News
20th February 2025
Newsround – Catch up on competition achievements
England Masters Indoor Inter Area Challenge Lee Valley – 16th February
Jack Poxon and Jonathon Dumelow made their way down to Lee Valley to represent the Midlands team in the England Masters Indoors championships. Poxon has been a regular in the team over the last six years with his consistent form, he was competing in the M35 Long Jump and Triple jump event. Poxon took second in both events with a 5.74 long jump and followed by a 11.56 triple jump. His long jump added a centimetre to the club record he set last year.
Dumelow was making his Midland Masters debut in the 2K walk. He had started walking to get points in the vets league and showed aptitude at the event. A coaching session at Shobnall on a club night from Carolyn Derbyshire and Wendy Kane refined his skills. In his first indoor walking race he was in the lead for the first half against very experienced walkers. Although passed in the 2nd km he still won the M35 age group race in 12.05.27 for an indoor club record.
The two contributing 25 points to the points total, which was invaluable as the Men won by 14 ½ points. The women’s team won by 21 points and so the Midlands also took the overall trophy.
England Athletics Age-Group Champs Sheffield – 8th and 9th February
Sheffield was the location for the England Athletics age group indoor championships. With tough entry standards its a tremendous achievement to qualify. Five Burton athletes took part in the championships. Saturday saw the 60 metres with Amber Rose Powell in the under 15 age group and Freya Manton in the under 17s. Powell ran first and finished in 8.50, Manton in her heat ran 8.01, good performances in strong fields. Sunday saw a debut at this level for under 15 Abigail Redpath in the 60 metres hurdles. She wasn’t overwhelmed by the experience, setting a new personal best of 10.02.
Isla Swindlehurst in her first indoor 200 metres of the season ran 26.56 for a new under 20 club record.
Kaiden Ramsay was in the under 20 long jump in a strong field with many 7 metre jumpers . He got off to a great start with a new indoor best of 6.95 to take the lead and break his club record. He extended the lead in round 2 with 6.98 for another club record. Some 7 metre plus jumps from others moved him down to fifth. Ramsay responded with 7.00 metres in the 5th round and 7.07 in the final round for his fourth pb of the day. Great jumping in a very strong event.
UK Athletics Cross Challenge Temple Newsom – 8th February
The last round of the cross challenge saw three Burton Athletes make their way to Leeds where a very challenging course awaited them at Temple Newsom. The course had a climb straight from the start and a winding course up to the top of the course before returning down to the start. Ewan Withnall and Lewis Boyce were in the under 15 boys 4.2k race, Withnall looking for his third win after Cardiff and Liverpool cross challenge victory’s. A small field saw him straight into the lead with Boyce in the middle of the field. As the first lap finished, Withnall lead a group of three with Boyce further back. The final lap saw Withnall and Osian Parry pull away. Parry had been third in the Cardiff and Liverpool races and recently won the Welsh National championships. Parry tried to take the lead but Withnall responded and kept in front. On the uphill finish , Parry tried again and the two were level until Withnall pulled away with 20 metres to go to win by 2 seconds. Boyce had kept his form and came home tenth taking a few notable scalps in the race. The challenge now heads to a final race at the Inter Counties Championships at Wollaton Park on 8th March. Withnall goes into that with a 3 point lead over Parry, but with double points in this event it’s still all to play for.
Maisie Trueman was running in the under 20 women’s 6k race, which was also a home international team match and a England area championships. Trueman was part of the Midlands team for the second time in this select race. Conditions didn’t favour, Trueman who can have breathing problems in cold conditions and especially on hilly courses. A steady start saw her towards the back of a small field. She quickly established herself as the second Midland scorer but found she couldn’t move up the field and finished 33rd. Next race for these three will be the England National Championship at Parliament Hill ,London where they will be joined by 3 more Burton runners.
Running2Time Brunel Indoor Open Series – 5th February
Wednesday evening at Uxbridge, Oluwadamilola Owolabi broke the senior 60 metres club record with a 6.90 to break the 7 second barrier. Then a few hours later he broke the club record again with a 6.85 and has moved into the top 50 in the UK rankings.
Run Jump Throw Sheffield and Masters Grand Prix – 1st February
Sheffield saw Jasmine Upton ran the 60 metres in 8.69 and Long Jumped 4.32 or a under 15 club record. Club records all round for the Cato’s. Ava in the u15 200 metres ran 30.19 and u13 Luka in the Long jump recorded 3.70 and Simone Cato in the Shot threw 9.05 for a w35 record
Loughborough Indoor Open – 1st and 2nd February
A big turnout at Loughborough for the event over two days. A lot taking the chance for two runs in the 60 metres, Harry Smethurst 8.79, 8.80, Kieran Janes 8.30 8.18, Kai Kuroda 7.47, 7.54, Deonte Frank 7.75, 7.59. Isabelle Smith ran 8.10, 8.16, which got her the under 20 club record.
