ATHLETICS: National medals for Rugby & Northampton indoors and out

Two Rugby and Northampton Athletics Club members produced scintillating performances to win medals at the England U20 indoor championships in Sheffield.

Ed Faulds began focusing on athletics last year and is now following in the footsteps of his brother who is an international 400 m hurdler.

Ed also competed in the 400m hurdles in the summer achieving one of the fastest times as a U17.

In the winter he has switched his focus to the 400m flat race, however, and has made huge strides.

He started the U20 400m event at the championships having previously lowered his outdoor best in his first outing of the year.

Hopes were high of reaching the final but Ed surpassed all expectations as he won the championships to claim gold in a super quick 48.74 seconds.

Next to perform came Georgie Forde-Wells. Georgie is a multi-talented sportswoman, playing netball at national level whilst training for her favoured athletics event, the triple jump.

Georgie had also had a successful summer season in claiming fourth position at the English Schools Championships, but moving up to the U20 event would see her competing against seasoned Junior internationals.

Georgie produced a truly stunning jump of 12.43m - a full 60cm improvement on her personal best to claim the bronze medal and put herself amongst the top young jumpers in the country.

National Cross Country Championships, Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Josh Lay continued his successful cross country season when he finished in a superb second place in the U20 Men’s race at the English National Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park.

Lay was competing in his final cross country race as a Junior man over a 10k course, which saw the Midland Champion secure a magnificent silver medal in a time of 36:42.

Southampton’s Zakariya Mahamed won gold in 36:27, but the 19-year-old Rugby & Northampton athlete was well clear of the bronze medallist.

Adrian Kaczmarek 145th in 45:14) and Joe Musgrove (174th in 48:43) also represented the club.

In the U17 Men’s race over 6k Fergus Scott produced a brilliant run to clinch 8th place in 23:32 with his R&N clubmate Finbar Myers recording 28:21 for 215th spot.

Arthur Tilt crossed the line 18th in the U13 Boys event over 3k with 15:19 and this helped the R&N team to finish 25th.

He had back up from William Gower (210th in 17:27), Isaac Hutchins-Morant (218th in 17:34) and Noah Unwin (301st in 18:50).

The U15 Girls team finished 27th and were led home in the 4k race by Madeleine Jacks in 116th with 22:06. Also competing were Elspeth Unitt ( 193rd in 23:13), Grace Darcy ( 235th in 24:00 ), Hannah Tilt ( 276th in 24:54 ) and Jemima Lambert ( 331st in 26:13 ).

The Senior Men had to cover 12k and making his debut in the National was Duncan Birtwistle, who led home the club in an excellent 144th in exactly 49 minutes.

Following him home was Seb Palmer (453rd in 54:08) and completing the scoring six, which finished 59th team, were Nick Gower making his debut in 713th on 58:07, Jon Taylor (822nd in 59:49), Vince Carroll (996th in 62:29) and Nigel Roberts (1148th in 65:05) with John Saw as back up (1197th in 65:57).

Freya Vincent led home the R&N Senior ladies on the 8k course in 49:18 (521st). She was supported by veterans Helen Jones (577th in 50:45), Angela Copson ( 625th in 51:52), Minerva Chesser (654th in 53:17 ) and Kate Williams (782nd in 57:39). The squad finished 74th.

The only athlete competing in the U20 Women’s 6k event was Olivia Sheehan in 125th on 38:16, but she clinched the R&N Junior Women’s club championship.

Sophia Hill clocked26:26 over 5k in the U17 Women’s race to finish 144th with Megan Stenhouse 232nd on 30:25.

The U15 Boys saw Henry Woodward lead home the club with 19:52 over 4k for 181st and his team mates Jenson Buttrick ( 283rd) and Ned Gilford ( 300th ) recorded 21:24 and 21:47 respectively.

Amelie Budd Beynon (228th in 19:17 ) and Georgia Gercs ( 290th in 20:15 ) competed in the U13 Girls race over 3k.