Senior Mens Section
Southern Mens League
'Four in a row as Rovers stay Top of League'
Eastbourne Rovers Athletics Club’s Senior Men’s team travelled to Crawley last Saturday expecting a tough battle to retain their top spot in the Southern Men’s League Encounter. This never materialised as they ended up winning the match by 36 points from home club Crawley who in turn had a close battle with Tunbridge Wells.
It was a total team effort and difficult to pick out any one for ‘man of the match’. However there was some great team sprit and difficult event combinations that some of the athletes completed. Filling the team sheet is always priority number no1 and team manager Stuart Pelling did this despite a late withdrawal on the day.
Chris Dodd scarified good times for clean victories in the overall team effort. He showed his class and tactical brain as he notched up victories in the ‘wicked’ combination of 800M, 400M, 1500M and 3000M steeple chase. Despite the 400M being 30minutes after the 800M is was pb in 51.0. Jon Dennis who was making his season debut having just returned from university was a real team player when securing seconds in the 100M and 200M ‘B’ events along with outright victories in the both the 400M hurdles and 110M sprint hurdles, triple jump, and a member of both relays. He was certainly the biggest point scorer of the day.
Back at the start of the hot afternoon it was the pairing of Russell Weir and Brian Slaughter who got the points total rolling as they took maximum points from the pole vault. Russell clearing a great 3.40M. On the track it was Allan Dawson who was showing the home crowd the quickest way to the finish line in both sprints. The strong head wind did not stop him clocking 11.4 and an impressive 22.2. Fraser Weir was another one back from university making his season debut and again was impressive with his team ethic in racing in the 5000M, 1500M and 3000M steeple Chase with those all important points.
Stuart Pelling who is fighting his way back from injury and match fitness was also showing his versatility with victories in the Hammer and 400M ‘B’ events along with his overall high jump one with 1.75M.
The 4*100M relay was a very exciting race as Crawley were planning to go down with a fight. They took an early lead and coming in to the home straight they were 20M clear, but the Baton changed to Allan Dawson for Eastbourne and the crowd were a gasp as he ate up the track in front of him closing the Crawley team rapidly. As he crossed the line there was no more than a vests width between them.
To close the match off Eastbourne were determined to stamp there mark as the quartet of Russell Weir, Stuart Pelling, Jon Dennis and Chris Dodd teamed up for the 4*400M relay. They did not disappoint bringing the baton home clear of the rest.
It makes a very intriguing last league match as the team are now assured of promotion but must beat Dartford at their head to head which will be held in Hastings at the end of the month.
Match Result
Eastbourne R 119
Crawley 82.5
Tunbridge Wells 79.5
London A.C. 66
League Table(after R4 of 5)
1 Eastbourne 16 446.5
2 Dartford 15 463
3 Bracknell 13 377
4 E Grinstead 12 389
5 Crawley 12 372
6 Horsham BS 11 403.5
7 SLH 11 375
8 Haywards H & Lewes 11 304
9 Medway & M 9.5 342
10 Paddock W 9 353.5
11 Epsom & E 9 330.5
12 Tunbridge W & L 9 310
13 Swale 6 222
14 Kingston & P 5 118
15 LAC 4.5 186
16 Cambridge H** 1 208
** Deducted 6 League Points – M1(Rule 3a applies)
'Hatrick Rovers Go Top of League 5 June 2010'
Eastbourne Rovers Athletics Club’s Senior Men’s team had home advantage when they met the mighty Cambridge Harriers, Local rivals Paddock Wood and Kingston for their third Southern Men’s league fixture of the 2010 Track and Field Season. However Cambridge did not bring the full team that was expected.
It was difficult to pick out a star of the show as there was some great performance.
Team manager Stuart Pelling who could be described as the ‘Player Manager’ was not able to contribute as much normal due to a Hamstring injury.
The first great performance of the day was from Russell Weir when he sawed over 3.35M to win the pole vault with a new pb for the seventeen year old. In fact he only just missed going clear on the next height. He was supported by Brian Slaughter who won the ‘B’ string with a solid 3.00M.
The first track event of the day saw the return of Sam Caplen who ran some useful times in the 400M hurdles last year. There was no doubt of his victory right from the first bend as he majestically strode to victory with 59.8 again in support for his second victory was Brian Slaughter.
