On the weekend of Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July 2017 the NSC played host to Manx Harriers Track and Field Open Championships sponsored by Charles Corkill Commercials.
The Manx weather played a major part in proceedings, with blustery conditions having an effect on many of the events. That coupled with the effects of previous weeks Isle of Man Track & Field Championships still weighing heavy in the legs the last thing you’d be expecting would be stand out performances, PB’s and Island records. That being said and expectations being low there was some amazing performances, PB’s galore and a few Island records achieved.
The first event on the track was the hurdles for all age groups which got the weekend of to a cracking start. The race that really got the crowd going was the U15 boys 80m hurdles, which pitted twins Craig and Kyle Martin against each other. Right from the gun they were neck and neck until Kyle just pipped Craig on the line to win by 0.1s in a time of 14.3s. This race acted as an inspiration to all watching as every athlete went on to give their utmost best.
Regan Corrin was definitely one of the top, if not the top athlete over the whole weekend. He won an amazing 6 gold medals in the U11 boys age group, but what makes this achievement even more special is he did the same the week before at the Isle of Man Championships taking his haul of medals to 12 golds in 12 events over 2 weekends of athletics.
Other standout performances came from Aimee Christian in the U15 girls pole vault, with a vault of 1.88m (PB) breaking the existing Island record.
Thomas Chadwick in the U13 boys, a relative newcomer to the sport, clocked an astonishing 12.4 seconds in the 100m which is way under the existing Island record and to top that he leapt out to 5.22m in the long jump. What makes that long jump so special is that it was 19cm further than the existing Island record and the second biggest jump in the UK for that age group and into a massive headwind. Sticking with that age group Ben Sinclair ran under the existing Island record in the 200m with a time of 26.6s(PB) and just missed the record in the 75m hurdles by 0.1s with a time of 13.0s (PB). Everyone in the athletics community is looking forward to see how these two flyers develop in the coming years.
Macy Hiller also equalled her own Island record in the U13 girls age group 1500m with a time of 5m 15s, which given the conditions was a tremendous run, Macy has another year in that age group so we may see many more records tumble from her.
U17 boy Keoghan Taylor, like Regan Corrin had another golden weekend, just as he did at the Isle of Man Championships. Keoghan has been improving week on week and clocked a very credible 11.1s in the 100m (PB). Keoghan is showing signs of developing into a very accomplished athlete within the spirit and jump disciplines.
The most anticipated races of the meet is always the 100m and it didn’t disappoint. The men’s race featured Brandon Aitchison one of the Isle of Man’s Island Games representatives, who was the athlete that everybody was gunning for. From the sidelines it looked like Brandon coped with the pressure extremely well. Getting what his coach informed me was his best start of the season, he blasted out of the blocks and took the lead straight from the gun extending it even further by the finish line to clock his first sub 11 second time of 10.9s (PB)
The women’s race saw two Island Games representatives square off against each, the experienced Hannah Riley versus the up and coming Megan Pilley. From the gun there was nothing to choose between the athletes as they flew down the home straight. The crowd were unsure who would win and the girls produced a fantastic race to cross the finish line together in a time of 12.3s.
The final event of the weekend was the relays which saw the women’s Island Games gold medal winning team of Megan Pilley, Hannah Riley, Bethan Pilley and Ashleigh Lachenicht take on all comers. There was a strong men’s team lead by Brandon Aitchison and an U13 mixed boys and girls team lead by Ben Sinclair to provide stiff competition. Excitement was high all around the track as the race got underway and there was nothing to choose between the teams at 100m, but disaster struck for the women’s team, as they failed to execute the first handover, leaving the men’s team to come home with a comfortable victory. The mixed U13 team just missed the Island record by 0.2 of a second.
The weekends Victor and Vitrix Ludorum Shield winners for most points gained in all the events were:
U7 boys Ryan Cartwright
U7 girls Darcy Wood
U9 boys Kurt Greyvenstein
U9 girls Abi Sinclair/Kayleigh-Dee Corrin
U11 boys Regan Corrin
U11 girls Erin Chapple
U13 boys Ben Sinclair
U13 girls Macy Hillier
U15 boys Kyle Martin
U15 girls Kiera Perry
U17 boys Keoghan Taylor
U17 girls Hollie Glassey
Manx Harriers would like to thank their sponsors Charles Corkill Commercials, all the track and field officials for giving up their time, the NSC staff, Martin Bullock , but most of all the athletes for making the weekend so enjoyable.
Judging by many of the performances the future of Manx Harriers and athletics on the island is in safe hands!!!
Simon Sinclair