Oh, What A Season!
Silver and Two Bronzes in "Hammerama"

Three Isle of Wight athletes travelled to Colindale in North London at the end of May, to take part in an event which brings together many of the UK's best hammer throwers.
And didn't they do well!
In the Under 17 age group Paul Farley threw a personal best of 57.09m with the 5kg hammer to win the Bronze Medal. Not to be outdone, Laurence Harwood threw two throws in excess of 50m and won the Silver Medal with 54.25m.
Amy Church competed in the Under 17's for girls and managed a season's best of 35.19m. This throw, with a 4kg hammer, secured Amy the Bronze Medal - an outstanding achievement as this was her first competition in the Under 17's!
Well Done to all three!

Coaching Pays Dividends
41 of the Island's best travelled to Portsmouth in May for the County Track and Field Championships, and came back with a haul of medals. Months of coaching and training proved its worth as our Island athletes returned with 31 medals. Very well done to all of them.
Andy Frost set a new Championship record with his Gold winning throw of 59m. Helen Davis won Gold in the javelin, Silver in the 300m and Silver in the 200m. Gold too for Amy Church who threw close to her pb with 34.26m in the Under 17's hammer. Paul Farley bagged two Golds in the discus and the hammer, while Laurence Harwood took the Silver in the same event. Daniel Barton-Smith was also worthy of Gold Medals with his 37.01m throw in the hammer and 10.81m in the shot. To round off his day he also won Silver in the javelin. Tom Riddlesdell took Gold and Bronze for his age group in the javelin and shot.
A special "Well Done" to our Under 13's Emma Woon, Richard Marvin, Henry Deas, Joe Wade, Tom Wade, Pasha Burgoyne and James Groocock who all did so well.

This was a fantastic Championships for IWAC and all the hard work that everybody has put in was well rewarded.

A new Under 13 boys record was set by Richard Marvin in the Southern Electric Wessex League Cup at Oxford. His throw of 38.70m also helped the Under 13 boys and girls competition. The previous IWAC javelin record was held by Tom Riddelsdell. Richard also earned the athlete of the match medal and tee-shirt.

Goodbye Mike
Mike Blackledge is standing down as the manager of the U17's boys team after several seasons of success. There has been a shortage of U17 boys for a while now and this impacts on the whole of the McDonald's Boys League team. Next season should be better as athletes change age groups and it is hoped that Mike's success with the team can be built on. Mike has been a great organiser and leader and will be missed. Good Luck to you Mike and Thank You from a lot of people.

International Vest for Kathryn
Kathryn Frost has earned her Great Britain vest in the U20 steeplechase. Currently the Reebok national cross country champion in her age group, we say Well Done Kathryn.

Andy Does It Again!
A National Title was the reward for Andy Frost, the Great Britain Under-23 International, the British Universities champion, the Under-23 AAA's National champion and the Island Games champion, for his new pb throw of 61.30m in the U23 hammer competition. The event was held at Bedford at 8.15pm and despite cold and windy conditions, Andy put together a series of six throws, all over 56m to leave International competitors in his wake.
At only 20 years old, Andy has confirmed his number one status with this win and once again we say "Well Done Andy"

But it's also Well Done to Paul Farley who beat Andy's English Schools Championship record hammer throw and won the competition and an England vest. And it was in Dublin that Paul wore his England vest to victory as he threw 58.63m in an International Schools event. Both Andy and Paul are trained by Ray Scovell and continue a fine tradition of hammer throwing on the Island.

Clean Sweep of the Field
IWAC won all the field events in a competition against Thames Valley Harriers, Worthing Harriers and Queens Park Harriers. The track competitors played their part in the season's best IWAC performance.

It Shines on the Island
Young IWAC athletes gained 150 certificates and medals in the Norwich Union Shine Awards. Awards ranged from yellow to gold and were awarded by Kathryn and Bryony Frost. Special mention to Ben Rayner and Amy Brading, who both gained three Gold Medals.

Andy's Great for Britain
Andy Frost threw his 7.26kg hammer 60.39m to take second place in an International event against France in August. Meanwhile, Andy's teammate Paul Farley won a gold medal at the AAA's National Championship with a 5kg hammer. He threw 56.95m in what will be his last competition in the Under 17 age group.

  ISLE OF WIGHT ATHLETIC CLUB
LAST SEASON'S STANDINGS