The long jump was another double and this time Sam teamed up with Allan Dawson as both enjoyed victory, Sam’s 6.10M was a pb.
The next track event was the 100M and Allan enjoyed a ‘powered’ performance to take victory with a season’s best 11.3. Harry Clarke who was later to try his hand at 400M was impressive with is ‘B’ 11.6 victory.
The 800M on paper was going to be a close race with Cambridge but Chris Dodd who had recently run a 1.53 was having none of it as he controlled things from the front and held off any likely moves from his Cambridge rival. Alex Dennis who turns out in many different events for the club was there in full support for his season’s best performance. He went on to come second in the Javelin.
The 5000M saw a real team effort as Math Southam and Stuart Pelling keep the opposition in place and points building up.
Jono Ketley stepped onto the track for the 400M encounter and another fine display of pace judgement for his 50.2 victory. Harry Clarke was in the same race showed he has talent for this event with a great debut time of 52.8. The 110M hurdles saw yet another victory for the team and for Sam Caplen. This was followed up with Brian Slaughter’s Discus win. The 200M was Allan Dawson’s third victory of the day with a glorious run in 22.6 he was supported by Laurie Hughes.
Bryan Brett who is getting back some form with each race decided to try this out against Chris Dodd in the 1500M. The two of them were locked together until the last bend and home straight when Chris showed Bryan he is a couple of races away from race fitness.
At the end of the day it was no great surprise that the team walked away with victories in both relays to put the icing on the cake with more points and ensured the team moved to the top of the league. The next league match is at Crawley on 10th July where they will be against a strong Crawley outfit who will be on home soil. They will have to wait until the last fixture of the season before they are against Dartford.
Match Result
Eastbourne R 126.5
Paddock Wood 107.5
Kingston 26
Cambridge Harriers 15
| 1 | Eastbourne | 12 | 327.5 |
| 2 | Dartford | 11 | 337 |
| 3 | Crawley | 9 | 289.5 |
| 4 | E Grinstead | 9 | 285 |
| 5 | Bracknell | 9 | 276 |
| 6 | Haywards H & L | 9 | 258 |
| 7 | Horsham BS | 8 | 291.5 |
| 8 | Paddock Wood | 8 | 281 |
| 9 | SLH | 7 | 260 |
| 10 | Epsom & E | 7 | 247.5 |
| 11 | Tunbridge Wells & L | 7 | 230.5 |
| 12 | Medway & M | 5.5 | 249.5 |
| 13 | Swale | 4 | 159 |
| 14 | Kingston & P | 4 | 87 |
| 15 | LAC | 3.5 | 120 |
| 16 | Cambridge H** | 0 | 173 |
'Team Manager Stuart’s Double, Alan’s form impresses 15 May 2010'
Eastbourne Rovers Athletics Club’s Senior Men’s team travelled the short journey to Lewes for their second first Southern Men’s league fixture of the 2010 Track and Field Season.
Team manager worked hard before the day to ensure a full team sheet on the day. Despite missing a couple of key team members the planning paid off with the second victory of the season. Already there is talk of promotion but Stuart is a little more cautious.
There were no real stars as it proved to be a full team performance that won the day. However Alan Dawson continues with his fine form despite not feeling well all week he still ran 11.4 for the 100M and then ran away with the 200M in 22.7.
First up for the team was Russell Weir who continues with consistence form in the pole vault for a solid second place with 3.20M. He was supported by Brian Slaughter who was second in the ‘B’ with 3.00M.
The afternoon scores were looking very close with Lewes/Haywards Heath taking an early lead with their strong showing in the field events. Stuart Pelling again was there to help score points in these events before his fine victory in the 400M. The wind was difficult to judge but many against in the home straight. He judged his race to perfection as he tracked his South London rival through 200M as he came off the bend he held his form to pull through the stronger for a fine victory.
Alex Dennis again was on hand as he picks up vital points as he throw has best javelin of the season. Brian Brett was making his debut for the season and just needs a couple of races to be back under that two minute barrier for the 800M who was always in the running for a great second place.
Ryan Norcross not only supported Alan Dawson strongly in the 200M he was there for the team in the Long Jump and 4*100M relay.
Laurie Hughes has also started to enjoy a few different events including the 400M hurdles and had a fine run in the 100M.
