SOUTHERN INTERCOUNTIES ATHLETICS
Emily Thompson again justified she has the ability to reach an high standard in athletics when on Sunday at the Southern Inter-counties Athletic Championships for Oxfordshire, held at Hendon’s Allianz Park running in the 800metres, against a pick of the best under twenties in the Southern Counties.
Emily at fifteen was invited to move up an age group, knowing she had the times to match most of her rivals. She with ease came through her heat to reach the final. This would give Emily the opportunity to race against the best in Europe and possible in The World, Bobby Clay of Kent Invicta. Clay only recently had captured The European Junior 1500metre title in Sweden. Emily found herself placed out the unfavourable lane eight for the race, this forcing her for fast positive start.
The small in stature Clay, who has been giving the name of “Pocket Dynamite” as she likes to run from the front from start to finish, gaining an inside lane.
From the gun Emily went off fast and at the break after 100metres she dropped into second place behind the European Champion. At the bell it was visible that the pair had pulled away from the field and apart from the chasing rivals closing slightly on the Banbury Harrier she kept second place.
This was certainly another indication that Emily can compete with the best.
Four other athletes from Banbury Harriers represented the county. Michael Dawes also stepped up an age group and throwing heavier weights in both the hammer and discus, he produced two highly satisfactory performances to finish 7th in the hammer and 8th in the discus.
His sister Shannon competing in the under fifteen age group finished 9th in the javelin. The other two were Alfie Rowett in the under twenty 200m finished 5th in his heat and Felix Noble in under fifteen 100metres, also 5th in his heat.