PADDOCK WOOD AC PRESS REPORT 15.03.2016
Sunday 13th March saw the last of the Kent Sportshall competitions held at St Johns leisure Centre Tunbridge Wells. Because of the refurbishments, part of the competition was held in a tennis court and part in the Sportshall itself. Paddock Wood AC originally had 5 U/11 teams entered, but unfortunately their star jumper Harvey Fordham fractured his ankle the week before which meant his ambition to take the county U/11 Long Jump record along with the Triple jump which he already has, could not happen. A couple of no-shows meant the teams were down to 4 and Jessica Penny, in her first Sportshall, had to compete on her own although did get the chance to do one of the relays with another member of a club who turned up late. Several athletes were late due to a 4-mile traffic jam near Hadlow College for their Lambing day. The teams all did well coming up against the Kent School Champions from Claremont school who had 7 teams entered.
Hayden Velvick in team 1 scored a PB in his speed bounce with 56 bounces making him =2nd while partner Lucy Tallon jumped 52 also an excellent score for =6th. They were 2nd fastest in their 2-lap hurdle race. Joining them was Freya Kirk- Martin and Liam Simms who came in as a last minute substitute doing the Standing L/Jump 1.62m and 1.61m respectively and the Foam javelin throw both throwing 11.50m. The team finished 5th just 0.5 of a point behind Folkestone. In team 2 Alex Gray teamed up with John Janse. Alex jumped 1.66m in the St L/Jump and John 1.44, but the pair ran the fastest time in the 2 lap flat race, a whole second faster than any other team. Alex Stone threw 13.50m in the Foam javelin a PB. Chloe Exall’s best event was the Vertical Jump scoring 36cm. Team 2 came 6th. Team 3 made up of Liam O’Neil and Grace Hughes and Joe Stone and Demi Barker, came 9th. Liam did best of the Paddock Wood team throwing 13.75m in the Foam Javelin and Grace 13.50m Joe Stone and partner Demi Barker both jumped 46 in the Speed bounce. Justin Gregory was the clubs best Long jumper of the day in Team 4 jumping 1.76m, Joshua Douglas in his first Sportshall jumped 1.62m they were joined by Ollie Jury and Harvey White who has improved in every event he has done this season throwing the Foam javelin 12m and jumping 37cm in the Vertical Jump. The team finished in 14th place. In the U/13 girls, Kimberley Garcia came 3rd in the 2lap race (24.3s) and Poppy Jury jumped 40cm in the Vertical Jump. They joined up with Swale to make a team and won Gold Medals. U/13 Javier Sequeira in his first ever Sportshall found his best event to be the Speed Bounce where he bounced 57 times. Aiden O’Neil improved vastly on his Vertical jump improving by 7 cm on his previous attempt. U/15 Finlay Hollyer did a PB of 73 in the speed Bounce to win that event and also jumped a PB in his vertical Jump 53cm. The club now looks forward to the outdoor track season.
