Last Sunday saw 22 of our young athletes travel to Epsom & Ewell for the second match of the season. The team finished fourth overall against the very strong overall winners Holland Sports who just pipped Sutton & District. This takes nothing away from great performances on the day by all those that competed.
Many achieving personal bests, others attempting new events to broaden their experience and yet others having their very first taste of competition in a Walton AC vest. With thanks to Duncan Boyd for team managing on a very fine, hot day.

The u15 boys, though relatively few in numbers, showed great commitment and were rewarded with strong individual performances. Ben Shepherd and Christopher Vaughan in a competitive race recording 2:20.6 and 2:21.1 over 800 metres. Ben Wells recording a big personal best with 12.6 in the 100 with another strong run over 200. In addition to Harry Tuckman and Callum Stewart running well and showing the club’s depth over 800 metres, Isaac Foggon had a great first outing for the club with 44.1 over 300m and 4.42m in the long jump, improving his mark with every jump.

The u13 boys performed admirably with Friso Boomsma (sprint hurdles and 200m) and Isaac Amankwaah (100m, 200m and equalling his personal best of 4.00m in long jump), both achieving maximum points in their events. Jason Speirs and Christian Boyd also both further improved their personal bests with 3.94m in long jump and 5:15.3 in 1500 metres respectively. With long jump proving a popular event, some notable performances also by Max Ince (3.78m) and Dan Sargeant (3.55m).

Six u11s (Logan Jacques; Paul Webb; Sam Jeremiah; Adam Palmer-Ali; Callum Ince and Matthew Wellinger) made the journey and all performed exceptionally well against tough opposition in the 75/150/600 metres & long jump. Also, Walton’s sole U17 representative (Ben Witham) with a particularly gutsy first time run in the 800 metres (2:22.7), before competing in the 200 metres & long jump.

Huge thanks should go to our wonderful club officials Debbie Singleton, Christian Burgar and Matt Reed who gave up their time to help assist the event running smoothly. Thanks also to the parents who came along and supported.

The final fixture is on Sunday 14th July at Coulsdon. Full results are on Power of 10.

Chris Ness

Calling all athletes, parents/carers, coaches, officials, volunteers, committee members etc

The Council would like to put a photograph of our club members on display at the Hub and we’d like it to include as many members and volunteers as possible.  We have arranged for a photographer to come at 7:30pm on Thursday 27 June 2019 and we would like as many as possible to come along for this – please wear your Walton vest – or polo shirt if you are a coach or other volunteer.

We are asking the couple who run Elly’s kitchen (the on-site burger van) to open for the evening and we have a lovely bar area upstairs at the Hub too, so it would be lovely if you could stay afterwards to meet other athletes and parents as well as the coaches and other volunteers who keep the club running (pardon the pun!)

We look forward to seeing you there.

We are very sad to announce that Jack Rutherford passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening surrounded by close friends and family.

As an athlete, official, team manager, coach, committee member and ultimately chairman, Jack gave his heart and soul to the club for over 30 years. We cannot overemphasise the size of the hole that he leaves behind. His energy, enthusiasm and positivity will be sorely missed, as will his trademark pre-competition instructions “just go out there and enjoy it”- epitomising his own attitude to athletics and life.

Our thoughts and very best wishes are with Debbie, his friends and his training group at this time.

The 2nd fixture of the YDL Lower League took place in Poole on the 18th of May. Improved weather conditions from the last outing, although not quite suncream weather yet! Those who remained till the end, hopefully had some energy to make it to their cars before the heavens opened!

Another gutsy performance from all of those who travelled, athletes taking on events very new to them for points for the team, and still striving to get everything out of themselves in their own events. Yet again the team spirit and enthusiasm on full show, we may be one of the smaller clubs but we are certainly one of the loudest.
It was another very competitive day with the top teams depth of squad on display, we found ourselves in a battle to stay off the bottom. Which we managed to do, so a big well done to all those who did something “for points”. It really does matter.

Yet again the relays proved to be the most exciting events of the day, and one were we probably surprised the other clubs, with the dominant performances of the U15 boys and girls 4x300m relay. To great cheering and excitement of all those still around, the Walton teams absolutely ran their hearts out. By doing so posted some incredibly fast times, breaking the Club records for both teams.

A huge thank you from me for all your willingness and enthusiasm and let’s hope Bournemouth finally brings some Sunshine.

Thanks also to the Officials, Coaches, and parent helpers who assisted in fulfilling our requirements in the field and on the track. Without you these events would not take place.

Full results on the Power of 10.

Emma Emment Team Manager.

Martin Norman is now offering the following sessions:

• Saturday mornings – High Jump. 10:30 – 12:00
• Sunday mornings – Long and Triple Jump. 10:30 – 12:00
• Any athlete can participate if they wish to work on the events for competition purposes, but please contact Martin ahead of time to confirm attendance

Note: there are a couple of home matches in the calendar this/next month so some of the sessions won’t be on. Martin will advise athletes and/or parents of these when they enquire. Sessions also won’t run between 9th and 14th May.