IPC Athletics Grand Prix, Dubai – Day One

Aled Davies’ (coach: Ryan Spencer-Jones) continued his world-record breaking exploits in 2015 but this time with a new lifetime best in the T42 discus at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai today.

The 23 year old, who has enjoyed an impressive start to the year in the shot put, with back-to-back unofficial World Indoor records threw out to 48.87m at the opening Grand Prix of the year as the Welshman’s form continued in majestic fashion.

Double Paralympic, European and World champion Hannah Cockroft (Jenni Banks) completed the T34 200m, 800m double clocking 33.85 and 2:14.79 respectively. After T13 100m gold at last summer’s IPC European Championships in Swansea, Erin McBride (Robert Roberts) finished second in 13.22 – the second fast time of her career.

European bronze medallist Ben Rowlings (Job King) was third and fifth in the T34 800m and 200m respectively, while Commonwealth Games finalist Meggan Dawson Farrell was third in both the T54 200m and 800m.

Steve Osborne (Banks), a bronze medallist in Swansea last summer was fifth in the T51 200m, while Bev Jones (John Parkin) was fourth in the F36-38 shot put with her best throw of 8.35m coming in the final round.

IPC Athletics Grand Prix, Dubai – Day Two

Aled Davies (coach: Ryan Spencer-Jones) made it two world records in two days as the GB & NI contingent continued to show their early season form on day two of the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai.

After a 48.87m throw in the discus yesterday, Davies added over a metre to his previous world record in the T42 shot put with the Welshman just eight centimetres off the 16m barrier.

Hannah Cockroft (Jenni Banks) made it three wins out of three winning the T34 400m to go with the first place finishes in the 200m and 800m on day one.

Double European Champion Maria Lyle (Tabo Huntley) continued where she left off in 2014 with victory in the T35 100m crossing the line in 14.92, with fellow teenager Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell) taking the plaudits in the T38 100m finishing ahead of teammate Olivia Breen (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) in 13.18.

It was a successful international debut for Georgina Hermitage (Paul MacGregor) with the 25 year old taking over two tenths off her previous best to win the T37 100m in 14.22.

After victory in this event last year, GB & NI veteran Graeme Ballard (Huntley) had to settle for second place in the T36 100m ahead of Paul Blake (Rob Ellchuk) and Ben Rushgrove (Ellchuk), who were third and fourth respectively.

Five-time Paralympian Stephen Miller (Rosalynd Miller) finished second in the F32 club throw with 28.33m, while World bronze medallist Holly Neill (Andrew Roda) finished second in the F41 shot put with a best throw of 6.76m.

World T44 200m bronze medallist Sophie Kamlish (Ellchuk) clocked 14.11 in the 100m for third place, with Bev Jones (John Parkin), fourth in the shot put yesterday taking third in the F36-38 discus.  

Meggan Dawson-Farrell (Ian Mirfin) made it a hat-trick of third places finishes, this time in the 400m, while Ben ROwlings (Job King) and Stephen Osbourne (Jenni Banks) fourth and fifth respectively in the T34 and T51 400m.  

IWAS World Junior Games gold medallist Pani Mamuneas (Jim Edwards) was fourth in the F41 shot put with the 18 year old just 14 centimetres off his personal best at 10.42m. 

IPC Athletics Grand Prix, Dubai – Day Three 

Still unbeaten in her senior career, Hannah ‘The Hurricane’ Cockroft (Jenni Banks) made it four wins out of four at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, blowing away the field to take gold in the T34 100m in 18.37.

Also showing impressive early season form was Jo Butterfield (Shona Malcolm/Phil Peat), who continues to take the world by storm setting a new personal best of 19.69m in the F51 club throw.

Kylie Grimes has made the transition from wheelchair rugby to athletics with ease, as the GB & NI debutant recorded a European record to take the plaudits in the F51 100m, clocking a time of 35.93 ahead of Beth Monks, who finished second. Fellow newcomer Georgina Hermitage (Paul MacGregor) followed up yesterday’s victory in the T37 100m with another personal best and first place finish in the 400m.  

European T36 400m silver medallist Paul Blake (Rob Ellchuk) took the victory in the 400m in 56.26, while Erin McBride (Robert Roberts) matched her performance from the opening day of competition by finishing second in the T13 400m.

Holly Neill (Andrew Roda) took third in the F41 discus with a best throw of 21.83m, with Meggan Dawson-Farrell (Ian Mirfin) finishing in the same position as her teammate in the T54 100m.

Stephen Osborne was fourth in the T51 100m, while Pani Mamuneas (Jim Edwards) and Ben Rowlings (Jenni Banks) finished in seventh place in the F41 javelin and T34 100m respectively. 

IPC Athletics Grand Prix, Dubai – Day Four 

On the fourth day of action, it was world record number three and four for the GB & NI contingent at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai. Following Aled Davies’ (coach: Ryan Spencer-Jones) two world records in the T42 shot put and discus, today was the turn of Scottish duo Maria Lyle (Tabo Huntley) and Jo Butterfield (Shona Malcolm/Phil Peat). 

Lyle, the double European Champion clocked 31.51 over 200m to extend her existing T35 world record set in Bedford last year by nearly two tenths. Fresh from a new European record in the club throw yesterday, Jo Butterfield (Shona Malcolm/Phil Peat) was in world record breaking form today in the F51 discus. The former wheelchair rugby player threw 8.87m, making her the one to beat ahead of the IPC World Athletics Championships in Doha in October.

Only a strong tailwind stopped Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell) from matching Lyle and Butterfield’s feats, as the 18 year old won the T37/T38 200m in a time of 27.20 ahead of Olivia Breen (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo), who crossed the line in 28.93.

Graeme Ballard (Huntley), the Benjamin Button of the GB & NI para team continues to show his consistency winning the T35/T36 200m, to go alongside his second place finish in the 100m on day two.

Sophie Kamlish (Rob Ellchuk), whose T44 class was combined with the T35/36/43 and 46 was a fifth place finisher in the 200m in 31.51.

For full results, please visit: http://team-thomas.org/

Sharjah Open International Athletics Meeting – 27-28 February 

While many of the GB & NI contingent made their way back to home soil after the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, a few of the athletes made the short trip north to compete at the Sharjah Open Meeting. 

Despite strong winds and dusty conditions, there were a number of strong performances on the first day of action. Maria Lyle (coach: Tabo Huntley) extended her winning run in the T35/36/44 100m clocking a wind-assisted 14.53, while Graeme Ballard (Huntley) also showed his consistent start to the season winning the T35/36/38 100m in 11.99 (+4.6). 

Competing against the T53/54 classes in the 400m, Hannah Cockroft (Jenni Banks) showed true grit and determination to finish in fourth overall and first in the T34 category. The Hurricane finished a place ahead of Meggan Dawson-Farrell (Ian Mirfin) and Carly Tait (Rick Hoskins), who finished in seventh. 

Cockroft then went on to win the T33/34/51 100m in a wind-assisted 17.56. Tait finished behind the double Paralympic, World and European Champion, while Kylie Grimes was third but the first T51 to cross the line ahead of Beth Monks.   

Scottish sprinter Lewis Clow also took another GB & NI victory in the T37 100m, while Holly Neil (Andrew Roda) finished in second place behind Tunisia’s Paralympic gold medallist Raoua Tlili in the F40/41 shot put.

Stephen Osborne (Banks) was third and fourth respectively in the T51/52 100m and 400m, with Ben Rowlings (Job King) taking fifth in the T33/34 400m.