The winning male club was Shaftesbury Barnet, after a spectacular performance which consisted of four male athletes achieving first place. The London club’s overall score was 42, a whole 12 points above second place.

Their first gold medal came from Dan Bramble, who jumped to an impressive 7.90 metres in the final of the men’s long jump. This was a personal best and set Shaftesbury Barnet off to a brilliant start.  

Another athlete who secured maximum points for Shaftesbury Barnet was Zane Duquemin, who won first place in the men’s shot put after throwing it 17.72 metres. Allan Smith, who won the British high jump title, was the third athlete to clinch gold for Shaftesbury Barnet with a superb performance which landed him a new personal best, jumping 2.29 metres.

The final men’s winner for Shaftesbury Barnet was Antonio Infantino, who took victory in the 200 metre event in a rapid 20.96 seconds.

In joint second place in the men’s standings were Enfield and Haringey and Birchfield Harriers, who each amassed a total of 30 points.

Improving on second place in the men’s standings to take the women’s Club:Connect title was Birchfield Harriers, who also secured four female gold medallists over the course of the weekend. The first winner for the Birmingham based club was Sally Peake, who cleared 4.25 metres in the pole vault to take gold and improve on last year’s bronze medal.

The next athlete to become the British champion was Eden Francis, who clinched to first place in the women’s shot put final. Her throw of 16.50m was almost an entire metre longer than the second place throw of 15.55m.

Laura Samuel was the third gold medallist from Birchfield as she leaped to 13.66m in the women’s triple jump final, securing her place at the European championships.

The fourth winner was Sara Treacy of Ireland, who took top placing in the women’s 3,000m after a swift final lap that saw her finish just 0.04 seconds ahead of British champion Emilia Gorecka.

Birchfield’s overall score was 48, whilst in second place with a score of 43 was Blackheath & Bromley, with gold medals won by Shannon Hylton in the 200m, Dina Asher-Smith in the 60m and Serita Solomon in the 60m hurdles.