One run only for Tristran Bolton 7.77. Also for Freya Manton whose 7.96 was a under 17 club record and the fastest Burton women time across all the age groups, this puts her 42nd in the rankings in her first year of the age group. Abigail Redpath warmed up with a 8.49 60metres and followed that with 60 metres hurdles times of 10.29 and 10.31. In the Shot, Brian Bowley threw 7.84 and Lesley Bowley 4.98 for a women 65 record.
In the Long Jump 6.73 for Kaiden Ramsay, Daniel Kolodziej 5.61, Lottie Woodward 4.54 which is a under 20 club record, Ava Hutson 4.14, Amelia Shilton 4.06
British Universities Cross Country Championships – 1st February
There were big fields at the British University’s Cross Country championships at Cardiff. While no Burton athletes were in the Long races there were three in the short races.
In the Men’s 8.2K race Finley Pidcock running for Durham was 245th in a field of 771.
The Women’s 5.6K race saw Maisie Trueman, Loughborough 58th, Cara McCarney Oxford 465th and they met up with former member Lauren Ford Newcastle 329th which was in a field of 641.
Maisie has been selected again by the Midlands to run in the Inter area cross country challenge at Leeds this weekend to represent the area.
Staffordshire Schools Cross Country Championships – 1st February
Twenty one Burton athletic club runners travelled to Betley to represent East Staffordshire schools in the Staffordshire schools cross country championships.
Thea Camp, Zola Signori and Alyssa Lindsay had a steady start in the year 7 girls 2.8k race. Like at the midlands championships the previous weekend, Lindsay just held of Signori by a few metres as they took 12th and 14th. Camp in her first major race was 29th in a 53 girls field
Riccardo Ferrero was in the year 7 boys race. He kept a steady pace then finished strongly for 23rd, sprinting past people at the finish
The English schools selection was than at stake for the junior age groups upwards, where a place in the top 8 was required for selection.
In the junior girls, school year 8 and 9. Felicity Shilton and Amelie Cawson were running in the 3.2k race. Shilton started fast but then had a problem and retired. Cawson started slowly but on the second lap started to move through the field for 23rd. As one of the youngest runners she should be pleased with how she has improved this season..
Burton had 5 running in the junior boys 3.2k race, year 8s Jacob Harmon and Jacob Manlove and year 9s Oliver James, Ben Simpkins and Lincoln Shaw. In a strong field, this was a tight race with 10 strong runners which included Burtons three year 9s and it was difficult to predict how the race would go. A fast start soon stretched the field with James and Simpkins in the top 10 and the slower starting Shaw 15th. At the end of the first lap James showing his experience and determination held 8th with Simpkins 9th and Shaw had closed up to 10th. With a few places back the younger Harmon and Manlove. On the final lap Shaw moved ahead of Simpkins but none of them could improve their positions. James took the final English Schools place for his second successive selection. Shaw and Simpkins are both reserves and will be wishing it had been a longer race to benefit their strength. Harmon and Manlove were 15th and 21st and they were 4th and 7th in the year 8 positions which looks good for next year.
The next race was the intermediate girls running 3.8K and the senior girls running 4.2K. The intermediate girls had 7 very strong girls from Stoke, so it looked to be an East Staffs clash for the final place between Sophie Wheeler and Isobel Harmon. It was Wheeler who moved into 8th and opened the gap and Harmin could not bridge the gap but held on for 9th and a reserve place. In the senior girls, Saffron Bowley and Saffron Creighton were both running. Bowley after 4 successive selection for English Schools was after the outright club record of the most selections. She was also looking to finish her Schools career with a medal after missing out on several occasions. A fast start saw her lead but after the first lap she was in third , with only 10 metres between the top 3. Bowley’s strength showed on the hill and she move up into second but with 800 metres to go was 15 metres off the leader. A big push with 400 metres to go saw her take the lead in the last 100 metres and power away for a gold medal and the club record. Saffron Creighton meanwhile was have a less exciting race as she kept a steady pace and came home in 5th for her first England Schools selection in her final year.
The intermediate boys race over 4.8k and the senior boys race over 6.2k were the last races. Burton had five in the intermediate boys with Will Kelsall, Aleksander Tutt, Sammy McCafferty, Lucas Hodson and Harry Wilkinson. Kelsall on form looked to have the best chance and had run well in November in a inter county schools race. Here he got a good start in 11th, with McCafferty just behind ahead of Tutt and further back Hodson and Wilkinson. McCafferty on the second lap had a calf problem and had to drop out. Kelsall kept battling but couldn’t improve his 11th place, while Tutt was coming through the field and closed up to take 12th in his best run of 2025. Wilkinson and Hodson were have a battle further back with Hodson edging it with 22md to 24th. The seniors race looked a good chance for another English schools selection with Kamil Kolodziej. He got a steady start settled into 4th and ran a controlled race to hold on to that position and another selection..
This adds 4 Staffordshire schools athletes to the 6 Derbyshire schools athletes that have been selected for the English Schools championships. Though with 3 first reserves and several other reserves, it may be this number will increase.
