News
Ulster Schools Athletics Championships
21/05/2009
Ulster Secondary Schools Track & Field Championships
Saturday 16th May 2009
Only two of our athletes had qualified for the Ulsters In the track finals. Matthew Hamilton in the Junior Boys’ 100m and Mark Patterson in the Senior Boys’ 800m.
The field events demonstrated greater depth with six qualifiers: Matthey Stockton (Junior Javelin); Gareth Irvine (Intermediate Discus); Nico Espana (Junior High Jump); Lewis Atkinson (Junior Discus); Michael McComb (Junior Long Jump); Karl Lamont (Intermediate Javelin).
On a typical Northern Ireland summer’s day, conditions were always going to be a factor. With a strong wind gusting across the arena it did not make for a pleasant experience and certainly made it difficult for the athletes.
Matthew Hamilton was the first BGS pupil to compete. He had missed all of last year’s Athletics season last year because of injury and despite having played a full rugby season, lacked athletics competition experience. He qualified from his semi-final running well within his capacity and with perhaps a disrupted pick-up from the blocks. It was three hours before the final. He started slowly and after 50m was only in the middle of the field, but a strong second part saw him take well-deserved silver.
Matthew Stockton was next up in the Javelin. Matthew has much improved in this event this season and has increased his PB by nearly 10m. After 3 throws he was holding second place. With two more throws it was still open, but he was able to maintain his position and secured silver, throwing 35.13m.
Looking to improve from last season’s 4th place in the Irish Championships, Gareth Irvine was also keen to retain the Ulster Intermediate Discus championship. He did not disappoint with a throw of 37.76m to win and qualify for the Irish Championships.
In the Junior Discus, Lewis Atkinson followed Gareth’s lead and beat the competition, throwing 33.42m. Despite his success Lewis was disappointed, feeling he could have thrown better; we look forward to broken records in Tullamore!
Nico Espana secured silver in the Junior High Jump with a jump of 1.55m. Again he is capable of better and we hope he will confirm this at the Irish finals.
Unfortunately Michael McComb was unable to find his form in the long jump, but he still has another year at this level and with training will improve and grow in confidence.
Having just returned from illness, Karl Lamont was unable to re-capture the form that saw him take second place in the intermediate javelin last year. He failed to make the top 6 missing out by only 30cm, but he is a strong prospect and will achieve great things.
Our last pupil to compete has also had his share of injury problems. Mark Patterson was running for only the second time since picking up a hamstring injury. He ran a poor race at the districts but with only two in the race was guaranteed qualification. In the Ulsters, he ran a good tactical race, tucking in behind the leading group. With 100m to go Mark took his opportunity and moved into 3rd. He was determined to improve upon his 2nd place in last season’s competition and powered past the competition with steely determination and took gold. A great race. Hopefully this is the start of Mark regaining his earlier form.
Congratulations to all those who made it to the Ulsters and even more so to those six individuals who will be competing on Saturday 30th June at Tullamore in the Irish Championships.
SH
Name Event Time/Height/Dist Placing
Mark Patterson Senior 800m 1.55.78s Gold
Matthew Hamilton Junior 100m 12.2s (12.1 sf) Silver
Gareth Irvine Intermediate Discus 37.76m Gold
Karl Lamont Intermediate Javelin 37.42m 7th
Lewis Atkinson Junior Discus 33.42m Gold
Matthew Stockton Junior Javelin 35.13m Silver
Nico Espana Junior High Jump 1.55m Silver
Michael McComb Junior Long Jump 1.47m DNQ