British Athletics League - Jubilee Cup Final - Bedford - 19/8/2000

B.A.L. Jubilee Cup Final

Report by: Bryan Murray
19th August 2000 - Bedford

Wakefield Harriers senior women's side featured in their first ever British Athletic League Jubilee Cup, held at Bedford recently. The meeting attracted several Olympic hopefuls, who joined Club competitors in trying to gain valuable qualifying performances.

During the early competition, long jumper Fiona Westwood started with an impressive 5.75m jump, before clearing 6.02m with her fifth round jump to climb to top spot in the U20 rankings - as she broke the six metre mark for the first time. The blustery wind was recorded at +1.6m/s for her personal best jump. The qualifying distance for this year's World Championships is 6.20m, which might be just beyond her for the deadline date, although she should go close, given an opportunity in better conditions on the continent.

Along with team-mate Helen Taylor, another U20 athlete, Fiona has met the challenges offered by competing in Division One of the Women's League well.

The final result saw a seriously weakened Wakefield team finishing seventh, with the cup won by Sale Harriers.

Individual highlights included Paula Fyrer (Sale) who won the 800m, with Shirley Griffiths finishing a creditable third in 2:13.36.

Suzanne Roberts, having a superb season, was fourth in the hammer event, with Sale athlete Lorraine Shaw breaking the cup championship record with 64.28m.

In the high jump, Judith Payne produced a season's best of 1.70m to finish fifth behind winner Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury) - 1.88 and runner-up Jo Jennings-Steele (1.84m).

Individual results:

Hammer: Suzanne Roberts 57.36 (4th); 400m hurdles: Sarah Beevers 67.59 (6th); 800m: Shirley Griffiths 2:13.36 (3rd); discus: Susan Backhouse 43.20 (7th); long jump: Fiona Westwood 6.02m (5th); 100m: Nicole Crosby 12.0 (6th); 400m: Alice Butler 59.12 (6th); shot putt: Emma Morris 11.40 (9th); 3000m: Sharon Marshall 10:44.89 (4th); 100 hurdles: Sarah Beevers (8th); 200m: Emily Freeman 24.67 (6th); triple jump: Kelly Brow 11.47 (5th); high jump: Judith Payne 1.70m (5th); javelin: Emma Morris 24.36 (8th); 1500m: Alice Butler 4:46.38 (4th); 4x100m relay: Kelly Brow, Sarah Beevers, Judith Payne, Nicole Crosby, 51.93 (8th); 4x400m relay, Nicole Crosby, Sarah Beevers, Shirley Griffiths, Alice Butler, 4.00.0 (4th).

Final match result: 1 Sale Harriers Manchester 123.0; 2 Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers 112.0; 3 Birchfield Harriers 86.0; 4 Trafford AC 82.0; 5 Windsor Slough and Eton 82.0; Rugby and District AC 66.0; 7 Wakefield Harriers 59.0; 8 Aldershot, Farnham and District 46.0.