By mid afternoon Lewes/Haywards Heath had a one point lead from Eastbourne with South London and Bracknell just two points further back.
The Eastbourne team sheet was reviewed to ensure a strong finish in the remaining events as victory was looking a strong possibility. Matt Southam who has turned in some great performances for the club over the years again was there scoring difficult points in both 5000M and 1500M.
It came to the 3000M Steeple Chase and Eastbourne were now three points in the lead. The teaming of Alex Dennis and Russell Weir did the team proud in this very tough event to deliver a second and first place.
This position of leading the match was secured by the 4*100M quartet of Laurie Hughes, Alan Dawson, Ryan Norcoross and Stuart Pelling for a great victory in the race and overall.
The next league match will be a home one on Saturday 5th June when ERAC will be against Cambridge, Kingston and Paddock Wood. The team hope to be strengthened further by the return of some from University Studies.
May 15th result at Lewes Eastbourne R 96 Haywards H & Lewes 86 S London 82 Bracknell 74
'Team Manager Stuart’s dream start, Jono shines 1 May 2010'
Eastbourne Rovers Athletics Club’s Senior Men’s team travelled to Ashford last weekend for their first Southern Men’s league fixture of the 2010 Track and Field Season.
It was a new earer as the team was being managed by the long time member Stuart Pelling for the first time. His efforts to get a team together that would be worthy of the venue proved its worth as the team secured a great victory.
Although it is the Senior Men’s team a club is allowed to field strong U17 athletes. In this case it was in the form of Jono Ketley and Harry Clarke who were sacrificed from the Young Athletes Team competing the next day. Both were more than able to hold their own. Jono was the star performer of the day as he continues to learn how to race the 400M distance. Again he took off another 0.5 of a second with a new pb and victory in 50.29. The 49s is not far away and progress from last season’s 52.3 is very good. Harry another great talent is also ready to make the breakthrough to the 22s but this time the event is the 200M having already run 23.1 this season.
The match started on the track with two fine second places in the 400M hurdles for Brian Slaughter and Laurie Hughes. Meanwhile in the field events and in between the rain showers Russell Weir was holding off Brian Slaughter for club honours in the Pole Vault as they picked up another near maximum points with a second and first. The Rovers secured maximum points in all of the sprints right from the 100M, 200M and 400M. This was lead by Allan Dawson and Harry Clarke for the 100M and 200M. Allan is looking in fine form and despite a slow time for him he just needs a few races to sharpen up with his 11.58 and 22.8 clockings. Harry more than stood his ground for his two victories and great preparation for this week’s County Championships.
The 400M was Jono’s first victory of the day along with Team Manager Stuart Pelling for their double victory. Alex Dennis got the better of Brian Slaughter in the javelin as Alex continued to fight for the teams cause. Matt Southam who has put in some fine performances for the club over the last few years more than did his bit for the team with horrible combination of 800M followed by the 5000M.
The match was closely fought all afternoon with both Horsham and Maidstone/Medway always close on Rover’s heels. The strong finish from Rovers and the securing of overall victory was a double in the relays as they won both the 4x100M and the 4x400M despite some’ horrendous’ baton changing, ‘more practice boys’ you could hear the team manager say.
Match Result
Eastbourne 105
Horsham 99
Maidstone/Medway 92
Swale 39
The team manager for 2010 is Stuart Pelling (assisted by Brian Slaughter). We are currently in division 3 South and looking for promotion!
The known details for this year are set out below. Please contact Stuart (add e mail)for more information. The team usually travel to meetings in cars.
More information for Southern Mens League
Last Years League Table
Southern Mens League Div 3S 2009 |
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| Blackheath & B | 19 | 587.5 |
| Herne Hill H | 19 | 545 |
| Crawley B | 17 | 521.5 |
| S London H | 17 | 493.5 |
| Tunbridge Wells & L | 15 | 466.5 |
| Haywards Heath/Lewes | 14 | 458 |
| Bracknell | 13 | 428.5 |
| Eastbourne | 12 | 439.5 |
| Medway & M | 12 | 420 |
| Horsham BS | 12 | 412 |
| East Grinstead | 10 | 365.5 |
| Serpentine | 10 | 348.5 |
| Kingston & P | 9 | 279.5 |
| Queens Park H | 8 | 322 |
| Holland Sports | 6 | 334 |
| Hastings B | 6 | 279.5 |