Some consolation for those that missed out on Schools selection, when the Staffordshire team for the inter counties was announced. Zola Signori gains her first county vest in the under 13 girls, Isobel Harmon is in the u17 women and Bowley leads the under 20s women team. Staffordshire debuts for the u13 boys pair of Jacob Harmon and Jacob Manlove, with James Hollingworth 1st reserve. U15s Oliver James was selected and with Ben Simpkins unavailable his place goes to Aleksander Tutt. U17 places for Will Kelsall and Kamil Kolodziej. With the 9 confirmed for Staffordshire joining the 6 from Derbyshire, 15 will be a new record for Burton Athletic club and it could be more as there are still 5 people currently reserves who could get added.
Midland Counties XC Championships – 25th January
Burton Athletics club runners made their way to the Mallory Park Race circuit for the Midlands Cross Country Championships. For Staffordshire athletes these championships, gained extra importance as a chance to impress the selectors after the county championships were cancelled. Selectors will be looking to pick 12 runners for the Staffordshire team for the Inter county championships, with the top 8 running and the next 4 reserves.
The circuit was going to be challenging with very muddy areas, lots of twists and turns, short steep climbs and a lot of undulations.
The under 13 girls were first to run in their 3K race. Once again there was not a lot between Amelie Cawson, Alyssa Lindsay and Zola Signori though out the race. Cawson took 46th losing one shoe in the mud, with Lindsay 48th two seconds ahead of Signori, who will have to see if this gets her a staffs selection.
The under 13 boys race saw Jacob Harmon and Jacob Manlove looking for Staffordshire selection. It was a solid run from Harmon 22nd and the 5th Staffs finisher and that should be enough for his selection. Manlove was the next Staffs finisher but in 36th, he has to wait to see if that is good enough for selection. Riccardo Ferrero took 48th, a good performance in his first year in this age group.
Burton had four running in the under 15 boys 4K race, unfortunately injury had ruled out Harry Wilkinson. It was no surprise that Ewan Withnall was in the lead with a small group at the start of the race. Withnall picked up the pace and split the field and came back towards the finish with a thirty metre lead to comfortably win the championship. Last year he had been second in the first year of the age group here he kept his season’s unbeaten run going. Lewis Boyce has been running well and moved into the top 10 on the first lap, the heavy ground caught up with him as he finished 16th. Oliver James and Aleksander Tutt were both looking for Staffordshire selection. Not a lot between them on the first lap, James on the second lap pulled away taking 33rd and 8th staffs finisher, that may have got him selection. Tutt was further back in 48th and 10th Staffs finisher and will have to wait and see if he gets a reserve place. Burton took 4th in the Team category just missing out on a medal.
In the under 17 women 5K race, it was a chance for Isobel Harmon to try and grasp the 8th Staffs place. The top 7 Staffordshire runners on form were clear cut and Harmon would need to show she was next best. Harmon has run well under pressure before and she was confident in her form taking 22nd place and finishing in front of the competition for the place. Now she has to wait on the selectors.
Three under 17 men ran the 6K race, with Kamil Kolodziej and Will Kelsall looking for selection and Lucas Hodson looking for practice before Staffordshire schools next weekend. Kolodziej got a strong start and though he slowed on the second lap his 36th was 5th Staffs finisher and should be enough for selection. While Kelsall’s 47th made him 7th Staffs finisher, some good runners in this age group didn’t run and that may push him into the reserves. Hodson took 53rd and has another year in the age group like Kelsall.
Saffron Bowley had her first cross country race of the season and surprised herself how comfortable she felt being in the top half of the 6K race. Increased long runs has boosted her stamina and she finished a strong 6th. The top 4 were all at University and so this looks really good for Saffron next week at Staffordshire schools where she will look to gain selection for the 5th time to the English Schools championship. That will be a club record and it surely would have been 6 if covid hadn’t cancelled 2021s race.
Lat to run was Jonathan Shum in the 12K Senior Men’s race. With the course now badly cut up, this was a real test of strength. Shum ran consistently for the first two large laps, in the top 60. He picked it up on the last lap and improve to 53rd place and the 6th Staffs finisher. However in this age group a lot of good Staffs runners didn’t enter, so he will have to wait and see if he gets a reserve place. This race though also included the Midland Masters championships and Shum took a silver medal in the Men 40 age group.
Staffordshire athletes will wait for the selectors decision but this gives a good indication of form ahead of the staff schools at Betley. On this basis Burton will be expecting at least 6 will join the 6 selected by Derbyshire for the English Schools championships.
Loughborough Open – 10th and 11th January
Several Burton Athletes have been in recent indoor action. Many made the trip to Loughborough for the chance for two runs over 60 metres. Isla Swindlehurst ran 8.15 and 8.17. Amber Rose Powell 8.54, 8.44. Jessica Upton 8.72,8.68. Ava Cato 8.99, 9.01. The 60 metre hurdles saw Abigail Redpath run 10.44 and 10.29. In the long jump it was 4.09 for Ava Hudson and 4.07 for Jasmine Upton. While at Manchester in the 60 metres 8.18 for Freya Manton and in the 200 metres 28.85 for Alice Tyler. Dani Owolabi in the 600 metres ran 7.00 in London.